Stepping Into the New Testament

From the time of Malachi more than 400 years pass before the storyline of God is picked up again in the times of the New Testament. These 400 years have come to be referred to as the Silent Years or the time between the Testaments. It seems best to understand "silent" to mean that while God still moved among his faithful, inspiring and leading them, he didn't inspire anyone to write additional writings to be included in the Bible. In fact, quite a bit happened during these centuries as God prepared his people for the coming of his Messiah. Needs and frustrations intensified. Expectations were raised. In the fullness of time, the Messiah would come and be recognized by those who had ears to hear and eyes to see.