Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 9/4/2007

Question
  Luke 1:33 says that Christ will rule the House of Jacob forever. Isn't the House of Jacob a physical human nation or tribe? How is it that Christ will be ruling this forever? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Anon,
  The House of Jacob refers to the Nation of Israel.  The Bible often uses the names interchangeably, but they mean the same thing.   Jacob's twelve sons are the twelve tribes of Israel.  God changed Jacob's name to Israel in Genesis 32:28.
   Jesus Christ is a Jew and Israelite and specifically a descendent of the tribe of Judah.  God promised Israel He would give them an everlasting kingdom and that the Messiah would rule over the house of David forever.    In 1 Chronicles 16:13-24 it is explained that God was making an everlasting covenant with Jacob and his children. In this passage God mentions both the names of Jacob and Israel.
    Presently, Jesus of course is the Christ (Messiah) and sits on the throne of David, which is the throne of Israel.  The Jews temporarily rejected Jesus as their Messiah, however that did not change God's plans, but it delayed the implementation of the kingdom.  We are presently in the Church Age, and God is working with Gentiles and saving a people from them.   However, there is coming a day which we call the Rapture when the Lord Jesus will return and take all believers of the church age to heaven with Him.   He then will once again begin to work with the nation of Israel in the seven following years called Tribulation and also Daniel's 70th Week. (See Daniel 9:27)   
    God promised there would never lack a man to sit on the throne of David in 1 Kings 9:5.  (Also see Isaiah 9:7)
    Luke 1:32-33 proclaimed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Savior who would sit on the throne of David forever.    
    Presently Christ is in heaven and holds the everlasting position as the King of the Israel.   Although there is no earthly kingdom of Israel, Jesus remains as their legitimate king. (the present State of Israel does not worship God or are lead by Him)  At the end of the seven year Tribulation, Jesus will return to earth and establish His kingdom and rule the earth, which was promised to the Jews.   This period is called the Millennium. (Rev.20:4)  At then end of the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom, God will establish a new heaven and earth and Christ will continue to sit on the throne and rule.(Rev. 21-22)
   I hope this explains this to you, but if you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams