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Rating: 
Summary: Provides complete refuttal of JW chronology
Review: Broadly researched, meticulously documented, passionately written, The Gentile Times Reconsidered, by Carl Olof Jonsson carefully examines the historical support for the starting date of the Watch Tower Society's 1914 time prophecy. The 1914 date is critical to the Watch Tower's theology. If you are not familiar with the 1914 prophecy, or dating of Biblical events, keep surfing. If you are, this is the definitive book on the subject. Having studied the topic for about six months on my own, I was delighted to obtain this book, which was out of print for several years. This Third Edition, revised and expanded in 1998, presents new evidence, and tracks recent reinterpretations of 1914 in the Watchtower organization. The core of the book is 14 corroborating lines of archaeological and astronomical evidence fixing the date for the destruction of Jerusalem. "It is like fastening a painting to a wall with dozens of nails all over it, although but one would suffice." (p. 184) While Jonsson warns the reader that the information is "of a technical nature, accompanied by detailed documentation," I found it fascinating, like the forensic science in a murder mystery. Having established that date, Jonsson deals with related issues from the Watchtower's time prophecy. He presents several satisfying interpretations of the "70 year" prophecy that harmonize the Bible and history, then critically examines the "Seven Times" of Daniel 4. My attention wandered a little near the end discussing some theological permutations, but overall, this is an excellent book.
Rating: 
Summary: Slaughters the Bible to reach it's goal
Review: Don't waste the money on this book. It's a poor excuse for an attack on Jehovah's Witnesses chronology and sacrifices the Bible to get there. Allow me to explain. His whole contention is that Jehovah's Witnesses chronology for the neo-Babylonian era is wrong. Jehovah's Witness strongly figure this into their understanding messianic prophecies and Daniel 2:44. He presents much secular evidence to get there. That part is interesting. But when he tries to reconcile the Bible with secular chronology, he reveals his willingness to sacrifice the Bible in order to achieve his goal of smearing Jehovah's Witnesses. Read Jeremiah 25:11. That is a definite number. When did it start and end? This book says it started in the year 609, when Nabopolassar was king of Babylon, with the battle of Harran, and SUPPOSEDLY the rise of Babylonian supremacy. Supposedly that is when the 70 years of Jeremiah 25:11 starts because it is 70 years prior to 539 when Babylon fell. This is NOT so. 1. The 70 year prophecy was given in King Nebuchadnezzar's FIRST year. According to secular chronology this was 605/4. This is AFTER Nabopolassar died. 2. Jeremiah 25:11 sets the start of the 70 years as a future event FROM the time the prophecy was given. 3. Assyria is not even mentioned in the cup drinking of Jeremiah 25:15-29. 4. Jeremiah 25:15-29 shows that the calamity STARTS with Jerusalem. NOT Assyria. 5. According to the secular chronology that this very book presents, Judah was subjugated to the Egyptians till 605, NOT Babylon. As was most all of Judea. There is much more, but all this demonstrates that the 70 years could not have started any earlier than 604. No way. In fact a look at ALL the evidence would require the start of the 70 years with the total destruction of Jerusalem which secular chronology does say happened in 587. Furthermore it proves that Babylonian supremacy over the Assyrians in 609 and Egyptians in 605 before Neb even became king, had nothing to do with it. It is all about Jerusalem as Jeremiah 25:29 clearly states. Of course from 604 to 539 IS NOT 70 YEARS! Conclusion:
Either secular chronology is wrong or the Bible is wrong. THEY CANNOT BE RECONCILED. No matter how much persons with motive would like them to. Spend your money on a good book. Better yet get a free book from Jehovah's Witnesses called "Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy" if you are a history/biblical studies buff. Skip this book. This guys has a motive and is willing to sacrifice the Bible to get there. Signed,
Jeremiah
Rating:
Summary: Alignment of Apostasy...Tickles the ears
Review: Jonsson breeds a searing conscience, and is way past all moral sense. He is also a liar, who upholds the doctrines and secular "truths" of men over Jehovah our God and His Son.
As such, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.-Rom.1:28 (KJV)
All apostates are in the lake of fire and sulphur.-Rev.20:14
(This is symbolic of everlasting destruction.)
There is no more hope for them, or any of their "followers".-Hebrews 6:4-6.
Read the Bible! Please.
Rating:
Summary: Alignment of Apostasy...Tickles the ears
Review: Jonsson breeds a searing conscience, and is way past all moral sense. He is also a liar, who upholds the doctrines and secular "truths" of men over Jehovah our God and His Son.
As such, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.-Rom.1:28 (KJV)
All apostates are in the lake of fire and sulphur.-Rev.20:14
(This is symbolic of everlasting destruction.)
There is no more hope for them, or any of their "followers".-Hebrews 6:4-6.
Read the Bible! Please.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most important books about the Tower ever written
Review: The Gentile Times Reconsidered is one of the most important books ever written about the Watchtower religious movement. It is must reading for anyone who wants to understand the problems Jehovah's Witnesses are involved in today, a movement originated in the 1870s and now claims over 14 million persons attended their memorial of Christ's death service (a number which indicates their following size). This book, now published in 6 languages, was involved in many thousands of Witnesses leaving the Watchtower, including former governing body member Raymond Franz. Chronology is central to Watchtower teaching, and Jonsson does an excellent job of explaining why. The date 1914, the date The Watchtower teaches Christ returned (his parousia), is derived from their chronology, and is critical to current Watchtower teaching. They teach that Armageddon will happen within the lifetime of the generation that was alive when the 1914 second advent of Christ occurred, but have been repeatedly disappointed (1874, 1925 and 1975 were their three most infamous date prediction failures). As we travel farther and farther from the 1914 date, it becomes increasingly obvious that both the 1914 date and the basic Watchtower chronology are erroneous. Bethel insiders tell me that the Watchtower will soon assign the 1914 date to the same status as the 1874 date, namely on the scrap heap of history. Along with the dropping of 1914 must also come a major change in many other Watchtower doctrines. And I have no doubt that the conclusions of Jonsson's scholarly well researched book will eventually become orthodox Watchtower doctrine.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT, AND DANGEROUS TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Review: To any non-Witnesses, you may not understand why Jehovah's Witnesses view the whole 586 BCE date with such alarm. Witnesses teach that the beginning of the Gentile Times began in 607 BCE and through some pretty bizarre plucking of their favorite scriptures from the book of Revelation, ended in 1914 C.E. They teach that Jesus "returned invisibly" that year and that the "Faithful & Discreet Slave Class" (the ruling Governing Body members who place themselves above God), were chosen by Jesus (invisibly of coure) in the year 1919.
The entire religion revolves around these dates. Therefore, when it was discovered that Jerusalem fell not in 607 BCE but in 586 BCE, it threw them into a total panic. If their date of 607 BCE was wrong, then that would throw the dates of 1914 and 1919 out the window, along with their self-imposed authority over millions of Witnesses who view these guys as literally, the next best thing to Jesus Christ. In order to keep the average Witness from finding out that their central doctrine was based on a lie, the Governing Body members disfellowshipped (excommunicated) anyone who knew the truth and who they saw as a threat to their power.
The few trolls who give this book a bad review are brainwashed and furious Witnesses who can't handle the truth about The Truth. They'd rather attack anyone who can challenge their faith rather than face the truth.
This book helps blow the lid of all the lies and deceit that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has promoted for years. But much to their sorrow, we've got the internet now, and they can't control what we read anymore.
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