Turkey in Prophecy
Turn to the thirty-fourth chapter of Isaiah. In the first few verses, God says His indignation is upon ALL the armies of the earth, and that ALL earthly armies shall be utterly destroyed! And then, He says in verse 5, "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea [Edom), and upon the people of my curse [or the people of my ban, margin), to judgment."
And this prophecy is dated. In verse 8, God says, "For it is the day of the Eternal's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion!"
Now notice Ezekiel 25. God says, "Thus saith the Lord Eternal; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; therefore thus saith the Lord Eternal; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword!" (Ezek. 25:12-13)
But WHY does God pronounce such disastrous calamities for the peoples of Turkey?
Irby should Turkey, with .its empire gone, its former holdings carved up and distributed among its conquerors, Turkey who remained neutral in World War II, be the recipient of some of the direst of Biblical indictments?
Turn to the book of Obadiah for the answer!
The book of Obadiah is utterly unique among the many prophecies of the Bible. It is a one-page prediction of the entire future history of the nation of Turkey!
Keeping in mind the geographically and geopolitically strategic location of modern Turkey, the most recent history of the Ottoman Empire and twentieth century Turkey, read the book of Obadiah in its true context in this modern time.
"The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord Eternal concerning Edom; we have heard a rumor from the Eternal, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen. Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle."
Who is this "ambassador sent among the heathen"? None other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Remember that major sections of the Bible plainly predict the second coming of Jesus Christ. Though laughable to so many skeptics today, there is nothing more clearly stated in the Bible, time and again, and in the very teaching of Christ Himself, than His imminent return to this sin-sick world to bring peace at last and to RULE this earth with a rod of iron! (Rev. 2:26; 3:21; Micah 4; Isa. 2)
Before proceeding with this vitally important prophecy of the book of Obadiah, turn for a moment to the sixty-third chapter of the book of Isaiah and notice again the time setting of this prophecy.
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is GLORIOUS IN HIS APPAREL, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness," comes the answer, "mighty to SAVE."
Plainly this is a prophecy that could refer to NO ONE, except Jesus Christ Himself!
Notice again the setting. First, the question comes from peoples as if with one voice, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?" And the answer is given — One who is glorious in apparel, who travels in the greatness of His strength, who speaks in righteousness, and who is mighty to save!
Now let's continue with verse 2 of the sixty-third chapter of Isaiah. "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine fat?"
And again the answer comes, "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
"For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of MY REDEEMED is come."
Reading this important prophecy in context, beginning from the sixty-second chapter and verse 10, you will see the prophecy concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ: "behold, his reward is with him, and his WORK before him" (Isa. 62:11).
What this predicts for Edom, or modern-day Turkey, then, is just AFTER the return of Jesus Christ.
Now, back to the book of Obadiah. Who then is this "ambassador who is sent among the heathen"?
The "ambassador who is sent among the heathen" is Jesus Christ Himself! Listen, now, to the prophecies concerning modern Turkey. God says, "Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised" (verse 2).
And truly, among the huge Gentile nations of today, Turkey is relatively small and insignificant, though occupying one of the strategic land areas of the earth. Turkey's present population is smaller than that of tiny Britain, though occupying a land area several times greater.
Then follows a series of verses concerning Edom's great pride and arrogance — descriptions of their ancient habitual dwelling places of clefts in the rocks and high habitations.
A striking part of this prophecy is found in verse 6. "How are the things of Esau searched out? how are his hidden things sought up!" And, true to this verse in the book of Obadiah, there is great exploration for oil and natural resources in the nation of Turkey today. Then follows the specific part of the prophecy for this moment.
God says, "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."
And who is "at peace" with Turkey today?
Remember, Turkey is a heavy contributor to NATO. Since being here, I have seen numerous army and naval installations, including the fortifications along the mouth of the Bosporus and the Black Sea which were built from 1936 on. While driving up toward the mouth of the Bosporus, we passed a large number of U.S. made Patton tanks.
During the Korean War, Turkey supplied a considerable number of soldiers for that effort, and a large number of Turkish soldiers and military equipment have been committed to NATO forces.
But what will happen when NATO collapses?
If the present course of French President Charles de Gaulle continues, it will force West Germany to pursue a similar course — demanding German control over atomic and hydrogen weapons. This could result not only in a complete shake-up of NATO, but the complete collapse of NATO, and the reverting to power struggles such as shook the earth in the middle 1930's.
Briefly, then, according to Bible prophecy, here's what WILL happen.
First, as you've been reading in the pages of The PLAIN TRUTH magazine these many years, and hearing over The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast for more than three decades, the United States and Great Britain WILL continue to find themselves burdened with increasing problems.
The internal problems of the United States and Great Britain — the drought, famine, mounting disease epidemics; increasing crime, mounting divorce, social and political debauchery — will increase until some of the most calamitous national disasters in our collective histories will occur!
These prophecies are SURE, they WILL come to pass, unless our peoples repent first!
Soon to emerge on the world scene will be a United States of Europe!
As preposterous as it sounded to listeners and readers in the middle 1940's, Germany has risen again! Germany Is the strongest economic, political and military power in Europe today!
Back in the middle 1940's, even prior to the close of World War II, when my father was faithfully proclaiming that very Biblical truth, many scoffed and doubted.
Still, the prophecies came to pass!
Already, six nations are bound together in several important ways.
Collective scientific endeavor toward a space effort, "Euratom," the "Common Market," all of these increasingly take on the shape of an emerging new super-government to ultimately encompass ten major nations, and very likely to be named, "the United States of Europe."
With Britain on the wane and losing out almost everywhere, in deepening and worsening sociological and economic problems at home; with the United States embarked on a course which seems only to more deeply enmesh her in the problems of other tiny nations around the world, losing power, economic strength and prestige, the really sic power to shock the world in future years will be a United States of Europe.
Through two world wars, Turkey has recognized that her natural trading areas, and her natural mutual defense and mutual aid pacts should have been with the European nations — and particularly those that also share the Mediterranean. Hence, Turkey's trading with the fascist powers during World War II.
But still another important factor enters into the picture. That of the ancient hatred borne by Esau against his brother Jacob!
Not one Turk out of millions would even remotely believe or understand such a statement today! Yet, mysteriously, such antagonism does exist. Just as God says in the prophecy of the book of Obadiah, Esau, or Turkey, will REJOICE at the national calamities of the British and American people!
But still another important aspect of future news needs to be understood in order to completely grasp the course of Turkey.
What Jesus Warned
Turn to the focal point of all Bible prophecy, Matthew 24. Notice how Jesus warned of impending calamity in the area of Jerusalem in the Middle East!
He said, concerning the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, "Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains . . . for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
"And except those days should be shortened, there should NO FLESH BE SAVED: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (Mat. 24:15-22).
Christ described this "abomination of desolation" as a DUAL OCCUPATION of Palestine!
First, He described an abomination standing in the HOLY place where it ought not! Jesus plainly spoke of a great super-religious figure emerging on the world scene, becoming the great "arbiter" in an attempt to bring peace between the squabbling big powers of the world!
Christ said this great religious figure would so play the part of the "Savior" of the world, that he would literally proclaim himself GOD! (II Thess. 2)
The second major event Jesus included in the "abomination of desolation" was the huge build-up of armed forces in the area surrounding Jerusalem! (Luke 21:20)
The military occupation and complete desolation of Israel (Palestine) for yet another time in the future is an absolute certainty!
And the prophecies of your Bible say it is THEN at THAT precise time, when perhaps thousands of British, and perhaps some American troops are in and around the area of Palestine, that a bizarre and deceptive move on the part of modern Turkey is going to occur!
Again, turn to the book of Obadiah and read with your own eyes one of the most remarkably detailed prophecies in all the Bible.
