A Distinction Between The Two Suppers

A Distinction Between the Two Suppers of Christ; Namely, the Last Supper in the Same Night That He Was Betrayed, Before He Was Crucified; and the Supper after He Was Risen and Ascended at the Right Hand of God, Which He Calls People to in Rev. iii, to Hear His Voice, and Open the Door, and He Will Sup with Them, and They Shall Sup with Him.

By G. F.

Excerpted from Works of Fox, vol. vi, pp. 283-289

It is said in Matth. xxvi. and Mark xiv. and Luke xxii. and 1 Cor, xi. In the same night that Christ was betrayed, he took the bread and the cup, &c. and said, As often as ye do eat this bread, and drink this cup, do it in remembrance of me; and ye do show forth the Lord's death until he come.' And Christ saith, I say unto you, I will drink henceforth no more of this fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' Matt. xxvi. 29, and Mark xxii. 16. And Christ said, when he was at his last supper, when he was betrayed, before he was crucified, I say unto you, (namely, his disciples,) I will not any more eat thereof, (namely, of the bread of the passover,) until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'

Now mark, the fruit of the vine, and the bread which Christ brake at his last supper, and gave to his disciples in the same night that he was betrayed, before he was crucified, which they were to take in remembrance of his death, and show forth his death until he came; that after they had eat of that outward bread, and drunk of that outward cup, the fruit of the vine, which he gave to his disciples, henceforth he would eat no more thereof, (namely, the bread,) until it was fulfilled in the kingdom of God, and drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until the day that he drink it new in the kingdom of God, (Matt. xxvi. Mark xiv.) as Christ said this unto his disciples, at his last supper, before he was crucified. But after Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again, he did eat and drink again with them, as ye may see in these scriptures following, which did fulfil his own words, as in Luke xxiv. 30. ' And it came to pass as Jesus sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to them,' namely, to some of his disciples; and they said unto others of them, ' the Lord is come; and he was known to them by breaking of bread,' as in ver. 35. And ver. 41, 42, 43, Jesus appeared unto his disciples again, and he said unto them, 'Have ye any meat? and they gave him a piece of broiled fish and honey-comb, and he took it, and did eat before them; and he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,' &c.

And again, Jesus said unto his disciples, after he was risen, John xxi. 5. 9. Children, have ye any meat?' they answered, no. And as soon as his disciples were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread; and Jesus said unto them, Come and dine;' and Jesus took bread, and gave to them, and fish likewise : And this was the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead, as in John xxi. 12, 13. And Christ, after he was risen from the dead, he told his disciples, All power in heaven and earth was given unto him.' And Christ said unto his disciples whom he sent forth to preach, before he was crucified, Verily, I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, until the son of man be come.' Matt. x. 23.
And again, Christ said unto his disciples, I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death until they see the son of man coming in his kingdom.' And again, Christ saith, Verily, I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.' Matt. xvi. 28. Mark ix. 1. Luke ix. 27.

And the apostle saith, Acts x. 41. that they, did eat and drink with Christ, after that God had raised him up from the dead.' And so they fulfilled Christ's words, that he would eat no more of the bread, nor drink of the fruit of the vine, until he drank it new with them in the kingdom of God. Mark xiv. 25. And again, Christ said, There are some standing here, which shall not taste of death until they see the son of man coming in his kingdom and power.' Matt. xvi. 28. And was not this fulfilled after Christ was risen, when he said, All power in heaven and earth is given unto me.' Then did not he come in power, and did not the disciples see him in his kingdom, after his resurrection?

And John, he that was one of Christ's beloved disciples, that leaned upon his breast in the same night that Christ was betrayed, before he was crucified, did not John then take the elements of bread and wine at that last supper? And was not John one of the disciples that did not taste death till he saw Christ come in the kingdom of his Father with power, when Christ said, All power in heaven and earth is given unto me?' And was not John one of the disciples that did eat and drink with Christ after he was risen? And after that Christ was ascended, and sat at the right hand of God, and the churches were gathered, as yet they were not come off many outward elementary things. And did not Christ send John, after he was ascended, to call the church to another supper, and said, Behold, I stand at the door and knock : if any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me; he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.'

Now they that come to this inward and heavenly supper, and to sup with Christ, the heavenly and spiritual man, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, since he is risen and ascended, they must have their spiritual ear to hear the spiritual voice of Christ, and his spiritual knocking at the door of their immortal souls and hearts, and with his spirit, the spiritual man, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, the king of glory, that he may come into their hearts and souls, and then they to sup with him, and he to sup with them the spiritual and heavenly supper. And to this heavenly and spiritual supper did Christ send John, to call the church of Christ, after he was risen and ascended. And John said, when Christ sent him with this message, to call the church to this supper, I John, am your brother, &c. in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.' So here you may see, John was in the kingdom and patience of Christ, when he called the church to this heavenly spiritual supper of Christ, after Christ was ascended at the right hand of God; which spiritual supper, after Christ was ascended, is beyond, and a higher supper than the last supper the same night that Christ was betrayed, of taking the elements of bread and wine in remembrance Of Christ's death, and a show of his death till he come. And had not John taken that supper? And was not the kingdom of God come, when John said, ' he was in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ?' Rev. i. 9. chap. iii. 20. John tells you, Christ is come, and Christ saith, ' Behold I stand at the door and knock, (then is not he come?) and if any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, (mark, into him,) and I will sup with him, and he with me.' And doth not the apostle say, Prove yourselves, examine yourselves, know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates.' 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

And may not reprobates take the elements of bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death, and say, they will do it till Christ come; yet Christ saith, Behold, I stand at the door and knock, (so then he is come,) and if any man will hear his voice, and open the door, he will come in to them, and sup with them, and they with him.' And cannot reprobates be sprinkled with the element of water, and take the elements of bread and wine? And Christ, that is ascended at the right hand of God, saith, Behold, I stand at the door and knock; and though he is come, and stands at the door and knocks, yet they will not open the door, and hear his spiritual voice, that he might come in to them, and sup with them, and they with him, as is said before. And such will not open the spiritual ear to hear what the spirit saith to the church of Christ; for they must have the spiritual ear that let in Christ, when he stands at the door, and knocks at the door of their hearts, to hear his spiritual voice, and to sup with the spiritual man at his spiritual supper, after Christ is ascended. And they that hear not the spiritual voice of Christ, when he stands at the door and knocks, are such as err from the spirit of God, and faith of Christ, and hate his light, and go from the grace and truth in their hearts; and such do not come to the heavenly supper of Christ, that he calls to, now after he is ascended, that will not hear his voice, nor open the door by his grace, light, spirit, and truth, but their dark spirit leads them to live in weak elements, outward things which perish with the using, and which keep them in bondage. Gal. iv. 9. Col. ii. 22.

And the angel said unto John, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the lamb. This is the spiritual marriage supper of the lamb, which the true christians were called to, after Christ was risen and ascended.' Rev. xix. 9. For they that are come to this marriage supper of the lamb, are married to Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. And these are they that hear his spiritual voice, and he is come into them, and suppeth with them, and they with him; and this is the marriage supper of the lamb, that taketh away the sins of the world, and they that come to it are blessed. For reprobates may take the outward elements of bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death, till he comes, as they say; and yet he stands at the door of their hearts and souls, and knocks, after he is risen and ascended at the right hand of God, and they will not let him in, nor hear his voice; and the apostle tells them, in 2 Cor. xiii. ' they are reprobates if they know not Christ in them.'

And here you may see now, that Christ called his followers to this marriage supper, after he was risen and ascended into heaven, at the right hand of God; and is not this the last supper that Christ called his people to, after he was ascended, namely, the marriage supper of the lamb; yea, such that had taken the elements of bread and wine with Christ at his last supper, the same night that he was betrayed, before he was crucified, in remembrance of his death till he come. And John, who was one that took it in remembrance of his death till he came, said, in his first epistle, chap. v. 20. after Christ was risen and ascended, ' We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his son Jesus Christ, (mark, in him,) and this is the true God, and eternal life.' And this John spake after Christ was risen and ascended. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.

And Jesus Christ said, If any man love me, he will keep my words and sayings; and he that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, it is he that loveth me; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. I go to my Father, but ye shall see me; and because I live, you shall live also. Ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you; and he that keepeth my words, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.' John xiv.

And the apostle saith to the Colossians, God hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.' Mark, into the kingdom of his dear son. And this he said while they were upon the earth, and after Christ was risen and ascended. And John said, 'that he was in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, while he was upon the earth.' Rev. i. 9. Col. i. 13.
And the Colossians were not converted, when he took bread and wine, and gave to his disciples at his last supper, the same night he was betrayed. And were not they that were translated into the kingdom of Christ Jesus, come to the marriage supper of the Lamb? And Christ supped with them, and they with him; and sat together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, as in Ephes. ii. 6.

Here you may see a distinction betwixt the last supper the same night that Christ was betrayed, before he was crucified, and the heavenly marriage supper of the Lamb, that Christ calleth people to, after he was ascended into heaven at the right hand of God.

And John saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying, to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God, that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of them that sit on horses, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.' Rev. xix. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Now, all you that will not open the door of your souls and hearts, at which door Christ stands and knocks, nor hear his spiritual voice, to let him in, that he might sup with you, and you with him, the blessed marriage supper of the lamb, slain from the foundation of the world; I say to you all, take heed, both great and small, high and low, free and bond, lest Christ do not make of you a supper for the fowls to eat your flesh, and be filled with it, as in Rev. xix.; for they are not blessed that the fowls make a supper of, but they are blessed that are called, and come to the marriage supper of the lambs. And they that are a supper for the fowls, do not eat the flesh of Christ, nor drink his blood, the bread from heaven; and such have no life in them, and so will not come to Christ that they may have life, but live in outward elements. John v. 40. But whosoever eateth the flesh of Christ, and drinketh his blood, which is the living bread that cometh down from heaven, hath everlasting life. And again, Christ saith, He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.' And these are they that are blessed, and come to the marriage supper of the lamb, and Christ sups with them, and they with him, since his resurrection and ascension into heaven at the right hand of God, the heavenly and spiritual supper of the lamb, and come to be members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bone. John vi. Ephes. v. 30.

Now concerning them that say, The bread and the wine that Christ took and gave his disciples, and said, as often as ye do eat this bread, and drink this cup, do it in remembrance of me, showing forth the Lord's death till he come,' as in Matthew, Mark, Luke, 1 Cor. &c. they that say that this outward bread, and the wine, the fruit of the vine, is the very body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and whosoever receiveth and eateth it, receiveth and eateth the Lord Jesus Christ, after the priest have consecrated it; in this they may see their error that do say so, and hold this doctrine; for the apostle saith, Ye that do eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show forth the Lord Jesus Christ's death, till he come.' Then it is clear, the bread and the cup is not the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Lord Jesus Christ is not come when they eat this bread, and drink this cup; for while they are eating the bread, and drinking of the cup, they are showing forth the Lord's death till he come. Then he is not come; for they take the bread and cup in remembrance of the Lord's death, and to show forth his death till he come.' So it is clear, the cup and the bread is not the Lord Jesus Christ, as in 1 Cor. xi. 24. 26.

And again, the apostle saith, In the same night that Christ Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and brake it, and said, do it in remembrance of me, and likewise the cup.' So Christ's body was whole, and was not crucified, when he brake that outward bread; for that which they were to take in remembrance of Christ, and in a show of his death till he came, it was not the Lord Jesus Christ, but outward bread and wine in an outward cup. And Christ was nowhere called a cup, it is said, 'Christ took the cup when he had supped.' Then he did not take his own blood and give unto them, but he called it, the fruit of the vine.' Matt. xxvi. 29. And Christ took the cup and gave his disciples, and said, drink ye all of it; and took the bread, and brake it, and gave it to his disciples also.' And in Mark xvi. 22. They all drank of the cup, and he brake the bread and gave it to his disciples,' (namely, the twelve,) as in Luke xxii. And after he had broken it, and given it them, and given them the cup, and called it 'the fruit of the vine,' after Christ had given them this, he said, Drink ye all of this.' Matt. xxvi. 25. Luke xxii. 21. Behold,' saith Christ, ' the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table.' So it seems here that Judas did eat of the bread, and drink of the fruit of the vine in the cup, and he did partake of these outward elements in the same night that Christ was betrayed, which elements were taken in a show and remembrance of the Lord's death till he came. But Judas did not stay till he came, for he betrayed him. Now if this outward bread and outward wine had been Christ, the living bread that came down from heaven, and his blood, which if any man did eat of that bread, and drink his blood, he shall live for ever, and not die, as Christ saith, Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and dwelleth in me, and I in him; and he that eateth me, shall even live by me; and he that eateth this bread that comes down from heaven, shall live for ever.' See John vi. 50 to 59.

Now here you may see, it is clear, that the cup and bread that Judas did eat and drink of at the last supper, was not the flesh of Christ, or bread of life that came down from heaven, nor his blood that giveth life everlasting; for Judas had not eternal life, nor did not live for ever by eating that outward bread, and drinking of that outward cup, the fruit of the vine.

And so, Judas did not eat Christ and live by him, and live for ever, though he drank of the outward cup, the fruit of the vine, and eat of the outward bread that Christ brake at his last supper, the same night that he betrayed him; and that Judas might do, and not eat the bread from heaven, the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, for such have not life eternal in them, as Christ saith, that do not eat his flesh and drink his blood;' for Christ said, Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.' John vi. 53. And the Jews murmured at Christ, when he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven;' and ' except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood, ye have no life in you.' And he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.'

So here is a great difference betwixt the flesh and the blood of Christ, or the bread which came down from heaven, which giveth life eternal, and the elements of bread and wine, which reprobates and Judas's may take and eat, that have not life eternal, nor Christ in them, as the apostle saith, If Christ be not in you, ye are reprobates.'