I am so out of tune with some cultural issues. I had to look up the British Royal family tree to figure out who William was and why people were so excited he is a father of a baby boy now. I still don't get all the hoopla, though.
Royal succession is an interesting thing. It is called primogeniture. Britain recently made a new law titled, "The Succession to the Crown Act 2013", which provides that a first-born daughter will become queen even if a younger brother is subsequently born. All that is moot now as the boy born to Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton (The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are now the parents of a healthy baby boy. This means that the current Queen's son Prince Charles is first in line to succeed her, then William, then the baby boy to be named shortly. Queen Elizabeth II is 87 years old now so this is kind of a pressing question. Her son Charles, Prince of Wales is 64. He has waited a long time for his inheritance.
I remember the night Princess Diana, William's mother and former wife to Charles, died. It was 1997, and late at night. I had been watching Saturday Night Live, and around 12:30 AM on what was by then a Sunday morning, a news break came on with Tom Brokaw saying Princess Di had been in a terrible accident. A while later he made the sad announcement, "Princess Diana...has died". I always remember the little pause and the catch in his voice.
I was sad because two little boys were to grow up without a mom. Now the little boy is a dad! Apparently there is a a wild celebration in Britain and its commonwealth nations.
I'm very glad for the parents and the family. A healthy baby is always something to celebrate. The family seems eager to welcome him and seem like they will love him. He won't lack for anything, certainly! The Commonwealth is relieved too, knowing that there are three living and healthy males in line for succession to King.
You know the saying, "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire". This was because at its height, the Empire had colonized geographic territory in ever time zone. Somewhere in the world at any given moment, the sun was shining on territory the British owned. Here is a Wikipedia map showing the extent of the British Empire and some Wikipedia facts:
"At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time. The empire covered more than 13,012,000 sq mi, almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area." It was the world's first truly global empire.
Wow! So what happened? The British Empire crumbled, and fast. In 1947, British India, Britain's most valuable and populous possession, achieved independence two years after the end of the war. After that they fell like dominoes. Some theologians connect Britain's wily dealings on the Balfour Declaration as the reason. "The Balfour Declaration (dated 2 November 1917) was a letter from the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Baron Rothschild (Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland." In effect, giving Britain-controlled land to the Jews for a homeland. All of Jordan was to be part of the agreement.
Britain later reneged on it, caving to the protests of Muslims. It wasn't until 1948 and a much smaller parcel until the Israelites got their homeland. I don't know if that was a direct reason the British Empire crumbled, because that would mean knowing the mind of God with specificity. But we do know He loves His people and gave them land He calls His land and puts His name on it. He could not have been pleased with the British dealings over Balfour.
This week the Queen signed a law that legalizes gay marriage in Britain for the first time.
Britain legalizes homosexual marriage
"Britain on Wednesday legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval, clearing the way for the first same-sex weddings next summer. Lawmakers cheered as House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said royal assent had been given — one day after the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales cleared Parliament. The queen's approval was a formality and is the last step necessary for a bill to become law ."
Caption : "Britain on Wednesday legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval, clearing the way for the first same-sex weddings next summer."
We don't know the mind of God with specificity, as in, we don't know what He is thinking right now about this. But He spoke about homosexuality in the bible, and we know in general He said homosexuality is an abomination and marriage is a covenant between Him and a man and a woman. We know that He said in Romans 1 that He gives nations over to their perverse desires as a judgment on them. When we see a nation embrace homosexuality, it is in the last stages of His judgment. (Romans 1:27-31).
So for Britain, I'm sad. Their citizens are celebrating what should be a joyous event, but in my mind, it is overshadowed by the larger issue of this one: Will Charles, William, or Baby To Be Named Later even have a nation to rule? The outlook does not bode well.
I also can't help but think of the parallels. I named this blog entry "A baby king was born." A nation celebrates a little king. He was born into luxury, openly to two parents and an extended family who loves him. He has the best of care and everyone will protect him. There were crowds and fanfare,
"At least one group of well-wishers brought flowers, champagne and a card for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. ... I'm sure that right across the country and indeed right across the commonwealth, people will be celebrating and wishing the royal couple well," said British Prime Minister David Cameron."
Yet our king was born poor, in a manger on straw, under suspicion of parentage by naysayers, not in a clean facility with doctors. He was unloved by His people. "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." (John 1:11). Only the shepherds welcomed Him, and later three kings from a Gentile nation far away. He was hated, and hunted. Everyone wanted to kill Him and he had to flee to Egypt with his parents. A baby king was born, and no one celebrated.
Where were the people standing outside the Inn, ready to raise holy hands that our King was born? Where were the hosannas that peace had come to the earth? I mentioned above that Prince Charles is 64 years old and has been waiting for His inheritance for a long time. Jesus is still waiting! His inheritance, a redeemed, holy Bride! He waits, for two thousand years, for six thousand years, since time began, Jesus has been waiting to redeem His people and bring us to His bosom in glorified bodies. Us! He loves us so. "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mark 6:34) He wants us home!
Unless Prince Charles who would be King, and Prince William who would be King and the baby who would be king come to know the real king, they will be laid low-
"Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
I'm glad a king was born to a family in London. I'm gladder our King was born, and has the power to save all earthly kings and peasants. Let's celebrate the right thing and the right King.
