The Reign of Christ

Shelby G. Floyd

August 23, 2006

The doctrine that Jesus Christ will come to the earth and rebuild the throne of David and reign for a thousand years upon the earth is being taught today in many churches, and is largely based upon the twentieth chapter of Revelation. John, said,

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.^” (Revelation 20: 4.)

The Throne of David Promised to David’s Son

Pre-millennial teachers affirm that Christ does not have a throne now because he does not have a kingdom now; that he will not reign upon his throne until he establishes his kingdom; but they teach that he will not establish his kingdom until he comes again. However, this is contrary to the teaching of the scriptures. According to the prophet, Isaiah, the throne of David was promised to his illustrious son Jesus Christ who would sit upon his throne and judge with justice. (cf. Isaiah 9: 7.) Many years earlier, while David was still living; the prophet Nathan came to him and prophesied, saying, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^” (2 Sam. 7: 12-13.)

Christ Promised the Throne of His Father David

The throne of David was further promised when in the fullness of time the angel Gabriel, announced to Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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: 31-33.) If Christ is now reigning upon his throne, then his kingdom has been established according to that which Daniel saw in his night visions. (cf. Daniel 7: 13-14.)

Is Christ now reigning on his throne? This is the question which must be answered. According to the last statement which Mark made in his account of the biography of Christ we find that Jesus went back to heaven and, “sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16: 19.) This was according to Christ’s prediction that, “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” (Luke 22: 69.)

Christ Received the Throne of David and Has Ruled Since Pentecost

On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostle Peter stood up and spoke to a great audience of Jews. He reminded them that God had sworn to David, with an oath that he would raise up Christ to sit on David’s throne. (cf. Acts 2: 30.) Peter further affirmed that Christ had been exalted to the right hand of God and had received the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit which was the throne of David. He further stated that David had not ascended into heaven, for he had died and his tomb was still with them. David, himself, in this regard had said, “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'” (Acts 2: 34-35.)

Christ Is Now Seated At the Right Hand of God Reigning On His Throne

Since Christ then had received the throne of David and was seated on the right hand of God, he was both Lord and Christ. (cf. Acts 2: 36.) Obviously then, Christ is now reigning on his throne. But in further confirmation of this great fact, there are several statements in the book of Hebrews which cannot be refuted. According to the inspired author, when Christ had by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (cf. Hebrews 1: 3.) In the eighth chapter we have this testimony, “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” (Hebrews 8: 1.) According to this statement Christ is both a king and a priest on the throne in the heavens. However, if he were upon earth, he could not be a priest upon his throne, inasmuch, as he sprang from the wrong tribe. (cf. Hebrews 7: 11-l4; 8: 4.)

Christ’s Throne Is in Heaven, Not Earth

Zechariah, the prophet, had prophesied that Jesus would sit and rule upon his throne, and he would be a priest upon his throne. (cf. Zechariah 6: 13.) Therefore, his throne would not be upon earth but in heaven. (Hebrews 8: 2.) He reigns upon his throne in heaven, for God’s throne is in heaven, “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Psalms 11: 4.) David’s throne has been transformed into a spiritual throne in heaven. (cf. Psalms 89: 27-37.) Christ sat down on the right-hand of God on his throne after he had offered himself a sacrifice for sin forever, and he is still sitting on that throne. (cf. Hebrews 10: 12; 12: 2.)

Christ Will End (Not Begin) His Reign When He Comes Again

From this induction of facts one must draw the obvious conclusion that Christ is now reigning on his throne; and according to Paul, he must continue to reign until he has put all of his enemies under his feet. But his last enemy, which is death, will not be destroyed until Christ comes again; but when Christ comes again this will not be the beginning of his reign as pre-millennialism teaches, but it will be the end of his reign, for then he will deliver up the kingdom to God the father,

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15: 22-26.)

Christ reigns now upon his throne in his kingdom—the church!