Question from a reader:

I lead a small group at our church and we are studying your Touchpoints: Heaven book. In Part Two within the section “Will we actually rule with Christ in Heaven?” you reference Psalm 72 as saying we will rule the earth. I can find nothing to agree with this supposition, as the “he” referenced in this scripture is Christ, not mankind. Can you explain why this Scripture is referenced here?

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

In Psalm 72, Christ is indeed the one who rules over all. But those He rules over include human beings who are also rulers of the New Earth under Him:

Verse 8 says this:

May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Then in verse 10, this:

May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba and Seba
    present him gifts.

So we see actual kings of nations, bringing tribute to King Jesus.

This parallels Revelation 21:24, which says, “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”

So Jesus will be King of Kings, with a capital K, but then His people will serve under Him as kings with a lowercase k.