The Hidden Manna, the White Stone and the New Name - Part 1

Preached at Gower Street Chapel, London, on Lord s Day Morning, June 21, 1868

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh 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 knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Rev 2:17

I DO not know a more solemn or weighty part of the Word of God than the messages, which our gracious Lord sent by the hand of John to the seven churches in Asia, which we find contained in chapters 2 Re 2 and 3 Re 3  of the Book of Revelation. As introductory to these messages, and to give them greater weight and power, as well as to furnish a general introduction to the whole of the book, our adorable Lord appeared to John in a very conspicuous and glorious revelation, of which we have the record in the Re 1 first chapter. He tells us there that he "was in the isle of Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Being, thus, the Lord s prisoner, he "was in the Spirit on the Lord s day, and heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."

I need not, however, enter at any length into a description or explanation of the glorious vision with which John was thus specially favoured, and shall, therefore, only draw your attention to the following points in it.

1. If you carefully examine the distinctive features of this revelation, you will not see in it His priestly character. He did not appear to John as the High Priest over the house of God; as the Mediator at the right hand of the Father; as the Intercessor able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. But He appeared as King in Zion in all the dignity of regal majesty. You will easily see this from casting your eye upon the description, which John gives of this glorious Person. Thus, he says that "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow." This feature symbolises His eternity; for you will recollect that "the Ancient of Days," who from the context is evidently the Father, is represented in Da 7:9 with "the hair of His head like the pure wool." But why should this symbolise eternal duration? It is because grey hair represents age in man; and thus in type and figure His hairs being white like wool, as white as snow, represent duration, that is, eternal duration in the Son of God. He is called, in Isaiah Isa 9:6 "the everlasting Father," or as Bishop Lowth renders it, "the Father of the everlasting age;" and His "goings forth" are declared by the prophet Micah to have been "from of old, from everlasting." Now, it is to Him in His regal character that this description applies. The prophet Isaiah, therefore, says in connection with His being "the everlasting Father," that He is "the Prince of Peace;" and that "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end;" and the prophet Micah, in the passage which I have quoted, declares that He is "ruler in Israel."

2. Another feature observable in this description is, that "His eyes were as a flame of fire," not tender, gracious and sympathising, as would have been the eyes of the high priest; but the eyes of a King in His regal majesty, flashing forth rays and beams to illuminate and gladden those who believe, and to smite down, as with so many lightning shafts, those who live and die in their unbelief; searching all hearts and trying all reins, and like flames of fire penetrating into the depths of every human breast.

3. Another striking feature in this description is that "His feet were like unto fine brass"- not torn or bearing any marks upon them of the cruel nails whereby He was fastened to the cross, but bright, shining and glorious as become the feet of an enthroned King, able to dispense the riches of His grace, and yet swift to move forward on errands of vengeance.

4. Another noticeable feature was His voice,  which was "as the sound of many waters;" so full was it, melodious, powerful and falling upon the ear like water rushing from a height. You have sat at times, it may be, near a waterfall, and you have heard the rush of the waters as they fell down the steep rock. What strength, and yet what harmonious melody, were blended together in the sound. What a calm stole over your mind, and how, as you breathed the air around you, so cool and fresh, a spirit of meditation came over you as your ears listened to the noise of the ever falling waters in their ceaseless melody! Thus, in it there were combined these three things: power, continuance and melody. And are not these three things characteristic of the voice of Christ as "the voice of the Lord upon many waters" spoken of by the Psalmist?

1. It is powerful;  for "with the word of a king there is power;" and it is expressly said of it, "The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty."

2. It is continuous,  for this voice is ever speaking to the hearts of His people.

3. And we need not tell those who have heard it that it is most melodious, for every accent is full of sweetness; as the Bride said in her description of her Beloved, "His mouth is most sweet." So 5:16

4. Another characteristic feature of this glorious Person is that He "had in His right hand seven stars." These He himself explains as being the angels, that is, the presiding ministers or pastors of the seven churches. They are called "stars" as shining in the Christian firmament with conspicuous lustre, as giving light to the churches, directing them to Christ, and pointing out the way of salvation, as stars were used for guides in ancient navigation, and also to rule the churches, as stars rule the night. As held also in Christ s hand, it shows how that they are wholly at His disposal, held up only by His mighty power, preserved from error and apostasy only by His grace, and used as instruments to do His work and shine in His light.

