March 12, 1896
The Present Truth, vol. 12
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March 12, 1896
“The Eastern Question. What Its Solution Means to All the World. No. 2.—The Events of the End” The Present Truth 12, 11, pp. 148-151.
THE IMPENDING CONFLICT
WE broke off the study last week in the midst of our consideration of the events of the seven trumpets of Revelation 8, 9., and 11:15-19, which reach from the breaking up of the Roman empire to the end of the world. The last three trumpets (the symbol itself suggesting war) are distinguished by the special announcement of woe in connection with them. Revelation 8:13.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.1
The fifth trumpet (the first “woe”), we found, signalised the rise and spread of the Mohammedan power, while the sixth trumpet (the second “woe”) covers the 391 years (of chapter 9:15), which terminated in July 1840, when the independence of the Ottoman Empire passed away, and it became a ward of the Great Powers. Continuing, the prophet says in chapter 11:14, “The second woe is past; and behold the third woe cometh quickly.” We quoted the rest of the chapter to show that it reached to the end. Please read these verses again as we consider them further.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.2
Every expression in this record of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, proclaims the end of all things of this world. Look at them again in detail:—PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.3
1. The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of Christ; His reign begins, in His own kingdom, upon His own throne, by His own power; of which kingdom and reign there shall be no end.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.4
2. “The nations are angry:” the nations and rulers admit this, and each one is constantly fearful of any move on the part of the others, and is continually making its power stronger against the time when war will begin, which they all are sure must soon come. And they all dread the slightest step that might involve actual hostilities, because of the danger that if war is actually begun at any spot, it will suddenly spread and involve all in one horrible and universal war, of which no one can see any end except in universal ruin.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.5
Indeed it is plainly stated by one of the leading authorities of the world that it is as a bulwark against this great danger of universal war that the Ottoman Government has been maintained these last fifty years. Read now the following lines from the speech of Lord Salisbury, at the Mansion House, November 9, 1895:—PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.6
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 he 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 civilised in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest. That was a danger that was present to the mind of our fathers when they resolved to make the integrity end independence of the Ottoman Empire a matter of European treaty, and that is a danger WHICH IS NOT PASSED AWAY.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.7
No more plain, positive, and emphatic fulfilment of prophecy could be given, than is thus given in that speech, that the world stands trembling in the times of the seventh trumpet, when “the nations are angry.” And while, in the presence of this appalling danger, rulers, kings, and emperors are earnestly endeavouring by every possible means to maintain the peace of the world, what blundering blindness it is, what fatuous blindness it is, that the churches and the pulpits and the religious press should be exciting and stirring up the spirit and elements of war, calling for armies and navies to wipe out suddenly and without further consideration the Ottoman Government, and thus to break down the bulwark which the Powers have set on against the horrible flood of a universal war. Read also the following words from the Prime Minister’s Mansion House speech:—PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.8
Throughout these negotiations nothing has pressed itself more strongly in my mind than the disposition of the Great Powers to act together, and their profound sense of the appalling dangers which any separation of their action might produce. Even those among them who in popular report have the reputation of being restless, have vied with the others in anxiety to conduct this great difficulty to a favourable issue, and to conduct it in a manner that shall keep all the Powers together in line, moved by the common motive and with the common aim, THE NOBLE AIM, of the peace of Christendom as the one spirit that governs their action.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.9
AN ASTONISHING REVERSAL OF THINGS
WHAT an awful reversal of things it is, that, while warriors and rulers, to whom God has given to bear the sword, are doing their utmost day and night to maintain the peace of the world; churches and pulpits and religious papers, to whom God has given to preach “peace on earth,” should be day and night crying for war! When the very profession of the Gospel of peace itself has become thus perverted to the proclamation of war, what but mischief and ruin can be the end of it all?PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.10
In view of the danger of the situation as it is in fact amongst the nations; and in view of this awful reversal of the order of things, and this fearful perversion of the right way, by the professors of the Gospel of peace, is it to be wondered at that the President of Robert College at Constantinople should write as follows of “The Present State of Europe”?PTUK March 12, 1896, page 148.11
I believe that there is a general impression among thinking men in Europe that we are approaching a great crisis in the world’s history. It is certainly within the bounds of possibility that this year may see the great Christian nations engaged in a universal war. I am by nature and choice an optimist (one who looks for good). I like to find out the good rather than the evil in men and nations; but a man must either shut his eyes, or fall back upon an unwarranted faith in God, to be an optimist in Europe to-day—so far as the immediate future is concerned.... It is perfectly plain that the civilisation of Europe is rotten to the core; and if we can learn anything from the lessons of history, it must pass through the throes of death before it can rise again to a new and higher life. If it were only the Governments which were corrupt the people might rise in their strength and overthrow them; but with a degenerate people there is no hope.—New York Independent, February 6, 1896, pp. 9, 10.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.1
