What were the people in Judea and Galilee thinking about in the year or two before the birth of the Lord Jesus? Were they anticipating the Messiah’s coming? Did they speak regularly with one another about it? Had many of them lost hope that the prophesied One would show up? It is true that the doctrines of the Pharisees kept the messianic hope alive in Israel, but that seems to be more academic than personal. After all, it had been some 400 years since the Old Testament had been completed and for those 400 years there was no known word from God; no scripture written, no dreams and visions, and no angelic visions. The hope was there that the oppressive Roman rule would be removed when Messiah came, but that was a vague hope. Generally, the light of Messianic hope in Judea and Galilee did not seem to be burning brightly in those days right before the angel Gabriel made his visits to the old priest, Zacharias, and to the young virgin Mary.
However, Messiah was coming soon, and God was not one day late in His arrival. Years later, the Apostle Paul declared, “when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law” (Gal. 4:4). After all those years, He came. At just the right time, He came. The promises of God were fulfilled exactly as He said they would.
Were there people in Israel in those days who anticipated that the time had come for Messiah’s coming? Yes. Obviously, there was a group of family and friends that knew, as they were knowledgeable of angelic appearances to Mary and Joseph, and Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1:65-66; 2:16-17). And because of certain supernatural events, others such as shepherds, wise men and others in the ruling class became aware that Israel’s Messiah/king had been born (Matt. 2:3).
Aside from these, there were godly people who became aware that Messiah had come. Luke speaks of Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38). Simeon met Joseph, Mary and the newborn baby Jesus in the temple. Before God spoke to him personally, he was looking for Messiah’s coming. He probably was aware of Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks (Dan. 9:24-27) and could calculate that with the passing of over 400 years that Messiah’s coming had to be soon. And he likely was not alone in his understanding of Daniel 9. He might not have had the exact year figured out but he knew the coming had to be soon. Then, God the Spirit graciously revealed to him that the coming was indeed soon. In fact, Simeon was told that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. At that same moment in the temple, a prophetess by the name of Anna came and proclaimed, to believing people, that He had arrived. She too lived in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah into the world. After being informed of His arrival, she constantly informed believers of that fact.
As the Christmas season is entered into, believers today face a similar question as did the people in first century Judea and Galilee. The celebration of His First Coming has always been a reminder that there is a Second Coming. Therefore, the question is when will the 2nd Coming of Messiah take place? Will it be coming soon? Or for many, when will Jesus return and take His bride, the Church, to heaven at the event called the Rapture. Is that momentous event soon?
When will the Rapture and the 2nd Coming be arriving? Much time has gone by since God made His promises about Jesus’ return. This “delay” can dull believers into growing cynical or hopeless or forgetful. And those attitudes are very evident in the Church today. However, we can be absolutely sure that “just at the right time” God will send His Son back; first to fetch His bride, and second, to bring about the long-awaited restoration of all that was lost back in the Garden of Eden.
We can look at our world today and see many, many things that point to an imminent coming of Jesus Christ. First and foremost, is the fact that national Israel now resides in the Land given to them by God in the Abrahamic Covenant. Israel’s physical return to the promised land was required for the events of the Tribulation period to take place. Israel is now there. Events can happen so quickly these days. The alignment of nations, the emergence of important people, and the spiritual dynamics in the world can rapidly change. The end times events detailed in the Scriptures can suddenly appear on the world stage. And the stage of end time events is set. There may be a need to rearrange some furniture on the stage before the curtain goes up, but essentially all is there. Believers are not mistaken if they are keeping one eye towards heaven during this Christmas season. How amazing it would be this Christmas if we would exchange our Christmas tree for the Tree of Life; baby Jesus for King Jesus; and Christmas presents for the presence of Christ.
It is appropriate as we celebrate the First Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ that we look for His return and encourage others to do so. God who does not lie has declared that He will indeed return and establish His forever kingdom, and that will take place at just the right time.
“Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” Heb. 12:28
