The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

 

On Thursday 8^th September 2022 it was announced that Queen Elizabeth had died. Although people were a bit more prepared for it than the death of Princess Diana, they were still shocked because the Queen had been seen greeting the new Prime Minister Liz Truss only a couple of days beforehand.

There was, during that time (at least among some believers), as usual, an expectation that a revival could happen as a result. But to be fair, any major event would make the revivalists hope that there could be a resulting revival. If there was an eclipse, it meant a revival was imminent. If someone had a sweet dream, a revival was imminent. In the same way that blood moons signified the end of the world to some. I’m being a bit disingenuous again, but this all has a kernel of truth in it.

 

The UK Christian media at least were very much on message and made much of the fact that the Queen was a Christian. This was largely glossed over in the secular media, although it was mentioned. Especially since the shameful abuse scandal broke, Christians had been held in a particularly low regard. This had not been helped by Tony Blair and George Bush, who claimed to be Christians. So along with the abusers, because of the actions of a few, the whole community lost respect among many of the people.

But any hopes that the Queen’s witness could raise our reputation among the people proved to be a little too positive. The Queen died and rainbows were seen over the royal residences. Some took it as a sign. Others shrugged and carried on as normal. The event was huge and the country headed into a period of official mourning. Once again, it was the UK republicans and critics of the monarchy, including republican Christians who felt that they were not free to express anything but the highest praise for the Queen, whose popularity was not under question. But now many have romanticised the time under her as being better days, when the truth is that it was grindingly hard and bad for so many of us. For the future, if you are young, don’t believe those who say it was all peachy when the Queen ruled. It wasn’t. The problems were as bad, if not worse than many of today’s troubles.

As for a revival. Some of the modern prophets stated that a revival would come. One notable prophet stated that it would not come until the country had been significantly humbled through another recession and cost of living crisis. So, in September of that year, when the Queen died, he felt a little vindicated. Something had happened, even though it was not exactly what he had prophesied. I got caught up in this hope too - the hope of revival, despite many past disappointments. I should probably have known better. I didn’t publish this blog though until I was persuaded that something was genuinely happening behind the scenes.

I could not see how a revival could come without a sovereign move from God himself. We were in his hands and the gift was in his hands too. They started to call the Queen ‘mother’ or ‘grandmother’ and some of the revivalists started to call revival ‘the promised land’. Others wanted there to be another reformation, sick of the excesses and seeming inactivity of the established churches. Revivalists were by no means in unity in the UK. (And also needed to repent.)

I struggled because I wanted there to be a revival but I didn’t want the huge cost of living crisis and recession which was looming and which was likely to disproportionately make things so much worse for the poor. I was also preoccupied. My brother had not been healed from a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. One medical trial requested £250,000 to take part. Can you believe that? We are so sick. My brother asked us, half joking, if we would sell our house for him. My heart was breaking and it affected what remained of my relationship with God because I blamed God for allowing the disease. Plus, I knew that revival was in his gift and that while he tarried, people died. Saying ‘God’s timing is perfect’ was not helpful. Sometimes his timing seemed to stink.

 

As for the country after the death of the Queen - the UK media stations changed their programming. The news was largely filled with the pre-prepared material (until that ran out). And people seemed quite flexible on the whole. They adjusted to having a new king and that was that. The Queen’s Christianity did not seem to have had the influence on the people which some hoped that it would. It was all quite depressing. Some murmured that the new king was too interested in other faiths. And, of course, conspiracy theories abounded - others said ‘He’s not my king’ (something which had historically not gone down very well with some kings). The majority of believers in the UK are monarchists though. I think it is because of all the royals in the Bible.

Around about the time of the funeral there was excitement in some Christian circles about exactly what the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon would be like at the funeral. Because it was likely to be the sermon which reached the most people ever. Estimated to be between 3-4 billion people. The sermon was delivered and people fell into two camps - some thought it was very standard and unengaging (having to fit into a small time slot), others thought that it was bold and criticised the powerful leaders who sat in Westminster Abbey to listen. One thing it did do was to please the majority of UK Christian listeners. As for the others - well, as usual, few people asked. There was some conversation about it on social media, but mostly about whether the Archbishop had subtly alluded to Harry and Megan. It seemed to please the converted most of all.

Then, after the funeral, with opportunities missed as usual, things returned to normal. What startled me was that this happened straight away. In the same way that you can notice everything revert to normal after the Christmas celebrations, things went back to normal after the Queens death. We had a king and that was that. Comedy resumed, allowed once again on the BBC (who halted it briefly) and we also resumed our legitimate worries about the cost-of-living crisis, the coming winter… and the possibility of nuclear war.

On 23^rd September 2022, after finally contracting COVID for the first time, I wrote in my diary: ‘Revival has rarely felt so far away as today.’

The Government's Perspective

 

December 2022 

At the end of November 2022, more of the 2021 census results were published. (Christmas is the best time for a census conversation. For a few reasons.) In this case, our very own oppressive Government (who had sat on the results for a long time and made everyone else wait for their findings), somewhat gleefully stated:

‘For the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1 percentage point decrease from 59.3% (33.3 million) in 2011; despite this decrease, “Christian” remained the most common response to the religion question.’

The results also showed that every other faith and none had increased in number.

 

It was the year of the Qatar world cup. We were not winning. Discontent filled the air. The streets felt oppressive. Strikes of all kinds were happening. And the cost-of-living crisis had become an official recession, looking likely to become a depression. And then there was Christmas, which many of the poor simply could not afford (yet still celebrated without any discernible reward).

The Conservative Government, at least being led by the first Prime Minister of colour (though not entirely because of the wishes of the party), knew that their time was short. There were protests - except, protesters rights had already been limited. Every day was a case of, ‘And what are we not allowed to do today?’

Government very much thought that issues of faith and spirituality should be delegated to the faith communities. Muslims, in particular, were still treated badly. Christians had received some much-needed kudos when Queen Elizabeth died, because the people respected her faith. That’s maybe a bit cynical, but as someone once said ‘What is actually wrong with cynicism?’ (Or, for that matter, naivety?)

It was very hard for anyone to claim that the UK was a Christian country anymore. Reasons for people ticking the Christian box on the census vary. But we were nominally Christian up until then, whatever you think of the real state of the country. Now were we Babylon?

 

As for the Government’s perspective on all this? I’m very sorry, but I’m afraid there are those who really don’t deserve their side of the story to be told. They didn’t lift a finger to help and, in many ways, hindered things. The charities largely helped, others helped. But the Government? No. Even their report that Christians in the UK really were discriminated against was tucked away. And they continue to complicate and make the lives of so many people, so much more difficult.

Or, to quote Fiddler on the Roof:

“Rabbi, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Is there a proper blessing for the Czar?”

“A blessing for the Czar? Of course. May God bless and keep the Czar… far away from us!”

A Catholic Point of View

Over the years I have been to a few Catholic churches. One on holiday in Portugal, for a meeting so packed that I had to stand outside the church itself because the congregation was literally spilling out of the church. Another time when I was visiting a relative in Ireland and I went to the local Catholic church, curious to see what it was like – it was very much like a local community hub. I’ve been to the Vatican, but at the time I wasn’t a believer and was more interested in the array of often esoteric items being sold in the street leading up to the Vatican.

If the figures are to be believed, then it seems that many new Christians are becoming Catholic. I remember writing a report on how believers were portrayed in film and I found that most of the negative stereotypes concerned Catholic fictional characters, especially priests. Despite the child abuse scandals (which have got to be the worst sins that people from within both Catholicism and Protestantism have ever done), there seems to be something about the Catholic church which attracts many. Possibly it may be the claim that it is the true Church, with the legitimate successor to the first Pope, St Peter. But the Orthodox Church also claims to be the true, original church, so it can get pretty confusing. Especially when you are Protestant (which has absolutely no evidence of being orthodox when it all comes down to it (and has splintered into many groups)).

