Introduction
Purpose
Trichotomous Function of Eating
Logistical Grace
Stomach
Feasting
Famine
Curse of Work
Refreshment
Obedience in Eating and Drinking
Giving Thanks for Food
Soul Hunger
Eating and Faith
Reversionism
Fasting
Curses
Sexual Hunger and Thirst
Devouring Prey
The Eucharist
Eternal State
Conclusion

Introduction

God created man so that he would have to eat to sustain human life.  The Garden where he lived was filled with all kinds of fruits for food.  Man picked the fruit off the trees and bushes.  Meat was not eaten in the Garden because there was no fire for cooking.  Fire is a type of judgment, which had not yet occurred.  The man and woman in the Garden were on a perpetual honeymoon, and the fruits symbolized their genitals and love making.  When man sinned, he was thrown out of the Garden and forced to work for his own bread.

God created man so that he would have to eat for good reason.  Eating is a necessity for physical life, but eating symbolizes much more.  Eating symbolizes the daily intake and metabolization of Bible Doctrine, which is a necessity for the Spiritual life.  And eating is associated with the appetite of the soul for knowledge.  Eating is a metaphor for acquiring things in life.  "Biting off more than one can chew" is an eating metaphor.  And there are a host of health problems associated with eating.  Some are too fat.  Others are too slim.  Some cannot metabolize sugar.  Some have too much cholesterol, and some are allergic to some foods.

Purpose

The purpose of life for the unbeliever is to receive the gift of Eternal Life (Jn 6:40; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9).  The Lord Jesus Christ paid for the sins of everyone, and it is not God's will for any to perish but for all to be saved.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to a change of mind (about Jesus Christ) (2 Peter 3:9)

The purpose of life for the Christian is to reach Spiritual Maturity and beyond (1 Cor 14:20; Eph 4:13; Col 1:28; Heb 5:14).

Brethren, stop being children in your thinking, but in evil be infants, and in your thinking become Spiritually mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

until we all attain to harmony with the Faith (Bible Doctrine), and of the epignosis-knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man (Spiritual Maturity), to the measure of the standard of the fulness of Christ (Spiritual Rapport). (Eph 4:13)

But keep seeking first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Since eating is a necessity of life, it must be properly integrated into the Christian life (Jn 6:27; Rom 14:6; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17).

Whether, therefore, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Your words were discovered and I ate them,
And Your words became to me a source of delight and super abundant Happiness to my heart
Because Your name was named upon me,
O Lord God of the Armies. (Jeremiah 15:16)

Ephesians 4:15-16
15 But communicating the truth (Bible Doctrine) in the sphere of divine Love, we may grow up in Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ. 16 From Whom the whole Body, being integrated and united through every joint of supply, according to the proper function of each individual part, produces growth of the Body resulting in the edification of itself in the sphere of divine Love.

but keep on growing in Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. (2 Peter 3:18)

Trichotomous Function of Eating

When man was born again, he received his human spirit again.  The human spirit is capable of communicating with the Spirit of God.  In the Church Age, the believer receives not only a human spirit, but also the Holy Spirit to fill the soul.  Thus, his human spirit is strengthened by the power of God.

Eating is a physical process, but it operates under the control of the soul, which may, in turn, be filled and controlled by the Spirit.  Thus, eating may also be related to the soul and Spirit.

Eating is a process that is physical, soulish, and Spiritual.  The physical process of eating is required for life.  Eating is a necessity and a source of bodily energy.  The soulish function of eating may be feeding an appetite for something besides food, such as knowledge.  It may be perception.  Or it may be appreciating or complaining about the taste of food, which is a soul function.  And the Spiritual aspect of eating represents metabolization of Bible Doctrine and Logistical Grace provision (manna or daily bread (Ex 16:31)).

When the Spirit controls the soul, the Old Sin Nature in the body and the Cosmic System on the outside are held in check, and the individual can have peace and freedom.  Eating under these conditions is satisfying.  God provides the food, and the individual is satisfied with it.  However, the soul without the Spirit has a void that leaves the individual at the mercy of the OSN and Cosmic System.  The person does not have peace and spiritual freedom but is a slave to the OSN and Cosmic System.  Eating under these conditions is not satisfying and may even be unhealthy.

Stomach

The stomach is the holding bin for food in the body.

Hebrew beten (/f#B#) = stomach, belly (Job 20:15)
Greek koilia (koiliva) = belly; stomach; womb; uterus (1 Cor. 6:13)

In the scripture, the stomach is often called the "belly." It is the Hebrew beten and the Greek koilia. It is often erroneously translated.  The stomach is a symbol of eating.  Eating food symbolizes production in life (Job 20:14-15).  The food that the reversionist eats becomes the poison of vipers in his bowels.  What he does with the energy from his food will kill him.  He eats (acquires) riches, but God will cause him to vomit them up from his stomach.

Job 20:14-15
14 His food is changed in his bowels (Hebrew me`eh) to the poison of vipers within him.
15 He swallows riches but will vomit them up.
God will cast them out of his stomach (Hebrew beten).

The riches of the reversionist are associated with Ecumenical Babylon.  Acquiring riches is like swallowing food.  In this case, the reversionist could not keep the riches down.  He could not stomach them because God made him sick on his stomach.  Vomiting up the riches means loss of them.

The stomach is a physical part of the body.  Yet, there is a Spiritual significance of the stomach that supersedes the temporal use.

Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food; but God will do away with both.  But the body is not for prostitution (or fornication), but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. (1 Cor 6:13)

Physical food is for the physical body, but neither will survive in Eternity.  God will do away with both and give us a resurrection body, which will be Spiritual.  The body is not to be used for prostitution (or fornication), i. e. linked to the Prostitute of Babylon.  The body is for a Love relationship with the Lord.  The believer has a Spiritual relationship with the Lord even in his temporal body.  The Lord also provides Spiritual food (Bible Doctrine) for the believer.  Thus, the temporal relationship of food for the body is superseded by the Spiritual relationship of the Lord to the believer.

Just as food must be swallowed, words must be stomached.  The words that come out of the mouth must also be stomached.

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be sated;
With the produce of his lips he will be satisfied. (Prov 18:20)

This proverb is like the Lord's statement that it is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person but what proceeds out of the mouth (Matt 5:11).  When a person communicates truth and Divine viewpoint, it will leave him sated and satisfied.

Whereas, the stomach likes to be full and a distended stomach leaves a person sated (Luke 15:16), a full stomach may also be a problem.  Trying to sleep on a full stomach may cause insomnia (Eccl 5:12).

Feasting

1.  Feasting symbolizes prosperity (Deut 32:13-14; Psa 81:16; 147:14).  The culinary prosperity of Israel (called Jacob) is described in Deuteronomy 32:13-14.

