Jesus on the Throne
The enthronement of Jesus is presented in the Bible as the culmination of God’s plan for his people. The exalted throne of the Son of Man is the fulfillment of messianic prophecy and the assurance of the believer’s hope. The New Testament writers, drawing deeply from the Old Testament prophecies, present Jesus as the one who has taken his seat at the right hand of God, exercising sovereign authority over all creation.
Old Testament Foundations
The expectation of a coming king who would reign with justice and power is woven throughout the Old Testament. The Davidic covenant, articulated in passages such as 2 Samuel 7:12-16, promises an everlasting throne to David’s offspring. The psalmist echoes this hope: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1). This verse, the most frequently quoted Old Testament text in the New Testament, forms the backbone of the early Christian understanding of Jesus’ exaltation.
The prophet Daniel provides a particularly vivid vision of the throne of Jesus: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). This apocalyptic vision anticipates a figure who, though human, is invested with divine authority and universal rule.
New Testament: Jesus is on the Throne
The New Testament writers consistently identify Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament hopes. The resurrection and ascension are not just proof of Jesus’ divinity or the vindication of his mission; they are the means by which Jesus is enthroned as Lord and Messiah.
Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2 draws directly from Psalm 110: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:32-36). We see here in this beautiful depiction that the enthronement of Jesus is a present reality, put into motion by his resurrection and ascension.
Paul also affirms the exaltation of Jesus: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). The language of exaltation and universal homage echoes Daniel’s vision and the psalms, situating Jesus’ enthronement within the broader narrative of God’s kingship.
The author of Hebrews offers a meditation on Jesus’ enthronement, emphasizing both his unique priesthood and his royal authority: “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet” (Hebrews 10:12-13). The imagery of sitting at the right hand signifies the completion of Jesus’ atoning work and his resting. This is the commencement of his reign.
The Throne in the Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation provides the most dramatic and theologically rich depiction of Jesus on the throne. John’s vision in Revelation 4-5 centers on the heavenly throne room, where God is worshiped as Creator and the Lamb as Redeemer. The Lamb, who is Jesus, is declared worthy to open the scroll and execute God’s purposes for history: “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Revelation 5:6-7).
The worship that follows is universal and cosmic in scope: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12). The enthronement of Jesus is not merely a heavenly reality but one that has direct implications for the world, as the Lamb’s authority extends over all creation.
Later in Revelation, Jesus is depicted as the one who will return in glory to judge and to reign: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war… On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11, 16). The enthroned Jesus is both the present ruler and the coming judge.
Is Jesus on the Throne Right Now?
The throne of Jesus has profound theological implications. First, it affirms the full divinity and humanity of Jesus. Only one who is both God and man can fulfill the messianic promises and exercise universal dominion. Second, Jesus’ enthronement assures believers of the efficacy of his atoning work. As Hebrews emphasizes, Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of God signifies the completion of his sacrificial offering and the ongoing reality of his intercession: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Third, the enthronement of Jesus grounds the church’s mission and hope. The Great Commission is given on the basis of Jesus’ authority: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19). The church proclaims not a potential or future king, but one who reigns now, while his reign awaits its final consummation.
Finally, the enthronement of Jesus provides comfort and assurance in the face of suffering and injustice. Jesus on the throne is not distant or indifferent; he is the one who has suffered, who knows the trials of his people, and who will one day set all things right. As Paul writes, “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).
Conclusion - The Throne of Jesus
The biblical witness to Jesus on the throne is rich and multifaceted, drawing together threads from prophecy, poetry, apocalyptic vision, and apostolic proclamation. Jesus’ enthronement is the fulfillment of God’s promises, the assurance of redemption, and the foundation of Christian hope. As the church awaits the consummation of Jesus’ reign, it does so in the confidence that the one who sits on the throne is both the Lamb who was slain and the King who will return. The vision of Jesus on the throne calls us to worship, to mission, and to steadfast hope, knowing that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).