This painting is about Isaiah 11 verse 6, a part of the prophecy of Isaiah in which he describes a vision of the coming Messianic Kingdom.
The vision gives an image of the paradisiacal condition in the renewed future world as a consequence of the messianic reign.
Left in the foreground of the painting we see a stump from which a young shoot comes up.
This image is taken from Isaiah 11 verse 1.
The ‘shoot’ that comes up from ‘the stump of Jesse’ is at the same time the ‘root of Jesse’.
Isaiah 11 verse 10.
Jesus the Messiah. He is descendant of David and Lord of David at the same time. Matthew 22 verse 41 to 46. Revelation 22 verse 16.
After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me".
Matthew 28 verse 18.
He ascended into heaven, but will return to this earth. Then His Kingdom will be fully and gloriously revealed.
The qualities and righteous reign of the Messiah are described in Isaiah 11 verse 1 to 5.
Those who persist in their resistance against the Messiah will find death in the end. Revelation 2 verse 27 and
Revelation 19 verse 15.
The curse that came over creation as a result of the sin of man (see Genesis 3), will be lifted by then, and the relationship between man and animal, and amongst the animals, will be restored as it was in the situation before Genesis 3.
Any form of disharmony will be banished by then.
In that situation even a child may guide the previously wild animals.
They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
It is a very comforting prophecy in a violent time. Judgements will take place, but right through them God establishes His Kingdom.
Prior to Jesus' second coming, evil will increase dramatically:
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming.
2 Thessalonians 2 verse 8.
Now creation is still groaning.
Romans 8 verse 18 to 23:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Revelation 5 verse 5:
And one of the elders said to me: “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals".