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VI.
The Sure Word of
Prophecy
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Chapter 65
:
The Eastern Question
1. WHAT, briefly stated, is the Eastern
question?
The driving out of Turkey from Europe, and the
final extinction of the Turkish Empire, with the
world-embracing events that follow. It has been
otherwise described as "the driving of the Turk
into Asia, and a scramble for his territory."
2. What scriptures are
devoted to the Turkish power?
Dan. 11:40-45; Revelation 9; and Rev.
16:12.
NOTE.-In the
eleventh chapter of Daniel Turkey is dealt with
under the title of the "king of the north;" in
Revelation 9, under the Bounding of the fifth and
sixth " trumpets; " and in Revelation 16, under the
symbol of the drying up of the water of the chief
river of the Turkish Asiatic possessions, "the great
river Euphrates." The actual drying up of the river
Euphrates was the signal for the overthrow of
ancient Babylon.
3.
When did Turkey take Constantinople, and thus the
northern division of ancient Greece and Rome?
In A.D. 1453, under Mohammed II. See chapter 64.
NOTE.-After the death of Alexander the Great the
Grecian Empire was divided by his four leading
generals, Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and
Ptolemy, into four parts,- east, west, north, and
south,-the first three of which were shortly
afterward absorbed into one kingdom, the kingdom of
the north, Egypt remaining the king, or kingdom, of
the south. In the breaking up of the Roman Empire
the Turks gained possession of the Holy Land in A.
D. 1058, and finally of Constantinople, and
considerable portions of eastern Europe,-the kingdom
of the north,-in 1453, to which, with varying
fortunes and shrinking geographical boundaries, it
as held ever since.
4. How has Turkey been regarded by
European nations?
"The Turks have ever remained quite
insensible to the influences of European civilization,
and their government has been a perfect blight and curse
to the countries subject to their rule. They have always
been looked upon as intruders in Europe; and
their presence there has led to several of the most
sanguinary wars of modern times. Gradually they have
been pushed out, from their European possessions, and
the time is probably not very far distant when they will
be driven back across the Bosporus."-Myers's "General
History," edition 1902, page 463.
5. When did the independence of
Turkey cease?
In 1840, at the close of a two years' war
between Turkey and Egypt, when the fate of Turkey was
placed in the hands of four great powers of
Europe,-England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. See
reading in Chapter 64. of this book.
6.
What is one of the last predictions of the prophecy of
Daniel concerning the king of the north?
"But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall
trouble him : therefore he shall go forth with great
fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many." Dan.
11:44.
NOTE.-Upon this, Dr. Adam Clarke, writing in 1825,
said: "If the Turkish power be understood, as in the
preceding verses, it may mean that the Persians on
the east and the Russians on the north
will at some time greatly embarrass the Ottoman
government." Such indeed was the case, and these
conditions brought on the Crimean war of 1853-56:
between Russia and Turkey. In this war England and
France came to the help of Turkey, and prevented
Russia from grasping Constantinople, her coveted
prize, and thus gaining access to the Dardanelles
and the Mediterranean Sea, and so possessing herself
of the gateway of commerce between Europe and Asia.
Without an outlet to the sea, Russia cannot be a
strong naval power. In his celebrated will, Peter
the Great of Russia (1672-1725) admonished his
countrymen thus: "Take every possible means of
gaining Constantinople and the Indies, for," said
he, "he who rules there will be the true sovereign
of the world; excite war continually in Turkey and
Persia; . . . get control of the sea by degrees; . .
. advance to the Indies, which are the great depot
of the world. Once there, we can do without the gold
of England." The authenticity of this will has been
questioned, but it outlines a policy which Russia
has quite faithfully pursued.
7.
What since 1840 has saved Turkey from complete
overthrow?
The help and interference of various European powers.
NOTE.-"It is not too much to say that England has
twice saved Turkey from complete subjection since
1853. It is largely-mainly-due to our action that
she now exists at all as an independent power. On
both these occasions we dragged the powers of Europe
along with us in maintaining the Ottoman
government."-Duke of Argyle (1895), in " The
Turkish-Armemian Question," page 17.
8.
Why have these powers thus helped Turkey?
Not from love for Turkey, but for fear of the
international complications that its downfall might
entail.
NOTES.-In his Mansion House speech, Nov. 9., 1895,
Lord Salisbury, responding to a wide-spread demand
for the overthrow of the Turkish power, said:
"Turkey is in that remarkable condition that it has
now stood for half a century, mainly because the
great powers of the world have resolved that for
the peace of Christendom it is necessary that the
Ottoman Empire should stand. They came to that
conclusion nearly half a century ago. I do not think
they have altered it now. The danger, if the
Ottoman Empire fall, would not merely be the danger
that would threaten the territories of which that
empire consists; it would be the danger that the
fire there lit should spread to other nations, and
should involve all that is most powerful and
civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous
contest. That was a danger that was present to
the minds of our fathers when they resolved to make
the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire
a matter of European treaty, and that is a danger
WHICH HAS NOT PASSED AWAY."
"The Balkan, or Near Eastern, question has been one
of the most complicated political problems of the
world's history for half a century. . . . For four
centuries and a half, or ever since the conquering
Turk crossed the Bosporus and took Constantinople,
the grim contest has been on to dislodge him by war
and diplomacy."-American Review of Reviews,
November, 1912.
Nearly a century ago, Napoleon, while a prisoner
on St. Helena, explained that when emperor of
France, he would not consent for Alexander, the czar
of Russia, to have Constantinople.. "foreseeing that
the equilibrium of Europe would be destroyed."
9.
What is the divine prediction regarding the future and
final downfall of the king of the north?
