Advent Glory

From an old German tradition, Advent,

which means coming, prepares our minds and

our hearts for the coming of Messiah,

the Prince of Peace, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach.

It is a solemn time of reflection, and yet one of

anticipation at the coming of our Savior.

The first candle on the Advent wreath to be lit is purple and called

the Prophet's candle, calling to mind the Prophet Isaiah,

who prophesied the coming of the Messiah seven

hundred years before His birth.

"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:

Behold the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin

shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name

Immanuel, God with us."

Isaiah 7:14

The color purple also denotes royalty, and is symbolic

of Christ's sovereignty as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Traditional Advent Wreath

The second candle of Advent is also purple in color

and called "The Bethlehem Candle" or the Preparation Candle.

In preparation for the birth of His Son, God used the mercurial whim

of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus who had decided to

 impose a tax on the whole of his empire.

`

Each subject was required to return to register in their own city for the tax,

and therefore Joseph, went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth

to Judea, to the town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house

and family of King David, to be enrolled with Mary, his wife,

who was great with child.  Thus, the prospective parents came to

Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means, "House of Bread", where Mary

would give birth to her Son, the Messiah Yeshua, Who would one

day reveal to us that He is "The Bread of Life".

"And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn, and she wrapped Him

in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no

room or place for them in the inn."

Luke 2:7

The Holy Family

Henry Ossawa Tanner

(1910)

The pink or rose-colored third candle of the Advent wreath,

symbolizes rejoicing, like that of the angels as they heralded the glorious

news of the birth of the Savior to the shepherds in the fields.

Christmas Shock and Awe

A painting by Brian Zahnd

The fourth candle of Advent is also purple and is called the

 Angel Candle, or the Candle of Love.

"For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When, with the ever-circling years,

Shall come the Age of Gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And all the world give back the song

Which now the angels sing."

"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"

Written by Edmund Sears

(1849)

The center candle of the Advent Wreath is white,

and symbolizes the purity of Christ, the spotless Lamb of God,

Who came into the world to conquer the forces of darkness and death, and

Whose precious blood shed on the cross cleanses us from the stain of sin.

"All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God

freely and gratuitously by His grace, His unmerited favor and mercy,

through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus.

Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat

and propitiation by His blood, the cleansing and life-giving

sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received

through faith. This was to show God's righteousness,

because in His divine forbearance He had passed over 

and ignored former sins without punishment.

It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time

in the now season, that He Himself is righteous and

that He justifies and accepts as righteous him 

who has true faith in Jesus."

Romans 3:24-26

ADVENT GLORY

The day is fast approaching when the Savior shall appear;

And every eye His glory shall behold;

The tokens of His coming fill the loyal heart with cheer

Though strife abounds and love is waxing cold.

We'll see Him as He is,

And the brightness of His glory we shall share;

We'll see Him as He is

And the likeness of His image we shall bear.

(Refrain)

In all His Father's glory, clothed in majesty unveiled,

With myriads of the shining angel band,

The King descends triumphant in Whose might we have prevailed,

And all the ransomed rise at His command.

Oh, may we all as sons of light be watching unto prayer,

For surely our redemption draweth nigh;

With holy zeal and patient faith, let every soul prepare

To join the advent chorus in the sky.

"Now when these things begin to occur,

look up and lift up your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near.

Luke 21:28

"Advent Glory"

Words and Music by J. Harker

(1881)