#Venom Of Serpents Deadly Poison Of Cobras | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

yourlunarspice · 8 months

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Hope your day is going well!! 💫

For the fanfiction ask game, for any fic(s) of your choose for these questions!!

9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

11: What do you like best about this fic?

Hi Kiya! My day's going alright, thanks for asking!

I'll be honest, it's so hard for me to choose! I think I'm going to go with my very first bnha fic, Those Damn Flowers; one of my most successful fics, Heaven And Earth Between Us; and one that I love dearly, Songbird.

It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: there are major spoilers for all three of those fics ahead, as well as for Danganronpa (in general) and my fic series Pit Of Vipers.

9. Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

For Those Damn Flowers, I was at a bit of a crossroads at one point. I'm fairly certain it was around Chapter 14 or so. I wasn't sure whether to give Shouta his old memories back or let him focus on making new memories with Hizashi. I brainstormed for both, but ultimately decided to just give Shouta his old memories back all at once (also, because I was kinda running out of steam in writing that fic, lol).

Writing Heaven And Earth Between Us was fairly linear, if I remember correctly. While the gods may have had some (i.e., a lot) of angst over the length of the story, there was never a doubt in my mind that it would end well for them. I think the only thing I was going back and forth over was Monoma's death, but even that was short-lived.

I remember wondering if I should really go through with killing off literally every main character in the story. I kept going back and forth, because Hizashi is supposed to be good, so why would he kill the other three? There was a very short alternate ending I thought of, where Hizashi wasn't even thinking of the other three prisoners, and instead just died next to Shouta. This alternate ending would either end with all three of the teenagers dying of starvation or getting rescued but being irreversibly traumatized. I'm glad I ended up with the ending I did, though. I'd recently watched Danganronpa3 (spoilers!) with my boyfriend, and I was sort of equating Nezu's influence to Junko's influence. If someone is tainted by Despair, they need to be cured or killed, and there was no curing what Nezu and his teas did.

11. What do you like best about this fic?

I think Those Damn Flowers will always have a special place in my heart simply because it was my first bnha fic. Sure, the writing is a little clunky in places, but it's special to me. Also, I'd really gotten into hanahaki at the time of writing it, mainly thanks to this art series. I'd read quite a few hanahaki stories at the time, and they were all pretty much the same: person A starts coughing up flowers for person B (and knows why they're coughing up flowers bc everyone knows about hanahaki), A is about to die, B sees the flowers and confesses their love, and thus saves A's life. There's nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to find a fic where nobody knew what was going on and where the person with hanahaki willingly takes the surgery (which is supposed to erase the memories of the other person). I looked, but I couldn't find any, so I just created one.

Heaven And Earth Between Us is one of my favorite fics that I've written. I'll catch myself daydreaming about the universe, thinking about Katsu-Misæ and Toshihiro’Máni's relationship. I've created a playlist of songs for the story that I listen to regularly. I've always said I try to write stories that I would read myself, and this one is no exception. I think it appeals to me so much because it allows my creativity to run wild. I can imagine Katsu-Misæ dipping his toes into a glowing river of magma or Toshihiro’Máni putting his crown on and seeing all the humans' dreams like billions of stars laid out before him. It's such beautiful imagery that it's hard not to think about it when I'm listening to the music.

While Songbird is significantly shorter than Flowers and Heaven, it still feels special to me. I've always loved forced villain stories, especially when the main character is so messed up that they can't even tell what's right anymore. The confusion and inner struggle to piece together his past is what makes 159 eventually break away from Nezu, even after years of his influence. And it was killing Shouta that finally broke his mind enough that he was able to remember. But, I think what I like best about Songbird is its ending. After being dealt a fatal blow, Hizashi lies down next to Shouta's body, holds his hand, and screams to bring the ceiling down on them both. But, instead of pain, Hizashi sees Shouta, is able to embrace him and tell him that he loves him. His body is even smiling serenely when its found. It's a fitting end for both sides of him; 159 is dead once and for all, but he's also able to be with Shouta in the afterlife. I suppose I was going for a more wholesome version of The Venom Of Serpents, The Deadly Poison Of Cobras, where the protagonist kills everyone and then himself. In Songbird, Hizashi was already dying, and he wanted to be with Shouta in his final moments, while in Venom, Hitoshi only killed himself because that was the only way he could kill Viper. Personally, I can't choose which version of the ending I like the best.

From this ask game!

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slyth3rinbab3 · 2 months

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Basilisk: Mythical Or Real?

If you have been or have watched the movie: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, you may have seen this creature in the later part. But is the basilisk snake real or just a mythical creature?

Sometimes referred to as the Cockatrice, the basilisk is known to be a mythical creature (reptilian) and reputed to be the king of serpents. It’s also considered to be one of the most feared of all mythological beasts as it can kill its prey through a single glance. This creature bears similarity to the Gorgons of Greek mythology. (Source: “Basilisk” from New World Encyclopedia; https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Basilisk)

The basilisk, just like the Gorgons (three vicious female mythical creatures), can also possess the ability to turn a person into stone by looking at them (as also seen in the Harry Potter movie where students are petrified by this creature). People speculate that basilisk is being originated from a cobra as it can kill from a distance. (Source: “Gorgon” from New World Encyclopedia; https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Gorgon)

A basilisk is a reptile-chicken hybrid creature (hence the term “cockatrice”) and a poisonous snake at the same time. (Source: “Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents” from PBS; https://www.pbs.org/video/basilisk-or-cockatrice-the-mysterious-king-of-serpents-rqozd1/) . They are actually born from an egg laid by a rooster.

The basilisk got its name from the Greek word “basilikos” which translates to “kinglet” which is a kind of serpent. It can be described as either of the three: a huge lizard, a giant snake (again as seen in the Harry Potter movie) and as a hybrid of rooster and reptile. Legend says that this creature can be killed by hearing a rooster’s crow (mentioned in the Harry Potter movie where Harry and Ron finds a scrap of paper in Hermione’s hand and pulls it, revealing what she just read about the basilisk and Ginny , being possessed by Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort to kill the roosters by strangling them) or staring at itself in the mirror (take note that the basilisk kills its prey through its glance). Trivia: The natural enemy of a basilisk is a weasel who’s immune to its deadly gaze and can survive its venom.

In real life, basilisks exist as merely a lizard instead of a deadly giant snake.

Source: * “Basilisk” from New World Encyclopedia; https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Basilisk * “Gorgon” from New World Encyclopedia; https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Gorgon * “Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents” from PBS; https://www.pbs.org/video/basilisk-or-cockatrice-the-mysterious-king-of-serpents-rqozd1/

#basilisk #Mythical creature #serpent

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petnews2day · 2 years

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This man gets bitten by deadly snakes in the name of science

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/small-pet-news/this-man-gets-bitten-by-deadly-snakes-in-the-name-of-science/

This man gets bitten by deadly snakes in the name of science

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 5.4 million people a year are bitten by snakes, and up to 2.7 million of them envenomed. Between 81,000 and 138,000 people die from the bites, while up to 400,000 have limbs amputated or suffer other permanent disabilities. The tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America are most affected. Most at risk of dying are agricultural workers and, because of their smaller body mass, young children. A lack of footwear makes poor rural workers particularly vulnerable.

(Read: In Africa, snake bites are a neglected health crisis.)

It’s possible many other victims go unreported. The Africa Health Organisation explains that this is “because victims seek treatment from non-medical sources or do not have access to health care”.

Deadly serpents by numbers

There are 600 or so species of venomous snakes slithering round the planet. But only around a dozen species groups are responsible for most human deaths and disabilities. As the WHO warns, some are found close to farmers who aren’t wearing adequate footwear. Others are more aggressive, or deliver venom more efficiently, or in amounts large enough to kill humans.

Bearing these factors in mind, statistically, among the deadliest of all are black mamba, coastal taipan, Indian cobra, common krait, Russel’s viper and saw-scaled viper. The latter – scientific name Echis carinatus – which lives across the Middle East and Central Asia, especially in the Indian subcontinent, is considered by many herpetologists the biggest human killer of all. Relatively small, usually no longer than 60cm, it is inconspicuous but extremely aggressive. It rests in a coil, with its head at the centre, so that when it strikes, it darts out like a released spring.

A 2020 university study found that, in India alone, 58,000 people die every year from snake bites, and in most cases the saw-scaled viper is the culprit. (Here’s why poisonous animals don’t poison themselves.)

One British herpetologist who knows all about this lethal creature is Professor Nicholas Casewell, director of the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions at the UK’s Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Originally set up in the early 1980s, the centre now houses 200 venomous snakes from around 50 different species, and is the largest herpetarium in the UK.

#Small Pets News

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reve-de-dragon · 4 years

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The Basilisk

The Basilisk is a bit tricky to talk about because of its counterpart, the Cockatrice. It is unsure whether the two are synonymous or not. In modern media, the two term have come to different meanings, the basilisk being a snake, and the cockatrice a draconic rooster.

The most common description of the Basilisk is the one found in the Natural History written by Pliny the Elder in 79 AD.

“There is the same power also in the serpent called the basilisk. It is produced in the province of Cyrene, being not more than twelve fingers in length. It has a white spot on the head, strongly resembling a sort of a diadem. When it hisses, all the other serpents fly from it: and it does not advance its body, like the others, by a succession of folds, but moves along upright and erect upon the middle. It destroys all shrubs, not only by its contact, but those even that it has breathed upon; it burns up all the grass, too, and breaks the stones, so tremendous is its noxious influence. It was formerly a general belief that if a man on horseback killed one of these animals with a spear, the poison would run up the weapon and kill, not only the rider, but the horse, as well. To this dreadful monster the effluvium of the weasel is fatal, a thing that has been tried with success, for kings have often desired to see its body when killed; so true is it that it has pleased Nature that there should be nothing without its antidote. The animal is thrown into the hole of the basilisk, which is easily known from the soil around it being infected. The weasel destroys the basilisk by its odour, but dies itself in this struggle of nature against its own self. “

It is thought that this version of the basilisk may have been inspired by the cobra, who as well crawls upright and in some species can spit venom, which may have been confused for a deadly gaze.

In france however started the word cocatris, which gave cockatrice. This word has a different meaning to the own it has today.

The cocatris, coquatrix, or cocadrille is actually often the name of the egg from which the basilisk is born : The beast is supposed to be birthed from the egg or semence of an old rooster, incubated in filth, or by roads or serpents. The cockatrice is also sometime the result of the breeding of a chicken and a snake or a toad. The term then became a synonym.

In these time the beast can be described in different way : the rooster dragon that is currently known as cockatrice, a serpent, or a snake that grows legs with age, making it a sort of lizard.

Usually, the basilisk can be killed in similar way in all myths : through its deadly ennemy, the weasel, through the crow of a rooster, with a mirror, to reflect its deadly gaze back at it or with rue, the plant that it despises and is the antidote to its venom, knowledge that the weasel has and uses against it.

Several stories of basilisks involve them having made their lair in the bottom of wells, killing thoses that look down in it to spit or throw rocks, but have also be known to kill off plants by slithering on them or looking at them, poisoning waters, or killing cattles by slithering under them.

