They Shall Take Up Serpents
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And They Shall Take Up Serpents
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18 KJV)
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. Many non-christians or atheists will challenge believers with serpents or deadly poisons. If they refuse to drink or pick up the serpents, they are mocked.
Even some churches will take up serpents and drink poisons. Many have died as a result.
Others say it was meant only for the disciples who walked with Jesus at that time, and they give Paul as an example when he was bitten, he shook the serpent off into the fire and was not harmed.
Yes God protected Paul from the poisonous venom, but has He promised to protect all believers from serpents and poisons? Or was Jesus speaking in a parable?
It makes no sense at all to try and take this verse literally. For example why would Jesus promise to protect His disciples against serpents, but give no promise to protect against other harmful animals? Why would He give the promise to protect against deadly poisons, but yet give no protection against deadly diseases or weapons?
It is interesting to note that all but one disciple were martyred. Even today many Followers are tortured and killed…why doesn't God protect them?
How would the death resulting from a snake bite be more horrendous or humiliating than to be martyred? It just doesn't make sense why God would choose to protect against one harmful thing but not the other.
That is why I believe Jesus spoke in a parable which was meant for all believers for all generations to come.
It's very easy to understand and it makes perfect sense as to what Jesus meant when we dig a little deeper.
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THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Way back in Genesis 3:1-5 we read of how the serpent came to Eve in the Garden of Eden. First he questioned what God had said and then told her that she wasn't going to die if she ate the fruit. This was partially true because she didn't die physically that day—but that day she became destined for the spiritual death, just as God had said.
Next the serpent led Eve to believe that God was withholding something good from her when he said in verse 5, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
God had already created Adam and Eve in His image; they were already as God, but the serpent led her to believe otherwise. But the serpent was right when he said her eyes would be opened and she would know good and evil.
In other words the serpent came as someone who had authority and brought the wrong gospel with some truth in order to deceive Eve. He didn't come with any lies so far-fetched that Eve wouldn't believe him. He simply questioned her belief in what God had said, and spoke in such a way to make her believe that there was something better or something more to life that God was trying to keep from her.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:" (Rev. 12:9 KJV)
The serpent which came to Eve in the Garden of Eden is still roaming around the world today deceiving people in the same way he deceived Eve.
IF ANY MAN THIRST
"Jesus stood and cried, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39 KJV)
The water Jesus spoke of is the gospel; when we believe the gospel we will be filled with the Holy Spirit in such a way that we won't be able to keep the gospel to ourselves and we will give it to others to drink as well. That is exactly what the apostles did on the day of Pentecost; they were filled with the spirit and spoke in tongues. They were so filled that others thought they were drunk with wine.
Jesus and the apostles had the true and living water, which gave life to anyone who drank from it or anyone who listened and hearkened to the voice of God.
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The Deceiver: Our Daily Struggle with Satan (Fr. Livio Fanzaga) - Softcover
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The Great Deceiver: Unmasking the Lies of Satan - Paperback
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MANY DECEIVERS
Jesus warned that many would come after him and deceive many. They will come in the same manner that satan came to Eve, and they are the serpents that believers will take up. They claim to have the living water, but because their hearts are not in tune with God, the gospel they bring are the deadly poisons that people will drink when they hear them.
Anyone who listens to these false teachings will die spiritually; except for those who believe in Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus will not fall for false doctrines, even if they hear them preached, (drink their deadly poisons). They will see the truth and they will not die spiritually or be harmed by their influences. Instead they will be able to stand up to them and rebuke them, (take up serpents).
Those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ do not have to worry about getting into debates with people of other religions or other denominations. They don't have to worry about being deceived when someone from another group comes knocking on their door to share their gospel. If they love the truth they will learn what is true and reject the rest and not be deceived.
This does not mean that we should willfully associate with them, unless to minister to them so that they too will see the truth.
So if anyone ever comes to you and challenges you to drink a glass of poison or literally pick up a serpent, simply tell them that you’ve already done so and that 'that old serpent' has no power over you to harm you in any way.
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Hi Paul, Thanks for stopping by. I apologize for taking so long to respond...I know it's not an excuse but I have been away from hubpages for a while.
You have a very interesting point and it totally makes sense. We should never tempt God. I also believe that God will protect His servants in certain cases and that the Bible is true. And I also believe that a lot of what the Bible says is spoken in physical and in spiritual terms.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the other gifts of the spirit...in paticular I have been concerned most all of my life about the gift of prophecy, or clairvoyance/psychic abilities. I am from a religious family, my grandmother and mother had many "psychic" experiences, "knowing" things by using those apparent gifts, and so have I. I always ask God to show me what needs to be known to help someone , or what I need to know. I do not understand the reason for some of the things I've been shown, and not all of them are of any seriuosness or importance. So why would I be given this gift? i think it says in the Bible, it's for the edification of the church, but most questions people ask me about have nothing to do with church things....so am i abusing a gift of prophecy by not using it only for the church? Out of fear of possible evil influences, I always ask Jesus to please show me what needs to be known, this makes me feel better that the info i get isn't from an evil source. I have had important info given to me-such as serious health issues and this feels to me more like what God would want me to be doing with it. But I still don't understand what use I can be with this gift, other than private readings for people, which I do. Would love your thoughts on this. Thank You, Debra
Hi Debra, First of all I want to say that the church has strayed away from God. There is still a spiritual church group that we cannot see, but we can no longer call the group that gathers on Sunday morning the church of God. So you are right for not having anything to do with the church. If you want to edify God's church, then you must go where God wants you to go, and He will put you in touch with his church.
