Written by Paul J Bucknell on December, 28, 2022

Living Between the Two Comings of Christ: Two Fixed Points Keep Us Vigilant

Once Christmas is over, then what?

We could focus on New Year’s celebrations, but that rarely provides the confidence we need. Insecurity, anxiety, and even fear often replace the peace and joy of Christmas. The world’s planned-for instability (think re-set) combined with talk and signs of a deep recession diminish any hopes a New Year might bring.

However, God doesn’t want us to look at the future this way. We’ll instead take our cues from the God-designed Hebrew calendar. (This calendar is relevant even if we are not Jewish.)

Clues from The Hebrew Holidays

The Hebrew festivals in Bible times differ slightly from those added later in Jewish history. The Jews celebrated these Hebrew holidays by going to Jerusalem’s temple annually. However, the two sets of festivals point to two pinnacles on the world’s historical board, which provide the needed guidance for our lives today.

Two sets of three holidays on the Hebrew calendar set the two fixed points in our calendar. The first is fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s first coming; the second is in His second coming.

The First Fixed Point—Jesus’ First Coming

The Messiah’s first advent is foreshadowed in the first set of biblical Hebrew holidays. While we often only associate the first advent with Christ’s birth, the Hebrew feasts assume this and instead speak of the purpose for Jesus’ coming, His work and ministry on earth. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mat 1:21).

Soon after the start of the Hebrew New Year, the three holidays, starting with Passover, point to the Messiah’s suffering on the cross (Isaiah 53) and end with the Day of First Fruits, foreshadowing His resurrection. The Day of Pentecost, prefiguring the pouring of Christ’s Spirit upon His people, is the fourth festival (Pentecost) and is inextricably linked to the first set of celebrations, fifty days after (Acts 1-2).

This does not mean that the scriptures are silent on the Messiah’s first entrance into the world‚ not at all! At least ten Old Testament prophecies foretell Christ’s birth, including His genealogy (Matthew and Luke), where He would be born (Micah 5:2), and many more. (Numerous Bibles italicize or capitalize quotes from the Old Testament (prophecies in this case) in the New Testament.

Before continuing, however, we must note the two pauses or spaces in the Hebrew calendar: one after the first four holidays (months 4-6); the second follows the second set of three Hebrew holidays following the 7th month (months 8-12). The first pause pictures our present time after Jesus’ first coming and before His return.

The Second Fixed Point—Jesus’ Second Coming

This second set of holidays points to the Messiah’s second coming, Jesus Christ’s return. The Hebrew calendar gives it a fixed, specific time. It is a particular set of events; Jesus the Messiah will return. I will not elaborate on these three except to say they are connected with judgment, repentance, and togetherness. Jesus Christ returns with judgment and then dwells with His people (Feast of Tabernacles-or booths, tents).

“For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them” (Rev 7:15).

The last festival symbolizes our eternal dwelling with the Lord, not in this world where we are estranged, but in His new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:10,13). This is why there are no more Hebrew feasts on the calendar; it points to eternity, where there is no time or calendar.

Considering Christmas and Beyond

Although the Christian calendar emphasizes Christmas, Christ’s birth, it didn’t make the Hebrew feast calendar. However, this and Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, resurrection, and Pentecost did. We can lump them all together as the first peg for our world. The earth’s ages are oriented around Christ’s birth—BC (before) and AD (after).

John the Baptist foretold that Christ’s first coming would change the world and bring light into a very dark world. The Hebrew calendar points us to the second set of Hebrew Feasts, our second fixed point of global history.

Admittedly, the Hebrew calendar points to the annual Jewish holidays, so we hope, pray, and believe in the quickening and repentance of the Jewish people before Christ’s return (Ez 37). God has not finished working in His people (Romans 11:25-27).

