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Is it Time to Build Yahweh's House?
by Phil Maxwell, August 1998
This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's
house should be built....
....Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this (the LORD's) house
lie waste
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
Go up to the mountain, and bring wood,
and build the house;
and I will take pleasure in it,
and I will be glorified
saith the LORD.
(Haggai 1:2-8)
Judgment begins at the house of God. What is the house of God? It is that
element of the world that stands as the recognized representatives of God Almighty, and
His Messiah, Yahshua the Son of God.
Even though the scribes and Pharisees were brutally exposed as hypocrites by Yahshua,
He still recognized their God given place as the leaders of God's people.
1Pe.4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God?
Mt.23:2-3 The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore
whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for
they say, and do not.
Nonetheless, Yahshua showed that though they held "Moses seat," they were in
fact children of hell, that their father was not God, but rather the devil. They were
judged and found guilty of murder of the true servants of God, placing them clearly as a
part of the mysterious Babylon, the harlot.
Mt.23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for ye compass sea and land
to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell
than yourselves.
Jn.8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no
truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it.
Mt.23:31-37 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that Ye are the children
of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye
serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of
them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your
synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the
righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood
of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.
Re.18:24 And in her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and
of all that were slain upon the earth.
Again, we are in a day where those who hold the reins of leadership over God's people
are, likewise, wicked hypocrites. As the spiritual Jerusalem, they and those who follow
them are children of hell, refusing to be gathered in the safety of God's covenant. These
are the tares which are children of the wicked one, the devil.
Mt.13:38-39 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the
devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Led by these apparent ministers of righteousness, which are really the ministers of
Satan, their followers are becoming twofold the children of hell than their leaders.
Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, the way is paved for the son of
perdition, the man of sin, which is Satan himself disguised as an angel of light (a
righteous spirit), to take his place in the temple of God, mocking and mimicking God as he
destroys and kills the unwitting people.
2Co.11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works.
1Ti.4:1 NOW the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Th.2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of Christ) shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that
is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that
he is God.
As the tares are gathered first for judgment to follow, so are the children of the
devil being gathered now. The Lord Yahshua will come as a thief in the night, taking the
talents from these evil hypocrites and bestowing them upon the faithful, who will
henceforth shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of God. Unlike a daytime robbery, those
who lose their candle will not even realize they have been robbed. Then shall the temple
be desolate, as the Lord pronounced upon the scribes, Pharisees, and their followers. In
fact, Satan will move in their midst freely when they are devoid of the presence of God,
causing them to fulfill his lust while thinking they do God Almighty a service. Thinking
themselves to be Jews, the people of God, they will actually be the synagogue of Satan.
Mt.13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to
burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
1Th.5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night.
Mt.25:29-30 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath
ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the
unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Re.2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out
of his place, except thou repent.
Mt.13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mt.23:39 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Jn.16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever
killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Re.2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I
know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan.
Re.3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are
Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy
feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
As in Noah's day, there is a false sense of security permeating the church. There is no
real recognition of the pending wrath of God, but it is coming upon all those who dwell
upon the face of the earth who are caught up in the cares of this life thinking peace and
safety.
Mt.24:37-38 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until
the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1Th.5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Lu.21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on he face of
the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son
of man.
How shall we escape? By not neglecting the great salvation bestowed upon all who will
truly hear and follow the Lamb wherever He leads. Follow Noah's example, who believed God
and followed His instructions with meticulous care. Noah built an ark with a door that no
man could shut, and so is the salvation available to us to day.
He.2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Jn.10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Re.14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among
men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Ge.7:7,16 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons wives with him,
into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.....as God had commanded him: and the
Lord shut him in.
Re.3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he
that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Will we be perfect? Will we give up our lives and follow Yahshua, who had no home nor
earthly substance? Can we turn away from our houses, lands, families, friends, and earthly
ambitions and obligations? Will we? Noah did, and so did Lot and Abraham. Likewise, the 12
chosen disciples forsook all to follow Yahshua.
Mt.19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come
and follow me.
Mt.19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and
followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mt.19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an
hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Lu.9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said
unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes
have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his
head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and
bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and
preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them
farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put
his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
2Pe.2:1-8 BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying
the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and
delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not
the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in
the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after
should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the
wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the
unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
He.11:7-8 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the
world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham,
when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Do we look for a city whose builder and maker is God? Or, shall we be ensnared by the
deceitfulness of riches? Shall we be as the foolish virgins, who were unprepared to travel
the required distance? Do we think our prophesies, casting out of demons, and other
wonderful works done in the Lord's name pleases Him?
