Beheading of Believers in Libya by ISIS

     Sadly,  on  February 15th a video was released by the terrorist  group named ISIS.  The video depicted the simultaneous beheading of 21 Coptic Christians.  During the video  the onscreen narrator  said the following .

All praises due to Allah, the strong and mighty. And may blessings and peace be upon the ones sent by the sword as a mercy to all the worlds. [IS has been] chopping off the heads of those that have been carrying the cross delusion for a long time [and that war will continue until Jesus comes down from the heavens] breaking the cross and killing the swine.

            Honestly, for years  I've  wondered about  the accounts in the book of Revelation where it is clear that  beheading will  be a means  by which the Antichrist will put believers to death.    Until recently, beheading was more something we read about in the French Revolution and during the  Middle Ages.   But now it is becoming a primary means of carrying out the death sentence - especially when the execution is motivated by religious reasons.    Yet we are watching before our very eyes this kind of thing moving from the dark shadows of history onto  the front pages of our newspapers and news casts.    


            What is equally fascinating is that almost a week after our president lectured Christians and others not to wag our fingers at such things, we see a new, escalated execution by this Islamic group.    I agree with him that Christians do not ever need to forget  our failures - especially when they involve things like killing in the name of Christ.   Racism and the treatment of blacks in the United States is also a sad  memory - and even more so when some tried to use Scripture to justify it.    But, that being said, it was amazing to see Christianity lectured - while watching Islam defended at this prayer breakfast.     Yet, we need to realize that this will be the kind of thing that leads up to open persecution of Christians worldwide.  


              One of the things that will happen  in the last days is that Christians will be persecuted - and many will be slain for their faith.     Another fact is that one of the ways this will happen is by beheading.    Does this mean that the Antichrist will be of Islamic origin?   There is no way that we can know this - and the Word of God does not give us details on this matter.    All we know is that we are in a day where the whole idea of beheading is no longer something of the distant past.    It is happening  right now - unfortunately for at least 21 of our brothers and sisters in Christ - just yesterday.

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