Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard paints us several pictures of the end
times, but the one that was
most powerful is this picture in her book Scivias, the
visionary book that she wrote in
the 1140s. And this is a series of visions, many of the
connected with the heavenly
world, but others dealing with the course of history. One of
these famous images, pictured at left, is the picture of the kingdoms of the end time and
the birth of Antichrist from the Church. This is a powerful image of a
vast female figure representing the Church, with this horrible
monstrous head being born from the woman. And that of course is the
image of the Antichrist, who will be born from the Church, who will
persecute believing Christians, and who will try to pretend that he is
divine by ascending into heaven.
Hildegard's visions and music had been adopted by the New Age movement,
whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs. For a sample
of Hildegard's music performed by a
New Age group, click the mp3 icon below.
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