An Introduction to the Book of Revelation:
Heavenly Worship &
the Celestial Jerusalem
353 AD
Coin of Magentius with chi rho and alpha and omega
bronze
Revelation 21:6: "I am the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end."
Amiens
400
Monogrammatic Cross in the sky with alpha and omega mosaic Baptistery, Naples
Two limestone roundels from northern Syria
late 5th or early 6th century AD
The medallion is deeply carved with a Christogram, the symbol formed by superimposing the first two
Greek letters of Christ's name (the chi rho). Filling the space on the two sides are the alpha and omega,
another common Christian symbol that alludes to Christ's words in Revelation 21:6: "I am the Alpha and
Omega; the beginning and the end."
Victorious Cross Of Oviedo
Many Beatus manuscripts begin with a fullpage Cross of Oviedo, so named after Greekshaped crosses in the treasury of Oviedo
Cathedral that were thought to imitate the
cross carried by Pelayo of Asturias in his 722
victory over the Moors at the battle of
Covadonga. (Pelayo's battle was regarded as
the beginning of the Christian Reconquista.)
Here, however, the political symbolism of the
cross has become blended with that of the
Passion. Angels hold a Latin cross, spear, and
sponge. More instruments of the Passion, the
crown of thorns and the three nails, float
above, while the Greek letters, alpha and
omega, unattached to the arms of the cross,
hover below. The Greek cross does appear
with the Lamb in the roundel at the bottom.
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Origin: Tabara (?) (or San Miguel de
Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
Vision Of God Enthroned After these
things, I saw a door was opened in heaven, and the
voice that I heard speaking with me first was like a
trumpet, saying: "Ascend to here, and I will reveal
to you what must occur after these things." And
immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, a
throne had been placed in heaven, and there was
One sitting upon the throne similar in appearance
to a stone of jasper and sardius. And there was an
iridescence surrounding the throne, in aspect similar
to an emerald. And surrounding the throne were
twenty-four smaller thrones. And upon the thrones,
twenty-four elders were sitting, clothed all around in
white vestments, and on their heads were gold
crowns. And from the throne, lightnings and voices
and thunders went forth. And there were seven
burning lamps before the throne, which are the
seven spirits of God. (Rev. 4:1–5)
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Origin: Tabara (?) (or San Miguel de
Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
Adoration of the Lamb
Revelation 5:6
6Then
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it
had been slain, standing in the center
of the throne, encircled by the four
living creatures and the elders. He had
seven horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven spirits of God sent out into
all the earth. 7He came and took the
scroll from the right hand of him who
sat on the throne. 8And when he had
taken it, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before
the Lamb. Each one had a harp and
they were holding golden bowls full of
incense, which are the prayers of the
saints.
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New
York Origin: Tabara (?) (or San
Miguel de Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
Adoration Of The Lamb, The
Sealed, And The Elect And I heard
the number of those who were sealed: one
hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out
of every tribe of the sons of Israel. After
these things, I saw a great crowd, which no
one could number, from all the nations and
tribes and peoples and languages, standing
before the throne and in sight of the Lamb,
clothed in white robes, with palm branches in
their hands. And they cried out, with a great
voice, saying: "Salvation is from our God, who
sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb."
And all the angels were standing around the
throne, with the elders and the four living
creatures. And they fell upon their faces in
view of the throne, and they worshiped God.
(Rev. 7:4–11)
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New
York Origin: Tabara (?) (or San
Miguel de Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
John receives the book and the rod
and measures the temple
And I saw another strong angel, descending from
heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was
upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his
feet were like columns of fire. He held in his hand a
small open book, stationed his right foot on the sea,
and his left foot on the land. And the angel said:
"Receive the book and consume it. And it shall cause
bitterness in your stomach, but in your mouth it shall
be sweet like honey." And a reedlike staff was given
to me. And I was told: "Rise up and measure the
temple of God, the worshipers, and the altar. But do
not measure the atrium outside of the temple
because it has been given over to the Gentiles. And
they shall trample upon the Holy City for forty-two
months. (Rev. 10:1–11:2)
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Origin: Tabara (?) (or San Miguel de
Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
Seven Angels of the Seven Plagues
and the Song of the Lamb
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wondrous:
seven angels holding the seven last afflictions. For with
them, the wrath of God is completed. And I saw
something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. And those
who had overcome the beast and his image and the
number of his name, were standing upon the sea of
glass, holding the harps of God, and singing the
canticle of Moses and the canticle of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and wondrous are your works, Lord God
Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of all ages."
