^1:6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

and He has MADE US to be a KINGDOM, PRIESTS to HIS GOD and FATHER;

This verse indicates one of the greatest transformations that takes place in a believer's life. While here on earth locked in our physical bodies, and at times not feeling very royal, Christ through His blood (see previous verse) and its release makes us into a priestly kingdom. The four living creatures and twenty four elders sing of it before the throne in Revelation 5:10.

In our priestly function, we, as a group (kingdom), are to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:4-10). One of these sacrifices is intercessory prayer. Is it a sign of the times that this kind of prayer is so seldom seem among believers today?

The result of our kingdom is to reign with Him for a thousand years - Revelation 20:6.

In Old Testament times, after the children of Israel left Egypt, God promised the same kingdom and priestly function to the nation of Israel in Exodus 19:3-6 Centuries later it was confirmed through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:4-9). That is not to say that present day believers replace the Israel kingdom; that promise was forever and irrevocable - Romans 11:28-29.

TO HIM be the GLORY and the DOMINION forever and ever.  Amen.

Yet even though we are a priestly kingdom, we still are His servants. (Revelation 22:3). As for the earth, Adam was given dominion over it - Genesis 1:24-26. Adam with his wife Eve, in turn, sold out to the serpent (Satan) - Genesis 3:1-7, and now John is saying it really belongs to God, and He is reclaiming it (Hebrews 2:5-10); in fact, that is what the book of Revelation is all about!