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The sovereignty of Jesus began with his exaltation to the Messianic Throne following his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament connects the enthronement of Jesus to his Resurrection and Ascension by applying key prophetic texts to his life. The Son of God qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience unto death ,” this was confirmed when God raised him from the dead, and he therefore reigns over the Cosmos with a crown of thorns, so to speak.

Jesus is the King from the House of David and the Servant of the Lord who endures death to save his people . Jesus is identified in the Gospel of Matthew as the Son of David and the Servant of the Lord. In his ministry and death, Christ demonstrates what it means to be the Messiah of Israel, and he does so by accepting the role of the suffering Servant of the Lord.

Because he sacrificed his life for others, God resurrected and exalted Jesus and installed him as Absolute Lord over all things . Jesus is the only one who unveils the “ mysteries of God ,” only he is qualified to reveal the “ unseen God .” Only in Christ are all the promises of God fulfilled. He unlocks the Hebrew Bible and discloses the “ times and seasons .” The Crucified Messiah is the Absolute Sovereign over all things, and he reigns from the Divine Throne as “ Lord ” – (Revelation 5:9-14).

Jesus is the King who reigns over all things, and he does so as the Sacrificial Lamb and the Shepherd of the Nations . Jesus is the only one who unveils the “ mysteries of God ,” he alone is qualified to reveal the “ unseen God .” Only in him are all the promises of God fulfilled. He is the key that unlocks the Hebrew Bible and explains the “ times and seasons .” And only he is our absolute Lord and Sovereign– (Revelation 5:9-14).

Did Jesus triumph and begin his messianic reign following his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event? Did Jesus conquer his enemies on Calvary as Scripture declares or not? Most of us would answer, “Yes, of course!” Nevertheless, certain popular teachings, intentionally or not, effectively deny this and teach that his reign will not commence until his return at the end of the present age.

Jesus triumphed over Satan and Sin through his Death and Resurrection, therefore, he now reigns from the Messianic Throne . Jesus triumphed over his enemies on the Cross and began his reign as the promised Messianic King following his Death and Resurrection. He is not waiting for some future event before he receives his sovereignty over the nations. Unlike the political powers of this age, he conquered through his sacrificial death rather than tyranny, lies, political manipulation, or violence.  It is the Crucified One who now reigns on Mount Zion!

The Lamb’s reign began with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem . The  Book of Revelation  declares Jesus is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” When it describes how he reigns over the “ nations ,” it presents a King of an entirely different nature than Caesar or the political rulers of this evil age. Christ is the “ Lamb ” who was slain to redeem men from every nation, and now, he is “ shepherding ” the “ nations ” so that the city of “ New Jerusalem ” will be fully inhabited.

The New Testament applies messianic and royal promises from the Psalms to Christ’s present reign. He alone is, present tense, Lord and Messiah! Since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has reigned as absolute Lord over the Earth. He is seated on the Messianic Throne where he reigns supreme from “ Mount Zion ” as promised by the God of Israel. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” Christ is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” who possesses “ all authority in Heaven and on Earth .” His sovereignty knows no bounds.

The conspiracy to unseat the Messiah is applied by the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6. The Second Psalm is a key passage that the New Testament applies to Jesus, but when were the Psalm’s predictions fulfilled? Is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne or is the world waiting for his enthronement at a future date? What is the revolt of nations and kings against the Son of God?

The Slain Lamb is the Messiah in Revelation who overcomes and reigns over the Nations and the Kings of the Earth . In popular preaching, Jesus has become the “ Roaring Lion of Judah ” who will soon unleash his predatory cry as he slays his enemies. Unlike the man from Nazareth, this warrior-king will destroy everyone who resists him as he imposes his kingdom on the willing and the unwilling. No longer is he the savior who submitted to an unjust death to save the world. Does not the  Book of Revelation  tell us that he is the Messianic Lion?

The New Testament applies messianic promises from the Hebrew Bible to the present reign of Jesus. He is Christ the King! Christus Rex – Christ is King!  Ever since his ascension, Jesus has reigned as King. He is seated on the Messianic Throne of David and rules from the right hand of God. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” the man from the small village of Nazareth has become “ the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” – (Matthew 28:18-20).

Christ’s sovereignty is based on his Death and Resurrection, the immovable foundation of his present reign in the Book of Revelation . The sacrifice and consequent exaltation of Jesus are prominent themes in the  Book of Revelation . God’s plan to redeem humanity and His creation through His Son is unveiled in its visions and images. Christ’s Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement have implemented this Redemptive Plan. His present reign is the result of his sacrificial death. Jesus is the “ Lamb who is worthy ” to receive all power and authority.

Only Jesus is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation, and he alone reigns supreme . From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, and religious deceivers have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-proclaimed bulwarks of order who hold back the darkness that threatens to overwhelm society. Today, this plague of pretenders is worse than ever,  especially in the churches and political arena of the United States of America .

Did Jesus triumph through his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event for his reign to begin? Was Jesus victorious over God’s enemies on the Cross, and did he begin to rule as the Davidic King following his Death and Resurrection? Most Christians would answer, “Well, yes! Of course!” Nevertheless, many popular interpretations effectively if not openly deny this present reality when they claim his reign over the Earth will not commence until his return in glory or some other future date or event.

Jesus is called the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” in the present tense in the Book of Revelation . His sovereignty is based on his past Death and Resurrection, not military conquest. Though at times the “ Kings of the Earth ” do Satan’s bidding, the slain “ Lamb ” even uses their plots to achieve his redemptive purposes for humanity and the nations.

The reign of Jesus Christ from the Messianic Throne began following his Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation - Psalm 110:1. The New Testament is clear. God made Jesus of Nazareth Lord and Messiah, and there is no other. His reign began when God exalted Christ following his resurrection. “ God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah! ” – (Acts 2:36).

Jesus, the Faithful Witness, now reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth, and he is shepherding the nations to the Holy City of New Jerusalem . Jesus is called the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” in the Prologue of  Revelation . This declaration is made in the  present tense  since his sovereignty is based on his Death and Resurrection. He does not rule by hereditary right, economic power, or military might, but because of his redeeming death. The slain “ Lamb ” is the one who sits on the Throne, and his authority extends even over “ Death and Hades .”

The Book of Revelation assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus reigns and has events firmly in hand despite appearances and the hostility of neighbors and local magistrates. His sovereignty is based on his past death and resurrection, and therefore it is absolute, extending even over “ Death and Hades .” His resurrection marked the start of his reign from the Divine Throne at the center of the Universe.

The Gospel of Mark highlights the inability of men to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and King of Israel until after his crucifixion . Paradoxically, the first man to identify him as the “ Son of God ” was the Roman centurion on duty at his execution. His roles as the suffering “ Son of Man ” and the “ Servant of Yahweh ” made him unacceptable to his contemporaries. His behavior and method of rulership were (and are) foreign and even alien to the political systems and expectations of the present world order.

Jesus, the Slain Lamb, is the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings who now reigns over all the nations of the Earth . Jesus has reigned as Sovereign over the nations since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Even now, he is seated on the Throne of David at the right hand of God. Because of his “ obedience unto death ,” God appointed him as “ the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” He is the only true emperor, and global hegemony belongs to him alone. All other political powers are subordinate to him.