“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” (Revelation 19:12).
There are two words translated “crown” in the New Testament—διάδημα (diadeema) and στέϕανος (stephanos). The distinction between these words and their usage are both important and interesting.
Stephanos is used by Greek writers to indicate the wreath awarded to a conqueror, the prize awarded to a victorious athlete in the Grecian games, the crown conferred on a citizen in token of public services. The wreath was composed of leaves: of wild thyme at the Olympic games, of laurel at the Pythian, of parsley at the Nemean, of ivy at the Isthmian. Such crowns were perishable. Placed on the victors’ heads, they looked fresh and green whilst the shouting lasted, but in a few hours they began to fade. Hence the Apostle Peter writes in contrast of “a crown (stephanos) of glory that fades NOT away” (1 Peter 5:4).
The word stephanos was NEVER used in the sense of an IMPERIAL CROWN.
Diadeema was used originally to indicate the blue band worked with white, which went round the turban (or tiara) of the Persian king; hence our English word, diadem. The word is used to indicate an imperial crown.
Believers have crowns awarded to them, but they are always stephanos, and not diadeema.
The Lord Jesus is pre-eminent; He wears both stephanos and diadeema.
An artist will paint the background of his picture in neutral colours, so as to bring into prominence his main idea in the foreground depicted in brighter colours. In the same manner the writer would describe the crowns the believers have in order to bring into prominence the glorious crowns the Lord Jesus wears.
The writer, as it were, would convey the reader along a pleasing road full of interest and beauty in order to bring him to a spot of surpassing glory and charm.
“A Crown (stephanos) of Righteousness”
See the aged warrior—the Apostle Paul. His course is nearly over. From that memorable day when he was stricken down by the light above the brightness of the sun he was captured for Christ. He served Him diligently and faithfully for long years. Now, at the close of his career, he says to Timothy, his son in the faith, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 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 (stephanos) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
How stimulating and encouraging is this reward! And mark, it is not beyond the reach of any of us. We should shrink from instituting a parallel between ourselves and the great Apostle Paul. Look at his wondrous office: “the Apostle of the Gentiles”; see his gifts, his zeal, his labours, his suffering even to martyrdom. But it is open for us all to “love His appearing.” This supposes, however, a happy, earnest state of soul. Who would love the Lord’s appearing but those who are seeking to order their Christian course in the light of His presence and according to the ordering of His Word!
This righteousness is not the fruit of the Lord’s work on the cross, but the result of the practical ways of the Christian, “the righteousness which is by faith” is clearly a gift; this righteousness is, as clearly, reward. How gracious of the Lord to open to us such an incentive in our Christian path! May we respond to it more and more.
“The Crown (stephanos) of Life”
“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown (stephanos) of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him” (James 1:12).
Here again the reward is held out to all those that love the Lord. If we love the Lord we shall fear to grieve Him, and when temptation, whatever form it may assume, is permitted to try us, we shall endure it. It is by enduring temptation that the reality of our faith is proved and so God is honoured, and life will be the reward of faithfulness. Here again it is not life in the sense of God’s sovereign gift, or the entering into eternal life as the result of faith in the uplifted Son of God, but life as the practical result of our Christian life. Men of God in all ages have endured the trial of their faith, and in consequence God is not ashamed to be called their God. The same privilege is ours.
In Revelation 2:10 the temptation depicted is tremendous. This scripture presents such temptation as would imperil physical life, if yielded to, but no such thing as surrender comes into the Lord’s mind for His own. “Be thou faithful to death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” How deeply encouraging is all this!
“A Crown (stephanos) of Glory”
Encouraging the shepherds of the flock of God to faithfulness this incentive is held forth, “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown (stephanos) of glory, that fades not away” (1 Peter 5:4). We can all do our little bit in encouraging each other. Some are gifted by the Chief Shepherd with special pastoral gift, leading them to a very helpful ministry, having in view the whole church of God upon the earth, but we can all act in the spirit of the pastor, that is to minister Christ and to help and cheer and encourage, and, if need be, in faithfulness and humility rebuke and exhort those with whom we have access.
A word of warning comes in. It occurs in 2 Timothy, where the Apostle Paul describes the condition of things in ’’the last days.” Surely these last days are fast running to a speedy close. What lawlessness there is, what loosening of what is according to God! Hence the warning: “If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned (stephanos), except he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). The rules of the game are put down clearly in God’s Word. Do we allow expediency, laissez faire, shrinking from unpleasant consequences, to hinder us from acting on God’s Word and shaping our conduct by it, personally, domestically, ecclesiastically? May we have grace not to do this.
