The Reign Of The Herodians
How did the reign of the Herodians make the Good News possible?
The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) came to this earth in the fullness of time to live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), so he could bring redemption to those who could not live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth (Galatians 4:4-7).
The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) had used the rise and fall of empires to create the perfect conditions to spread the Good News over a large area in a short amount of time.
After this, He raised up the Maccabees. The gift of the Maccabees was creating the many of the conditions in the land of Israel that made the Good News possible. How the Maccabees help spread the Good News was by setting up a system throughout the Jewish world that the Apostles of Truth could use to reach Jews and Gentiles quickly.
Matthias the Priest set the pattern how the Faithful Priest would operate, when the Temple was again dominated by a corrupt High Priest and filled with corrupt Priests. The Maccabees set up the expectation of the Faithful Prophet of Truth, who would reveal the Rightful King of the Jews.
Their successors, the Hasmoneans created the corrupt legal system that made the unjust trial of the Man of Truth possible. The religious parties that came to power during their rule, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, created the system of unjust courts that persecuted the Jewish Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him). The Hasmoneans set the refining fire that burned out all compromise from the Children of Truth.
Yet, the hidden hand of the Father of Truth was not yet done preparing the world for the Man of Truth. The rise of the Herodians finished preparing the people of Israel for the Man of Truth, but the reign of the Herodians would make the Good News possible.
Understanding the reign of the Herodians begins with understanding their relationship with the Hasmoneans.
In 110 BC, John Hyrcanus I conquered Idumaea, the southern part of Israel, that had been taken over by Edomites when the Jews went into the Babylonian captivity about five hundred years earlier. He then forced all of them to either become Jews via circumcision or leave Idumaea.
(None of the Hasmoneans, Nabataeans, or Herodians actually had numbers after their names. The numbers were added by historians to make it easier to keep track of them, since the same names were frequently used for different individuals, even brothers. This convention is applied to everyone with the same name to remove all ambiguity.)
In 104 BC, his son Aristobulus I became the next Hasmonean king, but soon died.
In 103 BC, his other son Alexander Jannaeus became the new Hasmonean king, and made Antipas the Idumaean (Antipas I) the governor of Idumaea due to his connections to the ruling family of the Nabataeans.
Antipas the Idumaean had a son who was raised as a Jew in every regard, including being circumcised on the eighth day. Nonetheless, his son was known as Antipater the Idumaean (Antipater I).
Antipater the Idumaean later married Cypros I, a noble woman of the Nabataeans and a near relative of Aretas III, the king of Nabataea. They then had a son that came to be known as Herod the Great as well as his brother Phasael I.
When Antipas the Idumaean died, then Alexander Jannaeus made Antipas the Idumaean the new governor of Idumaea, shortly before his own death in 76 BC. His wife Salome Alexandra then became Queen of Judaea.
When Salome Alexandra died in 67 BC, her sons Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II continuously fought for the throne. Antipater the Idumaean and his sons supported Hyrcanus II in this struggle.
In 61 BC, Antipas the Idumaean and Cypros I had a daughter, Salome I.
Eventually Alexander I, the son of Aristobulus II, married Alexandra, the daughter of his brother Hyrcanus II. This marriage could have put an end to the rivalry between these competing Hasmonean rulers by creating a single heir to the throne from both lines in the son of Alexander I and Alexandra, Aristobulus III. They also had a daughter, Mariamne I.
However, the Romans got involved.
In 49 BC, Aristobulus II and Alexander I were both killed by Pompey and his supporters. Pompey then died while fighting Julius Caesar in 48 BC, and Antipater the Idumaean placed the army of Judaea under the command of Julius Caesar. The next year, 47 BC, Hyrcanus II was restored as king by Julius Caesar.
Then Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, followed by Antipater the Idumaean being killed with poison in 43 BC. Hyrcanus II had relied on Julius Caesar to keep his throne secure, and Antipater the Idumaean for advice in ruling Judaea. So, Herod the Great and his brother Phasael I stepped in to fill these roles.
However, when the Parthians invaded Judaea in 40 BC, the other son of Aristobulus II, Antigonus, led an army of Jews, who allied themselves with the Parthians in order to drive the Romans out. Antigonus became the client king of the Parthians after capturing Hyrcanus II, mutilating him, and exiling him to Babylon. Phasael I then killed himself to avoid being mutilated.
However, Herod the Great escaped to Rome to ask for help in restoring Hyrcanus II to the throne.
When Herod the Great arrived in Rome in 37 BC to ask for help, the Roman Senate surprised him by declaring him the King of Judaea, if he could bring Judaea back into Roman hands. While there, Alexandra arranged for Herod the Great to marry her daughter Mariamne I, after he was on the throne. So, Herod the Great divorced and exiled his first wife Doris, with their son Antipater II.
Herod the Great came back to Judaea with a Roman army the next year. Two years later, 34 BC, Herod the Great retook Jerusalem, and became the client king of the Romans in Judaea. Marc Antony had Antigonus executed.
The reign of the Herodians had began. The royal family of the Herodians were now ready to be formed.
In 33 BC Herod the Great married Mariamne I. This gave Herod the Great legitimacy as a ruler in the Hasmonean line.
That same year, Alexandra sought to ask Marc Antony for help in getting her son Aristobulus III appointed as the High Priest. Herod the Great heard this, and made Aristobulus III the new High Priest before she could ask for help. Herod the Great was concerned that Mark Antony might make Aristobulus III the king of Judaea as well, since he was the sole remaining male heir from both lines of the Hasmoneans.
Also, Herod the Great brought Hyrcanus II back from his exile that same year, so the Parthians would not try to return him to the throne as their client king. So, Herod the Great was surrounded by all of the remaining Hasmoneans of the royal line, and was part of the royal Hasmonean family.
However, things did not stay good for long. In 32 BC, Aristobulus III set out to seek the help of Mark Antony in being restored as king of Judaea, in exchange for his support of Marc Antony against Octavian (Caesar Augustus). Herod the Great had Aristobulus III assassinated.
