Information Related to "Eternal destiny"
| Audio/Video |
Now we can see why the British royal family rose under Queen Victoria to the heights of world prestige and preeminence. Why it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of all manner of people the world over. And why, of all royal families, it is still the first one that comes to mind.
Through the incredible purpose and power of the Great God, Queen Elizabeth II sits on the throne of King David-in fact, the throne of the Lord! And though she reigns over the foremost tribe of modern Israel, the Josephite tribe of Ephraim, the lion on the royal coat of arms is the lion of Judah. Elizabeth, Charles, Andrew, William and Harry-ethnically they’re all Jews! How truly remarkable this is. It’s not particularly surprising when a nationality maintains a line of rulers of its own ethnicity-but the Ephraimite British continue on with Jewish rulers!
Even more amazingly, all the intermarrying with the other royal families of Europe has not diminished that fact-for most of them have been of Jewish descent as well, through Zerah (see ). Indeed, many of them are apparently even of Davidic descent (see ). Intermarriage with the nobility has also been primarily within the tribe of Judah (see ). Only Almighty God could have planned all this and brought it to pass.
Returning to where we began, is the British monarchy really in danger of passing away? Does the question even need to be asked at this point? Consider that David’s dynasty has continued unbroken for 3,000 years-and that it was promised almost 1,000 years before that. God has gone to great lengths to ensure the continuance of this throne-and to safeguard the inviolability of His promises. Do we now suppose he would let a few advocates of republicanism thwart Him from keeping His word?
We should realize, in closing, that there have been at least three interregnums during David’s dynasty, where his descendant was not actually ruling. One happened when the evil queen Athaliah usurped the throne of Judah for about six years (2 Chronicles 22-23). Another has constituted much of this publication-the time between Zedekiah being deposed and the rule of the Davidic line being reestablished in Ireland. And the third occurred when King Charles I was beheaded in 1649. For 11 years, Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth ruled until the throne was restored under Charles’ son, Charles II, who had been living outside the country in France.
While these vacancies might seem to violate God’s promises to David, such temporary gaps, as mentioned earlier, were actually well within the scope of God’s specific promise that David would have a descendant sitting on his throne in "all generations." Therefore, such a minor gap in the occupation of the throne can occur at any time. But we may rest assured: If the monarchy disappears tomorrow, a generation will not pass before it is restored.
It seems entirely possible that a brief interregnum is yet future. For while the refrain of the anthem "Rule Britannia" ends with ". . . Britons never, never shall be slaves," that just isn’t so. Both America and Britain will go into national captivity and slavery just as ancient Israel and Judah did (request or download to learn more). And when that happens, the monarchy may very well be interrupted. But by no means will it be lost.
For a short time later, the rightful Heir to the throne, Jesus Christ, will appear on the scene and stand in Jerusalem. At long last, the throne of the Lord will be taken back from corruptible human beings by the Lord Himself. "And the government will be upon His shoulder . . . Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Amazingly, Jesus will share this wonderful throne of David with His perfected followers (Revelation 3:21; 2:26-28). Indeed, David himself will be resurrected from the dead in glory to reign with Christ upon the throne-assigned by Christ to rule over a regathered Israel. God says: "Foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them" (Jeremiah 30:8-9; see Ezekiel 37:24-28).
There will be multiple literal thrones for the saints (compare Matthew 19:28; Revelation 20:4). But, in a sense, these thrones will all be part or extensions of the same throne (3:21). For the Holy City of God, the dwelling place of Jesus and all the saints, will itself be the throne from which they rule: "At that time Jerusalem shall be called the Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts" (Jeremiah 3:17).
Thus, the throne will have been overturned one last time-returned to its rightful place upon Mount Zion in the City of David, never to be moved again. And the throne of Israel will then become the throne of the whole earth. As shocking as it may seem, this is the awesome destiny of the throne of Great Britain! As the throne of Jesus Christ and His saints, it will endure forever.
God will also pour out His Spirit on the physical house of David (see Zechariah 12:7-13:1), so that its members may ultimately be saved and glorified as well. Indeed, this is the destiny that awaits all of mankind-whoever will accept God’s grace and humbly submit to His way of life. May we all be ever so thankful for the intricate and incredible plan that God is working out-and for the absolute certainty of His incredible promises.
©1995-2022 United Church of God, an International AssociationRelated Information:
Table of Contents that includes "Eternal destiny"
Other Articles by Tom Robinson
Origin of article "Eternal destiny"
Keywords: British monarchy Jewish royal lines throne of David Jesus' throne
British royal family: