Does the History of Turkey and Egypt Since 1798 Fulfil the Prophecy of Dan. 11: 40-44?
By A. G. Daniells
"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 overflow and pass over." Dan. 11: 40. On reading this passage of Scripture, a number of questions are immediately suggested to the mind of the reader. When is the time of the end? Who is the king of the south? Who is the "him" against whom the king of the south pushes? Who is the king of the north? Who is the "him" against whom the king of the north comes like a whirlwind? What does all this conflict mean? and when and where is it to take place? In order to ascertain their meaning, these points must be taken one by one, and given most careful study. And in the study of the prophecies of the Bible it is essential, in order to reach safe Scriptural conclusions, to have due regard for the following simple methods of investigation: — - Study the construction of the language used to express the points of prophecy.
- Study all other lines of prophecy relating to the same time, parties, or events.
- Study all the specifications of the prophecy being investigated, and compare with them the specifications of all other prophecies relating to the same points.
- Study the history of the world that fulfils the specifications of the prophecy.
The Lord says: "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2: 7. The conscientious seeker for light and truth who will study the prophecies of God's Word in the painstaking way here suggested will not search in vain. Let us now consider the first specification of the verse before us: "At the time of the end." This expression occurs five times in the Scriptures, and each time in the book of Daniel. See chapters 8: 17; 11: 35, 40; 12: 4, 9. In each instance the same form of expression is employed by the prophet, "The time of the end." The term plainly refers to some definite point of time, and the uniformity of its use by the prophet indicates that he was in each instance pointing to one definite, specific period. "The time of the end." When will it begin? and what will mark its beginning? A partial answer is given in Dan. 11: 35: "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."
This verse and those immediately preceding it foretell a period of darkness and persecution to come upon the people of God. Note the different statements: —
"The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Verse 32.
"Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Verse 33.
"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.
This persecution of the church was revealed to Daniel in the visions recorded in the seventh and eighth chapters. Outlining the character and the work of that "little horn" which represents the Papacy, Daniel said: "He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High." Dan. 7: 25. "And he shall destroy . . . the mighty and the holy people. . . . He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes." Dan. 8: 24, 25.
This same period of persecution was foretold by John in the Revelation. Of this papal power John says: —
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Rev. 13: 6, 7.
In this revelation of the cruel domination of the Papacy over the people of God, a definite, limited period of time is given: "They shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. 7: 25. "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Rev. 13: 5. "And the woman [the church] fled into the wilderness" for "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Rev. 12: 6.
These different forms of expression all measure off the same period of time — twelve hundred sixty prophetic days, or twelve hundred sixty years.
It was this period of time to which Daniel referred when he said, "They shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Dan. 11: 33. And it was to the end of this period that he pointed when he said:4"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." Dan. 11: 35. The time appointed for the persecuting domination and supremacy of the Papacy over the people of God was twelve hundred sixty years. At the termination of the "appointed" time the church would be set free, and that would mark "the time of the end." When did that appointed time close? — In 1798. The history of the rise of papal supremacy shows that the prophetic period of twelve hundred sixty years began in 538 A. D., and ended in 1798 A. D. It was then that the papal church received that deadly wound by a sword foretold in Rev. 13: 10, 14. From these considerations it seems plain that "the time of the end" until which the people of God were to fall must be marked by the close of the twelve hundred sixty years, when the power of the Papacy was to be broken, and God's people delivered. That was the year 1798. Then, at that time, "shall the king of the south push at him." The king of the south is the next specification of verse 40 to be considered.