Who Is King in God’s Kingdom?
God’s Kingdom is central to the Bible’s message, and Jesus made the Kingdom a major theme of his preaching. But who is actually king in God’s Kingdom? The Bible speaks of God as King, while at the same time Jesus Christ is given a Kingdom and authority to rule. Scripture also shows that others will reign as kings with Christ.
How do these statements fit together? Who gives Jesus his royal authority, what role does God himself have in relation to the Kingdom, and who are the people who will share in its rulership? To answer these questions, we must examine what Scripture says about the relationship between God, Jesus Christ, and those who will reign in God’s Kingdom.
Yahweh God Is Called King
To understand who is king in God’s Kingdom, we must first look at how the Bible describes Yahweh God himself. In several places in Scripture, Yahweh is called King and is described as the one who rules over all.
The book of Psalms says:
“For Yahweh Most High is fearful, a great king over all the earth.” (Ps. 47:2, Interlinear Bible)
Later in the same psalm, we read:
“For God is king of all the earth… God reigns over the nations; God sits on the throne of His holiness.” (Ps. 47:7–8, Interlinear Bible)
Yahweh’s rule is therefore not limited to one people or one territory. He is described as King over the whole earth and as the one who reigns over the nations. Psalm 103:19 expresses this even more broadly:
“Yahweh has established His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.” (Ps. 103:19, Interlinear Bible)
The Bible thus presents Yahweh God as the supreme Ruler, whose Kingdom extends over all. At the same time, however, Scripture tells of another who is given dominion and a Kingdom. This raises the question: Who receives this authority, and who gives it to him?
Who Receives Authority Over God’s Kingdom?
In the book of Daniel, we read about a vision in which someone described as “one like the Son of Man” is brought before the Ancient of Days:
“I was looking in the night visions. And behold! One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of the heavens. And He came to the Ancient of Days. And they brought Him near before Him. And dominion was given to Him, 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.” (Dan. 7:13–14, Interlinear Bible)
The vision shows a clear distinction between the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. The Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days and is brought before him. Then the Son of Man is given “dominion and glory and a kingdom.”
It is important to note that the Son of Man does not take the dominion for himself. He receives it. The Ancient of Days has already been presented as the one seated on the throne and rendering judgment, and it is in his presence that the Son of Man is given his royal authority.
Daniel’s vision therefore shows that the one who is to rule over peoples, nations, and languages is given his authority. But who is this Son of Man?
Jesus Christ Receives Royal Authority
In the Greek Scriptures, Jesus repeatedly identifies himself as the Son of Man. When he stood before the Jewish council, he referred directly to Daniel’s prophecy:
“From this time you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.” (Matt. 26:64, Interlinear Bible)
The Son of Man whom Daniel saw receiving dominion and a Kingdom is therefore Jesus Christ. Even before his birth, it was said of him:
“This One will be great and will be called Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32–33, Interlinear Bible)
Jesus is therefore not merely described as King. The text says that God will give him the throne. This agrees with Daniel’s vision, in which the Son of Man is given dominion, glory, and a Kingdom.
After his resurrection, Jesus said:
“All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.” (Matt. 28:18, Interlinear Bible)
Here too, the wording is important. Jesus does not simply say that he has authority, but that the authority has been given to him. The royal authority Jesus exercises is therefore authority he has received.
Scripture thus identifies Jesus Christ as the Son of Man who receives royal authority and will reign as King in God’s Kingdom. But if his dominion and authority are given to him, an important question arises: Who gives him this authority?
Who Gives Jesus His Royal Authority?
Daniel saw that the Son of Man was given dominion and a Kingdom, and Jesus himself said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. Elsewhere in Scripture, we are told who gives him this authority.
In Psalm 2, Yahweh says:
“I have set My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” (Ps. 2:6, Interlinear Bible)
The King referred to here is not Yahweh himself, but the one whom Yahweh appoints. Later in the psalm, he is referred to as Yahweh’s Anointed One and as his Son.
The same relationship is expressed in Psalm 110:
“A Psalm of David. A statement of Yahweh to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool. Yahweh shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” (Ps. 110:1–2, Interlinear Bible)
Jesus himself applied this prophecy to the Messiah. When he stood before the Jewish council, he said:
“From this time you shall see the Son of Man sitting off the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.” (Matt. 26:64, Interlinear Bible)
Jesus’ words connect the two prophecies. The expression “Son of Man” and the reference to the clouds of heaven point back to Daniel 7, while the place at God’s right hand corresponds to Psalm 110. Jesus thus identifies himself as the Son of Man who receives the dominion and as the Lord whom Yahweh gives a place at his right hand.
This agrees with the pattern we have already seen. In Daniel 7, the Son of Man is given dominion and a Kingdom. In Luke 1, the angel says that God will give Jesus the throne. And after his resurrection, Jesus says that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.
Scripture thus shows that Jesus does not rule on the basis of authority originating with himself. It is Yahweh God who appoints him as King and gives him authority to rule.