He (the LORD) caused him (Jacob/Israel) to ride upon the high places of the Land;
He ate the produce of the field;
He caused him to suck honey from the rock
And oil from the flint rock. (Deuteronomy 32:13)

"High places" is a metaphor for the victorious subjugation of the Promised Land, i. e. taking the high ground. (Isa. 58:14).  "He ate the produce of the field" refers to the agricultural production of the fertile land.  Sucking honey from the rock refers to the wild bees of Canaan, which make their hives in clefts of the rock.  "And oil from the flint rock" refers to olive oil from olive trees, which grow in rocky soil.

Curds from the herd and milk from the flock
With the fat of lambs,
Rams reared in Bashan, and goats,
With the finest of the wheat
And of the blood of the grape you drank wine. (Deuteronomy 32:14)

The word, "fat," in "fat of lambs" is figurative for the best, the highest quality (Num. 18:12).  "Rams reared in Bashan" means sired in Bashan.  "The finest of the wheat" is a Hebrew idiom that is literally, kidney-fat of wheat (meaning the finest wheat).  And "the blood of the grape" refers to red wine (Gen. 49:11).

2.  Feasts honor guests (Gen 19:3; 21:8; 40:20; Job 1:4).

3.  Wedding feasts in the ancient world (Gen 29:21-22; Judg 14:10; Luk 14:8) usually lasted at least a week (Gen 29:28; Judg 14:17).

4.  The Millennium will be a time of feasting and culinary prosperity. The Millennium is called the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Isa 25:6; Matt 22:1-14; 25:10; Luk 12:36; Rev 19:9).

The LORD of the Armies will prepare for all nations upon this mountain a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, fat pieces full of marrow, wine on the lees thoroughly strained. (Isaiah 25:6)

The mountain refers to Mount Zion in the Millennium.  The feast is for all the nations of the world to attend.  "A feast of fat things" refers to a Spiritual feast (Psa 22:26) that symbolizes the great blessing of the Millennium.  "A feast of wine on the lees" means wine matured by resting undisturbed on the lees.  Lees is the Hebrew semer, meaning lees or dregs.  "Wine on the lees" refers to wine that has been left to stand upon the lees after the first fermentation, and thus, thoroughly fermented.  The wine on the lees will be thoroughly strained, and thus, strong and clear.  "Fat pieces full of marrow" means the best of meat mixed with marrow, which is the rich heart of bones and considered a delicacy.

5.  Ceremonial feasts were required under the Mosaic Law beginning with the Passover and Unleavened Bread (Ex 12:5-13, 17; Lk 2:41).

6.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb of the Church (1 Cor 5:7), and the Church must be pure  from any sin, as symbolized by unleavened bread (1 Cor 5:8).

7.  Harvest feasts were held at the end of harvests, especially in the fall (Ruth 3:2-7).

Famine

1.  Famine is Divine Punishment (Deut 32:23-24; Jer 11:22; 14:12-18).

2.  Famine may be associated with the cycles of national cursing (Lev 26:26; Psa 105:16; Ezek 16:27).  The food supply will be reduced in the Fourth Cycle of National Cursing.⁵

'When I cut off  your food supply (staff), ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out to you your bread by weight (food rationing), so that you will eat and not be satisfied. (Leviticus 26:26)

Note, "food supply" is literally "staff of bread," which is a Hebrew idiom.

3.  Famine may symbolize an impending disaster (Deut 28:51-57; Isa 3:1; Jer 37:21; 38:9; Ezek 4:16-17; 14:13; Hos 2:9-12; Rev 6:8).  The famine was so bad in Jerusalem before it fell to Babylon in 586 BC that women ate their babies.  In the Tribulation the pale horse symbolizes death, which can come from famine (Rev 6:8).

4.  Famine may be Divine punishment of individuals and not the entire nation.  God may punish evildoers like the prodigal son by reducing food rations (Prov. 13:25; Luke 15:16).

5.  The believer who is positive to God's Plan does not have to worry about famine (Job 5:20, Psa 34:9-10; 37:19, 25; Rom 8:35).

In famine He will preserve you from death;
And in battle from the stroke of the sword. (Job 5:20)

Psalm 37:18-19
18 The LORD knows the days of the Spiritually Mature,
And their inheritance will endure forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

The LORD knows the life of the Spiritually Mature believers.  "Knows" is the Hebrew jada`, which is an X-axis function, like eating.  "Spiritually Mature" is the Hebrew tamim, meaning complete, having integrity, and referring to the completed Edification Complex of the Soul.  The Spiritually Mature believer will not be ashamed in time of evil and in famine, he will be satisfied with food.

I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the Righteous one forsaken
Or his children begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)

Righteousness is an X-axis function, as is eating bread.  The Lord will not forsake the Righteous one.  The Righteous one trusts the Lord for Logistical Grace provision, and his children will not be without daily bread.

Curse of Work

1.  Even though food is from Logistical Grace, man's labor for it is cursed (Gen 3:17-19).  God's punishment of Adam for his sin was that he would have to work to eat bread, and the land was cursed so that it grew thorns and thistles.

2.  God blesses even the unbeliever with enjoyment of his work, his food, and his Right Woman (Eccl 2:24-25; 8:15; 9:7).

3.  Since food is Logistical Grace provision, it is inappropriate to complain about it (Nu 21:5; Luk 10:8).  The Exodus generation complained about the manna saying, "For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food" (Nu 21:5b).

4.  After man was thrown out of the Garden, work was required to harvest food (2 Thess 3:10-12).

For even when we were with you, we kept ordering you, that if anyone is not willing to work, neither is he to be eating. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

5.  The laborer who harvests food should be allowed to partake of it (1 Cor 9:9; 1 Tim 5:18).  This is the reason given for paying pastors a salary.

6.  Those who work should be willing to share with those who need food (Is 58:7; Luke 3:11; 2 Cor 8:15; Eph 4:28; 1 Thess 4:12; Jas 2:15-16).

Refreshment

1.  Food and water provide refreshment (Gen 18:5; Judg 13:15 19:21; 1 Sam 14:29; SOS 2:5).  Abraham provided food and water for refreshment to the Lord and two angels who came to him in human form.  When Jonathan was tired and hungry, he tasted a little honey and his eyes brightened.

2.  Providing refreshment may bring blessing (Deut 14:29).  A special tithe was to be collected in Israel every third year for the Levites, aliens, orphans, and widows.  Doing this would secure the Lord's blessing on the work performed in Israel.

3.  Withholding refreshment may lead to a curse (Neh 13:2).  Ammonites and Moabites were prohibited from entering the assembly of the Lord in Israel because they failed to provide refreshment to Israel during the Exodus and even tried to curse them through Balaam.

