Unbelievers. Right there it is in big red letters...
Mar 16:18 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.
A metaphor? Well, since laying hands on the sick is included, I suppose thats a metaphor, too. No,
Mark 16:18 are the Words of Jesus, and carry just as much weight as anything else He said. But there are those who say, "But I don't believe in taking up serpents." Well, while you're busy harping on
"He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved...", don't forget the rest of it.
"... he that believeth not shall be damned. " That, too, is in red. Afraid of snakes? Its the fearful and the unbelieving that, well, you know what it says. Afraid of being bitten? Do we believe the Bible or not??? Jesus gave us power over the serpent and the scorpion and He said NOTHING would harm us.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Oh, I believe the Bible, you say. Well, if you did, you'd take up the serpent just like Paul did. You'd put some action to your faith because faith without works is dead. Don't believe something as Bible as taking up the serpent then turn around and preach long dresses, and shaved faces... something that ain't even in the Bible.
Jesus said
"These signs SHALL follow..." Thats a COMMAND, folks.
"They SHALL take up serpents...." That a command from God and if it ain't obeyed, well, hell is a hot place filled with people who refuse to obey God.
You better line up with the Word and obey God. If you ain't handled the serpent, you ain't got no business totin' around that Black Book because you don't even believe it. Claimin' to preach the Gospel and have the Holy Ghost and ain't even got enough faith and power to handle the serpent. And claim to have power over the devil?