Signup for our newsletter
what's this?Reviews of the Painting Revelation DVD
“Debby is an extraordinary person—she lives with this profound sense that every moment matters, every conversation counts, and God might really be here with us, right here, right now. She reminds me that sometimes prophets use paintbrushes.”
“This is an amazing piece of work! I don’t think I ever before saw something on the Revelation that I found credible, much less appealing. This thing is both. I’m honored just to have received one, and it will be my pleasure to spread the word about it. What an accomplishment! Thank you and then thank you again.”
“In a thoughtful and artistic way, Debby allows us to hear the words of this mysterious book in a fresh way. This video, like the book of Revelation itself, carries with it its own blessing.”
“Debby Topliff has a wonderful way of integrating Scripture, art, story, and prayer. She makes the Book of Revelation come alive both visually and spiritually. She provides a unique resource for churches, small groups, or even individual devotion.”
“This is an amazing production that I believe the Holy Spirit can greatly use to bring people into the reality of the message and truth of the Book of Revelation. Debby’s passion comes through and the Holy Spirit really makes the book of Revelation come to life. “
“This last book of the Bible really is a work of art, so what better way to approach it than through the visual art and wonderful words of Debby Topliff? I highly commend Painting Revelation for personal study, small groups, and even sermon illustration.”
“It was helpful to hear Revelation taught from an artist’s perspective – with room for metaphor, mystery, and looking at the whole instead of the parts. I have always had many questions about Revelation and tend to avoid it, but seeing it through a different lens made me much more at peace with it.”
“Debby’s simple style of painting is perfect to capture the various emotions of Revelation in a way that allows us to complete our own images of John’s vision. I especially appreciated the simplicity of the video so that her Scripture reading is enhanced, but not overpowered by the graphics. For our visual age we need more expressions of God’s Word like this.”
“Debby’s work provides the church with a wonderful and creative resource for exploring God’s story. Painting Revelation is a great tool for small groups or education classes wanting to visualize and study an often requested but also misunderstood book of the Bible.”
“Debby has a wonderful gift of blending her artistic and teaching skills into one in order to share God’s message to us.”
“My congregation loved having Painting Revelation as part of the sermon series on Revelation…I strongly encourage pastors—no matter what denomination—to step outside the box and incorporate this creative and engaging tool into your preaching schedule.“
“I had a chance to view Debby’s work and I thought it was tremendous. I love how she has captured the essence of John’s purpose, the message, and also I just love her spirit of simplicity, humility, and also the artwork.”
“Discover a new way to enter into a complex text and be surprised by the richness within symbols and images.”
“Debby’s honest and gracious self-disclosure is present in not just what she paints, but in how she paints and edifies. Not surprising, it’s this very sort of self-disclosure that the Spirit gives to John, that John gives to us, and now which debby imitates as a salient invitation for us to experience and obey the book.”
“The video is lovely and moving. Debby speaks with obvious love and sincerity.”
“I am captivated by Debby’s charm and have a new grasp of Revelation.”
“My women’s Bible study group was entranced by the DVD presentation. The discussion questions were great—and I don’t say that lightly.”
“After watching Painting Revelation, our Bible study group engaged in a very rewarding discussion and was impressed and amazed with how Debby consolidated and made sense of this challenging subject.”
“Revelation is the single most difficult book for me to understand, so when Debby started to capture it visually—combined with her gentle narrative—I was moved almost to tears because I actually felt close to God.”
“A true teacher is one who can take a complex subject and make it simple and enjoyable—and Debby does that so well. The experience on video is so soothing and relaxing - it is like a retreat for your eyes and ears.”
“Debby weaves together her personal story, philosophy, and the stories contained in Revelation, and communicates it as if she were speaking to each listener (and viewer) alone.”
“Debby has gone for the heart of Revelation: the Lamb is King.”
“Bible or topical study groups, adult or children’s Sunday School—everyone can benefit from this video.”
“This DVD a masterpiece! I was inspired as I learned new things about the book of Revelation, and excited at the reminder that God wins.”
“The sessions are divided and introduced in such a way as to make them ideal for retreats and spiritual workshops.”
