9. “ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” --5:10. Kings: This refers to the reign of Christ in the kingdom now present and existing--“ made us” --it was of past performance and establishment; not a future kingdom, but present. The church is the priesthood now (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9), an analogy based on Exodus 19:6. The church sustains a kingly relation to Christ, and of it the members “ reign with Christ” ; hence, they are kings in royalty with him. (Romans 8:17) It is a reference to the state of the church under the gospel--under the spiritual government of Christ. (1 Timothy 6:15) The term “ king” signified a sovereign prince or ruler in a kingdom. (Proverbs 8:15) It is applied to God, the Supreme Ruler of the universe (Psalms 44:4); and to Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the church (Psalms 2:6; Psalms 45:1; Ephesians 4:5); and to all true Christians who as heirs, reign with him in life. (Romans 8:17; Romans 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:12) Priests: The church sustains a priestly relation to Christ, and its members participate in the offering of spiritual sacrifices. (Hebrews 13:15) The word priest is contracted from elder or presbyter, and was a general name for ministers of God’ s service. (Hebrews 10:11) In all scriptures it denotes one who offers sacrifice. It is applied to Jesus Christ in the highest office, who offered himself for the sins of all men. (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 8:4; Hebrews 9:11-12) It applies to every true believer (Christian), who himself offers spiritual sacrifices. (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6) Under the law the priest was a person consecrated and ordained to teach the people, pray for them and offer sacrifices. (Leviticus 4:5-6) Christians perform all of these services and functions now in the new priesthood, the church. Reign: The word is variously used literally and figuratively. Commonly the word to reign means to rule, or to govern as a sovereign prince. (2 Samuel 5:4-5; Matthew 2:6) God reigns as absolute monarch, he governs and disposes of all things in heaven and earth. (Psalms 93:1); Christ reigns in this dispensation in his kingdom, the church (Luke 1:33; Matthew 2:6; Romans 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25); Death reigned from Adam to Moses, Romans 5:15 --that is, prevailed, held sway, dominion; Sin reigns, when the motions of sin are obeyed, as one obeys the law or command of a king, when it exercises an absolute uncontrolled power over the soul (Romans 6:12); Grace reigns through righteousness, prevails through the gospel to abolish the rule and dominion of sin, as we are governed by what it teaches (Romans 5:21; Titus 2:11-12); and Christians reign in righteous living with Christ (Romans 5:17). All who receive grace in gift of righteousness (forgiveness in Christ), and partake of the spiritual life, whereby sin is conquered, reign with apostles in conforming to their teaching and example; and reign with Christ as in the sufferings with him in the death to sin and partaking of his suffering (2 Timothy 2:12) We shall reign: Literally rendered the passage reads are reigning--referring in the Revelation context to their continuing conquests in the trials that were present. What the four creatures and twenty-four elders were chanting in unison, as a complete representative company, was the prospect of a glorious triumph over their oppressors. It symbolized a reign of victory, a symbol that the oppressions to be revealed in the seals could not consume them; the wrath of monarchs could not destroy them; nor the power of kings and emperors defeat them. They would survive; they would live; they would reign on the earth, not in future glory, but reign there and then as conquerers and overcomers in an undefeated, triumphant cause. The church was symbolized as being complete and imperishable in conflict with their heathen oppressors.