What Is Christ’s Name for You?
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Revelation 2:12-17
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
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.”
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False Prophets for Profit
One of my favorite theologians, George MacDonald, wrote that “In this passage about the gift of the white stone, I think we find the essence of [Christianity].” To understand why, we need only consider this passage slowly, carefully, and closely.
Just as we have been doing in past weeks, we’re going to look at this passage from Revelation deliberately. We’re going to work through it in detail in order to truly understand the teachings contained in it.
This type of reading doesn’t require intellectual gymnastics to be successful. It only requires being careful with God’s word, and working with it thoroughly, honestly, and with an open mind. As with any passage from the Bible, we assume it’s important, and we want to understand why.
In that spirit, let’s look at what’s going on in this part of the Book of Revelation. Revelation was written by John, when he was in prison on the island of Patmos. The entire book is his account of a vision he had of Jesus while there on Patmos.
Revelation Chapter Two contains letters to the ancient churches, which Jesus dictated to John in his vision. Today’s scripture lesson is about one such letter to the church in Pergamum. Other letters are dictated to the church in Ephesus, etc. There are 7 church letters in total.
Each of these letters is like a report card for the church it’s written to. Each letter has a section about what that church is doing well, and what they could do better. It’s like a performance review for each of the churches: “areas of strength,” and “areas for improvement.”
Throughout the letters to the 7 churches, a handful of “areas for improvement” are noted. These “areas for improvement” involve the following three topics: first, Balaam; second, Jezebel; lastly, the Nicolaitans.
In these letters to the 7 churches, these “areas for improvement” come up over and over. Since Balaam, Jezebel, and the Nicolaitans keep coming up, our first question should be: WHAT ARE THESE IDEAS, AND WHY ARE THEY BAD FOR THE CHURCHES?
First, Balaam and Balak. Their story can be found in the Book of Numbers, Chapters 22-24. Balaam was a soothsayer, who was summoned by a king named Balak to come and curse the Israelites as they approached his kingdom.
There’s more to the story – including the appearance of an angel, and a talking donkey – but suffice it to say that Balaam takes gifts from Balak in exchange for his prophecies to the king, and is thus known as a false prophet motivated by greed or avarice.
The story of Balaam and Balak is mentioned a few times in the New Testament. Here are two such mentions. 2 Peter 2:15 reads “They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam… who loved the wages of wickedness.”
Another mention of Balaam as a false prophet motivated by greed or avarice can be found in Jude 1:11, which reads “Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.” SO BALAAM IS ABOUT FALSE PROPHECY FOR PROFIT.
Also mentioned in Revelation Chapter 2 is Jezebel. Jezebel has come to be synonymous with being a seducer, but that’s only a small part of her story. (If you’re curious, that comes from the fact that she put on make-up to be put to her death). There’s more to Jezebel’s story than that.
Jezebel was a Phoenician worshiper of Baal, who married Ahab, one of the Kings of Israel. Once she was made Queen, Jezebel set about purging the Hebrew prophets of God. As a result, Elijah invited Jezebel's prophets of Baal and Asherah to a challenge at Mount Carmel.
The challenge was to see which god, Yahweh or Baal, would burn a bull sacrifice on an altar. Jezebel's prophets failed to summon Baal in burning the bull sacrifice. Elijah, however, succeeded when he summoned Yahweh, impressing the Israelites.
Jezebel’s story with King Ahab is a long one that spans 1 Kings Chapter 16 through 2 Kings Chapter 9. But the gist of it is that JEZEBEL PRACTICED IDOLATRY, CALLED HERSELF A PROPHET, AND ENTICED OTHERS TO LIKEWISE COME TO IDOLATRY INSTEAD OF GOD.
But remember: Just as sin can be defined as “anything that turns you from God,” so idolatry can be defined as “putting anything before God.” And you will always know idolatrous behavior by the way it attracts Earthly rewards.
2 Peter 2:1-3: “But there will be false teachers among you… in their greed these teachers will exploit you.” IDOLATRY IS ALWAYS CONNECTED WITH EARTHLY REWARD. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL A FALSE ‘PROPHET’ BY THE ‘PROFIT’ THAT FOLLOWS.
And that is precisely what we’re being taught in Revelation Chapter 2. All the “areas for improvement” parts of these report cards for the ancient churches have to do with idolatry, and the false prophecy of preaching idolatry.
After her story in 1 and 2 Kings, Jezebel isn’t mentioned again in the Bible until Revelation 2:20, which reads “I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet.
By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” WHY IS “SEXUAL IMMORALITY” MENTIONED IN THE CONTEXT OF “EATING FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS?” HOW ARE THESE TWO RELATED? AND WHY?
