How History Prepared the World for Jesus (Malachi to Matthew)
Brandon Cannon
- 3 min read

How History Prepared the World for Jesus (Malachi to Matthew)

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Introduction

Question: What happened between the end of Malachi and the birth of Jesus? Did things just carry on? How long was it?

Answer: This may be hard to imagine, but 400 years passed from the end of Malachi to the birth of Jesus. This is known as 400 years of silence. This does not mean nothing happened. It only means there was no "prophetic voice" speaking God's words. SO MUCH HAPPENED as the world prepared for the birth of the King. Let's talk about it.

If you’ve ever flipped from the end of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament, it may feel like the story just pauses—and then suddenly resumes with angels, shepherds, and the birth of Jesus. But between Malachi and Matthew sits roughly 400 years of history.

There were no new prophets. No new Scriptures. No recorded visions.

But... God was on the move.

Those four centuries were not a gap in God’s plan. They were the stage for the Messiah's arrival.

Many things happened in the world. Empires came to power and were destroyed. Languages spread throughout the world. Culture shifted over and over. All of this was part of God’s preparation.

Step One: The Persian Empire

Worship Restored. When Malachi finished speaking, God’s people were living under the Persian Empire, which had allowed the Jews to return from exile and rebuild the Temple. During this time:

  • Worship resumed.
  • Jewish identity was rebuilt.
  • The Scriptures remained central.

This was a season of stability and rebuilding. The promise of the Messiah was still alive in the hearts of the people.

Step Two: The Greek Empire

A Shared Language and Culture came with Alexander the Great.

With his rapid conquests came one of the most world-shaping shifts in history: the spread of Greek language and culture (Hellenization).

Almost the entire known world could suddenly communicate in a common tongue.

Why does that matter?

Because when the gospel would one day be preached, it could spread quickly and clearly.

During this season, the Hebrew Scriptures were also translated into Greek, the Septuagint. This made God’s Word accessible far beyond the Jewish community.

God was preparing the language that would carry the message of Christ.

Step 3. The Seleucid and Ptolemaic Rule

After Alexander’s death, his empire was split. Two kingdoms: Egypt (Ptolemies) and Syria (Seleucids). They fought for control of Judea.

Under the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Jewish worship was outlawed, and the Temple was desecrated. Out of this oppression came the Maccabean Revolt, and the Jewish people regained control of the Temple.

This struggle culminated in the events remembered during Hanukkah. This is a celebration of God’s faithfulness that is still celebrated today.

This season taught God’s people to:

  • Resist cultural compromise
  • Long for true deliverance
  • Hope fiercely in God’s promises

Step 4: The Roman Empire

This step created roads, peace, and the perfect timing for the King's arrival.
Eventually, Rome became the dominant world power. With Rome came:

  • A stable government
  • Safe travel
  • A vast road system
  • Universal law

These developments didn’t just change the ancient world. They prepared the perfect environment for the spread of Christianity.

  • Paul could travel across countries.
  • Missionaries could move without constant border battles.
  • Letters could move quickly across regions.

Rome unknowingly built the travel network for the gospel.

And into this world of Greek language, Jewish expectation, and Roman infrastructure... Jesus was born.

Why This Matters

Sometimes we imagine God only works in miracles and supernatural moments. But in those 400 years, God mostly worked through:

  • Government
  • Culture
  • Language
  • Roads
  • Politics
  • People

Quietly. Strategically. Faithfully.

God was not silent. He was preparing history for the moment when the King would step into time and begin His rescue mission.

So What?

Maybe you’re in a season that feels silent.

Maybe you’re waiting for a breakthrough, a healing, an answer, or a direction. It's possible to wonder if God is doing anything at all.

This period of preparation reminds us:

God is always working, even when we cannot hear Him.
Even when the timeline feels long.
Even when nothing seems to be happening.

When the time was right, Jesus entered the world.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”
— Galatians 4:4

Bottom Line

History teaches us something beautiful: God keeps His promises, and His timing is perfect.

Those 400 years were not empty. They were essential.

And one day, the silence broke with the cry of a baby in Bethlehem. The Savior had come.

So take heart. If God could weave nations, language, roads, and kings into His plan, He can weave your story too. Wait with hope.

God is on the move.

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