A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers – Part 16

As we saw in the last part of our series, the Old Testament prophetic age came to a close after Malachi completed his spoken and written prophecy sometime between 440 and 400 BC. The Book of Malachi left Israel with God’s promise that He would send “My messenger” to “prepare the way before Me.” The promise went on to say that “the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight.” The promise continued — “Behold, He is coming’ Says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1)

That was God’s last prophetic Word to Israel until John the Baptist began to preach in the early part of the 1st century AD. That was about 400 years after Malachi’s prophecy. That period of time is often called “The Silent Years” or “400 Years of Silence,” because God did not speak through a prophet during that time.

Israel – Times of Silence

Israel had gone through prophetic silences earlier in their history, but nothing as long as 400 years. We know from reading the Book of Judges what Israel did when a judge was not in the land. Read Judges chapter two and you’ll see what Israel did after the death of Joshua — the man God called to lead His people into the Promised Land.

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger … Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. Judges 2:10-12, 16-19

Israel went through several cycles during the time of the Judges.
They disobeyed God and worshipped and served idols
They suffered severely for their disobedience at the hands of their enemies
They cried out to God for deliverance from their enemies
God heard their cries and sent a Judge to deliver them from their enemies
They obeyed God through the Judge
The judge died
The people returned to idol worship

That cycle repeated many times until God called Samuel to be both a judge and prophet to Israel. When Samuel was old and had made his sons judges of Israel, the people demanded that Samuel appoint a king for them so Israel could be “like all the nations” around them.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 1 Samuel 8:4-5

Samuel was the first prophet to an Israelite king, but many more would follow. God spoke often to His people through prophets, but finished speaking centuries later through Malachi. However, even though God did not speak during the “Silent Years,” the people of Israel had learned their lesson about worshipping idols and looked forward to God’s promise of a messenger and a Messenger.

Israel – Times of Change

400 years is a long time for any nation, but especially for a nation dependent on God’s Word for knowledge and direction. God gave Israel a specific system of governing administration that included kings and queens, prophets, priests, scribes, and elders. Even after the last king died during the 6th century BC, Israel still had prophets, priests, scribes, and elders ruling the people. What happened after the last prophet died?

Israel went through political changes after Malachi’s death. There was no king. There was no prophet. There were still priests, scribes, and elders, but their control of Israel was different. Even as Daniel prophesied during the 6th century BC, other nations would rule over Israel. Israel did get a brief opportunity for independence and self-rule during the 2nd century BC Hasmonean period, but the Romans dominated the world’s landscape in the 1st century and Jerusalem was captured by General Pompey in 63 BC.

Israel still had priests and scribes after Rome took over, but the political structure was a bit different than before. Israel once again had a king, though he was a vassal king (King Herod) and not of the lineage of King David. Israel became a Roman province, which included Roman governors and soldiers ruling the nation. Rome allowed the ancient Jewish religion to continue in Israel, but under the careful watch of Roman rulers.

After the death of the vassal King Herod, the Romans ruled Israel by dividing Israel into sections. Ethnarch Herod Archelaus ruled Judaea, Tetrarch Herod Antipas ruled North-West, and the Tetrarch Herod Philip ruled North-East Israel. Rome also ruled with an iron fist through appointed high-ranking officials in the Roman military. They were called ‘procurator,’ ‘prefect,’ or ‘governor.’ The best known procurator in the Gospels was Pontius Pilatus (Pilate). He ruled for ten years from the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry (about 26 AD) to the time of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (about 36 AD).

When you read the Gospels in the New Testament you will see that Jewish leaders had found ways to work with their Roman overlords. You’ll find familiar leaders like priests, scribes, and elders mentioned in the Gospels, but you’ll also see many new political names mentioned:

Sadducees
Pharisees
Herodians
Essenes
Zealots

We do not find any of these names in the Old Testament. So, when did they appear in Israel? During the 400 Years of Silence – primarily in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. Without a prophet of God in the land during that time, Israel’s leaders were basically on their own. While they relied partially on the Hebrew Bible for guidance, their interpretation of God’s Word led to many divisions within their leadership. Let’s look at each one briefly.

