Contrary to popular belief, WE DO NOT HANDLE SNAKES!!!!! The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) division is NOT SNAKE HANDLERS!!!! ONLY The Church of God With Signs Following ARE SNAKE HANDLERS. They are a 1924 split off of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) and The Church of God of Prophecy. They have very few churches---some in Florida, some spread out among Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and some in Canada (Ontario and British Columbia).
The Church of God of Prophecy is a 1912 split off of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). They are very similar in doctrine, but split because of money-handling issues.
The Church of God With Signs Following are handlers of snakes and drinkers of
light poisons (e.g. watered-down arsenic). They base their beliefs on Mark 16:15--18. While this Scripture is valid, the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) believes in casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, laying hands on the sick, etc. are regular parts of Weekly Worship unlike taking up serpents and drinking poison. Taking up snakes should only occur if God comands it and poison drunk if by accident or commanded as part of persecution of the church---then neither of these will hurt believers.
16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
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.
Sidenote----The original founder of the Church of God With Signs Following died in 1958, by refusing treatment for a snake bite incurred during a worship service.
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