Bearing of the Recent Massacres on the Eastern Question
By H. P. H.
THE TURKS AND ARMENIANS. No. 6.
Bearing of the Recent Massacres on the Eastern Question.
THE present political and social condition of the world is such that a general revolution is considered inevitable. The shrewd politician easily reads it; the common people feel it; no argument is needed to prove it; everybody is at once ready to admit it. Disarmament and universal peace are not believed possible till after a general struggle. When the naval demonstration of 1895, in Turkish waters, took place, it was expected that hostilities might then break out; and it was the common remark of the political journals at that time that if hostilities should begin, they would lead to a general European war. Professor Hilty, of the University of Bern, in his Political Year Book for 1896, treats at length the Eastern Question, and expresses the opinion that its final solution has now come, and that its settlement will lead to a European war. While politicians expect precisely what the Lord's prophecy says will come, all other classes of people expect in substance the same thing, tho in different forms and from varied standpoints. Socialists look for a great revolution, after which their principles will reign and usher in the golden age. Among Christians is the general impression that the end is near, and that soon the millennium will dawn. Thus, politicians, socialists, and Christians are all looking for substantially the same thing, and in it all there is a semblance of truth. There will be a general war, a general gathering, followed by the millennium; but how different it will be from what the world expects! How sadly the nations are deceived! But they need not be deceived; the truth as to the real outcome of the present situation is made very plain in the Bible; never was a sign of the times more plain than the one connected with this Eastern Question. The main features of what the Bible says will come out of it are so distinct in the present situation that one does not need to be a shrewd politician to read them. The average man sees them. When the politician who does not believe the Bible, looks upon the world as it is to-day, and forecasts what its immediate future must be, his description embraces in the main what we read in the prophetic Word. When a sign has become so plain as this, what should the effect be on those that profess to know and believe the Bible? Another feature of this prophecy in Revelation 16 is of special interest in this connection. It is the place of the general gathering—Armageddon—in Palestine. As already noted, the gathering will be occasioned by the drying up of the Euphrates, the Turkish Empire; from Dan. 11:45 we learned that, in connection with his end, the Turk will move his capital to Jerusalem. As was so forcibly expressed in the Crusades, it has always been the desire of Christians to drive the Turk out of Palestine. In consequence of the Armenian massacres, this Crusade spirit has again risen high, and Christians are again loudly demanding the extinction of the Turk; at the same time, they expect, as expressed in the Age to Come doctrine, that, in connection with the beginning of the millennium, the Jews will be returned to Palestine. How remarkably all these things fit together; and how well the way is prepared for the great gathering and complete deception of the world! It is also worthy of our attention to note the importance placed on the Indies; and how the nations of the east, after their slumber for centuries, are waking up and preparing for war; and how, in general, special attention is given to increasing the naval forces. The United States, so long indifferent about her navy, suddenly awoke to the necessity of preparing a navy with the greatest possible speed. How plain it is that one master mind is behind all, inspiring the same plan, and preparing all for the great day! As we see the condition of Turkey, tottering on its last legs, see the nations all prepared for war, and under such a burden that they can not endure much longer, see all things ready for the great gathering, what lesson should we draw from it? After calling attention to these things, the next words of inspiration are: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth.” That is the lesson in all this—a most solemn admonition to watch. While this will be to the world the most terrible time that ever was, it will be a blessed time to those who watch and are ready. To one class it will be destruction, to the other the door to everlasting blessedness. For when the nations have gathered their armies, then the Lord comes with his glorious army. See Rev. 19:11-16. The result of the meeting of these two armies is not uncertain. Satan and his host and sinners will be overthrown, while the saints will be given the everlasting kingdom. As the Mohammedan expects, Christ will then truly come, but not Mohammed, and a universal kingdom will be established, over which will float, not the Turkish crescent, but the blood-stained banner of Prince Emanuel. The Beginning of the End.
It seems as tho these troubles which began anew in the east with the recent Armenian massacres are the beginning of the end; scarce is one form of the trouble over before another7begins; hardly had the Armenian massacres subsided in 1895 when new troubles with Macedonia broke out; and ere these were quelled, the Armenian troubles commenced again, more violent than ever; and even before these were settled, new difficulties broke out with Crete, and finally war with Greece. While these troubles were in progress, the feeling that the day of the Turk had come was quite general. All Christendom is united in the sentiment that the Turk has gone too far, and should be summarily dealt with. The only question yet to be settled is, How shall this be done? So far, the “powers” have not been able to agree; and they will not agree till the Lord's work for his people is done. In Rev. 7:1-3 we learn that the angels of God are holding the winds of strife till the servants of God are sealed; and as soon as this is done, these angels not only let the winds of strife go, but they have power to hurt the earth. This makes plain to the Bible student what men of the world can not understand—how it is that the “sick man” of the east survives so long; the unseen Hand is holding him in place, and keeping back the winds of strife, tho everything stands ready and under a heavy pressure. The moment that the Lord's restraining hand is withdrawn, the world will witness such scenes as it has never before seen. Just what moment this may begin no one knows, for no one knoweth the day nor the hour, but the Father only. But as we see all things ready, and more than ready, what manner of persons ought we to be? Some may say in their hearts, I will wait till I see the Turks moving out, then I will haste to make ready. But that will be too late. The Turk does not move out, the Euphrates is not dried up, till under the sixth plague, while probation already closes when the first plague begins; hence he that waits till he sees the Turkish Empire dried up will have waited too long. The Lord has made it so plain beforehand that no one need mistake the meaning of the signs. And as we now see everything ready for the final step, let us take from it the intended lesson and not lose a single day. Not knowing the day when Christ will come, our only safety lies in being ready now, and every day, so that when he comes we shall be found watching. Let us therefore be admonished, and, being ourselves ready, haste to tell those that know not the meaning of these things, and are in danger of being taken unawares. In bringing these things to our attention, the Lord lays a solemn obligation upon us, first to get ready ourselves, and second to warn others. Who of us heeds the Lord's instructions? H. P. H.