In 31 BC, Herod the Great and Mariamne I had a son, Alexander II.
That same year, Augustus Caesar defeated Marc Antony and became the first Roman Emperor.
In 27 BC, Herod the Great and Mariamne I had another son, Aristobulus IV.
Herod the Great also had Hyrcanus II executed that year, because he believed that Hyrcanus II was plotting to have the Nabataeans help him regain the throne. So, there were no more males of the royal line of the Hasmoneans left.
In 25 BC, Salome I accused Mariamne I of plotting to poison Herod the Great. Her mother, Alexandra, also accused Mariamne I as well, because she feared that Salome I would implicate her as well, if she did not act as a second witness. So, Herod the Great had Mariamne I executed and began a long period of great mourning for her.
Alexandra then declared Herod the Great insane and herself to be the Queen of Judaea, since she was the last of the royal Hasmonean line. Herod the Great realized her treachery and had her executed without a trial.
Soon after that, Herod the Great had Doris and his son by her, Antipas II, return to Jerusalem from their exile.
Herod the Great then began his massive building projects that included fortresses like Machaerus, and Gentile cities throughout Galilee that were centers of idolatry. He also had the city of Phasaelis built northeast of Jericho, where his brother liked to hunt with him, in honor of his brother, Phasael I.
These projects were both loved and hated by various factions of the people of Israel. These projects were also costly and paid for by a system of oppressive taxation on the people of Israel.
Herod the Great then married eight more wives including Mariamne II, the daughter of the High Priest, a Samaritan woman named Malthace, Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and Elpis.
Herod the Great had a son by Mariamne II named Philip I (Herod Philip) in 23 BC.
("Herod" had became a title by this point of those claiming the right to rule as a descendant of Herod the Great. This was similar to the Hasmoneans adopting the title Hasmonean to show that they came from Matthias the Priest. None of the descendants of Herod the Great were given the name of "Herod" as a baby, except for Herod the Great. Philip I (Herod Philip) was the first to use this title, so he is sometimes called Herod II by historians, even though there is no record of anyone calling him that during his life time.)
Herod the Great had a son by Cleopatra of Jerusalem named Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch) in 22 BC.
Herod the Great had a son by Malthace named Archelaus (Herod Archelaus) in 19 BC. About a year later they had another son Antipas II (Herod Antipas).
Herod the Great began his most impressive building project, the enlargement and beautification of the Temple and the Temple Mount in 18 BC.
Around 10 BC, Aristobulus IV and his wife Berenice I, daughter of Salome I, had a a daughter, Herodias. They also had four other children.
Also in 10 BC, Herod the Great had a daughter by Elpis named Salome II.
In 9 BC, Herod the Great made Antipater II the first heir in his will.
In 8 BC, his two sons by Mariamne I, Alexander II and Aristobulus IV, were also placed in royal succession in front of Antipater II.
In 3 BC, Antipater II accused Alexander II and Aristobulus IV of plotting to poison Herod the Great. Herod had them executed and put Antipater II as first in succession.
However, later that same year, Herod Philip married Herodias. Since this would put his children in the Hasmonean line, Herod the Great promoted him to first in succession. When Antipater II protested this marriage, Herod the Great moved him back to first in succession.
In 1 AD, five days before his death, Herod the Great had Antipater II executed for plotting to poison him. This put Herod Philip first in succession again.
However, Herod the Great removed Herod Philip from his will, divorced his mother Mariamne II, and removed her father from the position of High Priest, because Mariamne II had failed to warn him of the plot of Antipater II to poison him. Herod Philip was exiled to Rome with Herodias. Mariamne II and Doris, the mother of Antipater II, went to Rome with him.
Herod the Great then changed his will to divide his kingdom between his three remaining sons in Judaea and his sister Salome I. Salome I and his sons began to rule their portions immediately under Herod the Great, and were later confirmed as rulers by the Romans when Caesar Augustus approved the final change to his will.
His sister Salome I received an area along the coast of Judaea from the area surrounding Jamnia (Yavne) to the southern border of Judaea, and another area north of Jericho near the west bank of the Jordan River around the city of Phasaelis. She was given the title of Queen, although the actual administration was done by the ethnarch of Judaea.
The rest of the kingdom of Herod the Great was divided among his three surviving sons, with the oldest son getting a double portion in line with the commandment of the Law of Truth (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
Herod Archelaus became the full ruler over the southern half of the kingdom of Herod on the west side of the Jordan River, which included Idumaea, Judea, and Samaria, as the Ethnarch of Judaea.
Herod Antipas (Antipas II) became the full ruler over Galilee, the area from the west side of the Sea of Galilee to Lebanon, and Perea, the area on the east side of the Jordan River, south of The Decapolis, and along the northeast banks of the Dead Sea. Herod Antipas was given the title of Tetrarch of Galilee.
Philip the Tetrarch (Philip II) was given the title of Tetrarch and ruled over the area north of The Decapolis and east of the Sea of Galilee, and the part of Jordan River that flowed from the north into the Sea of Galilee. This area included Iturea and Trachontis, as well as Gaulonitis, Batanea, and Auranitis.
Herod Archelaus ruled until he was replaced with a Roman governor in 10 AD due to complaints of his brutality. He was then exiled to where all brutal rules seem to end up - France (Gaul).
Around 14 AD, Herod Philip and Herodias had a daughter named Salome III.
Around the same time, Salome I died. Her portion became part of Judaea, except of Jamnia, which she gave to Livia, the wife of Caesar Augustus, in her will.
In 18 AD, Philip the Tetrarch started having the city of Paneas, that the Greeks had built shorty after the death of Alexander the Great, rebuilt as Caesarea Philippi. He then made it his capital.
In 20 AD, Herod Antipas had Tiberius built as the capital of his tetrarchy on the site of the ancient town of Rakkath. (This was one of the fortified cities on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in days of Joshua (Joshua 19:35).) Part of it was built over the ancient graveyard outside of Rakkath, so the city was considered unclean. It was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberias and was originally occupied primarily by Gentiles. It was also a center of idol worship and temples.
