The Greek word apokalypsis is the first word in the last book in the New Testament, where it is often translated “Revelation.” The verb of this word, apokalypto, means “to reveal” or “disclose” something otherwise hidden. While the thing revealed could be a future event, apocalyptic literature is not preoccupied only with things to come. Rather, it is characterized by sweeping, symbol-laden descriptions of heavenly visions in which highly elaborate and, importantly, ineffable imagery conveys an otherwise “hidden” perspective that demonstrates God’s providence and sovereignty over human affairs. 

Where Are the Apocalyptic Texts in the Bible?

Apocalyptic literature features a heavenly vision guided by a heavenly messenger. The illumined author will often begin by stating that the heavens were opened, and then an angelic being begins to introduce and narrate a series of visions. While dreams play pivotal roles in many biblical narratives, apocalyptic visions sometimes take place when the prophetic seer is wide awake, and they can begin without warning.

Passages that share features with apocalyptic texts can be found in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zechariah. But the quintessential example of this genre in the Hebrew Bible is the second half of Daniel. Daniel’s vision is presented as a journey. He is not only its witness, but also steps into the vision and interacts with its characters and elements. The book of Revelation, in the New Testament, draws heavily from the imagery and themes in Daniel’s apocalypse. 

Apocalyptic Literature Reveals a Cosmic Struggle

While a futuristic setting is a key characteristic of popular apocalyptic movies, television shows, and novels today, biblical apocalyptic texts are many times intended to speak into situations contemporary to their authors. In fact, the heavenly visions they contain often look backward onto historical events, such as the rise and fall of empires, as small parts of a larger, cosmic struggle between God and the forces of evil.

The creatures and characters that appear in apocalyptic texts are extremely difficult to draw or paint, if all the details in the text are taken into consideration. Narrators tend to punctuate their descriptions with qualifiers such as “like” or “as if,” which highlights the ultimate inadequacy of human language to describe the otherworldly views they are witnessing. The visionary’s inability to fully describe what he sees is characteristic of this genre: the visions are clear to him, but ultimately ineffable. He cannot fully describe them.  

Not All Biblical Visions Are Considered Apocalyptic

The clearest example of apocalyptic literature in the Bible is Revelation, with the second half of Daniel being the Hebrew Bible’s closest parallel. However, the vast majority of apocalyptic literature is not contained in the Hebrew or the New Testament, which is why there is some debate among biblical scholars regarding whether or not certain biblical passages fit properly into this genre. 

There are numerous examples of classically apocalyptic texts dating from the post-exilic period to the early centuries of Christianity. Among the Jewish writings are The Book of Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, and The Apocalypse of Moses. Others, such as The Apocalypse of Paul and The Apocalypse of Peter, were written by Christians in the centuries following Christianity’s birth. Thus, while Revelation and the second half of Daniel define the genre within the Bible, there is a large corpus of ancient texts that contribute to its definition.   

Apocalyptic Literature Has Other Defining Characteristics

Certain characteristics distinguish apocalyptic literature from other genres of post-exilic Jewish writing. While they also contain visions, older prophetic texts tend to emphasize prophets receiving oracles from God, and do not contain the extensive visionary experiences that characterize apocalyptic literature. The cinema-like nature of apocalyptic texts also lends itself to the portrayal of a more comprehensive worldview than does other prophetic literature. The worldview portrayed is highly dualistic, including a variety of mystical, celestial beings that battle either for or against God’s will.

In addition, apocalyptic literature tends to reference immense eras, concerning itself not only with immediate concerns but with virtually all of known human history. Another defining characteristic is the fantastic creatures it portrays. Talking beasts with multiple heads, eyes, and conglomerates of different animals that have obvious roots in Ancient Near Eastern iconography play key roles in apocalyptic visions.

It Provides a Trip through Heaven

The apocalyptic vision also highlights God’s ultimate victory over evil from a heavenly, divine perspective. “Heavenly perspective,” in this sense, does not mean a place of unmitigated bliss walled off from earth’s pains, but a cosmic, panoramic view of both human and celestial activity as these realms interact with each other. There is a tension in apocalyptic texts between the uncertainty of present struggles and the determined future in which God will finally crush evil and establish eternal peace both in heaven and on earth.

Historians and scholars frequently debate which imperial house in Ancient China held the most influence in the history of East Asia, and the debate often leads to a discussion regarding the Tang Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. Understandably, the Tang Dynasty which ruled the region from 618 AD to 907 AD is widely regarded as the golden age of Chinese civilization. However, the Han Dynasty also had many unique accomplishments.

