TURKISH OUTRAGES IN ARMENIA-THE EASTERN QUESTION.

(Continued from page 54.)

We conclude this series of brief papers on the Eastern Question by an inquiry into the position of the Gentile nations with reference to the great events which Scripture predicts. We may be sure that the occurrences which have of late transpired in the East should awaken interest in the teaching of Scripture on prophetic truth. We repeat that we have not the slightest power, nor the desire, to declare the time when all will take place. We are persuaded that this cannot be done.

Though by no means settled, the tendency seems to be toward an uneasy and temporary peace, with Russia occupying and controlling Armenia, and thus having still greater influence in Turkish affairs; while England, having publicly, through her government, confessed her impotency to rescue Armenia, is correspondingly weakened. This move, should it prove that the report is accurate, is very significant, when we remember the parties concerned. Its primary effect will be doubtless the maintenance of the status of affairs, but it increases the power and prestige of Russia, brings her a step nearer the object of her desire,-Constantinople,-and nearer, also, to the inevitable conflict with England and the other powers, should she lay her hand upon it. Thank God, we as Christians have no part in all the turmoil, save to walk quietly and firmly in the midst of it all, waiting for God's Son from heaven, meanwhile guided by the word of God as to our path, and as to the destiny of things around us.

To that word we now turn, to see the end as to the nations involved in the Eastern Question.

"When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel" (Deut. 32:8). This passage shows the preeminence of Israel in the counsels of God from the beginning, as the center, the head, of the nations. We see her as a nation delivered from the power of Egypt-the great world-power at that time ; we see the nations of Canaan thrust out (for their sins) before them, that they might inherit the land; we see them protected from foreign incursion or delivered from the grasp of those who had taken them captive when they had departed from the Lord; we see them finally brought, under the warlike reign of David and the peaceable reign of Solomon, to a visible and glorious headship over the nations-a figure, and only that, of the glorious realities when the true King-David and Solomon-shall make the name of Israel synonymous with all that is righteous and blessed and glorious-preeminent among the nations.

The glory under Solomon was short-lived. A divided kingdom, idolatrous kings, an unrighteous nation-the people soon were ripe for judgment and rejection. The ten tribes were carried away by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:6). The kingdom of Judah lingered a hundred and more years longer, to fall before the king of Babylon, who captured Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and carried away king and people into captivity to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1-17). This closes Israel's history as a nation, and marks the beginning of the "times of the Gentiles."

When a remnant under Ezra and Nehemiah were restored to Jerusalem, it was under the protection of Cyrus, king of Persia; and never since then has there been an independent Jewish nation. The temple was built, but there was no glory in it, and the presence of the Jews at Jerusalem was simply by permission of a Gentile power. Still unrepentant at heart, the guilty people reached the climax in the rejection of Christ; and soon after, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and the rejection of the nation was more than ever manifested. Since that time, they have been "fugitives and vagabonds upon the earth," yet with life and identity spared, till that time when, brought to repentance and purged in the times of the great tribulation, the remnant will be restored and become a nation, the center again of blessing for the nations during the millennium. This will mark the close of the "times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24).

The times of the Gentiles, then, is a distinct period, beginning with the rejection of the Jewish nation, and ending with their restoration, at the beginning of the millennium. We are living in that period. It may be roughly divided into three portions ; first, from the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar to the destruction of that city by the Romans after the crucifixion of Christ; second, the period since then until the resumption of God's dealings with the Jews as a nation in the last days; third, the brief period of the last week of Daniel 9:27,-the time of the revival of the Gentile power under the beast of Rev. 13:These divisions are indicated in the 70 weeks of Daniel, beginning there, however, with the edict of Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan. 9:24-27). The cutting off of Messiah closed the sixty-ninth week; and the setting up of the abomination of desolation, with the attending tribulation, occurs during the last or seventieth week. Therefore, between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks there is an interval, or break-the period of grace in which we live.

The first part of the times of the Gentiles was characterized by some reference to the Jewish nation- patient and forbearing mercy:the last part is brief, "for a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Rom. 9:25), characterized by a resumption of dealing with the Jews and the satanic energy of the revived imperial power, coupled with the schemes of a Jewish antichrist at Jerusalem; the present portion is marked by the hindrance of lawlessness, ready to be developed as soon as the " Spirit and the bride" are removed (2 Thess. 2:7, 8). It is a time of what is called progress, increase of knowledge, national individuality, coupled with a leading on to democratic imperialism, league of nations, etc.

