Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 1:6

"and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen." — Revelation 1:6 (ASV)

This transformation simultaneously involves the induction of blood-freed sinners into Christ’s “kingdom” and priesthood. Of Israel it was said that they would be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6; cf. Isaiah 61:6). As Israel of old was redeemed through the Red Sea and was called to be a kingdom under God and a nation of priests to serve him, so John sees the Christian community as the continuation of the OT people of God, redeemed by Christ’s blood and made heirs of his future kingly rule on the earth (5:10; 20:6). Furthermore, all believers are called to be priests in the sense of offering spiritual sacrifices and praise to God (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). While John sees the church as a kingdom, this does not mean that it is identical with the kingdom of God. Nor do the new people of God replace the ancient Jewish people in the purpose of God (cf. Romans 11:28–29).