" .....And from Jesus Christ.... the Prince of the kings of the earth." Revelation 1v5
The word "prince " suggests that He is a king in waiting. Revelation 19v16 brings before us the visible universal reign of Christ "He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Revelation chapter 20 makes it clear that the reign of Christ over the earth will last 1,000 years. " They lived and reigned with Christ 1,000 years." The Prince who is a King in waiting will reign without an equal and without a rival for a millennium. During that blissful reign there will be kings of nations on the earth, but no longer rebels because it says they shall bring their glory and honour to the city of God. (Revelation 21v23-24).
There is a sense in which His reign has already begun. 1st Corinthians 15v25-26 records this "he must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy which shall be destroyed is death." He reigns today over all, although invisibly, so far as this world is concerned. His business is to subdue and conquer all the enemies of God in this world. Later on in this book we shall read of His investiture for this precise purpose, being the only one who is morally fit to bring into judgement a world in rebellion against God. During the post- church age Jesus will dismantle all corrupt governments (of which there are 232 today - and every one of them corrupt). In the words of Daniel chapter 7v 12-14 "I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like unto the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of days and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, 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." This prophecy by Daniel is given in more detail in Revelation chapter 5. The period of Jesus visible reign on the earth is variously described in the New Testament as follows:
- The unification of all things.... Ephesians 1v9-10
- The restitution of all things.......Acts 3v21
- The reconciliation of all things...... Colossians 1v20
- The subjugation of all things...... 1st Corinthians 15v24-27 with Philippians 3v21
The scope of all this is breathtaking. A new world order will be established under the rule of Christ. It is all written in the prophetic scriptures; His resurrection from the dead has confirmed it. All the predictions of Psalm 72 (the whole of which should be read in conjunction with this subject). A few quotes will suffice here; verse 8 "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth." verse 10 "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts." verse 11 "Yea all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him." verse 15 " Prayer also shall be made for Him continually; and daily shall He be praised." verse 19 "And blessed is His glorious name forever and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen and Amen."
It is time for the inhabitants of the earth to consider this glorious One now; it is time for all rebellion to cease, but sadly it will continue. The Psalmist puts it like this "Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?" the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed saying "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us". he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me and I shall give thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Psalm 2v1 - 8.
Heaven has decreed that Jesus Christ will reign, and no one on earth can prevent it.
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