WHY BRITANNIA MUST RULE THE WAVES
FOR most people, their information conceming world events comes through the media. Those who can be bothered to go deeper will search altemative sources, especially in these days the Internet. However, in order to fully comprehend the spiritual realities underpinning and influencing what takes place on earth, it is essential to be a student of the Word of God. If you want to understand what is happening on our planet in these momentous days, simply turn to the Book of Revelation, chapter 17:-
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:1-6)
Note that the Apostle John had to be taken into the spirit realm for a full disclosure of what was taking place in our world. This physical realm we live in is subject to what happens in the spirit dimension. Hence the reason for our Lord’s command to pray that heaven’s kingdom and its requirements be imposed on this world. If we don’t, by default, we will experience satanic rule. It is important to note that the Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1); it is not about antichrist and the last days so much as a revelation of the true Lord of the universe. The Greek word for “revelation” is apokalupsis, from which we get the word apocalypse. We have allowed a worldly meaning of this word i.e. the end of the world, to obscure its true meaning, which is a disclosure, an unveiling, a peeling back of a visual impediment. In short, the Book of Revelation was written to show us the reality of the spiritual dimension. Because this dimension is above
the speed of light, it is invisible to the physical eye.
John saw a great whore sitting upon many waters. Verse 15 of Revelation chapter 17 informs us what these waters represent:-
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (Revelation 17:15)
These waters are the sea, which covers two-thirds of the planet’s surface. The sea is spoken of in Scripture both in literal and allegorical terms. In some verses, both the literal sea and the allegorical one are meant. The allegorical or symbolic sea is the world economic system, the global traffic of trade. In this Intemet age, the transportation of arguably the most important commodity of all – information – can be done in milliseconds across the globe. More than ever before in human history, we live in a global economy.
The problem with this sea, this world economy, is it has a monster in it. This monster is referred to a few chapters earlier in Revelation:-
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1).
Note that this beast, like the one in Revelation chapter 17, has seven heads and ten homs and is heavily associated with blasphemy. Clearly it is the same beast in both passages.
Many people make the mistake of assuming that the astonishing things in Revelation written of by the Apostle John were new and previously unheard of. This is definitely not so and anyone familiar with the Hebrew scriptures and other writings would have recognised his depiction of a sea monster as being a very old and well-known concept. Scripture has a great deal to say about this monster from the deep, even giving him a name:-
In that day YHWH with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. (Psalm 74:13,14).
The monster in the sea is named Leviathan. This is a very interesting name. It is derived from the name Levi which means “attached”. Levi was the attached tribe in Israel, having no territory of their own but providing both civic and spiritual worship functions to the other tribes. “Leviathan” has the meaning of attaching for a twisted purpose i.e. to induce borrowing and lending. In short, to get people into debt (see STRONG’S H3882 and H3867). In many respects, the Leviathan in the economy provides a counterfeit of the Levitical system. The Levitical system was designed to serve people, whereas its twisted counterfeit usurps authority over them. Authority on this planet is delegated, ultimately from YHWH. Those who usurp authority must therefore take it from those to whom it was rightfully delegated.
Using the principle of Proverbs 22:7, that the borrower is the servant of the lender, the Leviathan system and those who control it seek to enslave mankind by the debt economy, using usury and fractional reserve banking. These are not new things; they began in the area of ancient Babylon , hence Revelation’s use of that name to describe the system. It is interesting to note that Eve claimed in Genesis 3:13 that the serpent beguiled her. The Hebrew word for “beguiled” used here is nasha (STRONG’S H5377). In Isaiah 24:2 the word nasha (STRONG’S H5388 and, according to STRONG, probably the exact same word) is used to describe the giver of usury. Just as the serpent greatly deceived Eve in the garden of Eden, so the sea serpent Leviathan greatly deceives the people of earth by its use of usury.
It is interesting to note that the psalmist in Psalm 74 referred to Leviathan as a multi-headed being, just as we read in Revelation. It is sat upon in Revelation chapter 17 by the great harlot Mystery, Babylon . This whore is Mammon, the love of money which is the root of all evil (compare 1 Timothy 6:10 with Revelation 17:4, 5 and Revelation 18:2, 3). This vile creature ridden by the whore is the eighth beast i.e. the eighth manifestation in chronological time of the beast system, which is Satan’s counterfeit to the Kingdom of YHWH . The ten kings corresponding to Leviathan’s horns hate Mammon according to Revelation 17:16. This represents
their hatred of the fact that they are utterly owned by Mammon and also depicts the Communistic practices of Western governments in taxing the rich and giving to the poor. This is the great deception of so-called Capitalistic societies in that they bleed the wealthy producers to benefit the non-productive elements of society.
