A White Stone

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

If you haven’t read the Book of Revelation in a while, you might want to revisit it. While I admit that Revelation can be difficult to understand and interpretations of its contents are often all over the map, still, it is (according to chapter one) “The Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” These words alone should stir our hearts to search its pages.

Chapters two and three contain messages to the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Each message begins with a description of Jesus and ends with a promise to those who are victorious. Here in chapter two, Jesus promises the victorious ones that He will give them a white stone engraved with a new name.

Although no interpretation is given in Revelation concerning either the white stone or the inscription, cultural practices from the time, as well as other scriptures, may give us clues to their meaning.

Concerning the white stones, in some Middle Eastern cultures, white and black stones were used by trial judges on a panel to cast a vote on the verdict of the accused. A black stone would indicate guilt, while a white stone would indicate innocence. If the accused received more white stones than black from the panel, the accused would be acquitted.

Similarly, we will all one day stand before God and face His righteous judgment. Those who have accepted Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for their sins will be acquitted (given a white stone, if you will). His death paid our price, and we will be found innocent in God’s eyes with the debt already paid in full.