On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, passed away at the age of 96, having reigned seventy years (1952-2022). Her death marks the passing of a period breathtaking in both its length and the change in human culture and society it has encompassed.
Not only did the Queen reign longer than any other British ruler; her reign marks the third-longest in the recorded history of the world. The second-longest reign is that of Louis XIV of France, who reigned seventy-two years (1643-1715) [1]. The longest recorded reign of all time is that of Pepi II, last pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, who according to most Egyptologists reigned more than ninety years [##2|James Henry Breasted, A History of Egypt: From the Earliest Times to the Persian Conquest (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1912), p. 143; Sir Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs: An Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press, 1964), p. 101; Cyril Aldred, The Egyptians (London: Thames and Hudson, 1984), p. 119; Barbara Mertz, Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt (New York: William Morrow, 2007), p. 91.##]. (A more recent Egyptologist places the length of Pepi’s reign at 85 years [##3|Toby Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt (New York: Random House, 2010), p. 98.##], but that still makes it the longest of any monarch in the history of human civilization.)
Continuity
What historians are already calling the Second Elizabethan Age (the first being the reign of Elizabeth I in the sixteenth century) spans a period of cultural and historical upheaval unprecedented in the human story. Her reign would include the tenure of fifteen British prime ministers, seven popes, and fourteen U.S. presidents. When Queen Elizabeth II came to the British throne in 1952, radio was the principal means of mass communication, though through the influence of her late husband Prince Philip, Elizabeth’s coronation was the first to be televised [4]. In that era which seems so distant now, twitter was something only birds did, Amazon was just a river in South America, social media and smartphones were the stuff of fantasy, and “gay” still meant happy!
Like President Kennedy’s inaugural statement that his agenda would “not be finished . . . in the first one thousand days” [##5|Theodore C. Sorenson (ed.), “Let the Word Go Forth”: The Speeches, Statements, and Writings of John F. Kennedy (New York: Delacorte Press, 1988), p. 14.##], Elizabeth’s pre-coronation statement that “whether my life be long or short I will dedicate it to the service of the Commonwealth” [6] seems eerily prescient when viewed in retrospect. Who could have known, when Kennedy’s words were spoken, that his administration would last but a thousand days? And who could have known, when Elizabeth spoke the above words in 1947, that she would live nearly a century, and that her reign would last as long as it did?
So many have spoken of continuity as a key remembrance from Elizabeth’s reign. Not only have technological innovation and social change revolutionized the world since her coronation; a principal trademark of her rule has been an almost deafening silence relative to the great issues that have rocked humanity for the past seventy years. One might well dispute the wisdom of this course on the late Queen’s part; one thinks of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson—the one U.S. chief executive who never met the Queen—and his reply to one who urged him not to put the prestige of the presidency on the line over the Civil Rights issue. Johnson’s reply was, “What’s it for?” Whether Queen Elizabeth ever wondered at such a question or not will never be known, at least on this earth. Her son and successor, King Charles III, has been far more vocal about controversial issues in his role as heir apparent. We will see whether he continues this style as King, or whether he will revert to his mother’s policy of controversy avoidance.
“And He shall reign for ever and ever”
To many accustomed to representative government, hereditary monarchy comes across as an anachronism. Some are even suggesting that with Elizabeth’s passing, the British monarchy should be abolished [7]. But however perilous the rule of a single person has proved throughout the history of humankind, the Bible-believing Christian looks forward to the ultimate and perfect Monarchy, one day soon to restore its presence on this earth. That Monarchy will interrupt the course of human events with fierce lightnings, unspeakable thunders, a Richter-shattering earthquake, exploding cities, and dissolving civilizations. In the midst of this final cataclysm, the Sovereign of the universe will descend through the earth’s obliterated atmosphere, wearing on His vesture and thigh that most exalted of titles, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16).
The Bible is clear that not only will Jesus reign as King over all, but that His redeemed saints will reign with Him as kings and priests (Rev. 5:10). The book of Revelation describes these saints as sitting on thrones during the prophesied millennium, passing judgment on the wicked (Rev. 20:4; see also I Cor. 6:2). Contradicting as strongly as possible the popular heresy of “once saved, always saved,” Jesus exhorts His striving faithful: “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:11).
As Louis XIV lay on his deathbed, he saw the reflection in a nearby mirror of two of his valets weeping. He asked them, “Why are you crying? Did you think me immortal?” [##8|Olivier Bernier, Louis XIV: A Royal Life (New York: Doubleday, 1987), p. 347.##]. Considering her length of years, many may have wondered the same about Queen Elizabeth. Even now, the adjusted lyrics of the British national anthem, “God save our gracious King,” can be heard at Buckingham Palace and wherever subjects of the Commonwealth and Empire can be found. But another anthem rings in my ears—the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah, found in the message of the seventh of Revelation’s trumpets:
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 11:15).
As the world mourns the passing of a much-loved ruler, may each of us, “through the grace of God and [our] own diligent effort” [##9|Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 425.##], prepare and consecrate ourselves for life and rulership in the eternal, glorious kingdom of our Lord and Savior, is my prayer.
REFERENCES
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV
2. James Henry Breasted, A History of Egypt: From the Earliest Times to the Persian Conquest (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1912), p. 143; Sir Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs: An Introduction (New York: Oxford University Press, 1964, p. 101; Cyril Aldred, The Egyptians (London: Thames and Hudson, 1984), p. 119; Barbara Mertz, Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt (New York: William Morrow, 2007), p. 91.
3. Toby Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt (New York: Random House, 2010), p. 98.
4. Lauren Edmonds, “It’s fitting that Prince Philip’s funeral will be televised—he modernized the monarchy by putting the royals on TV,” Insider, April 11, 2021 https://www.insider.com/prince-philip-modernized-royal-family-by-putting-them-on-tv-2021-4
5. Theodore C. Sorenson (ed.), “Let the Word Go Forth”: The Speeches, Statements, and Writings of John F. Kennedy (New York: Delacorte Press, 1988), p. 14.
7. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-british-monarchy-should-die-with-queen-elizabeth-ii?ref=scroll
8. Olivier Bernier, Louis XIV: A Royal Life (New York: Doubleday, 1987), p. 347.
9. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 425.
Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan