Since our Queen’s death last September, we have been waiting for decisions relating to the new King’s Coronation. Discussions among parliamentary ministers, the Palace, and leaders of the Anglican Church have been taking place behind the scenes. Most of us can only guess at what has been said, the result of which has been a long time coming.

Changes to the Coronation Ceremony

The central part of the Coronation ceremony is the taking of the Oath by the King, which contains the promise to maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel, and to maintain the Protestant reformed religion, established by law. Many years ago, Prince Charles made it known that he, as King, would want to be the Defender of Faith rather than Defender of the Faith.

For hundreds of years, particularly since the Coronation Oath Act of 1688, the Faith has meant the faith held by those of the Protestant Reformed Church, specifically as defined by the Established Church in Britain. Dropping the definite article brings quite a different meaning, whereby there would be a transfer of defence to those of any faith, whatever god or gods was their focus. Nevertheless, the wording of the central parts of the Oath will remain intact, and Charles has made it known that he will remain Defender of the faith. Though words will not change, it is clear that intent remains. Aspiration for freedom of all other faiths in the nation is being brought in by a different route in the service.

Aspiration for freedom of all other faiths in the nation is being brought in by a different route in the service.

The gospel of salvation through the sacrificial blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is exclusive of all else. Whatever gods are set up as an alternative, and whatever religious order accompanies any other faith, the Bible sys that there is no other way to the One True God. Those of us who are deeply concerned for the maintenance of the Christian heritage of Britain have waited over these months for any sign of change; we finally had the publication of the order of service – just one week before the Coronation!

Wrangling Behind the Scenes

Prior to official announcements, some newspaper reports expressed concern over the wrangling between the King and leaders of the Church. For example, The Sunday Mail of the first week of April reported that “King Charles has been at loggerheads with Church leaders over the role other faiths should play in his Coronation”. Eventually, the publication of the full order of service by Lambeth Palace was preceded by a statement from the House of Commons by Oliver Dowden on 19th April. Quoting Winston Churchill, he stated that minor changes in the Coronation Oath would not necessitate a change of law.

It is clear that the wrangling behind the scenes led to a compromise whereby any changes to the order of service would exclude major changes to the wording of the Oath. Nevertheless, changes to the order of service would incorporate elements of inclusion of other faiths. This would include leaders of other faiths at the head of the procession into the Abbey. Representative leaders of these faiths are also expected to give gifts to the King and to carry the insignias of a ring, a robe, bracelets and a sword. Our Hindu Prime Minister will read from the Book of Colossians.

Representative leaders of these faiths are also expected to give gifts to the King and to carry the insignias of a ring, a robe, bracelets and a sword.

The Compromise

Compared to the clarity and focus of the Coronation liturgy for Queen Elizabeth II, subtle changes have been made to that of King Charles III, which take away the precision in order to accommodate, as far as he was able, his multi-faith aspirations. Prior to the King’s taking of the Oath, the Archbishop will speak out the agreed aspiration behind aspects of the Oath. The wording is as follows:

“Your Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely. The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law.”

These kinds of things can be argued as minor changes to the Coronation liturgy in the mind of man, but we know that God looks on the heart. Unfortunately, the evidence is that the King has a heart divided and has no clear understanding of what he is doing. In fact, these are the words that will be spoken as a prayer following the Oath and part of an expanded statutory Accession Declaration Oath that he is a faithful Protestant: “Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children of every faith and conviction.”

These kinds of things can be argued as minor changes to the Coronation liturgy in the mind of man, but we know that God looks on the heart.

It will be like the offering of blemished animals on the altar at the time of Malachi, and the compromise that took place in Israel regarding the majority of Kings. Even of those Kings who brought reform when the nation fell away from God, it was said, but they did not remove the high places (e.g. 1 Kings 15:14). If the God of Israel is to be the God of Britain in the future, then no compromise to other gods is acceptable.

Changing Times

History has more than one face. We can look at all the good that God has done in Britain, but we can also look at the growing tendency to turn away from the fulness of His laws, and the opening of the country to the worship of other faiths. Even the Queen in her speech before her Coronation in 1953 asked people of any faith to pray for her at her Coronation. The Gospel went across the land in the 1950s, particularly through the stirring ministry of Billy Graham, who in hindsight, was as much a prophet as an evangelist. Yet it was not long before the first mosque was opened in Regents Park.

At that time documents from the Islamic Foundation in Leicester clearly stated that if Islam could take London, it could also take Europe. Since those days indeed, there has been an expansion of the settling of the worship centres of other faiths in this country. We have come to a time when, therefore, it is argued that the King must represent the changing climate of the nation. But what of the metaphor of the frog in water that is gradually heating up?

