1915
The end of the world. From ~1912 until start of WWI this year replaced 1914 in Russell's writings, since 2520 years from 606BC ends in 1915 not 1914 as Russell had thought. The fact that there is no zero year was "forgotten" when some events happened in 1914. In 1943 the idea that had been promoted in SiS7, namely to move Jerusalem's destruction from 606 to 607BC, was officially adopted (The fact that Jerusalem according to Bible chronology fell in 587BC does not interfere with Watchtower chronology.)
Year abandoned after start if WWI
Hi Jan, thanks, again for the list. But....just to be comprehensive and for your reference, I hope you don't mind if I take exception to your statment that "The fact that Jerusalem according to Bible chronology fell in 587BCE..."I'll just note that you can't claim this is a a Biblical chronology "fact" since there is more than one interpretation of Biblical chronology. I won't begin a debate here but just an update of what others astute in Bible chronology would question regarding this:1. Josephus in Antiquities 11.1.1 claims that 70 years of "servitude" in fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy was served by the Jews deported at the time of the last deportation in the 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar. If that's the case, there is an implied 74-75 year interval from the fall of Jerusalem in the 18th or 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar to the 1st of Cyrus. This would directly contradict the 587BCE fall of Jersualem chronology since there is only 50 years from 587BCE to 537BCE, the year the Jews are dated as returning from Babylon.2. Based upon Josephus' reference and his interpretation of Daniel's prophecy, though, Zechariah 1:7 and 12 offers critical parallel to Josephus' chronology: "...In the second year of Darius, the word of Jehovah occurred to Zechariah...(12) ...."O Jehovah of armies, how long will you yourself not show mercy to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, whom you have denounced these seventy years?" Some believe, therefore, that this is a reference to the 2nd year of Darius, the Mede who began to rule immediately after the fall of Babylon but that the Jews are still in exile since not having shown mercy to Jerusalem and its cities would indicate they were still desolate. This would confirm Josephus' reference, though, that the 70 years had not expired even 70 years after the fall of Jerusalem, which of coruse, if the 70 years didn't begin until 4 years after that, this reference in Zechariah confirms. The 70 years would not be over until the 6th year of Darius (the Mede).So some would say the "Bible's chronology" agrees with Josephus about a literal 70 years beginning in the 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar that expired before the 1st of Cyrus. So it is not clear "fact of Bible chronology" at all that Jerusalem fell in 587BCE.So I love your list! It's great to expose all the missed dating and all, but at the same time, are you promoting a potentially false date yourself by claiming that Jerusalem fell in 587BCE? I might have let it past except you said this was a FACT of BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY. Had you said it was a fact of secular history, I would have ignored it. Here's the reference in Josephus, just to save you time from looking it up regarding the 70 years that when harmonized with the Bible completely contradicts the 587BCE chronology. If you want to debate this in another thread, I'll be happy to:The end of the world. From ~1912 until start of WWI this year replaced 1914 in Russell's writings, since 2520 years from 606BC ends in 1915 not 1914 as Russell had thought. The fact that there is no zero year was "forgotten" when some events happened in 1914. In 1943 the idea that had been promoted in SiS7, namely to move Jerusalem's destruction from 606 to 607BC, was officially adopted (The fact that Jerusalem according to Bible chronology fell in 587BC does not interfere with Watchtower chronology.)
Year abandoned after start if WWI
Ant. 11.1.1 "In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, which was the seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their own land into Babylon, God commiserated the captivity and calamity of these poor people, according as he had foretold to them by Jeremiah the prophet, before the destruction of the city, that after they has served Nebuchadnezzar and his posterity, and after they had undergone that SERVITUDE seventy years, he would restore them again to the land of their fathers, and they should build their timple, and enjoy their ancient prosperity; and these things God did afford them."
Jeremiah 52:30 dates the year of the last deportation of these "poor" people in the 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar: "In the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the chief of the bodyguard took Jews into exile, seven hundred and forty-five souls."Thanks, Jan!!L.G.