Mountaineer here. I think this documentary is an accurate blast to the past. You're not going to find this in WV much anymore these days. The practice has all but completely disappeared. I'm gonna estimate that there are fewer than 500 people who still do this. Times have changed, the youth got internet, school attendance became mandatory, and the rest is history. WV in the 1980s had a bad interstate and intrastate road system, party telephone lines from the 1940s, poor television and radio infrastructure, a very basic education system, few shopping opportunities, etc. Basically, it was isolation. It's just like everywhere else these days....cell phones, internet, decent roads, access to satellite tv, WALMART, inner-city street crime, drug cartels, etc. It's still a dump...but no more dumpy than any other modern dump. As for religion....Appalachia did and does have a literacy problem. Most of these folks probably couldn't even read to be truthful and never had an education. What good are bibles when the majority can't even read or understand it? Whatever preacher says is the truth in these communities...period. The Pentecostal snake handlers never represented WV or Appalachia as a whole and were looked down upon even then. On the other hand, these folks never hurt anyone but themselves. In a state where Heroine/Fentanyl and Methamphetamines are the new God.....I'd much rather have these folks back around. They had some morality at least.
If it's not supposed to hurt you, then why are people dying and losing fingers? Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." We’re not saved by works of righteousness..We're saved God’s grace period.
They've got another gospel. Free grace is the only true gospel; this means that saving repentance is realizing that you are a sinner deserving of God's just punishment in Hell and turn (repent) from whatever you trusted in before, if indeed you trusted in anything; to trusting in the person and finished work of Christ alone for salvation.
A "great man of God" cannot be so easily deceived by wrongly interpreting a simple bible verse. He was deceived, a fool, as is anyone who believes Mark 16:18 commands or suggests we handle venomous snakes.
I bet they’re very nice people who are worshipping in a way that they see fit. However, you can’t continue to manhandle venomous snakes and not get bitten. If you’ve been bitten in the past and survived without modern medicine, then you lucked out with a dry bite. God gave us the good sense to stay away from danger, not invite it in.
“They shall take up serpents” means that we should raise our kundalini serpent up from our private area, spine and to our heads! That’s what that means! It means to become wise and enlightened! The snakes lead! 🐍 🐍 🙏 ❤️
I have been a serpent handler for 35 years and I love the Lord Jesus Christ and God the father and the Lord has bless me every day of my life for 59 years and thank God 🙏 and I love all my brothers and sisters in the faith ❤️
It is one thing to handle poisonous snakes for the purpose of pets or collecting venom. It is an entirely something else to use toxic snakes in a worship service. Where in scripture does Jesus command churches to use snakes in the church services? No where, and it is cultish to do so.
Roy; Sir, I don’t live in your country. I have been a Christian for 10 years. I have a great desire to visit your nation - more specifically a location / Church which practices what you spoke of. This is so I can personally witness this devout expression of faith. Can you recommend a currently active congregation? I understand if you don’t wish to, but if you could it would be much appreciated. God bless you.
Jesus was telling his disciples that when they went into the world to spread the gospel to have no fear, for serpents shall not harm them, nor will poison affect them. People do not understand that Jesus was speaking to His disciples to encourage them for they feared that they would be harmed by the non-believers.
Amen you can tell this was an old documentary but I got news for you God hasn't ceased anything he still does healing the miracles today in 2024 and I'm proof of it
Oh, yeah! Cobras, and Black Mambas, I would guess, would be a lot more vicious, and their Venom is known for being even more potentially lethal, than even Rattlesnake, Copperhead, or even Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin, Venom is! Puff Adder and Boomslang Snakes are extremely lethal, too, and, as if THAT wasn't bad enough, if a person is envenomated by what's known as a Crate Snake, there is no Anti venom, that can counter their Venom. Usually, a person that has been envenomated by a Crate Snake, has around 24 Hours to live...and that's it. That type of venom, injected into it's victim, is an automatic death sentence!
@@joshuastover1047 My understanding is that serpent handling is legal in West Virginia because the state constitution doesn't allow the legislature to either promote religion or to forbid its practice. West Virginia will prosecute if you try to keep a venomous snake as a pet but if the snake is part of a religious practice then the state's hands are tied. Would welcome any info on this topic.
@@toddmiller5884 correct except venomous snakes can legally kept but new legislation made keeping natives illegal so you’d be unable to keep northern copperhead or timber rattlesnake
Mark 16:18 this verse applies to snakes as well as poison. If one sufficient faith as is bit by a snake as in Acts:1:5, it will not hurt him. And accidentally poison will not hurt. Not one time is the word used of making a side show out of serpent.
You misunderstand this sect's views. The ONLY part of the Bible they are the least bit interested in is found in Mark 16:9-20. This is their entire conception of Christianity. For the most part, these are illiterate people, and the finer points of Christian teachings to them are rather beside the point. The real reason why they are drawn to such a dangerous practice is this: the handling of snakes (plus fire and poison) are the highlights of their dark, grey lives. It gives them a purpose and fits a deep psychological need to bring meaning and purpose to their existence. To them, it is a thrilling moment when they actually handle the snakes and come out of it ALIVE because many of them have been fatally bitten and died on the spot. Even when this occurs, they are not turned off by the seeming failure of the "Bible verse" to protect them. go figure!
Y'know, all these Pentecostal People seem to wanna classify themselves, either one way, or another. They spend all that time fighting against the other crowd...but-With the way, that these people twist and distort God's Word, whether it's the Oneness Crowd handlin' the Snakes, drinkin' th' Strychnine, or even handlin' fire..... Or whether it's the Trinitarian Pentecostals, with the Women cuttin' their Hair (Which the Holy Bible absolutely forbids, in 1 Corinthians, the 11th Chapter) or letting a Woman be a Preacher (Which the Holy Bible also forbids..... How can ANY of them be right?!? If you disagree with what I'm saying, then remember this: I'm only going by the Holy Bible!
I've often wondered why the vast majority of the snakes I've seen being used in these type churches seem to be very lethargic almost like they've been doped with some type of sedative.
The vibrations from the music plus shaking them around throughs them off. This is just another form of animal abuse. I’d love to see these people do this with a Puff Adder or Fer De Lance they all be dead
@@jasonstone454 They don’t eat while in captivity so they are either force fed or dying. Then slung around for a “church service” Not messed with? Sure.
Animal abuse!!I'm sure snakes don't like to be jostled and handed around. They are biting in self defense you stupid people! I hope PETA comes after you fools!
Given the amount of mistranslations of mistranslations in the current bible.... the passage probably REALLY said ' They shall take up adorable fluffy poodles ' 😂
Thus is what happens when you take the Bible literally and by the way Jesus spoke in parables we have a new testament and an old testament one is under law the other is under grace this is really sad and Satan's in charge.
These people love God. They are a little misguided IMO on the issue of taking up snakes and drinking poison, but there ain't no doubt that they love God.
That's the thing. These people aren't loonies or crazies. They simply interpret the Bible differently from most people. I don't agree with their practice but I will respect their right to practice it.
@@toddmiller5884 the gospel of mark is often called the gospel for the slaves. as it deals with all action and little dialogues. it also has the fewest parables as it's a rather simple book. it's the most literal of the 4 gospels as almost all the mystic language is removed.its like reading Esther which doesn't mention God whatsoever. the meaning. not interpretation of the mark passage in question is literal. and any interpretation that deviates from this is wrong. it's as simple and literal as slapping your jacket on the river and watching it split. picking up snakes with your hands and drinking things that kill you are what this mark passage means.
I don't believe they drink arsenic or cyanide, but what their misguided minds are doing is tempting Jesus, and He is not obligated to protect them as seen by the deaths of various members bitten and died.
@@toddmiller5884 - pouring gasoline on one's body and igniting it to flames is no different from purposely handling deadly vipers. Tempting God by putting Him to the test to protect us by willfully doing something stupid may put you six-feet under, as many snake handlers have experienced, and if they were alive would tell us, "Do not handle poisonous snakes!".
Manifestations of the spirit or emotions? Their antics are a combination of not understanding the Bible, cultism, and legalism. Yes, God does protect people who have a love for Him and who do crazy things. But, He is not obligated to protect people who do stupid things. Furthermore, when Paul was bitten in Acts 28, he was gathering a bundle of wood to stoke the campfire. Paul was not looking for a snake to handle but the viper was in the wood bundle he gathered. The snake came out of the bundle and glommed onto his hand. When the heathen Natives saw the snake bite Paul they believed he was a criminal getting what he deserved. But Paul shook off the serpent into the fire and he did not die. God protected Paul and used the incident to win the natives to Jesus, and it gave Paul the opportunity to bring healing to afflictions the natives were experiencing.
No religious person who reads the bible understands the bible. THe only way you can be religious is if you do NOT understand the bible. Because all bibles, all scripture, is mythology written by men for men, from the minds of men. Religions are the epitome of arrogance, narcissism, attempting to create "god" in man's image. No one knows a damn thing about the eternal source of existence. Not now, and not 5,000 years ago. Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Jesus, John the Baptist, Saul the liar of Tarsus, Muhamad, the Brahaman... they are all frauds. Not a single one knew the mind of "god". Which is impossible to know. And anyone who thinks they know, or thinks the book they read knows, is just displaying this immense arrogance and narcissism. Factually, no person who believes the bible is the word of god, understands the bible.
Exactly! He had no idea, that a Snake was in that wood, and he also had no intention of deliberately going against the Word of God! Those two reasons,care why God protected The Apostle Paul.
Some of them weren't Apostolic Pentecostal, the women had short hair, while others looked like they had Apostolic roots because the preacher talked about not believing in women cutting their hair, the women wearing long dresses. That sounds like the Apostolic Pentecostal church teaching I'm used to. Snake handling is a big "NO WAY" for us though
I have ex family in this crap. And they are Apostolic, but not all Apostolics handle snakes. In UPC all you hear every service is Acts 2:38. In these churches, it's ALL about handling snakes. They'd rather see someone handle snakes than they had see someone get the Holy Ghost or to be healed. 😢
Jesus was way cool....he turned water into wine and if he wanted to could have turned wheat into marijuana, sugar into cocaine and vitamins into amphetamines. He walked on the water and swam on the land. Jesus was way cool.
All about perspective and local TV I guess 🤣 Back then we had to turn the antenna while I'll grandparent yelled when to stop. So yeah I guess this is the best they had but geez. My grandfather preached with these churches and handled snakes. I was raised in it from birth up to 10 years old.
They don't understand that this chapter in Mark WAS NOT in the original manuscripts and was added by a Scribe a century later. Messiah Yeshua NEVER said it. Goodness. Now anytime in the Synoptic Gospels when He referred to serpents, He was using it figuratively referring to the Pharisees and in HIs followers facing trials and attacks from EVIL Spirits. IT had NOTHING to do with this garbage. Deceived people. If you want to understand the Bible you need to FIRST understand Judaism and how WE and our CULTURE use words.
