Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 80

"And _the temple of G.o.d was opened in heaven_, and there was seen in His temple _the ark of His testament_: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." Rev. 11:19.

NOTES.-This forcibly calls attention to the closing work of Christ in the second apartment, or most holy place, of the sanctuary in heaven, which began in 1844. See readings referred to in preceding note. The reference to the ark of G.o.d's testament is a forcible reminder also of that which is to be the standard in the judgment,-the law of G.o.d, or ten commandments. See Eccl. 12:13, 14; Rom. 2:12, 13; James 2:8-12.

From its closing words-the reference to "great hail"-the seventh trumpet evidently embraces the seven last plagues (see Rev. 16:17, 18); and from its opening words-"the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord"-it marks the setting up of G.o.d's everlasting kingdom.

The Eastern Question

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Bosporus. "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him." Dan.

11:45.

1. What, briefly stated, is the Eastern question?

The driving out of Turkey from Europe, and the final extinction of the Turkish Empire, with the world-embracing events that follow. It has been otherwise described as "the driving of the Turk into Asia, and a scramble for his territory."

2. What scriptures are devoted to the Turkish power?

Dan. 11:40-45; Revelation 9; and Rev. 16:12.

NOTE.-In the eleventh chapter of Daniel, Turkey is dealt with under the t.i.tle of the "king of the north;" in Revelation 9, under the sounding of the fifth and sixth "trumpets;" and in Revelation 16, under the symbol of the drying up of the water of the chief river of the Turkish Asiatic possessions, "the great river Euphrates." The actual drying up of the river Euphrates was the signal for the overthrow of ancient Babylon.

3. When did Turkey take Constantinople, and thus the northern division of ancient Greece and Rome?

In A.D. 1453, under Mohammed II. See pages 293, 294.

NOTE.-After the death of Alexander the Great, the Grecian Empire was divided by his four leading generals, Ca.s.sander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, into four parts,-east, west, north, and south,-the first three of which were shortly afterward absorbed into one kingdom, the kingdom of the north, Egypt remaining the king, or kingdom, of the south. In the breaking up of the Roman Empire, the Turks gained possession of the Holy Land in A.D. 1058, and finally of Constantinople, and considerable portions of eastern Europe,-the kingdom of the north,-in 1453, to which, with varying fortunes and shrinking geographical boundaries, it has held ever since.

4. How has Turkey been regarded by European nations?

"The Turks have ever remained quite insensible to the influences of European civilization, and their government has been a perfect blight and curse to the countries subject to their rule. They have always been looked upon _as intruders_ in Europe, and their presence there has led to several of the most sanguinary wars of modern times. Gradually they have been pushed out from their European possessions, and the time is probably not very far distant when they will be driven back across the Bosporus."-_Myers's __"__General History,__"__ edition 1902, page 468._

5. When did the independence of Turkey cease?

In 1840, at the close of a two years' war between Turkey and Egypt, when the fate of Turkey was placed in the hands of four great powers of Europe,-England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. See page 294, under question 19.

6. What is one of the last predictions of the prophecy of Daniel concerning the king of the north?

"But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many." Dan. 11:44.

NOTE.-Upon this, Dr. Adam Clarke, writing in 1825, said: "If the Turkish power be understood, as in the preceding verses, it may mean that the Persians on the _east_ and the Russians on the _north_ will at some time greatly embarra.s.s the Ottoman government." Such indeed was the case, and these conditions brought on the Crimean war of 1853-56, between Russia and Turkey.

In this war England and France came to the help of Turkey, and prevented Russia from grasping Constantinople, her coveted prize, and thus gaining access to the Dardanelles and the Mediterranean and so possessing herself of the gateway of commerce between Europe Asia. Without an outlet to the sea, Russia cannot be a strong naval power. In his celebrated will, Peter the Great of Russia (1672-1725) admonished his countrymen thus: "Take every possible means of gaining Constantinople and the Indies, for,"

said he, "he who rules there will be the true sovereign of the world; excite war continually in Turkey and Persia; ... get control of the sea by degrees; ... advance to the Indies, which are the great depot of the world. Once there, we can do without the gold of England." The authenticity of this will has been questioned, but it outlines a policy which Russia has quite faithfully pursued.

7. What since 1840 has saved Turkey from complete overthrow?

The help and interference of various European powers.

NOTE.-"It is not too much to say that England has twice saved Turkey from complete subjection since 1853. It is largely-mainly-due to our action that she now exists at all as an independent power. On both these occasions we dragged the powers of Europe along with us in maintaining the Ottoman government."-_Duke of Argyle (1895), in __"__The Turkish-Armenian Question,__"__ page 17._

8. Why have these powers thus helped Turkey?

Not from love for Turkey, but for fear of the international complications that its downfall might entail.

NOTES.-In his Mansion House speech, Nov. 9, 1895, Lord Salisbury, responding to a wide-spread demand for the overthrow of the Turkish power, said: "Turkey is in that remarkable condition that it has now stood for half a century, mainly because the great powers of the world have resolved that _for the peace of Christendom it is necessary that the Ottoman Empire should stand_.

They came to that conclusion nearly half a century ago. I do not think they have altered it now. _The danger_, if the Ottoman Empire fall, would not merely be the danger that would threaten the territories of which that empire consists; _it would be the danger that the fire there lit should spread to other nations, and should involve all that is most powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest_. That was a danger that was present to the minds of our fathers when they resolved to make the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire a matter of European treaty, _and that is a danger_ WHICH HAS NOT Pa.s.sED AWAY."

"The Balkan, or Near Eastern, question has been one of the most complicated political problems of the world's history for half a century. ... For four centuries and a half, or ever since the conquering Turk crossed the Bosporus and took Constantinople, the grim contest has been on to dislodge him by war and diplomacy."-_American Review of Reviews, November, 1912._

Nearly a century ago, Napoleon, while a prisoner on St. Helena, explained that when emperor of France, he would not consent for Alexander, the czar of Russia, to have Constantinople, "foreseeing that the equilibrium of Europe would be destroyed."

9. What is the divine prediction regarding the future and final downfall of the king of the north?

"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_." Dan. 11:45.

NOTE.-It would seem natural that the Ottoman government should make its last stand at Jerusalem. Around the city of the Holy Sepulcher and the tombs of the "saints" has been waged for long years a war between the followers of Islam and the believers in the Christian religion. In this place, many Bible students believe, Turkey will come to her end in fulfilment of this scripture.

10. Under which of the seven last plagues is the water of the Euphrates (Turkey) to be dried up, and for what purpose?

"And _the sixth angel_ poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was _dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared_." Rev. 16:12.

NOTE.-For years the drying-up process of the Turkish Empire has been in progress, as may be seen from the following:-

(1) In 1783 Turkey was compelled to surrender to Russia the territory of the Crimea, including all the countries east of the Caspian Sea.

(2) In 1828 Greece secured her independence.

(3) In 1830 Algeria was ceded to France.

(4) In 1867 Turkey was forced to recognize the independence of Egypt.