Our hearts were saddened to hear of the brutal massacre of 21 Coptic Christians last weekend. We should be consistently praying for Christians living in Muslim lands around the world; we should enter into their suffering, and stand with them as best we can against their enemies.
We are not at war with Islam, but clearly radical Islam is at war with us. This is consistent with the history and practice of Islam throughout the centuries; the only differences are the existence of more sophisti-cated weapons and the added motivation of world-wide media such as the Internet. Unfortunately there is little hope that the more moderate Muslims will stem the growing tide of radicalism around the world.
If you want to know what the great tribulation will be like, take a careful look at ISIS. This wickedly cruel branch of Islam is raising havoc in Iraq, Syria, and other countries. The ISIS fighters take delight in beheading adults, children, and even babies. To us these atrocities are unspeakably cruel, but in the eyes of these radical Islamists, this is not cruelty; this is what is necessary to advance the cause of Allah and to eventually install a Muslim Caliphate to rule the world.
Beheading perceived enemies has a long history in Islam, and is commanded several times in the Quran. Interestingly, Antichrist will also be a specialist at beheading those who refuse his leadership. In the book of Revelation, God encourages His people to be faithful though faced with the sword: “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain” (Revelation 13:10). God singles out the sword as Antichrist’s preferred method of execution.
Later, as we read of the millennial kingdom, we see that God’s prediction will come to pass: “Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4). Antichrist, like ISIS, will use sophisticated methods of torture to bring “terror” upon those who do not accept his rule. When you think ISIS, think Antichrist. They have much in common.
All for the King,
Pastor Lutzer