KING

This is the title of a sovereign who exercises regal authority over a certain territory. The term is used in the following senses in Scripture. (a) Jehovah God is king over the entire earth (1 Sam. 12:12; Mt. 22:7; 1 Tim. 6:16). (b) The title is sometimes used of the political rule of certain earthly dignitaries (Mt. 2:1; 1 Pet. 2:13). (c) It is employed as well of the role of Christ. Christ's reign was prophesied in the O.T. (Psa. 110; 2 Sam. 7:12-13; Zech. 6:12-13). It commenced when he ascended to the Father following his resurrection (Acts 2:30ff; Eph. 1:20ff; Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22; cf. Mk. 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:4). Christ's reign will continue (in his mediatorial capacity) until the time of his return for judgment (1 Cor. 15:24-25). There is a sense, of course, in which Jesus will reign for ever (Rev. 3:21; 5:13). That Christ will not return to reign upon the earth (as millennialism alleges) is evidenced by the fact that he is to be both king and priest simultaneously (Psa. 110; Zech. 6:12-13), and yet he cannot serve as priest on earth (Heb. 8:4; 7:14). It must be noted in conclusion that Christ has authority "over all flesh," (Jn. 17:3), i.e., universally (Mt. 28:18; cf. Rev. 1:5), though some reject him as sovereign (Lk. 19:14), and will suffer the consequences for that action (Lk. 19:27).