Jan 23-24, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Our theme this year, based on the hymn by the same name, is “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” There are totally12 verses, first 6 by Matthew Bridges (1851) and 6 additional verses by Godfrey Thring. Let us reflect om the rich theology of this hymn based on the Holy Scriptures and discover what it means by looking at 10 of the 12 verses, one at a time, beginning with verse 1.

Crown him with many crowns

Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless king
Through all eternity.

Crown Him with Many Crowns. We have already noted that the title comes from Revelation 19:12,
11 Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war. 12 His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself.

Revelation 19:11-16 is about the return of Christ to Earth, the first of seven things John saw the Son of God goes to war against Satan. When the heaven opened, the Son of God returns riding on a white horse which symbolizes victory over one’s enemies. He is described as “Faithful” (trustworthy) and “True”(righteous, the real Messiah). This contrasts with the Antichrist who was unfaithful and untrue. Jesus Christ Has come to judge the beast and make war with him.

Jesus Christ’s eyes are like a fiery flame (with piercing judgment) and there are many diadem crowns on his head. “Diadem crowns” were a type of crown that symbolizes the highest ruling authority of a king. Jesus refused the diadem when Satan offered it to Him during His temptation (Mt. 4:9) and now He is the King of Kings, not of an earthy kingdom, but a heavenly one. He is also given a name that is above every name (Phi. 2:9). But here, at His return, He has “a name written that no one knows except himself.” Christ comes with power and authority to rule.

The Lamb upon His (the) throne:

The above imagery of Christ the King who has returned to rule and judge is the culmination of a series of revelations that begins in Chapter 4 of Revelation. The imagery of the Lamb is drawn from Revelation 5, especially Rev. 5: 6 -14. The Lamb that was slain was standing in the middle of the throne, and He alone was worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll in the right hand of God the Father. When the Lamb took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders prostrated before Him and worshipped him singing:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,
and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God
persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will            reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10)
“Myriads and myriads” (ten thousand times ten thousand) angels joined in the chorus:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killed
to receive power and wealth
     and wisdom and might
     and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12)

This was followed by every creature singing:
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)

Finally, “the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.” (Rev. 5:14) This is the resounding sound of praise and worship captured in verse 1 of our hymn.

To crown Him is to worship Him: To “Crown Him with Many Crowns” who will come again to be rule and judge in the end times is therefore above all to truly praise and worship Christ the King, the Lamb upon the throne. Christ is the Coming King, as is emphasized in the fourth element of the Four-fold Gospel of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Our ultimate hope is that when Christ returns, He will bring divine judgement to the earth. This is why we celebrate this truth by worshipping Him as the King of Kings now and forever.

The world we see is filled with pain and suffering, evil and injustice, much of which we cannot escape from, exasperated by the unfortunate devastation of the pandemic on the one hand, and on the other, the corruption from the misuse of power. But may be find peace, hope and joy in Christ and sing,
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless king
Through all eternity.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

Jan 23-24, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

本年度教會的主題是按照同名的詩歌定為“擁戴我主為王”。詩歌總共有12節，前6節由Matthew Bridges於1851年所寫，另外的6節則由Godfrey Thring附加撰寫。讓我們從十二節詩詞中的十節，按照聖經的基礎，對這首詩歌在神學上的含義進行反思，我們會從第一節的詩詞開始，每次查看一節，逐節去瞭解其中的豐富屬靈含義。

擁戴我主為王，聖羔在寶座上，
請聽天上歌聲悠揚，樂聲壓倒群響，
我靈速醒同唱，頌主為我受傷，
歡呼祂為至大君王，千秋萬歲無疆。

1.“擁戴基督為王” ：

我們已意識到詩歌標題出自啟示錄19:12：

我觀看，見天開了。有一匹白馬，那騎馬的稱為“忠信”和“真實”；祂按著公義審判和作戰。祂的眼睛好像火燄，頭上戴著許多皇冠，祂身上寫著一個名字，這名字除了祂自己沒有人認識。

