Illustrated Message Overview with Marjorie

To start this series, here is a quick overview of the book;

“Plot Summary and Analysis

The Holy War is a religious allegory written by John Bunyan, first published in 1682. The story begins with the town of Mansoul being besieged by the devil’s army. The devil’s army represents sin and temptation, and they are determined to capture Mansoul and make it their own. The town is ill-prepared to defend itself, and the devil’s army easily takes control. The devil’s army is led by Diabolus, who represents Satan.

The story then follows the fall and redemption of Mansoul. The town is eventually liberated by the army of Emanuel, who represents Jesus Christ. Emanuel leads a successful campaign against Diabolus and his army, and Mansoul is freed from their control. However, the town is later undermined by further diabolic attacks and plots against Emanuel’s rule.

The Holy War is a metaphor for spiritual warfare. The town of Mansoul represents the human soul, and the devil’s army represents sin and temptation. The story emphasizes the importance of resisting temptation and remaining faithful to God. The story also emphasizes the importance of repentance and redemption. The Holy War is a powerful allegory that continues to resonate with readers today.” (by Allegory Explained)

A good place to begin The Holy War message series, would be at taking a look at a break down of this allegory. I found a good site online at AllegoryExplained.com, that’s going help us understand a general overview of The Holy War, so let’s start with the definition of what an allegory is.

“An allegory is a literary device or artistic expression in which characters, events, symbols, or themes are used to convey a deeper, often moral or philosophical meaning. Unlike a straightforward narrative, an allegory operates on multiple levels, presenting both a surface-level story and a symbolic or metaphorical layer beneath it.” (AllegoryExplained.com)

Today we’ll be going back and forth from this ‘Allegory Explained’, to a copy of the original Holy War that has been rewritten in modern English by a ministry site called Preachers’ Help. Also we will read the scriptures outlined in the script that parallel with what Bunyan wrote.  

Allegory Explained says the following;

"The Holy War has been compared to Bunyan’s other famous work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, and is considered one of the early modern English novels written in the form of an allegory. The novel is divided into seven parts, each of which tells a different part of the story. The story begins with an introductory account of the origin of Mansoul and the fallen angels, and then follows the town’s struggles against the devil’s forces.  

The story is set in the town of Mansoul, which is ruled by King Shaddai. The town is perfect, built for the glory of its benevolent creator and leader. However, the town falls into the mires of sin and despair after being deceived by the wicked ruler Diabolus. As battles rage against good and evil, the redemption of Mansoul is only possible through the intervention of the army of Emanuel.”  

The Holy War - Chapter 1 from the book says the following;

“As for the location of this city, it lies between two worlds. The first founder and builder of it, according to the best and most authentic records I could gather, was Shaddai; and he built it for his own delight. (Genesis 1:26) He made it the mirror and glory of all that he had made, even as the top-piece of all else that he made in that country. Indeed, so great was the city of Mansoul when it was first built that it is said by some that the gods, when they first saw it, came down to see it and sang for joy. And as he made it so delightful to look at, so he also gave it power to have dominion over all the country round about. Indeed, all were commanded to acknowledge Mansoul as their capital city, and all were commanded to pay homage to it. Yes; the city herself had a definite commission and power from her King to demand service from all, and also the right to arrest those who refused.”  

The city of Mansoul reflects Adam and Eve’s creation in the Garden of Eden. Bunyan drops Bible scripture references throughout The Holy War, to help tell the story more accurately from a biblical perspective.

Genesis 1:26 Amplified Bible says; “26 Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”

Shaddai is God, the city of Mansoul is a type and shadow of the soul of man that is created and ruled by God as was Adam and Eve in the story of creation found in the Bible verse mentioned. Diablous is none other than the devil, who is the fallen angel Lucifer, found in Isaiah 14:12-15.

Continuing to read in The Holy War it says;

“At the centre of this city, there reared up a most famous and stately palace. For strength, it might be called a castle; for pleasantness, a paradise; for largeness, a place so great that it could take in the whole world. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) This place, King Shaddai intended for his own use and for no other; partly for his own delight, and partly because he would have no strangers coming in to terrorise the city. This place also Shaddai turned into a garrison; but he committed the keeping of it to its citizens.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Amplified Bible says; “11 He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.”

God has placed in all mankind this sense of divine purpose that can only be found in Jesus, Immanuel, God’s Son, who alone can only redeem mans soul from the Devil, Diablous.  

John 3:16 Amplified Bible says; “16 For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

The people of Mansoul, are not Christians, they seem to be Old Testament saints because Jesus had not yet come to save them, and they were under the law. These are Godly saints who loved Shaddai.

