Fernley Free Methodist Church

Allegories

Animal Farm Author: George Orwell According to Orwell, Animal Farm reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union,

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Author: C. S. Lewis
Aslan: Represents Jesus, with Aslan's death and resurrection mirroring the life of Christ.
White Witch: Represents Satan, and her interaction with Edmund symbolizes temptation.
Turkish Delight: Represents sin and temptation.
Stone Table: Symbolizes the end of law and the beginning of freedom, similar to Moses' stone tablets.
Edmund: Some say Edmund's character is similar to Judas.

Lord of the Flies
The Pilgrim's Progress Author: John Bunyan

THE SWAMP OF DESPOND
(Pliable and and Christian) they drew near to a very miry swamp, which was in the midst of the plain; and they,
not paying attention, fell suddenly into the bog. The name of the swamp was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being greatly
smeared with filth. Christian, because of the burden which was on his back—began to sink in the mire.
Then Pliable cried out, "Ah! Christian, where are we now?""Truly," said Christian, "I do not know!"
Being offended, Pliable angrily said to his companion, "Is this the
happiness you have told me of? If we have such trouble at our first setting
out—what may we expect before our journey's end? If I can get out of
here with my life—you can have your noble country without me!"
And with that, Pliable, after a desperate struggle—got out of the mire on
that side of the swamp which was nearest to his own house. So away he
went—and Christian saw him no more

Then Christian turned to Help and said, "Sir, why is it—since the way
from the City of Destruction, to yonder narrow-gate is over this swamp—
that this bog is not mended, so that poor Pilgrims might travel there more
safely?"
Help then explained to Christian, "This miry swamp is a place which
cannot be mended. It is the pit where the scum and filth which attend
conviction for sin, continually runs—and therefore it is called the Swamp
of Despond. For as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there
arises in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouragements—which
all settle in this place. This is the reason why the swamp remains so foul.

Matthew 13 NIV
The Parable of the Sower

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.(How does The Evil one do this?)

20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”



MR. WORLDLY-WISEMAN
"I know what I want to obtain," asserted Christian, "ease from my heavy
burden!"
"But why do you seek for ease in this perilous way," asked Worldly-wiseman, "seeing that so many dangers attend it? Especially since, had
you but sense to listen to me—I could direct you how to obtain what you
desire, without all these dangers! Yes, and with my remedy, you shall gain
much safety, friendship, and happiness!"
"Please, Sir—reveal this secret to me!" begged Christian.
Worldly-wiseman began, "Why, in yonder village named Morality—there
dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality. He is a very sensible man,
having a good reputation—who has ability to help remove such burdens
like yours. Yes, to my knowledge, he has done a great deal of good this
way—and besides, he has skill to cure those who are somewhat crazed in
their minds, because of their burdens. To him you may go, and be helped
in a very short while. His house is not quite a mile from here; and if he
should not be at home himself—his handsome young son, whose name is
Civility, can help you as well as the old gentleman himself


SIMPLE, SLOTH AND PRESUMPTION
Then I saw in my dream, that Christian went on thus, until he came to a
valley, where he saw, a little out of the way—three men fast asleep, with
fetters upon their legs. The name of the one was Simple, the next Sloth,
and the third Presumption.
Then Christian seeing them fast asleep, went to them, if perhaps he might
awaken them, and cried, "You are like those who sleep on the top of a
mast, for the Dead Sea is under you—a gulf which has no bottom! Wake
up! Wake up—and I will help you take off your fetters!"
He also warned them, "If he who prowls about like a roaring lion comes
by—you will most certainly be devoured!"
They then looked upon him, and Simple replied, "I see no danger!"
Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep!"
And Presumption said, "Every tub must stand upon its own bottom—so
we don't need your help!"
And so they lay down to sleep again—and Christian continued on his way.
Yet was he troubled to think that men in such danger should so little
regard the kindness which he so freely offered—by awakening them,
warning them, and offering to help to remove their fetters.


