Many pretribulational prophecy teachers today tantalize their benighted followers about “the rise of Antichrist.” And they also tragically teach their followers that they will be raptured out of there before his great tribulation begins.
And then you have all those pastors and other Christian leaders who tell you that “we should not be ‘divisive’ so let’s not talk about this issue.” But woe to them as they reject the ominous warning of our Lord: “Remember, I have told you ahead of time” (Matt 24:25).
Perhaps if Jesus’ words do not stir them, then maybe a preview of what the Antichrist’s great tribulation will be like will.
Recently, a Tunisian Christian was martyred because of his conversion from Islam. His head was sawed off with a knife. This will be the normative means of death during the great tribulation:
Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Rev 20:4)
This Video is DISTURBING and EXTREMELY GRAPHIC, so if you are not aware of this news story just be pre-warned.
Liberal talk show host Tawfiq Okasha recently appeared on “Egypt Today” airing a video of Muslims in Tunisia slicing a young man’s head off for the crime of apostasy, in this case, the crime of converting to Christianity and refusing to renounce it. The video—be warned, it is immensely graphic—is on the left (the actual execution appears from minute 1:13-4:00). For those who prefer not to view it, a summary follows:
A young man appears held down by masked men. His head is pulled back, with a knife to his throat. He does not struggle and appears resigned to his fate. Speaking in Arabic, the background speaker, or “narrator,” chants a number of Muslim prayers and supplications, mostly condemning Christianity, which, because of the Trinity, is referred to as a polytheistic faith: “Let Allah be avenged on the polytheist apostate”; “Allah empower your religion, make it victorious against the polytheists”; “Allah, defeat the infidels at the hands of the Muslims”; “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.”
Then, to cries of “Allahu Akbar!”—or, “God is great!”—the man holding the knife to the apostate’s throat begins to slice away, even as the victim appears calmly mouthing a prayer. It takes nearly two minutes of graphic knife-carving to sever the Christian’s head, which is then held aloft to more Islamic cries and slogans of victory.
This godly Tunisian young man was prepared in his faith, for he was “beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.” Are you prepared today? And will you be prepared for the Antichrist’s great tribulation if it happens in our lifetime?
Studying biblical prophecy is not a religious hobby or an academic exercise. It is intended to sanctify us. May this recent martyrdom sober us up and serve to remind us that Christianity is in a real battle against the forces of evil. May it prepare our hearts for difficult times coming.
(H.T. Tom Klein)
