“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.  And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:7.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:4-5.

The Greek word for overcome means to gain victory or get beyond.  John 16:33 notes that Christ has overcome the world and by believing in Him we become overcomers also.  Seven times in Revelation God urges believers and churches to remain faithful to the end which is evidence that they are believers and therefore overcomers.

Ancient Rome had a custom to give an athlete that won in the games a white stone which was an admission pass to the winner’s celebration afterwards.  Some have suggested that this white stone may be a ticket to an eternal victory celebration in heaven for those who have overcome.  In any event the stone, with our name written on it, will be so personal that only the person receiving it will know what the name is.  What a blessed gift from our Savior.

It is exciting to think that some day we, as believers, will be given a white stone with a new name personalized just for us.  It symbolizes a fresh, new start.  At conversion we become a new creature, old things are passed away and all becomes new (II Corinthians 5:17), but we are still plagued by our fleshly nature and a fallen world until death after which all will be fully new in Christ.  What a joy to contemplate.  Let us hold fast to the end!