Why the Han Dynasty Is in the Discussion

The Han Dynasty existed from 206 BC to 220 AD, lasting for over four centuries. According to historical records, it established the foundational culture of the nation to the point that the majority ethnic group in China today is still referred to as the Han. Another major reason for its historical significance was its vastness. The Han Empire rivaled Rome in terms of sheer size and population.

According to a census undertaken in 2 AD, the empire had a recorded population of about 60 million people. Furthermore, the Han Dynasty is credited with formally establishing the Silk Road which connected Africa, Europe, and Asia for centuries, through trade.

The Rise of the Tang Empire

The Tang Empire emerged after the short-livedSui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Tang empire controlled a vast territory that extended deep into Central Asia, covering approximately 4.13 million square miles. Today, it is credited for maintaining one of the most formidable militaries in the ancient world and having one of the richest cultures of its era.

The Li family founded the Tang dynasty in 618 AD after the collapse of the Sui regime. Li Yuan was the first emperor and he reigned as Emperor Gaozu until 626 AD. His son, Li Shimin, ascended to the throne in 627 AD after killing his two brothers in an event known as the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Li Shimin assumed the title of Emperor Taizong and ruled until 649 AD. It is worth noting that Emperor Taizong is considered by many historians to be one of the greatest monarchs in history. This is because of his military campaigns against the Eastern Tujue and his refinement of the legal code created in 624 AD by his father. The code served as the basis for future legal systems in China and in places such as Japan and Vietnam.

The Tang Dynasty Peak

The Tang dynasty reached its apex during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong who ruled from 712 AD to 756 AD. The period is often referred to as the High Tang. A famous census in the year 754 AD revealed that the empire had about 10 million households and a total population of approximately 53 million people. Historians believe that the actual population was likely higher as many people avoided registration in order to evade taxes. The economy flourished during the early 8th century because of the stability brought about by the Silk Road and the introduction of new agricultural techniques.

Another unique aspect of the Tang era was the rise of the only legitimate female leader in the history of China – Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian was a concubine of Emperor Taizong and later the wife of his son, Emperor Gaozong. She effectively ruled the empire for decades before she officially took the title of emperor in 690 AD. The empress established her own dynasty which she named the Zhou Dynasty and she ruled until she was forced to abdicate in 705 AD. Notably, she maintained the empire’s influence in the Korean peninsula and patronized Buddhism to legitimize her rule. Her reign interrupted the Tang lineage for fifteen years.

The Spread of Chinese Culture

The might of the Tang military allowed the dynasty’s culture to spread far beyond the borders of the empire as it maintained a system of protectorates in the western regions to secure its trade routes. The Battle of Talas in 751 AD marked the limit of the western expansion when Tang forces fought against the Abbasid Caliphate.

In a change of fortunes, the defeat at Talas halted the westward advance. The era is also famous for its poetry and art. Poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu rose in the Tang era and produced thousands of poems that are still studied by students today. The Complete Tang Poems, which is a collection that was compiled later, contains over 48,000 poems written by more than 2200 Tang authors.

In the late 1100s and early 1200s AD, several figures arose in English history whose reputations passed into both historical importance and legendary stories. One of the more prominent figures that falls into both categories is King John of England.

Was John Supposed to be King?

Not really.  John was the youngest of the four legitimate sons of King Henry II. The eldest, Henry the Young King, ruled alongside Henry II (but had little actual power).  Richard I, “the Lionheart” would eventually become King in his own right. Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, inherited and obtained substantial lands. But John, nicknamed “Lackland,” received little, yet may have become the most powerful and influential of all his brothers. Each of them rebelled in some way against their father, but each died before their rule could be well established, leaving John with the title.

John’s Family

At this time, French and English nobility were so intertwined that the English court was more French than English. William of Normandy – the Conqueror – had invaded England less than a century before and established his rule there. John’s mother was Eleanor of Aquitaine, former Queen of France as wife of Louis VII and Queen of England as wife of Henry II, John’s father. John technically inherited some parts of France and continuously was at war to obtain more holdings.

His French holdings made him vassal to the King of France (only for those parts of France he inherited, not in England). He was a member of the Plantagenet-Angevine dynasty, which had French roots.

