| Text | What is Before the Throne | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Rev. 1:4 (KJV) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; | Seven Spirits (of God) | Our suggestion is that these "seven spirits" are not actually 7 different spirits of God, but rather they picture the One Holy Spirit of God in its operation during the seven stages of the Church. |
| Rev. 4:5 (KJV) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. | Seven Lamps of Fire burning – 'which are the seven Spirits of God' | Lamps - Strong's 2985. Same as used in parable of Wise and Foolish Virgins.
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; Rev. 8:10 (KJV) These are also the "seven Spirits of God", i.e., the Holy Spirit given to each of the 7 stages of the church. |
| Rev. 4:6 (KJV) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. | Sea of glass 'like unto crystal' | The only other place in the Bible where there is a 'sea of glass' is Rev. 15:2 where the saints are standing on the sea of glass. There they have harps and proceed to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb (verses 3 & 4).
This is interesting because it is this same group who sing a song which only the 144,000 can learn - in Rev. 14:1-5. There they are also said to be 'before the throne.' |
| Rev. 4:10 (KJV) The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, | 24 Elders "cast their crowns" before the throne | |
| Rev. 7:9 (KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; | Great Multitude - Clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands | |
| Rev. 7:11 (KJV) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, | All the Angels | The angels stand around the throne, about the elders, and about the four beasts, but then they (the angels) 'fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,' |
| Rev. 7:15 (KJV) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. | Great Multitude | |
| Rev. 8:3 (KJV) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. | Golden Altar (Where angel with golden censer offers prayers of saints) | This directs our minds back to the Tabernacle in the wilderness. There the "Golden Altar" was in the Holy and there the High Priest offered incense.
This would seem to imply an earthly picture, i.e., some of those involved are still in the flesh. |
| Rev. 14:3 (KJV) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. | 144,000 | The song the 144,000 sing appears to be the same as in Rev. 15:2-4. In that setting they are standing on the sea of glass, which is also "before the throne." |
| Rev. 14:5 (KJV) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault |
144,000 | Omitted by the Sinaitic Manuscript. - They (144,000) are before the throne as indicated in vs. 3 but this verse by itself does not prove it. |
| Rev. 20:12 (RVIC) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.. | The world of mankind, those whom our Lord described as 'dead.' - see Matt. 8:21-22. | Here the entire world of mankind is before the throne. What are they there for? For judgment! |
- Seven spirits of God.
- Seven lamps of fire.
- Sea of glass.
- Crowns of the 24 elders.
- Great multitude.
- All the angels.
- Golden altar.
- 144,000.
- The world of mankind.
Deductions based on the aboveWe agree that the Great Company will not be "On the Throne." As far as Rev. 7:15 being used as a proof that the Great Company will be "before the throne" and not "on the throne" throughout eternity, we find we cannot go along with that.
– Not as a proof for that thought. –
As we see the other items which are described as being "before the throne" (7 spirits of God, Sea of glass, the 144,000,) we arrive at the thought that the way the Lord is using this phrase (at least here in the book of Revelation) does not refer to anyone's final condition. If that were the case, how would we explain the 144,000 being "before the throne?" (Rev. 14:3)