4.  Serving special cuts, dishes, or feasts are a way of honoring guests (Lev 7:32-33; 1 Sam 9:24; Ezek 24:4).

Obedience in Eating and Drinking

1.  Because food is from the Lord, the believer must obey the Lord in what he eats or drinks (1 Ki 13:7-30).

The Lord sent a prophet (called "a man of God") from Judah to Bethel across the border in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Bethel, with its Golden Calf, was the center for idolatry in the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Amos 4:4; 5:5).  The prophet found King Jeroboam standing beside the altar to burn incense to false gods (1 Ki 13:1).  The prophet prophesied that Josiah would be born from the line of David and that he would sacrifice the priests of the false gods along with human bones on the altar, which would defile it (1 Ki 13:2).  When King Jeroboam heard it, he stretched out his hand and said, "Seize him," but his hand dried up (1 Ki 13:4).  The King implored the prophet to pray for him.  So, the prophet prayed for him, and his hand was restored (1 Ki 13:6).  The prophecy was later fulfilled (2 Kings 23:15–20).

1 Kings 13:7-10, NAS
7 Then the king (Jeroboam) said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."
8 But the man of God said to the king, "If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.
9 "For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came.' "
10 So he went another way and did not return by the way which he came to Bethel.

When the King offered refreshment and reward to the prophet, the prophet refused, saying the LORD had commanded him not to eat or drink in Bethel and not to return by the way he came.  Several principles need to be understood here.  First, the Lord provides daily food from Logistical Grace, and in this case, the daily food was not to be found in Bethel, which was full of idolatry.  Bethel and the Northern Kingdom of Israel were full of idolatry.  Thus, it was not the place to be socializing, even with the King over a fine meal.  There could be no fellowship between Light and darkness.  The King may have sounded sincere, but he had no intention of giving up his idolatry (1 Ki 13:33-34).

Also, the prophet was commanded to take a different route home.  This is the sign of being in hostile territory.  After the prophet delivered a condemnation of Judgment amounting to a curse on Samaria, there could be those who would be upset and try to kill the messenger.  As it turned out, the son of another old prophet did see the prophet leave and told his father about all the events surrounding the prophecy against the altar (2 Ki 13:11-14).  The old prophet left on his donkey and caught up with the younger prophet.  The old prophet asked the younger prophet to return with him and eat, but the younger prophet refused and explained that the LORD had commanded him not to eat or drink in Bethel (2 Ki 13:15-17).  Whereupon, the older prophet revealed that he, too, was a prophet and an angel had told him to bring the man back and give him food and drink.

He said to him, "I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him. (2 Kings 13:18, NAS)

So, the younger prophet returned and ate food and drank water in the house of the older prophet (2 Ki 13:19).  However, during the meal, a message from God came to the older prophet, who prophesied that because the younger prophet had disobeyed God, he would not come to the grave of his fathers, i. e. he would die a violent death before his time.

1 Kings 13:20-22, NAS
20 Now it came about, as they were sitting down at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back;
21 and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have disobeyed the command of the LORD, and have not observed the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you,
22 but have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, "Eat no bread and drink no water"; your body shall not come to the grave of your fathers.' "

On the way home a lion killed the younger prophet.  People saw the body lying on the road with the lion and the donkey standing by.  When the older prophet heard about it, he went and retrieved the body (1 Ki 13:23-28).  The lion did not devour it or the donkey, since it was the work of God.  The three standing side-by-side symbolized Ecumenical (prophet), Cosmic (lion), and Political (Donkey) Babylon.  The death by the lion symbolized Satan administering the Sin Leading to Death.  The young prophet had violated God's Logistical Grace provision and eaten in violation of the geographical will of God.  Consequently, eating food that was not his daily bread was the Sin Leading to Death.

The old prophet brought the body of the younger prophet back and buried him in his own (older prophet's) grave (1 Ki 13:29-30).

2.  Dietary restrictions, such as those in the Mosaic Law, do not apply in the Church Age (Mk 7:18-19; Acts 10:15; Rom 14:14; Col 2:16, 20-21; 1 Tim 4:3-4).  Dietary laws were designed to teach sanctification (Lev 11:45-47).  The Mosaic Law forbade eating pork, but when Peter tried to keep the Law in the Church Age, the Lord told him pork and other foods were no longer unclean (Acts 10:15).

3.  The Church Age Believer is even free to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols (1 Cor 8:4-8).  The best meat in Corinth came from the Temple meat market from animals that had been sacrificed to idols.  Whereas, worshiping idols is evil, there was nothing wrong with the meat.  Eating it was not a sin.

4.  It may be inappropriate to eat legitimate food under some circumstances (Rom 14:2-3, 14-17, 20; 1 Cor 8:9-13; 10:27-29).  Weak believers who have hang-ups about eating certain foods should not be the victim of Self-Righteous judging or legalism by believers who don't have the hang-ups.  And if a person makes an issue out of eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols, it is best not to eat it, and thereby, remove the bone of contention.

A weak believer might believe in eating vegetables only and no meat.  Whereas, that is not an accurate interpretation of Church Age doctrine, it should not become a source of contention (Rom 14:2-3).

The one who observes the day, to the Lord he observes it.   And the one who is eating (meat), to the Lord he eats; for you see, he gives thanks to God.  And the one who is not eating (meat), to the Lord he does not eat and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:6)

One Christian has no authority to pass judgment on another regarding what he eats.  It is not a sin to eat vegetables only.  But it is a sin to judge another.

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but Righteousness and peace and Happiness in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

The "Kingdom of God" refers to the Spiritual life.  Eating and drinking are not spiritual but physical.  The Spiritual life includes Righteousness from God and the fruit of the Spirit, including peace and prosperity and Happiness.

5.  Taking communion with unconfessed sin can bring sickness and even death (1 Cor 11:27-30).

Giving Thanks for Food

1.  Saying grace, or giving thanks for food, is recognition of Logistical Grace provision (1 Tim 4:4-5; 1 Cor 10:30; Rom 14:6).

2.  Jesus gave thanks for food that was to be provided through miracles of Logistical Grace (Matt 14:19; 15:36).

3.  Some practical advice for saying grace might be helpful.

• Saying grace is a prayer that requires the Filling of the Holy Spirit; so, Rebound first, if necessary.
• Saying grace is a prayer directed to the Father in the name of the Son.  The prayer should be short, concise, and specific.  Blessing everyone from the cook to the President is out of line.
• Christians should always say grace whether alone or in public.
• The prayer does not have to be audible.  It can be silent.  Bowing the head and closing the eyes are not necessary.  This can be used when an individual is eating alone, in a public place, or eating with an unbeliever.
• It is rude to interrupt anyone who is saying grace.
• Children who have not reached the age of accountability and are not Christians, should not say grace, but they can be respectful of others.
• When a group of Christians are eating together, the prayer should be audible.  Otherwise, if no "amen" is heard, others will not know when to start eating (1 Cor 14:16-17).

 

 
 
 
 
 

1 Corinthians 14:16-17
16 Otherwise if you bless in the Spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

Although this passage was not written for saying grace, it is still applicable.

Soul Hunger

1.  Only Bible Doctrine can satisfy the hungry soul (Prov 10:3).

The LORD will not allow the soul of the Righteous to hunger,
But the craving of reversionists He rejects. (Proverbs 10:3)

Bible Doctrine will satisfy the soul of the Righteous (believer), and Logistical Grace provision of food will satisfy the body.  The soul hungers for Bible Doctrine.  Until the soul is satisfied, the body cannot be satisfied.  Reversionists have turned from God and rejected Rebound.  Therefore, their souls are not filled with the Holy Spirit.  Their souls are hungry and craving things to satisfy their frustrations. "Craving" is the Hebrew huh (hWh), for a chasm, or void, which means figuratively destruction, desire, or craving.  The Lord rejects, or opposes, the craving of the Reversionist's attempts to satisfy his frustrated soul.  The Lord rejects the prayers of the Reversionist and opposes his arrogant frantic search for happiness (Ps 66:18; 112:10; Prov 28:9; Jas 4:3, 6).

Just as the soul fills the body, the Spirit fills the soul (Eph 5:18).  Only when the Holy Spirit fills the soul of the Church Age believer can the person be satisfied.

The soul hungers for Spiritual food (Bible Doctrine) (Matt 5:6).

"Happy are those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)

2.  The soul that does not have Spiritual food and water will hunger and thirst (Matt 5:6; Luk 6:21).

    a.  Hunger (Psa 4:7; 63:5; Isa 65:13; Lu 1:53; Jn 6:27, 48-58; Rev 7:16)

After the crowd followed Jesus for his miracle of feeding them, He explained their need for Spiritual food.

Stop working for the food which perishes, but for the Food (Bread of Life) that endures to Eternal Life, which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has set His seal on this One. (John 6:27)

John 6:48-50
48 "I am the Bread of Life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 This is the Bread which comes down out from Heaven in order that a person may eat from it and not die.

I alone am the Living Bread which came down out from Heaven.  If anyone eats from this Bread, he will live forever.  Furthermore, the Bread which I shall really give on behalf of the life of the world is My flesh. (John 6:51)

The Bread was the flesh (the body) of Jesus Christ.  His body was perfect humanity and undiminished Deity in Hypostatic Union.  He needed a human body to die because Deity cannot die.  He gave His body "on behalf of the life of the world."  "On behalf of" is the Greek preposition huper, meaning "as a substitute for" or "on behalf of."  He gave His body "on behalf of the life of the world."  Since the wages of sin is spiritual death, all mankind was doomed due to the sin of Adam.  But Jesus Christ handled the death as a substitute for all mankind so that we could have Life.  He died "as a substitute for us" (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 11:24; Eph 5:2; 1 Thess 5:10).  Thus, Eternal Life is available to all mankind (the world) because Jesus Christ paid for it.

Then Jesus said to them, "Amen, Amen, I am saying to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not possess Life in yourselves." (John 6:53)

Eating the flesh of the Son of Man means partaking of the Spiritual Food of the Bread of Life.  The Son of Man is a reference to the humanity of Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union.  And drinking His blood means believing in His substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross.  Pouring out His blood is a metaphor for His death on the Cross.  Eternal Life comes by believing in Jesus, the Bread, whose blood was shed in His death on the Cross.

John 6:54-55
54 The person who eats My flesh and drinks My blood, possesses Eternal Life.  And I will raise him up on the Last Day.
55 For you see, My flesh is the true food, and My blood is the true drink.

The true food is the flesh (or body) of Jesus Christ, i. e. His impeccable human nature.  And the true drink is His blood, which means His substitutionary Spiritual death on the Cross.  The flesh and the blood refer to Salvation, which provided Propitiation of the Father and Reconciliation of all mankind.  The impeccable human body satisfies the absolute Righteousness of the Father, and the substitutionary Spiritual Death satisfies the perfect Justice of the Father.

The person who eats My flesh and drinks My blood, abides in Me and I abide in him. (John 6:56)

John 6:57-58
57 Even as the Living Father sent Me on a mission, and I live because of the Father, likewise, the person who feeds on (has faith in) Me, that one also will Live because of Me.
58 This is the Bread which came down from Heaven, not as your fathers ate and died; the person who eats this Bread will Live forever.

     b.  Thirst (Ps 42:1-2; 63:1; 107:9; Isa 41:17; 49:9-10; 55:1-3; Jn 4:14; 7:37)

Psalm 42:1-2
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?

John 4:13-14
13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who keeps drinking from this water, shall thirst again, 14 But whoever takes a drink from the water which I shall give him, will never thirst again; but the water which I shall give him, will become in him a fountain of water springing up to Eternal Life.

     c.  Famine (Am 8:11-13)

A Spiritual famine was declared on the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  The Lord would stop allowing the people to hear the teaching of the Word (Am 8:11).  Grace precedes Judgment.  God provides an opportunity to learn Bible Doctrine, but after the period of Grace, the doctrine will be withdrawn during the time of Judgment (or Testing).  During Testing it is not a time for learning doctrine but for living it.  Those who will not learn from academic instruction will be taught by punishment.  If they do not learn from punishment, they will have to be removed because there is nothing else the Lord can do for them.  This is why degenerate nations do not have Bible teaching.

3.  The soul must be fed before the body can be satisfied (Matt 6:33; Luk 12:31; Mark 10:29-31; 1 Tim 4:8; Prov 3:9-10; Hag 1:2-11; 2:16-19).

4.  Therefore, unbelievers and carnal or reversionistic believers cannot be satisfied because the Spirit does not fill (or cover) the soul.  Thus, the soul hungers and there is no peace.  External pressure is converted into stress in the soul, which upsets the soul balance and the emotions revolt.  Then the body weakens and falls victim to various maladies and infirmity.  The medical problems of the body do not begin there but are the result a chain of events that stem from a hungry soul that has not been satisfied.

5.  Reversionists pursue various frantic searches for happiness to relieve their frustrations but these things can never satisfy their soul hunger.  They are inevitably left with spiritual (demon), soulish (psychological), and physical problems.

6.  The person who rejects God will face the punishment of God and attacks from the Old Sin Nature and Cosmic System (Heb 12:6; Eph 2:1-3).

