The AMA Serpent-Entwined Pole – Why?

Originally posted 6/29/2021 – Revised 2/11/2022

Have you ever wondered why The American Medical Association (AMA) uses the serpent-entwined on the pole as their logo? Here is what they say at their website.

The symbol dates to antiquity, and represents its namesake, the Greek god of healing. The image of a serpent-entwined staff also appears in the biblical book of Exodus, wherein Moses is instructed to erect a brass pole with a serpent; whoever looked upon it was healed. A body of mythology surrounds Asclepius.”Jun 20, 2005

https://amednews.com/article/20050620/opinion/306209958/4/#:~:text=The%20symbol%20dates%20to%20antiquity,body%20of%20mythology%20surrounds%20Asclepius.

I am aware of the Torah account (and plan to examine that in this article as well), but wasn’t as familiar with the Greek influence. So, I decided to do some checking. Here is what I found;

The Greek (Mythological) Influence

https://www.livescience.com/33104-why-is-the-medical-symbol-a-snake-on-a-stick.html

…Asclepius is the Greek demigod of medicine. … The Greeks regarded snakes as sacred and used them in healing rituals to honor Asclepius, as snake venom was thought to be remedial and their skin-shedding was viewed as a symbol of rebirth and renewal.”


Asclepius a staff having 1 serpent-entwined around it.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Asclepius

Asclepius, Greek Asklepios, Latin Aesculapius, Greco-Roman god of medicine, son of Apollo (god of healing, truth, and prophecy) and the mortal princess Coronis.” May 4, 2021

And again from the AMA News site above;

For many years the Staff of Asclepius has been confused with the caduceus, a symbol used by numerous medical organizations and that generally features two snakes encircling a rod topped with wings. According to most mythology, however, the caduceus represents the wand of the Greek god Hermes…”

Caduceus – a staff with wings having 2 serpents entwined around it.

From the Britannica site;

https://www.britannica.com/topic/caduceus

We could go deeper. And in future articles we may, but let this suffice for the sake of comparison between The Greek and Scriptural influences…

Because of my belief in the Scriptures (Genesis-Revelation), I believe these supposed “mythological” beings really did and do exist. Legend and generational inaccuracies have given them their reported characteristics. I believe them to be appearances of messengers (angels), both fallen and faithful. The Scriptures are replete with references to both. (391 times!) With that in mind, lets consider the scriptural account referenced in the amednews article that we began with;


The accurate reference of the narrative regarding Mosheh being instructed by Yahweh to set up a fiery serpent on a pole is found in Numbers 21. Instead of me printing the text, take a moment and read Numbers 21:4-9. Notice the definitions of the key words below;

The Hebrew word for “fiery” is; (Strong’s / BDB #H8314) “saraph” BDB Definition:1) serpent, fiery serpent, 1a) poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison) 2) seraph, seraphim, 2a) majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon GOD” (ie. Angels / Messengers.)

The Hebrew word for “serpent” is; (Strong’s / BDB #5175) “nâchâsh” BDB Definition:1) serpent, snake, 1a) serpent, 1b) image (of serpent), 1c) fleeing serpent (mythological)”

The same word is used to describe “the serpent” in Genesis 3:1“And the serpent was more crafty …”

So, here is Eve having a conversation with “the serpent”, who we know is a fallen messenger / angel…

The Hebrew word for “bit / bitten” is; (Strong’s #H5391) “nâshak” naw-shak’, Strong’s Definition: “A primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent);…”

So, I believe that we can scripturally say that Yahweh allowed “fiery serpents”, which could have been messengers (fallen or faithful) to either use a life form known as a serpent, or become serpents and sting those who were struggling with belief in Yahweh for their guidance, provision and protection. If this alarms you, please remember that HE also allowed a similar scenario in Genesis 3 with Eve / Adam. They, like those in Num 21, chose to yield to the serpents’ suggestions. The results were / are the same; death.

(See article entitled “Unbelief – The Reasons…”)

Could that be the reason behind Yahweh instructing Mosheh as follows?

21:8-9 “And Yahweh said to Mosheh, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole. And it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Mosheh made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole. And it came to be, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

Is this why The Master Yahshua said;

John 3:14-15 “And as Mosheh lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Adam has to be lifted up, so that whoever is believing in Him should not perish but possess everlasting life.” In other words, could HE be saying that its time to choose who we look to for guidance, protection and provision?

