Advent Trivia

1. What is Advent?
A. Preparation
B. Celebration
C. Mourning
D. Darkness

A. Preparation
TOPICS: In the Christian church, Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

2. What feast marks the beginning of the Advent period?
A. Feast of John the Baptist
B. Feast of St. Andrew
C. Feast of St. Matthew
D. Feast of Thanksgiving

B. Feast of St. Andrew
TOPICS: Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) which does coincide pretty closely with Thanksgiving many years. In the 5th Century, Advent began on 11 November (St Martin's Day) and took the form of a six week fast leading to Christmas. During the 6th century, Advent was reduced to its current length and later the fasting was dropped.

3. How many Sundays are included in the traditional Advent celebration?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

D. 4
TOPICS: The first Sunday may be as early as November 27th, and then Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late as December 3rd, giving the season only twenty-one days.

4. What shape is the Advent wreath?
A. Square
B. Triangle
C. Circle
D. Rectangle

C. Circle
TOPICS: The circle of the wreath reminds Christians of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.

5. What colors are the candles in the Advent wreath?
A. Purple
B. Pink
C. White
D. Purple, pink and white

D. Purple, pink and white
TOPICS: Traditionally three of the candles are purple, the color of kings and of penance. A rose-colored candle is used to mark the Third Sunday of Advent as a time to rejoice over the closeness of Christmas and the coming of Christ. In the center of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white) which is lit on Christmas Day. Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus.

6. What color is the Advent wreath?
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. White
D. Green

D. Green
TOPICS: The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

7. Why was purple chosen as an Advent candle color?
A. Represents the common people
B. Represents royalty
C. Represents peace
D. Represents war

B. Represents royalty
TOPICS: Purple dyes were once so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty; the Church has long used this color around Christmas and Easter to honor Jesus.

8. Two of the five Advent candles are different than the others. What does the rose or pink candle signify?
A. Joy
B. Birth
C. Angels
D. Prophecy

A. Joy
TOPICS: The third week of Advent is marked by the Shepherds' Candle or Joy Candle. The shepherds represent the message of great joy that is brought to the world about Jesus' birth.

9. Three of the Advent candles are the same color. Which is NOT represented by one of these candles?
A. Christ
B. Hope
C. Peace
D. Love

A. Christ
TOPICS: The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The first candle is called either the Hope Candle or the Prophecy Candle. The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle or Peace candle represents the preparations made for the coming Christ child. The fourth candle is the Angel Candle or Love Candle which represents the love which God shared with the world when He sent His Son, Jesus. 10. The candle in the center of the Advent wreath is called what?
A. The Star Candle
B. The Bethlehem Candle
C. The Stable Candle
D. The Christ Candle

D. The Christ Candle
TOPICS: In the centre of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white), the Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Day.

Deanna Mascle shares more Interesting Facts in her Fun Trivia Ezine and trivia blog at http://trivialtopics.net

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Amazing Facts About Angels

Many people may not be aware but there are several truly amazing facts about angels, most especially since it literally bears reference in the Bible no less than 300 times- all the way from Genesis to Revelation.

Other religious manuscripts and literature bear similar and fascinating facts about the existence of angels and how it continues to captivate and awe mankind.

In the Bible, the angel is portrayed at the beginning as a carrier of messages from God, while in the closing passages of Revelation the angel is the bearer of the message from Jesus Christ.

Here are some amazing facts that are seen in the Bible. Angels also care for soldiers and members of the military. This is evidenced in scripture where it was identified that the very first Gentile convert was a military officer.

Acts chapter 10 verses 3 and 4 states that "About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in to him, and said to him, ‘Cornelius!' and fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, ‘What is it, Lord?' And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God "

In the same book if Acts, the scriptures vividly describe that no prison or jail cell can detain an angel, many instances of which angels have appeared to many Christian followers like Peter and Paul, among others, who were freed by angels from confinement in prison.

Angels are tasked to keep watch and safeguard little children. Jesus Christ fondly spoke of children being under the care of angels. The scriptures also declare that angels are subject to Jesus Christ as the Supreme Commander, thus, angles cannot perform the works of the Holy Spirit nor can they grant forgiveness of man's sins, as stated in I Peter chapter 3 verses 21 and 22.

A great multitude of angels descended on Mt. Sinai, the place where the prophet Moses received the tablet bearing the laws god wanted to bring to His people the Israelites, which had reference to the scriptures where the psalmist declared "Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain which God has desired for His abode? Surely, the Lord will dwell there forever. The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness" (Psalm 68:16,17)

angels also live in constant communion with God, who continually praise and worship Him. "And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years,' And the angels answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God: and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring to you this good news." (Luke 1:18,19)

Heaven remains to be the center of activity for angels and there exists the busiest traffic of angels from heaven to earth and back, which clearly indicates that to deny the existence of angels and of heaven is to deny the Deity of Christ.

Jesus Christ often spoke both of angels and heaven and one good example can be found in the book of John chapter 1 verses 50 and 51, "Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.' And He said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

These are but some amazing facts about angels, but if you find the time to read through the Bible, you may be surprised to discover a lot more amazing facts about angels that you may have ever imagined.

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Bible Trivia Questions and Answers

Use these Bible Trivia questions and answers to promote discussion in your next Bible Study Class. Bible Trivia is a great way to encourage Bible study, reading, and research. Make it a group effort and see how many correct answers the group can get collectively?

Q1: What two animals carried the Ark of the Covenant to Bethshemeth in Israel? Answer: from the King James Bible 1 Samuel 6:7-9 Two cows, “milch kine” the term meaning milking cows carried the Ark of the Covenant to Bethshemeth in Israel.

Q2: What was Jesus doing when the Holy Spirit descended upon him? Answer: From the King James Bible, Luke 3:21-22 Jesus was being baptized in the river Jordon as the Holy Spirit descended upon him.

Q3: Abel was the first man in the bible to die. Who killed him? Answer: from the King James Bible, Genesis 4:8-11 Abel was killed by his brother Cain.

Q4: What is the name of the female ruler who carried great gifts to Jerusalem by camel for Solomon? Answer: from the King James Bible 1 Kings 10:1-2 The Queen of Sheba took great gifts to Solomon by camel.

Q5: Who became a pillar of salt? Answer: from the King James Bible, Genesis 19:23-26 The wife of Lot was turned into a pillar of salt.

Q6: What was the name of the city that was destroyed by fire from heaven? Answer: from the King James Bible, Genesis 19:24-25 Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by fire from heaven.

Q7: What happened when the fourth angel poured the fourth vial of the wrath of God upon the sun? Answer: from the King James Bible, Revelation 16:8-9 The angel was given the power to scorch men with fire from the sun after pouring the fourth vial of the wrath of God upon the sun.

Q8: Who told Mary to name her son Jesus? Answer: from the King James Bible, Luke 1:26-31 The Angel Gabriel instructed Mary to name her son Jesus.

Q9: Who prayed for wisdom instead of wealth? What did God reward him with? Answer: from the King James Bible, 1 Kings 3:9-13 Solomon prayed for wisdom and God gave him wisdom, honor, and wealth.

Q10: What did God create on the 4th day of creation? Answer: from the King James Bible, Genesis 1:14-19 On the 4th day of creation God created the sun, the moon, and the stars.

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