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Was Gabriel Premillennial?

Jan 21, 2019

At Christmas time pastors often turn to Luke Chapter 1 for their Christmas sermon. In Luke chapter 1 we read that the angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and announced that she would give birth to the “Son of the Highest” who would be named JESUS (Luke 1:26-31). Gabriel’s words have a premillennial perspective in relation to the end times.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:32-33).

Gabriel obviously believed there will be an earthly reign of Christ in the future and that He will reign over the House of Jacob. The Lord Jesus will be given David’s earthly throne in fulfillment of the promise that Nathan gave to David:

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

The Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments plainly and simply show us that the Messiah will reign on earth (Isaiah 9:7; Zechariah 14:9).

Reformed Theology, taught in many churches today denies that God has a future for Israel and that Christ will literally reign for 1,000 years from a physical throne at Jerusalem.

Summarizing: We can learn the following from the Christmas message:

  1. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, believed that Jesus would deliver Israel from their enemies and that being delivered, they would “serve Him without fear.” The Jews were under the yoke of Rome at this time and have never served Christ. This prophecy is therefore future (Luke 1:69-75).
  2. David’s throne will be given to Christ so Jesus must return to Jerusalem where David’s throne has always been. (Zechariah 14:4,9, Luke 1:32-33, Acts 1:10-11, Revelation 19:7-21).
  3. When Christ reigns, Israel will serve Him ”without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives” (Luke 1:74-75). Israel must therefore turn to Christ before Jesus returns immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29).
  4. The kingdom Christ would be established for 1,000 years and never cease. “Of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33). It will continue into the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 20:4-7; chs. 21 and 22).
  5. The Angel Gabriel clearly preached the premillennial return of Christ to reign over the earth. He should know the truth, because he said, “I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19) and God said:

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah (Psalm 89:3-4).