The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! – Mark 1:15

When we see evil continuing all around us, it can be hard to believe that the kingdom of God has come. It’s tempting to believe there’s nothing we can do except wait for Jesus to return and vanquish the enemy.

The truth is, we live in an age where the kingdom of God is fully here, but the enemies of God have not yet been destroyed. Jesus reigns until the enemies are destroyed, then he hands the kingdom to God the Father, as clearly stated by Paul:

• Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. – 1 Co 15:24-25

David outlines this in Psalm 110. “Rule in the midst of your enemies” may seem like a contradiction to us, but it’s God’s design (probably to extend his mercy, as he has a habit of doing).

• The LORD [Yahweh] says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD [Yahweh] will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” – Psalm 110:1-2

The New Testament quotes Psalm 110:1 more than any other Old Testament scripture: verbatim in Mt 22:44, Mk 12:36, Lk 20:42, Ac 2:34, Heb 1:13, and paraphrased in Heb 10:12 “he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool”.

It’s also an emphasis throughout the New Testament that Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God.

• From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One – Mt 26:64
• But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God. – Lk 22:69
• Exalted to the right hand of God – Ac 2:33
• God exalted him to his own right hand – Ac 5:31
• Christ Jesus…is at the right hand of God – Ro 8:34
• seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms – Eph 1:20
• where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. – Col 3:1
• he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. – Heb 1:3
• who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven – Heb 8:1
• he sat down at the right hand of God – Heb 10:12
• and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Heb 12:2
• Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – 1 Pe 3:21-22

Jesus is reigning right now, until all the enemies are overcome and he hands the kingdom back to his Father. And we’re his church.

• And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus – Eph 2:6
• I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. – Eph 1:18-23