12. I Know My Name
Audio OnlyWe once thought that the layout of the seven overcomings in Revelation 2 & 3 was fairly random. Nor did any clear patterns seem to be visible. We mostly had no real idea what these things meant.
But everything lines up when you set God’s purpose as the goal of everything, and God’s purpose is to be known in the earth – that the knowledge of God would cover the earth. This is not God “visible in self,” but God-known, which is God acknowledged by all, which is age-unfolding Life. For God to be acknowledged by all, then Christ Jesus must be proven true even while all contrary voices go silent.
The Place of Church. God known and Christ proven True is found in one place only, inside the Church of Jesus Christ alive on the earth. Thus we are equating this step of overcoming with the sixth principle of Completion, that God’s Completion is the Church, believers in Jesus committed to one another, loving one another as Jesus loves us.
As I look at our seven verses in this short passage, I see enough important topics to fill two Jesus Secret pages. And so I must find a thread that allows for the focus we need. As I look at these verses as a whole, then, I see a critical Word specifically for our Today as Kingdom Come.
A Set of Metaphors. The central consideration for us is “the hour of trial,” and, of truth, the goal of “keeping our crown.”
To understand, we must consider a basic set of metaphors found throughout John’s vision, the sea, the earth, under the earth, and the heavens. The “sea” is always a metaphor in John’s vision, but “earth” and “heaven” can be either literal (with accurate definitions) or metaphorical. As metaphors, these are speaking of where people dwell. Those who dwell “in the sea” are the unregenerate. And those who dwell “on the earth” are in-part Christians.
Our Page. But “the heavens and those who dwell in them” is referring specifically to those who live fully in John 14:20, inside of Jesus inside of them, in all confidence.
Let me lay out briefly our Jesus Secret page so that we can build our understanding in a too-large topic. We will begin with the statements of faith. This will be followed by two larger boxes. The first box, titled “Keeping Our Crown,” will contain three smaller topics, “The Key of David,” “The Hour of Trial,” and “A Pillar and a Crown.” Then, the second box will be titled “I Know My Name.” This also will include the three names Jesus writes upon us.
Statements of Faith. I am devoted and true. I possess the key of David. I open and no one shuts; I shut and no one opens. I walk through an open door; I keep guard over Jesus’ word. I keep the word of Jesus’ steadfastness; I am kept by God through all. I am a pillar inside the dwelling place of God, the Church. God’s name is written upon me. I dwell always inside of Church, the place of God’s completion. The New Jerusalem, my city, is written upon me. I come forth out from heaven every moment, with all my brethren. Jesus’ new name is written upon me, the One who died, but now lives into the ages. I know my name; I know where I dwell. I overcome. I hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
Defining Our Crown. To understand the powerful goal for us taking place inside this context, we must begin with our definition of our “crown,” this thing we must keep.
Here is my definition of the Crown of Life. – Who, then, is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting and exultation? Is it not even you, in the face of our Lord Jesus, inside of His presence? For you are our glory and our joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). My brothers and sisters all across the earth are my crown, and I, that is, Jesus and I together, must keep them. And we must keep them through the hour of trial.
The Light and the Door. In Lesson 3 of this series, “Applying John’s Vision,” I included the Annie vision titled “The Wave of Pure Light.” When I read that vision, I think entirely in terms of this metaphor God uses to distinguish believers in Jesus who dwell “in the heavens,” sending forth life and strength into those believers under the storm who dwell “on the earth.”
Now, concerning the “door,” I have around twenty chapters in A Highway for God specifically on this Door inside of us and on God coming through, and so we will just assume those things here. For our present purpose, we begin with “The Key of David.”
A Complete Mess. I thank God that David was a complete mess. In searching out God’s meaning for “the key of David,” or “a man after God’s own heart,” you cannot find any argument that David “kept God’s will.”
How can a man “violate God” in every direction and yet never violate God once? Then consider his descendant, Uzziah, a man who tried his best to do what was right, but who violated God once and was struck with leprosy. In fact, Uzziah violated God by doing what David did ALL THE TIME; Uzziah went into the Holy of Holies. It’s clear that God looks for something very different from what the preachers claim.
Defining a Key. Let’s define a key. A key is a metal shape with various tabs designed to match the tumblers in the lock of a door. When the tabs on the key fit the tumblers in the lock, then the door is opened, and no one can shut it – or conversely, then the door is locked and no one can open it.
The Door we want opened is God’s Heart inside of ours, a Door for God coming through. And the door we want closed is the door against the flood of evil meant to swallow up our brethren. The key of David has two tabs on it. Outwardly, they appear to be quite different, but the second “tab” comes only out from the first.
