What does Revelation 1:6 mean?
Once we were helpless sinners, but now, as John explains in this verse, we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Once we served sin; now we worship and serve God. We are a kingdom of priests. In Old Testament times, priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel and stood as mediators between the people and God. Now we come directly to God through Jesus, and we offer ourselves and spiritual sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5). Once we were in Satan's domain; now we are in Jesus' domain. Ephesians 2:2, 5 remind us that once we were followers of the prince of the power of the air—Satan—but our merciful and loving God made us alive together with Christ.As John contemplates what God has done for believers by making us a kingdom and priests, he spontaneously offers praise to God. He ascribes glory and dominion. He concludes his doxology by saying, "Amen," meaning, "Let it be so!" A similar praise for God's grace and power on our behalf should arise from our hearts and lips.
Revelation 1:4–8 identifies John's audience as the seven churches in Asia. John addresses these churches with a greeting from the triune God, and he ascribes praise to Jesus. Jesus is coming in glory, John declares, and His coming will be visible to everyone. At that time, the tribes of Israel will express remorse because of His crucifixion. John concludes this passage by quoting Jesus as saying He is the beginning, the eternal Almighty One.
The Roman government had banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen, glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19). John pronounces blessings to those who read and obey Revelation, and then he greets his readers warmly and describes Jesus' appearance.
