Tuesday, October 27 2026
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Revelation 2:17-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.” ‘
What is the “white stone” that God promises to give to His faithful disciples who overcome the attacks and challenges put forth through the city where Satan’s throne itself was located?
Let’s study.
The first thing for us to discern that may help us understand this passage is what city is under consideration. John tells us that it is the city where God’s faithful martyr, Antipas, was put to death (Revelation 2:13). Perhaps by learning the significance of this city we will be in a better position to comprehend the “white stone” that is under consideration. The Bible identifies this city as Pergamos (Revelation 2:12), which is the modern day site of Bergama, Turkey.
We are told that Satan’s throne is located here.
What does this mean?
Well, located at Pergamos was a huge altar to the pagan god, Zeus.
In ancient literature, Zeus was another name used interchangeably with Baal.
In later days Baal, in his incarnation as Baalshamen, or Baal Shamim, was identified with the god Zeus, head of the Greek pantheon. An ancient Nabatean text says this: …they regarded as god the lord of heaven, calling him Beelsamen, which is in the Phoenician language “lord of heaven,” and in Greek “Zeus.” 2 Syriac writers referred to Baalshamin as Zeus Olympios. Both gods appeared as idols standing in the same position, with arms lifted up and ready to hurl a thunderbolt to the earth. Zeus was presented as Zeus Belus, and Jupiter as Jupiter Belus, which could be translated respectively as “Zeus Baal” and “Jupiter Baal. (Jonathan Cahn, The Return of the Gods, 30 (Kindle Edition): Lake Mary, FL: FrontLine)
With that being said, we learn also that Baal was known as Beelzebub, which was a title for Satan.
The term “Beelzebul” occurs in several places in the New Testament (Matt 10: 25; 12: 24 [cp. Mark 3: 22; Luke 11: 15]; Matt 12: 27 [cp. Luke 11: 18, 19]). 6 Twelftree notes, “The Vulgate and Syriac versions have attempted to explain the term by correcting it to beelzebub, the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1: 2–3, 6, 16; Josephus Ant. 9.19).” 7 MacLaurin (with other scholars) is most likely correct in the opinion that beelzebub “is almost certainly secondary … and probably represents an attempt to replace some honorific title by some disgraceful one just as in the O.T. Ba’al is sometimes replaced by bosheth.” 8 There is general consensus that the initial part of the name (beel-) represents Semitic baʿal (“ lord, master”) and perhaps the divine name Baal (Baal). However, some scholars believe that zeboul reflects Hebrew zebul (“ exalted dwelling”; 1 Kgs 18: 33), producing a meaning akin to “lord of heaven” (i.e., ruler in the heavenly realm), a title that would make its bearer the “prince of demons” (archonti tōn daimoniōn; Matt 12: 24; Mark 3: 22; Luke 11: 15). 9 This association of the title with an “exalted dwelling” (whether the temple or heaven) is most likely not the case, for reasons suggested by the usage of zbl in Ugaritic where the word means “prince” and never seems to be used for a temple. In Ugaritic texts, we sometimes find zbl baʾal (“ prince Baʾal”), but in other “cases we find a proper name followed by the title, as in N.T. Beelzeboul, where Beel is the equivalent of a proper name.” 10 This suggests that the name Beelzebul means “Baʾal prince/ ruler” and the word archonti in Matthew 12: 24 (and parallels) was a Greek translation of the Semitic title zbl. 11 The phrase baʿal zebul would have been well known in the Semitic world as meaning “prince Baal” or “ruler Baal.” Attributing such a title to the original rebel of Eden, cast to earth/ the underworld after his deception led to the loss of immortality (death) for humanity, makes good sense, as “Baʾal was ruler of the gods, the earth and the underworld” in ancient Semitic religion. 12 Beelzebul is therefore best understood as a Greek transliteration of a title of Baal. (Michael S. Heiser, Demons: What the Bible Really Says About the Powers of Darkness, 176-178 (Kindle Edition): Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press)
Jesus Himself clearly designates Beelzebub as another name for Satan (Matthew 12:24-27).
So…
Zeus=Baal=Beelzebub=Satan
Pergamos had a huge statue of Zeus…which was another name for Baal…which was another name for Beelzebub….which was simply yet another designation for Satan.
Second, notice the significance of the “white stone” to those who lived in Pergamos. Barclay provides the possible interpretations of the “white stone” in the ancient world.
