Reverend McKendree Robbins Long created many paintings based on the book of Revelation, combining imagery from different chapters to tell the story as he saw it. This piece shows Long’s vision of Armageddon, with the city of Jerusalem under threat from masses of soldiers, aircraft, and missiles. Satan watches from the clouds, while seven trumpets pour “hail and fire, mixed with blood” onto the earth (8:7). Long painted the crowds of people poised and waiting for action, capturing the suspenseful moment before the inevitable chaos of the end of the world.
“They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Revelation 20:7–9
- Title
-
Vision from Book of Revelation
- Artist
- Date
- 1966
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 44 1⁄8 x 52 in. (112.1 x 132.1 cm.)
- Credit Line
-
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Museum purchase
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- oil on canvas
- Classifications
- Keywords
-
- Landscape – bird's eye view
- State of being – evil – war
- Cityscape – imaginary
- Religion – New Testament – Last Judgment
- Religion – New Testament – Christ
- Religion – angel
- Object Number
-
1989.19
- Palette
- Linked Open Data
- Linked Open Data URI