The Eastern question

Front matter

THE

GASTERN QUESTION.

VARIOUS PHASES.

Contents

EGYPTIAN PHASE.

CHAPTER T.

From the Formation of His Empire to His Death, A. D. 632 — Land of Israel Fertilized — Arabian Dynasty of the Mohammedan Empire — The Origin of the Roman Empire — Mohammedan Empire— By What Means the Land of Israel is Fertilized — The Term Water, its Various Meanings — Mohammedan Empire Under the Dynasty of Caliphs — The First Caliphs and Their Mission — Their Successors — Fifth Caliph Additional Remarks — Wild Beasts as Symbols — Ottoman or Turkish Dynasty — Origin of the Turkish Dynasty — Second Saltan — Third Sultan — Prelude 27

Chapter II

Egypt — Description of Egypt — Its Peculiarities — How Fashioned — A Description of the People of Egypt — Egypt, Past History of its People — The Traditional Period — Monumental Period — The Labyrinth — The Lake Moiris — Pyramids — Prelude — A Step in Advance — A Terrible Hour — The Great Pyramid, Continued — Problems of Science — Time of Erection — Purpose of Erection — Hebrew Sojourn and Bondage — God's Claims over Egypt — God's Judgments of Egypt— A Look into the Future — Egyptian History, Continued— Predictions Regarding Egypt— God's Predictions — Close of Egypt's Supremacy — Explanation of Isaiah xix. 25 — Egypt under Babylon — Egypt under Persia — Egypt under Greece — Close of this Period — Egypt under Rome — Can the Moral Constitution of a People be Changed Without the Subversion of its Political System ? — Egypt under Mohammedan Arabia, A.. D. 640 to A. D. 1250— Egypt still Degenerating 48

Chapter III

Egypt under the Turk, from A. D. 1517 to A. D. 1840, 323 to 328 Years— Had the Creator a Special Purpose in the Size of the Earth? — Suez and its Ship Canal — What Does the Drying up of the Euphrates Symbolize? — Second Question — Is it Necessary that the Ottoman Empire Should be Totally Annihilated Before the Coming of Christ for His People ? — Egypt in 1882— Its Present State — Its Uprising Its Results and its Bearings on the Future— Prelude — Certain Questions Considered — Egypt in the Future — Prelude — Explanations — Egypt in the Future Way- Marks— Egypt's Union with Israel and Assyria— Fourth Way-Mark — Egypt in the Future— Fourth Way- Mark— The High -Way— Fifth Way- Mark— The Family of Egypt under the Joint Reign 69

BRITISH PHASE.

Chapter IV

Propriety of the Name— Elements, Growth, and Mission of Great Britain, Stated and Outlined. British Phase — British Empire as it Now Exists— What has Christianity to do with Natural Science and Profane History? — Island of Great Britain — The British Shipping — By What Various Families and Races has the Island of Great Britain been Ruled? — The British or Saxon Empire — European Home of the Saxons 70

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter V

Their Peculiar European Location — As Early as A. D. 141— Law of Distribution of the Human Family— Two Classes of Mankind — Distinct Migrations— Saxons in Their European Home — Its Divisions — Education on Land and Sea — Is There any Want of Harmony Between the Writings of Peter and Paul Eelative to the Future ? — A Difficulty Explained — Saxon Mode of Life in his European Home — Sea Kings? — Increase of the Anglo-Saxon — Saxon History — Geographical Location of the Sacse — Great Centre of Immigration — Saxons Traced from their Home in Southwestern Asia to their Location in Central Asia— Increase of Certain Nationalities — The Decrease of Others — History of the Hebrews to the Captivity of the Ten Tribes — "A Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of My People Israel" — Is the Mystic Babylon of the Apocalypse an Asiatic or European City? The Ten-Tribed Kingdom, Continued — What Became of Jeremiah at the Fall of Jerusalem? — Ten-Tribed Kingdom in Captivity — Have the Throne and Kingdom of David a Continuous Existence? — Anglo-Israel — Is Jesus of Nazareth the Legal Heir to David's Throne? — Commercial Intercourse — Colonization Period 127