For you see whom the Lord loves He punishes,
And He scourges every son whom He receives. (Hebrews 12:6)

7.  The only solution for a hungry soul is to metabolize Bible Doctrine and erect the Edification Complex of the Soul (1 Cor 14:26; Eph 4:10-12, 29).

Eating and Faith

Whether, therefore, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)

• Eating should be in Grace from Logistical Grace provision.
• Eating should be Divine Good production.
• Eating requires the Filling of the Holy Spirit and separation from the world.
• Eating honors the Lord Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life and the cup of Salvation.

"The ox knows his owner,
And the jackass his master's feeding trough,
Israel does not know Me,
My people do not understand." (Isaiah 1:3)

2.  Eating and Faith are both associated with the X-axis of the Spiritual life.  The counterattack is from Ecumenical Babylon.

3.  Eating is not the means of Spirituality, but the expression of it (Matt 15:11; Rom 14:3, 17; 1 Cor 8:8; Col 2:16, 21, 23; Heb 13:9).  There is no spiritual value in food.

Not that which enters into the mouth defiles a man, but that which proceeds out from the mouth, this defiles the man.  (Matthew 15:11)

But food will not commend us to God.  Neither if we do not eat, do we fall short; nor, if we eat, do we have more (divine approval). (1 Corinthians 8:8)

For the health fanatics, it should also be noted that sickness is Divine punishment.  Although it is possible to reap what one sows from eating, the Spiritual life has much more to do with health than eating.

Stop being carried away by various, foreign (to Christianity) doctrines; for you see, it is Good for the heart to be established by Grace, not by foods, in which those who conduct themselves have not benefited. (Hebrews 13:9)

4.  However, if a failure associated with eating causes misalignment of the X-axis, the believer will stumble in the Spiritual life (Col 2:16-23).

Colossians 2:16-17
16 Therefore, stop allowing anyone to judge you in eating and drinking or in regard to a festival or a New Moon or a Sabbath, 17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ.

Let no one deprive you of your reward, taking delight in mortification and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions which he has seen, without basis, inflated with arrogance under the influence of the thinking of his Old Sin Nature. (Colossians 2:18)

And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body through the joints and ligaments, being supplied and united, grows with divine growth from God. (Colossians 2:19)

Colossians 2:20-23
Since you have died together with Christ from the elementary principles of the world, why, as living in the world, are you submitting to legalism? 21 Such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch" 23 (All of which things are destined for destruction by being consumed), according to the precepts and teachings of men?

The Christian should not submit to legalism, such as the things he handles, tastes, or touches.  These generalities are more taboos that are X-axis counterattacks from Ecumenical Babylon.

• Handling was used for intercourse with a woman (Gen 20:6; Pr 6:29; 1 Cor 7:1), and for contact with unclean things (Num 16:26; Is 52:11; 2 Cor 6:17).  Taboos forbidding marriage or touching unclean things are invalid.  This does not invalidate the Doctrine of Separation.
• Tasting was a reference to the dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law, which have no benefit for the Spiritual life in the Church Age.
• Touching was a taboo requiring artificial boundaries, such as gender separation, which are invalid.

"According to the precepts and teachings of men?" – These things are the X-axis counterattack of Ecumenical Babylon.  They are from men and not from God.  Falling for these cause failure in the Christian life.

5.  The X-axis function of eating is associated with the other aspects of the Spiritual life on the Stage of Life (Psa 23:5a).

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (Psa 23:5a)

David learned to notice the Stage of Life at the dinner table.  When the servant spilled the beans, he understood the Spiritual significance for his life.  When guests were dressed like enemies, he noted the correlation and deduced what the Lord was telling him.  A full cup was a sign of blessing.  Something missing was a configuration problem, which could indicate a failure in combat.  The location of people at the table symbolized the fate that awaited them.  A spot on the table cloth symbolized a sin and defilement.  By using Bible Doctrine to decode the events at his dinner table, he learned what the Lord was telling him about his daily life.

6.  Eating symbolizes metabolization of Bible Doctrine (Job 23:12; Ps 19:10; 119:103; Jer 15:16; Ezek 3:3; 1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; 1 Pet 2:2; Rev 10:9-10).

Job understood that Bible Doctrine was better than the taste of his daily bread.

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
More than my own daily bread (portion) I have treasured up the words of His mouth. (Job 23:12)

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

Your words were discovered and I ate them,
And Your words became to me a source of delight and super abundant Happiness to my heart
Because Your name was named upon me,
O Lord God of the Armies. (Jeremiah 15:16)

Milk for babies and solid food for adults is also a metaphor for elementary and advanced Doctrine (1 Cor 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; 1 Pet 2:2).

Doctrine that is sweet to the taste may become bitter in the stomach (Ezek 3:3; Rev 10:9-10).

7.  The Tabernacle Table of Shewbread symbolized Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life (Jn 6:35, 48).

Jesus said to them, "I am the Bread of Life.  The one who comes to Me shall absolutely not become hungry, and the one who believes in Me shall absolutely never thirst. (John 6:35)

Receiving Salvation is symbolized by drinking water (John 4:14; Rev 21:6; 22:1, 17).  Never being thirsty symbolizes eternal security.

Reversionism

2.  Being sated with food can result in failing the Prosperity Test and falling into Reversionism (Prov 27:7; 30:9).

The sated soul loathes honey,
But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7)

In contrast, "to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."  The soul that hungers for the Word will enjoy even the painful passages of the scripture.  When the soul has its base desires, it loathes honey (the best of Bible Doctrine), but when a soul hungers for Righteousness every morsel is sweet.

Proverbs 30:8-9
8 Vanity and lies remove far from me;
Poverty and riches do not give me;
Feed me with the food that is my appointed portion,
9 Lest I be sated and deny,
And say, "Who is the LORD?"
Lest I become impoverished and steal
And profane the name of my God.

The writer further recognized the danger of becoming impoverished and stealing to satisfy his hunger.  Even though a person who steals to satisfy his hunger may not be despised, he is still guilty of robbery (Prov 6:30).  This would profane the Holy name of God.  "Profane" is the Hebrew tapas (cp^T*), meaning to take hold of the name of God, i.e. to do violence to the name of God by perjury.

    a.  Israel was warned of the danger of failing the prosperity test even before entering the Promised Land (Deut 6:11; 8:12; 31:20; 32:15; Neh 9:25; Hos 13:6).

