In Defense of the Faith

The Throne of God

In Hebrews 8:1 we are told that our High Priest is “set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Some argue that this constitutes evidence that Christ went immediately into the most holy place, since it is presumed that the throne of God is there, and that it corresponds to the ark of the earthly sanctuary. But we do not find that the ark is called God’s throne, but find very clear indications that the throne of God is movable, that it moves about from place to place as need requires, being conveyed by living creatures who are capable of moving about with the swiftness of lightning. (See Ezekiel 1.) DOF 282.1

We also know that the throne of God must be movable from what Daniel tells us in chapter 7:9, 10, of his prophecy. Here he describes the beginning of the work of judgment. He says: “I beheld until the thrones were placed [margin], and the Ancient of days did sit.” This indicates that God would move His throne when the time should come. for the opening of the judgment. In Revelation 4:2, 5, it is recorded that John saw the throne in the first apartment of the sanctuary, for he says he beheld it in the place where the seven lamps were. DOF 282.2

Thus it seems that the throne of God moves about whither God wishes to go, and therefore, wherever God is, the throne is present. He is not limited to one little corner. As King Solomon said in his prayer to God when he dedicated the temple in Jerusalem: “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have built.” 1 Kings 8:27. When we are told, therefore, that Christ sat down on the throne at the time of His ascension, that should not be taken to mean that He went at that time into the most holy place of the sanctuary; for we learn from a careful study of the sure word of prophecy that God did not occupy the throne in the most holy place of the sanctuary until the time came for the opening of the judgment in 1844. DOF 282.3