II. Will We Have a New Name In Glory?

Will we have a new name in Heaven, unknown to us now; or will we maintain our earthly name in Heaven and through eternity? The verse responsible for raising this question is found in Revelation 2:17,
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; 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.”
I believe the best way to understand this verse is to correlate each aspect of this verse with other Scripture. Therefore, we will examine each section of the verse; and, in so doing, gain a the whole picture of what the verse is presenting to us as Christians; which will answer the initial question.
A. “To him that overcometh” The overcomer is a Christian who, by faith, has trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior. 1 John 5:4-5 explains the word “overcometh.”
“For whatsoever is born of God OVERCOMETH the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”
B. “Eat of the hidden manna” The manna that sustained Israel in the wilderness is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and His word. John 6:32-33; John 6:35 clarifies this: 
“Then Jesus saith unto them,…Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (John 6:32)
For the bread of God is he (Christ) which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” (John 6:33)
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
Christians feast on the word of God as a source of knowledge, strength, and growth. They love and desire the Word of God. On the other hand, there are those who have no desire for spiritual truth; therefore, God’s Word, the Bible, is of no interest whatsoever to them. Matthew 13:15 explains why the word of God, or manna, is hidden from many.
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted (change their thinking), and I should heal them.”
C. “And will give him (the Christian) a white stone.” 
1. The white stone represents the Lord Jesus Christ. White is showing us His sinlessness. In Matthew 27:19, Pilate’s wife said,
“…Have thou nothing to do with that JUST MAN...” 
(This is probably one time he should have listened to his wife!) Pilate himself stated three times,
“…I find NO FAULT IN HIM…” (John 18:38; John 19:4; John 19:6) 
Judas himself declared in Matthew 27:4,
“…I have betrayed the INNOCENT BLOOD (i.e., Christ)...” 
Jesus said of Himself that He is the Stone that Israel rejected, in Matthew 21:42.
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures (Psalms 118:22), The stone (Christ) which the builders (Israel) rejected, the same is become the head of the corner…”
2 Corinthians 5:21 clearly states,
“For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 
2. Remember, this whole verse is in reference to our salvation. Now, a promise is given in Revelation 3:5 to those that are saved (i.e. the overcomers). 
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in WHITE RAIMENT; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life...”
“Shall be” is future tense, letting us know that we will receive this white robe upon entering our home in Heaven. The white robe is a testimony that I am here because the of the righteousness of Jesus Christ and not because of my own works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
D. “In the stone a new name written.” Some have wondered if they will have a different name when they enter Heaven. The answer is “No.” You will be known in Heaven by the same name as you are known on Earth. In Matthew 17:3, at the Transfiguration, you will recall that, 
“…there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him (Christ).”
Moses and Elijah had died hundreds of years earlier; but, now appearing at the Transfiguration, they are still known by their earthly names.
In Luke 16:19-31 we have the literal account of the death of Lazarus who was saved, and a rich man who was lost. Lazarus was taken to Paradise (Abraham’s Bosom) and the lost man to Torment. Between the two was a great gulf making it impossible for the man in Torment to get to the Paradise side.
As you read this account, notice that the lost man is speaking to Abraham, who physically died hundreds of years before. But…Abraham is still known as Abraham on into eternity and will be known by his earthly name forever.
1. The Greek word for “new” in Revelation 2:17, our verse in question, is “kainos.” It means “new as to form or quality; that of a different nature from what is contrasted as old.” This same Greek word that is translated “new” in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is in reference to the time we accepted Christ as our Savior.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new (Gr. Kainos) creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
In other words, at salvation, in God’s eyes we are a brand new creation and everything in our past is forgotten as we start our new life in Christ Jesus. At this time our name is eternally sealed in the Lamb’s book of life with the promise it will never, for any reason, be removed. Revelation 3:5 makes this perfectly clear,
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in while raiment; AND I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” 
Therefore, at salvation, Heaven receives another new name to join the ranks of all those previously saved. Not a different name, but a new name will be placed on Heaven’s rolls because of bearing Christ’s name, that being “Christian.”