John’s Accomplishments

While it is difficult to show that John had a major accomplishment during his rule, there were various incidents that were monumentally influential in Western history. John’s signing of the Magna Carta is probably the most significant moment of his entire rule.  John was dealing with open revolt from English nobles in the early 1200s, and was forced to the negotiating table by the nobility to allow them to have more rights over their own property.

While both King John and the nobility did not fully keep to the terms laid out in the Magna Carta, it became one of the most influential documents of English law and undoing the idea of the divine right of kings.

John was not as capable in war as his brother Richard, but was not a total loser at war, holding several military victories in France, but none that were important.  He was also a decent administrator, which was probably his best gift as king.  He spent more time in England dealing with English matters than engaging in war than his predecessors, and the legal system got more defined with John at the helm.

Because he needed money to operate the government and engage in his military actions, John also found various innovative ways to raise taxes on both the nobility and populace… which is the reason he is part of the Robin Hood legend.

King John and Robin Hood

While John’s policies of taxation were, at times, overbearing, the legend of Robin Hood is likely mostly fiction.   The earliest part of the Robin Hood legend does not appear until the tail end of John’s reign, and then the records do not begin until after John’s death in 1216.   Whether or not John or his subordinates had any dealings with a figure who even inspired some of the Robin Hood legends is not, and may never be, known.

The 2000 hit movie Gladiator depicts the journey of the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius around 180 AD and the Roman Empire at the time. While an amazing movie, it did have issues with historical objects or circumstances that did not belong in the time frame the movie depicts. However, they can help us learn about what actually happened at that time.

The General Who Wanted to go Home: Was He Real?

Sort of. Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a Roman military leader and statesman in the 400s BC during the Roman Republic. Cincinnatus was a member of one of Rome’s most important and wealthiest families, the Quinctia. He was possibly a consul whose son was killed by the lower-class plebians, and left the city to pursue farming. He was called back into service around 458 BC as dictator to defend Rome against an invading tribe known as the Aequi, and would resign and return to farming shortly afterward.

The Name of the Colosseum

The actual name of the Colosseum may have been just originally just “amphithereum” or “Amphitheatrum Caesareum.” At some point it may have been called the Flavian Amphitheater, as its construction was from 72 AD to 80 AD, under the Flavian dynasty of emperors: Vespasian, Titus, and Dometian. The name Colosseum would not be used until the 1600s. The term evolved over the centuries from the name of the nearby statue of the Roman emperor Nero, based on the legendary ancient wonder, the colossus of Rhodes.  In the 100s AD, and during the time of the Roman Empire, the name Colosseum would not have been used.

Did Gladiator Actually Get Gladiators Right?

What is interesting is that the movie may have oversimplified some of the interesting parts of life for the gladiators. Many were not prisoners pressed into combat to the death for the entertainment of the crowd. While most gladiators were slaves, prisoners of war, or criminals, they would gain popularity with the crowd according to their success – not unlike modern professional wrestling or other combat sports. Some even had product sponsorships! Fight organizers might even pay a penalty to the owner for a gladiator who was killed, as the owner would have lost substantial revenue from the death of a successful gladiator.

Also, while the emperor may have given a signal that allowed a gladiator to live or condemned to death, it is not known for certain that it was a thumbs up or down signal. This signal was given in bouts known as ad digitum, where the fight was until one submitted “to the finger” – by raising his finger and waiting on the judgment of the emperor. Fights sine missione, or “no reprieve to the death” were often for condemned criminals due for execution anyway.

Did Gladiator Get the Weapons Right?

As is typical with any movie depicting ancient warfare, weapons, armor, and tactics in Gladiator were not completely accurate to the time period depicted. The opening scene against the Germanic army had the Romans using catapults and ballistae, which were more commonly used in siege warfare, not in the open field. The armor was also from a hundred years earlier, as a form of scale armor was in use by the Roman armies by the mid-100s AD. The Germanic armies were also depicted as being a near stone-age “horde,” but many used equipment and tactics similar to the Romans (and many may have even served in a Roman army at some point in their military careers). Soldiers gear also may have varied soldier to soldier, depending on what each was provided or could personally afford.

Jesus is one of the most revered spiritual teachers in the history of the world. Born in Bethlehem, Judea sometime between 6 and 4 BC, he spread his message in mostly modern-day Israel and became the main figure of the Christian faith. Bible scriptures tell stories about how he was born, grew up, died, and came back to life. That said, the Bible never mentions what was occurring in China during this period, so it raises the question: Who ruled China while Jesus walked the streets of Judea?

