John the Baptist/ Jesus vs. The voice of prophets had not been heard in the post-period following their captivity in the time between the Old and New Testament. Jewish doctrine has become splintered among Pharisees: orthodox adherence to the Torah Law; political, ritual, liturgical, oral Rabbinic commentary (Mishnah);eternal life after death Sadducees, non-orthodox, Hellenist influence, social, economics, NO oral Rabbinic commentary; NO life after death.   and the Essenes, esoteric (small number of people with special understanding) teaching, separate community, voluntary poverty, *daily washing rituals; preserved the words/teaching of elders (prophets and others), preserved secrets i.e. names of Angels, each one promoting their own truth with separate groups of followers.   return