Seven times
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Also known as The Seven Times · Gentile Times · Times of the Gentiles · Appointed Times of the Nations · Seven Symbolic Times · 2,520 Years · Seven Times of Gentile Domination
The teaching of the seven times was presented in 1877 as a prophetic period of 2,520 years extending from 606 B.C. to 1914 A.D. In 1880, the publications linked this calculation to Leviticus 26, Daniel 4, and Luke 21:24, expecting the end of Gentile domination and the restoration of Jerusalem. In 1888 and 1890, the interpretation continued to associate 1914 with the climax of a period of trouble that had begun in 1874. In 1904, the expected culmination of worldwide anarchy was moved from before the end of the Gentile Times to shortly after October 1914. During 1913, disagreement about the chronology was expressly permitted when expressed in a proper spirit. In 1914 and 1916, the expectation that the Church would complete its earthly course by October 1914 was reconsidered, although the expiration of the Gentile Times in that year was retained. In 1922, a related chronological projection described the thousand-year day of the Second Adam as extending to 2914. In 1925, the beginning of Gentile domination was specifically associated with July–August 606 B.C., corresponding to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. By 1934, the seven times were explicitly associated with Christ's heavenly enthronement. In 1938, a further chronological explanation distinguished their expiration in autumn 1914 from the spring of 1915 as the time of a formal royal induction in a proposed typological parallel. In 1942, publications still referred to 606 B.C., but in 1943 the calculation was expressed as beginning in autumn 607 B.C., without changing the ending year. In 1952, two earlier chronological errors were explicitly acknowledged as having offset each other. Publications from 1958 onward continued to identify the seven times with 2,520 years ending in October 1914. In 2011, the starting date of 607 B.C.E. was defended against the chronology generally accepted by historians. In 2013, the related understanding of the great tribulation was refined: its first phase was no longer considered to have begun in 1914. Publications from 2014 through May 2026 continued to teach that the seven times ended in 1914, when Jesus began ruling as heavenly King.
- Dan. 4:16, 17
- Dan. 4:23-25
- Dan. 4:32
- Luke 21:24
- Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28
- Ezek. 21:25-27
- Ezek. 4:6
- Num. 14:34
- Rev. 12:6, 14
- Rev. 11:2, 3
- Matt. 24:3, 7, 8, 21, 22
- 2 Chron. 36:20, 21
- Jer. 25:11, 12
- Jer. 29:10
- Rev. 11:15
- Ps. 110:1, 2
Key moments
- 1877–1890 Introduced The seven times were understood as 2,520 prophetic years from 606 B.C. to 1914 A.D. The calculation used the prophetic day-for-a-year principle, and early explanations connected the period with punishment upon Israel, Gentile domination, and the expected restoration of Jerusalem. The publications expected the period of trouble beginning in 1874 to culminate in social chaos by 1914.
- 1904–1912 Refined The expiration of the Gentile Times in October 1914 remained unchanged, but the expected culmination of worldwide anarchy was moved to a time following that date. The chronology was still considered convincing.
- 1914–1916 Refined The expectation that all members of the Bride class would complete their earthly course before the end of 1914 was reconsidered. In 1915, publications continued to assert that the Gentile Times had ended and God's Kingdom had begun to be established in 1914. In 1916, the expectation of the Church's change by October 1914 was expressly identified as an inference rather than a direct biblical statement.
- 1922 Refined An associated chronological expectation projected a thousand-year day of the Second Adam reaching to 2914 A.D., beginning after the termination of the Gentile Times in 1914.
- 1925 Refined The start of Gentile domination was placed specifically in July–August 606 B.C., linking the 2,520-year anniversary with the outbreak of World War I in July–August 1914. The interpretation also associated the end of the seven times with the end of Satan's uninterrupted world rule.
- 1938 Refined A typological calculation distinguished the expiration of the Gentile Times in autumn 1914 from a proposed formal induction of the reigning King in spring 1915, based on the timing of ancient Jewish royal enthronements. This was a particular refinement concerning the timing of the royal induction, rather than a change to the ending year of the seven times.
- 1943–1945 Refined The calculation began to use autumn 607 B.C. as the starting point, retaining autumn 1914 as the conclusion. Publications initially explained the older designation of 606 B.C. in terms of ancient years beginning in autumn. Subsequent explanations identified the ending of the seven times with the beginning of Christ's heavenly rule.
