¶ Family Devotionals
This page is an assortment of family devotionals designed to have elements that appeal to all ages.
¶ The Throne Room of God
The Throne Room of God is described in detail in several passages of Scripture. It is clearly a sight that left on impression on those who saw it. The prophets brought to us several descriptions of this magnificent place; a place we will one day worship before YHWH.
In Revelation 4:1-8, John is taken in the Spirit to see a throne standing in heaven, with One seated on it whose appearance is like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow like an emerald encircling the throne. Before the throne is a sea of glass, clear as crystal, and four living creatures full of eyes are positioned around it, each with the face of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. These creatures, along with the twenty-four elders seated on thrones around the central throne, are clothed in white and wear golden crowns, symbolizing their role as representatives of God’s people. The elders and living creatures continuously proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come”.
The vision in Isaiah 6:1-5 describes Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim, each with six wings, stood above Him, covering their faces and feet with two wings while flying with the other two, and they cried out in a trifold declaration: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory”. This vision emphasizes God’s holiness and the prophet’s sense of unworthiness in His presence.
Ezekiel 1:26-28 presents a vision of God’s throne as a figure seated on a throne of lapis lazuli, with a human-like appearance from the waist up, glowing like metal, and from the waist down, like fire. The prophet also sees a rainbow around the throne, resembling an emerald, and a radiant, awe-inspiring presence that fills the scene.
Daniel 7:9-10 describes the Ancient of Days taking His seat, with clothing as white as snow and hair like pure wool, and His throne ablaze with fire, with wheels of fire. A river of fire flowed from His presence, and a vast multitude of angels stood before Him, with the court seated and the books opened. This vision portrays God as the eternal judge, whose kingdom will endure forever.
Other passages also allude to the throne room. In 1 Kings 22:19, Micaiah describes seeing the Lord seated on His throne, with the heavenly host standing on His right and left. In Exodus 24:9-10, Moses and the elders saw the God of Israel, with a pavement under His feet like sapphire, clear as the sky itself. These visions collectively present the throne room of God as a place of supreme authority, holiness, and divine glory, where the heavenly court and angelic beings worship and serve the Almighty.
¶ Revelation 4
The Throne Room of Heaven
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
¶ Other Scripture References
Psalm 11:4
The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
Exodus 24:9-11
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
1 Kings 22:19
Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
Isaiah 6:1
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.
Isaiah 63:15
Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation;
Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds?
The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
Daniel 7:9
I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His vesture was like white snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
Its wheels were a burning fire.
Matthew 5:34
But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
Matthew 23:22
And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
Isaiah 66:1
Thus says the Lord,
“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
Hebrews 8:1
Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Revelation 4:1-6
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.read more.
Revelation 20:11
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
Psalm 45:6
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Psalm 103:19
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Revelation 4:2
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
¶ Artwork
Throughout Church history, the Throne Room of God has captured the imagination of artists. Here are some examples:
Here is a simple coloring page. Print one out for everyone to color in. Have them pay attention to the colors described in the passages above.
¶ The Ten Silver Coins
The parable of the Ten Silver Coins tells us of God's heart for the lost. In comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a woman looking for lost treasure, we see the lengths to which God will go, and the joy in Heaven when a lost soul is made alive in Christ.
The silver coins are believed to be the woman's dowry, as silver coins were commonly given to the new couple by the parent's of the bride. These coins would have been her pride and joy, a symbol of provision for the new life with her husband.
¶ Read the Passage
Luke 15:8-9 NKJV
Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’
¶ Act it out
Setup: Get a broom, ten silver coins (90% silver US quarters work great), and something small to hide a coin under. Hide one coin, set the broom against the wall, and pocket the other coins. Call the family to come for a game.
After reading the passage, show the coins. Have everyone help count out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9… where is the tenth one?
Give a child the broom, and say to help us find the lost coin. Look everywhere, and sweep. Eventually, they find the hidden coin.
Talk about how we looked for it, and found it! Count out the full ten, and rejoice and tell everyone “we found the missing coin”.
Jesus and the angels in heaven rejoice greatly when one lost soul is brought to saving grace.
¶ Sing
This fun little song, set to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb
¶ Ten Little Coins
By Carolyn Warvel
Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb
A woman had ten little coins,
Little coins, little coins.
A woman had ten little coins,
But lost one on the ground.
She got a broom and swept the floor,
Swept the floor, swept the floor.
She got a broom and swept the floor,
Until the coin was found.
Then she called to all her friends,
All her friends, all her friends.
Come and see what I have found
What was lost has been found.