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  12 I will make everyone who wins the victory a pillar in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write on them the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God), and my new name.
    I will make everyone who wins the victory
These are the ones with little strength (verse 8), the rest are DEAD! Here are the results of being an overcomer:
  • a pillar in the temple of MY GOD.
This is a strengthening statement to the Philadelphians since the area where they lived was prone to earthquakes and usually only the strong temple pillars remained standing after a good shaking.

Furthermore, it was common practice back then to honor a VIP, civic or cleric, with their name placed on the pillar. This expression may be interpreted like this.

This should not be so odd to us ... Revelation 21:22 tells us that the new Jerusalem has no temple other than God and the Lamb. We, as the Lamb's bride, will live freely in that temple!

  • They will never leave it again.
This is a permanent assignment. As with many things with God, a little strength (verse 8) turns into the perfection of power - 2 Corinthians 12:5-10. Trying to do things in our own strength is foolishness compared to the POWER of God.
    And I will write on them
    1. the NAME of My God, and

      2. What a privilege to have the NAME of God the Father written on us!
    2. the NAME of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God),

      3. These are my citizenship papers.
    3. and my NEW NAME.
We will be identified forever with the Glory of Jesus because we will bear His new name.

In Old Testament, His name was Jehovah, which is thick and rich with meaning.

In the present, it is JESUS, a sweet sound to our ears.

In the future, it is His new name. It is unknown to us at the moment because it is one of the hidden mysteries of our future - 1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4, and Isaiah 65:17-18.
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