"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5,6)

Jesus not only washed us from our sins in His own blood, but He has also lifted us up to two very important offices. The believer has the potential to operate as BOTH a king and a priest to God. One of the fundamental revelations of the Reformation was 'the priesthood of all believers' but I believe the Reformers themselves had a very limited idea of what this means. They remained influenced by Roman Catholicism, because it was all they had known.

All to often the church has compromised or watered down these explosive truths, by crafting theologies which limit the meaning of these verses. Some teach that only certain men with "Holy Orders" are truly priests. They may talk of common priesthood to theologians but it means very little. Others teach you could be a king or a priest, but not both. To some, the idea of the believer having any kind of kingly power or authority is very foreign and suspect. Clearly, Satan has had an interest in keeping these things shrouded in mystery - LEST a people rise up that have an understanding of what God has ordained, and go out and destroy Satan's kingdom as they operate in these callings.

Jesus Christ has provided for a lot of things, and the Bible usually speaks in terms of the past tense to indicate just what God's intention is. The Bible says that we were healed (1 Peter 2:24), that we were delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13), that we are complete (perfect) in Him (Colossians 2:10) and many other amazing things. These statements show what God has provided through the cross, not necessarily what we are enjoying or experiencing. Ignorance and disharmony with God's plan can rob us of these things individually and collectively. So it has been with the ministry of Kings and Priests.

To function as kings and priests before God it helps to know what these things mean.

A king is someone who exercises authority by his spoken word. He rules over a domain. Jesus Christ is the ruler over the kings of the earth - both natural and spiritual kings (Revelation 1:5). God does not appoint people as kings with unlimited authority to do as they please. When we do as we please, we in fact end up submitting to another king - Satan. Yes, Satan also has a kingdom which is operating illegally in this world. But wherever men, women, boys and girls sin, there Satan is given authority once again to do his evil works of domination and destruction. We must not yield to Satan. We are not called to be Satan's servants, but kings under God. We are called as kings to have dominion over the affairs of this world, and root out Satan's works. We are also called to be junior priests of the order of Melchidezek - who was not only a priest, but also a king (Hebrews 7:1). We can be this because Jesus Christ, the High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek, and the King of Kings, dwells within us and wants to operate through us in this world.

Priests are those who offer sacrifices to God, and seek to bring God and people together. We all have the ministry of reconciliation according to 2 Corinthians 5:18. We are all supposed to intercede before God's thrown, offering praise, breaking spiritual bondages and leading men into the New Covenant. Every believer is called to be a soul-winner. Every child of God that is blessed should be a spiritual parent. Every child of God is called to walk closely with God.

Historically the people of God in the church age have been very content to accept the false teachings of church leaders which have diminished the extent of their hig

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