the Mount Zion which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like high
palaces."(24) The first temple had been erected during the most prosperous
period of Israel's history. Vast stores of treasure for this purpose had
been collected by King David, and the plans for its construction were made
by divine inspiration.(25) Solomon, the wisest of Israel's monarchs, had
completed the work. This temple was the most magnificent building which
the world ever saw. Yet the Lord had declared by the prophet Haggai,
concerning the second temple, "The glory of this latter house shall be
greater than of the former." "I will shake all nations, and the Desire of
all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the
Lord of hosts."(26)

After the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, it was rebuilt
about five hundred years before the birth of Christ, by a people who from
a life-long captivity had returned to a wasted and almost deserted
country. There were then among them aged men who had seen the glory of
Solomon's temple, and who wept at the foundation of the new building, that
it must be so inferior to the former. The feeling that prevailed is
forcibly described by the prophet: "Who is left among you that saw this
house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes
in comparison of it as nothing?"(27) Then was given the promise that the
glory of this latter house should be greater than that of the former.

But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence; nor was
it hallowed by those visible tokens of the divine presence which pertained
to the first temple. There was no manifestation of supernatural power to
mark its dedication. No cloud of glory was seen to fill the newly erected
sanctuary. No fire from heaven descended to consume the sacrifice upon its
altar. The shekinah no longer abode between the cherubim in the most holy
place; the ark, the mercy-seat, and the tables of the testimony were not
to be found therein. No voice sounded from heaven to make known to the
inquiring priest the will of Jehovah.

For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise
of God given by Haggai, had been fulfilled; yet pride and unbelief blinded
their minds to the true meaning of the prophet's words. The second temple
was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah's glory, but with the living
presence of One in whom dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily--who was
God Hims