RUSSIA'S PLACE IN PROPHECY.
By CHAS. T. EVERSON.
For many centuries the Teutonic element has been the predominating influence in shaping the civilization of Europe. But during the last century the Slavonic element, of which Russia is the leading representative, has been making its influence felt very materially. The student of history views with alarm the rapid strides that Russia is making toward becoming the most potent factor in shaping the destiny of Europe. No one who is at all familiar with the present situation can fail to realize that Russia is the leader of those nations that are opposed to the policy of England. Many who are acquainted with the inner life of European politics are fearful lest Russia will gain such an ascendancy that it will force its civilization upon Europe. A power of such tremendous significance in the world at a time when all the great lines of prophecy are meeting their fulfillment must certainly have some place in Biblical predictions. The great nations of the past have all come under the notice of the divine record. In the seventh chapter of Daniel, under the symbol of the lion, we see the Babylonian kingdom brought to view, while the bear symbolizes the Medo-Persian power. The leopard represents the Grecian nation, and the fourth beast represents the Roman Empire. Under the symbol of the ten horns of the last beast are brought to view the divisions of the Roman Empire. These divisions are still to be seen in the present nations of Europe. The English people represent the Saxon division, the French are descendants of the Franks, the Alemanni were the beginning of the German nation, Visigoths of the Spanish people, while Italy came from the Lombard division. Thus we see that the leading nations of the past, as well as the principal nations of Europe to-day, are brought to view in this prophecy. But Russia did not come under any one of the divisions of the Roman Empire. The United States is plainly brought to view in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, beginning at the eleventh verse. If all the leading nations of the past and the present are thus indicated in prophecy, why should not such a powerful nation as Russia also be brought to view? And we are not mistaken in concluding that such is the case; for its place in the final conflict is plainly outlined. In connection with the prophecy of the final destruction of the Ottoman Empire as brought to view in the eleventh chapter of Daniel, reference is also made to Russia. This chapter, beginning with the Medo-Persian nation, carries us down the stream of time until the great papal persecution, brought to view in verses 33–35, which ended in 1798. Verses 38–43 bring to view the Napoleonic wars against Egypt and Turkey, and then in verse 44, the thought is introduced that the Turkish power should be troubled by tidings out of the north. The nation that is north of Turkey is Russia, and its designs upon Turkey are well known. This verse speaks of the Turkish power going “forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” The person viewing the relative strength of Turkey, “the king of the north,” and Russia would naturally suppose that the prophecy had the facts reversed. But when we recall the real facts in connection with the Crimean wars, we remember that Russia was the power that was humiliated, and not Turkey, as one would naturally suppose would be the case. For the Powers of Europe stepped in and gave their support to Turkey, so that Russia was compelled to accept very humiliating terms of peace. She was obliged to disarm her ships of war and dismantle her fortresses on the shores of the Black Sea. But Russia has since that time disregarded her agreement, and fitted up a navy and strengthened her fortifications till she is one of the most formidable enemies in the political arena. But the Scriptures refer more explicitly to Russia in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. Here the Lord recognizes that Russia is not only a powerful nation, but a leader of nations in the final conflict. Here is outlined what nations will ally themselves with Russia when the final stroke is given whereby she expects to gain the mastery of the world. In the first verses of the thirty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel we have these words: “And, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.” The Revised Version reads thus: “Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him.” Used in this connection, Gog is a word meaning ruler or czar. So this prophecy refers to the ruler of the land of Magog, who is also the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Turning to the tenth chapter of Genesis, we notice that Magog, Tubal, and Meshech are grandsons of Noah. We learn from history that these three settled in the territory that to-day is occupied by the Russians. The descendants of Magog peopled the greater portion of Asia north of the Caspian Sea, and dwelt in the land that anciently was called Scythia, to-day included in Asiatic Russia. Tubal settled in the territory that now bears the name of Tobolsk. Tobolsk is situated in the northwestern part of Asiatic Russia, just east of the Ural Mountains. Meshech and Tubal are names that are closely associated in the early history of the settlement of Europe. Their descendants were called Moschi and Thibereni by Herodotus. They dwelt originally in Cappadocia, Colchis, and Armenia, but were driven to a small area at the foot of the Caucasus on the Black Sea. From this place some of them crossed into Scythia, now in Russian possession. There the Moschi became known as Muskows, and later as “Muscovites, who built Moscow, and who still give name to Russia, Muscovy, throughout the East.”