The Secret Rewards for the Saints in Heaven

When we finally cross over into eternity, God has prepared different kinds of rewards for His people. According to Scripture, there will be both public rewards—visible and known by all—and private rewards, known only by the person receiving them and God Himself.

To understand this, think of a wedding. The bride and groom often receive two kinds of gifts. Some are presented publicly—like furniture, utensils, or land. These are announced openly and everyone sees them. But other gifts come discreetly—inside sealed envelopes, boxes, or bags. Only the couple knows what’s inside: perhaps a check, a phone, a watch, or even car keys.

Later, if the groom drives that car, people might assume he worked hard to buy it. But in reality, it was a secret gift—known only to the giver and receiver. In the same way, when we arrive in heaven, God will give us visible rewards for our faithfulness (2 Corinthians 5:10), but He also promises to give personal, hidden rewards—like a new name—which only the individual will know.

Revelation 2:17 
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

This verse reveals a deeply personal promise: God will give each overcomer a new name engraved on a white stone. This is not just symbolic—it represents new identity, new purpose, and a personal relationship with God that no one else can fully understand.

Even our Lord Jesus has a unique name given to Him by the Father after His victory over sin and death:

Revelation 19:12 
“His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.”

Why a Name?

In Scripture, a person’s name carries more than just identification—it represents destiny, authority, character, and calling.

For example:

• Abram was renamed Abraham (“father of many nations”) after God made a covenant with him. This name change released the promise of countless descendants (Genesis 17:5). Today, all believers are counted as spiritual children of Abraham through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:7, 29).
• Sarai became Sarah, and shortly afterward gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise (Genesis 17:15–16).
• Jacob was renamed Israel after wrestling with God. That change marked a spiritual turning point, and his children became the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 32:28). Despite being born from different mothers, all of them were unified under that single name—Israel.
• The apostles Simon and Saul became Peter and Paul, and only after that did they step into their full apostolic authority and mission (John 1:42; Acts 13:9).

In all these cases, the new name marked a new season of divine identity and purpose.

So in heaven, God will give new names to those who overcame the trials of this world through faith and perseverance. These names will reflect their true identity in Christ, their eternal reward, and their heavenly authority in the coming Kingdom.

Others will see the power and results of those names—but the names themselves will remain personal, a secret between God and the one who receives it. It is a mark of deep, individual intimacy with the Father.

Wouldn’t You Want a New Name?

This is a precious promise. But how do we become overcomers who qualify for such a reward?

Let’s return to the verse in Revelation 2:16

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

To overcome, we must:

1. Repent of our sins completely—not partially.
2. Surrender our lives fully to Christ.
3. Live as pilgrims and strangers in this world, not clinging to earthly pleasures (Hebrews 11:13).
4. Serve the Lord faithfully according to the grace and calling He has given each of us (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Peter 4:10).

Have You Given Your Life to Jesus?

If you haven’t, know that time is short. Every new day brings us closer to the end. One day soon, the Rapture will happen (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17), and the door of grace will close. After that, there will be no more opportunity to repent or enter the Kingdom.

As it is written:

Ecclesiastes 11:3 
“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.”

In other words, your eternal destiny will be fixed when life ends. There is no second chance afterward.

Today is the Day

Make your decision now. Give your life to Christ. Walk with Him. Serve Him. And look forward not only to eternal life but to the joy of receiving a new name—a personal token of victory, love, and eternal identity from your Creator.

The Lord is coming soon.

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