Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 6 Study # 5
May 24, 2009
Lincolnton, N.C.
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• I. The Biblical Focus Upon "Names".
  • A. Begins with the clear understanding that "names" signify.
    • 1. In the beginning, God began "calling" things by "names" that would forever afterward define reality for those exposed to them.
    • 2. Before the fall, the surrogate ruler of this world was cast in the role of "name-giver" because he was the surrogate ruler.
    • 3. Throughout the rest of the Scriptures, the giving of names was some form of declaration of "reality" or the hope for something to become such.
    • 4. In Luke's record, both "John" and "Jesus" were named by God and the mothers both yielded to His insistence that they "name" their sons accordingly.
    • 5. In Revelation 2:12-17 a promise is given of the grant of a "new name" that will be privately held between the believer, who has overcome the "problem" of Pergamum, and Jesus, the Possessor of the Sharp, Two-Edged Sword.
      • a. The issue here is this: promises are designed to be motivational to keep those who believe them from doing something really dumb.
        • 1) The problem in Pergamum was that holding onto the faith was being made more and more difficult -- first by martyrdom, and then by attrition.
        • 2) The promise to those who refused to be worn down by the constant conflict is a "new" name that is privately held.
        • 3) Thus, the issue in Pergamum was one: Who defines reality?
      • b. If this be so, we need to sharpen our focus upon our grasp of how important is being "named" by Jesus.
    • 6. In Luke's text, the demonic "name" is "Legion" because ... (6826 warriors of whom 6100 were foot soldiers and 726 were cavalry -- indicating the presence of at least 61 centurions, important because of Luke 7).
  • B. Begins with the clear understanding that the name was often prophetic.
    • 1. At a baby's age of eight days, no one expected that the baby would provide anything close to a comprehensive presentation of the meaning of its name.
    • 2. Even those names which declared reality without prophecy were not expected to communicate a demonstrated reality until the baby reached maturity.
  • C. Contains certain expectations.
    • 1. Every definition of reality sets the stage for thoughtful people in terms of how they will go about making their decisions because of the "expectation" thing.
    • 2. Every expectation signals the integrated place that "hope" has in the processes of current life, or, at least, "dread".
    • 3. Every expectation points to the absolute futility of making the "now" too important.
      • a. In our text, the demons are panic-driven about being sent into the Abyss.
      • b. How much sense does this make in the face of the eternal future?
      • c. The very irrationality means that this is not something believers should do.
  • D. Declares a certain type of "familiarity" that presupposes certain consequent realities.
    • 1. In Exodus 33:12 Moses used the fact that God "knew him by name" to make a highly significant appeal to Him.
    • 2. In Exodus 33:17 God acquiesces to the request because, He says, "I know thee by name."
    • 3. This is the significance of the Revelation 2 text in regard to the privately held "new name": there is going to be a special intimacy for those who resist the wearing down process that will translate into a deeper level of the experience of "Life".
• II. The Demons' Take on Jesus' Ability to Ask for Their "Name".
  • A. It clearly signaled that they were absolutely subject to His whim.
  • B. It forced the exposure of the futility of their rebellion.
    • 1. No one does anything for no reason.
    • 2. If the reason is exposed to be unreasonable, only humiliation can result.
    • 3. Humiliation is the worst thing that can be done to a "spirit".