Much is said about the millennial reign of Christ. Of course those who speak of it have reference to the doctrine which says Christ will reign a literal thousand years on the earth with Jerusalem as the religious center.
They do not understand that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world and he is now reigning from his Father’s throne in Jerusalem which is above. Revelation 3:21 says, “to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Christ’s earthly sojourn is finished forever. John 17:4. Never again will God’s beloved Son have to live on this cursed earth, even during a supposed golden millennium.
Hebrews 10:12-13 says, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”
Please notice he has “forever sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” He has met the enemy and triumphed over him. He has overcome the world and entered into his glory which he had with the Father before the world was. The prophecy of Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled at Calvary: Satan’s head was bruised. Christ’s day of condescending humility and sacrifice is over. He is once again at the right hand of the Father ruling and reigning over all the host of heaven. Matthew 4:1-11. John 16:33. Colossians 2:14-15. Hebrews 2:14. I John 3:8. Joshua 5:13-15. Matthew 26:53. Hebrews 12:22-24.
Christ will reign till the Church, by faith, enters into the victory of Calvary. In the mind of God, the battle is the Lord’s and it’s already won. The victory of the Church is as sure as Christ’s victory. This is because the Church is his body, bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. In the mind of God, Christ and his church are one. The victory of the head over Satan also belongs to the body. Romans 8:37-39. I John 4:4, 5:4-5.
Beyond the veil of earth from the Jerusalem which is above, Christ is now ruling and reigning. Under his glad command is a mighty host of angels and just men made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-24.
Most of God’s redeemed are already on the other side. Only a remnant Church remains. It is this remnant Church that must overcome the enemy and be without spot or blemish at his coming. Ephesians 5:27. Revelation 19:7-8.
Those who have crossed the great divide between time and eternity already know as they are known. No longer is the victory of Calvary a mystery to them. Only a lack of knowledge on the part of the Church has kept her from the realization of the victory that was wrought through the precious blood of Christ.
Those who have suffered with Christ are also reigning with him. II Timothy 2:12. There is no difficulty in recognizing this when we see that Christ is indeed reigning now. Once we see the thousand years as symbolical and now instead of in the future it becomes obvious that some have been ruling and reigning with him during this day of grace.
In Revelation 4:4 we see twenty-four elders sitting upon thrones, clothed in white with crowns of gold on their heads. This scene is in heaven according to verse 2 and although symbolical language is used here, crowns and thrones certainly mean authority and rule. This is also true of those who sit upon thrones and some who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus in Revelation 20:4.
In Revelation 19:10, John falls down in reverence before one whom he would have worshipped as deity. But he was told, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
It is evident that this one appearing to John on the Isle of Patmos was from the other realm. And although he was a fellow servant and of the brethren, it certainly seems he was ruling and reigning with Christ. In Revelation 22:8-9, another, appearing to John as an angel, said he was “... of thy brethren the prophets... .”
These scriptures mean some are now fulfilling their calling as priests and kings from beyond the veil. Even before Calvary, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mount and talked with him concerning his decease. Surely they were operating from that dimension that belongs to God, the angels, and eternity. I see no reason for having to wait for a supposed millennium to rule and reign with Christ.
Perhaps another difficulty in understanding this question can be cleared up if we know what is meant by ruling and reigning with Christ. Some think of this only as a place of honor and rulership where they will sit as a great monarch upon a throne with others bowing before them. Surely some, by virtue of their call and faithfulness, have been accorded places of honor and glory not only in eternity but on the present earth also. This, no doubt, will also be true of the new heavens and the new earth after the present ones are destroyed by fire.
However, there is another aspect to ruling and reigning with Christ that is perhaps more important than some celestial throne. This ruling and reigning with Christ begins in the new birth here in this life and will continue with Christ in the world to come.
The ruling and reigning that we need to share in has to do with the flesh, the devil and the world. Here is where the enemy is that we need to overcome. This is the battlefield. And though I believe that there are places of honor and glory in eternity, here in this earth is where God’s children begin to rule and reign.
With the new birth we are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. Through his precious blood we defeat the enemy and become a citizen of Christ’s eternal kingdom. Colossians 1:13-14. The kingdom of darkness, its citizens, its king (Satan), and its laws have no more hold on us. I John 4:4, 5:4-5. Romans 8:2.
Revelation 5:8-10 says, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Note that they said, “... made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” How was this accomplished? Through the Lamb that was slain, who alone was able to take the book and loose the seven seals. The closed book with the seven seals represents the complete knowledge and wisdom of God. Only the Lamb in the midst of the throne (Christ Exalted) could take the book out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
It was after his crucifixion and resurrection that Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. As the monarch of heaven and earth he could say that and commission the Church to go into all the world with the gospel.
The word gospel means good news or glad tidings. The good news is that Jesus has prevailed (over Satan) and we can share the victory with him.
This is what happens when we become one with Christ. Through his death we conquer Satan, who had the power of death. Hebrews 2:14. Through his resurrection we enter the throne room of heaven to rule and reign with him. Ephesians 2:6.
Because of the lack of the renewing of our minds, Romans 12:2, Satan, the usurper, takes advantage of us to deceive. It is still true God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. To the degree we have believed, we have ruled and reigned with him. According to our faith be it unto us.
However, our failure to grasp the truth and confess it does not destroy our position in Christ. It is appointed of God and will stand. What is true in the mind of God is true and our apprehension of it is just a matter of time. Romans 5:17, says, “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
This reigning in life by Jesus Christ should be the practical portion and lot of every child of God. The instant Christ comes into our heart we become overcomers because of the one who lives in us.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4.
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:32-37.
This is the ruling and reigning that proves we have been born of God and are in union with his Son, Jesus Christ. It is this ruling and reigning that powers and principalities (Satan and host) have to bow before. It is also this ruling and reigning on the earth by the saints that prove the Lord Jesus Christ is now ruling and reigning from the right hand of the Father on high.