—Rawlinson. The prince of Rosh is the prince of all these, as we see from the text. Rosh is the root of the modern term “Russia.” “Gesenius considers it beyond doubt that by Rosh is intended the tribe on the north of the Taurus, so called from the neighborhood to the Rha, or Volga, and that in this name and tribe we have the first traces of the Russ or Russian nation.”—McClintock and Strong's Encyclopedia. “This early Biblical notice of so great an empire is doubly interesting from its being a solitary instance.”—Id. The prince of Russia therefore, as outlined in prophecy, held under his sway Magog, Meshech, and Tubal. And all these are parts of the Russian nation of to-day. Therefore this is a prophecy of Russia. Not only is it a prophecy of the extent of Russia's dominion, but it views Russia from the standpoint of the last days. For in connection with this record of what the Russian nation is doing, we read these significant words in Eze. 39:17–20: “And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God: Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth. . . . And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord God.” This same prophecy is brought to view in Rev. 19:17, 18, and is given in connection with the second coming of Christ, and reads as follows: “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.” The verses before and after these plainly bring to view the second coming of Christ. So we see that these chapters in Ezekiel bring to view the Russian power at the time of the end. The power that is spoken of in the prophecy is represented as coming from the “north quarters,” and this is true of Russia in a special sense; for she occupies almost the entire northern part of the continents of Europe and Asia, and consequently holds more territory in the north than any other power in the world. In the fourth verse of the thirty-eighth chapter, Russia is represented as going forth, and then being drawn back from the place into which it had entered. This scripture says that this power was drawn back by a hook being placed into its jaws. This being symbolic language, it is necessarily not a literal hook. But the thirty-ninth chapter and the second verse speaks of the Russian power being turned back by a hook of six teeth (margin). It appears, therefore, that the Russian power entered into some place from which it was drawn back by a constraining force that was composed of six divisions. If we look at the recent history of Russia,—for this prophecy, as we have seen, relates to the time just before Christ's coming,—we observe that this is just what occurred in the Turko-Russian War of 1877 and in the Berlin Treaty that followed. Russia had entered the Turkish domain, and would have held a part of it if she had not been drawn back by the powers that drew up the Berlin Treaty. There were just six Powers that were present at Berlin and drew up the treaty whereby Russia was compelled to give up her cherished hopes of holding what she would have possessed had not these powers interfered. The powers present were England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Turkey. But we see from the eighth verse of the thirty-eighth chapter, that Russia shall enter again, in the latter days, into this country from which she was drawn back, or the country “that is brought back from the sword.” In the fourth verse of this chapter we see that when Russia goes forth the next time, it shall be with its entire652army, having many horsemen and well equipped for battle. And they make an exceedingly great army. She does not go forth this time alone, but is allied with several other powers. Persia is the first one that is mentioned as allied with her. And the person who has watched the recent dealings of Russia in Persia knows that Russia practically controls that country at present. The newspapers have shown how Russia has gained control of the finances of the Persian kingdom, and thereby practically controls it. It was the policy of Peter the Great as outlined in his last will that Russia should gain Persia, as that opened up the way to the East and India. It is evident, therefore, that Persia will be with Russia when she goes forth. Ethiopia, the next mentioned, is the country that to-day is called Abyssinia. It would seem incredible that Russia should ever come in contact with, or have any influence with, this small nation, which is situated in the heart of Africa. But a