Bethlehem

C. appr. eccl.

Edmund van Genechten, Scheut Mission

Cath. Univeristy Press, Peking

Chen Yuandu

Respectfully painted by Lujia Chen Yuandu

Respectfully painted by Chen Yuandu

CHINESE
Right: Jesus is the Messiah. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11

Left: David is [?] Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Revelation 1:7

Middle Picture: Words from top down
Coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. All the nations of the earth will mourn.
Around the star: Reign a thousand years
Jesus died and rose again.
After he was raised to heaven, he said I am coming soon. Revelation 22:12
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. Revelation 22:16
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. Revelation 20:6
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Matthew 24:40, 41
What will you be like when you see the King? With gladness or mourning? Your eyes will see the king in his beauty. Isaiah 33:17

All the nations of the earth will mourn. Matthew 24:30
The nations will be glad. Psalm 67:4

ARABIC
Top line in blue text: This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will comes back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

Top line in black text on blue background on top of central frame: coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Center line in black text (small font) in the center rectangular frame on the right side: Jesus said after he died, rose, and ascended to heaven
Center line in black text (big font) in the center: Look, I am coming soon.
Center line in black text (small font) in the center rectangular frame under words in big font: I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright morning star.
Center 3 lines in black text (even smaller font) in the center rectangular frame: Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection.
Words in white text on black background on the right side of the white pyramid-like shape: The nations are glad and sing for joy before the King
Words in white text on black background on the left side of the white pyramid-like shape: All the peoples of the earth will mourn.
Center 3 lines in blue text in the center of the white pyramid-like shape: How do you see the king? With joy or mourning?
Center line in black text (bigger font) towards bottom of the center rectangular frame: Your eyes will see the king in his beauty.

Bottom line in black text (smaller font) at the bottom of the center rectangular frame: Two men will be in the field, one wll be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill, one will be taken and the other left.

Bottom line in blue text: Look, he is coming with the cloud, and every eye will see him (Jesus Christ), even those who pierced him.

Religious Tract Society, Hankow
Cat. No. M. 22208   CHRIST’S RETURN

Eternal Joy in Heaven

The Lord had prepared for those who loved him what eye had not seen, and ear had not heard, and what had not entered the humen heart.

2 Corinthians 2:9

Bejing Furen University

Copyright by the Catholic University Peking, China

Psalms 19:8 The precepts of God are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of God are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Psalms 33:18 But the eyes of God are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Top left: Flee from the coming wrath (Lk 3:7)

Right: Whoever believes in the Lord has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

On the man’s back: Sin

Words uttered by the man: Lord, you are my hiding place.

On the cross: Refuge

Christian Book Room, 3 Quinsan Gardens, Shanghai

Bottom: A solar calendar of August with Chinese solar weather terms

Top right: How many gods are there? There is only one God.
Top left: How many Persons are there in God? There are three Persons in God.

Center, top row: The first Person is called Padre, that is, the Holy Father

Center, lower row: The second Person is called Figlio, that is, the Holy Son

Bottom: The third Person is called the Spirito santo, that is, the Holy Spirit

Top Title: Image of the Temporal and Eternal Sorrow and Joy

On the Cross: Jesus says I am the way, the truth, the life.

On right-side cloud: There is a river of life, on the two sides of the river there is the tree of life, whose leaves can heal all people

On left-side cloud: Because he waits for the city built on a foundation, which is built by God.

Right Couplet: Look closely at the world’s sorrows and joys, the people of glory eventually return to sorrow.

Left Couplet: Look up at heaven’s joy and blessings, only through relying on Jesus will one receive eternal salvation.

Description: The drawings in this image express a two-pronged message in the Christian Bible. As the Apostle Paul said, “what is seen is transient, what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18), this image is divided into two levels with a cross in between. The lower half of the picture shows a crumbling fortress, indicating that although a fortress is built strong, one day it will fall (Hebrews 13:14, and 11:10). Under the foot of the fortress lies a coffin, which symbolizes the mortality of all humans on earth (Psalms 90:10, Job 14:10). The old woman with a walking stick coming out of the city gates and the elderly man sitting under the tree symbolize that all humans energy is weak (Acts 12:3-6). The decaying trees and falling branches symbolize the trees withering away (Ezekiel 31, Daniel 4:4-27). The little graves on top of the hill symbolize the fact that human flesh will one day return to the earth (Matthew 16:26, 1 John 2:7, Acts 12:7, Hebrews 9:27, John 5:28-29, Daniel 12:20). The house on fire in the middle of the woods reminds that disasters happen when people are not paying attention (Proverbs 27:1, James 4:13-14). What is written above reminds us that all that we see, all that we have made, and all that we are do not last. If all created things do not last, how can we on earth inherit eternal blessings? According to the Christian Bible, the Lord Jesus can grant eternal life to all who believe in Him. As a result, the center of this painting features a cross, indicating that all can gain eternal life through the works of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross (John 5:24, 637-40). Beside the cross there is a bridge. The paths next to the bridge symbolize people’s repentance and faith (Acts 20:21). The cross reaches high into the clouds, which means that the Lord Jesus’ cross will unite heaven and earth. The city gate in the upper half of the picture refer to the gates of Heaven (Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 22:14 and 21:27). There are many people entering the gates of Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Revelation 7:13-14). On top of a hill in the midst of the city is a throne, and the cross and the crown above the throne symbolize the Lord Jesus’ victory over death, having the power to grant eternal life (Revelation 21:4-5). The rays of light emanating from the throne indicate Jesus’ glorious light (Revelations 4:2-3 and 21:23). The river that flows from the throne symbolizes the river of life, the trees beside the river are the medicine for souls, and the houses next to it are the eternal homes of peace (Revelation 22:1-2, John 14:2, Revelation 7:16-17). Looked at in this way, the upper level depicts the heavenly blessing that will never fail or wither away.

Bottom Inscription: Cat. No. 1016 “The Temporal and the Eternal” by Mrs. W.G. Davis, Printed by Shanghai Business Printing Press, Published by The Religious Tract Society, Hankow & Shanghai; Hankou Poyang Street, Shanghai Yuanmingyuan Rd; Published by the Religious Tract Society