A Major Shift in Prophetic Art by Elder Leslie Marks

The ministry of prophetic art is being raised to a new level in this transitional time in the Church. We have to move from a place of prophetic art to a prophetic/apostolic anointing in our approach to kingdom visual art. We have to shift from a sanctuary artwork mindset, to bring the prophetic word visually that will affect the destiny of nations. Our art is a weapon of mass destruction in this warfare with the enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Just as the new sound that Eloheem has released from heaven is doing great damage to the enemy’s camp, new light, which allows greater vision, is launching an awesome assault as well. As the light brings new revelation and uncovers the works of darkness, Satan’s strategies are unraveled; darkness hates light. Genesis 1:3; and God said “Let there be Light:” and there was light. Sound and light work together to bring chaos into order: Kingdom order.

Light is made up of color, where black is the absence of color. The lazar light of God, in all of its intensity, is an extreme form of weaponry that pierces the darkness, bringing the vision and colors of heaven into our midst. We see what is in heaven, call it into the earth realm, and manifest it through revolutionary art; art that brings change in mindsets, spiritual kingdoms, and nations.

A new anointing for this revolutionary time in the ministry of prophetic/apostolic art is beginning to shift willing artist beyond where we have flowed before in visual prophecy, into new and enlarged territory. Through visual prophetic intercession, painting and releasing apostolic decrees, prophetic worship thru imagery, bringing wisdom, revelation and knowledge; the very voice of God by way of light, color, and form, we bring the Kingdom of God into clearer focus in this time and season. It’s a revolutionary war that we are in. We are overthrowing the kingdom of darkness, establishing the Kingdom of Light, and changing the hearts of men.

Prophetic/Apostolic art can release the righteous judgments of God where and when needed. Two years ago, in 2005 the Lord began speaking to me about painting a series on the Four Horses in Revelation 6:1-8

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

We know that the book of Revelation is not just literal and chronological but it is spiritual and eternal. It is past, present, and future. The first horse I painted was the Red Horse pictured here in “The War Mantle.”

“The War Mantle:” the interpretation

As the Church comes into apostolic order, we begin to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. In the Garden of Eden, man was commissioned to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and to take dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth. In other words expand the garden of God until it overtakes the earth – driving out anything that is contrary to the absolute perfection of His creation and the unity and fellowship that all of creation experienced with an omnipotent God.

After the fall of Adam, God sent His Son to reestablish divine order and restore that which was lost, to reconcile man to Himself and to empower man with His Holy Spirit to carry out His original plan. We are to cover the earth with the Glory of God and advance His Kingdom. We must defeat all of his enemies and cause the kingdoms of this world to give way to heaven and become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

In order for the Kingdom of God to break forth and the enemies of God to be destroyed, the Body of Christ, having the mind of Christ and the Power of Holy Spirit, need to begin to call forth His Judgments, as we tap into his Apostolic strategies, we align with His will and become His trumpet sound in the earth. We are hearing the sound of heaven and echoing it in this earthly realm thru intercession, proclamations, declarations and decrees. We need not fear the judgments of the Ancient of Days. He always rules in favor of the Blood Washed Church of the Redeemed and His judgment is His mercy extended. To his enemies, however, the judgment brings punishment and destruction. Since God’s judgments are perfect, we don’t have to shy away from calling His judgment forth. We are in an intense time of warfare and to insure our victory in Christ, God has given us an awesome mantle for this spiritual war, the mantle of prayer.

Revelation 6:4 And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one, who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

As the fiery red horse was, is, and will be released, war manifests in the spirit realm and on the earth.

against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to the end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

As watchmen, we stand ready to respond to the war cry, issued by our Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ, the mighty man or war. As we cloth ourselves in Christ we are adorned in the full armor of God. Just as the rider of the fiery red war horse in Revelation was given a sword, we are given the sword of the spirit, the word of God (sharper than any two edged sword in the natural)!