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Between Nicolas and Antipas
This brings us to the Nicolaitans. We’ve discussed what’s going on with Balaam and Jezebel. Both are enticing people to turn their backs to God. Both are spewing false prophecies for profit. The Nicolaitans are mentioned twice in this passage from Revelation.
First, the Nicolaitans are mentioned in Revelation 2:6, in the letter to the church in Ephesus: “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Remember from a few weeks ago that Ephesus was the site of a major pagan temple).
Then these Nicolaitans are mentioned again in today’s scripture passage, Revelation 2:14-15, which you’ll notice also mentions the false prophet for profit Balaam: “I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” So who is this “Nicolas,” and what do his followers practice and believe?
Smith's Bible Dictionary tells us this about the Nicolatans: "In a time of persecution, when the eating or not eating of things sacrificed to idols was more than ever a crucial test of faithfulness, they persuaded [people that it didn’t matter].
This was bad enough, but there was a yet worse evil. Mingling themselves in the orgies of idolatrous feasts, they brought the impurities of those feasts into the meetings of the Christian Church.
And all this was done, it must be remembered not simply as an indulgence of appetite: but as a part of a system, supported by a "doctrine," accompanied by the boast of a prophetic illumination.”
Roman rule required sacrifice to their gods. So when Roman Emperors wanted to weed out Christians, they had an easy way to test for this. The Romans would enforce sacrifices to various Roman deities. Those who resisted faced persecution and possible execution.
The Nicolaitans conformed to this Roman culture, and encouraged Christians in Ephesus to do the same. In eating the food given to the idols, this implies they had gone to the temples to receive this food and would’ve had to engage in the immoralities there to acquire this meat.
IN A TIME OF PERSECUTION, THE NICOLAITANS CHOSE TO CONFORM TO THE WORLD, RATHER THAN FOLLOW CHRIST. THEY ALLOWED THE WORLD TO BE THEIR GOD. THIS IS THEIR SIN. WORSE, THEY DRAGGED OTHER CHRISTIANS ALONG WITH THEM.
The sect of the Nicolaitans may have attempted to woo the Christians away from their religion, just as they had been wooed before. Nicolaitans buckled under the pressures of Roman rule, lost their faith, and seemed to want to drag other Christians along with them.
NOTICE WHAT THIS TEACHES. WE LEARN FROM THE NICOLAITANS NOT TO CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIANS WHILE IT’S SAFE, BUT CONFORM TO THE WORLD IN OTHER WAYS. WE LEARN THE DANGERS OF TRYING TO PLAY BOTH SIDES FROM THE MIDDLE.
Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
NOW. IF THE PAGANS IN THESE ANCIENT CHURCHES WANTED TO JOIN THE CHRISTIANS AND COME TO CHURCH, WOULD THIS BE WELCOME? OF COURSE! THAT’S LITERALLY THE ENTIRE POINT OF HAVING A CHURCH IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Let’s move on to another person mentioned in today’s scripture lesson. Revelation 2:13 reads “you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city.”
Who is Antipas? Antipas was bishop of the church in Pergamon during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. Antipas was martyred by being burned in a bronze bull-shaped altar for casting out demons worshiped by the local population.
So the church in Pergamum is being praised for enduring a period of Christian martyrdom, while being asked to do a better job of dealing with idolatry. Both are tests of faith we can learn from today.
EARTHLY IDOLS ARE ALWAYS THERE TO TRY AND TURN US FROM GOD. WE CAN THINK ALL WE HAVE IN LIFE COMES FROM OURSELVES, OR WE CAN REALIZE IT IS FROM GOD. WE CAN SEEK THE APPROVAL OF OTHERS, OR THE APPROVAL OF GOD.
THIS IS THE LESSON OF THE NICOLAITANS, WHO CONFORMED TO THE WORLD, AND THAT OF ANTIPAS, WHO WAS MARTYRED FOR HIS FAITH. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF THE WORLD WE FEEL TEMPTED TO PUT ABOVE OUR FAITH TODAY?
DO WE SOW DIVISION, OR UNITY? DO WE HATE THOSE OUTSIDE OUR CHURCH FAMILY, OR TRY AND LOVE THEM TO CHRIST? DO WE PLACE ALLEGIANCES TO POLITICAL PARTY OR COUNTRY OVER AND ABOVE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR? I’M JUST ASKING.
BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AROUND US AND SEE AN ORGY OF HATE, THIS IS A TEST. WE MUST HOLD STRONG TO OUR FAITH. WE MUST DO AS JESUS TAUGHT, AND SEEK PEACE, JUSTICE, UNITY, LOVE, AND FORGIVENESS. WE MUST LIVE IN GOD’S GRACE.
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The Only “Unforgivable Sin”
We can learn a lot from these examples of Balaam, Jezebel, and the Nicolaitans. And the lessons we learn from these are important. Because they have to do with the only sin mentioned in the New Testament as “unforgivable.”