#dragonkin #dragon #folklore #dracodex

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rabbitcruiser · 4 years

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World Snake Day

Snakes have gotten something of a bad rap over the past few thousand years. What with that one snake tricking that nice lady into eating an apple way back when, thus condemning the entire human race to mortality, snakes have been mistrusted if not flat-out feared.

And while it is understandable that people may fear an animal that can easily kill them, we think these fascinating, diverse creatures that range from several inches to 30 feet long, and from friendly and docile to aggressive and deadly, deserve for people to find out more about them.

Learn about World Snake Day

World Snake Day is an important day when it comes to increasing awareness about the different species of snake all around the world. Snakes tend to have a negative connotation. A lot of people are scared of snakes, and of course, we can definitely understand the reasons why! No one likes the thought of being gobbled up by a snake, do they? Plus, when someone is two-faced or a bad person, they are often referred to as snakes. However, snakes are great creatures and they are so important to the world that we live in.

Did you know that there are more than 3,5000 species of a snake around the world? Because of this, it is not going to be a challenge for you to find a snake that fascinates you and interests you that you may not have heard of before, even if you are someone who is interested in snakes and you have a pet snake of your own! So, this is one of the good reasons why to research snakes and learn more about them on this date. After all, there is so much that you can learn!

Of the 3,500 species of a snake around the world, there are only around 600 that are venomous. This is less than 25 percent of snakes! There are only 200 species of snake that pose a considerable risk to human life as well. Therefore, snakes are nowhere near as worrying or scary as we think they are. Of course, this does not mean that you should go up and start petting any snake that you come across! However, it is definitely something to think about. Perhaps we give these animals a much harder time than they deserve?

History of World Snake Day

The snake is one of the oldest mythological characters and has been revered by civilizations the world over. There are about 3,458 species of snakes known so far, ranging from the semi-frozen tundra of northern Canada to the steamy jungles of the equator and most of the world’s oceans. Snakes are highly effective predators and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature in each of these realms. Snakes are also fascinating in that they have a prehistoric lineage, thus giving us a glimpse back to a prehistoric time when the earth was ruled by reptiles—many people have no idea that modern reptiles are literally the living, breathing cousins of dinosaurs.

The species that seem to fascinate people the most are the King Cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world most people have seen in movies being coaxed out of a basket by a snake charmer; the Rattlesnake, that has forced countless people to suck its poison out of the bite before it’s too late; and the Reticulated Python, the world’s longest snake that kills its prey by strangling it.

World Snake Day was created to help people learn more about these animals and how much they contribute to the world as we know it.

How to celebrate World Snake Day

Have you ever thought about having a pet snake? Snakes may not be the right pet for everyone, but if you have it in you to take on the challenge it is to own and care for a pet snake, World Snake Day may be the time to make that decision. If not, however, you can take advantage of this day to learn some more about these incredible animals. Here are some interesting facts to help you do that:

Where do snakes live?

Snakes are found in every continent except Antarctica in the sea, forests, deserts, prairies, and even your backyard or garage.

What do snakes eat?

Snakes consume many different animals including insects small rodents and frogs. Snakes eat their prey whole because their lower jaw can separate from the upper jaw. Very large snakes can even eat small deer, pigs, monkeys, and even primates.

How do snakes behave?

Snakes rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature. They spend as long in the warm sun as they need to in order to get warm, and when they become too warm, they find shade to cool off. They are generally not aggressive unless they are hunting or feel like they need to defend themselves. They shed their skin three to six times a year.

How do they defend themselves?

Snakes use a variety of techniques defend themselves, including camouflage, biting and envenoming those they feel are threatening them. Sometimes they simply curl up in a tight ball to hopefully avoid being seen.

Why are some snakes endangered?

Fortunately, snakes are not widely hunted, but their numbers are still declining due to deforestation and climate change causing the deterioration of their habitats and a declining amount of available prey.

As mentioned earlier, there are many different species of snakes, and so you can spend some time learning about them and their various qualities and features. For example, the Barbados thread snake is the smallest snake in the world. This serpent is actually smaller than a nightcrawler, coming in at only approximately four inches. In terms of the heaviest snake, this honor goes to the green anaconda. The reticulated python is the longest snake in the world. If you spend some time doing a bit of reading, we are sure that you will be fascinated with the results.

You could also spend some time watching films that are based on snakes. There are a lot of different films whereby snakes play a big role. This includes Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Snakes on a Plane, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, the most famous snake film is Anaconda. There are a lot of great deaths that have occurred in cinema at the hand of snakes, but this is definitely the greatest. If you have not seen this film before, now is the perfect time for you to watch it!

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thecreaturecodex · 5 years

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Lycanthrope, Werecobra

“Snake Woman” © deviantArt user CavalierdiSpade, accessed at their deviantArt here

[The reason I wanted to make this a spellcaster is due to the micro-genre of snake-cult-lady-becomes-a-snake movies, Cult of the Cobra, The Reptile and The Lair of the White Worm.]

Lycanthrope, Werecobra CR 6 NE Humanoid This scaled creature has lidless, staring eyes, immense fangs and a forked tongue. It is humanoid from the waist up, but its legs are little more than stubs protruding from a snake-like lower body.

Werecobras are venomous lycanthropes that assume the form of the mighty emperor cobra. Many, but not all, werecobras are members of cults worshipping nagas or gods with serpentine aspect—the outlook of these forces effects the alignment of the werecobra involved. Even good-aligned werecobras tend to be aloof and emotionally cold. Werecobras are pragmatists first and foremost, using bluff and guile to avoid conflict, then precise and deadly strikes to finish combats quickly and decisively. The bite of a werecobra carries both the curse of lycanthropy and lethal venom. Those bitten by a werecobra frequently do not survive long enough to become werecobras themselves, unless specific measures are taken to ensure they withstand envenomation. As such, the creation of new werecobras is often ritualistic and bestowed as an intentional honor rather than happening through accident.

Werecobra (Human Form) CR 6 XP 2,400 Human werecobra druid 6 NE Medium humanoid (human, shapechanger) Init +5; Senses low-light vision, Perception +12, scent Defense AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 armor) hp 42 (6d8+12) Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +11; +4 vs. fey or plant-targeted effects Immune reptile venom Defensive Abilities slither (8/day) Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee masterwork spear +5 (1d8/x3) Ranged masterwork sling +6 (1d4) Special Attacks wild shape (2/day) Spells CL 6th, concentration +11 (+15 casting defensively) 3rd—dominate animal (DC 18), greater magic fang, poison (DC 18), protection from energy 2nd—animal trance (DC 17), barkskin, bull’s strength, delay poison, flaming sphere (DC 17) 1st—charm animal (DC 16), cure light wounds (DC 16), entangle (DC 16), faerie fire, produce flame, speak with animals 0th—create water, detect magic, detect poison, light Domain—Serpent Statistics Str 10, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 20, Cha 11 Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 17 Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Nimble Moves Skills Bluff +9, Climb +7, Handle Animal +7, Heal +12. Knowledge (nature) +8, Perception +12, Survival +14 Languages Common SQ change shape (human, hybrid or emperor cobra, polymorph), familiar (viper), lycanthropic empathy (snakes), nature bond (Serpent Domain), nature sense, trackless step, wild empathy (+6), woodland stride Ecology Environment warm forests or marshes Organization solitary or cult (2-8) Treasure NPC Gear (+1 leather armor, cloak of resistance +1, masterwork spear, masterwork sling with 20 bullets, pearl of power (1st level), wand of magic stone, potion of cure light wounds (x2), 23 gp)

Werecobra (Hybrid Form) CR 6 XP 2,400 Human werecobra druid 6 NE Large humanoid (human, shapechanger) Init +6; Senses low-light vision, Perception +12, scent Defense AC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 21 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +3 armor, +9 natural) hp 60 (6d8+30) Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +11; +4 vs. fey or plant-targeted effects DR 10/silver; Immune reptile venom Defensive Abilities slither (8/day) Offense Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft. Melee masterwork spear +9 (1d8+10/x3), bite +5 (2d6+3 plus poison plus curse of lycanthropy) or bite +10 (2d6+10 plus poison plus curse of lycanthropy) Ranged masterwork sling +4 (1d4) Special Attacks wild shape (2/day) Spells CL 6th, concentration +11 (+15 casting defensively) 3rd—dominate animal (DC 18), greater magic fang, poison (DC 18), protection from energy 2nd—animal trance (DC 17), barkskin, bull’s strength, delay poison, flaming sphere (DC 17) 1st—charm animal (DC 16), cure light wounds (DC 16), entangle (DC 16), faerie fire, produce flame, speak with animals 0th—create water, detect magic, detect poison, light Domain—Serpent Statistics Str 24, Dex 15, Con 20, Int 8, Wis 20, Cha 11 Base Atk +4; CMB +12; CMD 25 Feats Combat Casting, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Nimble Moves Skills Bluff +9, Climb +21, Handle Animal +7, Heal +12, Knowledge (nature) +8, Perception +12, Survival +14, Swim +15 Languages Common SQ change shape (human, hybrid or emperor cobra, polymorph), familiar (viper), lycanthropic empathy (snakes), nature bond (Serpent Domain), nature sense, trackless step, wild empathy (+6), woodland stride Ecology Environment warm forests or marshes Organization solitary or cult (2-8) Treasure NPC Gear (+1 leather armor, cloak of resistance +1, masterwork spear, masterwork sling with 20 bullets, pearl of power (1st level), wand of magic stone, potion of cure light wounds (x2), 23 gp) Special Abilities Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 18; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Con; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution based.

#werecobra #lycanthrope #shapeshifter #lair of the white worm #pathfinder 1e

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problematicsubmarine · 6 years

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For all the anti Lotor illerterates calling Lotor a Snake like its a bad thing....🐍

You might want to actually look up snake symbolism

"The serpent, or snake, is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols. The word is derived from Latin serpens, a crawling animal or snake. Snakes have been associated with some of the oldest rituals known to humankind and represent dual expression of good and evil.

In some cultures, snakes were fertility symbols. For example, the Hopi people of North America performed an annual snake dance to celebrate the union of Snake Youth (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Underworld spirit) and to renew the fertility of Nature. During the dance, live snakes were handled and at the end of the dance the snakes were released into the fields to guarantee good crops. " In other cultures, snakes symbolized the umbilical cord, joining all humans to Mother Earth. The Great Goddess often had snakes as her familiars—sometimes twining around her sacred staff, as in ancient Crete—and they were worshiped as guardians of her mysteries of birth and regeneration.

Historically, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. As snakes shed their skin through sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing. The ouroboros is a symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life.

In some Abrahamic traditions, the serpent represents sexual desire. According to some interpretations of the Midrash, the serpent represents sexual passion. In Hinduism, Kundalini is a coiled serpent, the residual power of pure desire.

Serpents are represented as potent guardians of temples and other sacred spaces. This connection may be grounded in the observation that when threatened, some snakes (such as rattlesnakes or cobras) frequently hold and defend their ground, first resorting to threatening display and then fighting, rather than retreat. Thus, they are natural guardians of treasures or sacred sites which cannot easily be moved out of harm's way.

The Gadsden flag of the American Revolution depicts a rattlesnake coiled up and poised to strike. Below the image of the snake is the legend, "Don't tread on me." The snake symbolized the dangerousness of colonists willing to fight for their rights and homeland. The motif is repeated in the First Navy Jack of the US Navy.

