Roughly 3,500 years ago, a man named Moses appeared in Egypt (Ex 2). Many people followed him because God was with Moses (Ex 3). Those who followed Moses were all believers. Moses was harshly persecuted by the Egyptians and by gentiles from other nations who did not believe in God (Ex 7; Ex 17). Roughly 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus appeared in the nation of Israel (Mt 1). Many people followed Jesus because God was with him (Mt 3; Mt 21). This is why Jesus was intensely persecuted by many Israelites (Mt 27; Jn 8). Another 2,000 years have passed since that time.