The 400 Silent Years

What is the history between the Old and New Testaments? Most people are not even aware there is such a gap. But there is. A 400 year gap.

When the Old Testament leaves off the Jews have just returned back from Babylonian captivity and the Persian Empire is in full swing. When Jesus enters the scene it is 400 years later. The Persians are long gone, the Greeks have had their time and now the Romans rule to roost. So what happened? Do we have any writings from this time? Could understanding this period of time help us understand the New Testament, the world of Jesus and the Apostles? The answer is yes.

This exciting book by well-known author H. A. Ironside lifts the veil from this vital period of Jewish history and helps piece together the events that brought them from Malachi to Matthew. This book will be of interest to students of Biblical, Ancient Near Eastern, Greek and Roman history as well as all those who desire to know and understand the Bible for fully. Ironside published this book in 1914. It is a history of the time between the last book of the Protestant Old Testament and the New Testament. From Malachi to Matthew.

For most Christians this is a silent and unknown time. What happened in those years? Why was there no prophet speaking for God? Are there any writings from that time that can illuminate our questions? In what way did this time help prepare for the coming Messiah and the rapid spread of the Gospel? What can archaeology tell us? Answering this question can help us really bring the New Testament to light. It was these preceding 400 years that paved the way for the New Testament scene.

A must read for all Bible students. Complete with the original 1914 illustrations. Author of over 100 books, booklets and tracts, H. A. Ironside was a bulwark of orthodox Evangelical Fundamentalism. He wrote on everything from Jewish history, to New Testament doctrine, to eschatology, to Bible commentaries and more. He was a direct successor of D. L. Moody and R. A. Torrey as senior pastor of Moody Church (founded by D. L. Moody). He was also their spiritual successor in that he continued the defense of classic Evangelical orthodoxy against the onslaught of Modernism. In 1930, he became the pastor, serving for 18 years until his wife’s death in 1948. He went to be with his Lord in 1951.