The vision Stephen had that caused him to be stone, showed Jesus standing at His throne. I believe the standing instead of sitting is of great importance. Here is why.
Polhill suggest that Jesus standing beside the throne suggest an exalted Christ. He also says that Stephen’s vision shows that Christ is for all people of all nations, and is a vision of boundless reign.[1] I agree Jesus is for all people of all nations, but I have a different view of why Christ was standing by the throne. Jesus standing beside the throne I believe showed He had not yet taken rule of the kingdom. Had Jesus been seated on His throne this would show His ruling. When people have had visions of God in Heaven He is seated on His throne showing ruler ship. Isaiah 6:1 It was in the year King Uzziah died[a]that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.[2] Rev 4:2 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a]and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.[3]
So with these Bible verses we can see God seated on His throne implying ruler ship. The Bible even shows the image of a king on his thrown shows Him ruling. Pro 20:8 8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.[4] So this is why I believe Jesus standing showed he had not yet taken ruler ship of The Kingdom.
The vision of Stephen showed Jesus is indeed the son of God and that He is alive. If our God is dead so are we after all. I think it was important to show God is alive and was starting to take His seat as shown in Psalms 110 God says to Jesus sit at my right hand until I make your enemies thy foot stool.[5]This is why the vision was so offensive it showed Jesus as The Son of God and at His throne.
[1] John B. Polhill, The New American Commentary (Nashville, Tn.: B&H, 1992) Pg, 208.
[2] The New Living Translation, http://Biblegateway.com (accessed September, 2014).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
Polhill suggest that Jesus standing beside the throne suggest an exalted Christ. He also says that Stephen’s vision shows that Christ is for all people of all nations, and is a vision of boundless reign.[1] I agree Jesus is for all people of all nations, but I have a different view of why Christ was standing by the throne. Jesus standing beside the throne I believe showed He had not yet taken rule of the kingdom. Had Jesus been seated on His throne this would show His ruling. When people have had visions of God in Heaven He is seated on His throne showing ruler ship. Isaiah 6:1 It was in the year King Uzziah died[a]that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.[2] Rev 4:2 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a]and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.[3]
So with these Bible verses we can see God seated on His throne implying ruler ship. The Bible even shows the image of a king on his thrown shows Him ruling. Pro 20:8 8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.[4] So this is why I believe Jesus standing showed he had not yet taken ruler ship of The Kingdom.
The vision of Stephen showed Jesus is indeed the son of God and that He is alive. If our God is dead so are we after all. I think it was important to show God is alive and was starting to take His seat as shown in Psalms 110 God says to Jesus sit at my right hand until I make your enemies thy foot stool.[5]This is why the vision was so offensive it showed Jesus as The Son of God and at His throne.
[1] John B. Polhill, The New American Commentary (Nashville, Tn.: B&H, 1992) Pg, 208.
[2] The New Living Translation, http://Biblegateway.com (accessed September, 2014).
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.