Allegory Explained says; “Bunyan’s writing was influenced by the political and religious turmoil of his time. He was a Puritan, a member of a group of English Protestants who sought to “purify” the Church of England. The Puritans believed in a strict interpretation of the Bible and rejected many of the rituals and practices of the Anglican Church.

The Holy War was written during a period of political and religious upheaval in England. The country was divided between supporters of the king and supporters of parliament, and there was widespread persecution of religious dissenters. The allegory reflects Bunyan’s concern for the spiritual welfare of his fellow Puritans and his belief in the importance of resisting temptation and staying true to one’s faith.”

The Holy War continues; “This famous city of Mansoul had five gates for entry and exit; and these were, like the walls, resistant, and could never be opened nor forced except with the permission of those within. The names of the gates were: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.  

I could tell you other things about the city of Mansoul, which, if added to the ones I have already mentioned, provide further proof of all her glory and strength. She always had plenty of provisions within her walls. She possessed the best, most just, and excellent law that then existed in the world. There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitor within her walls. Her citizens were all faithful men, and truly united; and this, you know, matters a great deal. And to all these things, she always had (so long as she kept true to Shaddai the King) his favour, and protection. She was ever his delight.”

This is a great depiction of how God’s original plan was to bless the lives of His creation as it was with  Adam and Eve who lived in perfect communion with God, until they were deceived by the devil, Diablous, and sin entered the picture, in what we have today, a fallen creation that is in need of a Saviour.   

The Holy War continues; “Well, once upon a time, a powerful giant called Diabolus came by, who ordered an assault on this famous city of Mansoul in order to take it and make it his own capital city. This giant was king of all villains, and a most greedy prince. We will, if it pleases you, talk first about the origin of this Diabolus, and then his assault on the famous city of Mansoul. Diabolus was a great and mighty prince; yet he was both poor and wretched. As to his origin, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, elevated by him to a position that was both high and powerful. Indeed, he was put over some principalities that belonged to the best of the King’s territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made ‘a son of the morning,’ (Isaiah 14:12-15) and a great personage. It brought him much glory, and caused him to shine with honour, with an income that might have satisfied the heart of Lucifer, had it not been ravenous, and as deep as hell itself.”  

Isaiah 14:12-15 Amplified Bible says; “12 How you have fallen from heaven, O [a]star of the morning [light-bringer], son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, You who have weakened the nations [king of Babylon]! 13  “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly In the remote parts of the north. 14  ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15
“But [in fact] you will be brought down to Sheol, To the remote recesses of the pit (the region of the dead).”

The city of Mansoul, as is today in our present world, men and women created in the image of God who are being deceived by the fallen angel Lucifer and his host of rebel angels that fell with him to earth.

Holy War continues; “Well, seeing himself lifted up to fame and honour, and craving in his mind for yet higher status and degree, what did he do but plot to become Lord over all, and receive sole power under Shaddai. (Now, this position the King reserved for his Son; indeed, he had already conferred it on him.) So he first considered in himself what was the best thing to do. Then he opened his mind to some of his companions who were like-minded. They came to the conclusion that they should make an attempt on the life of the King’s Son to destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs. (Mark 12:7)”

This is the reference to Lucifer’s attempt to ascend above God and take over heaven. Remember, Jesus was there in the beginning together with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

Mark 12:7 Amplified Bible says; “7 But those tenants said to each other, ‘This man is the heir! Come on, let us kill him [and destroy the evidence], and his inheritance will be ours!’”

The devil is always trying to rob, kill and destroy all evidence of God’s redemptive plan of salvation in order to take over the souls of men and women and nothing has changed, for he has one plan in mind and that is to be Lord over man’s soul and see to it that they spend an eternity with him and the host of angels that fell with him, in hell.  

Holy War continues;  “Well, to be brief, the treason, as I said, was determined, the time appointed, the word given, the rebels gathered together, and the assault attempted. Now, the King and his Son, knowing all things, could not but discern what was happening in all his dominions; and he, always having a great love for his Son, was greatly provoked and offended at what he saw. What did he do but discovered them in the very nick of time at their first attempt, convicted them of their treason, their horrid rebellion and conspiracy, and cast them out from all places of trust, benefit, honour, and preferment. This done, he banished them from his court, and turned them out into horrible pits, fast bound in chains, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, and there to wait for a judgement he had determined would last for ever. (2 Peter 2:4; Jude verse 6)”  