Deuteronomy 8:12-14, NAS
11 "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,
13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies,
14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Behold, this was the guilt of Sodom your sister:  pride, sated with food (fat), and undisturbed security, she had with her daughters; but the hand of the poor and needy she did not strengthen. (Ezekiel 16:49)

• "Pride" – Cosmic Babylon
• "Sated with bread" – fat – Ecumenical Babylon
• "Undisturbed security" – freedom from reprisal, unrequited lawlessness (Jer 2:31) – Political Babylon

Furthermore, they had no natural enemies.  They didn't have to discipline themselves to form an army to defend their freedom.  They were allowed to pursue a lifestyle of lawlessness without fear of reprisal.  The Lord allowed them to sow to the wind without fear of the consequences.

In spite of her prosperity and abundance of food, Sodom did not help the poor and needy.  Her heart was hardened and without love for others.  She had no impersonal love for her neighbor (also Political Babylon).  The same held for her sister cities, called "her daughters," Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim (Deut 29:23).

    c.  Prosperous Israel as Jeshurun grew fat and kicked (Deut 32:15).

"But Jeshurun became fat and kicked -- you became fat, thick, obese -- and let go God who made him and despised the Rock of his salvation." (Deuteronomy 32:15)

Jeshurun grew fat and kicked.  "Kicked" is the Hebrew ba`at, meaning to kick; to strike out, as an intractable ox (1 Sam 2:29).   The figure of Client Nation Israel is that of an ox that has become fat and intractable (Isaiah 10:27; Hosea 4:16).  This is failing the prosperity test as predicted (Deut. 6:11-12; 8:10-14; 31:20-21).

"You became fat, thick, obese."  "Fat" is the Hebrew samen, meaning to grow fat (a metaphor for prosperity) (Gen 41:2).  "Thick" is the Hebrew `abah, meaning to be thick (Deut. 32:15); from Syrian, swell up.  And "obese" is the Hebrew kasah, meaning to be covered with fat - obese; to be gorged, as a fat beast; to be gross, bulky.  Being obese is a metaphor for excess and failing the prosperity test.  Obesity symbolizes: The camel type in the Four Generation Curse and Baal, the giant.

"And let go God who made him."  After prospering in the Land, Israel let go of God, meaning loss of Love of God, perfidy, and rejection of Bible Doctrine.

"And despised the Rock of his salvation."  Israel rejected the Lord as the Rock (foundation) of its Salvation (Deut 32:4, 18, 30; Ps 89:26).  This is Reverse Process Reversionism, which is turning away from the Lord as the Right Man and going for an idol.  It happens due to Hardness of the Heart, which is Scar Tissue of the Soul⁶ that corresponds to the layer of fat on the animal (Matt 13:15; Rom 11:7).  This is the counterattack of Ecumenical Babylon.

3.  Those who apply the dietary laws of the Mosaic Law in the Church Age are apostate (Gal 2:12-14; Col 2:13-17; 1 Tim 4:3-5).

4.  Apostates are not satisfied with food.  The Exodus generation complained about the manna (Nu 11:4-6; 21:5).

Numbers 11:4-6
4 The mob who were among them had strong craving, also the people of Israel wept again; they said, "Who will give us meat to eat?"
5 We remember the fish which we ate in Egypt free, the cucumbers,  the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic,
6 But now our soul is wilted; there is nothing at all except this manna to look at.

5.  Jealousy produces a craving that cannot be satisfied with food or drink.  Gluttony is a sin (Deut 21:20; Nu 11:18, 31-33; Prov 23:20-21; 28:7; Matt 11:19; Luk 7:34; Tit 1:12-13).  Drinking alcohol is not a sin (1 Tim 5:23), but drunkenness is a sin (Eph 5:18).

6.  Selfish people may not like to share food (Prov 23:6-7).

Proverbs 23:6-7
6 Do not eat the bread of the selfish,
Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as a person calculates within his soul, so he is.
He says to you, "Eat and drink!"
But his heart is not with you.

7.  Fat symbolizes:

    a.  Arrogance (Psa 73:3-4, 7).

Psalm 73
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs,
Healthy and fat is their belly.
7 Their eyes bulge from fat,
The imaginations of their heart overflow.

Their heart is insensitive like a cover of fat (Psalm 119:70a)

Fasting

2.  Fasting may be due to a pressing need or crisis that takes priority over eating (Dan 9:3).

After Daniel read in the book of Jeremiah that Israel would be in captivity in Babylon for 70 years (Jer 25:11-12), he realized the time was approaching for Israel to be delivered from captivity.  It was the first year of Darius the Mede (538 BC).  Daniel had been carried into captivity in 606 BC (Jer 46:2), and the 70 years would be complete in 536 BC.  So, Daniel began to fast and pray for forgiveness of the sins of Israel and deliverance from captivity.

Then I turned my face to the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

Daniel 9:4-5
4 I interceded (prayed) to the LORD my God and confessed and said, "O Lord, the great and awesome God who keeps the Covenant and Gracious Love for those who Love Him and keep His commandments.
5 We have sinned and committed iniquity and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.

While Daniel was praying, Gabriel came to him.  Gabriel was dispatched as soon as Daniel had begun praying, since his prayer was operational (Jer 29:10-14).  Gabriel not only relayed the answer to Daniel's prayer about the 70 years captivity but gave him another prophecy of 70 weeks of years remaining in the Age of Israel (Dan 9:24).

Thus, Daniel was fasting in order to devote himself to prayer about a pressing problem in the history of Israel.

     a.  Fasting is giving up the necessity of food due to a more pressing necessity (2 Cor 6:5; 11:27).  Paul named hunger (which was fasting) in the list of problems that he endured in order to fulfill his ministry.

     b.  The priority may be prayer or Faith-Rest (Judg 20:26; 2 Sam 12:16, 21-23).

After suffering 22,000 casualties in a battle against the Tribe of Benjamin, the other Tribes of Israel fasted all day to learn the will of God in doing battle with Benjamin (Judg 20:26).  The Lord answered their prayer, but they lost 18,000 more men on the second day before finally annihilating the Tribe of Benjamin on the third day.

When his child was sick, David fasted and prayed, but when the child died, David started eating again (2 Sam 12:16, 21-23).

3.  Moses fasted when he met with the Lord on the mountain to receive the Tables of the Law (Ex 34:28).  Moses neither ate nor drank for 40 days.  And the Lord Jesus Christ fasted prior to beginning His Earthly ministry (Matt 4:2).  He fasted 40 days and 40 nights before being tested by the devil.

4.  Fasting is a private matter between the believer and the Lord.  It is not a public testimony (Matt 6:16-18).

Matthew 6:16-18
16 "Furthermore, whenever you fast, stop being like the actors on the stage of life, with a sad and gloomy face; for you see, they neglect their appearance in order that they may be noticed by men when they are fasting.  Amen, I say to you, they have their reward in full.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face
18 In order that the fasting may not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Because King Saul ordered his army to fast, they were exhausted (1 Sam 14:28).

