THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

CROWNS

In the New Testament are two Greek words that translate to “Crown”- Stephanos and diademos. The Stephonas was a crown or wreath given as an award in an athletic contest ( 1 Corinthians 9:25 ) or a docoration for some achievement in life. New Testament writers use the stephanos crown as a metaphor  for the honor and  reward  bestowed  upon faithful believers at the Judgment seat of Christ for their meritorious  service and spiritual growth ( 1 Corinthians 3:10 -15; 2 Corinthians 5:10 ). Christians earn these crowns through spiritual  achievements, So the Crowns do not reflect the believers salvation or positional blessings, which are given through God grace.

Four Crowns are delineated as potential rewards for different categories of Christians service and Devotion: the crown of righteousness ( 2 timothy 4:8 ) the Crown of Life ( James 1:12; Revelation 2:10 ), the Crown of glory ( 1 peter 5:4 ), and the crown of Rejoicing ( 1 Thessalonian 2:19 ). Paul’s reference to a imperishable Crown ( 1 Corinthians 9:25 ) is a summary of reception of rewards. Three other stephanos crowns also represent rule or sovereign, especially prominent in the vision of the book of Revelation. The first is that worn by the locusts, the demon army lead led by by Abaddon, the Angel of the Abyss  ( revelation 9:07). The second is the crown of 12 stars worn by the woman who represents Israel ( Revelation 12: 1).The third is the crown of thorns forced upon our Lord’s head to deride His claims to royalty. In triumps, the risen, glorified lord wears a golden stephanos wreath ( Revelation 14:14; Hebrew 2:9 ). The diademos describe only the headgear of royalty in the New Testament. Diademos is used only three times. The first two appearances ( Revelation 12:3; 13:1 ) refers to the secular authorities that will comprise the political powers aligned with the Antichrist during the tribulation. The third describe the crowns that will be worn by the king of Kings and Lord of Lords upon His victorious conquest of the earth ( Revelation 19:12 ).  —-ROBERT DEAN, JR.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benware, Paul N. The Believer Payday. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2001.

Bromiley, Geoffrey w. ed. “Crown.” in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pushishing Company; 1986.

Elwell, Walter A., ed. “crown” In Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996

Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Acher, Jr, and Bruce K. Waltke. “Nezer” and “Atara.” In Theological wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980