Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. Revelation 4: 1-2
There’s a certain piece of furniture that is threaded continually throughout scripture. 700 years BC the prophet Isaiah recorded this encounter: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne: and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)
Fast forward to Revelation where 45 times John mentions this THRONE which is central to everything happening. The earth has all the issues of sin and death and disease and war and death. The solution to everything is in heaven where there is GLORY + GRACE + MAJESTY and it’s all through Jesus and He’s sitting on a throne.
The problems are down here and the solution is up there and He sits on a throne where He rules and reigns.
But for John writing in his 1st Century Middle Eastern Culture – seats weren’t used at all – people reclined on cushions, on the floor. Thrones were only used for significant people at significant times and Jesus is each one:
KINGS: Of course Kings and royalty would sit on a throne and Jesus is King of Kings and He sits on a throne where He rules and reigns in the universe.
JUDGE: A judge would sit on their throne and pass judgement on everyone who passes before them. God will judge all of humanity and determine HOLY and UNHOLY, HEAVEN or HELL
VICTORIOUS WARRIOR: After a great victory in battle, the war hero on his return would be sat on a throne and celebrated by all the people. A national holiday would be called and everyone from around the kingdom would gather to praise, cheer, honour and glorify their all conquering hero, who sacrificed his own life in battle, and put everything on the line for everyone.
Jesus has conquered SIN, SICKNESS, DEATH, THE GRAVE, THE DEVIL and HELL ITSELF.
He sits on a throne as our triumphant warrior!
Join in with this chorus: Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honour and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Revelation 5: 11-14 (NLT)
Thank You, Father, that You are still on the throne and in control of our world and our lives. Help me to see Jesus ruling and reigning and I choose to submit to Him in my life. Have your way, Lord. Amen