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The Gentile Times Reconsidered: Chronology & Christ's Return
by Carl O. Jonsson
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Commentary Press (1998-07)
ISBN: 0914675060
EAN: 9780914675068
Dewy Decimal #: 200
Paperback
SKU: AR08081719
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comments: Exactly as shown, Spine uncreased, Text clean with NO marks. Front cover lifts a bit.
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Customer Reviews
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EXCELLENT REVIEW
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-07-31
A most thorough and excellent review that proves beyond any doubt that the Watchtower Society's date of 607 BCE is completely without any historical, archaeological or biblical support. Of course, the WTS will always chose what's best for them, not what's correct. No one else has anything to lose if the First Temple was destroyed in 587 BCE or 607 BCE. The only ones who have so much riding on 607 BCE is the Governing Body members. Without that date, they also lose the 1919 date where they claim that Jesus chose THEM as the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"----a totally bogus concept.
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What the Bible and the History say and what the JW say
Rating  (4)
Date: 2005-09-22
70 years according to Jerem 29: 10, Dan 9:2, 24, Jerem 25:11-12, Jerem 27:6-8, Jerem 28: 14
The prophetic number 70 years is a sacred number and applies to the length of time to serve a Power that God had sent from the time of death of the last man of God who rules his land or the termination of a kingship line or the start of a desolate land. When it starts and when it ends, the Bible and the history gives clue. It applies to many elements of the history that are sacred to God to serve as symbols. In the case of Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian Empire, 70 years run from the death of Josiah in 609 BC, the last king beloved of God (the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of Judah followed his death) to the Fall of Babylon in 539 BC. In the case of the end of the exile of the Jews it ran from the end of the kingship line of Jerusalem and Judah or the start of the desolation of the land in 585 BC after the last king Zedekiah was taken captive to the completion of the reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 515 BC. Or it can run from the ascendance of Nebuchadnezzar to the throne to the return of the Jews in their land to reconstruct the temple. In the case of the second destruction of the Temple in 70AD, it runs from the birth of Christ to the destruction of the Temple
Here's a detailed chronology from the death of Josiah, King of Judah(checked and verified with the verses in the Bible and the dates in the history):
609 BC The forces of Egypt fought against the army of Judah. Necho II was allied with the Assyrians against the Babylonians. Nabopolassar destroyed the remnants of the Assyrian Empire. Josiah King of Judah died at the Battle of Megiddo while helping Babylon against Egypt. (II Kings 23: 29-30). Egypt prevailed against Judah (II Chronicles 34: 28) (II Chron 35:20-24). Start of the collapse of Judah and Jerusalem (II Kings 23:27)
Early 609 BC Jehoahaz became king of Judah, reigned for 3 months and replaced by Eliakim (Jehoiakim) by Pharaoh Nechoh of Egypt, reigned eleven years in Jerusalem (until 598 BC) (II Chron 36:1-5) (II Kings 23: 30-36) . Warning of the Lord to Israel about the temple and Jerusalem (Jerem 26: 1-6).
609-605 Judah fell under the control of Egypt (II Kings 23: 34-35). Further proof of this time (Jerem 26:21-23)
607/606 BC Nebuchadnezzar ascend to the throne.(Jeremiah 25:1)
606-605 BC Battle of Charchemish ( Nebuchadnezzar against Assyria and Egypt).
605 BC Egypt was beaten by Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon at the Battle of Charchemish, 4th year of Jehoiakim (Jerem 46: 1-2,10-11,13). Babylon having eliminated his enemies, Assyria and Egypt, became powerful (Dan 2: 38)
605 BC. After defeating the Egyptians, the Babylonians had reached as far as the Philistine territory along the coast to the southwest of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon entered Jerusalem and besieged it. (Dan1:1) Jehoiakim, who had been put in power as a vassal of the Egyptians, declared allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar as Egypt would be probably defeated by Babylon at the Battle of Charchemish. This move placed Judah under the control of the Babylonians (FOR 3 YEARS : until 602 BC). (II Kings 24:1,7)
Jehoiakim was taken captive and Nebuchadnezzar took part of the vessel of the house of God. (Daniel1: 2) (II Chron 36:6-7) . Zedekiah was appointed king of Judah (Jerem 39:1). Although captivity started this time, Nebuchadnezzar had not brought all the people captives yet. They plan to come back for a second siege that would last 3 years to do that (Dan 1:3-5) . There was no destruction of Temple at this time yet.