5. Another conspicuous feature, which I may name, is His sword. "And out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword." This signifies the Word which He speaks with a divine power, for it corresponds with the description given of the Word of God by the apostle, "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb 4:12 By this sword He searches the heart, as He says: "All the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts" Re 2:23 and by this sword he fights also against all evil doers, as He declares, "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against thee with the sword of My mouth." Re 2:16 This sword carries with it death when it is lifted up against the impenitent and unbelieving: "And I will kill her children with death." Re 2:23

6. The last feature which I shall mention is the glory of His countenance. "And His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." This is a representation of His glory as the Sun of righteousness; and as such He appeared to the three favoured disciples when He was transfigured before them, for "His face did shine as the sun." Mt 17:2

Now this wonderful description of the glory of the Son of God, as seen by John, was to prepare him for the reception of the Revelation with which he was to be favoured for the benefit of the church in all time, and especially to give weight, authority and power to the messages sent by him to the seven churches.

But I need not dwell further upon these points. We have a part of one of these messages to consider this morning, and I hope that the Lord may enable me so to open it up, that I may bring out of it something that may be for your instruction, or edification, or encouragement, or admonition and reproof, if need be, as He may enable me, in handling it rightly, to divide the Word of truth.

In these messages to the seven churches, there are certain features, which are common to all, and there are certain features, which are distinctive of each.

Of the features common to all the messages, there are chiefly three.

1. The first is, "I know thy works." How accordant these words are with the description of His eyes as a flame of fire; and how they show us that every word and work, every thought and imagination of our hearts are naked and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. We may deceive ourselves, but we cannot deceive Him. He knows all that we are and have been, and is perfectly acquainted with everything in us both in nature and grace. It. is good when a feeling sense of this makes us watch our words and works, and to desire that they might be pleasing in His sight, and that what we do in His name might have His approbation in our hearts and consciences.

2. Another common feature, and one that generally winds up the message (as, "I know thy works," introduces it), is, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." These words extend the message beyond the church to which they were spoken, and address themselves to every one to whom the Word comes, and to whom an ear is given to hear and receive it. Thus each message sent to the churches becomes a message sent personally to us. If we have a spiritually circumcised ear, if we are willing to listen to the voice of the Lord, He speaks to us in every message as personally and as distinctly as He spoke to each individual church. It is indeed an unspeakable blessing to have this ear given to us that we may receive in humility, simplicity and godly sincerity what the Lord speaks in the Word of his grace. It is by His Word that He knocks at the door of our hearts; and what a blessing He has pronounced on the man who hears His voice and opens the door when he hears the knock, like a fond and affectionate wife when she hears the knock of her husband at the door of his house: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Re 3:20

3. The last common feature which I shall name, is the promise given "to him that overcometh," varied in every message with a special promise attached to it.

But, as the consideration of this feature will form a main part of our subject this morning, I shall not now dwell upon it, but come at once to the words of our text; which I shall take up, simply, in the order in which it lies before me.

I.- First, I shall call your attention to the solemn invitation, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

II.- Secondly, endeavour to show the character pointed out, who is said in it to overcome, and in what way he that overcomes obtains the victory.

III.-Thirdly, I shall dwell upon those special promises which are given to him that overcometh, which axe:

1. He shall eat of the hidden manna;

2. There shall be given him a white stone;

3. And in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

I.-I have already dropped a few remarks upon the invitation, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;" but I shall now endeavour to handle it at greater length, and to dwell more fully upon the mind and meaning of the Lord in it.

And first let me urge this point upon you, that in and by this invitation you are called upon to listen this morning to what the Lord may condescend to speak by me to your hearts and consciences. I know well that I cannot bring before you anything worth listening to except the Lord enable; but as coming up to the house of God to hear His Word, as sitting before me in this assembling of yourselves together for the worship of God, you are engaged by so coming, and by the profession so made are bound as a matter of conscience to listen to what you hear brought forward in the name of God; not to allow your mind to be diverted by any vain speculation or idle fancy that Satan may thrust in, nor waste precious moments upon matters which may be attended to at other seasons, but, with God s help, to aveil yourself of that short space which we have in the week to meet together in the Lord s house to listen to that which, through His goodness and mercy, may be for the good of your soul.

You come here to be instructed in the truth of God; to have your sins shown to you in the light of His countenance, that you may repent of and forsake them; to have the way of salvation through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus set before you, and thus have faith raised up in your hearts to believe in His name; for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." You are come to hear the work of God upon the soul traced out, and the living experience of God s saints described, that you may have some testimony that the work is begun and is being carried on in your own soul. And you are come also to learn how you may know the will of God and do it, by heating the precepts of the gospel set before you, that you "may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Now will you throw away, so to speak, all these blessings and advantages for a few silly thoughts, vain speculations, or anxious cares, and will you not rather, if your heart be right with God, earnestly desire and pray that you may get some blessing this morning from the Word which you are come to hear?

I may divide hearers of the gospel into three classes.

