Hidden Manna And Salvation–The bible says that people of God who are living in the life of agony and death will receive salvation and go to the heavenly country. For this reason, as people of God we have to know who our God the Savior is and how does He give us salvation.
To understand the work of salvation of God we have to have the knowledge of the bible. And the bible says God gives his people salvation through the manna, the bread from heaven.
Bread from Heaven
Manna, Bread From Heaven
Hidden Manna And Salvation–When the Israelites were walking in the desert for 40 years, they were lacking nothing. It is unbelievable considering the number of people who were walking in the desert. Since patriarchs were 600,000, the number of people including all other family members could have been easily over 2 million. How could they survive in the desert?
At the beginning of the journey, when the Israelites cried out to God for the lack of water and food, God promised them that He would “rain down bread from heaven” that they may live on it. They named the bread “manna.” (Ex 16:4, 31)
Nehemiah 9:15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
Manna means “bread from heaven” which God gave the Israelites in the desert so that they can feed on it. Through this bread they could gain life in the desert. God called this manna as “glory of the Lord,” (Ex 16:7) because God was giving them life or salvation in the desert.
Gathering Manna in the wilderness
Spiritual Manna, True Bread From Heaven
Hidden Manna And Salvation–The bible says that what was done in the Old Testament was a copy and shadow which foreshadowed what would be done in the New Testament. Just as there are physical Israelites, there are also the spiritual Israelites. (Rom 2:28) The physical Jews walked in the physical desert. Their life was hard and difficult because many things were lacking. In the same way, as spiritual Jews we are living in the spiritual desert of faith where we face hardships and difficulties all the time.
In the life of desert, God gave Israelites manna, bread from heaven for their life. And the bible teaches that God would give spiritual manna to us who are living in the life of faith in the spiritual desert. Then what is the spiritual bread that we must eat to receive salvation? And who is the one who can give the spiritual manna for our salvation? In the desert, manna was the representation of the glory of God. Also God said that he would not yield his glory to anyone. (Isa 42:8) Therefore, the only one who can show the glory of God is only God himself. This means that it is only God who can give manna (the glory of God) to people.
Passover and Manna
Jesus Giving Spiritual Manna
Hidden Manna And Salvation–Then who gave the spiritual manna to the people of God? 2000 years ago, Jesus came down to the people of God and gave them manna for their salvation. In the Book of John, Jesus taught his disciples that he is the bread from heaven or manna that they must eat to receive life. Jews of the time sought a sign from Jesus so that they could know that he was the Messiah or Savior. As the sign of Savior, specifically, they asked him to give them “the bread from heaven” that could give them life.
In answer to their request, Jesus taught them that he could give them manna the true bread from heaven that would give them eternal life.
John 6:32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”…..35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. … 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Jesus’ flesh and blood, Spiritual Manna
Bread From Heaven For Eternal Life
Hidden Manna And Salvation–Jesus said that he is the bread from heaven and whoever ate the bread would live forever. And also he taught them how to eat the bread from heaven, the spiritual manna.
John 6:53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Through these teachings of Jesus Christ, we can know that he was the spiritual manna the bread from heaven. And by eating his flesh and blood, we can eat manna for the spiritual life. As we have seen in many other different places, the only way we can eat his flesh and drink his blood is the Passover bread and wine. The Passover is actually the ceremony of eating spiritual manna for the eternal life in heaven. And Jesus was God himself who came down to this earth to shine the glory of salvation through the spiritual manna. (Isa 42:8)
Hidden Manna And Salvation
Hidden Manna And Salvation–Even though Jesus shone the glory of God through the Passover 2000 years ago, the light of glory of God was taken away from people in 325 AD. At the Council of Nicaea, Emperor Constantine abolished the Passover and replaced the Passover with a pagan custom of Easter in the excuse of commemorating Jesus’ resurrection. Because of this event, the manna became hidden and people could not eat the manna or the bread from heaven to receive eternal life.
However, the bible says that this hidden manna would be revealed in the last day to give us salvation again. Then who would bring this manna? It is Christ only who can bring the manna. It has always been God who could bring the light of salvation just like Jehovah in the Old Testament and Jesus 2000 years ago. And it would be the same in the last days. The Jesus would come back the second time to bring salvation. (Heb 9:28) Then how would he bring salvation? By restoring the manna or the Passover so that we can receive eternal life.
