“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is in my top five favorite Christmas songs.  The haunting melody captures the longing that Israel must have felt as they waited for their long expected Messiah.  Many misunderstood what the Messiah would accomplish when he came.  They wanted him to be a political leader that would free them from Roman tyranny and reestablish the glory of David’s earthly kingdom.  But God sent the “Rod of Jesse” into the world to “free his own from Satan’s tyranny.”  It seems that Satan’s tyranny still reigns large in many places in our world.  His tyranny only reigns in places where Emmanuel’s reign has not been welcome and established.  Emmanuel does not reign in king’s palaces or in presidential mansions.  His reign is established in the hearts of you and me.  As Israel longed for their Messiah to arrive, we wait and long for his return.  We join our voices with the apostle John and say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”  The video I have included here is an instrumental.  Listen to the music and ready through the lyrics. 

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice!  Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.