CHRIST NOW REIGNS
Many people today live with the impression that Jesus is waiting to be King—that His rule will only begin when He returns to set up a political kingdom on earth. But the Bible paints a far more glorious picture: Jesus Christ reigns now. His reign is not postponed. He is not waiting to take the throne. He has already been exalted, seated at the right hand of God, and crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:33–36). This is not a future hope—it is a present reality. Right now, Jesus rules over heaven and earth with all authority (Matthew 28:18). Every moment of our lives, every breath we take, unfolds under the sovereign reign of the risen King.
This truth reshapes how we read passages like Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation. These are not cryptic codes about when Jesus will begin to reign, but glorious revelations of the One who is already reigning. Paul teaches clearly that Jesus must reign until all His enemies are put under His feet—and only after this will He hand over the kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24–25). That means His reign doesn’t begin when He returns; it continues until He returns. His kingship is not delayed—it is active and advancing, right now. Christ is not waiting to be crowned. He is ruling, subduing His enemies, gathering His people, and extending His kingdom through the preaching of the gospel (Colossians 1:13; Matthew 24:14).
Peter, preaching on Pentecost, declared that the resurrected Jesus had already been exalted to the right hand of God and made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). He quoted Psalm 110—“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1)—to show that this had been fulfilled in Jesus. The apostles weren’t waiting for Christ to begin His reign; they were preaching a present King. This was not a theory or future hope for them. It was a blazing reality that shaped their worship, their courage, and their mission. They went into the world proclaiming that the King had already come, had conquered sin and death, and now reigns in power.
When we say that Jesus is on the throne of David, we’re not looking for a literal chair in Jerusalem. The throne of David is a symbol of messianic kingship—of divine rule over God’s people. The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would receive the throne of His father David and reign forever (Luke 1:32–33). Paul tells us this was fulfilled by His resurrection (Acts 13:32–33). Jesus now reigns over a kingdom that has no end—not a temporary, earthly government, but an eternal, heavenly dominion. His rule extends not just over one nation, but over every people and language and tribe (Revelation 5:9–10).
Jesus Himself testified that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). His servants do not fight with swords because His kingdom does not spread by violence or politics but by truth and grace. He rules in the hearts of His people, drawing them into joyful submission through the power of the Spirit. The kingdom of God is not built by human effort—it is received like a treasure, discovered like a pearl of great price, and entered through childlike faith (Matthew 13:44–46; Luke 18:17). And if we are in Christ, then we are citizens of this kingdom already (Philippians 3:20). We are not waiting for a future era to be ruled by Jesus. We are living under His reign now.
This has deep, personal meaning for our daily lives. If Christ is reigning now, then our present struggles are not outside of His control. Every trial we face, every burden we carry, every tear we shed happens under His sovereign care. He is not distant or indifferent. He is reigning in wisdom and love—even in our pain. Nothing happens apart from His rule (Romans 8:28–30). Even when evil seems to rise, we can be certain: our King is not defeated. He has already overcome the world (John 16:33), and He is working to bring all things into submission under His feet.
And if Christ reigns now, then He has the right to rule every part of our lives. He is not just our Savior—He is our Lord. His commands are not optional. They are the decrees of a reigning King. Our obedience is not merely duty—it is worship. Every act of submission, every choice to follow Him rather than the world, is a declaration: “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9). We are not our own. We were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Our lives, our time, our relationships, our hopes and dreams—they all belong to Him. And yet, under His rule, we are not crushed or enslaved. We are made free. He rules not with tyranny, but with mercy and truth. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28–30).
We must not live as though the true reign of Jesus is somewhere off in the future. That mindset robs us of joy and power today. Jesus has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into His kingdom already (Colossians 1:13). We are living in the age of the King. This changes how we live, how we pray, how we face suffering, and how we carry out our mission. We are not waiting for victory—we are walking in it. The gates of hell cannot prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18). The Spirit has been poured out because the King is on His throne (Acts 2:33). We are not abandoned. We are empowered.
One day, the reign of Christ will reach its visible climax. He will return, not to begin His rule, but to bring it to full and final consummation. When He comes, He will destroy the last enemy—death itself—and deliver the completed kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:26–28). Every eye will see Him. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11). But until that day, we walk by faith in a kingdom that is real, present, and unstoppable.
So let your heart rest in this truth: Christ reigns now. Not one moment is outside His authority. Not one tear escapes His notice. Not one trial is wasted under His hand. He rules with justice, with wisdom, with love. He intercedes for you at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34). He governs all things for your good. He calls you to live for Him now—not just in anticipation of His return, but in celebration of His present reign.
And as we wait for the day of His appearing, we do not wait in fear. We wait in worship. We wait with longing, but also with joy. Because we know that the One who comes is the One who already reigns. And we belong to Him
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