Sadducees

The Sadducees were members of wealthy, powerful families. They were aristocrats who were connected to the Jewish Temple and held the majority of seats on the ruling Sanhedrin. The chief priests and high priest were Sadducees. They opposed Jesus because they viewed Him as a danger to their positions of power and influence. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They were more political than religious and wanted to keep the peace with Rome.

“Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Luke 16:1-3

Pharisees

The Pharisees were another influential religious group in Judaism. They usually came from the middle class and were leaders in local synagogues, and generally more popular with the Jewish people than the Sadducees. They believed in separation from anything they didn’t deem holy. They also accepted oral tradition in addition to the written Word of God. Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees did believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees opposed Jesus and were often targets of Christ’s teaching.

“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1

The Pharisees came from two different schools that were based on the teaching of two prominent rabbis: Hillel and Shammai. Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) was a Pharisee from the school of Hillel. His teacher was Hillel’s grandson, Gamaliel. Gamaliel was highly respected in the community.

“Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.” Acts 5:34

“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” Acts 22:3

Herodians

The Herodians were members of an Hellenistic Jewish political party that wanted to restore someone from the lineage of King Herod the Great to rule Israel. They are mentioned three times in the Gospels and are usually paired with the Pharisees in attempts to trap and destroy Jesus.

“Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” Mark 3:6

“Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.” Mark 12:13

Essenes

The word “Essene” is not found in the Old or New Testament. We know something about them from Jewish history, including the writings of the 1st century AD historian Josephus. He wrote about them in both Antiquities of the Jews and Jewish War. The Essenes were a group of Jews deeply dedicated to God and to each other. Some of them lived in various Jewish towns and villages. Some lived in desert areas, including Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Because John the Baptist lived in the desert until he began preaching and baptizing, some scholars have surmised that he may have been an Essene. Essene is not a name that the people of Qumran gave themselves. Some called them Sons of Zadok – others Sons of Light. Josephus, who wrote around the end of the first century, used the term “Essene” for this group.

The Essenes are Jews by birth and seem to have a greater affection for one another than the other schools have. These Essenes reject pleasures as an evil, but consider continence and the conquest over our passions to be virtue. Josephus, War II, 119-120

Zealots

The Zealots were Judean Jews who wanted to overthrow the occupying forces of Rome. They were zealous fighters known for a deep devotion to God as their only Ruler. One of Christ’s disciples was “Simon called the Zealot.” It’s interesting that Jesus also chose Matthew to be one of His disciples. Matthew was a Jew who collected taxes from Jews for Rome. Jesus can bring together people from differing, and even oppositional, backgrounds to become committed followers of His.

Israel – Time for Messiah

According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus arrived in Israel at the perfect time.

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:3-5

After everything we read about Israel’s history in the Old Testament, along with the 400 years of silence and all the division that came from that, God sent forth His Son to redeem those who were under the law. That’s also what Jesus told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews. He pointed Nicodemus back to the time of Moses and the Exodus to let him know that God had sent Him at that particular time and place to redeem His people from their sins.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:14-21

The people of Israel were looking for their Messiah. They knew that God had promised through the prophet Malachi to send a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messenger. John the Baptist, the messenger, prepared the way for Jesus of Nazareth, the Messenger of the covenant. “Behold, He is coming,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

Most of Israel’s rulers were false teachers. Because they were blind to the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Messenger of the covenant, they missed His coming. They were filled with jealousy and rage, and killed the One for whom Israel was waiting. However, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to Heaven where He continues to reign to this day.

What happened to the false preachers and teachers who opposed Jesus Christ when He ministered on earth?

The Sadducees disappeared soon after Rome destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.
The Pharisees disappeared soon after Rome destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.
The Herodians disappeared soon after Rome destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.
The Essenes disappeared soon after Rome destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.
The Essenes disappeared soon after Rome destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.

Just as Jesus prophesied:

“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.'” Matthew 24:1-2

Jesus gave that prophecy to His disciples about 40 years before the Romans destroyed the 2nd Temple. His prophecy was also the end of many of the false teachers who opposed His ministry and the will of God the Father.

Next Time

We’ll look deeper into how Satan used false preachers and teachers during and after New Testament times in the next part of our special series, A Layman’s Guide to False Preachers and Teachers.

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 1

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 2

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 3

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 4

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 5

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 6

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 7

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 8

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 9

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 10

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 11

A Layman’s Guide To False Preachers and Teachers Part 12