Apocalypse Revealed #81
81. "'And have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.'" This symbolizes their effort and work in acquiring for themselves and also teaching the constituents of religion and its accompanying doctrine.
The name of Jehovah or the Lord in the Word does not mean His name, but everything by which He is worshiped. And because He is worshiped in accordance with doctrine in the church, His name means everything pertaining to doctrine, and in the broadest sense, everything pertaining to religion.
These are the meanings of the name of Jehovah, and the reason is that in heaven the only names found are ones that reflect a person's character, and God's character includes everything by which He is worshiped.
One who is not aware of this symbolic meaning of a name in the Word can understand it only as a name; and in this alone there is nothing pertaining to worship and religion.
[2] Someone who keeps in mind, therefore, this symbolic meaning of "the name of Jehovah" when it is mentioned in the Word, will of himself understand its symbolic meaning in the following passages:
In that day you will say: "Confess to Jehovah, call upon His name." (Isaiah 12:4)
...O Jehovah, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name... ...by You we make mention of Your name. (Isaiah 26:8, 13)
From the rising of the sun My name shall be called on. (Isaiah 41:25)
...from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to My name...; for My name shall be great among the nations... ...you profane (My name) when you say, "The table of Jehovah is defiled...." But you sneer at (My name)..., when you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick. (Malachi 1:11-13)
...all peoples walk in the name of their god, but we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God... (Micah 4:5)
Everyone who is called by My name, for My glory I have created him, I have formed him... (Isaiah 43:7)
You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in vain; ...Jehovah will not hold him innocent who takes His name in vain. (Deuteronomy 5:11)
They were to worship Jehovah in one place, where He should put His name (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11, 13-14, 18; 16:2, 6, 11, 15-16). And so on in many other places. Who does not see that the name in them does not mean simply a name?
[3] It is the same with the name of the Lord in the New Testament, as in the following places:
(Jesus said,) "You will be hated by all because of My name. (Matthew 10:22; cf. 24:9-10)
...where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters... for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and... eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)
As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)
...many believed in His name... (John 2:23)
He who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18)
...believing (they will) have life in His name. (John 20:31)
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! (Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Luke 13:35, cf. 19:38)
[4] In respect to His humanity the Lord is the name of the Father, as witness the following:
Father, glorify Your name. (John 12:28)
Hallowed be Your name (and) Your kingdom come. (Matthew 6:9-10)
See also Exodus 23:20-21. 3
"Name" in the case of other people refers to a quality of worship, as in the following:
(A shepherd) calls his own sheep by (their) name... (John 10:3)
You have a few names in Sardis... (Revelation 3:4)
I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem..., and My new name. (Revelation 3:12)
And the like elsewhere.
It can be seen from this now that the statement, "You have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary," symbolizes their effort and work in acquiring for themselves and also teaching the constituents of religion and its accompanying doctrine.
Luke 13
1
Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2
Jesus answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3
I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
4
Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?
5
I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way."
6
He spoke this parable. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.
7
He said to the vine dresser, 'Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?'
8
He answered, 'Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it.
9
If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.'"
10
He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11
Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.
12
When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."
13
He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God.
14
The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!"
15
Therefore the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?
16
Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"
17
As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18
He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it?
19
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches."
20
Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
21
It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
22
He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
23
One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,
24
"Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.
25
When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he will answer and tell you, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
27
He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.'
28
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.
29
They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in the Kingdom of God.
30
Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."
31
On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, "Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you."
32
He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
33
Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can't be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.'
34
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!
35
Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"
