Rev. 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads…”

Recognizing Your Authority In The Kingdom.

The scripture says, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us,” 2Tim. 2:12.

We have seen from previous studies that Christ is already seated in the already established kingdom of His Father and that the kingdom is eternal which sons of God can enter into in Christ.

So now we want to find out whether Christians are reigning with Christ now or not. What is the first resurrection? Who are the rest of the dead?

What does it mean to reign with Christ? (Rev. 20:4) Ans. The word reign (basileuo) means; to rule, king, reign.

In Rom. 5:21 we are told, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So how does sin reign or even righteousness too? Are they physical human beings you can see? The answers say No!

But we know that this is talking about influence and power. We know how much influence either of these releases on the earth that can change the course of time and lives. That is how much power these factors are in life as they reign.

Now the Bible says of Christians;

Rev. 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Should this be only when He returns again?

So you see, you start reigning right from when you are born again into the kingdom of God. And the first place your rulership starts is in your spirit. See it here, Prov. 25:28,

”He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls,” KJV.

Paul speaking to the Corinthians says this to them;

1Cor. 4: 8, “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.”

Meaning, you are so full of wisdom; rich both in wealth and spiritual gifts (1Cor. 14:26) so that you have so much influence reigning as kings, flourishing in the enjoyment of these things, in all peace and honour; without consideration for any one of us who made or brought you into this knowledge of truth. You live your life like you don’t have any need of us in anyway.

But I wish you really could do all these without us instead of living in this deception for we are largely instrumental to your success and glory in life in every manner.

And so, Rom. 8:17, “…if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Now to reign with Christ is from the Greek word “sumbaseleou,” meaning to be a co-regent, to combine, consent, to aid (personally) to join, conferring.

Indicating that we as sons of God can exercise identical authority with Jesus in His throne with the rod of rulership which is the Word of God.

Therefore, we read of Jesus when dealing with His enemies, which actually speaks of the enemies of our soul, the Word says,

Rev. 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORD.”

“Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,”= speaks of the Word of God which is the Gospel through which His enemies are confounded and yet brings a great support and comfort to His Body, the Church.

“With a rod of iron,” ,= speaks of the judgment on those who are oppressors of His truth and which also speaks of the anguish those who try to oppose the Gospel goes through on hearing it.

“He treaded the winepress.” ,= So just as grapes are trodden to express or extract the juice, so His enemies shall be bruised and beaten, so that their life’s blood shall be poured out.

And so God speaking to Jesus, which is applicable to us as believers, the Word says;

Ps. 2:8, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel,”

which was a promise to the man-child.

Rev. 12:4, “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne.”

The man-child is the Church that comes out of the present Church order. It is the overcoming Church. So if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him in full glory at the end through the Gospel as we take over territories for Him in greater measure.

Therefore, we reign with Christ through the Gospel we preach and teach as men are won over into the kingdom, for the authority of Christ is through the Gospel in the power of the Holy Ghost. You ought to be reigning NOW!

To be continued…