Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
| PentecostalTheology.com
From Revelation 2:17, I am trying to find the meaning of two things that Jesus promises to those who overcome, specifically to the church in Thyatira, and here is the verse:
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden
manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name
written, which no man knows saving he that receives it (Rev 2:17).”
First, what doe’s Jesus mean when He tells them that they who overcome “…will I give to eat of the hidden manna…” What is the meaning of the hidden manna?
I have found a few answers that don’t really seem to explain, but maybe make sense to some of you. Here’s the result of my research so far and I would love to know if you agree with any of these or if you may have another explanation.
The first explanation is that it may be some of the manna that was placed in the Ark of the Covenant.
Secondly, another explanation answer is found in John 4:32, Jesus responds to His disciples when they ask Him if He had already had something to eat, He replies, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about…”
And last of all, that this manna is of His Word from the foundation of the world to be revealed in these last days.
Does anyone know of any other explanation or ado any of the explanations I have already found make sense?
Thanks for your help!
Troy Day
Terry Wiles it sure appears that NONE of our @followers knows or can tell us about this here @highlight from REV
Terry Wiles
Troy Day Sounds like a line out of ‘Little Bo Peep”. She lost her sheep and didn’t know where to find them. The line says, “leave them alone…” What else is she going to do but leave them alone if she doesn’t know where to find them? 🙂
Troy Day
Terry Wiles The post explores the meaning of the “hidden manna” promised by Jesus in Revelation 2:17, a reward given “to the one who overcomes.” The author notes that this symbol has generated several interpretations within Christian theology. One view connects it to the literal manna preserved in the Ark of the Covenant, suggesting that Christ offers believers a share in God’s preserved, covenantal provision. This interpretation emphasizes continuity between Old Testament typology and New Testament fulfillment, portraying Jesus as the true sustainer of God’s people in every age.
Another interpretation highlighted in the post draws from Jesus’ statement in John 4:32—“I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” Here, the hidden manna is understood spiritually, referring to the deeper nourishment that comes from doing the will of the Father. This view frames the promise as an invitation into intimate fellowship with Christ, where obedience becomes its own sustenance. Theologically, this aligns with Johannine themes of spiritual food, divine mission, and the believer’s participation in Christ’s life.
A third explanation suggests that the hidden manna represents divine revelation—truth from the foundation of the world that God unveils to His people in the last days. This interpretation resonates with apocalyptic motifs in Revelation, where hidden realities are disclosed to the faithful. It emphasizes that overcoming is not merely moral perseverance but receptivity to God’s unfolding Word. Across all interpretations, the post underscores that the promise of hidden manna is ultimately about communion with Christ, the true bread from heaven, who satisfies the deepest hunger of those who remain faithful.