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gospel -- and a curse to all the nations that have been blessed, in the character of their civilization,
from the gospels beneficial influence.

Briefly, the important facts about the Ottoman Empire are these --

The Ottoman Turks came originally from the region of the Altai mountains in Central
Asia....In the 13th century they appeared as the allies of the Seljukian Turks against the
Mongols, and for their aid received a grant of lands from the sultan of Iconium, in Asia
Minor. Their leader, Othman, became the most powerful Emir in Western Asia. In the
year 1300 he proclaimed himself Sultan. Thus was founded the Empire of the Osman or
Ottoman Turks in Asia. Osman's successors, princes of great courage and enterprise, who
were animated moreover by religious fanaticism, and a passion for military glory, raised
it to the rank of the first military power in both Europe and Asia (1300-1566). In the reign
of Soliman II, the Magnificent, 1519-1566, the Ottoman Empire reached the highest pitch
of power and splendor. From his time the race of Osman degenerated, and the power of
the Porte has declined (The Standard Dictionary of Facts).

Details of the 6th Trumpet

Verses 13 and 14: "The sixth angel sounded his shofar; and I heard a voice from the four
horns of the gold altar before God, saying to the sixth angel, the one with the shofar, 'Re-
lease the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates!'"

When the sixth angel sounded, it was commanded to remove the restraints which had been
imposed on the Turkish nation -- by which they were restricted to the work of tormenting men.
Their commission was now extended to slay the third part of men. This command came from the
four horns of the golden altar.

The four angels represent the four principal sultanies of which the Ottoman Empire was
composed, and which were located in the country watered by the Euphrates River. These sultanies
were situated at Aleppo, Iconium, Damascus and Baghdad. Previously they had been restrained,
but YEHOVAH now commands that they be loosed.

Late in the year 1448 -- as the close of the 150-year period approached -- John Palae-
ologus died without leaving a son to follow him on the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire. His
brother Constantine, the lawful successor, would not venture to ascend the throne without the con-
sent of the Turkish sultan. Ambassadors were therefore sent to the Muhammadans at Adrianople.
Upon receiving the approval of the sultan, they returned to Constantinople with gifts for the new
sovereign. Early in the year 1449, under these ominous circumstances, Constantine, the last of the
Greek emperors, was crowned. Let Edward Gibbon tell the story --

On the decease of John Palaeologus...the royal family, by the death of Andronicus and the
monastic profession of Isidore, was reduced to three princes, Constantine, Demetrius, and
Thomas, the surviving sons of the emperor Manuel. Of these the first and the last were far
distant in the Morea....The empress-mother, the senate and soldiers, the clergy and peo-
ple, were unanimous in the cause of the lawful successor: and the despot Thomas, who

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