“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
Jesus now turns to a promise for those who persevere under trial.
Because you have kept My command to persevere
We can translate the above phrase “the word of My patient perseverance.” This translation would make this phrase refer to New Testament teaching to endure a contrary world similar to Christ’s perseverance with contrary people (2 Th 3:5; He 12:3). The Philadelphia church was faithful to the Word when they faced trial. They kept the Word of perseverance that constituted Jesus’ perseverance. This perseverance amid trials serves Jesus. They did not fall to the seduction of immoral pagan worship.
The word “persevere” means to endure under. The church at Philadelphia, like their Lord, hung in there. They kept Christ’s command to stay under pressure. They did not cave to temptations and pressures around them. This condition makes the promise of this verse valid. They were people of brave perseverance, the ability to remain faithful to the Word under oppressive pressure. That perseverance came from the Word. These people clung faithfully to the Word that deals with Christ (1 Co 1:23). They never denied His name.
I also will keep you from the hour of trial
The “hour of trial” is the trial of tribulation (chapters 6-19). There is one word in Greek for the English words “keep” and “from.” It is a compound word composed of both terms: keep and out of. The word “from” (literally, out of) indicates that this church will not even enter the tribulation period. This is a guarding from rather than a guarding through. Those in the tribulation will clearly go through this time of trouble (Re 7:4). By inference, God must have been raptured the church before the hour of trial. The point of the tribulation is to get the attention of Israel that Jesus is the Messiah.
God not only keeps this church from trial but from a worldwide “hour of trial.” Not only does not deliver us from trial, but He delivers us from a specific time of trial. We call this the Tribulation period. This is a time of unprecedented worldwide trial in the world (Da 12:1; Je 30:7; Mt 24:21; 1 Th 1:9,10; 5:9,10). Jesus promises to save the church from this time of trouble.
which shall come upon the whole world
The words “shall come” signify both intention and necessity and, therefore, the certainty of what will occur. This is a word of purpose, certainty, compulsion, or necessity. The Greek word gives the idea of occurring at a point of time in the future that is subsequent to another event and closely related to it. We can translate the word “to be about to, to be inevitable, with respect to future developments – “must be, has to be.” God is speaking of something inevitable in the future. God is about to do something. God is forming a design for the world.
Note that the words “whole world” indicate the scope of this tribulation. It is a worldwide tribulation.
to test those who dwell on the earth
There is a coming time of war, inflation, famine, and plague. Jesus will express His righteous indignation. Fortunately, the rapture of the institutional church will precede these events.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians will not go through the tribulation.
APPLICATION:
Suppose a football coach tells the quarterback that he will take him from the game; that is different from telling him that he will keep him from the game. Keeping us from the tribulation is the idea in our passage. The church will never enter the tribulation. We will be held from this period of unprecedented apostasy and the greatest period of horror the world has ever known.
The presence of the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth during the tribulation (2 Th 2:1-12). He is the one restraining the world from being worse than it is. Once the Father removes Him, then all evil will break loose. Ecumenical religion will come to the fore. The world will destroy itself through religion in seven years. Religion tends to destroy human freedoms. Religion is the root of evil in the world today as well.
Revelation 3:10 is not a verse which proves that Christians will not go through the tribulation. The preposition “ek” translated “from” in that verse does not mean “out of” when used as a preposition of time. If you would like to see an analysis of this verse with other scriptural examples, go to:
http://www.logosapostolic.org/bible_study/RP355-9Keep_from_hour.htm
God bless you.
Roy, most scholarly pretribulationists do not hang their view on Revelation 3:10. I hold the pretrib view because of the structure of Revelation and the five unconditional covenants of the Old Testament. However, here are a few comments about this verse.
The essential meaning of the preposition ek is from, out from, or away from. The Greek word that would have been used of preserving the church in the midst of the Tribulation would have been dia (through).
The New Testament uses the Greek word en (in) three times with the verb t?re ? (Acts 12:5; 1 Pet. 1:4; Jude 21) and eis once (Acts 25:4), always implying previous existence within with a view to continuing in. T?re ? with ek conveys the polar opposite: continuous existence outside of something. The only occurrence of the phrase where t?re ? ek appears in Scripture is in John 17:15. In His High-Priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” Jesus did not pray that believers be preserved within Satan’s power. Christians have turned “from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). The idea of t?re ? ek in John 17:15 is to be kept completely out of. Many believers in the Tribulation will be martyred. The idea preserving believers through the Tribulation is contrary to what actually happens in the Tribulation.
