Advent Research

Advent of Christ, the First

A.     Announced in the Old Testament by:

Moses     Deut. 18:18, 19

Samuel     Acts 3:24

David     Ps. 40:6–8; Heb. 10:5–8

Prophets     Luke 24:26, 27

B.     Prophecies fulfilled by his:

Birth     Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23

Forerunner     Mal. 3:1, 2; Matt. 3:1–3

Incarnation     Is. 9:6

Time of arrival     Dan. 9:24, 25; Mark 1:15

Rejection     Is. 53:1–4; Rom. 10:16–21

Crucifixion     Ps. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:24–28

Atonement     Is. 53:1–12; 1 Pet. 1:18–21

Resurrection     Ps. 16:8–11; Acts 2:25–31

Priesthood     Ps. 110:4, 5; Heb. 5:5, 6

C.     His first coming:

Introduces Gospel age     Acts 3:24

Establishes new covenant     Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6–13

Fulfills prophecy     Luke 24:44, 45

Nullifies the ceremonial system     Heb. 9

Brings Gentiles in     Acts 15:13–18

Advent of Christ, the Second

See Second Coming of Christ

Advents of Christ, compared

A.     First Advent:

Prophesied     Deut. 18:18, 19; Is. 7:14

Came as man     Phil. 2:5–8

Announced     Luke 2:10–14

Time predicted     Dan. 9:25

To save the lost     Matt. 18:11

Subject to government     Matt. 17:24–27

B.     Second Advent:

Prophesied     John 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 4:16

Come as God     1 Thess. 4:16

As a thief     1 Thess. 5:2

At a time unknown     Matt. 24:36

To judge the lost     Matt. 25:31–33, 41–46

Source of government     Rev. 20:4–6; Rev. 22:3–5

CHRISTMAS

Initial prophecy of Christ’s birth, Genesis 3:15.

3:15 enmity between you and the woman: This is not just about snakes; it is about the enemy of our souls, Satan. your seed and her Seed: The language is ambiguous but still contains the promise of a child. The term seed is exceedingly important. It may be translated offspring (15:3) or descendants (15:5, 13, 18). The term may refer to an individual (Gal. 3:16) or a group of people. This means, among other things, that Eve would live, at least for a while. The Seed of the woman is the Promised One, the coming Messiah of Israel. Seed continues to be used throughout the Bible as a messianic term (Num. 24:7; Is. 6:13). The meaning of the phrase your seed as it applies to the serpent is uncertain (John 8:37–47). The reference is ultimately to Satan. your head: This is sometimes called the “first gospel” because these words, as indirect as they are, promise the Coming One whom we know to be the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. The Lord was showing mercy even as He judged (4:15). Bruise His heel speaks of a serious injury, but it is contrasted with the bruising of the head—the defeat—of the serpent’s seed. When Jesus went to the Cross, He was bruised in His heel. That is, He suffered a terrible but temporary injury (John 12:31; Col. 2:15). In His resurrection, He defeated His enemy. From that moment on, Satan has lived on borrowed time. He is already defeated; only the announcement of victory needs to be given (Rom. 16:20).

[1]

Bethlehem’s alternate name, Genesis 35:19.

Star of Bethlehem, Numbers 24:17. This poetic language clearly refers to the Messiah. The pagan Balaam had a vision of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ! He was visible from afar. He was like a Star, radiant and beautiful. He was like a Scepter, majestic and powerful. And He is the victor over His enemies, including Moab—the nation that hired Balaam to curse Israel! All nations who resisted Israel and God’s work would come under the curse they unwittingly embraced. Among them was Edom, who rejected the request of Moses for safe passage (20:14–21). The One out of Jacob, the Messiah, will be victor over all His foes (Pss. 2; 110; Rev. 19:11–21).

[2]

Virgin Birth prophesied, Isaiah 7:14 (nrsv).

Messiah prophesied, Isaiah 9:1–7.

Similarity to Christmas tree, Jeremiah 10:3–5.

Bethlehem prophecy, Micah 5:2.

Christmas rumors, Matthew 2:3 (lb).

Time between birth, Magi, Matthew 2:16.

Hard-hearted generosity, Matthew 7:

[3]

Advent of Christ, the First

Deuteronomy 18:18  ...Old Testament by: Moses Deut. 18:18, 19 Samuel ...

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Deuteronomy 18:19  ...Moses Deut. 18:18, 19 Samuel Acts 3:...

19 And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

Acts 3:24  ...18:18, 19 Samuel Acts 3:24 David Ps. 40:...

24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.

Psalm 40:6-8  ...Acts 3:24 David Ps. 40:6–8; Heb. 10:5–...

6 Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire;

but thou hast given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

thou hast not required.

