Quest for the Kingdom Series by Pastor Daniel Wee (QK1)

QUEST FOR THE KINGDOM 1

A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The gospels and the rest of the New Testament were written within a particular sociohistorical context, which influenced the dreams, hopes and mindset of the people during
that time. After the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews by the Babylonians in
586BC, the Jews had lost their temple and nationhood. They subsequently came under the
rule of various pagan empires (see diagram & timeline below). These events greatly shaped
the life, religious worldview and aspirations of the Jews, in particular, their view of Gods
promised Messiah in their Holy Scriptures. It was in this context that Jesus of Nazareth,
who is Gods true Messiah, was born.
Identification of the Four Kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzars Dream (Dan 2:31-45)
- Babylon (Gold head)
- Media-Persia (Silver arms and chest)

- Greece (Bronze belly and thighs)

- Rome (Leg of iron; feet of iron and clay)

- Gods Eternal Kingdom

(Stone cut without hands that destroyed the whole statue)

Historical Timeline (605 BC - AD 135)1

The Babylonian Empire (605 - 539 BC) - destruction of Jerusalem temple & Jewish exile
(586BC)2
The Persian Empire (539 - 334 BC) - Jerusalem temple rebuilt (516BC)3
The Macedonian-Greek Empire (334 -166 BC)
Alexander the Greek (334 - 323 BC)
Ptolemaic Domination (323 - 198 BC)

The parts in italics are key events which shaped the life and worldview of the Jewish
people.
2
2 Kings 25:1-21.
3
Ezra 3-6. The period between the completion of the second temple in the book of Ezra
(516BC) and the destruction of it by the Romans (AD 70) is commonly known as the Second
Temple Period. Another commonly used term is the Intertestamental Period or sometimes referred
to as the Four Hundred Silent Years, where there was no prophetic utterance, between the book of
Malachi (around 430BC) and the birth of Jesus (6-4BC).
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Quest for the Kingdom Series by Pastor Daniel Wee (QK1)

Seleucid Domination (198 -166 BC) desecration of the temple by Antiochus IV

(167BC)4
The Maccabean Period (166 - 63 BC)
The Maccabean Revolt (166 - 135 BC) - Jews revolted against Antiochus IV &
established self-rule temporarily
The Hasmonean Dynasty (135 - 63 BC)
The Roman Empire (63 BC - AD 135) - destruction of Jerusalem temple (AD 70)

Rise of Various Jewish Groups during the Second Temple Period

Sadducees - Favoured co-operation with Romans (conspired with the Pharisees

against Jesus as they did not want to lose power)
Pharisees - Believed that observing the Torah and Oral Tradition would protect Israel
from Roman influence (criticised Jesus for breaking the Oral Tradition)
Essenes - Viewed the temple and priesthood as corrupt; withdrew to the desert to an
ascetic form of communal living, focused on the study of Scripture and purity rituals,
while waiting for Gods Messiah to save Israel and destroy the wicked
Zealots - Called for violent overthrow of Roman rule using physical force

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
For todays discussion, we want to focus on the worldview of one particular group, the
Essenes. Some commentators believed that John the Baptist had some links and
similarities with this group.
The Essenes viewed themselves as the righteous remnant and were waiting for God to
judge the wicked and deliver His people. Led by the Teacher of Righteousness, the
Essenes withdrew to the desert to an ascetic form of communal living. They focused on the
study of Scripture and purity rituals as they viewed the Temple as being polluted by a
corrupt priesthood. One such purity ritual was daily ceremonial cleansing using living water,
as they believed that it had the power to cleanse and purify (living water is water that comes
directly from the hands of God e.g. rain, spring or river). John the Baptist likewise required
the people to be baptised for their repentance and spiritual cleansing. Thus, John shares a
similar view with the Essenes on what constitutes holiness - separation from impurity. Like
them, John also envisaged a Messiah who would come to judge and destroy the wicked
and deliver Israel.
In the early part of his ministry, John the Baptist was certain that Jesus was the Messiah as
he saw the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus (Jn 1:29-34). However, sometime later, he
started to wonder whether Jesus was the Messiah. Why did John react this way? Let us
examine this issue in this lesson.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes (God manifest) plundered and desecrated the temple in Jerusalem by
erecting a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the temple and sacrificing a pig on it. This was prophesied
beforehand as the Abomination of Desolation in Daniel 11:31. He sought to destroy the Jews and their
religion by passing laws forbidding circumcision, keeping of Sabbath, adherence to the Torah, temple
worship etc., and imposing pagan worship and practices on them. This led to the Maccabean Revolt, a
Jewish guerilla resistance, which succeeded against insurmountable odds against the Seleucid army.
4

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Quest for the Kingdom Series by Pastor Daniel Wee (QK1)

Scripture: Lk 7:18-35
1.

Read Lk 7:20. What question did John instruct his disciples to ask Jesus? Why do
you think John posed the question?

2.

What kind of Messiah was John expecting? (Hint: Lk 3:16-17; Lk 7:33-34)

3.

How did Jesus answer Johns question? How might John have interpreted Jesus
reply? (Read Lk 4:17-19; Isa 61:1-2)

4.

How did Johns idea of holiness differ from that of Jesus? (Read Lk 3:2; 7:33-34)

5.

What was Jesus main message in His preaching and ministry?

Application: What implication does this have for your Christian witness?

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