啟19: 11-16是描述有關基督再來的七件事中的一件事，神的兒子與撒但作戰的情景。約翰看到天開了，神的兒子騎著白馬，象徵著戰勝了敵人凱旋而歸。祂被形容為“忠信”(全然可信賴)和“真實”(公義，真正的彌賽亞)。這與那不可信、不真實的敵基督形成對比。耶穌基督要來審判這獸，並在地上與牠作戰。

耶穌基督的眼目好像烈燄(表示祂有看透一切的審判能力)，頭上戴著許多皇冠。戴著許多皇冠，象徵祂是至高無上的權威與統治權柄。耶穌於面對試探時拒絕了撒但提供給祂的冠冕(太4：9)，在此，祂是萬王之王，祂身上寫著一個名字，是超乎萬名之上的名(腓 2:9)，這名字除了祂自己沒有人認識。基督以絕對的統治權威和能力來臨。

2. 坐在寶座上的羔羊:

以上有關基督再臨作王統治和審判的圖像，是啟示錄第4章開始的一系列啟示的高潮。羔羊的形象出自啟示錄第5章，特別是啟5:6 -14。被殺的羔羊站在寶座中間，唯獨祂才配在父神的右手中打開捲軸的七個印。當羔羊拿起書卷時，4活物和24位長老到在祂面前俯伏敬拜祂，高唱著：

“你配取書卷，
配拆開封印，
因為你曾被殺，
曾用你的血，
從各支派、各方言、各民族、各邦國，把人買了來歸給神
使他們成為我們神的國度和祭司，他們要在地上執掌王權。” (啟 5:9-10)

在寶座前，千千萬萬的天使與活物和長老齊聲歌頌：：
曾被殺的羔羊是配得的，
配得權能、豐富、
智慧、能力、尊貴、
榮耀、頌讚的！”(啟5:12)

在天上、地上、地底下和海裡的一切被造之物，以及天地間的萬有，都同聲唱頌：
“願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、能力，都歸給坐在寶座上的那一位和羊羔，
直到永永遠遠！” (啟5:13)

其後，四活物也同聲和應頌唱：
“阿們！”眾長老也俯伏敬拜。(啟 5:14)

這就是在我們的詩歌第1節中所記載的景象，天上歌頌讚美大合唱的迴響。

3. 擁戴我主為王：

“以許多冠冕給那要在末時再臨並帶來審判的至高無上、當受全然崇敬與讚美的基督君王、坐在寶座上的羔羊加冕”。基督是再來之王，就是我們宣道會信仰四重福音其中第四方面的要素(重點)。我們終極的盼望就是基督要再臨帶來地上神聖的審判，這就是我們為甚麼要慶賀祂為萬王之王直到永永遠遠的原因！

我們眼見所身處的世界充斥著苦難與災害、邪惡和不公義，我們一方面無法擺脫這些苦困，在另一方面也因疫情大流行引致毀滅性的不幸，更因著權力的濫用所造成的腐敗而感到憤怒。但是我們可以在基督裡找到平安、希望和喜樂並且能夠高唱：

我靈速醒同唱，
頌主為我受傷，
歡呼祂為至大君王，
千秋萬歲無疆。

主僕,
李耀全牧師

Jan 09-10, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

We said good-bye to 2020 and welcome 2021. May this year be filled with life, health, and joy because of the promises that Christ the King brings to all of us. This year our theme for the whole Church is from the hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.

The hymn

What does it mean to “Crown Him with Many Crowns?” The lyrics written by Matthew Bridges in 1851 as found in the Hymn of Life, with four selected stanzas are as follows:

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King
through all eternity.

Crown him the Lord of love!
Behold his hands and side,–
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye
At mysteries so bright!

Crown him the Lord of peace!
Whose power a scepter sways,
From pole to pole,–that wars may cease,
Absorbed in prayer and praise:
his reign shall know no end,
And round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years!
The Potentate of time,–
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime!
Glassed in a sea of light,
Where everlasting waves
Reflect his throne,–the Infinite!
Who lives,–and loves–and saves.

