Revelation 5:10

unto our God kings and priests See on the last verse for the true reading: on Revelation 1:6 for the origin of the phrase.

we shall reign Authorities are nearly evenly divided between the readings "they reign" and "they shall reign." Perhaps the present is to be preferred, as the more difficult in sense; the future could be easily understood of the millennial reign (Revelation 20:4), whatever that means. If we accept the present, it can hardly be used fora future, every one must feel that Revelation 2:22, &c. are not really parallel: rather, we may say that the faithful on earth are, even in their exile, kings de jure, as David was "when he was in the wilderness of Judah" (Psalms 63 ult. cf. title).