Revelation 6:3-4 NCV When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take away peace (prosperity, rest) from the earth and to make people kill each other (butcher, slaughter, to maim violently, in streets), and he was given a big sword (assassins sword, terrorist, loud, mighty, sore afraid).
Islamic terrorist group ISIS seized control of a key village in the province of Homs, kidnapping around 230 people including initially at least 60 Christians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Friday that the terrorists have taken control of the heavily populated town of Qaryatain. The town of about 40,000 people is located in the middle of a triangle formed by Homs, Palmyra and Damascus. Many residents who fled Homs because of the terrorist group had fled to Qaryatain.
SOHR reported that 60 Christians had been kidnapped by the group but the head of the Christian Assyrian Network for Human Rights in Syria told the Associated Press that half of the Christians were released and fled to nearby villages.
Reuters reported that some of the Christians were seized from a monastery in the city.
SOHR also said that 45 women and 19 children were among those taken by the terrorists.
Officials said that around 1,400 families in the city have fled the city, most of them traveling to Homs, which is now under the control of government forces.
Kidnapping of Christians and residents is a standard tactic for the terrorist group. In March, the group kidnapped 230 Christians and demanded $23 million in ransom for their release.
