#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!"
#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 heavenly chorus on Bethlehem's plain. Heaven stoops to earth to announce its glad tidings. A new creation is heralded, better and grander even than that of the opening chapters of Genesis. One or two events are then recorded in the early life of the Holy Child, and then there is silence for thirty years. It is as though the prelude should end all. But no, the story will not end with mere prelude. It will go on its course till the very last act.