The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come (21)

'As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept I dreamed a dream.' So began 'The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come; Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream', written by John Bunyan. First published in 1678, this great allegory, is considered by some, second only to the Bible in published literature.' Many illustrations of Bunyan's own Christian pilgrimage are used in this book, and Pastor Chris Hand, in a series of children's talks, takes us, with Pilgrim, on his journey from the City of Destruction to the object of his pilgrimage, arrival at the Celestial City.

..... Pilgrim and his companion Hopeful now entered a most beautiful land, named Beulah. Here John Bunyan was no doubt thinking of Isaiah 62:4 which says 'Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy land Beulah; for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. It is from Beulah Land that Pilgrim and Hopeful were able to see their final destiny, the Celestial City (Heaven), but before they arrived there was one final issue to contend with. They both had to cross a dark and cold river. Here, Bunyan was alluding to the death that we all must pass through before we gain heaven. Despite anxieties about the crossing Pilgrim and Hopeful do make it across the river, and finally arrive in the Celestial City, which for us is a picture of Heaven. If by faith we have believed upon The Lord Jesus, then we too can know the joys, not only of Beulah Land, but one day of Heaven itself.