The background

Matthew Bridges, who wrote the original six stanzas of the hymn, “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” was born in Maldon, Essex, in 1800. Although he was raised in the Anglican church, he was converted to Catholicism in 1848 in connection with the Oxford Movement led by John Henry Newman. The Oxford Movement was an effort by Anglican clergymen of Oxford University between 1833 and 1845 to renew the Church of England by a revival of Catholic doctrine and practice. The hymn was written in 1851 by Matthew Bridges after the time of the Oxford Movement in England. Afterwards, Godfrey Thring, an Anglican priest wrote six additional stanzas to underscore Protestant theology distinct from Catholic theology, as the original hymn was popular among Anglicans. Today, the four stanzas (1, 4, 5 and 6) retained by our protestant hymnals are devoid of the Catholic theological distinctives (in stanzas 2 and 3). For us at RCAC, this history reminds us to hold to our own Alliance distinctives of the fourfold gospel of Christ as the Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and the Coming King.

Dr. Hawn, professor of sacred music at Perkins School of Theology, said this: “If there was ever a hymn that suited Christ the King Sunday (last Sunday before Advent begins a new Christian Year), it is this hymn.” We note that the original six stanzas mention six crowns: “Crown him . . . the Lamb upon the throne” (stanza one); [omitting Stanza two and three as in the Hymn of Life]; “Crown him the Lord of Love” (original stanza four); “Crown him the Lord of Peace” (original stanza five); and “Crown him the Lord of Years” (original stanza six). As we enter into 2021, let us remember that Christ the Lamb upon the throne is the Lord of Love, peace and Years.

Also, according to Dr. Hawn, “DIADEMATA (meaning “crowns”) is the tune that was written by Sir George Job Elvey (1816-1893) for this hymn when it was published in the Appendix of Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868.” Watson had observed that the tune “makes a magnificent setting for the text, march-like and joyful without ever becoming mechanical or strident.” When we sing this hymn throughout 2021, let us be always reminded of the majesty of Christ the King.

The message

One of the imageries of the theme comes from the first stanza which is based on Revelation 22:1:

1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Isn’t this exactly what we need in 2021: the river of the water of life from the throne of God and the Lamb, flowing into our cities bringing fruits and healing for the nations!

Another imagery of the hymn comes also from Revelations, Revelation 19:12, ESV: “His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems (crowns), and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.”

Over the Advent season (Christmas) we had already seen how Jesus’ first coming to earth was humble (Luke 2:7). We also know from our study of Philippians the Jesus came to sacrifice Himself in death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).

His second coming, however, sees Jesus arrives as the King of kings and Lord of lords, with piercing eyes. He sees all and will come to bring judgment. The diadems (crowns) on Jesus’ head show that He is the absolute ruler of the universe. Among the many names He can claim, Jesus has a name only He knows, which means symbolically that the Son of God on His return, will come with a name unknowable to any other person, representing a personality and deeds that is beyond our comprehension (Rev. 19:11-21).

Indeed, against the chaos due to the pandemic and other factors that we have seen in 2020, let us learn in 2021 from the failures of human kings, look to Christ the messiah, the King, and await the return of Christ the Coming King, with hope and joy in our hearts.

Crown Him with Many Crowns! Yes, Crown Him with Many Crowns!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Simon Lee

Jan 09-10, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

我們告別了2020年，迎來了2021年。因著君王基督所賜予的應許，盼望我們今年能充滿活力，健康和喜樂。本年度，我們將採用生命聖詩中的“擁戴我主為王”詩歌作為教會整年的主題。