Serpents are connected with poison and medicine. The snake's venom is associated with the chemicals of plants and fungi that have the power to either heal, poison or provide expanded consciousness (and even the elixir of life and immortality) through divine intoxication. Because of its herbal knowledge and entheogenic association the snake was often considered one of the wisest animals, being (close to the) divine. Its divine aspect combined with its habitat in the earth between the roots of plants made it an animal with chthonic properties connected to the afterlife and immortality. Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing, carried a staff with one serpent wrapped around it, which has become the symbol of modern medicine. Moses also had a replica of a serpent on a pole, the Nehushtan, mentioned in Numbers 21:8.

Serpents are connected with vengefulness and vindictiveness. This connection depends in part on the experience that venomous snakes often deliver deadly defensive bites without giving prior notice or warning to their unwitting victims. Although a snake is defending itself from the encroachment of its victim into the snake's immediate vicinity, the unannounced and deadly strike may seem unduly vengeful when measured against the unwitting victim's perceived lack of blameworthiness."

#lotor #vld lotor #vld #voltron legendary defender #snake symbolism

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updcbc · 6 years

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May 13, 2018 - “I Am the Vine” John 15:1-8

Click KEEP READING to read the full sermon.

Introduction

Have you had a fruit-bearing plant in your backyard or plantation that brought such a great delight to your heart because of its abundant fruits? I had one. And it came in the most unexpected place during my first pastorate in the city of Tuguegarao in the northern province of Cagayan. In an interior part of the city stands a two-floor church building within a thousand five hundred-square meter church lot. Below is the worship hall with folding doors on the western side fronting an open ground fifteen meters to the adjacent lot. The second floor is about four meters above the ground. Half of the area upstairs is a four-bed room parsonage with a wide reception area. It was a privilege to shepherd the church for ten years as a single pastor and dwelt alone in the parsonage. On the southern part of the parsonage are two doors with railings and unfinished stairs. The great surprise came when a papaya plant grew near the wall on the ground below the left door of the parsonage. I wondered how a seed was sown in that particular place and it was so amusing to see the plant grow. The amazing moment came when the plant at two meters high started to bear fruit. The fruits were surprisingly big and many! It continued to bear abounding fruits until it reached the second floor. And all I had to do was to simply pick the sweet ripe fruits at hand from the door. With such delight of a great harvest came much searching of my heart. As I gazed on the wonderful papaya plant, I saw my bare hands in a manner that humbled me before God. Through the years the church had planted four growing churches in three neighbouring towns. It is all by the grace of God. The papaya plant reminds me of my lifetime verse.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Jesus taught his disciples on the Christian life like a vineyard (15:1-3) and focused on his intimate relationship with his disciples as that of the vine and the branches (15:4-8).

We remind ourselves that the “I Am” confessions of our Lord Jesus Christ are revelations of himself so we can personally know him to redeem us from our sinfulness and transform us into his likeness. As the “bread of life,” Jesus offers us the gift of eternal life and for us to enjoy a redeemed life to its fullness. As the “light of the world,” he calls us from the darkness of sin into his light of holiness. As the “gate for the sheep,” he invites us to come to him in repentance and faith and be forgiven and saved from our sins. As the “good shepherd,” he laid down his life for us at the cross and leads us to a path of blessedness. As “the way and the truth and the life,” he is the only way for us to know God and dwell into his heavenly abode forever. And as the “vine,” he calls us to abide in him as branches so we can have a fulfilled and fruitful life.

A. The Vineyard (15:1-3)

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a unique portrait of our relationship with God like that of a vineyard. The Heavenly Father is the Gardener, Jesus is the vine and the believers are branches. Though the Holy Spirit was not mentioned, it is him who is also at work behind the scenes together with the Father and the Son.

1. The Vine

Jesus gave an exclusive claim of himself, “I am the true vine” (15:1a). In Jesus’ confessions he used the word “true” to speak of his absolute claims of who he is. He revealed of himself as the “true bread” (6:32) from heaven and the “true vine” (15:1) rooted on earth. John the Beloved referred to Jesus as the “true light’ (1:9) and not of John the Baptist who served as a prophetic light in presenting Jesus to the world.

In a figurative language, Jesus portrayed himself as the “true vine.” In biblical times the primary means of living for the Jews and Gentiles was agriculture. The “vine” which Jesus spoke about referred to grapes as a primary fruit on house table and a source of wine for communal festivities. In a spiritual realm, for Jesus to have claimed of himself as the “true vine” was a clear declaration that he is the absolute source of the entirety of life and fountain of wholesome living. For him to have used the phrase “true vine” implied the existence of “false vines” that are powerless to give life and nourish a meaningful living.

In the farewell message of Moses to the Israelites, he integrated to his narrative speech the spiritual journey of the former generation who had unfortunately lived in unbelief and disobedience. To such a stubborn generation who deserted the LORD their God (Deut. 32:18), Moses gave a disheartening description to his Hebrew people.

“Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are filled with poison and their clusters with bitterness. Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poisons of cobra.” (Dt. 32:32-33)

The “vine of Sodom” can either be taken literally or symbolically. If interpreted as a symbol, it refers to the bitterness and unfruitfulness of pagan gods and religious practices. If taken literally, it refers to a real fruit but its identification remains obscure. The probable suggestions could either be the solanum, an orange-colored, inedible fruit, or the colocynth, a wild gourd with bitter fruit which grows on sandy ground near the Dead Sea.

In a figurative sense, Jesus spoke of himself as the “true vine” primarily referring to a grape vine as a choice fruit-bearing vine in ancient times and not to any wild vine that produces inedible fruits. In a spiritual realm, Jesus as the “true vine” reveals of himself as the absolute source of life in its entirety and as the one who sustains the fullness of living.

2. The Gardener

In the vineyard of life, Jesus claimed of himself as the true vine “and my Father is the gardener” (15:1b). For Jesus to have identified the Father as the gardener with the use of a definite article, he revealed his Father as the ultimate caretaker of souls just as the gardener takes care of the grape vine. And one of the primary tasks of a gardener is pruning.

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (15:2)

Pruning is normally done during the winter, late November or December, as the grapevines go dormant and loose all their leaves. A gardener prunes vines to achieve a balance between fruit production and adequate, but not excessive, shoot growth. Annual pruning is necessary to remove unsuitable canes while retaining the good ones. A cane is a mature shoot after leaf fall. Fruit is only produced on shoots growing from one-year old canes. Healthy new canes must be produced every year to maintain annual production of fruit. A pruning hook, which is a small knife with curved blade, is used for pruning grapevines. Every branch that does not bear fruit is cut, but each branch that bears fruit is pruned to bear more fruit. Without pruning, the grape vine will have many branches covered with leaves but it will only produce few fruits.

Applied in a spiritual realm, our Heavenly Father who is our spiritual gardener disciplines us as his legitimate children to purge us from our sinfulness so we can live in godliness. Through discipline, God sets us apart as his own beloved children from those who are not. The author of Hebrews explains the necessity of spiritual pruning or divine discipline in the Christian life.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we all had human fathers, who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers discipline us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:7-11)

3. The Branches

It was on the context of the spiritual pruning done by the Father as the spiritual gardener to his own children that Jesus directly mentioned his disciples as sanctified by his word. “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (15:3)

This was in reference to the word that Jesus declared to his disciples when he washed their feet. He said to his apostles, “You are clean, though not every one of you” (Jn. 13:10b). He said this because “he knew who was going to betray him, and that is why he said not everyone was clean” (13:11). He spoke about Judas Iscariot who would betray him. When Jesus told his eleven apostles, “You are clean,” he was not referring to physical cleanliness as Simon Peter thought. Rather, it was a spiritual cleansing for Jesus to have set apart the apostles to himself from the world. He spoke of his disciples that though they were in the natural world yet they were no longer of the evil system of the world (Jn. 17:14). It was for this reason that Jesus prayed to the Father on behalf of his disciples, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). The Greek word for sanctify, hagiazo, means to set apart for sacred use or make holy. The word that Jesus declared to his apostles was the same word of the Father. Jesus made this clear, “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (Jn. 14:10b). Through the divine authority and power of the words of Jesus, the disciples are sanctified as “branches” set apart to be holy covenant people connected to Jesus as the “vine.”

The imageries of the vine and the gardener portray the intimate relationship of the Christian with Jesus as the source of life and with the Father as the guardian of soul. Is Jesus the true vine of our lives in whom we anchor our whole being? And is the Father the gardener of our souls to whom we yield our all? In anchoring our being to Jesus as our God, Savior and Lord, we are given the right to become the children of our Father in heaven. As children, our Father prunes us to transform us in the image of Christ. And he disciplines us in his great love for us.

B. The Vine and the Branches (15:4-8)

In the vineyard of life, Jesus is the true vine, the Father is the caring gardener and the covenant people of God are the branches being pruned to become fruitful. And fruitfulness as a Christian witness is rooted in abiding in Jesus as Lord. Jesus focused on the integrated idea of fruit-bearing and abiding based on the similitude of the vine and the branches. This speaks on the intimate bond between Jesus and his disciples.

1. The Call to Fruitfulness

Jesus called his disciples to bear fruit by abiding in him.

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (15:4-5)

In the “I Am” confessions of Jesus, his intimate relationship with his disciples was pictured in two integrated metaphors. First was that of the good shepherd and the sheep. The shepherd laid down his life for the sheep and the sheep listen to his voice and follow him. Second was that of the true vine and the branches. The vine gives life to the branches and the branches bear fruit as they abide in the vine.

Based on the second imagery, Jesus gave a direct portrait in reference to his relationship with his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” In light of this intimate relationship, Jesus delivered a clear message, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” He applied this truth on a personal note, “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me...Apart from me you can do nothing.” And he gave a clear command and corresponding assurance, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” Rooted upon this mutual bond, Jesus gave a reassuring word, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.”

What does it mean to abide in Christ? First, we abide in him as a person. Jesus said, “Abide in me” (15:4, 5). Jesus to have declared that he is the “true vine” was in reference to himself as the God-incarnate (1:1, 14), the absolute Saviour of the world (1:28; 4:42) and the Lord of all (11:27; 20:28). Abiding in him is to believe who he is as he claimed to be. Second, we abide in his word. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you” (15:7). This means for us to embrace his word as the very Word of God. Abiding in him is to trust and take him at his word. And third, we abide in the love of Christ. “Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (15:9) Jesus loved us by offering his life for us. Abiding in him is for us to offer our lives for Jesus and to the Christian brethren (1 Jn. 3:16).

We abide in Jesus Christ as the Second Person of the Triune God. We abide in his word as the Word of God. And we abide in his love by yielding our all to God. In abiding in Jesus, his word and his love, he promised us to bear fruit (15:4), much fruit (15:5) and lasting fruit (15:16). We treasure and live by the word of Jesus, “No branch can bear fruit by itself...Apart from me you can do nothing.” This calls on our part for humility, faith, dependence, obedience and sacrifice.

Every Christian disciple is called to bear fruit. The spiritual fruit speaks of godliness in our daily living, faithfulness in our daily task and dedication in our daily witness in bringing people to Christ. Where then is the fruit in our lives? Our answer speaks on how we abide in Christ.