5:30 the term “Hillbilly” was NOT formed here, that’s something our strong culture brought over from SCOTLAND and ULSTER!!! But y’all redcoats don’t like to claim any part of being anywhere near kin to us… it’s alright, we don’t claim y’all either!
Too bad that these nice folks have another gospel. Very sincere but sincerely wrong. Those verses in Mark are speaking in general, not every single believer will have every single one of those gifts listed. At any rate we can definitely agree to disagree on the non essentials. Free grace is the only true gospel. Jesus is Lord God Almighty clothed in unsinful humanity and He is the author of eternal life to all who trust Him alone for salvation. Jesus paid for all the sins of all the world at the cross (past, present, and future). That payment is put to your account when you have believed on Christ alone for salvation. Importantly; *this means that saving repentance is realizing that you are a sinner deserving of God's just punishment in Hell and turn (repent) from whatever you trusted in before, if indeed you trusted in anything; to trusting in the person and finished work of Christ alone for salvation.*
How did you get to this conclusion? Because everything you just said goes against the bible...it don't say maybe it don't say might it don't say if it says "They shall"
Snake handling Christians disobey God's word. The bible does not state that Christians are to purposefully handle venomous snakes. A literal interpretation of Mark 16:18 is incorrect. If you are a Christian and believe Mark 16:18 means to literally handle venomous snakes, you are wrong and don't know how to interpret God's word!
All interpretations of Mark 16 are incorrect because the gospels are fiction written by pagan heathens. Just like every religious text. People worshiping a book, not "god", not the source of existence, not the eternal one. Mark 16, like much of Mark, was copied from the Odyssey and Iliad, Homer's writings. .Just like all the gospels. And they worship a man as god, which is pure pagan heathenry. Early Christians didn't believe Jesus was god nor did they believe he was the only son of God and it's completely evident in the NT. Even in Mark, which is the earliest gospel, Jesus is not yet deified. He isn't deified until Matt, Luke, John, Acts and Hebrews, all much later. Because no first century Jew could ever mistake messiah with "son of god" or "god in the flesh" or any of that nonsense. Messiah is supposed to be a normal human being. And Jesus is even quoted straight up as saying he's just messiah, not god. It's OUR father, not HIS father. When he does say "my father" he follows it by calling the apostles his siblings, meaning they share a father. Then he tells the apostles they should call no man father but the lord in heaven. Meaning, they too are the sons of god. But the biggest evidence is how many times he uses the phrase "Son of man". Son of man means only ONE thing, a normal human being born of a human man and human woman, straight from Daniel 7. The NT was written mostly by pagan heathens, and then compiled, edited and redacted by the Roman Empire for the purpose of conquest and colonialism. It's the LEAST genuine and holy of all religious scripture. Which is ALL mythology, written by men, from the minds of men. It's pure arrogance and narcissism to think any man, now or 5,000 years ago, possibly knew the mind of god. Which is not possible. Frauds, every single one.
@@jessereichbach588 You must not of read the Old Testament. Isaiah 9 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
@@lethenhitch9439 No, I read just fine. That's about Hezekiah. Hezekiah is Prince of Peace. Peaceful was his reign. He was the savior king, considered geater than david actually. The greatest King in Israelite history. Traditionally i mean, who knows. Just read the whole chapter. Stop cherry picking out of context.
@@lethenhitch9439 No pagan, you are deceived, by your own delusions and translation to English language lol. "God" was a title. "El" or "elohim" were used as TITLES. they are not the name of the one above all. Its a title., like "elohim" is a title that can be used for actual GOD, or judges, or an angels or a king. As you can see, it says a child HAS been born to us. Not WILL be born to us. HAS. And if you read it in context, it can be only ONE person, Hezekiah. Basic reading comprehension. HAS been born to us. NOT "has been created but is waiting in hiding to be born again", HAS been born to us, a CHILD. Not a spirit. Anyway, El and Elohim are titles. They don't always refer to the supreme being. AS we can see throughout the old and new testament. From strongs..... you will see, the supreme God, OR a magistrate, or a superlative...... a god אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativ 17For the Lord, your God, is God of gods and the Lord of the lords, the great mighty and awesome God, Who will show no favor, nor will He take a bribe. יז ... :God of gods? Weell what gods? I thought there is only one god? What "gods" can this be talking about? Well, The entire name is a combination of like 4 different titles. And it ALL refers to hezekiah. Plus you are skipping the line that comes RIGHT after it. 6To him who increases the authority, and for peace without end, on David's throne and on his kingdom, to establish it and to support it with justice and with righteousness; from now and to eternity, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this. With the ZEAL of the "lord of hosts". Who is the "host" ? Who is "hosting the father" Hezekiah. To him who increases authority and for peace without end, as there was in the reign of Hezekiah. Hezekiah, from David, through Solomon, who all future kings will descend. And why is this title granted? Because Hezekiah was the ONLY king between Judah and Samaria, and Jerusalem the ONLY place, not crushed by the Assyrians. Another example 2kings1:16And he spoke to him, saying, "So has the Lord said, 'Since you sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron (Is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?), therefore, from the bed upon which you have risen, you will not get down, for you shall die.' " judges 3And I also said, 'I will not drive them out from before you, and they will be pokers to you and their gods will be a stumbling block to you.' " Psalm 82:6 reads, “I said, 'You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every . Your reading comprehension is at like a 3rd grade level so I don't even know why you are arguing. You've never read Isaiah in context, and you