From Malachi To Matthew: a study of intertestamental history

When one reads the Bible, a few differences appear between the Old and New Testaments. When we close the Old Testament, the Persians are in charge, and suddenly the Romans are running things in the New Testament. We find things in the New not a part of the old, such as the Sanhedrin and synagogues, Pharisees and Sadducees. The period between the testament is a time when God is not communicating to man. But just because God is not speaking, it does not mean that He is not acting. The Intertestamental Period is a fascinating era where the providence of God works the world situation just so that when Jesus does come into the world, it is “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4).