Stately Pillar

Stately Palace

I saw also that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was built a stately Palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted: He saw also upon the top thereof, certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then said Christian, May we go in thither?

Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up toward the door of the Palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a Book and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein; He saw also, that in the door-way stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in a maze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, Sir: the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the Palace, at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the Palace, saying, Come in, Come in; Eternal Glory thou shalt win. So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this.

Interpretation:

The armed men who prevent those who enter the beautiful Palace are the religious men who do not want the sinners to enter the palace of God. They prevent them from entering by fighting with the weapons of religion saying that this palace is not meant for them. The sinners are being turned away from the gate itself. They hear the gospel but do not enter the Palace because of their religious doctrines that make them comfortable in this world without exposing them to God's wrath and judgment and the need for salvation. The religious doctrines teach them to lead a moral life to please God without the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

But those who persist in entering the Palace and tell the gatekeeper, Set down my name, Sir. The man of a very stout countenance is the man who persists in getting saved from the sin. He gets a sword and a helmet to fight the armed men who are standing in his way. He is taught to counter the religious doctrines that lead him into works for obtaining salvation, and not into the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The man whose brain was washed by the religious doctrines that deceive him believe that there is no need for his salvation from the sin. He is now equipped to fight his enemies by the sword of the Spirit and by the helmet which protects him from the weapons of his enemies. The evangelist has to equip the sinner with the Sword of the Spirit and the helmet. It is not a one-day affair but a constant war with the religious spirits that keep the sinner at bay. In the spiritual world, there are in fact religious spirits that stand in the way of salvation of a soul.

Thousands attend an evangelical crusade but only a few people enter the palace overcoming the religious spirits. The Evangelist concerned should prepare himself for this warfare by much prayers.

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