Let us now consider the subject in relation to the Lord Himself.
“A Crown (stephanos) of Thorns”
“And when they had platted a crown (stephanos) of thorns, they put it upon His head” (Matt. 27:29). Could irony and scorn have gone further? To put upon His head a crown indicative of winning a prize, of honour, of glory, not made of laurel or parsley or ivy, but of—THORNS; how complete was the dishonour done to God’s blessed Son, the delight of the Father’s heart, the joy of heaven.
In the neighbourhood of Jerusalem there can still be gathered the material from which this crown was made. Such thorns, so long and sharp, it would be difficult to find.
But the verdict of the world is not that of heaven. Quoting from Psalm 8, that wonderful night psalm, which still awaits its fulfilment in a future day, Hebrews 2:7 says, “Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst (stephanos) Him with glory and honour.” But at any rate the central figure of Psalm 8 is before our eyes. “We see Jesus … crowned (stephanos) with glory and honour.”
Thank God, we turn from the verdict of the world to bow before our Lord Jesus Christ, and adore Him as worthy of God’s highest honour.
If the world put its mocking stephanos upon His blessed brow, God has in ascension glory put HIS stephanos upon His brow—the mark of His approval.
Let us now examine the word crown (diadeema), designating an imperial crown, which is only thrice mentioned in the Scriptures, and each time in the Book of Revelation.
The first mention occurs thus. “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns (diadeema) upon his heads” (Rev. 12:3).
Here we get the great usurper, Satan. What right has he to the diadem? “The last words of David,” a man of long experience, were, “He that rules over men must be just; ruling in the fear of God” (2 Sam. 23:3). How opposite to this is Satan’s course! He may be allowed to wear his diadems for a day or two (“a thousand years is as one day” with God), but his triumph and power will be short-lived. He is king over the myriad demons connected with the bottomless pit, but the day is coming when he shall be cast with his dupes into the lake of fire.
The second mention of diadem is as follows: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns (diadeema), and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Rev. 13:1). Here we have presented to us, in symbolic language, the political head and form of the revived Roman Empire. We are told the dragon, Satan, gives the Beast his power and his seat and great authority. To take anything from the hand of Satan is to court disaster, and in the great battle of Armageddon the diadems will be struck off the head of the Beast, and he will find he serves ill who serves Satan.
Satan usurps the diadem for himself, and he gives the diadem to his tool and dupe, the Beast, but both their triumphs shall be short lived, and hell will be their everlasting doom.
How serious it is that the spirit of all this is in the world now. How conscious one is of special Satanic power in connection with the Kaiser’s ill-starred effort to snatch the diadem of world-empire.
Doubtless things are shaping themselves for the manifestation of Satanic power to be seen after the assembly of God has been caught up to glory, but even now there are ominous premonitory signs of what will soon take place in this world that is fast throwing off every restraint of God, whether in creation or revelation.
The last mention of diadeema in the Bible brings us very happily to the title of our article. The Lord Jesus comes out of heaven with his armies to act decisively in the Battle of Armageddon. With the breath of His mouth He will righteously destroy all His foes. The description of Him is terrible for His foes, entrancing for His own. His titles are “Faithful and True”—“The Word of God”—“King of kings” (= Lord Emperor), and Lord of lords.” We read, “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns (diadeema); and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself” (Rev. 19:12).
We have presented to us the only One who has the right to wear the diadem. From the foul brow of Satan his usurped diadems shall be struck; his myrmidon, his tool, the Beast, will find diadems of Satan’s conferring an illegal burden, soon to be lost when the true Emperor asserts His rights, and makes His foes His footstool.
But upon His worthy brow, once bound by the crown (stephanos) of thorns in bitter mockery, shall be placed MANY diadems. “On His head were many crowns” (diadeema). We repeat, the only person who has the right to wear them, and the only person in the end to wear them, is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be pre-eminent. Then in the glorious millennium shall be brought to pass David’s last words, “He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
The dragon’s triumph will be short lived; the Lord alone is worthy, and from His brow His diadems never shall fall. The dragon is said to have seven diadems; the beast ten diadems; “upon His (Christ’s) head” shall be “many diadems.” No definite number is stated, for His glory is beyond measure.
“All hail the power of Jesu’s name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal DIADEM,
And crown Him Lord of all!
“Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!”
“Blessed Saviour, my Lord and my God,
Thou art indeed thrice worthy.
Language utterly fails to express
Thy worthiness and glory.”