The Daily Word of Righteousness

Judgment and Rewards, #19

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2;10)

To be given a crown of life.

We are to begin walking in victory today, as the Lord leads. The power by which we rule is the "crown of life." It is the authority and power of resurrection life that enable us to live and overcome the evil that is in our environment. Paul was seeking such power (Philippians 3:10).

Each victory in Christ makes possible new victories and gives us added strength in all areas of the struggle. Jesus leads His army from conquest to conquest until the saints gain the upper hand in this life. Those who learn to rule now will be given the authority and power to govern all things in the ages to come.

The crown of life is that incorruptible, indestructible, eternal life in which Christ lives and rules. It is being created in the believer in whom Christ is being formed.

Those who will be issued the crown of life are the believers who are being trained in humility. They are becoming obedient to the Father, even when such obedience costs dearly and requires great patience—to the limits of their endurance (James 1:12).

Gaining the crown of life in every part of our personality brings to us an authority that is higher than the authority of the Lake of Fire.

To not be hurt of the second death (2:11).

The second death is the Lake of Fire. The saints who are living in victory in Christ have been given the assurance in writing that they cannot be hurt by the second death. The inference is that the believer who allows himself to be overcome by Satan and the world continues to be in danger of being harmed by the Lake of Fire.

The Christian who is gaining the crown of life is acquiring authority over the authority of the second death. The maturing of the life of victory in Christ, such that the first resurrection is attained, brings complete dominion over the power of the second death.

... on such the second death hath no power [authority], . . . . (Revelation 20:6).

The Lake of Fire is the area of spiritual torment into which will be cast Satan, his angels, sin, pride, and rebellion against the Father's will.

As long as the Christian has in him any part of Satan's personality or works there is a segment of his personality over which the second death possesses Divine authority and power (Revelation 21:8).

The crown of life provides us with authority and power mightier than the power of Satan. Through the power of resurrection life we can overcome the areas of our personality that still reflect the person and works of Satan (I John 3:8).

Abiding faithfully in the prison in which we are bound results in the destruction of our adamic nature. The destruction of our adamic nature enables God to release us from the various bondages that enslave us, because the bondages of sin and rebellion find lodging in our adamic nature. As soon as the natural man is crucified it becomes possible to destroy the sinful nature (Romans 6:6).

To be continued.