Most western Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25. Christmas brings to a close the season of Advent. Advent is the celebration of the anticipation of coming of God's promised Messiah. The Jews were in anticipation of the coming of Messiah. But when the great event occurred, they missed it. The shepherds had to be told by an angel. And Herod was told by the magi. When the king of the Jews, Herod Archelaus, was banished to Vienna around the year 6 or 7, he was replaced by a Roman procurator. At this time the Sanhedrin lost its power to ajudicate capital cases. We see this was still true during Jesus' trial because they had to get the Romans to pass the sentence of death on Jesus. When the Sanhedrin lost this authority, they went into mourning because they thought that the word of God's prophecy (Genesis 49:10) had been broken. The scepter (ability to administer the death penalty) had passed from Judah (from whose line came the king of Israel) and Shiloh (the Messiah) had not yet come. But He had come. They missed the time of their visitation.
The purpose of celebrating Advent is to teach, by extension, the anticipation of our Lord's second advent. The Jews were told by the prophet Daniel the time that the Lord would come. But they missed it because they were looking for a leader who would come and set up His kingdom on earth. They were not looking for a carpenter's son who would be born in an animal's trough. For the second advent, we don't know the time of Jesus' return. But we are promised that when He does come back that we will know it.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:23-27
Do not believe the signs and wonders. Do not believe those who claim to be Christ. When He returns, all the world will know it. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We here at DTTO wish you a joyous Christmas and we urge you to live a life of advent, always in anticipation of our Lord's glorious return.
