The words "Cometh as a thief in the night" are associated with Christ's
return and are taken directly from Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2: "But
of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write
unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night." When I posted this painting on the Steen Art page, Donna, a dear sister in Christ who is well-versed in Scripture, commented, "It is like the calm before the storm. It is as if He (Jesus Christ) will be here any minute." I
believe that is exactly the message the Lord intended for this
prophetic painting. It's not for us to know the day or the hour but be
assured, JESUS IS COMING SOON and we need to be ready!
PAINTING IN THE SPIRIT
Here's a couple of pics during the painting process in 2010. I remember
the Holy Spirit directing me to varying hues of blue (like every blue I
had on hand!) and a comparably smaller amount of gold when choosing the
paint colors. The sizable amount of paint used in this piece stands out in
my memory, even though the canvas dimensions are only 16" x 20".
When
painting, I dipped the brush into whichever blue tone the Spirit
directed and then dragged the brush horizontally across the canvas. I
kept repeating that process throughout the painting. As the piece began
to take shape, I thought I was painting a seascape. It looked like water
to me. About midpoint, I turned the canvas upside-down because it was
getting difficult to paint the horizontal stripes. The Holy Spirit said
to add little gold to the blue and I continued the long brush strokes to
the top of the canvas. To finish the piece, I was told to paint gold on
top of the dark blue/green in the upper right hand corner.
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| Canvas upside-down on easel. |
Turning the painting right-side-up again, I realized it wasn't a
seascape but rather a midnight scene with a small city in the distance. I
knew the message of the painting was Christ's return. God loves to
surprise me with the paintings. I'm always in awe when it's done because
I know that I was simply the vessel. The prophetic works of art are
created by the Holy Spirit. Even though the Lord surprises me with the
final outcome of the paintings, as Christians we are not to be surprised
by the events of the last days. Jesus speaks of His return in Matthew
24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and plainly tells us what must happen before He
comes to gather His Bride, the Church to Himself. Prophecies are woven
throughout the Bible in the Old and New Testaments.
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| Canvas right-side up. |
INSIGHTS REVEALED
Just recently, as I studied the painting, Jesus gave me more insights of the painting's meaning. Take a journey with me into "Cometh as a Thief in the Night."
Gaze upon the sky. The dark tones clearly indicate the setting of the
painting is at night. (There are Scripture passages that parallel the
night setting - see below.) Notice there is no moon. Perhaps, it's too
cloudy or it's a new moon? (Perry Stone teaches on the correlation
between the new moon, Jewish Feast Days, and Christ's return.) Now lower
your focus and let your eyes follow the horizon to a knoll or mound
on the right. The knoll represents a city. There you will see a few
glimmers of light in an otherwise sleeping town. The lights represent
believers who are eagerly awaiting Christ's return. They won't be
caught off guard when He appears in great power and glory! Their lamps
are full of oil like the wise virgins.
Speaking of His glory, that's
exactly what the gold on the bottom left represents. Imagine Jesus
standing just beyond where the canvas ends and His glory is shining
around Him. He is standing there watching the city "like a thief in
the night" - scoping out the place.
Will the Lord find you with your lamp full of oil and
shining brightly when He returns?
SCRIPTURE VERSES
The Day and Hour Unknown - Matthew 24
36
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son,[e] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days
of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the
days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they
knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took
them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of
Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other
left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be
taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because
you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand
this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the
thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his
house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son
of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."
The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Matthew 25
1
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were
foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did
not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars
along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish
ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going
out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both
us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for
yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the
oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with
him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
The Day of the Lord - 1 Thessalonians 5
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5 "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day
should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light
and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the
darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let
us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those
who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day,
let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the
hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died
for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together
with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing."
I strongly encourage you to read God's Word daily. Become well
acquainted with what Scripture says about the end times, which simply
means the time is close to Christ's return. Don't rely on what others
say (including me!) about the last days, Christ's return, the rapture,
Armageddon, etc. Find out for yourself in Scripture. Ask the
Holy Spirit to teach and guide you through your search for the truth so
that you aren't deceived.
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