Snakes

Church of Jesus Christ Signs Following: 

Church of Jesus Christ Signs Following Charismatic Snake Handlers in Appalachia

John Wesleyhomo uni libris: 

John Wesley homo uni libris

John Wesley Preaching at Bolton Cross August 28th, 1748: 

John Wesley Preaching at Bolton Cross August 28th, 1748

Wesleyan Theology: 

Wesleyan Theology Justification: implies pardon, the forgiveness of sins. God justifies not the godly but the ungodly. They that are righteous need no repentance so they need no forgiveness. This pardon or forgiveness comes by faith. Sanctification: Ultimately for the true Wesleyan salvation is completed by our return to original righteousness. This is done by the work of the Holy Spirit.

George Whitfield and the First Great Awakening 1740-1760: 

George Whitfield and the First Great Awakening 1740-1760

Colonial America: 

Colonial America

Cane Ridge Revival and the Second Great Awakening 1801-1840: 

Cane Ridge Revival and the Second Great Awakening 1801-1840

Methodist Organization: 

Methodist Organization

Itinerant Ministers: 

Itinerant Ministers

Baptists: 

Baptists

Burnt Over District: 

Burnt Over District

Holiness Meeting: 

Holiness Meeting

Holiness Movement : 

Holiness Movement 1840s-1850s Restoration of Wesleyan piety Reemphasis on Sanctification

Communion Tokens: 

Communion Tokens

Church Discipline: 

Church Discipline “Served to remove offenses, vindicate the honor of Christ, promote general edification of all and last but not least, benefit the offender himself.” Presbyterian Book of Discipline.

Reformist Movement: 

Reformist Movement Movement with established churches (Methodists, and to a lesser extent Baptist and Presbyterian)– connection to historical churches. National Holiness Association did not accept members who were not members of a church. Prevailing vision had been to "Christianize" Christianity within whatever form or rubric it found a home. Not until turn of the century were Holiness churches established.

Restorationist Impusle: 

Restorationist Impusle “Come-outer’s” appeal to Biblical authority declared the existing sects to be the source of disunity and a hindrance to the restoration of true apostolic order, worship, and experience by their refusal to establish New Testament Churches "on the holiness line.“ A Church of the Spirit

Phoebe Palmer: 

Phoebe Palmer

New York City c. 1850: 

New York City c. 1850

Key Religious Writings: 

Key Religious Writings 1845 : Article by John Morgan: “The Gift of the Holy Spirit” 1856 : Book by William Arthur: "The Tongue Of Fire" 1859 : Guide by Phoebe Palmer, "Guide to Holiness" 1870 : Book by Asa Mahan "Baptism Of the Holy Ghost"

Asa Mahan: 

Asa Mahan

The BAPTISM of the HOLY GHOST, 1870: 

The BAPTISM of the HOLY GHOST, 1870 According to the other view, "the Spirit falls upon," "comes upon," believers, and "the sealing and earnest of the Spirit" are given, not in conversion, but "after we have believed." The Spirit, first of all, induces in the sinner "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." : After he has believed," that is, after conversion, "the Holy Ghost comes upon," "falls upon," and is "poured out upon him," and thus "endues him with power from on high" for his life mission and work. In this baptism of power, this "sealing and earnest of the Spirit," which is always given, not in conversion, but "after we have believed," "the promise of the Spirit" is fulfilled.

Keswick & Higher Life Movement: 

Keswick & Higher Life Movement

Keswick Idea of Sanctification: 

Keswick Idea of Sanctification Positional Righteousness; at conversion the believer is imbued with the righteousness of Christ. Experiential Sanctification; the Holy Spirit works through the believer in daily life Complete Sanctification; comes at the end of life a.k.a. glorification

Dispensation: 

Dispensation

Gifts of the Spirit I Corinthians 12:8-10 : 

Gifts of the Spirit I Corinthians 12:8-10 Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Prophecy Discerning of spirits Tongues Interpretation of tongues

Jesus Casting Out Satan: 

Jesus Casting Out Satan

Resurrection of Lazarus: 

Resurrection of Lazarus

The Pentecost: 

The Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4: 

Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the Apostles) were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Moses and the Commandments: 

Moses and the Commandments

Glossolalia: 

Glossolalia The term glossolalia is derived from the Greek glossa, "tongue" and lalia, "to talk."

Tower of Babel: 

Tower of Babel

Latter Rain Theology: 

Latter Rain Theology Restorationism  --  This further development of restoration theology viewed God as progressively restoring truths to the church since the Reformation. Fivefold Ministry  --  The teaching that God is restoring apostles and prophets to the church to function with the three other gifted offices: evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11). Apostles and prophets provided direction with new revelations that would play a major role in paving the way for Christ's second coming. Laying on of the Hands  --  A ritual performed by modern apostles and prophets to impart the Holy Spirit and other spiritual blessings and gifts. Prophecy  --  Views the practice of "personal prophecy" as being restored to the church. Prophecy would no longer be restricted to general words of exhortation, but would include personal detailed revelations for guidance and instruction. Recovery of True Worship  --  The belief that God's manifested presence is dependent upon a certain order of worship involving singing in tongues, clapping, shouting, singing prophecies, and a new order of praise dancing. Immortalization of the Saints  --  The belief that those believers moving in the truth of Latter-Rain restoration, not necessarily all in the church, will attain an immortal state before Jesus returns.  Unity of the Faith  --  The doctrine that the church, usually perceived to be a band of overcomers in neo-Pentecostal ranks, will attain unity in the faith before Christ returns.

