The Advent Yet to Come

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference is between an ordinary book and well-known classic? I can certainly tell you it not solely based on the material of the paper or the artwork of the cover that makes the differences, but it’s how the author takes their pen to the paper and writes in a style that brings your inter self from fiction to non-fiction. Rather than just reading the story, you are immersed in it. Truly you feel apart of the story now. Maybe you’re not one of the main character, but you see, taste, hear, and touch everything that’s happening in the narrative.

Revelation 12 ESV

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Some of the most memorable classics that I’ve read was in high school. I remember reading the very short book called Animal Farm by George Orwell, How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Odyssey by Homer, and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Every one of these books left an impression on me. In Animal Farm, as a teenager I learned, don’t trust the pigs. How to Kill a Mockingbird showed that life wasn’t fair and prejudges is a real issue for people. The Odyssey taught me that if you work hard enough anything is possible, just like Odysseus shows us by overcoming any trial. Lastly, The Old Man and the Sea taught me to never go fishing alone.

Revelation 12 ESV

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

A Christmas Carol

But one of the most famous classics that has touched all our hearts is Charles Dickens’ book, “A Christmas Carol.” Written in six weeks and published on December 19th in 1834. During a time when Charles witness oppression of the orphans in London from rich folks who wish to hoard their own money. Charles was inspired to put pen to paper a book that would convict and transform many lives in London.

Perhaps you have read the book or spent a hour and half watching in movie.

Stave one

A Christmas Carol opens on a bleak, cold Christmas Eve in London, seven years after the death of Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge, an ageing miser, dislikes Christmas and refuses a dinner invitation from his nephew Fred—the son of Fan, Scrooge's dead sister. He turns away two men who seek a donation from him to provide food and heating for the poor and only grudgingly allows his overworked, underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, Christmas Day off with pay to conform to the social custom.

That night Scrooge is visited at home by Marley's ghost, who wanders the Earth entwined by heavy chains and money boxes forged during a lifetime of greed and selfishness. Marley tells Scrooge that he has a single chance to avoid the same fate: he will be visited by three spirits and must listen or be cursed to carry much heavier chains of his own.

Stave two

The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge to Christmas scenes of Scrooge's boyhood, reminding him of a time when he was more innocent. The scenes reveal Scrooge's lonely childhood at boarding school, his relationship with his beloved sister Fan, and a Christmas party hosted by his first employer, Mr Fezziwig, who treated him like a son. Scrooge's neglected fiancée Belle is shown ending their relationship, as she realises that he will never love her as much as he loves money. Finally, they visit a now-married Belle with her large, happy family on the Christmas Eve that Marley died. Scrooge, upset by hearing Belle's description of the man that he has become, demands that the ghost remove him from the house.

Stave three

The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Scrooge to a joyous market with people buying the makings of Christmas dinner and to celebrations of Christmas in a miner's cottage and in a lighthouse. Scrooge and the ghost also visit Fred's Christmas party. A major part of this stave is taken up with Bob Cratchit's family feast and introduces his youngest son, Tiny Tim, a happy boy who is seriously ill. The spirit informs Scrooge that Tiny Tim will die unless the course of events changes. Before disappearing, the spirit shows Scrooge two hideous, emaciated children named Ignorance and Want. He tells Scrooge to beware the former above all and mocks Scrooge's concern for their welfare.

📷Scrooge and Bob Cratchit celebrate Christmas in an illustration from stave five of the original edition, 1843.

The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Scrooge a Christmas Day in the future. The silent ghost reveals scenes involving the death of a disliked man whose funeral is attended by local businessmen only on condition that lunch is provided. His charwoman, laundress and the local undertaker steal his possessions to sell to a fence. When he asks the spirit to show a single person who feels emotion over his death, he is only given the pleasure of a poor couple who rejoice that his death gives them more time to put their finances in order. When Scrooge asks to see tenderness connected with any death, the ghost shows him Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. The ghost then allows Scrooge to see a neglected grave, with a tombstone bearing Scrooge's name. Sobbing, Scrooge pledges to change his ways.