still don't understand Isaiah is talking about ISRAEL, all of ISRAEL generally, when you insert your heathen mangod into the text. And you will never understand the text reading a bad translation like most English old testaments. Its meant to be read in hebrew in the context of 1st millennia bce conventions. Not to mention the NT completely distorts scripture because it was mostly written by pagan heathens in Europe. It doesn't say born to a virgin in Isaiah. That's another Christian distortion. It says "almah", which means young woman. Not "bethulah", which means virgin. It also says SHE will call him Imannuel, not THEY will call him Immannnuel. So let's not pretend that you understand ANYTHING about scripture. There are numerous places in the OT where a person, or angel is referred to as "god". Like when Jacob is wrestling with the angel. The angel is referred t as such because its imbued with the spirit OF 'god". You are talking about a text written in a semitic language 2500 yeas ago. The terms that we translate to "God", and "lord" were often used symbolically. Why do Christians call priests "dom" , which is "Lord", or sometimes "father"? Didn't Jesus say to call no man on earth "father" for your only father is the father in heaven? YOUR only father. You don't even understand the NT. The prayer is OUR father. In fact, when we read the gospels in the CORRECT order, of when they were written, we can clearly see jesus wasn't even deified by the time Mark was written. Only in Matthew and after was Jeuss seen as an actual "god". There is no virgin birth narrative or physical resurrection until Matthew in like 80 CE. Early Christians did NOT confuse "messiah" with being "only son of god" or "god in the flesh". But slow minded pagan heathens, who had no clue what they were reading, influenced by Paul's loose interpretation and narcissistic agenda, didn't know the difference. The author of Luke and Acts for instance CLEARLY uses Josephus as a source for his geography. And when he doesn't he gets locations completely wrong. Like the tomb of the patriarchs is in Hebron, not Shechem. A mistake only someone who had never been to Israel could are, as they are like 100 Km apart. And most of that nonsense is in John, which is the last gospel and near cmplete pagan heathen fiction. ALL of the gospels were copied and used Homer's Iliad, Odysse and virgil's Aeneid as a source for their story. Like in Mark on the sea of galileee, this scene is strait out of the Odyssey, pigs, hermit and all. Except Jesus prevents the shipwreck. Thats the only real differnce. Angels and judges are regularly called "Elohim" in the OT. Elohim was a title. "Adoinai" is usually used to refer to the actual "GOD", or as Christians say "Father" but Elohim is used to refer to a whole host of characters. They call "the Baal" , "elohim" too. So is the text saying that other GODS actually exist? In the NT its no different. THe word "Kurios" often used to refer to Jesus, is the same word used to often refer to Caesar in non biblical literature. This is how pagans got things confused and thought Jesus was an actual god lol. Same with "theos". In Pslams GOD is caled "Lord of Lords" who are the "lords"? This again was a title...... And it's no different in this verse with Hezekiah. And when you read the line IN CONTEXT it's so clearly about Hezekiah, because Hezekiah is the only prince born at this period of Isaiahs life.
Mountaineer here. I think this documentary is an accurate blast to the past. You're not going to find this in WV much anymore these days. The practice has all but completely disappeared. I'm gonna estimate that there are fewer than 500 people who still do this. Times have changed, the youth got internet, school attendance became mandatory, and the rest is history. WV in the 1980s had a bad interstate and intrastate road system, party telephone lines from the 1940s, poor television and radio infrastructure, a very basic education system, few shopping opportunities, etc. Basically, it was isolation. It's just like everywhere else these days....cell phones, internet, decent roads, access to satellite tv, WALMART, inner-city street crime, drug cartels, etc. It's still a dump...but no more dumpy than any other modern dump. As for religion....Appalachia did and does have a literacy problem. Most of these folks probably couldn't even read to be truthful and never had an education. What good are bibles when the majority can't even read or understand it? Whatever preacher says is the truth in these communities...period. The Pentecostal snake handlers never represented WV or Appalachia as a whole and were looked down upon even then. On the other hand, these folks never hurt anyone but themselves. In a state where Heroine/Fentanyl and Methamphetamines are the new God.....I'd much rather have these folks back around. They had some morality at least.
I agree
If it's not supposed to hurt you, then why are people dying and losing fingers? Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." We’re not saved by works of righteousness..We're saved God’s grace period.
They've got another gospel.
Free grace is the only true gospel; this means that saving repentance is realizing that you are a sinner deserving of God's just punishment in Hell and turn (repent) from whatever you trusted in before, if indeed you trusted in anything; to trusting in the person and finished work of Christ alone for salvation.
Pay attention Greg they never said that.
@@tristanmason7405 What are you going on about?
Luke 4:12
And Jesus answering said unto him, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
is believeing the word temping God.God is not a man that he should be tempted niether does he tempt any man.
God's precious Saints. Bro Ray Stewart was the greatest man of God I ever met.
I still attend that church of brother rays
that rattler nip to the face should have killed him. God kept him going Amen!
@@dman1962dad Good to know Lego is still going. Are they still meeting on Saturday nights?
Yes still on Saturday nights and Wednesday Bible study
A "great man of God" cannot be so easily deceived by wrongly interpreting a simple bible verse. He was deceived, a fool, as is anyone who believes Mark 16:18 commands or suggests we handle venomous snakes.
I personally know alot of these folks and they are awesome people whom i respect greatly and everyone that i know have moved away from snake handling.
Hi, I'm looking to do a documentary involving pentecostal snake handling churches. Do you know of any churches that would be open to being filmed?
