CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL
That monstrous tool of Satan which has stalked the nation for nearly two hundred years is once again in the news, Disestablishment! The importance of this subject cannot be overstated. It concerns all of us who love our history and our nation. The vast majority are unconcerned what goes on behind closed doors, where our history is being unpicked, thread by thread. It is not only the man in the street who is unaware of the intentions of the one-worlders, so too are Christians who continue their long sleep.
The Established Church of England is also unconcerned, for the previous Archbishop, Rowan Williams, is reported to have said that ‘it would not be the end of the world if the Church of England was disestablished.’ Yes, the great man himself said that, so it cannot be of any importance, or can it? The government is proudly and unashamedly atheistic, so why should there be any concern over a minor matter which does not appear to have any relevance in the day to day running of the nation? Now that the great British public have been brainwashed into accepting that we are a multi-cultural society, the trivial matter of our Christian roots can be disposed of as quickly as possible. Whilst our Prime Minister professes to be a Christian, laws are being placed on our statute books which contravene the teaching of Scripture.
So, is there any significance in this ancient custom of church and state being one, or is it an anachronism that needs to be disposed of, a mere embarrassment? This is not the first time by any means that moves have been made, to separate church and state. In 1831 there was talk of separation. Thirteen years later in 1844 The Society for the Liberation of Religion from State Patronage and Control was formed. At that time it had little support, for a few of the senior clergy had some sense of history, and a knowledge of our identity. However, the destroyers of truth today are aware of the strategy of ‘divide and rule.’ It was, therefore, only a matter of time before they recommenced their attack. They know full well that both church and government are so secularised, that this is the time to finalise their long held dream.
In order to appreciate the importance of church and state as one, it is necessary to go back to our national roots, which are clearly stated in Exodus, Kings, Chronicles, and Psalms. Each of these speak of ‘the Congregation of Israel,’ for example: And at
that time Solomon held a feast and all Israel with him, a great congregation (I Kings C8:65) And: / will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. (Psalm C22:22-23.)
The entire nation was the congregation, with no distinction between church and state. When David was made king in approximately 1042 BC, there began a new era in the nation’s life, with an everlasting covenant with David and his seed (II Samuel C7.) Now was the congregation ruled over by an earthly king who was answerable to the Heavenly King. Many of the following kings were bad, and the entire nation suffered as a result.
The chain of command was God, the Heavenly King, under whom served the kings of David’s line, who ruled over the congregation of Israel. After the split between the northern and the southern houses in 975 BC, and the deportations into Assyria and Babylon, there followed a time when it seemed that the nation was finished. Not so, for this was the period prophecied by Hosea,
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without a teraphim (Hosea C3:4.)
Thus was the nation devoid of six essentials which left them defenceless and unusable by God. Although to all intents and purposes they no longer existed, such was not the case. God, in His wonderful provision and forward planning, was leading them, tribe by tribe, towards their appointed place in the isles north and west. Once established, they were sent the Good news of Jesus Christ, the resurrected and Ever Living Saviour, and Redeemer of Israel. This wonderful news was brought to these islands only a very few years after His death and resurrection. Today, the church teaches that it was Augustine who first taught the people of Christ in 597 AD. Not so! For he was met by bishops of an already well established Celtic church.
With the emergence of the kings of David’s line into the isles, so recommenced the form of government which was Israel’s by Divine right. The King, whose authority extended into the temporal realm, had power and authority over a government who could be likened to the former judges of Israel. ‘Judges’ in this context meaning to rule, not in the judicial sense. Throughout our history we have had kings who have exercised their Divine right to rule in excess of their authority. For that reason, much of their power was taken from them and transferred to a secular government. Those kings who overstepped their authority did so outside of their God given directive. Hence, through the centuries, and
because of Kings who forgot their place, they became little more than figureheads. Today, we are mightily blessed with a wonderful God fearing Queen who is never ashamed to mention Christ’s name. Nevertheless, her power has been slowly and systematically taken from her. This has been orchestrated by governments who themselves have willingly given themselves over to Europe who has no time or place for our Royal Throne. Praise God that our Throne remains extant because of the Davidic Covenant.
There is a constant reminder of the importance of this form of government in the great west window of Westminster Abbey. There, beautifully portrayed in stained glass, are the twelve patriarchs with Moses and Aaron. Moses, the giver of the law representing secular government, and Aaron, the first high priest of Israel. How many we wonder, as they gaze at this magnificent work of art, consider this reminder and witness of God’s gracious promises and covenants to us? We have yet another witness of the immense importance of God’s great pyramid of power and authority. A few months before His crucifixion, Jesus took Peter, James and John onto Mount Hermon, and was transfigured before them. With Him were seen Moses and Elijah, yet another reminder of the importance of church and state.
As we consider the present parlous condition of our nation, we are reminded of how the Old Testament era closes with the great promise of a soon coming event,
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi C4:5-6.)
It will be Elijah in his ecclesiastical role who must come before Christ can commence His earthly role. The nation must be made aware of its spiritual roots, not until then will begin the long awaited era of peace. Always, the spiritual must precede the temporal. Once that has taken place, then can begin the thousand years rule of Jesus, the Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Those Israel nations who have cast off the Crown as an unwanted bauble, have laid themselves open to serious trouble. They cannot officially, as a nation, petition God in times of national emergency. Our Queen on the other hand, when moved by the Holy Spirit, will respond by calling the nation to prayer. Thus, officially, the entire nation is requesting the Almighty to help us when we cannot go it alone. Examples of this were the times during the last war when the King called the nation to prayer. The
response by the people was spontaneous, and so too was God’s! Within hours, the tide of battle was turned.
The time is very soon coming when we, like our forefathers who were fleeing from the Egyptian army, will have nowhere to turn, except to Almighty God. That this will take place is clearly stated in II Chronicles C7:14,
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Joel takes up the theme in C2H5-19.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
It is important that we correctly understand the word ‘Zion’ in this text. It is not referring to Jerusalem, the city, but to the whole congregation of Israel. This is made clear in Isaiah C51:16,
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
We should thank the Lord every day for His provision of the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. Without these, there would be no future, and Satan would be the final victor. Finally,
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Rev C20:l-3)
