"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 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 saving he that receiveth
it"
Revelation 2:17.
Special gifts for special people. Gifts with meaning and purpose. Gifts for believers who have through all the ages of the church have had eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of God has been saying. Having heard they have believed and obeyed and in love for the Lord Jesus Christ have ‘overcome’.
PROMISE TO OVERCOMERS
The gifts of God to ‘overcomers’ are the “manna” and the “white stone” (Revelation 2:17)
First let us look at the hidden manna. (Check Brushstrokes 24) ‘Hidden’ is perhaps a reference, to the wilderness manna preserved and protected for a memorial in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 16:32, 34; Hebrews 9:4). The Lord is setting forth the reality of the secret relationship of overcoming obedient believers while on earth by the Spirit and more wondrously the relationship they will have with the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.
Not only did the Babylonian system of idolatry have secrets and mysteries and hidden things which it taught to its initiates there at Pergamum “where Satan’s throne was” So too had the born again believers who knew the secret of the Lord in their hearts through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Great is the mystery of Godliness.
Second let us look at the promised white stone. “And will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Now this Stone is of course the Lord Jesus. It has a double significance, on a human every day level of things. A white stone was presented to the successful runner in the race at the Greek games. He was the winner, the victor. So the White Stone speaks of Victory.
Again on this kind of level in human affairs the White Stone was used in the Court of Areopagus for the judges of criminal cases to pass their decision with either of two stones, a black one for condemnation, and a white one for acquittal.
As guilty sinners, we have been shown the White Stone by the Righteous Judge; we have received Forgiveness, and Justification. It is this gift of the Lord Jesus as the White Stone we, look and see the Victory and Justification freely bestowed in Him.
This victory becomes ours as a free gift from God. How did He obtain this gift for us?
Four wonderful brushstrokes of Biblical Truth are:
In the Wilderness Jesus Christ triumphed over Satan.
In Gethsemane Jesus Christ bore the weight of our sin.
On Calvary Jesus Christ died for our sin and fulfilled the Law.
At the Open Tomb Jesus Christ in His Resurrection conquered Death.
These are our deadly foes, our enemies, our accusers – Satan, Sin, Law, and Death.
The White Stone silences all accusers, though we are indeed guilty. His Precious Blood was shed for us and given as the atonement and by the gift of His Righteousness we stand totally accepted before God. The White Stone, its colour speaks of perfections and purity. Christ’s Victory is perfect, because every sin is atoned for, and every enemy is destroyed. The Believer’s Justification is also perfect for the penalty has been fully met.
Each and every true Believer has his or her personal battle as an overcomer in this life of faith we walk here on earth. There is a very personal character in all trials and temptations that we face and encounter and it is through these times especially, that we come to know the Lord, in a particular and extremely personal way which is shared by no other.
So that gift of the White Stone will carry our name it will be a new name in the sense that it is through the deep, secret dealings we have with God during those testing times when our sonship is assured and our spiritual battle is taking us on to ultimate victory, then it will be revealed to us, known thoroughly to ourselves only.
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him (Psalm 25:14) and the secret of your new name is hidden in the White Stone waiting for you in the Glory of Heaven.
