and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride therein; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Haggai 2:20 And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai on the four and twentieth [day] of the month, saying,
Haggai 2:21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
Haggai 2:22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride therein; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Haggai 2:23 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.
The verse centers on "overthrow", "throne", "kingdoms", "destroy", "strength", and "nations". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "overthrow" and "throne", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The nearby context moves from verse 21's "Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah saying..." into verse 23's "In that day saith Jehovah of hosts...", so "overthrow" and "throne" belong inside that flow. In Haggai context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "overthrow" and "throne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.