THE VICTOR'S CROWN

By Reverend William Claire Greiner

In our previous sessions we discussed the King’s Crown and High Priestly Crown. There is a third crown that Scripture speaks of, and that is the victor’s crown. 

The Hebrew word for the victor’s crown is zer. The Greek word is stephanos, meaning garland or wreath.  These were the wreaths that were bestowed on soldiers for acts of bravery, and on athletes for their victories. The wreaths were made of olive leaves or laurel or sprigs from the fir tree, depending on the country where the honor was bestowed. Roman emperors wore a gold version of the laurel wreath, signifying sovereignty.  On the day when the wreaths were to be presented, a herald would announce the name of the victor, as well as that of his father and homeland. A palm branch was handed to him as he approached the umpire’s stand to receive his prize.

In Olympia, a 40-foot-high gold and ivory statue of Zeus towered behind the umpire or judge. In his left hand, Zeus held the royal scepter, and in his outstretched right hand stood his daughter Nike, the goddess of victory, (Gk. nike, victory), with a wreath clutched in her hand. .At the base of the statue was a magnificent table covered with a beautiful cloth on which lay the coveted prize -- the victor’s wreath. For the combatant it was "the joy lying before him." And thus the letter to the Hebrews, applying the figure of the race to Christ and His people, exhorts us to look unto Jesus who "for the joy lying before Him" endured the cross, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1,2).

The wreath (stephanos) was one of the highest honors to be received by a Greek or Roman citizen. It was something for which he strove lawfully and fiercely.

In Scriptures we find that the stephanos is also a prize of the highest honor.  It was a wreath that our Lord Himself, the greatest of all victors, wore.

Matthew 27:29 — "And when they had platted a crown [stephanos] of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!"

The soldiers did this to mock rather than to pain Him,, and they took whatever was at hand, which was the dark green wreath of thorns. It was a parody of the triumphal ivy wreath.

Stephanos is once applied to Christ’s future golden "crown."  

Revelation 14:14 — "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown [stephanos], and in His hand a sharp sickle."

Christ is the great victor over His most powerful enemies -- sin, death, Satan. He is the ultimate Conqueror! What a tremendous encouragement that is to my heart.. The One who was the winner in the mightiest conflict in all of history is certainly able to gain the victory in all smaller ones.

That’s why the writer of Hebrews encourages us to keep "looking unto to Jesus!" When the enemy seems to be winning, don’t keep your eye on the score, keep your eye on the Coach! Christ is not only our Coach but also the righteous Umpire. Therefore the allotting of the wreaths will be just.

We don’t know too much about these promised crowns of Scripture. We do not know whether they will be literal crowns that we can cast at the Savior’s feet; or whether they simply indicate the extent of responsibility that will be given to us during the reign of Christ, or whether they are facets of Christian character which we will bear throughout eternity. But we do know that they will be ample recompense for any tears, trials, and sufferings we have experienced down here.

1. THE WREATH OF INCORRUPTION

1 Corinthians 9:24-26—"And they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Paul reminds us that the Christian life is like a race. It requires self-discipline. It calls for strenuous effort. It demands definiteness of purpose. The contestants in the Roman games had to discipline themselves and lay aside even good things in order to win a prize. If athletes can give up their rights in order to win a fading olive-leaf crown, certainly we as Christians can lay aside privileges to win an eternal crown. The heavenly prize must be earnestly contended for. The Roman athletes put us to shame with their commitment to winning. They trained for months. They trained hard and ate well. Over six pounds of meat was not an unusual dinner for an Olympian following a day’s training.

Verse 24 does not suggest that in the Christian race only one can win the prize. It simply teaches that we should all run as winners. We should all practice the same kind of self-denial that the Apostle Paul himself practiced.

In verse 25, Paul changes the figure from running to wrestling. He reminds us that everyone who competes in the games, that is, wrestles, exercises self-control in all things.

A wrestler once asked his coach, "Can’t I smoke and drink and have a good time and still wrestle?" The coach replied, "Yes, you can, but you can’t win!"

