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rule as the Israelite high-priest. This issue concerning the foreign appointment of the high-priest
was the source of much confusion among the Jews.

The Synagogue System

The dilemma of the state of the Temple system (under foreign control) helped to forge sev-
eral new schools of religious philosophy (all of which seem to have evolved during the Second-
Temple Era). Ultimately, three diverse religious groups known as the Sadducees, the Pharisees,
and the Essenes became the most influential (as per Josephus).

The Sadducees were a group believed to have been more closely affiliated with the then
established Temple order, while the Pharisees and the Essenes are indicated to have held religious
beliefs which were oriented away from the established Temple order (as further explained
below).

In general, most mainstream Jews of the Second-Temple Era preferred to routinely assem-
ble in their local synagogues. The maintenance of the Temple system was also considered to be
important because of Mosaic Law -- where offerings were presented at the time of pilgrimage fes-
tivals. Thus, the synagogue system was additionally significant to the ordinary Jew who lived un-
der the Second-Temple. A righteous Jews of that time would have routinely studied the writings
concerning Jewish law and past prophets (where each synagogue is indicated to have maintained a
library of sacred books in their authorized versions).

The teaching of the sect of the Pharisees appears to have been very popular among the
Jewish masses. As a result, it appears that the influence of the Pharisees was large in guiding and
controlling of the synagogue system. (Perhaps many, if not most, rulers of the synagogues were
members of the party of the Pharisees. It is of interest to here note that the Jewish historian, Jose-
phus, as well as the Apostle Paul, were both members of this party.)

Through the synagogue system, Jews were taught to be especially pious and righteous, and
they were exhorted to be ever mindful that significant and important changes were prophesied to
soon be wrought by God.

Certain of the prophecies which concerned the then existing Temple system were fully
electric in their content:

"[After the time of the desecration of the sacred Temple altar]... many of them that sleep
in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] ev-
erlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel
12:2-3).

It is then significant that among the major religious doctrines espoused throughout the syna-
gogue system was that a monumental reformation of the Temple order was at hand. Expectation
was great through the belief that even a resurrection to everlasting life would be granted to the

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