It is said of John the Baptist by Jesus that; 

Luke 7:24-30
(24)  And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
(25)  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
(26)  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
(27)  This is he, of whom it is written, behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(28)  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
(29)  And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
(30)  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
 

The Jews were not ready for the changes both John the Baptist and Jesus would bring to their religious behavior. It becomes evident in a report from Herod Antipater to the Roman senate defending his beheading of John the Baptist. This report is from a scroll entitled, "Herod Antipater's Defense", discovered in the Vatican Library in the 1800's. 

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He lays a foundation for his actions by explaining how difficult the Jews are to rule as a religious people who believe in an invisible God.

Quote: "I have given a detailed description of the people and their various sects that the Senate may have and idea of the situation I am in.  If you could be here and see and associate with them as i do---to see them with all their sanctity of life, and then behold their treachery to each other; see how they lie and steal the one from the other; and then see how low and base are their priests---you would be much better qualified to judge my actions."

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After laying the background, Herod launches into debunking the rumor among the Jews that Herod's defeat in battle with Atetas, King of Arabia. The Jews were saying the defeat was because God was angry with him for executing John the Baptist at the wedding feast while his granddaughter danced. Herod explains his actions as follows in this certified report to the Roman Senate.

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Herod Antipater's Defense

"Most noble Senators, the facts in this case are as follows: John the Baptist was setting up a new mode of religion altogether different from the Jewish religion, teaching baptism in stead  of circumcision, which has been the belief and custom of the Jews in all ages past. According to their theory, God appeared to Abraham hundreds of years before, and told him with His own lips how and what to do to be saved; and the Jews have lived according to this until it has become their nature, and all their forefathers have lived in this way. The Jews say John the Baptist has no authority from god for what he is doing, as Abraham had. Four points are made; 

1. John has no authorized authority.

2. He changes God's place of worship.

3. He changes the doctrines.

4. He changes the mode of application.

Gamaliel thinks John wants to be some great man; hence, he takes this mode of eccentric life to establish it. There is nothing better qualified than the course he takes to make an impression upon the ignorant and unlearned----to go away out into the wilderness by himself, get a few friends from Jerusalem to go out and hear him, come back and tell of the great wonders which they had seen in the wilderness. Then John's appearance---his long uncombed hair and beard, his fantastic clothing, and his food, nothing but bugs and beans---such a course and such a character are well qualified to lead the illiterate astray. These troubles gave the Jewish leaders great concern. To them, John was vacating the use of the Temple of worship, blocking the way to heaven and driving the poor and unsuspecting to a state of ruin, as well as destroying the whole nation.

It was their order, by their request, that it was better to execute one to save the many from a worse fate. Sirs, this was the true reason for the beheading of John; not for the deed and not to please the whim of a dancing-girl, as you have heard. I did this to John to save a nation. This is my defense. I submit it for your consideration, praying for clemency." 

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As you can tell, this is not what the bible indicates as the reason for the beheading of John the Baptist. Who can really say what was in Herod's heart that night. What you have just read is a fact of academic history of the Roman senate records. It reveals the national situation for the Jewish concerns about the ministry of John the Baptist. The bible indicates that Herod's wife told her daughter what to ask for when Herod promised her anything she asked. It was Herodias  who hated John for calling out her sin. She caught Herod in a moment of celebratory weakness, (too much wine probably) and made her move on John. Herod justifies the execution as a national security issue to conveniently ease his conscience for the vow he never should have promised.

 

  Matthew 14:1-12
(1)  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
(2)  And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
(3)  For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
(4)  For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
(5)  And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
(6)  But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
(7)  Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
(8)  And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
(9)  And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
(10)  And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
(11)  And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
(12)  And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

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Here again is more light shed upon the biblical narrative from certified records kept by the Vatican.

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John the Baptist was the witness to the Light of God coming to the world the first time.

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It is now the mission of the "churches' to to be that "witness" to the Second Coming of Jesus to establish The Kingdom of God! 

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Mat 28:18-20
(18)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
(19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.