Jesus promises a white stone with a secret name written on it. In the Roman world, white stones were used to show special favor or honor. The secret name on the stone is a sign of a close and personal relationship.
A few years ago, a well-known Christian author, Elizabeth Elliott, spoke at a church event. She shared that for a long time, people called her Betty Elliott because that was the name used in the book she wrote about her husband, Jim Elliott. But one day, Elizabeth explained that Betty was a private name Jim used only for her. She wanted to keep that name special between them. From then on, people started calling her Elizabeth instead of Betty.
A secret name represents a special, intimate bond between two people. Similarly, when you have a relationship with Jesus, He gives you a new identity. This new identity, represented by the new name, grows stronger as you stay close to Jesus and resist the negative influences of the world around you. This closeness with Jesus is beautiful fellowship and a mark of intimacy.
What Is Preterism?
Preterism is a belief about Bible prophecy. People who believe in Preterism think that most of the events described in the Bible have already happened. They believe that all the prophecies were fulfilled by 70 AD, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem Constantine’s Influence on the Church.
In Preterism, the Tribulation (a time of suffering for Christians) is thought to be the persecution of Christians in the past. They also believe Nero was the Antichrist mentioned in the Bible.
At the heart of Preterism is the idea that prophecies were meant to happen within the generation of Jesus. This means that when the Bible talks about the “last days”, it refers to the last days of Israel as a nation, and today, Israel has no more importance. According to Preterism, the New Jerusalem is the Church now, and it will spread Christianity throughout the world Tour Guide Ephesus.
This article discusses the importance of intimacy with Jesus and how He gives a new identity to those who follow Him. It also introduces the concept of Preterism, a belief that Bible prophecies were fulfilled in the past.
