Moses under the Old Testament gave Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. In addition to the Ten Commandments, he also gave diverse laws and ordinances. The first and foremost commandment is Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing (Exo.20: 4). He further amplifies this commandment in Lev.26: 1 as follows: Ye shall make you no idol nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image; neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. Amplified version says, You should not erect a graven image, pillar or obelisk, nor shall you place any figured stone in your land to which or on which to bow down. This is not merely about making any graven image but also about rearing up a standing image or setting up any image or figured stone in the Promised Land. You may not either make any graven image of foreign gods or worship them. However, you may be rearing up a standing image of any of your national leaders or of any servant of God or any head of your church organization. Do we attach undue importance to their policies or doctrines, which run counter to the truth of the Bible, or the doctrines of Christ?

Literally speaking, we find statutes of our national leaders, either dead or alive, in our Government or Parliament buildings. There is nothing wrong with this. However, setting up their images in the holy place is tantamount to placing the abomination of desolation as depicted by Daniel in his prophetic book.

There was a holy place in the Temple of God under the Old Testament. Similarly, there is a holy place under the New Testament. The gathering of the people of God redeemed by the Blood of Jesus is the holy place under the New Testament. As the chosen of people of God under the New Testament, we may not make any graven image nor bow down before it but may rear up a standing image of any human being which will surreptitiously pave the way for bowing down before him. This is nothing but combining the corrupt political power of the state with the untainted spiritual power of the Church, the Body of Christ.

Making a graven image is different from rearing up or erecting a standing image or an image of stone of any person. Making a graven image is the first stage of idolatry. However, rearing up or erecting a standing image is the second stage of idolatry. It is preserving or maintaining the graven image already made and making it stand out. Bowing down before such an image in the holy place, the third stage of idolatry is an abomination unto the Lord.

God has brought us into the Promised Land through the Blood of Jesus. In this holy land, we should not only make any graven image in order to bow down before it but also should neither rear up nor maintain this mage. Bowing down before such image means accepting and acting on the words of such leaders.

- Job Anbalagan