It was in 2015 when I went to see New York City with my daughter, one of the highlights of my life really. We saw Lady Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and the 9-11 Memorial and Museum, with her.
There was still scaffolding around some of the buildings, evidence of work still being done 14 years after the horrific attack on our Nation. There were stems of roses and little flags inserted into the engraved names of people remembered. There were people there who did remember, and were there holding their hand over the name of a loved one, or leaning over tracing their name with their fingers.
It was a solemn place. There was respect. We all remembered.
I just finished this painting today, in 2023 from a photo I took while there. There were more people there that day, but I think the ones in the painting represent them all.
A few years back, perhaps a few more, I had read Billy Graham’s book “Storm Warning”. I was deeply impressed and inspired by his writings about Revelation 6 and Matthew 24. The following is an excerpt from his book.
“The four horsemen of the Apocalypse point inevitably to deeper moral and spiritual problems that affect our lives. But each is unique. Each carries his own agenda. In every age, we have seen precursors of the horsemen riding over the earth.. They gave warning to the first century churches in Asia, and their warnings apply to the church today.
“Jesus Himself underscored these warnings with a command: ‘Therefore keep watch’ (Matthew 24:4). ‘Watch out that no one deceives you’ (Matthew 24:4). This is representative of the white horse who carries one who imitates Christ and promises a false peace.
“‘You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed'” (Matthew 24:6). This depicts the red horse that takes away peace and brings war.
“‘There will be famines and earthquakes in various places’ (Matthew 24:7). This is the black horse that will wipe out the food supply, leading the nations into severe hunger.
“‘Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put the death'” (Matthew 24:9). The fourth horse is the only one of the four with a name and a color to match: the pale horse called Death.
“…’I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown’ (Revelation 6:1-2). As suddenly as he appeared the rider kicked the flanks of the white stallion and raced toward the earth ‘as a conqueror bent on conquest’ (Revelation 6:2).
“…The text says he is wearing a crown and carrying a bow of great destruction in his hand. In Revelation 19, Christ is pictured on a white horse wearing many crowns. This had led some to believe that the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6 is also Christ. I do not believe this to be the case. In the Greek text, the crown worn by the rider of the white horse is called stephanos, which would refer to the crown of victory worn by a conqueror. The crowns Christ wears in Revelation 19, on the other hand, are diadema, or the crowns of royalty. Although the rider on the white horse bears a resemblance to Christ, his appearance is actually (and no doubt deliberately) deceptive. A closer look reveals his true nature. He is ‘a conqueror bent on conquest,’ greedily riding roughshod over all who stand in his way – the rider of the white horse is characterized by his lust for power, destruction, and deceit.
“Who, therefore, is the rider on the white horse? He is not Christ, but a deceiver who seeks to capture the hearts and mind of all mankind He is one who seeks to have people acknowledge him as Lord.”
There is so much more he wrote of, but this part and an earlier part in the book greatly impressed me. So it worked inside me for awhile until it came to be a painting.
The Lord in us keeps us from deception, he will finish what He began…
The process of the painting was first all the above, then needing horses. So I went to a barrel racing arena, laying down (behind a fence) photographing into the view of the third barrel at which point the riders would rev up to race to the finish. Those positioning on the horses are actually cowgirls who could really ride, and their horses! Oh their horses! The cowgirls were actually beautiful women from whom I borrowed their posturing and tools, replacing them with the figures and weapons of the 4 horsemen.
The first horseman grasped my attention, and all I could see was lizardine eyes. I saw them but could not quite capture the unmentionable/untranslatable that was in them. It is cringeworthy. It was vile. Sometimes we can see that in the world today. Deception. “Therefore keep watch.”
Behind the horses in the light from whence they were released, are faces representing the souls of those crying out for justice from under the altar…. the rest is pretty much self explanatory, through the swirl of time and eras.
I think I painted this in 2014? This came up again during breakfast, re-reading the book.
My personal understanding and hope is that the ecclesia, the out-called, the church will be brought up to him soon. He is still the Light in the world in His out-called believers. I cannot easily bear to look into the darkness.
I titled it “New In Town” partly because of my newness, but there is a woman pushing a baby buggy, a traveler bringing his suitcases, a very pregnant woman. There was so much going on, so much to take in at one time. It was exhilarating to remember the city, and doing the art.
There has remained a slight yearning in my heart to open a tiny gallery. I am the worst of business people, but would have a coffee pot there in my dreams. The gallery I was in closed several years back, and I refrained from finding another at the time. Also I live in a place with very limited traffic, and I drink my coffee while I paint or with my husband. Sometimes we consider moving, but it is something to long consider. So my dreams are safely tucked away, and they are not practical… a perhaps just a little in the realm of unreality. 🙂
Yet I was stirred by Mr. Giuliani’s video, and grateful I had a chance to see “the city”. It was a happy memory with someone I love in NYC, at Time’s Square.
I pray for peace in America, where we can walk as a free people, with hustle and bustle or in quiet and serenity… we have the freedom now to choose where we will be. There is freedom in Christ, to follow Him wherever He goes. Amen.
Heb. 11:6 – “…for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Read all of Ps.127 – “…Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward…”
It is a distressing thing to even begin to realize what is happening in our country, and world, in regards to child trafficking and abuse. My stomach clenches in pain even trying to comprehend what people like OUR and other groups who rescue children find and try to help. It is also evident by our abortion rates that it is a thriving business also.
I do understand that a nation will fail outside of the salvation of Jesus Christ. A nation will not stand without His blessing and mercy.
You must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder. Children are one of His rewards, they take work, but they are not a burden. Women are saved through childbearing – bearing them until they can live well in this world by the grace of God in their own lives.
When I first sketched this idea for a painting, it was in heaviness. I saw abuse, darkness, tragedy beyond “Les Miserables” or similar concepts. My understanding of what was happening in our Nation was in tears and sadness. My idea was not light.
My favored models are not nearby, so I just began to sketch on a used canvas and wanted to see where it would take me. It was not into darkness.
I was gladdened to see the truth in the Word of God. Children are a man’s arrows, they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Children are the fruit and strength of a nation. Killing them and other things does not meet the enemies in strength and glory.
I had always only seen these verses within the context of the church – the body of Christ, His building the House. But He is at work even til today. Salvation and Redemption are available to all now. Lord, build Your Kingdom, pour out Your Spirit into America, and the world. Come Lord.
“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” Ps. 128:1
This painting is about America loving her children… protecting and guiding them. It is the strength of a Nation for mothers to be raising children before the Lord. They are a gift from God.
Our Nation will be great only in Salvation and Redemption. God is Good, God is Light, there is no darkness in Him. The end result is in His total Victory.
BOHLENDER ART 