There is still a lot of misunderstanding and discrimination between some Protestants and Catholics, further evidence of our current lack of unity. For example, they don’t usually pray TO Mary and the saints. They ask Mary and the saints to pray for them in the same way that you might ask a church leader to pray for you. Because they believe that death is not strong enough to block prayers. Yes, they do some things wrong, but they also do a lot right and are as Christian as any other church which holds to the creed.

Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff prayed in his homily on the 2nd December 2024:

“Help us to come to you as Kyrios, as Lord, as the one who is the source of our joy, of our energy and our life. And to ‘Go’ forth in your name, not go ‘from you’ but to go forward in the power and strength of your presence to those who do not know you, who have not had the beauty of an encounter with you.  To go to those who are furthest away. 

Lord, help us to do this in communion with one another, walking together, assisting each one to be able to participate more profoundly and deeply, so that all may have their voice and their part in bringing others to you.  This is our Mission.”

And about the quiet revival he went on to say that it was being led by young men and laypeople.

Beth Przybylska, strategic project director at the church's Catholic Youth Ministry Federation told OSV News:

"If a mass revival occurs, I'm sure it will find great leadership. But for now, with local priests and parishes preoccupied with their own daily hardships, it's up to youth groups like ours to keep a wider momentum going."

There is speculation that young people are attracted to the traditions and ritual within many Catholic churches. And let’s face it – if you have suddenly become a believer, it is a logical choice to join the largest, least fragmented church in the world… If only just to be safe with ‘you know who’.

The Pandemic (continued)

 

Whether or not the pandemic was the catalyst for what seems to be an increasingly likely ‘quiet revival’ remains a moot point.

2021 (From my diary)

‘Is there a revival now?

It’s supposed to be defined in history as having common elements - people becoming believers, even the occasional miracle. Crime decreasing etc... What has happened before can happen again (for good as well as bad). Many believers seem to hope for a worldwide revival - but that has never happened before. It isn't impossible, I suppose. But all of the many books written about revival are lacking, because not a single person knows how to actually start one. Usually revivals start with the preachers, the Christian leaders. Just a few of them. Some say that before any genuine revival, things get really bad. The consensus is that prayer is hugely important. Then everyone has to decide whether they will help or hinder it.

If this, now, is a revival, I'm thinking we have been hugely fobbed off. But it is in God's gift and timing. How can people repent without a revival? And how is there a revival without people repenting? It is Catch 22. It is entirely in God's hands. The only thing we can do is cry out to him. To soften our hard hearts.’

 

Notably, if a revival happens, afterwards, many of the leaders are then neglected, after being used. Like Oskar Schindler was after saving many people. Evan Roberts, a significant leader of the Welsh revival also received the same treatment; despite everything he did. He was left to stew (or perhaps marinate) in his old age.

Similarly, when a revival happens there is almost always opposition from both outside and inside the church. In Birmingham, The Church of England drowned out the preaching of the Wesleys on the streets with church bells. That is illustrative of the entire antagonism which is ongoing towards any kind of awakening, even within the Church.

But the benefits of a revival are true enough. Historically it’s said that the entire atmosphere changes. There are huge numbers of people who begin to support charities and causes which have not received help or support before. In that sense it is the cause of causes - if a revival happens then more people support existing causes. It is said that people become more loving. There is not usually a push for governmental power. It isn't about that kind of power. It’s the power of God. Domestic violence, violent crime, drug use, all of these things historically decrease in revivals (before Government takes credit for that). There’s a positive aspect because people are said to be more conscientious and more loving. But the crime rates are not currently decreasing according to the stats. The pandemic didn’t result in a worldwide revival.

The worst of all worlds.

The only thing that can reach us after all this time is God’s love. It’s a cliché but true love never goes out of fashion. In an AI age where so many of us who are (slightly) older can feel left behind, let that be a comfort.

Revivalists do have a vision. It is not quite the same as the vision of the politicians, which tends to be about maintaining the status quo. The vision of revivalists is that this country will act as a resource to other countries and that the people within it will thrive rather than simply survive. And that the people within this country will live life to the full and prepare things for the future. That there would be hope for all of us and for the children.

