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Ever After...a very prophetic movie
by Joni Ames
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I went to see the movie EVER AFTER, which is a modern day spin of Cinderella - a more "believable" version. After seeing it several times, I am still "getting stuff" about it! - I am sure there is much more!
It begins in a room of a castle with a queen who invites the writers of fairy tales to talk with her so that she may "set them straight" about the "TRUE" story of "the cinder girl," Cinderella.
As I was watching the movie the first time, I felt that the names of the characters played an important part in the story, and they did, so I will just go ahead and place them in this account...
To start out, it is said "Once upon a time there lived a young girl who loved her Father very much..." The little girl's name is Danielle, which is a feminine form of Daniel, and means "God will judge me." - - Immediately I thought of the Bride of Christ.
Danielle's little friend, who helps her throughout the years, is Gustaf, which means "the Lord's cane," who I felt represented the Holy Spirit, The Helper.
Danielle's mother had died, and her Father remarries, but assures her that he loves her best, saying, "I am a Husband now, but a Father first and forever." - Significant of Father God's role as Father and the role of Jesus as our Bridegroom/Husband. The Father's name is August - which is also the name of the eighth month - eight standing for new beginnings.
When the new stepmother and two step sisters arrive, Danielle is thrilled to have new family, and of them, she says, "They ate perfect! Like a dance!" - I felt that was significant and representative of those in the church who we look at as "family" but who, under the influence of the enemy, operate in a religious spirit in an effort to appear as though they are a "perfect" example of the "Church." So, until it becomes real to us, it is more of an "act."
The Father gives Danielle a book called Eutopia, which means Paradise, which she cherishes, reads and dreams about. That gift is given to Danielle when she is 8 - the number of new beginnings. Just as it is with us all when we get our first Bible and begin to read and dream of the paradise of Heaven, she begins to read and dream of Paradise.
Tradition had it that Danielle's father always stopped at the gate to wave as he would leave for a trip...and Danielle cherished that intimate moment with him. However, just as being steeped in religious tradition is sure death spiritually, and we never end up going on to what God has for us when we insist on holding onto it, he dies at the gate.
Just before he dies, he looks at his daughter and tells HER that he loves her. At that point, you can see by the look on his wife's face that she is hurt and jealous and immediately allows a bitter root to take over in her against the daughter, Danielle.
They say in the movie naration, "It would be 10 years before another man would enter her (Danielle's) life." TEN is the number that represents order, law, government, trial, testing and finally restoration...
At the end of those ten years, Danielle met the prince. The prince's name is Henri - which means, "Ruler of the house." - Significant, since Danielle is later to become his bride...Hence, the Bride (of Christ) will later be judged and joined to the Ruler of the House (the Lord.)
But that is getting ahead of the story...
Throughout the story, the stepmother and one of the step daughters are interested only in "intrigues" and acting out planned sceenes, to manipulate and control circumstances...much like those who operate in Charasmatic witchcraft. - Yet, like the heart of the Lord and those who love Him, Danielle trys to "win" them through Love. However, the Baroness (stepmother) continues to choose to walk in deception and even says at one point, "I am sure God negotiates even when you are dead." A clear choice to believe a lie.
Danielle, in ashes and close to the fire, reads her book called Eutopia and dreams of paradise...like the Bride of Christ reading and dreaming of heaven, while going through the fires and ash heaps of life.
Although by all rights, since her FATHER was royalty, SHE is the one of royal blood, she tends her step-mother's family as a servant and works in the fields. - Much like we must do as we work in the world.
The prince, meanwhile, is getting anxious for a bride. But he wants one that he will LOVE; and who truly love Him, not meerly an arrangement. - Much like the Lord. He gives to us a free will so that we will love Him out of an unfeigned heart.
In one of his "flights" to search the countryside, Henry comes across a painter - who turns out to be Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo means "bold lion." He has painted a picture that thieves try to steal, and says of it, "It is my life!" It turns out that it is of the Madonna, and Henri ("the ruler of the house") gets it back for him.
Leonardo says, "A woman is always a matter of life or death." - - So true, for Jesus died for HIS BRIDE, and lives again for the same.
Of DaVinci, Henri says, "I met my salvation on the highway!" - It reminded me of how the Lord says that He will invite those on the highways and byways to the wedding.
The stepsisters are (1) Margueritte, which means pearl - which is formed by irrittion, and she is definitely irritating! - And (2) Jacquie, which means supplanter, and she certainly prooves that out in the story as she switches sides later to help Danielle and ends up as part of the royal family too.
Danielle proves to be a passionate person - and one whose heart it is to free the servants and see justice done for the poor. She loves learning and books and these traits of passion endear her to Henri. - Yet she expresses humility when she says of herself, "I am just a servant in a nice dress." She also said, "A country's character is defined by its every day rustics - they are the legs we stand on." I felt that these two traits of The Bride are those that are emerging today, as she becomes self-less and falls in love with and sees the rest of the Body of Christ through the eyes of the Father.
When Danielle meets the prince, she tells him her name is Contessa Nicole De Long Cray. Nicole means "the people's victory." The name prooves true, as she frees a fellow servant by the name of Maurice, which means "dark-skinned," and shows such tremendous passion and love for seeing people loved and appreciated for who they are. Her passion and boldness begins to fascinate and win Henri's heart.
It is profoundly stated a couple of times that when you are born to privilige, with that comes specific obligations.
The stepmother and stepsisters keep trying on Danielle's mother's clothes - the wedding gown turned out to be white with gold trim (white = purity/ gold = glory) and the shoes white and blue (white = purity/ blue = revelation - - signifying a walk in pure revelation).
