Hidden Harbingers in Plain Sight

We see throughout scripture in both the Old and New Testaments that the use of the word or words “serpent and dragon” can sometimes be interchangeable depending on the context in which they are written.  And, it is always in the negative, i.e., a bad visual.

 

For example:

The very familiar narrative in Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”   Everyone is familiar with this introduction to sin in the world and recognizes the deceptive maliciousness of the serpent.  This is not the only place in scripture where the word “serpent” is used to identify such evilness. 

 

In Matthew 23:33 we read of the anger to which the Lord Jesus reprimands the Pharisees.  It reads, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”  Here we see not only the word “serpent” charged to the Pharisees but also the word “vipers.”

 

Revelation 12:9 describes the following, “And the great dragon, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”  Again, “dragon and serpent” are not complimentary terms.

 

The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines these terms as:

Dragon, #1404 (NT), “a fabulous kind of serpent—a dragon”

Serpent, #5175 (OT), “a snake, a serpent”

Viper, #2191 (NT), “an adder or other poisonous snake—a viper”

 

There is nothing complicated about their original meanings or definitions.  And it is interesting that they are reptilian in nature.

 

Within the common vernacular of our day these terms do not necessarily represent evil, although people are unnecessarily fearful of them.  However, in the proper context to which scripture dictates they do represent someone or something evil. So, are we to only recognize this evilness within the pages of scripture for dramatic readings?  Throughout scripture we are warned of evil days ahead. We are warned of false teachers and false prophets. We are warned of a return to the days of Noah. We are warned of some who will creep into our church bodies to bring destruction.  Just as Satan was subtle in his approach to Eve, so he has been subtle in his quest for dominance and destruction in these last remaining days. Although, in these closing days Satan has an almost in-your-face attack on Christianity with the liberal government doing nothing about it.  Sadly, we live in a church culture that tells us to “smile and love everyone and accept all their theological anomalies.” We are told to “be tolerant” when others do not tolerate our Christian views. And through this blatant lack of discernment we have let demons in without realizing the consequences.  We choose to ignore symbols (and bad doctrine) that represent evil because we do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

 

It is commonly understood in religious culture that snakes represent fertility or a new birth because of their shedding of skin.  But only infrequently we are told of the rebirth in John 3? However, the teaching of any other kind of rebirth or origin of rebirth is heretical and false.  Still, we allow certain symbols to paint our cultural landscape. Other meanings of the snake represent divination which is forbidden by scripture. The Hindu god/goddess called Shiva has a snake attributed to it.  Shiva means the “destroyer.” However, description during the tribulation is clear who will win the wars and destroy the sinful world. It is not the false god/goddess Shiva who is worshipped as a supreme god/goddess.  Snakes have been associated within the false religions with wisdom, fertility, evil power, healing, cosmic power, death, life and more, depending on who you ask. But we know who the real Supreme God of this world is and it is not Shiva or the pope or anyone other than the Triune God of the Bible.  Society as a whole does not accept this biblical truth because of the many so-called evangelicals who have yoked-up with the “many paths to God” or the pluralistic movement in their attempt to weaken the Sovereign God of the Bible.  This errant movement, of course, envelops the false teachings of Chrislam, ecumenical alliances (both small and large, local and national) and the Roman Catholic Church, including the Hindus who have so much snake (serpent, viper) worship.  And many of the so-called evangelicals of this country do not care about doctrine and truth but only self-promotion and false fellowship.

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Left:   One of two Hindu statues in a donut store in Tyler, Texas.  Notice the snake-like shape of the right arm and the all-seeing eye below the lady.

 

Top Right:   A statue for sale in an antique store in Indianapolis.  Notice that the figure is sitting on a bull similar to the lady sitting on the bull on some of the Euro coins (center right photo).  A prophetic reference to Revelation 17:3 can be easily interpreted. Also notice the left hand in the familiar symbol for satanism or the devil’s horns with a cobra-like figure on the top of her headdress.  There also appears to be a snake coiled around her neck.

 

Bottom Left and Right:   Two of many similar vases on display for lobby decor in a hospital in Tyler, Texas.  Notice the snake-like figures on both vases, as were found on the other vases in the lobby area.

 

Are these just innocent figurines?  Are these more than subtle? Are they numbing the world for what is coming?