Alas: Pastor Killed by Snake He Took to His Church to Perform Magic

A Pentecostal reverend, Pastor Jamie Coots of 'Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name', known for preaching with snakes coiled around him has lost his life after one of the creatures suddenly bit him.

Pastor Coots, before his death, starred in National Geographic's reality show about snake-handling in church and said he believed Christians were instructed by Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15-18,  to pick up serpents, and they will never be hurt, as long as they are anointed by God.
The specific verses read:

     "And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons;
    they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
    
 So, by relying on the "anointing," or empowering of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Coots preached that believers will be supernaturally protected from harm when handling snakes