Charles Fox Parham: 

Charles Fox Parham

Bethel Bible College: 

Bethel Bible College

The Second Blessing: 

The Second Blessing I Thessalonians 5:23 speaks of "entire sanctification.” first suggested in one of John Wesley's tracts in 1766. Being “anointed for service.” Usually manifested as healing power, not tongues.

Agnes Ozman: 

Agnes Ozman

Pentecostalism: 

Pentecostalism An Act of God Shared encounter with the divine (imminent) Emphasis not simply on glossolalia– but on the empowerment the holy spirit brings to the believer. Second blessing no longer a cleansing, but an anointing Emphasis on experience allowed for participation of women and blacks in leadership roles

William Seymour: 

William Seymour

Bonnie Brae Street: 

Bonnie Brae Street

Azusa Street Revival: 

Azusa Street Revival

Los Angeles Times: 

Los Angeles Times

Seymours: 

Seymours

Apostolic Faith: 

Apostolic Faith

Early Azusa Mission Leaders: 

Early Azusa Mission Leaders

Union Station: 

Union Station

Church of God (TN): 

Church of God (TN)

Charles Price Jones: 

Charles Price Jones

Charles H. Mason: 

Charles H. Mason

Aimee Semple McPherson: 

Aimee Semple McPherson

Angelus Temple: 

Angelus Temple

Assemblies of God: 

Assemblies of God

William Branham: 

William Branham

Oral Roberts: 

Oral Roberts

Laying on of Hands: 

Laying on of Hands

Appalachia: 

Appalachia

Daniel Boone: 

Daniel Boone

Scotch-Irish: 

Scotch-Irish 17th c Presbyterian Scotts, strict Calvinists, who settled in the Plantations of Ireland and eventually migrated to the Appalachian region of the United States in 1703 as a result of the Act of Union which demanded alliegence to the Anglican Church.

French and Indian War: 

French and Indian War

Cultural Qualities of Ulster Scots: 

Cultural Qualities of Ulster Scots Fiercely loyal to clan and kin. Territorial. Deep mistrust of government authority. Military readiness.

Snake Handling: 

Snake Handling

George Hensley1880-1955: 

George Hensley 1880-1955 Former Bootlegger who turned to Christ and joined the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. Began the practice of handling snakes in 1910. The practice spread throughout the church by 1914. Left Church in 1920 when it refused to allow the handling of snakes and founded the modern Charismatic snake handing movement. Died of a snake bite in 1955.

Sacred Texts: 

Sacred Texts "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." Mark 16:17-20 “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.” Luke 10:19 "So then after the Lord has spoken unto them [Jesus' disciples], he was received up into heaven, and set on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” Mark 16:19-20

Leading a Godly Life: 

Leading a Godly Life Jewelry is kept to a minimum. Some groups go so far as to consider wedding bands or watches as too extravagant. Women, moreover, generally wear their hair long without any artificial curling, straightening or coloring and men must keep their hair short. Men wear open necked, long-sleeved shirts and slacks [although jeans and bib-overalls are generally accepted as well] Women must wear dresses of solid or flowered print. Sign followers do not use tobacco or alcohol, and, depending on the church, caffeine. The belief in the healing power of the Lord proscribes any professional medical treatment or even over-the-counter medications. A break with the belief in healing exhibits "a sure sign of lack of faith in God's ability to cure the sick." In some extreme cases churches have been known to ban eyeglasses However, much like the dress and grooming standards the issue of eyeglasses and even more serious medical attention is variable.

Church of Jesus Christ Signs Following: 

Church of Jesus Christ Signs Following Believers are encouraged to: lay hands on the sick. speak in tongues. and provide testimony of miracles. handle poisonous snakes (usually copperheads and rattlesnakes). drink water laced with strychnine, arsenic, or some other poisonous substance. Rags soaked in kerosene are ignited and placed in glass jars or empty pop bottles and passed around for any of the faithful who feel so inclined to touch them.

WHAT BEING BITTEN REVEALS ABOUT THE HANDLER: 

WHAT BEING BITTEN REVEALS ABOUT THE HANDLER 1. That the person has sin in his/her life. If discovered to be the case, the faithful members shun the sinners. 2. That the person handled the snake without being under "the anointing" of the Holy Ghost. Since God promises no protection to the unanointed, snakes are prone to bite them. 3. That the person lacks the faith to handle the serpent. Handling snakes without faith is presumption. 4. That God is testing the handlers to see if they will deny the faith when they are bitten. 5. That God is a healer. One of the ways to know this is for him to heal the victim of a venomous snakebite.