Part 47 (1/2)
It becomes a vital question, therefore, what power in these last days is the king of the north, whose end is the signal of the swift ending of the world. Inspiration gives the basis for the answer. The king of the north in the early portion of the prophecy was the power that ruled in Syria and Asia Minor, from the Euphrates to the sh.o.r.es of the Dardanelles. The king of the north, then, of the later portion of the prophecy, must be the power that has been ruling in this same region during the time of the end.
What power has held dominion over this territory in modern times?--The Turkish or Ottoman Empire. At this time Turkey holds almost the identical dominion of the ancient king of the north--from the Euphrates to the sea, and northward over Asia Minor and the sh.o.r.es of the Dardanelles.
Then today Turkey is certainly the king of the north, according to the prophecy of Daniel 11.
Of the later history of the king of the north and his end and the events following it, the prophecy says:
”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.
”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.
”And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a 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, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 11:44, 45; 12:1.
[Ill.u.s.tration: CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE
The capital of the Turkish government.
COPYRIGHT BY UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N, Y.]
The opening verse of this scripture describes exactly the history of Turkey in modern times. Turkey's disquietude has come because of tidings out of the east and out of the north. In both these directions there has been a pus.h.i.+ng back of the Turkish frontier, particularly in the north.
Again and again, during this time of the end, Turkey has gone forth with fury to resist these encroachments and prevent the loss of territory.
The prophecy indicates that in some of these struggles the king of the north will yet transfer his capital:
”He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.”
Removal to Jerusalem
This prophecy can mean nothing else than that the king of the north will eventually set up his headquarters in Jerusalem; for Jerusalem is ”the holy mountain” of the Scriptures. Zech. 8:3.
It is a wise counsel that says, ”Tread lightly in the details of unfulfilled prophecy.” Just how events are to turn, by what route or processes the steps are to be taken, it is useless to conjecture. But there the prophecy stands. Every word of the early portion of the prophetic outline has been fulfilled to the letter in the history of the ancient empires battling century after century over this region. Every word spoken of the final scenes will as certainly be fulfilled.
In view of this prophecy,--that Jerusalem is yet to be made the headquarters of the king of the north,--it becomes highly significant that the Mohammedans regard Jerusalem as a sacred city. According to Mohammedan tradition, Jerusalem is to play a leading part in the closing history of that people. Hughes, in his ”Dictionary of Islam,” article ”Jerusalem,” summarizes the teaching:
”In the last days there will be a general flight to Jerusalem.”
Speaking of Jerusalem, an old Arab commentator on the Koran, Mukaddasi (A.D. 985), said:
”As to the excellence of the city. Why, is not this to be the place of marshaling on the day of judgment, where the gathering together and the appointment will take place? Verily Makkah [Mecca] and Al Madina have their superiority by reason of the Ka'abah and the prophet,--the blessing of Allah be upon him and his family!--but, in truth, on the day of judgment both cities will come to Jerusalem, and the excellencies of them all will then be united.”--_Le Strange, ”Palestine under the Moslems,”
p. 85._
[Ill.u.s.tration: MODERN JERUSALEM
”He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.” Dan. 11:45.]
Thus Moslem doctrinal teaching and tradition both point out Jerusalem as the rallying place of Moslems before the end. Again and again in recent years, as the pressure has threatened the Turkish hold on Constantinople, the thoughts of Moslems have turned toward Jerusalem as a possible capital. A few years ago a Seventh-day Adventist missionary in Constantinople wrote to his home board:
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MOSQUE OF OMAR