Franklin Graham Tells Terrorists Who Killed Christians on Easter: 'Every Knee Will Bow to Jesus'
The Rev. Franklin Graham is responding to the news that Islamic terrorists killed 70 Pakistani Christians, mostly women and children, on Easter Sunday in Lahore by stating that the world will not bow down to Islam; but instead "every knee" will bow to Jesus.
"As Christians we know that when death comes to someone who has trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we are ushered into the presence of our Heavenly Father and will live for eternity in His presence. The grave has no hold on the believer," Graham said in a Facebook message.
Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, noted that Islamic terrorists have taken responsibility for the suicide bomb attack, with the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, which splintered from the Taliban, revealing that it specifically targeted Christians.
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"Muslims want Shariah law. They want the whole world to bow to Islam — that won't happen. The Word of God tells us that one day 'at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father' (Philippians 2:10-11). I serve a risen Savior," Graham declared.
Pope Francis has also spoken out against the attack, stating that the massacre of Christians was "reprehensible" and that it had "bloodied" Easter, Vatican Radio reports. "I wish to express my closeness to all those affected by this cowardly and senseless crime, and ask you to pray to the Lord for the numerous victims and their loved ones."
"I appeal to the civil authorities and to all the social components of [Pakistan] to do everything possible to restore security and peace to the population and, in particular, to the most vulnerable religious minorities," Francis added.
The Roman Catholic Church leader warned that "violence and murderous hatred" only leads to pain and destruction, arguing that respect and fraternity is the only way to achieve peace.
"The Passover of the Lord inspires in us, in an even more powerful way, prayers to God so that he stops the hands of the violent, who spread terror and death; and makes it possible for love, justice and reconciliation to reign in the world," Francis said.
Persecution watchdog groups, such as Open Doors USA, have said the Easter terror attack is only one example of the escalating global persecution against followers of Christ.
"Each life lost is precious. I'm disappointed that the Western world only seems to pay close attention when attacks happen here in the West. The lives lost in Africa, the Middle East or Southeast Asia are just as valuable as those lost in Europe or the United States. We should be equally outraged by their loss," said Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry.
"Countering the kind of terrorism we saw today in Pakistan will take strong leadership and skilled diplomacy from the United States with other like-minded nations. Together, we must speak out against religious persecution wherever it may be found," Curry added.
Meanwhile Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed that defeating terrorism was imperative, BBC News reported.
"Our resolve as a nation and as a government is getting stronger and the cowardly enemy is trying for soft targets," Sharif said at a security meeting after the bombing.
