The Royal Wedding: Something Ancient, Something Future

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding is part of something much bigger, with ancient roots and future implications.

As the United Kingdom celebrates the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, an estimated 2 billion will be watching around the world. Royal weddings are spectacular and capture so much of the imagination. When it comes to pageantry, no country puts on a display such as the Brits do. After all, they have been doing it for almost 1,000 years—ever since 1066. Actually, the history goes back much further.

Has God saved the monarchy?

Royalty has struggled to survive all types of threats and crises over the centuries—and many monarchies around the world have been replaced. Revolution has overturned kings, princes and dictators. Somehow the British institution has come through it all. Have you ever wondered why? Is there something about it that is unique?

A close friend of mine who worked at Hatfield House, home of the duke of Bedford, told me of a scroll that traces the ancestry of the current royal family all the way back to King David of ancient Israel. That goes a long way past 1066. Is it possible that God preserved a dynasty for a special reason that is yet ahead of us?

Biblical and historical research has shown that this is, in fact, the case.

The biblical background

In 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-16 God promised that David’s dynasty would never end. He spoke through the prophet Nathan to David. “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever” (verse 16).

Is the Almighty God who created all things capable of keeping His word and bringing to pass His plans? In 2 Chronicles 13:5 God tells us that He “gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt”—salt meaning that it would be preserved.

In the New Testament the angel Gabriel told Mary that her Son (Jesus) was to receive the throne of His father David and that He would reign over the house of Jacob forever and that there would be no end of His Kingdom (Luke 1:31-33). This can also be read in the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7, and this passage ends with the powerful statement that “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

These events will be fulfilled at the return of Jesus the Christ at His second coming. Christ will return in unimaginable splendor and glory to take over this sick and dying world and to bring relief from all of the suffering. Read about this in Revelation 11:15-18.

So if indeed the house of Windsor currently occupies the throne of David, with the marriage of William and Kate possibly continuing the lineage, it is all a part of a much grander plan that God has for mankind.

Royal majesty and restoration

I remember well the coronation of the present queen in 1953 in Westminster Abbey. The coronation was majestic in every way, with celebrations, street parties and great rejoicing. The momentous event was televised for the first time.

In 1981 the world watched the pageantry as Prince Charles and Lady Diana exchanged vows in St. Paul’s Cathedral. This year’s royal wedding will be similarly spectacular, this time in Westminster Abbey, which is close to 1,000 years old.

However, all will pale into a shadow in comparison to the return of Christ and the establishment of His throne on the earth in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:15-17; Isaiah 2:1-4). The Bible also describes the incredible marriage of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) at this time (Revelation 19:6-9).

The book of Acts records for us a promise from God the Father, that He will send Jesus to restore all things and bring peace and true godly government to this world.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21).

Please study these scriptures and heed the warning they give. Then you can look forward to the coronation of the King of Kings and to the marriage of the Lamb—and take part in that restoration of all things! Read more about this in our new ebook The Mystery of the Kingdom.

Paul Suckling was born in England and is currently a pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in New England.