Rev 1:6, 5:10 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God . In the same idea is expressed by saying of Christians that they are "a royal priesthood ." . The quotation in both places is from : "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests." This idea is expressed here by saying that Christ had made us in fact kings and priests; that is, Christians are exalted to the dignity, and are invested with the office, implied in these words. The word kings , as applied to them, refers to the exalted rank and dignity which they will have; to the fact that they, in common with their Saviour, will reign triumphant over all enemies; and that, having gained a victory over sin and death and hell, they may be represented as reigning together. The word priests refers to the fact that they are engaged in the holy service of God, or that they offer to him acceptable worship. . And his Father . Even his Father; that is, the Saviour has redeemed them, and elevated them to this exalted rank, in order that they may thus be engaged in the service of his Father. To him be glory . To the Redeemer; for so the construction ( ) demands. The word "glory" here means praise, or honour, implying a wish that all honour should be shown him. And dominion . This word means literally strength --κρατος; but it here means the strength, power, or authority which is exercised over others, and the expression is equivalent to a wish that he may reign . (a) "kings" (b) "be glory"

Revelation of John 1:6

Verse 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God. In 1Pet 2:9 the same idea is expressed by saying of Christians that they are "a royal priesthood." 1Pet 2:9. The quotation in both places is from Ex 19:6: "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests." This idea is expressed here by saying that Christ had made us in fact kings and priests; that is, Christians are exalted to the dignity, and are invested with the office, implied in these words. The word kings, as applied to them, refers to the exalted rank and dignity which they will have; to the fact that they, in common with their Saviour, will reign triumphant over all enemies; and that, having gained a victory over sin and death and hell, they may be represented as reigning together. The word priests refers to the fact that they are engaged in the holy service of God, or that they offer to him acceptable worship. 1Pet 2:5.

And his Father. Even his Father; that is, the Saviour has redeemed them, and elevated them to this exalted rank, in order that they may thus be engaged in the service of his Father.

To him be glory. To the Redeemer; for so the construction (Rev 1:5) demands. The word "glory" here means praise, or honour, implying a wish that all honour should be shown him.

And dominion. This word means literally strength--κρατος; but it here means the strength, power, or authority which is exercised over others, and the expression is equivalent to a wish that he may reign.

(a) "kings" Ex 19:6, 1Pet 2:5-9 (b) "be glory" Heb 13:21

Revelation of John 5:10

Verse 10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests. Rev 1:6.

And we shall reign on the earth. The redeemed, of whom we are the representatives. The idea clearly is, in accordance with what is so frequently said in the Scriptures, that the dominion on the earth will be given to the saints; that is, that there will be such a prevalence of true religion, and the redeemed will be so much in the ascendency, that the affairs of the nations will be in their hands. Righteous men will hold the offices; will fill places of trust and responsibility; will have a controlling voice in all that pertains to human affairs. Dan 7:27; Rev 20:1, seq. To such a prevalence of religion all things are tending; and to is this, in all the disorder and sin which now exist, are we permitted to look forward. It not said that this will be a reign under the Saviour in a literal kingdom on the earth; nor is it said that the saints will descend from heaven, and occupy thrones of power under Christ as a visible king. The simple affirmation is, that they will reign on the earth; and as this seems to be spoken in the name of the redeemed, all that is necessary to be understood is, that there will be such a prevalence of true religion on the earth that it will become a vast kingdom of holiness, and that, instead of being in the minority, the saints will everywhere have the ascendency.

(e) "kings" re 1:6 (f) "reign" Rev 22:5