God says, "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
"In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive His [Jacob's! those of the United States and Great Britain!) forces, and foreigners entered into his gates [the United States, Great Britain AND Palestine), and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast AS one of them!" (Obadiah 10, 11)
Notice!
Were even "as" one of them! Not literally tied in with the emerging power bloc in Central Europe, not an actual MEMBER nation, but in an agreement or pact with those nations! "Even as" one of them, not actually one of them.
Now see what Turkey will do to unleash the wrath of God upon her in future years!
"But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress!" (Obadiah 12)
It is not only French President Charles de Gaulle who still has dreams of empire! Modern-day Turkey also has its designs and dreams of recapturing some of its past glories.
But with the incredible rebuilding of Israel — the reclamation of land, the reforestation projects, the discovery of minerals and raw materials, and the wealth which is beginning to be amassed there, it will be only logical for Turkey once again to try to obtain a major portion of the land of Palestine as she once DID obtain it.
And Jesus Christ of Nazareth plainly said such carving up of Israel WILL once more take place!
As unbelievable and incredible as this sounds, Jesus Christ of Nazareth said plainly yet a FUTURE destruction of Jerusalem is to occur!
What a saddening and shocking thing it will be for much of the world to see that what is being done in Israel today is to be destroyed again!
And in that impending destruction thousands of British, and Israelis, and possibly even some Americans will attempt to escape the iron encirclement coming, as Jesus PLAINLY said it would, in Palestine!
Now go on with the dramatically detailed prophecy of the book of Obadiah.
"Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; NEITHER SHOULDEST THOU HAVE STOOD IN THE CROSSWAY, TO CUT OFF THOSE OF HIS THAT DID ESCAPE. . . ." (Obadiah 13, 14)
Even looking at travel folders of this land, it is described as the very "cross-way" or "crossroads" of the world. The natural area into which people would flee in escaping any great confrontation between the East and West in the area of the Middle East, to be specific, Jerusalem, Palestine — would be up through the Cilician Gap into the Taurus mountains of the Anatolian Peninsula.
God says, "Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his [those of Great Britain and the United States, including "Israel," or the Jews) that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress!"
Yes, as staggering and unbelievable as it sounds, one of the major events God points out that will bring His wrath down upon Turkey will be the delivering of thousands of British, American and possibly Israeli refugees into the hands of the "beast" power in Central Europe when the military take-over of Palestine occurs.
Read the rest of that remarkably detailed prophecy.
In verse 17 you find the second coming of Jesus Christ occurring, and the house of Jacob once more restored to the Promised Land.
Destruction of Esau, or Turkey, is again proclaimed in verse 18. And then notice verse 21.
"And SAVIORS shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Eternal's" (Obadiah 21).
Yes, SAVIORS, in the plural.
Remember, Jesus Christ promised any Christian, any person, anywhere, anytime, who will sincerely repent and turn to God, and who will overcome to enter into His Kingdom (Rev. 3:21), co-RULERSHIP with Him!
This prophecy speaks of more than one Savior standing on Mount Zion, and administering JUDGMENT!
Now turn to Revelation 20 and verse 4. Notice how the apostle John saw "thrones" and they sat upon them, and "judgment was given unto THEM."
Yes, Saviors — more than one!
The impending destruction of modern-day Turkey is immediately after the second coming of Jesus Christ.
That's why the book of Isaiah foretells Jesus Christ leading a van of His returning people right through the land of Turkey!
That's why it describes how His garments are to be dyed red with the blood of thousands of Turks who treacherously turned upon their brother Jacob in his attempt to escape in the day of his calamity. (Isa. 63:1-4)
Not one government leader in any nation existing today even remotely suspects such a fantastic and bizarre chain of circumstances.
And yet Bible prophecies are SURE! They will happen, just as God has said.
Jesus said, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).
You need to be watching and praying as never before! May God give you the courage to ACT upon the knowledge you have received.