Stately Place

A stately place called Beautiful and lions

Now also Christian remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of, how they were frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in the night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? How should I escape being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way. But while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately Palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful; and it stood just by the High-way side.

So I saw in my Dream that he made haste and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of the Porter's Lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The Lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them, for he thought nothing but death was before him: But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy strength so small? Fear not the Lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.

Difficulty is behind, Fear is before,

Though he's got on the Hill, the Lions roar;

A Christian man is never long at ease,

When one fright's gone, another doth him seize.

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter; he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the Gate where the Porter was. Then said Christian to the Porter, Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge here tonight? The Porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the Hill, and he built it for the relief and security of Pilgrims. The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going?

Interpretation:

During our journey to the Celestial City, God provides us refuge in the Porter's Lodge under the care of the Watchful. It is the place of fellowship with other saints in local churches. It is the place for our relief and security. The church is a refreshing oasis for the weary travellers. It is not a permanent place for them. Today many Christians find their churches as the final resting place or the permanent home.

There are elders in our churches who keep a watch over the Lord's sheep.

The demons likened to the two lions cannot harm us as we approach the Porter's lodge because they were stripped off their powers by the Lord at the Cross and the Sepulchre. There are demons and evil (unclean) spirits. They are fallen angels who sinned against God and who were thrown out of the heaven by God. They masquerade as (pagan) gods or deceased persons to deceive millions in the world.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).

Demons have their territories to rule. They are the rulers of the darkness of this age. Evil spirits work under them. They all belong to the kingdom of Satan. It is an organized kingdom. They also possess human bodies. In the heavenly places, the spiritual hosts of wickedness fight with saints. It is a spiritual warfare. They cannot possess their bodies but attack their minds and bodies. In the vision, Christian sees the kingdom of Satan as two roaring lions. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”

(I Peter 5:18). The devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking to devour. But he cannot do so. He has been stripped off his powers. He is shown as chained now to imply that he has no power over us. In the vision, he is shown as two lions just to frighten us.

The lions are strategically placed near the entrance of the Porter's Lodge in order to frighten the weary travellers from entering the Stately Place, the Porter's Lodge. We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb.10:25). The devil attempts to prevent us from meeting one another in the body of Christ.

They are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. We should keep in the midst of the path and should not lean towards its side. We should keep ourselves away from his influence.

Next .....Christian with Porter and Damsel Discretion in the Family