Around 22 AD, Herod Archelaus died while still in exile in Gaul.
According to Josephus and Philo, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judaea, nearly caused an insurrection by provoking the Jews when he first took office in 26 AD. They also report that he continually did things that almost caused insurrection among the Jews. Herod Antipas complained to Emperor Tiberius each time, arguing that Judaea would better serve Rome if it was ruled by himself, since he was a Jewish ruler loyal to the Romans. This caused enmity between Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas.
In 28 AD, Herodias divorced Herod Philip to marry his half-brother Herod Antipas. Herodias and Salome III moved to Galilee to live with Herod Antipas.
In 29 AD, according to Josephus, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist (Yochanon the Mikvah Man) arrested and put in the fortress called Machaerus, because he feared that the many people repenting and being baptized by John the Baptist would rebel against him, if John the Baptist told them to do so. Josephus also reported that later Herod Antipas ordered John the Baptist executed, even though he was reluctant to do so.
In 30 AD, the emnity between Pilate and Herod Antipas came to an end. According to Josephus, Pontius Pilate had the Man of Truth crucified that year as well.
The Herodians never realized that the Father of Truth was letting them reign to bring about His will. They were needed as His unwitting pawns to make the Good News possible.
The rule of the Herodians set the stage for the John the Baptist to prepare the people of Israel for the Man of Truth.
Since the Herodians ruled, corrupt High Priests were in charge of the Temple, causing John the Baptist to carry out his primary duty as a Priest of Truth of leading the people of Israel to repentance in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). So, the people of Israel recognized that he was that Prophet of Truth like unto Elijah (Eliyah aka Elias), who would prepare them for the arrival of the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:3-6). They heard that they had to repent of their sins and be baptized (Luke 3:7-14). They heard that the message of John the Baptist that he was only sent to show them the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:15-18). They heard the witness of the Father of Truth that the Man of Truth was the Messiah of Israel, when John the Baptist baptized him (Luke 3:21-22).
Since the Herodians ruled, Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip, because John the Baptist told him that the Law of Truth did not allow him to have her as his wife, but he was afraid to kill John the Baptist because the people of his tetrarchy considered John the Baptist to be a Prophet of Truth (Matthew 14:3-5). Herodias wanted to kill John the Baptist for telling Herod Antipas that the Law of Truth did not allow him to marry the wife of his living brother Philip, but Herod Antipas prevented her from killing him, because he feared John the Baptist and liked to listen to him (Mark 6:17-20). Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist for reproving him for marrying the wife of his brother Herod Philip and all of the other evil things that he had done (Luke 3:19-20).
Since the Herodians ruled, the daughter of Herodias (Salome III) danced before the guests of the birthday celebration of Herod Antipas, so that he promised to give her whatever she wanted (Matthew 14:6-7). She asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, as her mother Herodias had instructed her, and Herod Antipas was very sorry that he had made the promise, but still commanded that it to be given to her (Matthew 14:8-9). John the Baptist was beheaded in prison, his head was given by the daughter of Herodias to her mother, and his followers buried his headless body (Matthew 14:10-12).
The Herodians set the stage for the Man of Truth to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Messiah of Israel, when they filled Galilee with Gentile cities.
The Prophet of Truth Isaiah (Yeshayahu) had said that the Messiah of Israel would reveal himself to the people of Israel who lived in land of Zebulun (Zebulon) and Naphtali, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in the land of Galilee, which was dominated by Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1-2).
It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth first began to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven in Capernaum, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, on the border of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, in the land of Galilee, which was dominated by Gentiles, after John the Baptist was imprisoned (Matthew 4:12-17). It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth began calling his disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22). It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth began his teaching and healing ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23).
It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth told the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth to not go to the where the Gentiles lived, but only to the people of Israel, when he first commissioned them to preach his message of Good News with signs to confirm the message (Matthew 10:1-8).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal that he was the Messiah of Israel, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi, and the Greeks revived the worship of Pan near there.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth asked the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth, who they said he was (Matthew 16:13-15). This is where, Peter the Jew (Sh'mon aka Simon aka Simeon aka Cephas aka The Apostle Peter) answered that the Man of Truth was the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 16:16). This is where, he was told that he had received this revelation from the Father of Truth (Matthew 16:17). It was at the place called the Gates of Hell (Hades) by the Greeks who worshiped Pan, where the Man of Truth revealed, that it was upon this rock of the revelation of him as the Messiah, which he would build his congregation of the Called Out Ones to prevail against the Gates of Hell by carrying out the laws of Heaven on Earth (Matthew 16:18-19).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to perform miracles that confirmed the Good News, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
Since Herod Antipas built Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee was also called the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1). It was near the Sea of Tiberias where a great multitude followed the Man of Truth shortly before Passover (Pesach) (John 6:2-4).
This is where, the Man of Truth fed the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:5-13). This is where, the five thousand recognized that the Man of Truth was that coming Prophet of Truth spoken of by Moses and the Prophets of Truth (John 6:14). This is where the Man of Truth escaped to another mountain because the five thousand wanted to make him king over Israel before the time foretold by the Prophets of Truth (John 6:15). All of this happened near Tiberias (John 6:23).
The Original Twelve Apostles Of Truth were on the Sea of Tiberias, going towards Capernaum, when the Man of Truth met their boat while walking on the water (John 6:16-19). Their boat was instantly on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias at Capernaum, after the Man of Truth got in the boat (John 6:20-21).
The Herodians made it possible for their supporters to plot with the Pharisees to destroy the Man of Truth.