E. “A new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” There are, at salvation, only two who know you are saved. That is Christ and yourself, excluding the heavenly host. In Luke 10:20, Christ addressed the Seventy he had commissioned with these words,
“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.”
Luke 15:7 lets us know that those in Heaven are aware of what is going on down here.
“I say unto you, that likewise JOY shall be IN HEAVEN over one sinner that repenteth…”
F. The Lamb’s Book of Life. The Lamb’s Book of Life has in it the name of every human being ever conceived.(Also called “The Book of the Living, Psalms 69:28.) David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, penned Psalms 139. At conception, life begins as verified in Psalms 139:13-17,
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (Psalms 139:13)
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14)
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalms 139:15)
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and IN THY BOOK all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalms 139:16)
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” (Psalms 139:17)
1. Psalms 139:13. “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.” God sees the female egg and the male sperm unite. Nothing is hidden from God.
2. Psalms 139:15. “The lowest parts of the earth,” This is a figure of speech illustrating the inner part of a woman’s body where conception takes place.
3. Psalms 139:16. As we see in Psalms 139:16, before pregnancy became aware to the mother, God had already entered the child’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This shows that the Spirit of Life by God was placed into the baby; yet, not fully developed; OR, the baby could never have developed. The reason is, as James states, “For as the body without the spirit is dead.” (James 2:26 a) The parents never install the Spirit into the baby. That is God’s part to give life; or, life would never begin. This is absolute proof that life begins at conception.
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and IN THY BOOK all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:16)
NOTE: Job 33:4; Job 34:14-15,
“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” (Job 33:4)
“If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; (Job 34:14)
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.” (Job 34:14-15)
4. Psalms 139:17. “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” David did not write this out of his own knowledge. He attests to the fact that God, the Holy Spirit, had revealed this to him. This is in perfect accordance with 2 Peter 1:21 where “...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (Spirit).”
a. Should infants and little children die before they reach the age of accountability (which varies within the child), they will enter Paradise within the Kingdom of God. Therefore a new name has entered the Kingdom of God; not, a different name. (Luke 18:15-16)
“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. (Luke 18:15)
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:15-16)
Let me illustrate: Should a person from another country come to our country and desire to become a citizen, he, or she, must make application for citizenship to America. After they complete the requirements for citizenship, they are sworn in as a citizen. Their name is now new on the roll as a citizen. Their location as citizenship has changed, but, they do not have a different name. The same applies to a Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Christian’s location has changed from Earth to Heaven, upon death; or, the Rapture; BUT, their name will never change. They will be known in Heaven by the same name as they were known here on Earth.
5. The Rest of Humanity. Their names remain in the Book of Life.
a. The Lost. (The wicked who reject God in the Old Testament; or, Christ under the New Covenant, will have their names blotted out of the Book of the Living. They may die a natural death; or, a premature death at the hands of an angry God! (Read all of Exodus 32.)
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I BLOT OUT OF MY BOOK.” (Exodus 32:33)
b. Psalms 69:27-28 (describes the end of the wicked described in the previous verses: as they are cast into Hell for eternity.
“Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. (Psalms 69:27)
Let them BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF THE LIVING, and not be written with the righteous.” (Psalms 69:27-28)
c. The Saved. Their names will NOT be blotted out of the “Book of Life.”
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5
The believer is sealed, which implies ownership and security, by the Holy Spirit.
“...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13 b)
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
Just as the Holy Spirit seals the believer for Heaven, I would not be surprised to see the believer’s name covered by the blood of Christ. Every person alive today has their name in the Book of Life. Whether your name remains for Heaven; or, is removed for Hell, depends upon you!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”- John 3:36
G. God’s Will for the New Christian. God’s will for the new Christian, is to tell others about Jesus Christ. It is summarized in Romans 1:14-16.
“I am debtor both to the Greeks (the wise and cultured) and to the Barbarians (uneducated, of low degree); both to the wise and the unwise.”(Romans 1:14)
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach (announce) the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” (Romans 1:15)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (the Gentiles).” (Romans 1:16)
 The new Christian’s prayer should be Ephesians 6:19. 
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel.”