The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

appoint. If it is to be understood this way, it is expressing only the same thing by different
words, just as the expressions "peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues" are used
together in other places of the Revelation. However, if it be taken to represent symbolic
time, 391 years and 15 days would be that time. If we were to take the last of these powers
that were loosed--the Ottoman Turks--we have a very significant fulfillment. It was the
29th of May, 1453 AD, that Mohammed II captured Constantinople. Three hundred and
ninety-one years from that time brings us to 1844 AD. It was in this year that the Sultan of
Turkey was compelled by the so-called Christian nations of Europe to sign an edict of
toleration, abolishing forever its continual practice of executing for apostasy, those who
changed their belief from the Mohammedan to the Christian faith. This he did entirely
against his will, because it was against the precepts of the Koran, and contrary to what had
been their practice since their existence.
The grand Vizier writing to the English government on this matter, said: "The laws of the
Koran are inexorable as regards any Musselman who is convicted of having renounced his
faith. No consideration can produce a commutation of the capital punishment to which the
law condemns him without mercy." The reply of the English government was "Her
Majesty's government requires the Porte to abandon once for all, so revolting a principle. If
the Porte has any regard for the friendship of England, it must renounce absolutely and
without equivocation the barbarous practice which has called forth the remonstrance now
addressed to it." Russia at the time wrote: "We positively expect no longer to witness
executions which excite the indignation of Christendom." Finally the following concession
was obtained with great difficulty:
"The sublime Porte engages to take effectual measures to prevent henceforward the
execution and putting to death of the Christian who is an apostate. Henceforward neither
shall Christianity be insulted in my dominions, nor shall Christians be in any way
persecuted for their religion."
This surely was a positive proof that Ottoman independence ceased that year. Since then,
the Turkish government has been compelled to shape its course in accordance with the
wishes of the so-called Christian nations of Europe. It was indeed a "compulsory sheathing
of the sword of persecution," which had been relentlessly wielded during the whole
period of its terrible history. But still further events in these latter days are to be observed
by faithful watchers: The expulsion of the Sultan of Turkey from Constantinople in
connection with the World War which accomplished his removal as head of the Turkish
Empire, is indeed significant, as it marks an important step towards the final overthrow
and destruction of that system.
Chapter 21: Rev. 10:1-11
The Mighty Angel and the Seven Thunders
"And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a
rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of
fire."--Rev. 10:1.