t was at Salvation Hill that Christian was

converted and transformed. The Shining

Ones sang with delight and clothed him with
new garments for his new life.

“Stepped out alone in sorrowed burden,

faced hardship, heartache, and attack.
Stood firm and learned to see beyond sight,
now not alone you join the fight!

So be refreshed, oh gentle pilgrim,

a pauper prince you have become.
No longer burdened or alone,
that many steps closer to home.”

34
 pollyon was furious with his demons (also
known as the Supervisors) who were
unable to stop Christian on his journey
toward the Celestial City. He was even more infuriated
that his demons suggested giving up.

“Let him be, you say? LET HIM BE?!” Apollyon angrily
shouted at one of his incompetent servants. “The fool is
a bigger threat to us now than he ever was before! If he
does not give up soon, others will try the same thing!”

“HE MUST BE STOPPED!!!”

36
 ack on the path,
Christian continued
on his journey. But
before nightfall came, he was
nearly knocked down by two
men running toward him
who were overcome with fear
of the dangers ahead.

The men, Fearful and

Mistrust, pleaded with
Christian to turn back before
it was too late!

38
 n the darkness of night,
Christian discovered the
reason that the two men
were running away. Two stone
lions, with bright red eyes, had
come to life. Each one growled
fiercely as Christian came near.

“I have no choice. I must keep

going,” Christian convinced
himself as he lunged forward,
barely passing between their
massive heads and gaping jaws.

41
 atchful welcomed
the weary pilgrim
into his home—The
Palace Beautiful—where he
and his daughters, DISCRETION,
PIETY, CHARITY & PRUDENCE
helped prepare Christian for the
next phase of his journey.

“You did well, good Christian, and

have passed a trial of your faith.
Be at peace and lay your burden at
the feet of your King, for not one
hair of your head falls without Him
knowing.”

43
 rom prince to warrior, Christian’s transformation
had begun as Watchful’s daughters equipped him
with armor of steel and might:

THE HELMET OF SALVATION

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
THE BELT OF TRUTH
FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

44
hristian was then led to the Valley of Humiliation, a valley all pilgrims must face— “I think it is best that you turn back. You would not be the first, you know. Or would you rather lose
and face alone. It was there that he encountered the temptation of the evil Apollyon, a all that you hold dear for a future that is so uncertain? Come now, good Christian, and put down
master of deception, who presented himself … first, as an ordinary, yet very persuasive man. your sword.”
46 47
 nmoved by the words
of Apollyon, Christian
raised his sword, for
he knew Apollyon was no mere
man—rather, he was the Devil
himself!

“You deceiver, liar, usurper of all

that is good and true! I served
under you and found nothing but
misery. My allegiance is entirely to
the KING!” Christian shouted and
stood fast.

48
 ith every ounce
of his might,
Christian bravely
fought Apollyon for hours on
end. The dragon was ruthless,
using all of his powers and
rage. Then, just when it seemed
defeat was inevitable, Christian
swung his sword one last
time, plunging it deep into the
demon’s coarse scales.

“URGH! You will see me again,

Christian!” the wounded beast
proclaimed. “When the waves
overpower you, when death’s
cold arms wrap themselves
around your wretched soul … I
will be there!”

“I WILL BE THERE!”

50
 fter the great fight with Apollyon,
Christian encountered another
pilgrim on his quest. His name
was Faithful Pathfinder, and he had
journeyed outside the borders of the City of
Destruction shortly before Christian. It was at
Faithful Pathfinder’s house that Christian first
discovered the Book.

Together they happened upon Evangelist once

more, who warned them of greater dangers
ahead. In a town … or rather, a fair …

53
 anity Fair was
erected on the path to
the Celestial City by
the evil Apollyon, Beelzebub,
and their Legion. The town
hosted a fair that never
ceased and that possessed
everything that could seduce
the human heart.

55
 pon entering the town, Christian and
Faithful Pathfinder were offered every
indulgence, every vice that distracts
mankind and tempts their worldly desires.
Refusing to take part in any of the fair’s offerings,
they were dragged to the town’s justice—Judge
Hategood! There the townspeople accused
the travelers, of causing a criminal disruption of
the ongoing fair.

“What is the meaning of this?

What is this massive interruption
to our fair? ORDER! ORDER, I
SAY, AND CALL THE JURY!”

56
GUILTY!

THE JURY: Mr. Blindman, Mrs. Nogood, Miss Malice, Mr. Lovelust, Mr. Liveloose, Mrs. Heady, “You offer peace and joy, but that you cannot buy. Otherwise it would be for sale here at Vanity

Mr. Highminded, Miss Enmity, Mrs. Liar, Mrs. Hatelight, Mr. Nosatisfying and Mr. Cruelty. Fair. The court finds you guilty, and I sentence you to death!” Judge Hategood declared.