As for prophecy...I do believe that it means to help other people solve their problems. But as your psychic abilities I really don't know what to tell you. I don't believe that this is of God, but then again...what is your definition of psychic. What kind of information do you get, and how do you receive it? It could be of God, it may not be. That is something that you have to go to God with, but in order for you to see the truth, you will have to love the truth, and be willing to give everything up if it is not of God.
I have these feelings come over me sometimes that tell me to do certain things, or not to do certain things. And if I go against what I am feeling, it usually backfires on me, and I have to look back and remember that God tried to warn me. I wouldn't call this psychic, but intuition...I don't know if that is what you are referring to.
If you have a fear that it might be of the devil, then maybe it is. If I were you, I would put everything on hold and wait upon God. Spend your time reading the Bible and talking to God, and He will guide you.
God Bless!
VERY VERY well written Hub my friend, I like and voted-up! Praise God! When you get a chance, come visit me. Be Blessed!!
Drpastorcarlotta, Thank you for the feedback. And I will definitely come by to see you. :)
Awesome Revelation!
Christian Craig, Thanks!
One also has to remember that those last verses in Mark were added two or three hundred years after the original text was written, per Biblical scholars. A friend of mine, with tongue firmly in cheek, used to claim the deadly poison part over his fast food habit. We should never tempt the Lord, our God, and if He chooses to protect us, whether from snake, scorpion, bear or another human being, He will.
Don Barnett, You are absolutely right. God's is powerfull and He can protect us from anything as it is clearly illustrated in the Bible.
Good write and an important one. I agree that it is a parable and as you point out that it is a wrong good news(gospel) and obviously wrong teachings. It might also be demon activity, but scripture is not supporting that idea prominently. What do think?
Are you referring to demon activity in the false church? If so, I totally think that there is demon worship going on. The Old Testament, I believe it is in Ezekiel, it talks about how it will appear that people are worshipping God, but on the inside they are worshipping the sun-god.
Yes and I agree with you. Also in Afrikaans we talk of Debra's question of a possibility as (translating)a person born with the 'helm' or something. There is a gift of knowledge too. It is better not to say too much about it.
I have never heard of Debra or someone being born with a helm. And I agree, some things are better for the spirit to reveal than for us to broadcast it as no one will understand anyway. Thanks for stopping by...
As it happens, the originator of the practice of snake handling in modern times, George Hensley, was a relative of mine. I think he was very much mistaken in his conviction, but on some level, I feel I have to respect it. He took a clear, direct reading of the bible, saw that it purported something miraculous, and he believed it with the simplicity that he believed in miracles such as the Resurrection, without any rationalizing that would prevent him from having to do anything that defied common sense.
The context of the verses is providing signs that are supposed to follow Christians. First, they will be able to cast out demons in Jesus's name. Well, according to the gospels, Jesus literally cast out demons, and this is supposed to be a meaningful sign marking followers of a true supernatural religion, so this probably means the literal casting out of demons. As for taking up serpents, well, why would he switch from talking about literal demons to figurative serpents, all in the context of signs that will attend Christians? That would simply be bad communication. As for why he'd promise to protect his followers against serpents and not other dangerous animals, you might as well ask why he doesn't do this anyway. You could say that he could make all his followers immune to any source of harm you could imagine, but then you'd have to suppose he doesn't want to for whatever reason. But the purpose of the protection against serpents is quite clear in context; it's not to safeguard Christians against all harm, it's a sign to attend them, a supernatural flag to tell people that their religion is the real deal.
If Jesus said that Christians would be attended by these signs, and then said they would be able to cast out (ambiguous) demons, take up (metaphorical) serpents, and drink (figurative) poison, then he was being hopelessly obtuse and also attending his followers with some extremely lackluster signs.
Hensley, I agree that Jesus would not switch between a literal and spiritual meaning in the same context. I do believe that true followers can cast out demons, but I did not mention it in this hub because there are so few who are able to do it. And besides, there is no difference between a demon and the serpent who came to see Eve because the serpent was possessed by the devil. You can't see the devil, nor can you see a demon because both are from the spirit realm. So it makes perfect sense to use a spiritual interpretation.
Jesus said that those signs would follow ALL who believed in him. Therefore, we know that what Jesus was saying has a much broader meaning to it...and i just tried to explain it from my point of view. And I don't think that a spiritual interpretation makes them "lackluster signs".
Paul D Peterson 2 years ago
from Mathew 4
This sounds very similar to what happened to Jesus Christ himself. Remember when the devil came to Jesus and told him what God promised. He then directed him do tempt God.
An unbeliever telling a Christian to drink poison because God said if he did he would not die is very much like this passage from Mathew 4 below. It sounds like the unbeliver who is the devils child is doing the things their father did. KJV John 8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
This is the part I said sounds like what the devil told Jesus which sounds similar to what the devils children tell a follower of Christ. From Mathew Chapter 4 KJV
5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
So Just Tell the unbeliever it is written again, thou shall not tempt the Lord Thy God!
Truely if someone tried to poison a true believer he would not die, and if a poisonous snake bit a true believer that beleiver could take that serpent up like Paul the apostle did. Oh yes and true believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, truely can cast out demons. They do exist today and they are cast out of people today. Everything the Scripture says is true and everything Jesus said is true. I believe the Bible is True.
Jesus Christ is the Son of GOD!