Boldness and Confidence. The two tabs are the sixth and seventh ruling verses of the Bible. First, that we place ourselves utterly into God, regardless. And that we know ourselves inside of God as utterly pure and devoted. “God, I am afraid and weak. I don’t think I can do this. But Father, I don’t do anything, for You do all through me. And my foolish fearfulness and all my searing inabilities are pure and clean inside of You.”
And second, that we go forth in absolute confidence that the ability of Jesus accomplishes all through us, and we slay our thousands and our ten thousands.
Calling Jesus as Us. Here are the words to us of this One who possesses the key of David inside of us. “I, Jesus, I know you. I, Jesus, set before you an open door. I, Jesus, cause all to know that I love you. I, Jesus, keep you inside of Me out from the hour of trial. I, Jesus, come to you quickly and always. I, Jesus, make you to be a pillar inside God’s house. I, Jesus, write upon you God’s name and the name, New Jerusalem. I, Jesus, write upon you My new name.”
But David is VERY BOLD inside of God. David takes all this as his own. And the Son of David becomes all this as us for the sake of His people.
Keeping Our Crown – The Key of David. Just like David, I have no regard for sin or self. Just like David, I place myself into God with certainty, especially all my human folly. When my sin is found out, I contend only with God until He wins. I never contend with my brethren. God alone is my judge, God alone is my refuge and dwelling place. I require His presence in my life, regardless of the cost. Then, just like David, I go forth in all the confidence of God with me. God is always with me. I cast my enemy down; all who oppose flee before me. I possess all Victory.
Under the Storm. Here is what Annie said in her vision concerning our care for those caught “under the storm.”
“The ones who were under the storm, though they received great provision of light and life that God shed, nonetheless they were allowed to be moved, shaken and buffeted. However, through this, it would be provided the way in which the Lord would mold, transform and develop them. On the contrary, those who were above the storm of darkness, that is, the elect ones, could not be shaken as they were rooted and asserted in their relationship with Christ.”
Our lives right now have one purpose – for the sake of the Church.
A Refiner’s Fire. The “hour of trial” is the same thing as “the valley of decision” in Joel’s prophecy. It is the same thing as Jesus’ parable of the sower casting seed. It is the same thing as the measurement of God’s house in Revelation 11, separating between those who run into the holy place and those who draw back into the outer court.
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness (Malachi 3:3-4).
The New Life and the Angry Storm. The work of each will become visible; indeed, the day will make it clear because it is unveiled inside of fire; and the work of each, what sort it is, the fire itself will prove (1 Corinthians 3:13).
I can share best what we must perceive by drawing more from the Annie visions. ~~~
The New Life and the Angry Storm: Of late, every time He takes me unto Himself, I am made exceedingly conscious of the coming storm of persecution that is drawing ever nearer. It is already forming and developing, gathering its forces and heaping together its strength, preparing to break forth in hellish fury at a predetermined time.
From 2020 On. ~~~This great storm of hate and fury, with its pain and bloodshed, is timed to break forth at the very same time as this high and Holy Thing that He is bringing forth out of Himself shall be manifested upon the earth. The two things are forming in the invisible world at the same time and at the same pace. The storm of persecution and hatred shall break forth simultaneously with the coming light of this Holy Thing that He is bringing forth; which shall be manifested upon the earth in those whom He has chosen exclusively for Himself, and in whom He shall come forth in this new beginning. ~~~
It was in January of 2020 that the heavens opened to us as we began to consider A Highway for God.
Turned Around. Now, even though these visions are God speaking to us, as I read through them now, I see clearly the influence of Calvinist thinking that distorts what God means. Thus we see the view of the “Christian” seeking to enter into God, passing through all the opposition, and thus “overcoming” as a solitary individual.
We reject this way of seeing completely, though it is how those caught under the storm see. In contrast, we are turned around inside of God and we see our brethren as our very crown of glory. We defeat the evil one, not “for ourselves” but for them.
What THEY Are Doing. This truth is to be found inside the things that the Lord Jesus showed to Annie, but neither she nor Ed Miller understood the gospel of life.
Remember that in all our study of John’s vision, we are not looking at what things are in outward appearance, but rather we want to know only what THEY are doing behind the scenes – for the sake of the Church. This is the BOLDNESS of David, that we would BE the body of Christ, that Jesus might be Himself through us, that what we ARE is what He IS. That His new NAME is written upon all that we are. That we would set forth our souls for the sake of our brothers and sisters.
Keeping Our Crown – The Hour of Trial. My crown and my glory are my brothers and sisters in Christ, scattered across the whole earth. They are my Jerusalem. The day of fire and the hour of trial come that they might flee all attachment to self and the world into the pure knowledge of Christ their only life. Jesus and I together carry all our Christian brethren inside our shared heart. We keep them in their hour of trial, that they might know the Father.