58 59
 aithful and Christian had
been warned by Evangelist
that one or both men would
not leave Vanity Fair alive. Faithful
was first to receive his sentence of
death.

“Do not weep that I am sent ahead

of you, dear Brother. Stay true! Stay
true, and I shall see you. I shall see
you, again.”

60
 hristian escaped Vanity Fair
with the help of one of the
town guards—a man by
the name of Hopeful, who had
been inspired by the courageous faith
of Christian and Faithful. The two
journeyed together until Christian
suggested a shortcut through a path
much easier to navigate.

Before long, they realized that they

were lost and the narrow path was
nowhere in sight. As a violent storm
approached, they ran for the closest
shelter.

Upon waking the next morning, they

found themselves as prisoners of
Giant Despair, for Christian and
Hopeful had unwittingly stumbled
into his giant-sized boot.

62
 iant Despair locked Christian
and Hopeful in a cage made of
steel. Days passed with no food
or water and the walls echoed their despair.
Christian’s hope was waning, and the giant
was fuming because his prisoners still
refused to take their own lives.

“What?! You’re still alive? I gave you

everything you needed to do the job!” raged
Giant Despair.

Then, with great surprise to Christian and

Hopeful, the giant worked himself into a
frenzy, until he passed out and fell to the
floor with a great thud!

65
 he giant’s wife, Diffidence,—beautiful
in her own eyes—rushed in at the sound
and found her husband passed out on the
ground. She let out a tirade, that only she could
express, when her lug of a husband fainted at the
slightest hint of stress.

“ARRRR! I should have listened to my mum when

she warned me not to marry you, you bungling,
good-for-nothing goon! I could’ve had my pick of
any eligible giant, being the beauty I was. But no, I
had to pick the pretty one, I did!”

67
 inally, Hopeful realized for
reasons unknown, that the
giants were prevented from
killing their prisoners. Death came
only when a prisoner’s despair grew
to such magnitude that they took
their own life.

It was then that Christian understood;

the old man in the cage, shouting “NO
HOPE!” was actually himself, with
no hope of escape from the dungeon
of despair.

As the pilgrims quickly recalled

their hope in the great King, a key
appeared—a gift from the Interpreter
who had explained, “Things are not
always as they seem.”

68
 fter escaping the grasp of
Giant Despair, Christian and
Hopeful vowed to remain
on the straight path, determining not
to stray from it again. It was on this
path that they met a shepherd named
Knowledge.

“I give you this map for the rest of your

journey,” the shepherd said. “Beware
the Flatterer. Keep the Light of the City,
which reflects that of its Builder, ever
before you. The way is safe for whom
it is safe, and dangerous for whom it is
dangerous. Let this knowledge suffice
for now: that you do not walk alone,
for the King guides you as a shepherd
guides his sheep.”

70
 ith renewed confidence to complete
their journey, the two pilgrims pressed
on. They soon met the Wizard—who
desired to hear all about the great adventures and
accomplishments that the two had experienced.

“Your names are Christian and Hopeful? What great

names! Surely, they must reflect your good character!
I can only imagine the things you have endured to get
this far. Please tell me all!”

Christian and Hopeful began to speak of all their

quests. The more they recounted their exploits, the
more the Wizard flattered them with praise. And the
more the Wizard flattered, the more Christian and
Hopeful’s hearts filled with pride.

73
 t was then that a net sprang up from the ground,
wrapped around them, and trapped them in their
obvious shame.

Having succeeded with his crafty plan, the Wizard

revealed his true identity—a demon in the service of
the evil Apollyon.

“Well aren’t you the greatest … the greatest FOOLS, I

should say!” exclaimed the Wizard with glee. “Try as
you might, you’ll never get loose! See these strands?
They were woven with your own boasting!”

Eventually, one of the Shining Ones came to aid

Christian and Hopeful. After cutting them free, she
sternly reminded the pilgrims that they had failed to
follow the Shepherd’s good map. For it was not a typical
map as they thought, but rather a map of instruction
with the neglected warning, “Beware the Flatterer.”

74
 reed from the net of pride, Christian and Hopeful made their way to the
edge of the Raging River where they could see, just on the other
side, the light of the Celestial City. The river seethed with power—a
towering wall of water reaching up to the sky. Instinctively, they knew they were
at the end of their journey.

Hopeful felt faith rise in his heart—so much so, that he leapt into the river and
quickly disappeared from Christian’s sight. But Christian wavered and thought
long and hard, “Do I enter now or return to my family? What about my wife and
children? I must go back and save them, while I can.”

It was then that his friend Evangelist appeared one more time, explaining that
the decision to take this journey must be made by each alone. The King had
never failed him, and He would not fail him now.

With renewed confidence and courage, Christian leapt into the Raging River,
never to return.

76