THE CROWNS OF THE KING
THE CROWNS OF THE KING
January 14, 2018, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
On the last Sunday of 2017, the Holy Spirit spoke to me to crown the Eastgate congregation with the Crown of the Year, 2017.
Psalm 65:11-13: You crown the year with Your goodness; and Your paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
The Christian walk is presented to us that first we have a battle, or suffering before we receive our crown.
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
Crowns are rewards for those who remain faithful to the gospel. Those who love God and persevere under trial will receive the crown of life. Elders who are faithful to the flock will receive the crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd appears (1 Pet. 5:4). Christians who are conformed to the image of Christ will one day share in his royal status as co-heirs with him. The benefits of Christ are imputed to the believer, as we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and are born again. Jesus laid aside his crown of honor. He was crowned by mother earth with a crown of thorns (Song 3:11), then exalted and crowned by the heavenly Father with glory and honor.
In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people. (Isa. 28:5)
In our study of My Time in Heaven, Richard Sigmund describes the trees of Heaven.
“One tree which caught my attention was crystal clear and huge ---it seemed to be miles and miles across. I was told it was a Diadem tree. Each leaf on this tree was the shape of a teardrop, like a crystal chandelier. There was a continual sound of crystal…each leaf and each limb gave off a tremendous glow with all the colors that were in the glory cloud. The tree glowed with sound and light. It was also aflame with glory. The flame started in the root and went all the way through the branches and out into the chandelier-like leaves. The tree exploded in a cloud of glory---a beautiful light. It exploded with sound---an unbelievably beautiful sound.”
A Diadem is a crown, a headband adorned with jewels, designating royal dignity or authority.
Crystal (Rev. 21:22) is daiphanes and means to shine through ---Christ in us, the hope of being conformed to His image and likeness.
Trees are symbolic throughout the Holy Bible from the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and again in the book of Revelation. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Sandwiched between Genesis and Revelation is the tree, the cross of salvation, which is the ultimate of both curse and blessing. Richard Sigmund did not identify this tree with the trees of the Bible, but for me I say the Diadem tree would be all the crowns of the saints laid at the feet of Jesus, who is the Tree of Life and the Cross of Salvation. The river of life, clear as crystal, flows from the heart of the believer who is ruled by King Jesus.
Isa. 62:3: You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
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. And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
There are thirty crowns of Scripture. All of these crowns except for the false crowns of the antichrist, Satan and the demons (Rev. 12:3;6:2; 13:1;9:7) belong to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
- Crown of the ark. Exodus 25:11: And you shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall you overlay it, and shall make upon it a crown of gold round about.”
- Crown of the Golden Altar. Exodus 30:3-4; 37:26: And you shall overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof; and you shall make unto it a crown of gold round about.
- Crown of the Table of Shewbread. Exodus 37: 10-16: And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about…….and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.
“Three pieces of furniture were CROWNED with gold: The Ark, the Golden Altar, and the Table of Shewbread; the Crown of gold speaks of the KINGSHIP OF CHRIST. Jesus Christ is the king-priest over the Church.
4. Crown of Kings: King David prophesied in triumphant song. Psalm 21: 1-5: The king shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you come to meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of You, and You gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty have you laid upon him.
This is the Psalm of the Exaltation of the Christ, the King of Kings. It is the Psalm of the King’s power and glory. The battle is over, the victory is won, and the assembled people sing the song of victory.
Rev. 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, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
The word CROWN in Hebrew and Greek means “a chaplet or wreath” and refers to the Victor’s CROWN.
5. The crown of the High Priest: Lev. 8: 9: He put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.
“This is called the plate of pure gold (divine nature/King-Priest) in Exodus 28:36-39; 39:28-31. It was engraved with the words “Holiness to the Lord”. The place is called the Holy Crown in Exodus 39:30. The MITRE and the Plate of pure gold is the CROWN of the priestly garments. (Perfection of Heb. 6:1-3) One could also link Resurrection and Judgment. The MITRE becomes a type of the power of the resurrection with authority (or judgment) as a result of Holiness. The MITRE (and plate) specifically lays emphasis upon Holiness and the Crown of gold. The divine nature and son ship (Christ in us coming into maturity) will ultimately result in the reward of Life. (Romans 1:4) (Isa. 16:1-22; 4:3; Heb. 6:1). The mind of Christ is a mind of Holiness.
6. The Crown of the anointing oil. (Lev. 21:12): “Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the CROWN of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the Lord.”
Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
John 3:34: For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him.
This is the principle of the calling of Jesus and the five-fold ministry:
He was taken – called of God.
He was brought before the Lord and before men.
He was washed. Jesus is the laver.
He was clothed-speaking of the divine nature.
He was anointed not to leave the sanctuary which is God’s presence i.e. He was under an open heaven and must keep the sanctuary of his body holy, and CROWNED with the anointing. (Lev. 21:12)
7. The Crown of Glory (Pr. 4:9; 16:31; 1Pet. 5:4) Wisdom.. Shall give to your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to you. “The white head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” . “And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.
8. The Crown of the Soul Winner Phil. 4:1 – 1 Th:2:19: For what is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. For you are our glory and joy. “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
9. The Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
10. The Crown of Life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10; 3:11), this is also a crown of gracious visitation and heavenly reward. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the CROWN OF LIFE. “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, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the CROWN OF LIFE. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
11. The Crown of Royalty (Esther 2:17; 6:8) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor; so that he set the royal crown upon her head. The selection of Esther parallels the selection of the Bride of Christ. The prophet Zechariah foresaw the Church. They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land. (Zech. 9:16b)
12. The Crown of the Overcomer: Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the entire world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which you have that no man takes your CROWN. (Rev. 3:10-11)
13. The Crown of Loving-kindness: Ps. 103:4: Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies.
14. Crown of the Elders: Rev. 4:4: And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold……the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
15. The crown that is incorruptible (1 Cor. 9: 24-26)”Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.”
16. The crown of rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19) “For what is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”
17. The crown of life (Jas. 1:12) “Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him”. (Rev. 2:10) “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer; behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days; be faith to death, and I will give you a crown of life.”
18. The crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4) “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.”
Stephen whose name means “crown” was honored to be the early Church’s first martyr. (Acts 7) Not only was he the first martyr, but he was chosen by the Lord to create the shift from the Jewish Temple worship to the Church.
19. Crown of Knowledge: Proverbs 14:18: The simple inherit folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Scripture from K. J. V.
Sermons by Carolyn Sissom, Many Crowns December 17, 2006 and The Crown of Glory, March 25, 2012; Diadem tree from My Time In Heaven by: Richard Sigmund.