Revelation 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Christ teaches us that in the last day he would come back again with a new name. And also he would bring the manna back and give it to the people of God who are victorious.
Hidden Manna and Christ Ahnsahnghong
Hidden Manna And Salvation–Then according to the prophecies of the bible who brought back this manna again to us. If we look at the history of the church, there were some churches that restored a certain part of the truth. After the reformation, the baptism and the Sabbath got restored. But nobody could restore the lost truth of the new covenant Passover and other festivals of God. The reason is obvious. It is because this can be done by Christ or God who is coming as man in the flesh can do according to the prophecies of the bible.
The glory of God’s salvation can be revealed by God himself only. Finally, in 1964 people started to keep the Passover in the “World Mission Society Church Of God” or aka, “WMSCOG,” “Church Of God”. Then how could they keep the Passover? It was because one man restored the Passover of the new covenant. He was Christ Ahnsahnghong. Then who would Christ Ahnsahnghong be who revealed the glory of God through the hidden manna? He is none other than God himself. Even though he appeared as man for the second time, he is God who came to bring us salvation. (Isa 25:6-9)
Now let us keep the Passover by accepting the teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong. The Passover is the ceremony through which we can eat the hidden manna, the flesh of Christ which God gave for the life of his people. And also let us realize that God the Mother is the reality of the manna, Christ’s flesh and blood. And she is the spiritual Eve who is the Mother of all the living who can give us eternal life.
Christ gave all the information of his coming so that we would correctly recognize the one who is to come and receive salvation. Through the prophecies of the bible he let us know how, when, and where he would come. And also he let us know the true sign of Christ so that we can be sure who the true Christ is even though he would appear as ordinary man in the flesh as he appeared 2000 years ago. However, the disciples could correctly recognize him through the sign he brought, the Passover. In the same way, the Second Coming Christ would bring “the hidden manna” as his sign. Then what is the hidden manna?
Undercover Prosecutor In Chosun Dynasty
In the Korean history when people’s complaint reached the king, the king would sent his messenger to the place to inspect the governor of the town. And the messenger would enter into the town in the appearance of beggar or passerby in worn and patched clothes to hide his identity. If the rumor was true and people are mistreated and exploited by the governor, the messenger was given authority to depose the corrupt official. At that time, one undeniable sign was given to him by the king so that everyone could recognize the true identity of the messenger despite his unlikely outward appearance: that is, Ma-Pae, which allowed him to mobilize soldiers and people to punish the corrupt governor.
This medallion was the sure sign of King’s messenger; therefore, when people see the medallion, they must listen to the person who carried it. However poor or pathetic may a person look, he must be obeyed as soon as he showed this medallion because he was the one who was sent by the king.
The Sign of the Second Coming Christ
Then in the same way, the bible says that when Christ is coming for the second time in the last days, he is to bring a sure sign that people can easily recognize him no matter what his appearance look like. Whether he is tall or short, rich or poor, handsome or not, all these things do not matter. What is important is the sure sign he is showing to reveal his identity. Then what is the sign of the Second Coming Christ so that we can recognize him? Without knowing the sign we might miss him when he comes and lost our chance for the salvation. Therefore, let us see one prophecy of his coming to find out the sign he is bringing to let us know his true identity.
Revelation 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
What is the stone with a new name? According to the bible, Christ is called stone because he would appear as ordinary man (stone) who are so common like stones and cannot be recognized with outward appearance. (1 Peter 2:4) Just like one stone is not different from another, outwardly Christ would not be different from any of us. So the meaning of this prophecy is Christ who is coming as man in the flesh with a new name.
So according to this prophecy there is no way for us to recognize the second coming Christ because he would not have any physical signs in his appearance to reveal his divinity or we cannot know him even through his name Jesus because he is not coming with the name Jesus anymore. Rather, he is coming with a completely different name, hence the new name. In this situation, how can we know who the Christ is and accept him for the salvation. For that purpose, he brings one sign, that is, “Hidden Manna” as sure sign so that we may distinguish Christ from the ordinary men and also from many false christs and prophets.
