Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-15
THE SICK MAN OF THE EAST."
Montgomery. Ala, Dec. 10,

Montgomery, Ala, Dec. 10 1895. ,. Editor of State Herald:
 For the last month and longer perhaps no subject has occupied as much space in the columns of the daily press as the situation of affairs in and around Con- stantinople, the capital of the Turkish empire.
 The eyes of the world are directed to- wards that portion of the globe, and statesmen and men of intelligence ev- anywhere are kept in suspense as to the final outcome. This government has long been known as the Sick Man of the East" Since 1840 it has been lingering along, sometimes with every indication of immediate death, and yet over half century has expired. and still 1t sur wives.
 The recent cruel and horrible treatment of the Armenians has aroused such feel ing of indignation from the so-called Christian lands that the Sick Mans" life is now trembling in the balance.
 The following words from Talmage ex- press the feelings of multitudes "The Turkish government is miserable mass of corruption. Its workings are rotten to the core. and the whole government ought to be plotted off the face of the earth. The condition of affairs in Arme- mia is horrible. and the government is responsible for the fearful atrocities"
 In harmony with this Gladstone writes: May God in His mercy send speedy end to the governing Turk and all his doings." '
 The dissolution of the "Sick Man." however, will have a decided effect upon the present condition of Europe, for the various nations will be interested and determined to obtain their share in the division of the spells. But more than all this there Is an overwhelming impor- tance to the outcome of these eastern complications in relation to the closing history of our world. To the student of prophecy this question is one of deeper interest and more tremendous meaning than to all others.
 It is evident from the study of the prophetic scriptures that the Turkish government has received the notice of the inspired penman, and prominent events in it's history were foretold long ago by the prophets of the Lord. In Revela- tions the 9th chapter, there is remark able description of the rise and fall of the Ottoman empire. Othman united the numerous Mohammedan tribes and es- tablished the empire which has been called by his name. The first invasion of the Roman empire by the Mohamme- dan general was on July 27, 1929. From this time they were to torment men for period of five months, Rev. ix.. ,. This would be 150 days but as day repre- sentS a year in prophetic time, here is a period of 150 years, extending to 1449. during which the Mohammedan power was steadily increasing. After 1449 it's power was to be such that 1t would slay multitudes of men. That very year Greece yielded to the growing power of the Ottoman empire. and the heir to the throne would not take his seat before gaining the permission of the Turkish sultan. Here begins the prophetic peri cd of "an hour, and a day, and month, and year." which would represent 391 years and fifteen days. Beginning July 27, 1449 when the Greek emperor ac- knowledged the supremacy of the Turk ish sultan, this period extends to August Ii, 1S40 As early as 1888 students of prophecy predicted that the Ottoman em- pire would on that very day surrender the power that it had so long exercised. And so it did. At that time the sultan virtually yielded himself into the hands of the allied powers of Europe, and ever since has been only weak, "Sck Man."
 He has been in the decline over fifty five years. and the outlook, even from the view of finite men, is that he cannot long survive. But the prophetic view takes us still farther. In Daniel. 11th chapter we are told that he will remove his seat of empire from Europe. and shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious Holy mountain" evidently Jerusalem, in his Aslatic possessions. "Yet he shall come to his end. and none shall help him. 45th verse.
 Now comes the bearing of this Turkish question upon the close of earth's his tory: ''And at that time shall Michael Christi stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book" Dan. xii, 1.
 Let us ponder well and take heed.
 II, n