Does a Christian reign with Christ? Who does the Christ reign over? (If Christians hope to live and reign with Christ, who else is left to be reigned over?)

First let us establish that the New Testament teaches that the faithful Christian will reign with Christ their head: 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign over the earth. Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Since the time that these scriptures were written, and for nearly twenty centuries, Christians have prayed "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" as Jesus taught us to do. This tells us that God�s kingdom will be on earth, and Jesus will reign over the earth. One of the purposes of the intervening period since the time of Christ is for Christians to have the opportunity to follow in Jesus� footsteps so that they may be worthy of living and reigning with him. When the angel appeared to Mary he said (Luke 1:31-33) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then in Rom 15:12 the Apostle Paul, quoting Isaiah, says: There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

If we know that all that are in their graves, Jews and Gentiles, will come back as stated in John 5:28, 29: Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done ill, unto the resurrection of judgment." (RV.) then there needs to be a means of direction and rulership to help mankind correct their ways during the one-thousand years of Christ�s reign as the mediator:1 Tim. 2:5, 6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Therefore the due time will come for Christians to be with Christ in heaven to direct the affairs of earth. Those who comprise the ones in heaven who will be reigning, will have had the advantage of having experienced the human nature and will understand, through experience, the help that will be needed for all those over whom they reign, to encourage them on to perfection for living forever on the earth. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23, 25 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.