After the return of the Jewish people to Judah from captivity in Babylon, there was a period of almost 400 years where God did not speak to His people through His prophets. This is known as the “Silent Period” between the Old and New Testaments. This “Silent Period” continued until sometime around 7-6 BC when the Lord sent an angel to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and His forerunner–these are the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth and Mary.