Isaiah 60 : The Apocalypse and the Promise

This is a multi media painting done on a 8ft. by 4ft. insulation foam board that took me about a year to make.  It is multi-dimensional in that where Hell is the insulation was melted with xylene, in the middle hangs a gold and jeweled frame (not shown) and to the right is a collage of various levels of cut photos.

This painting was not totally completed when this pic was taken.  On the right is a collage of “social events and behavior” depicting the Fall of our present day civilization.  The fist formation below the 3rd horse of the Apocalypse illustrate man’s rebellion against his Creator.  In the midst of this collage of lust and materialism is a “green” monster, the locust with a stinger tail that torments mankind for 5 months.  These tormentors come from the Abyss and are described by the John the “Revelator” in his description of the 5th Trumpet.  Above this milieu is a darkened sun with “black rain” and the “pale horse” of the Apocalypse.  The pale horse is the 4th horse of the “Seal Judgments” which will help to usher in those Trumpet Judgments.  Facing the coming Wrath are the prayers of the saints (symbolized by Billy Graham and the wavy chords of scarlet).  Under the altar in the Seal judgment is also the cries of the Martyrs demanding vengeance:  (the dark lines that link up with the prayers).

In the Center of course Is Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, crowned in all His Glory. He is the Word and He is the Door.   We are reminded of the sacrifice that He made for us by the thorns on his head, for it is by His Blood that our sins are redeemed.  Surrounding Him are the Names that Glorify Him, the Prophets that foretold his coming,  and His Holy Spirit that changed us.  Some verses that emanate in all directions are:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, acknowledge Him in all that you do, and he will make your path straight”, “I Am the Light of the World, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness”, “I Am the Door, he who enters by me will be saved”,  and “If you confess your sins and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved”.

Below Him is the field of “seeds” where God has sown the seeds of His Word.   Unfortunately the cares of this world and the “evil one”, as shown by the thorns and weeds, have led people astray.  As Isaiah says,  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  The Hand from Heaven on the left is sowing these seeds.  We are reminded that Jesus used “seeds” to illustrate many of his parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field”,  “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,” “Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain”.   Coming out of this area is the Dark Horse, and the curse of starvation and torture from condemnation and injustice.

The panel on the left illustrates the Holy Spirit and His war against the flesh, the world, and Satan.  Below are the two first horses: the white horse of the deception and the cults; and the red horse of war, terror, and affliction.  Both of these ride above hell as if fed by its fury.  Hell is depicted by the character of Satan (false, counterfeit),  the names of Hell (Wits End, Lake of Fire), and by its predisposition (Depression, paranoia, insanity, and anxiety).  The dragon is shown bursting from the fire but repulsed by the cross of Christ.  In making Hell I accidentally spilled acetone which melted the foam and created melted plastic effect- which added 3 dimensional texture effect to hell.  Other effects include the seeds which are done with colorful sequins, and a 3D frame that is on the actual painting – framing he head of Jesus in Gold with jewels.  It is not shown in the photo because it would block other important features.  At the very top is the verse from which this work is titled, Isaiah 60:1-3:   Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.   For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;  but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.