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Restoration
Toppling the Image of Evil

by Darris McNeely

On April 9, the statue of Saddam Hussein in the center of his capital of Baghdad came tumbling down. The scene of jubilant Iraqis hanging a noose around the neck of the statue was a dramatic symbol of a repressive regime coming to an end. Twice in recent years we have watched scenes like this. More than a decade ago the statues of Lenin in the former Soviet Union and other dictators in Eastern Europe came down as forces of freedom rose against regimes of repression.

The lightning-quick advance of coalition troops through the heart of Iraq during the last few weeks has been a textbook case of military operations. It will be studied as one of the most successful advances in history. The mission was to liberate the people of Iraq, who had been held in the death grip of a brutal and ruthless dictator for more than three decades. The job now appears to have been accomplished, and to put it in perspective, there is no better place to turn than to the pages of your Bible.

Daniel provides some lessons to be learned from this scene. In chapter 5 we see the demise of another power in the same land occupied by modern Iraq. Babylon's king, Belshazzar, partied in his palace while the judgment of God approached the gates of the city. Suddenly a hand appeared and wrote on the wall. Panic gripped the crowd. What did it mean? Only one person could give the answer. Daniel, the aged and respected servant, was hurried through the streets to appear and interpret the vision.

Daniel, God's embedded representative in Babylon, went straight to the heart of the aura of denial pervading the room and the regime. He recounted the history of Nebuchadnezzar, who failed to acknowledge and honor God and allowed "his heart (to be) lifted up, and his spirit...hardened in pride" (Daniel 5:20). God removed him from the throne. Belshazzar, too, was guilty of the same pride. "But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven...The God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified" (Daniel 5:22-23).

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0305/restoration0305.htm


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