Who Inspired Jesus to Start Preaching

Jesus is said to have begun preaching after being influenced by John the Baptist, his cousin. John’s popularity is said to have drawn huge groups of followers including Jesus, who he baptized at the Jordan River. Scholars point to the Jordan River as the place where Jesus began his preaching and met his first followers, Peter and Andrew.

He later traveled to a different area called Galilee, where he gathered others like Philip and Nathanael. Later on in his ministry, Jesus asked his followers what people were saying about him. They replied that some people thought that he was John the Baptist brought back from the dead. Even Herod Antipas, the local ruler of Galilee and Perea, wondered if Jesus might be the resurrected John.

The Age He Began Preaching

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, in particular, describe his life. At around the age of 30, Jesus began his evangelistic work, moving throughout the region of Galilee and Judea, talking about the Kingdom of God and doing healing acts. His teachings emphasized love, being compassionate, offering forgiveness, and having a strong faith in God. Some of his most well-known teachings include the Sermon on the Mount, which includes the Beatitudes. At other times, he told famous short stories, such as the Good Samaritan. He is believed to be the most influential person in history largely due to the widespread popularity of the Christian religion which he established.

Who Ruled China During Jesus’s Lifetime?

During Jesus’s lifetime, the Han Dynasty governed China and lasted from 206 BC to 220 AD. Emperor Chengdi ruled from 33 BC until 7 BC and Emperor Ai ruled from 7 BC to 1 BC. As such, many experts estimate that Jesus was likely born during the reign of Emperor Ai. Emperor Ping ruled next, from 1 BC to 6 AD. Confucianism had been embraced in China at the time as the main moral system and way of living for about 100 to 150 years by Jesus’s time. It deeply shaped how leaders ran things and how education worked. The Western Han period, which lasted from 202 BC to 9 AD, ended when a government official named Wang Mang took advantage of widespread disorder and chaos to claim the throne and start the brief Xin dynasty (9 to 23 AD).

For How Long Did Wang Mang Rule?

Wang Mang broke apart the wealthy estates and gave them to regular farmers, but the peasant class soon became unhappy because of terrible flooding and other problems. By 23 AD, their anger revealed itself in rebel groups such as the Red Eyebrows. Wang Mang’s rule was ultimately brief and unsuccessful as he succeeded in angering both the elites and the commoners.

The capital was soon destroyed by a massive farmers’ uprising, and Wang Mang was murdered. Order was eventually reestablished by Emperor Guangwu, a relative of the Han royal family in 25 AD. His leadership lasted until 57 AD. The Han dynasty is known for its long period of rule and its accomplishments, which included the development of the government worker system and scientific discoveries such as the creation of paper and the development of an earthquake-sensing tool called a seismoscope.

Notable Characteristics of the Han Dynasty

The Han dynasty influenced Chinese culture so much that “Han” became the Chinese word meaning someone who is ethnically Chinese. To summarize, six different leaders ruled China in the years that Jesus existed. Emperor Ai was the leader in office when Jesus was born. He was followed by Emperor Ping, the child-emperor who ruled from 1 BC to 6 AD. Emperor Ping was followed briefly by Ruzi Ying, and then came Wang Mang. Mang ruled while Jesus was growing up and entering adulthood. Then came the Gengshi Emperor (23 to 25 AD) and finally Emperor Guangwu, who reigned from 25 AD to 57 AD. Emperor Guangwu was in power when Jesus died.

North Korea’s assault unleashed an attack that caught the world off guard. The KPA smashed through the ROKA (Republic of Korea Army), forcing a retreat. The ferocity of the KPA’s (Korean People’s Army) Soviet style assault took Seoul in three days after crossing the 38th Parallel. The KPA sought to capture the port city of Pusan to prevent American reinforcements. 

The KPA’s Soviet-influenced tactics relied on shock, speed, and rapid penetration to sustain the attack. By 1950, numerous veteran North Koreans filled the infantry’s ranks, having fought in China’s Civil War or against Japan. Tough and experienced, these men made up the KPA’s core. The KPA led with heavy artillery bombardments, followed by T-34 tanks and attached infantry. Enemy stabilization was to be prevented.

Outnumbered and Outgunned

The outnumbered ROKA’s defenses fell apart. The KPA’s scale, skill, and speed proved surprising. The Americans activated the 24th Infantry Division, the closest (Japan) and only cohesive deployable force nearby. The first lightly armed American troops arrived in Pusan on July 1, 1950. Quickly organized into “Task Force Smith” with brutally simple orders: delay the KPA. 

