Advent refers to the coming of Christ — both His first coming in humility (the Incarnation, born of Mary, in Bethlehem) and His Second Coming in glory (the Parousia, when He returns as King and Judge). The entire Old Testament is an Advent narrative — creation groaning, prophets crying out, Israel waiting for the promised Messiah. The New Testament opens with His arrival: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The Church now lives between the two Advents — celebrating the first with gratitude and awaiting the second with longing. Maranatha: "Come, Lord Jesus."
ADVENT, n. A coming; appropriately, the coming of our Savior. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas, beginning on the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's day (November 30), celebrated as a season of devotion and preparation for the celebration of Christ's nativity.
The commercial culture has colonized Advent season as a shopping countdown and holiday warmth period, completely stripping it of its penitential and anticipatory character. "Advent calendars" filled with chocolate replace watching and waiting for the Lord. Meanwhile, the Second Advent — Christ's return in judgment — is either ignored or mocked. A culture that can stomach only a cute baby Jesus in a manger refuses the returning King who will judge the living and the dead.
Isaiah 7:14 — "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
John 1:14 — "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory."
Luke 1:68 — "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people."
Revelation 22:20 — "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
1 Thessalonians 4:16 — "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command…"
G3952 — parousia — "presence, arrival, coming"; the New Testament term for Christ's Second Advent.
G2064 — erchomai — "to come, to go"; used throughout the Gospels and Revelation of Christ's coming.
H935 — bo — "to come, to enter, to arrive"; the Hebrew word of advent used in Messianic prophecies.
• "The First Advent was a coming in lowliness; the Second Advent will be a coming in glory and judgment."
• "All of Old Testament history is an Advent narrative — creation waiting for its King."
• "The Christian life is lived in the tension between the two Advents: Christ has come, and Christ will come again."