The Northern or Russian Field under the Roman Empire — Tribal Russia, Continued — Russian Born 214

Chapter X

Russian History — The First Scandinavian Dynasty — Ruric A. D, 862-1505, 643 years — First Raid on Constantinople, A. D. 876— Second Raid, A. D. 908— Third Raid, A. D. 938— Fourth Raid, A. D. 1015— Fifth Raid, A. D. 915— Russians Converted to Christianity— Sixth Raid on Constantinople, A. D. 1043— Mogul Tartar Invasion, A. D. 1222 — Continuing Two Centuries and One Half — The Russian Monarchy under its Czars of Muscovy, A. D. 1533 to A. D. 1682, 149 years 229

Chapter XI

The Second or Romanoff Dynasty of the Russian Empire, A. D. 1598-1887— Russian Empire under Peter the Great— Will of Peter the Great— Death of Paul— Alexander L, A. D. 1801-1825— Nichola 256

CONTENTS. yH

Chapter XII

Nicholas— Nihilism— Russian Aristocracy— Serfs— Michael Bakunin— War with Turkey Alexander II. — Birth — Death — Education — Life — Alexander III 274

Chapter XIII

Russian Empire from A. D. 1884 to the Close of the Millennal Age— Divine Record — Eze. xxxviii. 1-2. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9-12-13.— History in Full, of Tarshish— 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.— Eze. xxxix. 1-8. 9. 10. 11. 17-21-25.— Zech. xii. 2-3. 4-8. xiv. 1-9— Close of Russian Phase 311

OTTOMAN PHASE.

Chapter XIV

Origin of the Turk- Turko-Scythian Empire— Bertezena— Religion— Conquests— History 314

Chapter XV

Second Turkish Empire with Preliminary Families — Dynasty of Samanides, A. D. 874 to A. D. 999, 125 years— Dynasty of Gasnevides, A. D. 999 to 1183, 184 years— Mahmud — Massoud — Togrul Beg — Alp Arstan — Malek Shah — Change of Location Seljukian Empire — History 342

Chapter XVI

Third Turkish Empire — Ottoman Empire, (1) Othman, (2) Orchan, (3) Amurath First, (4) Bajazet, (5) Soliman, (6) Amurath II., (7) Mohammed II.— Life of Othman— Life of Orchan — Life of Amurath First — Life of Bajazet — Life of Soliman — Life of Amurath II. — Life of Mohammed II 346

Chapter XVII

Official Reign of the Ottoman Empire, from A. D. 1453 to A. D. 1887 — Constantinople — Bajazet II. — Selim — Solyman II. — Selim II. — Amurath — Mustapa — Othman — Amurath IV. — Mohammed IV. — Solyman II. — Ahmed II. — Mustapha II. — Ashmed III.— Mahmud I.— Othman III.— Mustapha III.— Abdul — Hamid — Selim III.— Mustapha IV. — Mahmud II. — Abdul Medjid — Abdul Azir — Review — Egypt — Ismail Pasha — Ottoman Empire as it Now is 370

HEBREW PHASE.

CHAPTER VIII.

Origin of the Hebrew Family — Size of the Land — Promises — Egyptian Epoch — Vast Increase — Their Bondage — Plagues Leave Egypt 391

Chapter XX

Twelve-Tribed Monarchy— Saul— David— Solomon — Ten-Tribed Monarch — Two-Tribed Monarchy — Long Captivity — 70 Years' Captivity — History of Judah to Birth of Messiah — Struggles — Remmant Build the City — Second Temple (Haggai) — Temple

VIII CONTENTS.

by Herod— Purim — Ptolemy Philadelphus B. C. 271 — Ptolemy Philopater — Jewish Persecutors — Seleucus Philopater, King of Syria — Antiochus Epiphanes — Eleazar and his Sons 477

