Yes — 606 B.C. marks the beginning of Jerusalem's long period under Gentile control, starting with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian conquest.
In that year, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, brought it under a Gentile empire, and carried the Jews captive to Babylon. Les Feldick connects this event to the times of the Gentiles, the period during which Jerusalem would be trodden down by Gentile powers until Christ returns.
Daniel 1:1-2 — This is the biblical account of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem that Les dates to 606 B.C.
Luke 21:24 — Jesus' prophecy that Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The Bible records that 'in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God' (Daniel 1:1-2). The year 606 B.C. is not stated in the biblical text itself, but this is the event Les Feldick identifies with that year. In Luke 21:24, Jesus told His disciples, 'And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.'
Les teaches that 606 B.C. marks the pivotal moment when Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Jerusalem first brought the city under the complete control of a Gentile empire — Babylon. From there, he says, Jerusalem has been under Gentile dominion through Rome, the Moors, the Turks, and the British mandate, and it will remain so until Christ returns. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and carried the Jews captive to Babylon for 70 years. God then moved Cyrus, king of Persia, to decree the return, and Ezra went back to rebuild the temple, with only a small remnant of Jews reestablishing the nation for Christ's first coming. Les also sees Jesus' words in Luke 21:24 about Jerusalem being trodden down of the Gentiles as looking to Titus in A.D. 70, not Armageddon — and this continued Gentile domination began with the events of 606 B.C.
Les says the times of the Gentiles started when Nebuchadnezzar came and brought Jerusalem under a Gentile empire. He points out that Jerusalem, for the most part, has been under Gentile dominion ever since and will be until Christ returns.
Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, besieged it, and carried Daniel and the Jews captive back to Babylon, beginning a 70-year captivity. Afterward, Cyrus of Persia issued a decree for the Jews to return, and Ezra rebuilt the temple that Nebuchadnezzar's forces had destroyed. Only a few thousand returned; the rest assimilated into Gentile nations and later came to Jerusalem as Grecians.
The biblical account in Daniel 1:1-2 simply says the invasion took place in the third year of King Jehoiakim. The year 606 B.C. is Les's historical dating of that event, drawn from the Babylonian captivity timeline.
Les says Luke 21:24 is the clue that Jesus was speaking about Titus in A.D. 70, not Armageddon. The Jews would fall by the sword and be led away captive into all nations. This was another major step in the ongoing Gentile domination of Jerusalem that began in 606 B.C.
Luke 21:24 and Titus, A.D. 70
Les shows that Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem being trampled by Gentiles was fulfilled in the Roman siege of A.D. 70, part of the continuing domination that began in 606 B.C.
First Gentile Control of Jerusalem
Les says Nebuchadnezzar's invasion was the first time Jerusalem fell under complete control of a Gentile empire, with Gentile powers continuing through Rome, the Moors, the Turks, and Britain.
Babylonian Captivity and Rebuilding
Les explains that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 606 B.C., that the captivity lasted 70 years, and that Cyrus later decreed the return and rebuilding of the temple under Ezra.
Times of the Gentiles
Les connects 606 B.C. to the start of the times of the Gentiles and says Jerusalem will remain under Gentile dominion until Christ returns.
Babylonian Captivity and Daniel's Timeline
Les places Daniel's capture in 606 B.C. at the start of the 70-year captivity and points to Ezra's later return under Cyrus's decree.
Only a Remnant Returned
Les says only a few thousand Jews returned after the Babylonian captivity and that the rest assimilated into Gentile nations, eventually appearing in Jerusalem as Grecians.
All Israel Shall Be Saved — What Romans 11:26 Really Means
Now stop, slowly think back, who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple? Well Titus, the Roman general. So it's the Roman people from which this Antichrist will come, or at least the old Roman empire. "...and he will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Daniel 1:1-2 Event
Les reads the biblical record of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem and the carrying away of Jehoiakim and the temple vessels.
Daniel 1:1-2: In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
This passage records the historical event Les dates to 606 B.C. — Nebuchadnezzar besieging Jerusalem and taking Jehoiakim and the temple vessels.
Luke 21:24: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
This verse is the basis for the times of the Gentiles and the continuing domination of Jerusalem Les links to 606 B.C.
Because it is the date he assigns to Nebuchadnezzar's first conquest of Jerusalem, when Jerusalem came under a Gentile empire for the first time. From that point, Les says Jerusalem has been under Gentile dominion until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
No, the Bible does not give that exact date. The scriptural account in Daniel 1:1-2 records Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim. Les uses 606 B.C. as the historical date for that event.
Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jews captive to Babylon for 70 years. Afterward, only a few thousand returned under Ezra after Cyrus's decree; the rest assimilated into Gentile nations and later came to Jerusalem as Grecians.
In that passage the Lord gave Jehoiakim and the temple vessels into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. Les says this began the Gentile domination of Jerusalem that continues until Christ returns.
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