On Angel's Wings

I cut this down from an old Easter or Resurrection Day, if your prefer. Three angels and a pair of lambs, likely from the 1920′ s or even before. Photographers still make pictures with lambs, I once saw a sign, at a studio, nearby. What a sweet way to capture the season and make us think of ourselves as His sheep and He, the Good Shepherd.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:10,11.

The Bible mentions sheep often, and while the Lord is our shepherd, He uses angels to help us stay in the fold as sheep have a tendency to stray. Let’s be sure follow Him and let His goodness and mercy follow us.

Have a blessed Palm Sunday, and Resurrection Day!

This piece is entitled ” The Great Awakening ” from 1897,  by Herbert Schmalz, this one features a beautiful woman wearing a Grecian style dress, her hand is being held buy a tall  angel. Some think it is a guardian angel welcoming her to heaven.

I tend to agree that it is more likely a representation of the angel of death, in which case, I believe she would pass on by him and go with the Lord and other angels. It does give one pause to think about the eternal consequences of our decisions on earth.

Some say the angel is Azrael, the angel of death from Islam and thee are Rabbinic writing with that name in Judaism, but not necessarily clarifying that. As a believer in Christ, I know the death of a saint, anyone who passes in Him, is sacred to Him and I do believe that He cones for you and probably angels as well. And they won’t look like this, fear is not the Lord’s way, reverence is. Here is the painting in color, a very Victorian image.

(detail) King David, 1878. Oil on canvas. Gustave Moreau (1826-1898) Hammer Museum

What a glorious angel in red and gold, another detail but nonetheless striking Seated and with a wonderful halo. What is this angel there for? To drive away spirits from Saul or perhaps guard the king’s palace? Angels do not have fear, demons do.

Angels move in and out of the pages of the Bible and are powerful and also minister, they bring messages and orders from God. They are commanded to carry out His orders and to protect His people, but sometimes we fail to listen to warning or even neglect our walk with God.

Let’s look at the full painting.

Isn’t this a fabulous angel holding the olive branch that represents peace. The painting is by German artist Hans Memling, you may be familiar with his painting of Christ’s face on the napkin in the painting of St. Veronica.

In a world that needs His peace, John 14:27, that is a promise from Christ Himself, we often settle for a false sense of peace. The world and its leaders need prayer, I believe there will be a lot going on, including war, possibly the Rapture, before there is a false peace declared and Jesus returns.

Rebecca Jones

This has long been a favorite painting of mine by the artist, Raphael. Commissioned in 1512 by Pope Julius, the Virgin Mary holds the Christ child and is flanked by St. Sixtus and St. Barbara. One of the purchases I first made at a local art store was a pack of cards with the two putti ( artistic male children with wings, that became more representative of cherubs during the Baroque period ) at the bottom.

They are often depicted separately but they are originally from this painting. It was sold in 1754, and Augustus III is said to have moved his throne to display it better. The painting has even survived the joint bombing of Dresden, in WWII. The Soviets rescued it and displayed it before its return to Germany, amid controversial rumors of the rescue and storage.

Definitely a masterpiece, by any standard, the painting evokes rich colors, red gold and the blue or lapis lazuli, which is said to be under the feet of God in the Bible and emotions that spark a religious experience.

Rebecca Jones

This will be my last post here for a while as I work on other blogs. Thank you for reading, God bless, please enjoy previous posts.

Whether this is meant to represent Jesus appearing in the rapture or catching away of the church, or His coming after the Great Tribulation, I can’t say. But that day and time which we don’t know draws ever closer and we are nearing the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, and that is a time when the trumpet sounds.

Rebecca Jones

Another musician, Melozzo De Forli, or at least in his style. Enjoy the concert.

Rebecca Jones

Just as the maiden with the fan relaxes from her day with cherubic whispers in her ear, she portrays youth and innocence as the title of the painting implies. The artist is Guillame Seignac. he was a French painter and often did these kinds of works, with details of landscapes, wonderful colors and maidens draped in various poses, with a little mythological emphasis included.

He was at the height of his career by 1903, but after he passed away in 1924 at only fifty four, sales of his paintings dwindled at the start of the Depression. But you can find them at auctions and reproductions.

Rebecca Jones

Here is another piece I found on an auction sight, again it could not be translated. But I love it. Seven angels The one in front might be Michael and is brandishing a sword. These are certainly formidable opponents and the enemy better beware.

Rebecca Jones

Is this great?  An icon I found on a what appeared to be a German auction site, it would not translate. It looks like it may be an altarpiece.

Rebecca Jones