477. Therefore are they before the throne of God.- This signifies that they are therefore conjoined to the Lord, as is evident from the signification of being before the throne of God, which denotes to be conjoined to the Lord. That conjunction with the Lord is signified by standing round about the throne of God, may be seen above (n. 462); the signification of being before the throne of God is similar. Before the throne of God means before the Lord, for the Lord was upon the throne, as stated in the 17th verse as follows: "The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them."