Watchman Willie Martin Archive

                                                                                                             Chapter Two

                                                                                                            SERPENT

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he {serpent} said unto the woman {Eve}, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden." ^[1]

Snakes are to be feared, and it is not abnormal to fear them. To prove that even such Godly men as Moses were/are afraid of snakes, we present the following from the Book of Exodus. We begin with Moses standing before the burning bush:

"...the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he {Moses} said, A rod. And He {God} said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses FLED from before it." ^[2]

So we can see that even Moses fled before a serpent/snake! It scared him and he fled from it. Because man has a natural fear of them. Yet here in Genesis Chapter Three, we have Eve having a discourse with a serpent/snake! With no fear. I do not believe it for a minute. I don't know about you, but I do not believe that Eve was having a conversation with a literal snake! Not for a minute. That is simply to far‑fetched to be believed literally.

If a snake had come up to Eve she would have ran for Adam to protect her from it. She would not have simply stood or sat there and had a casual conversation with it. No! A thousand times No!!! She would not have just sat there and said: "Hello how are you?" or some such nonsense. She simply would not have done that at all.

Serpent is a strange word when we look at it in the scriptures. It is translated from many different words, but it is used 38 times in the Old Testament. And is translated, basically, from four different words. But let's only deal with one #5175 in Strong's Concordance. It appears 31 times and every time it is translated serpent. Now keep in mind there are three other words that are also translated serpent in the Scriptures. And the total words are used some 71 times in all the Scriptures. 38 times as serpent and about 24 times as dragons. What is a dragon, you ask. Well this presentation is about serpents not dragons and to get into a long discussion about dragons would take us away from our intended subject. So we shall leave that for others to contemplate. This is because we have a problem here in Genesis 3:1 with Eve talking with this thing called a serpent.

Now the scriptures say the serpent was more subtil. Well what does this word mean. To arrive at a proper answer we will turn to Strong's Concordance again. Which says the word "serpent" is "Nachas" or "naw‑khawsh" (#5175). Which is a non‑Israelite name according to (#5176) ‑‑ "Nachash;" the same as #5175; the name of two persons appar. non‑Isr. It also means according to #5175 a snake (from its hiss): serpent. From the #5172 which means to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate ‑‑ enchanter, learn by experience, diligently observe.

Also, we find the following from the Second College Edition, New World Dictionary of the American Language, p. 1300: 1. A snake, esp. a large or poisonous one. 2. A sly, sneaking, treacherous person. 3. Bible Satan, in the form he assumed to tempt Eve. 4. Music an obsolete, coiled, brass wind instrument of wood covered with leather.

The American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster 1828, Facsimile First Edition, published by the Foundation For American Christian Education relates that serpent means among others: a subtil or malicious person. The word prognosticate means to: 1. To foretell or predict, esp. from signs or indications. 2. To indicate beforehand. ^[3] The 1828 American Dictionary relates: 1. To foreshow; to indicate a future event by present signs. A clear sky at sunset prognosticates a fair day. 2. To foretell by means of present signs; to predict. "I neither will nor can prognosticate To the young gaping heir his father's fate." So now we can see that the word "nachash" is linked to foretelling things. Or its linked to witchcraft (whisper a magic spell) and humanism. It's linked to anything, other than the Word of God.

Now let's look again at this word serpent, and we will see that every time it appears in the Bible, it does not mean a serpent/snake. That sometimes it means either a person or a nation. For example when Jacob/Israel was relating the gifts which were given to the various tribes of Israel we find the following:

"Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder{snake} in the path, that biteth the horse heels..." ^[4]

Is someone going to try to convince us that Dan was to become a snake. I don't think so. Do you? It is merely a figure of speech. It means that the tribe of Dan would, or the people of the tribe of Dan would display the attributes of being sly, cunning, deceitful.

The wicked are described as serpents/snakes:

"The Wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear." ^[5]

Evil and violent men are described as serpents:

"Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah." ^[6]

Thus we can see by these verses, anyone who is evil or wicked is described as being a serpent or snake.