2. The Warning to Unfruitfulness

Jesus made a solemn warning to those who do not bear fruit.

“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (15:6)

Branches in a grapevine that do not bear any fruit are called suckers. They are recipients of the nutrients channelled through the vine yet contain the benefit to themselves and remain fruitless. These fruitless branches are cut and burned into the fire.

In the gospel accounts, John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ by calling people to repent from their sins and to put their trust in God. He summoned the people with this message, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Lk. 3:8a). For the unbelievers and unrepentant, he warned them of imminent divine judgment, “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Lk 3:9). And he particularly prophesied the judgment of Jesus Christ to every person who do not manifest genuine faith and repentance: “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Lk. 3:17). John the Beloved saw in a vision this dreadful eternal judgment as “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10b, 15). Jesus Christ and John the Baptist referred to the same divine judgment but they used different metaphors. John used the imagery of the cutting of a fruitless tree while Jesus used the cutting of the fruitless branch.

The cutting of fruitless branches from the vine was applied by Apostle Paul to both Hebrews and Gentiles. The vine is Jesus Christ. The natural branches are the Hebrew people and the grafted branches refer to believing Gentiles. Any unbelieving Jew is cut off from the vine while any believing Gentile is grafted in. In the saving grace of God there is no room for spiritual pride. Apostle Paul gave this stern warning.

“You (Gentiles) will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I (Gentile) could be grafted in.’ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell (unbelieving Jews), but kindness to you (Gentile believers), provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” (Rom. 11:19-23)

This calls for self examination. If we, either a Jew or a Gentile, claims to know Jesus Christ yet does not show on how we live, we may only be a professing Christian. Perhaps, we may know the Christian creed but if we habitually make excuses and justify our sinful behaviours, we may not have a personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Probably, we may go through all the motions of the Christian activities but if we do not have the assurance of being saved because we are defiant to yield our all under the Lordship of Christ, the Holy Spirit may not be indwelling in our hearts to affirm us that we are a child of God. If we are a professing Christian who habitually live in sin and unyielding to the Lordship of Christ, should we not humbly search our hearts and settle things right with God and be sure in our faith in Christ? If not, we could be one of the fruitless branches detached from the true vine.

Apostle Paul makes an earnest plea, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2b). It is not the will of God for anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9). Yet, we must make a personal choice. Jesus, the true vine, invites us to himself and be one of his fruitful branches. Yielding our all to Jesus is the greatest decision in life for us to be connected with Jesus as the true vine of our lives.

3. The Confidence in Abiding

Jesus gave a reassuring promise to his disciples.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (15:7)

Abiding in Christ is abiding in his word. Faith in the Lord means obedience to his word. Solid trust in God rooted in his word will give us the spiritual discernment of knowing his will for our lives. And if we ask in accordance to his will, we have the assurance that he hears us and grants the desire of our hearts. In full dependence upon God and in complete submission to his will, we have confidence in the reassuring word of Jesus, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

Like branches that are secure in abiding to the vine, our Lord Jesus will see us through in whatever circumstance in life. In every pressing need, heartbreaking crisis and crucial decision we face, we can be sure of one thing—Jesus is with us as we wrestle with all our pains, fears and tears.

King David went through the unimaginable humbling experience when he appeared as insane before the pagan King Abimelech—out of fear for his life. God rescued him. And David offered a song of prayer.

“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry...The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” (Ps. 34:15,17-19)

Jesus our Lord is true and trustworthy. In his farewell address to his apostles he cheered them up. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33) In this fallen world, Jesus had overcome every temptation and trouble. And he did just that for our own sake. So we abide in him and follow his footsteps. In yielding our all to him, his ears are attentive to our cries.

4. The Witness in Fruit-bearing

In all our pains and tears, Jesus calls us to bloom and be fruitful. Jesus declared, “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (15:8). The delightful fruit can be a simple greeting of concern, a smile from the heart, a sincere prayer for someone, a helping hand to someone in need, a word of comfort to the wounded, a listening ear to the broken, a loving rebuke to the wayward, a heart of forgiveness to the fallen and sowing the gospel seed of truth to lead a sinner to Jesus. The abounding fruit is the work of the Holy Spirit as we yield to the Lordship of Christ. In this world we make a godly difference. And we do this in Jesus’ name for the glory of God.

Conclusion

We are called to dwell in the vineyard of God. Jesus is the true vine. The Father is the gardener. And we the disciples are the branches. Jesus, the true vine, is the absolute life-giver and ultimate source of a fulfilled life. The Father as the gardener casts out unbelievers as he cuts off unfruitful branches from the vine, but he disciplines his own children to purify their souls as a fruit-bearing branch is pruned to become more fruitful. And as the branches that cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, so we are called to abide in Christ to bear fruits with lasting significance for apart from him we can do nothing. What does this vineyard of life mean to us?

We are called to cultivate intimacy with God. Are we connected to the true vine? To abide in Christ is to enthrone him into our hearts as our God, Savior and Lord. Anchored upon this personal relationship, Jesus yearns for an intimate fellowship with us. The entirety of our lives must be centered in Christ. Everything must revolve around him. Our hearts will be at peace when we rest in his presence in our daily walk with him.

We yield our all to be sanctified by God. Are we being grateful being pruned by the Gardener? Discipline and affliction are effective tools the Father use to purify our souls. He will never tolerate sin in our hearts. And even if our hearts are right with him, he allows us to go through the fiery trials in life so we can walk in humility in his all-sufficient grace.

We dedicate our lives to bear fruit for God. Do we abide in Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit in bearing fruit for the glory of our Heavenly Father? Despite all our flaws and failures, our Father delights to mold and use us to declare his name and advance his cause. God has a special way to remind us of our noble calling. I will not forget the papaya plant.

#sermon #sermons #God #bear fruit #fruitfulness #Christian #sunday #worship #worshipservice #vine

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yourlunarspice · 2 years

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My Fics Masterlist

Most of these are My Hero Academia because I have a hyperfixation, but one of them is an original work. (I also have three unfinished fics from another fandom, but I'm not linking them because I don't see myself finishing them anytime soon.)

The fics I'm most proud of will be in bold.

Series (complete unless otherwise noted):

Pit Of Vipers | Explicit, 27,333 words, 3 Works

Sparring Sexy Times | Explicit, 2,443 words, 2 Works

Shinkami Month 2022 | Explicit, 20,783 words, 17 Works

Denki Needs Therapy | Mature, 2,884 words, 3 Works (Incomplete)

Dysphoria in Rubies, Gold, Lilac, and Emerald | Explicit, 19534 words, 4 Works

Stalker Monoma | Explicit, 1,942 words, 2 Works

The Merry Whump of May | Explicit, 28,257 words, 31 Works

Original work:

In The Shadows | Mature, 991 words, 1/1 Chapters

Hunger leads to feeding. Ravenously.

Now with music!

My Hero Academia (organized by date updated):

Saimon Says | Mature, 4,971 words, 7/13 Chapters

Rody thought he didn't have any more family until a letter came and proved him wrong.

He's not sure if he truly likes this new family.

But they seem to like him.

"We need to talk" | General, 1,296 words, 1/1 Chapters

Something's wrong with Shitty Hair.

It's not bothering me.

It's not.

So why can't I sleep?

Powder | Explicit, 1,490 words, 1/1 Chapters

Hawks has an anniversary present for Dabi.

Dabi has his own present for Hawks.

For My Family | Explicit, 4,124 words, 2/2 Chapters

When I said I'll do anything to provide for my family... I really meant anything.

Underappreciated | Not Rated, 518 words, 1/1 Chapters

A hero was always there for his friends when they needed him.

But… who was there for a hero when he needed someone?

No one.

The Venom Of Serpents, The Deadly Poison Of Cobras | Explicit, 8,595 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 3 of Pit Of Vipers

Upon returning home, Viper is at Cobra's will in more ways than one. he torments Viper day after day, but one thought keeps Viper from succumbing completely.

Katsuki.

Memories | General, 1,095 words, 1/1 Chapters

So what if he couldn't remember small details here and there?

Everyone got gaps in their memory, right?

This was normal… right?

Snakes In The Grass | Explicit, 15,346 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 2 of Pit Of Vipers

After being captured, Viper finds himself in a strange, new environment. And he has a new objective: kill Katsuki Bakugou. He'll do whatever it takes to complete his mission and get back to Father. But, will his heart get the better of him? Anyone and everyone could be a snake in the grass.

Into The Snake Den | Mature, 3,392 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 1 of Pit Of Vipers

Viper has lived his entire life with Father.

Father saved him.

Father cares for him.

Father loves him.

He owes Father.

He owes him everything.

"How does it feel?" | Mature, 1.410 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 3 of Denki needs therapy

He moaned, low and pitiful.

Why weren't the heroes here?

Why weren't his friends here?

They had to be on their way… right?

Feline Gold | Teen & Up, 2,262 words, 1/1 Chapters

Hitoshi has found a cat that now takes up his entire life.

But something's not right about this cat.

Emotional Casualty | Teen & Up, 757 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 17 of Shinkami Month 2022 Part 4 of Dysphoria in Rubies, Gold, Lilac, and Emerald

Katsuki Bakugou is managing his crush on Hitoshi Shinsou okay... all things considered.

Maybe.

Not really.

He's not okay.

Cold. Hot. | Explicit, 1,184 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 16 of Shinkami Month 2022 Part 2 of Sparring Sexy Times

His entire life, he'd been cold.

Cold from the tattered blankets his foster parents of the month gave him, that never kept the draft out.

Cold from how everyone shied away from touching him, interacting with him, even speaking to him.

Except when it was hitting him, punishing him, or cursing him.

Cold from that unyielding muzzle that always found its way back to him.

Hitoshi would always shiver, unable to help himself.

He was so cold.

Want You | Explicit, 1,402 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 15 of Shinkami Month 2022

Bzzzz

Bzz-

"Hello?" Hitoshi groaned into the receiver. It was late, and the buzzing phone had woken him up.

Not that being woken up in the middle of the night was unusual for him, but usually Denki was here to help him fall asleep again.

"'Tooshi…" Speak of the devil. "'Toooooshiiii…" his boyfriend sang.

"Denki? What's going on?"

Muffled laughter rang through the receiver. "Yurr what's goin' on." There was a pause as Denki hiccupped.

Late-Night Hypotheticals | General, 304 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 14 of Shinkami Month 2022

"'Toshi."

…

"'Toooshi."

…

"'Toshi."

"What?"

"Are you awake?"

…

"Who do you think said 'what'?"

My Moonbeam | Mature, 1,544 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 13 of Shinkami Month 2022

For the most part, Hitoshi's patrols were unremarkable.

That's not to say that they were boring. There was always some illicit activity that kept him alert through all hours of the night.

But usually, they were just that: illicit activity. Drug deals and drunk fights.

Nine Lives | Teen & Up, 1,713 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 12 of Shinkami Month 2022

The glazed eyes and blank stare felt like a slap to the face, but not as much as Denki's words had felt.

"I... slept with Jiro. I was drunk! It-it didn't mean anything!"

