Page 46 - BV17

46 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The Crown

The meaning of the clause “and a CROWN was given to him” agrees with the view that in
this vision we have YEHOVAH’s TRUTH going forth into the world in the form of the gospel. In
the original Greek the word for “crown” in this clause is STEPHA.NOS. In the New Testament two
Greek words are used for the English word “crown” -- the other one being DI.ADEMA. According
to the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (edited by Merill C. Tenney) –

In the N.T. (Gr. Stepha.nos and di.adema are used). The first refers to a garland or chaplet
such as was worn by a victorious athlete. This type of crown is employed figuratively by
Paul and John as A SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH (II Tim. 4:8, Rev. 2:10). The
diadem was A SYMBOL OF THE POWER TO RULE.

In the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, by James Hastings, we read the following:

In the NT the victor’s crown at the games (stepha.nos) is USED SYMBOLICALLY OF
THE REWARD OF A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN COURSE, the incorruptible
“stepha.nos” being contrasted with the corruptible (I Cor. 9:25; cf. II Tim. 2:5).

It is a ‘CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ (II Tim. 4:8), the ‘IMMORTAL CROWN OF
GLORY,’ the ‘CROWN OF LIFE’ (Ja. 1:12, Rev. 2:10; cf. 3:11). Hence in visions of
heaven the crowns are prominent. The elders in Rev. 4:4 wear crowns (STEPHA.NOS) of
gold; in the “Ascension of Isaiah” the prophet sees crowns laid up in the highest heaven
for the saints; in “Barlaam and Josaphat,” Josaphat sees the people of the heavenly city
with crowns in their hands (J.F. Boissonade “Avec. Groeca,” Paris, 1829-31, iv.
360)....Lactantius (”de Mort. Pers.” 16) describes the martyr’s garland of victory as ‘AN
UNFADING CROWN LAID UP IN THE KINGDOM OF THE LORD.’

John Peter Lange, in the Commentary On the Holy Scriptures, has this to say --
“Dusterdieck maintains that ‘stepha.nos’ here [Rev. 6:2] (as I Cor. IX. 25) denotes only the
‘WREATH’ OF A WARRIOR -- not the ‘crown’ of a king. The New Testament clearly shows that
the crown (stepha.nos) of the rider in Revelation 6:2 is one of RIGHTEOUSNESS and
CHRISTIAN REWARD:

I Thess. 2:19: For what is our hope, or the CROWN [STEPHA.NOS] in which we will glory in the
presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

II Tim. 4:8: Now there is in store for me the CROWN [STEPHA.NOS] of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who
have longed for his appearing.

James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he
will receive the CROWN [STEPHA.NOS] of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Rev. 4:4: Surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They
were dressed in WHITE and had CROWNS [STEPHA.NOS] of gold on their heads.

The Berean Voice September-October 2002