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70. A Pseudo-Bunyan Author

19th March 2008 by Arthur Eedle

We have recently been purchasing and reading a few testimony books dealing with visionary experiences. In a section of our recent series “The City of God” we mentioned one such, entitled “Nine Days in Heaven” by Marietta Davis. This is an exceptionally good book, one that we can thoroughly recommend, containing nothing that in any way contradicts Scripture. It has a “clean” spiritual feel about it, and is God-honouring.  The experience that Miss Davis had whilst she was in a coma is quite amazing, and we were uplifted by the whole sequence.

The second book we ordered was entitled “Answered or Unanswered”, Miracles of faith in China, by Louisa Vaughan.  A wonderful book, which we recommend to all.  Miss Vaughan was in China from October 1896 to January 1912, and ministered to Chinese women with a simple message of the power of the Gospel, backed by believing prayer that God will act when all else is humanly impossible. The way in which God showed His hand in the midst of heathen idolatry and mysticism is most revealing. One comes away with a sense of being washed clean by the Holy Spirit.  One chapter in the book concerns a Chinese woman who died, received a vision of heaven, and was restored to life.

The third book was “Visions of Heaven and Hell” by John Bunyan.  We were anxious to read this, having quoted it in our Wayside Pulpit 93 in September 2000. The quotation we found in one of H.A.Baker’s books, and copied it from there. But we wanted to read the whole book, purporting to be a vision that Bunyan had as a young man, in which he was taken to heaven, and then to hell, to witness scenes, and be instructed by one whom he called his “conductor.” Oh what a sad contrast this was from the other two books. Our spirits were dismayed by what we read of the scenes of hell, and words of the Conductor, saying that the tortures Bunyan witnessed were “everlasting”, and that there is “no redemption from hell”.  For a while we didn’t know what to think about the book, because it seemed to have quite a different flavour to anything else Bunyan wrote. “Pilgrim’s Progress” is perhaps the most read Christian book after the Bible, and contains such beautiful allegorical passages concerning the Christian life that make it a delight to read, and is wholly suitable for young children to learn from it. But the “Visions” book drags one’s spirit down, and leaves a nasty taste.

After a short while of searching and analysing, we were soon to realise that this book could never have been written by Bunyan, but by someone who wanted to use Bunyan’s name to get his own corrupt views into print.  This conclusion is absolute, and cannot be denied by anyone who takes but a little time to investigate. The book sells well, and is used by those who seem to have a “delight” in making hell a mega-hell, with lurid descriptions of the torments and tortures experienced by its “eternal occupants.”  No one knows who the author was, but the John BunyanMuseum in Bedford lists the work as “spurious.” That ought to be enough, but in case more evidence is required, I thought the following facts ought to be made known.

  1. The author is called “Epenetus” by a whispering spirit, without any further explanation.
  2. Epenetus is about to commit suicide, having been convinced there is no God. As he is about to destroy himself, the whisper comes, “O Epenetus, plunge not yourself into everlasting misery to gratify your soul’s worst enemy. That fatal stroke you are about to give, seals up your own damnation. For if there is a God, as surely there is, how can you hope for mercy from Him when you thus wilfully destroy His image?”
  3. This “angel” then appears to him and takes him on a visionary trip to heaven, and then to hell.
  4. Whilst in “heaven” he meets the Prophet Elijah, who has much to tell him, (as I recorded in Wayside Pulpit 93, which is now deleted.)  But Bunyan never mentions this in all his voluminous writings.
  5. He claims to have seen “Lucifer enthroned on a sulphurous lake of liquid fire deep in the centre of the earth.” Lucifer tells Epenetus that he has been sent there unjustly. However, the Bible tells us that the Devil is still at large, and will be until the angel puts him in the pit at the start of the Millennium. Furthermore, it is unacceptable to speak of hell as the centre of the earth. Hell is not a place, but a condition of existence.
  6. He then meets a man by the name of Thomas Hobbes, the atheist, who wrote a book called “Leviathan” in 1651.  This is where the author, a forger, makes his most blatant error, and is immediately exposed . Here are the facts.

Thomas Hobbes lived from 1588 to 1679. Therefore, for Epenetus to have met him in hell, it must have been after his death in 1679. But Bunyan’s years were from 1628 to 1688. Therefore this “interview” could only have taken place in the narrow chronological window of nine years from 1679 to 1688.  But the author speaks of his intention to commit suicide, and this could never have been the true Bunyan of 1679, who had by that time written numerous Christian works, including Pilgrim’s Progress (1676), and “Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ” in 1678, the year before Hobbes died.  One could also mention his great testimony entitled “Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners”, published in 1666.  No, there is no possibility that Bunyan (called Epenetus) could have contemplated suicide after 1679, and this settles the matter. It doesn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to see through the scam.

