Revelation 1:6—“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
In a world where believers often feel weak and overlooked, Revelation 1:6 reminds us who we truly are in Christ. Christ “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father”. The risen Jesus has not merely forgiven His people; He has reconstituted them. According to the preceding verse (v.5), He “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”. Having cleansed us, He has crowned them with a royal dignity and consecrated them for holy service.
To be made “kings” does not mean we reign in worldly pride, but that we now belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. In Christ, the believer is no longer at the mercy of Satan’s accusations, the world’s threats, or the flesh’s dominion. We can reign through union with the conquering Lamb every day, learning even now to overcome by faith, endurance, obedience, and hope. As Paul said in Romans 5:17, “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
To be made “priests” points to believers’ calling into God’s holy service. We can draw near to Him and offer acceptable worship through Christ. As 1 Peter 2:5 says, we are “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”. We offer spiritual sacrifices: prayer, praise, repentance, thanksgiving, and lives laid down in love for Christ. Even our suffering becomes incense before the throne.
Therefore, John’s doxology is the only fitting response: “to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” If Christ has made us kings and priests, then our lives must be bent toward His praise, worshipfully serving under His everlasting rule, seeking not our own honour but His glory alone.