I completely understand that for those who do not profess “belief” in Yahweh, HIS Son, Yahshua Messiah and the promises contained in HIS Word, it is perfectly logical for them to be looking to whatever and whoever is available to help with their needs. But for those of us who profess belief in HIM, isn’t it inconsistent for us to do as they do?

Here’s a sobering thought. At some point in time, there will be a generation who will have to choose either to receive a “mark” and continue in commerce, or to reject a “mark” and be excluded from the benefits of society. Which would include medical treatment!

Rev 13:16-17 “And he causes all, both small and great, and rich and poor, and free and slave, to be given a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads, and that no one should be able to buy or sell except he that has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

What even makes this more real, is that as I write this article there are those in government, and in the medical industry that are saying that they believe that the vaccine being administered as the cure for COVID-19 “should be made mandatory” for all citizens! It is being said that private business will be the enforcers. In other words, if that happens, you and I will not be able to go to the grocery store, school, hospital, work, etc., unless we can “prove” that we have taken the vaccine!?? Do you see where this could go? And ALL of this because of a MEDICAL Pandemic! Consider;

Rev 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their drug sorceries, nor of their whoring, nor of their thefts.

“drug sorceries” is defined: (Strong’s #H5331) – pharmekia / pharmacy / medication…

Rev 18:23 (To Mystery Babylon) “And the light of a lamp shall not shine in you any more at all. And the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you any more at all. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, for by your drug sorcery all the nations were led astray.”

I know that this may be quite a challenge to many. I believe that the Day of Yahweh is fastly approaching. We, as professing believers must be ready! We must be yielding ourselves to HIS Spirit to produce belief in us all the more!

Jude 1:20-21 “But you, beloved ones, building yourselves up on your most set-apart belief, praying in the Set-apart Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of Elohim, looking for the compassion of our Master Yahshua Messiah unto everlasting life.”

Should we, as believers, be looking to an entity that identifies itself with a serpent-entwined pole??? Or to HIM, The One who was impaled, rose from the dead and is coming soon to deal with the serpent/dragon/devil once and for all??? (Rev 20:10)

It is important to note that when Hezekiah became king, he found Yisrael worshiping the bronze serpent and destroyed it. Consider;

2Ki 18:3 – 6 And he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Dawid did. He took away the high places and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah and broke in pieces the bronze serpent which Mosheh had made, for until those days the children of Yisra’el burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He put his trust in Yahweh Elohim of Yisra’el and after him was none like him among all the sovereigns of Yehudah nor who were before him, and he clung to Yahweh. He did not turn away from following Him, but guarded His commands, which Yahweh had commanded Mosheh…

The Rest of the Story – A Follow-up on “The AMA Serpent-Entwined Pole…”

Originally posted 7/6/2021 – Revised 2/11/2022

At the risk of being labeled a fanatic, do you believe what these verses say?

Mark 16:17-18

And these signs shall accompany the ones who believe: In My Name they shall cast out demons, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly drink it shall by no means hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall get well.”

True fanaticism is demonstrated by those who profess to believe The Scriptures, but live in lawlessness (rejecting HIS Law);

As they (supposedly) cast out demons…but in reality, the demons are just acting like there was deliverance…

Speak out in an emotional gibberish (and call it “tongues”)

Handle snakes (in their faith rituals), as a supposed sign of their faith…

ARE NOT protected from deadly drink, as evidenced by their constant illnesses…

Are involved in phony healing crusades, that leave victims in the wake… Consider;

Mat 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works(miracles) in Your Name? And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!”

Rev 13:11-15 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from the heaven on the earth before men. And he leads astray those dwelling on the earth because of those signs which he was given to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword, yet lived. And there was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause to be killed as many as would not worship the image of the beast.”

Rev 16:13-14 “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as frogs, for they are spirits of demons, doing signs, which go out to the sovereigns of the entire world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of Yahweh the Almighty.”

Those truly empowered by The Master have this testimony;

Luke 10:17-20

And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Master, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan falling out of the heaven as lightning. See, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and none at all shall hurt you. But do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names have been written in the heavens.

