The last judgement

10 most famous Italian paintings including The Birth of Venus, Mona Lisa, The Creation of Adam, The School of Athens and The Calling of St Matthew.

Some men convince themselves that there is no Higher Source in the universe. They tell themselves that there is no life beyond this life, no worlds beyond this world. Hence, the race through this life trying to grab all they can. They manipulate economies, they oppress the poor, they play war games for profit and even enter into such territories as population control through various means. There are those who consider themselves the chosen and the elite and everyone else is beneath them…

(From John Martin, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.) I care about God's mercy because I'm a sinner, which doesn't mean what you may think. First, a quick review of what I don't believe is true. (March 15, 2015) I'm not "some loathsome insect," and neither are you: "...every unconverted Man properly belongs to Hell...." "...The God that holds you over the Pit of Hell, much as one holds a Spider, or some loathsome Insect, over the Fire, abhors you...." "...you will be wholly lost…

“Jan van Eyck”

1452. Oil on wood. . Staatliche Museen, Germany

Petworth House © National Trust Images/John Hammond

The Last Judgment, triptych, central panel Maiestas Domini with Archangel Michael weighing the souls, 1470 #memling #northernrenaissance https://t.co/CfvKztoUXS

"We know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who do such things. Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be…

Even if you're not religious, seeing artwork depicting hell, with the torture and the fire and the unknowable horror, can leave you feeling uneasy.