This is why life under Leviathan is like running on a hamster wheel. People are constantly motivated to make more and more money, while the system is ever seeking more and more ways to penalise them for it through taxation.
As we have seen, the beast system is a counterfeit system because it has usurped power. This means that there is a true, God-ordained authority designated to rule both the literal seas of the earth and the world economy. We read about this genuine authority in PSALM 89:-
I will sing of the mercies of YHWH for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. (Psalm 89: 1-4).
The psalmist here points out that YHWH’s faithfulness is to all generations. This means that the establishing of David’s Throne is as important to YHWH today as the day He commanded Samuel to anoint the boy David as king. Interestingly, there is a selah inserted at the end of verse 4. This is an interlude which exhorts us to pause and contemplate what we have read. Another very similar Hebrew word – sela – means rock and this makes us think of the Rock that went through the wilderness with the Israelites and of the Stone Kingdom prophesied to fill the whole earth. That Rock and Stone is, of course, the Stone of Destiny, upon which David’s descendants are perpetually anointed to rule!
Verses 9 and 10 remind us that it was YHWH who powerfully destroyed the military might of a previous superpower in the sea:-
Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. (Psalm 89: 9,10).
We see here that YHWH rules the raging of the sea: He has ultimate power and authority over the sea, both literal and allegorical. We are reminded of His awesome
destruction of Rahab, which is a symbolic name for Egypt. Rahab is also another name for Leviathan! Just as the horse and rider of Rahab-Egypt fell into the sea, so will YHWH do to Mystery, Babylon riding upon the beast in these last days.
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them. (Psalm 89: 11).
Now this is an important verse. It reminds us that YHWH is the possessor and ruler of earth, as well as heaven. Many Christians relegate God’s authority to heavenly realms only in this dispensation but God’s Word clearly says otherwise. We don’t have to wait for Christ’s return to experience His Lordship over the
planet; it is a present fact, not a future hope.
Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. (Psalm 89:13).
This is covenant language. The right hand is the hand you covenant with. A high right hand means a hand raised to show covenant scars and marks. When YHWH raises His hand high, it signifies deliverance to His covenant people (brit am) and destruction to their enemies. We know that the Lord Jesus still bears those covenant scars on His hands, where He was cut to bring forth the blood of the everlasting covenant.
Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (Psalm 89: 19-25).
Here we see that God does the electing of leaders in the affairs of men. Also we see that David is anointed to lead. The monarchs of Britain who sit upon the Throne of David, unlike our elected politicians, are anointed in their office. This means they are ordained to lead by Almighty God. YHWH says in verse 21 that His hand shall establish David. Again, this is covenant language. David’s Throne is not set up by a great idea or a human institution but by a solemn blood oath from YHWH! Now we get to the verse that demonstrates God’s ordination of authority over the oceans and waterways of the planet:-
I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (Psalm 89:25).
David’s hand, which is in covenant league with YHWH Himself, is placed by YHWH into the seas and rivers of earth. This shows us that YHWH extends His divine authority over the seas through His chosen instrument on earth – the Throne of David! Remember that the sea, the “many waters”, represents the global economy in a metaphor. Both the literal seas and the world financial system have been placed in the jurisdiction of the anointed monarchs who sit upon David’s Throne i.e. the kings and queens of the United Kingdom.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (Psalm 72:8).
Psalm 72 is also a psalm about the Davidic Throne. It is written for Solomon and shows how the promises to David do not diminish in application to his descendants. A monarch upon the Throne of David can expect dominion of the seas and waterways, both literal and figurative, as in Revelation 17:15. Here in Psalm 72:8 we see that this applies in particular to the seas from the River Euphrates to the northern coastlands of Europe, especially the “ends of the earth” i.e. the isles of Britain. This particular promise has already seen fulfillment in history, since Britain once directly or indirectly through its allies controlled all the important sea gates of the world. This also fulfilled promises to both Abraham and Rebekah, his daughter-in-law, that their seed would possess the gates of their enemies. The Hebrew word for “gate” means sea-port.
