The English word advent comes from a Latin word meaning arrival. It’s an appropriate term, therefore, with which to label the time of year in which we await the arrival of Jesus, the Savior. Usually, the focus of this season is on his entering this world as a baby born of a virgin. Historically, however, the church has also included his returning to “judge the living and the dead,” as the creed states. This second and final arrival will realize the fullness of the salvation he came to effect.
Our focus over the past few weeks has been the political nature of Advent and Christmas. We’ve considered how prophecy foresees his righteous rule; how the language surrounding his birth alludes to his assuming the throne of David; and the way in which his birth anticipates his being crucified for being the “king of the Jews.” But when we contemplate his second coming we find it to be the most political of all, for as the opening of Revelation declares, he “is coming with the clouds.” Such a coming signals the political nature of his arrival for it references another piece of apocalyptic literature. In Daniel 7 we are given a glimpse into the heavenly courtroom where ruthless kings are being judged and condemned by the Ancient of Days. Subsequent to that judgment, Daniel reports, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (7:13-14). The vision is potent! The deposed kings are likened to ferocious beasts, yet the one coming with the clouds assumes a breadth of rule that these wannabes wish they could possess.
Apocalyptic literature is just what Christians need to read in our current climate, a climate confidently described as “post-Christian.” Christianity’s influence has undeniably waned and followers of Jesus are the object of scorn. Such marginalization can have a corrosive effect on the church’s faith. We either lose heart, or we yield to the seeming greater power. In his mercy, God has seen fit to raise up a kind of literature that gives us a glimpse of "the bigger picture." And this genre teaches us that we should not fear the powerful for the God who rescued us from hell will cause us to triumph over all the forces that war against the Lord and his Anointed. In the end our faith will be vindicated and rewarded.
So take heart. Grace and peace from the triune God is ours!