At 7 AM on July 5, at the village of Osan, KPA T-34 tanks and infantry met Task Force Smith. American anti-tank weapons bounced off the behemoths. For seven hours, the outnumbered, poorly armed U.S. soldiers fought. Yet the KPA crushed the American roadblock, mission accomplished.

Lead Up to the Main Battle 

The KPA barely slowed at Osan, keeping to the Soviet-style constant-pressure doctrine. The 24th ID fought four more delaying actions between July 6 and 14. These battles sought to impede and inflict casualties. The buildup behind them at Pusan needed time.

By July 14, 1950, the battered regiments of the 24th ID arrived in Taejon. This rail and road logistics hub was critical to each side. For the Americans, further retreat risked disintegration, such was the beating received from the KPA. The five consecutive actions resulted in 4,000+ casualties, wrecked equipment, and the loss of experienced officers.

The 24th ID commander, General William F. Dean, understood this. Yet his orders remained the same: delay at all costs; force the KPA to deploy and hold. 

The Battle Begins

Dean organized the 24th ID battered regiments in Taejon. By now, companies numbered only 30 to 40 men, had no heavy weapons, and little ammunition. And with little respite, as two KPA infantry divisions and an armored brigade arrived on July 15.

On July 16, the KPA launched probing attacks on two sides. Their heavy tank-infantry assaults began grinding down thinly held American defenses. 

Additionally, KPA infantry started infiltrating that same night. These tough soldiers slipped in via irrigation ditches, rice paddies, courtyards, or through defensive gaps. This would be important the next day during the street fighting. Other KPA forces swung around Taejon, encircling the city.

From July 17 onward, combat intensified. KPA infantry and armor fought to enter the city, with the broken American defenses behind them. Tanks probed the edges. In return, U.S. units fought house to house, unaware of any comrades around them. The communications breakdown had begun. Over the next few days, Dean’s situation with the 24th ID grew more desperate. The fighting even sucked in rear unit cooks, drivers, and MPs. This desperation displayed the Americans’ disadvantage in men and firepower. 

The General Fights Back

In a rare occurrence, General Dean fought directly too. Not the armchair general type, Dean drove around Taejon. He pressed scattered units back into the fight, directing bazooka teams to ambush T-34s, even knocking out one himself. Dean’s efforts slowed the KPA’s advance into Taejon, which required more troops. Dean’s efforts kept the 24th’ ID evacuation routes open longer. 

On the morning of July 20, General Dean conceded defeat. KPA infiltrators, attacks on his flanks, plus KPA armor breaking into the city, meant imminent collapse. He ordered a retreat. The 24th ID, ordered to hold for two days, held for three. His outnumbered, exhausted soldiers attempted a fighting withdrawal.

The North Koreans kept the pressure on. Communications and cohesion dissolved; units became groups. The withdrawal became a route; hundreds were killed or missing. General Dean stayed behind in vain to keep routes open. The KPA captured him days later, the highest-ranking American officer taken prisoner. 

The North Koreans defeated the U.S. at Tajeon. Yet this can’t be seen as a failure. The 24th ID’s sacrifice bought time for the Pusan Perimeter. This battle made the tiring KPA pause yet creating more time. Pusan would be the KPA’s next objective.

Holy Wednesday marks the midpoint of the Easter Timeline, yet it is shrouded in mystery. The Gospel accounts are suspiciously quiet about what went down on this remarkable day, just before Jesus Christ’s arrest on Thursday. It must have been during this time that Judas planned out how he would betray Jesus – the ultimate kiss of deception that explains why Judas is painted in yellow.

The Mystery of Holy Wednesday

There is a strange gap around Holy Wednesday in the Easter timeline of the Gospels (Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that portray the events of Jesus’ life). While Sunday’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Monday’s events with the merchants in the Templecourts, and even Tuesday’s debates and teachings are described at great length – the Olivet Discourse alone takes up multiple chapters in the Gospel of Matthew! – Wednesday remains a mystery.

The Gospels don’t tell us what Jesus and His disciples got up to on this day, except for one specific disciple’s actions: Judas Iscariot.

According to the firsthand eyewitness accounts written down in the Gospels, Wednesday was the day when Judas took a bribe to hand Jesus over in the coming days.

What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you? (Matthew 26:15)

Why Judas Is Painted in Yellow

In paintings of the Last Supper or other events during Easter week, artists throughout the years have tended to paint Judas yellow. Not a bright, holy, or divine type of glow, but a more muted kind of yellow.

Before we can understand why the artists chose to depict Judas this way, we need to read what exactly happened on Holy Wednesday.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16)

Renaissance and medieval artists used colors to convey certain emotions. Gentiles and non-Christians were often painted in this yellow hue to set them apart from the other characters in a painting.

Specific Uses of the Color Yellow

• Yellow is the color of gold, often used to portray grandeur and riches as a cheaper alternative for gilding with real gold. For instance, think of other royal scenes in paintings from the Middle Ages.“Judas was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:6)
• While the colors blue and green have a calming effect on the eye of the beholder, the colors red and yellow induce a sense of urgency and energy. For example, think of how these colors are used in fast-food restaurants. As Jesus said to Judas in John 13:27 – “What you are about to do, do quickly”

The artists’ decision to paint Judas with a yellow undertone or dressed in yellow garments might have been influenced by any or all of these interpretations.

The Deceiver’s Kiss in Paintings

Another strange facet of similar paintings is that Judas is often kissing Jesus – an act we might see as endearing and indicating their close friendship. But, sadly, this kiss had a different meaning.

Judas did not linger long after Wednesday’s deal to turn Jesus over into the hands of those who wanted to kill him. On Thursday evening, while Jesus was praying in an olive grove he loved, he experienced hematohidrosis – what doctors now explain as extreme angst, leading one’s sweat to turn to blood.

At that moment, a mob arrived carrying spears and burning torches.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. (Mark 14:44-46)

Judas, the One who Betrayed Jesus

Judas is often singled out because he is the one responsible for Jesus’ arrest, but the Gospels tell us that not one of Jesus’ disciples stuck by his side during his trial. Scared of the persecution they might face, they all ran away.

Then everyone deserted him and fled. (Mark 14:50)

The Gospels tell us that Jesus appeared to many of His followers after His resurrection. During this time, they had the opportunity to be restored. Peter, for example, who famously denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, had three chances when Jesus asked him: “Do you love me?”

This was sadly not the happy ending for Judas. Trapped in guilt and grief after he handed Jesus over to the chief priests, Judas committed suicide by hanging himself. In some ways, he became the perfect example of Jesus’ teachings that the love of money leads to all kinds of evil.

From the very first sounds of donkey hooves entering Jerusalem to the surprised cries of women outside the empty tomb, the Easter story follows a busy and surprising chain of events. While some parts of the Easter timeline might be familiar to you, other details are sure to catch you off guard. In this article, we’ll walk with Jesus and his disciples through Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day.

Holy Week – Let’s Break it Down

When Christians celebrate Easter, it’s a lengthier celebration than Christmas. Instead of a single day commemorating a certain event, Easter festivities follow the events of a whole week – from one Sunday till the next. 

Before we get into the details, these are the events on the Holy Week timeline based on the Bible:

Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry

On Sunday, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him into Jerusalem to find a young donkey. Shortly afterwards, he rode into Jerusalem’s streets. Crowds gathered, waving palm branches in the air, throwing their outer garments on the floor, and shouting: “Hosanna!” They exclaimed that Jesus is in fact, the promised one whom the prophets spoke about.

The prophet Zechariah wrote: “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9)

People expected a king to ride on a mighty horse, like Alexander the Great, and instead they got a servant-hearted man who said things like: “The first will be last.” Teachings like this made Jesus very unpopular among the powerful religious leaders of the time and others who benefited in money or status from a different view of God’s kingdom.

Monday in the Temple to Holy Wednesday

When going to the Temple – which was supposed to be a place where God dwelled – Jesus got angry. It was filled with merchants and people selling goods that the hypocritical and corrupt leaders allowed. They loved money more than God.

The following day, on Tuesday, Jesus went up against the Temple leaders again, debating with them about the wrong in their ways. It is sometimes called Fig Tuesday because Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree, comparing it to the spiritual leaders who had no godly ‘fruit’ (good characteristics). 

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus walked and talked with his disciples about what would happen in the next few days. On this day, Judas negotiated with the religious leaders to betray Jesus.

The Gospels do not tell what specifically happened on Wednesday.

The Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus’ Arrest

On Thursday, after washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus sat down for the Passover meal with his disciples. He broke bread with them, showing the first example of what would later become the practice of Communion or The Eucharist. He told them again about how his body would be given for them but they still did not understand.

