Herald

One who proclaims a message or paves the way for a promised event. In Scripture both angels and human beings are employed as heralds, and on occasions even specific events may herald future happenings.

Heralds in human affairs

2 Kings 18:28 See also Exodus 5:10; 1 Samuel 11:7; 2 Samuel 18:19; 1 Kings 21:12; 2 Kings 10:20, 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Chronicles 30:6; Esther 1:19–22, Esther 6:11; Daniel 3:4; Jonah 3:7

Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

To preach is to act as a herald

Pronouncing judgment

Jonah 3:4 See also Jeremiah 4:5, Jeremiah 46:14

On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”

Bringing good news

Isaiah 40:9 See also Isaiah 48:20, Isaiah 52:7–8; Nahum 1:15

Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Preaching the gospel

Matthew 24:14; Acts 5:42; 1 Timothy 2:7 See also Acts 4:2, Acts 8:5 Philip proclaims the gospel; Acts 9:20, Acts 10:42 Peter at Cornelius' house; Acts 15:7, Acts 17:3, Acts 28:31 Paul preaches at Rome; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:2; Colossians 1:23; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:11

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

John the Baptist as a herald

Matthew 11:10 parallels Mark 1:2, Luke 7:27 See also Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1–3; Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:17, Luke 1:76; John 1:15, John 3:28

This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

Angels as heralds

Luke 2:10 See also Judges 6:12; Matthew 1:20–21, Matthew 28:5–6 parallels Mark 16:5–6, Luke 24:4–6; Luke 1:13, Luke 1:30–31, Luke 2:13–14; Revelation 14:6

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

Events heralding what is to happen

Matthew 24:32–33 parallels Mark 13:28–29, Luke 21:29–31; 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Jesus Christ as a herald

Luke 4:43 parallel Mark 1:38 See also Matthew 4:17 parallels Mark 1:14–15, Luke 4:18–19; Isaiah 61:1–2; Luke 8:1

But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”