The Seven Trumpets: Revelation 10:3-11-19

Part Three: The Last

The leonine roar sounds seven secret thunders
Before the world’s city shines the angel of Day
His thundering plan is shrouded in wonders
But it comes now, nothing waiting, no delay
He sends to the world his witnesses to unlock
The gospel’s great weal and woe
The city hangs these two on crosses and mocks
Till they’re raised to ascend from below
The Seventh and last sounds midst shouts and cries
The silence of rage is now stilled
The Destroyer of nations — destruction has died
Earth and heaven are ruled by one will.
The mercy seat is open to both great and small
The Holy of Holies is unveiled for all.

(c) Randy Edwards
artwork: La lumiere as lais; Apocalypse (the ‘Welles Apocalypse’)

The Seven Trumpets 2: Revelation 9:1-10:3

Next blows the trumpet to open the dungeon
From its bottomless depths it calls forth
The consumers of people, Apollyon’s legion:
Locusts stinging with living death.
Now comes the Sixth, his trumpet to blow
To release the bound chaos at earth’s corners:
A mounted army, whose numbers only grow
As they sweep death across every border.
And still the world’s kingdom though ruined and torn
With each plague, (the) people pleasure in perishing,
Not heading the pain which wakens to warn–
To slumber in sin — to remain idol cherishing.
But the Angel stands over, crowned with rained glory
Sheltering the sojourners, calling out as a lion roaring.

(c) Randy Edwards

artwork: La lumiere as lais; Apocalypse (the ‘Welles Apocalypse’)

Continuing in Revelation with the first of three sonnets on the Seven Trumpets.

First in a three part series
The Seven Trumpets: Revelation 8:2-13

Hurled earthward, the censer of prayer
Mingled with embers from the altar above
Traces its catapult arc into the World’s air
Over its ramparts with a furious love.
The trumpets blow–the walled kingdom to (a)waken
With heralding trials which lay open the heart
Exposing the fears and foundations shaking
And calling their resistance down from their ramparts.
The first trumpet peals setting creation to burn.
The second throws a mountain in(to) the sea.
Third, Wormwood’s bite makes waters to churn,
And the fourth darkens heaven’s panoply.
High above cries an eagle in flight
Woe to those who remain hardened at the coming of (the) night.

(c) Randy Edwards

artwork: La lumiere as lais; Apocalypse (the ‘Welles Apocalypse’)

Continuing my commentary on Revelation, here is a poem based on the Seven Seals from Revelation 6-8

based on Revelation 6:1-8:1

Believing they took the victor’s laurel crown,
Those bent on conquering will not stop till conquered
And community bleeds its life upon the open ground,
As the sword-bearer thrusts till all peace is punctured.
Earth too, fights and fails us yielding only from its furrow
Hollow comforts for the rich and filling the poor with sorrow.
Hard on their heels rides the last in death’s pale finality
Consuming creation’s proffer with greedy insatiability.
But none of these players move without the Sovereign’s leave
Whose mighty arm of power rolls up the starlit ceiling
Who hands white robes and invites the slain to rest in covered ease
Beneath the altar of his love, in his abiding healing
The beloved, tearful, technicolored tribe
Stands awed in answered silence, the Lamb’s beloved bride.

(c) Randy Edwards
artwork: from the Moutier-Grandval Bible, France (Tours), c. 830 – c. 840