A New Level of Horror (Mike Mickey, 2004 article)
A CNN article accurately describes it as "a medieval way of dealing death." What is it? Beheading.
Long considered a thing of the past, beheading is coming back into style among the world's most ruthless men - radical practitioners of the supposedly peaceful religion of Islam.
First, American Nick Berg, whose brutal murder was videotaped and displayed for the world to see on the worldwide web, was beheaded in Iraq due to American military involvement in Iraq. The next to die was American Paul Johnson, whose detached head was photographed and similarly posted on the worldwide web, in Saudi Arabia after the Saudi government refused to release a number of Al Qaeda militants Johnson's captors demanded to see freed. The latest victim, South Korean Kim Sun-il, was beheaded after the South Korean government refused to cease its peacekeeping involvement in Iraq.
Why are terrorists resorting to such inhuman evil? According to Richard Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia quoted in the CNN article linked above, it's a political, psychological ploy on their part, designed to show us the enemy is merciless, vengeful and will stop at nothing. Murphy goes on to say the practice is being used to "cause maximum shock in the Western public and particularly the American public." It is, of course, working.
Apparently, although it hasn't been posted on the worldwide web to the best of my knowledge, the murder of South Korean Kim Sun-il was videotaped so the world could see the fear on his face immediately prior to his death, as well as the spilling of his blood at the hands of his savage captors.
Al Jazeera, an Arab news service, apparently has a copy of the footage of Sun-il's murder but says it isn't going to show it because the killing was too gruesome for its audience. I'm sure his savage murderers are disappointed the footage hasn't leaked out during this time when the memory of earlier video footage of Sun-il sobbingly begging for his life, recorded several days before his murder, is fresh in the minds of us all.
The goal of terrorism is to effect political change through violence. As such, terrorists perform their evil deeds under the premise of correcting some perceived wrong that has been done to them - like the United States' removal of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, for example. Their hope is our desire to protect people from being beheaded or blown up will overpower our desire to stand against evil. Knowing this, we have to be bold in the face of evil, as painful as it may be.
Proverbs 28:1: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Whether the United States or any other military power in the civilized world remains involved in resolving issues of concern in the Middle East or not, terrorism and, in all likelihood, the medieval practice of beheading is here to stay. Why do I say that? There are three reasons.

    The Bible says the end times will be as it was in the days of Noah. What was the world like in Noah's day? Genesis 6:11: The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. Undoubtedly, such violence in those days involved terrorism as well as the act of beheading.
    Radical elements of the Islamic faith have traditionally sought to gain political control of the citizens of the world by the sword and will continue to do so, in keeping with the traditions of their faith.
    Beheading is going to play a significant role in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy in the future.

As disturbing as it is for us to grasp, a world leader, perhaps a man who is watching the world's reaction to what is taking place in the news right now, is coming in the prophetic future who will utilize beheading, among other things, to control the masses. At the appointed time, this world leader will bring the horrific practice back into use on a scale far larger than we're currently witnessing - a frightening thought indeed.
The Bible tells us the practice will be going on in the Tribulation Period to come when the world leader I'm referring to, the prophesied Antichrist, reaches the pinnacle of his power. As ironic as it may seem, the ruthless world leader I'm referring to will rise to prominence on the world stage as a peacemaker - the result of a seven-year peace agreement between Israel and her enemies he will confirm with many.
During his reign, approximately three and one half years after confirmation of the seven-year peace plan has taken place, the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be God in Jerusalem. Subsequently, the world will be ordered to worship him and accept an economically-tied mark of allegiance to him most refer to as the mark of the beast. Those who refuse to accept the mark of the beast, a symbol or mark of allegiance to him which he will require to be accepted on (or in) the right hand or forehead, will be beheaded. I'm not sure ALL who refuse the mark of the beast will be beheaded, but, clearly, as revealed in Scripture, many will be.
Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
As I've stated on many occasions, much of what we're witnessing in the news today is demonstrative of things to come in the prophetic future. Beheadings, like the ones spoken of in this commentary, are providing us a glimpse into the world that will exist after the Rapture of the Church has taken place - a world none of us should want to be part of!
A new level of horror is presently here in the form of the beheadings we're witnessing taking place in the Middle East. An even higher level of horror is coming in the prophetic future, but there is a way to avoid being here to experience it.
The Bible tells us those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ will not be present in the world to witness the horrific seven-year reign of the Antichrist and the 21 judgments of Almighty God which will fall upon the earth during that time.
In Revelation 3:10, Christ addresses the faithful Church, those who have repented of their sins, accepted Him as their Lord and Savior, and are faithfully awaiting His return. His promise to them? Deliverance from the time of testing to come - the seven-year Tribulation Period.
Revelation 3:10: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Want to know how you can accept Jesus Christ today and avoid the horrors of the Tribulation Period to come? If so, click HERE