Haven't you always thought the word "diadem" is so lovely? It just rolls off the tongue. A diadem is a type of crown, our topic for today, as today's post is a continuation of yesterday's.
The Greek word translated "crown" in the New Testament is "stephanos" (from which the name, Stephen, derives). It means a circular badge of royalty, or an honor given to a victor or a prize to the winner of athletic competitions, or all three.
While the New Testament speaks of five different crowns which can be earned by Christians, no one is really sure what those will be like when they are received at the Bema Seat of Christ. (See yesterday's post.) There is not 100% agreement by Bible scholars as to what each of these five named crowns will be awarded for.
One thing is for sure: they will not be awarded as symbols of someone having "worked their way into Heaven", as the Bible makes it quite clear that to do so is utterly impossible. No, these crowns will be given for a Christian's faithful, enduring service AFTER the salvation decision has been made.
In 1 Corinthians 3:15 Paul gives the imagery of our Christian life actions as being put through fire at the Bema Seat. What endures by surviving that fire (gold, silver, precious stones) will be our rewards. What is "burned up" (wood, hay, stubble) will be those deeds done for selfish gain or out of pride or for otherwise wrong motivations.
Here then is what Bible scholars generally agree are the five crowns along with what each of them represents (with Bible verses corresponding):
1. The Incorruptible or Imperishable Crown
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 and 1 Peter 1:3-5
This crown appears to be for those Christians who are faithful to the Lord, who deny themselves worldly pleasures for the sake of their love for the Lord, who are steadfast and true to Him in their words and actions. Backslidden Christians "need not apply". Paul uses the imagery of runners in a race. The one who gets the prize is the one who has trained the hardest, who is the most focused, who wants the title the most, and who sacrifices "lesser things" in order to win.
2. The Soul-Winner's Crown or Crown of Rejoicing
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 Proverbs 11:30 Daniel 12:3 (the Resplendent Daughter Ministries verse!)
This crown pertains to those Christians who delight in winning souls to Jesus Christ. These are those in our congregations who delight in visitation night, who are always looking for an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.
3. The Crown of Life or the Martyr's Crown
James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10
The first Christian martyr recorded in scripture was Stephen (is it an accident that his name means "crown"?!) He was a deacon in the Jerusalem church, which also indicates he was involved in serving the congregation. I'll bet he will receive many crowns at the Bema seat, including the martyr's crown. Won't that be a sight to behold? Witnessing our brothers and sisters from across the ages receive crowns of reward and blessing?
This crown is for those children of God whose love for Him has endured and held true, despite all sorts of terrible adversity that the Devil threw at them - - - imprisonment, extreme suffering, even death.
4. The Crown of Righteousness
2 Timothy 4:8
This one is a little vague, but let me illustrate it like this. The visiting preacher at church today told us that he met his wife in the Czech Republic and immediately fell in love. He met her on a mission trip there; she was his assigned translator. After getting to know her a few days, he wrote her over 300 letters over the next 2.5 months. Then, he returned to her country, courted her in person for a week, and not only proposed, GOT MARRIED!
2 Timothy 4:8 speaks of those Christians who "love Christ's appearing", that is, His return, His "second coming to Earth", as it is often called. This is not a casual "Oh, I can't wait until the Lord comes back" which one might think every so often. This is a burning love for the Savior that makes the Christian LONG to be with Him so deeply that he/she can hardly wait until they are with Him forever. Remember, the first century Christians believed, erroneously, that Jesus Christ would return in their lifetimes. And, we should have a similar expectation!
5. The Crown of Glory or The Shepherd's Crown
1 Peter 5:1-4
I can't imagine how difficult the life of a pastor/shepherd must be. In my many years in the church I have witnessed some pretty horrible treatment of the shepherd of the flock. I'm talking about the senior pastor here, because seems to me this is a "head-honcho" crown. Still.... it is not clear if this crown is for anyone in any ministerial position or a missionary assigned to a territory or both. What IS clear is that there are qualifications for receiving this crown. Merely having the title is not enough to earn the reward. What is required is that the shepherd of the people watch over them carefully, with a willing, eager heart (not because it is "just a job"), and that he doesn't shepherd a flock for dishonest gain. Peter warns shepherds not to wield their power like a weapon or to lord it over the people, but instead to be examples of the resplendent walk to them, to live holy lives of humility.
One thing I'm sure of is that we don't pray for our pastors enough, or encourage them enough, or love them enough to compensate for the difficult calling God has given them.
So, there you have them, the believers' crowns.
You may have visions of parading around Heaven, wearing your many crowns. But, let's close by looking at Revelation 4:9-11, which reminds us of Who alone is worthy!
9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
If you are familiar with the contemporary Christian band named "Casting Crowns", this is where their name originated. Is it not reasonable to conclude that we, following the example of the 24 elders, will similarly lay our crowns before Jesus' throne, in worship and adoration? We will certainly worship Him as we never have before, with all that is in us....and perhaps on us. :)
https://youtu.be/ngSsaSimi8A
#notjustEastermusic
Thank you, Lord, for being much more than worthy. If, after I cross the finish line, I find you have allotted to me any crowns, I look forward to "casting them" reverently at your nail-pierced feet. (And, thank you for the marvelous gifts of music you gave George F. Handel, too.) In Jesus' name, amen.
Sources:
http://www.biblesprout.com/articles/heaven/crowns/
http://www.simpletruthministries.org/content/biblical-study-crowns
http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq75.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-crowns.html
http://ucfiva.com/assets/Seven-Crowns.pdf
http://www.eastgateministries.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=426&Itemid=67
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