Rev. Franklin Graham on Beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians: 'The Storm is Coming'

The Rev. Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has denounced the recent beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by the Islamic State, calling on Muslim leaders to condemn the brutal act.

Over the weekend, the Islamic State uploaded a video to one of its social media accounts showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by Islamic State militants in Libya. The brutal video sparked outrage from Christian leaders around the world, including Pope Francis.

Now, Graham, son of evangelistic minister Billy Graham, is calling on Muslim leaders to denounce the recent beheadings, arguing that Christian leaders would do the same if 21 Muslims had been beheaded at the hands of Christian extremists.

"Can you imagine the outcry if 21 Muslims had been beheaded by Christians?" Graham questioned in a recent Facebook post, adding: "Where is the universal condemnation by Muslim leaders around the world?"

"As we mourn with the families of those 21 martyrs, we'd better take this warning seriously as these acts of terror will only spread throughout Europe and the United States," Graham warned, saying: "The storm is coming."

Pope Francis also released a statement calling on Christians from all denominations to voice their opposition to the recent killing, saying that the blood of the 21 victims serves as the "blood of ecumenism," uniting all Christians.

"The blood of our Christan brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard [...] It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians! Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ," Francis said in a statement.