(Rev. 15:1–3)
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Origin: Tabara (?) (or San Miguel de
Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
Heavenly Jerusalem And I, John, saw the Holy
City, the New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven
from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her
husband. And one of the seven angels approached and
spoke with me, saying: "Come, and I will show you the
bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he took me up in
spirit to a high mountain and showed me the
descending Holy City Jerusalem, which was laid out as
a square, with three gates on each side. At each gate
was an angel with the name of one of the twelve tribes
of the sons of Israel. The wall of the city had twelve
foundations, each with the name of one of the twelve
Apostles of the Lamb. And he who was speaking with
me was holding a golden measuring reed to measure
the city, its gates, and wall. The city was of pure gold,
and the foundation walls were adorned with every kind
of precious stone. The first foundation was of jasper,
and the other eleven were of sapphire, chalcedony,
emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz,
chrysoprasus, jacinth, and amethyst. And I saw no
temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the
Lamb are its temple. (Rev. 21:2–22)
Morgan Beatus, c940-945
vellum, 15.09 x 11.12”
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Origin: Tabara (?) (or San Miguel de Escalada)
Illuminator: Maius
c400
Christ & Apostles in the Celestial Jerusalem
mosaic
Santa Prudenzia, Rome
c432-440
Triumphal Arch with Apocalyptic Symbols mosaic
Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Hebrews 12:18-24
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched
and that is burning with fire . . . 22But you have come to
Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the
living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands
of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the
firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have
come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of
righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a
new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a
better word than the blood of Abel.
c432-440
Throne of God with Apocalyptic Symbols mosaic
Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
c526-547
San Vitale
exterior from east
brick
Ravenna
c526-547
San Vitale
interior towards east apse
mosaic
Ravenna
c526-547
Christ Enthoned with Saints
Vitalis and Ecclesiatius
Apse mosaic
San Vitale, Ravenna
Worship of the Lamb
Mosaic
San Vitale , Ravenna
c526-547
Christ holding book with seven seals
Apse mosaic San Vitale, Ravenna
c1070
St. Michael Slaying Dragon, Christ in Majesty fresco
San Pietro al Monte, Civate
c1070
St. Michael Slaying Dragon, Christ in Majesty fresco
San Pietro al Monte, Civate
c1070
Worship of the Lamb apse fresco
San Pietro al Monte, Civate
c1070
Heavenly Jerusalem fresco
San Pietro al Monte, Civate
1088-1130
Abbey Church of St-Pierre (Cluny III) nave looking east
Cluny, France
1088-1130 Abbey Church of St-Pierre (Cluny III) nave looking east
limestone Cluny, France
1088-1130 Abbey Church of St-Pierre (Cluny III)
exterior, limestone south transept, looking south
Cluny, France
interior, limestone
south transept, looking north
Cluny, France
c1095
Capital with First Tone of Music
from Abbey church of St. Pierre, Cluny
Museé Ochier, Cluny
c1095
Capital with Third Tone of Music
from Abbey church of St. Pierre, Cluny
Museé Ochier, Cluny
c1090
Bernardus Gelduinus:
Christ in Majesty, from ambulatory
marble, h: 50”
St. Sernin, Toulouse, France
c1090
Bernardus Gelduinus:
Apostle, from ambulatory
marble, h: 50”
St. Sernin, Toulouse
c1090
Bernardus Gelduinus:
Angel, from ambulatory
marble, h: 50”
St. Sernin, Toulouse
c1115-1135
Christ in Glory
tympanum
from South Portal
limestone
St.-Pierre, Moissac
c1130
Gislebertus: Last Judgment
west tympanum marble
St.-Lazare, Autun
Romanesque
Gothic
center west tympanum
St-Julien, c 1125-1150
limestone
Mars-sur-Allier, Burgundy, France
Chartres Cathedral,
c 1145-1170 limestone
1145-1155
Christ in Glory
tympanum, central west façade portal limestone
Chartres Cathedral
Romanesque
Ascension of Christ
St-Pierre-et-St-Paul, c 1100-1150
limestone
Montceau-l’Etoile, Burgundy, France
Gothic
Chartres Cathedral,
c 1145-1170
limestone
c1120-1200 Interior nave & apse
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux
c1120-1200
Celestial Jerusalem
apse floor mosaic
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux
1145-1155
Chartres Cathedral
west facade
limestone
Chartres, France
1145-1155
Chartres Cathedral
west façade portals
limestone
Chartres, France
1145-1155
Christ in Glory
tympanum, central west façade portal limestone
Chartres Cathedral
1145-1155
Old Testament Kings and Queens
(Ancestors of Christ)
jamb sculptures
west portals
limestone
Chartres Cathedral
1194-1220
Chartres Cathedral
aerial view
limestone
Chartres, France
c1194-1205 Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, David
from north transept
limestone
Chartres Cathedral
c 1220-35 Chartres Cathedral
south porch
limestone
Chartres, France
c 1230
Christ Treading Basilish
(Le Beau Dieu)
trumeau sculpture, south porch
limestone
Chartres Cathedral