We know from the Old Testament about "manna from heaven" which provided physical nourishment to those delivered out of Egypt. See Psalm 78:23-25. But in the NT, "manna" is used to describe spiritual nourishment, and is otherwise described as "the bread of life" or the "bread of angels."
My first point of departure from orthodoxy, is the choice of "angels" in Psalm 78:25. I think strong ones or mighty ones also misses the mark. The idea is that people ate the nourishment of survivors.
Now we can turn to the symbolic use of "manna" in the New Testament. In John 6:26-33 we see that Christ is the spiritual "manna" from heaven. In John 6:47-50 we see that Christ, as the "bread of life" gives eternal life.
Final point, in Hebrews 9:4 we see "hidden manna" enclosed within the Ark of the Covenant, so the illustration indicates the "hidden manna" is not accessible to those outside the realm of God, the Holy of Holies in the physical world.
We find the spiritual application in Revelation 2:17. Here is the NASB rendering of the verse:
Our next observation is that spiritual nourishment comes in two forms, spiritual milk which is understandable to many of the lost, provided their hearts have not been closed to God's truth, and spiritual solid food, spiritual meat, which is understandable only to those indwelt, and have matured to the point of consumption of spiritual solid food.
All this to say, spiritual solid food is the hidden manna.
My first point of departure from orthodoxy, is the choice of "angels" in Psalm 78:25. I think strong ones or mighty ones also misses the mark. The idea is that people ate the nourishment of survivors.
Now we can turn to the symbolic use of "manna" in the New Testament. In John 6:26-33 we see that Christ is the spiritual "manna" from heaven. In John 6:47-50 we see that Christ, as the "bread of life" gives eternal life.
Final point, in Hebrews 9:4 we see "hidden manna" enclosed within the Ark of the Covenant, so the illustration indicates the "hidden manna" is not accessible to those outside the realm of God, the Holy of Holies in the physical world.
We find the spiritual application in Revelation 2:17. Here is the NASB rendering of the verse:
‘The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Our next observation is that spiritual nourishment comes in two forms, spiritual milk which is understandable to many of the lost, provided their hearts have not been closed to God's truth, and spiritual solid food, spiritual meat, which is understandable only to those indwelt, and have matured to the point of consumption of spiritual solid food.
All this to say, spiritual solid food is the hidden manna.