As Paul thinks of the contestants at the games, he sees the winner stepping up to receive his prize. What is it? It is a perishable crown, a garland of flowers or a wreath of leaves that will soon wither away. But in comparison he mentions an imperishable crown which will be award to all those who have been faithful in their service to Christ.

Notice what Paul says in verse 27: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."  Paul’s fear of becoming a castaway had nothing to do with his salvation. He is not talking about salvation but Christian service.  The word "castaway" means "disapproved, disqualified".   Paul was not afraid of losing his salvation but of losing his reward for faithful, sacrificial service. We are not saved by running the race and winning; we run the race because we are saved.

Some have called this the soul-winner’s crown.

Paul was interested in going back to the Thessalonian believers because they were his children in the Lord, and he felt responsible for their spiritual growth. They were his hope of reward. He wanted to be able to rejoice in them. They would be his crown of rejoicing before the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.

In Philippians 4:1, Paul speaks of his children in the faith as being his crown. "Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."

It seems obvious from this verse that Paul expected to recognize the Thessalonians in heaven. And it follows that we too will know our loved ones in heaven.

3. THE WREATH OF GLORY

1 Peter 5:3, 4— "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Can a disciple be rewarded for shepherding the flock of God who never did it?

The picture of the "wreath of glory" comes from country life. The apostle encourages the elders in the church to self-denying service as shepherds. He names Christ the "Chief Shepherd." When Christ shall appear they will receive the eternal glory as reward for their faithful service as shepherds: 

"A wreath of glory that fadeth not away." Not as the withering garlands of wild olive, ivy, or parsley, but a living wreath that remains beautiful and fresh forever. 

Be faithful wherever God has called us. 

4. THE WREATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, says, 2 Timothy 4: 7,8 — "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Paul has no regrets as he faces eternity. He had been a good soldier, a faithful runner, a faithful steward. He looks forward to receiving his reward from the Lord.

What was it that kept Paul going during more than 30 years of toil and suffering? He loved Christ’s appearing! 

If a man really longs for the coming of Christ and lives in the light of that event, then his life will be righteous, and he will be rewarded accordingly. Here is a fresh reminder that the return of Christ, when truly believed and loved, exercises a sanctifying influence on one’s life.

Warren Wiersbe: "Next to losing one’s soul and going to hell, the greatest tragedy of life would be to come to the brink of eternity and discover we had missed God’s will and wasted our lives on fruitless, transient things."

5. THE WREATH OF LIFE

Some have called this the martyr’s crown.

Revelation 2:10 — "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

John is writing this letter to the church in Smyrna, a beautiful coastal city forty north of Ephesus. Back of the city there was a hill named the Pagos. Around the crest of the hill a number of pagan temples had been erected making it look like a crown. For this reason Smyrna was cometimes called "the Crown of Asia."  It was one of the major centers of emperor worship. As early as 26 A. D., during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, a temple had been erected to the emperor, and thus the Christians of Smyrna were confronted with the need annually to choose between saying, "Jesus is Lord," or, "Caesar is Lord." This meant pressure and persecution.

Listen to what the Lord says to this church in Revelation 2:8-10. "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

The name Smyrna means "myrrh." It is a very fitting name because myrrh is a perfume, the fragrance is released by crushing. Here was a church that was being crushed through persecution. The Christians had to live between two extremes. Within the church was a rich and loving fellowship, but outside they faced continuous cruelty and hostility.

But notice how the Lord reveals himself to them. He says, "I am the First and the Last. I am the one who died and who lives." Those are extremes: First and last; death and life. Jesus presents himself as the Lord of the extremes. He is in control of all the forces and events between these two extremes.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given unto me," {cf, Matt 28:18 KJV}. He is Lord of all heavenly and earthly forces. It must have been a great encouragement to the Christians at Smyrna to receive this word from their Lord.

Then the Lord says is, "I know your afflictions." The Greek word means distresses. It is a picture of crushing, unending pressure. They were hounded and harassed. They were humiliated and attacked without mercy.