1. Those who hear the Word of life sounding in their ears, and that, it may be, continually, who yet feel no concern whatever in what they hear; into whose outward ear the Word may penetrate, and who may perhaps even learn something of its meaning in their natural judgment, and yet their ear is not circumcised, or conscience touched, or heart wrought upon and engaged to listen to the Word as being the Word of life. These will always form a very numerous part in every religious assembly. In many congregations there are no other hearers, for they are what the Word of God calls "the congregation of the dead." But even in our assemblies under the Word of truth, where we hope there are many who truly fear God, there will always be a large proportion of these unconcerned hearers who are brought under the sound of the Word from various causes but at present have no manifested interest in it.

2. But there is another class of hearers who seem at first sight of a much more promising character, and of whom it is very difficult to pronounce how far they possess the life of God or not. They certainly are different from the class, which I have just described, for they have more light, and there is something in them, which often looks like life. Wherever the gospel is preached there will be many, and doubtless I have some such now before me, who will never listen to anything but pure truth, and whose ear is usually very keen to detect any deviation from it-perhaps more so than many of those who know truth in its power. And yet, though their ears have been in some measure opened to distinguish sounds, yet it is at present a doubtful point how far the truth of God has really laid vital hold of their heart, struck deep root into their soul, or been made spirit and life to their consciences. The event sometimes shows that some of these doubtful characters do possess the beginnings of divine life. Where this is the case, it will in due time be clearly manifested.

In every congregation there will be many such; and it is for you who desire to be right before God, and yet see in what a doubtful spot your soul often seems to stand for eternity, not to rest satisfied with the mere dim and doubtful hope of being found right at last. You have light enough to see the danger of standing on a spot where you have little or no testimony of your interest in Christ, or any clear evidence that there is a saving work of grace on your heart. It will be then your wisdom and mercy to look narrowly into your own bosom, carefully examine your own heart, and see whether you are one who has ears to hear by the application of God s Word to your soul, and what you have felt of the power of truth upon your conscience, or whether you have not advanced at present beyond merely knowing the distinction of sounds, and understanding what you hear in your natural judgment.

I am well convinced in my own mind that no man has an ear (that is, a spiritual ear) to listen to and receive God s Word except God has given him faith; and I am also well satisfied that no man has faith who has not felt the power of the Word of God upon his heart. You will perhaps recollect that last Lord s day, in explaining how faith was raised up in the heart, I ascribed it to the power of the Word under the operation and influence of the Spirit. Now those who have felt the power of the Word in the hand of the Spirit, penetrating even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, so as to be a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart-these have ears to hear; they listen as for eternity; they weigh up what is spoken as a matter of personal concern. "Am I right? Am I deceived? What faith I profess to have, is it God s gift and God s work? Does it spring from nature or from grace? Is it of the operation of God, or is it merely the natural faith of my own mind with which God has nothing to do?" These searchings of heart are good: they manifest, as far as they go, a tender conscience, and where they lead to prayer, cries and sighs before the throne, and to a real baring of the breast before Him whose eyes are as flames of fire; where there is this prostration of body and soul and spirit before His heart-searching eye, and that continued-because we cannot tell how far nature may go, how far conscience may work, and what a man may feel just for a few moments under solemn impressions-but where this is continued, not as a mere land-spring, but flowing on as a river, and goes on day after day, and sometimes hour after hour, until the question is settled between God and conscience, there you have marks and evidences of the life of God; and to such a one the Lord speaks in the words, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."

3. Now this is the third character of whom I spoke as being found among the hearers of the gospel. These have the life of God in their souls; in these the Lord the Spirit has wrought a principle of living faith. They may much differ from each other in their personal experience. Some may be strong and others weak; some highly favoured with the manifestations of the love of God, and others walking in much darkness, or even doubt and fear, through trials and temptations; but they all possess the light of life, the fear of God, a spirit of faith and prayer, and a separation in heart and spirit from the world. Now these are they to whom our Lord speaks as having an ear, and He bids them hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. For the Spirit says very important things to the churches in the messages sent to them. He shows them the evil and the good; and state into which sin had brought some of them, and what the consequences would be if, as churches, they persevered in disobedience. He also sets before those who were believing and obedient very precious promises, and these are especially made to him amongst them who overcometh.

II.-I shall now, therefore, coming to our second point, endeavour to show who this character is who is said to overcome,  for that is the point which peculiarly concerns us. It is, indeed, the most important part of the message, for if you will read carefully the messages which the Spirit sends to the churches, you will find in every one of them a promise given to him that overcometh, and to no other.

