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I love visuals. Of course, putting Jesus on a visual is always fraught with biblical issues (Second Commandment). Trying to picture the worst horrors of hell or the Tribulaton is unwise. And how does one capture some of the more nuanced concepts that can really only be seen in the Word? It's called the word for a reason. Not 'The Picture". Even the Apostles and Prophets who saw what they saw still struggled with ways to say it in words. "It was like a..." and Daniel simply became ill after several of the visions.
There are three artists I can think of who seem to have done the best job In my opinion in capturing biblical concepts visually. Annie Vallotton, (and Vallotton here too) Chris Koelle, and Action Jones (AKA Chris Powers).
Go to the link for Chris Koelle to see his work. It's copyrighted. A couple of years ago he completed illustrations for the Graphic book of Revelation. he also illustrates some of John Piper's poems, and has recently finished a series of illustrations showing the History of Redemption from Genesis to revelation. his work is available for purchase or for church events at a discounted price. His Revelation illustrations are actually chillingly, spiritually otherworldly for me to look at and so I don't look too often.
Trying to envision the rapture is one of the hardest concepts to get right. After all, the bible says it will happen in the blink of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52). How do you capture that? I see lots of art that depicts Christians with arms outstretched and jet marks under their feet as they're launched off the ground...kind of literal and corny if you ask me.
I did like this one from a short youtube video showing us a points of glory light zooming off earth into the universe:
Then I came across this one today. It is a free wallpaper. Someone had added the words at the bottom. I liked it because it showed the suddenness of the rapture, via the lightning. The storm clouds bespeak wrath. In my interpretation, the first Horse of the Apocalypse will ride immediately after the rapture or coinciding with it, because once the church is removed, God will unleash His stored-up wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth. So the galloping horse also is going to be part of the event at or immediately after the rapture. See what you think:
The rapture of the church, explained. 14 minutes.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Let's be encouraged!
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
There are three artists I can think of who seem to have done the best job In my opinion in capturing biblical concepts visually. Annie Vallotton, (and Vallotton here too) Chris Koelle, and Action Jones (AKA Chris Powers).
"…He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
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| Action Jones |
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| Annie Vallotton via ArtBible.net |
Trying to envision the rapture is one of the hardest concepts to get right. After all, the bible says it will happen in the blink of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52). How do you capture that? I see lots of art that depicts Christians with arms outstretched and jet marks under their feet as they're launched off the ground...kind of literal and corny if you ask me.
I did like this one from a short youtube video showing us a points of glory light zooming off earth into the universe:
 |
| 40-second video here |
The rapture of the church, explained. 14 minutes.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Let's be encouraged!
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for reminding us of the verse "comfort (encourage) one another with these words". These are indeed difficult days. God knows we all need some encouragement.
ReplyDeleteAside from the passages you referenced, scripture gives us only two other "visuals" of the concept of rapture: Enoch and Elijah.
Enoch:
Genesis 5: 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Heb 11: 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
That's all we get on Enoch: "he walked with God and he was not, for God took him". He was here one moment, he was gone the next. God took him.
Elijah:
2 Kings 10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. ...
With Elijah, Elisha saw the event as confirmation that he would receive Elijah's mantle, being his successor. Elijah being a man, like us, James 5:17, bodily went up in a whirlwind to heaven.
A third related but different event, Christ's ascension - as He was already in His glorified body - but nonetheless, He just left the ground and vanished out of sight into the clouds. Acts 1:9, and his disciples "gazed intently into the sky" (verse 10).
So there isn't much for us to go on, other than to know that one day, the trumpet shall sound, and the Lord will come for us in the air, and in the twinkle of an eye, the dead in Christ shall rise first, and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up - and we shall all be changed in a moment! And we will see Him as He is, for we will be like Him.
How do we visualize this, I don't know Elizabeth?! :) But I do know this, if we are alive when these things take place (and not called home sooner), one day, poof, we'll ALL be gone. The ENTIRE body of Christ. Just like that. Wow!
-Carolyn
Yes we living very last time and so much has already happen in the world in to be upfild of alot prophecy to give signs of heaven in Jesus second coming very soon,thanks and bless and watch,keijo sweden
ReplyDelete