The Holy War: Sanctification as Spiritual Warfare

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 12; p. 105
• Main Author: Runyon, Daniel V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2006
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

William York Tindall misled a generation of Bunyan scholars when he wrote in 1934 that 'The Holy War is an allegory of conversion', that 'Mansoul was the city of the millennium', and that the book has a 'millenarian resolution'.1 Noting that 'the earthly happiness of the white-robed subjects of Emanuel's monarchy "lasted all that Summer'", he suggested that 'this interval may be intended to represent the millennium, condensed for purposes of art or in the interests of the main theme of conversion'.2 In fact, conversion is accomplished by page 93 of a 250-page volume, and the millennium is not the key issue. Antichrist is yet alive'.9 Bunyan refused to specify a time for the millennium and was sympathetic but not optimistic concerning efforts to bring it about by Fifth Monarchists.10 He wrote that he abhorred the January 1661 attempt by Fifth Monarchist Thomas Venner to overturn the Restoration government. ? look upon it as my duty to behave myself under the King's government', he wrote, 'both as becomes a man and a christian'.11 His view of the millennium differs greatly from the one John Foxe believed had occurred in the thousand year period after Christ.12 'It was not until the seventeenth century', writes Owens, 'that millenarianism in the sense of a belief in a future millennium emerged'.13 When he wrote The Holy War Bunyan believed that the millennium would only begin when Satan had been locked away and could no longer oppress the saints, and this is something that has not yet happened at the conclusion of the work. Bunyan is dealing with the tenacious grip of evil and how to overcome it. Since unbelief continues to be a chronic problem in human experience, it must also persist in Mansoul. Arlette Zinck recognises the unfinished nature of the redemptive work here, noting that 'The prophetic impulse of the structure rests short of apocalyptic resolution'.24 Bunyan places heavy emphasis on Mansoul's future hope in a time and place where there is no more murder, threats, evil tidings, 'or the noise of the Diabolonian Drums' (HW 247).