Can someon explain the 70 years prophecy to me?

ithinkisee

I am reading Gentile Times Reconsidered. Great book. But when you read it you definitely have to have a CLEAR understanding of the 70 years prophecy as interpreted by the Society - otherwise the explanations sound just as garbled as the Society's (except Reconsidered has a lot more actual references).

Can someone explain it in simple terms? Like:

The Society says the 70 years refers to Judah's ______________.

The SOciety claims this 70 years started in ___________ and ended in ___________.

This is incorrect because ____________________.

... and so on ...

If there is a WT publication that seems to explain this clearly, I haven't found it, so if anyone has a good WT reference that explains their side, please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

-ithinkisee

carla

I read this book long before I knew much about the jw's. It made no sense to me, so now I am rereading it. I think you certainly have to know jw doctrine to get the full understanding from this book. Some of it is still a struggle. Others here more knowledgable will give you more correct answers than I can. carla

OldSoul

If you want a clear understanding, don't ask JWs.

w98 10/15 pp. 10-11 Jerusalem--"The City of the Great King"
13 Early in the reign of Solomon's son Rehoboam, ten tribes rebelled and formed the northern kingdom of Israel. Because of their idol worship, God allowed that kingdom to be overthrown by Assyria. (1 Kings 12:16-30) The southern two-tribe kingdom of Judah continued to be centered in Jerusalem. But in time they too turned from pure worship, so God allowed the wayward city to be destroyed by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E. For 70 years Jewish exiles languished as captives in Babylon. Then, by God's mercy, they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and restore true worship.--2 Chronicles 36:15-21.

14 After 70 years of desolation, the ruined buildings must have been overgrown with weeds. Jerusalem's wall was broken down, with large gaps where gates and supporting towers once stood. Yet, the returning Jews took heart. They built an altar on the site of the former temple and began to offer daily sacrifices to Jehovah.

There was 70 years of captivity. It took four months to make the journey to Babylon. It took four months to get back from Babylon. But amazingly the land only laid desolate for the identical time they were in captivity. More than amazingly, actually. Miraculously.

If you ask most witnesses about that discrepancy in the timing you will get a blank stare. That response is neither amazing or miraculous.

The 70 years reportedy prophesied by Jeremiah was "for Babylon", that is, this is the time period during which it would be a world power. That makes sense and coincides with secular history quite nicely.

Respectfully,
OldSoul

keeshah

ithinkisee...

Do I remember correctly that you were (or are) in a position of responsibility in the congregation? I'm asking this because I never understood it when I was a JW either. I was a pioneer. I was supposed to be able to recite it back and forth and in my sleep. But no, my eyes just glazed over everytime I heard anything about it. I'm finding out that a lot of people did the same thing... "the GB says it's so, so there's no need to really understand it."

LouBelle

Was jerusalem destroyed in 607 BCE or was it destroyed in 587 BCE (because this is supposed to be the date from which 2520 years or something like that are added to reach to 1914???) I know secular history points to 587 BCE and Not 607 BCE.

ithinkisee

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Old Soul.

What is the discrepency in the JW version? Are you saying the JWs claim that the land wasn't desolate until they arrived in Babylon (4 months later) and then that the land ceased being desolate (4 months before) before they arrived back to Jerusalem?

Additionally, what is the underhanded reason that the Society clings to "desolation" when the Hebrew words describing their captivity are rendered as servitude? What is the benefit of them clinging to the "desolation" stuff?

Thanks,

-ithinkisee

IP_SEC

Sorry Ithinkisee if this isnt what you are looking for, Im kinda dense.

The Society says the 70 years refers to Judah's complete desolation including the distruction of Solomons temple.

The SOciety claims this 70 years started in 607 BC and ended in 537 BC.

This is incorrect because

1. Nebuchadnezzar had only been king 2 years in 607 not 18 or 19 years.

*** w02 11/15 p. 5 Do Not Give Up Meeting Together ***

In time, the Israelites did turn aside from true worship. (2 Kings 21:1-5) ?So [Jehovah] brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who proceeded . . . to burn the house of the true God and pull down the wall of Jerusalem; and all its dwelling towers they burned with fire and also all its desirable articles, so as to cause ruin. Furthermore, he carried off those remaining from the sword captive to Babylon, and they came to be servants to him and his sons.? According to the Bible, this happened in 607 B.C.E.?2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Jeremiah 52:12-14. Lie!! the bible doesnt say that. You liars!

As foretold by the prophet Isaiah, God raised up King Cyrus of Persia to liberate the Jews from the power of Babylon. (Isaiah 45:1) Following a 70-year exile, they returned to Jerusalem in 537 B.C.E. for the purpose of rebuilding the temple. (Ezra 1:1-6; 2:1, 2;

The use of the word servatude would include a period of time that is longer than 70 years. Remember dannyboy and shaddie, mesha and tobedwego were in servitude in babylon long before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Can someon explain the 70 years prophecy to me?

ithinkisee

carla

OldSoul

keeshah

LouBelle

ithinkisee

IP_SEC

doogie

IP_SEC

doogie

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