ISIS Trafficking Human Organs?

According to a document obtained in a raid in Syria by U.S. Special Forces, “Islamic State has sanctioned the harvesting of human organs in a previously undisclosed ruling by the group’s Islamic scholars, raising concerns that the violent extremist group may be trafficking in body parts” (Reuters, December 25, 2015). The translated report states: “The apostate’s life and organs don’t have to be respected and may be taken with impunity… The removal of that type is... not prohibited” (ibid.).

Bible prophecies have long foretold that at the end of the age, merchants of the earth will be buying and selling all sorts of items including “bodies and souls of men” (Revelation 18:11-13). Historically, this has involved slaves; today it includes body parts. Bible prophecies also record God’s anger against the people of Edom/Esau for their atrocious deeds, “For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever… as you have done, it shall be done to you” (Obadiah 8-10, 15-18; Malachi 1:2-3). Many peoples in the Middle East trace their ancestry back to the biblical character of Esau, whose modern descendants can be found among the members of ISIS. The atrocities we are seeing in the Middle East—beheadings, crucifixions and harvesting of body parts from captives—provide an insight into these prophecies and help us understand why Jesus Christ is going to return and bring justice and peace to the Middle East and to a misguided world (Isaiah 9:6-7). For more information on this topic, read our insightful article “Conflict Over the ‘City of Peace.’”