(Publication #152.02)

THEIR EYES WERE OPENED,

AND THEY KNEW...

(Part 2)

First Communion -- The Serpent's Supper
Last Communion -- The Lord's Supper

Man has always been a creature of quest. He is intrigued by that which is beyond his reach, venturing always to perilous heights and fathomless depths. His thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. Desiring revelation has been a benchmark of who he is. And that insatiable hunger has been supplied by volumes upon volumes of inspired revelation. Most often when we think of revelation, we assume its origin is from heaven's throne. Not all revelation, we must understand, comes from the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Truthfully, most of us have not given much thought to there being any other inspiring spirit by which revelation comes. Yet, we are seeing that it comes in another way, and that other way is from the serpent. As surely as inspiration comes divinely from above by the Holy Spirit, it can also come subtly from beneath by the serpent. This scenario is played out in the third chapter of Genesis:

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked..." (Gen 3:6-7).

After the serpent's inspiration and the woman's temptation -- revelation came to the man and the woman. Their eyes were opened, they knew themselves -- and they died. In the beginning of that deadly revelation, they were ashamed of what they saw, and they hid their true identity with hand-sewn, religious, fig leaves. To this day, their shame continues to be hidden by the church at large; thus, handcrafted fig leaves of activities, rituals, and religious cloaks of all colors, shapes, and designs (robes, collars, crosses, steeples, statues, emblems, icons, stained glass, gold ornaments, cups, wafers, wine, ad infinitum). All these give the appearance of godliness, but they are not. And then, there are those on the other side of the spectrum who have discarded those trappings and go about stark naked, so to speak. There is no shame as they proudly boast of who they are. Paul made reference to people of this ilk in his letter to Timothy:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to ⁽¹⁾seducing spirits, and doctrines of ⁽²⁾devils; Speaking lies in ⁽³⁾hypocrisy; having their ⁽⁴⁾conscience ⁽⁵⁾seared with a hot iron" (1 Tim 4:1-2).

It is as having the foreskin of their hearts built up and toughened by pride. Their subtlety is no longer an issue to them. They are not ashamed of their craftiness. They are proud of it. Some have truly become roving impostors who mislead those who can be enticed. They are libraries of knowledge, and the word coming from their pages is often just beyond the horizon for many to clearly grasp, leaving the impression that they alone understand these deep mysteries and are somewhere the people are not. They are storehouses of information; but their visions are not made plain upon the tables of the people's minds, as recorded in Habakkuk 2:2.

From that exalted place of mystical obscurity, they distribute mind-altering fortunes. Those seducing, supernatural spirits are not of Christ Jesus, not by any means. They are other christs, other inspirations, other anointings.

Their acting is superb, as they feign the part of coming in the all-knowing name of Jesus Christ. However, their perception and moral consciousness have been seared over, and in their claim of knowing, they know not as they ought. They have been rendered insensitive to the pure Spirit of Truth. They have been in communion with another spirit for so long that they cannot see the difference between the two. They walk a path which is another way.

Perhaps all roads, twisted as they might be, lead to Rome; for that is the way of the world. But only one straight road leads to New Jerusalem, and they who follow the Lamb are the ones traveling that road. To walk the road of the Lamb is to walk the road of His broken bread. People can, and do, walk other ways. This is also communion; but the bread of that ill-fated tree can only lead to a broad, crooked path, and leave its sojourners wandering aimlessly in the deserts of fruitless religions, even if the religion is Kingdom, Sonship, or it is called by no name at all.

First Communion -- The Serpent's Supper

Humanity's first communion, as far as it is recorded, was between the serpent and the woman, and it sent mankind on a long journey, one filled with delusion, heartbreak, futility, death. The woman was the honored guest at the Serpent's Supper. She communed with the most cunning beast in the field of her mind, she died, and the serpent lived. She was inspired by it, or we could say -- she was inspirited; for that is what an inspiration is. It is to be stirred by or to receive the spirit from whatever it is that is doing the inspiring. She was inSPIRITed, and her eyes were opened and she saw. Think about it -- humanity's first inspiration brought the first ⁽⁶⁾communion, and that communion brought the first revelation, and that revelation brought the first death.

