Christ's present reign is invisible, and grasped only by faith. Christ will not dash the nations in pieces until he returns. Since the saints reign in Christ, they must exercise that reign in the same way Christ does. Now is the time of reigning as Christ reigned - from the tree with a pierced side. Then will be the time of reigning as Christ will reign - from the throne with a rod of iron.
Many today have a triumphalistic view of the church.
They don't want to wait until Christ returns. They are impatient with God's timetable. They want to throw away the cross and take up the sword, sooner rather than later. But the Bible teaches us to be patient, to learn to be conformed to the fellowship of Christ's sufferings, to take up our cross and follow Christ. So we have seen that we are a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood.