aqwsed12345
Refutation: This JW argument misconstrues the explicit wording and context of Jeremiah 25:11-12. The verses explicitly state that Judah and surrounding nations would "serve the king of Babylon seventy years." This passage clearly emphasizes Babylon’s supremacy—not the duration of Judah’s exile or desolation explicitly. Jeremiah never states explicitly that the land would remain completely desolate for exactly 70 years. This is an interpretative leap made by the JW organization. Historically, the period of Babylonian supremacy fits exactly 70 years from 609 BCE (Babylon defeats Assyria decisively at Harran) to 539 BCE (the fall of Babylon to Cyrus). Thus, their argument of a fixed 70-year desolation is not scriptural but interpretative
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Jer. 25: 11 does not clearly emphasise Babylon's supremacy. The verse clearly states the duration of Judah's servitude to Babylon for 70 years and in context with the vss. 9-11 along with Judah's servitude its Land would also be desolated-empty of its inhabitants etc. for the exact period of 70 years as confirmed by later writers of the 70 years such as Ezra and Daniel.The period of Babylonian supremacy could have begun in 605 BC with Neb's accession to the throne and some scholars date the 70 years from 605 rather than 609 BCE.
All chronology requires a methodology and interpretation and the nature and timing of the 70 years requires a measure of interpretation but exegesis of the principal 70year texts valiodates WT interpretation and WT Bible Chronology.-
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Refutation: The Watchtower often intermixes Jeremiah 25 and Habakkuk when discussing Babylon’s judgment. However, Jeremiah 25:12 explicitly links the judgment of Babylon with the end of the 70 years. The JWs themselves teach the 70 years ended in 537 BCE, yet Babylon’s fall (539 BCE) is universally acknowledged historically and biblically as the judgment event that ends Babylon’s supremacy. Thus, the JW position artificially separates the judgment of Babylon (539 BCE) from the end of the 70 years (537 BCE) to fit their timeline, which creates a two-year contradiction in the prophetic logic of Jeremiah 25:12.
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WT's discussion of the prophecy of judgement against Babylon clearly delineated the judgement against Judah and that of Babylon so there is no intermixing but clearly defined events in biblical history even though both followed after each other in quick succession.
Jer 25:12 clearly states that the judgment against Babylon commenced only after the 70 years had expired, which, according to the whole verse, could not have happened in 539 BCE but only after the Return of the Jews in 537 BCE..Read the entire verse and its context.
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Refutation: Jeremiah 25:11 explicitly includes "these nations" (plural) serving Babylon, clearly showing Judah was not the sole focus. The JW interpretation ignores Jeremiah’s broader international context. The prophecy, in reality, concerns a period of regional Babylonian supremacy affecting Judah among other nations. Thus, the JW claim that the prophecy applies exclusively to Judah contradicts Jeremiah’s clear wording.
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No. The sole focus was that of Judah with an aside reference to 'these nations', 'these surrounding nations' - vss. 9,11 Read the context from Jer. 25: 1- 11.
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Refutation: Historically, 607 BCE is an entirely untenable date, as it contradicts all archaeological, historical, and astronomical records. The 70-year period was of Babylon’s supremacy (609-539 BCE), not of a literal exile and desolation. Moreover, Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BCE and issued his decree shortly thereafter (538 BCE), not in 537 BCE. This date (537 BCE) is a JW invention with no historical support.
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Historically and theologically, the date 607 BCE is the only possible date for the Fall of Jerusalem as this date alone fully accommodates the biblical and historical fact of the Jewish Exile. Josephis, in his history, supports our interpretation, and it also has been confirmed by archaeology and astronomy. The 70 years represent a period of servitude to Babylon, the desolation of Judah and the Exile from the Fall in 607 BCE until the Return in 537 BCE. Many authorities accept 537 BCE as the date for the Return as 538 is impossible.
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Refutation: This claim is chronologically and logically impossible, as Jeremiah explicitly states judgment on Babylon occurs immediately at the end of the 70 years. Babylon historically fell in 539 BCE, thus marking the end of Babylon’s supremacy. If the 70 years truly ended in 537 BCE, Jehovah would have prematurely judged Babylon two years before the prophecy ended—a contradiction. Therefore, the JW interpretation violates the direct chronological sequence of Jeremiah.
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No, it does not, for there is no statement in vs. 12 that proves immediate judgment for the the judgment against Babylon began after the 70 years had expired, and the verse indicates a much broader consequence in reference to 'the land becoming a wasteland all time' which clearly did not begin in 539 BCE. Such an understanding is consistent with both the context of Jer.25 and accurate Bible chronology.
