Revelation 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
When I first read this passage, I had no idea what the meaning of the white stone-new name meant so I did some research. Here is what I found.
Matthew Henry writes: The white stone, with a new name engraven upon it. This white stone is absolution from the guilt of sin, alluding to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption: adopted persons took the name of the family into which they were adopted. None can read the evidence of a man’s adoption but himself; he cannot always read it, but if he persevere he shall have both the evidence of sonship and the inheritance. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)
Zondervan Bible Commentary thinks it may be an inscribed pebble which is like a ticket to gain entrance to the heavenly banquet. The new name is known only to the one who receives it. See verses 3:12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Zondervan believes the new name is Christ’s and they reference 22:4 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Expositor’s Bible Commentary also thinks the white stone may be an entrance to the heavenly banquet. It was a custom at the time to use an engraved stone as a ticket to a banquet. They also write the new name is a changed character because of redemption. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament)
NIV Application Commentary references the white stone “symbolize eternal life or purity from sin. The commentary goes on to note a changed name is associated with a promise. I think of Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. It also references Isiah 56:5 and 62:2 which promises a new name and the removable of shame. Yet in the Revelation context it could be a hidden name of God and the Lamb (see 3:12; 14:1; 19:12-13).
Therefore, I conclude: the white stone represents purity which is needed to enter Heaven. No one can be completely pure enough to get to Heaven no matter what good works they do in their lives. However, John 3:16 states: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God’s Son is Jesus, the Lamb talked about in Revelations. Jesus came to this earth to die for us and rose again so we could forever live with Him in Heaven.
The new name represents our new life in Christ. In the time of the book of Acts the name “Christian” was given to those believing in Christ. The “ian” part of the word Christian means “one of” so putting it together the word Christian means one of Christ’s or belonging to Christ.
We do not know what our new name may be or if the white stone is a symbol or an actual stone. We need to wait until we get to Heave to find out. However, the new name is given and the one who receives it will know their new name. Do you know your new name?
Always an encouraging word! Thanks for sharing.
So interesting, I hadn’t thought much about this verse before.
I do know my new name. It’s a long story on how I received that info, however the name is unmistakenly mine!
Interesting read. Never really thought of it that way.
So interesting! I also didn’t know the meaning of the white stone new name!
To me, it sounds as if the new name is a person’s true mission, especially since it is only known to the individual.
Interesting. I was bot familiar with this passage