What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in heaven?

The rewards are pictured in other Scriptures as “crowns.” These crowns should never be confounded with salvation, which is entirely of God’s sovereign grace. The crowns were given for individual faithfulness after one is saved. There are five different designations used, as follows: The incorruptible crown, promised to all who in godliness and self-control run the Christian race (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). The crown of rejoicing for the winner of souls (1 Thessalonians 2:19; Philippians 4:1). The crown of righteousness, for all who love Christ’s appearing, and labor now in view of that day (2 Timothy 4:8). The crown of life, for those who witness amid trial with unyielding perseverance (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10). The crown of glory, for faithfully shepherding the sheep and lambs of Christ’s flock (1 Peter 5:1-4). In Revelation 3:11 the Lord Jesus says: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” This is an exhortation we may all take heed to, remembering that the Lord’s work will be accomplished according to His purpose, whether we have a share in it or not. But it is our happy privilege to be fellow-laborers under God, working in subjection to His Word, to be rewarded when our Saviour comes again. The opportunity to serve will soon be over. May grace be mine and yours, dear reader, to labor on in hope, remembering that “If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully” (2 Timothy 2:5).

The fifth crown is mentioned by John in Revelation 3:11. The sixth and seventh by Paul in Philippians 4:1, and 1 Thessalonians 2:19. It is not easy to describe the fifth; and yet, we see its importance in the words, “I come quickly”—“hold fast”—“that no man take thy crown.” These words are addressed to those who bear the marks of Philadelphia; not to the overcomers. They are specially spoken to in the next verse. Therefore, with this qualification, we will abide by the word of the Spirit, who names it thus, “THY CROWN.” Is it yours? Is it mine? It is if we have the characteristics described in the earlier verses. The fact is, there is need of a great awakening. A man is not likely to hold this precious crown if he sleeps. The Lord says, Hold fast! How can I do this if I am asleep? He says also, I come quickly! Is our path ordered in view of that moment? Is our service for the Lord ordered according to the revealed will of God? or is it governed by the mind of man? We are told, a man is “not crowned unless he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5). God is not behind man. He has His own order for His work, and this He approves in those who conform to it. May we all have grace to see to our present ways in view of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is something exceedingly beautiful in the crown spoken of in Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” What wealth of love and joy, and hope sparkle in jasper, sapphire and emerald splendour here. These precious saints at Philippi, where he first preached the glad tidings in Europe, Paul speaks of as his joy and crown. We may call it THE APOSTLE’S CROWN. Not as excluding others entirely, for surely there are many who have been used in blessing to others, for whom they have in their measure the same Spirit-begotten desires. Such are their crown also. The seventh is very akin to this. It is called THE “CROWN OF REJOICING” (1 Thess. 2:19). The apostle looks forward again to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to those Thessalonians, who had been converted through his preaching, being then before Him in His glory. They were His glory and joy now, and His crown then, in which He could rejoice or boast, for that is the sense of it. We may well ask ourselves, Can we look forward to the coming of Christ with similar gladness, in regard to any whose conversion we have been used to, being before Him in that day? If so, thanks be to God; and may their number be speedily increased for the glory of Him who redeemed us by His blood.

Nor will He be alone in His glory. Those who are spoken of as His co-heirs will be with Him. They were once lost and guilty sinners; heirs of wrath by nature, even as others; but they were born again, converted to God; and as His children received the Spirit; “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,” whose love they have known. In this way, they also wear an hereditary crown. It is called “THE CROWN OF LIFE.” James speaks of it as that which is promised to all that love Him (1:12). All who are born of God do this, therefore it is hereditary, not through our first birth, but the second. In Revelation 2:10 (during the days of martyrdom for Christ) the First and the Last, who Himself became dead and lived, spoke of that crown to encourage those who suffered; saying, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give to thee the crown of life.” He gives it to them Himself.

At the present time we may hear little of such extreme suffering for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet we are urged on to diligently care for His interests, for we are told in 1 Peter 5:4, “THE CROWN OF GLORY” awaits those who do so. Shepherding the flock of God with ready and willing service, not in a lordly way as is so popular in Christendom, but as examples to our brethren in Christ; then, Peter says, “When the chief Shepherd is manifested ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.” We have spoken of that time of manifestation, of His appearing when every eye shall see Him, and we are told also that all those who love His appearing shall receive “THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” It is the Apostle Paul who mentions this crown, even as he named the first we spoke of, the incorruptible crown. James and John speak of the crown of life. Peter wrote of the third—the crown of glory. There are seven in all pertaining to the saints of God as we shall see. Paul, at the close of his course of service for Christ, looked forward with happy confidence to receiving from “the Lord, the righteous Judge,” the crown of righteousness. His time to be released from this world had come. The good fight he had fought successfully till the end! The race upon which he so earnestly entered he had run to the close, and the faith which meant so much to him he had kept to the finish! Now he looks away to that day when he shall receive from His well-loved Lord the crown which shall be rendered, he tells Timothy, “Not only to me, but also to all who love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8).

The effect of this marvellous fact will be to energize us to strive for what the apostle called (6) an incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25). The honoured entrants who contended in the Corinthian games for an earthly prize only had a corruptible crown to win after all: those who have been called by grace into the heavenly race have the high honour of contending for a crown that never fades away, for the Divine approval which will remain for eternity. This may entail much present self denial, endurance, and suffering as the runner urges towards the goal where Christ is; but the Spirit of God and of glory strengthens him, and he can sing on the way— “What a day that will be when the Saviour appears! How welcome to those who have shared in His cross! A crown incorruptible then will be theirs, A rich compensation for suffering and loss.”