Numbers 15: 37-41 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”

The talit (prayer shawl) is a prophetic instrument of warfare prayer. It is a symbolic prayer mantle. Since it is used to cover the head and make a tent under which to pray, the prayer warrior is cloaked in the commandments of God. Since Jesus fulfilled all the law, could it be said that the Jews also clothe themselves in Christ and wield the sword of the spirit?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

and overtake the Prince of the Power of the air, making the earth realm give way to the Kingdom of God. Overcome and take the spoils of the enemy that traffics in the souls of man. We have the mantle of war that gives us the power and authority to complete the task we are destined for- to establish the Kingdom of God and make His enemies His foot stool. It’s time to ride!

June 19, 2007, I began work on the second horse in the series. It began as the white horse, but shortly into the process the Lord made it crystal clear that it was the pale horse that He was releasing in this season. He then started revealing the reason for the release of this particular Judgment on the enemies of His people, Israel and The Church and it was incredible what he showed me, which I’ll share in my interpretation of “New Life.”

“New Life:” the interpretation

The Church is embarking on a new order in its history. The apostles are being set in place, and the government that has been ordained by God from the beginning, is in position for the first time since the early Church. God can now release his power, because the father’s heart is restored to His body. We are no longer fragmented and anemic, but postured for the whole body of Christ to function as we were created to do in the power, authority, and anointing of the resurrected Christ. We now have a mandate to legislate from our position in Christ, seated with Him in Heavenly places. “Ephesians 2:6” we are God’s voice of authority on earth. At Holy Spirit’s direction we decree the judgment of God on his enemies.

The number four symbolizes earth, it’s four corners, (north, south, east, and west) the four winds, the four cycles of nature, and the dealings of God. One fourth of earth was under judgment, death by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beast.

The word “pale,” in the Greek means pale green, the negative type meaning sickly or corpselike. While the negative aspects of this seal being broken and the pale horse riding are directed toward antichrist system, the Lord rules in favor of the saints! Green also symbolizes new life, healing, prosperity, and growth. A complete contradiction of our enemy’s lot. The almond branch represents fruitfulness, hastening, and awakening. The almond tree is the first to bloom in Israel. It is a first fruit. When Jeremiah saw the almond branch in Jeremiah 1: 11, 12, the Lord told him that He was watching and hastening to see His word fulfilled. It also symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. 1Corinthins 15: 20-26 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

We see this painting and its symbolism come alive in this scripture passage. Not only has Jesus destroyed death, but Revelation 1:18 says, that He possesses the keys to hell and the grave.

The shadow of the cross in the painting represents a crossroad. The Lord sets before us life and death, blessing and cursing, and he urges us to choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19) Deny Christ and suffer judgment, or choose new life through Him.

This painting portrays the season that we are presently in, one of transition. In a transition there has to be death to the old order, and a birthing into the new. Just as the almond tree symbolizes the beginning of a new season and a promise of fruit, this season holds the same promise for the people of God.

I finished “New Life” Wednesday, June 20,2007. It took a day and a half to paint it, a record for me. God truly is hastening to perform His Word through the visual arts.

UPDATE: June 21, 2007

We just received an article from the Elijah List, written by Bob Jones, and Paul Keith Davis, entitled “The Season of The Basilisk.” They state that from July 3 to July 24 Israel, our nation, and the American Church need extraordinary prayer covering. In this particular time frame the warfare is amplified and this spirit intensifies in its attack on Israel, and the people of God. Many catastrophic events in Jewish history have occurred in this season. This article also states that Basilisk is the exemplification of the Devil himself whose primary purpose is death and destruction. The natural physical death resulting from this spirit is derived from plagues, sickness and disease, natural disasters, and even terrorism. It is critical that the Church “be not ignorant of his devices……”

I know now why God had me make this apostolic decree through the painting “New Life.” Note the similarities in their methods of destruction. The finial word though, rest with Almighty God and His justice. Jesus destroyed death and holds the keys to hell and the grave- AMEN.

UPDATE: June 23,2007

and the spirit of Basilisk tried to destroy our gallery, maybe as a warning for me to back off. Maybe an angle deflected that car as it was headed for me. At any rate, I praise God for His protection of her, and for Bill and me. Where do I go from here? To the next horse, of course! In Jesus name……. of course.