The Hebrew calendar is God’s redemptive calendar, signifying God’s general dealings with His saved people, whether Jews and Gentiles (they are the one people of God, Eph 3:6). And though the historical calendar is embedded into Jewish history, forming its annual framework, it also serves as God’s people’s redemptive calendar.

Living Between Christ’s Two Comings

The Hebrew calendar’s first blank space refers to the challenging period between Jesus Christ’s two comings. On the one hand, it’s opportunistic. Jesus came, and people can find salvation through faith in Christ.

While living in between the two points (i.e., advents), we live with persecution, conflict, affliction, testing, and trials (1 Pet 1:6). Yes, we have a measure of life, comfort, love, joy, and encouragement from God and the Spirit of God as He works through His word in our lives, but we will face tribulations.

So let’s look at the first Christmas and what was established at his first coming. Revelation 5 celebrates the greatness of Jesus Christ due to His faithful work on the cross and, by his bloody death, purchased His people. He can open the scroll and now commands all of history and time in the future.

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev 5:9).

While living between the two advents, we now, like Jesus, set our minds to take up the cross and pursue living faithfully for Christ. We make it a chief goal to live as His holy vessels.

After the first advent, though, comes Jesus’ return. We don’t know the timing of His return, but still, it is a fixed future point for us. Jesus’ second coming is near, pegged into world history. It’s the next chief event lodged in front of us.

It’s easy to be self-focused on our present lives on earth rather than on Jesus’ second advent. Christ certainly will return to judge us. This is why Jesus often warned His disciples to focus on His return (Mat 24). “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Mat 24:42).

The evil one continues to pursue us with his lies, attempts to drag us down into the dirt, and destroys our ability to complete God’s purpose for us. We were commissioned for this time to live for His glory, no matter the affliction and danger, but we live for another age and fix our view on Jesus’ glorious second coming. Unbelievers should look at Christmas and ask why Jesus came. And if He assuredly came the first time, they must urgently prepare for His second coming.

Summary of the Two Advents

The first and second comings are filled with amazing prophecies that color and shape our expectations of these magnificent events. These two fixed points provide the context for our earthly lives and remind us that we live in the great love of God, where we find cleansing by His blood and have the Holy Spirit to empower us to accomplish God’s purposes. The battle will, for a bit, require diligence, self-control, love, and the completion of our mission—to evangelize, witness, and live for Christ and His final days.

So let’s celebrate Christmas, remembering the announcement of Christ’s first coming to accomplish His grand redemptive work. We are encouraged, strengthened, established, cleansed, and called through His saving work, even though the enemy seeks us like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8).

But we also must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus’ second coming so that we will not be diluted by the pressures and worries of this age, despair, or wonder what happened to God’s love. Jesus has overcome, and so, in His strength and wisdom, must we. Revelation chapter one reminds us of Jesus Christ’s reign in glory as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Everlasting One. He is quite willing to draw close to us as we seek Him.

We were not here for the First Advent, but no one will miss the Second Advent when Christ descends from the heavens and calls all to account before Him on Judgment Day.

It’s crucial during Christmas that we not only point to Christmas, the First Advent but also remember the Second Advent. The first is incomplete without the second’s glory. The New Year celebration might seem to point to an unsure year, but with Christ returning soon, we can look for His glorious return, knowing all will be corrected upon His fabulous and sure return.

“They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:11).

The Two Advents: History’s Two Fixed Points

Study Questions for the Two Advents

What do the first and second advents stand for?
How many holidays form the Old Testament Hebrew calendar?
How many sets or waves of Hebrew holidays are there?
Why do you think the Feast of Weeks belongs to the first wave of holidays?
List two or more prophecies of Christ’s birth.
Is Christmas, Christ’s birth, part of the Hebrew feasts?
What is the significance of the first space between the Hebrew feasts?
What is the significance of the second space following the second wave of Hebrew holidays?
Where do we live regarding the two advents? What are our particular duties because of this?
List the most significant thing you learned or were impressed with from this study. Please share it with another!