When Paul was bitten by a poison viper, here’s how he “handled” it; Acts 28:5 “Then, indeed, he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no evil.” Literally, Paul did what the phrase “take up serpents” in Mark 16:18 means; (“…to loose…put away, remove, take away”)

I searched for the phrase, “confirmed miracles and healings” and found very little to be excited about. It appears that those who did not believe The Word during HIS earthly ministry, are being paralleled in unbelief today.

Mat 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

I also searched and found this site: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28186008/

At this site I found this;

“Recent studies of medical errors have estimated errors may account for as many as 251,000 deaths annually in the United States (U.S)., making medical errors the third leading cause of death. Error rates are significantly higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the United Kingdom (U.K). At the same time less than 10 percent of medical errors are reported…”

Another site confirmed the above and gave more detailed information. Look at this!

https://etactics.com/blog/medical-error-statistics

From the site:

“Researchers used four separate studies from 2000 to 2008 and hospital admissions rates from 2013 to analyze this problem. Based on extrapolated data of 35,416,020 hospitalizations, medical errors cause 251,454 deaths per year. This translated to 9.5% of all deaths per year.”

Diagnostic mistakes lead to the death or injury of 40,000 to 80,000 patients annually. The misdiagnosis rate is 10% to 15%. These problems are a challenge regardless of medical specialty. Surgical errors are another common problem with at least 4,000 occurring each year in the US.

While medical devices advance and improve the health industry, they still aren’t perfect. There are over 5,000 kinds of medical devices used in healthcare, so mistakes are inevitable. Sometimes these devices end up getting recalled because of their risks. But unfortunately, the flaws aren’t always caught before it’s too late. Across all devices, the FDA reported more than 1.7 million injuries and around 83,000 deaths in the last ten years.

You’d think that you’ll be least likely to get sick at a medical facility. After all, it should be clean so patients can heal. But a health-associated infection (HAI) is one adverse effect that results from medical care. According to the CDC, one in 31 patients has an HAI on any given day.

In 2013, 99,000 people died from this effect. Thankfully this number dropped within a few years, but not by much. In 2015, there were still about 72,000 patients who died from HAIs during their hospital stay. But patients were 16% less likely to have one of these infections in 2015 versus 2011.

Patients who end up with an HAI after surgery spend an extra 6.5 days in the hospital on average. They’re also five times more likely to return after hospital discharge and twice as likely to die.

I write this article, not to blast healthcare and those who work in it. I write this article to challenge those who believe that it is the only choice. Doctors have a place. But should that be everyplace? Especially in the lives of professing “believers?” The choice is yours!

#2 – The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees – Healing Not Allowed?

Mat 12:9-10 And having left there, He went into their congregation. And see, there was a man having a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it right to heal on the Sabbath?” – so as to accuse Him.

There is NO Commandment in Torah that forbids healing on Sabbath! Notice the real reason for them asking; “so as to accuse Him.” Those motivated by “the accuser” can pretend their religious piety for only so long.

Consider;

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in the heaven, “Now have come the deliverance and the power and the reign of our Elohim, and the authority of His Messiah, for the accuser of our brothers, who accused them before our Elohim day and night, has been thrown down.

The Pharisees and rulers, in their lawlessness could not determine right from wrong. They taught that healing on the Sabbath constituted work. The Scriptures do not support their hypocrisy.

Consider;

Luke 13:14 But the ruler of the congregation, responding, much displeased that Yahusha had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men should work, so come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

So, the Master confronted their hypocrisy by asking what they would do if something happened to one of their livestock on the Sabbath…

Mat 12:11-12 And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, shall not take hold of it and lift it out? “How much more worth is a man than a sheep! So it is right to do good on the Sabbath.”

Doing good on the Sabbath has always been Yahweh’s desire, allowing man to rest, enjoy, be refreshed and appreciate the Creator and HIS Sabbath! It was never meant to be burdensome, binding or a time to endure!

Mat 12:13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored, as healthy as the other.

If the Pharisees and rulers were right in not allowing healing on the Sabbath, then we should never anoint and pray for the sick on Sabbath? How absurd!


Mat 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Him, so as to destroy Him.

Those who do the desires of the devil prove by their lives who their father is!

Consider;

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Mat 12:15-21 But Yahshua knowing it, withdrew from there. And large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to make Him known, in order that what was spoken by Yeshayah the prophet, might be filled, saying, “See, My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My being did delight. I shall put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall declare right-ruling to the nations. He shall not strive nor cry out, nor shall anyone hear His voice in the streets. A crushed reed He shall not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench, till He brings forth right-ruling forever.“And the nations shall trust in His Name.”

It’s worth noting that the Pharisees (and anyone diseased in their families) were not healed. Hatred of the Truth and a lack of humility have prohibited many from experiencing HIS goodness!

It’s also worth noting that Yahshua’s method of drawing “large crowds” was quite different than that of today’s methods. HE didn’t need the internet, social media, news media, television, radio, etc… My reason for using this platform is to inform, not draw crowds. Consider Yahshua’s “keys to evangelism”;>)

John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him. “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”

John 6:44-45 “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I shall raise him up in the last day. It has been written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by Yahweh. Everyone, then, who has heard from the Father, and learned, comes to Me.”

Joh 13:35 “By this shall all know that you are My taught ones, if you have love for one another.”

May you have a love for Truth (John 17:17) and hear HIS voice (John 10:27) and follow HIM!

The Hypocrisy of the Pharisees – Matthew 12

Mat 12:1-2 At that time Yahshua went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His taught ones were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain, to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your taught ones are doing what is not right to do on the Sabbath!”

The Pharisees were a very rigid sect of Judaism. The Messiah Yahshua warned His followers to beware of them. Consider His words later in Matthew;

Mat 23:4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but with their finger they do not wish to move them.”

In the text from Matt. 12, the Pharisees are accusing Yahshua of being lawless by accusing Him of breaking the Commandments through their misapplication of the Commandment to not harvest on the Sabbath;

Exo 34:21 “Six days you work, but on the seventh day you rest – in plowing time and in harvest you rest.

There is no Scripture to support the Pharisees. The followers of Yahshua were not harvesting. They were simply gleaning that which was intentionally left by the owner of the field for those in need as stated in the following;

Lev 23:22 ‘And when you reap the harvest of your land do not completely reap the corners of your field when you reap, and do not gather any gleaning from your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am Yahweh your Elohim.’ ”
The Pharisees were one of the sects of Yehudism guilty of adding to / subtracting from Yahweh’s Commandments. Much like Christianity today.

Mat 12:3-4 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he went into the House of Elohim and ate the showbread which was not right for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

The Master legitimizes the eating of the showbread rather than letting King David and his men go hungry. The priests had a better understanding of the Spirit of the Commandment than the Pharisees did. I personally believe this to be in support of the “Sovereignty & Priesthood” pronounced upon the true believers in Messiah Yahshua. (Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:6; Exo. 19:6; Isa. 61:6; Rom. 12:1; 1Pet. 2:5-9)

Mat 12:5 “Or did you not read in the Torah that on the Sabbath the priests in the Set-apart Place profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?”

Priests continue to work on the Sabbath through offering sacrifice, offerings and circumcision. The Pharisaical mindset would prohibit such “work”

Consider;

John 7:22 “Because of this Mosheh has given you the circumcision – though it is not from Mosheh, but from the fathers – and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.”

The Master addresses the issue of “doing good on the Sabbath” later in Matthew 12:12.

Mat 12:6-8 “But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the Set-apart Place. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion and not offering, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Adam is Master of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees would say that they honor the Set-apart Place, but their hypocrisy betrays them. Yahshua clearly states that HE, the One that the earthly Set-apart Place was constructed to represent, is greater than the copy of the Heavenly Set-Apart Place. HE points out the Pharisees’ lack of understanding pertaining to Yah’s reason and purpose for offering, which is the expression of HIS compassion through providing a means for sinful man to be restored to a relationship with Yah. It was never meant to be a means of exclusion, but inclusion! The Pharisees and those guilty of lawlessness cannot understand the true heart of Yahweh. But David did.

Consider;

Psa The slaughterings of Elohim are a broken spirit, A heart broken and crushed, O Elohim, These You do not despise.”

Consider these verses as references to sacrifice and offering acceptable to Yahweh in The New Covenant;

Rom 12:1-2 “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”

( Also; Rom. 15:16, Psa. 19:14, Eph. 5:10, Php. 4:18, 1Tim. 2:3; 5:4, Heb. 13:15-16, 1Pe. 2:5, 2:20)