Let us now turn to Scripture, and see what the course of the times of the Gentiles will be. Dan. 2:31-45, Dan. 7:, Rev. 13:, Rev. 17:, furnish us with material as to the general history of these times. All students of Scripture are agreed as to the first part of Daniel's two visions of the image and of the beasts. [It is significant that the Gentile king should see the image of a man; the prophet of God, beasts of prey.] Briefly, the head of gold and the beast like a lion represent Gentile rule under Babylon and her king Nebuchadnezzar. " Thou art this head of gold"; the breast and arms of silver and the second beast like a bear show the Medo-Persian empire which succeeded to that of Babylon; the belly and thighs of brass and the third beast like a leopard, having four heads, give us the Greek empire under Alexander the Great, and the four kingdoms into which it was parted at his death ; while in the legs and feet of iron and the fourth beast, diverse from all the rest, we have the Roman empire, and something more.

The feet and toes of the image are part of iron and part of miry clay-partly strong and partly brittle. The ten toes and the ten horns (Dan. 7:24) are evidently identical in meaning, and carry us on to Rev. 17:, where we have again ten horns, meaning ten kings, who unite to give (in the last days) their power and strength to the beast. This beast, we see in Rev. 13:1-10, has the features of all four of the beasts in Daniel (Rev. 13:2). Combining Rev. 13:1-3 with Rev. 17:8-11, we have a form of Imperial authority which once existed, has ceased, and will yet revive again under satanic form, which will be intrusted with all the power of the confederated kings.* *We pass over the great harlot in Rev. 17:as not being directly connected with our subject. It is not very difficult to detect in her the false Church of Rome, who has committed fornication with the kings of the earth, but who will eventually be rejected by them and judged by God.*

If now the fourth beast of Dan. 7:is the Roman empire, then the beast of Rev. 13:is also the Roman empire, but the empire under an imperial head, that has marked, and satanic, characteristics. If it be objected that the Roman empire has passed away, let it be noted that the beast had received a deadly wound; that it was, is not, and shall be. These expressions show a cessation, and then a revival, of empire, under satanic influence, which causes universal amazement and commands well-nigh universal worship.

Let it also be noted that in both Dan. 2:and 3:the end of the world-powers comes in judgment and the establishment in power of Christ's kingdom. That this has not yet taken place is evident. All these prophecies, then, bring us down to the close of the times of the Gentiles, and give us the features of the last days. These features are, first, imperial power, combined with democracy; the ten toes are of iron and clay mingled; the ten kings agree to give their power to the beast. We have thus an imperial league of the kingdoms forming the Roman empire, in Western Europe. The second feature of this empire is satanic blasphemy, with hatred and persecution of the saints of God (the godly Jewish Remnant). Lastly, this imperial head will be in league with the Antichrist, or false Messiah, accepted by the bulk of the Jews.

Such being the features of the revived empire of Rome, it is hardly necessary to say these conditions do not yet exist. The Roman empire is not:though the nations of Western Europe, like the rest of the world, lie in the wicked one, there has not been the development of the blasphemy and persecution that will mark the beast:the Jews are not in any real way installed in Palestine:the Antichrist has not yet appeared. But let no one say "peace and safety." "The mystery of lawlessness doth already work." When He that hindereth is removed, it will reach its full development. The coming of the Lord for His Church will let loose the powers of evil on the earth-Satan being cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:9-12). So soon as the gracious workings of the Spirit of God cease; so soon as the true Church, with its godly example and restraining moral influence, is removed,-evil will be unhindered, and all things will hasten toward the end.

Even now, we can see things getting ready for this. We have the alliance of three kingdoms, why not of ten ? We have all Europe in a state of unrest, why not secure ease from that by delivering over to one strong hand the reins of power? We see infidelity on the increase; 'twill soon lead to apostasy. So, then, we may indeed say, we know "what withholdeth" (Thess. 2:6). The Lord's coming may take place at any moment. We look for no signs, we wait simply for Him who said, " Behold, I come quickly." It now remains to see what place Russia occupies in the coming scenes. In the last days the mass of the Jewish nation is apostate, and, under the lead of the Antichrist, is in league with the beast who wears out the saints (the godly remnant). But there is another bitter enemy of the Jews distinct from the beast, who are spoken of in the prophets as the Assyrian (Mic. 5:5) Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (Ezekiel, 38th, 39th chaps.). Here we have mentioned by name the land of Rosh, or Russia, with its chief cities in Europe and Asia. We know the hatred of Russia against the Jews. It cannot endure to see their prosperity, when, restored to the land, they will for a brief period enjoy peace (before the "middle of the week" Dan. 9:27). Hatred too, of the Western powers will lead her, as even now, to encroach on what is under their protection; hence the invasion by Russia and her dependencies into Palestine – an invasion which, at the moment of success (Zech. 14:1-7), shall be cut short by the appearing of the Son of Man.

We have thus, briefly and imperfectly traced the future of the Gentiles up to the coming of the Lord. He will "break in pieces the oppressor;" the beast and the false prophet will be taken and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21):He will cause wars to cease, and introduce at last a reign of peace for all the earth.

" He'll bid the whole creation smile And hush its groan."

Beloved brethren, we wait in weakness for that day. Nay, we wait for the Morning Star, that rises before day. May we hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Surely I come quickly;" and may our hearts reply, "Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus."