Sermons on Revelation 2:17

Revelation 2:17 Interpretation:

Faithfulness and Holiness in a Compromising Culture (Desert Springs Church) interprets Revelation 2:17 as a promise of reward for those who overcome cultural compromise and remain faithful to Christ. The "hidden manna" is seen as a reference to the marriage supper of the Lamb, a future heavenly banquet where Christ will provide spiritual sustenance, echoing the manna given to Israel in the wilderness. The "white stone" is interpreted through the lens of ancient judicial practices, where a white stone signified acquittal or innocence, and thus, Christ is declaring the overcomer forgiven and accepted. The "new name" is understood as a symbol of transformation and new identity in Christ, possibly reflecting titles like "son of God," "victor," or "loved," unique to each believer. This sermon uniquely emphasizes the personal and transformative nature of the new name, suggesting it speaks directly to the individual's journey and victory.

Faithfulness Amidst Cultural Temptations: Lessons from Pergamum (Johnson Street Church of Christ) offers a nuanced interpretation, focusing on the "hidden manna" as spiritual food that signifies ongoing dependence on God, referencing its placement in the Ark of the Covenant as a reminder of God's presence. The "white stone" is explained as both an entrance token to exclusive events and a symbol of acquittal in ancient juries, thus representing both acceptance into God's kingdom and the declaration of innocence. The "new name" is highlighted as a mark of a new, pure identity, untainted by past sins or cultural compromise, and is intimately known only to the recipient, signifying a unique relationship with God. This sermon stands out for its detailed exploration of the cultural uses of white stones and the personal, redemptive significance of the new name.

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) interprets Revelation 2:17 almost exclusively through the lens of the "new name," seeing it as God's promise of a new identity and relationship, unique and intimate between God and the believer. The sermon draws a rich analogy from the biblical tradition of God renaming individuals (Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter), emphasizing that the new name encapsulates a new hope, calling, and facet of God's character revealed through the believer. The white stone is briefly mentioned as the medium for this new name, but the focus is on the transformative power of being named by God, which shapes the believer's destiny and self-understanding. This sermon is unique in its deep dive into the biblical motif of renaming and its application to personal spiritual identity.

Experiencing the Transformative Love of Christ (MLJTrust) interprets Revelation 2:17 as describing the secret, exclusive nature of the believer's relationship with Christ. The "hidden manna" and "white stone with a new name" are seen as metaphors for the intimate, spiritual nourishment and identity that only true Christians can experience. The sermon uses the Greek text to highlight the exclusivity ("which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it") and frames the passage as a picture of the secret joys and affections shared between Christ and the believer, inaccessible to outsiders. This interpretation is notable for its focus on the mystical, experiential aspect of Christian faith and the use of the original language to underscore the passage's meaning.

Guarding Against Internal Compromise in Faith (Alistair Begg) interprets Revelation 2:17 by connecting the "hidden manna" to the manna hidden in the Ark of the Covenant from Exodus, which he sees as a type pointing forward to Jesus as the true bread from heaven, now hidden from us in the reality of heaven. He suggests that in heaven, believers will fully enjoy the reality of having eaten the true bread, Jesus. Regarding the white stone, Begg is less certain about the stone’s significance but posits that it serves as a vehicle for the giving of a new name, symbolizing the uniqueness and distinctiveness of each believer’s personal relationship with Christ for eternity. He uses the analogy of Jesus slipping a stone with a new name into each believer’s hand, emphasizing the personal and individual nature of this gift.

Experiencing the Glory of Jesus in the Gospel (Desiring God) offers a unique perspective by focusing on Jesus’ sovereign authority to change identity, as seen in his renaming of Simon to Peter, and then directly linking this to Revelation 2:17. The sermon interprets the white stone and new name as a symbol of the believer’s new, God-given identity, known only to God and the individual. The preacher speculates that the stone is already written for those who are God’s, and that the Christian life is a process of “becoming what you are”—growing into the unique identity Christ has given. This interpretation is deeply existential, emphasizing the ongoing discovery of one’s true self in Christ, shaped by the new name written by Jesus.

Overcoming Partiality Through God's Transformative Grace (SermonIndex.net) interprets Revelation 2:17 by drawing an analogy between the new name given to Jacob (Israel) and the new name promised to overcomers. The preacher imagines the white stone as a love token from Christ, like a bridegroom giving a precious stone with a secret name to his beloved, symbolizing a deeply personal and affectionate relationship. The sermon further speculates that the new name may reflect the area in which the believer has struggled and overcome, such as “my impartial one” for someone who has conquered partiality, making the new name both a reward and a testimony to personal spiritual victory.

Revelation 2:17 Theological Themes:

Faithfulness and Holiness in a Compromising Culture (Desert Springs Church) introduces the theme of spiritual perseverance as the prerequisite for receiving divine sustenance and a new identity. The sermon uniquely connects the "white stone" to the believer's acquittal and transformation, suggesting that the new name reflects the specific victory or healing Christ has accomplished in the individual's life, making the reward deeply personal and tailored.

