THE TURKS THE ISHMAELITES ENGLAND AND RUSSIA TO PARTITION THE MAHOMMEDAN EMPIRE WHY ENGLAND SYMPATHISES WITH TURKEY.

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the South, and toward the East, and toward the pleasant land.” Daniel vii.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, in which he saw a great metallic image of human form. The head of gold stood for Babylon; the silver arms and breast for Persia; the brass belly and thighs for Greece; the iron legs and feet of iron and clay for Rome. To all this we find history has faithfully and beautifully responded.

A few years after this we find that Daniel has a dream, which is interpreted to him by an angel. From it we learn that the ten toes symbolised ten kingdoms which were to arise out of the Roman Empire.

In the chapter from which we take our text, we are introduced into the secrets of a vision which Daniel had. The place of the vision is on the banks of the River Ulai, in the province of Elam, and in the gorgeous palace of Shushan a place and palace made famous and familiar to us by the doings of King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther. In other words, the scene is changed from the palace of Babylon to the palace of Persia.

In this vision, Pesia is typified by a ram, the two horns of which represented Persia and Media, for they formed one Empire at this time, under the powerful rule and reign of Cyrus, who, coming from the East, pushed his conquests “Westward, and Northward, and Southward.” “The two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.” From history we know that Media conquered Persia, and we know, also, that finally Persia gained ascendancy, so that the higher came up last, and is even in existence to-day as the small kingdom of Persia; but Media has long since disappeared.

While the seer Daniel was considering, behold an he-goat came from the West. This goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Horn generally symbolises power; here it symbolises a king of peculiar power, Daniel tells us. Goat-like, it bounded over the earth rapidly, pushing and goring its adversaries. Can any one at all acquainted with history fail to see how fitly and grandly this description of the goat forecasts the origin and progress of the Greek Empire?

Substitute Alexander the Great for the notable horn, and you at once mate history and this vision. Surely God has not left Himself without witnesses. “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God.” So we may freely say unto the historians and students of history, Truly, in these things we see the finger of God.

Could any historian describe more faithfully and accurately the invasions, conquests, and victories of Alexander the Great, especially his assault on the Persians? How marvellous and simple the description by Daniel: “And he came to the ram that had two horns (Persia), which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power; and I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.”

And with the same majestic simplicity we have the downfall of Alexander and the division of his Empire described. Listen! “Therefore the he-goat waxed very great; and when he was strong the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.”

To fully understand the sacred writer here, you must call to mind a little of history, more and better, for all knowledge only aids us the better and better to read the Bible.

What beast save the goat could characterise Alexander and his reign? He was the son of Philip of Macedon, born 356 B.C., and died in 323. He began his reign at twenty years of age, and closed it in twelve years and eight months. No man in the same time ever fought so many battles, won so many victories, and subdued so many people. No man, before or since, ever ruled over so many people and such a kingdom. Queen Victoria is in these things his only rival. But with his sudden death the fruits of his victories are re-distributed. His Empire was divided into four parts; the four Diadochi were his successors. What lessons may men and nations learn by studying the prophecies!

“For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;” and unto this sure word of prophecy we do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter . As naturally as nature responds to the seasons, so will providence to prophecy. We can discern Spring-time, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The garden will reveal to us Winter as distinct from Summer, so in interpreting prophecy we must always look for an agreement between providence and the world. As naturally as the goat symbolises Alexander, so will providence in natural history respond. Winter, with its winds, storms, and frost; with its leafless trees and desolate gardens, proclaim, beyond a doubt, which season of the four is bearing rule. Such a thing cannot be of private interpretation; and prophecy, when fulfilled, is as easy seen, and is not of private interpretation. A man is as foolish in forging prophecy as one would be in trying to forge Winter by putting artificial leaves on trees, and flowers on bushes. The thing is easily known if we exercise our reason. In this line of thought we are sorry to note that men have more faith than reason; hence the blunderings of prophetic writers, and the leaders of Adventism and Millenarianism. Prophecy unfulfilled commands and demands our faith much more faith than reason, for it is impossible to see how some things can come to pass, but if they are subjects of prophecy they surely will, whether we understand them or not. A prophecy fulfilled, however, appeals more to reason than faith, for if fulfilled, it can readily be demonstrated.

As naturally as the female and male birds know each other and mate together, so will events and prophecy. This kind of argument Isaiah uses: “Seek ye out the Book of the Lord and read; no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate, for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them” (Isa. xxxi. I charge you to beware of prophetic dentists who put false teeth in the mouth of prophecy; who by their haste and impatience forestall prophecy and weaken men’s faith instead of strengthening it. Prophetic evidence is very strong evidence, both for the Christian and the infidel.