Jesus Becomes King of Kings
The authority God gives Jesus is extensive. Daniel saw that the Son of Man was given dominion over “all peoples, nations, and languages,” and other prophecies describe how Christ will exercise this authority.
In Revelation, Jesus is described as the one who comes to defeat the powers that oppose God:
“And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name having been written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16, Interlinear Bible)
The title “King of Kings” shows that Jesus is given authority that stands above earthly kings and rulers. This agrees with Daniel’s prophecy, in which all peoples, nations, and languages come under the dominion of the Son of Man.
Psalm 2 also describes the authority Yahweh gives to his Anointed One. Yahweh says to him:
“Ask of Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.” (Ps. 2:8, Interlinear Bible)
The nations are therefore given to the King whom Yahweh has appointed. Jesus’ position as King of Kings does not mean that he takes Yahweh’s place as the supreme Ruler. On the contrary, the same prophecies show that his royal authority comes from Yahweh, who appoints him and gives him the nations as his inheritance.
Jesus is therefore the King whom God has appointed to exercise dominion over the nations. But the Bible shows that he will not exercise this dominion alone. Others will share in the Kingdom and reign as kings with him.
Christ Has Co-Rulers
Jesus is the King whom Yahweh God has given authority to rule over the nations. But the Bible shows that he does not rule alone. Others will share in his royal dominion.
This is also evident in Daniel’s vision. After the Son of Man receives dominion and a Kingdom, we read the following about the saints of the Most High:
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Dan. 7:18, Interlinear Bible)
Later in the same vision, we read:
“And the kingdom and rulership, and the greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” (Dan. 7:27, Interlinear Bible)
The saints of the Most High therefore also share in the same Kingdom that the Son of Man receives. They do not take Christ’s position, but share with him in the Kingdom’s rulership.
Revelation describes their role more directly:
“And You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign over the earth.” (Rev. 5:10, Interlinear Bible)
Later, concerning those who share in the first resurrection, it says:
“They will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6, Interlinear Bible)
Those who share in the Kingdom’s rulership are therefore described as both kings and priests. This agrees with what we have already seen concerning those who inherit God’s Kingdom. Those who inherit the Kingdom will not merely live under its rule. They will share in its rulership and reign as kings with Christ.
Christ Hands the Kingdom Over to God
Jesus receives royal authority from God and reigns together with those who share in the Kingdom’s rulership. But the Bible also shows what happens when Christ’s rule has accomplished its purpose.
“Then is the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. For it is right for Him to reign until He puts all the enemies under His feet; the last enemy made to cease is death.” (1 Cor. 15:24–26, Interlinear Bible)
Christ will therefore reign until all enemies have been defeated. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Then he hands the Kingdom over to “God the Father.”
Paul continues:
“For He subjected all things under His feet. But when He says that all things have been subjected, it is plain that it excepts Him who has subjected all things to Him. But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who has subjected all things to Him, that God may be all things in all.” (1 Cor. 15:27–28, Interlinear Bible)
Paul points out an important exception here. Everything is subjected to Christ, but God, who subjected all things to him, is not himself subjected to Christ. When Christ has completed his task as King, the Son himself becomes subject to the God who gave him his authority.
This agrees with the pattern we have seen throughout Scripture. Yahweh appoints his King, gives him dominion, and places his enemies under his feet. Christ exercises this authority until all his enemies have been defeated, with death being the last. Then he hands the Kingdom over to God the Father.
Who Is King in God’s Kingdom?
The Bible shows that both Yahweh God and Jesus Christ are called King, but their roles are not the same. Yahweh is the supreme Ruler and the one who appoints Jesus as King and gives him authority to rule.
Jesus Christ is the Son of Man who is given dominion, glory, and a Kingdom. He reigns with the authority God has given him and is called King of Kings. Those who inherit God’s Kingdom reign with him and are described in Scripture as kings and priests.
Jesus therefore does not take Yahweh’s place as the supreme Ruler. His royal authority comes from God and is exercised under God’s supreme rule. When all enemies have been defeated and the last enemy, death, has been destroyed, Christ hands the Kingdom over to God the Father and subjects himself to the One who subjected all things to Christ.
Scripture thus presents a clear picture of the relationship between God, Christ, and the other kings of the Kingdom: Yahweh is the supreme King, Jesus Christ is the King whom Yahweh has appointed and given authority to rule, and Christ’s co-rulers share with him in the Kingdom’s rulership.
Brief Summary
The Bible shows that Yahweh God is the supreme King and the source of the authority exercised in God’s Kingdom. He appoints Jesus Christ as King and gives him dominion over Israel as well as over all nations. Jesus is the Son of Man whom Daniel saw receiving dominion, glory, and a Kingdom, and he will reign until all his enemies have been defeated.
Christ does not reign alone. Those who inherit God’s Kingdom share in its rulership with him and are described as kings and priests. When the Kingdom’s work has been completed and even death has been destroyed, Christ hands the Kingdom over to God the Father. God’s Kingdom thus has its origin with Yahweh, who gives Christ and his co-rulers authority to carry out his rule.
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