This is part 5 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.
Today in our fifth episode in this series critiquing the book, The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, we broach the topic of thrones. If Jesus sits on God’s throne, does that make him God too? If so, isn’t that two Gods? We’ll deal with these kinds of questions while examining throne texts, including Daniel 7.13-14; Psalm 110.1; Revelation 3.21; and Hebrews 1.3. In each case we’ll see how incredibly subordinationist the throne texts are.
Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
1 thought on “607. Did Jesus Really Sit on God’s Throne? (Brandon Duke)”
Yeshua is not sitting on the same THRONE as the Father.
Jesus is sitting ‘at the right hand of the Mighty one’ just as he said. Or is he now standing? Read on.
The oldest known human example of an actual kingdom, with an actual throne room, with an actual throne, that has been preserved through an archaeological excavation and careful restoration, is at Knossos in Crete. If I could post a photo I would because a picture really is ‘worth a thousand words’ here. You can view the photos for yourself at this link: https://smarthistory.org/knossos/ Go ahead and look. I will wait ….
Before you dismiss this as unimportant, I can assure you it is very important for it gives you an idea of what someone in the ancient world would understand intuitively about a throne and a throne room. This would be ‘isomorphic’ for them to understand – from their perspective – not our modern, ‘movie-induced’ understanding.
Now let us recall the very words of Yeshua on this matter, where he provides us more insight into this concept of a throne and a throne room. Read his words carefully and THINK. Remember what you have just seen in the photos from the oldest known throne room in human existence from the website above.
Matthew 20:20-28
The Mother of James and John Asks Jesus Something Hard
20 The mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him. 21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.” 22 Jesus said to her, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (*Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)” They said, “Yes, we are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are NOT Mine to give. Whoever MY FATHER says will have those places.”
In the Knossos throne room you see the following:
* THERE IS ONLY ONE THRONE – or CHAIR – in the MIDDLE of the room. ONLY ONE. Echad!
* Immediately to the left and right are two spaces (to provide distance from the King) where a person might be allowed to stand NEXT to the throne.
* Immediately to the left and right of this space for separation and/or for standing are BENCHES for sitting.
* These two separate benches can accommodate more than one person, and in fact several folks could be seated on each long bench – the benches even extend around the corner of each side of the room, to the right or left of either the KING and/or to the right and left of individuals who themselves are seated to the right or left of the KING, allowing for the order referred to by Yeshua is his explanation to the mother of James and John.
Let us remember that Yeshua is our King, but he is not THE KING. It is possible for a KING to have a son who is also a King. Two things can both be true at the same time. THE KING can grant his son kingship over whatever he chooses or authorizes. Are you getting any of this? This concept is not foreign to humans, and is known as a ‘junior king’ or a ‘co-regency.’ But in all cases, the KING retains the authority to continue in His allowance of regency exercised by the junior King. Yeshua is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, but he is NOT G-d, the Father KING, nor did he ever claim to be G-d.
In truth we know this as 1 Corinthians 15: 27-28 explains this subjugation. “27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does NOT include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When HE (God) has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to HIM (God) who put everything under him (Jesus), so that God (THE FATHER) may be all in all.”
In case you are not completely getting this, recall what Stephen says that he SAW, during his martyrdom, when it says he was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. The book of Acts 7:55-56 describes Stephen seeing Jesus STANDING.
Witness the Truth, “And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man STANDING at the right hand of God!'”
Curious, don’t you think. Keep thinking in the same Spirit as Stephen folks.
It would appear that Jesus has been elevated by the FATHER to stand, not just to sit, as Yeshua told us. The Father was VERY well pleased with Yeshua, in deed, for He promotes him to STANDING at his side, which is the highest possible elevated honor bestowed ONLY by the KING to whomever He chooses. Mind blow!
Are you getting any of this yet?
You have just seen photos of the oldest known throne room in existence. Estimates place it at 1750 BCE. This is undoubtedly the OLDEST human throne room discovered by modern humans, without question.
You have seen that one can STAND next to the throne on either side, right or left, and also there are places to SIT to the right or left of where someone might be allowed to stand, and there are many places to SIT to the right or left, as these are long benches.