By contrast, from a different era, when Edward VIII desired to marry a divorced woman, a ministry of prayer was beginning at the Bible College of Wales. They earnestly prayed that he would not be crowned, so much more valued were biblical principles, including marriage, in those days. The abdication followed and George VI became King, who took us through the war years, at times of great need, calling the entire nation to prayer. This same prayer ministry in Wales was called to intercession during those war years and afterwards to the establishment of the State of Israel. How different are the times now, as the world moves on to new eras and new challenges to hold firm to that which is good and of God.

We can forecast that after this Coronation with its divided loyalty towards the One True God and gods of other religions, the nation will be more deeply established as multi-faith with all the outward manifestations.

With discernment we can forecast that after this Coronation with its divided loyalty towards the One True God and gods of other religions, the nation will be more deeply established as multi-faith with all the outward manifestations. Far from defending the true faith, Christianity will be of the same priority as all other faiths. How soon will it be before the call from the minaret eclipses the sounding of church bells in some areas of the country?

Let us be clear, however, when we are writing about the presence of other faiths in the country, it is the worship of false gods that we are focussing on. We are not against people themselves, whoever they are. Indeed, every person is born in the image of God and is invited to faith and fellowship with the One True God through the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus. This is the true gospel. This is a most delicate matter, but there can be no compromise.

Fulfilling Prophecy

More than forty years ago David Watson, a prominent Christian leader, said that God would have to forgive Sodom and Gomorrah if he did not judge Britain for our falling away. Another prominent Christian leader, David Pawson, forecast that Britain would become a Muslim country. In the pages of Prophecy Today, especially from the pen of Clifford Hill, has come warning after warning. Always in the background to these warnings was the prophetic understanding from the 1986 meeting of many Church leaders from around the world on Mount Carmel, that God would soon fulfil the prophecy of Haggai, repeated in the Book of Hebrews, of the great shaking that would precede Jesus’ return.

Do you recall the lightning strike that hit York Minster from a clear blue sky following the induction of David Jenkins, the liberal theologian, as Bishop? We had a comparable experience in Israel. On the day that the Knesset was debating the introduction of abortion to Israel, a group of us, Jews and Gentile believers, were discussing the application of the laws of God to the nations of the world. A lightning strike was reported to hit the Knesset during these two concurrent meetings. God will not compromise His laws or the truth made known in the Bible, and has sent many signs.

God will not compromise His laws or the truth made known in the Bible, and has sent many signs.

What will happen in the UK when the Oath is made in Westminster Abbey, with its accommodation of the involvement and recognition of other faiths, we can only wait and see. A colleague, Paul Slennett, and I followed up a prophecy he believed was given to him in 1989. We wrote a book entitled Earthquake in the City to make known the prophecy and encourage others to seek understanding of why God would bring a judgment to Britain likened to an earthquake. Our eyes were opened at that time to the way the existing Coronation Oath was being broken in the making of laws contrary to the laws of God in our land. Are we now completely crossing the line so that all of God's warnings will result in His judgments? Watch also.

The Taking of Oaths

Jesus made it perfectly clear (Matt 5:33-37): “I tell you, do not swear an oath at all.........All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

This even casts doubt on the wisdom of King Charles being asked to make an Oath at all. Can it really be true that the evil one is at work in our nation, causing a binding oath to be made, especially when it displays a divided heart towards God? The Archbishop is going to invite all of the nation to make an oath of allegiance to the King during the Coronation ceremony. Everyone taking this oath takes it before God and is bound to what is committed.

We strongly advise everyone not to do this, or you will surely regret being party to the resulting consequences for the nation.

Widening gap

We understand that King Charles wants to always do what is right, but his views have now been formed so that what he perceives as right is loaded with error and its consequences. We are entering a new era in the nation and either God will turn His back on us for our turning away from Him, or, as a father does to his children, bring us under discipline. The latter is preferable, despite the pain, but let those who understand maintain the remit of watching and praying, through a time of sorrow for our nation.

We are entering a new era in the nation and either God will turn His back on us for our turning away from Him, or, as a father does to his children, bring us under discipline.

Caiphas was unintentionally prophetic at the time of Jesus' trial, when he advised to let one man die for the people (John 11:50). Likewise, King Charles seems to be unintentionally prophetic at this time of his Coronation. Beginning today, with words familiar to every railway traveller, his voice will be heard saying, “Mind the gap”.

Indeed, the gap is about to widen in the UK between the true Church and the nation. It is being subtly, almost imperceptibly, opened up, as God withdraws His hand of protection. If we were in the days of the Pilgrim Fathers, many would be leaving in search of a ‘new world’, owing to the declining state of our nation before God.

There is now no such place available to begin again, anywhere on this earth. Those who have wisdom will cling tightly to the One True God, through the sacrificial blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ, letting no such gap open up between us and Him, as we prepare for His soon return.