CHRIST IS REIGNING NOW

By David J. Riggs

God promised David that He would set one of his descendants upon his throne (2 Sam. 7:12-14). God said that He would "establish the throne of his kingdom forever." (Vs. 13). Thus, when the descendant of David was on his throne, he would be on the throne of his kingdom, reigning over his kingdom. The same promise was repeated by Isaiah (Isa. 9:6-7) and he likewise made it clear that when this one would be "upon the throne of David," he would also be "over His kingdom." The one who would be reigning upon the throne of David would be at the same time reigning over his kingdom.

Jesus Christ was promised the throne of David (Luke 1:31-33) and was raised to sit on it (Acts 2:29-31). Jesus sat down on the throne after He ascended into heaven (Heb. 8:1; Rev. 3:21). We must conclude, therefore, that when Christ ascended, He sat down on the throne and began reigning over the kingdom.

Christ would be a priest at the same time He sat and ruled upon His throne (Zech. 6:12-13). He became the high priest when He sat down on the right hand of God (Heb. 8:1; 10:11-12). Furthermore, Christ was to receive the kingdom when He received dominion and glory (Dan. 7:13-14). He received dominion and glory when He went into heaven and was placed on the right hand of God (1 Pet. 3:22; Luke 24:26; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:21). Christ, therefore, began His reign over His kingdom when He ascended back to the Father and sat down on the throne.

Daniel saw a vision of the Christ coming in the clouds to the Ancient of days and there was given to Him dominion, glory, and a kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14). In one of His parables, Jesus said, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return." (Luke 19:12). Thus, Jesus went in the clouds of heaven (his ascension) to a far country (heaven) and came to the Ancient of days (the Father) and received the dominion, kingdom, and glory and will return (the second coming) to render to everyone according to their works.

Some think that Christ could not have begun His reign after His ascension because He did not put down the wicked kingdoms. However, Christ hasn't yet conquered His enemies because the day of His wrath hasn't yet come (Psalm 110:1-5; see also Psalm 2:7-12). Paul confirms that Psalms 2 refers to the reign of Christ - Acts 13:31-33. All those who do not willingly serve Christ are considered His enemies and He will pour out His wrath on them at His second coming (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

Now is the accepted time to take refuge in Christ for there is a great day of wrath coming (Rom. 2:5). Christ will continue to reign until His enemies are subdued. "For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet." (1 Cor. 15:25). "...But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool." (Heb. 10:12-13).