Now let's examine nations because they are also very important to this presentation. Turn to the Book of Isaiah where we find:

"In that day the Lord with His sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." ^[7]

We see here that the Leviathan is a crooked and piercing serpent. It appears this is an allegory, talking about the enemies of Israel. The nations that came against Israel are compared to this thing which is also described as a serpent. And it appears that this would be a reference to the Grecian, Turkish and Roman Empires of that day. This is generally accepted when one looks at the narratives of the Bible.

Now let's look at Jeremiah 8:17 for another:

"For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the Lord."

Here again we are not talking about actual serpents/snakes. Not at all. We are talking about nations which will becoming against Israel. They will not be charmed and they will bite you. At this point some will ask what do you mean they will not be charmed.

For an answer turn to the Book of Second Kings Chapter Seventeen we find Assyria came against what was left of Israel, and they told the Assyrians they would pay them a ransom if they would not come in and harm them. That's charming them is it not?

But if they will not be charmed, then they will not accept their money, gold, silver or other valuables. They will come in and bite you and destroy you. That is what Jeremiah is telling them. So we can clearly see, THEY ARE NOT SERPENTS AT ALL, they are the enemy of Israel, who will come against them.

There is another like story in Amos 9:3 and another in Isaiah 14:29. Those are good stories and you should read them very carefully.

We find allegories being used all through the Scriptures. No one has a problem with Juda being called a lion's whelp ^[8]; Zebulun as a foal and an ass's colt ^[9]; Issachar as a strong ass ^[10]; Naphtali as a hind {A red deer ‑‑ one that is fully grown} ^[11]; Joseph as a bough {branch or limb of a tree} ^[12]; Benjamin as a wolf ^[13]; All the tribes as a lion ^[14]; Gad as a lion ^[15]; Dan as a lion's whelp ^[16]; Jesus as a Lamb ^[17]; Israel as a speckled bird ^[18]; A nation of the East as a ravenous bird ^[19]; Preachers as fishers ^[20]; Pharaoh King of Egypt as a young lion and a whale ^[21] and Herod as a fox ^[22].

When the word "lion" is used for Judah, we are trying to really emphasize the strength of Judah. And when we use the word "serpent" we think of something sly, wicked, evil, cunning, something that hides from us, has venom, that is strong and dangerous. And that is why the word serpent is used many times as an allegory in the Scriptures.

There are many more allegories which could be presented but we believe this should suffice. Was any of these men such an animal or thing? Of course not! It is simply a description of the characteristics of these separate individuals. Then we have the false doctrine of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod described as Leaven ^[23]. Thus we can clearly see that it is not at all unusual for a word to be used to illustrate something more impressively. And that is what we are talking about.

Most Christians do not have any trouble with any of these in the various verses of Scriptures until we get to Genesis 3:1. For example if we go a little further we find:

"...thou shalt bruise His heel."

Everyone knows that Scripture. And we find another one "...It shall bruise thy head..." and no one has any problem relating that to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the evil one {which most people believe to be Satan}. Nobody has a problem with that.

Then: Why is it a problem when someone comes along and says The Serpent is Not A Snake! To some people that is a real problem ‑‑ they want that serpent to be a snake!!! And they will scream and rant like a spoiled child if someone disagrees with them.

In our opinion that Serpent Never Was A Snake! In my opinion that serpent was a live flesh and blood person. In my opinion it was no spiritual being, and that is not meant to refute the Satan doctrine at all. We are simply saying that this thing we had in the flesh, in the body, in the Garden of Eden, Was not an invisible, negative entity. It was not a snake that walked on two feet. It was a humanoid. Just like you and I.

Let's look at some of the characteristics of this particular serpent in Chapter Three Verse One. One of the things we know, is that it is more wise than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. Is that not what it says? There word is subtil but we will deal with that a little later.

What is wisdom a trait of? Can you show us any animal in the animal kingdom which can be wise, that can be sly, that can be crafty? They only do what they do by instinct, they do not do it from reason. No animal operates from reason. Now one can condition response them, by exposing them to altering good with bad conditions depending upon what they do in response to the stimuli given them. But that is merely training them, that is not teaching them wisdom, that is not teaching them to reason.

Oh, the experiments with monkeys, where some scientists say they have taught a monkey to talk ‑‑ but again that is only the animal being taught to make certain sounds as a result of varying stimuli given them. That is not the same thing. That is not the same thing as being born with the ability to think and reason.

