The Gentile Times Reconsidered
См. также перевод: Пересмотренные времена язычников
Chronology and Christ’s Return
The idea that the “Gentile Times” referred to at Luke 21:24 form a period of 2,520 years has led to speculation and disappointment among many who expected Christ’s return during the past two centuries. How did this belief originate and develop? What do the historical and Biblical facts show?
Fourth edition – revised and expanded
Content
Foreword Introduction The role of chronology in the teachings of the Watch Tower Society How this research began Correspondence with the Watch Tower headquarters Interrogation and defamation ”Waiting upon Jehovah” The expulsion Are the conclusions destructive of faith? Acknowledgements 1. The History of an Interpretation The “year‒day principle” Its use by Jewish scholars The “year‒day principle” among Christian expositors The principle applied to the Gentile times Constantly changing dates This view some minor differences – was also adopted by Charles Taze Russell and his followers. And it is still prevalent among the Seventh‒Day Adventists. Political and social upheaval fuels prophetic speculations John Aquila Brown The 2,520 years linked, with the Gentile times The Millerite movement Offshoots of the Millerite movement Nelson H. Barbour An “invisible presence” Charles Taze Russell Looking forward to 1914 Growing doubts Reactions to the outbreak of the war Summary Supplement to the third and later editions, chapter 1 2. Biblical and Secular Chronology The nature of the Biblical chronology Is there a “Bible chronology” without secular sources? Loyalty to the Bible–or to a prophetic speculation? The collapse of the original starting‒point 539 B.C.E.–the “Absolute date for the Hebrew Scriptures”? Astronomy and the year 539 B.C.E. 3. The Length of Reigns of the Neo‒Babylonian Kings A. Ancient historians B C. S to the chronology of Egypt Summary and conclusion 4. The Absolute Chronology of the Neo The study of the Babylonian astronomical documents Ancient astronomy The nature of the Babylonian astronomical texts A. The astronomical diaries B. The saturn tablet (BM. 76738 + BM. 76813) C. The lunar eclipse tablets Summary and conclusion 5. The Seventy Years for Babylon History and time prophecies–a lesson A. Jeremiah 25:10 B: JEREMIAH 29:10 B‒2: What Hebrew scholars say C: DANIEL 9:1‒2 C‒1: Did Daniel understand the seventy‒year prophecy? C‒2: The purpose of Daniel’s prayer C‒3: The relation of the seventy years to “the devastations of Jerusalem” D: 2 CHRONICLES 36:20‒23 E: Zechariah 1:7‒12 F: Zechariah 7:1‒5 F‒1: Fasting and wailing – for seventy years or ninety? G: The Application of the Seventy Years of Servitude 6. The “Seven Times” of Daniel 4 A. The 1934 Prophecy B. Are The Gentile Times “Seven Times” of 2,520 Years? C. The Setting up of Christ’s Kingdom D. 1914 in Perspective E. Some Notes on the “Gentile Times” of Luke 21:24 7. A. The watch tower society’s appendix to “let your kingdom come” Summary B. Unofficial Defenses Written by Scholarly Witnesses Appendix For Chapter One For Chapter Two For Chapter Three For Chapter Four For Chapter Five For Chapter Seven Additional material The 20th Year of Artaxerxes and the «Seventy Weeks» of Daniel Professor Robert R. Newton, “Ptolemy’s Canon,” and “The Crime of Claudius Ptolemy” Rolf Furuli’s First Book – A Critical Review Most of the contents of the observational texts are observations Rolf Furuli – Sham Scholarship The 70 years, the desolation of the land and Daniel 9:2 Rolf Furuli’s Second Book – A Critical Review
Because of its subject matter, in this book Bible texts are generally quoted from the New World Translation (represented by the abbreviation NW), published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Abbreviations for other translations of Biblical quotations, listed in the text or in the footnotes, are:
ASV American Standard Version
KJV King James Version
LXX Septuagint Version (Greek)
MT Masoretic text (Hebrew)
NAB New American Bible
NASB New American Standard Bible
NEB New English Bible
NIV New International Version
NKJV New King James Version
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
RSV Revised Standard Version
RV Revised Version