THE IMPENDING CRISIS; by W. W. Prescott

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 50.

THE IMPENDING CRISIS;

By W. W. Prescott

The Real Significance of the Eastern Question and the Downfall of Turkey.

BY PROF. W. W. PRESCOTT.

The Light of the Word.

THE experiences of human life and the history of nations present problems which can be solved only in the light of the Holy Scriptures. Apart from the revelation which God has given to us, we should be utterly unable to straighten out the tangled threads, to have any clear understanding of the present, or of any well-defined hope of the future. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16), and in every possible way God has taught man of this love and how he may avail himself of it. The Lord is "the Governor among the nations" (Ps. 22:28), and is desirous that "the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Dan. 4:17).

In the prophecies of the Bible the Lord has caused the history of the nations to be written in advance, in order that those who still study and believe his word may know of "the times and seasons," and thus may be able to understand the progress of events among the nations in their relation to the development of God's plan to save men through Christ. Through all the centuries God has wrought "according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord," that man might be saved from the power of sin, restored to the image of God, and brought back to the enjoyment of all that God intended for him when he said, "Let us make man in our image." In furtherance of this plan Christ came to this world the first time, and in the consummation of this plan he will come the second time. In order that his children might know when "the times of restitution of all things" are at hand, he has described in his word, with great minuteness, the history of the world until "he is near, even at the doors."

The Government of Turkey.

One of the nations whose history has thus been written in advance is Turkey, and this is done in three different places in the Bible. In the closing part of the eleventh chapter of Daniel, Turkey is spoken of under the name of "the king of the north." This is made perfectly clear by reading the whole chapter and comparing it with the history of the world since the time of Daniel. Cyrus was the reigning king in Persia at that time (Dan. 10:1), and Daniel was told that "there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia [Cambyses, Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspes]; and the fourth [Xerxes] shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia." In fulfilment of this prophecy Xerxes raised an army of over five million men, and invaded Greece.

In continuing, the angel said to Daniel: "And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven." This prophecy was fulfilled in Alexander the Great, whose achievements have been the marvel of the world, but who died suddenly in the height of his power. After a brief period of confusion his kingdom was "divided," but "not to his posterity" (verse 4), for four of his generals established themselves in his former territory, "toward the four winds of heaven." Cassander took the east, Seleucus the west, Lysimachus the north, and Ptolemy the south, taking Daniel's country, "the glorious holy land," as the center. Thus Lysimachus held Thrace and Bythinia on the north, territory of which Byzantium was then, and Constantinople is now, the center. And Ptolemy had Egypt on the south. These are simple facts of history. In the eleventh chapter of Daniel is given the history of the world until Michael (Christ) shall stand up and the deliverance of God's people shall take place and the resurrection of the dead (Dan. 12:1, 2) shall occur. Now whatever power throughout this chapter shall occupy the territory originally assigned to Lysimachus is the "king of the north."

And now, as Constantinople is the center of the territory originally held by Lysimachus, the first "king of the north;" and as the power that now reigns in Constantinople holds the identical territory held by Lysimachus himself, it is plain enough that this power is "the king of the north" of the last verses of the eleventh chapter of Daniel. And as it is the Turkish power that now occupies Constantinople, it is perfectly clear that the Turkish power is the power referred to in the words "king of the north."

This prophecy is dealing with "the time of the end" (verse 40), and just before Michael (Christ) stands up it is said of the "king of the north" (Turkey): "And 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." Everyone knows that Turkey would have come to his end more than half a century ago if the great powers of Europe had not interfered and helped him. Everyone knows he could not stand a day now if the great powers were not still helping him. Everyone knows that the probability is that the Turk will be driven out of Europe in a very short time, which means that he will leave Constantinople and go to Jerusalem "between the seas in the glorious holy mountain." "Yet," says the prophecy, "he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." The daily papers are recording the progress of the fulfilment of this prophecy. Lord Salisbury's speech at the Mansion House, Nov. 9, 1895, and a letter from the president of Robert College, Constantinople, printed Feb. 6, 1896, show the opinion of these gentlemen, that the downfall of Turkey would "involve all that is most powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest," and that "we are approaching a great crisis in the world's history."