Thats great. I dont wanna judge but the snake thing seems unorderly to say the least. Why test God?
This first aired in 1985 I imagine most have passed away.
I bet they’re very nice people who are worshipping in a way that they see fit. However, you can’t continue to manhandle venomous snakes and not get bitten. If you’ve been bitten in the past and survived without modern medicine, then you lucked out with a dry bite. God gave us the good sense to stay away from danger, not invite it in.
Well done fair representation of these fine faithful folks! Only one I seen sleeping in church was the baby!
I don’t know. By the looks of some of them, brothers and sisters have been procreating. Maybe it’s fathers and daughters too.
I love these people.
So does Jesus but they misinterpret scripture and some pay the ultimate price for tempting Him.
Me too, like I love clowns, like I love the circus.
@Jerry2Murray what does "They Shall" mean pal and how do you interpret it oh wise one
Very interesting video!
Love LOVE the music
Man thought I did wild an crazy shit in 1970's these tuff ole hillbillys
“They shall take up serpents” means that we should raise our kundalini serpent up from our private area, spine and to our heads! That’s what that means! It means to become wise and enlightened! The snakes lead! 🐍 🐍 🙏 ❤️
To each his own…all glory to God!!
I have been a serpent handler for 35 years and I love the Lord Jesus Christ and God the father and the Lord has bless me every day of my life for 59 years and thank God 🙏 and I love all my brothers and sisters in the faith ❤️
Roy: Don't get bit !
Ancient Snake worship disguised as Faux Pseudo Christianity.
It is one thing to handle poisonous snakes for the purpose of pets or collecting venom. It is an entirely something else to use toxic snakes in a worship service. Where in scripture does Jesus command churches to use snakes in the church services? No where, and it is cultish to do so.
Roy;
Sir, I don’t live in your country. I have been a Christian for 10 years. I have a great desire to visit your nation - more specifically a location / Church which practices what you spoke of. This is so I can personally witness this devout expression of faith. Can you recommend a currently active congregation? I understand if you don’t wish to, but if you could it would be much appreciated. God bless you.
The Lord knows your heart and why you do it. I have a single question. You handle poisonous snakes so why don't you drink arsenic or another poison?
That music though…
The faithful shall remain faithful
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Jesus was telling his disciples that when they went into the world to spread the gospel to have no fear, for serpents shall not harm them, nor will poison affect them. People do not understand that Jesus was speaking to His disciples to encourage them for they feared that they would be harmed by the non-believers.
Haw-lay-lew-yah (then snake bites), Ho-lee sh-it!
Amen you can tell this was an old documentary but I got news for you God hasn't ceased anything he still does healing the miracles today in 2024 and I'm proof of it
I wonder if someone brought a black mamba or a cobra would it be the same show?
Yes it would
Oh, yeah! Cobras, and Black Mambas, I would guess, would be a lot more vicious, and their Venom is known for being even more potentially lethal, than even Rattlesnake, Copperhead, or even Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin, Venom is! Puff Adder and Boomslang Snakes are extremely lethal, too, and, as if THAT wasn't bad enough, if a person is envenomated by what's known as a Crate Snake, there is no Anti venom, that can counter their Venom.
Usually, a person that has been envenomated by a Crate Snake, has around 24 Hours to live...and that's it. That type of venom, injected into it's victim, is an automatic death sentence!
I want to hear a story about someone surviving drinking poison. They mention it, but I haven't heard anything about it.
They drank strychnine at this very church and it didn't hurt them
Wonder what year this was?
The snakes later were overheard mentioning they got underpaid and will be headed back to Nevada on the next bus.
Bwahaha!! Classic!
Them there snakes is timber rattlers, they ain’t from Nevada!
...well...if they were talking about skedaddlin', why...I imagine that they did it, with a series of evil hisses!!!🐍🐍🐍🤪😜🤪😜!!!
It's APPA-LATCH-UH!!! At least try to pronounce it right!
If you don't say Appalachia, I'll throw an apple at cha.
Is this church still around now? I wonder how these believers view divorce and remarriage?
There’s still a few around. Wv is the only state it’s still legal
@@joshuastover1047 My understanding is that serpent handling is legal in West Virginia because the state constitution doesn't allow the legislature to either promote religion or to forbid its practice. West Virginia will prosecute if you try to keep a venomous snake as a pet but if the snake is part of a religious practice then the state's hands are tied. Would welcome any info on this topic.
@@toddmiller5884 correct except venomous snakes can legally kept but new legislation made keeping natives illegal so you’d be unable to keep northern copperhead or timber rattlesnake
Mark 16:18 this verse applies to snakes as well as poison. If one sufficient faith as is bit by a snake as in Acts:1:5, it will not hurt him. And accidentally poison will not hurt.
Not one time is the word used of making a side show out of serpent.
You misunderstand this sect's views. The ONLY part of the Bible they are the least bit interested in is found in Mark 16:9-20. This is their entire conception of Christianity. For the most part, these are illiterate people, and the finer points of Christian teachings to them are rather beside the point. The real reason why they are drawn to such a dangerous practice is this: the handling of snakes (plus fire and poison) are the highlights of their dark, grey lives. It gives them a purpose and fits a deep psychological need to bring meaning and purpose to their existence. To them, it is a thrilling moment when they actually handle the snakes and come out of it ALIVE because many of them have been fatally bitten and died on the spot. Even when this occurs, they are not turned off by the seeming failure of the "Bible verse" to protect them. go figure!
I wonder if these people are/were Oneness or Trinitarian?
