03 Chapter The Sacred Names

title: Chapter 3 - The Sacred Names chapter: 3 tags: #theology #divine-names #revelation #identity created: 2025-11-04

Chapter 3: The Sacred Names - Participation in Divine Nature

“I will write on him the name of my God… and my own new name”

More Than Labels

In the ancient world, names carried power. They represented essence, authority, and relationship. To bear someone’s name meant to participate in their identity and exercise their authority. When Scripture speaks of divine names, it’s revealing something far more profound than mere titles.

Old Testament Foundations

The Revelation of YHWH (Exodus 3:13-15)

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you… This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.’”

The Tetragrammaton (YHWH):

The personal, covenant name of God
Represents eternal self-existence and faithfulness
Too sacred to pronounce—called “The Name” (Hashem)
Foundation of all covenant relationships

Names Revealing Divine Character

Exodus 34:6-7: The Name Proclaimed

“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, The LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…’”

Each divine name unveils another facet of God’s nature:

El Shaddai - God Almighty, covenant power
Adonai - Lord, sovereign authority
El Elyon - Most High God, supreme rule

The Power of Divine Names

David facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45):

“I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts”

Authority flows through the name
Speaking and acting with divine backing
Representing God’s power and presence

The New Testament Revolution

Jesus’ Name Carries Divine Power

Acts 3:6 - The Lame Man Healed:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Acts 4:12 - Exclusive Salvation:

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 19:13-16 - The Seven Sons of Sceva:

The evil spirits recognize Jesus’ name but reject unauthorized users:

“Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

Prayer in Jesus’ Name

John 14:13-14, 16:23-24:

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do… If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Not a magical formula, but authority delegation—praying with Christ’s authority and according to his will.

The Name Transformation Pattern

Isaiah 62:1-4 - Jerusalem’s New Names

“You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow… No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah [My Delight is in her], and your land Beulah [Married].”

The Pattern:

Old names reflect broken condition
New names reflect restored relationship
Transformation brings new identity
God himself gives the new names

Individual Name Changes

Jacob to Israel - from “Supplanter” to “He who strives with God”
Simon to Peter - from “Reed” to “Rock”
Saul to Paul - from persecutor to apostle

Names change when identity transforms through divine encounter.

Revelation’s Multiple Names

Christ’s Layered Identity (Revelation 19:11-16)

Three distinct names revealed:

1. The Secret Name (v.12)

“He has a name written that no one knows but himself”

The incomprehensible divine essence
Mystery that belongs to God alone
Infinite depths beyond creature understanding
Even in glorified state, aspects remain hidden

2. “The Word of God” (v.13)

“The name by which he is called”

His revealed identity and function
Divine communication and revelation incarnate
The means by which God speaks to creation
Connects to John 1:1—“In the beginning was the Word”

3. “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (v.16)

Written on robe and thigh:

Cosmic governmental authority
Supreme sovereignty over all earthly powers
The culmination of his exalted status
Public declaration of ultimate rule

Believers Receiving Divine Names

Revelation 3:12 - The Promise to Philadelphia

“I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem… and my own new name.”

Three names written on overcomers:

The Father’s name - Participation in divine nature
The city’s name (New Jerusalem) - Heavenly citizenship and community
Christ’s new name - Union with his victory and identity

Revelation 14:1 - The 144,000

“They had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Both the Son’s name and the Father’s name—complete divine identity sharing.

