What Does it Mean To Sit
With Christ in His Throne?
By Jonathan Mitchell
"To (or: In; For) the person who is habitually conquering (repeatedly overcoming; normally victorious) I will continue granting [him or her] to sit (or: be seated) with Me within My throne, in the same way as I also conquer (or: conquered; overcome; overcame and was victorious) and sit (or: sat down) with My Father within His throne" (Rev. 3:21).
First of all, notice that He will grant us (forgive my presumption, here; in Him we are all overcomers) to sit WITH Him. Now this thought calls to mind what Paul said, in Eph. 2:5b-6,
"He made alive together by (or: joins us in common life with, for and in; [p46, B: within; in union with]) the Christ - by (with; in) the Grace and joyous Favor you continually exist, being folks having been delivered (rescued and saved, so that you are now safe and made whole)! - and He jointly roused and raised (or: suddenly awakens and raises) [us] up together, and caused [us] to SIT (or: seats [us]; = enthroned [us]) together in union with, and among, the heavenly people, and within the things situated upon [thus, above] the heavens (or: centered in the full, perfected heavenlies; or: among those comprising the complete and perfected heavenlies; in union with the celestial people; among the folks [residing] upon the atmospheres) within, in union with, and in the sphere of, Christ Jesus."
Well, if this were the natural realm, either verse, above, would imply a very large throne! But perhaps the symbolic vision of the twenty-four elders on thrones encircling God’s throne (Rev. 4:4) adds light to these symbols. But before leaving Eph. 2:5-6, notice the passive voice in
"made us alive...with Christ (or: in Christ)," and "caused [us] to SIT..."
This is all a work of Christ, and is a result of our being
"joined to the Lord" (1 Cor. 6:17) and then "abiding in the Vine" (Jn. 15:1ff).
It should be obvious that none of these verses are speaking about
"the natural realm,"
but are rather teachings about the Realm, Kingdom and Reign of God, which is within us (Lu. 17:21).
To settle the question of how a person
"overcomes, conquers and is victorious,"
for now, let us just take the statement that we find in Rev. 12:11,
"And they at once overcame (or: at some point conquer) him (or: it) because of and through the blood of the little Lamb, and because of the word of their witness, as well as through the message from their testimony (that reason laid-out from the evidence, which is them) - and they love not (or: did not participate in union with) their soul (soul-life; inner selfhood) even to (or: until; as far as) death." [cf, also, Mat. 16:24-27]
Now returning to the question posed in this essay: what does a person do when seated with Christ in His throne? Perhaps we should take the cue from what Jesus said to His twelve disciples, in Mat. 19:28,
"So Jesus said to them, "It is true (or: Truly; Amen) - I am now laying it out and saying to you men - centered in (in union with; within the midst of) the Rebirth (Birth-back-again; Return-birth), whenever (every time that) the Son of the Man(or: = the eschatological messianic figure; or: the Human Being) would (or: may) sit upon a throne of His glory (or: of his reputation; from a praise-inducing manifestation;
or: which is His assumed Appearance), you yourselves - the folks following Me - you also will be habitually sitting down upon twelve thrones (or: seats) repeatedly separating-out [issues], evaluating and making decisions for, or administering justice to, the twelve tribes of Israel." [cf Tit. 3:5; Jn. 3:3, 7; 2 Cor. 5:17]
Now don’t let your mind slip back to "the natural realm." Remember, Jesus also told them that the Father was pleased to give the Kingdom to them (Lu. 12:32). And the Kingdom is within. Are the dots beginning to connect?
To the called-out folks in Thyatira (Rev. 2), Christ gave more details that are involved with sitting with Him, on His throne:
26. "And [to] the one habitually conquering (repeatedly overcoming; progressively victorious) and keeping watch over (guarding; maintaining observance of) My acts (works; deeds; [cf Jn. 6:29]) until completion (down to a final act; as far as [the] purposed and destined goal; until an end), I will continue giving to him authority (right and privilege from out of Being) upon the multitudes (the nations; the ethnic groups; the Gentiles; or: flocks [of sheep - vs. 27, below]), [cf Mat. 19:28]
27. "and so he will continue shepherding (i.e., feeding, tending and guarding) them with a staff made of iron - as he is being continuously broken [like] pottery vessels, [Ps. 2:8-9] as I also have received from My Father, [cf 19:15, below; Ps. 2:8-9; Dan. 7:22]
Notice two things, here in vs. 27:
1) the verb is "shepherding (caring for and guarding);"
2) he will be "continuously broken" - the passive voice of the verb.
The "authority" upon the multitudes is the right and privilege of being a shepherd to, and for, them. The word "authority" is ex- (out of) + ousia (being). It often refers to a social or governmental position which a person occupies which gives him or her the right, or privilege, to act in that function.