But it is not only that the nations are angry and that war must come, dreadful and universal; this is not all. What is to be the end of it? Read on in the events of the seventh trumpet. Revelation 11:18.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.2
THE WORLD’S CRISIS
3. “THY wrath is come.” The wrath of God is defined (Revelation 15:1) as “the seven last plagues.” The nature and effects of these are recorded in Revelation 16:1-21; and they end precisely at the point and in the very things, that are marked in chapter 11:19 as the ending of the seventh trumpet, and which indeed is nothing less than the ending of all things.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.3
4. “And the time of the dead that they should be judged.” And therefore in this time the proclamation not of war, but of the “everlasting Gospel” of peace is to be made “to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come, and worship Him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6, 7.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.4
5. “And that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.” It is at the resurrection of the just that the saints are to be rewarded, and this is by the coming of the Lord in glory. For He says, “Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12. And them that are wicked will be “destroyed by the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:8. For “The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, bid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.5
6. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” The complement of this expression as to the thunderings, etc., is found in Revelation 16:17-21:PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.6
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.7
All these things which we have traced by these numbered points—all these things were by the Word of God to “come quickly” after August 11, 1840; quickly after the date when the time of the rule of the Ottoman Empire by its own power passed away; quickly after that Empire was by the Great Powers set as a bulwark against the anger of the nations breaking out in an “appalling” and universal war. Half a century has passed since that time: and now in view of the undeniable facts and dangers that are vexing the governments and puzzling the people,—in view of all these things that are hanging over the world—how much more certainly is it now true that it assuredly “cometh quickly”! Get ready, get ready, get ready! Who will be ready? Who is ready?PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.8
HOW DANIEL’S PRAYER WAS ANSWERED
HOLDING in view now the field which we have so far surveyed, let us turn to another portion of the Word of God and inquire concerning the present time, and the place of Turkey and the nations.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.9
“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,” B.C. 536, Daniel was greatly troubled for the work and cause of God in the world. Daniel 10:1. In the first year of Cyrus that king had issued a decree for the return of Israel to their own land and to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. When the heathen who were in the land were not allowed for their own bad purposes to join in the building of the house and city, they hired counsellors at the court of Cyrus to prevent the building of the Temple at all. And these counsellors were kept at the court of Persia all the days of Cyrus. See Ezra 4.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.10
Daniel himself was a principal officer in the government of Cyrus; and soon discovered these intriguers and their purposes there. But instead of beginning any counter-intrigue, he set his heart to seek God and to know His counsels, and have Him frustrate the intriguers and make His own cause a success in the world. Three full weeks was Daniel engaged in seeking, by fasting and prayer and supplication, a knowledge of the will of the God of heaven in the difficulties of the time. When three weeks were expired, the angel Gabriel came to him in vision, and said: “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” Verse 12.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.11
As Daniel had been at this three full weeks, and yet “the first day” his words were heard and the angel was sent, what had delayed the angel all this time? The next verse tells why. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.12
This is precisely the three full weeks. To answer Daniel’s prayer the angel had to go to the court of Cyrus and deal with the king in his counsels, against those hired counsellors there. The angel continues:—PTUK March 12, 1896, page 164.13
“But lo! Michael one of the chief princes came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.... Then said he: Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I am gone forth, to the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth; and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.1
FROM DARIUS TO ALEXANDER
THESE are the last verses of Daniel 10., and in chapter 11. the angel gives his message concerning what should come “in the latte days.” In doing this the angel begins at the time where he and Daniel then were, and follows events straight through to the end of the world and the resurrection of the dead. The eleventh chapter of Daniel is all the words of the angel. He says:—PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.2
“Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. And now will I show thee the truth. Behold there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia [Cambyses, Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspes], and the fourth [Xerxes, the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther] shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.” Xerxes led an army of five millions across the Hellespont and against Greece.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.3
As soon as the angel mentions Grecia he skips the remaining history of Persia and sketches Greece, saying, “And a mighty king shall stand up [Alexander the Great] and shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will [See also Daniel 8:20, 21.] And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven [See Daniel 8:22]; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.4
At Alexander’s death there was a period of confusion for about twenty years among the many able governors and generals of his great dominion. Finally, a four-fold division was accomplished, as in the words of the angel “toward the four winds of heaven”—the east, the west, the north, and the south. Seleucus secured the eastern portion extending from Syria to the river Indus. Cassander obtained Macedon and other Greek territory on the west. Lysimachus held Thrace and Bithynia on the north—territory of which Byzantium was then, and Constantinople is now, the centre. And Ptolemy had Egypt on the south.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.5
“AT THE TIME OF THE END.
