Anticipating the Advent: Looking for Messiah in All the Right Places
Overview
Most Christmas books focus on the light and joy of the season. Anticipating the Advent, however, portrays the dark side of Christmas because only then will the Light shine the brightest. On the night when the host of heaven sang “Glory to God in the highest,” they were arrayed to do battle with the evil forces who wanted to kill the promised child. This seed of Eve was coming to crush the enemy’s head (Gen 3:15) and destroy the Devil’s power (Heb 2:14). Old Simeon would tell the young mother Mary that, because her son would be the Messiah, a sword would pierce through her soul (Luke 2:35). In so many ways it was a “Not So Silent Night.”
- Portrays the dark side of Christmas because only then will the Light shine the brightest
- features expositions of the messianic passages about Messiah’s advent
- Provides spiritual insights to renew our appreciation of the story of the birth of the King
- Foreword by Michael Rydelnik
- Preface
- A Holy Heartburn
- A Woman’s Seed
- A Lion or a Lamb
- A Star and a Scepter
- A House of Bread
- A King before the KING
- A Not so Silent Night
- A Christmas for Old People
- A Great Herod?
- A Mythology of the Magi
- A Messiah for the Rest of Us
- A Son of God
- Epilogue: Will the Real Messiah Please Stand Up?
- Further Reading on the Messiah
Messianic anticipation begins in the first book of the Bible, builds in the rest of the Old Testament and becomes a reality in the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this illuminating book, Dr. William Varner shows us that the details surrounding the birth of our Lord were rooted in the Messianic hope of the Old Testament. This is both powerful and spiritually enriching.
—John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church
The issue addressed by Will Varner in this book relates to the credibility of Jesus’ stunning claims concerning Himself. Throughout His ministry, Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and to be God come in the flesh (Mt 16:16; Jn 11:27; Mt 26:63; Jn 20:30-31). A great number of remarkable predictive prophecies recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures were fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus – foretellings which could not have been lucky guesses or after the fact impostures. The Bereans, when told by Paul of the remarkable claims and accomplishments of the Nazarene, “searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so” (Ac 17:11) and thus believed. You will be delighted to walk with Dr. Varner through some of those Old Testament Messianic anticipations which God used to impact the truth-seeking Bereans so long ago.
—Douglas Bookman, Shepherds Theological Seminary
You will be fully satisfied as you digest Dr. Varner’s work that employs the unique blend of Jewish historical and cultural backgrounds, careful Scriptural exegesis, and thoughtful insights coming from years of immersive study that weaves together the unfolding prophetic message of the advent of Jesus the Messiah.
—Steve Pettit, President, Bob Jones University
- Title: Anticipating the Advent: Looking for Messiah in All the Right Places
- Author: William Varner
- Publisher: Fontes Press
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 126
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Christmas; Jesus Christ Messiahship; Jesus Christ Nativity
- ISBNs: 9781948048453, 9781948048460, 1948048450, 1948048469
- Resource ID: LLS:NTCPTNGDVNTPLCS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-05T16:30:50Z
Dr. William Varner is Professor of Bible and Greek at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California. After earning degrees from Bob Jones University and the Biblical Theological Seminary, he served as a pastor in Pennsylvania for seven years, during which time he earned another master’s degree and took his first trip to Israel—an experience that would leave an indelible mark on his ministry. While serving for 17 years with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry in New Jersey, he earned a third master’s degree (in Jewish Studies at Dropsie College, now the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania) and a doctorate (at Temple University in Philadelphia).
Besides teaching Bible exposition courses and Greek Exegesis at The Master’s College, Dr. Varner is Director of IBEX, the college’s overseas campus in Israel, and has led 46 study trips to Israel. He has also pastored the Sojourners fellowship in Grace Community Church for 16 years.
Dr. Varner is the author of several books, including The Chariot of Israel: Exploits of the Prophet of Elijah, Awake O Harp: A Devotional Commentary on the Psalms, and The Letter of James. He has also written over 100 articles appearing in academic journals and popular magazines. He loves participating in Civil War reenactments, reading the fiction of J.R.R. Tolkien and Daniel Silva, and traveling overseas with his wife Helen.
Reviews
2 ratings
diederick pütter
12/2/2023
Excellent book to read during Advent time, preparing for Christmas. The author starts with Adam and Eve and take you on a journey through all the prophets, the intertestamental period and gospels, giving background information, explaining prophecies and providing insights. Worth the read for this festive season.
