“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.”
(Revelation 7:15)
This passage describes the great end of redemption, the highest privilege of the saints, and the fullness of all blessedness. Salvation is not only forgiveness of sin and deliverance from wrath, but the eventual bringing of a people into the immediate presence of God to behold His glory and to praise and serve Him forever.
In this life, believers draw near to God by faith. But on that day we shall behold Him. Now there is distance, weakness, and interruption; then there shall be immediate presence and uninterrupted fellowship. The throne that once appeared terrible to the guilty becomes a place of welcome to the redeemed, because the Lamb is in the midst of the throne.
All service here is mixed with imperfection, but there it shall be pure. All worship here is hindered by wandering thoughts, but there the heart shall be fixed entirely upon God. The saints shall not grow weary, for their strength shall be perfect; they shall not grow tired, for their joy shall be full.[1]
But the greatest promise of all in the text is this: “he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” The presence of God is the crown of heaven. Every other blessing flows from this one because where God dwells, there is peace, joy, light, and life everlasting.
This dwelling of God is made possible through Christ. The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne has redeemed them by His blood and brought them near. He is the light of that city, for “the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). There shall be no need of sun or moon, for Christ Himself is the everlasting light of His people.
The glory of the saints shall be both in body and soul. Our bodies shall be changed and made like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Our souls shall be filled with knowledge, for “then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). No ignorance shall remain, no darkness, no doubt, no unbelief.
This blessed state is secured by Christ as King of saints. He purchased it by His blood, prepares His people for it by His Spirit, and will bring them into it at last. Therefore, the believer must set his heart upon this glory. This world is not the home of the saints; our home is before the throne. Our hope is not in present comfort, but in future glory. And our greatest desire must be not merely to escape hell, but to dwell with God.
Contemplations:
- The Glory of Being Before Your Throne. Lord, when I consider that the redeemed will stand before Your throne, I am overwhelmed by the greatness of the promise that I will dwell in Your presence forever. Let my heart long for that day when faith becomes sight, when I will behold Your glory without fear and without sin forever.
- The Joy of Serving You Forever. Father, I often grow weary in serving You here, and my worship is mixed with weakness and wandering thoughts. But I praise You that there is a day coming when I will serve You without sin, without distraction, and without weariness. Prepare me now to be a servant fit for that holy temple above.
- Your Presence Is My Heaven. Lord, the greatest promise of heaven is not the absence of sorrow but the presence of God. To dwell with You, to see Your face, to live in Your light—this is the heaven of heaven. Teach me to desire You more than any earthly comfort and to count all things loss compared to the joy of knowing You.
- Christ the Light and the Lamb. Lord Jesus, You are the Lamb in the midst of the throne, the light of that eternal city, and the Shepherd who leads Your people to living fountains of waters. Keep my heart fixed on You now that I may rejoice in You forever.
Prayer (Adoration)
O glorious and eternal God who sits upon the throne, I praise Your name. You are infinite in holiness, perfect in justice, abundant in mercy, and unchanging in all Your ways. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory, and all things exist for Your praise.
I adore You because You have prepared a place for Your people before Your throne. You desire that we dwell with You, serve You, and behold Your glory forever. This is a mercy beyond all understanding, that sinners who once stood guilty and condemned should be brought near and welcomed into Your presence.
I praise You for Jesus Christ, the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne. All my hope, all my righteousness, and all my acceptance is found in Him alone. He has redeemed His people by His blood, and He has opened the way into Your presence. Because of Him, the throne is a place of mercy and grace.
I adore You for the glory that is to come. I praise You that there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more sin. I praise You that You will wipe away every tear, that You will dwell among Your people, and that Your presence will be their everlasting joy.
I praise You because You are the light of heaven, the joy of the saints, and the portion of Your people forever. There is no heaven without You, and there is no joy apart from You. You are the inheritance of the saints, and to dwell with You is life everlasting.
Let my heart adore You now as I shall adore You then. Let my life be a life of worship, and let my soul delight in You above all things. Prepare me for that day when I shall stand before Your throne and serve You forever.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Further Scripture References Rev. 7:15:
Isaiah 4:5; Leviticus 26:11; Hebrews 12:2; John 1:14
[1] Joseph Sewall, The Thirsty Invited to Come and Take the Waters of Life Freely, No. 5057 (Boston: Printed and sold by Rogers and Fowle at the head of Queen-Street, near the Town-House, 1742), 24.
