I have decided that there is a differentiation between "Salvation" - which is absolutely free through Unmerited Gift (Grace) alone and we cannot do anything to "Earn" one bit of it and so many of the "Inheritances" that can be earned, taken up, or lost..... Revelation 2 and 3 detail MANY of these with the promises made to each of the churches..... Paul, Peter, and James also go into this quite a bit.
For example - Revelation 3:11 to the Church of Philadelphia: "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." This implies that there was a way that YOU could fail to take this crown - an inheritance above and beyond salvation....
And on the same subject of crowns... James 1:12 - "Blessed in the man who endures temptation (trials), for when he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
2nd Timothy 2:12 implies the same...
Note that these crowns mentioned have contingencies attached to them.... Enduring persecution/trials/temptation/suffering.... where Salvation does not.
Another one...
Revelation 3:12 - "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God...." - So, this is something special available ONLY to those who are overcoming.... Does this imply that the one who is NOT overcoming will NOT receive Salvation and eternal life? Absolutely not - salvation is ONLY contingent upon Faith.
What I have been thinking about is whether "The Rapture" also classifies as one of these special things only available to a certain group - "The Wise Virgins" - the ones who have maintained covenant separation, purity, and have met all the required "Preparations" and "Specifications" set forth for such in the Scripture...
Like I said - I am in no means ready to make any doctrine out of it... but it's something to think about....
Thanks
May I say to you that the focus of Rev. 2 & 3 is the Church in the world.
From Rev. chapter 1 to chapter 4 the church is mentioned 19 times. Then from chapter 4 to #20 it is not mentioned at all. The normal reaction from people I know is....................
"Where is the Church in this time frame"??????
It is NOT in the world anymore because it has been removed from the world.
As for "Crowns". They are what we can lay hold of while hear on the earth AFTER we have come to Christ. They have nothing to do with being saved whatsoever but because we are saved we will out of love want to do things for Christ.
I believe that there are 5 Crowns available to all believers.
1 - CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS— LOVED THE LORD'S APPEARING - 2 Tim 4:82 -
2 - INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN— DISCIPLINED BODIES / SELF-CONTROL - 1 Cor 9:25-273 -
3 - CROWN OF LIFE— ENDURED PATIENTLY THRU TRIALS - James 1:12, Rev 2:104 -
4 - CROWN OF GLORY— GODLY LEADERS - EXAMPLES TO FLOCK - 1 Pet 5:2-45 -
5 -CROWN OF REJOICING— SOUL WINNERS CROWN - 1 Thess 2:19, Dan 12:3 - See more (at: http://so4j.com/five-crowns-rewards-in-heaven#sthash.O8HNo98X.dpuf)
What happens to these crown would be a good question.
Revelation 19:12.......gives us an indication:
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many "CROWNS" and He had a name written that no man knew but He Himself".