This is a prophetic painting of the Nation of Japan. June of 2007, prior to Henry Gruver coming to minister at our home, the Lord gave me my next assignment. He said: "when Henry comes in 2008 I want you to have a prophetic painting of Japan that he can finish when he comes.h So that gave me a year to pray and ask the Lord what it would be. I wanted to use sites or themes familiar to the Japanese culture.

I was looking on line for castles and the Himeji Castle stood out. Later I found out that the castle dates back to 1609, it is a frequently appears in the media and in movies. It is the first official Japanese National Cultural Treasure. It is the most visited castle of all of Japan. Mount Fuji is the highest peak in Japan; it is also one of the most well known symbols of all of Japan. It is worshipped as a sacred site, and is surrounded by 5 lakes. It is a volcanic mountain and the last time it erupted was 1707.

A torii (’¹‹?) is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entry to a Shinto Shrine, although it can be found at Buddhist temples as well. It has two upright supports and two crossbars on the top, and is frequently painted vermilion. Some torii have tablets with writing mounted between the crossbars. Traditionally, torii are made of wood or stone. In recent times, makers have started to use steel and even stainless steel. Torii mark the transition from the sacred (the shrine) to the profane (the normal world). In the painting the theme is Psalm 24: "Open up yea gates that the King of Glory may come in.h You can see the cross in the sky, and the torii gate reflects the cross instead of the torii gate.

Symbols in the painting, some obvious some more hidden. In the sky over the mountain is the dove. You can see the face of the Lord in the sky, next to his face there appears to be the lion of Judah. As you look at the rocks you can see three praying hands, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is one rock, Henry prayer walking bottom right. Also in the sky is the cross and a angel blowing a shofar. The writing in Japanese on the wall is Psalm 24, and "Open up yea Gates.h

My Mission and the Mike DeLorenzo Art Gallery is to inspire and to share the revelational aspect of art in God's coming Kingdom.

I am inspired to paint this art which gives insight into the heart and mind of our Lord and Savior.