Queen Elizabeth has died
By Elizabeth Prata
Today, Thursday, September 8, 2022, the Queen of England’s medical team had put out a bulletin that they “are very concerned for the Queen’s health.” They said she must be under medical supervision, she must rest, and stay at Balmoral. Her entire family is flying in as I write this.
It is sobering news for the 96-year-old monarch, and for her subjects, world leaders, and fans (like me).
Only Louis XIV of France has been verified by exact date to have ruled longer than Queen Elizabeth, at 72 years, 110 days. Elizabeth has ruled so far 70 years, 214 days. Will she surpass Louis as longest ruling monarch? Only God knows.
No, sadly we receive the news just now from Buckingham Palace that Queen Elizabeth has died.
But being second-longest verifiable reigning sovereign monarch in world history is something, no matter what one’s personal views on her are. I believe she handled herself well overall.
I have a connection to Queen Elizabeth in my heart and memories. My grandmother was British. She was from Bolton in England, which is near Manchester in NW Britain. She was English through and through. Genteel, with a wonderful accent, she loved tea and the Queen. An early memory I have is seeing a plate displayed on her wall of the Queen. It was likely some kind of memorabilia or a commemorative plate for her 25th jubilee.
I’m named after the Queen. Or after my great-aunt Sissy (Elizabeth). Stories varied.
I have read the Queen’s Christmas messages and watched her all my life, because I’m fascinated. Of course the Charles-Diana story occurred when I was in my thirties and the Annus Horribilis, where the Queen said,
1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.
I believe she bears the fruit of salvation. She references Christ in them, saying for example,
To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.
I hope she is saved. I hope at this time as the Lord takes her from this life that I will meet her in heaven. I know the British people will grieve as she passes, and I am sad myself. I often think along these lines when a famous person or a known-only-to-me person passes from this life, whether they were saved. Our souls are eternal, with the sovereign above all sovereigns, God, deciding where that soul will reside forever. As with Queen Elizabeth, it all depends on whether a person repented of their sin and believed on Jesus Christ, who died for sin, was buried, and rose again, to ascend to the Father and put all enemies under his feet and all believers close to His bosom.
In the day of tribulation, everyone, no matter their station in life, will fear the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords, so says Revelation 6:15.
Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
Alternately, believers will dwell in New Jerusalem, and I hope Elizabeth will be there. .
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:22-27).
Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of Life? If you are not sure, read this page about The Gospel.
