"King Charles III on David's Throne", Say Anglo-Israelites
Many to most Anglo-Israelites claim that he who sits on the British throne is a lineal descendant from King David. There's insufficient evidence for this theory.
MAY 17, 2023
*This post is divided into five distinct yet related sections.
INTRODUCTION: THE BRITISH CROWN IN THE MODERN ERA
SECTION I: ANGLO-ISRAELISM AND THE BRITISH THRONE
SECTION II: CAN THE CLAIMS OF ANGLO-ISRAELISM BE VERIFIED?
SECTION III: THE BIBLE ON THE TRUE KING & HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM
CONCLUSION: A THEORY WITH NO SUPPORT
INTRODUCTION: THE BRITISH CROWN IN THE MODERN ERA
THE ROYAL CROWN: FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO KING CHARLES III
Queen Elizabeth II was coronated on June 2, 1953. Images of the event can be found online, with the associated royal regalia on full display. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was succeeded by His Majesty King Charles III on May 6th, 2021. Buckingham Palace expressed enthusiasm for this historic event and its solemnity.
The declaration of King Charles as king began with a procession. A young person greeted him and said, “Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of kings.” To which Charles responded, “In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve.”
Charles III coronation contained five main elements:
The Recognition
Charles was presented to the 2,000 or so guests assembled in the Abbey. The congregation shouted “God save the King”. Trumpets were blown.The Oath
Charles then swore an oath to uphold the law and be loyal to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England, of which he is the Supreme Governor.The Anointing
A gold cloth canopy was held over the Coronation Chair to conceal the king while the anointing took place by the Anglican Archbishop. In the form of a cross, Charles was anointed on his hands, chest, and head with special oil and consecrated to serve God and country.The Investiture
A newly robed King Charles, seated on the Coronation Chair, was presented with important golden regalia including the Royal Orb and Cross, symbolizing the religious and moral authority of Christ; the Royal Scepter, representing the king’s power and governance; and the Scepter with a dove on top, representing that the Holy Spirit guides the king’s actions. The king is then crowned with “St. Edward’s Crown.”Enthronement and Homage
The king moved to the actual throne, from which he received homage from peers. The Queen Consort was then be anointed and crowned in the same way.
Royal events often include lofty grandeur, ceremonial dignitaries, and traditional pageantry. We will see it again when Charles III passes away. No doubt there is a lot of biblical symbolism in the British coronation. These details of the coronation ceremony were carefully planned, including the theological undertones . This is due to some form of a perceived “shared Christian heritage” of the British people from long ago. However, some Anglo-Israelites claim that he who sits on the British throne is a lineal descendant from King David. There's insufficient evidence for this theory.
SECTION I: ANGLO-ISRAELISM AND THE BRITISH THRONE
WHAT IS ANGLO-ISRAELISM (SOMETIMES CALLED “BRITISH-ISRAELISM”)?
Anglo-Israelism holds that the British people (and many Americans) are descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes. Some Anglo-Israelites believe the British throne is a direct continuation of the ancient Israelite monarchy.
For example, the British Israel World Federation is a modern organization which continues to advocate for the views of Anglo-Israelism, including the idea that the British monarch occupies the Throne of David.
THE THRONE OF DAVID: FROM ZEDEKIAH TO … KING CHARLES III???
The biblical record demonstrates that King Zedekiah was the final ruler to preside over Judah. Anglo-Israelites explain that Zedekiah, his daughters and their companions Jeremiah and Baruch escaped to Egypt. These theorists propose that King Zedekiah's daughter, Princess Tea Tephi, traveled to Ireland in the 6th century BC. There, they say, she married a local High King of Ireland. This union supposedly gave rise to successive generations of royalty who reigned over the Irish kingdom and eventually expanded their reach to Scotland and England.
Some Anglo-Israelites say that this union kept the Davidic throne "alive" and it was eventually "transferred" to Ireland, Scotland, and then England. Thus, Zedekiah's daughter provided the connecting link between King David and Britain. There, the royal lineage of David became embodied by monarchs' coronations with the "Stone of Scone".
For example, the Coronation Chair of Westminster Abbey, which was built for King Edward I, is an important part of the coronation ceremony. It has been in use since 1308. The Stone of Scone, which sits under the chair, was loaned by Scotland for the duration of the coronation. Some Anglo-Israelites claim this was Jacob's pillow and also the stone used for David's coronation!
Anglo-Israelites claim all this establishes a direct lineal connection between the House of David and the modern British Royal Family. Therefore, today's royal family is an offspring of King David's dynasty, claiming historical legitimacy in carrying on his throne.
SECTION II: CAN THE CLAIMS OF ANGLO-ISRAELISM BE VERIFIED?
THE TRUTH ABOUT ANGLO-ISRAELITE ALTERNATIVE HISTORY
Whether British Israelism is supported by the Bible or true can be evaluated by assessing two main ideas. Firstly, did the ten tribes of Israel somehow go missing? Secondly, if they did lose their identity, did they migrate to Europe and then England? There have been various organizations that promote this concept, such as the Worldwide Church of God and Herbert Armstrong. To accurately evaluate whether what they proclaim is valid requires an examination of both ideas in question.