A Column of Strength. Being a pillar in the temple of God is not about us “making it” into salvation as solitary individuals. This false concept has ruled inside Christian thinking far too long. But of truth, that is the primary topic of the next session “I Overcome as Jesus.” Jesus did not “make it” into salvation. Jesus gave Himself a ransom for many. Jesus defeated death for our sakes – and we also – for the sake of the Church.
A pillar is a mighty column of strength that holds up the sheltering roof over the temple of God. The testimony of a pillar is this. – “Here there be safety and protection. Here there be life and joy. As you flee from the dragon, you will find shelter and provision HERE.”
The House of God. This is the House of God, and the House of God is Christ Community, Christian brethren committed to walk together inside of love, revealing God to all as their love for one another. I stand inside of Jesus in this assertion of Salvation reality, and I will never back away. Salvation is not in isolation!
It is the Pillar who keeps the Crown. – I am here for you. You are my crown of rejoicing; I am here for you. – When God has a people who say this to one another inside of Him, then God has a Door flung wide open and, look out, for our God is coming through.
I Have Wept for the Church. I know my name inside of God. I know the meaning of God written upon my heart since I was twelve years old. I have wept for the Church since I was twelve, even when I did not know why I was weeping. And for the twenty-one years I participated in the move fellowship, I wept, caught between two. I KNEW that community life was God and my life, and I KNEW that the form of community in the move was not right. And I did not understand this great clash that never left me.
Here is my name. – I will know God, and I will walk with a people who know God, on this earth and in this present day.
Keeping Our Crown – A Pillar & a Crown. The House of God is the Church, Christians committed to walking together inside of love. I am a pillar in that house; I overcome through faith. Yet I do not overcome for myself, but for all who belong to Jesus. My brothers and sisters in Christ all across the earth are my crown and my glory. I stand firm in God’s House for their sake. I say to them, “Come, for here is safety and provision. Here, inside my heart, you are safe from the dragon’s flood.” I stand utterly upon firm. I never leave my place. “I am here for you.”
“I Will Write.” Jesus says twice, “I will write.” We have never really reckoned with the incredible ability of the Lord Jesus to do and to be in us what He says. Everything Jesus says He will do inside of and through us in all of these seven letters is descriptive of His task of transubstantiation, transferring His substance to us.
Our task, then, the “overcoming” side of the equation, is, as John says in 1 John 5, to believe that He is. Metamorphy – becoming like Jesus by spending time with Him, with His Word flowing through our beings as a description of ourselves.
God’s Name. To have God’s NAME etched, written, tattooed on our foreheads is to BE the fulness of Love.
Do I know that I am the fulness of Love? I’ve never thought such a thing before. This is not human performance; this is Treasure in an earthen vessel, God coming through. Only the key of David opens such a door, for we are Bold towards God in all that He speaks. Then we turn and, with God, go out in Confidence as the Revelation of the Father.
Bearing God’s NAME, God coming through, is three things right now – Protect Our Church – Provide for Our people – Be Our Mercy Seat.
The Echo of His Heart. I am NOT a people person. I do not make people feel comfortable or draw them in. I do not respond in cozy ways. So why do I make the writing of Jerusalem upon myself as my name to be the focus and drive of my heart and the meaning of my life? The truth is, I don’t have a clue. I just know that it is the Heart of Jesus, and that I have carried the echo of that Heart inside my own since I was twelve.
I have to accept, then, that Jesus has written upon me the name of His City, His Bride, Jerusalem, and that He has shaped the course of my life accordingly.
My Country. Within my first two years of living in move community, I had abandoned all thought that the political entities of this world were anything but evil, and I had embraced all thought that the Church of Christ all across the earth was my country, my home, my allegiance.
Whatever political “nation” I might be in, that thing is at war with the Lamb. I will never be a traitor to my country to identify myself with such rebellion. I am NOT an American; I am a Christian. When people cry for war against “Chinese communism,” I see only a baying for blood against my brothers and sisters, Jerusalem, my country, who happen to live inside that political entity.
Committed. Notice that God comes first, God-Love written as our name, and the Church comes second. Jesus’ new name comes only through the Church. If we want to know Him, we know one another. We are committed to Jesus, whom we have not seen outwardly, to the measure that we are committed to one another, His Body, whom we have seen.
“Lord Jesus, write upon us the name of Your Church, Jerusalem, a city always coming out from God upon the earth every moment. Write Christ Community upon our hearts as the set of our face and the purpose of our lives.”
I Know My Name – God and Jerusalem. It is Jesus who writes upon me the name of God and the name of God’s City and mine, Jerusalem. The name of God is the love of the Father. All the fulness of God-Love dwells inside of me; all the depth of God-Love is shed abroad from my heart. Jesus writes God-Love upon me, upon all my humanity. That Love, then, is towards my brothers and sisters in Christ, our Jerusalem. I love God’s people; I love His Church. All my allegiance is to Jerusalem, my city and my country. I am committed to Christ Community. I will know God love written upon me as my own name and I will walk with a people who know and who are that love. This is my name; I know my name.
Galatians 2:20. I am the living One, and, although I was dead, look and see, I am living into the unfolding of the ages. – These things says the always first and the always final, who once was dead and is now alive (Revelation 1:18 & 2:8). Then in Chapter 5, the phrase “the Lamb who was slain, but now [lives]” is repeated three times.
All of these are an expression of Galatians 2:20 in visionary form, as Jesus is known in the heavens. More than that, this is not something that “happened to” Jesus. Rather, it is an expression inside of time and space of who He is.
1 John 3:16. What does it mean, then, that Jesus writes this very name, “The Lamb slain, but now alive” upon us? More than that, what is the meaning of a life that is LIVING out from once being dead?
We don’t have to develop such a thought, for it is the impact of 1 John on our lives. – By this we have known LOVE, in that Jesus set forth His soul for us, AND WE ALSO are committed to setting forth our souls for the sake of our brothers and sisters. – Everything God has taught us about the meaning of “and we also” is this very new name of Jesus written upon us.
The Simplicity of the Gospel. We are looking at the basic simplicity of the gospel. Christ lives inside of your heart through faith. – I will write upon you My new name. Same thing. Yet Revelation 3:12 shows us that Ephesians 3:17 is a much bigger deal than we have ever considered.
This is the completion of the Covenant, that everything Jesus IS inside of God, as we are together, so we are the same in this present world (1 John 4:17). The key is commitment together.
I am a pillar in the house of my God; I will never know anything else. I keep my crown; I keep your heart.
I Know My Name – Jesus’ New Name. Jesus writes upon me His own new name. That name is “The Lamb who was slain but is now alive into the ages.” Jesus and I were crucified together; Jesus and I rose from the dead together. Jesus and I live every moment of life shared together. Jesus and I live into the unfolding of the ages. This life, this new name, is the Redeemer. Jesus and I together then turn and set forth our shared soul for the sake of our brothers and sisters all across the earth. Because I was once dead, I know the awfulness of rebellion. Because I am alive into the age, I know the goodness of the Salvation of God. I have suffered with Christ; I rule as Love together with Him. This is my name.
Fully Settled. “Philadelphia” means “The City of Brotherly Love,” another name for Jerusalem. The Church together was the JOY set before Jesus, the driving motive of His every step forward. Jesus loved us when we were enemies of God.
The entirety of this sixth step of overcoming makes us together to be the same. The fact that you continue with me in my persistent prayers for the entire Christian Church tells me that you share the same heart with Jesus. Let us be fully settled that we do.
Reading for Next Time. The next session is titled “I Overcome as Jesus.” For that lesson, read Revelation 3:14-22 in the JSV a couple of times.
To the one who is presently and actively overcoming, I will give him, immediately and ongoing, to sit with Me inside of My throne, just exactly as I also overcame and sat down with My Father inside of His throne.
This final place of overcoming takes us into the throne, the Mercy Seat of God, but our primary focus will be on how we “overcome” just exactly as Jesus overcame. In other words, we want a complete and profound definition of what it means to conquer all.
Let’s Pray Together. “Lord Jesus, we ask according to Your Word that You write upon us the name of God our Father, that God-Love be the meaning and the doing of our lives. Lord Jesus, write upon us the name of Your Church, Jerusalem, a city always coming out from God upon the earth every moment. Write Christ Community upon our hearts as the set of our face and the purpose of our lives.
“And Lord Jesus, write upon us Your new name, the name of the Redeemer, that we would set forth our souls for the sake of our brothers and sisters that they might know You and the Father through You, together with us.
“God our Father, inside of Jesus’ new name, the One who joins us together with You, we ask for grace towards all who belong to Jesus now upon the earth. Keep them safe from evil in this present Day of Fire and in each one’s hour of trial, that they would abandon all that is false and find their identity in You alone. Cause each one who believes into Jesus, Oh God, to know Jesus Sent into them, and through Jesus Sent, to know You.
“God our Father, anoint the strength of Your Son inside of us that we would stand firm as mighty pillars in Your house, that all who flee from the anger of the dragon might find safety and provision inside Your sheltering roof.
“Our brothers and sisters, we are here for you. You are our crown of rejoicing; we are here for you.”