2:9Haggai 2:9

The latter house was promised a future glory greater than the former temple of Solomon, and that word about its coming glory will not fail.PK 577.1–3+1 That greater glory was not in greater architectural splendor, magnificence, expense, outward display, or visible signs of sacred objects, for the rebuilt house was plainer and lacked what the first had possessed.4SP 23.1–24.2+2 It was greater because the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Desire of all nations, God manifest in the flesh, would honor it with His personal and divine presence at His first advent as Teacher and Saviour.4SP 23.1–24.2+2 His presence in its courts teaching and healing hallowed it and alone made it exceed the first in glory, and the peace promised in that place was part of the blessing resting upon it.4SP 23.1–24.2+4 Pride and unbelief kept Israel from seeing this, and when Christ was rejected and left the house its glory had departed and it was left desolate, so the promise calls God's people to rise and build for Him without delay and to worship in humbleness without depending on pomp or outward form.4SP 23.1–24.2+4

The promise was given to the people engaged in rebuilding, assuring them that the coming glory of the rebuilt latter house would be greater than that of Solomon's former house, and that this word concerning its future glory would not fail.PK 577.1–3+1 That surpassing greatness was not to lie in greater architectural splendor, magnificence, expense, outward display, or visible tokens of divine presence and sacred objects.4SP 23.1–24.2+3 The rebuilt structure was in fact less magnificent and plainer than the first, and it lacked the visible signs of God's presence that had belonged to the first.4SP 23.1–24.2+3

It would be greater because the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Desire of all nations, God manifest in the flesh in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, would honor it with His own personal and divine presence.4SP 23.1–24.2+3 In the fullness of time He would appear in that building at His first advent as Teacher and Saviour of mankind.RH Dec 12, 1907+1 His personal presence there during His earthly ministry, teaching and healing in its courts, hallowed it with the presence of God.4SP 23.1–24.2+3 That presence alone made the second temple exceed the first in glory.PK 596.3–597.2+2

The pledge to give peace in that place belonged to the blessing resting upon the temple.Ms 116, 1897, par. 17–19+1 Pride and unbelief kept Israel from discerning this meaning of the promise.GC 24.2 When Israel rejected Christ and He departed from the temple, its glory had departed with Him and the house was left desolate.4SP 23.1–24.2+2

Haggai 2:9 is a call to honor God at once by rising up and building a house for Him without delay.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69 In that house His people are to worship Him in all humbleness of mind, to kneel down to worship Him, and to serve Him becomingly and in order.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69 Once dedicated to God, that house will stand as a witness to the truth they believe.Ms 175, 1897, par. 67–69 The verse belongs to God's message about building a house for Him that shows in parable what He endorses and what He condemns.Ms 95, 1902, par. 8 The temple was to be held sacred not for its magnificence, but because God had promised to be there.RH Dec 12, 1907

Its plainer character taught the people not to depend on pomp, ceremony, outward forms, display, or expense.Ms 116, 1897, par. 17–19+1 Its greater glory did not depend on outward display or expense, and its purpose included turning the people from reliance on outward forms.Ms 116, 1897, par. 17–19 Its restoration and rebuilding was to remove the reproach of disloyalty and to turn the people from disobedience and disloyalty.Ms 116, 1897, par. 17–19+1 They were to seek cleansing from disobedience through heartfelt repentance and by completing the work of rebuilding.Ms 116, 1897, par. 17–19+1