Is this Bible verse about believers and poison to be taken literally?

Although this has the earmarks of a drive-by, I'll bite.You appear to be saying that no "True Christian" will get an illness. Are you a True Christian? If so, then I guess you haven't ever been sick since your conversion.What poisons have you ingested since your conversion? What independent confirmation of that ingesting do you have?How many people have you healed from their sickness? Any independent documentation of those healings would be appreciated. Did that healing help them convert to True Christianity?BTW: James Randi has a million dollars that you could collect if you can demonstrate, under controlled conditions, this imperviousness to poisons or your ability to heal the crippled and sick. see: JREF - Home

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How did you post the day before the post to which you are replying?

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Now that's a sign!! Seriously, my post is dated the 3rd and I posted on the 3rd.The OP is dated the 1st.Not sure what you're looking at.

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"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

I'm not sure what you are getting at here. This seems to be saying that Christ was in error in His determination of when the kingdom of heaven was coming. Actually He was discussing His own return, but kingdom of heaven or Christ...kinda the same. Which generation was He referring to anyway?Since you brought up the return of the Christ and seem to equate it with the return of the kingdom of heaven, here is what the Baptists say about the return of the Christ (same page that you quote mined).

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Christian Baptist beliefs about THE RETURN OF CHRIST: We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into Heaven, His present life there for us as our High Priest and Advocate, and His personal, bodily, visible, premillenial return to establish His kingdom on earth, to reign as the only potentate: the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Luke 24:26-43; John 20:24-29; Acts 1:9, 10; I Corinthians 15:20-25; I Timothy 6:14, 15; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16; 20:6).

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Christian Baptist beliefs about THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH: We believe that at any moment the rapture of the saved may occur, when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. . . ." to catch up His people to meet Him in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (John 14:1-3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-58).

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From the United Wesleyan Church beliefs http://www.uwchurch.com/beliefs.html#second

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18. The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the certainty of the personal and imminent return of Christ inspires holy living and zeal for the evangelization of the world. At His return He will fulfill all prophecies made concerning His final and complete triumph over evil.

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Job 19:25-27; Isa. 11:1-12; Zech. 14:1-11; Matt. 24:1-51; 25; 26:64; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 17:22-37; 21:5-36; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:6-11; I Cor. 1:7-8; I Thess. 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11, 23; II Thess. 1:6-10; 2:1-12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:7-8; II Peter 3:1-14; I John 3:2-3; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16; 22:6-7, 12, 20.

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From the beliefs of the Assemblies of God: Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site | AG

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13. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.

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1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 [KJV/NIV]
Romans 8:23 [KJV/NIV]
Titus 2:13 [KJV/NIV]
1 Corinthians 15:51,52 [KJV/NIV]

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That is just 3 denominations that preach the imminent return of the kingdom. Sure they don't talk about it in every surmon....that would be boring. However, if you hang around them, you will surely hear about how bad it is these days, how it must be the last days before Christ returns, and how the rapture is just around the corner.It appears that by your standard of sharing the good news, at least some people should be able to access the powers mentioned in Mark 16:17 and 18.

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I'm not sure what you are getting at here.

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You wanted to know my idea of imminent.

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Actually He was discussing His own return, but kingdom of heaven or Christ...kinda the same. Which generation was He referring to anyway?

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At face value, that speech doesn't necessarily speak of Jesus returning.The generation at the time Jesus was supposedly speaking. It makes no sense otherwise.I don't see the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Christ as the same or sorta the same.

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That is just 3 denominations that preach the imminent return of the kingdom.

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The kingdom of Christ, not the Kingdom of God as Jesus did.After 2000+ years imminent loses its imminency.

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It appears that by your standard of sharing the good news, at least some people should be able to access the powers mentioned in Mark 16:17 and 18.

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If they are sharing the same good news that Jesus did.From what you have shared, the churches aren't.

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"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

Perhaps you will find the following suggestions helpful.No. 22 worked well for Christians against Witches during the sixteenth century, and
No. 73 worked well for Christians against Jews during the twentieth century. May God have mercy on your soul.

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Theology is the science of Dominion.
- - - My God is your god's Boss - - -

You are correct! A devout follower of Truth is 100% safe from all sickness and toxins. False christians will listen to pop music, or tolerate the reprobate and then fall sick. They will then wail "by His stripes we are healed!" But these foolish cowards are sorely mistaken. God's Elect have already been healed from all sickness! 2000 years ago! Let us rejoice in His Word: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24 Thus True Christians need never fear sickness or death! This has all the hall-marks of a miserable failure. Remember, whosoever tempts the Lord is doomed to anguish: "(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah." Deuteronomy 6:15-16. Anyone who willingly imbibes poisons on Satan's terms is rushing headlong into Hell!

Hey, LA, no need to wait. The J.W.s say He returned in 1914. Invisibly, of course. He must have been asleep on the job, though, as they have continually made errors and false prophecies--1915--1918--1925--1942--1975. Guess the prophecy business is not as easy as it used to be.

Hi, DB, I liked the sweet and succinct advice of Pope Innocent III--'Kill them all. God will recognise His own.'

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Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah." Deuteronomy 6:15-16. Anyone who willingly imbibes poisons on Satan's terms is rushing headlong into Hell!

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I agree one shouldn't drink toxins just to prove one is a Christian, but have you unintentionally ingested toxins?Have you been free from illness since your conversion? No colds, headaches, or indigestion, etc. or any major illnesses.

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"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

Hi, PD, well, Redseal is certainly suffering from a surfeit of Scripture.

Undigested Scripture will do that. You should always wait an hour after Scripture before going swimming or you'll get cramps and drown

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

If you don't equate the two then you have a point. However, many denominations equate Jesus with God. Trinity dontcha know. Therefore, from their point of view, they are preaching the imminence of the kindom of god.What is your definition of the kingdom of god and it's imminence?

Ok...throw out the idea of drinking poisons. How about healings? How many have you performed?Or is that "tempting the Lord thy God" also? If it is then Jesus, Peter, John and Paul are all guilty of "tempting" God. Plus Paul is even more guilty because he actually asks the elders of the church to lay hands on the sick. Better a millstone be tied around his neck and he be cast in the ocean. He has caused others to sin.However, if you don't think trying to heal someone is tempting God, then please provide a list of some of the people you have healed.One more thing. If you spew scripture at me without actually addressing the questions that I have then I will respectfully ignore you as a drive-by Bible thumper with no real substance.

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What is your definition of the kingdom of god and it's imminence?

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A theocratic kingdom based on God's Laws (Judaism) for God's chosen people.Imminent means soon. It has been over 2000 years since Jesus supposedly died. The coming of Christ has lost its imminency.

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"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

I don't see that definition as stemming from Biblical interpretation. Could you specify which Bible passages point to this conclusion?Are you saying that Paul's efforts at saving the Gentiles was wrong? His call to reach out to them is also not right?