That’s right. Did you know there is one “unforgivable sin?” Jesus mentions it in the Gospel of Matthew, 12:31-32, which reads “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” It is worthwhile to pay attention when Christ Himself refers to a sin as being “unforgivable.”
Jesus first stated that “every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” Although blasphemy is a form of sin, in this passage and context the two are treated separately – with blasphemy forgivable so long as not against the Spirit.
Blasphemy is defined as “defiant irreverence, the uniquely terrible sin of intentionally and openly speaking evil against holy God or defaming or mocking Him.” The Old Testament penalty for such blasphemy was death by stoning.
Leviticus 24:16 reads, “anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them.” But even blasphemy, Jesus says, is forgiven, just as any other sin is forgiven when it is confessed and repented of.
An unbeliever who blasphemes God can be forgiven. Paul confesses in 1 Timothy 1:13–15 that, “even though [he] was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor,” he was nevertheless “shown mercy, because [he] acted ignorantly in unbelief;
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” “Christ Jesus came into the world,” Paul continues, “to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
We will all remember that Peter blasphemed Christ with curses, and yet he was forgiven and restored. Mark 14:71 “[Peter] began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’”
The context for this passage from Matthew is that Jesus was healing people, and the Pharisees claimed He was channeling the power of Satan, instead of God. Jesus replies in a well-known verse that “a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25).”
In other words, “you can’t drive out evil with evil.” The Pharisees saw God’s divine power working in and through Jesus, but willfully refused to accept the implications of that revelation – that Jesus was the Son of God – and even attributed His power to the devil.
Many people had heard Jesus teach and preach God’s truth, as no man had ever taught before, and yet they refused to believe Him. They had seen him heal every kind of disease, cast out every kind of demon, and forgive every kind of sin, yet they charged Him with deceit.
In the face of every possible evidence of Jesus’ messiahship and deity, the Pharisees said “no. I don’t believe this.” God could do nothing more for them, and they would therefore remain eternally unforgiven. Instead of penitence, they plotted against Jesus.
Thus, by means of their own criminal and completely inexcusable callousness, they are dooming themselves. Their sin is unpardonable because they are unwilling to tread the path that leads to pardon. For any sinner, there is hope. For one hardened in self-will, there is none.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THESE ARE THE TRIALS OF OUR TIME. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENCE OF THE PRACTICES OF BALAAM, AND JEZEBEL, AND THE NICOLAITANS IN THE EARLY CHURCH. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS…
…ANYONE WHO PREACHES TO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AND CALLS YOU TO SOW DIVISION, AND HATRED, AND VIOLENCE IS BLASPHEMING THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY ARE COMMITTING THE ONE UNFORGIVABLE SIN. THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND INSTRUCT YOU TO DO ANYTHING SHORT OF SHOWING LOVE, AND KINDNESS, AND FORGIVENESS, AND TO WELCOME ANY AND ALL WHO YEARN FOR THE EMBRACE OF JESUS’ LOVE ARE WRONG.
There is a preacher in another state whose sermons I listen to weekly. Actually, I’m not sure what to call him really. On his website, there is a big logo with his name in it, and in that logo he refers to himself as a “pastor, leader, and entrepreneur.”
He also ran for US Senate a few years back. But he calls himself a pastor. This guy preaches a lot of hate. I mean, he preaches a LOT of hate. And this week, I got an email from this person’s church inviting me to an event they are hosting with a well-known political person.
One can attend the event for free. But also for sale are what the website refers to as a “VIP Dinner & Picture w/NAME OF POLITICAL FIGURE.” Tickets to that are $300.00. Not a suggested donation. $300.00 for everyone who wants to meet this political figure.
ONE MORE TIME I REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR: YOU WILL KNOW A FALSE PROPHET BY THE PROFITS THAT FOLLOW. 2 PETER 2:1-3: “BUT THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU… BY THEIR GREED YOU WILL KNOW THEM”
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Human Name, God’s Name
Why walk through all this detail with you today? Because we’re taught in today’s passage from Revelation – specifically 2:17 – that, “to the one who is victorious, I will give… that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
“TO THE ONE WHO IS VICTORIOUS WILL BE GIVEN THE WHITE STONE WITH A NEW NAME.” VICTORIOUS OVER WHAT? IN THE TIME OF FALSE PROPHETS AND THE MARTYR ANTIPAS, THIS MEANS REMAINING CLOSE TO CHRIST, INSTEAD OF THE WORLD.
BEING VICTORIOUS MEANS STAYING CLOSE TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, AND USING THOSE AS A MEASURE FOR TEACHINGS OF THE WORLD. IT MEANS SAYING “WAIT, JESUS TEACHES US TO LOVE” WHEN OTHERS TEACH YOU TO HATE.
IT MEANS SAYING “WAIT, JESUS TEACHES US TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE” WHEN OTHERS TEACH YOU TO KEEP THE SINNERS AWAY FROM THE CHURCH. IT MEANS SEEKING JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION IN A WORLD OF RESENTMENT AND ANGER.
THIS KIND OF THING IS NOT DEBATABLE IN OUR FAITH. IT IS NOT AMBIGUOUS. IT IS NOT CONFUSING, OR DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. JESUS DOES NOT TEACH DIVISION, HATE, OR VIOLENCE. AND NEITHER SHOULD WE.
What will we receive if we persevere through such challenges? We are promised “white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Wow. A name given to us personally by Jesus, with a secret name He – and only He – knows to call us.
The white stone is just as important as the name written upon it. Think about it for a moment. “A white stone with your name written upon it.” What would have been the most prominent sort of white stone with a name written on it in the Roman Empire?
A pillar. A big, prominent white marble pillar would most certainly have been the “white stone with a name on it” that people in Roman times would have thought of first. Politicians, military heroes, wealthy folks – these people would have had their names written on a marble pillar.
Such an accolade could be earned through Earthly wealth, power, military victory, and so on. So when Jesus promises us a “white stone” with a name given to us by God, he’s saying something very specific.
To come back to that quote from George MacDonald, “in this passage about the gift of the white stone, I think we find the essence of [Christianity]... a name of the ordinary kind in this world, has nothing essential in it.
It is but a label by which one man… may be known from another man. The only names which have significance are those which the popular judgment… bestows, either for ridicule or honour, upon a few out of the many.
Each of these is founded upon some external characteristic of the man, upon… some excellence – or the reverse – of character, or something which he does or has done well or ill enough, to render him, in the eyes of the people, worthy of such distinction from other men.”
In other words, names like “Pete” or “Troy” or “Belinda” or “Dean” that we are given by our parents at birth are just ways to distinguish one human being from another in this life. These are just ways to know what to call someone – they say nothing essential about our being.
What matters more than the names we are given at birth are the names we earn as we go through life. “Kind,” “loving,” “forgiving,” “merciful.” These are the names Christ wants us to grow into as we walk in His grace and His light.
George MacDonald again, “As far as they go, these are real names, for, in some poor measure, they express individuality.” In other words, the name we earn by our actions are what matter. And the name we earn from Christ in our faith is what matters the most.
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God’s Name for You, Your Name for God
George MacDonald again: “And for each God has a different response. With every man he has a secret – the secret of the new name. In every man there is a loneliness, an inner chamber of peculiar life into which God only can enter.”
THIS IS THE GIFT WE ARE GIVEN IF WE MANAGE TO WITHSTAND THE TEMPTATION OF THE WORLD TO TURN AWAY FROM CHRIST. WE ARE GIVEN THE GIFT OF SUCH AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST THAT HE HAS A SPECIAL NAME FOR US.
Imagine. A nickname, which only Christ Himself calls us, given to us by Christ himself. How much more grand, and mysterious, and utterly meaningful is that name written on a white stone than our human names written on a marble pillar?
MacDonald continues, “This is that for which humans were made – to reveal the secret things of the Father. By his creation, then, each man is isolated with God; each, in respect of his peculiar making, can say, “my God.”
THE GIFT OF THIS NEW NAME – THIS SPECIAL, UNIQUE GIFT, GIVEN EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY BY CHRIST HIMSELF – THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO SAY, IN THE END, “OUR FATHER,” AND TRULY MEAN IT.
THIS INTIMACY WITH CHRIST HIMSELF IS WHAT WE ARE GIVEN WHEN WE RESIST THE TEMPTATIONS OF BALAAM, AND JEZEBEL, AND THE NICOLAITANS. THIS NAME THAT ONLY OURSELVES AND CHRIST KNOW IS WHAT WE ARE GIVEN
WHEN WE PERSEVERE IN FAITH AGAINST THOSE IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD SAY “IT’S ALRIGHT TO SOW DIVISION AND HATE EVEN THOUGH CHRIST TEACHES US OTHERWISE.” IT IS WHAT WE ARE GIVEN WHEN WE RESIST BEING LUKEWARM.
IN THIS NAME, GEORGE MACDONALD SAYS, “EACH CAN COME TO HIM ALONE, AND SPEAK WITH HIM FACE TO FACE, JUST AS A PERSON SPEAKS WITH HIS FRIEND.” EACH OF US WILL BE GIVEN OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, FOREVER.
WHEN GOD GIVES A NAME FOR YOU, IT EXPRESSES SOMETHING UNIQUE, A SPECIFIC MANIFESTATION OF YOUR USEFULNESS TO GOD. AND IN THAT ACT OF GOD GIVING YOU A NEW NAME, YOU ALSO FIND YOURSELF IN A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
