Borrowed Crowns and The Book of Revelation

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. – Revelation 19:11-16

Even though Revelation is a book of revealing, there are many details that can still be confusing. Details even the closest of friends and ministry leaders disagree upon.

Many Christians don’t know what to do with the book.

…Read it? Read the thoughts of others on it? What about a movie adaptation? Let’s just say that what’s right isn’t always what’s most popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right.

So, what do we do with the book?

Well, the book of Revelation is written to seven, real persecuted churches. To do what? To inspire them to faithful obedience despite opposition and persecution. It’s a book written to bless churches (1:3) in tribulation (1:9) anticipating the victorious return of Christ (1:8).

So, what do persecuted churches (like the seven it’s written to in the beginning of the book) need to hear to endure with Christ so that they might reign (or “conquer,” as it’s used in chapter two and three) with Christ…?

If victory (“conquering”) is the goal for God’s people, how do God’s people get there? I submit to you that the contents of the book of Revelation are the answer.

A Joy-Inspiring Message for Martyrs

I have long heard that the most read and requested book of the Bible for churches enduring persecution is the book of Revelation. Now, why would that be?

Is it because it’s a scary book? Surely not. No, they’re already living in scary times. Is it a book containing a code of a future series of events unrelated to their present distress? Certainly not. They are enduring tribulation today just as those seven early churches were in their day.

So, why would Revelation be the popular request of persecuted churches? Because Revelation is a book of victory.

Revelation is a book for how to survive Armageddon and reign with Christ… and here’s the thing: it’s all about Jesus.

The letter of Revelation is the “cosmic war behind the curtain” that God has promised to win and, according to John’s vision, has already won. Christians in persecution aren’t eager for the book because they want to analyze it… Christians in persecution are eager for the book because they want to be reminded Jesus wins.

Persecuted Christians today, like those of yesterday, read the letter to feel the awe it was intended to ignite and the strengthen the allegiance it was intended to inspire in its original audience.

An awe that inspires unexplainable joy in unfathomable circumstances.

The kind of unexplainable joy that takes you to reach China with your bride and newborn only to hide your three-month-old and be beheaded beside her momma by the people you came to share Christ with. John, Betty, and little Helen Stam, September 11th, 1934.

“Geraldine Taylor, the daughter-in-law of Hudson Taylor (the founder of the China Inland Mission), recounts the story: ‘Never was that little one more precious than when they looked their last on her baby sweetness, as they were roughly summoned the next morning and led out to die… Painfully bound with ropes, their hands behind them, stripped of their outer garments, and John barefooted (he had given Betty his socks to wear), they passed down the street where he was known to many, while the Reds shouted their ridicule and called the people to come and see the execution. Like their Master, they were led up a little hill outside the town. There, in a clump of pine trees, the Communists harangued the unwilling onlookers, too terror-stricken to u-er protest—But no, one broke the ranks! John was sharply ordered to kneel—and the look of joy on his face, afterwards, told of the unseen Presence with them as his spirit was released—Betty was seen to quiver, but only for a moment. Bound as she was, she fell on her knees beside him. A quick command, the flash of a sword which mercifully she did not see—and they were reunited.'” – John Piper, This Momentary Marriage

The kind of unexplainable joy that led to Hugh Latimer, a seventy-year-old protestant preacher chained to be burned at the stake in the 1500’s by bloody Mary for refusing to preach the Word of God, to say to his fifty-year-old friend Nicholas Ridley, “Be of good cheer, Ridley; and play the man. We shall this day, by God’s grace, light up such a candle in England, as I trust, will never be put out.” Ridley the night before cleaned himself up, ate his dinner, and remarked to the keeper’s wife: “Though my breakfast will be somewhat sharp, my supper will be more pleasant and sweet.”
The kind of unexplainable joy that led John Rogers to keep the faith walking past his wife, and eleven children, as a prisoner for the fires, given the chance to recant only to respond: “that which I’ve preached I’ll seal with my blood”
The kind of unexplainable joy that led Perpetua, a 3rd century female convert in Africa, to be imprisoned, separated from her nursing baby, and led out into the arena singing a psalm and encouraging other women with her to stand firm in the faith.
The kind of unexplainable joy that led Stephen to preach truth and pray for the mercy of those stoning him.
The kind of unexplainable joy that led Paul to say, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

The book of Revelation is intended to encourage the kind of unexplainable joy-filled confidence that has led Christians to persevere in unfathomable circumstances with a smile at a sword’s ability only to transfer them to the presence of Jesus.