Royal succession is an interesting thing. It is called primogeniture. Britain recently made a new law titled, "The Succession to the Crown Act 2013", which provides that a first-born daughter will become queen even if a younger brother is subsequently born. All that is moot now as the boy born to Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton (The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are now the parents of a healthy baby boy. This means that the current Queen's son Prince Charles is first in line to succeed her, then William, then the baby boy to be named shortly. Queen Elizabeth II is 87 years old now so this is kind of a pressing question. Her son Charles, Prince of Wales is 64. He has waited a long time for his inheritance.
I remember the night Princess Diana, William's mother and former wife to Charles, died. It was 1997, and late at night. I had been watching Saturday Night Live, and around 12:30 AM on what was by then a Sunday morning, a news break came on with Tom Brokaw saying Princess Di had been in a terrible accident. A while later he made the sad announcement, "Princess Diana...has died". I always remember the little pause and the catch in his voice.
I was sad because two little boys were to grow up without a mom. Now the little boy is a dad! Apparently there is a a wild celebration in Britain and its commonwealth nations.
I'm very glad for the parents and the family. A healthy baby is always something to celebrate. The family seems eager to welcome him and seem like they will love him. He won't lack for anything, certainly! The Commonwealth is relieved too, knowing that there are three living and healthy males in line for succession to King.
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| Source UK Daily Mail via Sky News |
You know the saying, "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire". This was because at its height, the Empire had colonized geographic territory in ever time zone. Somewhere in the world at any given moment, the sun was shining on territory the British owned. Here is a Wikipedia map showing the extent of the British Empire and some Wikipedia facts:
"At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time. The empire covered more than 13,012,000 sq mi, almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area." It was the world's first truly global empire.
Wow! So what happened? The British Empire crumbled, and fast. In 1947, British India, Britain's most valuable and populous possession, achieved independence two years after the end of the war. After that they fell like dominoes. Some theologians connect Britain's wily dealings on the Balfour Declaration as the reason. "The Balfour Declaration (dated 2 November 1917) was a letter from the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Baron Rothschild (Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland." In effect, giving Britain-controlled land to the Jews for a homeland. All of Jordan was to be part of the agreement.
Britain later reneged on it, caving to the protests of Muslims. It wasn't until 1948 and a much smaller parcel until the Israelites got their homeland. I don't know if that was a direct reason the British Empire crumbled, because that would mean knowing the mind of God with specificity. But we do know He loves His people and gave them land He calls His land and puts His name on it. He could not have been pleased with the British dealings over Balfour.
This week the Queen signed a law that legalizes gay marriage in Britain for the first time.
Britain legalizes homosexual marriage
"Britain on Wednesday legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval, clearing the way for the first same-sex weddings next summer. Lawmakers cheered as House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said royal assent had been given — one day after the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales cleared Parliament. The queen's approval was a formality and is the last step necessary for a bill to become law ."
Caption : "Britain on Wednesday legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval, clearing the way for the first same-sex weddings next summer."
We don't know the mind of God with specificity, as in, we don't know what He is thinking right now about this. But He spoke about homosexuality in the bible, and we know in general He said homosexuality is an abomination and marriage is a covenant between Him and a man and a woman. We know that He said in Romans 1 that He gives nations over to their perverse desires as a judgment on them. When we see a nation embrace homosexuality, it is in the last stages of His judgment. (Romans 1:27-31).
So for Britain, I'm sad. Their citizens are celebrating what should be a joyous event, but in my mind, it is overshadowed by the larger issue of this one: Will Charles, William, or Baby To Be Named Later even have a nation to rule? The outlook does not bode well.
I also can't help but think of the parallels. I named this blog entry "A baby king was born." A nation celebrates a little king. He was born into luxury, openly to two parents and an extended family who loves him. He has the best of care and everyone will protect him. There were crowds and fanfare,
"At least one group of well-wishers brought flowers, champagne and a card for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. ... I'm sure that right across the country and indeed right across the commonwealth, people will be celebrating and wishing the royal couple well," said British Prime Minister David Cameron."
Yet our king was born poor, in a manger on straw, under suspicion of parentage by naysayers, not in a clean facility with doctors. He was unloved by His people. "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." (John 1:11). Only the shepherds welcomed Him, and later three kings from a Gentile nation far away. He was hated, and hunted. Everyone wanted to kill Him and he had to flee to Egypt with his parents. A baby king was born, and no one celebrated.
Where were the people standing outside the Inn, ready to raise holy hands that our King was born? Where were the hosannas that peace had come to the earth? I mentioned above that Prince Charles is 64 years old and has been waiting for His inheritance for a long time. Jesus is still waiting! His inheritance, a redeemed, holy Bride! He waits, for two thousand years, for six thousand years, since time began, Jesus has been waiting to redeem His people and bring us to His bosom in glorified bodies. Us! He loves us so. "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mark 6:34) He wants us home!
Unless Prince Charles who would be King, and Prince William who would be King and the baby who would be king come to know the real king, they will be laid low-
"Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
I'm glad a king was born to a family in London. I'm gladder our King was born, and has the power to save all earthly kings and peasants. Let's celebrate the right thing and the right King.
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