At that table, Jesus identified Judas as the one who would betray him. Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane at night and he was arrested by a violent mob.

Even though his unlawful trial found him innocent, Jesus was still crucified on Friday, in the place of a murderer. All his disciples deserted him and Judas committed suicide that morning. 

This day is known as Good Friday because Jesus completed his reason for coming to earth: He died in the place of sinners. Jesus’ last words were prayers of forgiveness for those who killed him.

Complete darkness descended when he blew out his last breath and the curtain in the Temple tore as God’s presence spread out into all the earth.

Resurrection Sunday

Women who went to visit his grave on Sunday morning were very surprised to find it empty. There was an angel there who told them that Jesus had risen and conquered death, just as he said he would. 

In the following forty (40) days, Jesus appeared to many people, even letting them press their fingers through the crucifixion holes in his hands, before giving them the Great Commission and ascending into heaven. 

This article explored how each day of Holy Week holds special significance for Christians as they reflect on, learn from, and are emboldened by Jesus’ final days on earth.

While Jesus was walking the streets of Judea, a powerful and ancient civilization was thriving half a world away. The stories of his life have shaped Western history, but they leave a fascinating question unanswered: what was happening in the mighty Han Dynasty of China during this pivotal era? As Jesus’s ministry began, a completely different story of emperors and dynasties was being written. So, who was ruling China at the time?

Who Inspired Jesus to Start Preaching

Jesus is said to have begun preaching after being influenced by John the Baptist, his cousin. John’s popularity is said to have drawn huge groups of followers including Jesus, who he baptized at the Jordan River. Scholars point to the Jordan River as the place where Jesus began his preaching and met his first followers, Peter and Andrew.

He later traveled to a different area called Galilee, where he gathered others like Philip and Nathanael. Later on in his ministry, Jesus asked his followers what people were saying about him. They replied that some people thought that he was John the Baptist brought back from the dead. Even Herod Antipas, the local ruler of Galilee and Perea, wondered if Jesus might be the resurrected John.

The Age He Began Preaching

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, in particular, describe his life. At around the age of 30, Jesus began his evangelistic work, moving throughout the region of Galilee and Judea, talking about the Kingdom of God and doing healing acts. His teachings emphasized love, being compassionate, offering forgiveness, and having a strong faith in God. Some of his most well-known teachings include the Sermon on the Mount, which includes the Beatitudes.

At other times, he told famous short stories, such as the Good Samaritan. He is believed to be the most influential person in history largely due to the widespread popularity of the Christian religion which he established.

Who Ruled China During Jesus’s Lifetime?

During Jesus’s lifetime, the Han Dynasty governed China and lasted from 206 BC to 220 AD. Emperor Chengdi ruled from 33 BC until 7 BC and Emperor Ai ruled from 7 BC to 1 BC. As such, many experts estimate that Jesus was likely born during the reign of Emperor Ai. Emperor Ping ruled next, from 1 BC to 6 AD. Confucianism had been embraced in China at the time as the main moral system and way of living for about 100 to 150 years by Jesus’s time.

It deeply shaped how leaders ran things and how education worked. The Western Han period, which lasted from 202 BC to 9 AD, ended when a government official named Wang Mang took advantage of widespread disorder and chaos to claim the throne and start the brief Xin dynasty (9 to 23 AD).

For How Long Did Wang Mang Rule?

Wang Mang broke apart the wealthy estates and gave them to regular farmers, but the peasant class soon became unhappy because of terrible flooding and other problems. By 23 AD, their anger revealed itself in rebel groups such as the Red Eyebrows. Wang Mang’s rule was ultimately brief and unsuccessful as he succeeded in angering both the elites and the commoners. The capital was soon destroyed by a massive farmers’ uprising, and Wang Mang was murdered. Order was eventually reestablished by Emperor Guangwu, a relative of the Han royal family in 25 AD.

His leadership lasted until 57 AD. The Han dynasty is known for its long period of rule and its accomplishments, which included the development of the government worker system and scientific discoveries such as the creation of paper and the development of an earthquake-sensing tool called a seismoscope.