The title of this message is taken from the famous song Rule, Britannia. What is fascinating about this song, taken from the poem by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Ame, is that when it was first performed, Britain did not yet actually “rule the waves”. This made the lyrics of the song prophetic. The song’s increasing popularity actually brought its words to pass. Within a few short years, Britain’s dominance of the seas was a reality. It is evident that God used the song to speak His purpose into the earth.
The Royal Navy dominated the seas during the days of Empire. If you look at the white ensign of the RN, you will see a St George’s Cross with a Union Jack in the upper canton. This means that there are effectively two St George’s Crosses on the ensign, one in the centre and one in the Jack. This has profound significance in terms of God’s Word concerning Britain’s right to rule the waves. Firstly, St George is, of course, the dragon-slayer. Therefore the presence of a St George’s Cross on the ensign symbolises the British Throne’s mandate to rule the seas and keep Leviathan under. However, the fact there are two St George’s Crosses is a powerful reminder of the scripture conceming the beast system of Babylon ‘s ultimate demise in the earth:-
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Revelation 18:1,2).
Babylon ‘s destruction is proclaimed twice. There are several reasons for this; a very potent one is that it alludes to the naval ensign of Israel in the isles, the banner of the British Royal Navy and its inclusion of two St George’s Crosses. This, along with other scriptures, shows us that Britain will play a key role in the coming destruction of the eighth beast. The symbol of the dragon-slayer displayed twice on the ensign is a visual reminder of Britannia’s God-given mandate to rule the waves, as is the classic picture of Britannia herself seated on the waves, trident in hand. Britannia symbolises Israel and the trident is the emblem of power over the sea.
In recent times, Britain’s naval power has significantly declined in comparison to former days. It is no surprise that, as Britain has “shrunk” in terms of our Empire and its colossal power, our navy has become very small. The two go together. It is undeniable that the power wielded by British monarchs is not what it once was. YHWH foresaw that there would be times of declension and decline in the fortunes of the Throne. A good portion of the 89th Psalm addresses these periods. Indeed the psalmist utters a heart-wrenching plea in the 49th verse, imploring YHWH to remember His former loving kindnesses to David. Today, we only have a semblance of the glory that once engulfed our Throne and nation.
Yet YHWH’s mandate has not changed. lt is still the divine calling and destiny of the Throne founded upon the Bethel pillar to be the Almighty’s hand in the affairs of men. It is still the express will of God that our anointed monarchs take their firstbom right to be chief among the rulers and kings of earth (Psalm 89:27). The faithfulness of the Most High still contends for David and his successors to be served by all kings and nations (Psalm 72:11). YHWH’s will is that prayer be made continually for the occupant of David’s Throne (Psalm 72:15). This is not only an Old Testament imperative; the Apostle Paul’s exhortation in 1 Timothy chapter 2 entreats us to pray for kings. What ruler is more deserving of our. prayers than the one who sits upon God’s designated instrument of dominion on planet earth – the Throne of David? Just as biblically, revival in the nation came from certain kings such as Josiah and Jehoshaphat themselves getting right with YHWH, so we see in 1 Timothy chapter 1 that an environment of peace, godliness and honesty comes from praying for kings. Verse 4 says that God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Again, this is revival in the nation resulting from prayer for our sovereign.
That mighty prophet of God in the 20th century, John McPhee, prophesied of a coming time when mankind would be brought to the stark choice of allegiance either to the Throne of David or to the Beast system of Babylon . This is coming to our nation. God will raise up a monarch upon the British Throne who, like his patriarchal ancestor, will have a heart after YHWH. In such a king will Heaven’s High King have full sway. Thus will the rule of the Most High come to men and Britannia rule the waves once more. Great Babylon the usurper will fall in that day. Thus will the Stone Throne fulfil its destiny in the earth.
This is the Return of Arthur. This is the Key of David. This is the salvation of all Israel. This is the destiny of this sceptr’d isle.
“So, the spiritual struggle that is taking place at present is for the possession and rule of mankind. That evil power – “The Beast” – desires to bring into bondage all mankind, in and through the body of a brutal Dictator, while, on the other hand, God our Heavenly Father, with our consent, desires that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in and through the body of a King of the House of David, should set all mankind free from oppression and sorrow.”
Reverend John McPhee from “The Call Of God To The British Empire”
