Revival History: From Israel to America-Rebuilding the Temple

Revival History: From Israel to America-Rebuilding the Temple by Paul Camuti 09/15/2026

All Scriptures are NLT.

‍ ‍In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled into their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose (“one man” in NASB and KJV). Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed by the Law of Moses, the man of God. Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site.” Ezra 3:1-6

‍ ‍When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord's Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed. With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lords Temple had been laid. Ezra 3:10-13

In our series of Revial History, and in previous messages regarding prayer, we have discussed how deliberate, concentrated prayer is the undercurrent for revival. It starts with people like Jacob, Jeremiah, and Daniel calling out to God in repentance for their own sin and the sin of their people. We saw examples of how Jeremiah's call to call to God in Lamentations 5:1-5, 17, 21 asking for restoration for the people of Israel, led to God fulfilling Jeremiah's prophesies of King Cyrus of Persia allowing the people of Israel to return to their land to rebuild the Temple. The rebuilding of the altar and the Temple signify the people of Israel having their relationship with God restored. As we see in the early Scriptures of Ezra, things start off well. Revival is in full swing. However, not long after the foundation of the Temple is laid, the people give into fear and apathy which cause the revival to wane.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin (primarily the Samaritans) heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to Him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne. Ezra 4:1-5

Although revival along with repentance and rededication to the Lord occurs, there is also celebration, refreshing, reinvigoration. We must also realize that in the midst of revival, there is also opposition. And while opposition is often done through human agency, it is the devil who is trying to stop God from moving in and through His people.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Paul the apostle gives a description of the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:14-17. We need to make ourselves aware of what the symbolism of the whole armor of God means for us. We need to be aware

of the dark spiritual realm that we are up against, but to prevail against it means our focus has to be on God and His Word. The perfect example of that is when Jesus was tempted by the devil in Luke chapter 4.

Eventually those who opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, sent a letter to King Artaxerxes.

This is a copy of their letter: “To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal subjects in the province west of the Euphrates River. The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls. And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you. We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.” Ezra 4:11-13, 16

King Artaxerxes responded to the letter, and issued an order to have the rebuilding of the city ended. He expressed, “That city must not be rebuilt except at my expressed command.” (Ezra 4:21b).

When the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 4:23-24

The people of Israel who started out so well with revival, due to fear of opposition and later apathy allowed the Temple to lay untouched for seventeen years. However, as was mentioned in the last message, Daniel, during the first year of King Darius, prayed on behalf of the people of Israel, repenting of his and the nation's sin, and calling out to God to have mercy (Daniel 9:1-19). God then stirs the heart of Haggai with prophesy.

On August 29 of the second year of King Darius reign, The Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. “This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: 'The people are saying, The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.'” Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while My house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: 'Look at what's happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!'” Haggai 1:1-6

Through the prophet Haggai, The Lord is telling the people of Israel that because they have not followed through with the restoration of the Temple, blessing has been held back.

“'You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because My house lies in ruins', says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, while you are busy building your own fine houses. (10) It's because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.'” Haggai 1:9-10

Then Zerubbbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God's people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord.” So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God's people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, on September 21 of the second year of King Darius reign. Haggai 1:12-15

The word sparked in Haggai 1:14 is a Hebrew word that means, to rouse, awaken, stir up, to arouse to action.

Then on October 17 of that same year, the Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai. “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God's people there in the land: 'Does anyone remember this house-this Temple-in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.'” Haggai 1:12-15

In the previous message we discussed how the people who were still alive that saw the original Temple-Solomon's Temple wept because when the foundation of the new Temple was laid, they believed the new Temple would not have the spledor of the original. The Lord spoke through Haggai encouraged the people stating that His Spirit remains among them. It is not in the spledor or the grandiosity that brings God's Presence. It is the heart posture of the people towards honoring God that attacts God's Presence.

At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them. Ezra 5:1-2

When the opposition finds out the people of God went about to rebuild the Temple again, they went to Jerusalem.

“Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple. But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision. Ezra 5:3b-5

From Ezra 6:1-17, the leaders of the opposition sent a letter to Darius, explaining that the Jews said that by decree of King Cyrus they were allowed to rebuild the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. The letter suggested to King Darius to find out if such a degree truly existed. Chapter six of Ezra tells of how Darius did find the decree, and he made a decree of his own. Darius decreed that the Jews could rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem. He also said for the oppositon to not hinder the rebuilding, and advised them to help the Jews.

King Darius also went on to say the following:

“Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble. May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor His name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple. I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.” Ezra 6:11-12

The Ezra/Nehemiah revival to be continued....