A NEW NAME IN A WHITE STONE

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it” (Revelation 2:17).

In my previous article I explained how this promise of eating the “hidden manna” is an indication of the post-Rapture empowerment of the saints for their diverse responsibilities in the promised earthy kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, it is a unique rendition of their preparation for their millennial duties at the Academy of Heaven.

But as we can see, the Lord’s promise did not end with the privileged access to the hidden manna. He adds: “And [I] will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.”  This is indeed remarkable. A name known to none other than the receiver is quite some name. There must be something about it. It is obviously not a call name, for only the bearer knows it. In fact, there are two posers for us here. First, what is a name – this name? Second, what is the stone in which the name is contained?

Now, if the name the Scriptures propose here indicates something other than we usually attach to a name, as it evidently does, then we would have to look to those same Scriptures to help us unravel the mystery of it. The key to understanding it is in the commission of Moses to invade and deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, a type of Christ and His saints’ post-Rapture invasion of planet Earth to deliver its inhabitants from “the bondage of corruption.”

Moses had a question for his Commissioner: “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say unto me, what is his name? What shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13.) The Almighty had several proper names He could have chosen from, any of which the Israelites, as the children of Abraham “the friend of God,” could have recognised. But it was imperative for Him to make a definite statement, both for the immediate purpose and, I would say, for a much bigger purpose that was being prefigured. So the account continues: “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14).

That’s it! Your “name” is what you are, even as God’s name is “I AM THAT I AM.” And it is what you are, not who you are – “THAT I AM,” not “WHO I AM.” It signifies your inherent potential, your ability, or capacity, what you can do – your know-how! It is the same know-how that results from the saint’s partaking of the hidden manna!

It should be opening up to you by now. But before taking it further, let’s come up to speed with the second challenge, the stone in which the promised new name, or know-how, is contained. The key to this is also in Moses and his divine ministry of deliverance. Exodus 24:12 reads: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there [a type of the saints’ Rapture to the Academy of Heaven, the banquet hall where they partake of the hidden manna]: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.” This is really interesting, as the latter emphasis also hints at the mediatorial ministry of the Royal Priesthood in the kingdom.

The account continues: “And Moses turned, and went down from the mount [the Armies of Heaven, the Royal Priesthood, are breaking out of the skies!], and the two tables [of stone] of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables” (Exodus 32:15,16).

So we see that a stone, in this context, is a writing tablet, which in our modern day would be a paper of some sort. Moreover, we should bear in mind that, although parchments were also used for writing at the time Christ gave the promise, an engraved stone was preferred when, as in the case of the above reference, the writing had an enduring, symbolic or ceremonial significance. This is obviously applicable to the stone that Christ promised the overcomer. Furthermore, the promised stone is white, indicating delicacy or preciousness. When we translate all this into modern language, we would be speaking of a sealed document – sealed in the sense of bearing an authenticating mark, or stamp, or signature (“the writing was the writing of God”); not sealed in the sense of being closed.

Here is wisdom. My name is what I am, my capacity, my know-how. And an engraved white stone indicates a sealed document. Putting the bits together, a white stone that contains my new name implies a sealed document that testifies to a capacity, or know-how, that I have just acquired!

I certainly don’t need to shout it. This white stone that the Lord presents to the believer after his partaking of the hidden manna is a token of the capacity he acquires from the same! It is the certificate of the skill he acquires from the Academy of Heaven! It is the symbol of what the qualified man can do, the part that he will supply to the overall mission and dominion of the Armies of Heaven over the promised kingdom!.

Yes, the white stone that the victorious believer receives is the testimonial of the particular aspect of the Lord’s all-embracing knowledge, wisdom and understanding that he will mediate by demonstration in the promised kingdom. I must say, however, that my translating the engraved white stone into a sealed document is essentially for you to appreciate the parallel with the certificate we obtain from our modern institutions of higher learning. Of course you can’t foresee the King’s qualified men clutching paper certificates as they break out of the blues. Yet I can imagine the award of something tangible that signifies the same thing we are speaking of. The key is in a more literal consideration of the promise. As implied earlier, you should read the “white stone” as “precious stone.” These literal precious stones of the saints that I foresee, as I elaborate upon in my coming book THE COMING GLORY, are the incorruptible prizes, the medals of the Christian race, that the apostle Paul urged the saints to strive for (see I Corinthians 9:24-27).

So keep the faith, and remain posted. God bless you always.

In the King’s Service,

David Olagoke Olawoyin.

NB: I feel constrained to keep my articles on this site short so that you can easily read them, especially considering that you have to do so online. My coming book THE COMING GLORY presents a more detailed and chronological examination of this awesome kingdom agenda of the Almighty that we have been peeping into on this site. Please join me in prayer for its speedy publication.