Chapter 2:  The Historical & Secular Origins of the House of Skene is also Prophetic

This Chapter is a Memorial of John de Skene, the Progenitor of the Skene Family from which all Skenes descended.  It is a Memorial of my forefather whose name was changed from Robertson to Skene because of a heroic act that has proven to be Prophetic as well.

In the Eleventh Century when the younger son of Robertson of Struan used his Skene, a small Irish sword, to save King Malcolm II's life from a wolf, as a reward for his bravery, the king gave him lands and changed his surname from Robertson to Skene.

Thus began the family of Skene of Skene.

And, the name Skene was not just happenstance.  To convey a Biblical principle the Lord would use things in the natural that we could relate to.  And, so it was with the surname "Skene".  As you continue to read this chapter you will understand just how profound the spiritual significance of the surname Skene is.

To begin with, Skene was the name of the small sword that John used to kill the wolf that was attacking King Malcolm II and that's why King Malcolm changed John's name from Robertson to Skene.

And, the change of names was a Foreshadowing of how God would use the lives of many of John's descendants for His Kingdom purposes. 

The Sword that the Progenitor of the Skene Family used to save King Malcolm II's life from a ravenous wolf was a Foreshadowing of the "Sword of the Spirit" that many of his descendants, including myself and my beloved brother Grover, would pick up and wield against Satan and the "Ravenous Wolves" that Jesus compared to ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing.  Matthew 7:15;  10:16

Just as in Isaiah 62:2, the younger son of Robertson's of Sturan was to be called by a new name - the name of Skene.

Isaiah 62:2 ² The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,

And all kings your glory.

You shall be called by a new name,

Which the mouth of the LORD will name.

Scripture reveals that it was not unusual for the Lord to change someone's name when the circumstances of their lives were about to change both in the natural and the spiritual.   

For example, Genesis 17:5, 15-16 reveals that Abram and Sari were given the names Abraham and Sarah as they were to become the father and mother of many nations and kings.  And, Genesis 35:10 reveals that because Jacob was to become the father of a nation as well as the father of the twelve tribes of Israel and the father of kings the Lord honored Jacob by changing his name to Israel.  Isaiah 62:2 and Revelation 2:17 are two more Scriptures that reveal a new name was given to honor someone. 

Jesus changed the names of three of His disciples:  Simon to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder.  When the Lord changed someone's name it was a means of showing a new purpose for the person in God's Kingdom on earth - a new destiny that would change that person's life as he once knew it. 

A new name spoke of their spiritual accomplishments as well as their spiritual potential and the spiritual potential of their descendants.  And, it also speaks of God's Blessing throughout the generations. 

And, so it was with the House of Skene. 

It was from the loins of this young man that history records as the first man to bear the name Skene that all Skene's would come from.  And, the unique characteristics of this man that distinguished him from the Robertson Clan is reflected in many of his descendants.

According to historical records, the following picture is of the "Skene" dirk that John de Skene used to kill the wolf.

And, it was this sword that was a foreshadowing of the "Sword of the Spirit" that would become a part of our "Spiritual Armor" that the Apostle Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6.

The new name "Skene" was an indication of how God was going to use this young man and many of his descendants for His Kingdom purposes throughout the generations to come.

This Skene Dirk was symbolic of the "Sword of the Spirit" which is the "Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) that his descendants would use to confront the "wolves" in sheep's clothing that had crept into the Church.

However, and I say this with sadness, not all of John de Skene's descendants will pick up the "Sword of the Spirit" to confront the ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing.  In fact, history reveals that many of his descendants were among the ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing that were among those who imprisoned our Scottish forebears Alexander and John.  

The Prophet Isaiah used the imagery of a tree to explain the lineage of Jesus. 

The "Spiritual Branch" of the "Spiritual Family Tree" of Jesus:  The prophet Isaiah used the imagery of a tree to illustrate Jesus' lineage. 

