Name Game | Paul the Poke

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Name Game: Believer in Christ (Insert Name) to ???

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags believer, church, ecclesia, Exodus 16, Gospel, Jesus Christ, John 6, manna, Name Game, Numbers 11, Psalm 78, Revelation 19, Revelation 2, white stone on May 14, 2015 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

These words come from Jesus Himself. The audience is the “churches”, believers in Christ. In the Bible, the “church” is not a building. This is the Greek word ecclesia. Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake.

The believers are encouraged to listen to their indwelled Spirit.

Three things are promised: hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name.

Manna is… Psalm 78:24 He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them food from heaven. The Hebrew word for manna is “man”. It literally means: “What is it?” Manna is a bread from grain from Heaven. Numbers 11:7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. Coriander is also known as cilantro. The seed is like a little pellet and its color is yellow/brown. Exodus 16:15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

The manna is concealed or hidden. Likewise, manna is concealed in an urn in the Ark of the Covenant. Hebrews 9:4a having a golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna…

Manna is the food of angels. Psalm 78:25 Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. As manna came from Heaven, Jesus is the bread from Heaven.

White stone… The Greek word for stone is psephos. Per Strong’s, it is a small worn smooth stone, a pebble; in the ancient courts of justice the accused were condemned by black pebbles and the acquitted by white.

As believers in Christ, we are acquitted of our sin by the bloodshed and work of Jesus on the cross. He is the payment for the crime. We will be given a small white stone. Jesus Himself is telling us this in the verse.

Jesus promises believers in Him a name change and it is personal…and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.

And for good measure, Jesus will have a different name, and it is personal. Revelation 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

Name Game: Jacob to Israel

Posted in Prophecy with tags Amos 9, Angel of the Lord, Genesis 25, Genesis 33, God, Isaiah 66, Israel, Jacob, Name Game on May 3, 2015 by paulthepoke

Genesis 32:24-28 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Name changes in the Bible are not uncommon. Here are some examples. God changed Abram to Abraham (Genesis 17:5), Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17:15), and Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9).

The verses above are how the man named Jacob had his name changed to Israel. The nation Israel would come from this man.

In the Hebrew (Strong’s Concordance), Jacob means “heel holder” or “supplanter”. It can also mean he cheats or deceives. Jacob was given this name because of the events at his birth. Genesis 25:26a Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob…This name accurately describes Jacob. He cheated and deceived his brother Esau for his inheritance. The deceiver met his match in his future father in law, Laban (Genesis 29-31).

Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. In the Hebrew (Strong’s Concordance), Israel means “God prevails”. Per Holman’s Bible Dictionary, Israel means God strives, God rules, God heals, or he strives against God.

The verse above has proven to be prophetic for nation Israel. The country struggled against Egypt and was held captive for 400 years. God delivered His people out of slavery and bondage in the Book of Exodus.

God’s chosen people were taken captive by Tiglath-Pileser and the Assyrian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonians and plundered Jerusalem. Those who survived were taken back to Babylon. Israel was under Persian rule after they conquered Babylon.

They were dispersed throughout the world in the first century at the hands of the Roman Empire. They survived the Spanish Inquisition in the late 1400’s. Hitler attempted to exterminate the Jewish people during the middle of the 20^th century in World War II.

They were reborn as a country in a day in 1948. The rebirth of Israel was prophesied in Isaiah 66:8-9 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

Along the way, God has healed and preserved His chosen people. And they have wrestled with Him.

God prevails. Amos 9:15 I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God.