AFTER stating how Alexander’s dominion should thus be divided into its four parts, he turns his attention to the two kingdoms—“the king of the south” and “the king of the north.” And from verse 5 to verse 14 he treats solely of the succession of principal events occurring between these two. At verse 14 the Roman power—“the children of robbers,” margin—enters the field and occupies the angel’s attention for a large space and for a long time, “even to the time of the end.” Verse 35. Finally in verse 40 he comes again, and at the time of the end,” too, to “the king of the south” and “the king of the north.” The territories of the northern and of the southern division of Alexander’s dominion remain respectively the kingdoms of the north and the south unto the end, and from beginning to end, whatever power might occupy these respective territories would be the king of the north or of the south. Whatever power therefore which, at the time of the end, occupies the territory of Thrace and Bithynia, originally held by Lysimachus, will be the king of the north as certainly as was the power of Lysimachus itself.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.6
It is not necessary to repeat here the evidences so fully given last week, that we are now, and the world has been since 1840, in “the time of the end.” And now, as Constantinople is the centre of the territory originally held by Lysimachus the first “king of the north;” and as the power that now reigns in Constantinople holds the identical territory held by Lysimachus himself; it is plain enough that this power is “the king of the north” of the last verses of the eleventh chapter of Daniel, and of our own day. And as it is the Turkish Power that now occupies Constantinople and holds the territory originally held by Lysimachus, the first king of the north, it is also plain enough that the Turkish Power is the power referred to in the words “the king of the north” in the last five verses of Daniel 11.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.7
THE KING OF THE NORTH AND HIS END
IN the 44th verse the angel says of this king of the north,—the Turkish Power,—“tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him and he shall go forth with fury to destroy and utterly to make away many.” This was accomplished in the Crimean war when Russia from the north and east warred against the Ottoman Empire, and the Turkish Power was saved only by the support and power of Great Britain and other allies.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.8
And now the last verse of Daniel 11. tells of the two events that all Europe are constantly expecting to see; the events that many people in mass meetings and other assemblies are loudly calling for; the events which are certain soon to take place; namely, the expulsion of the Turkish Power from Constantinople, and the wiping out of the Ottoman Empire. These are the words of the angel as to this looked-for event: “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.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.9
Constantinople itself is “between the seas.” But this does not meet the word of the angel. No, but he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas “in the glorious holy mountain.” This can be no other place than Jerusalem; even as Jerusalem is even now called in the Turkish and Arabic “The Holy.” It is certain therefore that the seat of the Ottoman Power will be removed from Constantinople, and will finally be planted in Jerusalem, and then it is just as certain that that power comes to an end.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.10
Yea, “he shall come to his end and none shall help him.” This expression shows that he would before have come to his end unless somebody had helped him. We have seen how fully this has been so since 1840. And in the autumn and winter of 1895-96, we have again seen that power standing for months on the very brink of expulsion from Constantinople; how that each morning as we arose and bought the daily paper we expected to read despatches telling that this had been accomplished. But in this crisis again somebody has helped him, and he still abides in his place. But the day is certain to come, and to come soon, when the Ottoman Power will be removed from Constantinople and will be planted in Jerusalem, and then he shall come to his end and none shall help him—and indeed he will come to his end simply because none will help him.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 165.11
WHEN HE COMES TO HIS END
YET this is not all. The angel did not end his discourse here. No, no. He continues: “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. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” Daniel 12:1, 2.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.1
Whether the Turkish Power shall leave Constantinople, and when; whether it shall be wiped out, and if so, when; these are great and interesting questions, and multitudes are anxiously studying these questions. Yet great and interesting as these questions are in many ways, there is yet beyond all these the infinitely greater question of what comes when these things are done, of what shall come at that time?PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.2
The Word of God is that “at that time” there shall be such a time of trouble upon the earth as never was since there has been a nation. This very thing we have seen by positive and highest proofs, is the very thing which the great nations are dreading; and against this universal woe of world-wide war and tumult, these Great Powers are holding the Ottoman Power as long as possible as a bulwark, knowing that when that bulwark shall have been broken down this appalling torrent must spread over all. In this matter the Word of God and the word of the Great Powers of the world, are in exact and perfect accord.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.3