Faithfulness Amidst Cultural Temptations: Lessons from Pergamum (Johnson Street Church of Christ) presents the theme of purity as central to Christian identity, with the "hidden manna" symbolizing ongoing spiritual sustenance for those who resist cultural assimilation. The white stone is linked to both acceptance and innocence, while the new name represents a future untainted by past failures. The sermon adds the fresh angle that the new name is not just a label but a sign of being admitted into God's kingdom as a pure, eternal person, emphasizing the transformative and communal aspects of Christian victory.

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) develops the theme of divine renaming as a core aspect of spiritual transformation. The sermon explores how God delights in giving new names to signify new beginnings, destinies, and relationships, drawing on numerous biblical examples. The new name is portrayed as an intimate, God-given identity that reveals a unique facet of God's character through the believer, encouraging listeners to seek and live out their God-given identity.

Experiencing the Transformative Love of Christ (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of the secret, exclusive love between Christ and the believer, accessible only to those who are "saints." The sermon emphasizes that the hidden manna and new name are not just rewards but symbols of a mystical, ongoing communion with Christ, which is both universal to all believers and deeply personal, growing in depth as the believer matures in love.

Experiencing the Glory of Jesus in the Gospel (Desiring God) introduces the theme of identity transformation as a central aspect of salvation, emphasizing that Jesus’ authority to give a new name is not just for Peter but for every believer. The sermon uniquely frames the Christian journey as a process of discovering and growing into the new identity Christ has already authored, with the white stone as a symbol of this hidden, God-given self.

Embracing Our Unique Creation for God's Glory (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that the new name on the white stone is less about existential uniqueness and more about the unique, personal relationship each believer has with Christ. The focus is on Christ’s exclusive knowledge and personal naming of each believer, which is portrayed as more significant than mere individuality.

Overcoming Partiality Through God's Transformative Grace (SermonIndex.net) adds the fresh angle that the new name may be directly related to the specific area of spiritual victory in a believer’s life, such as overcoming partiality or another personal struggle. This makes the new name not only a mark of intimacy but also a celebration of the believer’s journey and triumphs in sanctification.

Revelation 2:17 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Faithfulness and Holiness in a Compromising Culture (Desert Springs Church) provides extensive historical context about Pergamum, describing it as a political and spiritual center in Asia Minor, filled with temples to various gods, including Zeus, Athena, Asclepius, and the emperor. The sermon explains the significance of the altar to Zeus as "Satan's throne" and recounts the martyrdom of Antipas, the church's leader, who was executed in a bronze bull for refusing emperor worship. The use of white and black stones in ancient jury trials is also detailed, explaining how a white stone signified acquittal, which shapes the interpretation of the reward in Revelation 2:17.

Faithfulness Amidst Cultural Temptations: Lessons from Pergamum (Johnson Street Church of Christ) offers a rich historical portrait of Pergamum as a center of learning, medicine, and culture, highlighting its libraries, theaters, and temples to gods like Zeus, Athena, and Dionysus. The sermon explains the origins of parchment in Pergamum and the use of white stones as entrance tokens and jury votes in the ancient world. The cultural context of small, house-based Christian communities is also described, emphasizing their countercultural practices of radical generosity and inclusion.

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) provides historical context by tracing the biblical tradition of renaming, from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to New Testament figures like Peter and Paul. The sermon explains how names in the ancient world signified identity, destiny, and relationship, and how God's act of renaming marked a transformative encounter and new calling.

Experiencing the Transformative Love of Christ (MLJTrust) briefly references the exclusivity of the "hidden manna" and "white stone" in the context of early Christian communities, noting that these symbols were understood as secret, spiritual privileges reserved for true believers, in contrast to the Roman Catholic tradition of sainthood.

Guarding Against Internal Compromise in Faith (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by referencing the hidden manna in the Ark of the Covenant from Exodus, explaining its significance as a type pointing to Christ as the true bread from heaven. He also briefly discusses the cultural practice of naming and the significance of names in the ancient world, suggesting that the new name on the white stone signifies personal recognition and relationship, countering the idea of the redeemed as an undifferentiated mass in eternity.

Revelation 2:17 Cross-References in the Bible:

Faithfulness and Holiness in a Compromising Culture (Desert Springs Church) references Exodus 16 (the giving of manna in the wilderness) to explain the background of "hidden manna," and connects it to the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation. The sermon also cites Hebrews 4:12 (the Word as a double-edged sword), Numbers 22-25 (the story of Balaam and Balak), Psalms 139 (God's knowledge of the unborn), 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (sanctification and holiness), 1 Peter 1:14-16 (call to holiness), and Ephesians 5:27 (the church as a holy bride), using these passages to reinforce the call to holiness and the meaning of the rewards in Revelation 2:17.

Faithfulness Amidst Cultural Temptations: Lessons from Pergamum (Johnson Street Church of Christ) references Numbers 20-23 (Balaam and Balak), John 5 (the healing at the pool of Bethesda, linked to Asclepion healing centers), Hebrews 4:12 (the Word as a double-edged sword), and Romans 12:1 (not conforming to the world). The sermon uses these passages to illustrate the dangers of cultural compromise, the power of God's Word, and the call to distinctiveness and purity.

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) cross-references Genesis (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), the Gospels (naming of John the Baptist and Jesus), and Acts (Saul to Paul, Joseph to Barnabas), using these stories to build the motif of divine renaming and its significance for Christian identity.

Experiencing the Transformative Love of Christ (MLJTrust) references Revelation 2:17 directly, as well as John 14 (the promise of the Holy Spirit), and alludes to the broader biblical theme of hidden spiritual knowledge and the exclusive privileges of believers.

Guarding Against Internal Compromise in Faith (Alistair Begg) cross-references Exodus (the manna in the Ark of the Covenant), John 6 (Jesus as the bread from heaven), and Luke 24 (the Emmaus road, where Jesus reveals himself through Scripture), to support the interpretation of the hidden manna as Christ himself. He also references the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) to emphasize the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, which undergirds the promises in Revelation.

Experiencing the Glory of Jesus in the Gospel (Desiring God) references Galatians (Paul’s image of Christ being formed in believers), 1 John 5:4 (faith as the victory that overcomes the world), and John 6:44 (no one comes to Jesus unless drawn by the Father) to reinforce the idea of identity transformation and the process of becoming what one is in Christ. The sermon also references the renaming of Simon to Peter (John 1:42) as a direct parallel to the new name in Revelation 2:17.

Overcoming Partiality Through God's Transformative Grace (SermonIndex.net) cross-references Genesis (Jacob’s renaming to Israel), Revelation 14:1 (the name of Jesus and the Father written on the foreheads of the redeemed), and Luke 14:25-27 (taking up the cross to follow Jesus), using these passages to illustrate the themes of new identity, personal relationship, and discipleship as they relate to Revelation 2:17.

Revelation 2:17 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting his analogy of God as a diamond with infinite facets, each person reflecting a unique aspect of God's character. This is used to illustrate the idea that the new name given in Revelation 2:17 represents a unique way each believer reveals and loves God, enriching the community's understanding of Him.

Guarding Against Internal Compromise in Faith (Alistair Begg) references Professor Blake Log, who comments on Balaam’s strategy in the Old Testament, though this is not directly tied to Revelation 2:17. No explicit non-biblical Christian sources are cited in the discussion of Revelation 2:17 itself.

Revelation 2:17 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Faithfulness and Holiness in a Compromising Culture (Desert Springs Church) uses the historical example of Adolf Hitler's fascination with the altar of Zeus in Pergamum, describing how Hitler had a replica built in Nuremberg for Nazi rallies. The preacher details how Hitler would descend the steps of this altar, modeled after the original, to address crowds, drawing a parallel between the ancient "throne of Satan" and modern manifestations of evil and idolatry. This vivid historical analogy is used to underscore the enduring relevance of the spiritual battle described in Revelation 2:17.

Faithfulness Amidst Cultural Temptations: Lessons from Pergamum (Johnson Street Church of Christ) opens with a detailed analogy from a visit to the Warner Bros. Studios, describing how TV sets like Central Perk from "Friends" and the "Big Bang Theory" set look impressive on screen but are revealed to be facades with no ceilings and hidden mechanisms when seen in person. This is used as a metaphor for the city of Pergamum, which appeared beautiful and advanced but concealed spiritual dangers beneath its surface. The analogy is extended to warn against being deceived by the "shiny" allure of culture, drawing a parallel to the hidden realities addressed in Revelation 2:17.

Embracing Our New Identity in Christ (Become New) uses several personal and cultural illustrations to explore the idea of naming and identity. The preacher references family stories (e.g., a brother's love for Halloween, a friend's love for the Dodgers, a son's love for surfing) and the tradition of giving nicknames, connecting these to the joy and significance of being named by God. The sermon also references the cultural practice of discussing what people love at funerals, rather than their achievements, to highlight how love and identity are intertwined.

Guarding Against Internal Compromise in Faith (Alistair Begg) uses the analogy of a teacher giving students a “start” on their homework to explain how to approach the mysteries of the hidden manna and white stone, and humorously references the common dislike of certain names (like “Agnes”) to illustrate the appeal of receiving a new name in heaven. He also uses the image of a Roman short sword, likening it to a fruit knife, to explain the metaphor of the sword of Christ’s mouth, though this is more related to the preceding verses than to Revelation 2:17 specifically.

Overcoming Partiality Through God's Transformative Grace (SermonIndex.net) employs the secular analogy of a bridegroom giving a precious stone with a secret love name to his bride, to illustrate the intimacy and exclusivity of the new name on the white stone. The preacher also uses personal anecdotes from the medical field and work among leprosy patients in India to draw parallels to the themes of partiality and personal transformation, making the promise of a new name especially poignant for those who have overcome social stigma or personal struggles.