The Lion of Judah has Triumphed!

By Hazel Holland

"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed." Revelation 5:5 

I was compelled to paint this picture of Jesus Christ’s triumph over death after discovering that He wasn’t in soul sleep while He was dead in the grave... After a lifetime of believing error I was overwhelmed with joy and many tears as I discovered the length and depth that Jesus Christ went to for you and me. He literally left no stone unturned! His powerful words from the cross reverberated throughout His creation causing even the rocks to be torn apart when He cried out, “It is finished!”

Knowing that Christ disarmed the powers of darkness and overthrew them by triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15) I painted them in defeated poises as they look on with horror at seeing Christ enter Hades to redeem the spirits of the righteous dead... However, when I painted the light coming from Jesus over them it exposed the darkness in their faces and many of them faded so that they now blend into the rocks! Darkness must flee when Light is present! 

You can see the spirits of the righteous dead rejoicing a little better in the larger copy of the painting at the link given below. They are rejoicing because they are about to be released from the upper regions of Hades (Paradise) and taken to be with Christ... The yellow-orange color is not meant to suggest heat, but only the light that must have been so overwhelming when Jesus announced to them that the plan of salvation had been completed!

I chose not to portray Christ going to the lower regions of Sheol where the souls/spirits of the wicked are held for judgment, because I could not visually portray such awful torment where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. I will leave that with God. More about that later on another post...

As you read the rest of this post here I pray that the Holy Spirit will hold you in His arms as He speaks the truth in love to your heart through the clear words of Scripture. You can also see a larger copy of this painting if you scroll down to the end of the page at the link shown above.

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I would also like to encourage you to check out another depiction of this same event that speaks of the love in the Father's heart for us all done by Ramone Romero:  The Plundering of Sheol