So the throne room at Knossos, a human throne room built by pagans, carved out of solid stone, bears witness to G-d’s plan. Remember Yeshua told us in Luke 19:40, ““I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the STONES would immediately cry out.”
Well the stones in the Knossos throne room are crying out to you now.
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Yeshua is not sitting on the same THRONE as the Father.
Jesus is sitting ‘at the right hand of the Mighty one’ just as he said. Or is he now standing? Read on.
The oldest known human example of an actual kingdom, with an actual throne room, with an actual throne, that has been preserved through an archaeological excavation and careful restoration, is at Knossos in Crete. If I could post a photo I would because a picture really is ‘worth a thousand words’ here. You can view the photos for yourself at this link: https://smarthistory.org/knossos/ Go ahead and look. I will wait ….
Before you dismiss this as unimportant, I can assure you it is very important for it gives you an idea of what someone in the ancient world would understand intuitively about a throne and a throne room. This would be ‘isomorphic’ for them to understand – from their perspective – not our modern, ‘movie-induced’ understanding.
Now let us recall the very words of Yeshua on this matter, where he provides us more insight into this concept of a throne and a throne room. Read his words carefully and THINK. Remember what you have just seen in the photos from the oldest known throne room in human existence from the website above.
Matthew 20:20-28
The Mother of James and John Asks Jesus Something Hard
20 The mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him. 21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.” 22 Jesus said to her, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (*Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)” They said, “Yes, we are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are NOT Mine to give. Whoever MY FATHER says will have those places.”
In the Knossos throne room you see the following:
* THERE IS ONLY ONE THRONE – or CHAIR – in the MIDDLE of the room. ONLY ONE. Echad!
* Immediately to the left and right are two spaces (to provide distance from the King) where a person might be allowed to stand NEXT to the throne.
* Immediately to the left and right of this space for separation and/or for standing are BENCHES for sitting.
* These two separate benches can accommodate more than one person, and in fact several folks could be seated on each long bench – the benches even extend around the corner of each side of the room, to the right or left of either the KING and/or to the right and left of individuals who themselves are seated to the right or left of the KING, allowing for the order referred to by Yeshua is his explanation to the mother of James and John.
Let us remember that Yeshua is our King, but he is not THE KING. It is possible for a KING to have a son who is also a King. Two things can both be true at the same time. THE KING can grant his son kingship over whatever he chooses or authorizes. Are you getting any of this? This concept is not foreign to humans, and is known as a ‘junior king’ or a ‘co-regency.’ But in all cases, the KING retains the authority to continue in His allowance of regency exercised by the junior King. Yeshua is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, but he is NOT G-d, the Father KING, nor did he ever claim to be G-d.
In truth we know this as 1 Corinthians 15: 27-28 explains this subjugation. “27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does NOT include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When HE (God) has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to HIM (God) who put everything under him (Jesus), so that God (THE FATHER) may be all in all.”
In case you are not completely getting this, recall what Stephen says that he SAW, during his martyrdom, when it says he was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. The book of Acts 7:55-56 describes Stephen seeing Jesus STANDING.
Witness the Truth, “And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man STANDING at the right hand of God!'”
Curious, don’t you think. Keep thinking in the same Spirit as Stephen folks.
It would appear that Jesus has been elevated by the FATHER to stand, not just to sit, as Yeshua told us. The Father was VERY well pleased with Yeshua, in deed, for He promotes him to STANDING at his side, which is the highest possible elevated honor bestowed ONLY by the KING to whomever He chooses. Mind blow!
Are you getting any of this yet?
You have just seen photos of the oldest known throne room in existence. Estimates place it at 1750 BCE. This is undoubtedly the OLDEST human throne room discovered by modern humans, without question.
You have seen that one can STAND next to the throne on either side, right or left, and also there are places to SIT to the right or left of where someone might be allowed to stand, and there are many places to SIT to the right or left, as these are long benches.
So the throne room at Knossos, a human throne room built by pagans, carved out of solid stone, bears witness to G-d’s plan. Remember Yeshua told us in Luke 19:40, ““I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the STONES would immediately cry out.”
Well the stones in the Knossos throne room are crying out to you now.
Who will hear what they have to say?
“The gate is narrow and few find it.”
May you be one of the few.