In John’s vision of heaven we soon see that the focal point is the one who sits on the throne. Here Revelation brings us into the awesome presence of the Lord God Almighty.

This is not the first time the Bible tells of someone standing before the Lord Almighty (see Isaiah 6:1-8; Ezekiel 1; Daniel 10). But since the time of Jesus’ ascension to heaven (Acts 1:9-11), this is the first sustained and detailed description of “the one who sat on the throne.” Even so, we are not given a full description of the Lord.

This revelation is not for satisfying our curiosity. The Lord God opens heaven’s door and has us stand in his presence so that faith in him may spring to life, grow in conviction, and be sustained in hope.

In our world of mixed emotions and situations—joy and sorrow, doubt and conviction, success and failure, health and sickness—God wants us to see that our world is centered in him.

The gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus’ ministry began with the words “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). And here in Revelation we see that Jesus’ mission continues as he is seated on the throne.

Hallelujah! Our God reigns!