At one point Danielle is in the field and realizes she is dirty and jumps in the river to get clean. When she gets out, the prince is there and covers her up with his coat as she gets out of the water, to keep her warm. - So like the Lord, in that when we jump in His river to get cleansed, He is there to throw His covering - robes of righteousness - around us and love on us! The cloak, by the way, was purple - and purple is a color signifying kingship and royalty. Also, it is a combination of both blue and red - the Spirit and the Blood - the glory of God.
One profound statement that is made is that you cannot leave everything to fate and that there is much to be done.
Danielle makes a statement to the prince at one point that she cannot understand how that when he owns all the land there is that he takes no pride in anything. I felt that the Bride would be inspiring others in like ways - pointing out things to be thankful for and imparting passion to them, which is what Danielle does throughout the movie.
Like the typical tricks of the devil, things in the Baroness' house keep coming up missing (supposedly stolen) and she accuses and makes her servants pay for it - although it is truly her that is doing it all along.
At one point, the Baroness says to Danielle, "You have so much of your Father in you - sometimes I can see Him look out through your eyes."
In one sceene, Danielle asked the Baroness if she had ever loved her father and the Baroness' response was "I hardly knew him" - which is true, because she didn't know him as Danielle did, and that also made her jealous of Danielle. - Much like those who the Word describes as having stony or shallow hearts.
Danielle stated that her goal wasn't for greatness, only to be in a position to help to change things for the better for others - just as should be our goal as The Bride.
Danielle stated that her weakness was books and learning, and the Prince declared that His weakness was her. - Typical of the Bride today...and of the Lord for His Bride.
Danielle stated about her Father, "I would rather hear His voice again than any sound in the world." I felt that this is becoming the cry of the true Bride today...to passionately desire to hear and obey His Voice.
Danielle climbed a mountain to see the way to the palace...I believe the Lord is calling many to the mountain of the Lord, aside from the world, in able to hear His voice and clearly see the way to Him.
Thieves came and tried to separate Danielle and Henri. Danielle asked for whatever she could carry and outwitted the thief, as she picked up the prince and carried him off. - Symbolic, I believe, of the wisdom the Lord will impart to the Bride as needed in times to come as we deal with the Thief; and the fact that the Bride will be able to carry the Lord's presence.
The stepmother finds out that Danielle has spent time with the prince and is jealous. Danielle told her stepmother at one point, "Intrigues won't win you a crown."
The stepmother and wicked stepsister made Danielle choose between having her mother's shoes or her father's book, and Danielle chose her father's book. - Symbolic, I believe, of us having to choose between our heritage and Our Father's Book. - Even still, the evil ones threw the book in the fire - symbolic of us being tried by fire because of His Word; and of the ability of the Word and The Lord's promises to withstand the fire.
The stepmother beat Danielle after she found out that Danielle had been with Henri. Danielle had met with Henri in the ruins of an old favorite retreat place. They locked Danielle locked in the basement to prevent her from getting to the palace for the prince's party.
Gustaf (the Lord's cane/The Holy Spirit) and Leonardo (bold lion/Lion of Judah-Praise) and Louise ("female soldier"/The Bride) helped Danielle to escape the basement and go to the ball. Leonardo also made her wings. (Reminds me of the popular song, "I believe I can fly.")
At the ball, the baroness was so angry and jealous that she tore off one of Danielle's wings and screamed out that she was no one but a servant. - Typical of the religious spirit - to operate in a political spirit of accusation and attempt oust those of pure heart out of their places.
Due to the accuser's condemnation, Danielle lost one shoe...and lost her will.
Danielle worked hard to forget Henri. Then the baroness sold her into slavery. (Typical of the religious spirit once it has us in that downward spiral.)
The prince almost married the arranged bride, Gabrielle (which means "the Lord's messenger") but she cried so loudly that her cries brought forth the Truth. - Much like our intercessors/messengers do. - The truth being that Danielle and Henri belonged together.
While enslaved, Danielle fought the enemy she was sold to for her freedom. She used his own sword against him, saying, "My Father was an expert swordsman and He taught me well." Through the expert use of the sword, she got the key and was free by the time Henri (the Prince) reached her.
The prince arrived and she was embarased as she realized she was filthy. He spoke her name and restored her shoe (white/blue = pure revelation) and said "She is my match in every way, please tell me I haven't lost her!"
Danielle had on one boot and one glass slipper - which I feel speaks of the Bride being ALL of us in the church - both men (signified by the boot) and women (signified by the glass slipper). Additionally I felt that blue slipper was mindful of revelation & purity and the boot of the Word (feet shod by preparation fo the gospel). - I also felt it encouraging that the female shoe was restored, being symbolic of Women of the Word being restored. Most importantly, I felt the restoration of the shoe as highly symbolic due to the fact that in that day, the trading of one's shoe was a sign of redemption - as when Boaz redeemed Ruth in Ruth 4:7-12.
Of the painting of Danielle, it was said that the painting remained in the halls of a university until the revolution and then the romance was reduced to a fairy tale - which I think was symbolic of the fact that after the fall/revolt in heaven, the romance was reduced to a fairy tale - until now. Then it was said, the point is that they LIVED!
The Bride and the Bridegroom LIVE today and despite the enemy's attempts, the Bride's purity, freedom and passion is being restored. The Bride WILL overcome the enemy and be free, and the bride and the Bridegroom WILL be reconciled! - And live "EVER AFTER!!!"
Joni Ames
P.O. Box 411501
Charlotte, NC 28241
E-mail: JoniAmes@aol.com
Newsletter/Prophecy Website: http://www.joniames.org