Who is ready for this “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation”? Who? Whoever on the earth is not ready for the spreading over all nations of such a time of trouble as never was since there was a nation—whoever on earth is not ready for this, is not ready for the wiping out of the Ottoman Power. Therefore instead of churches and pulpits and religious papers calling for war, and urging the wiping of the Turkish Power off the earth, they would better, far better, be preaching the Gospel of peace, which they profess, and which they are so basely perverting; and by the sincere preaching of the Gospel of peace be preparing to stand in peace and quietness in God when this time of trouble shall break upon the world at the time of the ending of the Ottoman Empire. Who is doing this work? Who is ready for the time of trouble?PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.4
For this is not simply a great time of trouble by war amongst the nations; it is even more than this. It is a time of trouble caused by this, and also by the judgments of God upon the earth, and the coming of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead, and the end of all things. This is emphasised by the other portion of Scripture which treats of the Ottoman Power. In the sixteenth chapter of Revelation from beginning to end is the Lord’s record of the seven last plagues in which “is filled up the wrath of God” to be poured upon the earth, and which in itself is the greatest element of this time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.5
THE PLAGUES OF GOD’S WRATH
IN this chapter, the story of the sixth plague is this: “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.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.6
Now as for the real flowing river Euphrates, which rises in the mountains of Armenia and empties into the Persian Gulf, kings both of east and west have crossed and re-crossed it at will from the days of Chedorlaomer until now, without its ever having to be dried up that they might pass. This expression therefore cannot refer to the water of the literal river. What then? In the next chapter, verse 15, it is stated that “waters are peoples.” The water of the Euphrates then, being dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared, is clearly the ending of the power and people that occupies the country of the Euphrates. What power is this?—The Turkish Power alone.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.7
This then is another plain declaration of the Word of God announcing the certain ending of the Turkish Power. And according to this scripture, what comes at the ending of that power? What are the kings of the east going to do when the way for them shall be thus prepared? Read on.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.8
“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. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they we his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.9
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings: and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.10
NEED FOR WATCHING AND PRAYING
WE have now considered the three portions of Scripture which treat of the Turkish Power. We have seen that in all three of them the end of that power is announced by the sure Word of God. We also see that in all three places not only is the end of that power marked, but with this, and following swiftly upon it, there is also marked in unmistakable language universal world-destroying trouble, the coming of the Lord in glory, and the end of all things of this world.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.11
This cannot be denied. It may not be believed; but it cannot be denied. No man therefore is ready for the ending of the Ottoman Empire who is not ready for the end of the world. And who is ready for this? Oh! let every one who names the name of Christ turn his whole attention to this. Let all such be sure that they themselves are ready for all these things, and then let them never rest, let them never hold their peace, till the warning of it is sounded to all people that whosoever will may come, whosoever will may be ready also, and that all may be watching and praying always “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:36.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.12
We see that the sure Word of God announces that upon the ending of the Ottoman Empire there comes—“at that time”—a time of universal war, woe, and trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. We see also the Great Powers of earth—the very ones which have this question constantly to deal with—expecting and dreading the “appalling danger” of this very thing, and in their uneasy expectancy doing everything in their power to hold back as long as possible the tide of woe which they know must come.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 166.13
There is yet one other element to be noticed in this connection. And that is that the Turks themselves expect this very thing also. The Turks themselves expect to be removed from Constantinople. They expect then the seat of their power to be in Jerusalem. They expect then that the nations will come even there to war against them, and that then the end of all things comes.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 167.1
In Constantinople in September and October last, I met a reliable Christian man, who told me that in a conversation which he had with a Turkish judge, the judge told him that they expected as the outcome of the dealings of the Powers that they would be dispossessed of Constantinople; that after that their capital would be Jerusalem; that against them there at last they expected the “Christian nations” to come to light; and that then Messiah and Mahomet would come. With the exception of Mahomet, this explanation as stated by the Turkish judge is precisely the thing that is spoken of this same time in the Scripture of truth. And the time of trouble thus brought as described in the Word of God, is precisely the “appalling danger” that is dreaded by the great Powers, and against which they agree in holding the Ottoman Empire as a bulwark.PTUK March 12, 1896, page 167.2
When the Word of God three times declares it; and when the Turks themselves, as well as all the other Powers concerned, are expecting and dreading it; is it not high time that all the people should believe it? May the Lord in His mercy help all the people to hear it, to believe it, and then to proclaim it to earth’s remotest limits that the world may be prepared and fully ready for that which by every evidence on the question is hanging ready to burst in fury upon a devoted world!PTUK March 12, 1896, page 167.3