Today is yet another bible study about why we should rejoice as overcomers who receive a white stone from Jesus as an admission ticket to the new heaven that removes all our sins. Jesus promises saints at Revelation 2:17 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.
To understand why Jesus gives overcoming saints a white stone, let's look at another Greek definition of how white stones were used in the days of Jesus. Pictured above, we see a jury and some black and white stones. In ancient Greece, jurors would use black and white stones to determine whether a criminal was guilty or not guilty. When a jury was in deliberation, the jurors would drop either a black stone or a white stone into a bag. The black stone said the criminal was guilty. The white stone said the criminal was not guilty.
Sometimes a jury would be hung because there would be one black stone among the white stones or one white stone among the black stones. But when the jury came to a final decision, they would present to a judge a bag with either one black stone or one white stone in the bag. If the stone was black, the criminal went to prison or died. If the stone was white, the criminal was set free. After the judge presented the black or white stone to the criminal, that was the end of the argument. The criminal could not make any more reprisals, rebuttals, or appeals. The decision was final.
Jesus is the Final Highest Judge that gives saved saints a white stone. When Jesus gives every saint a white stone, Jesus proclaims that these saints are not guilty. Jesus pronounced His verdict for all saints at Hebrews 10:17 by saying And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Get saved today and receive a white stone from the Lord Jesus. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Jesus will make you free and remember your sins no more. Jesus will forgive you because the blood of Jesus washes away all your sins. 1 John 1:7 says But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. Jesus told us at John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Romans 8:33 says Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Notice the picture above of the Apostle Paul and find the only other place in the bible where the white stone appears. When Paul was a Pharisee sinner, Paul acted like a juror and gave his voice to condemn christians to death by showing a black stone instead of a white stone to christians. Paul said at Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice (defined as presented black stones instead of white stones to condemn christians to death) against them. When Paul showed a black stone as his vote to condemn a christian to death, he blackballed that christian.
People in early America like Paul voted to accept or reject a person from joining a club by either dropping a black stone or a white stone into a bag. If there was just one black stone in the bag among 100 white stones, the black stone blackballed that person and denied him from joining the club. But aren't you glad that when you get saved with Jesus, Jesus gives you a white stone admission ticket to heaven and no man or anything can blackball you and stop you from going to heaven. Romans 8:38 says For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate (or blackball) us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do the above pictures of gasoline selling for $5.15 a gallon and a for sale sign in front of a foreclosed home relate to the white stone that Jesus gives all overcoming saints? Don't be discouraged about the high cost of gasoline, food, or housing in your country because the Lord Jesus promises that all saints will overcome this troubled world when Jesus gives every saint a white stone admission ticket to the peaceful kingdom of God forevermore. Jesus said at John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
When Jesus spoke to the church of Pergamos, Jesus said at Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans: which thing I hate. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans (defined as conquering people) exists today where wealthy leaders conquer and control people by raising prices for rent, food, and gasoline. In Jesus' day, the Nocolaitans became big businessmen over the people. The popes in the Catholic church would take all the peoples money and put it into King George's treasury. They rich got richer and the poor got poorer. This is why the Vatican was running over with money and the poor folk had nothing.
But even though the Nicolaitans were oppressing the people of the church of Pergamos, Jesus' promise of a white stone given to the saints at Pergamos encouraged these saints to rejoice. The hope of receiving that little white stone caused the saints at Pergamos to say we're going to overcome, we're going to live right, we're going to hate sin, we're going to serve our Saviour Jesus, and we're going to continue to bless the poor. We don't care about the Nicolaitans.
Let's be like the saints at Pergamos and not be discouraged by the troubled world and high cost of living around us in our countries. Say the following scriptures and praise Jesus for giving us the hope of a white stone admission ticket to heaven where peace exists forevermore while we overcome this troubled world.
Psalm 12:5 says For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. Ecclesiastes 5:8 says If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Right now say and believe Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Take a good look at the picture above of a sword and a white stone. Now compare two scriptures that mention the sword and the white stone. Revelation 2:12 says And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He (Jesus) which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Revelation 2:17 says He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I (Jesus) 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.
Note that Jesus is holding two things in his hands. In one hand Jesus holds a sharp sword of judgment with two edges and in the other hand Jesus holds a white stone promising an admission ticket to the eternal peace of the kingdom of God. Somewhere between the sword and the white stone every saint is standing. Which one will you choose? The sword of judgment for damnation and destruction or the white stone as an admission ticket to heaven for life and peace.
Wouldn't you rather have forgiveness, mercy, and the gift of eternal life with our Lord Jesus in heaven than the sword of judgment and damnation in hell and the lake of fire. It's up to you. He that overcometh and gets saved with the Lord Jesus receives the white stone promising admission to eternal peace in the kingdom of God. He that does not overcome and rejects the Lord Jesus gets the sword of judgment and damnation in hell and the lake of fire for ever.
Brother Bob prays in Jesus name that anyone who forevermore reads this bible study will get saved with Jesus and receive their own personal white stone admission ticket to heaven. Let's all be like Joshua and choose to serve the Lord Jesus stated at Joshua 24:15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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