Deism: I don't get it

[DeistPaladin]

There was continuing revelation throughout the biblical period.

Or the religion, like every other part of culture, gradually evolves over time as it picks up from other religions and cultures that it is exposed to. Judea, on the cross roads of three continents and conquered at different times by Macedonia, Egypt and Persia, was probably exposed to outside influences more than other cultures.

So which is more likely:

1. God at first told the Hebrews that there was no life after death and then later said that maybe there's some kind of life after death but we won't go into the details and then finally revealed the whole truth after sending himself down to earth to be his own sacrifice as the only means of convincing himself to forgive us and change his own mind.

2. This religion changed over time as it was exposed to various outside influences.