Part 8 – Crowns for All Believers

Both physical and figurative crowns are seen by the Hebrew word ‘tara’ (the Latin word tiara). Several Greek and Hebrew words are used to refer to figurative or spiritual crowns or diadems.

We note a figurative or spiritual crowns in Prov 16:31 by the Hebrew ‘tara,’ calling grey hair a ‘crown of glory; in Heb 2:9 the Grk. stephanoo, is seen in crowned with glory’; in Psa 132:18 the Heb. ‘nezer,’ is the crown of unshorn locks of a Nazarite. Then literal crowns are seen in 2 Sam. 12:30 by the Hebrew word ‘tara,’ for the gold crown on King David’s head; in Rev 19:12 the Grk. diadema, for the many ‘crowns’ on Christ’s head.

Concerning our discussion of ‘crowns” to be awarded to believers at “the judgment seat of Christ,” none are literal physical crowns. They are all figurative, as the mark of a believer who co-operated with the Lord, as one who is sanctified, dedicated and set-apart to the purposes of the Lord. A crowned believer is one who honors to the Lord as their life-source in their earthly living… by abiding in union with Christ.

Of the five ‘crowns’ that will be awarded the following three are mentioned by Paul, as “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13), thus applying to the members of the “body of Christ.” Paul wrote of these crowns in 1Cor. 9:24-25, 1Thess. 2:19, and 2Tim. 4:8. Every believing member of “the body of Christ” has at least one crown, the “crown of righteousness.” This is because the imputed “righteousness of Christ” applies to every believer saved during this age of “the grace of God,” through faith in Christ alone. There also is the “Incorruptible Crown,” applying to those who striveth for the mastery (being) temperate (self-controlled) in all things”bringing their body into subjection” and the “crown of rejoicing” applying to ‘soul-winners.’

  1. The “Incorruptible Crown”“… they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown (garland); but we an incorruptible.” 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest … when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (rejected by them). (1 Cor 9:26-27)

We know the impulses of our corruptible “body of Sin” (Rom 6:6) is a challenge us with “the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16) in sex, food and drink. It challenges our faithfulness to the Lord daily. Paul says no to asceticism, “Let no one defraud you…disqualifying you for the prize (reward), insisting on self-abasement …” (Col 2:18a (AMP), but we are called to honor the Lord by holy, righteous, sanctified living in our earthly vessels.

2) The “Crown of Rejoicing” – Here we need to first consider Philippians 4:1 where Paul writes of his valuing of the believers as his “crown” – obviously a figurative and spiritual crown for Paul. “my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”  Obviously Paul was instrumental in the salvation of many believers, thus we can better understand the “crown of rejoicing” with reference to Paul’s soul winning. what is our hope (confident expectation), or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even You In The Presence Of Our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?(1Thess. 2:19)

Some refer to this crown as ‘the soul-winner's crown,’ but the Bible uses the term “the crown of rejoicing.” Here Paul refers to the Thessalonian believers who he led to receive by the Lord and are to be seen by Paul as his “crown of rejoicing.”  The word “hope” can be better translated “confidence.” Paul is saying, “What is our confidence when we stand in the presence of the Lord at His coming? What is the reward that we might expect to receive?” He says our confidence is very definitely related to saved souls. Although our confidence isn’t in the people per se, our confidence and crown is to see the souls we’ve won or influenced as they “stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ” on that day. (1Thess. 2:19).

3) The “Crown of Righteousness” – “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to ALL who have loved His appearing.” (2Timothy 4:8) Being “in Christ” all believers inherit this spiritual crown through the imputed righteousness of Christ, without which it could not be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed “in Christ” it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly await “His appearing.” Though we today may endure discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is “in Christ” and “with Christ” in eternity. Some ‘religious’ people, who often are really unbelievers, depend upon their own righteousness and/or their own works, thus they never satisfy God’s righteous requirement. This attitude reflects Satanic pride; thus they have no real longing for “the Lord.”

Now we come to the two (2) crowns for the Tribulation martyrs who are saved unto the Messianic Kingdom of God on earth. The 4th crown, which is the “crown of glory” and the 5th crown is the “crown of life.” These apply to the Tribulation martyrs of the kingdom to come on earth, as promised to Israel. We read of these crowns in three Hebrew epistles; 1 Peter, the Book of The Revelation, and James. Thus they apply to Israel and all Messianic kingdom believers… having nothing to do with the members of the Gentile “church, which is His body” who are to dwell in heaven eternally.

These Messianic kingdom gospel believers who will have endured the Great Tribulation, being martyred and raised again. They are of the ‘1st resurrection’ (Rev 20:4-5) by His resurrection life in His glory to dwell and reign in His Kingdom on earth with the OT saints who return to earth with Him.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead (the lost) lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:4-5)

The Greek word for “crown” is ‘stephanos,’ it’s the source of the name ‘Stephen,’ the martyr (cf. Acts 7:58) of the “little flock” (Luke 11:32) of kingdom gospel believers. The ‘crown’ used a badge of royalty, and as a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally. It was used during the ancient Greek games, referring to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively of the rewards that God promises to those who are faithful.