We might add, due to the type of revelation she had, I believe it would be appropriate to call it a DEVILation; for that is exactly what she and the man had. They had a DEVILation. The serpent is a type of the devil, as we know, and it was that twisted spirit by which the woman was inspired, and in turn it had opened her eyes to see the fruit was pleasant to the eyes. We also know the Greek word from which devil was translated is diabolos, and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines the word as being "a traducer." I have mentioned this word many times before, and I surely do not want to belabor the point, but once again, it is necessary to touch upon it to bring clarity.

Traduce is not a word we often use these days; but it does tell us something about this inspiring, serpentine spirit. It simply means: to transfer from one order to another, as you would transfer from one order of reasoning to another order of reasoning. The traducer (the devil) twists and transfers the word of God in such a manner that the carnal mind can grasp it. The traducer lowers spiritual revelation to natural understanding, i.e. making it a devilation. And devilations open men's eyes to see themselves.

The spirit which inspires the carnal mind is the lying traducer, and the Spirit which inspires the spiritual mind is the Holy Spirit of Truth. Either can open one's eyes to see. Either can bring a person to revelations beyond the scope of common vision. Moreover, both inspirations and revelations are sweeping through the ranks of the Kingdom. The old one is causing people to rise up in swelling pride of knowing themselves. The new one is also causing people to know themselves; but it is first to know Him and then with humble thanksgiving to know who we are in Him. Which inspiration is opening our eyes? Is it the one from taking stolen fruit which causes us to know ourselves, or the one from receiving, which opens our eyes to know Him?

Last Communion - The Lord's Supper

The last communion is between the Last Adam and the man -- the Sons of God. They commune with the living God in the Spirit. The Sons of God have supper with their Lord -- the Lord's supper. In eating, the serpent dies, and the sons live. They are truly inspired by this supper, or inSPIRITed by it. They receive the Spirit from the one who is doing the inspiring. They are inSPIRITed, and their eyes are opened and THEY SEE HIM. Think about it -- humanity's last inspiration brings the last, ever-abiding communion, and that communion brings the revelation of the Last man, and that revelation brings life. The obedience of the Last Adam reverses everything which was disrupted by the disobedience of the first Adam.

Let us notice two other historical figures who had communion and a revelation. It was unlike the first two. They were the men walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus.

"And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and THEY KNEW HIM..." (Luke 24:30-31). "And they told what things were done in the way, and how HE WAS KNOWN of them in breaking of bread" (Luke 24:35).

The first man and woman's eyes were opened when the woman took the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and in giving it to the man, they both KNEW THEMSELVES. The two from Emmaus received the blessed, broken bread from the hand of Jesus and they KNEW HIM! Ah! What a difference of knowing between taking and receiving.

Although the act of receiving seems to be better than taking, we must understand that every form of receiving does not produce good fruit. There is a receiving which brings death as surely as being a thief and illegally taking from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is in receiving from the wrong source, receiving stolen property from the hand of the presumptuous woman rather than the non-assuming Man of life. When a person receives stolen property, he is just as guilty in a court of law as the one who stole it, and so it is with receiving stolen fruit. Adam received that which the woman had stolen, had a revelation of self, and died with her.

The two men of Luke 24 received that which was legally given, from the blessed, broken, resurrected Man. They had a revelation of Him and lived. Prior to receiving the broken bread, they could not know their Lord, for until then their eyes were closed. "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him" (Luke 24:16).

They were having communion. They communed together. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him. They had come together and were reasoning with one another, even as we do at times. We come together and reason with one another, sometimes about certain doctrines, about who is ministering truth and who is ministering error, about a man who once walked the shores of Galilee, and even about that same man who had once moved mightily in our midst. Reasoning, of course, is not bad. It is good to have the ability to reason and then exercise or respond to our findings in a godly manner. However, reasoning will not open our eyes to know our Lord.

The two men walking to Emmaus communed and reasoned together concerning the one they once knew, and Jesus Himself drew near. He walked with them, talked with them, and even expounded unto them in all the scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets, the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). But their eyes were not opened until they received the blessed, broken, resurrected bread of the Lord Jesus Christ -- and then they knew Him!

"Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's supper" (1 Cor 11:20 NASB).