Isaiah 11:2 And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.  ………..   ¹⁰ And it shall be in that day that the Root of Jesse shall stand as a signal for the peoples; of Him shall the nations inquire and seek knowledge, and His dwelling shall be glory [His rest glorious]!  (AMPC)

They key word is "A Branch" - not all the branches.  Using the imagery of a "Family Tree" - Jesse's family tree would have eight braches - a branch for each of his eight sons.  (1 Samuel 16:10-11)  When the Prophet Isaiah referred to "A Branch" it means that Jesus lineage was from only "one" branch of the tree and that Branch was David's Branch.    

And, it is the imagery of the "Spiritual Family Tree" of Jesus that the Prophet Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 11 that will help us to understand that those Skene's who will wield the "Sword of the Spirit" will come through "A Branch" of the Skene Family Tree that took root in the late 1000's.  The anointing will not come from all the Branches.

Only "A "Branch" from the root of John de Skene that will bear fruit for the Lord.  Only one Branch of John de Skene's descendants will pick up the "Sword of the Spirit.

Scripture refers to Jesus Christ as the son of David.  But, Scripture also reveals that the blessing of the Messiah came from the "Stump of Jesse" - David's father. 

Romans 15:12 ¹² And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (KJV)

According to Scripture, Jesus' lineage originates with Jesse, the father of King David.  So, given the revelation that the blessing of the Messiah came from the "Stump of Jesse" we should not be surprised that when David killed Goliath - King Saul honored David's father.

1 Samuel 17:55-58 ⁵⁵ As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “I really don’t know,” Abner declared. ⁵⁶ “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him. ⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. ⁵⁸ “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”

King Saul understood that David's bravery and courage was a reflection of his father.

And, so it is with some of  the descendants of John de Skene.  He is the root and we are a branch that has sprung out of that root.  We are a reflection of John de Skene.  And, I know for a fact, that my spiritual identity as well as my beloved brother Grover is linked to the spiritual identity of John de Skene the root and the Patriarch of the House of Skene. 

Just as the Lord used the Progenitor of the House of Skene for His Kingdom purposes - God has and will continue to use many of his descendants, like Alexander and John, who picked up the "Sword of the Spirit" which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17) to save many of God's people from the ravenous wolves - the false prophets that had crept into the Church teaching erroneous lies that Matthew 7:15 and 10:16 warns us of. 

When God Changes Someone's Name

The name change to "Skene" meant a new identity and a new mission in the life of my first forebear.  When the name of the young son of Robertson's of Sturan was changed to "Skene" his identity and destiny was forever changed. 

The new name Skene was an indication that this young man was being transformed into the likeness of Christ. 

All too often history only gives us a glimpse of who someone is and the rest is known to God alone.  But in the case of Alexander, Lilias and John history gives us much more than a glimpse. 

Each and every book that was either written by them or about them includes details of the lives of Alexander, Lilias and John Skene. 

But for the purposes of this section I want to continue to focus on the origins of the name Skene and how the Skene's family began - because there is more.  For example, the Skene Coat of Arms which can be likened to the Banners of the twelve tribes of Israel (Deuteronomy 2).

In 1687, my forebear, Alexander Skene, Aberdeen's first historian, devoted himself to the study of the pedigree of the Skene family that dates back to the eleventh century.  And, according to Alexander, as well as other historians,  the origins of the name Skene is referring to the Irish Dirk (dagger) known as a "Skein" that my first forefather, the younger son of the Robertson of Struan used to kill a wolf that was attacking King Malcolm of Scotland. 

And, this achievement of bravery is commemorated in the Skene Coat of Arms which displays three wolves' heads impaled on skenes.

Just as the Lord used things in the natural to teach His Disciples a spiritual truth - so it is with us and the Skene Coat of Arms which can be likened to the Banners of the twelve tribes of Israel 

For example, in addition to the heraldry origins of the name Skene which signifies a dirk in Irish the skene/dirk that the patriarch of the Skene family used to kill the wolf can be likened to the "Sword of the Spirit" in Ephesians 6:17 which according to Strong's was a dirk, a knife. 

