Gospels Part 081
Gabriel has told Mary that she is favored by God and will bear a Son. And now he tells her of this Son’s astounding role in God’s great plan!
As we saw last time in Luke 1:30-31, the angel Gabriel gave this startling message to Mary:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (New English Translation [NET]).
Gabriel then describes to Mary what this Son will be and do in Luke 1:32-33:
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end” (NET).
As we covered in the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, Jesus was a descendant of David through both the lineage of Mary and Joseph. Mary, like every other believing Jew of that time, was aware of the many prophecies that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. She likewise knew that this Messiah would “reign over the house of Jacob”—the nation of Israel in all its descendants—forever. And He would do so in a Kingdom that would never end!
These prophecies were regularly rehearsed in their synagogues and in regular readings at the magnificent temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish people of that day, mostly concentrated in their ancient homeland but having lived for centuries under the domination of godless, idolatrous pagan overlords, eagerly longed for the appearance of this prophesied Messiah. The Messiah who under a David-like figure, would defeat their enemies and restore Israel to its rightful greatness. This great hope sustained them through generation after generation of subjugation. Rome was simply the latest in a long line of oppressors.
Let’s look at a few Scriptures that tie in with this prophecy that “his kingdom will never end.” The first one that would come to mind for many Jews of that day is Isaiah 9:7:
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
This tells us that the kingdom over which Jesus Christ will reign is not something temporary, but something that will continue forward forever. This prophecy also tells us that He will sit on the throne of David as ruler of the kingdom, and that it will be a kingdom of judgment and justice and peace with no end.
Because of the closeness of the wording, when the angel Gabriel says “of his kingdom there will be no end,” he is probably referring back to Isaiah 9:7. Or at the very least, he is using wording Mary is familiar with, so she will know that her Son will be the one who is to fulfill these prophecies.
Another similar prophecy of this kingdom that both Mary and Gabriel would have been familiar with is found in Daniel 2:44:
“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
Here again we’re told that the kingdom that Jesus Christ will institute will not only last forever, but that it will break in pieces and supersede all the governments of this world. A new kingdom will be established on the right foundation for the first time. All these prophecies are telling us what Jesus would start in His first coming and will finish at His second coming.
Let’s look at one more prophecy in Revelation 11:15:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”
Again, this tells us that Jesus Christ will reign forever in this kingdom, as announced at the seventh trumpet. And of course, it’s from this verse that we get the words to the chorus of Handel’s Messiah, one of the most magnificent pieces of music ever created. To learn more about this kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish, be sure to read The Gospel of the Kingdom. Since this is at the heart of Jesus’ message and teaching, you need to know what it’s all about!
© 2026 Scott Ashley. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
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Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