This is, no doubt, a shock to some; for have we not believed that meeting together is at least a portion of the Lord's supper? And I believe it is when the true bread from heaven descends, and His living blood, His Spirit, flows through our midst. However, when divisions and factions are the order of the day, as it was with the Corinthians, it is not the Lord's supper. Moreover, natural bread and wine (or grape juice) are not the eternal elements of His body and blood. Perhaps we can see why.

Speaking of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews wrote: "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Heb 7:16). But not only that, he said: "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Heb 9:10). You see, there is a time for natural, carnal ordinances, and there is also a time for them to end. They are good and should abide UNTIL He comes who is eternal. It is then that He becomes the manifestation of the carnal types of which they speak.

Paul spoke of one of those ordinances which pertained to the flesh. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor 11:23-24).

"After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor 11:25).

"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, proclaim the Lord's death UNTIL HE COMES" (1 Cor 11:26 NASB).

Is there anything which stands out in these verses? I am sure you see what I ask; namely, the bread was to be eaten and the wine drank IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM, and this was to be done as a proclamation UNTIL HE COMES."

We should also note what it is to proclaim something, or to make proclamation. A good example of proclaiming a word is seen in the scenario of an approaching king. When he is coming into a town or province, there will be the sounding trumpets and others proclaiming, "The king is coming! The king is coming!" The proclamation will continue UNTIL the king comes. Upon his arrival, the trumpets become silent, the proclaimers are quieted, and all ears and eyes are tuned and turned to the king himself. Neither the proclamations nor the proclaimers are of notice or importance whatsoever. By and large, Christendom has remembered His words, and have been proclaiming the coming of Jesus Christ for many hundreds of years, and to them, He is yet to come. And likewise, with those of more insight. So many are still in Passover, literally and spiritually, eating in a figure the Lord's Supper until He comes.

We see why this has happened; but what about us? Does the same shoe fit? Let me pose this question. Is Jesus Christ a man you remember who was once a part of your life and are hoping he will come again someday and stir you to life once again? Or is He, as it is with Christendom, only a memory as an historical man of the past? If he is merely a memory of any kind, then it is probably good for you to eat the bread and drink the cup and proclaim His death until He does come in you. However, if He has come, if He is come, if He is a present reality in you, then cease from proclaiming that He is coming. Let the carnal ordinance be hushed so the King who has arrived can be seen and heard.

It is easy for most people who embrace the Kingdom of God teachings to do away with eating and drinking the carnal bread and wine; but many promote the ordinance in a different manner. They do this as the two who walked with Jesus to Emmaus. They communed with each other, and reasoned about many things concerning Jesus. Today, He is often walking with them in the members of His body, He is speaking to them; but their eyes are holden, and they do not know He is in their midst. They remember all the wonderful things He did in days gone by. They remember the revivals and awesome moves of God, saying "Such mighty deeds and powerful words poured from the throne in torments of liquid life. We thought one of those visitations would surely establish the Kingdom."

Such communion of reasoning and remembering is akin to the bread and wine. It is done in remembrance of Him; for to them, He is yet to come. He is the Lord of yesterday, and the Lord of tomorrow; but He is not their Lord today. Therefore, they irreverently eat the bread of doctrinal reason in remembrance of Him. Please know, Brethren, as wonderful as pure doctrine is, our Lord is more than doctrine. He is a present reality and to be eaten daily.

Paul said, "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, ⁽⁷⁾unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor 11:27). There is no question about it, the natural bread can be eaten irreverently to those awaiting His coming and who do not know Him. They can be as the ones to whom Paul wrote. Their eating can be for the selfish pleasure of filling their bellies, and drinking unto drunkenness. This is certainly not what commonly transpires today; but if it did, the people would not be proclaiming His death until He comes, but irreverently showing their insolence in self-indulgence. They would be treating the symbol of His body as nothing more that a tasty meal to satisfy their natural appetites. In this, they would certainly not be discerning the Lord's body.

Such irreverence is often in the ranks of the elect as well; but it is not so obvious. This can happen when we gather together to hear and receive The Word. The Word, of course, is Jesus Christ personified (John 1:1-4).