The Believer’s Secret Name (Revelation 2:17)

“I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

The Mystery of Individual Names:

Each believer receives a unique name known only to themselves and God
Suggests personalized relationship and individual calling
The white stone may represent acquittal, victory, or admission
Parallels Christ’s secret name—intimate divine knowledge

The Divine Name Economy

The Father’s Role

Source of all divine names and authority
Gives the name above every name to the Son
Writes his name on believers
Remains the ultimate reference point

The Son’s Role

Receives YHWH as reward for cross-obedience
Bears multiple functional names (Word, King of kings, etc.)
Shares divine names with believers
Mediates divine identity to his people

The Believers’ Role

Receive divine names as participation in divine nature
Bear God’s authority through his name
Exercise divine power through Christ’s name
Await fuller name revelation in the eternal state

Participation, Not Just Forgiveness

The staggering truth emerges: salvation isn’t just forgiveness but participation. We don’t just get our sins erased—we get God’s names written on us. We become bearers of divine identity, sharers in divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

What It Means to Bear Divine Names

2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people who are called by my name…”

Jeremiah 15:16:

“For I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”

Being called by God’s name means:

Covenant relationship and belonging
Authority to act as God’s representatives
Participation in divine mission
Identity transformation

The Progression of Divine Names Through Scripture

Old Testament: Names Reveal Divine Character

YHWH - Covenant faithfulness and eternal existence
El Shaddai - Almighty power and provision
Adonai - Sovereign lordship
El Elyon - Most High God

New Testament: Names Reveal Divine Mission

Jesus (Yeshua) - “YHWH saves”
Christ (Messiah) - “Anointed One”
Lord (Kyrios) - Divine authority, often translating YHWH
The Word - Divine revelation and creative power

Revelation: Names Reveal Divine Completion

King of kings and Lord of lords - Ultimate cosmic authority
The Word of God - Perfect divine revelation
Secret name - Incomprehensible divine mystery
New name - Eschatological identity

The Christological Connection

Evidence for YHWH as the Received Name

Linguistic Evidence:

“The name above every name” (definite article suggests specific, known name)
In Jewish context, “The Name” always meant the Tetragrammaton
Romans 10:13 applies “call on the name of YHWH” to calling on Jesus

Theological Evidence:

Only YHWH would truly be “above every name”
Explains universal worship (every knee bows to YHWH in Isaiah 45:23)
Accounts for Jesus receiving worship due to God alone

The Multiple Names Theory

Different Names for Different Functions:

YHWH - Essential divine identity received at exaltation
The Word of God - Revelatory function and mission
King of kings and Lord of lords - Cosmic governmental authority
Secret name - Incomprehensible divine essence
New name - Eschatological identity for eternal state

Believers and Divine Names

Receiving Multiple Divine Names (Revelation 3:12)

The Father’s Name:

Participation in divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)
Covenant relationship and belonging
Authority to act as God’s representatives

The City’s Name (New Jerusalem):

Citizenship in heavenly kingdom
Participation in divine community
Identity with God’s eternal purposes

Christ’s New Name:

Union with the exalted Christ
Sharing in his victory and authority
Participation in his eschatological identity

Individual Secret Names (Revelation 2:17)

Personal Relationship:

Unique calling and identity in God’s plan
Intimate knowledge between God and individual
Personal victory and overcoming

The White Stone:

Ancient symbol of acquittal in courts
Admission token to feasts
Victory prize in competitions
New identity and acceptance

Synthesis: The Divine Name Economy

Current Age

Christ bears the divine name and cosmic authority
Believers bear preliminary divine names
Secret aspects remain hidden
Progressive revelation and participation

Coming Age

Christ’s new name revealed
Believers receive full divine name inscription
Personal secret names disclosed
Perfect participation in divine nature achieved

Eternal State

“God all in all” configuration
Complete divine name sharing
Perfect union while maintaining distinct personalities
The name economy reaches its consummation

The Staggering Reality

The “name above every name” becomes not just Christ’s individual possession, but the gateway for believers to participate in divine identity itself. The Son who received the divine name now shares it with his people.

This progression reveals that divine names are not merely labels but represent participatory reality—sharing in God’s own nature, authority, and eternal purposes through covenant relationship and union with Christ.

“But how does this divine name economy unfold through history? What is the complete timeline from cross to consummation?”

Next: [[Resources/The Name Above Every Name/Chapter 4 - The Great Timeline|Chapter 4: The Great Timeline - From Delegation to Consummation]]