Revelation 1:6 Commentary and Bible Study

We see our status and our work – ‘kings’ – that is our status. Of course, we are kings in Christ, because we are children of the King of kings, and Lord of lords. We will ultimately be victorious, and the work that we do on earth, particularly in the salvation of souls, will last eternally by the power and grace of God. From the moment we are converted, we are in a sense kings and priests. But the ‘kings’ part comes into its own mainly in the future when we die, when we go to glory and we reign with Christ, and especially after the resurrection and his second coming. In the new heavens and the new earth we will have glorified bodies, and rule over a glorified earth joined with heaven. We are not kings in the sense that we wield authority, because only Christ wields the authority, but we will be most keenly aware that we are by grace members of the royal family of heaven. Our status will be different. No longer will we be fallen beings; no longer will we fall daily and need to come for forgiveness; no longer will we have sin resident within us, but we will be kings. ‘And priests’, like Christ. This refers more to what we do now, both men and women. It refers to our work and service for the Lord – the priesthood of all believers. To be a priest means that I have access to God. I do not need a priest to bring me to him and to communicate with him on my behalf. To be a priest means that my chief function is worship. What is the business of a priest in the Old Testament? His first duty is worship. We are all priests. Our highest duty is praise, and worship, and thanksgiving in church and day by day in our own homes, in our private worship. We cannot atone; we cannot purchase salvation for people, but we represent God to men, and we represent men to God. We declare the gospel, and we pray to the Lord for people, and pray for blessing upon them, and for their souls. So our status and our office and function has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.