News From Haran-3 by Z. G. BAHARIAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1905

News From Haran—3

By Z. G. BAHARIAN

Z. G. BAHARIAN

Our third trial was on February 13. A letter was read which had been written by me to Brother Enoch Ayvazian when I had heard of his arrest. The following words were taken against me, for which I had to give an explanation:— “May God forgive the officers of the government, because they do not know what they do. Had they known that their own life is in the message you give, they would have you sit on throne.”

The president first asked, “What is this sitting on throne?” I answered that in my letter I encouraged Brother Enoch, presenting to him the case of Joseph, how he was sold by his brothers, was taken to Egypt, was in prison for years; but when Pharaoh saw in him a wisdom which was to be the life of all the land of Egypt, he took him to his own throne, and Joseph taught his elders wisdom. This being so, I advised Brother Enoch not to speak harsh words against the officers, but to be kind, patient, and enduring, and to bless them.

Then I told him that if he had known that his own life was in the message, he would not have put Brother Enoch in jail, but would rather have him sit on the throne he sat on then, as Pharaoh did Joseph, and would urge him to go soon to deliver his message to all the people at Ourfa and the villages. But now he had put him into prison, and prevented him from giving his message. In so doing he cut off his own life, and determined to slay all the people of Ourfa. But as he did this unknowingly, I prayed God to forgive him this sin. This was what I had written Brother Enoch. There was nothing political or civil.

The president asked: “What is this message in which is our life, and that, preventing, we determine to slay all the people of Ourfa?” This important question brought upon us the critical time. I was especially brought there to give the last message of mercy, and now I sought to deliver it faithfully. We knew that this might mean our death, because Moslems have great zeal for their religion. But we committed our lives to God, who raised our Lord from the dead. I was strengthened to speak. I opened my Bible, and read Rev. 14: 14-16, which tells of the coming of our Lord to reap the harvest, before which event God sends the three messages to all the peoples and nations of the world, Moslems included.

I read the first message distinctly—“The hour of his judgment is come.” The president inquired, “Is not God a judge always?” I replied, “Yes; he is always a judge; but he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world, separating the just from the unjust, to give to each according to his works. Now that day has come, and we proclaim it to all the nations of this world.”

He asked again, “How do you know that that day has now come?” I opened

to the eighth and ninth chapters of Daniel, and very plainly showed that in the year 1844, October 22, the hour of God’s judgment began in heaven, and that for nearly sixty-one years we have been in the judgment.

I was next asked, “How did this message begin to be proclaimed?” I was glad for this question. I gave a brief but full history of the message with its disappointment. Then I told how God made known what was the sanctuary and its cleansing, and how this truth was preached in America and in other lands, and how it was brought into Turkey. It took me about an hour and a half to tell it all. There were many listeners—a mixed multitude of Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, and Arabs. We thanked the Lord for this opportunity. This part of the message was made known to them, and they were told that their own lives were in this message; that is, they would live should they accept it, and would perish should they refuse it.

This message had a different effect upon different persons. The Moslem party of the court became angry; but the Christian party were glad because we so courageously preached the gospel. The listeners also seemed very satisfied, some admiring our courage, and some rejoicing because of the preaching. Soon they went out and proclaimed it abroad. The trial for that day was closed, and we were sent down to our jail. A few days later our lawyer called, and told us that the Moslem party of the court were thinking of sentencing me to a heavy punishment, and the Christian party said they could not oppose them. He proposed to us a way of compromising; but I dismissed him, because we could not work that way. We put our trust in the Lord, and waited for the next trial.

Aintab, Turkey.