- 1952 Refined Two errors in the earlier 606 B.C. to 1914 calculation were explicitly acknowledged. The first involved counting from 1 B.C. to A.D. 1 as two years, although there is no year zero. The second involved the chronological starting point. Because the errors had offset each other, the publications retained 1914 as the ending date.
- 2013 Refined An associated interpretation of events beginning in 1914 was explicitly revised. Earlier publications had treated the First World War as the beginning of the great tribulation, followed by an interruption in 1918. The revised explanation distinguished the beginning of the last days and their distressing conditions in 1914 from the still-future great tribulation. The seven-times chronology and the date of Christ's enthronement were not changed.
Russell
Charles Taze Russell · 1877–1916
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The seven times were understood as 2,520 prophetic years from 606 B.C. to 1914 A.D. The calculation used the prophetic day-for-a-year principle, and early explanations connected the period with punishment upon Israel, Gentile domination, and the expected restoration of Jerusalem. The publications expected the period of trouble beginning in 1874 to culminate in social chaos by 1914.
4 quotes
Hence, as three and a half "times," represent twelve hundred and sixty years, so "seven times," represent twice twelve hundred and sixty, or 2520 years.
The Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, 1877 From B.C. 606, where the desolation of Jerusalem began, 2520 years reach to A.D. 1914.
The Watchtower, June 1, 1880 The Bible evidence is clear and strong that the "Times of the Gentiles” is a period of 2520 years, from the year B.C. 606 to and including A.D. 1914.
The Time Is at Hand, 1888 When, some fourteen years ago, we presented the Scriptural declaration that the Millennium of peace and blessing would be introduced by forty years of trouble, beginning slightly in 1874 and increasing until social chaos should prevail in 1914-- few believed, some scoffed; for the whole cry then was Peace! Arbitration! Harmony! --hoped for through increasing intelligence.
The Watchtower, October 1, 1890 -
The expiration of the Gentile Times in October 1914 remained unchanged, but the expected culmination of worldwide anarchy was moved to a time following that date. The chronology was still considered convincing.
2 quotes
Instantly we thought of the parallel here and perceived, as above stated, that our forty years' harvest, ending October, 1914 A.D., should not be expected to include the awful period of anarchy which the Scriptures point out to be the fate of Christendom.
The Watchtower, July 1, 1904 We fully believe that the year 1914 will see the end of the Gentile Times, for we cannot find even one flaw in our Bible chronology.
The Watchtower, October 15, 1912 -
Belief that the seven times would expire around October 1914 was maintained, but sincere disagreement about the date was not regarded as grounds for condemning fellow believers.
1 quote
However, we should not denounce those who in a proper spirit express their dissent in respect to the date mentioned and what may be there expected; nor should we feel aggrieved toward them.
The Watchtower, November 15, 1913 -
The expectation that all members of the Bride class would complete their earthly course before the end of 1914 was reconsidered. In 1915, publications continued to assert that the Gentile Times had ended and God's Kingdom had begun to be established in 1914. In 1916, the expectation of the Church's change by October 1914 was expressly identified as an inference rather than a direct biblical statement.
4 quotes
We had expected that if the Gentile Times should end with the present year, this would surely mean that all the Bride class would participate in the First Resurrection change from earthly conditions to Heavenly conditions before the end of the present year.
The Watchtower, May 1, 1914 We believe that the time for the setting up of the Kingdom was on September 21, 1914.
The Watchtower, February 15, 1915 Many Bible students are thoroughly convinced that the 2520 years from Zedekiah's day to October, 1914, ended there--that that date marked the end of God's lease of world power to the Gentile nations.
The Watchtower, September 15, 1915 We inferred from this that the Church's "change" would take place on or before that date.
The Watchtower, February 1, 1916
Rutherford
Joseph F. Rutherford · 1917–1942
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The seven times continued to be identified as a 2,520-year lease of power to Gentile nations. Publications maintained that this period had ended in 1914 and associated its expiration with the coming restoration of righteous conditions on earth.
2 quotes
This lease of power, as set forth in the prophecy of Daniel, was to continue for "seven times" — 2,520 years.
The Watchtower, August 1, 1917 The prophetic proof is that shortly following the end of the Gentile Times (which, in fact, ended in 1914) the Lord will make a new covenant arrangement with the people through the medium or intervention of the great Messiah, and by and through this means establish a perfect condition on the earth.
The Golden Age, October 1, 1919 -
An associated chronological expectation projected a thousand-year day of the Second Adam reaching to 2914 A.D., beginning after the termination of the Gentile Times in 1914.
