What the Bible Teaches about Rewards and Judgement

Introduction

What is your view of heaven?

Egalitarian

Humble

Humble

Meritocracy

Meritocracy

Rewards

Judgement

Rewards-In Heaven

English Standard Version Chapter 6

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Crowns

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 2. In Greek

The two Gr words of the NT trd crown are: (1) στέφανος, stéphanos, from stéphō, and (2) διάδημα, diádēma, from diadéō, “to bind round.” (1) Stephanos means a chaplet (wreath) made of leaves or leaf-like gold, used for marriage and festive occasions, and expressing public recognition of victory in races, games and war; also figuratively as a reward for efficient Christian life and service (see GAMES

(4) Exaltation.—The ‛ătārāh, the Stephanos and the diadēma were used as crowns of exaltation. Stephanos was the usual crown of exaltation for victors of games, achievement in war and places of honor at feasts. The ‛ătārāh was worn at banquets (; , ), probably taking the form of a wreath of flowers; also as a crown of honor and victory (; ; ). Stephanos is the crown of exaltation bestowed upon Christ (; ; ). “Exaltation was the logical result of Christ’s humiliation” (Vincent). The Apocalyptic woman and locusts receive this emblem of exaltation (; ). The symbolic dragon and beast are elevated, wearing diadēma (; ). The conquering Christ has “upon his head … many diadems” (). See further Tertullian, De corona.

(5) Remuneration.—Paul, witnessing the races and games, caught the vision of wreath-crowned victors flush with the reward of earnest endeavor. See GAMES. He also saw the persistent, faithful Christian at the end of his hard-won race wearing the symbolic stephanos of rejoicing ( AV), of righteousness (), of glory (), of life (; ).

Raffety, W. E. (1915). Crown. In J. Orr, J. L. Nuelsen, E. Y. Mullins, & M. O. Evans (Eds.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Vol. 1–5, p. 763). Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.

Crown of life

crown of glory

Crown of thorns

Crown of rejoicing