On June 24, the Commonwealth nations held a summit in Kigali, Rwanda, to discuss trade, food security, health issues and climate change. Yet the most important speech at the summit was from Prince Charles, representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth ii, head of the Commonwealth.

The speech intended to cement the unity of the Commonwealth. bbc royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the speech showed a “future king keen to make his mark.” Yet the mark Prince Charles has been hitting, in this speech and others, has been to embrace woke ideology and erode the very foundation of the Commonwealth.

One of the major themes was Prince Charles stating that colonial racism was the foundation of the Commonwealth. “In his speech, Prince Charles … described how he was on a personal journey of discovery and was continuing to ‘deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact,’” reported the bbc. “He said he was aware the roots of the Commonwealth organization ‘run deep into the most painful period of our history’ and said acknowledging the wrongs of the past was a ‘conversation whose time has come.’” This follows similar statements in Barbados following the ceremony to remove the Queen as the head of state, forming a republic.

The British Empire outlawed slavery in 1833. The Commonwealth was formed in 1926. Slavery had been gone for nearly 100 years before the Commonwealth was formed. The creation of the Commonwealth was actually an “Independence Day” for many of the members of the British Empire, as they were recognized to be equal members with Britain and their legislative bodies were granted autonomy. Twice the Commonwealth helped save the world during the world wars.

The Commonwealth is a very unique organization, where nations with the greatest diversity of race, religion and geography all share common institutions and traditions. Yet in his speech, Prince Charles undercut the unifying bond that holds the Commonwealth together: “I want to say clearly, as I have said before, that each member’s constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide. The benefit of long life brings me the experience that arrangements such as these can change, calmly and without rancor.” In one sentence, the royal family has surrendered its vital role in the Commonwealth.

Prince Charles has effectively declared the end of the Commonwealth, and this may encourage many of the founding members of the union, such as Australia and Canada, to cut off ties with the royal family and become republics sooner than expected. It is now just a matter of time.

In order to understand why this is important, you have to understand where the Commonwealth fits into Bible prophecy. This is vital to understand because it is linked to events that will directly impact your life.

The late Herbert W. Armstrong explained in The United States and Britain in Prophecy that the British people are descendants of the tribe of Ephraim. The Bible is filled with prophecies about what would happen to the British peoples in the last days. The central prophecy was that Ephraim would receive part of the birthright blessings of national wealth and power promised to the patriarch Abraham. Yet Ephraim was given a very specific promise, as Mr. Armstrong explained: “In Genesis 48, Jacob first passed the birthright on to the two sons of Joseph jointly, speaking of them both together. Then, finally, he spoke of them separately—Manasseh was to become the single great nation; Ephraim, the company of nations.” The Bible foretold that Britain would become a company, or commonwealth, of nations.

Mr. Armstrong continued: “And in his prophecy for these latter days Jacob said, ‘Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall’ (Genesis 49:22). In other words, Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh jointly and together—was to be a colonizing people in this latter day, their colonies branching out from the British Isles around the Earth.” As the British people colonized the globe, they stayed connected to the homeland. Despite the many sins and mistakes made during the colonial period, the British Empire brought education, government and civilization to its colonies.

Since its establishment, the Commonwealth has been united by one institution. Mr. Armstrong wrote:

But beginning in 1800 these two little nations [Britain and America] began to sprout and to grow into vast national riches and power such as no people ever possessed. Soon Britain’s empire spread around the world, until the sun never set upon her possessions. Canada, Australia, South Africa were given dominion status—made free and independent nations, ruling themselves independent of England—a company, or commonwealth, of nations joined together, not by legal government, but solely by the throne of David!

The British royal family are the descendants of King David, and were sitting on David’s throne, as explained in The United States and Britain in Prophecy. This throne is what has kept the Commonwealth nations joined together. The nations of the Commonwealth have enjoyed the tremendous birthright blessings through this connection to Britain, all sustained by this relationship that exists with the British monarchy. The throne of David and the British Commonwealth are prophetically interwoven. The two rise together and fall together. The very same Bible that prophesied this incredible rise to world-dominating power also foretold of a stunning, rapid collapse. What happens when that connection is severed?

Bible prophecy reveals that when Britain and the Commonwealth have collapsed, the world is about to enter into the Great Tribulation, a time of nuclear warfare and worldwide conflict (Matthew 24:21-22). When the Commonwealth disappears, the English-speaking nations will be entering a dangerous time when they are no longer the head of world power, but the servant.

Even before Charles becomes king, he is forging a legacy of disaster by betraying the biblical heritage of his royal lineage. Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in “Threatening the Crown That Binds Britain”: “The British royals, busy trying to reinvent and ‘modernize’ the monarchy, are wracked with problems and scandals in their own lives. Prince Charles may soon become king. He had a terrible, unfaithful marriage. He has not shown leadership. He has advocated for the false narrative of climate change. He has indicated that he will liberalize the monarchy even further …. [T]his will leave Britain even more faithless, divided and vulnerable.” Charles’s recent speech only continues this downward decline.

Abdicating the leadership of the Commonwealth will leave many of these nations vulnerable to the enemies of the English-speaking world. Prince Charles declared that “diversity” is the strength of the Commonwealth. The strength of the Commonwealth actually comes from the leadership of David’s throne. Mr. Flurry wrote: “Such divisive conduct is accelerating the disintegration of this throne, its importance and its history of elevating lives around the world. Why such a sustained attack, and why is it focusing on morality? Because biblical morals and a history with God are the source of strength for the throne of David.”

God and the Bible are the source of strength for David’s throne, which then strengthens the Commonwealth. By abandoning God, the many nations of the Commonwealth are losing strength. When the Commonwealth nations reject the royal family and become republics, it will signal that a momentous disaster is imminent.

Yet the throne of David contains the hope of the world. That throne underwent a profound change on Jan. 16, 2017, that contains the most hopeful vision you can imagine. As the royal family and the English-speaking peoples fall into bitter affliction, understanding this change will keep you positive and change your life!

To learn about that profound change, please read Mr. Flurry’s book The New Throne of David. Please also read The United States and Britain in Prophecy to learn more about the prophecies about the royal family and the Commonwealth in these last days.