Double Meaning

Double Meaning –O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Before you get on me for spelling Emmanuel incorrectly, let me explain. This Christmas carol was originally a Gregorian chant that was translated from the Latin.  Thus, the difference in spelling.  This hymn has gone through many little revisions over the years but still remains a hymn we sing each season.  
Although we do not sing each verse, there are seven original verses.  Each verse, in the Latin, begins with a name of Jesus.  Each of these names point to his coming.  If you pay close attention, you will see why this hymn has stayed popular.  It speaks of Jesus from an Old Testament perspective, it speaks to our hearts today, and it points to the future where Christ will come again.
What you will never see, and I am trusting others for this, is that if you take the original translation and use the first letter of each verse (after the O) and reverse them, you get a Latin phrase.  Now, I know that sounds very Hidden Treasure and Nicolas Cage like, but the phrase is interesting.  It is a phrase that translated says, “I will be with you tomorrow”.  This is designed to remind the singer that while we sing of Christ’s first coming, we should also keep one eye in the clouds as he has promised to return again.  Another reason to rejoice this Christmas.
Christmas is an amazing time of year.  Part of that is the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.  As we sing, as we rejoice, let’s be reminded that the story is not done yet.  He is soon to return again.  This return will be as the King of Kings.  He will usher in a time of true peace and joy.  Many of our Christmas songs, if we listen carefully, remind us of that great truth.  Their goal is to point us to the past, keep us looking for his soon return, so that our present is truly full of joy and hope.