I Am a Priest and King (Revelation 1:6)
“And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father, to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:6 (NIV)
What It Means to Be a Priest and King
In the Old Testament, the offices of priest and king were strictly separated. Priests drew near to God on behalf of the people. Kings ruled and exercised authority on behalf of God. No single person could hold both roles except in rare and prophetic exceptions. Yet Revelation 1:6 declares that every believer has been made both: a priest with direct access to God and a king with the authority to reign in life. This is one of the most elevated identity statements in all of Scripture.
As a priest, you need no human mediator to approach God. Through Christ, the great High Priest, you have direct access to the throne of grace. You can come boldly, anytime, about anything. As a king, you are not meant to be passive or powerless in your circumstances. You are meant to reign, to exercise the authority Christ has won, to overcome rather than be overcome. A person who understands they are both a priest and a king stops living like a spiritual peasant and starts living from the royal and priestly identity God has declared over them.
Hebrew Meaning
kohen (כֹּהֵן) and melek (מֶלֶךְ): priest and king; the two most significant offices in ancient Israel. The kohen stood between God and the people, offering sacrifice and interceding. The melek governed with authority, leading and protecting. In Exodus 19:6, God calls Israel “a kingdom of priests,” a nation that would be both set apart for God and positioned to influence the world. This vision finds its fullest expression in Christ and is extended to all who are in Him.
Greek Meaning
hiereus (ἱερεύς) and basileus (βασιλεύς): priest and king; both terms used in Revelation 1:6 and 5:10. Hiereus describes one who draws near to offer worship and intercession. Basileus describes one who holds royal authority and exercises dominion. Peter uses a related term in 1 Peter 2:9, calling believers a “royal priesthood,” combining both identities into one. The combination is not accidental. It reflects the full scope of what Christ has restored to those who are in Him.
Bible Verses on Being a Priest and King
Exodus 19:6 (NIV): “You will be for me a kingdom of priests (kohen) and a holy nation.”
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV): “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Revelation 5:10 (NIV): “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests (hiereus) to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Romans 5:17 (NIV): “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV): “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV): “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
How to Practice Being a Priest and King
Approach God With the Confidence of a Priest. You do not need to qualify yourself before coming to God. The blood of Christ has opened the way. Pray boldly, frequently, and specifically. You have direct access to the Father at any time about anything.
Intercede for Others as Part of Your Priestly Role. Priests stood before God on behalf of the people. Part of your priestly identity is intercession: bringing the needs, struggles, and lostness of others before God consistently and intentionally.
Reign in Life Rather Than Merely Surviving It. Romans 5:17 says you are meant to reign in life, not just endure it. Ask yourself where you have been living passively or as a victim of circumstances rather than exercising the authority Christ has given you.
Use Your Authority to Bless, Not to Dominate. The kingship God gives is not about control over others. It is about overcoming in your own life and using influence to serve and build up those around you. Kingdom authority always looks like Jesus: a servant king.
Live With the Awareness of What You Carry. You walk into every room as both a priest who carries God’s presence and a king who carries Christ’s authority. Let that awareness shape how you engage with people, with problems, and with your own daily choices.
Declare It
God has made me a priest with direct access to Him and a king with authority to reign in life through Christ.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for making me both a priest and a king in Christ. Help me to live from both of those identities rather than from smallness or passivity. Teach me to approach You with the boldness of a priest who knows the way has been opened, and to engage my life with the confidence of someone who has been given authority in Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Question
In what area of your life have you been living below the priestly access or kingly authority God has given you in Christ, and what would it look like to step into that identity more fully?