And further, when the believer is rewarded by receiving a crown or crowns at the judgment seat of Christ, there will be no flesh to be puffed up, but the crowns will be used to cast at the feet of Him who awarded them, and whose grace it was that worked in the believer this fruit for His praise.

"The crown of life" is again mentioned in James's epistle in connection with faithfulness in trial. "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." (James 1:12.) Paul speaks of another crown: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:8.) And Peter tells the faithful elders that "when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away." (1 Peter 5:4.) "The crown of life" suggests the complete triumph over all the foes ranged against the believer; "the crown of righteousness," the just apportionment of the rewards which "the righteous Judge" will dispense; "the crown of glory," the full recognition of the faithful service rendered, often in obscurity and with little appreciation from man, down here in the world.

Rev. 2:10. — “Fear nothing (of) what thou art about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give to thee the crown of life.” “Fear not,” or “nothing,” is a word of preparation for yet further trials, and is evidently taken from Revelation 1:17. There it fell on the ear of the fainting Seer, carrying absolute and unqualified assurance to his soul; here it is to reassure the Church in view of the gathering storm about to burst upon it. Tribulation and poverty were bad enough, and hard to be borne. But worse still was in store. The closing imperial persecutions exceeded in savage cruelty the former ones. The dark clouds were gathering; the wild, hoarse roar of the coming storm was heard. Here the Church is forewarned and encouraged. These coming trials are traced from false accusers, and from the instruments and agents of cruelty to the devil. Persecution was his work. But faith rests on this mighty and grand sustaining truth that “Power belongeth unto God” (Ps. 62:11). The power of the devil is limited and controlled, and he cannot put forth his hand and touch even the feeblest lamb of the flock without express permission (Job 1 and 2). “There is no power but of God” (Rom. 13:1), whether satanic or human. The use and employment of the power is another question, involving responsibility of the gravest character. God’s purpose was that His Church might be tried, and that to the utmost, and to this end the devil was His servant. Thus God’s saints were purified. Love, faith, courage, and faithfulness were strengthened. The Church had a definite and appointed period of tribulation — “ten days.” There may be here an allusion to the well-known “ten persecutions,” and also to the tenth under Diocletian, which lasted just ten years. The expression “ten days” signifies a limited period, a brief time inconsistent with the lengthened period of pagan persecution covering 250 years. The following references to “ten days” will confirm the meaning of the term as implying a brief and limited time: Genesis 24:55; Nehemiah 5:18; Daniel 1:12; Acts 25:6; Jeremiah 42:7, etc.

Some, not many, of the early witnesses for the truth, appalled by the dread of torture and death, denied their Lord. Here faithfulness every step of the way, even unto death, is urged. If the martyr’s crown is to be won, then constancy and steadfastness to the end must be maintained. There are various crowns spoken of in the Word. There is the crown of gold on the head of every redeemed one in Heaven (Rev. 4:4). The crown of righteousness, the reward of a holy and righteous walk on earth (2 Tim. 4:8). Next, there is the crown of glory bestowed on all who shepherd the beloved flock of God (1 Peter 5:4). Lastly, we have the martyr’s crown, the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). This crown, like other rewards and encouragements, is given personally by Christ, “I will give.”

It should be observed here, that the special fruits of our labours are not lost; they are found again at the coming of Christ. Our chief personal joy is to see the Lord Himself and to be like Him. This is the portion of all saints; but there are particular fruits in connection with the work of the Spirit in us and by us. At Thessalonica the spiritual energy of the apostle had brought a number of souls to God and to wait for Jesus, and into a close union in the truth with Himself. This energy would be crowned at the coming of Christ by the presence of these believers in the glory as the fruit of his labours. God would thus crown the apostle's work by bearing a striking testimony to its faithfulness in the presence of all these saints in glory; and the love which had wrought in Paul's heart would be satisfied by seeing its object in glory and in the presence of Jesus. They would be his glory and joy. This thought drew yet closer the bonds that united them, and comforted the apostle in the midst of his toils and sufferings.

In the N.T. the word commonly rendered 'crown' is στέφανος, which is more a symbol of victory than of royalty. It is applied to the Son of Man and to others, Rev. 6:2; Rev. 14:14; and to the twenty-four elders in heaven, who cast their crowns before the throne, Rev. 4:4, 10; also to the perishable crown won by the victors in the ancient contests, and to the imperishable crown of the Christian. 1 Cor. 9:25. This latter is further described as a 'crown of righteousness,' 'crown of life,' 'crown of glory.' 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Rev. 2:10. These may refer to the same crown, viewed in different aspects. The Christian is exhorted to beware that no man take his crown. Rev. 3:11.

263 I could not say that, according as we love Christ here, we shall enjoy Him hereafter. Reward is for our labour: as to our place, we all get the same glory as Christ, "when he shall appear, we" - that is, all Christians - "shall appear with him in glory." And Paul cannot have anything better than that; but when you come to labour, it is a very different thing, and reward is accordingly. The Thessalonians will be Paul's crown, but they will not be ours; that is clear. We know not how this will be accomplished, but in glory Paul will have them as his crown, yet he will not take away Christ's crown; for it was all grace that did it, though Christ is pleased to reward the labour when it is faithfully done, owning, not me, but the grace of God that is in me. The reward has nothing to do with motive, and never is the motive for action in scripture; it is the encouragement in the service, when the person gets into trial by the motive.