Crowns

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Crowns

Awards for Running Our Race

1. IMPERISHABLE CROWN

2. CROWN OF REJOICING

3. CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

4. CROWN OF GLORY

5. CROWN OF LIFE

There are five crowns that are seen in scripture that are given for specifics actions. We will get into each one specifically later. These are given at the Bema Seat of Judgment - it’s a judgment of awards after the rapture. God wants to give gifts to His children. Take a look:

Revelation 22:12 - “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 - “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, wither it be good or bad.”

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 - “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

God is a consuming fire! - Hebrews 12:24

The word is not specific on how this fire works - whether it will come from God Himself, or in the Judgment that is upon the earth. Perhaps it will be both. Whatever the case may be, the work we have done on earth that remains because it is of gold, silver, precious stones will receive a reward.

It is the seeds we have sown into people. These last eternally. We need to ask ourselves what kind of seeds are we sowing into others. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3 how the people he ministers to in the church at Corinth are the epistle written in his heart and that they are the result of his ministry written with the Spirit of the Living God on human hearts. And such confidence he has through Christ before God. When? At the Judgment Seat - Bema Seat. Here’s another:

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 - “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”

Malachi 3:16 - “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His Name.”

There are books for born-again believers that are records of good things of which we are rewarded at the “Bema Seat,” the Greek word used in the New Testament for “judgement.” The Greeks used it when speaking of the games where the athletic contestants would compete for the prize of a crown - a garland of leaves worn upon the head, under carful scrutiny by judges who would make sure rules of the contest were obeyed. They win a prize for following the rules and winning the race. This is what Paul is referring to when he speaks of this Judgment Seat in the Epistles.

Salvation is a gift and there are rewards given for walking out this life in faith being moved by the Spirit of God, thus bearing fruit. These are things we get crowns for. And there are five different crowns that are awarded:

IMPERISHABLE CROWN

CROWN OF REJOICING

CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

CROWN OF GLORY

CROWN OF LIFE

CROWN: Greek word for “crown” is “Stephanos” - comes from the martyr Stephen, who when he was being stoned, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God. It means: “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.”

IMPERISHABLE CROWN: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 - NKJV “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” As 1 Peter 1:4 states, faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
CROWN OF REJOICING: 1 Thessalonians 2:19 - NKJV “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?” Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord” for all the bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else, for the law of the Spirit of Life has made us free, Romans 8:2. Luke tells us there is rejoicing even now in heaven Luke 15:7. The crown of rejoicing will be our reward where “God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” Revelation 21:4. An eternity of rejoicing!
CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: 2 Timothy 4:8 - “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.” For all believers who are anxiously waiting for Jesus to return there is a crown for it!
CROWN OF GLORY: 1 Peter 5:4 (1-4) - “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” This passage of scripture is referring to elders of the church. This would go for any of the brethren who teach and help other brethren.
CROWN OF LIFE: Revelation 2:10 - “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.” This is for all believers who endure testing. All believers go through tests as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation (test, testing, tested) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when your are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” No matter the test and the end point of it, if we endure to the end of the test we get the crown of life. James tells us that this crown of life is for all those who love God - James 1:12 -“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive that crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him."