Advent Then and Advent to Come*
Advent means "the appearing, the coming." Throughout scripture, both the first appearing and the second appearing of the Messiah/Christ Jesus are described. As we have been discussing comparing spiritual with spiritual these last few weeks, we will also compare scriptures that confirm both advents of Christ from the Old and New Testaments. Scripture says that the LORD does nothing without first telling His servants, the prophets, and that includes the two advents of Jesus. Matthew Ch. 2 tells the first advent of the baby born in Bethlehem to Mary, and the divergent attitudes towards that miraculous event. The wise men from the east came to King Herod in Jerusalem, asking: "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have followed his star from the east, and are come to worship him.' When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (Mt. 2:1-3). Why was the birth of the Messiah tro...