Revelation 1:6 - Kings and Priests Unto God and his Father

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” — Revelation 1:6 KJV 

Revelation 1:6 reveals an important truth about the identity and calling of those redeemed by Jesus Christ. The previous verse provides the foundation: Christ loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Then John declares what Christ has made His redeemed people to be.

“And Hath Made Us”

Our position begins with what Christ has done, not what we have accomplished for ourselves.

Revelation 1:5–6 presents a beautiful progression:

Christ loved us → Christ washed us → Christ made us kings and priests → glory belongs to Christ.

Our spiritual identity is therefore the result of His redemptive work.

“Kings and Priests”

The KJV reads “kings and priests.” Many ancient Greek manuscripts read literally “a kingdom, priests,” language that closely echoes Exodus 19:6, where Israel was called to be a “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” 

The priestly language is especially significant.

Under the Old Covenant, priests were set apart for service before God. In Christ, believers have direct access to God and are called to lives of worship, prayer, holiness, intercession, and spiritual service.

Peter expresses a closely related truth:

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood…” — 1 Peter 2:5 KJV

This does not mean believers replace Jesus as the great High Priest. Christ's priesthood remains unique. Rather, through Christ, His people are brought near to God and called to offer spiritual service unto Him.

“Unto God and His Father”

Notice the direction of our calling:

“unto God…”

Being made kings and priests is not a title for self-exaltation. It is a calling to God's service.

Priestly identity should therefore produce humility rather than pride. We have been redeemed so that our lives may belong to God.

“To Him Be Glory and Dominion”

John immediately turns the attention away from believers and back toward Christ:

“to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”

Although believers receive an extraordinary identity through redemption, the glory remains Christ's.

This protects Revelation 1:6 from becoming a teaching about personal status or self-importance. The entire passage magnifies Jesus.

He loved us.
He washed us.
He made us a kingdom and priests.
Therefore, He receives the glory.

Personal Application

Revelation 1:6 reminds us that salvation involves more than being delivered from something; we have also been called unto something.

Christ has called His people into holy service.

We can ask ourselves:

Am I living like someone who has been set apart for God?

Does my life offer Him worship, prayer, obedience, and holiness?

Am I using my spiritual position to glorify myself, or does my life direct the glory back to Jesus Christ?

We were washed by His blood and brought near to God. Therefore, our lives should testify:

“to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”