Consider the trajectory of the letter in three chapters.

In Revelation 6, the martyrs of heaven look down upon the persecuted church and cry before God, “how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? (6:10, ESV)” He responds with an encouragement to rest, giving them white robes.
In Revelation 19, Jesus triumphantly returns on a white horse followed by a white robed army. This chapter includes Jesus’ return, his wrath, and then a reception meal with his bride. The King has won. He has rightly gotten rid after those who harmed and killed His son’s and daughters.
In Revelation 21, Jesus establishes a new place for His family to happily dwell in His presence. There are no more tears nor anything to cause them. All of the place is all peace in the presence of God.

Yes, Revelation is the story of the victory of Christ. Yes, Revelation is the story of Christ vanquishing of all of His enemies. But, let’s be clear, Revelation is also the story of the vindication of Jesus’ church.

Revelation is the hope-filled story of the vindication of God’s people and the consummation of all of God’s promises to His unworthy creatures.

The bride had been beaten under the reign of the world, but the bride will brought up to reign with Christ.

“…we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with [those who have died] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord… encourage one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

Fuel for Jesus-following Faithfulness

…I think the American church needs a little more Revelation in their diet. Why? Because a right reading of revelation is intended to produce confidence and not conspiracies.

The book of Revelation is intended to be the fuel for Jesus-following faithfulness, the encouragement needed for endurance, and the sovereign steel for the spine of sinners-made-saints.

How so? Look at the royal return of a King in chapter 19. Who is this King?

He is the Son of Man from chapter 1 with eyes like a flame of fire and the sword of truth coming from his mouth.
He is the lamb standing as though it had been slain from chapter 5 who takes the scroll at God’s right hand to oversee days ahead.
He is the lamb in chapter 6 who’s wrath makes kings, generals, the rich, and the powerful run for the hills to hide.
In chapter 7, He is the recipient of the worship of the nations, whose robes are red but are washed white.
He is the shepherd who guides his sheep to streams of living water in chapter 7.
He is the young prince who was born to slay the dragon in chapter 12.
He is the person the redeemed from the earth follow to Mount Zion in Revelation 14.
He is the object of the faith of many martyrs who Babylon laughs over in chapter 17.
He is the host and guest of honor of a future feast for all those who’ve trusted in Jesus in chapter 19.

Confidence in the Crown-Bearing King

In chapter 19, Jesus is returning to earth riding a white horse ready for war, wearing all of the crowns his creatures had tried on but couldn’t keep.

Here is the war against the powers of the earth, when the Crown-Giver returns: “And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sittng on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sifng on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh (Revelation 19:17-21).”

So, what does is the picture of Christ is wearing many crowns symbolic of? What does it mean?

It means…

Nero was wearing a “borrowed crown” … a borrowed crown that belonged to Jesus he took back.
It means that Bloody Mary was wearing a borrowed crown.
It means that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were wearing borrowed crowns.
It means that Vladimir Putin and Kim Jung Un are wearing borrowed crowns.
And it means that, while the recent election most certainly mattered as every American election before it, Donald Trump will be wearing a borrowed crown as Kamala Harris would have if she’d been elected.

All earthly crowns have been borrowed and will be returned that day to the one who gave them.

They all belong to him.

So, give your worship to the one who is worthy. Bow only before Yahweh. Return back any crown you’ve been given with a bowed knee. Cast your crowns before the real king.

Crown Him with many crowns.