The Panel of the Heavens in the Revelation of St. John

This is the third and final panel of the The Revelation of St. John, my latest painting, 12 ft. x 4 ft. It is a tryptic of 4' x 4' panels. This panel is found on the right side of the composition.

In Chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation, 24 elders are described who fall down and worship the Lamb, Jesus. He is before the Tree of Life, which bears 12 different kinds of fruits (22:2).

One of the strangest things John saw was the four living creatures full of eyes all around and within, who each had 6 wings. Each of those creatures had different characteristics from the others; all worshipped God before His throne (4:6-8).

The first of those creatures was described to be like a lion. It can be seen here in brown with the gold eyes and the lion paw. Another creature, the orange one, was described as being like a man (4:7). I distinguished it with human feet, which can be seen in an image below.

Once aga there is another angel in the corner with a raised hand as in the other panels. There were four of these angels "standing at the four corners of the earth," holding back the four winds (7:1). The other "Winds Angels" are in the other 2 sections of the painting.

Another creature with all the eyes was described to be like a calf. I studied the eyes of a calf from a friend's farm in our area as a model for these eyes.

Lastly, another creature was described as being like an eagle (4:7). The calf-like creature has hooves when you look closely, and I painted eagle talons at the base of the the other.

I can't describe how much I enjoyed inventing and painting these creatures with all their eyes and glowing wings!

A book with 7 seals is in a hand extended from the Throne of God (5:1). When those seals were opened, there was great destruction that came, which is painted into the Tribulation panel on the left side of the Revelation tryptic.

There was an angel with a golden censer (8:3), to whom was given much incense to add to the prayers of all the saints.

The 24 Elders are mentioned in Chapter 4:10, worshiping God before the Throne, with their golden crowns and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (5:8).

This entire panel is devoted to worship in one form or another.

I find it interesting that the Book of Revelation represents our prayers like incense that is held by God in golden bowls, seen here with the Elders. It would indicate that our prayers are never wasted. They are all remembered and kept.

All the attention of these 24 crowned Elders is focused on the Lamb, Jesus, who is before the Throne of God, and the Tree of Life, which bears 12 different fruits (22). The Lamb's Book of Life (20) is shown in the grass.

The Tree of Life is described with the 12 fruits, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves are for the healing of the nations (22:2).

The Lamb's Book of Life is mentioned again in Revelation 21:7. The verse says that no one who practices abomination and lying will ever come into the "heavenly city" called the New Jerusalem, but only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Most astonishing is that He invites us to be written in His Book of Life. This is not at all arbitrary. It comes to us as a powerful invitation by our Creator that we can sense to the very core of our being. How could we resist such grace?

There is much spoken of the new heavens, and the "New Jerusalem" (21).

It is described with 12 kinds of precious foundation stones of various colors, with the glory of God illumining it, so there is no need of a sun or moon. Its light is the Lamb of God. "And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it" (21:24). What a sight that will be!

The Throne is described with One sitting on it saying, "Behold I am making all things new" (21:5). The original Greek verb tense here is describing something that is happening continually, perpetually. All things being made new, always new, all the time, forever.

As I was putting this composition together, I originally had a faint drawing of a figure and a throne. But I knew I couldn't paint a face there.

Instead, I wanted somehow to represent all the foundation stones, and the glory and honor of Chapter 21. So I turned this whole area into a glowing light like a sunrise, with a faint image of a parted sea, inviting us to come.

In Chapter 22, it says there shall no longer be any night (22:5), and there shall be no need of a lamp, because the Lord God shall be our light, and we will see His face (22:4).

I hope you have enjoyed these writings and also this very large painting of things yet to come in the final book of the Bible, The Book of Revelation.

Thanks so much for reading!

Rosemarie Adcock