A STRIKING FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY.
By J. L. Shuler
IN the Orient we behold that a terrible war is raging. The mighty empire of Russia is being defeated by a seemingly insignificant nation. Have you not been surprised at this? Did you ever stop to think that Japan's victories were foretold in the Bible by the prophet Ezekiel? Have you not noticed that the outcome of the present war was definitely foretold ages ago, and we are now seeing it actually fulfilled before our eyes? No doubt you have. Possibly you have not. But whether you have or not you are here invited to a short study of this subject. To show that Russia is mentioned in the prophecies of the Bible, let us read Eze. 38:2: "Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophecy against him." From Gen. 10:1, 2, we learn that Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were grandsons of Noah. 1. What is meant by the land of Magog?—This name is given to the land which lies north of the Black and Caspian Seas, which is now a part of Russia. In ancient time the people who inhabited this region were called Scythians, they are now known as Siberians. 2. Meshech settled in the region around Moscow, a place named after him. The people are called Muscovites. This is now one of the principal parts of Russia. 3. Tubal settled in the region east of the Ural Mountains which is almost in the center of the great Russian empire. This region still bears his name, that of Tobolsk. There is also a river in this region called Tobol river. 4. Now the prince of Rosh is chief of all these. Eze. 38:3. What is the significance of that word "Rosh"?—It is the very word from which Russia derives her name. From the word Rosh come Russ or Russia and the Russians. Do not these facts identify Russia as the nation of whom the prophet is speaking? From what part of the earth is this force to come?—Let the prophet answer our question: "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts." Eze. 38:15. Does Russia come from the north parts?—Glance at a map and see if Russia does not occupy the north parts of the eastern world. The prophet says that this power will have "a great company, and a mighty army." Eze. 38:15. Is that true of Russia?—She boasts of a standing army of a million, which is the largest in the world. She has transported to Manchuria an army of almost three-quarters of a million. This is indeed "a great company, and a mighty army." These facts establish the point beyond all doubt that Russia is the nation spoken of in Ezekiel's prophecy. This prophecy of Ezekiel regarding Russia was an accurate statement of what would happen "in the latter days." Eze. 38:16. The following is what the prophet said would overtake Russia in the war in which she is now engaged: "And say, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee; . . . and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen." Eze. 38:3, 4. Has Russia been turned back in this present struggle?—Stop and consider the hundreds of miles the Russians have been driven back in Manchuria since the war began. They have been defeated in every battle. Ever since the war began it has been an almost continual retreat on their part. There was the Baltic fleet, after sailing thousands of miles around to the Orient, utterly defeated by the victorious Japanese. The Japanese have indeed turned back the Russian bear and put the hooks into his jaws. Now, there is something remarkable about the success of the Japanese. Look, for instance, at Port Arthur, the Russian stronghold. It was deemed invincible; yet the Japanese captured it. Also the battle of Liao Yang. The Japanese had tried repeatedly to capture the Russian position by direct assault, but it was all in vain. The Japanese were beaten off in their attack, and they were badly used up, almost on the verge of a defeat. But at this critical time, the Japanese general, Kuroki, saved the day by hurling his army around that of the Russians, thus threatening the Russian rear and their line of communication. This forced the Russians to turn back and withdraw. Why was it that the Russians were turned back when they seemingly had victory in their grasp?—Because "the Scripture can not be broken." John 10:35. God had said that they would be turned back, and it must be fulfilled, no matter what the circumstances. His words "shall be fulfilled in their season," that is, when a fulfilment is due. Luke 1:20. God's word can not return unto Him void, and it will always accomplish that which He pleases, Isa. 55:11. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His words shall not pass away. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one of God's words to fail. Luke 16:17. The grass may wither, the flowers may fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever. "The word of God liveth and abideth forever." His words are settled forever in heaven. Ps. 119:89. The world looks on in amazement at the success of the Japanese. At the beginning of the war, every one prophesied defeat for Japan. People said that it was like a swarm of hornets attacking a bear. But now we behold that they have destroyed Russia's fleet and defeated her army. The Russians are more in number, larger in stature, have greater resources to draw on, and are more or less on their own ground, yet Russia is going down in helpless defeat. And why?—Because God has said it would be that way. "For I am the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass." Eze. 12:25. God has purposed it, hence it can not fail. He says: "I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." Is not the outcome of this present struggle a striking fulfilment of prophecy? What man could have foretold 2,500 years ago the outcome of this present war? "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons. . . . Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." Isa. 41:21-23. What is the response to this challenge?—"Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of naught. . . . For I beheld, and there was no man, . . . that, when I asked of them, could answer a word." Verses 24-28. Man can not foretell the future. Does not, then, the fact that God can foretell the future, even the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, prove that He is God, and there is none else? "I am God, and there is none like Me." Isa. 46:9, 10. "Who hath declared this from ancient time? . . . have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me." Isa. 45:21. Seeing then that this prophecy concerning Russia was given ages ago, and is now being accurately fulfilled before our eyes, ought we not to believe God's Word? Does not this demonstrate the Bible to be true? Does not this show that God still lives and rules in the affairs of earth? Is it not a living witness against infidelity? Is there not something in this to strengthen our faith in God's Word? In the fulfilment of prophecy we have one of the most impressive proofs of the inspiration of the Bible. God has foretold this thing so that when it came to pass we might believe that He is God and His Word is true. John 13:19. Let us then have more faith in His Word "that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Rom. 15:4. I hope that no one who reads this article will get the idea that it is sensational because it is based on facts and not on theories. "Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in nowise believe, tho a man declare it unto you." Acts 13:40, 41.