My knees totter from fasting,
And my flesh has grown lean away from fatness (has become gaunt). (Psalm 109:24)

6.  The Apostle Paul and Barnabus fasted in prayer when appointing pastors of the Galatian Churches (Acts 14:23).

7.  Fasting was required as a part of the ceremony for the Day of Atonement under the Law (on the 10th of the 7th month Tizri), (Acts 27:9), but ceremonial fasting is not required in the Church.  Israel added other fasts (Zech. 7:3; 8:19) to commemorate the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem (10th Tebeth), its capture (17th Tammuz), its destruction (9th Abib), and the murder of Gedaliah (3rd Tizri).²

8.  Fasting was a sign of grief, such as from the death of a loved one (2 Sam 1:12; 12:22; Zech 7:5; Mt 9:15).

9.  Fasting must be based on faith (Isaiah 58:1-12).

Israel wanted to know why the Lord was not paying attention to their fasts (Isa 58:3).

Isaiah 58:3-4
3 'Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled our soul and You do not notice?  Behold, on the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and you oppress all your workers.
4 "Behold, you fast with quarreling and strife and to strike with a malicious (clenched) fist.  You do not fast as today to make your voice heard on high.

Are such things as these a fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble his soul?  Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush and spread sackcloth and ashes as a bed?  Do you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the LORD? (Isaiah 58:5)

Is this not a fast that I choose:  To loose the bonds of wickedness, to unfasten the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry, and to bring the poor and homeless into your house; When you see the naked, that you cover him; and do not hide yourself from your own flesh (humanity)? (Isaiah 58:7)

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up speedily, and your Righteousness will go before you, and the Glory of the LORD will follow you. (Isaiah 58:8)

"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, 'Here am I!'
If you remove from your midst the yoke,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking evil, (Isaiah 58:9)

And if you give out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the soul of the afflicted (bowed down), then your light will rise in darkness, and your darkness will become like the light of midday. (Isaiah 58:10)

The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in dry places,
He will invigorate your bones,
And you will become like a well-watered garden
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

10.  Fasting in the Church must be in obedience to the will of God under the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Curses

    a.  Camels – large people of the second generation, who fail the Prosperity Test through Lawlessness.  "Jeshurun grew fat" (Deut 32:15)

    b.  Mules – slim people of the fourth generation, who reject authority through legalism.   "Jeshurun…kicked"

2.  The Curse of Baal or Jezebel produces giants, obese people.  There were actual giants and people who grew big like giants.  Actual giants included Goliath (1 Sam 17:4-7), who was a descendant of the Rephaim, the aboriginal giants who inhabited Edom, Moab, and Ammon.  Og, King of Bashan, of the Rephaim, was the biggest giant known in history.   Goliath's ancestors were Zanzumin, half Philistine and half giant.

Others who grew big like giants included:  Eli and his sons (1 Sam 2:29), Eglon (king of Moab) (Judg 3:17, 22), Jezebel (2 Ki 9:30-33), Midianite women (Nu 25:5-6), and apostates in Israel (Jer 5:27b-28; Zech 11:16).

The Curse of Jezebel is a Spiritual eating disorder of Ecumenical Babylon (Rev 2:20-23).

3.  Failing the Prosperity Test - Reaping the whirlwind after sowing to the wind (Hos 8:7a).  Examples:  Sodomites (Ezek 16:49), Jeshurun (Deut 32:15) growing fat.

Sexual Hunger and Thirst

Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well. (Proverbs 15:15)

Solomon emerged on the second day of the wedding feast and bragged of having sex with his Shulammite bride.

"I have come into my garden, my sister-bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam;  I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.  Eat, friends; drink and get drunk celebrating." (SOS 5:1)

"I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam."   "Myrrh" was an aromatic oil used in womens' cosmetics (Esth. 2:12).

Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women – for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women. (Esth. 2:12, NAS)

"I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. (Proverbs 7:17, NAS)

"I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey."  Honey symbolizes the female sexual response.  Honey comes from the honeycomb.  Eating honey symbolizes having sex.

"I have drunk my wine and my milk."  Drinking wine intoxicates, which corresponds to the intoxication of sex.  And milk symbolizes emissions during sex.  Drinking wine and milk symbolizes having sex.

"Drink and get drunk celebrating."  Solomon is inviting the wedding guests to get drunk.  "Celebrating" is actually the Hebrew dodim, meaning loves, which, in this case, does not refer to lovers or love-making, but to loving to drink.  The merrymakers are to participate in the pleasures of the feast "loving the drink" or to "get drunk celebrating."

2.  Eating or drinking symbolizes making love (SOS 4:16; 5:1; 7:13; 8:2-3).  The mouth for eating is also used for kissing in love (Prov 7:13-18; SOS 1:2; 4:11; 5:16; 8:1).

Awake, O north wind, and come in, O south wind!
Blow upon my garden; cause its fragrance to flow.
Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his choice fruits. (SOS 4:16)

The Shulammite woman dreams of bringing her Shepherd Lover home with her to meet her mother.  She dreams of having sex with him as symbolized by giving him her spiced wine and pomegranate juice to drink.

SOS 8:2-3
2 "I would lead you and bring you
Into the house of my mother, who instructed me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
3 His left hand is under my head,
And his right hand embraces me.

Come, let us have our fill of sex until morning
And  delight ourselves in making love. (Proverbs 7:18)

3.  The fruit that was eaten in the Garden of Eden symbolized the male and female (SOS 4:13; 7:7-8).

SOS 4:12-13
12 A garden locked is my sister-bride;
A spring covered, a fountain sealed.
13 Your shoots are a garden of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard plants;

SOS 7:7-8
7 "Your stature is like a palm tree,
And your breasts are like its clusters.
8 I said to myself, 'I will climb the palm tree,
I will take hold of its fruit stalks.
'Your breasts will be to me like clusters of the vine
And the scent of your breath like apples.

The sexual symbolism of eating includes:

  Appetizers:
    - Soup - sexual arousal.
    - Salad - female arousal.
  Main course - sex.
    - Food (male); drink (SOS 4:15; 8:2) (female)
    - Meat - male
    - Vegetables - female
    - Fish (male); shrimp, shellfish (female)
    - Bread (male); butter, gravy, honey (SOS 5:1) (female)
    - Salt (male)
    - Pepper, spices (SOS 4:10, 14, 16; 8:14) (female)
  Dessert - sex
    - Fruit - male and female genitals (and breasts) (SOS 2:3; 4:16; 7:7-8)
    - Cake (male); pie (female)
    - Icing, topping (female)
    - Cream, milk (male or female)

5.  Eating symbolizes learning, and sex is intimate knowledge (Gen 4:1, jada` (ud^y*); Prov 24:13-14; 25:16).

Now Adam had sex with (knew intimately) his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, and she said, "I have acquired a male with the help of the Lord." (Genesis 4:1)

Proverbs 9:4-5
4 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!"
To him who lacks understanding she says,
5 "Come, eat of my bread (food),
And drink of the wine I have mixed!