He.11:10 For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
Mt.13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word;
and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.
Mt.25:3,10-11 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with
them....And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in
with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other
virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I
know you not.
Mt.7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Let us simply take heed, as warned repeatedly, and obey the voice of the Lord. Let us
have a faith that produces fruits of the Spirit, and let that be evidenced to others
through our love for one another. As Noah, Abraham, and even the harlot, Rahab, obeyed,
let us also heed the Lord's commandment to us, that we love one another. If we think we
possess a saving faith, but are unwilling to obey God, we deceive ourselves.
Ac.5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God
rather than men.
Ja.2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not
those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will
shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not
Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto
him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the
messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Ga.5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Jn.13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I
have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Jn.15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you.
1Jn.3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his
Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn.2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him.
1Jn.3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the
brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
God will have His Temple, and that Temple will not be made of earthly materials, but
will be those who are faithful, living stones. It will be rooted and grounded in love, as
Yahshua commanded. Then, and only then, will the people of God be perfected through and by
the love of God working through each member towards the others.
1Co.3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?
1Co.6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is
in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
2Co.6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be
their God, and they shall be my people.
Ep.2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for
an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ep.3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Ep.4:13-16 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in
wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
If we will not heed, we will be severed, for God is able to raise up children of
Abraham of stones. If we neglect the great salvation offered to us, the invitation will be
given to others. The perfected body of Christ, the eternal Temple of the Living God, will
be constructed, even in perilous times. If we will not turn away from our own affairs in
order to build it, we will be destroyed.
Ro.11:20-22 Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of
God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Lu.3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say
within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able
of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Mt.22:8-9 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which
were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye
shall find, bid to the marriage.
Yahshua, the cornerstone has been set, and the foundation of the prophets and apostles
foundation laid.
Ac.2:1 AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place.
Ac.2:36-47 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made
that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the
apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear
came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their
possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising
God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved.
Because of fear, however, the building was halted, as in the days following the
Babylonian captivity. Notice that in Acts 2, fear of God motivated thousands to
repentance, but in chapter 5, fear of man caused them to turn away from the initial faith
demonstrated by complete abandonment of their earthly possessions. Many believers have
since been added to the Lord, though, like the remnant who returned to Judea, the Temple
building had ceased.
Ac.5:11-14 (following the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira) And great fear came
upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the
apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one
accord in Solomons porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but
the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both
of men and women.)
Ez.3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the
Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the
people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation
of the house of the Lord was laid.
Ez.4:4,23-24 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah,
and troubled them in building.....Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes letter was read
before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to
Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the
work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of
the reign of Darius king of Persia.
There has been a falling away from the faith since the early Church described in Acts.
Likewise, when the work on the Temple ceased, the people who returned slipped away from
God, turning rather to attending to their earthly affairs. The eternal Temple of God will
be built, though, as God determined that His House should be rebuilt in ancient Jerusalem.
It was not enough then that the people abode in the land, as it is not enough now to
simply profess faith in Yahshua the Messiah.
2Th.2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (of Christ) shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
son of perdition;
Hag.1:2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not
come, the time that the Lords house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by
Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses,
and this house lie waste?
The people had chosen to abide in the curse of sin, to abandon serving God and doing
His work, turning rather to their own affairs. In so doing, they lost God's blessings of
provision and care.
Hag.1:5-6,9-11 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye
have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are
not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages
earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.....
Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I
did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste,
and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew,
and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon
the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that
which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of
the hands.
God spoke clearly to these people of old:
Hag.1:7-8 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain,
and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be
glorified, saith the Lord.
And they obeyed:
Hag.1:12-14 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech,
the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their
God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the
people did fear before the Lord.
Then spake Haggai the Lords messenger in the Lords message unto the people, saying,
I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the
son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the
high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did
work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
And God Almighty blessed them:
Hag.2:18-19 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day
of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lords temple was laid,
consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the
pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless
you.
Hag.2:21-22 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the
heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will
destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the
chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down,
every one by the sword of his brother.
And God will bless His people in the latter days who will join together in obedience to
His command, giving themselves over to the building His Temple:
Re.3:9-12 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are
Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy
feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the
hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon
the earth.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he
shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I
will write upon him my new name.
Re.20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a thousand years.
Shall we obey God?
Jn.13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Shall we be perfect?
Mt.19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me.
Shall we overcome?
Re.12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Shall we continue the disrupted building of the Temple of God?
Ac.2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things
common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as
every man had need
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