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Listen to Revelation Chapter 2 
& 3
or read "Messages to the Churches"
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)
Names are important in the Bible. They often had specific meaning and implications in life. In the Old testament we read about God changing a person's name to mark a spiritual change in that person or their relationship with God. God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Abraham means "father of nations" or "Father of a multitude."
This new name that will be given to us by Jesus is not just an identifying tag as our names are today, living here on earth. The new name given by Jesus will mean something significant. It will say something about who we are and how we lived our life. The new name will completely describe us as a person. It will be a unique and special name that no other creature has, and only the bearer of the new name will know what it even is. It won't be an identification tag for others to know us by. It will be an intimate personal name give to us by Jesus and known only in the confines of that personal relationship.
In ancient cultures, the white stone was a symbol of acceptance, honor and official approval. The white stone was given to those who were found innocent in a court of law. The guilty received a black stone. It was also given to victorious athletes in the ancient Olympics, as recognition of honored guests, and admission to significant events and sacred places.
The white stone with this new personal name written on it will expresses what God thinks of us. This white stone and our new name will symbolizes what God has done for us and in us. It will be a means of personal worship and praise between Christ and us. This new name will point to the individuality of exactly who we are to our Creator. This name will be a perfect picture of our soul.
3 comments:
Good thoughts. I'm a pastor in Calgary, Alberta and I preached a sermon series once called "Your New Name." Check out my website (www.presencevoicetouch.com) or my blog (www.bradhuebert.blogspot.com, both dedicated to helping people connect with the presence, voice, and touch of Jesus in their lives. The new name stuff is on the main site. Podcasts, I think.
Peace!
Brad: thanks for your insights on this. Maybe this hidden name thing really does get to the essence of why there are names in the first place: to be used not so much as tags for one person to address another, or to refer to another, but to be used as the means by which the Creator can tell us exactly how He made us, and for us to "know even as I have been known". I also didn't know about the white stone's historic role. Hey -- I figured out how to join a blog site -- so I joined yours. DW
Those that have been given a new name by God are placed on a wall of memorial. The name is better than the name or title of sons and daughters. (Isaiah 56:5) Other people in the nations and kingdoms (cities) will call them by the “new name.” (Isaiah 62:2) These individuals are God’s servants who are called by another name. We are all members of the body of Christ (sons and daughters), however God has appointed servants within the body to function as apostles, prophets, teachers and various other administrations. (1 Corinthians 12:28)
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