Opportunities | General, 342 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 11 of Shinkami Month 2022

As the pair walked out of the restaurant, Denki felt happiness bubble up inside his chest.

They were just finishing up their second date, and he could tell that Shinsou was beginning to open up to him.

The Psychology Of Our Chemistry | Teen & Up, 1,125 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 10 of Shinkami Month 2022

In his second year at UA University, Denki took a Psychology class.

In truth, he wasn't even sure why he was taking it; he was a music major, but he apparently needed some extra credits, and he'll be damned before he takes, ugh, statistics.

Drowning In Despair | Explicit, 6,835 words, 3/3 Chapters Part 3 of Dysphoria in Rubies, Gold, Lilac, and Emerald With commissioned art

Izuku doesn't take the events of Tidal Wave well.

At all.

Aizawa Discovers His Student's Love Life | General, 1,332 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 9 of Shinkami Month 2022

Shouta Aizawa loves cats.

Because he loves cats, people would normally assume that Shouta Aizawa would rather enjoy being a cat.

He naps a lot and he's grumpy, but he's also very loving and sweet (in his own way) with people he's deemed 'good' and 'deserving' of his attention.

However, in actuality, Shouta hated being turned into a cat.

Unknown Number | Teen & Up, 1,205 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 8 of Shinkami Month 2022

Unknown Number:

hey, sorry if this is out of the blue

but my friend Ashido gave me your number

She said that we might hit it off?

Me:

Oh, yeah that's right. I almost forgot. I'm Shinsou.

The Scars That You Left | Mature, 2,702 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 7 of Shinkami Month 2022

As long as he can remember, he's had his scars.

Although, technically, they weren't his scars, per se.

They couldn't be. His scars might be small, but they were noticeable, marring his face, mocking him every time he passed a mirror and dared to look in.

These scars were beautiful, running over his body like branching ferns, across his limbs and torso.

No, they couldn't be his scars.

He didn't deserve anything as beautiful as that.

Stuck Like Glue... Without The Glue | Explicit, 2,079 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 6 of Shinkami Month 2022

Hitoshi woke slowly, his arms stretching lazily up above his head. He felt his shoulders pop, followed by his spine; small pockets of tension that faded quickly into a lovely sensation. He tried to rotate into the stretch, so he could fully appreciate the feeling, but paused when he felt resistance.

He pried his eyelids open in confusion, squinting against the sunshine as he willed his blurry vision to focus.

Next to him, in his bed, was a mop of messy blond hair, almost as bright as the sunlight. Hitoshi froze, staring at the intruder until the hair moved.

Bright, golden eyes blinked slowly up at him. "Mornin'…"

As You Wish | General, 1,234 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 5 of Shinkami Month 2022

Popcorn ready to be popped? Check.

Floor vacuumed? Check.

Showered? Check.

Candle?

Denki hesitated, thinking about the implications of a candle during a date. He might think I'm trying to set the mood or something.

Better not, then.

Distraction | Explicit, 1,259 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 4 of Shinkami Month 2022 Part 1 of Sparring Sexy Times

Denki gritted his teeth as he grappled with Hitoshi. He sent a shock rippling through his opponent's body, causing his arms to tense up and spasm.

There. Denki found his opening and grabbed Hitoshi's arm, pulling him over his shoulder, and slamming his back against the floor.

A second later and it was all over. Denki perched on Hitoshi's chest, holding his wrists tightly and well out of range in case he decided to try to kick his way free.

Hitoshi wheezed for breath, and Denki allowed himself to admire his catch.

Addict | General, 264 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 3 of Shinkami Month 2022

"I'll take, uhhhh, a double mocha chip frappuccino with extra whipped cream, please!"

Denki loved his coffee sweet. It was the only way to drink it.

Reconnections | Teen & Up, 1,018 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 2 of Shinkami Month 2022

Hitoshi shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked out of work.

It was his birthday, but he had gone to great lengths to ensure that nobody knew about it.

It was just another day; he didn't like being the center of attention. He never had.

It was a hot day out - so hot that the drizzle seemed to evaporate as soon as it hit the sidewalk, making a light mist - but Hitoshi was so tired that he didn't mind.

He was so tired, in fact, that he didn't even register a certain electric blond standing in front of him, calling his name.

Birthday Shenanigans | General, 1,319 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 1 of Shinkami Month 2022

Hitoshi twirled the pencil in his fingers as he thought furiously.

It had to be perfect. It just had to be.

Kaminari's birthday was coming up, and Hitoshi wanted to treat him to lunch.

It wasn't a date. It was not a date.

Here For You | Teen & Up, 1,327 words, 1/1 Chapters

What happens when a Pro Hero has a panic attack in front of other people?

He sucks it up and pretends everything is okay.

Even though it's not.

Tidal Wave | Mature, 6,277 words, 3/3 Chapters Part 2 of Dysphoria in Rubies, Gold, Lilac, and Emerald With commissioned art

When a Ripple Effect goes unchecked, it can lead to disastrous consequences.

Quirk Accident | Mature, 5,665 words, 3/3 Chapters Part 1 of Dysphoria in Rubies, Gold, Lilac, and Emerald Inspired by art

Denki's Quirk goes out of control. But there's something much more sinister and destructive hiding underneath the surface.

Fuck You, Monoma | Explicit, 1,978 words, 1/1 Chapters A retelling of My Dear Hitoshi

Hitoshi Shinsou goes through life in the Hero Course normally. He sits through boring lectures, chats with friends, and spends his evenings in the arms of his boyfriend.

Until there's a break in the pattern.

Until… Monoma.

He Had A Quirk The Whole Time | General, 956 words, 1/1 Chapters

For the longest time, Izuku thought he didn't have a Quirk.

He tried to use telekinesis and to breathe fire, but nothing worked.

Izuku was distraught. All he wanted to be when he grew up was a hero like All Might.

All Might was the coolest in the universe, and all Izuku wanted was to get a Quirk so he could become a hero just like All Might.

It wasn't until his early middle school days when Izuku discovered that he had a Quirk.

"...Sir?" | Teen & Up, 1,208 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 31 of The Merry Whump of May

Three people had gone missing in the past week. The three victims - one woman and two men - had been last seen in the area, and Mirio had volunteered to check out the local park.

…it hadn't helped that the last missing person had been Sir Nighteye.

"What are you doing?" | Explicit, 1,522 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 30 of The Merry Whump of May Part 2 of Stalker Monoma

Neito giggled again as the light faded from Shinsou's eyes and he fell still. He had been planning this for a long time, but this was so much better than how he had imagined it.

"Don't make me" | Mature, 653 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 29 of The Merry Whump of May Part 2 of Denki needs therapy

When Deni regained consciousness an indeterminable amount of time later, he was feeling much more alert.

Unfortunately, this had the side effect of letting him feel his impaled hand with disturbing clarity.

"I'd rather not" | Teen & Up, 423 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 28 of The Merry Whump of May

His body had been an inferno before, but now he was shivering in the cold, winter air. He was sitting in a ditch as far away from the Todoroki estate as he could walk, but he still didn't dare use his fire to warm himself.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" | Mature, 1,639 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 27 of The Merry Whump of May

Workstudies were hard.

That was the only thing circling through Oboro's head as he fell down onto his mattress at the end of the day.

"I don't know what you mean" | Teen & Up, 652 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 26 of The Merry Whump of May

When Hizashi was sixteen, he was introduced to the world of gambling.

He loved the rush, the thrill when he had a good hand, the satisfaction of blurring convincingly.

Throughout the years, he won a lot of yen that way.

…But he also lost a lot of yen that way.

"A little louder" | Teen & Up, 497 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 25 of The Merry Whump of May

It was dark, so Tenya's first instinct was that he'd awoken earlier than his alarm and to roll over and return to sleep.

But the material pressing up against his back was rough.

The air was warm and heavy.

"Do you need a break?" | Teen & Up, 720 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 24 of The Merry Whump of May

Denki wasn't enjoying the summer training camp anymore.

He'd had remedial courses the previous night until two in the morning, then had to return to the classroom the next morning at seven.

Did Mr. Aizawa have to sleep at all?

"Please" | Mature, 1,173 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 23 of The Merry Whump of May

When Eijiro debuted as Red Riot, he had shown off his Quirk at its maximum: Red Riot Unbreakable. The publicity from the fight had made his mind spin.

But, as all seasoned Pros knew - as Eijiro was about to discover - publicity had the tendency to backlash.

"Get in" | General, 674 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 22 of The Merry Whump of May

The kitten stumbled into the room, giving a small, pitiful mew.

"Are you cold?" | Mature, 744 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 21 of The Merry Whump of May Now with a sequel: Are you happy to see me?

As a 'present' for his seventeenth birthday, Endeavor gifted his son with a wife.

"Don't leave me here" | Teen & Up, 1,620 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 20 of The Merry Whump of May

Hizashi had a plan.

He hated the plan, but he had one.

And it was better than nothing.

"I'm all you need" | Teen & Up, 568 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 19 of The Merry Whump of May

He felt cold, hard ground beneath him. His eyelids cracked and he blearily saw a dark figure looming over him.

"It's getting late" | Teen & Up, 996 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 18 of The Merry Whump of May

"It's getting late."

"Mm-hmm."

"You should go to bed."

"Mm-hmm."

"…I'm pregnant."

"Mm-hmm."

"Let's go back inside" | Mature, 1,154 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 17 of The Merry Whump of May

The light above them flickered, humming faintly.

Hanta watched his classmates wake up one by one.

"You're scared, aren't you?" | Teen & Up, 919 words, 1/1 Chapter Part 16 of The Merry Whump of May

He always kept a strong, stoic mask on whenever he was around anyone.

He couldn't afford to let people in.

If they saw the kind of person he truly was, under his mask…

The son of Endeavor couldn't afford to show any weakness.

"When did you get so brave?" | Mature, 1,407 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 15 of The Merry Whump of May

Katsuki growled at nothing in particular, straining once again to free himself.

He'd awoken to a dark room, strapped down to a metal bed. Normally, he'd just explode his way out, but his asswipe captor had tied his hands to his thighs, ensuring that if he tried to use his Quirk, he'd just end up burning himself in the process.

How the fuck did I even get here?!

"Trust me, you don't wanna do that" | Mature, 821 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 14 of The Merry Whump of May Part 1 of Denki needs therapy

The world drifted in and out of focus as Denki's head lolled. His eyes were blinking weird, one at a time and too heavy. It was too hard to try to keep them open, but Denki knew that he should keep them open.

He wasn't sure why, though.

"Wait right here" | Teen & Up, 358 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 13 of The Merry Whump of May

"Deku, where are we going?" Ochako had been sleeping when Deku had barged into her room, pulled her up out of bed, and began dragging her outside.

He was still holding her wrist tightly as he led her away from Heights Alliance. It was early, before dawn, but he seemed unnaturally energetic.

"Deku?" she asked again, trying to get his attention. "Where are we going?"

"How squeamish are you?" | Teen & Up, 514 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 12 of The Merry Whump of May

Tetsutetsu groaned as he opened his eyes. He tried to look around, but he couldn't see anything. "What the hell..." he whispered to himself.

"Hello?" he tried calling out, but his voice faded into the air, leaving his surroundings just as empty as before.

