Untitled article by H. P. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 26.

THE TURKS AND ARMENIANS. No. 2.

By H. P. H.

Bearing of the Recent Massacres on the Eastern Question.

What the Bible Says.

THE Bible speaks of nations. The Lord has to do with the destiny of nations. Acts 17:26. He speaks of the work and time of nations so far as his people are concerned thereby. We have many examples of this in the prophecies of the Old Testament and the Revelation. In three important prophecies the Turkish Empire is mentioned. We will give attention to at least two of these. The first is in the eleventh chapter of Daniel.

In this book we have several prophecies where symbols are used to represent nations. These are commonly called symbolical prophecies; but in the eleventh chapter is what may be called a literal prophecy, in which for the most part nations are spoken of directly, without the use of symbols. The Turkish Empire is brought to view in the latter part of this chapter, but to find the connection and become acquainted with the terms of this prophecy, let us notice briefly the first verses.

"Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him."

These are the words of an angel speaking with the prophet. It is worthy of note that the angels of God have to do with the rulers of nations, and, too, of heathen nations. It is sometimes erroneously supposed that the angels have to do only with good people; but it is most encouraging to see that they are sent to heathen rulers, to influence them to carry out the purposes of God.

"And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia."

By this verse we learn that from the time of the prophet, the fourth ruler in Persia would be remarkably rich, and would stir up all against the realm of Grecia. The fourth ruler in Persia from the date of this vision was Xerxes, the Ahasuerus of Esther, who did literally stir up all against Grecia, raising one of the largest armies the world has ever seen,—over five millions of men. The final outcome of this attack on Grecia was the overthrow of the Persian Empire, and the establishment of the Grecian, as indicated in the next verse.

"And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will."

As well known, the first king of Grecia, Alexander the Great, was indeed a mighty king, who did according to his will more absolutely than any other ruler. The history of his empire is remarkably condensed and yet clear in the fourth verse.

"And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those."

Scarce had Alexander the Great conquered the world, and wept that there was not another to conquer, when his kingdom was broken. On his return from India, while at Babylon engaged in building a new capital for his empire, he died. The prophecy not only indicates that his kingdom was to be broken, but tells into how many parts,—just four,—and still more minute,—in which directions these four parts should lie,—towards the four winds of heaven,—the four cardinal points,—north, south, east, and west. On the death of Alexander, his leading generals, each ambitious for the throne, fell to warring with one another, and the result was

that the empire was divided among four of them, Cassander in the west, Lysimachus in the north, Seleucus in the east, and Ptolemy in the south, with headquarters in Egypt. Thus the Grecian Empire was divided exactly as foretold in the prophecy, into four parts, and to none of Alexander's posterity, and none of these ruled according to his dominion. These four divisions continued to war with one another till two were overthrown, and their territory absorbed by the other two,—the one in the north, and the one in the south. The prophecy now continues with a description of the wars between these two divisions, referring to them even to the end of the chapter under the titles of the king of the north and the king of the south.

Having thus learned the terms of the prophecy, let us pass over the description till the Turkish power is introduced, which is in verse 40.

"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overthrow and pass over."

The scenes here described take place in the "time of the end." In speaking of the whole period of time it is very natural to speak of the first part as the time of the beginning, and the last portion as the time of the end. But the prophecy does not simply use this expression in a general way, but indicates definitely when this time of the end begins. "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed." Verse 35. Here reference is to the persecution of the people of God, and the definite statement is made that this persecution will last till the time of the end. Mark also that this persecution is for a "time appointed." This appointed time is made known in chapter 7, where the work of the Papacy is described. From a study of this chapter, we learn that this period of persecution lasted 1,260 years. Compare with Rev. 12:6; 13:6. The 1,260 years began A.D. 538, and hence ended A.D. 1798; therefore 1798 marks the beginning of the time of the end, as shown in verse 35. At that time, then, the scenes in verse 40 occur.

By a study of this verse, we observe that a conflict between three parties takes place,—the king of the south, the king of the north, and a third party referred to by the pronoun "him." The king of the south is Egypt; and at this time the territory of the king of the north was occupied by the Turks, hence the sultan of Turkey is the king of the north of this verse; to find the third party, we must refer to the preceding verses to find the antecedent of the pronoun "him." In these verses we find a most remarkable description of the French Revolution, which culminated in 1792; in 1798, when the time of the end begins, and the scenes of verse 40 take place, Napoleon Bonaparte is at the head of the French, and hence represents the third party of this verse. Now comes the interesting question, Do we find at this time a conflict between these three powers? Our next article will deal with this question.