1914 --A SIGNIFICANT YEAR IN BIBLE PROPHECY

DECADES in advance, Bible students proclaimed that there would be significant developments in 1914.  What were these, and  what evidence points to 1914 as such an important year?

As recorded in Luke 21:24, Jesus said:  "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times of the nations ["the times of the Gentiles," King James Version]  are fulfilled." Jerusalem had been the capital city of the Jewish nation-the seat of rulership of the line of kings from the house of David. (Psalm 48:1, 2) However, these kings were unique among national leaders.  They sat on "Jehovah's throne" as representatives of God himself.  ( 1 Chronicles 29:23)  Jerusalem was thus a symbol of Jehovah's rulership.

How and when, though, did God's rulership begin to be "trampled on by the nations?  This happened  in 607 B.C.E. when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians.  "Jehovah's throne" became vacant, and the line of kings who descended  from David was interrupted.  (2 Kings 25:1-26) Would this 'trampling' go on forever?  No, for the prophecy of Ezekiel said regarding Jerusalem's last king, Zedekiah:  "Remove the turban, and take off the crown. . . . It will not belong to anyone until the one who has the legal right comes, and I will give it him."  (Ezekiel 21:26, 27) "The one who has the legal right " to the Davidic crown is Christ Jesus.  (Luke 1:32, 33) So the 'trampling' would end when Jesus became King. 

When would that grand event occur?  Jesus showed that the Gentiles would rule for a fixed period of time.  The account in Daniel chapter 4 hold the key to knowing how long that period would last.  It relates to a prophetic dream experienced by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  He saw a tree of enormous height that was chopped down. It stump could not grow because  it was banded with iron and  copper.  An angel declared:  "Let seven times pass over it." -Daniel 4:10-16. 

Next time: Conclusion of 1914--A SIGNIFICANT YEAR IN BIBLE PROPHECY

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