Throne of God

The Throne of God is the reigning centre of God in the Abrahamic religions: primarily Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The throne is said by various holy books to reside beyond the Seventh Heaven and is called Araboth in Judaism,In Seventh Heaven and al-'Arsh in Islam. Many in the Christian religion consider the ceremonial chair as symbolizing or representing an allegory of the holy Throne of God.
==Christianity==
In the New Testament, the Throne of God is talked about in several forms. Including Heaven as the Throne of God, The Throne of David, The Throne of Glory, The Throne of Grace and many more. The New Testament continues Jewish identification of heaven itself as the "throne of God",William Barclay The Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 11-28 p340 Matthew 23:22 "And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it." but also locates the throne of God as "in heaven" and having a secondary seat at the Right Hand of God for the Session of Christ.Philip Edgecumbe Hughes A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews p401 1988 "The theme of Christ's heavenly session, announced here by the statement he sat down at the right hand of God, .. Hebrews 8:1 "we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven")"
===Revelation===
The Book of Revelation describes the Seven Spirits of God which surround the throne, and John wishes his readers in the Seven Asian churches to be blessed with grace from God, from the seven who are before God's throne, and from Jesus Christ in Heaven. John states that in front of the throne there appears to be "a sea of glass, clear as crystal", and that the throne is surrounded by a lion, an ox, a man, and a flying eagle; each with six wings and covered with eyes, who constantly cry "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" repeatedly. It is also said that "out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices".
==Islam==
In Islamic theology, The Throne ( Al-ʿArsh) is one of the greatest thing ever created by God. Usually Muslims believe God created the throne as a sign of his power and not as place of dwelling.
The Qur'an mentions the throne some 25 times (33 times as Al-'Arsh), such as in verse 23:116:
The Qur'an depicts the angels as carrying the throne of God and praising his glory, similar to Old Testament images.
The Ayat al-Kursi (often glossed as "Verse of the footstool"), is a verse from Al-Baqara, the second sura of the Qur'an, and is regarded as the book's greatest verse. It references the Throne, and also God's greatest name, Al-Hayy Al-Qayyoom ("The Living, the Eternal"). Scholars of hadith have stated that Muhammad said the reward for reciting this verse after every prayer is Paradise, and that reciting it is a protection from the devil.
Prophetic hadith also establish that The Throne is above the roof of Al-Firdaus Al-'Ala, the highest level of Paradise where God's closest and most beloved servants in the hereafter shall dwell.
==Judaism==
Micaiah (1 Kings 22:19), Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1) and Daniel (Daniel 7:9) all speak of God's throne, although some philosophers such as Saʿadiah Gaon and Maimonides, interpreted such mention of a "throne" as allegory.
The heavenly throne room or throne room of God is a more detailed presentation of the throne, into the representation of throne room or divine court.
===Micaiah's throneroom vision===
Micaiah's extended prophecy (1 Kings 22:19) is the first detailed depiction of a heavenly throne room in Judaism.
===Zechariah's throneroom vision===
Zechariah 3 depicts a vision of the heavenly throne room where Satan and the Angel of the Lord contend over Joshua the High Priest in the time of his grandson Eliashib the High Priest. Many Christians consider this a literal event, others such as Goulder (1998) view the vision as symbolic of crisis on earth, such as opposition from Sanballat the Horonite.M. D. Goulder The Psalms of the return (book V, Psalms 107-150) 1998 p. 197 "The vision of Joshua and the Accuser in Zechariah 3 seems to be a reflection of such a crisis."
===Dead Sea Scrolls===
The concept of a heavenly throne occurs in three Dead Sea Scroll texts. Later speculation on the throne of God became a theme of Merkavah mysticism.Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls: N-Z Lawrence H. Schiffman, James C. VanderKam - 2000 "References to heavenly thrones occur in three Dead Sea Scroll texts. In the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice ... Speculation on the throne of God and its associated creatures becomes an important aspect of Merkavah mysticism"
== See also ==
* Kolob
==Bibliography==
;Notes
;References
* - Total pages: 340 
* - Total pages: 702 
* - Total pages: 1116 
*
* - Total pages: 280 
==External links==
Category:Heaven
Category:Christian theology
Category:Islamic theology
Category:Jewish theology
Category:Biblical phrases
Category:Religious terminology