The building of the second temple marked a turning point in Israel’s history. After seventy years of Babylonian exile, God stirred the hearts of His people to return and rebuild the house of the Lord. Unlike Solomon’s Temple, the second temple was built in weakness, opposition, and scarcity. Yet through it all, God’s providence and faithfulness were on them. Though smaller in outward glory, this temple pointed forward to something infinitely greater… Jesus Christ and the new covenant.
This study will walk through the return from exile, the challenges of rebuilding, the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, and the temple’s fulfillment in Christ.
“Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now?… Yet now be strong… and work; for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:3–4)
The Return from Exile
The Babylonian exile had left Jerusalem in ruins. The temple was destroyed, and the people were scattered. But God, in His mercy, had not forgotten His covenant. Through the prophet Jeremiah, He had promised:
“After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:10)
True to His word, God stirred the heart of a pagan king:
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:2)
Cyrus not only allowed the Jews to return but also restored the temple articles and provided support. God used an unbelieving king to fulfill His divine purpose.
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord… He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)
Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, led the first wave of exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 2:2). Alongside Jeshua the high priest, he became a key figure in the temple’s reconstruction.
Rebuilding the Altar
Before laying the foundation, the people rebuilt the altar:
“Then Jeshua… and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel… arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it.” (Ezra 3:2)
Even before there were walls, there was worship. The altar represented atonement, fellowship, and covenant. Despite fear of surrounding nations, the people prioritized honoring God.
“From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid.” (Ezra 3:6)
They understood a vital principle: worship does not wait for perfect circumstances. Fellowship with God begins wherever repentance and sacrifice are offered.
The Foundation Laid
When the builders finally laid the foundation, there was a mixed reaction.
“But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice… yet many shouted aloud for joy.” (Ezra 3:12)
Some rejoiced at the new beginning, while others mourned the loss of its former glory. This contrast reminds us that God’s work often begins in humility.
But the foundation was only the start and opposition soon followed…
Opposition and Delays
As the work progressed, adversaries arose. They offered false help, then resorted to intimidation and political sabotage.
“Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose.” (Ezra 4:4–5)
Eventually, the work stopped completely. Years passed. Discouragement grew. Priorities shifted. The people began to focus on their own homes and prosperity.
“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4)
God raised up two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to call the people back to obedience.
Haggai’s Message
Haggai’s words were blunt but necessary:
“You have sown much, and bring in little… And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6)
The people were frustrated, but the reason was spiritual. They had neglected God’s house. The solution was clear:
“Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified.” (Haggai 1:8)
Remarkably, the people obeyed. They feared the Lord and responded to the word of the prophet.
“So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel… and the spirit of Jeshua… and they came and worked on the house of the Lord.” (Haggai 1:14)
Obedience brought renewed strength. The Lord encouraged them with His presence:
“I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 1:13)
Zechariah’s Encouragement
Zechariah was raised up alongside Haggai. He spoke visions of hope and future glory. His message to Zerubbabel was foundational:
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
The rebuilding would not succeed through human strength, but by God’s enabling. God even declared that Zerubbabel would finish what he started:
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation… his hands shall also finish it.” (Zechariah 4:9)
God delights to use small beginnings:
“For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10)
The second temple was not grand in appearance, but it was significant in destiny.
The Temple Completed
After about twenty years, the temple was finished under the reign of King Darius.
“Then the children of Israel… finished the building… And they celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.” (Ezra 6:15–16)
It was not as magnificent as Solomon’s temple, but it was a monument to God’s faithfulness. He had brought them out of exile, sustained them through opposition, and restored their worship.
A Greater Glory to Come
The most profound truth of the second temple is not in its walls, but in what it pointed to. Haggai said:
“The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former… and in this place I will give peace.” (Haggai 2:9)
Though Solomon’s temple was richer in gold, the second temple would be visited by the Son of God. Jesus Himself would walk its courts, teach within its walls, and cleanse it with zeal.
“My house shall be called a house of prayer.” (Matthew 21:13)
Jesus is the true temple… the place where God meets man. His body was the temple destroyed and raised in three days (John 2:19–21). In Him, every shadow finds its fulfillment.
Fulfillment in the Church and Eternity
The second temple has long since fallen. But God’s dwelling place continues:
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The Church is now the temple. We are living stones built upon Christ (1 Peter 2:5). And one day, the ultimate reality will come:
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.” (Revelation 21:3)
In the New Jerusalem, there will be no physical temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Revelation 21:22).
My Final Thoughts
The building of the second temple was a miracle of restoration. Born in weakness, completed in perseverance, it stood as a testimony to God’s covenant mercy. It teaches us that God revives what is broken, rebuilds what is ruined, and keeps every promise.
When we are discouraged by small beginnings or opposition, we remember His Word: “Be strong… and work, for I am with you.” God does not need grand things, He desires faithful hearts.
Let us build our lives on Christ, the true and eternal temple. Let us return to worship, walk in obedience, and await the glory that is yet to be revealed.
“To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)