Recall what the risen Jesus said to Peter:
"As a herdsman, be habitually feeding (or: grazing) and tending My young lambs!" (Jn. 21:15); "Constantly shepherd (herd for grazing; = lead, protect, care for, nourish) My sheep" (vs. 16); "As a herdsman, be habitually feeding (or: grazing) and tending My sheep" (vs. 17).
And in Jn. 10:11, Jesus instructs us that:
"The Ideal (Fine; Beautiful) Shepherd continually places His soul over the sheep (or: habitually sets [p45 & others: gives] His inner life and consciousness for, and on behalf of the situation of, the sheep).
Being a herdsman is work. It is not just sitting on a throne and giving orders to others. The one on the throne acts like the One with whom he is sitting. He leads the sheep, like Yahweh led Israel.
2. Into a place of [the] tender shoot (or: Into the midst of a verdant place), there (in that place) He encamped me (or: causes me to settle down in a tent); upon water of rest (or: at restful water; on a water of ceasing) He nourishes and rears me.
3. He turned my soul around (or: He turns upon my whole being; He restored my self-life; He turned-about my inner being): He leads and guides me upon the well-worn Path of the Way pointed out, in righted covenant-participation, because of and for the sake of His Name.
4. For you see, even if I may (or: should; would; could) be caused to journey (travel; pass from place to place) within the midst of a shadow of death (or: death’s shadow; a shadow, from death; a shadow which is death), I will continue not being caused to fear bad [times] (will not be repeatedly frightened by worthless [situations or people]; will not be habitually afraid of misfortunes, harmful [experiences] or base [schemes]), because You are, and continue being, with me: Your rod and your staff - these, from a call to be at my side, give me aid and impart relief, encouragement and comfort (these are paracletes to help me).
5. You prepare a table (= spread a meal) before me right opposite the folks habitually afflicting me (or: You make ready my table, in my sight, from within the midst of the people constantly bringing pressure against me and rubbing me the wrong way); You anoint (or: fatten) my head in (or: with) olive oil, and Your cup is progressively (or: continuously; repeatedly) intoxicating - as the best (as the most excellent, or strongest, [wine]).
6. And thus, Your mercy and compassion will in itself continue eagerly pursuing in order to track me down - all the days of my life, and [this is for] the [situation; occasion] for me to continuously settle down and dwell within (or: to be habitually residing centered in) [the] Lord’s [= Yahweh’s] house on into a long duration of days. (Ps. 23, LXX, JM)
What about the function of "judging"? Well, consider what Paul said to those in Corinth:
"Have you not seen so as to know that we shall continue sifting, separating, evaluating and making decisions about agents (or: will continue judging messengers, i.e., folks with the Message)...?" (1 Cor. 6:3).
Think back to Israel’s early history, and the stories recounted in the book of Judges. They were mostly folks who delivered Israel from her enemies, one way or another.
But how do we relate to this? What is our "kingdom of God" relationship with society? Should we become "activists," along the line of today’s popular "seven-mountain" construct? History has shown us the dangers of the so-called "theocratic" government, and how people had to fight to come out from under its tyranny. The idea of what a "Christian" should be normally depends upon the particular stream of Christianity within which we are flowing. Electing people to government office who call themselves "Christians" has been mostly a disappointing story. Legislation leads to law which then leads to death (Rom. 7:9). Trying to make a government a "Christian" government has usually led to a return to legalism, and what Paul called the bondage of the Law (cf Gal. 4:25b, 29-31; 5:1).
Jesus told Pilate that His Realm, Reign and Kingdom is not of this domination system (world of culture, economy, politics and religion). He taught people that they, who were really listening to him and following Him, were
"the Light of the domination system and of the aggregate of humanity" (Mat. 5:14a),
and if we are to be
"the salt of the earth,"
then we have to be here, and be involved with the earth. We are to be peace-makers, who join folks together (Mat. 5:9, 13).
The final picture given to John, in the Unveiling, was that of a glorious city DESCENDING to the earth from the atmosphere that shelters the earth (a symbol of the spiritual affecting the natural). That answers to where we are, right now, in the Realm of God, is figuratively described as Mount Zion, and the City upon the atmospheres (Heb. 12:22-24). That is the sphere of our risen Lord, as He comes and goes with the clouds of this atmosphere. That passage, in Hebrews uses the perfect tense of pros-erchomai. We will quote it:
23. [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: a festal gathering of all, in a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered in a list) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: in the sphere of heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge (an Evaluator and Decider) of all people, even (or: that is; also) among (or: to; with) spirits of just folks (or: centered in the sphere of breath-effects from people who are rightwised, fair and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been made complete and brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured), [cf Rev. 3:12; Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 14:1-5; Ex. 4:22]
24. and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (covenant; settlement; a deposit throughout, in every direction; a placing through the midst; or: a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel.