I. It is, therefore, a point which demands our earnest and anxious enquiry; for bear this in mind, that the Christian contest is not one in which one man may win the prize and the others be unsuccessful, yet not be disgraced nor dishonoured. It is not like a competition in a public school, where two or three boys carry off the various prizes, whilst others fail, and yet no disgrace is attached to the failure. It is not like a race where one runs and receives the prize, and those who miss the prize still are as they were before the race was run by them. This contest is for life or death: it is either being overcome and being damned, or overcoming and being saved. It is like two men, mortal foes, who are fighting at the sword s point for their life: "You must die," says the one combatant to the other, "or I must die; no quarter on either side shall be given; my sword must either pierce your breast, or your sword must pierce mine; we shall never leave the ground till one of us be dead." That is the sort of contest spoken of by the Spirit to the churches: a contest of certain victory or certain defeat, and that for all eternity. Or I may compare it to a man who is tried for his life at the bar of justice: it is for him a verdict of guilty or not guilty; it is to send him free into the light of day, or to send him to swing upon the gallows.

Bear this also in mind, that this solemn truth affects every one here. It is not as if you might calmly and indifferently say, "So-and-so is religious and I am not, but what of that? I make no profession; my father or my mother, my husband or my wife is very religious; I highly esteem them for it, and should be glad to be like them; but I hope it will not be so bad with me as you make out. God is very merciful, and there may be after all no such great difference between us in the end. Besides which, I hope I may be religious some time before I die; and you well know that I can t change my own heart or do anything of myself." But this is the way whereby Satan deceives men to their own destruction. We do not find in the Word of God any such hopes as these held out. If we have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, we shall find there is no promise except to him that overcometh; and, therefore, to be overcome is to perish, as to overcome is to be saved. Hear, then, for yourselves what the Spirit saith to the churches, and see whether you are one who overcometh, or one who is overcome.

I shall endeavour to point out, in various ways, how we overcome, and as I travel along the road, do you endeavour to travel by my side, and see how far you and I can square accounts, and how matters stand between God and conscience, as I shall unfold the dealings of the Lord with it. 1. The first thing, which we have to overcome-for it meets us at the very beginning of our race-is self. If that be overcome, all is overcome; if that be not overcome, nothing is overcome. Our Lord, therefore, on one occasion, when He saw great multitudes following Him, turned and said unto them, "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple." Lu 14:26,27 He also said, on another occasion, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me; for whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it." Lu 9:23,24 Thus, according to our Lord s testimony, to deny self lay at the very head of the way. The man who could not do that, could not take a single step in the way of eternal life.

Now just consider for a moment, the state and condition in which the grace of God finds us, if indeed it be that it has reached our hearts. Buried in self,  assuming, indeed, different forms in different individuals, yet the same state and condition in all. It may have found you profane self; it may have found another professing self; it may have found in this man self buried in, yet working strongly by and with the most daring and open iniquities, and in that man covering itself over with a robe of self-righteousness. But wherever it found you, or whatever it found you, your first step in the strait and narrow way was to overcome it. Now here we begin to learn for the first time our weakness; for to learn our weakness is a very great lesson in the divine life. It is only as we learn our weakness that we learn in whom our strength is, and how we are to overcome self, not by our own wisdom, will, or power, but by His who teacheth our hands to war and fingers to fight. If once we sit down and contemplate what lies before us in all the difficulties of the way, which we are called to tread, we shall never take a single step.

Many a person under conviction has said, inwardly or outwardly, "If I were in some different station of life; if I were not so peculiarly circumstanced as I am with my business, with my wife, with my family, with my connections, I could take the step; but I cannot, I am so hampered." And there the man would lie till he dropped into hell, had he no help or strength but what he found in himself. But the Spirit of God comes to his rescue, if one of His, does that for him, and that most effectively, what the man never could do for himself had he a thousand years to do it in. By the application of God s words to his conscience, He pulls him out of self in which he was hopelessly buried, and causes him to take that step which he could not take, and yet knew must be taken or he must die in his sins.

He now comes willingly and easily out of his profanity, or out of his profession, or out of his self-righteousness, because there is a power put forth in his conscience by the Spirit of God, which gives him the victory in the first stage of the spiritual life-a victory over self. And he finds it easy too, most unexpectedly easy, for by the power of the Word in his heart, every crooked thing is made straight, and every rough place plain, and the worm Jacob can thresh the mountains. As long as he was shut up in unbelief-with desires to be right and yet held down by worldly influence-nothing was done; the step was too hard to take. But when the Spirit of God came with power, with light and life into his soul, he was able in a moment to do what otherwise he never could have done, and he found to his surprise that he did it easily. There was no difficulty in coming out of profanity, in leaving ungodly companions, in dropping the oath, or the drink, or the nightly resort. He was drawn out of his profane self, and all that accompanied it, by a secret yet invincible power, and what at one time seemed to be a mountain, he found diminished to a mole hill. The chains, which bound him to sin and the world dropped off his hands, like those of Peter in the prison. He began to hate himself for his sins, and to hate all that which held him down fast in them, and longed to be free from all his besetments that he might not ever be a vile, beastly wretch, carried away by his lusts and passions. To deny them, he felt, was sweeter than to gratify them.