Revelation 4:2 - "Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne."
The Greek word "thrao" (to sit) gives us the word "thronos"...a throne. It is designated as more than an ordinary seat. It's the place of authority, of power.
Here, the writer John has been given the ability to see Heaven and he sees the One who sits on that Heavenly throne, with authority over all. The rest of the book shows how the One shows His authority and how He deals with rebellion.
Here's my thought on this passage as I think of the world today:
Atheists say that there is no throne becasue they want no authority over them. Hedonists don't want anyone on the throne to which they must answer. Humanism would not have a problem with a throne, but they woould clearly state that man sits upon it.
As Ecclesistes chapter 3 states, every man has been given the knowledge of eternity in his soul. He thinks of the hereafter and the realm above his earthly life, and so he realizes that there is a throne. Question is, who does he let sit on the throne of his life? He will want someone to sit on that throne.
Maybe it's a political leader. Maybe it's a lifestyle of materialism. Maybe it's a pursuit of knowledge. There is only one that can be on the throne at one time. I have chosen to make it Jesus Christ, God Himself.