Stave five

Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning a changed man. He makes a large donation to the charity he rejected the day before, anonymously sends a large turkey to the Cratchit home for Christmas dinner and spends the afternoon with Fred's family. The following day he gives Cratchit an increase in pay and begins to become a father figure to Tiny Tim. From then on Scrooge treats everyone with kindness, generosity and compassion, embodying the spirit of Christmas.

After the publishing of The Christmas Carol, some amazing happened, giving to charity went up. People not only read the story, but placed themselves in it too. They didn’t want to be like the old Scrooge, but be known as the one who gave generously to all people. Out of all of the Christmas stories I believe this one is the closest to Christ. For it’s more rewarding to give rather than to receive. God the Father is the prime example of this kind of giving.

While we were poor orphans and had no heavenly Father, God generously gave us a gift that made us rich in spirit and in life. This is the story that the bible tells and which captures our attention every time we go and read it for ourselves. The first gift God gave to us was his Son. Which as poor orphans we had no claim over him. But out of the Father’s love for us he sent Jesus down to earth through a virgin, which gave birth to our Savior. Which is why we celebrate Advent, the coming and arrival of Christ.

But that story like all stories is not finished yet. We are still waiting for the God’s Christmas story to come to an conclusion. The first part of the story has begun, Jesus was born in the flesh and dwelt among us, showing us what it truly means to be human. Then Christ lived a perfect life full of righteousness and became our atoning sacrifice which washed us of our sins.

Now we are living in the midst of Christmas story. We are waiting for the final coming of Jesus and the wrapping up of God’s story. Which brings us to final book in the bible - the book of Revelation. Where we will jump and immerse ourselves in the ending of the story. For we will see in this final story that certain books do matter.

Revelation 20:11–21:8 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

20:11-21

Revelation

Certain books do matter - the book of life

At the Second Coming, at the end of the age Jesus will come and judge everyone - every word and every deed we’ve committed. But the ones who should be afraid are the ones who do not have their names written in the book of life. For they belong not to the Father, but to the devil and they will be separated from the goodness of God for eternity. But those who live according to righteousness and obey Jesus have nothing to fear. For their Christmas gift is coming like Santa sliding the chimney.

Revelation 21:1–8 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:

This is the story that we are so desperately waiting to see, taste, hear, and touch. For all the old things which used to harm us will be removed and all that will be left will be God and his loving kindness towards us. The best part of all of this it’s free. God says, “I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” So in other word, it’s not something we accomplish to get into the book of life, but it’s a response. A call to action, God is offering us something special - life in his eternal kingdom which equates to everlasting life. That’s a story that I can’t wait to happen. John felt the same way.

Revelation 22:20–21 ESV

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Revelation 22:20-

Bringing all the stories together, A Christmas Carol, Jesus in the manger, and the Second Coming what lessons can we pull from them?

We need to learn from the past.

Just as Ebeneezer Scrooge came to the conclusion that being a tight fisted can be a dangerous to one’s spiritual health. So too we need to take time a reflect over our past and learn from our mistakes. But healthy reflection is different than getting depressed over our past experiences. We can’t change the past. The things we did in the past are left behind us. The best thing is to learn and make better life choices so we can affect our present. One of the best advice I can give to you is at some point before you sleep is recount your whole day. Then you have time to repent and make corrections so you can continue growing closer to God.

We need to change in the presence.

Learning is key, but action is what makes us different. When Ebeneezer woke up, he started throwing out money for he knew that change needed to happen. The same applies to you and me, we need to find God and get right with him. Believing, repenting, confessing being baptized in water and living for his kingdom. It’s not enough to admit our faults, we need to respond to God’s free gift. What is God calling you to change in your life?

1. To die to yourself and become a Christian? 2. To give up a sinful habit? 3. To give and serve more.

We need to wait for the future.

God knows we will have battles in life especially concerning out faith, but we are encourage to keep being faithful to God for we know what the promise is in store for us. God said, “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” We must endure to the end to keep our promise. No matter what happens this day, week, or month. Keep believing, for your story is short compared to eternity with God.

Let God’s final Christmas story be the reason why you have living hope.