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Refutation: Daniel explicitly begins his dating of events from Nebuchadnezzar’s first arrival in Jerusalem (Dan. 1:1), which historically occurred in 605 BCE. Daniel nowhere asserts a 607 BCE date. Babylon’s role as a "world power" did not begin with Jerusalem’s fall but earlier when Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt at Carchemish in 605 BCE (Jeremiah 46:2)
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Daniel begins his book in the 'third year of Jehoiakim's kingship which was in 597 BCE. Daniel gives no date for the Fall of Jerusalem nor the Fall of Babylon and nowhere does he state 607, 587 or 586 BCE.Babylon as a World power in Danielic terms was in 607 BCE with the Fall of Jerusalem but in secular terms began when Neb ascended to the throne in 624 BCE
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Refutation: This JW chronology contradicts countless Babylonian astronomical diaries, economic tablets, royal inscriptions, and independent Egyptian and Persian records. Even the Bible aligns precisely with secular records: Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in his 18th year (Jer. 52:12-13), aligning with 586/587 BCE. The JW proposal (624-581 BCE) would require ignoring extensive historical documentation.
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Be that as it may but recent research proves that some of the astronomical diaries can be harmonized with Bible Chronology. What is important is that rather than a reliance on pagan secular records, WT Bible Chronology is based on the God's inspired Word - the Holy Bible.
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Refutation: The seven-year period described in Daniel 4 (Nebuchadnezzar’s madness) does not create a chronological gap. Babylonian administrative texts show continuity throughout Nebuchadnezzar’s reign without interruption. Daniel's text does not state Nebuchadnezzar lost his throne literally; rather, it indicates temporary incapacity. This event caused no chronological gap. The JW insertion of a seven-year gap contradicts well-attested historical records.
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Such an omission proves a lack of confidence in these historical records and would have implications for any chronology based of these records. Daniel clearly shows that neb would be absent from the throne and suchan event should have been documented for records were kept concerning this event.
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Refutation: Josephus explicitly confirms Jerusalem’s destruction occurred in the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, aligning precisely with secular records (586/587 BCE). Ezra, likewise, makes no explicit mention of a 607 BCE date. He refers to Cyrus’s decree in his first year (538 BCE), historically verified by Persian records. JWs misread these sources to uphold their chronology artificially
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Yes so Josephus describes the 70 years which align perfectly for 607 and 537 BCE for the 70 years. Ezra confirms that the 70 years ended not with the Fall of Babylon but the ist year of Cyrus which was 537 BCE.
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Refutation: The opposite is true: Secular chronology fully aligns with the biblical 70-year prophecy if understood correctly as Babylon’s dominance. The 70 years precisely fit secular historical records: 609 BCE (Babylon defeats Assyria decisively) to 539 BCE (Babylon’s fall). No chronological gap is required. The JW view artificially inserts gaps and ignores well-attested historical records.
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Utter nonsense. The 70 years was an Exile brought about by Babylon's dominance. You are putting the cart before the horse.The dates 609 and 539 BCE are too fuzzy and cannot be used instead of the fixed chronological biblical events: Nebs and Zedekiah's regnal years and that of Cyrus as definite chronological markers.No fuzzy or monkey business here!!!
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Refutation: Carl Olof Jonsson’s work extensively documents the exile, but he correctly shows the Bible never explicitly teaches a literal 70-year exile period. It explicitly mentions Babylonian supremacy for 70 years, confirmed historically. The JW assertion that critics neglect the exile is incorrect and misleading.
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False. He barely mentions the word if he does, it is only in passing. Go check his General Index. Despite COJ's thesis on the 70 years, the Bible clearly discusses explicitly even using metaphors the historical reality of a literal 70 years of servitude-desolation and exile. The Bible and history do not dispute that Babylon was the supreme power for 70 years. The 70 years=Exile
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Refutation: Contrary to JW assertions, scholars universally accept 586 or 587 BCE based on overwhelming evidence (Babylonian Chronicles, VAT 4956, economic records). The uncertainty between 586/587 is minor, representing a few months, not decades. No credible scholar proposes 607 BCE as even remotely plausible.
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Correct. Celebrated WT scholars certainly affirm 607 BCE
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Refutation: Jeremiah never explicitly states a literal 70-year exile beginning precisely at Jerusalem’s destruction. He explicitly identifies the 70-year period as Babylonian supremacy (Jer. 25:11). The JW position misreads Jeremiah by conflating the exile, servitude, and desolation into one literal 70-year event beginning at 607 BCE.
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Jeremiah absolutely describes in detail the 70 years. Nowhere does he suggest that the 70 years was solely a period of Babylonish domination but describes it as a period of servitude to Babylon, an exile in Babylon leaving unoccupied a desolate Land of Judah.
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Every single JW argument provided here relies on artificial reinterpretation, selective citation, and outright denial of established historical facts. Their date of 607 BCE is unsupportable historically, astronomically, archaeologically, and biblically. The proper biblical and historical reading of Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy aligns perfectly with secular chronology (609-539 BCE), confirming the conventional date (586/587 BCE) for Jerusalem’s destruction as accurate.
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Every explanation of the JW judgment is defensible, based on the Bible, secular history and ancient astronomy. Interpretation/careful exegesis is essential it is missing from much of current scholarship, which is influenced by higher criticism. The Bible teaches that the to years is a definite period of history consisting of three elements which began in 607 BCE and ended in 537 BCE
scholar JW
