IT DOES NOT SAY HE SAW ANYONE.
JOHN SAW THE THRONE IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE RESURECTION.
Yes indeed it does and very plainly. Stephen states what he saw and witnesses gave account of his words. How would Stephen know who was at the right hand of Jesus he was seeing?
Acts ch 7 54The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists in rage.£ 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
JOHN SAW THE THRONE IN THE FUTURE AFTER THE RESURECTION.
He would be seeing in The Revelation Chapter 4 a point in time where the Bride of Christ {Believers} are in heaven called forth from earth but before The Tribulations begin. The 24 Elders are in robes of white and seated. None the less John saw what he saw and lived his life. One point needed to be made here is this. How were they able too see what Moses and even Elijah could not? What had not yet been given too man? The Holy Spirit which dwells in us. Both accounts both Stephen and John they saw what they saw through The Holy Spirit. Why could the Apostle Paul going to Damascus not see Christ but only hear Him? Same reason. Paul had not yet accepted Christ and thus did not receive the Holy Spirit yet. What did Simon Peter realize and who told him? Was it Christ who even allowed him to know? Or the Father?
Matt ch 16 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,£ because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18Now I say to you that you are Peter,£ and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell£ will not conquer it. 19And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven.” 20Then he sternly warned them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus tells him you did not learn this from any human being but my Father in heaven revealed it too you. The next verse too follow describes the church. It is a church of Divine Revelation of GOD to man through The Holy Spirit dwelling in each who believe. Man does not have too tell us the truth GOD through the Holy Spirit reveals too us. The Church is The Holy Spirit within us through our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that makes all who believe The Church. It's minister is The Holy Spirit. The gates of hell can not prevail against the power of The Holy Spirit nor The Trinity. When do we receive it? Or better yet when did Peter and the rest receive the keys?
John Ch 20 22Then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven.”
The Holy Spirit dwelling in us prays for us even in utterance can not hear nor understand. The Holy Spirit continually ministers too us. The Holy Spirit is the keys. That is the church. Very few churches these days meaning denominational go into just how important a roll The Holy Spirit is in our lives and how it teaches our individual spirits forming the church the truth too GODs will and not man.
gp1953: IT DOES NOT SAY HE SAW ANYONE.
Actually, the passage DOES.
Acts 7:54-56 54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."