The Pharisees went to the supporters of the Herodians to find a way to destroy the Man of Truth, after he healed a man in their synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). The Jewish religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and the supporters of the Herodians to trap the Man of Truth in his words, by asking a question intended to force him to offend either the people of Israel or the Romans (Mark 12:13-17).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal his death, burial, and resurrection, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth first revealed his approaching suffering, death, and resurrection at Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21). This is where, Peter the Jew told the Man of Truth that he would never let this happen, but the Man of Truth rebuked him for loving what people love, instead of what the Father of Truth loves (Matthew 16:22-23).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal his death and betrayal, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
The crowd got in boats from Tiberias and sailed on the Sea of Tiberias to Capernaum to meet the Man of Truth (John 6:22-24). The Man of Truth then told this crowd from Tiberias to not seek after the perishable bread that he had given them on the mount, but to seek after the imperishable bread that would give them eternal life (John 6:25-27). The Man of Truth then explained to this crowd from Tiberias that he was the Bread of Life that would give them eternal life (John 6:28-48). He explained that his flesh would give them life when he died for them (John 6:28-51).
Many of this crowd from Tiberias turned away from following him when the Man of Truth told them in the synagogue of Capernaum, that his flesh would give them life (John 6:52-66). However, Peter the Jew said, that the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth would continue to follow the Man of Truth (John 6:67-69). The Man of Truth then revealed to the Twelve Original Apostles of Truth, and those from Tiberias that continued to follow him, that one of the Twelve Original Apostles of Truth would betray him (John 6:70-71).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the suffering of his followers, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth first revealed that when he called people to follow him, he was calling them to die (Matthew 16:24-26). This is where, the Man of Truth revealed that all people will be rewarded according to their works, when he comes back to rule this Earth (Matthew 16:27). This is where, the Man of Truth revealed that he will not stand up for anyone in the age to come, who does not stand up for him in this age (Mark 8:38).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the suffering of his followers, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
It was on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, where the Man of Truth told Peter the Jew to take care of his flock to show his love for him (John 21:15-17). This is where the Man of Truth called Peter the Jew to die a violent death in his old age by following him, even if he caused John the Jew (Yochanon aka The Apostle John) to never die by following him (John 21:18-22). This is where the rumor that John the Jew would never die started (John 21:23).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the glory of his future kingdom, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth revealed that some of the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth would see the power of the Man of Truth when he comes to rule, before they died (Mark 9:1). Six days later, these words came to pass, when they saw the power of the Man of Truth on the mountain of transfiguration (Mark 9:2-7).
The Herodians set the stage for the death, burial, and resurrection of the Man of Truth by expanding the Temple.
The Man of Truth told his enemies that if they destroyed the temple of his body, then he would rebuild it in three days, even though the expansion of the Temple was still continuing after forty-six years (John 2:19-21).
The Man of Truth told his enemies that he taught his doctrine and preached the Good News inside the Temple by the same authority that John the Baptist had taught and preached outside of the Temple (Luke 20:1-8).
The enemies of the Man of Truth put into motion their plan to destroy the temple of his body because of what he had taught the people of Israel in the Temple (John 18:14-21).
The rule of the Herodians made it possible for the prophecy to come to pass that Gentile and Jewish rulers would work together in vain to destroy of the Messiah of Israel.
King David had prophesied that Gentile and Jewish rulers would work together in vain to keep the Messiah of Israel from ruling over them (Psalm 2:1-3).
If Herod the Great not divided his kingdom, and Archelaus had not been such a terrible ruler, then the Romans never would had the Roman governor Pontius Pilate ruling half the kingdom of Herod the Great in the place of Archelaus, while allowing his two Herodian brothers, Herod Antipas and Philip the Tetrarch, to rule over the other two quarters of the kingdom of Herod the Great (Luke 3:1).
This allowed the Man of Truth to be accused by Jewish religious leaders before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1-4). This allowed the Roman governor to send the Man of Truth to Herod Antipas because the Jewish ruler of Galilee had jurisdiction over anyone from Galilee (Luke 23:5-7). This allowed the Jewish king to hear the accusations of the Jewish religious leaders, then mock the Man of Truth, and finally send him back to the Roman governor (Luke 23:8-11). This allowed enmity to exist between Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate, until the Roman governor recognized the authority of the Jewish king to judge the Man of Truth (Luke 23:12).
This allowed the Roman governor to tell the Jewish religious leaders that both he and the Jewish ruler had not found the Man of Truth guilty of their accusations (Luke 23:13-15). This allowed the Roman governor to finally give into the demands of the Jewish religious leaders that the Man of Truth be hand over to Roman soldiers to be crucified (Luke 23:16-25).
This allowed both the Roman soldiers and the Jewish people to witness the Father of Truth display His power when the Man of Truth died (Matthew 27:50-54).
This allowed the Roman governor to grant the request of the Jewish religious leaders to place Roman guards keep the Man of Truth in the tomb, until after the third day was over (Matthew 27:62-66). This allowed the Roman guards to tell the Jewish religious leaders that they could not keep the Man of Truth in the tomb, when the third day arrived (Matthew 28:1-11)!
This allowed the Jewish religious leaders to bribe the Roman guards to lie about the resurrection of the Man of Truth (Matthew 28:12-15).
So the Jewish ruler Herod Antipas, the Gentile ruler Pilate, the Gentiles of the Roman army, and the Jewish followers of the Jewish religious leaders had all worked together in vain to destroy the Man of Truth (Acts 4:25-28)!
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to be revealed as the resurrected Messiah of Israel, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
The remaining eleven of the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth were on the Sea of Tiberias, when the Man of Truth told them to cast their nets on the other side, and they had a miraculous catch of fish (John 21:1-8). It was on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, where the Man of Truth cooked them fish sandwiches and ate with them, to show that he was alive for the third time after his resurrection (John 21:9-14).
So, the the reign of the Herodians created the political climate in the land of Israel needed to make the Good News possible. However, the Good News is only good news to those who come into the House of Truth (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
You come into the House of Truth, when you make the Man of Truth your king, because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9)!
Come into the House of Truth!
The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) came to this earth in the fullness of time to live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), so he could bring redemption to those who could not live a perfect life in accordance with the Law of Truth (Galatians 4:4-7).
The Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) had used the rise and fall of empires to create the perfect conditions to spread the Good News over a large area in a short amount of time.
