Long to Reign Over Us

This past April marked the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. She was the longest-reigning British monarch, beginning her 70-year, 214-day reign in 1952 at the age of 25. With God’s help, the Queen certainly fulfilled a refrain contained in the national anthem of the United Kingdom, “long to reign over us,” as she died in 2022 at the age of 96.

Scripture states, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” (Proverbs 29:2). Is that not something we all long for in this turbulent world? No matter what country we live in or what government is in power, we want to be able to rejoice under the rule of a just and fair government. Thankfully, Almighty God has a plan for a monarch to reign far more than 70 years—not just over the UK, but over the entire world. That is what we celebrate and look forward to at this time of year through God’s Holy Days (Leviticus 23:23–43).

A Remarkable Legacy

Before we look at the prophecies of a sovereign destined to reign over us for eternity, let us briefly examine the Queen’s legacy and an anthem title written at a time when the UK trusted in God far more than it does today.

In the August 2022 issue of this magazine, our article “Britain’s Platinum Queen” described Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, highlighting the qualities of character that made her a symbol of stability for many in an ever-changing global climate. It shared a key quote from William Shawcross’ book Queen and Country to illustrate the impact of the Queen’s unfailing integrity: “Britain has been enormously fortunate in having… a head of state who has performed her job with the devotion, honour, discretion and constancy of the Queen. The debt she is owed is incalculable but huge…. It is an extraordinary achievement, which should be celebrated, honoured and cherished” (2002, pp. 227, 237).

On April 21, 2026, the centenary of her birth, King Charles III said of his mother, “Her near-century was one of remarkable change, and yet through each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast, and wholly devoted to the people she served.” He concluded his tribute by urging the public to follow her example and “strive together towards a better, happier tomorrow—one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity, and security.” As we look at the troubled world around us today, it may be hard to imagine how that can happen, or how we can play a part in bringing about that “happier tomorrow.” But regular readers of Tomorrow’s World know that God in His word has revealed how that time will come about.

We do not know the author of the British national anthem “God Save the King”—so named because variations of that phrase are repeated several times in its lyrics. Those lyrics have changed subtly through the centuries since the time of King George II (1727–1760), when the nation had a far deeper recognition of God in its national affairs. Today, God is seldom even considered in matters of rule and government—and, if He is, it is as an afterthought or part of ceremony.

“God save the king” is a phrase that captures the need for God to be involved in a monarch’s life—the responsibility of a monarch to seek God and strive to gain an understanding of His laws in order to rule righteously. God instructed each king of Israel to make a personal copy of the laws of God contained in the Pentateuch:

Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book…. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:18–20).

It was not just the physical exercise of writing out a copy that was commanded, but studying it daily—so it could be internalised and practised to the point of becoming part of the king’s character as he grew in humility and reverence for God.

The Future King

Your Bible prophesies that the years ahead of us will bring the most extraordinary event in human history. After the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, the seventh trumpet will sound, bringing this message: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will be the supreme ruler over all nations and governments of this earth (vv. 16–18).

Mankind under Jesus Christ’s leadership will recover from the destruction that will have preceded His return. The laws of God’s government will spread around the globe from Jerusalem as He occupies a defined throne upon the earth, and we read that “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32–33).

Notice that Christ will reign from the throne of David forever—His kingdom will not end, as did the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The opportunity revealed through the plan of God, detailed in His Holy Days, is for those God calls to reign with Jesus Christ: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

That remarkable potential is described in more detail in What Is the Meaning of Life?, and the conditions of the Kingdom of God under Jesus Christ’s rule are explained in The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? Both of these study guides are available to read online at TomorrowsWorld.org, and you can also order printed copies at no charge from our Regional Office closest to you, listed on page 4 of this magazine.

God’s plan tells us that all who have lived will be resurrected at some point in the future. “I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books [biblia in the Greek] were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12).

We will be judged or examined according to the books of the Bible. A time will come when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, like the vast majority of humanity, will be resurrected to physical life and given her first real opportunity to understand God’s way fully. We may have the opportunity to meet her at that time—and, if you are a British subject today, you might be inclined to bow, out of respect for the position she held in this life (Romans 13:1). And from all we have read and seen of the Queen’s exemplary conduct, we can be confident that she will humbly bow before the representatives of the Kingdom of God.