Some will fail to be convinced when prophecy is fulfilled. Jew-like, they will blind their eyes and shut their ears to the evidences and voice of fulfilled prophecy. The entire career of our Lord Jesus Christ was foretold and mapped out by the Old Testament writers. Moses declared His family; Micah the place of His birth; Isaiah the virginity of His mother; Zechariah His triumphant entry into Jerusalem; David His life, resurrection, and ascension, with many other kinds of evidence of a detailed and general character; yet the Jews, who claimed to be well versed in the Old Testament, rejected Christ. Keep these things in mind while we now consider the text more directly.

You remember that out of the goat kingdom there came up four notable ones, and out of one them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great toward the South, East, and pleasant land, or land of Palestine. Now this horn is not to be confounded with the little horn of the fourth kingdom spoken of in chapter vii., for that horn might justly be called the eleventh toe horn, as it comes into existence after the ten-toe kingdoms. The little horn of the text is explained in verse 23 to be a king of fierce countenance. He was to appear in the latter time. It will be interesting for us to ascertain what king, people, and country this little horn stands for. Daniel has given us a very vivid picture of the king. He is to be of fierce countenance, to understand dark sentences, to stand up in power and might, not however in his own power; he will claim to be appointed and authorised of God, and will pretend to rule in God’s name; he will destroy wonderfully even the mighty of the world and the holy people; he will be very prosperous and practical, giving a great impetus to trade. By means of his prosperity he will become proud and strong, and will destroy many. He will actually stand up in place of Jesus Prince of princes. But finally he will be broken without a hand. Thus, you see, Daniel gives us twelve special features of his person and reign. Without doubt the mate of these descriptions will be found on the person of Mahommed, and his successors in religion Mahommedanism, and in people and country the Turks and Turkey.

Mahommed had his religion and himself recognised about the year 622 at Mecca. From that time and place he went forth to waste and to destroy. As his religion prevailed, so he subdued the country or territory. He united in himself the rights and prerogatives of king, priest, and prophet, making it obligatory upon his followers to prepare a way and enforce his religion by the sword. He was indeed a king of fierce countenance. Thus sprang Mahommedanism and the Turkish nation into existence. As a people, they are chiefly the descendants of Esau and Ishmael. If one desires to know the history and final destiny of this people, let him study the prophetic utterances concerning Esau and Ishmael. They are the descendants of Abraham, and so they very naturally fall into the prophetic line.

The Hungarians came from this family through Lot. The Poles and Magyars are from Moab and Ammon. These things being so, it is no wonder the Hungarians and Turks should sympathise, nor that England should have a liking for Turks, England being the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Alliance and sympathy between England and Turkey has a deeper root and meaning than some are willing to admit. Turkey, however, as a distinct empire, is nearly at an end. The recognition of the Ten Lost Tribes, and their restoration with the Jews to Palestine, is connected with the downfall of Turkey. “Saviours are to come up on Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s” (Obad.).

How clearly speaks Obadiah again when he says, “How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up! All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border; the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee; there is none understanding in him. Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the Mount of Esau?”

These are the latter times of the king of fierce countenance. Hear Daniel inquiring of the angel in this vision, “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days.” These days are generally allowed to stand for years. If so, Jerusalem was destroyed 70 A.D. The time Daniel saw this vision was about 490 B.C.; take 70 from this leaves 420. From 2,300 take 420, and we have 1,880. “Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” What means this? It means Jerusalem will recur back again into the hands of the Jews and Israel. Christ said that the Jews “should fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke xx.

Now we know the Jews did fall by the sword when the Romans took Jerusalem. Second, we know they were scattered among the nations. Third, Jerusalem has been trodden under foot so much so, that Christians have not been permitted to stand on Mount Zion, where now stands the Mosque of Omar. And this is the city of the great King. This is Mount Zion, from which is yet to go forth the law. This is Jerusalem that God promises to yet again make the chief place of the earth. “Arise, shine, for the light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” When, we ask, will the fulness of the Gentiles come in? We answer, Soon. Think of what God has taught us in His Word. We, as the Lost Tribes, have indeed been ignorant of our origin and destiny. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. x. This time is nicely pointed out by John in Rev. x: “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months;” or, as explained in the following verse, a thousand two hundred and three-score days. Accepting a day for a year again, and we have 1,260 years. Taking Mahommed power to date from 622, or about, then 622 and 1,260 make 1,882. Now just as sure as Jerusalem is now trodden under foot, as certainly will it be free.

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion” (Isa. li, 2).

England is appointed of God to take possession of Palestine and restore Jerusalem. God has told us through Isaiah that He will lay vengeance upon Edom by the hand of Israel. The many days of the vision of Daniel are now gone; the time is nearly up.

“For Zion’s sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth; and the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory.” It is the duty of the watchmen of Zion to discern the signs of the times and become obedient unto heavenly instruction. “Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give Him no rest till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isa. lxi, 2, 6, 7).