King Charles III addressing the The UK’s Accession Council, where Senior politicians,
and advisers to the monarch attended a ceremony in St. James’s Palace, and officially declared
King Charles III as the country’s monarch. (Image Source: Sky News)

King Charles III’s declaration to the Accession Council, Sept. 10, 2022

“My lords, ladies and gentlemen.
It is my most sorrowful duty to announce to you the death of my beloved mother, the queen.
I know how deeply you, the entire nation — and I think I may say the whole world — sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered. It is the greatest consolation to me to know of the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister and brothers and that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.

To all of us as a family, as to this kingdom and the wider family of nations of which it is a part, my mother gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service.

My mother’s reign was unequaled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.

I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me. In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world.

In this purpose, I know that I shall be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose sovereign I have been called upon to be, and that in the discharge of these duties I will be guided by the counsel of their elected parliaments. In all this, I am profoundly encouraged by the constant support of my beloved wife.

I take this opportunity to confirm my willingness and intention to continue the tradition of surrendering the hereditary revenues, including the crown estate, to my government for the benefit of all, in return for the sovereign grant, which supports my official duties as head of state and head of nation.

And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of almighty God.”

And so the United Kingdom has a new monarch. His Royal Highness King Charles III.

This is highly significant from the perspective of Bible prophecy as we shall come to in a moment.

The Tarshish Clues

Before we do let us consider that we believe, “Tarshish”, a nation mentioned in the Bible is the ancient name given for the isles of Great Britain.

Some of the clues we get from scripture which help us to appreciate this are as follows: 

Origins

1. Descendent of Japheth an island or coastal territory - Gen 10:1-4  - The Historian Josephus tells us that Japheth’s dependents populated the area of Europe.

Time of the Kings: c. 900BC

2. An ancient maritime power - 2 Chr 9:21, Psa 48:7, Isa 2:16, 23:1, 60:9, Eze 27:25

3. Traded in ancient global markets - 2 Chr 9:21

4. Located to the west of Israel - Jonah 1:3

All of these accord with historical facts about ancient Britain

Time of Ezekiel: c. 600BC

5. Source of silver, iron, tin & lead - Eze 27:12

6. Is influenced by Tyre (570BC +) - Isa 23:6-7
Fascinatingly we know as a historical fact that metals from Britain, including the rare metal tin, were being traded in and around the mediterranean at this time (see https://www.timesofisrael.com/groundbreaking-study-ancient-tin-ingots-found-in-israel-were-mined-in-england/).

Prophetically, in the “Latter Days” (1948+)

7. Is a “mother lion” colonial power - Ezek 38:13 - Compare with Ezek 19:1-3

8. Is a trading power in the Middle East and separate from Europe - Ezekiel 38:13


Both of these points have and are being fulfilled by Britain today.

By piecing these and other clues together, we believe that the only fit as to which nation Tarshish should be identified as is Great Britain.

In relation to the prophetic description of Tarshish being like a mother lion and having independent “young lion offsping” (that is offspring that is independent of her) it is worthy of note that King Charles referred to “the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world.”

King Charles has also been personally involved in furthering British interests in the Gulf. He visited the area in 2016 and in 2020.

Psalm 72

The fact that Britain now has a King is of note to the student of prophecy in relation to the prophecy found in Psalm 72.

Psalm 72 is all about the time when God will give a descendent of the Israelitish King David His righteousness. The prophecy talks about this descendent judging righteously and in peace (v1-2 and 7) and the first half of the Psalm is all about the blessings of this person’s reign.

We know the Psalm is a prophecy because it states this towards the end in verse 17:
“His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.”

This has never occurred in the history of the Kings of Israel. It is prophetic of one to come.

God had indeed made a promise to David himself about this one to come. In 2 Samuel 7:12-14 we read of this promise:
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son…"

However, at the end of David’s royal line, when Israel had been disobedient and condemned by God to be scattered amongst the nations, the prophet Ezekiel is told to go to the last king that sat on David’s, throne, king Zedekiah, with a message from God: “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it [the Kingdom]: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” (Ezek 21:27). David’s line then, although overthrown, is not ended. The Kingdom of Israel will be restored again on the earth. 

This will be done by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the descendent of David promised by God. We are told that this is his destiny in Luke 1:32 when the angel Gabriel appeared to his mother Mary before his birth and said of him:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.”

This was not accomplished in his lifetime. After he died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples. After this time with them they asked him:
“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Act 1:6. He replies: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (v7). Clearly then this is still future. Future even to our day. But it will happen, the Kingdom will soon come, starting at Israel the Lord Jesus Christ will return and reign. He will call on nations to submit to His righteous rule, which they will do until the Kingdom fills the whole earth as we read of in Daniel 2:35.

The significance of the king of Britain

So what does all this have to do with the new appointment of King Charles III?

Well in Pslam 72, the prophecy of the future reign of the Lord Jesus Christ we have a detail of some of the nations that will be amongst the first to submit to his authority. In verse 10 we read:

“The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.”

The Kings of Tarshish and of the isles. The word in the Hebrew here for “Kings” is Melek. It is a masculine noun meaning the kings spoke of here are male. This could never have been fulfilled by Queen Elizebeth II. But it can be fulfilled by King Charles or his sons.

King Charles III - is he one of the 'kings' referenced in Psalm 72:10?
(Image Source: Sky News)

We are therefore witnessing another ‘sign of the times’ slotting into place before our eyes.

We watch and we wait for the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ who is given the title in Revelation 19:16 of “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”.

Psalm 72 ends like this:
“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”

This has been Matt Davies joining you. Tune in again next week for another Bible in the News God willing.