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, "I have done no wrong." (Proverbs 30:20)

The Shulammite woman describes oral sex with her ruddy Shepherd Lover in poetic language.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men.  In his shadow I had intimate ecstasy and sat down (with him in great delight), and his fruit was sweet to my palate. (SOS 2:3)

 "My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand (SOS 5:10, NAS).

Proverbs 5:15-19
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
And fresh water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow outside,
Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be yours alone, and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain (vagina, Hebrew maqor, roqm*) be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 As a loving hind and a graceful ibex, let her breasts satisfy (intoxicate, ravah, hw*r* = make drunk sexually) you at all times; be exhilarated (drunk, high, shanah, hn*v* = to reel, swerve) always with her love.

The Noahic Flood occurred due to the breakdown of Marriage Culture from female promiscuity when the women married demons.  And "streams of water in the streets" (Prov 5:16) symbolize the female promiscuity of the Prostitute of Babylon, who sits on many waters (Rev. 17:1).

"Lift up your eyes to the bare top hills and see:
Where have you not been ravished?
By the roads you have sat for them
Like an Arab in the desert,
And you have polluted the land
With your prostitution and with your wickedness. (Jeremiah 3:2)

    b.  A desert and a drought symbolize the dried up female (Jer 3:3; 9:12-14; 14:2-6).

The droughts in Judah before its fall in 586 BC were associated with the female.

Therefore, the showers have been withheld; there has been no latter rain.  Yet, you had a prostitute woman's forehead; you refused to be ashamed. (Jeremiah 3:3)

In spite of the drought, the people of Judah did not see the correlation to their evil ways.  They had a "prostitute woman's forehead," which means blackout of the mentality of the soul and no light going to the genitals.⁴  They "refused to be ashamed." They refused to learn from divine punishment.  They didn't know how to blush (Jer 6:15; 8:12), and they were not ashamed of being a laughingstock.

    c.  Thirst symbolizes unfulfilled sexual desire (Jer 2:25).

Keep your foot from being bare,
And your throat from thirst
But you said, "It is useless!
No!  For I have loved strangers (RPR),
And after them I will go. (Jeremiah 2:25)

However, the people of Judah rejected this sermon.  They said, "'No!  For I have loved strangers."  This is Reverse Process Reversionism (RPR) in which the Right Man or Right Woman is rejected for a paramour.  RPR in Marriage Culture corresponds to RPR in spiritual adultery (Deut 29:18; 32:16).  Judah has rejected God and turned to idols (e.g. Baal).  RPR opens up the soul to sexual lust from the OSN along with other perversions.

7.  Spices, such as cinnamon, are aphrodisiacs (SOS 4:10-14; 8:14).

SOS 4:10-14
10 How beautiful is your sexual love, my sister-bride!
How much better is your sexual love than wine!
And the fragrance of your oils than all spices!
11 Your lips drip honey, my bride;
Honey and milk are under your tongue;
The fragrance of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12 A garden locked is my sister-bride;
A spring covered, a fountain sealed.
13 Your shoots are a garden of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard plants;
14 Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all kinds of trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, along with all the finest spices;

Devouring Prey

"I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers," declares the LORD: "The sword to slay, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky and the beasts of the Earth to devour and destroy. (Jeremiah 15:3)

Be sober (operate in Spiritual Self Esteem); be alert.  Your enemy, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

3.  Bitterness is symbolized by biting and devouring (Gal 5:15).

But if you bite and devour each another, beware that you are not consumed by each other. (Galatians 5:15)

The Eucharist

2.  Eating the bread and drinking the cup symbolize the body and blood of Jesus Christ in His substitutionary death on the Cross for all mankind.

    a.  Unleavened bread symbolizes the impeccable humanity of Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union, who was uniquely qualified to bear the sins of the world.

    b.  The cup symbolizes the blood of Christ, which was poured out as a sacrifice for the sins of the world at the cross.  Pouring out one's blood is a metaphor for death.  The blood of Christ is a metaphor for His substitutionary spiritual death for the sins of the world.

    c.  Eating and drinking the elements symbolize accepting the redemption solution for Salvation.

3.  Partaking of the Eucharist symbolizes confirmation of the New Covenant to the Church in fellowship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ through Salvation (ref. Redemption, Corinthians).

     a.  This corresponds to the peace offering in which the sacrificial animal was eaten to enter into covenant fellowship with the Lord.

     b.  Partaking of the Eucharist enters the believer into covenant fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

     c.  The participant symbolically eats the body and drinks the blood of Christ to commemorate the redemption solution that provided Salvation.

4.  Celebrating the Eucharist is a privilege of the Church (Heb 13:10).

5.  Partaking of the Eucharist in an unworthy manner can cause sickness and death (1 Cor 11:27-30).

6.  Therefore, Rebound and self-examination are required beforehand (1 Cor 11:31).  Self-examination should expose hardness of the heart that is rooted in arrogant opposition to the Christian life.

7.  Only disciples (serious students) should take Communion.

Eternal State

Winner believers will be allowed to eat from the Tree of Life in the Garden (Paradise) in the Eternal State.

The one having an ear, hear what the Spirit communicates to the churches.  To the winner I will give him to eat from the source of the Tree of Life, which keeps on being in the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

2.  It is possible to eat and drink in a Resurrection Body (Luk 24:41-43; Acts 10:41).

Conclusion

Eating requires:

   - Acceptance of Logistical Grace provision (Matt 6:25-33).
   - Filling of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, giving thanks (Rom 14:6; 1 Cor 10:30; 1 Tim 4:5).
   - Grace Orientation (1 Tim 4:4).
   - Geographical (Isa 1:3) and operational will of God (1 Cor 10:31).
   - Willingness to fast (Acts 13:2-3; 1 Cor 4:11; 2 Cor 6:5; 11:27).
   - Not complaining (1 Cor 10:9; Ex 16:3; Num 11:4, 6; 21:5; Psa 78:18-20).
   - Separation (1 Cor 5:11).
   - Eating with unbelievers (1 Cor 10:27).
   - Understanding the meaning of the Stage of Life (Psa 23:5).
   - Working (Gen 3:17-19; 2 Thess 3:10).

The Eucharist is a privilege of the Church (1 Cor 11:23-26; Heb 13:10).  It is not for Old Testament saints.

Eating of the Tree of Life will be a reward for winner believers in the Eternal State (Rev 2:7).

Satan counterattacks Grace in eating through Ecumenical Babylon.