Supporters of the 607 date for the destruction of Jeruselem only use one line of argument. That being counting backwards 70 years from the pivotal date of 537 when Cyrus released the jews. Here we have seen 2 sound reasonings as to how that 70 years can apply. Although its logical that the 70 years apply to Babylonian rule, rather than the Jewish exile, both of these two reasonings harmonise both secular and biblical history.

Jw's rely too much on the findings of one man, CT Russell to support the 607 date. If this date is wrong, the whole of JW teaching is thrown into disarray. Relying too much upon the 1914 idea that the kingdom rule in heaven has begun. When any JW is looking for "facts" to support their 607 idea, they first start with the conclusion that 607 is the date, then look for evidence, rather than looking for the evidence before drawing a conclusion. Interestlingly CT Russell believed the fall of Jeruselem occurred in 606bce. It was only when JW's realised the maths were wrong, in that they accounted for a year zero (1bc-0-1ad) that 607 came into existence. Only after 1914 when they were made aware of this error, they changed the date to 607 rather than counting one year forward from 1914 to 1915.

When anyone looks back into JW history, 1914 was seen as the date when Armaggedon would happen. They believed that 1874 was the end of the gentile times. These dates was used amongst many other dates, 1874, 1914,1918,1925. It was only later that these other dates were dropped as doctrine, primarily because in 1914 WW1 occurred.

Now with the changing of the "generation" definition, it is only a matter of time before the WTBTS starts to distance itself from 1914 also.

With reference to 607, it is illogical for anyone to presuppose that this is the correct date then look for the evidence to fit in with the conclusion they already hold.

Paul