Royal address reveals what the nation has lost in 75 years.

As the nation pauses this week to mark 75 years since the Normandy landings, remembering the enormous sacrifice and great courage of so many thousands in order to secure the freedom of so many more, it is fitting to revisit the address made to the nation on 6 June 1944 by Britain’s monarch, King George VI.

His speech, from which both the Queen and Prince William quoted during their addresses this week, did not shy from acknowledging the help and providence of God, and the importance of humble, nation-wide prayer. It illuminates something of the faith that suffused Britain at that time, and reveals something of what we have lost in the years since.

King George VI’s address to the nation

6 June, 1944

“Four years ago, our Nation and Empire stood alone against an overwhelming enemy, with our backs to the wall. Tested as never before in our history, in God's providence we survived that test; the spirit of the people, resolute, dedicated, burned like a bright flame, lit surely from those unseen fires which nothing can quench.

Now once more a supreme test has to be faced. This time, the challenge is not to fight to survive but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause. Once again what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve. After nearly five years of toil and suffering, we must renew that crusading impulse on which we entered the war and met its darkest hour. We and our Allies are sure that our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land.

That we may be worthily matched with this new summons of destiny, I desire solemnly to call my people to prayer and dedication. We are not unmindful of our own shortcomings, past and present. We shall ask not that God may do our will, but that we may be enabled to do the will of God: and we dare to believe that God has used our Nation and Empire as an instrument for fulfilling his high purpose.

I hope that throughout the present crisis of the liberation of Europe there may be offered up earnest, continuous and widespread prayer. We who remain in this land can most effectively enter into the sufferings of subjugated Europe by prayer, whereby we can fortify the determination of our sailors, soldiers and airmen who go forth to set the captives free.

The Queen joins with me in sending you this message. She well understands the anxieties and cares of our womenfolk at this time and she knows that many of them will find, as she does herself, fresh strength and comfort in such waiting upon God. She feels that many women will be glad in this way to keep vigil with their menfolk as they man the ships, storm the beaches and fill the skies.

At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide, vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth. If from every place of worship, from home and factory, from men and women of all ages and many races and occupations, our intercessions rise, then, please God, both now and in a future not remote, the predictions of an ancient Psalm may be fulfilled: "The Lord will give strength unto his people: the Lord will give his people the blessing of peace."”

We re-publish a prophetic word from David Noakes, given to the Church of England in 1992.

In light of the decisions made recently at the General Synod meeting, and in conjunction with our editorial this week, we have chosen to re-publish a word given to the Church of England through David Noakes more than 25 years ago. Though it is an 'older' word, we believe it is still as powerful today, and submit it afresh for weighing and testing.

SENT TO GEORGE CAREY AT LAMBETH PALACE IN JUNE 1992

When I formed you, I took you and drew you out and separated you from an institution which was lost in the darkness of unbelief and false teaching. I restored to you the truth of my word, and I set you in this nation as a repository of that truth, and in order that you might declare and act as guardian of that truth, as it is contained in my holy word.

I appointed you in order that you might be salt and light in this nation where I have placed you; in order that through you I might bring godly wisdom and enlightenment to the rulers of this nation and the knowledge of the way of truth and upright living to its people. I inspired those who wrote your Prayer Book and through it I provided you with direction as to how you should uphold the nation’s rulers before me.

Ever since I formed you, I have cherished you and protected you from your enemies, both within and without, in order that you might continue to be an instrument of my righteousness. Yet, despite all this you have disregarded the sacred trust which I have given to you and you have lightly esteemed the rich inheritance which I placed into your hands.

Your leaders have despised me and have rejected my word. They have played the harlot, loving the world and the things of this world. In seeking to be pleasers of men they have discarded piece by piece the doctrines contained in my word, in order that they may not give offence to men.

Instead of sounding a trumpet call of warning to those who were turning aside after teachings which were not true, they have chosen rather to join hands with them and walk in the paths of darkness, closing their eyes to the portions of my word which have become inconvenient. Your nation has turned away from me and gone astray with the approval of the church. It has passed laws which are an offence to me, while the voices of your leaders have been either silent or sometimes heard in approval. Instead of standing as a bulwark of strength against the flood which threatens to engulf your nation and sweep it away in a tidal wave of anarchy and immorality, they have assisted those who in foolishness have opened the door to these forces of darkness.

The position of your Sovereign as the upholder of the Gospel, according to the oath which she swore before me, has been compromised as a result of walking according to the counsel of her spiritual advisers, who have sacrificed godliness and truth on the altar of political and social expediency.

I have called to you many times in order that you should repent and return to walking in the ways of the Lord and declaring his truth to a nation lost in darkness and confusion, but you have stubbornly blocked your ears. I am deeply grieved over the state of your godless nation; but with you I am exceedingly angry on account of your faithlessness and apostasy. I warn you that unless there is speedy repentance on the part of your leaders, I will hold them accountable for the blood of many. If there is no repentance, then I will give you up to those things which you are bringing upon yourselves, and there will be no turning back. Because of your lukewarmness, I will spew you out of my mouth; because of your refusal to love the truth, I will give you up to delusion and darkness.

Even that which you still have will be lost to you. There will be division and strife and utter confusion within your own ranks. Your wealth will disappear from you and your buildings will be occupied by those who do not know me. Because of their disregard of my authority, your leaders will become a laughing stock and their pronouncements will become the subject of open ridicule by the world which for so long they have sought to please.

Oh, Church of England, hear the cry of my heart as I warn you, for in my anger I speak of impending judgment, but in my steadfast love I plead with you, for I still love you and I still desire to bless you on account of the faithfulness of former generations.

Return to my word and obey it. Re-discover the paths of righteousness and walk in them, for if you will do so, I will even now save what little remains of your former glory and use you as an instrument of salvation in this nation; but if you do not, I will give you up to the destruction which you have chosen for yourselves, for your condition in my sight is now worse than that of the institution out of which I first rescued you.

About the author: David Noakes was a solicitor in London until he joined Clifford Hill’s ministry in 1984. He has been part of the Prophetic Word Ministries/Prophecy Today team since that time, although he has also exercised an independent ministry speaking at conferences both in Britain and overseas. He has visited Israel many times and until recently was chairman of Hatikvah Film Trust, working with Hugh Kitson making films about Israel. He is a well-known Bible teacher with an established ministry and remains an official advisor to Issachar Ministries (Prophecy Today UK's parent charity).