Smith's Followers

The disciples of Uriah Smith have speedily come up with an explanation of this unexpected turn of events. Percy Tilson Magan, one of the pioneers in the field of Adventist Christian education, seemed to be in a full agreement with Uriah Smith as he wrote: "The mighty Word of God had said that the passing of Turkey would mark the advent of a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time."^[10] In his article in Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald he explains that the fact that Turkey didn't yet come to its end is to be explained by the fact that unparallel event took place in European history as all the European countries united to fight against Russia. P. T. Magan gets very excited as he quotes numerous political sources, mostly of British origin, on the strategic goal of the European countries to debase Russia. He nearly applauds the effort of the Great Britain and France to restrict and to humiliate Russia, as it would signify the God's granted delay of the prophetic fulfillment:

"An unseen hand was against Russia, and all her efforts were futile. The mighty Word of God had said that the passing of Turkey would mark the advent of a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. Dan. 2:45; 12:1. Providence decreed that that time was not yet to be."^[11]

He concludes his article with the following words: "As previously stated, the Scriptures have foretold that Turkey shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And this very word of Sacred Writ clearly indicates that the only thing which will have prevented his coming to his end long before he does, is because some one does help him. There is not, of all prophecy, a more remarkable fulfillment than this."^[12]

This explanation seemed to be sufficient for certain time, as Turkey still preserved some of its power after the war with Russia. The First World War fueled the Eastern question once again bringing Turkey out of nearly obscurity that surrounded it in the previous five years. While the War was primarily fought in Europe, between Russia and Germany, some Adventist interpreters, following the tradition of Uriah Smith, continued seeing Turkey at the heart of the conflict.

Arthur G. Daniels, the longest serving president of the General Conference, did not hesitate to come up with the main editorial article in the Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald entitled: The Eastern Questions: Its Relation to the Great War, and Its Meaning in the Light of Prophecy. ^[13] The title already reflects an attempt on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to come up with a prophetic estimation of the current political events. In fact, the entire issue of October 1916 Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald is dedicated to the Eastern Question. It's been just over one year since Ellen G. White had passed, but it was neither the first, nor the last time when the Eastern question would come into the focus of the Adventist Church.

A. G. Daniels undertakes a painstaking effort to give a political analysis of the powers involved in the World War I in order to support the claims of Smith and to demonstrate the prominence of Istanbul in the bloody European conflict. However, his efforts have fallen short of its goal, as at that time Turkey's role in the World War I became rather obscure. Few years later its former prominence faded without any serious political or military shaking.