Sister,
    Has anyone thought to associate this beheading with Revelation 6:4 and 20:4?  Yes, I have heard all the stories that seem to pop up from time to time about how someone saw a bunch of "guillotines" in such and such a place.  The only problem is that such stories are never documented or authenticated in any way.  Isn't it becoming increasingly obvious that the so-called "guillotine" has very little to do with the fulfillment of these passages?  Rather, it appears that an all-out war between the forces of Islam and other world religions and governments is swiftly developing.  The goal of Islam has always been to impose the Islamic religion on the whole world.  And the favorite method of executing their "enemies" [anyone who is not a Muslim] is now and always has been.....beheading.
    I would suggest that "a great sword" would at the least imply the "scimitar."  This is the favorite excecution weapon of the Islamic world.  It is a long, broad, heavy sword that can easily sever the head from the body with one blow.  The Word of God plainly states in Revelation 20:4 that the Tribulation martyrs "were beheaded."  Doesn't this at least suggest that the Islamic religion is going to wield some mighty political and military power during the coming Tribulation?  I think it does.

                   Pastor F. M. Riley
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I agree, and have thought of that.  Also, on the the flag of Saudi Arabia, the headquarters of wahabi Islam, and hate America teaching, and a chief funding source for terrorism -- is a sword.  See http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/flags/sa-flag.html

Jim