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Setting the Stage

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The time of the Old Testament is over, but the New Testament has yet to begin. More than four hundred years stand between the two parts of the Bible. These are often called the years of silence, because God did not speak through prophets during this time. That does not mean that God was not active.

Through the years different empires rose and fell, each bringing something critical to the world stage. In hindsight it is easy to see the fingerprints of God all over this period of history. God was setting the stage for climax of his rescue plan; Jesus.

A Tale of Four Empires

The four hundred years leading up to the birth of Christ are quite eventful in the eyes of world history. There were four major empires during this time that came and went. God used each of them to add a vital piece to the world stage. We see these empires prophesied about in the book of Daniel. We see the statue constructed with four kinds of metal (2:31-35) and four beasts (7:1-8).

The first empire is one we are familiar with; the Babylonians. God used them for a vital purpose; restoring the sense of identity to the Jewish people. Before the Babylonians, as is shown in Scripture, the people of God followed idols and didn't take the covenant very seriously. After God used Babylon, the Jews really didn't have a problem with that again. They strove to follow God and awaited the coming Messiah.

The second empire is the Persians, who we also see in the Old Testament. The Persians brought the rule of law to the world. Their system of governance was so effective that it was copied by later empires. This was important because it meant that there was stability, and stability is important for a message to be heard.

The third empire is that of the Greeks, founded by Alexander the Great. With blinding speed, Alexander conquered much of the known world at the time. His goal was simple; to Hellenize the planet. This meant, among other things, that Alexander wanted the world to speak one language; Greek. He was largely successful. Greek became the common language for much of the world, and a common language is vital for a message to be understood.

The fourth and last empire is the Roman Empire. These guys were tougher than all the empires before them. They conquered and held onto land for a long time. Their toughness turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Romans built roads all over their vast empire, and they made sure they were safe. With roads and security, it was easy for a message to travel around the world. 

The Stage is Set

God used each of these empires to make the world ready for Jesus. The Jews were once again faithful to God. They had their problems still, but they were honestly trying to follow God. There was stability throughout the land. Kings weren't being overthrown constantly. This meant that people were calm and open to listening to new things. Everyone spoke Greek. They could all understand each other. Someone from, say, Jerusalem could go to Rome and be understood. It was also easy and safe to travel anywhere.

The land is ripe for a message to be spread. The message that God has prevailed over our enemies, sin and death, and a new king rules on the throne of David. The world is ready for Jesus.

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