[cf 10:22, above; Mat. 17:1-5; Rev. 21:9b-22:5; Jn. 4:21; Ps. 46:4; 132:13; Isa. 28:16; 33:5] It is to this realm that we have been raised in Christ; we must live our lives FROM this realm.
Paul gives us this admonition, in Col. 3:
1. Since, therefore, you folks were awakened and are raised up together in the Christ (or: If, as is the case, then, you are aroused and raised with the Anointed One, and by the Anointing), be constantly seeking and trying to find the upward things (or: the [realms or situations] being above, at a higher place), where the Christ is (exists being), continuously sitting within, and in the sphere of, the right [side] (or: at, and in union with, the right [hand]; = at the place of receiving, and in the place of honor and the power) of God.
2. Be constantly minding (thinking about; setting your disposition, sentiments and frame of mind toward; paying regard to) the upward things (or: the things above), not the things upon the earth,
3. for you folks died, and your life has been hidden so that it is now concealed together within the Christ, within the midst of God (or: in union with God). [cf Rom. 6:8, 11]
4. Whenever the Christ, our life [other MSS: your life], can be brought to light (or: may or should be manifested), you folks also will proceed being brought to light (or: will keep on being manifested), together with Him, within the midst of glory (or: in union with a manifestation which calls forth praise; or: in a good reputation; or: = in His manifest presence). (or: When Christ, the Anointing, can be made visible, then your life - even you yourself, together with Him - will continue being manifested in His assumed appearance). [1 Jn. 3:2]
Now notice that he opened with speaking about being AWAKENED and raised up together in, and with, Christ, and therefore, "be constantly minding the "upward things" - meaning the things of our atmosphere (the part of heaven that clothes the earth).
Our mission is to be that for which humanity was created: to bear the image of God, and to bring Him to light for the world (Col. 1:4, above). We are to reflect His glory as we are being transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). Our focus must be upon the One Who is leading us (Rom. 8:14; Heb. 12:2). We are to follow the Spirit of God, not the spirit of the Zealots, who led Jerusalem to destruction. Jesus overcame by His death on the cross, and then His resurrection. We died and were buried with Him (Rom. 6:4), and therefore,
"we can live our lives in the sphere of a newness of Life" (ibid).
Our vocation is to bring this New Life into every area of the natural lives that we live here. That is a short version of the seven mountain construct in evangelical circles. It means that we are to be the
"jars of clay" (2 Cor. 4:7)
that are used to permeate our environments - but at the same time,
"come out of her" (Rev. 18:4)
by not being controlled by the
"spirits of Babylon or Jezebel."
In our inner lives, we are called to,
"go out to Him, outside "the camp"
of religion, culture, politics, government and economics" (Heb. 13:13), while at the same time embracing the outcasts of society, as Jesus did during His earthly ministry, and doing whatever we are called to do, wherever He sends us.
We are reminded of our purpose, in Ps. 111:6,
"Strength from, and of, His works He proclaimed to, for, and then by, His People - to give to, and for, them an inheritance of, and a heritage for, [the] ethnic multitudes (or: with regard to nations; from Gentiles)." (LXX, JM)
We are to be God’s vessels, whom He uses to spiritually transform the heart of each "mountain" - from within (our being there with folks), not from without; not with force - as Christ works all things and all people into Good (Rom. 8:28, JMNT). The lampstands of the holy places within the called-out groups must be moved outside, to become lighthouses for the masses of humanity. We sit with Him on the ark (coffin) of His covenant, within the atmosphere of His presence, in the midst of our beings, as we shepherd the folks who He brings into our sphere of influence. Being shattered pottery vessels, alludes to His call to be disciples in Mat. 16:24-26.
"No one continues holding (or: having) greater Love (full self-giving; urge toward reunion) than this: that someone should place (set; lay; put) his soul (or: inner being; self; person; consciousness which is him) over [the situation or circumstances of; = cover] (or: on behalf of) his friends" (Jn. 15:13).
We will end this essay with the final two verses of Ps. 111:
Jonathan
10. A beginning and source of Wisdom [is] reverence, and awe of, as well as wholesome fear and respect from, [the] LORD (= Yahweh). Now a good understanding (ability to make things flow together) [comes] to all the folks habitually practicing and producing Her [i.e., Wisdom]. His praise continues remaining, enduring and dwelling, on into the midst of the indefinite time (or: the lifetime) of the Age [of the Messiah].
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