I first read the LWW when I was in first year of uni. I didn't finish the whole series, got lost somewhere in the 3rd or 4th book, and didn't get interested again until after the movie. Lewis writes in very simple English but as I read the stories now, I see that he is so steeped in the Bible that although (according to him) he did not set out to write allegories, the Biblical themes and tales come shining through. So, children and everyone can enjoy the well crafted tales and adventures on their own merit, while those who know the Bible can enjoy the hints, whispers and glimpses of God and His works. Actually, the pictures can be very clear sometimes, as can be seen in these: The Magician's Nephew - story of the Creation of the world, LWW - the salvation of the sinner by the death and resurrection of the Saviour Lord, The Horse and His Boy - the journey of an unbeliever to faith and conversion, Prince Caspian and The Silver Chair - the fight between good and evil in the Christian life, The Last Battle - the final war, the end of the world, and the beginning of a new world.
The Last Battle especially thrilled and transported me as I was reading Revelation, the last book of the Bible at the same time. A few Sundays ago, Ivy was worship leading and she talked about Narnia too and read from Revelation 5: what a wonder that the Lord is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah and yet when he appeared, John beheld "a Lamb as it had been slain". As the song goes, "Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity, in perfect harmony, the Man who is God."
"REV 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" [3] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. [4] I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. [5] Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."REV 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits* of God sent out into all the earth. [7] He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. [8] And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song:"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
REV 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
REV 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
REV 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
REV 5:14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped."
* Started writing this on 8 January (the first para) and only finished it on the 26th. So the worship service I was referring to was on the 15th.
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