Seated

I recently summarized the appearances of “sitting” posture in Revelation. Lazlo Gallucz develops a similar point in The Throne Motif in the Book of Revelation (251-7).

One of the points he highlights is the connection between the harlot’s enthronement in Revelation 17 and the Lord’s in chapter 4: “The following parallels are noted: (1) the visions of both seated figures are prefaced by the invitation, ‘Come, I will show you’ . . . ; (2) in both visions the seer is transported ‘in spirit’ . . . ; and (3) in both settings the central figures are portrayed as seated . . . and surrounded by gemstones” (256).

For Gallucz, the parallels highlight a contrast: “the prostitute is depicted as a figure parallel to God, whose claim to sovereignty poses a direct challenge to God’s universal kingship. . . . the parallels suggests an irony on the part of the author, employed with a purpose of mocking ‘the wrongful desire to usurp the throne of God.’ Since no one takes a sitting position in Revelation without God’s permission, the prostitute’s sitting clearly indicates arrogant usurpation of God’s throne, which is countered by her dethronement described in ch. 18” (257; quoting Stephen Smalley).