THE final promise of Christ to the faithful in Pergamum is that he will give them the white stone with the new name on it. This is a passage of which there are almost endless interpretations. In the ancient world, a white stone might stand for many things. (1) There was a Rabbinic legend that precious stones fell from heaven along with the manna. The white stone would then simply stand for the precious gifts of God to his people. (2) In the ancient world, coloured stones were used as counters for doing calculations. This would mean that Christians are counted among the number of the faithful. (3) In the ancient law courts, white and black stones were used for registering the verdicts of juries–black for guilty, white for not guilty. This would mean that Christians are acquitted in the sight of God because of the work of Jesus Christ. (4) In the ancient world, objects called tesserae were much used. A tessera was a little tablet made of wood or metal or stone; it had writing on it; and, generally speaking, the possession of a tessera conferred some kind of privilege upon an individual. Three of these tesserae add something to the picture. (a) In Rome, the great houses had their clients, dependants who each morning received from their patron food and money for the day. They were often given a tessera by which they identified themselves as having the right to the free gifts. This would mean that Christians have the right to the free gifts for life which Christ can give. (b) To win a victory at the games was one of the greatest honours the ancient world could give. Outstanding victors were given, by the master of the games, a tessera, which in the days to come conferred upon them the right of free entry to all public entertainments. This would mean that Christians are the victorious athletes of Christ who may share in the glory of their Lord. (c) In Rome, a great gladiator was a hero admired by everyone. Often, a gladiator had to fight on until he was killed in combat. But, if he had had a particularly illustrious career, when he grew old he was allowed to retire in honour. Such men were given a tessera with the letters SP on it. SP stands for the Latin word spectatus, which means a man whose valour has been proved beyond a doubt. This would mean that Christians are the gladiators of Christ and that, when they have proved their valour in the battle of life, they are allowed to enter into the rest which Christ gives with honour. (5) In the ancient world, a particularly happy day was called a white day. The Greek historian Plutarch tells that, when Pericles was besieging Samos, he knew that the siege would be long. He did not want his army to grow weary, so he divided it into eight parts. Every day, the eight companies drew lots; one was a white bean; and the company which drew the white bean was exempt from duty for the day and could enjoy itself as it wished. So it was that a happy day came to be called a white day (Life of Pericles, 64). In one of his letters, Pliny tells a friend that that day he had had the joy of hearing in the law courts the cases made by two magnificent young advocates in whose hands the future of Roman oratory was safe; and, he says, that experience made that day one marked candidissimo calculo, with the whitest of stones (Letters, 6: 11). It was said that the Thracians and the Scythians kept in their homes an urn into which for every happy day they threw a white stone and for every unhappy day a black stone. At the ends of their lives, the stones were counted; and, depending on the greater number of white or black stones, a person was said to have had a wretched or a happy life. This would mean that, through Jesus Christ, Christians can have the joy that no one can take from them (John 16: 22). (6) Along this line, there is another and most likely interpretation. One of the most common of all customs in the ancient world was to carry a small lucky object, or charm. It might be made of a precious metal or a precious stone, but often it was nothing more than a pebble. On the pebble there was a sacred name; to know a god’s name was to have a certain power over that god, to be able to summon him to one’s aid in time of difficulty and to have control over the demons. Such an object was thought to be doubly effective if no one but the owner knew the name that was inscribed upon it. Most likely, what John is saying is: ‘Your friends–and you did the same in the days before you became a Christian–carry charms with superstitious inscriptions on them and they think they will keep them safe. You need nothing like that; you are safe in life and in death because you know the name of the only true God. (William Barclay, The Revelation of John, Volume 2 (The New Daily Study Bible Book 1), 106-108 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
So, the white stone represents:
The Precious Gifts Of God To His People In His Natural And Supernatural Provision;
A Symbol Of Being Counted Saved And Worthy By God;
Forgiveness Through Jesus So That The Guilty Have Been Rendered Innocent;
Having Access To Divine Rights And Privileges;
Victorious Athletes Who Have The Privilege To Share In The Glory Of The Lord Jesus Christ;
Gladiators Who Have Been Triumphant And Granted The Blessing To An Honorable And Luxurious Retirement;
A True “Happy Ending” For God’s People In Eternity Despite Possibly Dealing With Many “Black Days” Throughout The Earthly Sojourn;
Something Better Than Magic Charms With The Names Of False Gods Etched Upon Them, For We Have Something Stronger Than Witchcraft With The Name, Authority, Relationship, And Provision Of The True God Graciously Gifted To Us
Especially in light of Pergamos where Satan’s throne is located, this last likely meaning of the “white stone” is heavy with meaning. There are many false gods in this world (Deuteronomy 32:16-17; Psalm 82; 96:5-6; 97:7; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 10:19-21) over which Satan is the ruler (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Christians whom John addresses in Pergamos certainly knew this, for Satan’s throne itself was located there! No doubt, the Christians faced much opposition from the devil’s minions here. As much as they may persecute and target God’s people, the schemes of the powers of darkness pales in comparison to that of the Lord Messiah.
What a blessing for God’s people to have the white stone from the Lord Himself!
Lord, thank You for the blessings You have freely given us. Our only hope is in You, Lord Jesus! Amen.