Joy to the World, The Savior Reigns

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”—Revelation 19:11 (NIV)

This probably isn’t the Bible verse you expected to see as most of us are still in “Christmas mode.” But it’s as appropriate as any Scripture when we consider its placement in the greater story of who Jesus is and why He came to earth as the Babe in Bethlehem. 

As wonderful and joyous as that moment was, it was just the beginning of something all of earth and heaven longs for. That longing is expressed in the familiar chorus we’ve all heard or even sung at some point in the proceeding weeks, “Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!” 

Even just reading that kindles something instinctive in our soul, a reminder that something is coming, something greater than any strand of superlatives you can string together. Something that will alter everything and make worldwide joy a reality. And that is the moment in time when the Savior, Jesus Christ, arrives to reign on the earth as its true and rightful King! 

Sometimes it’s easy to forget this is an actual historical event that’s just as certain as Christ being born, living on the earth for thirty years or so, dying on a Roman cross, and raising from the dead. Those things have happened so they can tend to seem more real to us. But from God’s perspective, those things are just as connected to historical reality as Christ’s return to rule and restore the earth. This event is as equally real as any other, history just hasn’t caught up to it yet!

One day, history will catch up to it . . . and when it does, the Savior will finally reign. Here’s how the Book of Revelation goes on to describe the King’s coming that will forever alter life on earth: “His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:12–16 NIV).

When this happens, world peace won’t be a wish or a punchline at beauty pageants. It’ll be all that will be known. King Jesus will subdue and deal with anyone and anything that’s preventing peace, God’s peace from prevailing over all things. And in its wake, joy will follow, washing over the world without anything to hinder or halt it. The inner instinct of what the world should be is what it will be as it sings, “Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!”

In the meantime, we wait, we trust, we hope, and we sing in anticipation of our King’s coming. This is the light that guides us through the darkness, the horizon we set our course to as we’re tossed about by the world’s waves, the assured ending to an apparent tragedy. Joy will come to enthrone our hearts because the King will come to claim His throne!

Pause: Why is worldwide joy necessarily linked to Christ’s coming back to the earth?

Practice: Consider what steps you can take in order to make this future event a functional reality.

Pray: Our great King and Lord, we long for the moment when You come back to rule over this broken world and to restore all that has been damaged by sin. Fill us with the assurance of Your Spirit and Word as we hold fast to this hope and rest in the joy that will cover all the earth when You’re finally enthroned. In Your name we pray. Amen.