Chapter XXI

Tenth Epoch of Hebrew History, from A. D. 1 to A. D. 70 — Birth of Christ to the Fall of Jerusalem — Christ Born — Genealogy — Life of Christ — His Teachings — His Acts — Control — Deportment — Death — Resurrection — 40 Days' Teaching — His Ascension — Comforter (Paraklete) — History of the Jews to A. D. 70 — Disciples — Siege and Fall of Jerusalem ^ 505

Chapter XXII

Eleventh Epoch of Hebrew History, from A. D. 70 to the Beginning of their Return

— Times of the Gentiles — Christ's Predictions — Jews under Pagan Rome — Under

Christian Rome — Under Papal Rome — Under Protestantism — Jews in England —

Jews in Germany — In Switzerland — In Spain — In Denmark — Privileges Increasing

Chapter XXIII

Twelfth Epoch of Hebrew History, from the Present to their Return and Nationalization in Palestine — Have they a National Future? — Prophecies, Gen. iii. 15., Deut. xxxii. 8. 9. — Promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — Isaiah — Jeremiah — Ezekiel — Daniel — Hosea — Amos — Zechariah — Jesus — Paul — John — Colonization Scheme , 538

AMERICAN PHASE.

Chapter XXIV

i;^ew World — Agents — Why not Sooner Discovered ? — Its Location — Shape — Resources — Various Races — Which Shall Predominate? — First Settlement to the French and Indian War — Various States — Their Settlements — Puritans 563

Chapter XXV

The Birth Struggle of — Declaration — Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne — Campaigns of '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81 — Surrender at Yorktown — Various Nationalities — Constitution Seal of the United States — Administrations, 22, (1) George Washington, (2) Adams' Administration, (3) Jefferson's Administration, (4) Madison's Administration, (5) Monroe's Administration, (6) Adams' (J. Q.) Administration, (7) Jackson's Administration, (8) Van Buren's Administration, (9-10) Administrations of Harrison and Tyler, (11) Polk's Administration, (12-18) Administration of Taylor and Fillmore, (14) Pierce's Administration, (15) Buchanan's Administration, Preparations for a Rebellion, (16) Lincoln's Administration, War of the Rebellion, Causes of the War, (17) Johnson's Administration, (18) Grant's Administration (19) Hayes' Administration, (20-21) Administrations of Garfield and Arthur, (22) Cleveland's Administration — Presidents, of What Nationalities 601

Chapter XXVI

Summary — Egypt — Great Britain — Russia — Ottoman— Hebrew — American — Messianic — God's Purpose, Plans, as to the Earth — Colonization Scheme — Promises — Sons of Joseph — Messianic Enunciations — Great West — Manasseh — Conclusion — Coronation of Messiah — Restitution — Aspects of the Nations 639

Preface

In presenting a new work to the public it is very proper that, with its introduction, there should be a brief statement, of its nature and mission.

Its name (Eastern Question in its Various Phases) is indicative of its character and of the work designed to be accomplished. The " Eastern Question " is a world-wide topic. All eyes are turned towards the Orient in anticipation of the introduction of some great National Crisis. Nations are arming and making vast preparations for the coming struggle. With their lips they cry peace, but war is in their hearts. Coming events indicate WAR ; such is the general feeling among the world's rulers. Statesmen speak of Eastern complications, and their difficulties of any peaceable solution : still they seem to assume their ability to secure (by their own inherent powers) a final settlement of affairs satisfactory to all great national interests. The earth (say they) is ours, to manage and govern as may best suit our own pride and selfishness; each nation, however, seeking her own special aggrandizement.

The removal of the Ottoman Empire from Europe, is the dream of Russia, while the powers of Western Europe see, in such an event, the final overthrow of their OAvn nationalities. Russia aims at Universal Empire, as indicated in the will of Peter the Great. The western powers are not in darkness relative to the intention of the "Northern Autocrat."

In all the great national movements of to-day nothing is said by the Monarchs of any other than their own claims to the diadem of the world. Jehovah's claim is ignored. The right of Messiah to the Empire of the whole earth is not once named; and I^is people are not in any of their plans.

The "Eastern Question" therefore, in the estimation of human rulers and in the purpose of Jehovah, is quite a different problem.

