Disciples Digital Library

Jesus is the anointed Son of God. From the start, his life is characterized by the empowering presence of the Spirit .  When  an angel  informed  Joseph that  Mary’s  child   was  “ conceived   of the Holy Spirit ,” it indicated that something more than just miraculous or the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy was about to unfold. From the very beginning, the activity of the Spirit dominated the life of Jesus.  He was “ Jesus, the one called Christ ,” the long-awaited Messiah.

Both Revelation and Daniel proclaim the absolute sovereignty of God over the course of history and the fate of nations.  In  Revelation ,  the “ beast ” is “ GIVEN ” the authority to operate for a period of “ forty- two months ,” power over the nations, and the right to “ wage war against the saints and overcome them .” Satan’s creature cannot wreak havoc upon the earth or against the church until authorized to do so, and only for the time allotted.

Did Jesus triumph and begin his messianic reign at his death and resurrection, or is he waiting for some future event to do so?  Did Jesus triumph over his enemies on Calvary? Did he conquer his enemies and begin his reign following his resurrection from the dead? Most of us would answer, “Well, of course, he did!” Yet certain common interpretations, if taken at face value, intentionally or not, deny that he did, that his reign will not commence until his return in glory.

The Messiah “shepherds” the nations by the “word” that proceeds out of his mouth in preparation for the final battle - Revelation 19:11-16 .  The vision now anticipates the destruction of the “ beast ” and the “ False Prophet ” by introducing the warrior figure riding a “ white horse .” The groundwork for the coming “battle” was laid with the announcement of the victory of the “ Lamb ” over the “ beast ” and the “ kings of the earth ” in chapter 17 (For he is “ Lord of lords and King of kings ”).

Following his resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the messianic throne as prophesied by David  – Psalm 2:6-9.  According to the Psalmist, the “ son ” will be anointed to reign on the throne of David “ on my holy mount .” According to the New Testament, that king is Jesus, and his rule began following his resurrection and ascension.

The salutations from the throne highlight key themes of the book, especially the victory and present reign of Jesus .  The next paragraph presents greetings to the “ seven churches ” from the “ throne ” - from God, Jesus, and the “ Seven Spirits of God .” It stresses Christ’s current over the earth. His sovereignty is based on his death and resurrection. The recipients of the book   are identified as the “ seven churches ” from key cities of the province.

The gospel of  Matthew  calls Jesus the “ son of David ,” and in his life story, demonstrates what it means to be the king of Israel and the “ Son of God .” Traditionally, this last designation is linked with the royal line; but in Matthew’s account, the old understanding of what it means to be the Messiah is radically altered.

The sacrifice and exaltation of Jesus are prominent themes in the book of  Revelation . God’s plan to redeem humanity is unveiled in its visions, and his death, resurrection, and enthronement are putting it into action. His sovereignty over the Cosmos is the result of his faithful obedience unto death.

The book of  Revelation  assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus reigns and has events firmly under his control despite appearances and hostility. His sovereignty is based on his death and resurrection, and the latter marked the commencement of his reign from the messianic throne.

SYNOPSIS: The book of Revelation links the present reign of Jesus to his past Death and Resurrection, the immovable foundation of his kingdom.  The self-sacrificial death of Jesus and his consequent exaltation figure prominently in the  book of Revelation . His death on the cross is the foundation of its visions. The plan of God to redeem mankind and the Creation through Christ is unveiled in a series of visions. In  Revelation , the death and enthronement of Jesus put His redemptive plans into motion.

In Revelation, Jesus began his Messianic Reign on the Throne of God following his Death and Resurrection  –  Revelation 5:6-10 .  The  book of Revelation  assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus is reigning now and has events firmly under his control, despite appearances and hostility from the surrounding society. His exaltation and kingly authority are based on his past Death and Resurrection, which marked the commencement of his reign from the messianic “ throne .”

The conspiracy by the earth’s kings to unseat God’s Son is applied by the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus  – Psalm 2:1-6. The second Psalm is a key messianic passage applied to Jesus several times in the New Testament. But precisely when were its predictions fulfilled, and is the Messiah reigning even now on David’s Throne? Or is the world still waiting for his accession at a future date?

Jesus received complete authority from his Father to reign over the Cosmos. Only his kingdom will endure .  At the height of his power, the absolute monarch of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, boasted before heaven and earth, “ Is not this Babylon the great and exceptional kingdom that I built by the  MIGHT OF MY POWER  and for the glory of my majesty ?” His boast was not an idle one. Babylon was one of the great powers of the ancient world.

The New Testament links Christ’s enthronement to his death and resurrection by using key messianic texts in the Hebrew Bible. He achieved the authority to rule because of his faithful obedience unto death, and God vindicated him by raising him from the dead.  And not only did the Father resurrect him, but He also seated him “ at His right hand ” where he now reigns supreme over all things.

At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city.  The next several stories prepare the reader for his final days, A full third of Mark’s gospel account concerns the events of that week that culminate in his death and resurrection. All that preceded his arrival in the city was moving inexorably forward to his arrest, trial, and execution in the city of David and the prophets.

The New Testament applies messianic promises in the Psalms to the present reign of Jesus who possesses all authority . The Nazarene has reigned as sole sovereign over the earth since his death, resurrection, and ascension. Already he sits on the messianic throne of David. Because of his obedient death, God resurrected and installed him as the ruler over all things, including the nations of the earth.

The faithful witness, Jesus, now reigns supreme over the kings of the earth and even his enemies .  And in  Revelation , Jesus is called the “ ruler of the kings of the earth ,” and this is declared using the  PRESENT TENSE . His absolute sovereignty over the earth is based on his past death and resurrection,  NOT  on hereditary rights, economic or military might. He is the anointed king who now reigns from the “ throne of David .”