“Revelation is such a visual and aural book that the DVD—with its focus on parts of the picture and additional sound effects as the story is retold—is very helpful. Debby Topliff’s calm, steady, soothing voice helps quiet the notes of wrathful vengeance until we see hope triumphing in the end. The 6-session course fits the attention span of 21st-century adults. I hope more and more church groups will use it to help teach Revelation, a very important culmination of Holy Scripture.”
“Debby Topliff’s Painting Revelation is an astounding presentation, both the art and the message. As stated in The New Oxford Annotated Bible, ‘The Revelation to John’, or Apocalypse, ‘...is a fitting close of the Holy Scriptures, for its final chapters depict the consummation toward which the whole biblical message of redemption is focused. It may be described as an inspired picture book…that makes a powerful appeal to the reader’s imagination…’ Topliff’s Painting Revelation presents the consummation of the biblical message of redemption by telling the story and expressing it with her unique art, art that appeals to both adults and children.”
“This year the Istanbul Contemporary Dance and Performance Festival includes a concert of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. As we were searching for a picture to use on our catalogue and web page of this concert, I came across your painting of Revelation. I haven’t found anything better throughout art history which reveals ‘Revelation’s hopeful message’. I believe it shares the same feelings with Messiaen’s music. With your permission, we would like to use details from your picture on our webpage/catalogue.”
“I had a chance to visit the Painting Revelation website. It is very impressive. I truly enjoyed seeing examples of Debby Topliff’s work and how she transposes biblical passages into wonderful visionary works. It was also interesting to hear her talk about her creative process on the DVD clip.”
“It is difficult to express the beauty of what Topliff has created. When viewed on the whole her painting is stunning, though simple in execution. It is as though the spirit of God has anointed her work, and the glory shines through the painting, rather than drawing its aesthetic appeal through technical merit. Her verbal tour through her work is certain but never strident, both authentically honest and loving. While the reality of eternal punishment is never hidden, Topliff draws viewers into the recognition of the safety, joy, and eternal love that is found within the promise of Revelation for those who follow Jesus.
The message of Painting Revelation is one that reaches viewers no matter their age. In one chair our 3-year-old was as equally captivated as her 43-year-old father. Topliff’s delivery is always calm and reassuring so that even the most graphic events described in Revelation, when illustrated by simple figures with little detail, never created a sense of fear or alarm in our young ones. As easily as small viewers receive this orientation to Revelation, older individuals can dig in deep with the extensive study resources provided on the DVD-ROM for use on personal computers.”
“I just watched Painting Revelation. I thought I would just turn it on while I picked up my desk, but an hour has gone by and I have hardly moved except to pause to get a Kleenex and to tell my husband, ‘This is amazing!’ My desk is still in chaos, but I had to write and say THANK YOU. I was deeply moved, inspired, and encouraged to live more fearlessly and to listen more in quietness to the Lord and to trust and do what He says more quickly. I can think of a dozen friends in different areas with whom I would love to share this truly inspired work of the Lord—so that they would get it into their churches and bookstores.”
“Painting Revelation does a wonderful job summarizing what it has taken me over a year to study through Kay Arthur’s Precepts. The DVD teaching is very clear and well put. I can tell Debby was teaching ‘in the Spirit’...”
“If you have a small group meeting in your home or if you meet in someone else’s home or if you want a unique study tool for your own use, I have a recommendation. I’ve had this DVD for six or eight weeks but life has been a bit hectic and I just hadn’t found time to pop it in and watch it. Oh gracious! I should have stayed up an extra ten minutes for several evenings in a row rather than delay watching it. It would have been worth it. I’m so glad I finally took the time, and I’m delighted to recommend Painting Revelation to others. If you’re an artist, this will truly stir up those creative juices.”
“This was INCREDIBLE. Seriously. If you want to study Revelation, you should buy this DVD. I’ve watched it with my boys. They thoroughly enjoyed it as well.”
“I really appreciate Debby Topliff’s genuine artist’s spirit and the way the story is told. The narration is concise and powerful—not quite a movie, and not quite reading, but something special. You get the visually engaging sense of film combined with the internal thought and imagination of reading. I am usually so weary of Christian DVDs because they come off so religious—this is genuine spirituality and the true Christianity.”
“This is the most memorable bible teaching I have ever heard…and I have heard a lot of good bible teaching….This is just fabulous.”