Thus, this is an explicit promise that the Philadelphia church will not endure the hour of trial beginning in the time period noted in Revelation 6.
Regarding the word ek (out of), here is what Arndt, Danker, Bauer have to say about the word.
1. marker denoting separation, from, out of, away from
2. marker denoting the direction from which something comes, from
3. marker denoting origin, cause, motive, reason, from, of
4. marker used in periphrasis, from, of
5. marker denoting temporal sequence, from
6. various uses and units
? blending of constructions
? like the Old Testament use of ???: ??????? ? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? God has pronounced judgment for you against her
? adverb Expressions
? ?? … ??? w. the same word repeated gives it special emphasis
As you can see, the overwhelming use of ek is separation from.
Thanks for your comment Grant. Did you read the linked article? I examined every reference where ‘ek’ is used as a preposition of time in the New Testament and it never meant ‘out of’ in any place. I agree that the most common understanding of ‘ek’ is ‘out of’, even the most elementary grammar books tell you that, but more advanced ones will make distinctions for different uses. Look at this one:
Time = Although not as common, ek can be express the time when something began, as in John 9:1 (blind since birth), or the the length of time that something happens, as in Acts 9:33 (bed-ridden for eight years).
Richard A. Young INTERMEDIATE NEW TESTAMENT GREEK Page 95.
Now does the preposition ‘ek’ mean ‘out of’ in either of these references? Or does it refer to a period of time during which the condition applied? The latter is plainly true.
Your argument concerning John 17:15 is false because ‘the evil one’ is the Devil, not a period of time, and that makes all the difference. I agree with you that believers are to be kept away from the Devil’s power in that verse, but ‘ek’ is not being used in the same way in Revelation 3:10. Please read the linked article carefully and look at all of the examples quoted. God bless you.
Roy, yes, I read your article but the article begs the question of both the essential meaning of ek (the predominate usage)and the only other use of tere ho in John 17:15. Whenever you choose an atypical meaning of a word, there has to be a compelling reason for it.
Amen Grant, I agree, and there is a compelling reason for it, and that is that ‘ek’ is used as a preposition of time in Revelation 3:10. The ‘hour’ is clealy a time period. Out of 921 occurrences of ‘ek’ in the New testament I have only found 16 where it is used in a temporal sense and they are all quoted in the article. In none of these places is it translated ‘out of’. John 17:15 is not a temporal usage and so is not the same. I trust that any readers will examine these facts for themselves, and draw their own conclusions. God bless you.
Roy, your comments are very good from an academic viewpoint. I am out of town for over a week and will reply when I return.
Roy, thanks again for your input into this blog. Accept my apologies for delay in my reply as I was away last week.
The problem with your premise is your conclusion that simply because the word “hour” is used in this verse that it carries a temporal meaning. In other words, what you deem as temporal many lexicographers do not classify them that way. For example. Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1996), a Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature place ?? in the category of “situations and circumstances out of which someone is brought.” Their next category (5) is of time. They do not put Revelation 3:10 in the category of time/temporal.
Roy, you seem to rest your case on ??? as a period of time. However, Grant Osborne, in Revelation, Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic) says that ??? does not refer to a period of time but to an event. I do not think that Osborne holds to the pretrib position either.
Other scholars also do not classify ?? as temporal.
Hope this furthers the discussion.
Grant, you are right, I do rest my case on ??? as a period of time. It occurs 108 times in the New Testament and everywhere else it seems to refer to time, so why should I not take it as temporal here? If anyone does not thingk it is temporal in Revelation 3:10, then it is up to them to prove why in this place it is contrary to its overwhelming scriptural meaning everywhere else. God bless you.
Roy,
All this boils down to your choice of what is temporal or not. Obviously, scholars do not necessarily agree that your choice to classify ek as temporal is proper. Note how Bauer classifies ek, not as temporal but as a marker denoting separation. Not only that, but he classifies ek as “of situations and circumstances out of which someone is brought.” The reason scholars do not classify ek in Revelation 3:10 as temporal is because they judge ??? as a season, event, or period.
Grant, I know that some scholars may disagree with me, but scholars are not always right. The apostles were called “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13), and many of the scholars of their day, the scribes and Pharisees, did not even recognise Jesus as the messiah. Jesus gave the Father thanks for it (Matthew 11:25). God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27) and he takes the wise in their own craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19), the point being scholars are not infallible. Now why do they refuse to use the word ‘hour’ as temporal in this place, when that is the obvious meaning, and is how it is used elswhere? Even though an event is involved, that event takes time doesn’t it? Of course, if these scholars held a pre-trib view, I could understand it: they would have to interpret it that way to sustain their position. However, whenever they interpret things so contrary to the obvious meaning from scripture, as in this case, I feel safer in keeping to the view that I believe God has shown me. All who read this blog must decide for themselves who is right.
