29 & 30 Nov 2025 (Pastoral Page) UNDERSTANDING THE TWO ADVENTS

by Dr Peter Lim

This Sunday marks the start of the 2025 Advent season. The two Advents of our Lord Jesus Christ are the two greatest events on earth. One has happened; the other is yet to occur. The word Advent means arrival or coming. The first is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ through the Virgin Birth while the second is the Parousia or second coming when Christ returns to bring the redeemed to heaven. It was only about ten years ago that I realised that Advent sermons should highlight the inextricable link between the two comings. The first inaugurated God’s plan of salvation while the second completed it.

Timing of the Advents

While the first Advent took place around 4 BC, the Christian world has been waiting for close to two thousand years for the Parousia. Despite the best efforts of charlatan Biblical scholars over the years to predict the second return of Jesus Christ, all such attempts have been and will be in vain. As the Bible teaches us “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). In addition, the Parousia will be totally unexpected like the coming of a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). The seemingly long delay in His coming is attributed by the apostle Peter to God “. . . not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This verse also tells us that the Parousia will mark the close of the invitation to salvation in Jesus Christ. It is sobering to be reminded that salvation is not going to be offered in perpetuity. So, while we wait patiently, we need to pray for and extend our outreach efforts to our pre-believing friends to come into the fold before it is too late.

Manner of the Advents

Jesus Christ’s first Advent, though prophesied by Old Testament prophets (e.g. Micah 5:2), was rather low key and almost private. Only the Magi from the East sought to pay Him homage and worship in response to an epiphany (Matthew 2:1-18). Although the Bible does not tell us about their religious persuasion, it is quite clear that they were divinely inspired as their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh are symbolic and prophetic of the three-fold ministry of Jesus Christ as King, Priest, and Prophet. No such tribute was forth-coming from the fellow countrymen of Jesus Christ. Apart from King Herod, whose interest in the birth of Jesus resulted from fear that the “King of the Jews” sought by the Magi could threaten his throne, there was general apathy. The announcement of Jesus’ birth to the Jewish community was instead made to a group of unnamed shepherds. These herdsmen were honoured with the appearance of the glory of the Lord (Luke 2:8-16). This was the Shekinah glory (symbolic of the presence of God Jehovah) present in the Tabernacle and the Temple, the glory that the prophet Ezekiel saw departing from the Temple. (Ezekiel 10:4,18-19; 11:22-23). For more than 500 years Israel had been without the visible sign of God’s presence among His people. And now, this glory for which the Jews had waited was revealed to ordinary shepherds in the fields and not to priests in the Temple.

In contrast, the second Advent will be a spectacular event, marking His triumphant return.  The return of the King of Kings will be personal, physical, and glorious and seen by everyone then living (Matthew 24:30). Elsewhere, the Bible tells us “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). The theological term for this midair congregation is the rapture. We are told that the unbelieving unregenerate will be left behind in the rapture (Matthew 24:40,41). Elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Paul describes the resurrection body into which our human body, dead or alive will first be changed to before the move to heaven.

Our Response to the two Advents

The two Advents call for an appropriate response from us. The first Advent inaugurated God’s plan of salvation for humankind when the Incarnated Son of God died on the cross. His shed blood provides our redemption from sin if we so choose to accept.

The right response to the Parousia suggested by Paul is two faceted – “It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. . .” (Titus 2:12,13).  So, how do we do this?  A good starting point is the plea to be found in Romans 12:1 – “Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship.”