The next thing Jesus says is, "I know your afflictions and your poverty -- yet you are rich." It’s likely that the persecution had led to their poverty. It was common in the early church to have the believer’s homes pillaged and their possessions taken away. Yet the Lord says they were rich.

I recall as a boy, that we did not have much wealth.. We had no luxuries. We could not afford to buy anything but the most basics; even clothing came with great difficulty. We had a lot of hand-me-downs. But we were never conscious of any lack. We had a wonderful time together without any special entertainment. We did not have television; we had radio. Yet we had a wonderfully rich time. I look back on it as one of the richest periods of my life, because we enjoyed each other. We learned again the simple joys of relationships and of family fellowship. Someone has captured the thought of this in a poem:

I counted dollars while God counted crosses.
I counted gain while He counted losses.
I counted my worth by the things gained in store,
But he sized me up by the scars that I bore.
I coveted honors, and sought for degrees.
He wept as he counted the hours on my knees.
I never knew till one day by a grave,
How vain are the things that we spend life to save.
I did not yet know, 'til a Friend from above
Said, "Richest is he who is rich in God's love!"

There is a program on television called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." On it, there is paraded before us the wealth and luxury seemingly enjoyed by the rich. But if you investigate more closely the lives of those presented, you discover that it is very rare to find a happy person among them. Riches do not make one happy. Fame does not make one happy. A continual testimony to that fact is borne by the tragedy of these people taking their own lives out of sheer wretchedness and misery.

But our Lord says the true riches are those that come from within, where the heart is filled with the grace and love of God. There is an experience of close relationships with other people who become dear and precious to us. That was the experience of the church at Smyrna.

Next, Jesus says, "I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." There was a smear campaign going on against these Christians. Lies were being told about them. We know from early literature that, because the Christians talked about eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ, they were accused of being cannibals. People thought of them with horror as eating one another. You can imagine the reaction that brought upon them. Also, because they refused to visit the pagan temples, or to acknowledge the gods of the pagans, they were called atheists. Consequently they were treated with scorn in this world given over to idolatry. Christians talked often about being members one of another and of loving one another, and so they were accused of sexual orgies. Lies were spread about them that when they met together it was to indulge in licentious and lascivious practices.

This slander is what produced much of the persecution of the early Christians, and it is hard to bear up under slander. Today Christians are being slandered. I remember the interview with Dr. Everett Koop, the former Surgeon General of the United States, and also an interview with Judge Bork who was denied a seat on the Supreme Court. Both of these men testified to the difficulty and pain they suffered from the lies and slanders that were told about them. They were vilified in the public press. They were accused of things they had nothing to do with, and this was hard for them to bear. That is what these Christians were facing.

But the worst is yet to come. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you." This, by the way, is the first mention of the devil in the book of Revelation. The devil will put some of them in prison. In the Roman prisons prisoners were faced with the threat of execution at any moment.

But our Lord says three very encouraging things. If you ever have to face this kind of persecution here are three things to strengthen you:

First, "You are going to be put into prison to test you."

This is only a test! It is to show you how much you have grown. It is to strip off the superficial supports that you have been leaning on and to show you how much you have truly learned to rely upon the grace and the strength of God. It will test the geniuness of your faith.

Second, it will only be for a limited time — "ten days." We do not know when or how this took place though it undoubtedly did occur to this church at Smyrna, but the encouraging thing is that the Lord determined the limits. The test cannot go beyond it. No force or power on earth could make this last eleven days! It was ten days that he had determined.

Some believe this church is a picture of the period in history from about 160 A. D. to 320 A. D., during the rise of Constantine, the first so-called Christian emperor. The whole period has been termed the "Age of the Martyrs." It was not the only time Christians have been martyred. (I have often heard it pointed out that the greatest number of Christians put to death for their faith was not in the 1st century but in the 20th! ) But, in this first period, they were persecuted in ways almost beyond belief. Their bodies were torn apart on racks. Their fingernails were pulled off. They were hung by their thumbs, oftentimes for days. They were wrapped in animal skins and thrown out for bulls to gore and to pitch around. They were covered with tar and set alight in the gardens to light the festivities of the pagans. If you want the gruesome details get a copy of Fox's Book of Martyrs and read what some of the early Christians went through.