@kevinswilcox oneness
Y'know, all these Pentecostal People seem to wanna classify themselves, either one way, or another. They spend all that time fighting against the other crowd...but-With the way, that these people twist and distort God's Word, whether it's the Oneness Crowd handlin' the Snakes, drinkin' th' Strychnine, or even handlin' fire.....
Or whether it's the Trinitarian Pentecostals, with the Women cuttin' their Hair (Which the Holy Bible absolutely forbids, in 1 Corinthians, the 11th Chapter) or letting a Woman be a Preacher (Which the Holy Bible also forbids.....
How can ANY of them be right?!?
If you disagree with what I'm saying, then remember this: I'm only going by the Holy Bible!
They Jesus folks .no fake 3 god Trinity there
You say you follow the Bible but yet you let women speak in church. Apparently you don’t follow the entire Bible.
Is a lady preaching and teaching men? They take the Bible literally correct?
Agreed! Whoever got in their ears, and told them that it's ok for Women to Preach, lied to them!
I love Jesus, but im not handling no rattlesnake. Nope.
Is brother Ray still alive
@nathanstuart2215 no he passed away of old age
I've often wondered why the vast majority of the snakes I've seen being used in these type churches seem to be very lethargic almost like they've been doped with some type of sedative.
The vibrations from the music plus shaking them around throughs them off. This is just another form of animal abuse. I’d love to see these people do this with a Puff Adder or Fer De Lance they all be dead
They soak them in milk and put them in a freezer. Cowards
They are not sedated or messed with in any way.
@@jasonstone454 They don’t eat while in captivity so they are either force fed or dying. Then slung around for a “church service” Not messed with? Sure.
Animal abuse!!I'm sure snakes don't like to be jostled and handed around. They are biting in self defense you stupid people! I hope PETA comes after you fools!
Given the amount of mistranslations of mistranslations in the current bible.... the passage probably REALLY said ' They shall take up adorable fluffy poodles ' 😂
In the earliest transcripts, verses 9 - 16 are NOT FOUND.
About high time you grew up
Thus is what happens when you take the Bible literally and by the way Jesus spoke in parables we have a new testament and an old testament one is under law the other is under grace this is really sad and Satan's in charge.
I love them and their music but I wish they'd tip!
These people love God. They are a little misguided IMO on the issue of taking up snakes and drinking poison, but there ain't no doubt that they love God.
That's the thing. These people aren't loonies or crazies. They simply interpret the Bible differently from most people. I don't agree with their practice but I will respect their right to practice it.
@@toddmiller5884 the gospel of mark is often called the gospel for the slaves. as it deals with all action and little dialogues. it also has the fewest parables as it's a rather simple book. it's the most literal of the 4 gospels as almost all the mystic language is removed.its like reading Esther which doesn't mention God whatsoever. the meaning. not interpretation of the mark passage in question is literal. and any interpretation that deviates from this is wrong. it's as simple and literal as slapping your jacket on the river and watching it split. picking up snakes with your hands and drinking things that kill you are what this mark passage means.
Jarrett do they?
I don't believe they drink arsenic or cyanide, but what their misguided minds are doing is tempting Jesus, and He is not obligated to protect them as seen by the deaths of various members bitten and died.
@@toddmiller5884 - pouring gasoline on one's body and igniting it to flames is no different from purposely handling deadly vipers. Tempting God by putting Him to the test to protect us by willfully doing something stupid may put you six-feet under, as many snake handlers have experienced, and if they were alive would tell us, "Do not handle poisonous snakes!".
Anyone else want to go watch l do
It sure beats a Catholic Mass.
King Cobra: Hold my beer…
Are you proud enough to take a Gaboon Viper?
Natural selection
Manifestations of the spirit or emotions? Their antics are a combination of not understanding the Bible, cultism, and legalism. Yes, God does protect people who have a love for Him and who do crazy things. But, He is not obligated to protect people who do stupid things. Furthermore, when Paul was bitten in Acts 28, he was gathering a bundle of wood to stoke the campfire. Paul was not looking for a snake to handle but the viper was in the wood bundle he gathered. The snake came out of the bundle and glommed onto his hand. When the heathen Natives saw the snake bite Paul they believed he was a criminal getting what he deserved. But Paul shook off the serpent into the fire and he did not die. God protected Paul and used the incident to win the natives to Jesus, and it gave Paul the opportunity to bring healing to afflictions the natives were experiencing.
No religious person who reads the bible understands the bible. THe only way you can be religious is if you do NOT understand the bible. Because all bibles, all scripture, is mythology written by men for men, from the minds of men.
Religions are the epitome of arrogance, narcissism, attempting to create "god" in man's image.
No one knows a damn thing about the eternal source of existence. Not now, and not 5,000 years ago. Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Jesus, John the Baptist, Saul the liar of Tarsus, Muhamad, the Brahaman... they are all frauds. Not a single one knew the mind of "god". Which is impossible to know. And anyone who thinks they know, or thinks the book they read knows, is just displaying this immense arrogance and narcissism.
Factually, no person who believes the bible is the word of god, understands the bible.
Exactly! He had no idea, that a Snake was in that wood, and he also had no intention of deliberately going against the Word of God! Those two reasons,care why God protected The Apostle Paul.
Some of them weren't Apostolic Pentecostal, the women had short hair, while others looked like they had Apostolic roots because the preacher talked about not believing in women cutting their hair, the women wearing long dresses. That sounds like the Apostolic Pentecostal church teaching I'm used to. Snake handling is a big "NO WAY" for us though
Apostolic pentecostal from Charleston WV
This sect is a thousand years removed from being Apostolic Pentecostal. This research is very easy to come by on the internet.
