The Throne of the Lord

 

To him who sits on the
throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and
glory and power,
for ever and ever! — (Revelation 5:13b NIV).

1. God Is Seated on the Throne

In the visions of God that prophets and apostles were given in the past; God is always found seated on His throne. This is important. God is always at rest. There is nothing that disturbs Him. Even in the Book of Revelation where violent events taking place on earth are foretold you’ll find God seated on His throne.

If God is Lord of your life then He is seated on the throne of your heart too. In the disturbances of life if you can take a moment to think on the One on the throne; both in heaven and in your heart, then the peace of God that goes beyond all human understanding shall descend. God on His throne will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is focused on Him. Jesus sleeping in the boat while the storms raged is a perfect example of the undisturbed rest of God on His throne. When Jesus was woken up by His disciples He just ordered the winds and waves to be still.

Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne (Isaiah 6), Apostle John saw God sitting on His throne (Revelation 4), Daniel saw the Ancient of Days taking His seat (Daniel 7). The Psalmist wrote: “God is seated on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:8b NIV). Jesus spoke about God sitting on the throne (Matthew 23:22).

2. Heaven Is Where God’s Throne Is

The Psalmist wrote of the One enthroned in heaven (Psalm 2:4; 103:19). Jesus spoke of heaven as God’s throne (Matthew 5:34; 23:22). God spoke through the prophet saying: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Isaiah 66:1 NIV).

When your heart is focused on the throne of God you will also be reminded of the privilege that God has given you in Christ. Paul wrote saying, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). This reminds us of God’s kindness expressed to us in Christ Jesus. Who are we that we should be seated with Christ in the heavens? But that is the incomparable riches of God’s grace. We did nothing to deserve it. It is given to us by His grace alone.

Paul continues this thought in the letter to the Colossians. He says that if you believe the truth that you have been raised with Christ [an already accomplished fact], then set your hearts on things above. That means you have to deliberately take your eyes off earthly things and focus them on heavenly realities. It will change your priorities, habits, and lifestyles. That is why Jesus asked you store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. He added: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV).

If we understand more of the truth that we are already seated with Christ in the heavens; life’s changing circumstances will lose its power to disturb us.

3. God’s Throne Is Holy; It Is Surrounded by Worship

There is nothing about God that can be separated from His holiness. His throne in also an expression of His holiness. The Psalmist said: “God is seated on his holy throne.” [author’s emphasis]

Worship is rendered to God on his throne, day and night. His throne is surrounded by worship. And all the angelic and heavenly beings cry out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8b NIV). Whenever glory, honor and thanks is given “to him who sits on the throne” the twenty-four elders fall face down “before him who sits on the throne”; they also lay their crowns before Him as they worship Him (Ref. Revelation 4:9, 10; 11:16). So God’s throne is surrounded by worship and thanksgiving all the time.

The call to praise comes from the throne itself (Revelation 19:5) and heaven resounds with mighty shouts of “Hallelujah” which means “Praise the Lord.” One rendering of Psalm 22:3 reads as, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” And the song of Moses describes God: “Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11b NIV).

If your heart is the seat of God’s throne; then you’ll have to ask God to create in you a pure heart. For God’s throne is holy. And the prophet wrote: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). And remember the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8 NIV).

4. God’s Throne Is Surrounded by Light

Paul wrote: God lives in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). Apostle John wrote; “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b NIV). Ezekiel saw God on His throne full of fire-like appearance; “and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him” (Ezekiel 1:27b, 28a NIV). Apostle John saw something similar: “A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne” (Revelation 4:3z). [The mention of rainbow in both these instances reminds us of God’s mercy towards mankind; first expressed in the covenant with Noah (Ref. Genesis 9:13).”]

Light from God finds expression in many ways toward mankind. First of all, light was the first thing that God spoke into existence. He said, “Let there be light.” God also created lights in the skies to shine by day and by night. But one day when there will be a new earth and a new heaven these lights won’t be needed: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light” (Revelation 21:23, 24a NIV). How blessed you’ll be if you can walk in His light today (Ref. Isaiah 50:10)!

Again, the Bible prophesied that “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2 NIV). When Jesus came, John wrote about Him: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:4, 5 NIV). Indeed Jesus Himself declared: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12b NIV).

So a meditation on God’s throne centers around light. And God’s expressions of love towards you come wrapped in light. That is why the Psalmist says, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9 NIV). It is in the light that God’s throne is surrounded with; we are enabled to see His many instances of guidance in our life. Then His Word becomes a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Ref. Psalm 119:105).

