Gabriel

2023-07-15

The angel Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Bible.

1. Gabriel explained the vision of the ram and the goat. “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision” (Daniel 8:16). He came to the prophet Daniel to explain the vision he saw. When Daniel saw him, he fell down on his face and was in a deep sleep, but Gabriel stood him upright. He explained to the prophet that the ram and the goat were the Medes and the Persians, and Greece, respectively. He also told of a latter king that he would be a great destroyer but defeated by the Prince of princes. This one had a preliminary fulfillment in Antiochus IV Epiphanes but will ultimately be fulfilled in the Antichrist.
2. Gabriel explained the seventy weeks. “Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation” (Daniel 9:21). Gabriel was “caused to fly swiftly.” After Daniel prayed about the culmination of the seventy years of Jerusalem’s desolation according to Jeremiah, Daniel anticipated the end of Israel’s shame, praying and confessing sin. Gabriel gave the prophet the bigger picture of the future with explanation of the seventy weeks.
3. Gabriel went to Zacharias regarding the upcoming birth of his son John the Baptist. “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings” (Luke 1:19). Gabriel is described as “an angel of the Lord” here (Luke 1:11). Like Daniel, Zacharias feared. The messenger brought the good news of him having a son in his old age, and when the Levite doubted, the angel made him dumb until the day John was born.
4. Gabriel went to Mary regarding the upcoming birth of her Son Jesus the Messiah. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26). Gabriel was also the one to bring the wonderful news to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God. She was also troubled when the angel came and spoke to her.

The name Gabriel means “man of God.” He is described as a man and an angel. He would have looked human, but was an angel, or spirit being. Though the three people Gabriel came to were afraid, he brought them comfort. He lifted Daniel up and told Zacharias and Mary to not fear. He brought significant interpretation to prophecy or came to say that prophecy was about to be fulfilled.