本詩歌詞
“擁戴我主為王”是什麼意思？本詩由Matthew Bridges於1851年所寫。在生命聖詩中的四節歌詞如下：

擁戴我主為王，聖羔在寶座上,
請聽天上歌聲悠揚，樂聲壓倒群響，
我靈速醒同唱，頌主為我受傷，
歡呼祂為至大君王，千秋萬歲無疆。

擁戴我主為王，祂是仁愛之王，
祂手祂足肋旁受傷，今仍顯明天上，
何等奇妙奧祕，發出榮美光芒，
天使驚奇不敢仰視，一同俯首頌揚。

擁戴我主為王, 祂是和平之王，
普天之下戰爭停息，和平統治四方，
遍地禱頌聲揚，國權萬世永長，
美花環繞曾受傷足，朵朵歷久芬芳。

擁戴我主為王，祂是萬世之王，
宇宙天體乃主創造，榮美無可比量，
齊來頌讚救主！你曾為我受死，
讚美之聲永不止息，永遠感恩不已。

本詩背景
“擁戴我主為王” 詩歌由Matthew Bridges所寫，起先原有六節。他於1800年在英國埃塞克斯郡的馬爾登出生。儘管他在英國聖公會中成長，但他於1848年，因著參與由約翰·亨利·紐曼領導的牛津運動而歸依天主教。牛津運動是牛津大學的英國聖公會神職人員在1833年至1845年之間，致力於透過復興天主教教義與實踐來更新英格蘭教會所達成。Matthew Bridges在1851年於英國牛津運動時期後撰寫這詩歌。其後，因著原先的詩歌已在聖公會中甚為流行，聖公會牧師Godfrey Thring再多加了六節歌詞，以強調有別於天主教神學的改革宗神學觀念。今天，我們的基督教詩集保留了四節的詩詞（1、4、5和6節），省略了原先天主教神學特色的第2和3節。對於我們在列宣家的肢體而言，這段歷史提醒了我們要珍惜宣道會信仰的特色，即基督的四重福音：基督是救主、使人成聖的主、醫治的主、和再來之王。
珀金斯神學院的聖樂教授Hawn博士說：“如果要選取一首適合基督君王主日的詩歌(基督將臨期前的最後一個主日，即開始教會年曆的新年度），這首聖詩實在是最合適不過了。我們注意到原先的六節中提到了六個冠冕：“擁戴祂為王 (君王加冕)…“聖羔羊在寶座上”(第1節)；(生命聖詩省略了其中的第2和3節)； “擁戴仁愛之主為王”(第4節)；“擁戴和平之主為王”(第5節)；和“擁戴萬世之主為王”(第6節)。在邁進2021年時，讓我們謹記，坐在寶座上的羔羊基督是– 愛、和平與歲月的主宰。
此外，據Hawn博士所言，喬治·喬布·埃爾維爵士(Sir George Job Elvey，1816-1893)於1868年為這首詩歌創作曲譜時，他是按照“DIADEMATA”(即:“皇冠”之意)，在“古今讚美詩集”的附錄中出版。聖詩學者Watson 觀察到，這首詩歌的曲調，為歌詞營造了冠冕堂皇的宏偉氣派，既具備愉快的進行曲式，又絲毫沒有呆板或尖銳刺耳的感覺。在2021年裡，當我們唱頌這首詩歌時，總能帶動我們聯繫到基督君王的威嚴雄偉。

本詩信息
本主題的圖像之一出自於啟示錄22章的第1節：
“天使又指示我一道明亮如水晶的生命水的河流，從神和羊羔的寶座那裡流出來，經過城裡的街道。河的兩邊有生命樹，結十二次果子，每月都結果子；樹葉可以醫治列國。”
生命之水從神和羔羊的寶座中流出，流入我們的城市，為各國帶來成果和康復！這豈不是在2021年中我們所需要的嗎？
詩歌中的另一幅圖像也出自啟示錄19:12，“祂的眼睛好像火燄，頭上戴著許多皇冠，祂身上寫著一個名字，這名字除了他自己沒有人認識。”(新譯本)
在聖誕節將臨期之中，我們已看到主耶穌第一次來到世上是多麼的降卑(路2:7)。並且藉著對腓立比書的研究，我們更明白耶穌來世是為著受死，在十字架上犧牲自己(腓2:8)。
然而，主耶穌的第二次降臨將會是萬王之王和萬主之主，祂要帶著如烈焰的目光來臨。祂看透一切，並將帶來審判。耶穌頭上的王冠表明祂是宇宙毋容置疑的絕對統治者。在祂眾多的名稱中，耶穌具有一個只有祂自己才知道的名字，這象徵著神的兒子在再來時將會帶著任何人都不知道的名字再臨，代表著我們所無法理解的位格與作為(啟19:11-21)。
確實地，在我們面對2020年所見的疫情大流行和其他因素所造成的混亂中，讓我們今年從世上君王的失敗中汲取教訓，仰望彌賽亞基督、君王，在充滿喜樂和盼望中等待再來之君，基督的再臨。
以許多冠冕給祂加冕，擁戴我主為王！
是的，讓我們同來擁戴基督為主為王！

主僕,
李耀全牧師