And, the wolf that the Patriarch of the Skene family killed can be likened to the "Wolves" that were symbolic of the Hypocrites and False Prophets that Christ spoke of in Matthew 10:16.

And, the "Sword of the Spirit" which is the "Word of God" would become the sword that John de Skene's descendants would use to confront the "wolves" in sheep's clothing that had crept into the Church. 

For example, in 1675 when Scotland's religious establishment demanded that John de Skene's descendants "defend their faith" and give evidence that they were true Believers of Christ Jesus, Alexander and John picked up the "Sword of the Spirit" that is the "Word of God" and using Scripture Alexander and John co-authored "A True and Faithful ACCOMPT of The most material Passages of a Dispute betwixt some Students of Divinity (so called) of the University of Aberdene, and the People called Quakers".

Just as the each of twelve banners of the twelve tribes of Israel as described in Numbers 2:2   identified their father's house and bore some distinguishing symbol that pertained to their particular tribe - the symbols and motto of Skene Coat of Arms identified attributes that pertained to John de Skene.     

And, the Coat of Arms that became synonymous with the Skene family name was passed down through the generations.  In addition to his achievements in the natural realm the symbols on the Skene Coat of Arms represent the "Spiritual" achievements of the first man to be known as Skene.  And, it also represents the "Spiritual" achievements of  many of his descendants that have since passed on as well as his present day offspring and those yet to be born

The Coal of Arms was passed down through the generations, from one generation to the next generations - and spiritually speaking it continues to be passed down.

The symbols on the Skene coat of arms represented the achievements of the John de Skene.  The motto on the Skene Coat of Arms speaks of the bravery and virtue of John de Skene.

When the younger son of Robertson of Struan killed the wolf it was a characteristic that would manifest through his offspring.  Like the founder of the Skene family his descendant, like Alexander and John, would have the courage to confront the wolves in sheep's clothing that had crept into God's Church.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His son Jesus Christ used the imagery of animals to describe the character of someone and they used everyday examples to teach spiritual truths.  Therefore we need to consult the Scriptures to understand what the LORD wanted to "spiritually" teach my forefather and his future offspring by changing his name from Robertson to Skene when he saved the king from the savage wolf with a "skene" and why it was a wolf and not a bear or some other animal.  To find the answer,  a spirit led Believer will go to the Scriptures that speak of a wolf and a "sword" or skene which like a sword is a dirk. 

Matthew 7:15, Matthew 10:16-23, Jeremiah 5:6, Zephaniah 3:3 and Ezekiel 22:27 are Scriptures that speak of the treachery and cruelty of the Presbyterian Magistrates and the Presbyterian Preachers who incited the Magistrates to imprison and lay such heavy fines on Alexander and Lilias Skene that they had to sell their home.  Their son John's business failed because of the act of 1675 that denied both Quakers and Catholics burgess rights.  And, Matthew 10:23 speaks of why John Skene fled Scotland and came to America.

The Sword of the Spirit:  Ephesians 6:17 reveals that part of the Spiritual Armor of God that we put on to protect  ourselves against the enemies of our souls is the "Sword of the Spirit" which is the word of God.  And, according to Strong's G3162 this particular sword is a "dirk" just like the "skene" or Irish dirk.  

Ephesians 6:17 ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword ^[G3162] of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

In Matthew 10:16 Jesus said,

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

And, from the letters and words written and spoken by Alexander, Lilias and John that are forever a part of Scottish history and that will forever bear witness that all three were persecuted for their religious beliefs with both Alexander and John imprisoned I'm sure that Alexander, Lilias and John could relate to being sheep in the midst of wolves as well as the other verses recorded in Matthew 10:16-23. 

