ART: Whence It Cometh - Spirit in Motion

Spirit in Motion

"The wind bloweth where it listeth (wishes), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8

The Scripture passage for this painting is John 3:1-21 where Jesus talks to Nicodemus about being born again, born of the Spirit. In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is compared to the wind. The Hebrew name for the Holy Spirit is Ruach Ha'Kodesh. (ROO-akh ha-KOH-desh) Ruach means wind or spirit. Kodesh means holy, thus Ruach Ha'kodesh literally means Spirit, the Holy, or The Holy Spirit.

HEBREW LESSON:
HaKadosh is a substantive that means "The Holy One" (as in Ha-Kadosh baruch hu, "the Holy One, blessed be He"). The accent falls at the end: ha-ka-DOSH. 
Ruach HaKadosh would mean "the spirit of the holy one" (as in a saint).  It is NOT used for the Holy Spirit... 
Ruach HaKo'desh means "the holy Spirit," just like har ha-ko'desh means "the holy mountain," admat ha-ko'desh means "the holy land," ir ha-ko'desh means "the holy city," and so on.



In the New Testament, the Greek word for Spirit is pneuma. 

• a movement of air (a gentle blast)
• of the wind, hence the wind itself
• breath of nostrils or mouth
• The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, co-eternal with the Father and the Son 
• sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes His personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit) 
• sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes His work and power (the Spirit of "Truth")

John 3:1-21 NLT
 1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
 10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

THE CREATIVE PROCESS
When the Holy Spirit guided me through this painting, the piece began with broad horizontal strokes of green, blue, gold and purple hues. Then diagonal brush strokes, sweeping the hues across the canvas.The result is a painting that depicts the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling in born-again Christians, God's children.  

Green means new life.
Blue signifies the Holy Spirit, heaven, holiness.
Gold indicated the glory of God.
Purple represents royalty & majesty, robe of righteous, riches.

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

Spirit in Motion by Christine Nichols

ART PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE! 

Find more Contemporary Christian Art 

on my website, Christine Nichols Fine Art.  

Look me up on Facebook and like the page 

if you have been blessed by the art. 

May the Lord be glorified and may the art speak to your heart!

Thanks for reading this blog. 

Feel welcome to comment below.

Blessings,

Christine

Copyright Notice
All images and texts are copyrighted and may not be copied, stored, used or adapted in any way, by any means mechanical or otherwise without prior written consent from the artist and author.

(The) King Knocking

Jesus Knocking at the Door of Your Heart

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 KJV

This verse talks about a close, personal relationship with Jesus. The word "sup" means intimacy in the Greek. Jesus Christ wants a very intimate relationship with you.

The painting is an abstract profile of Jesus robed in purple with His right hand extended as if knocking on a door. Open the door of your heart to Him! The Scripture and painting also deals with the lukewarm church of today. Here's the verse in context:

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.
²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Note about the painting: I did not intentionally paint a profile of the Lord. As I was being lead by the Holy Spirit in choosing the colors and the brush strokes, I thought I was painting a seascape with multicolored waves - see photograph on the right. Imagine my surprise when the Lord told me to flip the painting and there before me stood an image of Jesus knocking on a blue door! To me, this piece is a modern version of the famous painting, "Christ at Heart's Door" by Warner Sallman. 

The King Knocking - Christine Nichols, 2009

X  X  X  X  X  X  X

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, I invite you to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

My Love For You

My Love For You - Christine Nichols, 2009

My 
first 
prophetic 
painting 
asks and answers 
the question, "How much do I love you?"

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  John 3:16-17

I encourage you to read Ephesians 3. Here's an excerpt: For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, you're invited to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

 My Love For You - Christine Nichols, 2009

PEACE

PEACE - Christine Nichols, 2010

This painting combines wax and acrylic paint - a new technique for me. When I painted this piece in 2010, I remember wondering if I heard the Holy Spirit correctly to place HOT WAX on the canvas, but I took a leap of faith and trusted the instructions came from the Lord. The result is like a throwback to 1970's art or a contemporary version of a stained glass window. As I outlined the wax in black acrylic paint, the Holy Spirit focused my attention on the wax pattern atop the large heart. To my amazement it spelled out PEACE. As I was dribbling the hot wax on the canvas, I did not intentionally write a word. Peace and the large heart were then highlighted with sliver paint. The inner heart with silver and gold paint. This represents God's refinement of the hearts who love and seek Him to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

To give you an idea of how this painting took shape, 

I am including some photos of the creative steps. 

