Jesus Reigns

Jesus triumphed over his enemies on the Cross and began to rule as the Davidic King following his Death and Resurrection. He is not waiting for some future event before he receives his sovereignty over the nations of the Earth. Unlike the political powers of this age, he conquered through his sacrificial death rather than tyranny and violence. It is the Crucified One who now reigns from Zion!

The New Testament does not teach that his Messianic reign has been delayed. Paul, for example, wrote that after nailing the “ordinance that were against us” to the Cross, Jesus “despoiled the principalities and the powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.” The description echoes the Roman practice of honoring conquering heroes with a triumphal parade through the streets of the imperial city – (Colossians 2:14-15).

[Photo by Yannick Pulver on Unsplash]

The Apostle expressed a similar thought to the Ephesians. Jesus “ascended on high, having led captivity captive.” This triumphal victory occurred following his resurrection. Having raised him from the dead, God seated him “at his right hand in the heavenlies, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.” God also “put all things in subjection under his feet,” as promised by the Psalmist – (Psalm 110:1, Ephesians 1:20-22, 4:8).

Certainly, Jesus will reign over all the Earth on the day he “arrives on the clouds.” However, he reigns from the Davidic throne even now. He will not return so he may beat his remaining enemies into submission AFTER his second coming. He will accomplish that before that day. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, at his “arrival” or ‘Parousia’:

• “Then comes the end, when he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power, for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet,” and that will include the “last enemy, death” – (1 Corinthians 15:24).

This means Christ is coming again to CONSUMMATE his reign, not for it to commence. Already he is subjugating his enemies as the Gospel is preached to the nations of the Earth.

Unfortunately, we conform our ideas and concepts to the existing political order. We hear terms like “king,” “reign,” and “conquer” and imagine a ruler who uses his “iron scepter” to crush his opponents. Like the rulers of the present age, we remain incapable of imagining a political entity that does not conquer its enemies through political might, economic coercion, and military violence.

Satan has the same problem. His inability to understand the mind of God caused him to do the very thing that defeated him and his forces. If he and the “rulers of this age” had understood the “mystery” of God, they would not have “crucified the Lord of glory.” After all, that mystery, the “word of the Cross,” is the “power and the wisdom of God.” However, it is something that only the “mind of the Spirit” can understand – (1 Corinthian 1:18-23, 2:6-8).

EXALTED BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH

Jesus humbled himself by submitting to the shameful death of crucifixion, and this is precisely why God “highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus is Lord.” Note well that “exalted” is in the past tense; it is an accomplished fact and present political reality– (Philippians 2:6-11).

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is called the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” in the present tense. It was the “slain Lamb” who “conquered” through his death, and thereby he became “worthy” to open the “Sealed Scroll” and receive all “power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing” - (Revelation 1:4-6, 5:6-14).

For the remainder of the Book, he reigns as the “slain Lamb.” He is the messianic “son” destined to “rule the nations with his rod of iron” as described in the Second Psalm, but he uses it to “shepherd” the nations, not to smash and annihilate them.

He “conquered” through his sacrificial death, and he now summons believers to “conquer” in the same manner. That is how they qualify to reign with him on his Father’s throne. Victorious saints “conquer” Satan by the “blood of the Lamb, the Word of their Testimony, and because they loved not their lives unto death” – (Psalm 2:6-9, Revelation 3:21, 12:1-11).

In Revelation, the “slain Lamb” does not become the “King of kings” in the future. He is the “King of kings” in the present who is conquering all those who “war” against him - (Revelation 17:14, 19:11-21).

[Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash]

His kingdom will be consummated upon his return, but it also is a present reality. For now, Satan is “bound from deceiving the nations,” and if his powers had not been curtailed, he would have destroyed the Church long ago. The Kingdom of God advances on Earth wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, and men and women repent, believe, and receive deliverance from satanic darkness and oppression.

Finally, his disciples reign with him in this life, but they do so as a “kingdom of priests,” not as gun-toting or sword-wielding warriors. Like the ancient priests of Israel, their task is to mediate his light in a sin-darkened world. This manner of political rule is contrary to the wisdom of this age. It can only be comprehended and implemented through the Spirit of God as it operates in his Church.

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• Anointed King and Son - (Jesus is the anointed Son of God. From the start, his life is characterized by the empowering presence of the Spirit)