When we come together, we should know when the word preached is an Oracle of God, the very expression and embodiment of our Lord. We should know when the word is sound doctrine, good for instruction, for edification, etc. And we should also know when it is right off the rack of ridiculous imaginations and preposterous proclamations. When the Lord's body and blood are being presented, it is with thanksgiving and reverence we receive Him.

There is a word not worthy to be eaten, and it comes in cunning disguises and produces various fruits. It is that word which is taken from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It elevates the natural man in boastful pride, causing him to declare that he is God, or it lowers him into false humility, making him believe he is nothing but a sinful, wretched worm. There are other fruits which are born from the word taken by force or received from the wrong source; but we will not mention them here. Nevertheless, let us ask -- will we throw caution to the wind and receive that soul-enlightening word as being the body of our Lord? Will we eat traduced knowledge and call it the Lord's Supper, claiming each word as being the oracles of God? Or will we refuse to even taste the death it carries to see if it is good?

Brethren, when the broken bread is served, it is essential to discern and receive that living Word coming from the living body of Christ. Otherwise, it will be taken irreverently, eaten gluttonously, and we will also be heaping death upon ourselves. Let such be far from us, as we discern the Lord's body and receive from it.

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Cor 10:16-17). When we know this, we can examine ourselves and receive that bread, and drink of that cup (1 Cor 11:28). Our eyes will then be opened, and we will know Him. Although many are already open, many more are not.

The ones whose eyes are holden due to not discerning the Lord's body walk and talk with Him more than they may imagine. Therefore, they do not know Him. They are excited by the word which burns in their hearts; but until they receive the blessed, broken bread, their eyes will remain closed and they will not know Him. They may know a lot about Him; but knowing about Him is not the same as receiving true communion and knowing Him.

With the way many view and take the word of the body of Christ, eating and drinking unworthily (or irreverently), and many eat from the branches of man's knowledge -- it is no wonder so many are spiritually sick and dead among us. (1 Cor 11:29-30). Verse 29, according to the King James Version, says the man eats and drinks damnation to himself. Damnation, however, is a strong word. The uncaring, spirit of self-righteousness may like the word; but those who have the word and ministry of reconciliation, know that damnation does not come close to what the apostle of reconciliation was saying.

Even though wolfing down sacred oracles like a hungry dog is a serious thing -- damnation is not the right word to be used. You see, ⁽⁸⁾damnation and ⁽⁹⁾discerning comes from the same root word in the Greek, which is ⁽¹⁰⁾krino.

Therefore, the Greek word for damnation speaks of a decision. It brings forth an effect against the person. It distinguishes between the humble and the proud, between the receivers and the takers. And the seed sown into their lives weakens and severely tries them. It brings them to the valley of fire and of decision, and finally to correction. That is what krima speaks. And if we fail to discern (diakrino) the body -- to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from the carnal notions of Christ's body, and withdraw from those who say they bear the marks of Christ but do not -- krima will be our portion.

Now, with whom, or with what, are we having communion? Is it the broken bread of Jesus, the true bread from heaven, or is it the leavened bread from the traduced ones with the fruit of knowledge? Are we having the Lord's Supper or is it the serpent's supper. Hopefully, it is the former and thereby we know Him, rather than the latter and we know ourselves. If it is the latter, we may find ourselves sitting in the dead of night around manmade campfires, and being mesmerized by the dazzle of flames as they streak against the backdrop of darkness.

To be continued...

Elwin R. Roach

1. seducing: roving (as a tramp), i.e. by implication an impostor or misleader (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance).

2. devils: daimon, from daio (to distribute fortunes); a daemon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature) (Strong's).

3. hypocrisy: hupokrisis, G5271; acting under a feigned part... (Strong's).

4. conscience: suneidesis, co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness (Strong's)

5. seared: kauteriazo, to brand ("cauterize"), i.e...to render insensitive (Strong's)

6. communion: koinonia...partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse... (Strong's).

7. Unworthily: anaxios...irreverently (Strong's)

8. damnation: krima, from G2919 (krino); a decision (the function or the effect, for or against

9. discerning: diakrino, from G1223 and G2919 (krino); to separate thoroughly, i.e. (lit. and reflex.) to withdraw from, or (by impl.) oppose; fig. to dscriminate (by impl. decide), or (reflex.) hesitate (Strong's).

10. krino...to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish (Strong's)