Here in the UK we have been having a bit of a heat wave, which is delightful. I couldn't have asked for better weather for my week holiday. I've stayed home and enjoyed the sun without the need to travel to a holiday destination. As my previous post said, I still have photos from the exhibition at Chester cathedral. Since then John and I have visited Osterley house, A National Trust property which is quite close to us and is currently holding an exhibition of textiles. We have also visited Kew Gardens and seen some but not all of the Henry Moore sculptures current on view. It all adds up to a lot of photos. Lets start with the final part of the Threads exhibition. The third part is Threads through Relevation. I don't know about you but my knowledge of Relevations is limited. I know it is written by John who also has his own gospel but Relevations was not part of Sunday school or religious education classes at school. It's also not something I've read on my own but don't panic as I have the guide that tells me what each panel is about. Like the panels already shown, the work is beautiful .
Panel 1 Revelation 1 - 3 First and Final.
John had been exiled because of his faith. He started having unexpected visions. He turns and sees seven golden candlesticks with someone dressed like a man. The figure is Jesus, the focus of relevations. He tells John not to be afraid and gave him seven messages for seven churches on mainland Turkey for which John has responsibility. They are doing some things right but some are wrong. Jesus challenges them to do better. the sword from Jesus' mouth is the sword of truth.
Panel 2 Revelation 4 The Throne room.
A doorway opens and John finds himself swept into the throne room of God. The boundary between earth and heaven is taken away. God is on his throne surrounded by the rainbow and the four living creatures. the Holy Spirit is depicted by seven flames and below are 24 elders casting aside ttheir crowns in worship before God. I like the circular rainbow encircling God.
Panel 3 Revelation 4 The horsemen of the Apocalpse.
John is allowed into the Throne room to witness what must take place. He sees a scroll with seven seals but no one is worthy to open it. Then, Jesus the Lamb, the only one good enough to break the seals, appears and starts to break them. As the seals are broken terrifying things happen. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse arrive with their terrors. there are people who have been killed for speaking out about Jesus, there are cosmic disasters. The visions reveal things that have happened over centuries and are happening now. Eventually the calamities stop. Four angels bring calm and order. The servants of God are marked out.
Panel 4. Revelation 8 - 9. Pregnant pause.
John is waiting for the seventh seal to be opened and for the next disaster. When it is opened there is silence in heaven. The seven angels who stand before God are given seven trumpets. Four of the seven trupets sound and creation shuudders. Then an eagle flies calling woe! woe!. Two more trumpets are blown bringing an army of locusts with scorpian tails and an army of horses with lions heads and snake tails. There is a bloody battle. Four trumpets announce various judgements and the fifth and sixth signal the coming of two armies.
Panel 5 Revelation 10. No more delay.
The seventh trumpet still needs to sound. John is back on earth - watching the angel coming down from heaven - in conversation with God. The angel shares mysteries that John is not to speak about and other mysteries that he's to understand and proclaim. There must be no delay, the last trumpet will be heard and the full mystery will be revealed.
Panel 6. Revelation 11. Two witnesses.
John is told about two witnesses who stand firm in front of God . Their message is full of power and together they bring down fire from heaven that destroys enemies. They are overpowered and killed but the witnesses rise from the dead. The forces of heaven are unstoppable. The dragon at the centre of the panel is the poised ready to kill the witnesses.
The seventh trumpet is blown. God is still on his throne but the vision shows a baby is born, a virgin birth in which God becomes man. The panel features a pregnant women giving birth with the seven headedDragon, a symbol of Satan waiting to eat the baby.
Panel 8. Revelation 12 - 13. War in Heaven.
The two opposing forces, the Dragon and People of God. The Dragon does not manage to destroy the baby who is taken to the throne of God for protection. The women Mary, symbolic of the church escapes to the desert for safety. Archangel Michael defeats the Dragon who is thrown to earth. Here the Dragon goes in search of Mary, vomiting out water to drown her. She is given the wings of an eagle to fly above the waters and escape. Whilst victory is won, the Dragon now has two allies, the Beast from the sea and the Beast who rises up from the land. Both are seen at the bottom of the panel.
All is complete and finished. The panel shows the lamb on the throne on the summit of a mountain. The Messiah has sacrificed his life. In the throne room there are four living creatures and twenty four elders. There are also 144,000 blameless people marked with the name of God and Jesus all singing praises.
There are 453 people on the panel, all that would fit. They are quite difficult to see on the photo.
Panel 10. Evelation 14:14 - 16:21 Armageddon.
Back down on earth, things are not good. Judgements need to be made. At the centre of this panel is the temple with billowing smoke. The temple is open to everyone. Christ is returning to judge the people on earth.
Panel 11. Revelation 17 - 18. Beauty and the beast.
This panel gives a closer view of the destruction of Babylon. Babylon is symbolised by a city and a promiscuous women. Both were wealthy and famous at the expense of the poor and marginalised. At the bottom of the panel Babylon is destroyed.
Panel 12. Revelation 19 - 20 The last judgement.
A series of images showing the battles between good and evil. Two battles are fought, one fought in truth and the second against th city of Jerusalem. There are two judgements, the judgements of the Beasts, Dragon, Death and Hades which are throuwn into a lake of fire. The second judgement is against the dead, which brings eternal life for followers of God.
Panel 13. Revelation 21. The great romance.
The day of judgement has passed and moves fully into eternity. John's vision was one of hope on which the Christain faith is founded. It is time for God and his Holy People to be united.
Pane; 14. Revelation 22. New creation.
The story ends with a beginning. All that is wrong is gone and the New Jerusalem is seen in full glory. There is a warning that those who prefer wrong to right will be kept outside the Holy City.
