ANGELS' FOOD
Elder Clem E. Cook
In Psalm 78:25 it is written, "Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full." Thus speaking of the food that rained down upon the Israelites to eat. The word angels in this passage is a translation of the Hebrew word abbiyr that defines mighty; as the mighty (one/ones). The word angel in most cases was translated from Hebrew and/or Greek words which defined a messenger.
This statement of angels' food is made after the teachings of the Israelites tempting God in their heart by asking for meat (food) for their lust. (See verse 18). Verses 22-24 state that this was because they believed not God, and did not trust in His salvation (deliverance), even though He had opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them corn from heaven.
Manna is translated from the Hebrew word meaning "what"; thus defined as what-ness (so called from the question about it). And "corn" described grain and/or the flour from such; therefore the angels' food was speaking of bread/food, both words being translated from the same Hebrew word. (See Exodus 16:15, 35).
Thus in Isaiah 9:6 we can read where one of the names whereby Christ Jesus would be identified is 'the mighty God.'
Therefore we find Jesus teaching, in John 6, saying, "My father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."
This following when He said to those who sought Him for the physical food (the loaves) that He had fed them, saying, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. Then they asked, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God. And Jesus said this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. And they required of him a sign that they might believe, saying Our fathers did eat manna in the desert." Jesus then informed them that Moses had not given them that bread from heaven; "but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."
When they asked Him for this bread Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," telling them that those who come to Him shall never hunger, "And he that believeth on me shall never thirst. I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life." He also tells them that the living Father had sent Him, saying, "I live by the Father: so shall he that eateth me live by me." Then in the letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Pergamon was written, 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."
In order to understand fully these teachings one must know that even though bread and water are essential to life, they can never produce life; one must have life in order to take of these elements. And that the word believeth is always used in present tense, never future; it is to trust one's Spiritual well-being in Christ. Also, that the word "everlasting" is used to define time, past and/or future; therefore of that which is timely, as compared to Eternal which has no timely limitations, past and/or future.
The teaching concerning this life-supporting bread is that which must be eaten to sustain a life that exists. And this bread comes through belief on Christ Jesus, the word "on" describing a position, within the limits or bounds. If a person does not believe that all his sins have been forgiven for his name's sake, and God no longer has any remembrance of them, he has not eaten the Angels' Food.