1. Revelation 21:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who is the speaker generating the “loud voice from the throne”?

Revelation 21:3 (ESV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

The definite article connected to the word “throne” indicates that we are to think here of the throne of God (Revelation 4:2; Revelation 5:1). Yet the voice need not be God’s voice for two reasons. First, other references in Revelation to a voice from the throne are clearly not God’s voice (Revelation 19:4). Second, he who is seated on the throne—obviously God—speaks in Revelation 21:5. Though a servant (angel? living creature?) does the speaking in Revelation 21:3–4, the reference to “from the throne” indicates that he speaks with God’s authority. The volume of his voice indicates that this authoritative message will be heard far and wide.