Silent Years

Between the last recorded time God spoke in the OT and when John the Baptist began his ministry in the NT, was a period of around 400 years, which is often called the silent years because God didn’t communicate directly with the Jews as a nation during that time; no new prophets were raised and God revealed nothing new to the Jewish people (Mal 4:5,6; Lk 3:3). God was preparing to speak His greatest and most powerful Word to mankind: Jesus. A pause – a long and distinct pause – would add emphasis to that monumental revelation. However, in this intertestamental period God was active in world history causing major political and military events to occur as He had predicted in the book of Daniel. The nation of Greece came to power and was then conquered by Rome. God was preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah. The Romans had built roads (this aided the spread of the gospel); most people understood a common language, Greek (the language of the NT); and there was a good degree of peace and freedom to travel (further aiding the dissemination of the gospel). The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes came to positions of influence, yet they were not true spiritual leaders. The stage was now set for Jesus Christ to come into this vacume.

See also: New Testament, Old Testament.