It is important that we realize that God’s Providence is always at work. During the events surrounding Jerusalem from the 6^th century BC until the birth of Christ, other things were in transition in the world as well, preparing for the “fullness of time”.

606 BC Daniel and others were captured and carried away into Babylonian

600 BC the Etruscans ruled Rome, and the Greeks were establishing city-states in Southern Italy.

587 BC Nebuchadnezzar began his final assault on Jerusalem

586 BC Jews carried away to Babylonian captivity

582 BC Greek mathematician Pythagoras was born (Pythagorean theory)

581 BC Nebuchadnezzar attacks Edom

566 BC Prince Gautama was born in India. He would become known as Buddha

551 BC Confucius is born in China

539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, and allows some Jews to return to Jerusalem; (Aesop is writing fables in Greece)

530 BC After conquering all of Asia Minor, Cyrus dies in battle, his son Cambyses ascends to power and rules for 8 years until succeeded by Darius I.

520 BC Darius I allows rebuilding of Jerusalem. Ezra, Daniel, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah prophesy.

516 The temple is completed and dedicated – 70 years of captivity ended

509 BC The last Etruscan king is deposed in Rome and the Roman Republic is born

500 BC the Celts leave Italy and settle in Ireland; Joel and Malachi prophesy in Judah

478 Esther becomes queen of Persia

469 BC Socrates is born in Greece, followed shortly by Hippocrates and Plato

458 BC the second group of Jews return to Jerusalem, led by Ezra.

450 BC Rome begins to expand by planting colonies.

338 BC Phillip of Macedon unites Greece, but is assassinated 2 years later; his son Alexander takes the throne – he will be known as ‘Alexander the Great’

333 BC Palestine comes under the rule of Alexander the Great (of Greece) when he defeats Persia

312 BC Roman road building is well underway; (the Apian Way) is one of the projects

265 BC Rome is rapidly expanding her empire.

250 BC Hebrew Scriptures are translated into the Greek language.

218 BC Hannibal crosses the Pyrenees and Alps with his elephants, defeats Rome, but Rome regains power within a year.

215 BC Construction begins on the Great Wall in China

164 BC Judas Maccabaeus defeats the Syrians and frees Jerusalem (the beginning of Hanukkah).

146 BC Rome gains control of Greece, Carthage, Spain, Asia Minor, Africa and Egypt.

46 BC Caesar ascends to power in Rome, but is assassinated 2 years later.

31 BC Anthony and Cleopatra are defeated by Octavian who is named Augustus Caesar and rules for 44 years, until 14 AD.

The Fullness of Time ! (Galatians 4:4)