I love the second snapshot. To me it looks like a keyhole.

Christ holds the key to my heart!

Peace-heart Scripture verses:

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

All of these verses hold a special place in my heart 

and I hope they do for you as well! <3

PEACE - Christine Nichols, 2010

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, you're invited to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

Peace! Be Still!

Peace Be Still - Christine Nichols, 2009

"PEACE! 

BE STILL!" said with commanding voice of authority is how I envision Jesus saying these words when a sudden storm hit the boat He and the disciples were sailing in one evening.

Jesus Calms the Storm

As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41 NTL

I've read this story in the Bible many times - it's one of my favorites, but this was the first I noticed that the disciples were SHOUTING at Jesus to save them! The thought just occurred to me that they had to shout to be heard above the roaring wind. NIV says there was a "squall" which is a sudden, violent gust of wind that brings rain. Can you imagine what that furious gust of wind did to the waves? It's no wonder the boat was filling with water! The disciples were sea-worthy men, some of them fishermen by trade and they would know, by experience, whether a storm on the sea was dangerous or not so it must have been one heck of a squall for them to fear for their very lives! 

The other thing I noticed was the huge contrast when Jesus rebuked the violent wind and the high, choppy waves with just three words, PEACE. BE STILL. And it was very still. Most translations say there was a "GREAT CALM." The Message says, "The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass." The storm didn't just naturally subside - as in the wind died down and the waves became smaller, both the wind and the waves obeyed Christ's words EXACTLY and IMMEDIATELY! No wind. No waves.  

"Peace. Be still."

Studying this Scripture passage, I found this commentary by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown who noted that "Israel has all along been singing of Jehovah, 'Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them!' 'The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea!' (Ps 89:9; 93:4). But, lo, in this very boat of ours is One of our own flesh and blood, who with His word of command hath done the same! Exhausted with the fatigues of the day, He was but a moment ago in a deep sleep, undisturbed by the howling tempest, and we had to waken Him with the cry of our terror; but rising at our call, His majesty was felt by the raging elements, for they were instantly hushed- 'What Manner of Man is this?'" 

Can you answer that question? Who do you say Jesus Christ is?

Peace Be Still - Christine Nichols, 2009

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, you're invited to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

Perfume Poured Out - The Fragrance of Christ

Perfume Poured Out

"Pleasing is the fragrance of Your perfumes; Your Name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love You!" Song of Songs 1:3 is the text for this artwork which was created by painting one canvas as lead by the Holy Spirit, and then placed another blank canvas over the wet painting. The result is "Perfume Poured Out." I think if I asked ten different people what they saw in this painting, I would get just as many different answers, but to me it looks like an ancient perfume bottle. This painting represents the Fragrance of Christ. 

Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth

    for Your love is more better than wine.

Pleasing is the fragrance of Your perfumes;

    Your Name is like perfume poured out.

    No wonder the young women love You!

Take me away with You—let us hurry!

    Let the King bring me into His chambers.

Song of Songs (Solomon) 1:2-4

Heather Clark's song, "Kisses of His Mouth" 

sets to music the above verses.

Your Name is like Perfume Poured Out - Christine Nichols, 2009

Below is the original painting from which this piece was created.
It is entitled, "Beauty Within." 
It depicts the human heart of a believer.  
'Man looks at the outward appearance, 
but the LORD looks at the heart.' 
1 Samuel 16:7

Beauty Within - Christine Nichols, 2009

A third piece of art came forth from Beauty Within:

 

This artwork was created by placing two images of "Beauty Within" together, then rotated, flipped, and adjoined. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Christ's eyes looking back at me!
Christ is the beauty within! 

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, you're invited to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

River of Blood

River of Blood

This painting was created in Charlotte, NC, in the Spring of 2010 while I was visiting my sister, Mim, and her family. Mim was enrolled in a YWCA art class and asked me to join her. The instructor knew that I was an artist and asked me how I started each painting or the creative process. I told her that every painting starts with prayer. I ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit, that the Father and the Son would be glorified, and that the Lord's message would go forth. The message for this painting is a warning of the Tribulation found in Revelation 16:4-7. When I took the painting back to Mim's house, everyone that saw it had the same reaction and nearly said in unison: "River of Blood." 

