God Makes Kings...and Queens, too!

With Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations still fresh in our memories, I'd like to share something that you probably won't find in the normal history books about the so-called 'chance of history' that brought Elizabeth to the throne. Until she was 10 years old or so, young Elizabeth was not directly in-line to the throne of England.

Queen Elizabeth II

Many of you would've probably watched the movie The King's Speech. It tells the story of how it all came about very well (its a very good movie by the way, except for some course language used and some swearing in some scenes - which could be muted while watching). Another good rendering of the story (covering it from beginning to end) is found in the movie Bertie and Elizabeth.  


Here, though, is a brief overview of the story:

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
(Queen Elizabeth's Parents)

In the early 1930s, just before the outbreak of World War II, England passed through a very significant crisis. In many ways, it was at a crossroads. The choices made would have indirect, but very significant consequences for England, the Empire, and perhaps the rest of the free world. 

After King George V (Queen Elisabeth II's grandfather) died, his eldest son, David, became King Edward VIII. His reign would be very brief, however,  because of his own ungodly choices. He insisted on marrying the twice-divorced-American woman, Mrs. Wallace Simpson.  

Edward VIII

According to the laws of the Church of England, this was not possible since the reigning monarch is considered the head of the Church of England and the Defender of the faith. (Ironically, all this started from the English Reformation of King Henry VIII!). 


Well, King Edward VIII was given a choice by Parliament and the government. Either to forget about Wallace Simpson and stay king or insist on marrying her and abdicate! 


No monarch ever abdicated before in the entire history of the British monarchy. Edward VIII made his choice and abdicated. The first ever to do so.


With this done, his younger brother, Albert, suddenly found himself on the throne of England and his daughter, Elizabeth, next in-line. This was a total shock to everyone and most especially, to Albert, who became King George VI (Queen Elizabeth II's father).

King George VI

Hollywood and the media was taken by storm with this story. Many thought it as absolutely fairy-tale-like romance...a king giving up his kingdom for the woman he loved... 


But as time went on and darkness fell over Europe and the world, people's perspectives changed dramatically. 


For it was not long after George VI's coronation, that Hitler began his blitzkrieg of Europe. Britain declared war on Germany and was now in great danger. Britain needed a leader, a source of inspiration for the nation. 


Well, here comes one of things that have fascinated me very much. You may even see a little glimpse of what I see as some of God's sense of humour in it too. 


In the leadership of the Axis powers, especially as seen in Hitler, amazing eloquence and charisma was wielded by its tyrants. From the surviving archival footage, one cannot but be amazed at the hypnotic-charisma of Hitler as he rallied Germans with his speeches in those large Nazi rallies. 


We would think that God would raise a leader in Britain with similarly eloquent qualities to counteract this dark evil descending over Europe. 


Not so. God choose two leaders for Britain who had speech impairments, Winston Churchill and King George VI!! 


Their speeches were not as charismatic as Hitler's but through them they rallied Britain (and later the rest of the free world) to the cause of freedom and good. See the King's Speech.

On Victory In Europe Day (VE Day)
Left to Right: Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI, and Princess
Margaret 

King George VI's deep sense of duty and commitment to his people and the land of Great Britain was a major source of encouragement for everyone. He and his family became deeply involved with the sufferings of the people of Britain during the Blitz. They helped raised the moral of the people. 


Most came to believe that if Edward VIII, with his selfish ways and lack of any sense of duty to his people, would have made Britain really vulnerable. Not only that, he and Mrs. Simpson were sympathetic to the Nazis. If Britain had fallen to Hitler....well, history would have turned out quite differently...oh, but there are no 'ifs' in God's world, as one Godly Christian once said. Everything is ordained by His eternal wisdom and knowledge. 


Here, at last, I come to the part you will NOT find in the history books. 


You see, this did not just happen. God moved his people to pray during the crises of Edward VIII's abdication and He answered their prayers. 


One of those intercessors was the man of God, Rees Howells, from Wales who started the Bible College in Swansea. 


Here is what went on behind the scenes and newspaper reports, as told by Norman Grubb (someone who was there at the college at the time - the same one who wrote the biography of C.T. Studd by the way):

In 1936, there came the serious national crisis over King Edward VIII and his proposed marriage. In this again the Lord led the College to take a stand in prayer. The diaries of the daily meetings give the following account: 

December 4. "The News about the King has come to light in the morning papers, and the Director [Rees Howells, the founder] tells us how serious conditions are. We came back in the evening and pleaded with the Lord to guide the king, and give wisdom and discernment to all those concerned in this crisis."

