Queen Elisabeth II, the monarch of Great Britain, died today at the age of 96, approximately one year and four months after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
It was Britain’s longest reign, which lasted 70 years. The queen, in her teens, witnessed the horrors of World War II and tremendous social, economic, technological, and political transformations in humanity. She saw the transformation of the English Global Empire into a community composed of 52 independent countries, continuing as head of those countries, a position now occupied by the successor king, her son Charles III.
Queen Elisabeth also witnessed Britain’s entry and exit into the European Union. Fifteen British prime ministers served under the queen, from Winston Churchill to the recent Liz Truss, who was sworn in by the frail queen just two days before the monarch’s death was announced. 1
Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth, was a Christian and always witnessed her faith in Jesus openly. Since the death of her father, King George VI, the Queen has recorded 67 Christmas messages, in which she openly talked about Jesus being the Savior of the world.
The Queen’s Christmas message was the most watched program on Christmas Day 2020. Average nighttime viewing figures show that the broadcast was watched by 6.3 million viewers on BBC One, according to the broadcaster 2
In 1975, in one of these Christmas messages, the Queen said: “We are celebrating a birthday – the birthday of a child born almost 2,000 years ago, who grew up and lived only about 30 years… His simple message of love has turned the world upside down ever since.” If you throw a rock into a pond, the waves keep spreading. A large stone can cause waves, but even the smallest pebble changes the entire pattern of water. Our daily actions are like these ripples, each makes a difference, even the smallest.
The queen then exhorted everyone to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to love others. It was a reminder that our actions can change lives. 3
Franklin Graham wrote on the Billy Graham Evangelist Association website:
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She has been a symbol of stability and steadfastness for the United Kingdom for 70 years, and I’m asking people to join me in praying for the royal family and the people of the U.K.
I will always appreciate her example of leadership and her life of integrity. I’m especially grateful for the queen’s friendship with my father Billy Graham. He cherished their friendship that was built on a shared love for Jesus Christ and belief in God’s Word.
My father had the privilege of meeting with the queen more than a dozen times, and she was a gracious host, inviting my parents to visit Buckingham Palace on several occasions. My father said he found Queen Elizabeth “to be a woman of rare modesty and character,” and made a pledge to pray for her and her family every day.
He also appreciated how she often talked about Jesus Christ during her public addresses—there was never any question about where she placed her faith.
The queen was a friend to my father, but more importantly, she was a true friend of the Christian faith. She will be profoundly missed.
The day I was born, my father was planning his first evangelism in the UK. The 12-week Crusade at London’s Harringay Arena took place in 1954 and was the beginning of the Ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the United Kingdom John Stott, a former chaplain to the Queen, called the Crusade “the largest religious congregation, 120,000, ever seen in the British Isles.”
My father went on to preach to more than 9 million people in the UK over the next 37 years, but his first evangelistic campaigns were what led him to his first meeting with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 1955, my mother and father were in Glasgow for a six-week Crusade, and the BBC broadcast my father’s Good Friday message across the country. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were among the millions who tuned in to hear my father share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Shortly after this broadcast, my father received a special note from Buckingham Palace inviting him to preach at Windsor Castle.
So, on 22 May 1955, my father gave a sermon to the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in the chapel of the Royal Lodge. Then my parents joined His Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh for lunch. I am deeply grateful to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I am confident that her commitment to God and her dedicated service to the United Kingdom will have a lasting impact on generations to come”. 4
As I watched the celebrations in honor of the queen’s life, I remembered how we will all one day be in the presence of the King of kings, the author of life, creator of the Universe and all that exists. I thought that despite all our accomplishments or the social position we’ve achieved, or if we’re born into a royal family, one day we’re going to have to leave all that. England’s longest reign has come to an end and the queen can take nothing of material from her entire kingdom.
In the book of Revelation chapter 4:10-11, he speaks of the 24 elders prostrating themselves before him who is seated on the throne and worshipping him who lives for centuries and depositing his crowns before the throne, proclaiming” You are worthy, Lord and Our God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for all things you have created, yea, because of thy will came into existence, and were created.”
Queen Victoria, the great-grandmother of Queen Elisabeth II, wished Jesus to return to her reign so that she could, following the example of the elders described in Revelation, lay her crown at the feet of Jesus.
May we also deposit at the feet of Jesus all things, our identity, our all! May we begin to do this at this time, worshipping Jesus and living for Him!
The great monarch Elisabeth II had great sorrows and problems in her reign but never ceased to believe in the truth of the Gospel and in Jesus.
Once, Her Majesty Elisabeth II said, “Throughout my life, the message and teachings of Christ have been my guide and I find hope in them.”
May this be the queen’s greatest legacy to us: to follow Jesus and place our hope in him. God Save the Queen! 5
Joel Marcos Stevao
- https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/08/queen-elizabeth-ii-of-britain-worlds-longest-serving-monarch-dies-at-age-96.html accessed on 9/8/2022[↩]
- https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/19795225.queens-top-5-memorable-christmas-day-speeches—watch/[↩]
- https://billygraham.org/story/queen-elizabeth-a-friend-of-the-faith-and-a-friend-to-my-father-billy-graham/[↩]
- https://billygraham.org/story/queen-elizabeth-a-friend-of-the-faith-and-a-friend-to-my-father-billy-graham/[↩]
- God save the Queen is an expression of patriotism and desire for God’s protection for the Queen’s life.[↩]
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