Armageddon and the Kingdom of God—Turkey's Part in the Great War Tragedy—Significant Event When Turkey Finally Falls
By Hampton W. Cottrell
Men may conjecture, but they can not throw any light upon the present war situation in Europe, or the pending battle or war of Armageddon. The inspired author calls the latter “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” All nations of earth will be involved in it.
This War a Note of Warning
Relative to the European war and its meaning, the word of God only is prepared to speak authoritatively. The present war will not be followed by universal peace—the millennium—as some have declared. This war is a signal, a note of warning, a prelude to the forthcoming Armageddon.
When the European war is ended, whatever the outcome, there will be a temporary lull. After a period of comparative peace, the nations will come up to the Armageddon war, which will be the supreme outburst of six thousand years of pent up war energy. The war spirit in men will be stimulated many fold by the vivifying influence of the spirits of demons from the regions of spiritual darkness.
How small a portion of the world is not actually engaged in war, or else on the brink of war, at the present time!
All the World Will Be Involved
We read in the prophetic book of the New Testament, “And the nations were angry.” Rev. 11:18. When this text meets its complete fulfilment, all earth’s kings and other rulers, together with all subjects and citizens of the powers that are, whose hearts are not regenerated by God’s grace, being inspired by the spirits of demons, will be involved in the battle of Armageddon; but God’s people “shall be delivered.” “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [pagans], and out of the mouth of the beast [unregenerated papists], and out of the mouth of the false prophet [apostate Protestantism]. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go722forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty . . . Armageddon.” Rev. 16:13-16. This text and its context recite the events leading up to the Armageddon battle.
An Unprecedented Time of Trouble
“And at that time shall Michael [Christ] 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: . . . and at that time thy people shall be delivered.” Dan. 12:1.
The standing up of Christ, after the events preliminary to Armageddon have been enacted, and prior to the battle of Armageddon, is His signal to all inhabitants of the universe that His work as Mediator has ended, and probation has closed; that He has laid off His priestly robe, and donned His kingly attire. He then receives His kingdom. The veil of the long night of sin has lifted, and the day of eternal light and righteousness is beginning to dawn, never to fade again. Then will be fulfilled the scripture, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” Rev. 15:8 and 11:15.
At the time of the standing up of Christ, when He takes the reins of universal government, then the judgments of God, which have been so long withheld from the incorrigible, will be made manifest among the rebellious nations of men, as indicated: “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Rev. 15:1. “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” Rev. 16:1. During this part of earth’s drama will begin the war of Armageddon, in which all nations will be engaged. Verse 14.
The Meaning of This Tragic War
Let us return to the present European situation, and ascertain the meaning of this tragic war.
Yesterday the subjects of the European governments were neighbors—yea, brothers; but to-day men appear to be possessed by a mania of thirst for the life-blood of the personnel of opposing armies. The tragical character of the present war can not be compared to any ever heretofore chronicled in the annals of history. From earth and sky, from on the sea and under the sea, from the front and the rear, mighty life-destroying implements of war deal wholesale death and devastation to city and country, as though actuated by demons. It is surely more cruel than savagery. It is a blighting, withering curse on the fair name of civilization, not to mention the fact that it is promoted by supposedly Christian nations.
The Kings of the East
But God foreknew that morbid-minded men, maddened, crazed, intoxicated with carnal greed and selfish ambition for power, would have it so; and thus He declared two thousand years ago, that men might know that He is God.
The river Euphrates is a Biblical emblem, a symbol, of the Turkish dominion. Rev. 16:12. The water represents her national power and her subjects; for we read in Rev. 17:15, “The waters which thou sawest . . . are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” It is further stated that “the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” The drying up of the “water thereof” means that the Turk, “the king of the north,” “the sick man of the east,” will be driven from Europe, and in the final analysis he will meet dissolution; while the beast, the papal system, with its adherents, will linger on, to be cast alive into the lake of fire in the day of final retribution. Rev. 20:10. Turkey is now only awaiting the summons of divine Providence to meet its doom.
