It’s recorded in Revelation 3:12: “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write on him My new name.” When some brothers and sisters see the words “My new name” in this prophecy, they think that perhaps the Lord will take on a new name and won’t be called Jesus when He returns. But there are also some brothers and sisters who believe that the Lord Jesus won’t change His name, and that only He is our Savior based on these verses: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), and “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). However, if God’s name will not change, then what’s the true meaning of God’s name prophesied in Revelation 3:12? Will God change His name when He returns? Will He still be called Jesus? Now let’s fellowship about the truth of God’s names.
Will God’s Name Change?
Some people think God’s name is Jesus and it will never change. Is it really so? Is God’s name unchangeable? Let’s first look at these two verses, “I, even I, am Jehovah; and beside Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11). “[Jehovah] is My name for ever, and this is My memorial to all generations” (Exodus 3:15).
In these verses, God tells us clearly that apart from Jehovah God, there was no Savior and the name Jehovah would last forever. When the Lord Jesus came to work, people called Him the Savior. If God’s name was unchangeable, why then did the name of Jehovah become Jesus? This proves that God’s name is not eternally unchanging.
Some people may ask: “Since God’s name is changeable, then how should we understand the words recorded in the Bible: ‘[Jehovah] is My name for ever, and this is My memorial to all generations’?” Actually, God’s name being forever means that His name does not change during that current age. That is to say, as long as God’s work in that current age hasn’t ended, we should keep His name in that age, and only by doing so can we gain the work of the Holy Spirit and God’s approval. However, when God starts a new work, His name will change accordingly. Then, only by accepting God’s new name will we have God’s approval. Take the disciples, for example, such as Peter and John. They all accepted God’s new name in that age—the Lord Jesus, and followed God’s new work, so they were able to obtain the work of the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s salvation. This makes us understand that God’s name is not immutable and it changes with God’s work in the new age. However, no matter how the name of God changes, God is still one God, and it is only that God is called differently. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). What does this verse mean? Actually, it means that God’s substance and disposition are immutable, and doesn’t mean God’s name is unchangeable. There’s a passage of words that explains this very clearly, “There are those who say that God is immutable. That is correct, but it refers to the immutability of God’s disposition and His substance. Changes in His name and work do not prove that His substance has altered; in other words, God will always be God, and this will never change. If you say that the work of God is unchanging, then would He be able to finish His six-thousand-year management plan? You only know that God is forever unchanging, but do you know that God is always new and never old? If the work of God is unchanging, then could He have led mankind all the way to the present day? If God is immutable, then why is it that He has already done the work of two ages? … The words ‘God is immutable’ refer to what God inherently has and is. Regardless, you cannot make the work of six thousand years hinge upon a single point, or circumscribe it with dead words. Such is the stupidity of man. God is not as simple as man imagines, and His work cannot linger in any one age. Jehovah, for example, cannot always stand for the name of God; God can also do His work under the name of Jesus. This is a sign that God’s work is always progressing in a forward direction” (“The Vision of God’s Work (3)”). From this, we can see that God Himself is unchanging. This refers to God’s disposition and essence, not His name. God has performed different work and has adopted different names in different ages, but regardless of whether His name is Jehovah or Jesus, His substance never changes. It is always the same God working. Take the Pharisees in Judaism for example. They did not know that the name of God would change with the age, so they thought that only Messiah was their God and their Savior. As a result, when God changed His name to do the work of redemption with the name Jesus, they frantically condemned and resisted the Lord Jesus, and finally crucified Him, committing a heinous sin and being punished by God. We should take the example of the Pharisees as a warning. We shouldn’t, according to our own notions and imaginations, conclude that God’s name will never change, let alone say God’s name in the last days will still be Jesus; otherwise we would be delimiting God.
The Significance of God Taking Different Names in Different Ages
So why does God take different names in different ages? What’s the significance of God taking different names? Let’s read this passage, “‘‘Jehovah’ is the name that I took during My work in Israel, and it means the God of the Israelites (God’s chosen people) who can take pity on man, curse man, and guide the life of man; the God who possesses great power and is full of wisdom. ‘Jesus’ is Emmanuel, which means the sin offering that is full of love, full of compassion, and which redeems man. He did the work of the Age of Grace, and He represents the Age of Grace, and can only represent one part of the work of the management plan. That is to say, only Jehovah is the God of the chosen people of Israel, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Moses, and the God of all the people of Israel. And so, in the current age, all the Israelites, apart from the Jewish people, worship Jehovah. They make sacrifices to Him on the altar and serve Him in the temple wearing priests’ robes. What they hope for is the reappearance of Jehovah. Only Jesus is the Redeemer of mankind, and He is the sin offering that redeemed mankind from sin. Which is to say, the name of Jesus came from the Age of Grace and came into existence because of the work of redemption in the Age of Grace. The name of Jesus came into existence to allow the people of the Age of Grace to be reborn and saved, and is a particular name for the redemption of the whole of mankind. Thus, the name Jesus represents the work of redemption, and denotes the Age of Grace. The name Jehovah is a particular name for the people of Israel who lived under the law. In each age and each stage of work, My name is not baseless, but holds representative significance: Each name represents one age. ‘Jehovah’ represents the Age of Law, and is the honorific for the God worshiped by the people of Israel. ‘Jesus’ represents the Age of Grace, and is the name of the God of all those who were redeemed during the Age of Grace. If man still longs for the arrival of Jesus the Savior during the last days, and still expects Him to arrive in the image He bore in Judea, then the entire six-thousand-year management plan would have stopped in the Age of Redemption, and could not have progressed any further. The last days, furthermore, would never arrive, and the age would never be brought to an end. This is because Jesus the Savior is only for the redemption and salvation of mankind. I took the name of Jesus only for the sake of all the sinners in the Age of Grace, but it is not the name by which I shall bring the whole of mankind to an end” (“The Savior Has Already Returned Upon a ‘White Cloud’”). This passage tells us the meaning of God taking a different name in each age. God’s name in the Age of Law is Jehovah, which represents the work that God did in the Age of Law, and also represents the disposition He expressed to man during that age, that of majesty, wrath, curse and mercy. Jehovah God proclaimed the law and the commandments, allowing people to know what sin is, how to live and worship God on earth. Those who adhered to the law and the commandments could be blessed by God, while those who violated the law would be cursed and punished by God. Therefore, the Israelites under the law strictly abided by the law, revered the name Jehovah as holy, and had lived under the leadership of Jehovah God for thousands of years. By the end of the Age of Law, mankind was in danger of being put to death by the law due to their increasing corruption, failing to keep the law and the commandments, and having no sacrifices to offer to God. So, in order to save mankind, God began the Age of Grace, took the name Jesus, and did the work of redemption. In other words, the name Jesus represents the work that God did in the Age of Grace, and it also represents His merciful and loving disposition that God expressed in the Age of Grace. The Lord Jesus showed the utmost love and compassion, provided man with the way of repentance and was finally crucified to redeem mankind so that they are no longer convicted by the law and have the opportunity to come before God to pray and enjoy His grace and blessings. It can be seen that God has a fixed name in each age, but no one name can fully represent Him. Therefore, in each stage of new work, God will take a particular name, one that possesses temporal significance, to represent His work and disposition in that age. Moreover, it can be seen that God is always new and never old, and when God does the work of the new age, He will no longer use the old name. Only when we accept God’s name of the new age can we gain the Holy Spirit’s work and gain God’s approval.
Welcoming the Lord’s Return by Accepting His New Name in the Last Days
Then, will the Lord change His name when He returns? In fact, some Bible verses already tell us that when the Lord returns He will have a new name, such as “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12), “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8), “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God Almighty reigns” (Revelation 19:6), “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8), “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give You thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because You have taken to You Your great power, and have reigned” (Revelation 11:16–17). From these verses we can see that God will have a new name. So, we can be sure that when the Lord returns He will not be called Jesus. Besides, we can see a lot of verses which say that God’s name is the “Almighty.” Apart from these verses, other verses also mention the Almighty such as Revelation 15:3, Revelation 16:7, Revelation 16:14, Revelation 21:22, and so on. According to these prophecies, when the Lord returns to do new work, His name will be changed to the Almighty. And God will start a new age and conclude the work of the Age of Grace under the name the Almighty, so that people will know God’s entire disposition and honor the name the Almighty as great. If we accept the new name of God in the last days, we have welcomed the return of the Lord Jesus.
Now people of Eastern Lightning testify that the Lord Jesus has returned and His name is Almighty God, which fulfills the prophecies in Revelation. And they also testify that Almighty God has expressed many truths and is doing the work of judging and purifying man, and He will classify each person according to their kind and separate the tares from the wheat. Those who accept the judgment of God’s words and be cleansed can be made overcomers before the disaster and enter God’s kingdom, while those who refuse to accept the judgment of God’s words will fall into the great disaster. This fulfills these prophecies in the Bible, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come” (John 16:12–13). “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). “He that rejects Me, and receives not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). “And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:30). According to these biblical prophecies, Almighty God is the returned Lord Jesus. We’d better seek humbly to avoid missing the chance to welcome the Lord’s return.
After reading this article, if you have any gains to share or any questions about God’s name to ask, feel free to click the buttons at the bottom right corner of the screen to contact us or read the following content.
• Do You Know the Meaning of Name “Jesus”?
• Do You Know the Origin and Significance of Name “Jehovah”?
• It’s Prophesied in Revelation 3:12 That the Lord Shall Have a New Name Upon His Return
FAQs
Why is God going to give us a white stone with a new name? ›
In the New Testament, Christians are promised a white stone with a new name written on it as a reward for persevering faithfulness. We find this in Revelations chapter 2, verse 17, where the Apostle John writes that in his revelation Jesus has a word to speak to the church of Pergamum, and by extension to us.
What does it mean when God gives you a new name? ›When several people in the Old and New Testament had a spiritual awakening by coming to God, on a new or deeper level, He gave them a new name, a new identity that redefined their lives. No longer would they be defined by their old ways but rather be called and realized by their new names.
What is God's new name in the Bible? ›Yahweh is the principal name in the Old Testament by which God reveals himself and is the most sacred, distinctive and incommunicable name of God.
What does the Bible say about God giving us a new name? ›“To Everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows but the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
What is the new name in Revelation? ›Greg Beale believes that the “name” in Revelation 2:17 is a reference to the “name of my God, the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my [Christ's] new name” in Revelation 3:12.
What does the 12 stones represent in Revelation? ›Answer: In the Bible, Revelation 21:19-20 lists twelve gemstones as the foundation stones of the Heavenly City. Over the centuries, like the stones of the breastplate of Aaron, these Biblical gems became associated with astrological signs and the months of the calendar.
What is the meaning of new name? ›English: nickname for a newcomer to an area (though someone new to a position or occupation is also possible) from Middle English newe 'new' (Old English nīwe).
What does God's name represent? ›Specifically, God says, “This is My name forever and this is My memorial from generation to generation” (Exodus 3:15, author's translation). What does it mean for God's name, Yahweh, to be His memorial? Many translations render this verse so that His name is how He is to be remembered.
What does it mean when God calls a name twice? ›There are at least seven times in the Bible where names were called twice. Names are called twice usually for emphasis: attention, affection, disgust, assignments, tasks, favor, thanks, or warning.
What is God's 3 names? ›In the calling of Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex 3:1–4:18), the divine presence has three different names: Elohim (God), YHWH (LORD), and Ehyeh [Pla81]. “Elohim” is a basic generic name for god, e.g., the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex 3:6).
What is God's revealed name? ›
In Exodus 3:14, appearing before Moses as a burning bush, God reveals his name referring to himself in Hebrew tongue as “Yahweh” (YHWH) which translates to “I am who I am.” The Church decided that this name needed to be replaced with the words “God” and “Lord” and so “Yahweh” was stricken from all the passages and the ...
What are the 7 name of God? ›Seven names of God. The names of God that, once written, cannot be erased because of their holiness are the Tetragrammaton, Adonai, El, Elohim, Shaddai, Tzevaot; some also include Ehyeh ("I Will Be"). In addition, the name Jah—because it forms part of the Tetragrammaton—is similarly protected.
What name is God with us? ›The Hebrew name “Emmanuel” literally means “God is with us”.
Who was the first person to give God a name? ›Hagar was the very first person to dare to give God a name. She wasn't a person of any authority or particular merit, she wasn't a prophet or a priestess: she was an Egyptian slave girl owned by Abram's wife, Sarai.
What is the final word at the end of Revelation? ›"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Does God have different names? ›Other names used by Christians include Ancient of Days, Father/Abba which is Hebrew, "Most High" and the Hebrew names Elohim, El-Shaddai, Yahweh, Jehovah and Adonai. Abba ('father' in Hebrew) is a common term used for the creator within Christianity because it was a title Jesus used to refer to God the Father.
What did Jesus call himself in the Book of Revelation? ›Revelation 19–22: Jesus as the “Divine Lamb”
What do the 12 stones of Israel represent? ›Twelve Stones (twelve מצבות (matzevot) or standing stones) was a common form of marking a spectacular religious event in the days of Kingdom of Judah before the time of King Josiah (Deuteronomy 27:1–8).
What is the significance of the number 12 in the Bible? ›The number 12 is mentioned often in the New Testament of the Bible, such as Jesus' selection of 12 apostles, he said. That choice was deliberate, with each apostle representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel, said Reed, a professor emeritus of pastoral theology and research.
What do the 12 gates in heaven represent? ›This verse is referencing the city of the New Jerusalem or Heaven. It gives us insight to how many gates there are leading into Heaven — 12. Each gate representing one of the tribes of Israel. If we are planning on entering Heaven, we must walk through one of the gates of the tribes of Israel.
How do you pick yourself a new name? ›
There's no singularly correct way to choose a name, so feel free to draw inspiration from whatever resonates with you. Popular options include celebrities, fictional characters, family members, flora and fauna. Of course, not all trans people change their names when they transition.
Why did God change Sarah and Abraham's name? ›In Genesis 17 we learn about further promises and responsibilities the Lord revealed pertaining to the Abrahamic covenant. In connection with this covenant, the Lord changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah. Circumcision became a sign or token of the covenant.
What is the main purpose of name? ›Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.
What does Yahweh mean literally? ›"Yahweh" is the Hebrew word for the self-revealed name of the God of the Old Testament. It comes from the Hebrew verb "To be." At its core, "Yahweh" means "To be." The English Bible translates it as "LORD," which distinguishes it from "Lord" (which is translated as "master").
What is God's forbidden name? ›All modern denominations of Judaism teach that the four letter name of God, YHWH, is forbidden to be uttered except by the High Priest, in the Temple. Since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer exists, this name is never said in religious rituals by Jews. Orthodox and Conservative Jews never pronounce it for any reason.
How would you explain that God wants us to use his name? ›He is looking for you to act on His behalf and to carry out His business on earth until He comes. But if you're not using His Name, you are using His Name in vain. You're not using the power of attorney He gave you (John 16:23). God wants us to have the results He promises in His Word.
Who was called by God 3 times? ›The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.
Who was called by God 4 times? ›God called Samuel four times that night long ago. God was patient with Samuel; finally, Samuel understood and listened to what God was telling him. God patiently calls us, too. God calls us to listen to him and understand what he wants us to do.
Why is God given so many names? ›However, the Greeks and Romans they spoke to had many different ideas about the gods, which is why you find many various titles and names for God in the New Testament (pronounced in Greek as theos).
What is the real name of God? ›Yahweh, name for the God of the Israelites, representing the biblical pronunciation of “YHWH,” the Hebrew name revealed to Moses in the book of Exodus. The name YHWH, consisting of the sequence of consonants Yod, Heh, Waw, and Heh, is known as the tetragrammaton.
What is God's greatest name? ›
The Greatest Name
In Islamic belief God has 99 names, and in some Islamic traditions it is believed that there is a special hidden 100th name, which is the greatest. In Baháʼí belief the Greatest Name is Baháʼ (بهاء), translated as "glory" or "splendour".
Elyon (Hebrew: עֶלְיוֹן ʿElyōn) is an epithet of the God of the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible. ʾĒl ʿElyōn is usually rendered in English as "God Most High", and similarly in the Septuagint as ὁ Θεός ὁ ὕψιστος ("God the highest").
Why is God's name Jehovah? ›Jehovah, artificial Latinized rendering of the name of the God of Israel. The name arose among Christians in the Middle Ages through the combination of the consonants YHWH (JHVH) with the vowels of Adonai (“My Lord”).
What is the 72 letter name of God? ›...
Angels of the Shem HaMephorash.
| Angel (per Reuchlin) | Biblical verse (per Rudd) | Demon ruled (per Rudd) |
|---|---|---|
| 72. Mumiah | Psalms 116:7 | Andromalius |
God stopped on the seventh day. In Hebrew, the number "seven" has the same consonants as the word for completeness or wholeness. Tim: In Genesis 1, seven develops two key symbolic associations. One of them is that one through seven all together is a symbol of completeness.
Which book in the Bible does not mention God? ›There are two books of the Bible that never mention God by name: Song of Solomon and Esther.
Is Emmanuel the same as Jesus? ›We hear a lot about “Emmanuel” at Christmas, but who is Emmanuel? The word Emmanuel appears 4 times in the Bible—three times in Isaiah and once in Matthew. Emmanuel means “God with us” and is a name for Jesus.
Are Jesus and Immanuel the same name? ›The answer that the biblical story gives is Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us. The reference to this name comes from the prophet Isaiah who first foretold of a virgin or young women conceiving and bearing a child. As the prophet says, this child will be named “Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14).
What are the 12 names of Jesus? ›- Savior. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).
- Redeemer. ...
- Bread of Life. ...
- Lord. ...
- Creator. ...
- Son of the Living God. ...
- Only Begotten Son. ...
- Beloved Son.
After all, they disobeyed God's command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. God is the One who decides who does or does not enter heaven. There's no place in the Bible that says they were saved. But there is no place in the Bible that indicates the couple was lost, either.
Who put God first in the Bible? ›
Abram was 80 years old when he left his rich and prosperous home to travel into the desert. God had called him, and Abram put God first.
Who is the only God to name in the Bible? ›In this encounter with God's messenger, Hagar realizes that she is actually speaking with God, and she gives God a name, El Roi, “The God who sees me.” Hagar is the only person in the Hebrew Bible who gives God a name (Gen 16:13).
Why do we receive new names in the temple? ›New names symbolize entering a new life, a new identity, and a new covenant. Everything about the initiatory foreshadows and anticipates something greater in the future. The Washing cleanses us and prepares us to receive the rest of the ordinances of the temple.
What do white stones mean? ›Often celebrated as being master healers, these stones are awesome at amplifying dreams and visions, connecting us with our spirit guides, and encouraging us to be open and receptive. White gems are connected to feminine energy, the swirl of cosmic stars, and the idea of purifying your body, mind, and soul.
What is the stone for white? ›| Gemstone | Color |
|---|---|
| Moonstone, Rainbow | White with multicolored flashes |
| Moonstone, White | White |
| Quartz, Quartzite | White |
| Quartz, White | White |
White Gemstones are associated with Healing, Cleansing, Protection, Hope, Wholeness, Unity, and Inspiration.
What does the temple symbolize in the Bible? ›The temple is a place where Heaven and Earth are united. The ancient Israelite temple was a symbol that pointed to God's desire to live among his human partners and rule the world through them. The temple was a sacred place to the ancient Israelites.
What does the temple of God symbolize? ›The temple is where God dwells with his people throughout the biblical story. So if the people of God are the temple, that means it is through these people that God reaches the world. In the ancient world, people traveled from far and wide to encounter God at the temple in Jerusalem.
What is the purpose of our names? ›Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.
What does a stone symbolize in the Bible? ›The words rock and stone, referring to the prime elements in ancient foundations, are used in the scriptures as metaphors signifying strength, steadiness, and durability.
What does a stone symbolize? ›
In our everyday life rocks represent struggles to overcome and perspectives to be gained. Many myths, fables and stories use rocks to symbolize the obstacles a character must overcome to complete their quest.
What is the difference between white and stone white? ›Within the terminology of off-white, “cream” indicates white with yellow undertones as does “ivory,” while “natural” is applied to garments that border on beige (because they contain a bit of brown) but don't quite get there. Meanwhile, “stone” signifies an off-white with some gray in it.
What stone is white like a diamond? ›White Zircon
With its excellent brilliance and dispersion, it has a long history as a diamond simulant. In terms of appearance, zircon comes closer to diamond than any other mined gemstone. However, in terms of durability, it's far more fragile.
Pure quartz, traditionally called rock crystal or clear quartz, is colorless and transparent or translucent, and has often been used for hardstone carvings, such as the Lothair Crystal.
What precious stone is black? ›Black Opal, Black Onyx, Black Tourmaline and Black Pearl (both round and baroque pearls) are some of the most popular black gemstones out there. Black Obsidian, Black Diamond, Black Garnet, Blizzard Stone and Black Spinel are other sought-after black gemstones options for jewelry lovers.
What is the name of a white rock? ›Pegmatites are a special type of granite that have huge crystals. They have a bold texture that is primarily white, cream, or light grey. Pegmatites form in the same manner as regular granite: from liquid magma that slowly cooled underneath the surface of the Earth.
What does a black and white stone mean? ›A Roman custom used in their court system was a white stone and a black stone. If the prisoner received a white stone, he was found "not guilty". If he received a black stone, he was found "guilty". Either way, he knew his judgment.
What are the benefits of white stone? ›The white gemstone is also called Shwet Praval or Safed Moonga and is known to be extremely beneficial to its wearer. Promoting self-expression and a flair for communication, this gemstone is known to augment balance and resonance in its wearer's voice.