Many Christians erroneously believe Christians will receive crowns and “cast their crowns before the throne. In the Book of Revelation we read this of “the four and twenty Elders” in heaven who cast their crowns of gold before the throne of God. Rev. 4:4 … round about the (God’s) throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him (God) that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne. My conjecture is that the “twenty and four elders” are of the angelic host among those “sons of God” that cheered when the Lord “laid the foundation of the earth” (John 38:4-7, 1:6, 2:1). They are not Gentile grace believers of this age, nor are they the Messianic believing martyrs of the Tribulation period. They likely executed God’s rule over the universe from eternity past, before Lucifer’s fall. The ‘gold crowns’ on their heads represent them being vested with divine authority. I believe these are God’s original angelic spirit under-rulers. They no doubt are of the high angels who are referenced ~50 times in Revelation in executing end-time judgments. They existed before man was created and before there was an Israel. God originally created these angels to govern the universe, but as we know one fell and became Satan, the adversary. I believe these elder angels will abdicate their authority and be superseded by Christ’s “body” reigning eternally in heaven and the believers of Israel reigning on earth.

These two crowns below apply to the martyred Messianic Kingdom believers who died in the Tribulation.

4) The “Crown of Glory”“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glorythat does not fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4) Christ as the “Chief Shepherd of Israel (John 10) will not “appear” on earth again until His 2nd coming at the end of the Tribulation. This crown applies to the suffering believers of Israel in the Tribulation; not the members of “the body of Christ.” Paul never uses the term ‘shepherd’ to refer to the Lord for the body of Christ.” Christ is not our “shepherd,” but rather “the Head” of His body.”

The “appearing” of the Chief Shepherd,” is Christ’s at His 2nd coming to earth as King of Kings and Lord of lords at the close of the Tribulation. He will save the faithful surviving remnant of Messianic believers of Israel. Christ will also resurrect the Kingdom martyrs along with the O.T. believers in “the first resurrection” (Rev 20:6) to co-reign with Him on earth. These resurrected saints of Israel’s will be “the priests of God and of Christ,” reigning 1,000 years (cf. Rev 5:10, 20:6). They will reign and bless the nations (Gentiles) as His agents of the Kingdom during the Millennium, as seen in Zech 8:23, below.

I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced... (Zech 12:10) “And (I the Lord) shall put My Spirit In You, and ye shall live, and I shall Place You In Your Own Land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:14) “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 5:10, 20:4, 6)

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days (the Millennium) it shall come to pass, that ten men (of Israel) shall take hold out of all languages of the nations (the Gentiles), even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zechariah 8:23)

At Christ’s 2nd coming all the Messianic kingdom believers will be saved and receive Christ’s indwelling life that they may then express His life and glorify God on earth. This is the great “crown of glory.” Peter here is addressing the elders of Israel. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of ‘the glory’ that shall be revealed:” (1Pet5:1).

The word “glory” is interesting, referring to the very nature of God and all that is His expression. Glory entails His great splendor and ‘brightness.’ Recall Stephen, as one of “the little flock” (Luke 11:32), while being stoned to death, was able to look into the heavens and see “the glory of God” (Acts 7:55-56), as He saw Jesus “standing” ready to return in judgment. This word “glory” also means that the reverence and honor we give to God alone, as is due, Him because of who He is (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). This glory also recognizes that the Messianic believers of Israel are incredibly blessed to enter into the long promised kingdom, and to reign as expressions of His indwelling glory…on the earth. These believers are crowned with His glory.

5) The “Crown of Life”“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, cf. James 1:12)  The Book of Revelation is a Hebrew epistle. The “Crown of LIFE is most certainly for those of Israel as kingdom believers who will endure suffering in the Tribulation… some will survive alive to enter the Millennial Kingdom and… some suffer death as “martyrs”… for which they will receive the “crown of (eternal) LIFE.” Note the words; Be faithful until Death, and I will give you the Crown of Life. Salvation and eternal life here is for kingdom believers who ‘endure faithful to the end.’ Jesus said “ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)

This word ‘life’ is not the Greek ‘bios’ of the physical life, nor the Greek ‘psuche’ of the soul life it is the Greek ‘Zoe,” the very “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” Jesus of Nazareth said to Israel, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Just as air, food, and water are vital for the physical life, Jesus will provides Israel’s believers what is required for their spiritual lives... that is His “Spirit of life.”  He is the One who is “the living water.” He is the “bread of life” (John 4:10, 6:35)… and “The Life.” All physical life ultimately ends, but kingdom believers have the amazing promise that comes only to those who come to God through Jesus, don’t take “the mark of the beast” (Rev 20:4) and “endure to the end.”  “And this is the promise that He has promised us (Israel) — THE eternal (spirit) life” (1 John 2:25).

James, in writing to “the circumcision (Israel)confirms that the “crown of life” is for all those of ‘the kingdom’ who “endured temptation” and love God; “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the ‘Crown of Life,’ which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12). The question then is how does an Israelite demonstrate his love for God? The apostle John, also an Apostle to “the circumcision,” answers this saying of Israel’s kingdom on earth: this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…” (1John 5:3). Israelites must keep His commandments, remaining faithful in “enduring to the end” (Matt 10:22), without taking “the mark of the beast,” many being “beheaded.” (Rev. 20:4).

So, believing Israelites must endure faithful in the trials, pains, heartaches, of the seven year Tribulation period, looking forward, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) to receive the “crown of life.” The word ‘Hebrew’ means to pass over’; all Messianic Kingdom believers will ‘pass from the Tribulation…to the Millennial kingdom, then…to the eternal kingdom on the New Earth.