Manna, the Bread from Heaven
Then what is “hidden manna”? To understand this first we should know what manna is and then think about the meaning “hidden.” Then what is manna? Originally, manna was the bread from heaven given to the Israelites while they were travelling in the desert for 40 years after they came out of Egypt. The bread was given as sign of salvation so that people of Israel could provide themselves in the desert and survive.
Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
When people of Israel complained for the lack of food or water, God gave them bread from heaven so that they could eat and live in the desert. And people called this bread “manna.”
Exodus 16: 31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.
This was the origin of manna in the bible. Then in the last days will God rain down bread from heaven so that we can support ourselves for our physical life? Probably not.
True Bread From Heaven
Then what is the true manna? Let us find out through the teachings of Jesus. To the Israelites of the time who was asking for the sign of Christ by giving them bread from heaven, Jesus teaches them the true manna that gives life for the soul (eternal life).
John 6:30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The Israelites were demanding a sign to prove that he is the Christ, God who came as man in the flesh to give them salvation. And they told Jesus to give them bread from heaven as sign just like what God had done in the time of Moses to save his people. To the people Jesus taught the true bread of God which gives eternal life to the people.
John 6:34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
To the people who asked bread from heaven which could sustain their physical life, Jesus taught the true bread of God which can sustain the spiritual life by giving them eternal life. And he said that he was the bread from heaven, that is, he is spiritual manna.
John 6:48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
He taught them he was the spiritual manna from heaven that could give eternal life to them.
John 6:53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
He taught them how to eat the spiritual manna to receive eternal life: you must eat my flesh and drink my blood. In other words, his flesh and blood was the spiritual manna that gives salvation to people.
The Hidden Manna, the Passover of the New Covenant
Passover, the Spiritual Manna
Then how can we eat his flesh and blood, the true manna? It is through the Passover. On the night of the Passover, Jesus took bread and wine which represents his flesh and blood and gave the blessings of forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Through these teachings Jesus was teaching people that the true manna is Christ himself and the way we can eat the manna is to eat the bread and wine of the Passover which symbolize his flesh and blood. Therefore, the bread from heaven or manna is the Passover that gives us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Just as God gave manna to the physical Israelites to sustain them their physical life in the desert, Christ (God) gave us the spiritual manna to the spiritual Israel people so that we can sustain our spiritual life in the spiritual desert of faith. 2000 years ago, Jesus himself taught this precious lesson that he is the bread from heaven which gives eternal life, but people deserted him and could not eat the true manna that could give them salvation. Only the twelve disciples took part in the Passover and ate the spiritual manna.
John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Hidden Manna
After receiving the spiritual manna from the Christ, the disciples of Jesus kept this Passover until 325 AD. However, in 325 in the council of Nicaea, Emperor Constantine abolished the Passover and since then the manna became hidden from the sight of man and nobody could eat the bread from heaven to receive the eternal life. But in the Book of Revelation, Christ already prophesied that he would come bringing the hidden manna back again. Therefore, the undeniable sign of Christ is the manna, the Passover of the new covenant which is going to be restored in the last days. Only through this Passover we can know the Christ who is appearing as stone without any outward distinguishable characteristics.
To fulfill this prophecy, Christ Ahnsahnghong restored the Passover of the new covenant which was abolished for about 1600 years since 325 AD. Finally, in our time he restored the hidden manna to give us eternal life through his flesh and blood. Then who is Christ Ahnsahnghong? Even though he came as stone by hiding his glory, through this sure sign of Christ we should know and recognize him as the true Christ who is coming with a new name. Even though he came from the small land of Korea, even though he worked as stone mason breaking stones, even though there was no beauty or majesty in his outward appearance, even though he lived an ordinary life without any significant title or authority, we must be able to see his divinity through the sign, “hidden manna” which only the Christ could bring to us according to the prophecy.
God Coming as Man
People during the Chosun Dynasty in Korea could know the Messenger from King through the medallion with horses on it and they did need to have any more signs. In the same way, God gave the sure sign of Christ through which we can recognize the true Second Coming Christ. We can finally eat the bread from heaven that gives us eternal life. We should not lose this chance just like the Israelites who rejected Jesus Christ because of his outward appearance. We should not be deceived by the appearance of Christ Ahnsahnghong, but must look at the fulfillment of the prophecies of the bible. And we should be able to say like Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Give thanks and praise to God Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother New Jerusalem.