604 BC Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams (Dan 2: 1). The definitive interpretation of the dream happened at a later time. The astrologers and magicians took so much time (maybe years) in trying to guess the meaning : Neb. Says "The thing is gone from me, you would gain the time" (Dan 2: 8)
602 BC Jehoiakim, encouraged by an apparent Babylonian retreat withdrew his allegiance from the Babylonians (2 Kings 24:1).
End of 602 BC Ezekiel is already among the first captives brought to Babylon (Ezek 1:1-4), Ezek: 1: 1 is a conclusive sentence about all his set of visions when he finished having them (around 572 BC) and start writing about his visions. He served of his conclusion as an introduction. In verse 2, he start detailing them. Therefore, 30th year means, 30th year from the time of his captivity in Babylon. One of his visions (Ezek 12: 10-16) may have occurred exactly at this time, before being taken captive, since many people have not been taken captives yet.
Late 598 BC Death of Jehoiakim (after 11 years of reign).
597 BC Reign of Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) his son, reigned for 3 months (2 Kings 24: 6, 8). Jehoiachin was then removed by the Babylonians. (II Chronicles 36: 9-10)
596 BC Visions of God showing Ezekiel the abominations of Israel and its priests(Ezek 8: 1) (Ezek 9: 1-2,11, Ezek 12:27-28)
Late 597 or early 596 BC - Second invasion of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, at the 9th year of Zedekiah, as king of Judah (Jerem 39:1). Zedekiah was placed king of Jerusalem to replace Jehoiachin [he was nominated king of Judah at the time of the captive of Jehoiakim in Jerusalem by the Babylonians (Jeremiah 27:1, 12-13, Jerem 37:1) (II Chronicles 36: 9-11) ], reigned 11 years in Jerusalem (from 597 BC until 586 BC, end of the kingship of Jerusalem and Judah) (Jerem 52:1). The people of Jerusalem were taken captives along with Daniel and the people of Judah (II Kings 24: 10-11,16-18) (II Kings 25: 1-2) (Jeremiah 22: 25-27) (Jeremiah 29:1-2,4) (Esther 2:6) (Dan1:6). A further proof that the temple was not yet destroyed at this time is Jeremiah 38: 14. Further proof, that at the time of the reign of Zedekiah in Jerusalem, the temple still existed at this time is II Chron 36: 14. According to God's prophecy and Jeremiah's account (Jeremiah 27: 19-22), at the time the second captivity (Jehoiachin was taken captive after 3 months of reign in 597 BC), part the vessels, after the second invasion still remain in the house of the Lord but will be carried to Babylon at a later time (a proof that there was a second invasion and after that second invasion and an inference that there will be a 3rd invasion). The temple still existed to house those pillars and left-behind vessels at this time.
596 BC The decree to slain the wise men for not being able to interpret the dreams was published (Dan 2:12-13)
595 BC The Lord spoke to Ezekiel about the abominations of Israel, letting Ezekiel know that he can change the course of events (Ezek 20)
595 BC Psammetichus ascended to the throne of Egypt,
593 BC Probably aware of the new ascendance to the throne of the new King of Egypt who could save the people of Jerusalem, Hananiah told a false prophecy to Jeremiah "in the House of the Lord" (Jeremiah 28: 1-4, 4th year of Zedekiah in Jerusalem) (Ezek 13: 3,6).
593 BC (9th year of captivity) Vision of Ezekiel God telling him that at the very same time, Nebuchadnezzar set himself against Jerusalem. In 593 BC, the army of Nebuchadnezzar are still present in Babylon from 596 BC as it was told in Daniel 1: 5 that their food ration for the second invasion should last for 3 years. God told Ezekiel that "he WILL profane his sanctuary", which means he had not destroyed the temple yet but will.(Ezek 24: 1-2, 21).
592 BC Psammetichus (King of the 26th dynasty of Egypt) marched into the Kingdom of Judah, Philistia (southern coast of Canaan), and Phoenicia in response to moves made by Babylon (Jerem 37:5). The Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem departed as soon as they heard of their coming.
