Jesus Christ: The Eternally Reigning God

The inspired Scriptures describe Jesus ruling not merely as the human Davidic king, or as God’s plenipotentiary. The Holy Bible presents Christ God Almighty who reigns forever.

I will set out to prove this by showing what the Hebrew says in regards to the reign of YHWH, and compare that with the way the NT depicts Christ’s dominion over all creation.  

YHWH: The Everlasting King

The Hebrew Bible presents YHWH as the Divine King who has been ruling from the start of his creation and will continue to do so throughout eternity. This is because YHWH is eternal by nature, and therefore abides forever and ever:   

“Yahweh shall reign forever and ever.” Exodus 15:18

“But Yahweh abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,” Psalm 9:7

“Yahweh is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.” Psalm 10:16

“Yahweh sat enthroned over the flood; Indeed, Yahweh sits as King forever.” Psalm 29:10

“God will hear and answer them—Even the one who sits enthroned from of old— Selah. Because they do not change, And do not fear God.” Psalm 55:19

“He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.” Psalm 66:7

“Yahweh reigns, He is clothed with majesty; Yahweh has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.” Psalm 93:1-2

“But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, And the remembrance of Your name from generation to generation.” Psalm 102:12

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures from generation to every generation.” Psalm 145:13

“Yahweh will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Praise Yah!” Psalm 146:10

“But Yahweh is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation.” Jeremiah 10:10

“You, O Yahweh, sit enthroned forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.” Lamentations 5:19

“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be unto the end.” Daniel 6:26

The God-Man Who Rules Forever

This is where it gets interesting.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of a Child who would reign on David’s throne as the Mighty God in the flesh, and who would shine forth from Galilee:

“But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them… For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

Keep in mind that Isaiah calls YHWH the Mighty God in the very next chapter!

“Now it will be in that day, that the remnant of Israel and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.” Isaiah 10:20-21

According to the NT, Jesus is this Child born to rule upon David’s throne forever and who began ministering in/from Galilee, just as the prophet predicted:

 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.’” Luke 1:26-33

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:12-17

Hence, Jesus is the Davidic Christ who rules for all eternity:

“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.’” Revelation 11:15

Isaiah wasn’t the only prophet who foresaw and spoke of a divine King whose kingdom would engulf the world. Note what Daniel wrote:

“You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth… And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will cause a kingdom to rise up which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen in the future; so the dream is certain, and its interpretation is trustworthy.” Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45

This Stone which destroys all other kingdoms is none other than Christ himself:

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man, as to how this man has been saved from his sickness, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’” Acts 4:8-12

“For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

“if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:3-8

Daniel further sees a human figure who rules over all peoples forever and ever, and whom all nations and languages worship in the same way that they worship the Most High:  

“I kept watching the night visions, and there, in the clouds of heaven, I saw one like a son of man coming. He came to the Ancient of Days, and he was brought before him. To him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom. All peoples, nations, and languages will worship (yipelachun) him. His dominion is an eternal dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed… But the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people, to the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and all dominions will worship (yipelachun) and obey him.” Daniel 7:13-14, 27 Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)

Both Jesus and his followers identify Christ as this very heavenly, divine Son of Man:   

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay each one according to his deeds. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28

“‘But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom, which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’… Now it happened that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be delivered over for crucifixion.’” Matthew 25:31-34; 26:1-2  

“But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Mark 14:61-62

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Yes, amen.” Revelation 1:5-7

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters, and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not fear; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’” Revelation 1:12-18

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the sanctuary, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sits on the cloud, ‘Put in Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ Then He who sits on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16

The NT also depict the risen Jesus as ruling in heaven over all creation on God’s own throne:

“So then, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” Mark 16:19-20

“Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit of his body on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:29-36

“But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” Acts 7:55-56

“and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength, 20 which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE ALL rule and authority and power and dominion, and EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put ALL THINGS in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head OVER ALL THINGS to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23

“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” 1 Peter 3:21-22  

Remarkably, Jesus is seated in the very position which the Hebrew Bible ascribes to YHWH alone:

“Yahweh has established His throne in the heavens, And His kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19

“The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh, But the earth He has given to the sons of men.” Psalm 115:16

Only YHWH sits enthroned in the heavens above, and yet Jesus is presented as being exalted to that status which YHWH does not grant to any creature:

“who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (en hypselois),” Hebrews 1:3

Paul, here, has employed the very words of the Greek version of the following Psalm to describe Jesus’ heavenly enthronement:

“Who is like Yahweh our God, The One who sits on high,” Psalm 113:5

“Who is as the Lord our God? who dwells in the high places (en hypselois).” Psalm 112:5 LXX

The Bible explains why Jesus has been elevated to this divine position of authority, which is not permitted for any creature. Christ is no mere human being, but is God Almighty who became flesh and now reigns forever as the God-Man.

This is what Isaiah foretold according to his prophecy which we cited earlier, where the prophet spoke of the Mighty God being born as a male child in order to rule upon David’s throne. And here is what the Psalmist wrote when mentioning a King who would reign as God forever and ever:

“Your throne, O God (elohim), is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.” Psalm 45:6-7  

Hebrews applies this very Psalm to the risen Son of God:

“But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God (ho theos), is forever and ever, And the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.’” Hebrews 1:8-9  

Jesus is, therefore, YHWH God the Son that humbled himself to become a human being and who has now been exalted to his rightful position of authority:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 New International Version (NIV)

This explains why his own followers began worshiping and glorifying him as their Lord, God and Savior, being worthy to receive everlasting praise and honor:

“They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 9:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Certainly you are aware of this: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, who is God (tou Christou kai theou).” Ephesian 5:5 EHV

“while we wait for the blessed hope, that is, the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (tou megalou theou kai soteros hemon ‘Iesou Christou). He gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are his own chosen people, eager to do good works.” Titus 2:13-14 EHV

“Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (tou theou hemon kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou)… for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (tou kyriou hemon kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou) will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:1, 11

“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (tou kyriou hemon kai soteros ‘Iesou Christou). To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

Unless stated otherwise, scriptural references taken from the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).

Further Reading

Ephesians 5:5: Another Example of Granville Sharp’s First Rule?

2 Thessalonians 1:12 and Christ’s Deity