Life of Messiah 02: The 400 Silent Years - From Alexander the Great to Herod #gospeltruth #jesus

This episode continues the “Life of Messiah” series by completing an overview of the 400 “Silent Years” between Malachi and John the Baptist, explaining how God’s “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4–5) prepared the world for Jesus. It traces the transition from Persian rule to Alexander the Great, the spread of Greek language and culture, the Septuagint, and the division of Alexander’s empire, focusing on the Seleucids and Ptolemies and Israel’s position between them. The lesson highlights Antioch’s later New Testament significance, the rise of Hellenistic vs. pious Jewish factions that became Sadducees and Pharisees, and Antiochus Epiphanes’ corruption of the high priesthood and persecution described in 2 Maccabees. It summarises the Maccabean revolt, the Hasmonean dynasty’s decline, Rome’s takeover under Pompey, and the rise of Herod the Great, setting the political and religious context of the Gospels. 00:00 Series Overview 00:52 Silent Years Setup 02:50 Persia to Alexander 05:09 Divided Greek Kingdoms 06:06 Antioch and Early Church 08:47 Hellenism and Jewish Sects 10:04 Antiochus Corrupts Priesthood 13:55 Maccabees and Martyrdom 27:35 Maccabean Revolt and Hanukkah 31:35 Rome and Rise of Herod 37:04 Why This Matters 38:40 From Darkness to Messiah 📌 Resources & More: Visit ezrafoundation.org for books and resources from the ministry. Subscribe to stay informed and never miss an episode of the Global News Update! #christianfaith #history #bibleteaching #sermons #messiah Become a supporter at: https://www.patreon.com/theologyandapologetics Visit: https://www.ezrafoundation.org/ https://www.theologyandapologetics.com/ Listen to the Theology & Apologetics Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lviMYP... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezra_foundation/ https://www.instagram.com/theology.apologetics/