I have ex family in this crap. And they are Apostolic, but not all Apostolics handle snakes. In UPC all you hear every service is Acts 2:38. In these churches, it's ALL about handling snakes. They'd rather see someone handle snakes than they had see someone get the Holy Ghost or to be healed. 😢
@uriahpeep9008 there are some Apostolic Pentecostals that do handle snakes. I have ex family members that go to them
It's the same energy field with differing masks on ....ALL OF THEM.
Jesus was way cool....he turned water into wine and if he wanted to could have turned wheat into marijuana, sugar into cocaine and vitamins into amphetamines. He walked on the water and swam on the land. Jesus was way cool.
Jesus is cool, but he will also allow people to die from stupidity.
King Missile
Not a Bible to be seen at this church....tragic.
And they call themselves Bible thumping Jesus freaks.
Dont watch tv....but lets meet up on saturday night and play Russian roulette with our lives.
It beats Love Island! 🤪😂
All about perspective and local TV I guess 🤣 Back then we had to turn the antenna while I'll grandparent yelled when to stop. So yeah I guess this is the best they had but geez. My grandfather preached with these churches and handled snakes. I was raised in it from birth up to 10 years old.
dont hate they have more fu than you do
Could have told ya. Raised in this craziness. No one protected the kids in this religion so why should someone protect the adults!
Animal abuse
Has anyone told them there are non-venomous snakes.
They don't understand that this chapter in Mark WAS NOT in the original manuscripts and was added by a Scribe a century later. Messiah Yeshua NEVER said it. Goodness. Now anytime in the Synoptic Gospels when He referred to serpents, He was using it figuratively referring to the Pharisees and in HIs followers facing trials and attacks from EVIL Spirits. IT had NOTHING to do with this garbage. Deceived people. If you want to understand the Bible you need to FIRST understand Judaism and how WE and our CULTURE use words.
Yes they were ! Man took them out !.
5:30 the term “Hillbilly” was NOT formed here, that’s something our strong culture brought over from SCOTLAND and ULSTER!!! But y’all redcoats don’t like to claim any part of being anywhere near kin to us… it’s alright, we don’t claim y’all either!
Too bad that these nice folks have another gospel.
Very sincere but sincerely wrong.
Those verses in Mark are speaking in general, not every single believer will have every single one of those gifts listed.
At any rate we can definitely agree to disagree on the non essentials.
Free grace is the only true gospel.
Jesus is Lord God Almighty clothed in unsinful humanity and He is the author of eternal life to all who trust Him alone for salvation.
Jesus paid for all the sins of all the world at the cross (past, present, and future). That payment is put to your account when you have believed on Christ alone for salvation.
Importantly; *this means that saving repentance is realizing that you are a sinner deserving of God's just punishment in Hell and turn (repent) from whatever you trusted in before, if indeed you trusted in anything; to trusting in the person and finished work of Christ alone for salvation.*
How did you get to this conclusion? Because everything you just said goes against the bible...it don't say maybe it don't say might it don't say if it says "They shall"
Alleluia!!!
@@matthewstewart4456 In general.
Snake handling Christians disobey God's word. The bible does not state that Christians are to purposefully handle venomous snakes. A literal interpretation of Mark 16:18 is incorrect. If you are a Christian and believe Mark 16:18 means to literally handle venomous snakes, you are wrong and don't know how to interpret God's word!
All interpretations of Mark 16 are incorrect because the gospels are fiction written by pagan heathens. Just like every religious text. People worshiping a book, not "god", not the source of existence, not the eternal one.
Mark 16, like much of Mark, was copied from the Odyssey and Iliad, Homer's writings. .Just like all the gospels. And they worship a man as god, which is pure pagan heathenry.
Early Christians didn't believe Jesus was god nor did they believe he was the only son of God and it's completely evident in the NT. Even in Mark, which is the earliest gospel, Jesus is not yet deified. He isn't deified until Matt, Luke, John, Acts and Hebrews, all much later.
Because no first century Jew could ever mistake messiah with "son of god" or "god in the flesh" or any of that nonsense. Messiah is supposed to be a normal human being.
And Jesus is even quoted straight up as saying he's just messiah, not god.
It's OUR father, not HIS father.
When he does say "my father" he follows it by calling the apostles his siblings, meaning they share a father.
Then he tells the apostles they should call no man father but the lord in heaven. Meaning, they too are the sons of god.
But the biggest evidence is how many times he uses the phrase "Son of man". Son of man means only ONE thing, a normal human being born of a human man and human woman, straight from Daniel 7.
The NT was written mostly by pagan heathens, and then compiled, edited and redacted by the Roman Empire for the purpose of conquest and colonialism.
It's the LEAST genuine and holy of all religious scripture. Which is ALL mythology, written by men, from the minds of men. It's pure arrogance and narcissism to think any man, now or 5,000 years ago, possibly knew the mind of god. Which is not possible.
Frauds, every single one.
@@jessereichbach588
You must not of read the Old Testament.
Isaiah 9
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
@@lethenhitch9439 No, I read just fine. That's about Hezekiah. Hezekiah is Prince of Peace. Peaceful was his reign. He was the savior king, considered geater than david actually. The greatest King in Israelite history. Traditionally i mean, who knows. Just read the whole chapter. Stop cherry picking out of context.
@@jessereichbach588
He is not the Mighty God or the Everlasting Father. You are deceived.
@@lethenhitch9439 No pagan, you are deceived, by your own delusions and translation to English language lol. "God" was a title. "El" or "elohim" were used as TITLES. they are not the name of the one above all. Its a title., like "elohim" is a title that can be used for actual GOD, or judges, or an angels or a king.
As you can see, it says a child HAS been born to us. Not WILL be born to us. HAS. And if you read it in context, it can be only ONE person, Hezekiah. Basic reading comprehension. HAS been born to us. NOT "has been created but is waiting in hiding to be born again", HAS been born to us, a CHILD. Not a spirit.
Anyway, El and Elohim are titles. They don't always refer to the supreme being. AS we can see throughout the old and new testament.
From strongs..... you will see, the supreme God, OR a magistrate, or a superlative......
a god
אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativ
17For the Lord, your God, is God of gods and the Lord of the lords, the great mighty and awesome God, Who will show no favor, nor will He take a bribe. יז ...
:God of gods? Weell what gods? I thought there is only one god? What "gods" can this be talking about? Well,
The entire name is a combination of like 4 different titles. And it ALL refers to hezekiah.
Plus you are skipping the line that comes RIGHT after it.
6To him who increases the authority, and for peace without end, on David's throne and on his kingdom, to establish it and to support it with justice and with righteousness; from now and to eternity, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this.
With the ZEAL of the "lord of hosts". Who is the "host" ? Who is "hosting the father" Hezekiah. To him who increases authority and for peace without end, as there was in the reign of Hezekiah. Hezekiah, from David, through Solomon, who all future kings will descend.
And why is this title granted? Because Hezekiah was the ONLY king between Judah and Samaria, and Jerusalem the ONLY place, not crushed by the Assyrians.
Another example
2kings1:16And he spoke to him, saying, "So has the Lord said, 'Since you sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron (Is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?), therefore, from the bed upon which you have risen, you will not get down, for you shall die.' "
judges 3And I also said, 'I will not drive them out from before you, and they will be pokers to you and their gods will be a stumbling block to you.' "
Psalm 82:6 reads, “I said, 'You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every .
Your reading comprehension is at like a 3rd grade level so I don't even know why you are arguing. You've never read Isaiah in context, and you still don't understand Isaiah is talking about ISRAEL, all of ISRAEL generally, when you insert your heathen mangod into the text. And you will never understand the text reading a bad translation like most English old testaments. Its meant to be read in hebrew in the context of 1st millennia bce conventions.
Not to mention the NT completely distorts scripture because it was mostly written by pagan heathens in Europe.
It doesn't say born to a virgin in Isaiah. That's another Christian distortion. It says "almah", which means young woman. Not "bethulah", which means virgin. It also says SHE will call him Imannuel, not THEY will call him Immannnuel. So let's not pretend that you understand ANYTHING about scripture.
There are numerous places in the OT where a person, or angel is referred to as "god". Like when Jacob is wrestling with the angel. The angel is referred t as such because its imbued with the spirit OF 'god".
You are talking about a text written in a semitic language 2500 yeas ago. The terms that we translate to "God", and "lord" were often used symbolically.
Why do Christians call priests "dom" , which is "Lord", or sometimes "father"? Didn't Jesus say to call no man on earth "father" for your only father is the father in heaven? YOUR only father. You don't even understand the NT. The prayer is OUR father.
In fact, when we read the gospels in the CORRECT order, of when they were written, we can clearly see jesus wasn't even deified by the time Mark was written. Only in Matthew and after was Jeuss seen as an actual "god". There is no virgin birth narrative or physical resurrection until Matthew in like 80 CE. Early Christians did NOT confuse "messiah" with being "only son of god" or "god in the flesh". But slow minded pagan heathens, who had no clue what they were reading, influenced by Paul's loose interpretation and narcissistic agenda, didn't know the difference.
The author of Luke and Acts for instance CLEARLY uses Josephus as a source for his geography. And when he doesn't he gets locations completely wrong. Like the tomb of the patriarchs is in Hebron, not Shechem. A mistake only someone who had never been to Israel could are, as they are like 100 Km apart. And most of that nonsense is in John, which is the last gospel and near cmplete pagan heathen fiction. ALL of the gospels were copied and used Homer's Iliad, Odysse and virgil's Aeneid as a source for their story. Like in Mark on the sea of galileee, this scene is strait out of the Odyssey, pigs, hermit and all. Except Jesus prevents the shipwreck. Thats the only real differnce.
Angels and judges are regularly called "Elohim" in the OT. Elohim was a title. "Adoinai" is usually used to refer to the actual "GOD", or as Christians say "Father" but Elohim is used to refer to a whole host of characters.
They call "the Baal" , "elohim" too. So is the text saying that other GODS actually exist?
In the NT its no different. THe word "Kurios" often used to refer to Jesus, is the same word used to often refer to Caesar in non biblical literature. This is how pagans got things confused and thought Jesus was an actual god lol. Same with "theos".
In Pslams GOD is caled "Lord of Lords" who are the "lords"? This again was a title...... And it's no different in this verse with Hezekiah. And when you read the line IN CONTEXT it's so clearly about Hezekiah, because Hezekiah is the only prince born at this period of Isaiahs life.
This is wrong! this is witch craft!!! You should never take snake's in a holy church!!.
Christianity is a pagan heathen religion, I don't think it matters lol. They believe a normal human man is god.... that's pagan worship already.
Listen to the song "The little girl and the dreadful snake" and hear how it ends.
The serpents are ON 2 LEGS