60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II

Westminster in London

Today is being celebrated to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation (even though technically her coronation was on June 2, 1953):

LONDON | Tue Jun 4, 2013 8:20am EDT

(Reuters) – A fanfare of trumpets and cheering crowds greeted Queen Elizabeth on the 60th anniversary of her coronation on Tuesday, with a service in Westminster Abbey featuring a priceless crown that has adorned the heads of British monarchs for 350 years.

For Elizabeth, 87, it was a return to the scene of her coronation when, at age 27, she ascended the throne upon the death of her father, King George VI.

Jubilant throngs and trumpets heralded the arrival of a monarch who has seen 12 prime ministers during her reign – from Winston Churchill to David Cameron. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/04/us-queen-anniversary-idUSBRE95210020130604

June 4, 2013

.

The Queen and Prince Philip entered Westminster Abbey to the same music that greeted her in 1953…

Back then, aged 27, she was the 38th sovereign to be crowned in an abbey that has been the scene of such ceremonies since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22762878

It may be of some historical interest to realize that when the monarch is crowned head of England, etc. the ceremony is similar to that of ancient Israel:

Ancient Irish legends recount that in addition to the king’s daughters, Jeremiah brought with him “some national treasures from the Temple. The most important of these was the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, Jacob’s stone” (Rogers, pp. 31–32). The Bible relates that Jacob, the forefather of the Israelite tribes, set up a stone pillar after making a covenant with God (Genesis 28:13–22). It was also a custom in ancient Israel to crown kings over a stone (Judges 9:6; 2 Kings 11:12–14).

The stone was later taken to Scotland by a king Fergus, and then to England. It has been used in all three countries for the coronation of monarchs—following the ancient Israelite custom. (Behind the Mists of Ireland. Tomorrow’s World magazine. Jan-Feb 2000).

Those of us with backgrounds in the old WCG basically believe that there is a connection between the old throne of Israel and the current throne of the British royal family.

Notice the following from the late evangelist John Ogwyn and late Herbert W. Armstrong (who helped teach him):

The Throne of David

God made a remarkable promise to King David of ancient Israel. Speaking through Nathan the prophet, God told David: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

God explained to David that while he might punish his descendants for their sins, he would not remove the kingdom from their line as he had done with Saul. What happened to that line of kings? History records that King Zedekiah, a descendant of David, was the last king to sit upon the throne of Judah in Jerusalem. In 586bc Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took Zedekiah captive to Babylon, burned the temple, and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Notice the statement in 2 Kings 25:7: “Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put out the eyes of Zedekiah… and took him to Babylon.”

Did God’s promise to David fail?

For the rest of the story, notice the prophecy that God inspired Ezekiel to record in Ezekiel 17. It starts out by posing a riddle that describes an eagle coming to a large cedar tree and cropping off the topmost branch. This small branch was taken to the “city of merchants” (v. 4). What is this riddle describing? Verse 12 tells us: “Say now to the rebellious house: Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon.”

That is not the end of the story, however. God went on to tell Ezekiel in verses 22 and 23: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.”

We have already seen that the “top branch” of the cedar symbolized Judah’s last king, Zedekiah. A twig coming out from that branch would be one of his children. As we have also seen, his sons were killed. This “tender” twig must clearly refer to one of his daughters! God talks of her being taken to a high mountain (used in Bible prophecy to symbolize a nation) where she would be “planted” and would grow into a great tree. This shows that she would marry and produce offspring and that the dynasty would continue! Also note, while David’s line had been reigning over Judah, it would now be “replanted” ruling over Israel.

Irish history records the remainder of this story. It tells of the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch coming to Ireland after the fall of Judah with a young princess and the coronation stone, called in Gaelic lia fail. In ancient Irish records, the princess was named Tea Tephi. She married the son of the High King of Ireland. Their descendants reigned from Tara in Ireland for many centuries. Later, in the days of Kenneth McAlpine, they transferred their place of rule to Scone in Scotland. This same dynasty continues on down to today in the person of Queen Elizabeth II, a direct descendant of Tea Tephi and her husband. God has fulfilled his promises to King David just as He said! (Ogwyn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Charlotte, 2006)

David’s Dynasty Forever

David succeeded Saul. David sat on the Eternal’s throne. David’s son Solomon succeeded him, also sitting on the Eternal’s throne. “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Eternal as king instead of David his father” (I Chron. 29:23; see also II Chron. 9:8).

I wish here to impress another special point. Before Saul, the Eternal had been King over Israel. These human kings were sitting upon the Eternal’s throne. The Eternal – “LORD” – is Jesus Christ who was with the Father before the world was (John 17:5 and 1:1-2, 14). Jesus is both the “root” and the “offspring” of David (Rev. 22:16). Since He was the “root,” the throne was His before David was born. David merely sat upon the Eternal’s throne. Secondly, since Jesus was David’s lawful fleshly Son, this same throne shall once more become His right by inheritance, continuing David’s dynasty. And so, when Christ returns to earth, David’s throne will be doubly His right!

Now we come to a seemingly incredible fact – fantastic – almost unbelievable, but true! While David was king, God made with him a perpetual covenant, unconditionally, which God cannot and will not break! This covenant is even more amazing, and less understood, than the unconditional covenant with Abraham!

I want you now to plant firmly in mind the specific nature and character of the covenant the Almighty made with David. For it is a vital link in the purpose and mission of Christ – an important KEY to Bible understanding!

