The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-10-06
THE STORM CENTER
OF THE NEAR EAST.
An Interesting and Instructive Pro.
phecy of the Eastern Question
By J. NJ. Boyce.

again become the field of mortal COM
bat in the struggles of the nations.
Whenever, in all history. both Eu-
ropean and Asiatic dominions have
been involved in the struggle, this
region of the near East has usually
proved to be the pivotal point in the
conflict.
This same region is marked in the
sure word of prophecy" as the scene
of events that are the prelude to the
final clash of Armageddon and the
end of the world. Thus, to take two
lines of prophecy. one in the Old Tes-
lament, the other in the New
l. In the prophecy of the closing
verses of Daniel II and the first of
the next chapter, this region is point
ed out; and it is said that when the
power having dominion here-from
the Euphrates to the sea--comes to
its end, there will come upon the
world time Of trouble such as new
er was since there was nation"
Then follows the resurrection of the
dead, which means the second coming
of Christ and the end Of the world.
.. In the prophecy of Revelation
l6, likewise the power holding do
minion in the region of the Euphrates
is pointed out. And following the
drying up" or ending of this pow
er, there comes the final clash of the
nations in the battle of Armageddon,
and the scenes of the last great day.
Well may we, therefore, give heed
70 these prophecies at time when
events in the near East proclaim that
history is being rapidly made. Great
and decisive events are at hand.
The Eastern question of politics
and history is the question of politi-
cal supremacy in the regions of the
near East, where Turkey has long
held sway. 1t is an old, old question.
In the London Fortnightly Review,
June 1909O NJ. Il. Ivanovitch, Rus
sian writer, speaks of the Eastern
question as4t has appeared through
generations:
The Eastern question, which be-
gan with Constantine and Theodo-
sius. stretches through the centuries
1t is ever old and ever new. like
figure in mythology. The interests
at stake are so important and com
plicated that Europe and Asia, and
even America, cannot sand by as un-
concerned spectators Of the struggle !
which recurs century after century
for the possession OF the Bosporus, +,
the Hellespont. and the Agean Sea (
The East has been the goal of every
ambition of the Christian and bar
barian powers alike
The prophecy of Daniel II deals !
with events centering around this !
pivotal region of the near East. from
the days of Media and Persia to the
final solution of the Eastern question
in the scenes of the end.
1t is the longest and most detailed
historic prophecy of Scripture. For
our purpose. however. we need only
fix the events and geographic terms
OF the early portion Of the prophecy,
in order to understand the terms
used in the latter portion, dealing
with events of the last days.
The prophecy outlined the conflict
of Persia and Grecia, and foretold
the rise of Grecia to dominion under
its mighty king" Alexander the
Great. Verses Is.
The prophecy next described the
breaking up of Gercian dominion in
to four chief divisionss towards the
four winds" Verse a. AS Rawlin-
son. the historian. says: "A quadri-
partite division of Alexander's do
minion was recognized. Macedonia
lwest), Egypt (south), Asia Minor
(north). and Syria eastward to the
Euphrates.)"
Speaking of these Kingdoms. the
prophecy said, THE king of the
south shall be strong" Egypt was
strong under the Ptolmys. But one
of the other princes was to be
strong above the king of the south.
and to have "a great dominion"
Verse o. 1t is, in few words. the his
tory of Seleucus, of the east, who
added the north to his dominion,
which then stretched from Thrace in
Europe across Asia Minor and SYRIA
to the Euphrates Thus Seleucus
became king of the north" with "a
great dominion"
Next the prophecy deals with the
contests between the king of the
north (the power ruling in SYRIA and