The Throne

                   " God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne."
                                                                                                   Psalm 47:8




As the political banter begins to ricochet from every media outlet, we are inundated with a plethora of ideas and visions for what will be best for us and for our nation in the coming years.  If we limit our forcus merely to the horizontal plane, we will overlook the most important aspect of our day- that is, where is God and what is He saying to us? The answers to these questions can only be found vertically, in an upward ascent.

As believers in Christ, the hope we have will always be secured to the throne of God.  If we have a limited view of God, we will have a limited life.  It is God's purpose and plan for each one of us to see Him with clarity in the vastness and majesty that are ascribed solely to Him.  In the Old Testament, the prophet, Isaiah, describes God's throne as follows:

   " In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,
     and His robe filled the temple.  Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had
     six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two
     he flew.  And one called to another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory
     fills the whole earth.'  The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices,
    and the temple was filled with smoke.  Then I said: 'Woe is me for I am ruined for I am a
    man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have
    seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand
    was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth
    with it and said: ' Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and
    your sin is atoned for.'  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ' Who should I send?
    Who will go for us?'  I said: ' Here i am. Send me.'"   ( Isaiah 6:1-8).

After Isaiah saw the Lord in His fullness, it was impossible for him to remain silent.  His first order of business, however, was to see himself in humility and come into agreement with God's Holy Spirit regarding the sin in his own life.  He cried out for God to cleanse him and God willingly answered his prayer.

We are all prone to have blind spots in regards to the sin in our own lives.  The more we resist God's truths the more likely we are to become blind, deaf, and hard-hearted to our own sin.  Weaknesses will vary among us, but the antidote never does.  Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, describes sin as follows: " Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, and takes off the relish of spiritual things- that, to you, is sin."

The author of the book of Hebrews teaches us that when we identify sin in our lives that this is the time to run to God's throne of grace.  He says, " Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace ( the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it.]"  (Hebrews 4:16).

Not only does God sit upon a throne of grace, He also sits upon a throne of glory and a throne of government.  The apostle John describes God's throne as follows:

    "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had
     heard before, which sounded like a mighty trumpet blast, spoke to me and said, 'Come
     up here and I will show you what must happen in the future!'  And instantly I was in the
     spirit there in heaven and saw- oh, the glory of it!- a throne and someone sitting on it!
     Great bursts of light flashed forth from Him as from a glittering diamond or from a shining
     ruby, and a rainbow glowing like an emerald encircled His throne.  Twenty-four smaller
     thrones surrounded His, with twenty-four Elders sitting on them; all were clothed in white,
     with golden crowns upon their heads.  Lightening and thunder issued from the throne,
     and there were voices in the thunder.  Directly in front of His throne were seven lighted
     lamps representing the sevenfold Spirit of God.  Spread out before it was a shiny crystal
     sea.  Four Living Beings, dotted front and back with eyes, stood at the throne's four sides. 
     The first of these Living Beings was in the form of a lion; the second looked like an ox;
     the third had the face of a man; and the fourth, the form of an eagle, with wings spread out
     though in flight.  Each of these Living Beings had six wings, and the central sections of their
     wings were covered with eyes.  Day after day and night after night they kept on saying,
     ' Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty - the One who was, and is, and is to come.'"
     And when the Living Beings gave honor and glory and thanks to the One sitting on the
     throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four Elders fell down before Him and
     worshipped Him, the Eternal Living One, and cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
     ' O Lord, you are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have
     created all things. They were created and called into being by your act of will.'"  (Revelation,
     Chapter 4).

There are not words in our language that can adequately convey the essence of our God.  Therefore, John can only use comparisons as he tries to describe the image of God the Father that he beholds.  He says that God appears as a glittering diamond or as a shining ruby.  He describes God as being robed in light ( Psalm 104:2 and 1 Timothy 6:16).

He then describes a rainbow that surrounds God that is a complete circle.  He describes this rainbow as appearing like an emerald.  Typically a rainbow would appear in the sky after a storm but this rainbow precedes the judgment that is coming to the earth.  This is a reminder of God's covenant and His mercy, even in the midst of judgment.  The prophet, Habakkuk, reminds us that even "in wrath [God] remembers love, pity, and mercy."  ( Habakkuk 3:2)

Because God is showing John His throne at a futuristic date, the twenty-four Elders probably symbolize the completion of all the people of God in heaven.  The white robes they wear and the gold crowns on their heads probably convey their victory in overcoming the world and standing firm in Christ.

The four "Living Beings" surrounding God's throne probably symbolize His wisdom ( because of their many eyes). Their mission is to declare the holiness of God.  These creatures use the name, Lord God Almighty, which shows the ultimate power of God and His ability to complete His mission on earth.

In front of God's throne are seven blazing lamps and a sea of glass that looks like crystal.  The blazing lamps symbolize God's Holy Spirit and the sea of glass represents His holiness.  In the 22nd Chapter of the book of Revelation, John tells us, "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb."  (Revelation 22:1).  This is where revival and refreshing are connected to the very throne of God!

Everything we will ever need comes from God's throne.  It is pre-eminent above all else.  No matter what is happening in our lives, in our nation, and even in the world, our very foundation is established in the throne room of God.  Regardless of our circumstances, we remember that God is still seated upon the throne- the throne of glory, the throne of government, and the throne of grace!


" Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God's ordering and permission.  There is no such thing as "chance", "luck", or "accident" in the Christian's journey through this world.  All is arranged and appointed by God.  And all things are "working together" for the believer's good."
                                                                            J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), Anglican bishop, Liverpool