In II Samuel 23:1, 5, we find: “Now these be the last words of David . . . . God . . . hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.” In other words, a covenant that shall endure forever and cannot fail! (Armstrong HW. The United States and Britain in Prophecy. WCG booklet)

Perhaps this would be a good time to explain that although we faithful in the Continuing Church of God believe that the American and British descended peoples are basically descended from Manasseh and Ephraim respectively, we are not part of the “Christian Identity Movement” and teach against racial prejudice (e.g. LOVE AND SALVATION FOR ALL RACES AND PEOPLES. Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God. © 2013 Continuing Church of God). Additionally, we do teach that God is calling some now who have Israelite or Gentile backgrounds and that ultimately God will offer salvation to everyone in every possible ethnic group. Furthermore, perhaps it should be mentioned that I personally believe that I am primarily ethnically of Gentile stock and that I am not a primarily a descendant of Israel. It is also critical to realize that salvation is a matter of God’s GRACE NOT RACE (additional details are found in the article God’s Grace is For All).

There is an old legend that makes a connection between the first Scottish kings and the children of Israel. Here is one 19th century report of it:

We have seen a late work on prophecy gravely affirming that the Prophet Jeremiah died in Ireland, having been forced hither by the wandering sons of Ephraim. One of the few unquestionable facts connected with early Irish history, is the intercourse between Ireland and the Phoenicians, through Spain. The Israelitish settlers, according to the tradition, carried with them Jacob’s pillow or pillar, known as the Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny, which secured a perpetual monarchy to the people so happy as to possess it. This stone, at the crowning of the first king of the Scots in Scotland, was borrowed… (The Christian remembrancer; or, The Churchman’s Biblical, ecclesiastical & literary miscellany. 1864. Original from Oxford University, Digitized, Oct 5, 2006, p. 2).

The above legend is interesting as it may tie Ephraim in with the British Isles, and affirms the idea that Jeremiah also came to the isles. In the 43rd chapter of Jeremiah, Jeremiah is shown to be with the “king’s daughters” (Jeremiah 43:6). The only two times the expressions “king’s daughters” is used in the Bible, it is in the book written by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 41:10, 43:6). Presuming that Jeremiah took one or more of the “king’s daughters” with him, this would be a way to fulfill the following prophecies:

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10).

5 I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 9:5)

The Davidic kingdom ended in Judah centuries BEFORE Christ came (around 586 B.C.), thus there had to be a way for the descendants of David to rule. And probably prior to the time the last true king of Judah died, his daughters (who seem to have been in the British Isles) likely married and had descendants to reign. Those who actually believe what the Bible teaches must realize that somehow God must have fulfilled His promises. And the British Isles seems to make the most historical sense to fulfill this.

Notice what then Duke of York, who later was King George VI of England from 11 December 1936 until his death on February 6, 1952, reportedly wrote in 1922:

…I am sure the British Israelite business is true. I have read a lot about it lately and everything no matter how large or small points to our being ’the chosen race.’ (George, Duke of York. Letter, 1922. Facsimile printed in The Independent, April 6, 1996 per Wikipedia, viewed 11/21/12)

So, even the last King of England believed in British-Israelism.

Notice the following, which is from part of the coronation ceremony of Ethelred the Second from the late 10th century:

Here he shall be Anointed with oil; and this anthem shall be sung: — ‘ And Zadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anointed ‘ Solomon king in Sion ; and, approaching him, they said, May ‘ the king live for ever !’… The Sceptre shall be here given to him… The Rod shall be here given to him… And He who ‘ is the key of David, and the sceptre of the house of Israel, ‘ who opens and no one can shut; who shuts and no one can ‘ open ; may he be thy helper! (Turner S. The History of the Anglo-Saxons from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest, Volume 3, 6th edition. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1886. Original from Harvard University, Digitized Nov 1, 2007 pp 153-154)

The ancient kings of Israel were anointed (1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:34) with oil (1 Samuel 16:13). Scepters were long recognized in the Bible as a symbol for ruling (Genesis 49:10; Ezekiel 19:14). The key of David is mentioned in both the Hebrew (Isaiah 22:22) and Greek scriptures (Revelation 3:7). Having all of these as part of a coronation ceremony may be more than a coincidence or simple imitation of what some later saw in the Bible.

While the Queen has attempted to maintain a certain dignity and devotion to her duties over the past 60 years, the influence of the United Kingdom has diminished greatly since her coronation. Her formal title is the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. Here is a list of the realms that are in that organization:

United Kingdom (1952–present) Canada (1952–present) Australia (1952–present) New Zealand (1952–present) Pakistan (1952–56) South Africa (1952–61) Ceylon (1952–72) Ghana (1957–60) Nigeria (1960–63) Sierra Leone (1961–71) Tanganyika (1961–62) Jamaica (1962–present) Trinidad and Tobago (1962–76) Uganda (1962–63) Kenya (1963–64) Malawi (1964–66) Malta (1964–74) The Gambia (1965–70) Guyana (1966–70) Barbados (1966–present) Mauritius (1968–92) Fiji (1970–87) The Bahamas (1973–present) Grenada (1974–) Papua New Guinea (1975–present) Solomon Islands (1978–present) Tuvalu (1978–present) Saint Lucia (1979–present) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979–present) Belize (1981–present) Antigua and Barbuda (1981–present) Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983–present) (Wikipedia, viewed 06/04/13)

As the above shows, the old British Commonwealth still somewhat exists, but with less nations. And it also has less influence from the Queen. London itself is also much less influential in international finance and commerce than it once was.

Similar to the USA, the United Kingdom has gone further away from the standards of biblical morality the past 60 years. And it will not make it another 60 years (nor will the USA).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands. What are some of the consequences?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? See also the video Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.