The Throne of God

The Holy Lord is the King over all creation.  Everything that is, that was, and that will ever be is under His command and His dominion.  His dominion is everlasting and sure.  He is called Yahweh, Elohim, Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Holy Father, Abba, and many more that can be summed up in one name: God.  He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, holy, righteous, just, merciful, and royal.  He is not limited by temporality or corporeality.  And, although for a time He condescended from His heavenly throne as the incarnate Christ, His throne is never, has never been, and will never be vacant.  He continually and eternally rules and His rulings are final and unalterable apart from His own good pleasure.

Although there are many parts of Scripture that deal with the Lord's Kingship and His dominion, particularly the Psalms (Psa. 11:4; 90-105, et al), however, nowhere is the throne room of God more directly described as in the revelation given to an exiled John.  In Revelation 4 we are given a glimpse of the panoply of majesty that is the throne room of God.  Jewels and gems of such blinding splendor and royal value are the meager words John employs as he is grasping to take in and describe the utter beauty of God as He is.  Two things immediately stand out in John's account.

The first is weight of majesty that encompasses this vision.  God, the Holy Lord of all creation, is wholly awesome.  There is no glibness or flippancy in the throne room, only awesome fear at the Lord.  In many ways we are given a sacred glimpse into a heavenly worship service.  This immediately carries over to the next observation.

Worship abounds in the throne room of God.  Continually the angelic beings praise Him, not because they are ordered to but because they cannot but worship the Lord.  Similarly, the 24 elders who sit on the thrones that encircle the throne room continually cast down their crowns before the Lord in submission and honor, recognizing that God is above all and worthy of all praise.  Not only is there no place for self-exaltation before the throne of God, it is impossible to exalt ourselves when we enter His presence.  Truly, truly, every time the presence of God is encountered in Scripture and history, the response is utterly naked humility at His glory.  Let us join the heavenly choir and add our praise to the beautiful cacophony to Him!