“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:26-33 NLT
There were promises and there were warnings. Clearly ancient words were spoken and recorded, prophesying, predicting what was to come – but few in the future believed. Time ebbed and flowed, dynasties and massive people groups shifted over hundreds of years, burying the truth alive in plain site. Yet one day, perfectly timed with precision, God sent Gabriel to announce the day of all days had come! Did the other angels know? Was heaven notified ahead of time? The news was never a secret, but the moment must have been highly guarded – maybe just God and Gabriel!
All history and all future would be extraordinarily changed by this annunciation – Mary, “you will.”
You will conceive.
You will give birth.
You will name him.
Then, He will be great.
He will be called.
The Lord God will give him.
And He will reign – over Israel forever and His Kingdom will never end.
All of this spoken to a humble, virtually unknown, young woman. Understandably Luke tells us Mary was “diatarassó,” thoroughly disturbed and “dialogizomai,” debated within herself – what does this all mean? Mary was completely knocked off center simply by Gabriel visiting her and complimenting her as being “highly favored with grace.”
After hearing what would take place within her young womb and who would yet to be conceived, and who that yet to be born person would become, she asked, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” Gabriel simply explained this one time supernatural event that would take place within her. The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” Mary’s famous words, “I am a female servant, a “doulé,” of the Lord. May it come into being, exactly as you have said.” From disturbed and debating to resolute with the will of Almighty God!
Even though this was a one-time, never to be repeated event, God is still fulfilling promises today. There are hundreds of yet to be announced prophecies that are scheduled to happen – maybe within our lifetime! For sure, we can give ourselves permission to question how or when, but being a believer or not – what God has said will become reality. Each one of the BIG, bizarre predictions and promises found in Revelation, will happen! Through who, or by when, or how it will all come to pass – we don’t know. But like Mary, anyone who is as wise and humble as this once young virgin, will say, “I am your “doulos,” your servant, may it come to be exactly as God has said.” Be aware. Believe and be ready! We may not have regular angelic visitors, but God is still dropping earth-shaking moves around the world. And, there some really BIG events yet to come.
Prayer
Dad,
I know you are still at work, still fulfilling prophetic promises all around us. It should not surprise us nor catch us unaware. Your word tells us that when the BIG events of wrapping up this life and the creation of a new earth, people will be having “normal” days when the events of Revelation take place. I don’t want to be confused or disturbed, I want to be excited to see the return of Jesus! Come quickly Lord Jesus, Amen.