Many people have a preconceived notion that the Father is seated on the throne at the centre, with the Son seated to His right, and the Holy Spirit to His left. A superficial and literal interpretation of the Word of God would grant credibility to this statement. However, if we delve deep into the scriptures, we can very well understand that this “right hand” is just a metaphor.
Exo 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Here, the term right hand is used to describe the fulness of God’s glory and power. That’s why Jesus is depicted as being present in the “right hand” of glory and power, to emphasise the fulness of God’s glory and power present in Him.
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy:
When Jesus said that He will be seated in the “right hand of power”, the High priest understood the reference. He tore his clothes and called it blasphemy, because Jesus claimed to possess the fulness of God’s power.
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Sitting or Standing?
Now, to further prove that this is a metaphor, let us draw our attention to the fact the above verses depict Jesus “sitting” on the right hand of God. However, another verse quotes Jesus “standing” on the right hand.
Acts 7:56 Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
And that’s not it. John 1:18 says “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father”. Further, in Rev 5:6 it says “in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain”. In Rev 3:21, “I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne”; Rev 22:3 “…the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it”.
There is only ONE throne, and the ONE true God sits on it.