Mark 16: 15 - 16.
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
These words were spoken by Jesus in the upper room right after He (Jesus) had appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This is a similar passage to the previous two posts, but is not at the same time. Jesus was admonishing the disciples for their unbelief, about Jesus rising from the dead. These words seemed to be a prophecy of what would happen in the early Church as they spread the Gospel. The Apostles cast out demons, spoke in tongues, Paul was bitten by a serpent but did not die. The only one of these prophecies we don't have confirmation is the drinking of anything deadly, and it will by no means hurt them. I don't believe that Jesus intended these words to become a sign of faith used by some today. They handle serpents, and drink their venom. Paul's encounter with the serpent was while gathering wood for a fire, and everyday task in the world at that time.
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