Category: Snake Handling

Sincerity does not make one right. One may be sincere, but be wrong before God. Jesus said so. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (Jn. 16:2–Saul of Tarsus is a good example of this prophecy–Acts 8:3; 9:1; 26:9-11). “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22, 23). They were sincere in their service. Like you, they believed that they were doing “many wonderful works,” but, like Mr. Long, the dead snake handler, their sincerity will not save them.

We have shown that: (1) the promise of Jesus in Mark 16:17, 18, did not extend to all believers, even in the first century; (2) the promise of Jesus includes more than tongues and healing; (3) the word was preached, and the signs confirming that word followed; (4) the word, the gospel, is to be separated or distinguished from the signs; (5) the signs have ceased, consequently no man today possesses any of them.

We take no joy in recounting the death of yet another Pentecostal preacher, Dwayne Long, who died while handling a rattlesnake during Easter Sunday church services.