One of the first was a man named Polycarp who was the bishop of this very church at Smyrna, and who as teenager had known personally the Apostle John. he had probably heard from his lips the truth recorded here in Revelation. In 155 A. D., at the age of 86, he was sentenced to death by being burnt at the stake. He had refused to say, "Caesar is Lord." When he died he gave an eloquent testimony to his love for Christ. The account of it has been preserved for us in Fox's Book of Martyrs.

Third, Jesus says, "Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

I believe this is intended to be a contrast to the Crown of Asia, the pagan temple buildings that were built on the hill of Pagos. That was an earthly crown, a recognition of earthly status, and a source of great pride to this city. But our Lord says that He will give something much better— a Crown of Life, of eternal life. What a much greater thing that is!

"The sufferings of this present moment are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

When Rumania became a kingdom in 1881 there was no crown. So King Charles said: "Send to the arsenal and melt an iron crown out of the captured cannon, in token that it was won on the field of battle, and bought and paid for with our lives."

That is what the wreath of life is as mentioned here in Revelation.

The wreath of life is specifically mentioned just one other time in the Bible, that is at James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive THE CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those that love him."

I like what Harry A. Ironside said about this passage: "A crown of life is not salvation; it is reward. I might lose all of the five crowns and yet not lose my salvation. The Word says, 'If any man's work shall be burned .... he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:15). But I do not want to be saved that way. I want to win the crown of life. ‘Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life’ ."

The enemy may kill the body, but the saint need never fear the second death, which is hell and the lake of fire. Those who are born twice will die only once. Those born only once will die twice.

The crown worn by King George V at his father's coronation in 1901 bears a tuft of feathers of the ferivah, the rarest species of the bird of paradise. The bird had to be caught and plucked alive, for the feathers lose their luster immediately after death; as it frequents the haunts of tigers its capture involved great danger; and the Prince of Wales' crown took twenty years to collect. It cost the lives of a dozen hunters. What a wonderful parable of the martyrs' crowns!

And what a wonderful parable of the crowns of all those who have not loved their own life but have consecrated themselves wholly to Christ their Lord. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

By the way, did you realize that all Christians are called to be faithful unto death, no matter when or how that death comes. There is nothing to fear.

With all this in mind we must not forget that the entrance upon the race does not guarantee the prize. The garland is not given at the beginning but only at the end of the race. It will be bestowed on those only who have contended according to the rules of the contest and have gained the victory.

Jesus says in Revelation 22:12 -- "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

It may happen that a believer does not stand the test, and the Umpire, "the Lord, the righteous judge", will declare him "disqualified" at the prize-giving. That is a possibility to be taken very seriously by every believer.

Scripture speaks in strong terms of suffering "loss", of "being ashamed" at Christ's coming , of one's whole life-work being "burned up", of being saved "yet so as through fire."

In the Tower of London there is a wonderful treasure. Nowhere in the world is there a place where so many precious stones, jewels, and gold are stored together in such a small place as in that subterranean vault of the Wakefield Tower. We refer to the crown jewels of the British Empire. Sword, crowns, pearls, golden vessels of fabulous worth are exhibited here, illuminated most beautifully. Diamonds and precious stones sparkle in glittering light. There, for example, one sees the golden spoon, more than 700 years old, always used for the anointing of the British Kings and Queens. The scepter of the British Empire with its golden cross, studded with jewels, with its chief ornament, the "Star of Africa," the largest diamond yet known in the whole world. You can see crowns of Queens, covered ,with hundreds and hundreds of precious stones and pearls. Further, there was the crown which King George wore in Delhi (India), and which, according to the official description, is ornamented with no less that 6,170 diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. The most precious object of all is the Imperial State Crown, covered with radiant jewels of indescribable value, especially the world-renowned Cullinan Diamond. Almost 3,000 diamonds and hundreds of pearls and sapphires and rosary diamonds adorn it.