After this, He raised up the Maccabees. The gift of the Maccabees was creating the many of the conditions in the land of Israel that made the Good News possible. How the Maccabees help spread the Good News was by setting up a system throughout the Jewish world that the Apostles of Truth could use to reach Jews and Gentiles quickly.
Matthias the Priest set the pattern how the Faithful Priest would operate, when the Temple was again dominated by a corrupt High Priest and filled with corrupt Priests. The Maccabees set up the expectation of the Faithful Prophet of Truth, who would reveal the Rightful King of the Jews.
Their successors, the Hasmoneans created the corrupt legal system that made the unjust trial of the Man of Truth possible. The religious parties that came to power during their rule, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, created the system of unjust courts that persecuted the Jewish Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him). The Hasmoneans set the refining fire that burned out all compromise from the Children of Truth.
Yet, the hidden hand of the Father of Truth was not yet done preparing the world for the Man of Truth. The rise of the Herodians finished preparing the people of Israel for the Man of Truth, but the reign of the Herodians would make the Good News possible.
Understanding the reign of the Herodians begins with understanding their relationship with the Hasmoneans.
In 110 BC, John Hyrcanus I conquered Idumaea, the southern part of Israel, that had been taken over by Edomites when the Jews went into the Babylonian captivity about five hundred years earlier. He then forced all of them to either become Jews via circumcision or leave Idumaea.
(None of the Hasmoneans, Nabataeans, or Herodians actually had numbers after their names. The numbers were added by historians to make it easier to keep track of them, since the same names were frequently used for different individuals, even brothers. This convention is applied to everyone with the same name to remove all ambiguity.)
In 104 BC, his son Aristobulus I became the next Hasmonean king, but soon died.
In 103 BC, his other son Alexander Jannaeus became the new Hasmonean king, and made Antipas the Idumaean (Antipas I) the governor of Idumaea due to his connections to the ruling family of the Nabataeans.
Antipas the Idumaean had a son who was raised as a Jew in every regard, including being circumcised on the eighth day. Nonetheless, his son was known as Antipater the Idumaean (Antipater I).
Antipater the Idumaean later married Cypros I, a noble woman of the Nabataeans and a near relative of Aretas III, the king of Nabataea. They then had a son that came to be known as Herod the Great as well as his brother Phasael I.
When Antipas the Idumaean died, then Alexander Jannaeus made Antipas the Idumaean the new governor of Idumaea, shortly before his own death in 76 BC. His wife Salome Alexandra then became Queen of Judaea.
When Salome Alexandra died in 67 BC, her sons Aristobulus II and Hyrcanus II continuously fought for the throne. Antipater the Idumaean and his sons supported Hyrcanus II in this struggle.
In 61 BC, Antipas the Idumaean and Cypros I had a daughter, Salome I.
Eventually Alexander I, the son of Aristobulus II, married Alexandra, the daughter of his brother Hyrcanus II. This marriage could have put an end to the rivalry between these competing Hasmonean rulers by creating a single heir to the throne from both lines in the son of Alexander I and Alexandra, Aristobulus III. They also had a daughter, Mariamne I.
However, the Romans got involved.
In 49 BC, Aristobulus II and Alexander I were both killed by Pompey and his supporters. Pompey then died while fighting Julius Caesar in 48 BC, and Antipater the Idumaean placed the army of Judaea under the command of Julius Caesar. The next year, 47 BC, Hyrcanus II was restored as king by Julius Caesar.
Then Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, followed by Antipater the Idumaean being killed with poison in 43 BC. Hyrcanus II had relied on Julius Caesar to keep his throne secure, and Antipater the Idumaean for advice in ruling Judaea. So, Herod the Great and his brother Phasael I stepped in to fill these roles.
However, when the Parthians invaded Judaea in 40 BC, the other son of Aristobulus II, Antigonus, led an army of Jews, who allied themselves with the Parthians in order to drive the Romans out. Antigonus became the client king of the Parthians after capturing Hyrcanus II, mutilating him, and exiling him to Babylon. Phasael I then killed himself to avoid being mutilated.
However, Herod the Great escaped to Rome to ask for help in restoring Hyrcanus II to the throne.
When Herod the Great arrived in Rome in 37 BC to ask for help, the Roman Senate surprised him by declaring him the King of Judaea, if he could bring Judaea back into Roman hands. While there, Alexandra arranged for Herod the Great to marry her daughter Mariamne I, after he was on the throne. So, Herod the Great divorced and exiled his first wife Doris, with their son Antipater II.
Herod the Great came back to Judaea with a Roman army the next year. Two years later, 34 BC, Herod the Great retook Jerusalem, and became the client king of the Romans in Judaea. Marc Antony had Antigonus executed.
The reign of the Herodians had began. The royal family of the Herodians were now ready to be formed.
In 33 BC Herod the Great married Mariamne I. This gave Herod the Great legitimacy as a ruler in the Hasmonean line.
That same year, Alexandra sought to ask Marc Antony for help in getting her son Aristobulus III appointed as the High Priest. Herod the Great heard this, and made Aristobulus III the new High Priest before she could ask for help. Herod the Great was concerned that Mark Antony might make Aristobulus III the king of Judaea as well, since he was the sole remaining male heir from both lines of the Hasmoneans.
Also, Herod the Great brought Hyrcanus II back from his exile that same year, so the Parthians would not try to return him to the throne as their client king. So, Herod the Great was surrounded by all of the remaining Hasmoneans of the royal line, and was part of the royal Hasmonean family.
However, things did not stay good for long. In 32 BC, Aristobulus III set out to seek the help of Mark Antony in being restored as king of Judaea, in exchange for his support of Marc Antony against Octavian (Caesar Augustus). Herod the Great had Aristobulus III assassinated.
In 31 BC, Herod the Great and Mariamne I had a son, Alexander II.
That same year, Augustus Caesar defeated Marc Antony and became the first Roman Emperor.
In 27 BC, Herod the Great and Mariamne I had another son, Aristobulus IV.
