The Drying of the Euphrates
An enormous project is under way in southeastern Turkey which may hold interest for Bible students. The project involves a series of 22 dams, 19 power plants and two underground channels 25 feet across and nearly 1,000 miles long. The intent is to irrigate the now arid territory historically known as Anatolia (shaded area on map). The centerpiece of the project is the Ataturk dam.
According to the Economist, July 25, 1992, “In January, 1990, one year before the Gulf war, even Kuwait joined the protests, when Turkey reduced the flow of the Euphrates for 30 days in order to fill the Ataturk dam’s reservoir. Ultimately, Turkey’s thirst for Euphrates water will halve the amount of water that now flows through Syria and Iraq.”
Reminder of Revelation 16
This development not only affects hydro-politics in the region but also draws to mind significant points of Bible prophecy. We are told, “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east” (Rev. 16:12, NIV).
Two points are of interest: the drying up of the Euphrates and the reference to the kings of the east.
The Ottoman Empire
In Eureka, Bro. John Thomas contended that the drying up of the Euphrates alludes to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. In his day, the Ottoman Empire extended over Turkey, Cyprus and Palestine. He wrote, “One of the most significant signs heralding he return of Christ is the receding power of the Turkish Empire, symbolically represented as the River Euphrates.”
One hundred thirty years later, Bro. Thomas’ conclusion still seems reasonable. The Revelation is a book of symbols; and in scripture, a dominant river is used to symbolize a nation (e.g. the Jordan represents Israel, Zech. 11:3; the Euphrates speaks of Babylon, Jer. 1:63,64, etc.). There could be no more appropriate figure for the Ottoman Empire than the River Euphrates.
The word Anatolia
The “kings of the east” is another highly suggestive phrase. The word “east” translates a Greek phrase which literally reads, “rising of the sun” (cf. RV). The Greek word for “rising” is Anatolia..
This word, anatolia, is linked to the time of the appearance of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. For example, in Malachi 4:2, the coming of Christ is revealed in the phrase, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” In the Greek version of the Old Testament (the LXX), the word for “rise” is anatolia. Christ will shine upon the politics of this world, and shining with him will be those who have been raised and found acceptable to join him in immortal glory (Matt. 13:43).
In Luke 1:78, the Greek word rendered “dayspring” is anatolia. “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us…” Jesus is the “resurrection and the life.” Through him a multitude that sleep in the dust of the earth shall be raised to life, some to reign as kings and priests when “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.”
The decline of the Ottoman empire is thus a prerequisite to the event of the resurrection. It is a milestone in world history proximate and prior to the resurrection. Its connection to the events of the last days has been evident.
Ottoman down, Israel up
The decline of the Ottoman Empire was essential to the liberation of Palestine. The state of Israel, officially established in 1948, could not have been formed if the area was still under Turkish control.
Christadelphians see the existence of an independent Israel as highly significant. Ezekiel 38, and other prophecies of the last days, speak of a major invasion of a restored Jewish state of Israel just prior to the subjection of all nations to the rule of Christ and the saints.
In addition, the gradual drying up of Ottoman power coincided with the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37. There the vision of dry bones coming together reveals that Israel would be restored in stages to once again be a living nation. We continue to watch that happen before our eyes.
Combining the prophecy in Revelation with Ezekiel leaves us no doubt that the return of Christ, the resurrection and the establishment of the kingdom of God are very close at hand.
Literal significance
In the southeast Anatolia project, we could be seeing a further, literal fulfillment of Revelation 16. The drying up of the water supply of major middle eastern powers may well be the cause of the “gathering of all nations” into that region. At that time, natural Israel will again be threatened with extinction. It will not, however, disappear again for it will be saved and exalted by the Lord Jesus Christ and his faithful followers.
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