John Skene fled to America because of Religious Persecution:  Historical documentation verifies that John Skene left Scotland and immigrated to Burlington, New Jersey a Quaker refuge    because of religious persecution.  And, Matthew 10:23 gives the "Spiritual" reason as to why John Skene fled Scotland and immigrated to Burlington, New Jersey: 

Matthew 10:23 ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:

To flee doesn't mean that John Skene left Scotland because he was a coward - quite the contrary -  history bears witness that John Skene like his father and mother was a man of courage during the period of time he was persecuted.  But in fleeing Scotland John Skene, a Quaker Preacher, could further the gospel in America according to Quaker beliefs. By fleeing, John Skene deprived both the unjust Magistrates and the Presbyterian Preachers of their evil design against him ever again.  And, fleeing gave John the opportunity to convey the truth of Quakerism to others in a new country.  If John Skene stayed in Scotland and was either killed or continued to be persecuted he could not help the local flock in Aberdeen or help start a new generation of Quakers in America. 

The following Scriptures all speak of the persecution that Alexander, Lilias and John was subjected to simply because they wanted to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth and not according to the traditions of the Presbyterian Church.

Matthew 10:16-23 ¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰ For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. ²¹ And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.         ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 7:15 ¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ezekiel 22:27 ²⁷ Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Zephaniah 3:3 ³ Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

Jeremiah 5:6 ⁶ Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

Ezekiel 22:27, Zephaniah 3:3 and Jeremiah 5:6 all speak of the heavy fines the Magistrates and Judges laid upon the Skene household all of which was dishonest gain for the courts.  Aberdeen's judges and magistrates should have protected the Quakers who were innocent followers of Jesus Christ.  Instead they are likened to the evening wolves, rapacious and greedy, whose cruelty and covetousness are both insatiable and who take delight and pleasure in cruelty and oppression. 

When God calls us by name - it is because we are His.

And, like my Scottish forebears who were called by God - I too am His!

Isaiah 43:1 ¹ Now this is what the LORD says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. (HCSB) 

When God called someone by name they were not just merely called - they were called by name.  To call a person by name speaks of the personal relationship that the Lord was calling the Skene family to enter into with Him.  It speaks of tenderness.  They, we, were chosen by God to know Him, to believe in Him, to understand that He and He alone is God. 

He was calling the Skene family to be "His Witnesses" and God called us to pick up our Skene - the "Sword of the Spirit" which is the "Word of God" and confront the false teachers who were identified as Wolves in Sheep's Clothing.  And, in each and every generation, those of us who were called by name, we will continue to do so. 

Isaiah 43:10 ¹⁰ “But you are My witnesses, O Israel!” says the LORD. “You are My servant. You have been chosen to know Me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. (NLT)

The new name "Skene" was a Reflection of His Promise and His Purpose in their Lives - and the lives of their descendants and how He was going to use them for His Kingdom purposes.

When God changes someone’s name, it means that God is changing a person’s destiny.  In this case the destiny of the Robertson family was no longer the destiny of the younger son of Robertson the man who became the founder of the Skenes family.

Robertson's new name meant that God had separated him out from the Robertson family and as the founder of the Skene family he was to forget the former things.  The Skenes could no longer identify with the Robertson's.  He was not to dwell on the past - instead as the founder of the Skene family he was to focus on his descendants - the line that he gave birth to. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 ¹⁸ “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.        ¹⁹ Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. (HCSB)

Those of us who were called by name - we were and continue to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. 

And, I am my Grandmother's Daughter. 

I am the granddaughter of Lilias Skene, a Quaker Preacher, Poetess and Prophetess and like my Grandmother Lilias I too am Prophetic.  And, like Lilias the Lord has opened doors for me to confront both a President of the United States as well as other Governmental Leaders and later in this book I will go into greater detail about the generational gifting and blessings that are passed down to one thousand generations of those who love and obey the Lord. 

In 1666 when Lilias joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) like the others who had already left the Presbyterian Church and met in their homes to worship the Lord, she too was persecuted.  

They were persecuted because, at that point in time, the Presbyterian Church was Scotland's State Church which meant, by law, everyone had to attend the Presbyterian services or face state prosecution. 

According to the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen that met on December 16, 1663,  the Counsel determined that those Quakers who continued to meet in their homes to worship the Lord were in violation of the law (the Act of Council) and if they continued to meet in their homes they would be fined, imprisoned or banished from the community. 

And, prosecuted they were.  Lilias like the other Quakers was considered to be a rebel against the State.