Herod the Great also had Hyrcanus II executed that year, because he believed that Hyrcanus II was plotting to have the Nabataeans help him regain the throne. So, there were no more males of the royal line of the Hasmoneans left.
In 25 BC, Salome I accused Mariamne I of plotting to poison Herod the Great. Her mother, Alexandra, also accused Mariamne I as well, because she feared that Salome I would implicate her as well, if she did not act as a second witness. So, Herod the Great had Mariamne I executed and began a long period of great mourning for her.
Alexandra then declared Herod the Great insane and herself to be the Queen of Judaea, since she was the last of the royal Hasmonean line. Herod the Great realized her treachery and had her executed without a trial.
Soon after that, Herod the Great had Doris and his son by her, Antipas II, return to Jerusalem from their exile.
Herod the Great then began his massive building projects that included fortresses like Machaerus, and Gentile cities throughout Galilee that were centers of idolatry. He also had the city of Phasaelis built northeast of Jericho, where his brother liked to hunt with him, in honor of his brother, Phasael I.
These projects were both loved and hated by various factions of the people of Israel. These projects were also costly and paid for by a system of oppressive taxation on the people of Israel.
Herod the Great then married eight more wives including Mariamne II, the daughter of the High Priest, a Samaritan woman named Malthace, Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and Elpis.
Herod the Great had a son by Mariamne II named Philip I (Herod Philip) in 23 BC.
("Herod" had became a title by this point of those claiming the right to rule as a descendant of Herod the Great. This was similar to the Hasmoneans adopting the title Hasmonean to show that they came from Matthias the Priest. None of the descendants of Herod the Great were given the name of "Herod" as a baby, except for Herod the Great. Philip I (Herod Philip) was the first to use this title, so he is sometimes called Herod II by historians, even though there is no record of anyone calling him that during his life time.)
Herod the Great had a son by Cleopatra of Jerusalem named Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch) in 22 BC.
Herod the Great had a son by Malthace named Archelaus (Herod Archelaus) in 19 BC. About a year later they had another son Antipas II (Herod Antipas).
Herod the Great began his most impressive building project, the enlargement and beautification of the Temple and the Temple Mount in 18 BC.
Around 10 BC, Aristobulus IV and his wife Berenice I, daughter of Salome I, had a a daughter, Herodias. They also had four other children.
Also in 10 BC, Herod the Great had a daughter by Elpis named Salome II.
In 9 BC, Herod the Great made Antipater II the first heir in his will.
In 8 BC, his two sons by Mariamne I, Alexander II and Aristobulus IV, were also placed in royal succession in front of Antipater II.
In 3 BC, Antipater II accused Alexander II and Aristobulus IV of plotting to poison Herod the Great. Herod had them executed and put Antipater II as first in succession.
However, later that same year, Herod Philip married Herodias. Since this would put his children in the Hasmonean line, Herod the Great promoted him to first in succession. When Antipater II protested this marriage, Herod the Great moved him back to first in succession.
In 1 AD, five days before his death, Herod the Great had Antipater II executed for plotting to poison him. This put Herod Philip first in succession again.
However, Herod the Great removed Herod Philip from his will, divorced his mother Mariamne II, and removed her father from the position of High Priest, because Mariamne II had failed to warn him of the plot of Antipater II to poison him. Herod Philip was exiled to Rome with Herodias. Mariamne II and Doris, the mother of Antipater II, went to Rome with him.
Herod the Great then changed his will to divide his kingdom between his three remaining sons in Judaea and his sister Salome I. Salome I and his sons began to rule their portions immediately under Herod the Great, and were later confirmed as rulers by the Romans when Caesar Augustus approved the final change to his will.
His sister Salome I received an area along the coast of Judaea from the area surrounding Jamnia (Yavne) to the southern border of Judaea, and another area north of Jericho near the west bank of the Jordan River around the city of Phasaelis. She was given the title of Queen, although the actual administration was done by the ethnarch of Judaea.
The rest of the kingdom of Herod the Great was divided among his three surviving sons, with the oldest son getting a double portion in line with the commandment of the Law of Truth (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
Herod Archelaus became the full ruler over the southern half of the kingdom of Herod on the west side of the Jordan River, which included Idumaea, Judea, and Samaria, as the Ethnarch of Judaea.
Herod Antipas (Antipas II) became the full ruler over Galilee, the area from the west side of the Sea of Galilee to Lebanon, and Perea, the area on the east side of the Jordan River, south of The Decapolis, and along the northeast banks of the Dead Sea. Herod Antipas was given the title of Tetrarch of Galilee.
Philip the Tetrarch (Philip II) was given the title of Tetrarch and ruled over the area north of The Decapolis and east of the Sea of Galilee, and the part of Jordan River that flowed from the north into the Sea of Galilee. This area included Iturea and Trachontis, as well as Gaulonitis, Batanea, and Auranitis.
Herod Archelaus ruled until he was replaced with a Roman governor in 10 AD due to complaints of his brutality. He was then exiled to where all brutal rules seem to end up - France (Gaul).
Around 14 AD, Herod Philip and Herodias had a daughter named Salome III.
Around the same time, Salome I died. Her portion became part of Judaea, except of Jamnia, which she gave to Livia, the wife of Caesar Augustus, in her will.
In 18 AD, Philip the Tetrarch started having the city of Paneas, that the Greeks had built shorty after the death of Alexander the Great, rebuilt as Caesarea Philippi. He then made it his capital.
In 20 AD, Herod Antipas had Tiberius built as the capital of his tetrarchy on the site of the ancient town of Rakkath. (This was one of the fortified cities on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in days of Joshua (Joshua 19:35).) Part of it was built over the ancient graveyard outside of Rakkath, so the city was considered unclean. It was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberias and was originally occupied primarily by Gentiles. It was also a center of idol worship and temples.
Around 22 AD, Herod Archelaus died while still in exile in Gaul.
