Your Crown is Coming
Introduction
On 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey, we saw the coronation of the new King, Charles III, who, after being the longest-serving heir apparent in British history, has now succeeded to the throne. He was handed a Bible, anointed and then crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Fifteen months earlier, on 6 February 2022, his mother Queen Elizabeth II had become the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, commemorating seventy years on the throne. It was a multinational celebration. The climax was a weekend in June 2022 filled with street parties, concerts and a special service of thanksgiving. The whole country came together to celebrate.
According to the New Testament, every Christian will be crowned and will reign even longer and there will be an even bigger cause for celebration and rejoicing than that of any earthly ruler. You will reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4,6). What does this mean? Who reigns with him? When does this reign begin?
Psalm 149:1-9
Psalm 149
1 Praise the Lord.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honour
and sing for joy on their beds.
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.
Praise the Lord.
Commentary
Enjoy the honour of being crowned by the Lord
The people of God are called to celebrate their sovereign Creator, their King (v.2, MSG), to praise him with dancing and make music to him (vv.2–3).
The reason given is that ‘the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honour and sing for joy on their beds’ (vv.4–5). ‘All who love God’ are ‘in the seat of honour’ (v.9, MSG). There is a hint here, in the crowning of his people, of reigning with Christ.
God delights in sharing his blessings with you, and these verses are a reminder of how much you have already received from him. You can delight in the ‘crown’ of salvation, and rejoice in the honour of being in relationship with him.
The psalmist goes on to say that God’s people will execute judgment (‘a double-edged sword in their hands’, v.6b). In our New Testament passage for today, we see that God’s people will accompany Christ in judgment (Revelation 19:11 onwards). The weapons are not literal swords, but the double-edged sword of the word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
This awesome responsibility and honour could easily make for pride. However, he ‘crowns the humble’ (Psalm 149:4). We have not earned our salvation. It is a gift. We have not earned the right to reign with Christ. This also is an extraordinary gift, privilege and honour.
Prayer
Revelation 20:1-15
The Thousand Years
20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient snake, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth —Gog and Magog —and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Commentary
Experience your reign with Christ now
However we interpret the specifics of this passage, it is clearly wonderful news: Christ will return, Satan will be overthrown, and you will reign with Jesus and experience eternal life. This is something worth celebrating!
This is a notoriously difficult passage in the book of Revelation. Many books, commentaries and novels have been written about ‘millennialism’ and when ‘the rapture’ will take place. There are passionately held views on this subject and, sadly, divisions in the church over it. It is, therefore, with some trepidation that I express here my tentative views on the subject.
A millennium (plural millennia) is a period of time equal to 1,000 years. It derives from the Latin mille, thousand, and annus, year. Several times ‘a thousand year’ period is mentioned (vv.2–7). When is this thousand-year period? Broadly speaking, there have been three views:
Postmillennialism
This is the view that the return of Christ would not occur until the kingdom of God had been established by the church in human history for a thousand years.
Premillennialism
This is the view that the coming of Christ will be followed by the binding of Satan and the resurrection of the saints who will be ‘raptured’ and will join him in a temporal kingdom where he reigns over the earth for a thousand years. This millennial kingdom will end with a final rebellion and the last judgment.
Amillennialism
This is the view that the thousand years is the period between the first and second coming of Christ. This position holds that the period of a thousand years is metaphorical, not literal and that the rapture will occur when Christ returns.
No doubt there is room for difference of opinion between Christians on this matter. Personally, I think there are difficulties with all three views. However, when we read this passage in the context of the rest of the New Testament and the Bible as a whole, I take the view that in spite of all the arguments to the contrary, ‘amillennialism’ best fits with the evidence.
As we have seen, much of the language of the book of Revelation is apocalyptic language and not intended to be interpreted literally. The ‘one thousand years’ stands for a very long but unspecified period of time. What is the evidence that the one-thousand-year period has already begun?
