Features

Images by David Miles

For centuries men and women have prophesied the end of the world - inspired principally by the word imagery of the biblical ‘Book of Revelation’. The prophecies of Armageddon, plagues, earthquakes, flames, doomsday and 666 the sign of the beast resonate not only with Christians.

Images by David Miles

The Approaching Apocalypse comes to Birmingham

In November 2008 St Martin's Church in the Bullring premiered the unique show that brings the imagery of the apocalypse alive.

Approaching Apocalypse is a 21st Century encounter with the biblical text of Revelation - the audience will be surrounded by sounds, music, digitally projected visuals and readings, bringing the historical text to life.

This very vivid and inspiring presentation is narrated by some of the UK's leading actors including - Joss Ackland, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Burt Caesar and Mojisola Adebayo.

Listen to a audio clip from the show narrated by Joss Ackland.

Images by David Miles

Images of the apocalypse

The images for Approaching Apocalypse are the result of more than ten years’ work by Birmingham artist and lecturer at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, David Miles, who by meticulously researching the original greek text, has used digital illustration techniques to generate pictures which bring the ancient words accurately and dramatically to life.

David hopes his visual interpretation of the text will encourage people to see just what a source of inspiration the Book of Revelation has been, and will continue to be for generations to come.

Images by David Miles

He explains: “Artists throughout the centuries such as William Blake and Turner have illustrated the book of Revelation but what I have noticed - even though I’m an enormous admirer of their work – was that most of them if not all of them included certain things that are not in the bible.

"So therefore my task was to go back to the original greek text and interpret precisely what the text was saying in visual form.

A revelation of the future

"It's unfortunate that the term 'apocalyptic' has assumed a meaning rather different from the real message of Revelation.

"The word 'apocalypse' derives from the Greek 'apokalupsis', which simply means 'an uncovering' or 'revelation' ... hence 'The Book of Revelation'.

Images by David Miles

"Although the book warns that some scary events should be expected, the concluding 'word picture' presented in the last chapter of Revelation is one of peace and tranquility.

"People have great difficulty understanding the Book of Revelation, our aim has been to avoid putting any specific interpretation on the book but, rather, to let Revelation speak for itself.

"My hope is that my visual interpretation of the text will encourage people to see just what a source of inspiration the text has been, and continues to be - either as a religious text, or a very remarkable piece of literature that continues to inspire artists, writers and filmmakers."

Approaching Apocalypse image projection

Sounds of the apocalypse

The soundtrack of readings and music have been devised by Birmingham contemporary composer, Simon Hall, and award winning documentary producer, Rosie Boulton also from Birmingham.

Rosie explains that it was important to use terms and visuals that people are already familar with including 666 and Armageddon - also to edit the 16 chapters in the Book of Revelation down with a modern 21st century take so the show wouldn’t be too long or overwhelming.

"For some people it might be a deeply spiritual experience, for others a first encounter with a piece of literature, or just interesting way of opening up an obscure piece of text in a 21st century way.”

The audience is invited to absorb the images, words and music, as a stimulus to look at the Book of Revelation and the approaching apocalypse.

Watch a preview video about the show which includes an interview with the artist David Miles.