592 BC (10th year of captivity) Vision of Ezekiel about the imminent destruction of Jerusalem as a warning (5th year captivity of Jehoiachin) (Ezek 1:2-4, Ezek 4:1-3, Ezek 5:4-5). That year in his vision God told Ezekiel about the number of years of iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah (430 years from the time of the vision 592BC: 390 years + 40 years) . (Cf. year 162 BC what will happen). Hananiah died when Ezekiel prophesied. (Ezek 11: 13, Ezek 13: 8-9)
592 BC Vision of Ezekiel against Pharaoh of Egypt (10th year of captivity) (Ezek 29:1-3). Jeremiah proceeded to tell the king of Judah that Pharaoh's army who would come to save them shall return to Egypt. And the Chaldeans shall come again and burn Jerusalem with fire (God announced the third invasion). (Jeremiah 37: 7-8)
591 BC (11th year of captivity) Vision of Ezekiel concerning the destruction of Tyrus (Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea) (Ezek 26:7) and the defeat of Egypt by Babylon
589 BC Pharaoh Hophrah ascended to the throne of Egypt
588 BC Pharaoh Hophra sent an army to relieve the siege of Jerusalem, forcing the Babylonians to disengage to meet them but no avail (Jerem 37: 7)
588 BC-586 BC Third invasion of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon by forming an alliance with Pharaoh Hophrah (II Kings 24: 20, Jerem 52: 3). He was taken captive. Vision of Ezekiel against Zedekiah. God told Ezekiel about the princes and the king Zedekiah (Jerusalem "had taken of the king's seed (king Nebuchadnezzar's seed) and made a covenant with him", "in the place where the king dwells that made him king" "he despised the oath by breaking the covenant" "he shall not escape") who rebelled against Babylon and are taken captives that neither Pharaoh can save him in the war (Ezek 17: 12-18)
A last warning from God was sent again to the people of Jerusalem but they rebuked the messengers of God. (II Chron 36: 15-16). II Kings 25: 1,3 indicates that the third invasion was carried out in different times (not part of the same year) from the destruction of the temple. The day of the famine and the destruction of the temple are part of the same year (11th year of of Zedekiah, 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar 586 BC) (II Kings 25: 3, 8) The Babylonians came back to besiege Jerusalem on the 9th year of reign of Zedekiah as king of Jerusalem and stayed until his 11th year (II Kings 25: 1-3) (Jerem 52: 4-5, Zedekiah`s 9th year in Jerusalem) (II Chron 36: 17-20, the final invasion)
586 BC 3 years later, on the 11th year of Zedekiah as King of Jerusalem. Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by a captain guard of Nebuchadnezzar on the 19th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (II Kings 25:8-10) (Jeremiah 39:8-9) (II Chronicles 34: 24-25) (Ezek 5:2, 4-5, Ezek 14: 14-15)
585 BC End of the kingship of Judah and Jerusalem and of Jerusalem. Jerusalem a desolate land
586 BC The army of Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyrus without success for 13 years (Ezek 29: 18)
575 BC The vision of Ezekiel against Egypt including those Jews who escaped the captivity to go to Egypt and other parts (27th year of captivity)(Ezek 29: 17-20, Ezek 30:10-11) (Jeremiah 44:1, 12-14, 27-30)
572 BC Ezekiel was writing his visions of Ezekiel (30th year of captivity) (Ezek 29: 1, )
570 BC Amasis II became king of Egypt
Late 570 or 569 BC Babylonia had invaded Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar Inscription This clay tablet reads, "In the thirty-seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the country of Babylon, he went to Egypt [Misr] to make war. Amasis, king of Egypt, collected [his army], and marched and spread abroad." The inscription is now on display in the British Museum in London.
568 BC Amasis II appears to have sustained an attack by Nebuchadnezzar
559 BC Cyrus the Great ascended to the throne of Anshan (part of Persia). Start of the Achaemenid Empire or Persian Empire with his unification of the kingdom of Anshan and the rest of Persia.
550 BC-549 BC, with the help of Harpagus, Cyrus led the Persians and his armies to capture and effectively conquer Media (Median Empire was still ruled by the grand father of Cyrus who hates him). Cyrus defeated the forces of Media. Cyrus became the Shah of unified Persian kingdom (Media and Persia). He took Lydia in Asia Minor, and carried his arms eastward into central Asia.
547 BC Babylon and Egypt had formed a mutual alliance against the rising threat of a third power, the Persian empire-but to no avail
546 BC The conquest of Asia Minor (546 BC) left the Ionian Greeks under Persian rule, while the other Greeks were free. Persian satraps (governors) of Asia Minor installed tyrants in most of Ionian cities and forced Greeks to pay taxes for the "King of Kings".