"Lock the door" | Explicit, 2,094 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 11 of The Merry Whump of May An unofficial sequel to Let's Play A Game

The door flew open so quickly that it slammed against the wall behind it.

Shouta didn't pay it any mind. The only thing he was focused on was the man in front of him attacking his face. He moaned as sharp teeth nipped at his lower lip.

"You're eager," he hummed as his hands made their way to the man's slim waist, pulling their hips together.

"They're not here" | Teen & Up, 940 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 10 of The Merry Whump of May

Tomura paced back and forth along the length of his room. His fingernails scratched against the skin of his throat, leaving red lesions in their wake.

They should be back by now.

Why weren't they back?

If they were wasting their time, they were wasting his time.

And that couldn't go unpunished.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

"You can cry, it's okay" | General, 359 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 9 of The Merry Whump of May

Nemuri had been working late one evening when she received the phone call to her work number.

"Hello? I can't find my little sister."

"Does that hurt?" | Teen & Up, 483 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 8 of The Merry Whump of May

Minoru hated his luck.

"Relax" | Mature, 1,220 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 7 of The Merry Whump of May

Hitoshi set his jaw tightly as he walked up to the stage after his name was called.

He was finally done with high school. He'd graduated from UA's General Studies at the top of his class.

It all felt fake. Like they were patting him on the back and telling him 'good job' for taking a step, while everyone else around him, everyone with blessed Quirks, flew through the air, leagues ahead of him.

Condescending assholes.

"Who died and left you in charge?" | Teen & Up, 1,218 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 6 of The Merry Whump of May

Even with her sensitive hearing, Kyoka had trouble distinguishing where she was.

In fact, now that she thought about it, all her senses seemed to have been snuffed out.

"Mind if I cut in?" | Teen & Up, 455 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 5 of The Merry Whump of May

Himiko Toga skipped gleefully between the couples scattered across the ballroom floor.

In her mind, they were dancing to a beautiful waltz, each of them bleeding from some gash or another, just making them even prettier.

In reality, her prisoners were each tied to a rolling chair, so weak from blood loss that they couldn't even try to escape. They were set up in pairs, unable to do anything until Himiko decided which one she wanted to play with next.

"Shoulders back, eyes on me" | Mature, 1,606 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 4 of The Merry Whump of May

Hizashi leaned back on their couch, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "Okay, the next movie is better than that one, I promise.

"Sequels are rarely worth watching," Shouta grumbled, but turned his attention to the opening credits of their third movie. "And any movie after that usually just deteriorates in quality."

"Don't mind me" | General, 420 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 3 of The Merry Whump of May Part 1 of Stalker Monoma

It was dark.

That was the first thing that registered in Hitoshi's brain when he clawed his way into consciousness, sleep-heavy limbs still numb.

"Beg to differ" | Teen & Up, 745 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 2 of The Merry Whump of May

Ochako came to slowly, a cool breeze blowing against her cheek. She felt her back aching, which only confused her sleep-addled mind.

Her bed at Heights Alliance was soft and plush, and while her bed at home wasn't as good, it never left her feeling sore like this.

Her eyes blinked open, and her mind began to race in panic as she registered her surroundings.

"Don't hold your breath" | Teen & Up, 455 words, 1/1 Chapters Part 1 of The Merry Whump of May

Eri felt tears silently fall as she was led quietly down the corridor.

It was silent, always so silent.

But she preferred the silence over the screams.

This life was all that she had known, but she never got used to the screams.

Those Damn Flowers | Mature, 32,459 words, 24/24 Chapters

Shouta Aizawa is content with his life. He teaches, patrols, spends Saturdays with his best friend, then does it all over again.

This all comes crashing down when he coughs up a petal.

Lost | Teen & Up, 2,469 words, 1/1 Chapters Inspired by The Roundabout Way Of Fate

While he's defending Izuku, Katsuki gets hit by an unknown Quirk. Now Izuku is acting weird, but everyone seems to think that Katsuki is the weird one.

Quiet Day | General, 748 words, 1/1 Chapters

What happens when the Voice Hero - the guy who seems incapable of shutting up - shuts up?

#my writing

7 notes · View notes

rootofjesse · 6 years

Audio

(Lyrics) The Great Day Of Judgment

SoundCloud Player Version

Music, Lyrics and Spoken Words by Leslie (aka Jesse) Hughes ©

The provided lyrics for Jesse’s SoundCloud Player Version of ‘The Great Day Of Judgment’ come from Jesse’s Spoken Word and Song Versions of

‘The Vengeance Kept In Reserve’:

Chorus:

How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true ((Rev 6:9-10, Dt 32:15-43)

Until you judge the inhabitants of the earth

And avenge the blood of your servants?

How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true ((Rev 6:9-10, Dt 32:15-43)

Until you take vengeance on your adversaries

And repay those who hate and lie to you?

How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true ((Rev 6:9-10, Dt 32:15-43, 2Pt 2:1-4, Jude)

Until you put sinning angels in gloomy dungeons of darkness bound in everlasting chains

To then serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire?

And how long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true ((Rev 6:9-10, Dt 32:15-43)

Until you blot out your enemies from the memory of mankind

And have the heads of the enemy leaders with a sharpened flashing sword?

Final Chorus

And this is what the Sovereign Lord says (Dt 32:15-43)

To these godless ungodly sinning men who worship a no god (Dt 32:21, Jude)

Who make the Spirit who is the Lord jealous by their not god, non-god, no god

(Dt 32:21, 2Co 3:17, Isa 11)

And who anger the Holy Ghost who is the Lord with their worthless, detestable idols

(Dt 32:21, 2Co 3:17, Isa 11)

That they sacrifice to demons, which are not God (Dt 32:16-17)

Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults?

It is mine to avenge; I will repay

In due time the devils foot will slip; their day of disaster is near

And their doom rushes upon them

I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line (Isa 28:9-22)

And hail will sweep away the devils refuge and lies

And water will overflow their hiding place

Their covenant with death will be annulled

Their agreement with the grave will not stand

When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by

The devils will be beaten down by it

As often as it comes it will sweep the devils away

For morning after morning, by day and by night

It will sweep on through the synagogue of Satan

And the understanding of this message will bring sheer terror

To the devil enemy leaders who made a lie their refuge

And falsehood their hiding place that are staying there

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says (Dt 32:15-43)

To the detestable, disobedient, unfit for doing anything good (Titus 1:10-16)

Do nothing, useless devils

Whose only work has been to bring the way of truth into disrepute (2Pt 2:1-4)

With their shameful ways and their minds always busy doing evil (2Pt 2:1-4, Isa 32:1-8)

Who practice ungodliness, and spread error concerning the Lord

Who are the false teachers secretly introducing destructive heresies

Even denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them

Bringing swift destruction upon themselves

Who in their greed have exploited our people with foreign gods

And stories they have made up

Who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality (Jude)

And deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord

Who lie to the Holy Spirit the God of Gods and Lord of Lords (Acts 5:1-11)

With their hearts filled with Satan

Who are the godless, ungodly sinning men who worship no gods (Dt 32:15-43)

And make Christ a detestable idol muffin

They sacrifice to demons and witches that are not God

And their condemnation has long been hanging over them (2Pt 2:1-4)

And their destruction has not been sleeping

For God does not spare angels when they sin

But sends them to hell, putting them in gloomy dungeons

To be held for judgment

Therefore this is what the Holy Spirit who is the Sovereign Lord says (Dt 32:15-43)

See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me

I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal

And no one can deliver out of my hand

I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever

When I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment

I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me

I will make my arrows drunk with blood, while my sword devours flesh

And I will avenge the blood of the souls of my servants under the altar slain

(Revelation, Dt 32:15-43)

Because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained

Who call out in a loud voice to the Sovereign Lord’s name

And I will take vengeance upon the murderers since the beginning of time

Who worship the father of lies, worthless idols and a no god (Jn 8:31-58, Dt 32:15-43)

Who lie to the Holy Spirit, men, and God Almighty with their hearts filled with Satan

(Acts 5:1-11, Isa 14:1-23)

And these sinning angels will be put in gloomy dungeons of darkness (Jude)

And bound with everlasting chains

To then serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire

Until I blot out these sinning angels from the memory of mankind (Dt 32:15-43, 2Pt 2:1-4)

And have the heads of their enemy leaders with a sharpened flashing sword

Therefore, rejoice, O nations, with his people

For the Sovereign Lord will avenge the blood of his servants

He will take vengeance on his enemies

And make atonement for his land and people

Verse One:

For there are godless ungodly sinning men who worship a no god (Dt 32:21, Jude)

They make the Spirit who is the Lord jealous by their not god, non-god, no god

(Dt 32:21, 2Co 3:17, Isa 11)

And they anger the Holy Ghost who is the Lord with their worthless, detestable idols

(Dt 32:21, 2Co 3:17, Isa 11)

That they sacrifice to demons, which are not God (Dt 32:16-17)

They are a perverse generation of children who are unfaithful (Dt 32:20)

And the Spirit who is the Lord will hide his face from them

And see what their end will be (Dt 32:19)

For this is what the Spirit who is the Lord says

I will heap calamities upon them and spend my arrows against them

I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence and deadly plague

I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the venom of vipers that glide in the dust

In the street the sword will make them childless; in their homes terror will reign

Young men and young women will perish, infant and gray-haired men

Until they are scattered and blotted out of the memory from mankind

Therefore, do not be adversaries of the Lord, who is the Spirit (Dt 32:27)

And misunderstand and say 'Our hand has triumphed; the Lord has not done all this’

For you are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in you (Dt 32:28-29)

If only you were wise and would understand this and discern what your end will be!

How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight (Dt 32:30-33)

Unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?

For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede

Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom

And from the fields of Gomorrah

Their grapes are filled with poison, and their clusters with bitterness

Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras

Verse Two:

For there are ransomed lambs and bondservant slaves (Revelation, Dt 32:15-43)

That are held captive in prisons, behind stones in a cave

To be purchased as gold refined in the fire

From accusers, thieves, devils and liars

They were faithful to the word of God and did not deny his name

They are the souls under the altar that have been circumcised and slain

And they call out to the Sovereign Lord

To avenge their blood with a sharpened flashing sword (Dt 32:15-43, Jude)

And the Sovereign Lord will judge his people and have compassion on his servants

When he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free

He will say to the ungodly sinning devil angels who worship no gods

And worthless detestable idols they sacrifice to demons, which are not God

Now where are your foreign gods, your rock from the vine of Sodom

And the fields of Gomorrah you took refuge in?

The foreign gods you ate the fat of your sacrifices

And drank the wine of your drink offerings to?

