INTERTESTAMENT PERIOD 1. PERSIAN PERIOD (445 BB - 333 BC) - Rule mild, Jews rebuilt their temple, Diaspora occurred. Synagogs were set up because of distance to temple. These were places of worship and instruction. No sacrifices were offered at the Synagog. 2. GREEK PERIOD (333 BC - 167 BC) - Persian empire was destroyed by Alexander the Great. After his death the empire was divided. Antioch Epiphanes tried to exterminate the Jews. Desecration of the temple and bloodshed caused the uprising of the Jewish nation. 3. MACCABEAN UPRISING (167 BC - 63 BC) - Jews launched guerrilla type warfare and defeated Syria. The Jews then expanded the empire. Pharisees and Sadducees appeared during this period. 4. ROMAN PERIOD (63 BC - ) - Feuding Hasmoneans appealed to Rome for help. Legions sent under Pompey which overran Palestine killing 12,000 Jews. It is during the Roman occupation of Jerusalem that the New Testament was written. NOTE: Each world power contributed to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ:      1. Persian Period - Diaspora (dispersion), Jews scattered throughout the nations. The nations became familiar with the Jewish religion.      2. Greek Period - Greek language became universal, even spoken by the Jews.      3. Roman Period - Roads were built. Relative peace and safety in travel. (Galatians 4:4,5) "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." COMMENTS: God was at work during these periods of gentile rule to prepare the way for the coming of His Son. Near the close of the Old Testament, the Persians had defeated the Babylonians. It is mentioned in Daniel. Approximately 400 years separate the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.