December 5. "Day of prayer in College. Situation in England very grave, because it concerns not only our land, but the British Empire."

December 6. "Day of prayer and fasting in the College. We pray for the Empire in its present crisis. The Lord reveals that it is His will for Edward to abdicate. Mr. Howells was as strong as a lion in the fight, and declared, 'Edward is not to reign, or the Lord has not spoken by me.' There is a wonderful victory as we believe in the evening."

December 7. "There is thanksgiving over the victory of yesterday. The papers reveal that while at the end of last week the king was challenging the position, now he is anxious to do only what will be best for the Empire." 

December 9. "Believing for the Lord to help King Edward to make decision according to God's will, and that his soul may be blessed." 

December 10. "Came bake at 2.20 p.m. to ask the Lord to control the country, now that the news of the abdication of King Edward VIII is known."

December 11. "We are thankful for this believing of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has saved the Empire, and raised the standard of life in our beloved land."

Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor: The Welsh Coal Miner a Prince with God, Pennsylvania, USA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1980, pp. 215-216 

Isn't our God amazing! What I saw in this story is God's amazing Providence. People sometimes wonder where was God in all this darkness of World War II? Well, this is one glimpse. He prepares the way and involves His people in it, too. 

Queen Elizabeth II

Yes, God makes Kings...and Queens, too...as well as Presidents, Prime Ministers, and all other rulers. Now some are Satan's choice, but that never catches God off-guard. He uses even these for His glorious purposes and for the good of His people. We must believe this. 


This story also encourages us and shows us the responsibility we have to pray in order to have Godly rulers. He guides our prayers and He answers them. 


One last thought before closing this very lengthy post. This story keenly reminds me of these verses: 


'He hath shewed strength with his arm; he scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.' (Luke 1:51-52)


'Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing...All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity...It is he...that bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity...' (Isaiah 40: 15, 17, 22, 23)








________________________
Resources: 
Mark Logue and Peter Conradi, The King's Speech: How One Man Saved The British Monarchy, New York: Sterling, 2012

Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor: The Welsh Coal Miner a Prince with God, Pennsylvania, USA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1980, pp. 215-216 

Merry Christmas! This Day in History: Christmas Truce, 1914

Merry Christmas to all! 

Well, this is the end of this lovely day, spent happily and quietly with my family. The Lord gave us a good and blessed time together. We worked, sang, laughed, prayed, ate, and opened presents together. A really special time. It is hard to believe it's come and gone so quickly. This is life. It goes very quickly. But with Jesus, this is never the end...it is always only the beginning! Because of this day 2,000 years ago, we can have life and hope for tomorrow, as well as today. A new year is now before us and we can always rely on Him to be with us to guide us and to satisfy us. Let us rejoice in Him! Let us love and fear Him! He is our life! 

Today I'd like to share a small historical event that took place during WWI. It was the Christmas Truce of 1914, when Christmas brought a glimpse of the final peace that will one day come because of the first and second coming of the Prince of Peace. It also shows how the Christmas carol, 'Silent Night' has brought  many people, far and wide and under difficult circumstances together, through the grace of the Holy Spirit. 

Unfortunately it's late now and I feel pretty tired after such a lovely but long day, so I won't be able to write about it myself! But I'll give you some links and a documentary video clip.   

The Truce of 1914

Christmas Truce (Wikipedia)

In WW2, Christmas brought similar moments of peace and reconciliation...even if it lasted one night. Click here to watch Silent Night - A touching WWII true story (a few graphic war scenes and  perhaps a bit of course language). 

God Bless, 

This Day in History - Remembrance Day 2011

The Armistice Carriage 

Today is Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. On this day in 1918 the Armistice treaty  was signed, thus ending the First World War - one of the bloodiest in history. This day is always commemorated on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Added to this, this year we've got another 11 (2011)!! 

This is a very special day to remember the sacrifice our soldiers have paid to guarantee us freedom and peace. I have deep respect and admiration for those who put their lives willingly at risk to defend us. May God bless them and protect them. It is a great blessing to live in a free country. It's more precious to me especially when I look at other countries who do not have this blessing, who have their own armies against their own people (Remember Tiananmen Square in China or more recently, the Copts in Egypt). 

So, today let's thank God for all these blessings and pray for our soldiers who are giving so much for us. 

They shall not grow old, 

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, 

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!