By all accounts, Lilias was not the typical everyday Scottish woman.  And, in 1677 when Lilias' husband, son and son-in-law were imprisoned to the point of death Lilias did the unthinkable for a woman.  She stepped forward and publicly rebuked the Magistrates, the Pastors and inhabitants of Aberdeen.  In a prophetic sermon that was so powerful and passionate that the local newspapers published it Lilias delivered "A Word of Warning to the Magistrates and Inhabitants of Aberdeen".  It was a word that shook the Magistrates!    

Lilias' became the Spokesperson for the Aberdeen Quakers.  She, a woman, of all people,  became their Advocate.  Along with her husband Alexander and son she played a leading role in Scotland's history of civil and religious liberty

A written rebuke published in the newspaper such as Lilias' warning was extremely rare for a woman.  And, it would have taken a great deal of courage for Lilias to challenge her former Pastor to debate Quaker principles with her.  Yet she did just that! 

It was unthinkable that a male Quaker would challenge a Presbyterian pastor to a debate let alone a woman.  For a woman to challenge a university educated and church sanctioned clergyman to a debate - well that was unthinkable.  It was unthinkable that a woman would place herself on the same level as a Presbyterian Pastor - it was unheard of.  The Presbyterian pastor would have taken Lilias' challenge as an insult and offensive to say the least.  However, a woman like Lilias, who had been to the mountain top with the Lord was not at a disadvantage with a Pastor or Magistrate with an argument.  Lilias knew who she was in the Lord!

All of Lillias' writings, including her warning to the Magistrates, Pastors and Inhabitants of Aberdeen were all based on her own spiritual trials and struggles - the persecution she and her family endured at the hands of the Church.

Her writings reveal her struggle for spiritual freedom to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Her poems speak of the times she and her family passed through the fires of persecution.  But more importantly is her insight into the Scriptures - how she relies on a Rhema Word from the Scriptures to tell us how she feels and from which she finds comfort. 

Lilias thrived on the Word of God (the Sword of the Spirit).  From all accounts from her childhood she loved what she called "The Glorious Gospel".  To her, the messenger's feet that published the Good News of the Gospel were beautiful to her so long as the ordinances of men were unto her as the ordinances of God.

Lilias changed her name from Gillespie to Skene:  As was the custom of the day, Lilias kept her maiden name Gillespie even after she was married.  However, once God called her to pick up her Skene - the Sword of the Spirit and confront the false prophets in the Church - Lilias changed her maiden name to that of her husband Alexander Skene!

And, based on the historical accounts of Lillias' life - she was a true Skene! 

And, Lilias Skene was a true Daughter of Sarah:  When Lilias changed her maiden name to Skene it was a sign that she was a "Daughter of Abraham" because when she changed her name to Skene, just as Sarah honored Abraham, Lilias honored her husband Alexander. 

1 Peter 3:5-6 ⁵ For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming. (HCSB) 

And the following copy of the letter recorded in John Barclay's Book, Diary of Alexander Jaffray (pages 371-376), that Lilias wrote to the Magistrates, Pastors and Inhabitants of Aberdeen, Scotland in which she demanded that they let her husband, son and son in law out of prison tells us that like Sarah, Lilias did not fear the wolves in sheep's clothing. 

And, this letter is only one of many examples of her insight into the Scriptures and how she relied on Scripture to express herself.

And, like me, my brother Grover was a true Grandson of his Grandmother Lilias - both of whom God has publicly honored.  Throughout Aberdeen, Scotland there are numerous memorials to Lilias as well as many books that have recorded her most remarkable life.  

And, in the chapter about Grover I will include documentation as to how God publicly honored the man that honored Him.

I am the granddaughter of Lilias Skene, a Quaker Preacher, Poetess and Prophetess and like my Grandmother Lilias I too am Prophetic.  And, like Lilias the Lord has opened doors for me to confront both a President of the United States as well as other Governmental Leaders and later in this book I will go into greater detail about the generational gifting and blessings that are passed down to one thousand generations of those who love and obey the Lord.

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