THE KINGS OF THE EAST

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 9, 1878

THE KINGS OF THE EAST.

The great river Euphrates, Rev. 16:12, a symbol of the Turkish empire, is to be dried up under the sixth plague, that the way of the kings of the east may be prepared. What people or nations are meant by the “kings of the east,” has been a question of some study with many.

An article in The Christian Union of May 1, 1878, possibly throws some light on this question. In an article headed, “An Unknown War,” that paper describes a campaign conducted by the Chinese government against Western Kansuh, and Eastern Turkestan, ending with the capture of Kashgar, the capital of the latter.

These provinces were able to make no small show of resistance, and the operations covered a region of country 2000 miles in extent. The war was conducted in a manner similar to the modes of modern Western warfare, employing modern weapons, a general staff, an admirable commissariat, and an efficient artillery train. The invading army on one occasion marched 400 miles in 21 days, capturing in that time three cities and winning one pitched battle.

The article closes with this significant statement: “Kashgar is not far from half way between Pekin and St. Petersburg, and already there are prophets who anticipate more danger to Europe from the Mongolian than from the Muscovite.”

So long as the Turkish empire stands, its independence guaranteed by the powers of Europe, so long an effectual barrier remains against the irruption of the modern hordes of the interior of Asia into Western Asia, and Eastern Europe. But when Turkey falls, their way will be prepared, the barrier removed; and why may we not expect deluging waves of them to flow westward, as at times in the middle ages?

Joel uses an expression which looks directly to such a movement as we approach the great day of the Lord. Joel 3:11–14: “Assemble yourselves and come all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. . . . The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

While the western power is drying up, the multitudes in the east who are to come up to the battle of the great day are already, by their movements, attracting the attention of the world. The way seems to be rapidly preparing for the fulfillment of Joel and Revelation.