After supper, Chen Engui was reading the Bible in the living room while his daughter-in-law, Li Huijuan and his wife, Wang Guizhi were clearing the dishes together. At that time, his six-year-old grandson Chen Chutong ran out to him with an illustrated book of Bible story, and said sweetly in his arms, “Grandpa, grandpa, can you tell me what the meaning of ‘Jesus’ is?”
Stroking Tongtong’s head, Chen Engui said carefully, “‘Jesus’ is Emmanuel, and it means ‘God with us.’ The Lord loves us best.” Hearing that, Tongtong nodded vaguely, and then asked again, “Grandpa, is God still with us now?” Affectionately smiling, Chen Engui carried his grandson on the sofa, seated his grandson by his side and said slowly, “Yes. Of course! God is always with us. You are too young now. When you grow up and read the Bible every day like me, you will understand more.” Tongtong nodded with large liquid eyes, clapped his hands happily, and cried, “OK, OK. I would like to grow up quickly.”
At this point, hearing their dialogue, Chen Weimin, the son of Chen Engui, came to the living room with a glass of water and passed it to his father: “Dad, have some water.” Chen Engui took the glass, took a sip of water and put it on the desk. Then he opened the Bible and continued to read it.
Chen Weimin said thoughtfully, “Dad, I have been thinking about a question these last few days.”
Chen Engui asked with great interest, “Oh, what’s the question? Let me hear it.”
At this time, Li Huijuan and her mother-in-law, Wang Guizhi finished clearing the dishes and came to the living room, too.
Chen Weimin said, “Several days ago, when attending the Bible study, I saw Revelation 3:12 says: “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.” From this verse, I saw that when the Lord returns in the last days, He will have a new name. So these days I have consulted the Bible and sought quite a few co-workers. I think that when the Lord comes again, He will not be called Jesus.”
Chen Engui said excitedly, “What? When the Lord returns, He won’t be called Jesus? How have you read the Bible? The Bible records clearly, ‘For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). Why are you saying that the Lord won’t be called Jesus when He returns?”
Chen Weimin said, “Dad, do you remember the words of Jehovah recorded in the Old Testament which say, ‘I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior’ (Isaiah 43:11), ‘This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial to all generations’ (Exodus 3:15)? However, in the New Testament, Acts 4:12 records, ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ From the above verses, can we say which the only name of God is after all, Jehovah or Jesus? Through studying the Bible closely these days, I found that actually God’s name is not unchanging. From the name Jehovah to Jesus, didn’t God’s name change? Revelation 3:12 says, “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write on him my new name.” The verse clearly prophesied that God will still have a new name in the last days. So can this new name still be Jesus? If it were, then how could it be a new name?
Chen Engui frowned thoughtfully.
At this point, Wang Guizhi said, “Because of God’s different ages of work, the name of Jehovah could change to Jesus. So why can’t Jesus have a new name? In my opinion, we needn’t be puzzled about this problem. The key is that Jehovah and Jesus themselves are one God.”
Li Huijuan also said, “Yes. Whether God is called Jehovah or Jesus, His substance doesn’t change. From beginning to end, there is only one God who does His work of saving us.”
Chen Weimin nodded his head and saw his father’s brow wrinkled, so he wanted to say something.
At that time, Tongtong asked innocently, “Grandpa, grandpa, if Jesus has a new name, will you tell me the story about His new name?”
Stopping frowning and looking at Tongtong with a smile, Chen Engui said, “Fine, when I really understand these things, I will tell you.”
Hearing these words, the others also smiled. Chen Weimin continued, “Dad, this is how I see it: These days I found from the Bible that God originally had no name. After mankind was corrupted by Satan, God began to do His work of saving mankind, and only then did He take a name. That is to say, it was only when God led the Israelites out of Egypt did He take the name of Jehovah. At that moment, Moses said to God, ‘When I come to the children of Israel, and shall say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they shall say to me, What is his name what shall I say to them?’ (Exodus 3:13). God answered Moses, ‘Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial to all generations’ (Exodus 3:15). From then on, people came to know that God’s name was Jehovah. They started to worship Jehovah, respect His name as a holy name, and live under Jehovah God’s guidance. Matthew 1:23 says, ‘A virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’ After the Lord Jesus was born, He healed and cast out demons, and performed many miracles. What’s more, He preached the gospel of the kingdom, expressed His disposition of love and mercy, and bestowed abundant grace on those who followed Him. At last, He was nailed to the cross for us human beings and became all mankind’s sin offering. Every time God does different works, He also takes different names, although the work is different, it is all salvation work done by one God. What Revelation prophesied is the thing that has not been fulfilled. Since the prophecy said there is a new name, there must also be a new work.
Chen Engui pondered for a few minutes and said, “What Weimin said is precise, and it sounds unusual. This really differs from my way of thinking before. Though I have read the Bible for many years, I really haven’t put these contents together to read them. Today, through such fellowship I find that I only know part of these contents, without knowing the rest. As such, when the Lord returns, won’t he be called Jesus?”
Li Huijuan’s face beaming with delight, she said, “Dad, I’ll also talk about my opinion. Romans 11:34 records, ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counselor?’ The verse says that the Lord Jesus is powerful and full of wisdom. Whatever He does, no one can fathom it, and nobody can be His counselor, either. Therefore, we don’t know whether the Lord will be called Jesus when He comes again, but we should seek and can’t freely define.”
Chen Engui nodded his head. Then Wang Guizhi asked, “So what will be the Lord’s name when He returns?”
Chen Weimin and Li Huijuan looked at Chen Engui, and they sank into unending contemplation. Suddenly, Chen Weimin seemed to remember something. He picked up the Bible, opened it and read, “‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty’ (Revelation 1:8). ‘And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned’” (Revelation 11:16-17). So, ‘the Almighty’ should be the Lord’s new name.”