Another thing about this serpent that everybody agrees upon, is that it walked erect like a man. This is a natural human trait. It is not the natural reaction or trait of any animal, much less a snake. You cannot find this ability in snakes.

They do not stand up. Oh there may be some species which have small legs or the semblance of legs but more than likely, if the scientists would be honest, they are a species of lizard and not a specie of snake. There are some snakes which can raise their heads up quite a bit, but still, they cannot stand erect.

It has been said that apes are a form of the erectus, but that is simply not true. They spend most of their time moving about on both their (hands) and feet. Oh they can stand erect for short periods of time but their natural position is on all fours. And even when they are standing erect they are bent over, they have a slight hump to their back because that is not their normal stance.

And besides that, can you imagine Eve standing or sitting in the Garden of Eden and a great harry ape suddenly dropping out of a tree beside her and speaking to her. She would have been gone like a bolt of lightening. She would not have stayed there with such an animal.

Now the third thing about this serpent was the ability to talk. To speak like a man. Well things are getting worse all the time for those who want that serpent to be a snake. There has never been a snake with the ability to talk ‑‑ not then and not now, nor at any time in the foreseeable future. They simply cannot do so. They do not even have any vocal cords. Oh some will say what about the ass which spoke to Balaam. Well let's look at it for just a moment.

"And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way..." ^[24]

According to Strong's Concordance the word "ass" or "attuwn" #860 which is the same as "eythan" or "ethan" which means: "from an unused root (mean, to continue); permanence; hence (coner) permanent; spec. A CHIEFTAIN: hard, mighty, rough, strength, strong."

So Balaam was riding upon a strong Chieftain. Not a Jackass as we know. We also find that the word "ass" can also mean a #2544 "chamowr" or "Canaanite." As black men were used to carry burdens and people in ancient times; and some of the Canaanites were black, it is quite possible that Balaam was being carried by a strong black Canaanite Chieftain. Which would explain the "ass'" ability to talk.

Now if we are going to attribute the talking in Genesis Chapter Three of a snake, then it would appear that in this respect Satan has more power than God in that he was able to make a serpent, who has no vocal cords, nor any organs capable of making or forming words, speak.

The fourth thing about this serpent, was his gift of reason; which is expressed by his statement "...hath God said." That's reasoning. That's questioning. That's showing an ability to think, to reason. Thus, the serpent had four attributes:

   (1) He was wiser {more subtil} than any beast of the field,

   (2) He could walk erect,

   (3) He could speak, and

   (4) He had the ability to think and to reason.

One does not find those things in snakes: Not then and not now. Those traits cannot be found in any animal or snake which has ever existed upon the face of the earth. They are found, only in what we call today, the humanoid species.

Then there is the problem of a snake or an ape coming up to Eve and speaking to her without her running away. It is simply more than we can accept. It could not, it did not happen that way. But he was, whatever he was, more cunning and wiser than any beast of the field. Or any other species of beast.

We can solve all these problems if we recognize that Adam and Eve were the first of the White Race {which we will explain later}. Which would not preclude the existence of other so‑called humanoids existing along with them. With this, the problem simply goes away. It does not exist any more, because it would make it possible for another humanoid to exist at the same time as Adam and Eve. This would also make it possible for someone to appear before Eve and not frighten her away. Because she has seen him before, and has probably talked to him before. It would not be a mystery to her, it would be no surprise either.

Suppose that Adam and Eve were the only two people in the whole world and Eve walks around a tree and there is someone there. And it's not Adam! What is she going to do. She is going to scream for Adam and tell him ‑‑ Adam you are not going to believe what I have found. She would be concerned. No matter what it was, unless it was someone she had seen before. Now if we assume that the serpent is another humanoid and not a snake, then the problem goes away. Because the other races of the world can walk, talk, think, reason and have wisdom. The only thing left is what does the word "subtil" mean. Once again let's turn to Strong's Concordance for an explanation. It is #6175 "aruwm" or "aw‑room" and means: cunning (usually in a bad sense), crafty, prudent, subtil. This word "aruwm" has been translated only one time as subtil ^[25] and the other ten times it has been translated as crafty or prudent.

Webster's gives a little different spelling, it spells "subtil" as "subtle" and gives the following definitions:

   (1) Thin, rare; tenuous; not dense or heavy [a subtle gas].

