Beheading (Free-images.com)
An Imam reportedly called for the beheading of non-Muslims in New York City:
Mamdani Attends Iranian Front Al-Khoei Islamic Center Where Imam Prays For The Mahdi To Kill The Infidels By His Sword
February 24, 2026
New York City’s Islamo-communist Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a point of saying Friday prayers at a mosque that the Department of Justice considers to be a front for the Iranian government. The cherry on top is that during those prayers, the imam prayed for the Mahdi to kill the infidels (non-believers) by the sword.
This is submission disguised as diversity and the furtherance of not only the conquering of America from within, but the brazen, murderous hatred of anyone who is not Muslim. New Yorkers are literally kneeling before their Islamic overlords. …
The imam thanked Mamdani for his work on behalf of “all of humanity and all the residents of New York.” The prayer service immediately followed, where he prayed that Allah make them among those who await the Mahdi and are martyred before him, adding that through the hands of the Mahdi “comes the relief for the believers and the killing of the infidels by your sword.”
In other words, behead or smite all those who are not Muslim. New York City is just full of diversity these days. …
MEMRI provided a partial transcript of the video:
Zohran Mamdani: “Last Ramadan, I was with many of you here at the procession of the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali. It is a privilege to be here with you once again.
[…]“I stand before you as the first Muslim mayor in our city’s history, and this year is the first Friday prayer that I have attended in that new position.”
“And to do so together – it is a reminder that in this month of Ramadan, as we find moments of reflection, of recommitment, moments of community, that we always do so together. And it is together that I am thankful to be here today, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to lead our city. Salaam Alaikum.”
[…]Imam Dakmak-Rakka: “You work not just for Muslims; you work for all of humanity and all the residents of New York City. So, we thank you very much for this, and we pray daily for your success in this journey, inshallah. Thank you.
[…]Imam: “I ask Allah to send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and to make me among those who await you [the Mahdi], follow you, and support you against your enemies, and among those who are martyred before you, among the ranks of your loyal ones.”
[…]“Through your hands comes the relief for the believers and the killing of the infidels by your sword.” https://rairfoundation.com/mamdani-attends-iranian-front-al-khoei-islamic-center/
Let me add that while the Quran does encourage beheadings in battles (Sura 47:4), it does not authorize that outside of war.
In the past Roman and Greek Orthodox Catholics have used the sword against true Christians.
12/13th century painting portraying persecution against Paulicians ordered by 10/11th century Byzantine Empress Theodora (Public domain via Wikimedia)
Is persecution for people claiming Christianity over?
Sadly, no.
In Western cultures, persecution is often subtle and is more directed to those who espouse biblical ideas.
Big Tech and various governments have taken steps to “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18) as the Apostle Paul warned. A while back, we put out the following sermon on our ContinuingCOG channel:
1;14:59
Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution
What did Jesus teach about persecutions? Should Christians expect name calling and being falsely taught against? Did the Apostle Paul warn about this as well as evil deceivers increasing in the end times? Were early Christians ever murderous persecutors? Did Emperor Constantine stick to his religious tolerance ‘Edict of Milan’ in 313? What about his edict against heretics in 331? What types of persecution did Emperor Theodosius implement? Has there been a history of attempting to cancel Christian speech and practices, which were sometimes followed by physical persecution? Have Greco-Roman Catholics been involved with persecutions again st believers? What about Protestants like Martin Luther or John Calvin? What about Big Tech? What about actions from Facebook Google, YouTube, and Twitter? Is shadow banning consistent with cancel culture? Is more persecution coming? Do Greco-Roman prophecies about the ‘Great Monarch’ look forward to Christians being persecuted? Could the European Union’s Digital Services Act and European Public Prosecutor’s Office be factors in future persecution? Will faithful members of the holy covenant instruct many? Will indentifying the coming King of the North trigger persecution? Will there be more persecution of the Philadelphian Christians prior to the start of the Great Tribulation? What will happen to the Laodiceans? Which Christians will be protected from the coming hour of trial, which starts with the Great Tribulation? Will the persecuting Beast, False Prophet, and those with the mark of the beast be punished? Will God reward the faithful Christians who endure persecution? Dr. Thiel addresses these and more in this sermon video.
Here is a link to our sermon: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution.
Jesus foretold persecution:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12, NKJV throughout unless otherwise specified).
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:35)
29… Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved…” (Mark 13:3-13).
12… they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake (Luke 21:12).
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).
2… yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you (John 16:2-4).
Many are aware of some of the early persecutions, but few understand what teachings true Christians were persecuted for in the fourth century and beyond–some may seem shocking.
At least two major persecutions are prophesied to come.
All the faithful will be subject to persecution and being betrayed by professing believers (Matthew 24:9-13, Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16-18; Daniel 11:32-35).
The Book of Daniel shows a two-part persecution coming from a European leader (I added the a and b below for emphasis):
25 a He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand b For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
First of all (a), he shall persecute certain of the saints, which is consistent with what Jesus said was coming:
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)
Much of the above will affect the Philadelphian Christians (cf. Revelation 12:13), but they will later be protected (Revelation 3:8-10) in the wilderness for a time, times, and half a time (Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra). Part of why they will be persecuted is for proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and probably also for identifying the coming King of the North, who will not wish to be identified that way. This will likely result in internet and other restrictions on getting the truth of God out to the world (cf. Amos 8:11-12).
Second of all (b), the remaining saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. This is the portion of the COG, the non-Philadelphians, who are NOT protected in the wilderness as Revelation 12:17 shows this separation, where as Revelation 20 points to Christians being beheaded:
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. (Revelation 20:4)
So, yes, beheadings of Christians will occur.
While many in the Church of God have experienced economic and social persecution in their walk with Christ, future severe persecution, beginning first with the Philadelphia remnant of Christians, is expected.
Murderous persecution is prophesied (cf. Daniel 11:33; Revelation 13:15, 20:4).
Persecution is a fact of history. It has happened before and we should be prepared for the fact that much more of it will happen again. And during the time of the final persecutions, the Bible records:
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
Thus, though the Philadelphian Christians will be subject to intense persecution first, before this, even the Laodiceans (The Laodicean Church Era) and other Christians will receive some praise if they endure the persecutions that will then come during the time of “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10).
While many seem to not wish to pay attention to this subject, the reality is that persecution has existed throughout history against those with Church of God doctrines. Jesus predicted that as well as more persecution to come. Some may be shocked by certain doctrines that Christians have been persecuted for (and often persecuted by others who profess to be Christian).
Those in the true Church of God have always been on the side being persecuted and have never been on the side of the persecutors. And this will be true again in the future.
Notice also the following sermon has to do with coming persecution of true Christians by leaders in Europe:
1:14:48
Christian Persecution from the Beast
Did Jesus says that persecutions would come at the end times? Does the persecution from the Beast in in Daniel 11:38-35 point to persecution of the Philadelphian Christian remnant? Are those remaining from Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea going to be subject to persecution from the Beast for 42 months, 3 1/2 years, also called a time, times, and half a time? Do both biblical and Greco-Roman prophecies point to some of God’s people getting killed and burnt? Could warnings about “Jewish” sects possible point to end time Christians? Will the Beast use deceit? Might some who “fall away” betray the most faithful Christians? What are some Greco-Roman warnings about the ‘secret sect’? Do Greco-Roman prophecies point to the Great Monarch persecuting God’s most faithful? Are there two periods of persecution prophesied in Daniel 7:25? Is there a persecution during the beginning of sorrows, followed by the opening of the 5th seal of Revelation and the start of the Great Tribulation? Is there a place of protection in the wilderness for the Philadelphian Christians? Were religious people dwelling in caves warned about by a Roman Catholic in the 12th century? What will happen to those who get the “mark of the Beast”? What have Christians been persecuted before in the past? What are some of the things Christians will be persecuted from in the future? How are Christians supposed to handle persecution?
Here is a link to the sermon: Christian Persecution from the Beast.
Yes, more persecution is coming.
Some items of related interest may include:
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? A video of related interest is titled: The Past and Future Inquisition.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North, and Christian Persecution from the Beast.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety,’ Zephaniah 2 to ‘gather together,’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on fleeing to a place–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of related interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Europe and the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
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