Revelation Chapter 6

The First Seal continued

VERSE 1 and 2 “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

REGARDING THE CROWN

It’s interesting to see that the crown was “given” to him, but the bow, he already had. This might possibly indicate that the crown was something he had legally?

On the other hand it’s also possible to view how he is using the crown in a negative manner. The problem is that the 144,000 are not supposed to use their crowns until they have been proven faithful. This is confirmed to us in the message to the second church where we see that Christ promises to give us “the crown of life”, but only if we would be faithful until death (Rev 2:10).

The rider is given the crown, which indicates that he did not have it when he started out. No one in the church should have had a crown here on the earth until they have made their calling and election sure. Even Paul had said his was only “laid up for him”.

Looking at all of these things we see that the crown is a problem, since the rider has falsely appropriated its benefits to himself ahead of time. It appears that this is why he is riding out to conquer. No one can claim that they are over-comers, or that they have the right to rule over others or nations, until they have made their calling and election sure. As it says in the second church, that will not be true until we have been proven faithful until death!

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev 2:10 NAU)

In other words, this rider should not have had this crown on his head while still alive on the earth. Only when you have proven faithful to the Lord, will you receive a kingdom with him in the next age. This crown is interesting, in that it was: Strong’s # 4735 stephanos (stef’-an-os); from an apparently primary stepho (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, 1238), literally or figuratively: KJV– crown.

Also of note is the fact that the Greek word used here for a crown stephanos, means a victor’s crown, as against the Greek word diadem, which was a royal crown.”(Bibleview)

As we can see, this crown could be a badge of royalty or a reward, or a symbol of public honor. In other words this may indicate a condition of pride in regard to this rider, in that he may be claiming that he either had won the race, or that he deserved respect and honor. There is also a claim which we have not verified, that many Roman generals wore one of these when they were going into battle. It was like they were claiming victory ahead of time, or trying to get good luck.

“One of the most interesting parts of the triumph (the Roman victory parade following a battle) was that behind the victorious general in the chariot stood a slave, holding a golden crown over his head, and whispering to him throughout the procession, ‘Remember you are mortal’ in the ears of the victorious generals as they were paraded through the streets, reminding him that he is a man even when he is triumphing.” (The Vintage News)

Regardless of the meaning of this crown, it did not belong on this riders head. Even the Apostle Paul said that, while his crown was laid up for him, he didn’t claim that he was able to reign yet or that he had overcome. Actually, he claimed the opposite, complaining about some that were probably the very ones that this seal is pointing to!

“For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” (1 Cor 4:7-9)

Continued with next post.