aged the work?

25. What was Ezra's work in Jerusalem? Nehemiah's?

[Illustration]

Lesson 1

New Testament Division

PRINCIPAL EVENTS

#Interval# between the Old and the New Testament--four
hundred years of silence. Governmentally, this period was
divided between Persian, Greek, Maccabean, and Roman rule.

#Prelude# of angelic ministration. Message to Zacharias (Luke
1:5-20). Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). Angelic chorus
on Bethlehem's plains to shepherds (Luke 2:1-18). Warning to
Joseph to flee from Herod (Matt. 2:13). The first thirty
years of the life of Jesus are referred to but slightly in
the Bible.

#First Period.#--Six months of preaching by the "forerunner,"
John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-13; also parallel passages).

#Second Period.#--The entire life of Jesus, from the baptism
at Jordan to the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
(See entire Gospel narrative.)

#Third Period.#--From Pentecost, the outpouring of the Spirit
and admission into the church of three thousand in one day
(Acts 2:1-40). Gentiles admitted to the church (Acts
10:1-48). The first persecution (Acts 5:17-40). The martyrdom
of Stephen (Acts 6, 7).

#Fourth Period.#--The time of the Gentiles--the period in
which we now live (Rom. 11:25; Luke 21:24).

#Fifth Period.#--Will begin with "the lifting of the veil"
from the eyes of Israel (2 Cor. 3:15, 16). The close of this
period will be a time of great blessing (Rom. 11:15).

#The end# will witness the final triumph of the religion of
the Messiah over Jew and Gentile.

#TIME.#--About 400 B. C. to present time.

#PLACES.#--Palestine and Egypt; for the Third Period see later maps.

#SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS.#--The New Testament marks the change from the
old dispensation of priests as mediators, to the new, when "Jesus
Christ became the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only,
but for those of the whole world!"

The New Testament Preview

#103. Interval.#--Between the close of the Old Testament Period and
the opening of that of the New Testament there is an interval of four
centuries of silence.

#104. Prelude.#--This is largely angelic in character. To Zacharias
comes the message of the birth of the forerunner. Then follows the
angelic annunciation to Mary herself. This in turn is followed by the
angelic message to the shepherds and the