Two Thrones

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Rev 3:21-22

Again, the promise is to share in our Lord's reign. The true church is intended to reign with Christ. But our Lord makes a careful distinction here. He distinguishes between his throne and his Father's throne. The Father's throne is the sovereign government of the universe. God is sovereign over all and the whole universe is under his control. Every human event comes under his jurisdiction. When our Lord had overcome, when he had endured faithfully to the end of his life, he sat down at his Father's throne. When he ascended, He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

But Jesus also has a throne. He calls it my throne. The overcoming Christian is invited to reign with him on it. In Scripture that throne is called the throne of David. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he told her that she would have a son, that he would be called the Son of God, and that the Lord would give unto him the throne of his father David, and he would reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:32-33). The house of Jacob is the nation of Israel. So this is a promise particularly relating to the time yet to come, when Jesus assumes the throne of David and Israel is made the head of the nations. It is the millennial kingdom. The church, resurrected and glorified, is to share with him in that reign. That will continue into the new heavens and the new earth. But this is a particular promise looking to the coming kingdom on earth, when Jesus will reign over the earth. Our Lord had explained this to his disciples in Matthew, Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). You could not put that any plainer, could you? That is our Lord's amplification of this promise here.

Now for the last time in these letters, we hear our Lord say, He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches — not what the churches say about themselves, or to the world, but what the Spirit says to the churches. We are to receive truth from God and dispense it to the world. But we do not originate truth. We do not think up the things that we would like to believe and spread that abroad. We are responsible to hear what the Spirit says to the churches and then to pass it along, as we function as salt and light in the world.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the hope you give me to sit with you on your throne. Give me ears to hear what you are saying to the churches today. Amen.