After settling this matter in my mind, I pasted the word “Hell” in Google, and found several sites which encouraged surfers to buy and read “Visions of Heaven and Hell.”  In addition I found other sites which painted a gruesome and highly imaginative picture of what hell is like. Those who have read even a few of our articles on Universal Reconciliation will know how we believe all such pictures are not only contrary to the declared character of God, and the saving nature of Christ’s sacrifice, but also suggest a psychologically warped attitude of mind within those who seem quite prepared to act as judge and jury of all mankind, and enjoy the thought of condemning the vast majority of human beings to “Eternal Conscious Punishment.”

But God said at the beginning, “The wages of sin is death“, not “Everlasting Torment.”  When a person dies, this judgment is enacted. Each one of us is a sinner, and we all eventually die. Death is the clearest indicator of the truth of God’s word to Adam and Eve – “In the day you eat thereof, you shall surely die.” And ever since then this judgment has been enacted. But Jesus died in our place, and when He was raised from the dead He became “the firstfruit of those who died.” The end of John’s Revelation is clear that, as a result, everyone will eventually be raised from the dead.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death. We are then told that God will judge men according to their deeds, committed during their lives on earth. This is far removed from the action of a merciless tyrant. It is rather the just recompense for misdeeds, none of which deserve “eternal torture.”  Jesus said that every sin committed by man would be forgiven. Once a man has learned of this great grace, he will then fully expect having to pay for his sins, by acts of restitution, and by asking forgiveness of those he offended. When this is accomplished, then he is indeed liberated, with a free conscience. For some inveterately wicked souls, this may be a very long process, and sometimes we wonder whether during the time of payment, they may even wonder whether there is ever an end to the process, but the Bible is clear that God persists until “every knee shall bow”, and therefore His Kingdom will have a final glorious end. This is a very brief statement of a subject that deserves a lot of thought, whilst prayerfully contemplating Jesus on the cross, the “Author of our Salvation.”


 

NOTE.  The books mentioned in this article may be obtained from Quartermelon.  Just put the name in the Google search engine to reach the site.

“Answered or Unanswered” (1920) is $12.44.   “Visions of Heaven and Hell” is $8.75  and “Nine Days in Heaven” is $5.17.  But after what I’ve written, I don’t suppose anyone will want to obtain the Pseudo-Bunyan work!

Filed Under: The Wellspring

About Arthur Eedle

Arthur was born in 1931, and became a Christian in 1948. At London University he gained a 2nd honours degree in Physics. He went on to get a Teaching Diploma, and throughout his career life taught physics in England, Kenya, and Hong Kong. Coupled with his love of science, he was a keen student of Greek and Hebrew, and gave many lectures on Biblical subjects. Read more

The Wellspring

1. God’s Megaphone

1st September 2001 By Arthur Eedle

2. Suicide

1st October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

3. Petra

12th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

4. Two different Gods?

20th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

5. I AM

23rd October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

6. “Not I but Christ”

25th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

7. How I Love Your Law!

27th October 2001 By Arthur Eedle

8. The Jewish Problem

2nd November 2001 By Arthur Eedle

9. The Evaluation of Coincidence

15th November 2001 By Arthur Eedle

10. Gracious Uncertainty

30th April 2002 By Arthur Eedle

11. Jasper & Sardius

8th May 2002 By Arthur Eedle

12. Antithesis

19th May 2002 By Arthur Eedle

12a. The Essential Role of Free Will in Universal Reconciliation

17th June 2002 By Arthur Eedle

13. The Importance of Earnest

10th August 2002 By Arthur Eedle

14. The Millennium

14th August 2002 By Arthur Eedle

15. Cancer – A Personal Testimony

17th December 2002 By Arthur Eedle

16. C.S.Lewis on the New Year

1st January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

17. Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

5th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

18. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

12th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

19. “The Intolerable Compliment”

12th January 2003 By Arthur Eedle

20. The Power and Practice of the Truth

22nd February 2003 By Arthur Eedle

21. The Power and Practice of the Lie

1st March 2003 By Arthur Eedle

22. The Use and Abuse of Power

8th March 2003 By Arthur Eedle

23. What on earth is happening?

29th July 2003 By Arthur Eedle

23a. A reply to “What on earth is happening?”

