Seated with Jesus on His Throne

A Deeper Dive Into the Book of Revelation - Part 82

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”—Revelation 3:21 (NKJV)

This is the promise to the Overcomer in the Laodicea church. Some people may consider this to be the greatest of all the promises to those who overcome . . . and it is spoken to the church that seems to have the greatest problems to overcome!

Can you imagine spending eternity sitting with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on His throne?! What an amazing destiny! What an amazing reward!

Rick Joyner gives us a glimpse of what this might be like in his book The Final Quest in which he relates his experiences of seeing some of the Overcomers seated in Heaven:

“Near the judgment seat of Christ, those in the highest ranks were sitting on thrones that were all a part of His throne. Even the least of these thrones was many times more glorious than any earthly throne. Some of those on the thrones were rulers over cities on earth and would soon take their places. Others were rulers over the affairs of heaven, and still others ruled over the affairs of the physical creation, such as star systems and galaxies.” (Joyner, p.60)

“At one point the Lord looked toward the galleries of thrones around Him. Many were occupied, but many were empty. He then said, ‘These thrones are for the overcomers who have served Me faithfully in every generation. My Father and I prepared them before the foundation of the world. Are you worthy to sit on one of these?’

“I remembered what a friend had once said, ‘When the omniscient God asks you a question, it is not because He is seeking information.’ I looked at those who were now seated on the thrones. I could recognize some of the great heroes of the faith, but realized most of those seated had not even been well-known on earth.

“Many of those on the thrones had been missionaries who expended their lives in obscurity. They had never cared to be remembered on earth, but wanted only to be remembered by Him. I was a bit surprised to see some who had been wealthy, and rulers who had been faithful with what they had been given. However, it seemed that faithful, praying women and mothers occupied more thrones than any other single group.

“There was no way I could answer ‘yes’ to the Lord’s question regarding whether I considered myself worthy to sit here. I was not worthy to sit in the company of any who were there. I knew I had been given the opportunity to run for the greatest prize in heaven or earth, and I had failed. I was desperate, but there was still one hope. Even though most of my life had been a failure, I was very glad that I was here before finishing my life on earth.

“When I confessed that I was not worthy, the Lord asked, ‘But do you want this seat?’

“’I do with all of my heart,’ I responded.

“The Lord then looked at the galleries and said, ‘Those empty seats could have been filled in any generation. I gave the invitation to sit here to everyone who has called upon My name. The seats are still available. Now the last battle has come, and many who are last shall be first. These seats will be filled before the battle is over. Those who will sit here will be known by two things: They will wear the mantle of humility, and they will have My likeness.’” (Joyner, p.61-62)

This promise to sit with Jesus on His throne is what James and John asked Jesus to give them! Do you remember the request that they made?

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’

“And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

“And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’

“Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’

“And they said to him, ‘We are able.’

“And Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’”—Mark 10:35-40 (ESV)

At the time that James and John made this request of Jesus, it was not revealed for whom these seats were being prepared, but now, in this letter to the church in Laodicea, Jesus reveals to us that these seats of highest honor in the Kingdom of God are being prepared for the ones who overcome!

These seats come with a high cost, as Jesus indicated to James and John. There is a bitter cup to drink for anyone who will be considered worthy to attain the honor of these seats. These seats will not be given to casual, lukewarm Christians. These seats are reserved for the bond-servants of Jesus Christ. These seats are reserved for those whose obedience to the Lord is complete, as Jesus’ obedience was, Who “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:8-9 NASB).

This promise is not limited to only those in the church of Laodicea. Just like all of the other promises to the Overcomer, this offer is made available to any disciple of Christ who has an ear to hear. This message, as are all seven messages, is not only written to one church, but to all believers in every church throughout the ages.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”—Revelation 3:22 (NKJV)

Read the entire series at www.SpiritOfWisdomPublications.com.

Reference:

Joyner, Rick. The Final Quest (The Final Quest Series Book 1). MorningStar Publications.

Back: Jesus Outside the Church