Many passages in the New Testament give accounts of priests. For example, Revelation chapters 5 and 20 tell us that we are priests now and forever. Chapter 20 talks about those who will die for the testimony of Jesus during the 7- year tribulation and rise again. Revelation 20: 4-6 read, “… they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” During the Millennium, we will be kings with the Lord and reign with Him on earth. We will be priests of God and of Christ to bless many.
1 Peter 2: 9 makes it very clear. The people of Israel did not become priests. It is very precious that today, all of us who believe in the Lord are priests. It is clearly written in Revelation chapter 5 that we are priests and will reign on earth. This is so precious! In the Old Testament, kings could not be priests, and neither could priests be kings. Psalm 110 says that the Lord is both a priest and a king at the same time. Isn’t that precious?! The Lord is the “firstborn of the firstborn.” We are united with Him. He is both a priest and a king, and so are we. It is so precious! I wrote a poem on how the Lord’s gentleness made me great. Isn’t it precious? We were once far away from God, but now we are priests of God, the closest to Him. Now we help others to be close to Him.
1 Peter 2: 9 reads, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Isn’t it very precious that we are a royal priesthood?
In this passage, the Lord wants us to “proclaim.” Romans chapter 15 tells us to minister in the priestly service of the gospel of God. Therefore, priests need to preach the gospel, to bring many people to God. After they believe, we need to help them to deeply experience God. This reminds me of an incident with Peter. It happened at the time when Peter did not know the Lord that well. When he saw the Lord’s glory, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8) In contrast, do you see how precious 1 Peter is? Peter was transformed to be so glorious. He realized his true identity. Today the Lord has greatly elevated us. We ought to enjoy the blessings of being the firstborn, especially the blessing of being a royal priest.