4th August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

24. Equality

17th August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

25. Paul to the “Ephesians”

31st August 2003 By Arthur Eedle

26. Mystery

3rd September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

27. Ephesians 1:15-23

10th September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

28. Ephesians 2:1-10

27th September 2003 By Arthur Eedle

29. Ephesians 2:11-22

6th October 2003 By Arthur Eedle

30. Cain and Abel

19th January 2004 By Arthur Eedle

31. Laying the Foundation of the Lord’s House

1st February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

32. Tomorrow’s Bread

22nd February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

33. Grace Parables

27th February 2004 By Arthur Eedle

34. The Responsibility Factor

5th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

35a. Our Wilderness Journey. Part 1

13th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

35b. Our Wilderness Journey. Part 2

14th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

36. Genetic Modification in the Bible

20th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

37. Arthur’s Testimony

28th March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

38. Identified with Christ

31st March 2004 By Arthur Eedle

39. It Would Have Been Better…

6th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

40a. Friday’s Man was nailed upon a Cross

9th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

40b. Sunday’s Man was nowhere to be found

11th April 2004 By Arthur Eedle

41. Jeremiah’s Cryptogram

11th May 2004 By Arthur Eedle

43. The Gospel of Humanism

14th August 2004 By Arthur Eedle

44. Cosmetic Christianity

5th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

45. EXPERIENCE versus KNOWLEDGE

6th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

46. “Just a wearyin’ for you”

13th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

47. Islam by ex-Muslims

24th September 2004 By Arthur Eedle

48. Six Particular Men

9th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

49. Ten “Everlasting” wonders in Isaiah

13th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

50a. Missing the Mark. Part 1

18th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

50b. Missing the Mark. Part 2

21st April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

51. The Mark of the Beast

29th April 2006 By Arthur Eedle

52. Irreducible Complexity

2nd May 2006 By Arthur Eedle

53. No historical Jesus?

4th July 2006 By Arthur Eedle

54. The Power of God’s Spoken Word

17th March 2007 By Arthur Eedle

55. God’s chosen fast

19th April 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56a. Resurrection and the Change – Part 1

1st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56b. Resurrection and the Change – Part 2

7th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56c. Resurrection and the Change – Part 3

10th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56d. Resurrection and the Change – Part 4

12th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56e. Resurrection and the Change – Part 5

13th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56f. Resurrection and the Change – Part 6

14th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56g. Resurrection and the Change – Part 7

15th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56h. Resurrection and the Change – Part 8

16th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56i. Resurrection and the Change – Part 9

17th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56j. Resurrection and the Change – Part 10

18th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56k. Resurrection and the Change – Part 11

21st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56l. Resurrection and the Change – Part 12

22nd May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56m. Resurrection and the Change – Part 13

23rd May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56n. Resurrection and the Change – Part 14

24th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56o. Resurrection and the Change – Part 15

25th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

56p. Resurrection and the Change – Part 16

27th May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57a. Before He Comes – Part 1

31st May 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57b. Before He Comes – Part 2

8th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57c. Before He Comes – Part 3

10th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57d. Before He Comes – Part 4

11th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57e. Before He Comes – Part 5

12th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57f. Before He Comes – Part 6

13th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57g. Before He Comes – Part 7

14th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57h. Before He Comes – Part 8

18th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57i. Before He Comes – Part 9

19th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57j. Before He Comes – Part 10

24th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57k. Before He Comes – Part 11

29th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57l. Before He Comes – Part 12

30th June 2007 By Arthur Eedle

57m. Before He Comes – Part 13

3rd July 2007 By Arthur Eedle

58. Free Will Versus God’s Sovereignty

28th August 2007 By Arthur Eedle

59. Rules of Engagement

10th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

60. Cameo. Part 1

15th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

61. Cameo. Part 2

18th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

62. Cameo. Part 3

26th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

63. Cameo. Part 4

28th October 2007 By Arthur Eedle

64. In His Hands

1st November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

65. The Starlings

5th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

66. “Dead Truth”

13th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

67. “Dead Sin”

18th November 2007 By Arthur Eedle

68. “Dead Faith” and “Dead Works”

2nd December 2007 By Arthur Eedle

69. “Dead Worship”

18th December 2007 By Arthur Eedle

70. A Pseudo-Bunyan Author

19th March 2008 By Arthur Eedle

Article Series

  • All our Yesterdays (30)
  • Before He comes (13)
  • God's Spoken Word (37)
  • Mysteries of Science & Faith (8)
  • New Series (101)
  • Newsletter (2)
  • Original Series (109)
  • Prophecy considerations (5)
  • Recognising the Hand of Judgment (33)
  • Resurrection and Change (16)
  • Seekers Corner (14)
  • Simple Statements on Serious Subjects (6)
  • The City of God (18)
  • The Millennial Octave (23)
  • The Restitution Times (22)
  • The Song of Solomon (6)
  • The Standard (19)
  • The Wayside Pulpit (107)
  • The Wayside Pulpit 2015 (96)
  • The Wellspring (101)
  • The Wellspring 2017 (55)

Index of Topics

Arthur & Rosalind Eedle's Personal Testimonies Discipleship Expository Items Good and Evil Human Pre-Existance Jane Leade. Philadelphian Numerology in the Bible Quotations from other Authors Resurrection and the Change Ron Wyatt. Archaeology Science Topics The Kingdom of God the Millennium and the Return of Christ The Sabbath Day Universal Reconcilliation

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