7 Then I said, “Lo, I come;

in the roll of the book it is written of me;

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God;

thy law is within my heart.”

Hebrews 10:5-8  ...Ps. 40:6–8; Heb. 10:5–8 Prophets Luke 24:...

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired,

but a body hast thou prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,’

as it is written of me in the roll of the book.” 8 When he said above, “Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),

Luke 24:26  ...10:5–8 Prophets Luke 24:26, 27 B. ...

26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Luke 24:27  ...Prophets Luke 24:26, 27 B. Prophecies fulfilled ...

27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Isaiah 7:14  ...fulfilled by his: Birth Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23...

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el.

Matthew 1:23  ...Birth Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23 Forerunner Mal. 3:...

23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).

Malachi 3:1  ...Matt. 1:23 Forerunner Mal. 3:1, 2; Matt. 3:...

1 “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:2  ...Forerunner Mal. 3:1, 2; Matt. 3:1–...

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;

Matthew 3:1-3  ...Mal. 3:1, 2; Matt. 3:1–3 Incarnation Is. 9:...

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.”

Isaiah 9:6  ...3:1–3 Incarnation Is. 9:6 Time of arrival ...

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Daniel 9:24  ...6 Time of arrival Dan. 9:24, 25; Mark 1:...

24 “Seventy weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

Daniel 9:25  ...arrival Dan. 9:24, 25; Mark 1:15...

25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.

Mark 1:15  ...Dan. 9:24, 25; Mark 1:15 Rejection Is. 53:...

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Isaiah 53:1-4  ...Mark 1:15 Rejection Is. 53:1–4; Rom. 10:16–...

1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Romans 10:16-21  ...Is. 53:1–4; Rom. 10:16–21 Crucifixion Ps. 2:...

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;

with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;

I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Psalm 2:1  ...10:16–21 Crucifixion Ps. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:...

1 Why do the nations conspire,

and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 2:2  ...Crucifixion Ps. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:24–...

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord and his anointed, saying,

Acts 4:24-28  ...Ps. 2:1, 2; Acts 4:24–28 Atonement Is. 53:...

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit,

‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.

Isaiah 53:1-12  ...4:24–28 Atonement Is. 53:1–12; 1 Pet. 1:...

1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; 11 he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1 Peter 1:18-21  ...Is. 53:1–12; 1 Pet. 1:18–21 Resurrection Ps. 16:...

18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. 21 Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Psalm 16:8-11  ...1:18–21 Resurrection Ps. 16:8–11; Acts 2:25–...

8 I keep the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;

my body also dwells secure.

10 For thou dost not give me up to Sheol,

or let thy godly one see the Pit.

11 Thou dost show me the path of life;

in thy presence there is fulness of joy,

in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Acts 2:25-31  ...Ps. 16:8–11; Acts 2:25–31 Priesthood Ps. 110:...

25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. 27 For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades,

nor let thy Holy One see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life;

thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.’

29 “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Psalm 110:4  ...2:25–31 Priesthood Ps. 110:4, 5; Heb. 5:...

4 The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest for ever

after the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:5  ...Priesthood Ps. 110:4, 5; Heb. 5:5, ...

5 The Lord is at your right hand;

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

Hebrews 5:5  ...Ps. 110:4, 5; Heb. 5:5, 6 C. ...

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“Thou art my Son,

today I have begotten thee”;

Hebrews 5:6  ...5; Heb. 5:5, 6 C. His first ...

6 as he says also in another place,

“Thou art a priest for ever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34  ...24 Establishes new covenant Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6–...

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 8:6-13  ...Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6–13 Fulfills prophecy Luke ...

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second.

8 For he finds fault with them when he says:

“The days will come, says the Lord,

when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah; 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of the land of Egypt;

for they did not continue in my covenant,

and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. 10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, says the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach every one his fellow

or every one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for all shall know me,

from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.” 13 In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Luke 24:44  ...6–13 Fulfills prophecy Luke 24:44, 45 Nullifies ...

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.”

Luke 24:45  ...prophecy Luke 24:44, 45 Nullifies the ceremonial ...

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,

Hebrews 9:1-28  ...Nullifies the ceremonial system Heb. 9 Brings Gentiles in ...

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Hence even the first covenant was not ratified without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, 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.

Acts 15:13-18  ...9 Brings Gentiles in Acts 15:13–18 Advent of Christ, the ...

13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brethren, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, 16 ‘After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;

I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will set it up, 17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.’

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[1]Radmacher, E. D. 1999. Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary. T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville

[2]Radmacher, E. D. 1999. Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary. T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville

[3]Anderson, K. 1996. Where to find it in the Bible. T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville