A CHANGE OF NAME

"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name . . . To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Isaiah 62:2; Revelation 2:17)


IN THE WORD OF GOD, the name of an individual or group reflects something of their person or character. Thus God called the first man and woman "Adam," which means "man," or "mankind (Gen 5:2). Adam called Eve "Woman," because "she was taken out of Man" (Gen 2:23). Eve gave another son the name "Seth" (meaning "compensation"), "For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew" (Gen 4:25). Lamech gave the name "Noah" (meaning "rest") to his most prominent son because "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed" (Gen 5:29). Esau (meaning "hairy") received his name because when he was born "came out red, all over like an hairy garment" (Gen 25:25). Because he was born at a time when the glory of God had forsaken Israel, the wife of Phineas, (one of Eli’s sons who was killed in an judgment from God) named her child "Icabod" (meaning "no glory), "saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband" (1 Sam 4:21). Even Jabez (meaning "sorrowful) was given his name by his mother "Because I bare him with sorrow" (1 Chron 4:9).


AT THE HEAD OF ALL NAMES is the Lord Jesus. He was named "Jesus" (meaning "Jehovah is salvation") "for He shall save his people from their sins" (Matt 1:21). In his magnificent prophecy of the coming Savior, and because of what He would do, Isaiah said "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6). In the Divine economy, names have great significance.

BECAUSE OF THIS, whenever a person’s name was changed, it was because a more precise identity was required. Either the first name was not appropriate, or a change was made by God in the individual. An example of the former was the naming of Benjamin. Rachel died while giving birth to him, and thus named him "Benoni" (meaning "son of my sorrow"), "as her soul was departing." His father Jacob, however, named him "Benjamin" (meaning "son of the right hand") because he was especially precious to him (Gen 35:18).

THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF GOD CHANGING NAMES. "Abram" was changed to "Abraham," because he became the "father of many nations" (Gen 17:5). "Sarai" was changed to "Sarah," because she became the "a mother of nations" (Gen 17:15). "Jacob" was changed to "Israel," because "as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed" (Gen 32:28). "Simon" was changed to "Cephas," because he became a spiritual stone, noted for solidity (John 1:42). The Lord said to Israel, "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her), and thy land Beulah (husband): for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married" (Isa 62:4). In all of these, a very real change of the person, the people, or the land, took place. It was for that reason they were renamed.

OUR TEXTS AFFIRM that God’s people as a whole will have a new name, and that individuals will as well. The Lord, Isaiah affirms, will choose the "new name" – it is one "which the mouth of the Lord shall name." In that particular text (Isa 62:2), the name is not specified. In fact, the point is NOT what the name will be, but that their identity will be changed. Some have said the "new name" is "Christian," correlating the promise with Acts 11:26, "where the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." That view, however, is wholly unsupported by Scripture, and misses the whole point of Isaiah’s prophecy. The point is that the people were going to be changed, just as surely as Abram, Sarai, Jacob, and Simon were changed. They would receive a new nature, and thus would be known by a new name. The people of God are noted for what they have become in Christ Jesus, not for what they are in the flesh.

IN THE REVELATION TEXT, Jesus Himself holds a promise before the churches. The one who overcomes the world will, He affirms, receive "a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Just as in Isaiah, that new name is not specified. What it is, is not the point of the promise. It will be so personal, only the one having receiving will know what it is. It will reflect the change that has been realized by glorification. No doubt, something of what was involved in that final change will be reflected in the name, bringing great joy to the one receiving it. The role of the individual in the "ages to come" will no doubt be in the name, just as surely as future involvements were revealed in Abraham, Sarah, Israel, and Cephas. What a glorious future is held out to those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!

– Given O. Blakely