~ From For The Fallen (1914) by 

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Peace and Freedom are very precious things and are never cheap. It also reminds me of our own spiritual journey to heaven, as portrayed so beautifully in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. It is a journey full of dangers and snares - a narrow way - as we fight our own flesh and Satan's attacks and snares. But if we persevere we shall overcome and gain the crown of life. (see James 1:12, Revelation 2:10) 

Here is a lovely song - 'He That Overcomes' by Jimmy and Carol Owens:

The trailer of the movie the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the  King (2009), said something very true, touching, and profound: 

There can be 

No triumph without loss.

No victory without suffering. 

No freedom without a sacrifice.  

This is what our Saviour has done to purchase our freedom form sin and to defeat Satan. This is our journey, too. We are to follow in His steps. May the Lord grant us the grace to endure and persevere to the end. We must not give up. 

~God bless

Miracle in the Battle of Britain

I read an amazing story of how God intervened in WWII when the Nazi Luftwaffe was bombarding Britain. A story that you may not hear in any of the mainline history books. Britain in 1940 was virtually standing alone, fighting this horror. Most of Europe had already fallen to the Nazis. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) was quite out-numbered. Yet they were not alone. God was there, listening to the prayers of His people who prayed. The RAF was fighting furiously and they were inflicting heavy losses on the Nazi fighters. However, the Nazis still had enough planes to put into the sky against Britain. 

On a certain Sunday in September 1940, in the underground operations room of the 11th Group Fighter Command, PM Winston Churchill and his military advisers were facing a crisis. They knew that England needed a miracle. Here is what happened: 

As Churchill watched on that momentous September Sunday, a sudden alert showed more than forty aircraft approaching from the French seaport, Dieppe; more than forty approaching from another direction; more than sixty from still another; and even more than eighty aircraft approaching in one unit. As each Nazi formation neared the English coast a British squadron would rise to meet it. Since there were only 25 squadrons assigned to the 11th Fighter Command defending southern England soon all of them were in the air. 

Tension grew in the underground shelter. Air Vic-Marshall Keith R. Park requested reinforcements from Stanmore to the north, but the could spare only three squadrons.

"What other resources have we?" Churchill asked.

"None, Sir!" was the reply. The room was silent.

"The odds were great, our margin small, the stakes infinite," Churchill wrote later. Then inexplicably, the discs on the wall chart began to move eastward. The great Nazi air flotilla had turned back. With 185 of their aircraft downed in flames, they were in retreat! Miraculously, against all logistical probability, the Royal Air Force had won the battle! (p. 16)

Later some amazing intelligence was received by British intelligence officers from three different members of the Nazi armed forces who captured when their planes were downed over England. Here is what was revealed when they questioned them: 

"Why did your formation retreat when only two planes were attacking you?" the intelligence officers asked the prisoner.

"Two!" exclaimed the pilot. "There were hundreds!"

After the prisoner had been dismissed, the British intelligence officers exchanged puzzled glances. They all but dismissed the strange reply until a Luftwaffe officer, captured later, asked them in perplexity.

"Where did you get all the planes you threw into the battle over Britain?" His British interrogators managed to mask their surprise.

Actually, the powerful Nazi bomber force had been met by a mere handful of little outmoded Royal Air Force Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. There was no sky full of Royal Air Force plane! Only a few dog-tired pilots...had met his mighty bombers.

Perhaps visionary planes rode the skies in formation with the Royal Air Force and perhaps only the Nazis could see those planes that convinced them they were confronted by overwhelming numbers.

It was the remarks of an imprisoned Nazi Intelligence officer captured still later that came nearest to disclosing the divine source of the plane-filled mirages which had confused the Luftwaffe pilots.

"With the striking of your Big Ben clock each evening at nine," the Nazi told the British Intelligence officers, "you used a secret weapon which we did not understand. It was very powerful and we could find no countermeasure against it..." (p. 17) 

 In fact, this very powerful weapon was heartfelt nation-wide prayer. Every evening as Big Ben struck nine. The whole of the British Isles and even people from around the English Commonwealth paused for a the famous Silent Moment of Prayer that was inspired and started by W. Tudor Pole. These prayers, the secret weapon, may very well have materialized into those imaginary planes that scared off the tough Nazis. We serve a living God, who is very much there and is not silent. This encourages us that when we pray for our country, God does hear our cries. 

Prayer Changes things! 

God Bless. 

************************************** 

Reference: 

Katherine Pollard Carter, The Mighty Hand of God, Missouri, USA: Impact Books, Inc., 1991, pp. 15-19