To put this question on its proper base is the intention of this work.

We have traced seven families from the days of the earliest prophecies, and have given the Divine record as to their location and work in the coming struggle. When the diadem was taken from the head of

(IX)

X PREFACE.

Zedekiah there was to be a continued transfer by Jehovah who possesses the right to dispose of it as He sees fit, till He (His Son) should come whose right it is, to whom it shall be given. It was to be given to Gentile monarchies till the Heir to David's throne (Jesus the Messiah) should be ready to receive it from His Father.

The Diadem went from the head of Zedekiah to the head of the King of Babylon. From that power it was removed to the Medo-Persian Power; then to the Grecian, and finally to the Roman and Romano-German. In this family it remains till Jehovah claims it for His Son.

The " Eastern Question," in its true construction, concerns those events predicted by God's holy seers, the record of which is in the Bible.

We have aimed to give those events a full and complete examination.

We have followed the one great Colonization Scheme, or the outward movement from the original centre ; have sketched the progressive colonization of the world, closing with the view of the Western Hemisphere, and the gradual rise of a new people and a new Empire.

We have called attention to the second movement, that of the Restitution.

Our field of investigation is the world. The reign of Messiah is sketched and fully investigated. Our work must interest all classes of intelligent readers. It is a work for the Statesman, the Theologian and Philosopher. We do not fear criticism as to our subject : it is above human thought or purpose. It deals with the Divine purpose and plans relative to the Messiah, and the future of His territory and dominion. Read^ ponder, and act.

THE

EASTERN QUESTION

ITS VARIOUS PHASES.

Chapter I. Preliminary Chapter

The Eastern Question— Balance of Power— Questions— Another Form of the Eastern Question— Still Another Statement of the Problem — Points Involved in the Question — Europe and the East— Their Geographical Position — The Crescent and the Cross — The Circle Examined— Geographical Positions — Europe— Asia —Africa— The East Must be Renovated— An Outline of the Subject.

Jehovah is abroad among the nations. His foot-prints are everywhere visible. His voice is heard in the heavens, and the rushing of his chariot-wheels sounds along the cloud-pavements of his tempestuous highway. The elements of his wrath are gathering, soon to be discharged upon the corrupt world of mankind. His finger ia again seen writing upon the palace-walls of nobles, kings, and emperors.

The masses are restless; a feverish excitement prevails. Many ai'e run- (/dng to and fro, and knowledge is increasing. Any unusual movement among the nations puts the world on tip-toe of expectation.

God, as of old, is again showing his wonders in the land of Ham. He is collecting his forces to carry out his long predicted purposes. What mean these rapid developments? What bearing has this Egyptian uprising upon the Eastern Question? What location has it on the chart of prophecy? These problems we propose to investigate.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

An expression quite familiar, but who can define it? It maybe presumption in us to make an attempt at a definition; still, it requires some knowledge of the Eastern Question in order to describe satisfactorily its Egyptian phase, for it has a phase for every nation involved in its numerous and still unfolding complications; as many phases as there are peoples to be gathered to the coming struggle. Among its most noted phases we may reckon its English phase, its Russian phase, its Turkish phase, its Hebrew phase, its Egyptian phase, its Mohammedan phase, and last, but not least, its Christian phase. We shall give our definition of the Eastern Question in various forms that the reader may discern its complicated elements. Our definition is the following:

BALANCE OF POWER.

How can the balance of power, now existing among the Western or European nations, relative to their intercourse with the Oriental nations, such as India, China and Japan, be so protected and maintained as not to infringe upon their individual rights, privileges and interests, political, social and religious? The great Western world and the great Eastern world must interchange their physical products, also their manufactured articles. They must have very extended commercial intercourse. To do this there must be channels of communication, highways by sea and land. How shall these national highways be managed? Who shall control them? The solution of these questions must involve the Eastern Question.

What highways now exist? How, and by whom are they controlled, and managed? By what laws and regulations? These are elements of the Eastern Question. This question will be more fully explained by considering the following

•

QUESTIONS.

