Syria: Muslims see cross hanging from Christian's neck, immediately behead him

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"When you meet the unbelievers, strike at their necks..." -- Qur'an 47:4

"Violence against Christians in Syria is becoming 'one of the worst persecutions endured by Christians in this part of the third millennium.'" Shhh! "Talk about extreme, militant Islamists and the atrocities that they have perpetrated globally might undercut the positive achievements that we Catholics have attained in our inter-religious dialogue with devout Muslims." -- Robert McManus, Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester, Massachusetts, February 8, 2013

"Syria: Beheading of a Christian terrifies community," by Martin Barillas for Spero News, January 16:

Islamists beheaded a young Christian man and seriously wounded another in attack near Homs, a city in Syria.

The pair was travelling by car from Homs to a majority Christian village known as Marmarita.

A group of five armed jihadists intercepted the vehicle in which Firas Nader (29), and Fadi Matanius Mattah (34), were traveling and opened fire.

When the assailants reached the car and noted that Fadi wore a cross hanging from his neck, he was immediately beheaded.

They also stole money and various documents, leaving Firas behind when they thought he was dead.

Following the January 8 attack, Firas managed to escape on foot to Almshtaeih, a nearby town, where he was transferred to a hospital in Tartou.

Christians recovered Mattah’s desecrated body and brought it to Marmarita, where locals openly expressed grief, fear and deep indignation.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity, has reported that violence against Christians in Syria is becoming "one of the worst persecutions endured by Christians in this part of the third millennium."

More than 600,000 Christians - a third of the total Syrian faithful - are internally displaced or living as refugees in neighboring countries.

Christian leaders fear that the exodus of Christians from Syria, who have been present since the earliest days of the faith, could seriously jeopardize the future of the church in that country....

Prayer for Peace in Syria

God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

Petition: For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace.

Don’t forget the rest of the verses. At the Rapture most are taught that the dead in Christ rise first, yes? The verses you quoted state that those who die during the tribulation are resurrected. THEN the Bible states that the rest of the dead, those believers who did not die during the tribulaton did not rise until after Jesus rules for 1000 years. Read it all carefully. As one whole paragraph.

Vs 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their 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 on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

The first resurrection is only for those who die for their faith during the tribulation. The rest of the dead are resurrected at the completion of the 1000 years.

Anyway. Be prepared. We are called to take up the cross like Jesus did, not simply serve.

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