According to Josephus and Philo, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judaea, nearly caused an insurrection by provoking the Jews when he first took office in 26 AD. They also report that he continually did things that almost caused insurrection among the Jews. Herod Antipas complained to Emperor Tiberius each time, arguing that Judaea would better serve Rome if it was ruled by himself, since he was a Jewish ruler loyal to the Romans. This caused enmity between Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas.
In 28 AD, Herodias divorced Herod Philip to marry his half-brother Herod Antipas. Herodias and Salome III moved to Galilee to live with Herod Antipas.
In 29 AD, according to Josephus, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist (Yochanon the Mikvah Man) arrested and put in the fortress called Machaerus, because he feared that the many people repenting and being baptized by John the Baptist would rebel against him, if John the Baptist told them to do so. Josephus also reported that later Herod Antipas ordered John the Baptist executed, even though he was reluctant to do so.
In 30 AD, the emnity between Pilate and Herod Antipas came to an end. According to Josephus, Pontius Pilate had the Man of Truth crucified that year as well.
The Herodians never realized that the Father of Truth was letting them reign to bring about His will. They were needed as His unwitting pawns to make the Good News possible.
The rule of the Herodians set the stage for the John the Baptist to prepare the people of Israel for the Man of Truth.
Since the Herodians ruled, corrupt High Priests were in charge of the Temple, causing John the Baptist to carry out his primary duty as a Priest of Truth of leading the people of Israel to repentance in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). So, the people of Israel recognized that he was that Prophet of Truth like unto Elijah (Eliyah aka Elias), who would prepare them for the arrival of the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:3-6). They heard that they had to repent of their sins and be baptized (Luke 3:7-14). They heard that the message of John the Baptist that he was only sent to show them the Messiah of Israel (Luke 3:15-18). They heard the witness of the Father of Truth that the Man of Truth was the Messiah of Israel, when John the Baptist baptized him (Luke 3:21-22).
Since the Herodians ruled, Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip, because John the Baptist told him that the Law of Truth did not allow him to have her as his wife, but he was afraid to kill John the Baptist because the people of his tetrarchy considered John the Baptist to be a Prophet of Truth (Matthew 14:3-5). Herodias wanted to kill John the Baptist for telling Herod Antipas that the Law of Truth did not allow him to marry the wife of his living brother Philip, but Herod Antipas prevented her from killing him, because he feared John the Baptist and liked to listen to him (Mark 6:17-20). Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist for reproving him for marrying the wife of his brother Herod Philip and all of the other evil things that he had done (Luke 3:19-20).
Since the Herodians ruled, the daughter of Herodias (Salome III) danced before the guests of the birthday celebration of Herod Antipas, so that he promised to give her whatever she wanted (Matthew 14:6-7). She asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, as her mother Herodias had instructed her, and Herod Antipas was very sorry that he had made the promise, but still commanded that it to be given to her (Matthew 14:8-9). John the Baptist was beheaded in prison, his head was given by the daughter of Herodias to her mother, and his followers buried his headless body (Matthew 14:10-12).
The Herodians set the stage for the Man of Truth to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Messiah of Israel, when they filled Galilee with Gentile cities.
The Prophet of Truth Isaiah (Yeshayahu) had said that the Messiah of Israel would reveal himself to the people of Israel who lived in land of Zebulun (Zebulon) and Naphtali, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in the land of Galilee, which was dominated by Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1-2).
It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth first began to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven in Capernaum, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, on the border of the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, in the land of Galilee, which was dominated by Gentiles, after John the Baptist was imprisoned (Matthew 4:12-17). It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth began calling his disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22). It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth began his teaching and healing ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23).
It is for this reason, that the Man of Truth told the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth to not go to the where the Gentiles lived, but only to the people of Israel, when he first commissioned them to preach his message of Good News with signs to confirm the message (Matthew 10:1-8).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal that he was the Messiah of Israel, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi, and the Greeks revived the worship of Pan near there.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth asked the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth, who they said he was (Matthew 16:13-15). This is where, Peter the Jew (Sh'mon aka Simon aka Simeon aka Cephas aka The Apostle Peter) answered that the Man of Truth was the Messiah of Israel (Matthew 16:16). This is where, he was told that he had received this revelation from the Father of Truth (Matthew 16:17). It was at the place called the Gates of Hell (Hades) by the Greeks who worshiped Pan, where the Man of Truth revealed, that it was upon this rock of the revelation of him as the Messiah, which he would build his congregation of the Called Out Ones to prevail against the Gates of Hell by carrying out the laws of Heaven on Earth (Matthew 16:18-19).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to perform miracles that confirmed the Good News, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
Since Herod Antipas built Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee was also called the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1). It was near the Sea of Tiberias where a great multitude followed the Man of Truth shortly before Passover (Pesach) (John 6:2-4).
This is where, the Man of Truth fed the five thousand with five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:5-13). This is where, the five thousand recognized that the Man of Truth was that coming Prophet of Truth spoken of by Moses and the Prophets of Truth (John 6:14). This is where the Man of Truth escaped to another mountain because the five thousand wanted to make him king over Israel before the time foretold by the Prophets of Truth (John 6:15). All of this happened near Tiberias (John 6:23).
The Original Twelve Apostles Of Truth were on the Sea of Tiberias, going towards Capernaum, when the Man of Truth met their boat while walking on the water (John 6:16-19). Their boat was instantly on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias at Capernaum, after the Man of Truth got in the boat (John 6:20-21).
The Herodians made it possible for their supporters to plot with the Pharisees to destroy the Man of Truth.
The Pharisees went to the supporters of the Herodians to find a way to destroy the Man of Truth, after he healed a man in their synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). The Jewish religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and the supporters of the Herodians to trap the Man of Truth in his words, by asking a question intended to force him to offend either the people of Israel or the Romans (Mark 12:13-17).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal his death, burial, and resurrection, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth first revealed his approaching suffering, death, and resurrection at Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21). This is where, Peter the Jew told the Man of Truth that he would never let this happen, but the Man of Truth rebuked him for loving what people love, instead of what the Father of Truth loves (Matthew 16:22-23).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal his death and betrayal, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
The crowd got in boats from Tiberias and sailed on the Sea of Tiberias to Capernaum to meet the Man of Truth (John 6:22-24). The Man of Truth then told this crowd from Tiberias to not seek after the perishable bread that he had given them on the mount, but to seek after the imperishable bread that would give them eternal life (John 6:25-27). The Man of Truth then explained to this crowd from Tiberias that he was the Bread of Life that would give them eternal life (John 6:28-48). He explained that his flesh would give them life when he died for them (John 6:28-51).
