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Eureka

AN EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE
Sixth Edition, 1915
By Dr. John Thomas (first edition written 1861)

 

 

Chapter 9

Section 5 Subsection 8

Preparation of the Third Angel


 
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The conquest and monarchy of the world was the first object of the ambition of Timour or TAMERLANE. He was born forty miles to the south of Samarcand in the fruitful territory of Cash, of which his fathers were the hereditary chiefs, as well as of a myriad or toman of ten thousand horse.

In the twenty-fifth year of his age he stood forth as the deliverer of his country: but not being duly supported, he retreated from the hills of Samarcand to the desert with only sixty horsemen. They were overtaken by a thousand foes, whom he repulsed with incredible slaughter, and they were forced to exclaim, "Timour is a wonderful man; fortune and the divine favour are with him."

At the age of thirty-four, after various adventures, he was invested in a general diet with imperial command over Zagatai and the East, a dominion five hundred miles in length and breadth. But this did not satisfy him; for Timour aspired to the dominion of the world; and before his death, Zagatai was only one of the twenty-seven crowns which he had placed upon his head.

In the year 1380, he invaded the kingdoms of Persia; and the whole course of the Tigris and Euphrates, from the mouth to the sources of these rivers, was reduced to his obedience. He extended his conquests eastward into Hindostan, and made his triumphal entry into Delhi, the capital. While on the banks of the Ganges he was informed of the revolt of the catholics in Georgia and Anatolia, and of the ambitious designs of Bajazet, the Ottoman sultan. He was now sixty-three years of age, and unimpaired by his innumerable fatigues, which had subjected the greatest part of Asia to his laws. The Mogul and Ottoman conquests now touched each other in the neighbourhood of Erzeroum and the Euphrates, by which Timour’s dominion was "bound." Of these ambitious monarchs, Timour was impatient of an equal, and Bajazet was ignorant of a superior. A quarrel was soon excited between them that could only be composed by blood. "Dost thou not know," said Timour to the sultan, "that the greatest part of Asia is subject to our arms and laws? That our invincible forces extend from one sea to the other? That the potentates of the earth form a line before our gate? And that we have compelled fortune herself to watch over the prosperity of our empire? What is the foundation of thine insolence and folly? Thou hast fought some battles in the woods of Anatolia; contemptible trophies! Thou hast obtained some victories over the christians of Europe; thy sword was blessed by the apostle of God; and thy obedience to the precept of the Koran, in waging war against the infidels, is the sole consideration that prevents us from destroying thy country, the frontier and bulwark of the Moslem world. Be wise in time; reflect; repent, and avert the thunder of our vengeance, which is yet suspended over thy head. Thou art no more than a pismire; why wilt thou seek to provoke the elephants? Alas! they will trample thee under their feet."

Bajazet was deeply stung, and in his replies poured forth the indignation of his soul. His rage was ungovernable. He reproached TIMOUR as the thief and rebel of the desert, and declared that he had never triumphed unless by his own perfidy and the vices of his foe. "Thine armies are innumerable;" said he, "be they so: but what are the arrows of the flying Tartar against the scymitar and battle-axes of my firm and invincible janizaries? I will guard the princes that have implored my protection: seek them in my tents. The cities of Arzingan and Erzeroum are mine; and unless the tribute be duly paid, I will demand the arrears under the walls of Tauris and Sultania."

After enjoying some tranquil months at Samarcand, Timour proclaimed a new expedition of seven years into the western countries of Asia. Complaints and menaces fermented two years before the final explosion; and though the political quarrel was embittered by private and personal resentment, yet in his first expedition, Timour was satisfied with the destruction of Sebaste, a strong city on the borders of Anatolia; and revenged the indiscretion of Bajazet on the garrison of four thousand Armenians, who were buried alive for their fidelity. As a mussulman, he seemed to respect the pious occupation of the Ottoman, who was still engaged in the blockade of Constantinople; and after this salutary lesson, the Mogul conqueror checked his pursuit, and turned aside to the invasion of Syria and Egypt, A.D. 1400.

Thus was prepared the third Euphratean angel-power. The time was fast approaching for it to be loosed, that it might superadd its vengeance upon "the worshippers of the daemonials and idols" of the catholic church, and prevent the fall of their eastern empire by the arms of the Ottoman sultan, until the full expiration of the 391 years and 30 days.
 
 

 

 


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