Kings and Priests

“And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

“And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10

The “priestly” aspect enables us to affect the heavenly realm through our worship and communion with the Lord. The “kingly” aspect enables us to affect the earthly realm through our overcoming obedience.

“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom … and we shall reign on the earth” (Matthew 16:19a; Revelation 5:10b). 

This speaks of our having a “ruling authority” (the keys of the Kingdom) in the coming Millennial Kingdom that will cleanse (reign on earth) both the heavens and the earth.

“And he that overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 2:26-27a

For us to be ready to function in Kingdom authority in that day (rule with a rod of iron) means that there must be a present ruling (overcoming) in our lives. We will never be qualified to rule others, unless we have first submitted ourselves to divine governmental rule over us. When Israel entered the promised land, they were told to slay all of the inhabitants of that land. The names of these nations relate to the works of the flesh. Thus, we also must first slay the “inhabitants” of our land (the works of our flesh) before we will be ready to partake of this promise - “we shall reign on the earth.” These that we must slay are very busy, manifesting themselves within us as the “works of the flesh.” Thus, they must be utterly slain in order for us to become the “habitation of God” (priestly role) and begin to “rule all nations” (kingly role). There must be the inner dealings of the Holy Spirit to produce the necessary quality of character that will make us ready to rule with the Lord in “that day.” He must be able to trust us with the use of the “Keys of the Kingdom” that will unlock and open the door that will lift us into a cooperative relationship with our Lord that will lead to the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom.