Turkish men tend to have powerful names. Here is a list of a few of my friends’ names: Achieve, Fist, Evolution, Rising Soldier, First Blood and Volcano. Thunderbolt is my friend’s boy. Most names in Turkey have a clear and definite meaning, which is especially interesting for us foreigners. For example, it gave me confidence to visit Dr. Unflinching, but I had mixed feelings about having my watch repaired by Typhoon. Girls fare much gentler with about one in five girls being named some derivation of Rose. Men, on the other hand, are the thorns.

Last names are a new invention in Turkey. About 80 years ago, it became law that every family had to have one. Today, Turkey is filled with last names like, “Fear nothing,” “Dauntless,” “Ruthless” and “Will not flee.”

The other day, my friend, War, was talking to another friend, Battle. In walked Peace, and soon they were all laughing and joking together. War and Peace started talking of their other friend, Magnitude, who works for his employer, Robust. So when I tell people my name is “Barnabas” (of course, I actually tell them my real name), they kind of look at me funny. “What does that mean?”
The Bible foretold that there would be a ruler over this land with a powerful name. Revelation 9, prophesying of Ottoman times says, “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon (Destroyer.)”
Another supremely powerful name is headed toward Turkey and the rest of the planet: “And I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. And He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Rev. 19). May even “Dauntless” and “Unflinching” meet that good name before He comes in power.

• Twitter