Christ Is Now Reigning 1

Introduction Many who believe in premillennialism teach that Christ is OTN reigning over His kingdom – they teach He will reign during the 1000 years after the rapture 2

Some teach that Christ is now reigning over a kingdom- the Kingdom of God – but they believe he will return to earth and reign for 1000 years in Jerusalem 3

This theory is false because: 1. There is only one kingdom 2. Christ is now reigning 4

I. There is only one kingdom/church 5

Eph. 4:4 [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 6

Eph. 1:22-23 [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 7

Mt. 16:18-19 [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 8

Body = church = kingdom There is one body (Eph. 4:4) and therefore one church, one kingdom 9

II. Christ is reigning over His kingdom at this present time 10

A. Ps. 110:1 [1] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 11

Peter quotes this passage in Acts 2 in reference to Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God 12

Acts 2:34-35 [34] For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, [35] Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 13

The prophecy made in Ps. 110:1 refers to Christ and His ascension to the right hand of God The N.T. teaches that Christ is now at the right hand of God 14

Acts 2:33 [33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 15

Rom. 8:34 [34] 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. 16

Eph. 1:20 [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 17

Col. 3:1 [1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 18

Christ must reign at God’s right hand until he hath put all enemies under His feet 19

1 Cor. 15:25 [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 20

Heb. 10:12-13 [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 21

Heb. 10:12-13 (NKJV) 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 22

The last enemy that shall be conquered is death 23

1 Cor. 15:26 [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 24

Death will be destroyed or abolished at Christ’s second coming by the resurrection of the dead 25

Jn. 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 26

Rev. 20:14 [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 27

What do we conclude --- Christ will reign until His second coming --- at that time He will return the kingdom to the Father 28

1 Cor. 15:24 [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 29

What do these scriptures teach?  Christ is now reigning at the right hand of God  He will reign until he comes again  After all enemies are destroyed He will return His rule to the Father 30

B. Daniel 7:13-14 [13] I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 31

[14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 32

The Ancient of Days = God God dwells in heaven, not on earth 33

1 Kings 8:27 [27] But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 34

Premillennialists say that in the future Christ will descend to this earth to receive a kingdom – this contradicts the vision of Daniel In Daniel’s vision the one who received the kingdom ascended up to God 35

This passage in Daniel is a reference to the Ascension of Jesus which Peter talks about in Acts 2:

Acts 2:32-33 [32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. [33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 37

“Jesus ascended unto the Father to receive of Him dominion, glory and a kingdom. He is now reigning over His kingdom” 38

C. Lk. 19:12 – Parable of the Pounds [12] He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 39

Lk. 19:15 [15] And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 40

The passage in Luke 19 harmonizes perfectly with Daniel 7:

III. More Scriptures 42

Mt. 28:18 [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (Authority – ASV) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 43

Eph. 1:20-21 [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 44

[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 45

1 Pet. 3:22 [22] Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 46

Conclusion Christ is now reigning He will reign until the last enemy (death) is destroyed He will then return the kingdom and His rule to the Father 47

References --- Roger Dickson. The Millennial Mistake. Shreveport: Lambert Book House, 1976 Premillennialism: Christ is on David’s Throne, Trent Childers 48