Recent sermons pointed out that Satan has many tricks to keep the gospel’s essential facts out of our minds. One very terrifying ploy is to make Bible study a search for irrelevant and unsupported ideas or concepts. One such diversion has to do with God’s throne. On the internet, people ask: What is the throne of God? Does God literally have a throne? Does God sit on his throne all day? Why does God sit on a throne? Does God ever leave his throne? Does God sit on a literal throne in heaven or not? Of the many verses in the Bible that mention a throne, man’s, or God’s, these questions are not answered directly. But an in-depth study shows that a spiritual domain cannot be viewed in purely physical terms.
The short answer to the question of God’s throne is yes, God has a throne. There are several references to the throne of God in the Bible. Jesus said, “heaven … is the throne of God” (Matthew 5:34). God said to Israel, “Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool” (Isaiah 66:1). A few other references to God’s throne are found in 2 Chronicles 18:18, Psalm 11:4,Hebrews 8:1, 12:2, Revelation 1:4, 3:21, 4:2.
A definition of a throne is needed to understand the answers to questions about God’s throne. Merriam Webster lists two definitions. The first, “a: the chair of state of a sovereign or high dignitary, b: the seat of a deity,” and second, “royal power and dignity: sovereignty.” It is this second use of the noun that applies to the throne of God. The term throne declares that the one possessing the throne is the supreme power throughout a domain and is the controlling influence over everyone and everything. Also, He is free from all external influences and forces. The one owning the throne is self-sufficient in all respects. The fact that God’s throne is in heaven further underscores the spiritual nature of God’s existence, dominion, and throne. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24). And as Paul addresses Him, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).
God is Spirit, does not have a physical body, and cannot sit on a physical throne. There are many “physical” concepts used to describe what God has done. In creation, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Not having physical eyes, He was fully aware of all that He had accomplished. God had no physical feet and legs to walk in the garden, but He was none-the-less there, “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). References like these are anthropomorphisms, descriptions of God couched in human terms because of our limited knowledge. God has to describe Himself in ways we can understand.
The prophets viewed God through the eye given to them by the Spirit. They were given a vision that allowed them to “see” God’s glory and majesty from a human standpoint. As such, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John saw wonders described in the most superlative terms humans can envision. They saw God “high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). God’s throne and robe are not to be taken as literal, physical objects. Instead, these terms allow us to visualize the magnificence, splendor, and exaltation of God’s home.
Other prophetic visions provide additional descriptions of God’s throne. Micaiah saw the seat of power over both physical and spiritual realms. “I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left” (2 Chronicles 18:18). The Book of Job contains a similar scene. “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them” (Job 1:6). Imagine all the beings that assembled at God’s command.
Consider Jesus saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He “Sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). There is no higher place than heaven. God is the King of heaven, and Jesus holds the position of honor at The Father’s right hand. It is a place of perfect justice (Psalm 9:7; cf. 89:14). It is the place of final judgment (Revelation 20:11). It is the place of sovereignty and holiness (Psalm 47:8; cf. 103:19), and God does whatever He pleases, and all He does is good. It is a place of praise (Revelation 14:3; Psalm 66:2).
God’s throne is where the saved stand before Him (Revelation 14:5). It is the place of eternal life (Revelation 22:1). “Let us then approach God’s 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). One day all creation will bow to the majesty of God’s throne (Philippians 2:9–11).
Are you ready to lay your crown before the Throne (Revelation 4:10–11)?
