Turkey Nearing Her Downfall by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 13, 1909

Turkey Nearing Her Downfall

By F. M. W.

The history of Turkey furnishes a striking proof of the truthfulness of prophetic utterance. Thousands of years ago the prophets of God looked down through the coming years of human history, and predicted with unerring accuracy the events which are taking place before our own eyes to-day.

In heavenly vision John saw the origin of Mohammedanism, as it issued like the pestilential scourge that it is, from the barren, desert regions of Arabia, appropriately denominated the bottomless pit. He saw the organization of these wandering tribes of the desert into a government under the reign of Othman, and their later efforts to propagate the rule of Islam and the religion of Mohammed, through the agencies of robbery, murder, and rapine. At first it had power only to torment men, but finally restrictions were removed, and it was loosed “for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” Rev. 9:15. This period of three hundred ninety-one years and fifteen days, beginning July 27, 1449, by the recognition of Ottoman supremacy on the part of the Greeks, extended to Aug. 11, 1840, when by the action of the great nations of Europe, Turkish autonomy came to an end, since which time the power of the Sublime Porte has been permitted and upheld by the sufferance and influence of his powerful European neighbors.

The prophet Daniel traces down to a later date the history of this desolating power. Beginning with the age in which the prophet was living, the prophetic kaleidoscope presents in rapid succession the history of Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome, the breaking up of the Roman empire, the national apostasy of France, and finally the destruction of Turkey, as brought to view in chapter 11:40-45, just before the time of trouble and the end of the world.

That a power so foreign to the spirit of the West in religion, social customs, and civilization, and so wholly anti-christian in all its relationships to those outside the pale of Islamism, as indicated not alone by the teachings of the Koran, but so forcibly by the long series of massacres of the Christian Armenians, should be tolerated, and even upheld, by the so-called Christian powers of Europe, is one of the wonders of history. Why has Turkey been thus shielded from just judgment and well-earned retribution? The answer is found in her unique geographical situation and in the greed of present-day national commercialism.

It has long been recognized that Constantinople, in consequence of its peculiar and advantageous geographical location, is the great doorway to the rich commercial avenues of the Orient, and that the nation which occupies that strategic point is placed on vantage-ground above its fellows in the control of the world's commerce. The states of Europe have watched with covetous, envious eyes for occasion and opportunity to seize this prize. Each has been unwilling that the advantage should fall to another, and in consequence Turkey has been maintained as a sort of buffer, or wall of partition, in order to preserve the peace and equilibrium of Europe. Repeatedly Turkey, by her atrocious course of bloodshed and butchery, has forfeited her claims to consideration. Repeatedly has she seemed on the very verge of dissolution through internal strife or the encroachment of some opposing power, but always some friendly neighbor has come to her aid, and averted the threatened blow. But in thus rescuing her, heavy indemnity has ofttimes been exacted. In consequence Turkey has emerged from every national crisis since 1840 weakened, and less able to cope with the future.

In the zenith of her national glory the Ottoman empire embraced a vast area both in Europe and in Asia, and was a power feared by all the Western nations. But the tide of her prosperity has been receding. Her effete, semi-barbarous civilization and despotic government have been unable to unify her heterogeneous population, and to meet the issues forced upon her constantly by her more advanced sister nations. During the last few decades, Turkey has lost Bulgaria, Rumelia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Egypt, Servia, and part of Armenia, which have either established independent governments, or fallen under the control of some European power in payment for help and protection afforded Turkey in some national crisis.

For more than seventy years advent believers have applied to the Turkish power the prophecies cited above. They have believed that the fall of this power would be the signal for the world's last great war, the destruction of earthly governments, and the closing up of human history. There was a time when they stood practically alone in this view of the Turkish political situation. But the trend of events in that unfortunate government has been so unmistakable of late that many writers and political students now predict the early expulsion of the Turk from European territory, and in consequence important political changes in the map of the European world. Indeed no better commentary could be found on the fulfilment of prophetic utterance than the statements of some of these men, who speak, not as students of prophecy, but wholly as students of the political situation which now confronts the world.

Says the Providence Journal, of recent date:—

Should the present conditions continue much longer, it is difficult not to believe that both revolution and conquest would end a domination of five centuries. Nor is this the least danger; for if the Turk should be driven from Constantinople, the Eastern question would reach its most critical phase.

Regarding the significance of the situation, the Baltimore News adds the following striking commentary:—

At each recurring outbreak of this character the old question of the future of Turkey arises to demand an answer. The puzzle seems to be as unsolvable as ever. Its solution awaits the day, perhaps, when Europe shall witness the universal war for which it seems to be so feverishly preparing, when Turkey and possibly other stronger and more civilized nations will sink before the power of the sword. This seems to be the most likely answer to the problem.

And it is impossible to calculate how speedily the Eastern question might reach its culmination. In the recent massacres in Armenia is seen occasion for the interference of other nations. How long outraged justice will permit this terrible butchery of innocent men, women, and children to be repeated, only he who rules on high can answer. With reference to this the Washington Post, of April 24, says:—

So far as the fate of Turkey is concerned, here is offered to outside nations an excellent opportunity to step in and wind up her affairs. On the just plea of acting in defense of her subjects

any great power could bring the Turkish situation to a head in six weeks. The only thing to prevent it is the suspicion and jealousy of the so-called Christian nations.

In the same issue, under the caption, “The World's Unrest,” the Post gives this outline of the general European situation:—

With the Herzegovina and Servia matter still unsettled, the uneasiness prevailing in France, revolts in Persia, revolution in Turkey, and plots and counterplots in China, the Old World is in a state of unrest that may eventuate in such a war as has never been recorded in the annals of history. France is rapidly drifting to a point where another coup d'état may be looked for at almost any moment and the republic go down with a crash. . . .

The great Chinese empire seems to be tottering to its fall, and Germany, France, and Great Britain are each willing to give it a push. It really looks as if peaceful competition and friendly rivalry between the nations of the earth were soon to give way to war; and it may be one of the sardonic jokes of history that The Hague will be the scene of a “peace conference” to settle the accounts of the biggest war the world has ever seen.

Nor does the revolt against the autocratic régime of Abdul Hamid give promise of a brighter future for the country. There is but little hope for Turkey without full and complete regeneration, and an abandonment of the politico-religious system which has been responsible for her past course of bloodshed and strife. To change the governmental policy would be to destroy the religious faith of her subjects, and to destroy by political revolutions the strangely combined fanatical faith and national patriotism of the Turk, and make of him a new man, in sympathy with the civilization of the nations dominated by the influences of Christianity, would be to perform a miracle never yet duplicated in the history of the ages. Such a change could be effected only by the power of the gospel in the individual life. Speaking of what may be hoped for in the way of permanent betterment by the revolution, the Washington Post says:—

Richelieu characterized the condition of France at the time he seized power, by saying he found “the rich men despots and the poor banditti.” Such is Turkey to-day, and such, apparently, Turkey will remain until the Mussulman power is broken. A change of sultans will be of little avail. The root of the trouble will not be extirpated when Abdul Hamid is removed or assassinated. He has been a great power for evil, but he is not the whole system of Turkish rapacity and corruption.

The end of Turkey may be delayed for a season. God keeps an account with nations as he does with individuals, and the time of the closing of Turkey's history he only knows. He still holds the winds of war and commotion that his work may be accomplished in the earth before the warring elements are let loose to do their destructive work. But the end is not far off. The unerring pen of inspiration has traced the fateful doom of the Ottoman empire: “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. 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.” May we be wise in discerning the signs of the times, and be prepared for the things soon to take place on the earth, and to meet the Son of man in peace. F. M. W.