The Reward Part 3

REVELATION Number 58
The Reward Part 3
A New Name

On this white stone is written a new name “which no one knows except the one who receives it.”

This new name is spoken of in several places. Revelation 3:12 tells us, “The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” (NASB 2020)

We need not view these as three separate names. They are all related God, the city or God, and the Lord Jesus are joined profoundly. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) and as for the city of God, In Revelation 21:2 we read, “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (NASB 2020)

As Ephesians 5:27 showed us, the bride of Christ is holy and blameless, without flaw. This continues a thought we find in Revelation 19:7–8 that “the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (NASB 2020) This is speaking of the Church. Being prepared, the Church carries the white stone of acquittal and invitation to the marriage supper as we can see in Revelation 19:9.

We know that each of us individually are parts of the body of Christ and comprise together His bride. And in 1 Corinthians 6:17 we read that “the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (NASB 2020)

Likewise, on this white stone is a name and Revelation 19:12 speaks of One on a white horse, saying, “His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.” (NASB 2020) Then in verse 16 we are told that “on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (NASB 2020)

The new name on the white stone identifies with Christ those who are His. These references to Jesus and overcomers and so on being named refers to the intimate presence of God. We see this in Revelation 22:3–4 “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” (NASB 2020) Similarly, Revelation 14:1 tells us, “the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.” (NASB 2020)

This name is the mark of the Lord, if you will, and contrasts with the mark of the beast.

Revelation 13:16–18 presents this beastly name, telling us that “he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (NASB 2020) Then in Revelation 14:11 we read of the fate of “those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (NASB 2020)

New names confer new status. An example in the Old Testament is Abram being given the name Abraham after he believed God and God made a covenant with Him. Similarly in the New Testament we are told that Simon came to be called Peter when he affirmed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

The new name we are given reflects a change in our status as well. We have been made new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have been adopted, reborn, and we are told “You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10 (NASB 2020)

This echoes the prophesy of Isaiah. In Isaiah 56:5 we read, “To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be eliminated.” (NASB 2020) In Isaiah 62:2 we read, “The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.” (NASB 2020) Similarly, speaking to those who reject the Lord Isaiah 65:15 says, “You will leave your name as a curse to My chosen ones, And the Lord GOD will put you to death. But My servants will be called by another name.” (NASB 2020)

I’m sure you can see how all this is tied into several of the other listed blessings, or rewards, for those who overcome including walking with the Lord Jesus dressed in white garments, and the implications of the various name-bearing promises.

All these are fulfilled in the Church, the body and bride of Christ.

Welcome to your new name.
Welcome to the marriage supper.
Welcome to the new you.

* G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 253.