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵ Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
    you who are and who were;
⁶ for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
    and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”

⁷ And I heard the altar respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
    true and just are your judgments.”

Revelation 16:4-7 

This will happen during the Great Tribulation as described in Scripture. 

River of Blood - Christine Nichols, 2010

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

You can find more Christian Abstract paintings that the Lord has given me on my Facebook page, Christine Nichols-Art, in a Photo Album called FOR HIS GLORY. If you've enjoyed the art, you're invited to LIKE and SHARE my art Facebook page: STEEN ART.

Ruach Ha'Kadosh - The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit - Christine Nichols

Ruach Ha'Kadosh is Hebrew for The Holy Spirit. In Hebrew, the word ruach means spirit, breath, or wind. Jesus compared the wind to everyone born of the Spirit in John 3:8. 

This painting shows the Holy Spirit moving like the wind but the Father and Son are also represented in the colors:

GOLD: The Father - glory of God
RED: The Son, Jesus Christ - His shed blood for our sins.
PURPLE: King Jesus - His majesty
BLUE: The Holy Spirit and Heaven.

There is an increased sense of motion as you rotate the painting. It looks like colored wind moving. The painting is signed on all four corners so the piece can be hung vertically or horizontally with the Spirit ascending or descending.

Ruach Ha'Kadosh by Christine Nichols, 2009

Ruach Ha'Kadosh by Christine Nichols, 2009

Ruach Ha'Kadosh by Christine Nichols, 2009

Ruach Ha'Kadosh by Christine Nichols, 2009

There is ONE painting, NOT FOUR, but this presentation shows the four ways the painting can be displayed. It is signed on all four sides so there's no right or wrong way to hang it. There is movement in the single, original painting, but the four together creates a sense of directional winds, purposeful, powerful and intentional.

All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end - from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke. I pray that the Lord's message would go forth through the art and that Father God would be glorified. I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

>>>ART PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE!<<<

Find more Contemporary Christian Art 

on my website, Christine Nichols Fine Art.  

Look me up on Facebook and like the page 

if you have been blessed by the art. 

May the Lord be glorified and may the art speak to your heart!

Thanks for reading this blog. 

Feel welcome to comment below.

Blessings,

Christine

Wave of Glory!

Christine Nichols, 2012

This abstract was painted in March 2012 at First Love's Art Workshop in LeSueur Minnesota. All my paintings begin with prayer. I ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance from beginning to end (from choosing the canvas and paint colors to the last brush stroke), that the Lord's message would go forth through the art, and that Father God would be glorified. 

I believe all prophetic art has a message, but what the Holy Spirit speaks to me about a specific piece of art, may be different than what the Spirit says to you. Seek Him for a personal interpretation.

The Lord has given a few abstracts that can be displayed in multiple ways. Here's individual views, which I think, changes the feel of the painting. When hung horizontally, it reminds me of the curvature of the earth, God's glory, and the heavenlies.

Original Acrylic Abstract, 2012 - Christine Nichols

While a vertical view reminds me of a surfer riding a huge wave. It gives one pause to realize the raw strength and beauty of God's creation, but none stronger than the Creator, Himself. He in control. He reigns Sovereign over ALL!

A number of titles have been suggested for this painting such as Illumination, King of the Universe, and Sea Wave. My working title is "Mystery." I love a good mystery and this painting still intrigues me. 

One of my favorite passages of Scripture reveals a mystery! Paul writes, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^{[Isaiah 25:8]}

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^{[Hosea 13:14]}

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Wave of Glory - Christine Nichols, 2012

Find more Contemporary Christian Art on my website, Christine Nichols Fine Art.  Look me up on Facebook and like the page if you have been blessed by the art. 

^>^>^>ART PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE!<^<^<^

Wave of Glory - Vertical ^

Wave of Glory - Horizontal >

May the Lord be glorified and may the art speak to your heart!

Thanks for reading this blog. 

Feel welcome to comment below.

Blessings,

Christine

ART: Cometh as a Thief in the Night

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.

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.

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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