The third word for “work” is in 2:4 (in all caps above) and has by far the most powerful meaning of the four. As you read its definition, think in terms of God’s Work: “To do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, bear, bring forth, be busy, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), execute, finish, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, be industrious, keep, labor, maintain, make, be meet, be occupied, bring (come) to pass, perform, practice, prepare, sacrifice, serve, be warrior, work (-man).” This truly remarkable word carries awesome meaning for every member of God’s Church who is determined to come and complete the greatest Work the world has ever seen!
The next phase of this prophecy is described as taking place 26 days later—on what is the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (not the Last Great Day). Do not miss the shift forward in timing, and recall that Haggai means “My [God’s] Feast.” Think of this short book as containing a “Feast related” prophecy, but especially in regard to the second chapter. This is one great reason proving the people all return to God’s Church on the 24th day of the sixth month (Elul) of God’s sacred year! (There are other reasons that will be explored later.)
Also note that instead of God solely addressing Zerubbabel and Joshua, He includes the “residue of the people.” (“Residue” is the same Hebrew word as “remnant.”) God now speaks directly to the remnant since all of God’s people are back together, and have been for almost four weeks. As the whole Church is galvanized back into one after a period of separation for decades, certain critical messages must be heard at the Feast. Verse three becomes what should be considered as a summary of God’s instruction to the regathered remnant. (Think of it as a sermon outline for God’s ministers.) God next asks a crucial question that becomes another proof of who the chapter one “houses” are, and how they came out of something much bigger.
Next notice again (from Part Two) that Haggai 1:15 describes this event as happening “in the second year of Darius the king.” For those who believe these dates pertain to the Persian King Darius (who lived over 2,500 years ago), remember the modern Zerubbabel is also described as the “son of Shealtiel” and Joshua as the “son of Josedech.” The modern types of these two men are obviously NOT sons of these two fathers of long ago, yet this is what the Bible says. The Bible is speaking in code about what are two modern leaders. Mr. Armstrong certainly knew that the ancient Zerubbabel having been born to a man named Shealtiel had nothing to do with the prophetic fulfillment of this role. The same would be true of whoever is the modern Joshua regarding the irrelevancy of the ancient figure Josedech.
Similarly, the description of the YEAR of fulfillment must also be in code. If God specified the exact year He had in mind, the entire world would know when the prophecy would be fulfilled. Get this! Now think. God does not name in the Bible (or need to) the modern Elijah of Malachi 4:5-6 and Matthew 17:11 because His Spirit will guide those who are looking to Him to see who fulfilled this role. Fruits, as well as who fit the profile, reveal that man’s identity (Herbert W. Armstrong). Similarly, to believe the prophecy is fulfilled during the reign of Darius would mean Haggai is an historical account, and not PROPHETIC. The thoughtful reader will understand this “message in code” and absorb it into his thinking in readiness for what God will do.
