Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-01-02


war now beng waged in Turkey; for they
see in the driving out of the Turk from
Europe a fulfillment of the prophecy
which declares that the Ottoman Empire
is to be destroyed, and that its downfall
will be the signal that the endof all things
is impending. The Adventists also be-
lieve that when this prophecy is fulfilled,
time of trouble such as never was will
be ushered in, and the close of all human
history will be here.
In speaking of the belief of Adventists
and how they view the war in Turkey,
Elder George r. Apsley of 1hurmont,
said
"Just now the eyes of all the world are
focused upon the great struggle that is
going on between the Balkan troops ard
and Turkey. For several decades Tur-
key has been called the "Sick man of the
East, and ere this her possessions in
Europe would have been wrested from
her if the powers could have agreed con-
corning the remains of this Sick man.
"To 100, 600 Seventh Day Adventists
scattered over the world, the struggle
there is of special interest. They see in
it step toward the fulillment of proph
ecy. For nearly half century they have
looked upon the driving out of the Turk,
and the drying up of the Ottoman EN-
pire, rs a direct fulfllment of the proph
nd Of tha l.. Of 70 n tb..
drama of the world.
Turkey occupies a prominent place
with other nations in the prophecies of
the scriptures. Its rise and triumphs are
clearly foretold in the 9th chapter of Rev
elation. Also in the great chain of pro-
phecy recorded in the 18th chapter of
Daniel, which gives an outline of its his
tory, Turkey holds an important place
under the symbol of The King of the
North. After many years of war, rev.
olutions, and changes, Turkey came into
possession of nearly all that territory
originally occupied by The king of the
North, and thus itself became King of
the North BY the King of the North
or Kingdom of the North, is meant that
territory lying north of Palestine; for
Palestine is where the prophet was when
ne spoke this prophetic word.
AT one time Turkey had territorial
area of 1000, 600 square miles, and a pop
citation a 80, OO0, 600. 1t is at this time
that Turkey comes into the prophecy Of
Daniel as the King of the North. The
prophecy of Revelation foretells the rise
and devei pment of the Turkish Empire,
and the prophecy of Daniel foretells its
downfall aud extinction. But the proph-
ecy in Revelation speaks of time when
the Turkish Empire would be dried up.
In this prophecy Turkey is introduced
under the symbol of the river Euphrates,
and the drying up of a river is IA natural
| symbol. Turkey has been drying up.
In 1923 Greece was broken off, and she
established her independence. Algeria
in 1880, with 5000, 900, was taken from
her Egypt, with 5000, 600, became in
dependent in 1867, and the same year
Servia and Bosnia, with a combined pop
ulation of 3 500. 900 became independent
provinces. In 1873 the independence of
Bulgaria and Roumelia, with 1900, 900
inhabitants, was declared as also was
that of Roumania with ), 900, 600 and Mon
tenegro with $50, 900. Last year Tripoli,
with 1000, 600, was taken by Italy.
There has, therefore, been a gradual
disintegration, drying up, of this power
known in prophecy as the King of the
North In the last century, therefore,
Turkey has lost all her possessions in
Africa and Europe, save Constantinople,
the capital. She now has only about one
half of her possessions in Europe. The
prophet of God foretold her decline and
fall, her drying up. The past century
has fulfilled much OF the prophecy.
More than fifty years ago the Seventh
Day Adventist denomination, on the
strength of this prophecy, took the posi-
ton that the Ottoman Empire would
finally be crushed, blotted out, and would
plant its capital between the seas in the
glorious holy mountain, or Palestine, as
the events in the Far East at the present
time seem to be step in this direction,
when the unspeakable Turk, if he does
not lose his capital at Constantinople, will
lose almost all the possessions that he has
in Europe. 1t does not follow that be-
cause his capital is removed from Con-
stantinople it will be at once planted in
Jerusalem. He may plant it in some
other place, and remain there until other
movements of the nations will make his
withdrawal necessary. But finally the
prophet of God saw him planted ina place
between the seas in the glorious holy
mountain.
CAN these things, therefore, through
the telescope of prophecy, make the
events to the Seventh-day Adventists,
and to all the world as we'll, of special
interest as the movements of the nations
is fulfiment of that which the seer of
God so many years ago said would take
place. Having said, on the strength of
the word of God, more than fifty years
ago, that the Star and Crescent would
go down, and the great Ottoman Empire
come to its end, they watch with interest
the present war being waged. Every step
which is seen in the Far East is finger
board pointing in the direction to which
the prophet of God said events would