Notable Characteristics of the Han Dynasty

The Han dynasty influenced Chinese culture so much that “Han” became the Chinese word meaning someone who is ethnically Chinese. To summarize, six different leaders ruled China in the years that Jesus existed. Emperor Ai was the leader in office when Jesus was born. He was followed by Emperor Ping, the child-emperor who ruled from 1 BC to 6 AD. Emperor Ping was followed briefly by Ruzi Ying, and then came Wang Mang. Mang ruled while Jesus was growing up and entering adulthood. Then came the Gengshi Emperor (23 to 25 AD) and finally Emperor Guangwu, who reigned from 25 AD to 57 AD. Emperor Guangwu was in power when Jesus died.

The Exodus is one of the Bible’s most dramatic stories. It has been made into multiple feature films, all of which include the scene of Moses’s mother Jochebed putting the baby Moses to float in a basket on the Nile River. The baby’s sister keeps a vigilant eye on him from a distance to see what would happen. This affectionate scene, however, contrasts with the relationship these siblings seem to have had as adults. 

Miriam Is Moses’s Older Sister

The stories of Moses in Egypt leaves many key players unnamed. The Pharaoh, for example, is never identified. This has led to a great deal of debate about when Moses lived in Egypt.

Two others left unnamed in the story of Moses’s infancy are his mother and sister. If read on its own, this story would leave the reader assuming that Moses was his mother and father’s first child, and that his sister is either a half-sibling or a person of more distant kinship. Later, when Moses is an adult, Aaron is introduced as his older brother, but he does not appear in the narrative of Moses’s early childhood. 

Ambiguity about Miriam’s relationship to Moses arises again in Exodus chapter fifteen, where she is identified as the “sister of Aaron.” While readers are aware that Aaron is Moses’s brother and can, therefore, logically conclude that the three of them are siblings, the reference to Aaron and Miriam’s familial tie without a mention of Moses has drawn attention from some scholars. Some suggest that there were originally differing traditions about Miriam—one in which she and Aaron are Moses’s nuclear siblings and another in which she and Aaron are related to him more distantly. 

Regardless, once the pieces are fitted together, Moses is presented as the youngest of three siblings who all have the same mother and father. Miriam appears to be the oldest of the three. 

Moses Was Adopted by an Egyptian Princess

Moses’s upbringing was clearly distinct from that of his siblings. Because she also goes unnamed, the identity of the princess who fishes Moses out of the Nile River and then adopts him as her child remains unknown. But according to the narrative, it is due to the quick thinking of Moses’s sister—traditionally, Miriam—that he grew up with some Hebrew influence. The text does no clarify exactly how much, but he was under the care of his biological mother at least until he was weaned. 

When the princess draws Moses out of the river, Miriam immediately approaches the royal and asks if she might be in need of a wet nurse for the child. Miriam then brings Jochebed, his biological mother, to fulfill the role. Her action, thus, puts Moses back into the care of his Hebrew parents even as he is adopted into the royal family. 

Miriam Is One of Israel’s Leaders after Their Exodus from Egypt

Miriam is one of only four women given the title of “prophet” in the Bible, and the text clearly suggests that her authority held sway during Israel’s years of wandering before they entered Canaan. She is remembered fondly as the leader of the celebratory procession after the Israelites’ storied crossing of the Red Sea. 

Unfortunately, however, a rivalry developed between Miriam and Aaron and their brother Moses. In Numbers chapter twelve, the two siblings challenge Moses regarding something having to do with his Cushite wife. The text provides no details about why they disapprove of his marriage, but it is somehow related to how Moses seems to view his own prophetic status. It appears that Miriam and Aaron thought themselves equals to Moses as prophetic leaders. In a stern rebuke of their audacity, God strikes Miriam with a severe skin rash. Aaron, however, does not seem to have suffered a similar consequence.

Who Is Miriam in Ancient Sources Outside the Bible? 

When few details are provided in the biblical text, later traditions often arise that fill in gaps about characters in its stories. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a text that dates to the second century BCE called the Visions of Amram. Amram is the name of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam’s father in the Bible. In this ancient document, Miriam is said to have married her uncle Uzziel, who is identified in the Bible as Amram’s brother. The couple is said to have had three sons. Writing in the first century CE, the Jewish historian Josephus identifies Hur, a different biblical character, as Miriam’s husband. 

Did Miriam have a family? If she did, neither her husband nor her offspring are mentioned in the Bible. Like Moses, Miriam’s legacy cannot be traced through a physical lineage. The meaning of her life lies instead within her own character, her place in the biblical story, and her contribution to the formation of ancient Israelite and, later, Jews’ understanding of their own identity and values.