Advent: The Promise of His Coming

“In the first advent God veiled his divinity to prove the faithful; in the second advent he will manifest his glory to reward their faith.” — John Chrysostom

The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” Historically, the church used it to refer to the birth of Jesus, preparing to celebrate His coming on Christmas Day during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Yet the term has also pointed us forward to Christ’s Second Advent.

As the Christmas tract Christmas Is a Promise says:

Every Christmas is still a “turning of the page” until Jesus returns. Every December 25th marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to our heavenly home.

Every Christmas carol is a beautiful echo of the heavenly choir that will one day fill the universe with joy and singing.

Each Christmas gift is a foreshadowing of the gifts of golden crowns to be cast at the feet of the King of kings.

The church—meaning you and me—celebrates Christmas with this joyful anticipation of Christ’s return.

We rejoice that Christ has come in the flesh and that He will come again in glory to bring us home.

The prophets of the Old Testament understood the darkness of their times. They knew God’s people needed saving—especially from their own disobedience—so they looked ahead with longing to the First Advent:

Micah 5:2
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Isaiah 9:2
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…”

Isaiah 40:3–5
“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord… And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…’”

The twelfth-century hymn Veni Veni Emanuel, later translated as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, captures Israel’s longing beautifully in its opening stanza:

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appears.

The fifth stanza carries this forward-looking hope:
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode.

That same longing should fill the hearts of God’s people today. Our hope is not vague or uncertain—it is assured. Christ’s First Advent guarantees His Second.

As Paul writes:
Titus 2:13
“…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

While we look forward to rest, family gatherings, gifts, warm drinks, and delicious meals, our deepest joy rests in a promise yet to be fulfilled: the return of Christ.

The blessings we enjoy now are temporary and suited to earthly desires. But God has placed eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and that eternity eagerly awaits its Savior (Philippians 3:20). The writer of Hebrews confirms this hope:

Hebrews 9:28
“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Take time this season to share this blessed hope with your loved ones. Help them look beyond temporary joys and discover their ultimate joy in the promised return of their Savior, Jesus Christ.