1 quote
After 1914 A.D. will be the 1000-year day of the Second Adam, reaching to 2914 A.D. in which the Lord will reign in might.
The Watchtower, November 15, 1922 -
The start of Gentile domination was placed specifically in July–August 606 B.C., linking the 2,520-year anniversary with the outbreak of World War I in July–August 1914. The interpretation also associated the end of the seven times with the end of Satan's uninterrupted world rule.
2 quotes
The nation went completely under the dominion of the Gentiles at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar July-August, 606 B. C.
The Watchtower, February 15, 1925 It seems to be well settled now in the minds of the anointed that the Gentile Times, which began 606 B. C., ended in 1914; that the devil became the god of the entire world when Israel was cast off, and that with the coming of 1914 the devil’s privilege of ruling the world without interference ceased.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1925 -
The traditional 606 B.C. to 1914 calculation remained in use. The seven times were described as a period of punishment for Israel and as the period culminating in Christ's enthronement and his beginning to rule among his enemies.
3 quotes
This foretold period of punishment began when Nebuchadnezzar carried the Israelites to Babylon, in 606 B.C., and ended in 1914, exactly 2520 years later.
The Watchtower, July 15, 1930 Nebuchadnezzar here pictures Christ Jesus enthroned in 1914, which is the end of the Gentile times, and his work that follows, particularly from the time of his coming to the temple of Jehovah.
The Watchtower, February 1, 1934 That period of seven times, beginning in 606 B.C. and extending over a period of 2,520 years, ended in 1914, when Christ was enthroned by Jehovah and sent forth to rule amongst his enemies.
The Watchtower, February 15, 1934 -
A typological calculation distinguished the expiration of the Gentile Times in autumn 1914 from a proposed formal induction of the reigning King in spring 1915, based on the timing of ancient Jewish royal enthronements. This was a particular refinement concerning the timing of the royal induction, rather than a change to the ending year of the seven times.
1 quote
Hence though the “seven times” of “the times of the Gentiles” ended in the fall of 1914, about October 1, yet according to the Jewish type Jehovah would induct into office his reigning King in the following spring, to wit, A.D. 1915.
The Watchtower, June 15, 1938
Knorr
Nathan H. Knorr · 1942–1977
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A publication continued to employ the earlier 606 B.C. starting date and 1914 ending date immediately before the revised chronological reckoning appeared.
1 quote
That was in 606 B.C., and there the “seven times”, the “times of the Gentiles”, began.
The New World, 1942 -
The calculation began to use autumn 607 B.C. as the starting point, retaining autumn 1914 as the conclusion. Publications initially explained the older designation of 606 B.C. in terms of ancient years beginning in autumn. Subsequent explanations identified the ending of the seven times with the beginning of Christ's heavenly rule.
3 quotes
Inasmuch as the count of the Gentile “seven times” began its first year at the fall of 607 B.C., it is simple to calculate when they end.
The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943 In other words, the vulgar year 606 B.C. really began in the fall of 607 B.C.
The Kingdom Is at Hand, 1944 That appointed time was A.D. 1914, in the autumn of which year the “times of the Gentiles” came to an end.
The Watchtower, October 15, 1945 -
Two errors in the earlier 606 B.C. to 1914 calculation were explicitly acknowledged. The first involved counting from 1 B.C. to A.D. 1 as two years, although there is no year zero. The second involved the chronological starting point. Because the errors had offset each other, the publications retained 1914 as the ending date.
1 quote
This is because, in the light of modern scholarship, two slight errors were discovered to have been made which cancel each other out and make for the same result, namely, 1914.
The Watchtower, May 1, 1952 -
The interpretation stabilized around 2,520 prophetic years extending from autumn 607 B.C.E. to autumn 1914 C.E. The expiration of the seven times was associated with the establishment of God's heavenly Kingdom. Publications also distinguished the establishment of the Kingdom from the still-future execution of divine judgment.
4 quotes
Since the Holy Bible shows that these “seven times” or 2,520 years began in the early fall of the year 607 B.C., then the “appointed times of the nations” would end in the early fall of the year 1914 (A.D.).
Your Will Be Done on Earth, 1958 Daniel’s prophecy foretold the seven times, or 2,520 years, and that many years did indeed elapse from the ruin that came upon the kingdom of Judah making the land desolate and the time when the kingdom of God was established in the heavens.
The Watchtower, August 15, 1961 God indicated that it would be for seven symbolic "times."
