This is the third and final entry of my Dad’s Gabriel series. Each Sunday I will be posting A Message From My Dad. If you notice in my Sunday section on the left sidebar you will see a button for him and everything. My dad has been a preacher/teacher for 30 years. Cancer may have taken his original voice. Science has given him a new voice. But the voice with a message from God remains as strong as it has ever been. I hope that you will enjoy Sundays when I share a Message From My Dad.

Gabriel’s Announcement

Luke 1:31-34

Isaac Watts wrote some 600 hymns, one of the most well known is “Joy to the World.” The Christmas story revolves around themes in his poem: shepherds, wise men, angels, and a star. However, when you get to the latter verses, it becomes apparent that it is not a Christmas carol after all, or, it was written in the prophetic present tense, as if the time was already here: “He rules the world,” obviously He doesn’t reign on earth today; neither does nature “Bend beneath His sway” the natural universe is in chaos; nor does, “the nations prove the glories of His righteousness,” there is war, greed, injustice, and brutality, literally He is not reigning today. Watt’s song is more suited to the Millennium than the manger. The first 4 prophecies have already been fulfilled, literally. The last 3 are yet to be fulfilled, and require the second coming of Christ:

5) “ The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” (v32)

He is to reign by divine right, which is the heartbeat of the Old Testament. Throne rights are vested in him through Mary to David the King who founded the Hebrew royal family, and Joseph’s linear line to Solomon. Although Christ never literally sat on a throne, the wise men would have put him on a throne, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews, that we may worship him?” Why should the other clauses be fulfilled and not this one? A literal interpretation requires a second coming. The fulfillment of all prophetic scripture promised in the OT is now brought to a focal point here in Nazareth. God’s promise to David (2 Samuel 7: 12, 13, 16) was to be fulfilled.

6) “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (v33)

This emphasizes both the Jewish character of the Millennial kingdom and the eternal permanence of Christ’s rule over all. The Jewish people do not acknowledge Him as Savior today, but when He returns there will be a remnant that will turn to Him.

7) “And of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

Note, the circumference of His kingdom, to the “ends of the earth.” All nations will recognize Him as sovereign. Even in space, at the end of the Millennium John says, “He will make a new heaven and new earth,” and reign to the uttermost bounds of the universe. In time also, His reign will go on for ever and ever.

One day when Christ comes back, we will be able to sing the rest of Isaac’s Watts song: “Joy to the earth (The curse is lifted), the Savior reigns (On earth); Let men their songs employ. White fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains , repeat the sounding joy…”. May each of us anticipate that day here and now by enthroning in our hearts Jesus as our Lord.

by: Mike Stokes