Reigning with Him

 

The doctrine of "rewards" is easily misunderstood.  Suffice it to say that we serve a fair and just Savior "who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS" (Romans 2:6)

For those who trust Christ as their Savior, our sins are forgiven and we anticipate an eternity with God in heaven.  But at the "Judgement Seat of Christ" our lives will be evaluated and appropriate rewards given to the deserving. (2 Cor 5:10)  

Various crowns are mentioned throughout Scripture for meritorious service, but another type of reward is frequently mentioned by Christ.  It is somewhat harder to understand.  When Peter asked about this issue Jesus gave a startling answer:

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. (Mt 19:27-30)

He introduces the concept of "reigning with Him".

‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev 3:21)

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10)

So it certainly appears that saints will reign with Him on earth!  That may seem surprising to some of us. Even the very idea of reigning with Christ seems overwhelming.  But it would be natural to assume this would be up in heaven somewhere, rather than on earth.

So when does this occur?  In the Book of Revelation, we see the seventh trumpet sound which predicts the Return of Christ. At that time His one-thousand-year reign begins which fulfills the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants.  We cannot delve deeply but suffice it to say that Abraham was promised a nation, a location, and that many kings would come from him.  David was promised a perpetual heir to his throne.  All these promises and more will be fulfilled during the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Rev 11:15-18)

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev 20:6)

Revelation has more to say about the eternal state after the Millennium, but we know we will be with Him for eternity and that Jesus sits as our final Judge and rewards us accordingly.

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. (Rev 22:5)

Final thoughts:

• Not all interpret the events of the Return of Christ exactly as I have.
• But all would agree that the faithful will receive their rewards and that Christ will reign at the right hand of His Father for all eternity.
• Our responsibility now, as followers of Christ, is to love Him and serve Him will all our heart.
• When suffering or persecution come we should rejoice, knowing we serve a faithful Savior who judges fairly and rewards those deserving.
• May He get all the glory.

All passages in this post were taken from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).