God's Eternal Purpose Now Triumphing for Man's Good, 1974 An outstanding instance of such chronology is the Biblical count of the "seven times" of Gentile domination of mankind without divine interruption, which ran from 607 B.C.E. to 1914 C.E.
The Watchtower, January 1, 1975
Franz
Frederick W. Franz · 1977–1992
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The symbolic calculation and its application to the Gentile Times remained unchanged. Seven prophetic times were equated with 2,520 days and then, using the day-for-a-year principle, with 2,520 years. These were dated from October 607 B.C.E. to October 1914 C.E., when Jesus was understood to have begun ruling in heaven.
5 quotes
The "seven times" or "seven years" would therefore amount to 7 times 360 days, or 2,520 days.
Our Incoming World Government—God's Kingdom, 1977 It is His universal sovereignty that is at issue when there occurs the take-over of the "kingdom of the world" at the close of the Gentile Times in 1914.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1978 Bible prophecy and timetables, as well as historical events, establish that the conclusion of today's system of things began in 1914 C.E., in the autumn of which year "seven times" ended for Gentile domination of the earth without interference by God's Messianic kingdom.
The Watchtower, February 15, 1980 Counting from October 607 B.C.E., the "seven times" of 2,520 years bring us down to early October 1914 C.E., when, as we have already seen, Jesus' great prophecy on "the conclusion of the system of things" started to be fulfilled.
Let Your Kingdom Come, 1981 By this calculation, the Gentile Times, which started in October 607 B.C.E., ended 2,520 years later in October 1914.
The Watchtower, October 15, 1990
Governing Body
1992–
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The publications continued to explain the seven times as 2,520 years from Jerusalem's destruction in 607 B.C.E. to the termination of the appointed times of the nations in 1914. The explanation linked Daniel chapter 4, Luke 21:24, and the prophetic day-for-a-year principle. In 1999, a publication specified October 4/5, 1914, as the ending date. Publications in 2004 and 2006 repeated the calculation. In 2011, the Watchtower defended the starting date of 607 B.C.E. against the date generally accepted by historians.
6 quotes
By applying "a day for a year" to Daniel's prophecy and counting 2,520 years from 607 B.C.E., however, we arrive at the year 1914 C.E.—Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.
Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, 1995 Thus, the "seven times," or 2,520 years, ended by Tishri 15, or October 4/5, 1914 C.E.
Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!, 1999 Using 607 B.C.E. as the starting point and 2,520 years as the length, we can conclude that the appointed times were to end in 1914.
The Watchtower, February 1, 2004 Counting 2,520 years from 607 B.C.E. brings us to 1914 C.E.
The Watchtower, July 15, 2006 Counting back 70 years, the start date of the period would be 607 B.C.E.
The Watchtower, October 1, 2011 Since the Bible explicitly says that the exile lasted for 70 years, it must have begun in 607 B.C.E.
The Watchtower, November 1, 2011 -
An associated interpretation of events beginning in 1914 was explicitly revised. Earlier publications had treated the First World War as the beginning of the great tribulation, followed by an interruption in 1918. The revised explanation distinguished the beginning of the last days and their distressing conditions in 1914 from the still-future great tribulation. The seven-times chronology and the date of Christ's enthronement were not changed.
1 quote
We also discerned that the first part of the great tribulation did not begin in 1914.
The Watchtower, July 15, 2013 -
The publications continued to teach that the greater fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar's seven times began when representative divine rulership was interrupted in 607 B.C.E. and ended in October 1914, when Jesus began ruling in heaven. The interpretation was reaffirmed in Watchtower explanations, the 2015 historical discussion of Russell's chronology, the 2021 interactive Bible course, the 2022 Watchtower study edition, and a handbook to the Bible printed in May 2026.
6 quotes
So 607 B.C.E. marked the beginning of the seven times, or the period when God’s rulership would be interrupted.
The Watchtower, October 1, 2014 If we apply the rule of a day for a year, the seven times would amount to 2,520 years.
The Watchtower, November 1, 2014 That article, “Gentile Times: When Do They End?,” pointed to 1914 as a significant year.
The Watchtower, June 15, 2015 The Bible book of Daniel indicated that God’s Kingdom would begin ruling at the end of a period called “seven times.”
Enjoy Life Forever!—An Interactive Bible Course, 2021 The “seven times” represent a period of 2,520 years.
The Watchtower, July 2022 Daniel also lays out a prophecy that states that the Messiah will begin ruling at the end of “seven times.”
God's Word Is Truth—A Handbook to the Bible, May 2026 printing
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