2 Peter 2:4 Amplified Bible says; “4 [a]For if God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but threw them into [b]hell and sent them to pits of gloom to be kept [there] for judgment;”

Jude 6 Amplified Bible says; “6 And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day,”

On a side note which we noticed, there would seem to be a discrepancy having these two verses as a reference here, because we know satan and his fallen angels still roam the earth seeking whom they may devour, they are not yet chained and locked up. These angels who are referred to in these verses are the ‘sons of God’ mentioned in Genesis 6:2 which took the daughters of men as wives and created a hybrid – that being the Nephilum (the giants). These ‘sons of God’, which were also known as the ‘watchers’, who committed this defiant and mutinous sin, God threw into the bottomless pit, bound until the judgment of the great day, but satan still actively roams the earth. We also know that at the final judgment after the millennial reign of Jesus on the earth, satan withhis fallen demons will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity, which has been prepared for him. All that said, we’re not sure why Bunyan used these two scriptures as a reference to satan and the fallen angels in this context, however, it may be revealed as we read more into the story.

The devil and his host of fallen angels, know that their time of robbing, killing and destroying men and women’s souls is almost up, and this is why today, it appears that this ramping up of the devils work, is escalating like never before through the various media platforms and global satanic agendas. Satan’s goal is to destroy everything that has God’s image on it.

The Holy War continues; “Now, when they were cut off from any place of trust, profit, and honour, and knowing that they had lost their Prince’s favour for ever (being banished from his court, and cast down into the horrible pits), you can be sure that they would now add to their former pride whatever malice and rage against Shaddai and his Son they could muster. So they roved and ranged furiously from one place to another (1 Peter 5:8), seeing if, perhaps, they might find something that was the King’s, and spoil it, to avenge themselves on him.”  

1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible; “8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”

The Holy War continues; “At last, they came to this expansive country of Universe, and steered their course towards the city of Mansoul. Knowing that the city was one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai, what did they do but, after taking counsel together, they launched an assault on it. I say that they knew that Mansoul belonged to Shaddai, for they were there when he built and beautified it for himself. So, when they found the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared against it like a lion for its prey, saying, ‘Now that we have the prize, we know how to be avenged on King Shaddai for what he has done to us.’ So they sat down and called a council of war, and considered the best way to win over for themselves this famous city of Mansoul. They put forward these four questions...”

We’ll continue on next week with the strategy and takeover of the town of Mansoul, but one thing I can say about the takeover of the city of Mansoul, is that it all takes place at the Ear-gate of the town, and just like today it’s so important for Christians to put a guard over what they hear. You’ve heard the saying garbage in, garbage out, nothing has changed, as long as the devil can have access to your hearing, he will eventually have access to you heart, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak what the devil plants thru your ears.  

Romans 10:17 NKJV says; “17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Fear, doubt and unbelief is the end result of listening to what the devil has to say, and this is why it’s so important to meditate in God’s word, the Holy Bible day and night, setting your mind on things above, not on things below to what the devil is speaking.

Philippians 4:8 Amplified Bible; “8 Finally, [a]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”

Even now as you have heard the word, the devil wants to rob the seed that was planted in your heart, and just like he deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden, he will have you doubting what God says in His word, and believing a lie if you let him. This is why it’s important when the devil lies to you about what God says in His word, you’re to submit yourself unto God’s word and resist the devil and he will flee from you.  

James 4:7-10 Amplified Bible; “7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. 9 Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”

As I said at the beginning, we have to keep in perspective that the citizens of Mansoul are not Christians, they would be compared to God fearing Old Testament saints that are in need of Salvation found in Immanuel, the Son of King Shaddai. So as Christians today, the spiritual warfare to rob us of our soul is even more so, and this is why it’s so important to put on the full armour of God that is found in Ephesians 6:10-18. Why is it more so? The devil wants to mar the image of Christ in you, he wants to rob, kill and destroy your life, his goal is for you to spend an eternity separated from God with him, where the fire doesn’t go out and the worm doesn’t die. You’re a threat to his kingdom, Christian, he’s going after your soul.  

The Holy War is not an ‘eternal security’ message. You do have a will, that can will you all the way to hell, separated from God for eternity. You can put the full armour of God on today and fight the devil, or you can leave it packed away, with your Bibles, teaching materials, Christian image and walk in stealth, all of which have only one plan behind it that is to rob you, kill you and destroy you for eternity. Now is not the time to put your armour away, to hide your Bible, or to walk in stealth Christian.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Amplified Bible reveals the armour of God; “10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having [a]tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having [b]strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] [c]shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [d]God’s people.”