"And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace
between the seas in the glorious holy mountain: yet
he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."
Dan. 11:45.
NOTE.-It would seem natural that the Ottoman
government should make its last stand at Jerusalem.
Around the city of the Holy Sepulcher and the tombs
of the "saints" has been waged for long years a war
between the followers of Islam and the believers in
the Christian religion. In this place, many Bible
students believe, Turkey will come to her end in
fulfillment of this scripture.
10. Under which of the seven last plagues is the water
of the Euphrates (Turkey) to be dried up, and for what
purpose?
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the
great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was
dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be
prepared." Rev. 16:12.
NOTE.-For years the drying-up process of the Turkish
Empire has been in progress, as may be seen from the
following:-
-
In 1783 Turkey was compelled to surrender to
Russia the territory of the Crimea, including all
the countries east of the Caspian Sea.
-
In 1828 Greece secured her independence.
-
In 1830 Algeria was ceded to France.
-
In 1867 Turkey was forced to recognize the
independence of Egypt.
-
In the same year Turkey lost possession of Servia and Bosnia.
-
In 1878 the Treaty of Berlin granted autonomous
government to Bulgaria, and independence to Roumelia,
Roumania, and Montenegro.
-
In 1912 Tripoli was taken over by Italy.
-
In 1912 and 1913 the Balkan States and Greece
dispossessed Turkey of nearly all of her remaining
territory in Europe.
11. Under this plague, what incites the nations to war?
"And I saw
three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the
mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are
the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go
forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole
world, to gather them to the battle of that great day
of God Almighty." Verses 13,14.
12. At this time, what event is near at hand?
"Behold, I
come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see
his shame." Verse 15.
13. To what place will the nations be gathered for
battle?
"And he gathered them together into a place called in
the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Verse 16.
NOTE.-Armageddon consists of a great triangular
plain in northern Palestine, twelve by fifteen by
eighteen miles, extending southeast from Mt. Carmel,
otherwise known as the plain of Esdraelon, or valley
of Jezreel. It has been the scene of many great
battles, such as that of Gideon's overthrow of the
Midianites (Judges 6,7), when "the Lord set every
man's sword against his fellow;' of Saul's defeat by
the Philistines (1 Sam. 29:1; 1 Chronicles 10) ; and
of Josiah's defeat by Pharaoh Necho (2 Kings
23:29,30; 2 Chron. 35:20-24): and, as this scripture
indicates, it is the place where, under the
influence of evil spirits just preceding Christ's
second coming, the great armies of the world will be
gathered for their final struggle and utter
destruction under the seventh plague.
14. When the king of the north comes to his end, what,
according to the prophecy, is to take place?
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great Prince which standeth for the children of thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as
never was since there was a nation even to that same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found written in the book."
Dan. 12:1.
NOTE.-The expression "stand up" occurs eight times
in this line of prophecy (Daniel 11 and 12), and in
each case means to reign. See Dan.
11:2,3,4,7,14,20,21; 12:1. Michael is Christ, as
will be seen by comparing Jude 9, 1 Thess. 4:16, and
John 5:25. When the Turkish Empire is brought to an
end, therefore, the time will have come for Christ
to receive His kingdom (Luke 19:11-15), and begin
His reign. This great change will be ushered in by
the downfall, not only of Turkey, but of all nations
(Rev. 11:15); by the time of trouble here spoken of;
by the seven last plagues described in Revelation
16; and by the deliverance of all God's
people,-those whose names are found written in the
book of life (Rev. 3:5; 20:12),-which shows that
probation and the investigative judgment will then
be past.
15. What will take place at this time?
"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame
and everlasting contempt." Verse 2.
NOTES.-At the resurrection of Christ there was a
special resurrection, when many of the saints were
raised from the dead, were seen of many, and were
taken to heaven with Christ at His ascension. Matt.
27:52,53; Eph. 4:8. So, just prior to Christ's
second coming and the general resurrection of the
righteous, many of the sleeping saints, and some
colossal sinners (those that "pierced Him," Rev.
1:7), it seems, will be raised to witness His
coming, and hear God's covenant of peace with His
people.
This line of prophecy, therefore, brings us down to
the resurrection of the righteous, which takes place
at the second advent.
16. What false message will go forth before destruction
comes upon those unprepared for Christ's coming and
kingdom?
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they
shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape."
1 Thess. 5:2,3.
NOTE.-The so-called Christian nations will not go to
Palestine merely to expel the Turks from the land.
As in the crusades of the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries, the idea will be to rescue the Holy Land
from the Mohammedans, and make Jerusalem the center
of a glorious kingdom, with Christ as king. The
Papacy itself, it is thought by some, will at this
time remove its seat to Jerusalem, and issue a great
peace proclamation, directing the nations to beat
their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruning-hooks, and calling upon all to come up to
the mountain of the Lord, as described in Isa. 2:2-5
and Micah 4:1-5. Infatuated by the doctrine of a
temporal millennium, many nations will join in the
call, and say, "For out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Isa.
2:3. But this will be but the signal for the battle
of Armageddon and the "sudden destruction" that is
to overtake the world and bring to an end the
present order of things. See Rev. 19:17-21; Eze.
38:14-23; 39:17-22. Toward this consummation passing
events all indicate we are rapidly hastening.
Watchman on the walls of Zion,
What, O tell us, of the night?
Is the day-star now arising?
Will the morn soon greet our sight?
O'er your vision shine there now some rays of light?
Tell, O tell us, are the landmarks
On our voyage all passed by?
Are we nearing now the haven?
Can we e'en the land descry?
Do we truly see the heavenly kingdom nigh?
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