Throne of God

The throne of God is the reigning centre of God in the Abrahamic religions: primarily Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The throne is said by various holy books to reside beyond the Seventh Heaven which is called Araboth (Hebrew: עֲרָבוֹת ‘ărāḇōṯ) in Judaism.^[1]

Judaism[edit]

Micaiah (1 Kings 22:19), Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1)^[2] and Daniel (Daniel 7:9) all speak of God's throne, although some philosophers, such as Saʿadiah Gaon and Maimonides, interpreted such mention of a "throne" as allegory.^[3]

The heavenly throne room or throne room of God is a more detailed presentation of the throne, into the representation of throne room or divine court.

Micaiah's throne room vision[edit]

Micaiah's extended prophecy (1 Kings 22:19) is the first detailed depiction of a heavenly throne room in Judaism.

Zechariah's throne room vision[edit]

Zechariah 3 depicts a vision of the heavenly throne room where Satan and the Angel of the Lord contend over Joshua the High Priest in the time of his grandson Eliashib the High Priest. Many Christians consider this a literal event,^{[citation needed]} others such as Goulder (1998) view the vision as symbolic of crisis on earth, such as opposition from Sanballat the Horonite.^[4]

Isaiah[edit]

In Isaiah 6, Isaiah sees the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train (robe) filled the temple. Above the throne stood the Seraphim (angelic beings), and each one had 6 wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And the Seraphim were calling out to one another, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts" (Some translations title it, 'Lord of heavens armies', or 'Lord Almighty'). Their voices shook the temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Wisdom of Solomon[edit]

In the apocryphal Book of Wisdom, the prayer offered by Solomon asking God for wisdom calls for him to be "sent from the throne of your glory".^[5]

Dead Sea Scrolls[edit]

The concept of a heavenly throne occurs in three Dead Sea Scroll texts. Later speculation on the throne of God became a theme of Merkabah mysticism.^[6]

Christianity[edit]

In the New Testament, the Throne of God is talked about in several forms,^[7] including Heaven as the Throne of God, the Throne of David, the Throne of Glory, the Throne of Grace and many more.^[7] The New Testament continues Jewish identification of heaven itself as the "throne of God",^[8] but also locates the throne of God as "in heaven" and having a secondary seat at the right hand of God for the Session of Christ.^[9]

Revelation[edit]

The Book of Revelation describes the Seven Spirits of God which surround the throne, and its author wishes his readers in the Seven Asian churches to be blessed with grace from God, from the seven who are before God's throne, and from Jesus Christ in Heaven. He states that in front of the throne there appears to be "a sea of glass, clear as crystal", and that the throne is surrounded by a lion, an ox, a man, and a flying eagle; each with six wings and covered with eyes, who constantly cry "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" repeatedly. It is also said that "out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices".^[10]

Islam[edit]

According to the British academic, Islam Issa, in Islamic theology, it is the largest of creations.^[11] The vast majority of Islamic scholars, including Sunnis (Ash'aris, Maturidis, and Sufis), Mu'tazilis, and Shi'is (Twelvers and Isma'ilis) believe the Throne (Arabic: العرش al-'Arsh) is a symbol of God's power and authority and not as a dwelling place for Himself^[12]^[13]^[14] while some Islamic sects, such as the Karramis and the Salafis/Wahhabis, believe that God has created it as a place of dwelling.^[15]^[16]^[17] The Quran depicts the angels as carrying the throne of God and praising his glory, similar to Old Testament images. The Ayat al-Kursi (often glossed as "Verse of the footstool") is a verse from Al-Baqara, the second sura of the Quran.

Bibliography[edit]

