The Meaning
“River of Fire” represents the sea of fire mingled with glass (inspired by Revelation 15:2).
River of Fire
The water drips down from heaven on to a mountaintop and then flows into a city of light which expresses the outcome of human souls receiving God’s Spirit (the white dove at the top) which brings them together.
Creature Worship
On the left and right of the river are palm trees (expressing future paradise), with many different animated angelic creatures who worship God for His work of redemption for humanity.
Silver Winged Angels
There are two angels with silver wings (representing redemption) underneath the water trickling down on the city of light and in the background are three mountains symbolizing the Trinity. This is like my painting, “Dancing Leaves” which has the same symbolism.
Bride of Christ
On the right is the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2,9-10) arising out of the city with a lit oil lamp. She is looking through the dark clouds and sees the Bridegroom (above her) looking at her with a sacrificial heart on fire for her life, symbolized by the eye with a flaming heart wrapped with a crown of thorns with a dove.
Evil Dragon
On the left-hand side of the city is an evil dragon with a lightning bolt around his neck being forced out of the city by the presence of God inside the city He illuminates.
The Process
This illustration was finished right after Sacred Heart/Beast in the Way and was started by first sketching out the river of fire and it progressed into a trickle-down effect into a body of water that surrounds the lighted city.
Many of the animated characters to the left and right of the river were created by my own imagination of what worship in heaven might look like.
Still in the process of learning how to blend paint, acrylic paint was better for me to begin with because it dried much faster than oil paint and was not as complex to blend. I surprised myself while painting this illustration because I had no idea I could create such unique characters and bring them all together under a dichotomous concept of good being separate from evil.
This piece was the one that got me into an art studio in the Kansas City Crossroads Art District just a couple of years after I finished it.