   (2) a) Capable of making or noticing fine distinctions in meaning, etc. [a subtle thinker].

       b) Marked by or requiring mental keenness [subtle reasoning].

   (3) Delicately skillful or clever; deft or ingenious [a subtle filigree].

   (4) Not open or direct; crafty; sly.

   (5) Delicately suggestive; not grossly obvious [a subtle hint].

   (6) Working insidiously; not easily detected [a subtle poison]. ^[26]

Webster's 1828 Christian Dictionary gives the following:

   (1) Thin; not dense or gross; as subtil air; subtil vapor; a subtil medium.

   (2) Nice; fine; delicate. "I do distinguish plain Each subtil line of her immortal face."

   (3) Acute; piercing; as subtil pain.

   (4) Sly; artful; cunning; crafty; insinuating; as a subtil person; a subtil Adversary.

   (5) Planned by art; deceitful; as a subtil scheme.

   (6) Deceitful; treacherous.

   (7) Refined; fine, acute; as a subtil argument.

Had Eve come into an adversary situation. You bet your boots she did. She had met with a wise adversary; a deceitful and treacherous adversary. What is the actual objective of the Jews? It is certainly not benevolent and peaceful for their utterances and actions prove otherwise. What, then, is their goal?

"The two internationales of Finance and Revolution work with ardor, they are the two fronts of the Jewish Internationale. There is a Jewish conspiracy against all nations." ^[27]

The Scriptures are very clear concerning a diabolical conspiracy to destroy the way of peace and enslave mankind.

"And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem." ^[28]

This entire program of evil would have been clearly recognized by Christian men and women long ago but for the skillfully prepared, deceptive teachings of those who had everything to gain, materially, thereby which have falsified the facts regarding the identity of the race of the Book and assigned to the Jews the promises and blessings which belong to the House of Israel.

     "Of course, you do resent us. It is no good telling me you don't. So let us not waste any time on denials and alibis...We understand each other perfectly. I don't hold it against you... We are the stiffnecked people who never accepted Christianity, and we are the criminal people who crucified its founder...your loose, contradictory charges against us are not a patch on the blackness of our proved historic offense.

     You accuse us of stirring up revolution in Moscow. Suppose we admit the charge. What of it?...You make much noise and fury about the undue Jewish influence in your theaters and movie palaces. Very good; granted your complaint is well founded. But what is that compared to our staggering influence in your churches, your schools, your laws and your government, and the very thoughts you think every day? 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' which shows that we plotted to bring on the late World War. You believe that book. All right...we will underwrite every word of it. It is genuine and authentic. But what is that besides the unquestionable historical conspiracy which we have carried out, which we never have denied because you never had the courage to charge us with it, and of which the full record is extant for anybody to read?

     If you really are serious when you talk of Jewish plots, may I not direct your attention to one worth talking about? What use is it wasting words on the alleged control of your public opinion by Jewish financiers, newspaper owners, and movie magnates, when you might as well also justly accuse us of the proved control of your whole civilization...you have not begun to appreciate the real depth of our guilt.

     We are intruders. We are disturbers. We are subverters. We have taken your natural world, your ideals, your destiny, and played havoc with them. We have been at the bottom of not merely the latest great war but of nearly all your wars, not only of the Russian but of nearly every other major revolution in your history. We have brought discord and confusion and frustration into your personal and public life, we are still doing it. And no one can tell how long, we shall go on doing it.

     Look back a little and see what has happened... Disporting yourselves on the hillsides and in the valleys of the great outdoors, you took to speculating on the wonder and mystery of life laid the foundations of natural science and philosophy. Yours was a noble, sensual culture, unirked by the prickings of social conscience or by any sentimental questions about human equality.

     Who knows what great and glorious destiny might have been yours if we had left you alone. But we did not leave you alone. We took you in hand and pulled down the beautiful and generous structure you had reared, and changed the whole course of your history. We conquered you as no empire of yours ever subjugated Africa or Asia... we did it solely by the irrestible might of our spirit, with ideas, with propaganda. We made you the willing and unconscious bearers of our mission to the whole world, to the barbarous races of the world, to the countless unborn generations. Without fully understanding what we were doing to you, you became the agents of our racial tradition.