Notes

^ In Seventh Heaven
^ "Ezekiel 1:26" in the 1901 American Standard Bible.
^ Bowker 2005, pp. Throne of God entry
^ M. D. Goulder ,The Psalms of the return (book V, Psalms 107–150) 1998, p. 197, "The vision of Joshua and the Accuser in Zechariah 3 seems to be a reflection of such a crisis."
^ Wisdom 9:9: New Revised Standard Version
^ Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: N–Z Lawrence H. Schiffman, James C. VanderKam – 2000 "References to heavenly thrones occur in three Dead Sea Scroll texts. In the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice ... Speculation on the throne of God and its associated creatures becomes an important aspect of Merkavah mysticism"
^ ^a ^b Kittel 1966, pp. 164–166
^ William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 11–28 p. 340 Matthew 23:22 "And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it."
^ Philip Edgecumbe Hughes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews p. 401 1988 "The theme of Christ's heavenly session, announced here by the statement he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 8:1 "we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven")"
^ "Revelations Chapter 4" in the New Testament.
^ Issa, Islam (2016). Milton in the Arab-Muslim World. Taylor & Francis. p. 97. ISBN 9781317095927.
^ Teymori, Mohammad Ibrahim. "The Creed of Imam Tahawi" (PDF). Afghan Islamic Cultural Centre in London, United Kingdom. pp. 20–24.
^ Shahrur, Muhammad (2009). The Qur'an, Morality and Critical Reason: The Essential Muhammad Shahrur. BRILL. ISBN 9789047424345.
^ Yılmaz, Hakkı (14 June 2020). The Division By Division English Interpretation of THE NOBLE QUR'AN in The Order of Revelation. Hakkı Yılmaz. p. 566.
^ Rifai, Sayyid Rami Al (2016). The Light Of Allah In The Heavens and The Earth: The Creation Of The Atom (24:35) and The Physics Of Spirituality. Sunnah Muakada.
^ Elias, Jamal J. (1995). The Throne Carrier of God: The Life and Thought of 'Ala' ad-dawla as-Simnani. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791426111.
^ al-Din, Khwajah Kamal (1963). The Islamic Review. Woking Muslim Mission and Literary Trust.

References

Arnold, Edwin (1998). Pearls of the Faith (1998 ed.). Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 0-7661-0243-2. – Total pages: 340
Bowker, John (2005). The concise Oxford dictionary of world religions (2005 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-861053-X. – Total pages: 702
Kittel, Gerhard (1966). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Volumes 3-4 (1966 ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 0-8028-2245-2. – Total pages: 1116
O'Shaughnessy, Thomas J. (December 1973). "God's Throne and the Biblical Symbolism of the Qur'ān". Numen. 20 (3). BRILL: 202–221. doi:10.1163/156852773x00376. JSTOR 3269642.
Pickthalll, Marmaduke; Hanauer, James Edward (1935). Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish (1935 ed.). Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60506-065-8. – Total pages: 280

External links[edit]

[1] In Seventh Heaven

[2] "Ezekiel 1:26" in the 1901 American Standard Bible.

[Bowker_pp._Throne_of_God-3] Bowker 2005, pp. Throne of God entry

[4] M. D. Goulder ,The Psalms of the return (book V, Psalms 107–150) 1998, p. 197, "The vision of Joshua and the Accuser in Zechariah 3 seems to be a reflection of such a crisis."

[5] Wisdom 9:9: New Revised Standard Version

[6] Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: N–Z Lawrence H. Schiffman, James C. VanderKam – 2000 "References to heavenly thrones occur in three Dead Sea Scroll texts. In the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice ... Speculation on the throne of God and its associated creatures becomes an important aspect of Merkavah mysticism"

[Kittel_p._164-166-7] Kittel 1966, pp. 164–166

[8] William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 11–28 p. 340 Matthew 23:22 "And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it."

[9] Philip Edgecumbe Hughes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews p. 401 1988 "The theme of Christ's heavenly session, announced here by the statement he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 8:1 "we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven")"

[10] "Revelations Chapter 4" in the New Testament.

[11] Issa, Islam (2016). Milton in the Arab-Muslim World. Taylor & Francis. p. 97. ISBN 9781317095927.

[Mohammad_Ibrahim_Teymori-12] Teymori, Mohammad Ibrahim. "The Creed of Imam Tahawi" (PDF). Afghan Islamic Cultural Centre in London, United Kingdom. pp. 20–24.

[13] Shahrur, Muhammad (2009). The Qur'an, Morality and Critical Reason: The Essential Muhammad Shahrur. BRILL. ISBN 9789047424345.

[14] Yılmaz, Hakkı (14 June 2020). The Division By Division English Interpretation of THE NOBLE QUR'AN in The Order of Revelation. Hakkı Yılmaz. p. 566.

[15] Rifai, Sayyid Rami Al (2016). The Light Of Allah In The Heavens and The Earth: The Creation Of The Atom (24:35) and The Physics Of Spirituality. Sunnah Muakada.

[16] Elias, Jamal J. (1995). The Throne Carrier of God: The Life and Thought of 'Ala' ad-dawla as-Simnani. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791426111.

[17] -Din, Khwajah Kamal (1963). The Islamic Review. Woking Muslim Mission and Literary Trust.

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