But "at that time . . . there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time." Dan. 12:1. It will be seen from verse 2, that this crisis is nothing less than the end of the world, as this scripture brings us to the resurrection of the dead and the reward of the righteous. This is "the impending crisis," and the real significance of the Turkish question. All the nations are expecting it and are arming for it, and it is certainly time for every individual to arm for it, by putting on "the whole armor of God." Eph. 6:13. There have been crises in the world's history in the past, but this is the crisis of the ages. Our only safety is to hide in Christ. He alone is able to save in this time. Are you ready for the downfall of Turkey? Are you ready for the time of trouble such as never has been? Have you made your peace with God? "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26:20, 21.

We are now prepared to consider

"Further Evidences of the Impending Crisis," as set forth in other prophecies which deal with the Ottoman Empire.

In the book of Revelation, which was written when the Roman power was at its height, are given prophecies which treat of the breaking up of that mighty empire. The line of the seven trumpets (see Revelation, chapters 8 and 9, and 11:14-19) marks the great events in the ruin of the Roman power, and what should follow to the end of the world. The first four trumpets herald the fall of the Western Empire of Rome; the fifth and sixth trumpets, the fall of the Eastern Empire of Rome. And the seventh trumpet gives the fall of all nations and of the world itself. The fifth trumpet, the first wo (Rev. 9:1-11), marks the rise and spread of the Mohammedan power. (Compare Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," chapters 50 and 51.) The five months (verses 5 and 10) are one hundred and fifty days of prophetic time, or one hundred and fifty years (see Eze. 4:6). This marks the time when this power "had a king" whose name was A Destroyer (see verse 11 and the margin). This king was Othman (after whom the empire took the name of the Ottoman Empire), and his destructive work began July 27, 1299 (see Gibbon, chapter 64, par. 14); and hence this marks the beginning of the one hundred and fifty years. This period would close July 27, 1449.

Now comes the second wo and the sixth trumpet, and additional elements of destruction are let loose "for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year." This would be 360 days (years), and thirty days (years), and one day (year), and the twenty-fourth part of a day (year). The total would be 391 years and fifteen days. Reckoning this time from July 27, 1449, it would extend to

August 11, 1840. To this date, according to this prophecy, the Ottoman Empire was to continue. And on that very day, the actual power of the Turkish Government passed into the hands of the great powers of Europe, and from that day to this, the very existence of the Ottoman Empire has been, and is now, solely by the support of these great powers. And so it is said in a pamphlet on the Turkish-Armenian question, recently published in London:—

"It is impossible to talk of the Ottoman Empire as if it were a nation like the United States or like Holland. It is an artificial . . . creation of treaties, that is kept in existence by the powers for their own convenience."

Thus on the 11th day of August, 1840, the time set by the Scripture for the existence and work of the Ottoman Empire, that empire as such, ceased. On that day the sixth trumpet ceased to sound, and the second wo ended; and of the seventh trumpet (the third wo) we read: "The second wo is past, and, behold, the third wo cometh quickly." Rev. 11:14. Every expression in the record of the sounding of the seventh trumpet proclaims the end of all things of this world. Read Rev. 11:15-19, and this will be perfectly clear. All these things are, according to the word of God, to come "quickly" after August 11, 1840, the date when the Ottoman Empire ceased to be an independent power. Compare this with the eleventh chapter of Daniel, and it will be seen that these prophecies in the book of Revelation fill out more definitely the picture given by the prophet Daniel, and emphasize the fact there clearly indicated that the crisis now approaching is the crisis of the ages, the end of the world.

But it must be remembered that the expulsion of the Turk from Europe, and the consequent coming "to his end," that is to say, the downfall of Turkey, for which the world is now watching and which every one sees is sure to come soon, mark the time for the beginning of all this trouble. And God has revealed this in the prophecy and is now causing it to be proclaimed to the world, that men everywhere might accept the deliverance and the salvation so freely offered in Jesus Christ. O that all to whom this message comes would accept of this salvation! It means rest amid all the turmoil and strife which is just ahead of us; it means peace amidst universal commotion; it means "that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Only those who heed this invitation and whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, are prepared for the downfall of Turkey. Are you ready for it?