Intertestamental Period
The time between the last writings of the Old Testament and the
appearance of Christ is known as the intertestamental (or between
the testaments) period. Because there was no prophetic word from God
during this period, some refer to it as the 400 silent years. The
political,
religious, and social atmosphere of Palestine changed
significantly during this period. Much of what happened was
predicted by the prophet Daniel. (See Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8, and
11 and compare to historical events.)
Israel was under the control of the Persian Empire from about
532-332 B.C. The Persians allowed the Jews to practice their
religion with little interference. They were even allowed to rebuild
and worship at the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). This
period included the last 100 years of the Old Testament period and
about the first 100 years of the intertestamental period. This time
of relative peace and contentment was just the calm before the
storm.
Alexander the Great defeated Darius of Persia, bringing Greek rule
to the world. Alex
ander was a student of Aristotle and was well
educated in Greek philosophy and politics. He required that Greek
culture be promoted in every land that he conquered. As a result,
the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek, becoming the
translation known as the Septuagint. Most of the New Testament
references to Old Testament Scripture use the Septuagint phrasing.
Alexander did allow religious freedom for the Jews, though he still
strongly promoted Greek lifestyles. This was not a good turn of
events for Israel since the Greek culture was very worldly,
humanistic, and ungodly.
After Alexander died, Judea was ruled by a series of successors,
culminating in Antiochus Epiphanies. Antiochus did far more than
refuse religious freedom to the Jews. Around 167 B.C., he overthrew
the rightful line of the priesthood and desecrated the temple,
defiling it with unclean animals and a pagan altar (see Mark 13:14).
This was the religious equivalent of rape. Eventually, Jewish
resistance to Antiochus restored the rightful priests and rescued
the temple. The period that followed was one of war, violence, and
infighting.
Around 63 B.C., Pompey of Rome conquered Palestine, putting all of
Judea under control of the Caesars. This eventually led to Herod
being made king of Judea by the Roman emperor and senate. This would
be the nation that taxed and controlled the Jews, and eventually
executed the Messiah on a Roman cross. Roman, Greek, and Hebrew
cultures were now mixed together in Judea.
During the span of the Greek and Roman occupations, two important
political/religious groups emerged in Palestine. The Pharisees added
to the Law of Moses through oral tradition and eventually considered
their own laws more important than Gods (see Mark 7:1-23). While
Christ's teachings often agreed with the Pharisees, He railed
against their hollow legalism and lack of compassion. The Sadducees
represented the aristocrats and the wealthy. The Sadducees, who
wielded power through the Sanhedrin, rejected all but the Mosaic
books of the Old Testame
nt. They refused to believe in resurrection
and were generally shadows of the Greeks, whom they greatly admired.
This rush of events that set the stage for Christ had a profound
impact on the Jewish people. Both Jews and pagans from other nations
were becoming dissatisfied with religion. The pagans were beginning
to question the validity of polytheism. Romans and Greeks were drawn
from their mythologies towards Hebrew Scriptures, now easily
readable in Greek or Latin. The Jews, however, were despondent. Once
again, they were conquered, oppressed, and polluted. Hope was
running low; faith was even lower. They were convinced that now the
only thing that could save them and their faith was the appearance
of the Messiah.
The New Testament tells the story of how hope came, not only for the
Jews, but for the entire world. Christ's fulfillment of prophecy was
anticipated and recognized by many who sought Him
out. The stories
of the Roman centurion, the wise men, and the Pharisee Nicodemus
show how Jesus was recognized as the Messiah by those who lived in
His day. The 400 years of silence were broken by the greatest story
ever told the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Revelation Churches
THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
Revelation 2:1
Unto the angel of the church in Ephesus write;
These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right
hand, who walked in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Revelation 2:2
I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which
say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Revelation 2:3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast
labored, and hast not fainted.
Revelation 2:4
Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left
thy first love.
Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes,
which I also hate.
Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of
life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
Revelation 2:8
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is
alive;
Revelation 2:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)
and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are
not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye
shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
THE CHURCH OF PERGAMUM
Revelation 2:12
And to the angel of the Church in Pergamum write;
These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Revelation 2:13
I know thy works and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat
[is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith,
even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was
slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them
that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a
stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,
which thing I hate.
Revelation 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight
against them with the sword of my mouth.
Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden
manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name
written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].
THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA
Revelation 2:18
And unto the angel of the Church in Thyatira write;
These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a
flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;
Revelation 2:19
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy
patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
Revelation 2:20
Not with standing I have a few things against thee, because thou
sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to
teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat
things sacrificed unto idols.
Revelation 2:21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented
not.
Revelation 2:22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery
with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Revelation 2:23
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall
know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will
give unto every one of you according to your works.
Revelation 2:24
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have
not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as
they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
Revelation 2:25
But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
Revelation 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him
will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:27
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a
potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my
Father.
Revelation 2:28
And I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 2:29
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
THE CHURCH OF SARDIS
Revelation 3:1
And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write;
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the
seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou
livest, and art dead.
Revelation 3:2
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready
to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee
as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:4
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their
garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and
I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will
confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:6
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write;
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath
the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
and no man openeth;
Revelation 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name.
Revelation 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come
and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of
my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will
write upon him] my new name.
Revelation 3:13
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA
Revelation 3:14
And unto the angel of the Church in Laodicea write;
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of the creation of God;
Revelation 3:15
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot.
Revelation 3:16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest
be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that]
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eye salve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,
and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me.
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne.
Revelation 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches