Just days before Mississippi passed an anti-LGBT, religious liberty bill which allows individuals with religious objections to deny wedding and other services to LGBT individuals, another law was passed that did not garner much attention. The bill that was passed permits executions by firing squad. “A Senate bill that started as a move to keep executioners’ names secret has morphed into one allowing the use of a firing squad and has the Governor’s endorsement. The measure, SB 2237, introduced in the legislature’s upper chamber in February, left the Senate in a 32-18 vote on March 1 as a proposal to safeguard the names of those who perform executions for the Department of Corrections as well as vendors who supply chemicals for lethal injection, Mississippi’s current form of execution. However, in its travel through the House, an amendment was tacked on to allow for the use of a firing squad should lethal injection no longer be an option in the future, passing in a 79-40 vote on March 25. Backers of putting rifles into capital punishment in the Magnolia State argue it is effective. ‘It’s been one of the more common practices through history,’ said Rep. Robert Foster, R-Hernando. ‘It’s very instant and about as humane as you can get while performing an execution in my personal opinion.’”1
“Utah has killed three men by firing squad, the most recent in 2010. It is the only American state that has executed someone by firing squad since the resumption of the death penalty, said Robert Dunham, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that opposes executions. Other states have begun adopting alternate methods of execution to be used if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional or a state can’t obtain drugs. Oklahoma would use either electrocution or firing squad. Wyoming would use the gas chamber. Tennessee would use electrocution.”2
The great controversy between Christ and Satan has almost reached its climax, and in order for Satan to get to Christ, he is targeting God’s people. Satan has no need to attack those who are already enlisted on his side and carrying out his will, he is enraged at those who have committed their lives to the service of Christ. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” Revelation 12:17. The various torture mechanisms used in times past against the faithful will be resurrected and used upon God’s people. Some may be skeptical as to how this will come about, however prophecy foretells that God’s people will be hated by all nations because of their strict adherence to the commandments of God and their disregard for the commandments and erroneous laws of men. “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” Matthew 24:9.
When Papal Rome reemerges to prominence and all nations fall subservient to her and enforce her decrees and institutions, those who dare oppose her authority will feel the full force of what it means to go up against the massive institution of Popery. The inquisition will be revived, and already many politicians and presidential candidates have expressed their approval of torture techniques for those suspected of terrorism. Accompanied with the torture techniques for supposed terrorists, and those found guilty of the same, will be the repetition of the cruel medieval practices concocted and carried out by Rome during the Dark Ages.
“The Roman Catholic Church, uniting the forms of paganism and Christianity, and, like paganism, misrepresenting the character of God, has resorted to practices no less cruel and revolting. In the days of Rome’s supremacy there were instruments of torture to compel assent to her doctrines. There was the stake for those who would not concede to her claims. There were massacres on a scale that will never be known until revealed in the judgment. Dignitaries of the church studied, under Satan their master, to invent means to cause the greatest possible torture and not end the life of the victim. In many cases the infernal process was repeated to the utmost limit of human endurance, until nature gave up the struggle, and the sufferer hailed death as a sweet release.”3
“The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All that she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to be right; and would she not repeat the same acts, should the opportunity be presented? Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome be reinstated in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution.”4
Every day God is testing his people, and their responses to those tests reveal in a great degree what will be their response when the fire of persecution is rekindled and their lives are at stake. May God’s people remain faithful to every letter of the law and unwaveringly stand each test, be the price what it may, so that when the time of most severe persecution comes upon them, they can be victorious and possess the blessings of Matthew 5:10-12: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28.
Sources
1. http://www.guns.com/2016/03/29/mississippi-house-approves-firing-squad-for-executions/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=56fa8de604d30113e8ef1886&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook
2.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3510056/Mississippi-House-proposes-firing-squad-execution-method.html
3. White, Ellen. The Great Controversy (1911), page 569
4. White, Ellen. The Great Controversy (1911), page 564
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