THE KING OF THE NORTH by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 4, 1877

THE KING OF THE NORTH.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

What power is designated in Dan. 11 as the king of the North? Since this power is noted in the closing scene of the prophecy, just before the standing up of Michael, or the reign of Christ, it is a question of great interest. There is a theory that this king of the North is Russia; and to the superficial reader and thinker this view may seem very plausible; because Russia is the most noted power in the northern part of Europe and Asia, and because she intends to possess Constantinople, which lies “between the seas.”

But there are difficulties which seem as insuperable objections to this view. 1. It is difficult to see how that “tidings out of the east and out of the north” shall trouble Russia. Tidings to her from the north must come from the frozen polar seas. 2. Though Constantinople is between two seas, the “glorious holy mountain” is in another place—between the Mediterranean and the Dead seas. 3. Before the coming of Christ, and preparatory, as it seems, to that event, the king of the North is to come to his end, for want of help from other nations; but it seems evident that Russia will be victorious in the present struggle, unless other nations shall help the Turks, as they have formerly done.

In the forepart of the chapter we have the conquest of Alexander and the division of his kingdom into four parts, after which the king of the North and the king of the South are the chief actors in the scene for a long time; and it is very evident that Syria, including Palestine, is the king of the North, and that Egypt is the king of the South. After this, Roman history is followed for a long period, and as we approach the time of the end, the infidel kingdom of France, naturally enough, bears a conspicuous part, as the king that regarded no God. Then, at the time of the end, the king of the South, Egypt, pushes at him, and the king of the North comes against him and overflows and passes over. In 1798, the very point where the time of the end begins, we are brought back from the digression to the kings of the South and of the North. Egypt was the king of the South, and that power which occupies Syria and the holy land, the Turkish government, it is reasonable to conclude is still the king of the North. At that time there were events of history that verify the pushing of Egypt against the French and the victorious coming of the Turks against them like a whirlwind, and passing over and wresting Egypt from their power and making it tributary. The proof of this is given in “Thoughts on Daniel,” published by the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, Battle Creek, Mich.

Now taking Turkey, which holds the possessions of the original king of the North to be the power, every specification of the prophecy will apply. Tidings from the east, from Persia, and from the north, Russia, have troubled the Turkish government, and when it is driven from its present seat at Constantinople, as will evidently soon be the case, how natural it is to expect that a stand will be made in the glorious holy mountain of Palestine. Yet he shall come to his end and none of his former allies shall help him. Then will the symbolic river, Euphrates, be dried up, Michael, the Prince of God’s people, having received his throne, the nations will be gathered and the final battle, that of Armageddon, will be fought.

To those who may read these brief hints, I recommend the careful reading of the work above referred to, “Thoughts on Daniel.” It is a work of great value to the pious student of prophecy. None can well afford to be ignorant of the expositions it contains.

R. F. Cottrell.