Let them rise up to help you, let them give you shelter

On the Great Day of your judgment spoken of in the book of Jude

For Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied (Jude 1:14-15)

About these men whose condemnation was written about long ago

Who lie to the Holy Spirit with their heart filled with Satan (Acts 5:3)

See, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming with thousands upon thousands (Jude 1:14-15)

Of his holy ones from the order of Melchizedek

To judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly

Of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way

And of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him

Verse Three:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! (Mt 23)

You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces

Yet you yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to

And woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You travel over land and sea to win a single convert

And when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are

And woe to you blind guides, when you say

If anyone swears by the temple it means nothing

But if anyone swears by the gold of the temple he is bound by his oath

You blind fools, which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

You also say if anyone swears by the altar it means nothing

But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by his oath

You blind men, which is greater the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it

And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it

And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne

And by the one who sits on it

Verse Four:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! (Mt 23)

You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin

But you have neglected the more important matters of the law

Justice, mercy and faithfulness

You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former

You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel

And woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You clean the outside of the cup and dish

But inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish

And then the outside also will be clean

And woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside

But on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous

But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness

Verse Five:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! (Mt 23)

You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous

And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers

We would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets'

So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants

Of those who murdered the prophets

Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers

Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues

And pursue from town to town

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth

From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah

Whom you murdered between the temple and the altar

I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you

How often I have longed to gather your children together

As a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing

Look, your house is left to you desolate

For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord is the Spirit

And where ever the Spirit of the Lord is we have our freedom from devils and demons

The entire law is summed up in a single command

To simply love your neighbor as yourself

And no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid

That is Jesus is the Christ and Jesus is the Lord

I am a New Order, New Age and New Covenant Gospel Rock and Roller preaching the Gospel to the world in the tradition of Dylan and Springsteen. My songs and spoken words metaphorically interpret the Bible and book of Revelation, helping to shine a light upon Bob Dylan’s lyrical clues. I serve the Spirit of the Lord, and dedicate my eternal Star to serving my King the Holy Spirit of Truth (Isaiah chapter 11 and 2 Corinthians 3:17) and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, the day of God’s Salvation and the New Covenant (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah chapter 61, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:7-13) by measuring the temple, unsealing the scroll in the book of Revelation and preaching the true metaphoric interpretation of the Gospel to the world inspired by Mt 13:35 and Ps 78:2 that states “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world." Visit my home pages to view my complete lyrics, Gospel references, notes and sketches. Thank-you to all my friends who listen to my songs and spoken words, and read my notes. Your friend and brother, Leslie aka Jesse Hughes

Revelation Timeline references include:

God Almighty and Son of God Revelation timeline references: Rev 1:8, Rev 12:10, Rev 16:5, Rev 21:6 and Rev 22:13.

John and Son of Man Revelation timeline references: Rev 1:4, Rev 1:17, Rev 4:8, Rev 11:17, Rev 17:8, Rev 17:11, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:8-9

Significant Gospel references:

2Co 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”

Gal 5:14 “The entire law is summed in a single command “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ro 10:1-13, 1Jn 2:18-27, 1Co 8:4-6, 2Co 3:17-18 Jesus is the Lord and Jesus is the Christ, and the Holy Spirit is the Lord

Acts 13:20-23 Saul’s kingdom removed

Ro 1:18-25 The wicked men who suppress the truth

Mt 16:23, Mk 8:33 Jesus rebukes Peter and says “Get behind me, Satan!”

Isa 32:1-8, 2Pt 2:1-4 Scoundrels no longer respected who bring the way of truth into disrepute and spread error concerning our Lord

Jn 8:31-58 children of the devil and father of lies

2Co 11:13-15 Satan masquerades as an angel of light

Acts 4:36-5:1-11 Joseph’s property stolen by the devil and liar to the Holy Spirit

Acts 23:1-3 Paul struck down by a whitewashed wall

Ge 41:41-43 Joseph rides a chariot in front of Pharaoh

Ge 42:24 Simeon bound

Ge 42:36, Ge 44:2, Ge 47:21, Ge 46:4, Ex 6:2-4, Jacob and Benjamin deceived

Acts 12: 1-3 James slain and Peter seized

Mt 14:1-12, Mk 6:14-29, Lk 3:19-20 John beheaded

Acts 8:30-31, 2Ti 3:15, Philip’s who never had Bible since infancy

Acts 22:12, Ro 2:13 Devout observers and those who obey the law

2Ti 3:8 Jannes and Jambres oppose Moses and the truth

Ge 9:25, Ex 6:2-4 Noah curses Canaan

Deut 32:15-43, 1Co 10:1-5, Heb 3:1 to 4:16, Heb 11:13-16 God displeased with the disobedient images of God’s word in the human ancestry of Christ that do not return like Enoch to the city of God

The Books of Romans, Galatians, Jude, 2Pe 2:1-4, Titus 1:10-16, Isa 14:1-23

Further Gospel References: Ezekiel Chapters 29-32, Isaiah Chapters 11, 14, 28, 44 and 61, Jeremiah Chapter 46, and Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8:7-13, Rev 6:1-9, Rev 6:9-11, Rev 7:2-8, Rev 7:13-17, Rev 12:1-12, Rev 13, Mt 19:28, Rev 4 & 5, Rev 16:4-16, Rev 17:1-18, Rev 19:11-21 Rev 21 & 22, Dt 32:15-17, Jn 16:5-15, Lk 10:18, Mt 16:23, Mk 8:33, Mt 24:27, Lk 17:22-24, Rev 4:5, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:8-9, 2Th 2:4, Rev 15:7 to Rev 16:16, Rev 12:1 to Rev 13:18, Mt 14:1-12, Mk 6:14-12, Lk 3:19-20, Heb 3:1 to Heb 5:10, Heb 9:9-10, Zec chapter 3, Heb 8:7-13, Jer 31:31-34, Heb 10:15-18, Gal 5:14, 2Co chapter 3, the book of Jude, Tit 1:10-16, 2Pe chapter 2, Mt chapter 23, Heb 11:13-16, Ex 6:2-4, Jn 3:27-31, Jn chapter 1, 2Cor 4:4, Col 1:15, 1Co 11:3, Ro 1:18-23, Ro 10:6-9, Ro 9:5, Acts 23:1-3, Acts 24:24, Acts 5:1-10, Isa 14:3-23, 2Co 11:13-15, 1Sa 8:4-18, Isa 28:9-22, Mk 7:1-23, Ro 14:1-4, Col 2:8-23, 1Ti 4:1-7, Mt 21:24-27, Mk 11:27-33, Lk 20:1-8, Phm1:1, Phm 1:9, Phm 1:23, Acts 8:29-31, Jn 14:8-16, 1Jn 2:22-27, 2Co 3:17, Lk 4:19, 2Co 6:2, Lk 20:41-47, Mt 22:41-46, Mk 12:35-37, Gal 3:16-20, Jn 8:31-58, Rev 3:9, Ro 2:17-29, Heb 10:1-9, Heb chapter 7, Gal 5:2-14, Acts 13:20-23 and most importantly by the Holy Spirit 2Co 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”, and as Gal 5:14 says “The entire law is summed in a single command “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

(Please note that a Jew and Israelite in a metaphoric interpretation of the Gospel is not a person of Jewish heritage, it is a metaphor for a part of all of us that is a Jew within and another part of us that is a Gentile within -see Romans 2:28-29- and how these two parts become one in Ephesians 2:14-22, Ezekiel 37:15-17 and Romans 3:27-31, also how there are those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars- see Revelations 3:9)

Here are some links to my songs, complete lyrics, Gospel references, notes and sketches:

http://www.facebook.com/rootofjessesongs

http://www.facebook.com/jesserootof

https://www.soundcloud.com/rootofjesse

https://twitter.com/JesseRootof

rootofjesse.tumblr.com

http://www.myspace.com/jessesongproductions

www.pinterest.com/JesseRootof

https://goo.gl/K98kcr

#SoundCloud #music #RootofJesse #Gospel #Folk #Acoustic #Country

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pirateandpalm · 3 years

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Tom Crutchfield - A Life Lived Among Venemous Snakes & Dangerous Reptiles - Trailer

Tom Crutchfield is a lifelong herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles). He has traveled the world in search of some of the rarest and most unique venomous snakes, crocodilians and lizards for his collection. At one point he was one of the United States most wanted wildlife smugglers but now enjoys life on his reptile farm surrounded by the many beautiful animals he has collected over the years. We hope you enjoy this trailer to the upcoming film release.

Venomous snakes are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow or grooved fangs. King Cobra species is the most venomous snake in the world, and you can find one in India subcontinent forests. The Cobra worshiped by the Hindu religion people in India, and it survives by consuming other snakes & small animals. The honor of the word “King” added to the snake because it has the ability & strength to deliver venomous strikes.

All animals attract attention for various reasons, their physical appearance being perhaps the most common. It is a primal response we use as a way to protect ourselves and know who is friend or foe. Reptiles are one of the most feared in the animal kingdom as they encompass some of the deadliest creatures on the planet. This is why even harmless reptiles we keep as pets induce a certain amount of fear in many people. With crocodiles and their powerful jaws or poisonous snakes and their deadly venom, it is understandable why some may be wary.

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wanderingmoonsword · 6 years

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Nysrock (Demon)

With a strong resemblance to nagas – possibly one that’s more than scale-deep – nysrocks are demons that bear the likeness of monstrous serpents larger than a man, or even an gore. A demonic, horned head is crowned by a cobra’s hood, completing their monstrous visage, more terrible than any normal naga’s and lacking the dignified, even regal bearing some among that varied group of races exhibit. Both the fangs in a nysrock’s horned heads and the massive barbed stinger at the end of the tail drip with a potent venom that begins to sap the life and vitality almost immediately, proving fatal in well under a minute for many humanoids. Nysrocks also stand out for being planners and plotters, often used as minor generals (you want real martial heft in the Abyss, you find a marilith) and to perpetrate intrigues against rivals. Their spells are useful but nothing really spectacular – chaos hammer and blasphemy 3/day, with the ability to haul out greater dispel magic and unholy blight along with greater teleport on demand. While they can go after lawful foes, the spell selection is better tailored to hammering away at the good and the righteous.

With nysrocks, when you want to use them, keep it interesting. These are serpents, with all that implies – wise, deadly, and frightening – and that symbolism is one of the nysrock’s greatest strengths as a monster in your games. They can also serve as a counterpoint to other serpent monsters, showing that there are greater terrors, or being allies in serpent-themed games. Or a nysrock could be the thing that’s different. Your players are used to bandits, the relatively humanoid devils, and the intrigues of a court? Someone summons a demon in a deeply unwise act and the nysrock is a poisonous power behind the throne, just waiting for its would-be master to slip up so it can unleash its vast, destructive wrath. In the meantime, making others suffer will just have to do.

Despite their strange reputation, the serpent mystics of Etra Isrilu are seers and secret keepers, their magics granting painful transformations and oblique insights under the thoughtful guidance of the couatl Regorazez. But when Regorazez is murdered and replaced by the nysrock Thezaimis, the cobra demon begins to lead them down a darker path with the corruption of the tiefling sorcerer Shuthyon, bending their transformations and weaving blasphemies into their visions. One of them, a cyclops whose flashes of insight have warned her not all is what it seems, has escaped, bringing warning of followers transformed into mallors and nagas, the flesh of men shed like old scales.

Wizards and clerics often favor nysrocks as guardian demons, binding the mighty serpents to watch over places where others should fear to tread. For their part, the cobra demons loathe being bound by pathetic, mortal creatures. The violently raging nysrocks lash out at intruders, hoping to assuage their rage, or work to trick the intruders into somehow breaking the binding spell before disappearing, either into the Abyss or to work some evil on the world that dared keep them imprisoned upon it.

Dragged from the Abyss by the sorcerer-queen Crozelyn, the nysrock Algramath acts as her vizier and minster, rarely admitting anyone else into her company. Unlike those nysrocks bound as guardians, the demon appreciates his “captivity”, exhibiting his cruelty as he listens to her dark, brooding whims. In his official role, Algramath delights in delivering her proclamations and occasionally suggesting particular torments as he feeds Crozelyn’s jealous fears of spies among the people. The nysrock is the face of her reign much of the time, leaving his mistress to brood in her cursed tower.

- Tome of Horrors Complete 170

#pathfinder #D&D #dungeons and dragons #dungeons & dragons #frog god games #tome of horrors #demon #outsider

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jeffersonvann · 4 years

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poisonous grapes

Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

poisonous grapes

Deuteronomy 32:32-35 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 32:32 For their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters are bitter. Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is serpents’ venom, the deadly poison of cobras. Deuteronomy 32:34 “Is it not stored up with me, sealed up in my vaults? Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance…

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#Deuteronomy 32

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kgriffin37 · 5 years

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“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! Hear, O earth, the words that I say!

Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.

Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.

I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.

Everything he does is just and fair.

He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

“But they have acted corruptly toward him; when they act so perversely, are they really his children?

They are a deceitful and twisted generation. Is this the way you repay the Lord , you foolish and senseless people?

Isn’t he your Father who created you? Has he not made you and established you?

Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past.

Ask your father, and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.

When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court.

“For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession.

He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland.

He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.

Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions.

The Lord alone guided them; they followed no foreign gods.

He let them ride over the highlands and feast on the crops of the fields.

He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground.

He fed them yogurt from the herd and milk from the flock, together with the fat of lambs.

He gave them choice rams from Bashan, and goats, together with the choicest wheat.

You drank the finest wine, made from the juice of grapes.

“But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed!

Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.

They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods; they provoked his fury with detestable deeds.

They offered sacrifices to demons, which are not God, to gods they had not known before, to new gods only recently arrived, to gods their ancestors had never feared.

You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth.

“The Lord saw this and drew back, provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters.

He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them.

For they are a twisted generation, children without integrity.

They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have provoked my anger with their useless idols.

Now I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people; I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles.

For my anger blazes forth like fire and burns to the depths of the grave.

It devours the earth and all its crops and ignites the foundations of the mountains.

I will heap disasters upon them and shoot them down with my arrows.

I will weaken them with famine, burning fever, and deadly disease.

I will send the fangs of wild beasts and poisonous snakes that glide in the dust.

Outside, the sword will bring death, and inside, terror will strike both young men and young women, both infants and the aged.

I would have annihilated them, wiping out even the memory of them.

But I feared the taunt of Israel’s enemy, who might misunderstand and say, “Our own power has triumphed!

The Lord had nothing to do with this!”’

“But Israel is a senseless nation; the people are foolish, without understanding.

Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!

Oh, that they might know their fate!

How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?

But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize.

Their vine grows from the vine of Sodom, from the vineyards of Gomorrah.

Their grapes are poison, and their clusters are bitter.

Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.

“The Lord says, ‘Am I not storing up these things, sealing them away in my treasury?

I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip.

Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’

“Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people, and he will change his mind about his servants, when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.

Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?

Where now are those gods, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their offerings?

Let those gods arise and help you!

Let them provide you with shelter!

Look now; I myself am he!

There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!

Now I raise my hand to heaven and declare, “As surely as I live, when I sharpen my flashing sword and begin to carry out justice, I will take revenge on my enemies and repay those who reject me.

I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword will devour flesh— the blood of the slaughtered and the captives, and the heads of the enemy leaders.”’

“Rejoice with him, you heavens, and let all of God’s angels worship him.

Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles, and let all the angels be strengthened in him.

For he will avenge the blood of his children; he will take revenge against his enemies.

He will repay those who hate him and cleanse his people’s land.”

Deuteronomy 32:1‭-‬43 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.32.1-43.NLT

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wisdomfish · 7 years

Quote

Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this. For their vine is from the vine of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of poison, Their clusters, bitter. Their wine is the venom of serpents, And the deadly poison of cobras.…

Deuteronomy

#the rock #enemy #grapes #poison #cobra

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herpskeepers · 7 years

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Sri Lanka's antivenom leap forward

By making its own antivenom, Sri Lanka could boost its technology capacity and become a model exporter for others.

[NEWS] Colombo, Sri Lanka - In 2006, a Russell's viper sank one fang into Sanath Weeraratne's left hand.

Weeraratne immediately started to bleed profusely as the anticoagulant properties in the venom took effect. He knew what could come next: more bleeding from the rectum and the gums and blood-stained vomit.

The blood could seep into the brain and affect other organs, and this could be fatal. Fortunately for Weeraratne, the two people he was with were experts themselves. They identified the snake that had bitten him, applied first aid, and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was successfully treated.

The accident was a turning point in his life.

It led him to his job as a caretaker at Sri Lanka's first national serpentarium, home to some 185 venomous snakes. Common kraits, cobras, Russell's vipers, saw-scaled vipers and hump-nosed pit vipers lie coiled in their containers - with water bowls, foliage and coconut shells.

The small three-man team at the serpentarium keeps odd hours because some of these snakes, such as the kraits, are most active at night.

Weeraratne and his team must see to the serpents' health and extract their venom, which is collected and sent to a lab in Costa Rica. It is there that the first polyspecific freeze-dried antivenom to offer protection specifically against Sri Lankan snakes is being produced.

The serpentarium was set up and is operated by the United States-based Animal Venom Research International (AVRI). Its executive director, however, is the Sri Lankan-born Roy Malleappah, a herpetological field operations specialist. It has taken him and his team years of dedicated work to make the Sri Lankan antivenom a reality.

Sri Lanka boasts 92 different species of snakes, but most deaths are attributed to only three - the highly venomous cobras, Russell's vipers and kraits.

A medical breakthrough

The antivenom was developed in close collaboration with the Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP) in Costa Rica, while the University of Peradeniya - partly funded by the National Research Council of Sri Lanka - is responsible for the clinical trials, which are now ongoing.

The antivenom ICP and AVRI have produced is polyspecific - covering multiple species including, for the first time, Sri Lanka's hump-nosed pit viper. It is the most common cause of snakebite envenoming in Sri Lanka and is known to cause serious systemic toxicity and death.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest snakebite rates in the world, yet statistics are hard to come by as many cases go unreported. The island boasts 92 different species of snakes, but most deaths are attributed (PDF) to just three - the highly venomous cobra, Russell's viper and krait.

The national serpentarium itself is located in Dambulla in central Sri Lanka. Locals here know well what damage a snakebite can do. There is always a rash of incidents in March, when farmers go into the fields to harvest paddy and find snakes hiding amid the green stalks.

Weeraratne himself remembers a trip to a village in this area. "Every single house I visited told me that they had lost someone to a snakebite: from fathers to a 17-year-old who was sitting for her A-Level exams. The stories are enough to bring tears to your eyes."

Even among those who survived, there were some who would struggle with chronic kidney disease for the rest of their lives.

An island-wide community survey in 2016 extrapolated that, over a 12-month period, there were more than 80,000 bites, 30,000 envenomings and 400 deaths from snakebites.

Today, the antivenom used in Sri Lankan hospitals is imported - typically from India, where many of the same species exist.

"However, the reaction to the antivenom has become part of the problem," says Sarath Kotagama, a conservationist and emeritus professor of environmental science at the University of Colombo.

He explains that what is not always understood is how much variation there is between Indian and Sri Lankan snakes, even though they may belong, in theory, to the same species.

"The toxicity and composition of the venom is affected by the snakes' diet and other regional variations," says Kotagama, adding that "the Hypnale hypnale group [the hump-nosed pit vipers] are very specific to this country, and so you need a specific antivenom for them".

When a person is brought into a hospital with a bite from a hump-nose pit viper, doctors are at a loss.

"The bite from this snake is not covered by the antivenom we have, even though it is one of the most common bites," says Dr Indika Gawarammana, the lead investigator for the AVRI/ICP antivenom clinical trials at the University of Peradeniya's teaching hospital.

He explains that symptomatic treatment, such as surgical incisions and pain relief medications, is all that is on offer.

There is another reason doctors sometimes hesitate to treat snakebite victims with the current antivenom, he says.

"The imported antivenom creates adverse effects in a big proportion of those patients who receive it," Gawarammana tells Al Jazeera, citing a range of symptoms from relatively mild skin reactions, such as itching, to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

Sri Lanka's excellent network of hospitals means that most people are within 30 minutes to an hour of getting help, but the side-effects of the antivenom can mean doctors will insist that patients be transferred to bigger, more distant hospitals where severe reactions can be managed. The delay is increased if a patient is not certain what species of snake bit them.

"This allows complications to set in," says Gawarammana.

Currently, 2,500 vials of the new antivenom have been produced as part of a test batch. First freeze-dried, the antivenom can be stored at room temperature. Malleappah notes that ICP's technology has produced a particularly pure, concentrated and effective version of the antivenom. This is why treatment can begin with only two vials instead of the 10 vials that are currently routine with imported antivenom.

The clinical trials are still ongoing, but Gawarammana says the patients have so far responded very well to the new antivenom.

The allergic reactions have been negligible, necessitating fewer days in the hospital.

"In Sri Lanka, we haven't really calculated the cost to the government of treating the allergic reactions to the old antivenom," he says, noting that, typically, patients would spend days, and sometimes weeks, at home recuperating, thereby adding to the economic cost.

In contrast, the new antivenom has delivered quick recoveries that allow people to return to work within days of being bitten. As part of the trial, the AVRI/ICP antivenom will also be sent to an Australian laboratory to have its efficacy tested.

Maintaining a balance

It is Malleappah's hope that Sri Lanka will be able to begin producing its own antivenom very soon. He is currently arranging for more than 100 horses to be imported to help produce the antivenom in a new Sri Lankan facility. These will be injected with a small amount of snake venom and will generate antibodies that can then be extracted and used to create an antivenom.

Malleappah says this is typically not a lucrative business and so very few pharmaceutical giants are willing to invest money into research and development or manufacturing the product. He believes that if Sri Lanka were to start producing its own antivenom, it would be a boost to the island's technology capacity, and serve as a model that could be exported to other countries in the region.

Gawarammana agrees. "We should have our own manufacturing capabilities. There are lots of issues in this country where the same approach can be used to produce antidotes, for example, for plant poisons. It's important Sri Lanka has the technology."

While people are the focus of these efforts, for the AVRI team, saving snakes is a crucial goal as well.

"I am really sad to see the indiscriminate killing of snakes in this country. It has a huge, catastrophic effect on the ecological balance," Malleappah says.

As another unapologetic conservationist, Kotagama, too, is interested in seeing the antivenom developed.

"Today, every snake is a deadly snake," he says. "If people were confident that they could be treated, that they would not die from this bite, then we would definitely see fewer snakes being killed out of hand."

Source: aljazeera.com

#news #venomous #snake #snakes #herp #herps #reptile #reptiles #herpetology #biology #science #venom #wildlife #animals

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