1. What national highways between Europe and the Orient now exist?

2. Who now control, or are the custodians of these great Eastern highways?

3. If the Sultan is deposed, who shall accomplish that task, and what nation shall fill his responsible office?

4. Shall Russia or England control those highways?

5. If neither, shall Russia manage the northern channel and England the southern?

6. Shall they be held and operated conjointly?

7. Or shall they be strictly neutral, but under the care of a new custodian, who shall (ofiicially) manage them?

8. Who shall be that custodian or commission nation?

These problems are parts of the great Eastern Question which we propose to consider.

AXOTHER FORM OP THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Another form of the Eastern Question is the following: What position shall. each nation occupy in the coming struggle? What shall be its military status?

Another question arises: How can there be a free commercial intercourse between the East and the West without bringing on a conflict between the Crescent and the Cross? How can either Jesus or Mohammed put on the diadem of the world without an entire subversion of the present order of things? Both classes of religionists are expecting their chief to establish universal dominion. Which shall conquer? What shall be the nature of the struggle? Such questions as these must claim our attention.

STILL ANOTHER STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.

Allow us to give another statement of the Eastern problem. What shall be done with the Turkish empire and its territory in order to restrain the Rus-

EGYPTIAN PHASE.

sian bear from devouring the national flesh of Asia, and thus causing ruin to the Eastern interests of all Western Europe ?

For a century the Western nations have been anticipating the dissolution of the Ottoman empire (the empire of "The sick ma.n'"— Voltaire.) How can that empire be sustained? Or, if it must fall, what disposition shall be made of its territory?

The geographical position of Russia, and also of Austria favors the idea of its absorption by those two powers. How can the West prevent this catastrophe? Or, if the Turkish empire cannot be held in being as a check to Russian aggression, by what other means can Western Europe protect her own interests?

The British and Russian empires, with equal areas, (8,000,000 square miles each) seem designed to head two great national confederacies, which from their geographical position maybe termed, Northern and Southern, and in prophetic language, " King of the South," and " King of the North." This outline will be filled out as we advance. Take notice, however, that the empire of the "False Prophet" has its location in the great conflict. Rev. xvi, 8; xix, 20— Mohammedan empire as we have taught for twenty-five years.

POINTS INVOLVED IN THE QUESTION.

The Eastern Question involves the entire international communications of the West with the great East. In its full extent America would not be excluded, though in its ordinary meaning Europe and Asia, with a part of Africa include all the territory particularly interested. We propose to consider the following questions, which will develop the jmncipal elements of the great Eastern Problem and fix the position which each nation is to occupy in the approaching contest.

1. We shall consider their geographical position.

2. We shall sketch the vastness and the variety of their products.

3. The immense power involved in the interchange of these products.

4. We shall examine their channels of communication— national highways.

5. Their limited number and contracted form require greater activity in the exchange.

6. The qualifications in the custodian and exchange-merchant to manage efficiently these channels of communication.

7. We shall show the incompetency of the present occupants, the Sultan of Turkey, and the Khedive of Egypt, his Viceroy.

8. God is educating and prej^aring one to fill this high station.

9. How and by whom are the present custodians to be removed?

10. How shall this new custodian be inducted into his office?

11. What position shall each nation occupy in the coming struggle? Such is the outline of the subjects we propose to investigate.

^ In doing so we shall strive, in as few words as practicable, to show the political, social, and religious aspects of the Eastern Question; and, more particularly to point out the future of Egypt and Turkey.

4 THE EASTERN QXJBSTION,

I.— EUROPE AND THE EAST— THEIR GEOGRAPH- ICAL POSITION.

Under this head we shall consider their size and their reiatve position, with such other points as may illustrate our subject.

Touching the great sea (Mediterranean) are the three grand divisions, Europe on the north, Africa south, and Asia on the East. An oblong basin of brine, with sides and rim composed of semi-continents. Let us examime this noted territory.

THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.

Set one foot of the compass at Jerusalem, and with the length of that sea as a radius, describe a circle. Through this centre draw two diameters, cutting each other at right angles. The four extremities will represent the four cardinal points, north, south, west and east. From the east point, with the same radius, describe an arch, having its extremities in the circumference of the circle. You have a circle, a crescent and a cross, symbols of the two great religions of the world.

Within the circle are included the localities of the noted events of man's history; the place of his birth; the garden of Eden; the empires of Egypt and ancient Israel under Solomon; the territories of the four Gentile morarchies, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome; and the land of the future restored Israel. The crescent includes the empires of China and Japan (principally) and contains nearly one-half the population of the globe. With this circle and its crescent we are now concerned, as they include the territory principally involved in the Eastern Question.

THE CIRCLE EXAMINED.

Let us examine this circle. Europe occupies its north-west quadrant. Its north-east quadrant contains Babylonia and Persia; its south-east quadrant has Arabia; its south-west quadrant contains Egypt and Carthage. Each quadrant has had its noted empire, and its interesting historic record. In the crescent is the Mongolian family, on a territory of surpassing interest. Clustering about this mid-earth sea is the national swarm. The principal nations of the globe either occupy its coasts or navigate its waters, the highway between the West and the East, This water highway has three principal gates: 1. The channel or ocean outlet. 2. Dardanelles. 3. Through Egypt by the Suez canal. These are water outlets for ships of commerce.

This water highway between Europe and the West, and the Orient, extends east and west, occupying the southern part of the northern temperate zone, extending from latitude 30:^° to latitude 42°. It is the zone of human intellect; the belt of empires, where man attains his highest development.

Within the area of our circle, and about its middle belt of waters cluster those nations that are so deeply interested in the solution of the Eastern Problem; all striving to gain their full share of the immense wealth of India, China and Japan, with their adjacent islands.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONS EUROPE.

In this circle of human action, physical, social, moral, and political, let us again take a view of the geographical positions of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with tlieir environed sea. Europe occupies her northern sea coast with all its lakes, rivers, gulfs and bays, and it is crowded with dense masses of the Caucasian race, the most active, intellectual, and fully developed of the human family; actively occupied with all human knowledge and all industrial pursuits. With a territory of the same extent as that of our Republic, it has a population of 302,000,000. The products ot the soil cannot feed its inhabitants, while its manufactories are far in advance of her home demands. Europe therefore, must have an outlet for her surplus productions. It is properly denominated the world's commercial metropolis. Its vessels are on every ocean, in every sea of both hemispheres. Europe looks eastward for a large portion of its territory.

ASIA — AFRICA.

Examine the map of Asia, especially that part of it within our circle and its crescent. With a population of 700,000,000, its soil cannot feed the masses. It must look to other countries for some of its provisions. If this Asiatic belt had an European population, circumstances would have quite another aspect. But with races without intelligence or industry, poverty and want must follow. Much of the Asiatic soil is uncultivated and waste. Its moral, social, and political conditions compare favorably with its physical state. They all require renovation by associating with the active and intelligent West.

Our circle includes all of Africa that has any historical record. Take from that grand division, Egypt, and those states along the Mediterranean, once included in the empire of Carthage, Rome's rival, and nothing remains but semi-barbarous tribes.

THE EAST MUST BE RENOVATED.

Asia was once enlightened with the gospel, but long since its light was extinguished, and its Christian lamp-stand removed. In these Eastern movements God has evidently one purpose, while man's intention is actuated by other views. It is quite evident, however, that God, as of old, rules among the nations, and all that he has uttered by the prophets will certainly be accomplished. The nations will rapidly be mustered into the places to fulfil their divine commissions. Lord hasten the day.

In the preceding pages we have given an outline of the subject. It will be readily seen by the readers of the "Coming Age," that the present volume will be supplementary to that extended topic. The following pages will afford abundant evidence of its nature and proximity. Though the future brings to view two ages, the reign of subjugation, (for, "He must reign till he hath jjut all enemies under his feet," during which Christ is performing the work of his regal office;) the joint reign where Father and son reign together, as on the new earth; yet, we have called it one age, since it is the age of Messiah, he being personally present under each reign, and their Maker.