     In conclusion; you want to deal effectively with the Jewish problem. The go forth teaching, proclaiming, and promoting the great news of Identity and the Kingdom of Christ. Within this message lies the beginning of the Western Christian rule and the death of world Jewry." ^[29]

Ezekiel also recognized this conspiracy of the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

"Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men...Then said he unto me,  Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city [Jerusalem]...Son of man, thy brethren [Israelites], even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, get you [Israelites] far from the Lord [Ba'al #1167 Strong's Concordance]: unto us is this land given in possession." ^[30]

This caused the Jews to brag:

"Thus saith the Lord God; because the enemy hath said against you [Israel], aha, even the ancient high places are our's in possession: Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Because they have made you [Israel] desolate, and swallowed you [Israel] up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers and are an infamy of the people." ^[31]

Then we have proof that Ezekiel is talking about the Jews:

"Therefore, ye mountains [nations] of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains [nations] and hills [small nations], to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about; Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea [the Jews, Esau/Edom - Esau is Edom ^[32] Edom is in modern Jewry ^[33]], which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey." ^[34]

The result has been to give the Jew an entirely false position of supposed pre-eminence in the light of the prophetic word which actually he will never be able to occupy. Theologians have completely failed to examine the evidence to see whether the Jews are really entitled to the position of the modern Judeo-Christian Church has assigned to them.

The assumption that the Jews are all of Israel today has closed much of the Bible to Christian understanding. Furthermore, it has had far-reaching results in blinding men to the meaning of current world developments and it has materially assisted those who are endeavoring to acquire world rulership by furthering their subversive activities. This Christian leniency in regard to Jewish aspirations has been based upon the expectation that the Jews are to eventually come into world rulership.

Thus the Zionists, unsupported by any Scriptural evidence whatever to substantiate their claims, are moving toward the consummation of their plans for world rulership. In doing so they are making world revolution and war inevitable which will climax in a reign of violence and bloodshed bringing the present age to its close.

"We will have a world government whether you like it or not. The only question is whether that government will be achieved by conquest or consent." ^[35]

The pity of it all is that the Christian world is responsible for much of this planned chaos, at least to the extent that they have extolled the Jews as God's people who are chosen to rule the world. Actually, the Zionists are seducing the nations of the world and they have deceived Christian people everywhere into believing they are the Israel of God so that no active protest is made as they boldly pursue their aim to gain world control.

Ample evidence has been furnished demonstrating the fallacy of assigning to the Jews the prophecies and blessings pronounced upon the House of Israel. The present so-called return of the Jews to Palestine is not in conformity with the great prophecies of the restoration of the House of Israel to the land of their forefather, a restoration which is to be accomplished by peaceful means alone after a sincere change of heart and genuine spiritual revival on the part of God's Israel people.

The Zionists, however, are fulfilling ominous prophecies which foreshadow the coming of evil, not the coming of peace. Their move toward Palestine is a harbinger that the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord is very near. Zionist activities in Palestine and the establishment of the new state of the Israelis have led many Christians to assume that Israel is being restored to her land again in fulfillment of the prophecies of the prophets of the Lord.

If such a supposition were true, then all the activities of the Zionist Jews would be found to be in conformity with every requirement set forth by the prophets concerning the marks which were to identify latter-day Israel. Also, they would be following the method by which the prophets predicted the restoration would be accomplished. Actually, the Zionists are not in possession of any of the necessary identification marks; nor are they proceeding to possess the land according to Biblical requirements.

Therefore, they cannot be Israel returning to the land of their forefathers. The mere fact that they undertook to establish a nation in Palestine is in itself no evidence that they are Israel. History abounds with accounts of the activities of people who have undertaken to establish themselves in Palestine, but that did not make them Israel. The activities of the Zionists have a prophetic significance, though they are not fulfilling the prophecies which forecast the return of the House of Israel to the land of their inheritance. It must not be overlooked that the Israeli state was founded upon a systematic program of violence, deceit and murder and this fact alone should place everyone on guard against assigning to the Zionists what rightfully belongs to the House of Israel.

Hosea clearly told us that the House of Israel would never return to Palestine:

"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy [Israel] way with thorns, and make a wall, that she [Israel] shall not find her paths [back to where they came from]." ^[36]

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