Much of the northern kingdom of Israel was sent into exile in 722 B.C. by Assyria. After this, mention of the northern ten tribes is scant. What happened to these ten tribes? 2 Chronicles 15:9 states that Ephraim, Manesseh and Simeon settled with Judah prior to the Assyrian invasion. Luke 2:36 mentions a prophetess named Anna who belonged to Asher. Therefore, not all were taken away by Assyria; some stayed in their homeland. It’s possible there are still descendants living in Israel or abroad today.
When pondering the possibility of some deported Israelites migrating to England and Europe, we must take into account the sheer difficulty of such an undertaking in antiquity. Even far-fetched alternatives such as Japanese-Israelism or Afghan-Israelism are more plausible. Why would Assyria, Babylon or Persia allow Israelities to leave their borders? If they did, wouldn't some of them returned home? While members of the Israelite diaspora may have considered this route, it's highly unlikely anyone completed it.
Tea Tephi's supposed role as a possible link between the House of David and the British Royal Family is not an established fact at all. Published works by Anglo-Israelites have sought to legitimize this claim. Professional historians argue there is a lack of accurate information or evidence to back up these claims. Furthermore, almost all aspects of the Anglo-Israelite telling of history are not supported by archaeology or history. Lastly, it should be noted that some elements of Anglo-Israelite beliefs are often perceived as antisemitic in nature.
SECTION III: THE BIBLE ON THE TRUE KING & HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM
It's important to remember that what we see through the coronation of a monarch here on earth isn't even comparable to the coronations described in Hebrews 1. The glory and majesty in heaven surpasses any pageantries here on earth by far.
DIVINE CORONATION IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
The book of Hebrews situates us in the heavenly realm, following Jesus's ascension. In other words, it draws forward David’s royal line to a climactic coronation: not just any Christ or Son, but THE Christ and THE Son. The promises made in the Book about this son will be true and fulfilled,
The fifth verse of scripture focuses on Jesus' accession to the throne as King of kings, referencing God's promises and incorporation of Israel's ancient coronation decrees. This serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus brings together the past, present and future in a remarkable way.
Regarding the past, we understand that the Old Testament is the foundation predictions about King Jesus and his Messianic Kingdom. For example, two important passages of scripture, 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 2, tell the story of human kings … but is that all that they entail? In these passages, King David is anointed and declared to be God's "son," chosen to be a special king of Israel. Yet, they also transcend David and turn Messianic. Let’s look at 2 Samuel 7:14 first.
GOD’S PROMISE TO DAVID IN 2 SAMUEL 7
God promises David an everlasting line of kings in 2 Samuel 7:14. This is a significant part of the Old Testament, wherein the Lord establishes a eternal monarchy with the king. Not like King Saul, who failed to secure a permanent sovereign and had no sons that sat on Israel's throne, David can rest assured knowing God will maintain his dynasty.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up [to the throne] your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. . . . And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [And then:] I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. (2 Samuel 7:12–14)
In essence, God declared to David, "Your son will one day rule Israel as king." The kings of Israel were symbolic sons of God in the sense that He ruled the nation through them. 2 Samuel 7 foretold the crowning of one of David's sons, a kingly line extending until a king would be enthroned forevermore. Thus, in this passage, the Lord affirmed His promise to anoint David's heir as king over Israel.
(Click image for my livestream video coverage of the Anglo-Israelite Throne Theory)
PSALM 2: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”
Psalm 2 has traditionally been referred to as a coronation psalm for when a new king from the line of David ascends to rule over God's people. In the passage, enemies conspire against "God and His Anointed," or the Messiah. This is juxtaposed with verse 7; in it lies God's decree from the day of coronation which reads, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." The author of Hebrews pulls this quote to show how it proves Jesus' identity and being is divine in nature.
PROPHECY OF THE TRUE KING
Let’s look back to one more Messianic prophecy: Zechariah 9:9. It reads: “Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.”
Half a millennium later, the crowds in Jerusalem shouted to Jesus, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” Days later, the crowds of Jerusalem shouted for their king to be crucified. Jesus did not receive a crown of gold, but a crown of thorns. Not a scepter, but a staff. He received mock honor and a mock robe.
According to Hebrews 2:9, it is precisely because Jesus suffered death that he is now “crowned with glory and honor”. Passages like Hebrews 7:16; 25; 27 tell us that on the basis of his indestructible life, Jesus became the eternal high priest, offering himself once and for all for our sins, yet always living to intercede for us. In his death and resurrection, the Son of Man became the great high priest and the King of kings, whose kingdom will never end.
CONCLUSION: A THEORY WITH NO SUPPORT
There is something called the Tel Dan Stele. It’s dated dated circa 840 BC (9th century BC). It is significant because it mentions the death of the reigning king from the "House of David". This is an extrabiblical mention of David himself. This is what solid historical evidence looks like. This supports the Bible’s accuracy. We simply do not have that kind of evidence when it comes to Anglo-Israelite readings of history. It is a theory with no support.
“Anglo-Isrealites” contend that England and the United States are under covenant with God. These nations are supposed to be recepients of the ancient promises of Deuteronomy 28 and the like. We simply don't have good evidence to believe their claims. If England and the United States have enjoyed blessings from God, this cannot be attributed to any transferred promises made to Israel. British Israelism has no good evidence from history and not theological evidence from the Bible.
Still, we can remember that 1 Timothy 2:2 admonishes us to pray “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence”.
