Tag Archives: Matt
The 5th Seal: The Persecution of Believers
Persecution: The 5th Seal
Your new picture is somewhat disturbing.
(Laughing, Eric says:)
It was even worse. When I create images, I imagine a series of events unfolding like story board. I was originally going to depict the scene that came after this picture. However, as I started, my daughter was horrified, so was I. I then chose to illustrate the prior scene instead. Never the less, this portion of the book of Revelation is very disturbing. I am just the artist messenger.
In your last pictures you covered a period called the “Beginning of Sorrows” and the first four seals in the Book of Revelation. Now you are at the 5th seal.
Yes, the Book of Revelation has been a very interesting topic to illustrate. In many ways, it is much harder than I imagined. These pictures and the descriptions are not intended as a tutorial on the book of Revelation or the Bible. I added the commentary so that the pictures could be understood. However, the topic is very interesting and I believe that everyone should take the time to open the Bible and specifically the book of Revelation. It discusses things that will happen in the near future and it is very relevant to the things that are happening today. For example, three religions started in the Middle East and in the near future we will see a clash of epic proportions as one of these religions seeks to dominate the others and the world.
This year, I spent some time looking at end time prophecies of all three religions. I was amazed that there is significant overlap. I expected overlap between Judaism and Christianity. However, the end time prophecies of Islam were surprising. Not only do they overlap with the Bible they are the mirror opposite. For example:
- In Judaism, they are awaiting the coming of their Messiah
- In Christianity, we say that the Messiah is coming again, soon.
- In Islam, they also say that a promised one is coming. He is called the Mahdi and he is coming with Jesus ( I never knew Islam taught about a person named Jesus.)
Moreover, according to Islam, their Jesus will fight against Israel and the Jesus of the Christians. The Mahdi will rule over the entire world. In Judaism and Christianity, the Messiah will fight for Israel and in Christianity the one who fights against Israel is called the Anti-Christ. Christianity and Judaism can find common ground. However, there is no compromise with Islam.
How does this relate to your picture and the events of today?
The bible describes a period when a powerful man of peace (the Mahdi perhaps) will make a treaty with Israel that will allow sacrifices to take place in a restored Jewish temple. The man of peace will deceive many, however some Christians in Israel will not follow this man and hence they will be maltreated. They will be questioned and delivered to prisons, many will be persecuted and some killed. Others will be brought before Kings and rulers to explain the things that are happening. In the book of Revelation at the 5th seal, the people who were killed are seen asking God, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”.
In the middle of the treaty period, the man of peace will, by force, end the daily sacrifice that was restarted. According to the book of Daniel and Revelation, 3.5 years after the sacrifice is stopped, he will demand to be worshiped and then several nations will assemble to fight against Israel, like: Turkey, Persia (Iran), Sudan (with some parts of Ethiopia), Libya, and maybe some of the countries from the more northern Asian portions of the Middle East like: Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan with parts of Afghanistan. These nations surround Israel in a total ark. This will be a very intense period that will be marked by lawlessness, betrayal and hatred. However amidst this persecution, the gospel will be preached throughout the world. Therefore in my picture, you see a little boy, in prayer, as a soldier lurks outside the window.
A generation ago, many people in the West never heard of these countries because they were overshadowed by the Iron Curtain of USSR. Most were familiar with Turkey because of its position within the Ottoman Empire and it proximity to Europe. In the US, we are now very familiar with Afghanistan, because of the US war effort there. However, in the near future, the world will be come to know this collection of countries because of their unity of purpose, the book of Revelation says. We will come to see a reemergence of the Roman Empire. However, it will not be under the rule of a European governor. It will be a revival of the eastern part of the empire under Turkey. If you have time, you should study the history of the Ottoman Empire and how it emerged from the decay of the Roman Empire and the role of Islam in this area.
Where does this picture take place?
I created this scene from six different pictures. I spent a lot of time adjusting the tonal values, shadows and the size of all of the various parts to make them look like a single integrated picture. The walls of this picture are actually from the Great Wall of China. I had to hide some of the Chinese writing that was etched into the bricks. So this place, as a total and complete place, does not exist. However, I imagined a simple place outside of Jerusalem, with a city visible in the background. If you want to see something funny, look closely at the gun that the soldier is holding. It is actually a training gun. My daughter was happy.
Where do you go from here?
I have one more picture in this set and then it is off to another topic. I am thinking about interviewing another musician and doing some interesting portraits. If I can line up the interview, that will be next.
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Notes
Rev 6:9-11
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
NKJV
Luke 21:19-24, 27-29
19 By your patience possess your souls. 20″But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
NKJV
Ezek 38:1-6
38:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army — your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6 also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops — the many nations with you.
NIV
Dan 9:27-10:1
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”
NKJV
Matt 24:9-14
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake (Jesus). 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
NKJV
Luke 21:12-18
12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
NKJV
Joel 2: 1-10
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand — 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.
3 Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste — nothing escapes them. 4 They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. 5 With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.
6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. 7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. 9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
10 Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
NIV
1 Thess 4:15-5:4
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
NKJV
2 Thess 2
2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
NIV
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This image is made from parts. The pictures were used under the Creative Commons licenses. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/4067722199/
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29044231@N02/2717587176/
3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/_dietrich/2402860858/
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/3405971322/
5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertgonzalez/3235580373/in/photostream/