Many of this crowd from Tiberias turned away from following him when the Man of Truth told them in the synagogue of Capernaum, that his flesh would give them life (John 6:52-66). However, Peter the Jew said, that the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth would continue to follow the Man of Truth (John 6:67-69). The Man of Truth then revealed to the Twelve Original Apostles of Truth, and those from Tiberias that continued to follow him, that one of the Twelve Original Apostles of Truth would betray him (John 6:70-71).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the suffering of his followers, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth first revealed that when he called people to follow him, he was calling them to die (Matthew 16:24-26). This is where, the Man of Truth revealed that all people will be rewarded according to their works, when he comes back to rule this Earth (Matthew 16:27). This is where, the Man of Truth revealed that he will not stand up for anyone in the age to come, who does not stand up for him in this age (Mark 8:38).
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the suffering of his followers, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
It was on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, where the Man of Truth told Peter the Jew to take care of his flock to show his love for him (John 21:15-17). This is where the Man of Truth called Peter the Jew to die a violent death in his old age by following him, even if he caused John the Jew (Yochanon aka The Apostle John) to never die by following him (John 21:18-22). This is where the rumor that John the Jew would never die started (John 21:23).
Philip the Tetrarch set the stage for the Man of Truth to reveal the glory of his future kingdom, when he built his capital Caesarea Philippi.
It was near Caesarea Philippi, where the Man of Truth revealed that some of the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth would see the power of the Man of Truth when he comes to rule, before they died (Mark 9:1). Six days later, these words came to pass, when they saw the power of the Man of Truth on the mountain of transfiguration (Mark 9:2-7).
The Herodians set the stage for the death, burial, and resurrection of the Man of Truth by expanding the Temple.
The Man of Truth told his enemies that if they destroyed the temple of his body, then he would rebuild it in three days, even though the expansion of the Temple was still continuing after forty-six years (John 2:19-21).
The Man of Truth told his enemies that he taught his doctrine and preached the Good News inside the Temple by the same authority that John the Baptist had taught and preached outside of the Temple (Luke 20:1-8).
The enemies of the Man of Truth put into motion their plan to destroy the temple of his body because of what he had taught the people of Israel in the Temple (John 18:14-21).
The rule of the Herodians made it possible for the prophecy to come to pass that Gentile and Jewish rulers would work together in vain to destroy of the Messiah of Israel.
King David had prophesied that Gentile and Jewish rulers would work together in vain to keep the Messiah of Israel from ruling over them (Psalm 2:1-3).
If Herod the Great not divided his kingdom, and Archelaus had not been such a terrible ruler, then the Romans never would had the Roman governor Pontius Pilate ruling half the kingdom of Herod the Great in the place of Archelaus, while allowing his two Herodian brothers, Herod Antipas and Philip the Tetrarch, to rule over the other two quarters of the kingdom of Herod the Great (Luke 3:1).
This allowed the Man of Truth to be accused by Jewish religious leaders before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1-4). This allowed the Roman governor to send the Man of Truth to Herod Antipas because the Jewish ruler of Galilee had jurisdiction over anyone from Galilee (Luke 23:5-7). This allowed the Jewish king to hear the accusations of the Jewish religious leaders, then mock the Man of Truth, and finally send him back to the Roman governor (Luke 23:8-11). This allowed enmity to exist between Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate, until the Roman governor recognized the authority of the Jewish king to judge the Man of Truth (Luke 23:12).
This allowed the Roman governor to tell the Jewish religious leaders that both he and the Jewish ruler had not found the Man of Truth guilty of their accusations (Luke 23:13-15). This allowed the Roman governor to finally give into the demands of the Jewish religious leaders that the Man of Truth be hand over to Roman soldiers to be crucified (Luke 23:16-25).
This allowed both the Roman soldiers and the Jewish people to witness the Father of Truth display His power when the Man of Truth died (Matthew 27:50-54).
This allowed the Roman governor to grant the request of the Jewish religious leaders to place Roman guards keep the Man of Truth in the tomb, until after the third day was over (Matthew 27:62-66). This allowed the Roman guards to tell the Jewish religious leaders that they could not keep the Man of Truth in the tomb, when the third day arrived (Matthew 28:1-11)!
This allowed the Jewish religious leaders to bribe the Roman guards to lie about the resurrection of the Man of Truth (Matthew 28:12-15).
So the Jewish ruler Herod Antipas, the Gentile ruler Pilate, the Gentiles of the Roman army, and the Jewish followers of the Jewish religious leaders had all worked together in vain to destroy the Man of Truth (Acts 4:25-28)!
Herod Antipas set the stage for the Man of Truth to be revealed as the resurrected Messiah of Israel, when he built his capital Tiberias in honor of Tiberius Caesar.
The remaining eleven of the Original Twelve Apostles of Truth were on the Sea of Tiberias, when the Man of Truth told them to cast their nets on the other side, and they had a miraculous catch of fish (John 21:1-8). It was on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, where the Man of Truth cooked them fish sandwiches and ate with them, to show that he was alive for the third time after his resurrection (John 21:9-14).
So, the the reign of the Herodians created the political climate in the land of Israel needed to make the Good News possible. However, the Good News is only good news to those who come into the House of Truth (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
You come into the House of Truth, when you make the Man of Truth your king, because you believe that the Father of Truth raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9)!
Come into the House of Truth!
Labels: Herodians, History, Prophecy, Sovereignty
posted by The House Of Truth @ April 24, 2019
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