The big thought that should govern your life is this: God and evil cannot be mixed together; for light and darkness cannot mix. He can never lead you to evil nor does He tempt you with evil. On the other hand, James speaks volumes about God’s nature when he wrote: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17 NIV).

Yes, God is light. “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6a NIV)!

5. God’s Throne Is a Throne of Grace

The writer to the Hebrews tells us: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).

If you read Esther’s story in the Bible you’ll find that nobody could have approached the king unless called for. If someone approached the king without being summoned he or she would be put to death. The only exception was when the king extended his gold scepter towards that person. See, if it was so difficult to approach an earthly king, how much more would it be difficult for man to approach God. Indeed it was so in the Old Testament times. Even Moses trembled with fear after having called by God Himself (Ref. Hebrews 12:21).

But when Jesus died and rose again and ascended into Heaven; the throne of God became a throne of grace. Jesus opened the way to God’s throne through His precious blood shed on the cross at Calvary. Now He is your High Priest in Heaven. Every moment He pleads for you in God’s presence. His is a permanent priesthood. “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25a NIV).

So you can have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place [that is where the throne of God is] by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). Anytime you can go before the throne of God’s grace by the blood of Jesus. What a blessed privilege, O child of God that God has given you! Have you yet realized it?

6. God’s Throne Is High and Exalted

There is nothing higher than God’s throne. It is an exalted throne. Both Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1) saw God’s throne like that.

As you look at Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 you will understand the folly of exalting yourselves or anything else above the throne of God. Both these chapters, many Bible scholars believe points to the fall of Satan (described as “morning star” and “son of the dawn”). Let us see how Satan fell. In Isaiah it is recorded as Satan’s thought: “You said in your heart, `I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13–15 NIV). In Ezekiel, Satan is described as the king of Tyre about whom the Lord said: “In the pride of your heart you say, `I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas’ ” (Ezekiel 28:2b NIV).

It is clear that Satan fell because of his pride and because of his desire to exalt himself above the throne of God. These are the great sins that you need to watch out in your life today. With wisdom and understanding given you by God you can gather wealth for yourself. This can give you strange ideas if you do not guard your heart. That is why Jesus said that if anyone comes to Him and does not hate even his own life he cannot be His disciple (Ref. Luke 14:26 NIV). Therefore do not exalt anyone or anything above the throne of God in your heart. If you do so; you will surely fall.

Remember God’s judgment on Satan: “But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit” (Isaiah 14:15 NIV/ Refer also Revelation 12:9).

7. God’s Throne Is a Throne of Judgment

There is no terror-striking description of God’s throne in the Bible than what is recorded in Revelation 20:11 to 15. It speaks of God’s Great White Throne of Judgment. “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

But for the one who trusts in Jesus the story is different: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV). This is because the names of those who trust in Jesus are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Ref. Revelation 13:8 and 21:27). Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

But for those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, Judgment is a terrifying reality. Daniel writes about the judgment scene he saw in a vision. He wrote that before God a river of fire was flowing. He added that: “The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10z NIV). Jesus too spoke of the judgment to come while He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory, in Matthew 25:31 to 46. He said that those who are judged will be cast into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. This is a frightening reality indeed.

The Psalmist declared: “The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness” (Pslamist 9:7, 8a NIV). Therefore he prays, “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him” (Psalm 68:2 NIV).

8. God’s Throne Lasts for Ever

The Psalmist wrote: “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever” (Psalm 45:6 NIV). Prophet Jeremiah wrote: “You, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation” (Lamentations 5:19 NIV). Also as Daniel understood about the vision showing judgment of earth’s great kingdoms, he said: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it itself will endure forever” (Daniel 2:44 NIV).

And the great prophecy about Jesus, the Prince of Peace, reads: “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7 NIV). So one day He will rule on earth from Jerusalem (see Psalm 2:6; 68:16 and also Jeremiah 3:17). The same truth was told Mary by Angel Gabriel: “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32b, 33 NIV).

In the light of the truth that God’s throne and rule endures for ever, how much more attention you should give to the truth proclaimed by Apostle John: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17 NIV). It is the company of such saints who will come to life and reign with Christ (see Revelation 20:4z; 6z).

Conclusion

The Lamb Is at the Center of God’s Throne

The Lamb who was slain is at the center of God’s throne (Ref. Revelation 5:6). Is He at the center of the throne of your heart? If so, God’s throne becomes a throne of grace and mercy; and you are welcome at His presence anytime through the precious blood of the Lamb.

And you shall be blessed by the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Ref. Revelation 22:1).

Therefore, to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, render your worship. Amen! Hallelujah!


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