541 BC Belshazzar was made king ( Talmud Meg 11b)
540 BC The Persians were planning to advance on Babylon.
539 BC According to the Hebrew Bible, while Belshazzar and the nobles of the empire were feasting and drinking from the chalices taken from the Hebrew Temple of Jerusalem, a hand wrote an unknown Aramaic text on the wall: mene, mene, tekel, uparsin. None of Belshazzar's soothsayers could translate the words written and then the Jew Daniel, known for his accurate prophecies was called to translate the text and he said: "God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end. You are weighed in the balances and are found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." These words indicated the arrival of the Persian king Cyrus the Great who rode out to conquer Babylon. (Daniel 5: 1-7, 24-28)
539 BC Belshazzar was positioned in the city of Babylon to hold the capital, while Nabonidus his father, marched his troops north to meet Cyrus. On October 10, 539 B.C. Nabonidus surrendered and fled from Cyrus. Two days later, October 12, 539 B.C., the Persian armies overthrew the city of Babylon. Belshazzar was slain (Dan 5:30-31)
539 BC Cyrus entered Babylon : Cyrus declared on a stone tablet: "I (am) Cyrus, the king of the world, the king of Babylon, the king of Shumer and Akkad, the king of the four regions . . . When I entered Tintar (ancient name of Babylon) peacefully . . . I established my sovereignty in the palace of the princes, Marduk (the Babylonian national god), inclined the noble hearts of the people of Babylon towards me". This is the first year reign of Cyrus in Babylon, Daniel stayed in Babylon until this time (Dan1 :21) (The prophecy of Dan 2: 35)
539 BC Fall of Babylon.
537 BC Cyrus (King of Babel) authorized the return to Palestine of the Jews deported by Nebuchadnezzar and arranged for the rebuilding of the Hebrew temple in Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 29: 14)
530 BC Cambyses II (Cyrus, son of Cyrus the Great) ascended the throne of Persia
527 BC Hippias succeeded his father (Pisistratus) as a tyrant of Athens
526 BC Cyrus (Cambyses II) , ruler of Persia conquers Egypt and annexed it to the Persian empire. His attempt to conquer Kush (the kingdoms of Napata and Sudan), Siwa Oasis, and Carthage failed
525 BC The Persians conquered Egypt. For the first time in its 2,500-year history as a nation, Egypt was no longer independent. (Ezek 30: 12-13)
After 525 BC Persians, Greco-Macedonians and Romans ruled Egypt
522 BC A usurper of the crown of Persia (Smerdis) arose.
521 BC Death of Cyrus killed in the battle with Smerdis. Darius killed the usurper of the crown (Gaumata or Smerdis)
521 - 481 BC The reign of Darius the Great, of the seed of the Medes
Every region was responsible for paying a gold or silver tribute to the emperor; many areas, such as Babylonia, underwent severe economic decline resulting from these quotas. He was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans (Dan 9:1). He ruled over an immense realm, from western China to eastern Europe
515 BC Completion of the construction of the temple of Jerusalem
I do not understand at all why the JWs want so much to remake history because everything has to arrive at 1914?? By reading and analyzing the prophecy of the Bible, 1914 the Holocaust was part of history -- sad and horrible of course- but is in a way a punishment of God (many parts of what the Lord said in the old Testament still apply in today's events), after that the Lord had scattered them again to the four corners of the Earth (the survivors of the Holocaust)and later great Britain settled them in land that is called Israel. The prophecy in the Old Testament that The Lord has gathered them from the corners of the Earth will settle them in a land called the land of Israel has been fulfilled again. For the Jews, such event could only be interpreted as the rejection of Satan on earth. And since many aspects of the principles of the Congregation quite resemble the Judaism religion (publication of many materials other than the Bible, the much lesser importance given to Jesus Christ, the ignorance of the "spirit" as part of what constitutes a person even though the New testament emphasize this aspect because in Hebrew, the concept is absent -- only those parts of the Old Testament written in other original language other than Hebrew refers to spirit, epecially, those written by the captives, the resort to Hebrew language to change the word "grave" and "hell" in the New Testament even though the original language is in Greek, etc.),I assume that Jews constitute an influential membership into the organization at the time of its formation. As a result, they find it hard to contemplate, that the Holocaust might be a punishment of the Lord again, so there has to be another explanation. They assume the reign of Nebuchadnezzar at 624 BC. Even so, 624 and 607 does not give 19 years of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, exact time at which the temple was burned. They assume that there were only 2 invasions and the Temple of Jerusalem was burned during the second invasion. Many parts in the Bible indicated in the above chronology indicate that at the second invasion there was no destruction of the Temple and after the second invasion the Lord prophesied about a third invasion that will burn the Temple. False prophecy and it's not the first.
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1914... Now it's 2005!
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-08-20
0 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Just a bit too technical that's all. He even attacks Mr Furulli (? can't remember how he spells his name but he is Norweigan) he makes his argument so ridiculous! Carl is the expect!
It's amazing what some people would do to defend their faith even know they are wrong!
As just stated, it's VERY TECHNICAL,
I preferred this book to the Last Days -- When book, by the same author... I guess because this has more Bible issues at stake and quotes more Bible passages!
He glosses over end time issues and really explains everything quite well about 1914, which is really an Adventist concept -- "Christendom!" ;)
If, everyone else says 587 BC why do the JW's say 607! It's just crazy. The Bible doesn't use dates like 607 or 687 It just says " In the 5th year of so and so." That could mean anything! So we have to look BEYOND the Bible and look at sources that were written at the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius.. and so forth.
It's been a few months since I've read this book, but it's still had a great impact on me -- I'll surely keep it in my library collection!
But please read the Last Days -- When book by the Carl! Put your mind at ease and be very confident about your new truths on the Bible! And not listen to about 12 people on in New York who are too stubborn to change! Listen to a real scholar and hear what he is talking about! Someone that knows their history!
Nothing beats BIBLE TRUTH!
Shame on your JW's who read "apostate literature" and then give the book 1 star to try and make the book look back! How low can you go?
PS: This book is even better than before because it's updated! Dramatically! So... 4.5 stars maybe! :)
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1919 Demolished
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-07-11
1 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
This scholarly work provides an abundance of evidence to prove that the chronology used by Jehovah's Witnesses to establish 1914 as the end of the 'Gentile Times' is unsustainable. The book shows that, contrary to the claims of some, this is not a battle between historical sources and the Bible's accuracy. Rather, what is challenged and proven wrong is the Organization's interpretation of scripture. Put simply, Jerusalem was not destroyed in 607 b.c. - and THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY IT WAS! Genuine lovers of truth will find the book stimulating reading.
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Christendom is Mystery Babylon the Great!
Rating  (1)
Date: 2005-05-03
2 out of 14 customers found this reveiw helpful
Christendom is Mystery Babylon the Great!
People need to know their own religious hisstory before they start to criticize other beliefs. Mainstream 'Christianity' is nothing but a bunch of paganism converted by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great when he took his beliefs and hung a 'Christian' label on them. This is a matter of historical fact. Only blind, ignorant people who want to ignore the facts of history in order to justify what they believe. The early Christians tought their follower love and put that love into practice. They did not teach love and then teach that it was okay to go out and kill people in the time of war. Political 'Christianity' got its start with Roman Emperor Constantine. Prior to Constantine Christianity was considered a cult and was hated and spoken evil of by the mainstream religious leaders of that time. Are so-called 'Christians' today resorting to the same type of smear campaign against the Jehovah's Witnesses that the early Christians experienced by the Romans. True Christians speak well of everyone, including non-Christians. The Bible does say that false Christians are the ones who speak evil of others -2 Peter chapter 2. When we take a look at Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism we can see that hateful intolerant spirit than the Pharisees and Sadducees displayed toward Jesus Christ and his followers. True Christianity does not teach its followers to hate and speak evil of non-believers. Christendom teaches its members to have that type of hyprocritical type of loving spirit. That is why we see so many professed 'Christians' going out and doing so many horrible things and the churches do nothing to discipline their flock and remove them so that their hyprocrisy does not influence other more sincere churchgoers. Even though the Jehovah's Witnesses might not have a 100% clear understanding of the Bible, at least they have accomplished a lot more in the way of teaching their followers the proper way of imitating Jesus' 1st Century disciples. They have managed to overcome racial and national prejudices. Something that Christendom has failed to do and they have had 1700 years to do it compared to the 125 years that the Jehovah's Witnesses have been around. Hyprocites!
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