But what are all these crowns and the crowns of other nations in comparison to those wreaths which Christ has to bestow? The "wreth of righteousness", "the wreath of life", "the wreath of rejoicing", "the incorruptible wreath", "the wreath of glory".

Even the highest earthly riches and beauties sink into absolute insignificance when compared with the Eternal and Divine! In fact, not only the sufferings but also the glories of this world "are not worthy even to be compared to the glories which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

In closing turn to Revelation 4:4.

John has been "caught up" to be with the Lord in heaven, and this is what he sees. "Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns [wreaths] of gold on their heads."

The number twenty-four represents completeness. It is believed that this represents the Church, forgiven and reigning with their Savior. They are clothed in white robes, and they are wearing their promised wreaths of gold.

Now go down to verse 10 & 11—"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns [stephanos] before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

The saints understand that Jesus alone is responsible for their salvation and they are honoring Him by casting their victory wreaths at His feet.

Dr. J. Wilber Chapman tells this story: When Queen Victoria had just ascended her throne she went, as is the custom of Royalty, to hear "The Messiah" rendered. She had been instructed as to her conduct by those who knew, and was told that she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting "Hallelujah" Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth," she sat with great difficulty. It seemed as if she would rise in spite of the custom of kings and queens, but finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of Kings suddenly the young queen rose and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet.

Then in Revelation 5:9-10 we read of the elders, worshiping Jesus, singing this song: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For you were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth".

This song backs up everything we've discovered so far: The elders have been redeemed to God (we see the white robes), they have been made kings and priests (we see the crowns), they realize only Jesus could do all this for them (we see them casting their crowns at His feet).

We learn something else from this song. We learn that there are saints from "tribe and tongue and people and nation".

Then in Revelation 19:12, John gives us this thrilling picture of the Crowned, Conquering and Coming Lord.

Revelation 19:12 — "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself."

CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS

Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him Who died for thee;
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of love!
Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wond'ring eye
At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven!
One with the Father known,
One with the spirit through Him given
From yonder glorious throne!
To Thee be endless praise,
For Thou for us hast died;
Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days
Adored and magnified.

—Matthew Bridges & Godfrey Thring

LOOK, YE SAINTS, THE SIGHT IS GLORIOUS

Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious;
See the Man of sorrows now
From the fight returned victorious!
Every knee to Him shall bow;
Crown Him! Crown Him!
Crowns become the victor's brow.

Hark those bursts of acclamation!
Hark, those loud, triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
Oh, what joy the sight affords!
Crown Him! Crown Him!
King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

—T. Kelly

THOU ART COMING, O MY KING!

Thou art coming, O my Savior!
Thou art coming, O my King!
In Thy glory all-transcendent;
In Thy beauty all resplendent;
Well may we rejoice and sing!
Coming! In the opening east,
Herald brightness slowly swells;
Coming, O my glorious Priest,
Hear we not Thy golden bells?

Thou art coming, Thou art coming!
We shall meet Thee on Thy way,
We shall see Thee, we shall know Thee,
We shall bless Thee, we shall show Thee
All our hearts could never say!
What an anthem that will be,
Ringing out our love to Thee;
Pouring out our rapture sweet
At Thine own all-glorious feet!

Thou art coming! We are waiting
With a hope that cannot fail;
Asking not the day or hour,
Resting on Thy word of power
anchored safe within the veil,
Time appointed may be long,
But the vision must be sure;
Certainty shall make us strong,
Joyful patience can endure!

O the joy to see Thee reigning,
Thee, my own beloved Lord!
Every tongue Thy name confessing,
Worship, honor, glory, blessing,
Brought to Thee with glad accord!
Thee, my Master and my Friend,
Vindicated and enthroned!
Unto earth's remotest end
Glorified, adored, and owned!

—France Ridley Havergal  

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