COMOSPROPHECIES

Could the Antichrist come from the Middle East?

The prophetic link to the method used to execute hostages taken by Islamic terrorists.

More than one Left Behind reader has noted how the use of the guillotine in the series seemed out of place in a futuristic setting filled with all kinds of advanced technology—until the recent use of beheading by Islamic terrorists. Contributing editor Mark Hitchcock comments on this use of an ancient method of execution in modern times.

Unfortunately, an old method of execution has made a sobering comeback. Beheading. This grisly, gory, terrifying practice is being talked about and sometimes even shown all over the newspapers and television news channels.

Islamic terrorists are doing what they do best – terrifying people with the threat of death by a barbaric means. Over and over again we see the images of masked terrorists with swords standing over a defenseless, blindfolded victim threatening beheading if there irrational demands are not met in a certain time.

While most of the world marks this off as just the action of a few lunatic fringe Islamists, could this fearsome practice be setting the stage for the coming of the ultimate terrorist, the Antichrist?

Revelation 20:4 refers to believers who are killed during the tribulation for failing to bow to the beast and take his identifying mark on the right hand or forehead. The verse says, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

The verb “beheaded” is pelikizo in the original Greek and it means “I behead.” It comes from pelekys which means “axe.” This was the traditional weapon for execution in the Roman empire. So the word really means “I cut off with an axe.” However, the sword later replaced the axe as the chief instrument of execution in the Roman Empire. [Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8—22 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 415)].

It’s possible that the mention of “beheading” by the Antichrist may just mean “put to death” or “executed” since this was the ancient method of capital punishment in the Roman Empire at the time John wrote. However, it seems more likely to me that this is the means of execution the Antichrist will implement for all who refuse to worship him as god.

It’s quick, simple, and easy to adapt to mass executions. Also, what better way to terrify people into submission?

Does this mean as some have suggested recently that the Antichrist may come from the Middle East and/or an Islamic background? While this is possible since much of the modern Middle East was once part of the ancient Roman Empire from which Antichrist will rise, I believe the Antichrist will rise from the heart of the reunited Roman Empire, probably Italy. He is identified as a descendant of the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 – the Romans (Daniel 9:26).

While it would be unwise to maintain that a few beheadings by Islamic thugs is a major sign of Antichrist’s coming and the end times, I do find it interesting that the whole idea of beheading is featured so prominently in the news today. If the Antichrist is alive, we can be sure that he is watching what’s happening in the world today and taking note of the fear that the threat of beheading strikes in people’s hearts. He could use this as a tool to rid the world of all who challenge his authority by accepting Christ. Beheading would be a vivid expression of his total disdain and hatred for those who follow the Lord Jesus.

This could be another small piece of the puzzle fitting into place to pave the way for Antichrist’s 3 ½ years worldwide reign of terror that Jesus called the “great tribulation.”