At the conclusion of his letter to the church at Pergamum, our Lord Jesus Christ promises those who will conquer in the battle against the heresy that he will give them a white stone with a new name on it. This name is unknown to all, except for those who receive such a stone. What is the meaning of that white stone? And what is the new name that is written on it?
Interpretation 1: It is the name we will receive on the new earth
Summary: We are given a new name on the new earth, as a guarantee of the new life we were allowed to start with Christ.
Arguments in favour of this view:
1. In Isaiah 62:2 God promises Jerusalem—the city where he dwelt on earth—that the nations will call it by a new name. In Isaiah 65:15 God says to those who forsake him and exchange him for idols (Isaiah 65:11–12) that he will call those who have remained faithful to him by a new name.
2. In those days, Pergamum had the practice in a court of law to throw a white and a black stone into an urn and then take one out. The white stone would mean: the person is innocent. God acquits us because we are of Jesus Christ. Thus we receive a white stone. Christ writes a new name on that stone because we may start a new life.
3. At important sports competitions, the winner used to receive a white stone with his name on it as a kind of medal.
4. In those days, when someone was invited to an important party or to a large dinner, they were given a white stone. That served as your admission.
Arguments against this view:
1. The references to Isaiah 62:2 and Isaiah 65:15 lack an explanation of the white stone. Moreover, this new name
in these chapters of Isaiah especially refers to a new reputation, a new standing among the nations (see Isaiah 62:4). Then it remains incomprehensible why the Lord would say in this verse that he will give to those in Pergamum who remained faithful to him a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.
2. The explanation that this refers to a judicial decision would only explain the white stone, but not the new name. Because at court sessions in the past your name was not written on that stone, nor was the stone given to you to take home.
3. The link with a sporting event is not found in the relevant literature of those days. Moreover, why would Christ write a name that nobody knows on that medallion? Why not just our own name, so that everyone can see that we are the winners?
4. The name of the host or hostess—not your own name—was engraved on the little stone that someone would receive when invited to an important party or dinner.
5. In similar ways there are a number of other exegeses that could explain part of Christ’s promise by appealing to customs of antiquity, but which would fail to explain the other part.
Interpretation 2: It is the name of Christ inviting us to the great banquet
Summary: Christ’s new name is written on the white invitation stone with which he invites us to the great banquet with him.
Arguments in favour of this view:
1. The stone that someone received in ancient times when invited to an important party or dinner had the name of the host or hostess—not the name of the invitee—carved on it.
2. Christ speaks of his new name in his letter to the church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:12).
3. The Greek word translated new
does not mean brand new,
a completely different name, but renewed, polished,
as in you hardly recognize him again.
While the name Jesus Christ
was and is regarded as despicable and ridiculous—a curse word, it is a name to look up to for God’s children (cf. Philippians 2:9–11).
4. At this point there is similarity with Isaiah 62:2 and Isaiah 65:15. The name in itself does not change, but is given a new content. Instead of being mocked and despised, the name is now pronounced with respect. But until the day of Christ’s return, this applies only to those who receive that white invitation stone (see the conclusion of this verse, Revelation 2:17). The others do not know or believe the awe-inspiring meaning of the name Jesus Christ.
5. This interpretation also fits better with Christ’s promise in this verse that he will give everyone who conquers some of the hidden manna. In this verse, Christ does not give a promise for the future, but for right now: anyone who consistently chooses Christ in this life will be regarded by many people here as one who does not belong. The believers in Pergamum could no longer participate in the sacrificial meals and other social dinners in many cases (Revelation 2:14). But now they receive an invitation from Christ to join him at his table. Christ is already feeding you with the hidden manna today. He keeps you alive in a miraculous way and gives you the strength to keep following him through the wilderness. That is enough for every day, but it is not a life of luxury. But soon the great banquet will come. And the invitation stone with Christ’s new, significant name on it guarantees that you will be welcome there!
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’