A Study of Eschatology

Revelation 22:6-16

Prophecy stirs up good spiritual works in God's saints. Today we will look at the rewards available to the people of God so combining prophecy and biblical good works we will see from these closing passage of the book of Revelation that God expects His saints to do things that will earn reward in eternity. Hebrews 10:19-25 and Revelation 22:12.

Now I know that for some of us, we may be learning this a bit late in life and we have this feeling inside that if I've not practiced love and good works, that I might be dragging around a rusty old anchor chain in heaven instead of crowns and other such reward. You remember the laborers in Matthew 20, some worked from morning till dusk and throughout the day people came to work, some only worked about an hour, but all of them received the same wage. So the kingdom of God is unlike the kingdom on earth. It is unlike anything we might imagine.

The very first rewards we want to talk about are the Crowns of the saints and there are five Crowns:

• The Victor's Crown

• The Crown of Rejoicing

• The Crown of Life

• The Crown of Righteousness

• The Crown of Glory

The Victors Crown: 1 Corinthians 9:24 As you may recall the Israelites at various times in the wilderness were required of God to give tithes and offerings for the building up of the Tent of Worship (Sanctuary) Exodus 25:1-9. Also, you may know that the apostle Paul took a collection from all the churches in Southeastern Europe around the Balkan Peninsula (Macedonia) to give to the Saints in Judea. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 and 16-24. So it is not uncommon for God to give us gifts of great value, only to take them back at some point to stir up our love and good works. So at some appointed time in heaven the twenty-four elders who represent the Old and New Covenants that God made with man over the course of seven thousand years will give back to God His glorious Crowns, we will do this in His Honor. And now we see that from our human perspective that in order to have a crown there is responsibility on our part and that responsibility is, “the discipline of obedience” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Personal sacrifice, is the calling of the soldier willing to give his life.

Crown of Rejoicing: 1 Thessalonians 2:19 When we lead someone to the gospel of Jesus Christ there is a crown for that. Sometimes this is called the soul winners crown that God gives us, but I would like to think that the crowns are the people themselves who stand at the feet of Jesus and proclaim faith and point to us as the one who led the to Jesus. But whether it is a crown or a person with a crown, this will be as the verse describes a hope and a joy, even a crown of rejoicing.

The Crown of Life: James 1:12-18 and Revelation 2:10. Temptation and Persecution are the two areas of life that can cripple the believer in Jesus Christ. When we allow ourselves to fall to temptation the only recourse is a momentary reward of sin. Persecution is another area to obtain the Crown of Life, a test of time to overcome the troubles of persecution.

The Crown of Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:7-8. How many of us are really contending for the faith these days? It is a question that is unanswerable, but in your heart of hearts you personally know your faithfulness in righteous behavior. Are you still fighting the good fight or have you given up? Is the faith of God as strong in you as your faith in God? This will determine this award. Let's look at Romans 5:1-5; 13 provides understanding that faith produces the qualities of righteous living.

The Crown of Glory: 1 Peter 5:4. This crown belongs solely to the preacher, or to anyone who is involved in preaching the gospel of God. Some have said that this crown is for the under shepherds are over the churches, but there are many evangelists who do not pastor a church, and there are many lay leaders and workers of the gospel who are the only leaders that some people know. I believe these people would receive that crown too. But this is what I believe, may God have His way and Will and He will.

Opportunities for Reward

1. We are to walk in Submission to the Will of God – Revelation 22:6-7

2. We are to worship God as one who walks in Victory – Revelation 22:8-9

3. We are to witness with urgency to the world in Holy Spirit – Revelation 22:10-11

4. We are to work fervently as we wait for His return – Revelation 22:12

5. We are to watch expectantly while we work and wait – Revelation 22:7, 12.