The Christians’ Rewards
Christ promised the believers rewards at His second Coming (Matthew 5:12; 1 Corinthians 3:14; Revelation 22:12). Crowns will be one of these rewards (James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 3:11). The reward for faithfulness to God will be life eternal. This gift is the crown of all gifts ((Romans 6:23). While it is true that eternal life begins when he person submits to God, this “crown of life” will be given to all the redeemed after the Judgement (John 3:16; 11:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 John 5:11, 12).
The apostle Paul mentions crowns in his epistles, such as the wreaths that were given to victors in athletic games (2 Timothy 2:5; 4:8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). He symbolizes these crowns with those that will be given to the victors in the struggle with Satan. For Jesus promised, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11; Revelation 2:10).
It is likely that the believers along side the 24 elders, will “lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being’” (Revelation 4:10-11). The believers’ crowns will seem but an insignificant gift to give to the Him who gave His life to redeem them (Galatians 2:20).
Names of Crowns
-Crown of glory: “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4 also Proverbs 16:31).
-Crown of life: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10 also James 1:12).
-Royal diadem: “You shall also be a crown of glory, in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62: 3).
-Crown of righteousness: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
-Crown of rejoicing: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).
-Crown of the aged: “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers” (Proverbs 17:6 )
-Believers as crowns to the apostles: “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
Jesus’ Crown of Thorns
In order that the believers could wear crowns of glory, Jesus had to wear the crown of thorns. The Scriptures tell us that “the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him” (John 19:2 also 19:5; Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17). “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The pain, humiliation, and abuse that we deserve, He took upon Himself.
Little did Jesus’ persecutors know the appropriateness of the victor’s crown, for in this case the Lord, by His death, triumphed over the evil “principalities and powers” (Colossians 2:15), and won the ultimate victory of time and eternity. By His cross, Jesus Christ stripped from Satan his authority as princes of this world.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