The environments of the nations engaged in military and naval conflict make the European war the dominant factor in the drying up, in the near future, of the water of the Euphrates—the suppression of the Turkish power in the European portion of his dominion. The present war in Europe means at least the banishment of the Turk from Europe. “The Eastern question” will then be settled at least in part. The prophecy will still be in process of fulfilment when he plants the seat of his government in Asia. Dan. 11:45. The prophecy must be fulfilled. The Turk must leave Europe. This is the significance, in part, of the European war.
The Breaking of the Turkish Power
The stronger European powers that have for many years helped the Turk, are themselves now engaged in this bloody conflict, which will tend so to weaken one of the contesting parties, that it will be powerless, when the war is ended, longer to help the Turk; and the conquering power will be so nearly a world power that there will be no one to question its right to remove the Turk, provided he has not foreshadowed his doom in Europe, and of his own accord fled to Asia. Surely this war will break the diplomatic chain that has held the Turk in Europe, or even made it possible for him to remain indefinitely with his seat of government at Constantinople, where nature erected impregnable vantage-points—the Dardanelles, the Bosporus, and the series of seas. For centuries, the nations now involved have been unwilling that any one of the great powers should come into possession of the Turkish territory in Europe, because it would give a strong nation the balance of power.
Must Leave Europe
The drying up of the river Euphrates, as it pertains to the Turkish power in Europe, refers to the banishment of that nation from European soil. And the passing of the Turk into Asia will be in fulfilment of prophecy, and will be another sign of the times, and Bible students may know of the events next to follow.
He will first be driven from Europe. Then, so far as Europe is concerned, “the sick man of the east” will be dead.
Called “the King of the North”
The Bible calls the Turk “the king of the north” in Dan. 11:40; and in verses 44, 45 and Dan. 12:1 it defines his career and declares his end. “He shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” Dan. 11:45. The nations have prevented extreme aggression upon the Turk heretofore in Europe. Thus3they helped him. But when he goes to Asia, and plants “the tabernacles of his palace between the seas [temporarily] in the glorious holy mountain,” the nations themselves will make war upon him, and “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” Dan. 11:45.
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This War-Mad World and the Prospects for Peace
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A recapitulation will show that—
This war in Europe means the breaking of every band that binds the Turk to Europe.
When in Asia, the Turk will eventually establish his seat of government at Jerusalem.
The next great event thereafter will be the fulfilment of the prophecy, “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.” Dan. 12:1.
The standing up of Michael is the divine signal that the personnel of the incorrigible warring nations have permanently rejected the divine Christ, and His rising is an announcement to the world that every one will receive the fruit of his choice—that probation is at an end. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev. 22:11.
Then Christ takes the reins of universal government. At the time when Christ leaves His position as Mediator, and receives the kingship, earthly nations begin to crumble at the base; for it is at that time that divine retribution begins to fall upon the ungodly, as indicated in Rev. 16:1: “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”
When Christ rises and declares His kingship, the first of the series of the seven plagues is poured out, and the others follow in their order.
Under the sixth plague, the river Euphrates is dried up, which is the complete dissolution of the Turkish dominion. Invading powers have conquered her, and she will exist no more forever.
But the judgments of Christ continue; for says God to Christ: “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. 2:8, 9.
A Sign of the Dissolution of All Nations
The word of God gives assurance that Turkey will come to her final end, and that very soon thereafter all other nations will be brought to their dissolution. And after all war, and the effects of all crime, iniquity, and sin are purged from this domain, the kingdom of God will be set up on earth. “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:44.
There will be no invading armies there, not even natural death. Dear reader, an acceptance of the divine Christ, and adherence to God’s last message, which is recorded in Rev. 14:6-14, is Heaven’s call to one and all.
ANYWHERE, if it only be forward.—David Livingstone.
