Scripture
Ezekiel 39:7-10 (ESV)
”And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken. “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.“
AI Prompt
The scene of an ancient battlefield at night with a bonfire, now interpreted in a Cubist style. The bonfire, composed of wooden spears, bows, chariots, armor, and other ancient war artifacts, is depicted with geometric shapes and fragmented forms. The scene embraces multiple perspectives, with the flames and artifacts appearing as interlocking planes and angles. Colors are more muted and abstract, typical of Cubism, focusing on the structural composition rather than realistic depiction. The background is composed of similarly fragmented shapes, creating a sense of depth and complexity.
Process/Reflection
What I really love about this image is that, in the midst of all the ancient weaponry and chariot wheels, there is this very prominent scythe that is being engulfed by the flame. While I did not specifically prompt AI to include this element, it is a wonderful surprise and fits beautifully with the overall theme of the image. The Lord has delivered Israel so completely from their enemies that they don't need to stockpile or refurbish these weapons for future defensive use. These things are now only useful as fuel for fire. This is the end of warfare. The end of fear. And (as the scythe suggests) the end of death. Of course, this prophesy ultimately points to the Day on which Christ will return vanquish all the enemies of his people--the Church. On that Day, death itself will burn.