First, Satan is bound (v.2). The devil is described as ‘the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan’ (v.2). By his coming, Jesus defeated Satan. He bound the ‘strong man’ (Mark 3:27; Matthew 12:29). On the cross, Satan was defeated – thrown ‘into the Abyss’, which was ‘locked and sealed’ over him (Revelation 20:3).
Second, the nations are not deceived any more during this period: ‘to keep him from deceiving the nations any more until the thousand years were ended’ (v.3). This is the era of the church, when the gospel is preached to all nations. Millions, and now billions, profess the name of Christ. Their eyes are being opened to the good news of Jesus.
Third, according to the apostle Paul, we are already reigning with Christ. The resurrected martyrs and people of God reign with Christ for a thousand years. ‘I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. They… reigned with Christ for a thousand years’ (v.4). As St Paul put it, ‘God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:6).
Fourth, you are called to reign as ‘priests of God and of Christ’ (Revelation 20:6). This priesthood of all believers has already begun. We are called to be ‘a holy priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:5). Indeed, Peter refers to us as ‘a royal priesthood’ (v.9).
At the end of this period, Satan will be ‘released from his prison’ (Revelation 20:7), and the final conflict will take place. Once again, we see here that it will not really be a conflict at all. Rather, it will be the outworking of the victory that Jesus has already achieved. The destruction of evil will be complete (vv.8–10). Then the final judgment will take place (vv.11–15).
Prayer
Nehemiah 9:38-11:21
The Agreement of the People
38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”
10 Those who sealed it were:
Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hakaliah.
Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai and Shemaiah.
These were the priests.
9 The Levites:
Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 and their associates: Shebaniah,
Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodiah, Bani and Beninu.
14 The leaders of the people:
Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluk, Harim and Baanah.
28 “The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighbouring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— 29 all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.
30 “We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.
31 “When the neighbouring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.
32 “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the bread set out on the table; for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings; for the offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed festivals; for the holy offerings; for sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the duties of the house of our God.
34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.
35 “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
36 “As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there.
37 “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and olive oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work. 38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. 39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the musicians are also kept.
“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
The New Residents of Jerusalem
11 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem (now some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants lived in the towns of Judah, each on their own property in the various towns, 4 while other people from both Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem):
From the descendants of Judah:
Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. 6 The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem totaled 468 men of standing.
7 From the descendants of Benjamin:
Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men. 9 Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city.
10 From the priests:
Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, 12 and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah, 13 and his associates, who were heads of families—242 men; Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and his associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.
15 From the Levites:
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 The Levites in the holy city totaled 284.
19 The gatekeepers:
Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.
20 The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property.
21 The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.
Commentary
Exercise your God-given authority responsibly
As in so many Old Testament passages, here we get a foretaste of the future. God delights in his people. He puts us in positions of authority to rule and to reign. However, we are called to exercise this authority with obedience and responsibility (10:35).
The people of God made a binding agreement, putting it in writing. The leaders, Levites and priests affixed their seals to it (9:38). They promised to keep the Law and ‘bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God’ (10:29).
Their problem, like ours, was an inability to keep the laws. We would therefore be under God’s curse but for the fact that Jesus bore it for us on the cross (Galatians 3:13).
We are called to a balanced rhythm of life that includes work and rest.
The people of God had to keep to the Sabbath and, every seventh year, forgo working the land and cancel all debts (Nehemiah 10:31). They had to offer sacrifices to make atonement for their sins (v.33).
The leaders settled in Jerusalem (11:1), but it is clear from this passage that the pledge was by the community – the keeping of the law was plainly made the responsibility of everyone, not just the kings and princes.
Prayer
Pippa adds
Revelation 20:12 says, ‘The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.’
I’m quite nervous about the judgment day. I dread to think what is written in ‘the books’ about me... and I also wonder what God thinks about the amount of chocolate I eat!
Verse of the Day
Psalm 149:4
'The Lord takes delight in his people.'
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References
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.
Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.