judge in Colorado, on the basis of this prophecy, made the statement that such would be the case; and a year had not elapsed before the prediction was verified. For Abyssinia became involved in the African difficulties of a few years ago, and sought and obtained the alliance of Russia. Lybia, the next mentioned, is that part of Africa that to-day is known as the Barbary States. And why she will be related to Russia is not difficult of comprehension when we remember that she is allied to France, and France is the next power brought to view. Gomer is another of the grandsons of Noah. He first came into Russia, but being driven out, finally settled in the territory that to-day comprises the French Republic, and here his descendants colonized. That Russia and France are allied powers has been evident to most people for a number of years. Not long ago that alliance was renewed. One of the leading San Francisco papers came out with the large headlines, “France and Russia Renew Their Alliance.” It further said that President Loubet was decorated by Emperor Nicholas with the Order of St. Andrew. The Russian ambassador, on handing the Order of St. Andrew to the president of the French Republic, said: “His majesty desires you to see in this act a proof of the high esteem he entertains for you and a token of his unchanging sentiments for the growth of this friendly and allied nation.” M. Loubet replied as follows, “His majesty has wished to testify once again to the persistence of his feelings toward this friendly and allied nation: we, in turn, see in this action a proof of his majesty's wish to draw still closer the ties which unite the two governments and peoples. I beg you to transmit to his majesty my gratitude and to assure him that the French government is striving every day to maintain this union so profitable to the two nations.” M. Loubet entertained the Russian ambassador at dinner. And in the evening a torchlight procession followed, the streets being gayly decorated with the intertwined flags of France and Russia. Thus we plainly see that the prophecy is fulfilling exactly in the events taking place around us to-day. The next name mentioned is that Togarmah. Togarmah is another grandson of Noah, and he settled in the country that to-day is inhabited by the Armenians. It would naturally follow that when Russia enters into Turkey to take it, the Armenians, who have suffered such atrocities at the hands of the Turks, would be with the power that fights against the Turks. Thus we have indicated what the prophecy outlines as the Russian policy, and what nations will ally themselves with her. Peter the Great outlined in his last will a policy that the Russian nation has followed as far as possible. One of the main points in this policy was the capture of Constantinople. To this end Russia has been working ever since. But she has been hindered from fulfilling her cherished plan thus far. But the prophecy indicates that the next time she attempts its capture, she will follow a different tactic. Previously she has always been alone in her endeavors to accomplish this end, but the next time she attempts it, she will not only have all the force at her command that she can muster, but allied powers besides. England, on the other hand, is the leader of those that are opposed to Russia's policy of gaining Constantinople and Persia. The first would interfere with her commerce on the Mediterranean Sea, and the latter would open the way for Russia to gain possession of India. There is much talk of an Anglo-American alliance, and the tide of public sentiment seems to be turning in that direction, and undoubtedly our government will be involved in such a contest when it comes. One of the leading professors in church history has said that the people of England may have their differences in church matters and politics; but if it came to Russia taking Constantinople, they would stand as one man to oppose it. With a powerful nation like England and all the allies that she could obtain, opposed by Russia with all her allies, all the world would be involved in battle. And when we consider that these foremost nations of the world will be armed with the destructive weapons that are constantly growing more deadly, what a battle that will be! Surely the word of the prophet will be verified that “the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” The reason they are not buried is that there are so many slain and so few to bury them that they remain unburied. The next event follows naturally upon this. The angel calls for all the beasts of prey and the birds of prey to come to the feast and eat the flesh of the men of war and the horses, as brought to view, as we have already noticed, in Eze. 39:17–20. As we see all things about us indicating that this time is drawing near, it brings good cheer to him that is trusting God, for he can look up and see that his redemption is drawing near. And to the one that is out of the ark of safety it should be an invitation telling him that there is shelter from the approaching storm in the Lord Jesus Christ.