The trouble is that opponents of awakenings often take their stances because of miscommunication and misunderstanding. But also, sometimes out of spite and fears of resulting losses in trade and employment.

 

At the start of Autumn in 2021 I saw the small-town street preachers again. They hadn’t changed. They prayed in the middle of the street. They carried boards reading ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ and ‘Babies are murdered here’. Whenever anyone approached them, people were sent away shaking their heads. The last I heard from them was when they were packing up and the particularly nasty street preacher said ‘Get away from us.’ They hadn’t changed at all. I did not confront them this time, I just witnessed.

 

August 15th August 2022. (Diary. Heaven knows what day of lockdown.)

‘Still no sign of the promised revival. Not that God had made the promise, but you would think that hundreds of thousands of believers in the UK praying for the same thing might persuade him a little. ‘Ask and you shall receive’ and all that.’

 

I spoke with my ex-parish vicar, Richard, on what he thought about revival.

“What do you mean,” he asked back, “about historical revival or revival now?”

“Either.” I replied.

He went on to talk about some of the historic revivals in the past.

“So, it could happen again?”

He seemed to agree and talked about how he believed that any modern-day revival would be different to the revivals of the past. I asked him if the Church of England was prepared for such an event. He skirted around the issue, but didn’t say ‘no’.

He spoke about how many Christians were already active in areas such as climate change.

And then I asked: “Do you think there is a way of uniting liberal and conservative Christians?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Because there is common ground between the two.”

“Like the creed?”

“Yes.”

Up and down the country there are an array of perspectives among Christian leaders, even within denominations. But it was refreshing to hear from one who seemed reasonably open minded to the possibility, even if it could mean a lot more work for him.

 

But at this point in time, the divisions between liberal and conservative Christians showed no sign of abating, even though we largely lost the freedom to go to physical churches. If believers are united in the communion service and affirming the creed (the common statement of faith shared by all denominations) together, we still show no sign of that unity when it comes to online communication. The UK church may have largely been learning online skills because of the pandemic, but we were still as divided as ever. And isolated. 'Close every door to me (and let’s have a flame war).'

Some even found the fringe issues more important than the core issues of the creed and the command to love. This was not just about views on LGBT+ issues. It encompassed views on climate change and even political preferences. Many wanted to make these core issues. Shibboleths. But the fact was that within both the Church of England and other denominations in Britain and worldwide, these were only core issues insomuch that those with opinions on either side wanted to make them core issues. I was to encounter a few believers who wouldn’t even accept the creed. They said that this was an added document and was extra-Biblical, but those with this view were very much in the minority. Although the subject of revival, I had to admit, was also not in the creed. It was an issue which an individual could have any kind of view on, even though it encompassed the words of the Lord’s prayer – namely, ‘Your Kingdom come…’ There was no mention of believing in revival in the Nicene or Apostles Creed. What there was mention of was believing in God and believing that Jesus had been crucified and resurrected, as the gospels relate. And in believing in invisible things.

I simply had to accept the fact that the most adamant, vocal opponents of revival, if they were Christian, could not be said to be non-Christian, because the creed only hinted at the idea of revival. And the same with the most conservative right-wing believers. But revival, by necessity, is entirely concerned with the gospel. You couldn’t really have a revival which didn’t focus on the basic gospel message of God being loving and giving his only son for you and I and anyone else who believes. The only condition being that of belief in Jesus according to the gospels. But maybe, I too, was trying to make all this a core issue?

And how could I continue to make something so interesting, so incredibly boring and religious, especially when there was effectively a plague?

The pandemic ended and we did get the worst of all worlds. One pandemic. A lot of death. And no revival. Good news was hard to find. And partly because of the mainstream media agenda setting. I remember asking one editor just how he knew where to place a story in news emphasis. He replied: “You just get a feel for it.” But maybe he should have said something like: “You just copy what all the other broadcasters and newspapers are doing.” 

That’s slightly disingenuous, but not that far from the truth.

