By Levi Anyikwa
Welcome to the 2025 Advent Season. This year’s Advent Season began on Sunday, November 30, 2025 up till the Christmas Day. The Advent Season is the first season in the liturgical calendar of the universal Church. It comprises the last four Sundays before Christmas and marks the beginning of the Church year. It is a period we recollect, remember, reflect over the FIRST COMING of Jesus Christ – God who came in the likeness of men into the world through a Virgin and shared our human nature and yet remained strong enough to retain His divine nature even as He journeyed to the Cross of Calvary to procure and secure the salvation of mankind by His blood. Advent Season is also a time we look forward to the SECOND COMING of Jesus Christ. He promised that this time, He is coming “to give everyone according to what he has done” (Rev. 22: 12). The Advent Season is the beginning of the “LAST DAYS”. The goal of this message is to sensitize and remind everyone about the imminent return of Jesus Christ and bring us to the state of readiness to receive and follow Him whenever He comes. The Advent Sundays are traditionally characterized and celebrated as a season of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE.
The Holy Scriptures in many passages through the mouth of many prophets and witnesses spoke about the coming of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Prophet Isaiah, also known in some circles as “the Messiahic Prophet” projected and portrayed Jesus Christ in many passages as “Saviour” and “Judge”, among other numerous characterizations. Prophets Joel, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Zechariah and Malachi respectively described the day of His coming as “the Day of the LORD”. They saw ‘The Day of the LORD” as the day of salvation (deliverance) for repentant and forgiven sinners (those who have been justified and declared righteous by God). The same day, according to these prophets, would be “the Day of Judgment” for unrepentant and stubborn sinners.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ in Matthew 25, used three parables: the Parable of the Ten Virgins (vs 1 – 13); the Parable of the Talents (vs. 14 – 30); and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (vs. 31 – 46) to buttress the certainty of His coming. Right from Matthew 24 headlined “The Signs of the End of the Age”, Jesus Christ began to give context and background to the parables in Matt. 25. One day, at the end of His teaching in the Temple concerning the end-times, His disciples cornered Him and asked Him privately: “Tell us. When will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Responding, Jesus said: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’ and will deceive many…”
He gave them a run-down of the pointers to the LAST DAYS: false Christs and false prophets, rise in international conflicts and wars, famines, earthquakes, hatred, persecution and killing of Christians; betrayals, increase in wickedness, apostasy, pervasive evaporation of love, abominations that desecrate the Temple, and great distress in the land. In Matt. 24: 36 & 42, Jesus says: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father…..Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your LORD will come”. Speaking on the certainty of the Lord’s coming, Peter, the leader of His apostles says as recorded in 2 Peter 1: 19, “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”. In Revelations 22: 7, 12 & 20 as recorded by Elder John, Jesus Christ says with a tone of finality: “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book….Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done….He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon’”. John affirmed: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”.
Points for Application
As we celebrate Christmas 2025, always be conscious of the certainty of the Lord’s coming. Don’t be carried away by the indulgencies, sights and sounds of the festivities.
Watch and pray. Be ready like the Five Wise Virgins (Matt. 25: 1-13, Col. 4:2). May your head never lack oil and may your light (character and lifestyle) keep shining until He comes.
Keep serving the Lord with the life, health, talents, gifts and resources God has given you (Matt. 25: 14-30; 1 Cor. 15:58; and Heb. 6: 10).
Be sensitive in the Spirit. Be discerning. Don’t be deceived by false Christs and prophets, fake miracle workers.
Endeavour to live in peace with all men and be holy (Heb. 12:24).
Conclusion
From the unbreakable word of God, we have seen that the certainty of the Lord’s coming is unassailable. Are you prepared for His coming? Get ready for His Second Coming. Do not allow the cares of this world, the hustle and bustle of the world, especially this festive season, rob you of the opportunity of being raptured amongst the saints. Jesus Christ will come suddenly, without further notice. Maranatha!
●Anyikwa is a journalist and Senior Clergyman in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He is of the Anglican Diocese of Abuja.