THE CROSS
Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go,
was fenced on both sides with a wall, and that wall was called
'SALVATION'. Up this way, therefore, burdened Christian ran—but not
without great difficulty, because of the heavy load on his back. He ran on
thus until he came to a place where there was a hill, and upon that hill
stood a Cross; and a little below, at the bottom, was a sepulcher.
So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up to the Cross—his
burden fell off his shoulders and back, and began to tumble, until it came
to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more!
Then Christian was glad and joyful, and said with a merry heart, "Jesus
has given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death!"
So he stood still awhile to ponder and wonder; for it was very surprising
to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his burden. He
looked, therefore, and looked again—until tears flowed down his cheeks!
THE HILL LUCRE
Then Christian and Hopeful traveled on ahead of the others, until they
came to a pleasant meadow, called Ease, where they journeyed with
much delight. As the meadow was only a short length—they quickly
traveled over it.
Now at the farthest side of that meadow was a little hill called Lucre—and
in that hill was a silver mine. Because this was so rare, some of those who
had formerly gone that way had turned aside to see it—but going too near
to the brink of the pit, and the ground being unstable under them—it
broke away, and they were killed. Some others were so injured that they
could not, to their dying day, be recovered.
Then I saw in my dream, that a little way off the road, near the silver
mine stood a gentleman named Demas. He called out to passing travelers
to come and see. He beckoned to Christian and Hopeful, "Ho! turn aside
here—and I will show you something quite special!"
CHRISTIAN: "What is so deserving as to turn us out of the way to see it?"
DEMAS: "Here is a silver mine—and some are digging in it for treasure. If
you come, with a little effort you may be richly rewarded."
Then Hopeful responded, "Let us go and see!"
"Not I," Christian cautioned, "I have heard of this place before. Many
have been destroyed there. And besides that, worldly treasure is a snare
to those who seek it—for it hinders them in their pilgrimage."
Then Christian called to Demas, "Is not the place dangerous? Has it not
hindered many in their pilgrimage?"
DEMAS: "It is not very dangerous—except to those who are careless"—
but he blushed as he spoke.
Then Christian said to Hopeful, "Let us not turn a step out of the way—
but still keep on our path.

Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.


THE RIVER OF DEATH
Now, I further saw, that between them and the gate was a river—but
there was no bridge to pass over it, and the river was very deep. At the
sight of this river, the Pilgrims were bewildered.
But the men said to them, "You must go through the river—or you cannot
enter in at the gate."
The Pilgrims then began to inquire if there was any other way to the gate
—to which the men answered, "Yes, but only two since the foundation of
the world have been permitted to tread that path—namely, Enoch and
Elijah. Nor shall any others go that way until the last trumpet shall
sound!"
The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to lose heart. They looked
this way and that—but they could find no way by which they might escape
the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all the same depth.
"No," they replied, "You shall find it deeper or shallower—just as you
believe in the King of the City."
The Pilgrims then approached the water. Upon entering it, Christian
began to sink! Crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he shouted, "I am
sinking in deep waters! The billows are rolling over my head—all His
waves are washing over me!"
Then Hopeful replied, "Take courage, my brother—I feel the bottom, and
it is firm!"
Christian then cried out, "Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have
compassed me about! I shall not see the land which flows with milk and
honey!"






With that, a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he
could not see ahead of him. He also, in great measure, lost his senses—so
that he could neither remember, nor talk coherently of any of those sweet
refreshments which he had met with along the way of his pilgrimage. But
all the words that he spoke still tended to manifest his horror of mind and
heart-fears—that he would die in that river, and never obtain entrance at
the gate.
Here also, as those two men who stood by perceived, Christian was much
in troublesome thoughts concerning the sins that he had committed—
both before and since he began to be a Pilgrim. It was also observed by
his words, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil
spirits.
Hopeful, therefore, labored hard to keep his brother's head above water.
Yes, sometimes Christian almost drowned—but then, in a short time, he
would surface again, half dead.
Hopeful would also endeavor to encourage him, saying, "Brother, I see
the gate—and men standing ready to receive us!"
But Christian would answer, "It is you—it is you they are waiting for! You
have been Hopeful ever since I first knew you!"
"And so have you," responded Hopeful.
"Ah, brother!" cried Christian, "Surely if I were right with Him—then He
would now arise to help me. Because of my sins, He has brought me into
the snare, and has left me."




Hopeful reminded him, "My brother, you have quite forgotten the text
where it is said of the wicked, 'They have no struggles in their death—but
their strength is firm. They are not troubled as other men, neither are
they plagued like other men.' These troubles and distresses that you are
going through in these waters, are no indication that God has forsaken
you. Rather, they are only sent to test you—as to whether you will call to
mind what you have hitherto received of His goodness, and live upon
Him in your present distresses."
Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was in deep thought for a while.
Hopeful then added this word, "Take courage—Jesus Christ makes you
whole!"
With that, Christian cried out with a loud voice, "O! I see Him again, and
He tells me, 'When you pass through the waters—I will be with you. When
you go through the rivers—they shall not overflow you!'"


And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!