The Pandemic in the UK

2020 Day 71 of first lockdown (from my diary)

‘The contemporary Christian prophets had predicted that Brexit would result in revival. Yet there is still no revival. After Brexit was decided I’d expected the prophets (who are a kind of obscure interest to a few) to state that the LORD (note the capital letters they often use) would be pleased about the Brexit decision. None of that happened. Not a single one gave a message to say that God is pleased with the country’s actions. They are all on to the next thing and back to telling people to repent. It is disheartening. It is downright depressing. What is the point of worshipping a God who cannot be pleased? And now look what has happened.’

The coronavirus happened. Worldwide.

If the prophets had predicted it then they had been oblique. The most misleading prophecies, I guess, were those which said that everything would just get better and better.

There are some who say that the surge in interest in Christianity in the West and Europe is because of the pandemic. But if that is the case – why hasn’t it happened worldwide?

I remember the pandemic beginning because I had the second worst night of my life in a kind of feverish, hallucinating state. I had left the radio on and in the morning, after a hellish night, the news began to talk of an ‘infection’. It was announced by the World Health Organisation. And this announcement prompted the biggest world crisis I have ever seen. There is always a crisis, but most outward crises do not influence day to day life quite as much as this one. Whatever your views on the origins and subsequent reaction to the pandemic, it caused major disruption for so many. For me it was all abysmal.

Once again Christians were saying that the crisis would lead to a humbling and that from that humbling there could be a revival. But I wondered how. And I wondered why the humbling was necessary. Historically, was this how it had always had to happen? If nothing is impossible with God then why was the ‘humbling’ necessary? Because the danger was that a lot of people would die and we would still get no revival. The worst of all possible worlds. Reports began to say that people really were falling to their knees and praying more than ever for help. But still no revival.

Unless I had missed something, unless I simply did not see it, there was no awakening. I thought back to when I first began witnessing and seeking evidence for it, back to when I examined those library books. Was I being too pessimistic? The voices varied. There were Jeremiahs around, both believers and non-believers, and I always took notice of them. There were others who continued to claim that good things were just around the corner. There were some prophets who frankly seemed… dodgy.

I didn’t just read the latest prophecies. If there was something important, or obviously misleading, I would try to question. Mostly I was ignored. It was a minefield anyway. Occasionally there would be a tweeted reply. One popular prophet memorably prophesied at the start of the crisis that the LORD was telling everyone to take communion together every day. I felt it misleading because of the virus. The prophesies were a little bit like the childhood game ‘Simon says…’ in which you have to discern what is a true message and what is not.

I spoke with a close non-Christian friend about revival again and he, exasperated, said, ‘It doesn’t matter what you think!’. Because he understood that if it did happen then there would be huge changes on a personal and societal level. I was the only writer writing about the socio-economic effects of a revival in the UK. That people would lose jobs. That was not a deal-breaker for me. The deal-breaker was if people would die.

I spoke briefly to God about it all. I wrote a blog. But I found that no matter how much I racked my brains, I simply had no agency to bring it about. Always, the best answer seemed to be that the only way to bring it about was through repentance and prayer. And repentance in the sense of loving others more rather than simply trying to stop sinning. Or at the very least simply giving God the apology in prayer some of us think he owes us (and is unlikely to ever give us).


Later from my diary

‘As I write, we seem to be slowly coming out of the crisis. The Government has been a nightmare, apart from furlough. It has felt, to me, like the end of the world. Almost as if an army of demons are persuaded that these are the last of the last days. But how would they know? Even Christ seemed to blindside himself to the date. The prophets have been largely unanimous in saying that it’s not the end of the world. After all, certain other things are supposed to happen first. The Jerusalem temple being rebuilt and a handful of other things. More than believers say. But as I write I’m fed up and the lockdowns have been difficult. I’ve been fed up for a long time.’

It all made my brain turn to mush and I still wanted to get out and about and get alternative perspectives on something which most people doubted could ever happen... I got sick of thinking and talking about it. I wanted to experience it…

I also got Covid…