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Jehovah Tells “From the Beginning the Finale”The Watchtower—2006 | June 1
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1, 2. What is remarkable about the events associated with Babylon’s overthrow, and what does this fact indicate about Jehovah?
IN THE dead of night, enemy soldiers advance stealthily along the bed of the Euphrates River toward their objective, the mighty city of Babylon. As they approach the entrance to the city, an astonishing sight greets their eyes. The colossal two-leaved doors in Babylon’s wall have been left open! Out of the riverbed, they climb; into the city, they enter. Swiftly the city falls. Cyrus, their leader, promptly takes charge of the conquered land and later issues a decree releasing the Israelite captives. Thousands of exiles return home to restore the worship of Jehovah in Jerusalem.—2 Chronicles 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1-4.
2 Those events of the years 539-537 B.C.E. are now well attested to by historians. What is remarkable is that the events were known some 200 years ahead of time. Jehovah inspired his prophet Isaiah to describe Babylon’s fall that far in advance. (Isaiah 44:24–45:7) God revealed not only the circumstances surrounding Babylon’s overthrow but also the name of the conquering leader.a
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Jehovah Tells “From the Beginning the Finale”The Watchtower—2006 | June 1
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6. In what way did Jehovah’s “counsel” prevail in connection with Babylon’s downfall?
6 Through his prophet Isaiah, Jehovah said: “My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do.” (Isaiah 46:10b) God’s “counsel,” that is, his will or purpose as far as Babylon was concerned, involved calling Cyrus out of Persia to conquer Babylon and bring about its downfall. Jehovah declared that purpose long in advance. As already noted, it unfailingly came to pass in the year 539 B.C.E.
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