God bless you both. Interesting how both Grant and Roy present very convincing arguments and refrain from attacking each other. Roy’s comment “[Of course, if these scholars held a pre-trib view, I could understand it: they would have to interpret it that way to sustain their position]”, confirms what I have seen so often when scholars differ regarding interpretation of Bible texts, and that is that interpretations are coupled mostly to what view you hold before you even start “to sustain your position”. You will both agree that believing on the Lord Jesus to be saved is more important than believing in the Pre, Post, or A, -millennium [to which I adhere], even though the subject is both interesting and worthwhile investigating what others think as long as you do not waste too much time winning the battle and in the end loosing the war. I give you Num. 6:24 .
Dr. Richison,
I would like to make an opinion here, but please note: I do NOT portray myself as being a Scholar in any way, shape or form! But I do not believe in the PRE-Tribulation Rapture. It is my opinion that the Rapture will take place during the Great Tribulation. My reasoning on this is because I know that My God is a Fair, Just and Loving God. Naturally, He would want to give his people every opportunity to change their ways and repent… giving them one last chance to turn to Him before the door of opportunity is shut forever. I believe that it will be at THAT time, after the Rapture, that the Holy Spirit will be taken away. Thus leaving the wicked to destroy themselves during the latter part of the Tribulation. If God were to only take His elect during a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, imagine how many, that are left behind, would never have an opportunity to KNOW the REAL Jesus and repent? After God gets the attention of EVERYONE, during the first four Trumpet Judgments, they will KNOW that God’s patience has run out. Then they will be forced to choose. After all, why should any of us escape trials and tribulations when our forefathers were all martyred for their faithfulness in Jesus Christ? What makes this generation so different from those past…. that we think we are special enough to be spared?? Plus, what would be the purpose of the 144,000 and Two Witnesses if the rapture has already occurred?? The Jesus that I know wants to save as many as possible from satan “the destroyer”. So, He WILL give EVERYONE equal opportunity to make their OWN decision and come to the Lord by their OWN heart. It is only natural for humans to wish for a way to escape the Great Tribulation. It is very scary indeed and I had fears of this too. But if you are faithfully walking with the Lord, those fears become diminished the more you understand HIS plan. Let’s face it, even Bible Scholars do not agree on everything. Each one interprets the Bible differently and only Jesus knows, for sure, the outcome of EVERYTHING. Again, this is only MY opinion and I am not looking to get into a great disagreement over it. I do enjoy your site, but felt compelled to express my opinion here. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.
Susan, although I think it is dangerous to interpret Scripture by what we think God should do, the Pre-trib view does not preclude many people coming to Christ during the Tribulation. If you study my entire study on Revelation, you will see many many thousands will be saved during the Tribulation.
Re Rev 3:10 discussion . As to whether the verse "keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world" makes reference to pretrib, midrib , post rib or no trib positions. May I urge us all to look at how God Almighty acted in the past during similar occurrences in the scripture as in 1) The Great Flood during Noah's Time, which was a worldwide judgement of God. 2) The Sodom and Gomorah Judjement., a local one.
Now, remembering that "God is the same yesterday and today ". May I respectfully ask Did God saved Noah and his family out of or in the flood? And how about Abraham and Lot with his two daughters, how we're they saved, out of or in the brimstone fire"
The right answer will settle all disputes on the issue. So, what is your answer?
Tony, I don't think your comments relate to the issue at all. We need to take our interpretation from this verse and its context.
I would answer Tony Tamayo this way. God always took his people to a place of safety before he destroyed the wicked. So it will be on the last day when Jesus returns. They will flee to the valley that Jesus makes when he splits the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:5), just like Lot fled to Zoar, and Noah into the Ark. None of them were removed from the earth before the judgment. God bless you.
Thank you all very much for the discussion. I understand both positions as presented. I am curious how a mid-trib rapture would fit into where any of you might be coming from. I am thinking of the I Cor. 15:51-52 and I Thes. 4:15-17 passages. Could the "last trumpet" refer to the last trumpet of Revelation 11, which comes after the "woes" but before the "bowls of wrath?"
Don, thanks for your comment.
To me the weakest of all positions is the Tribulation views is the mid-Trib view. There is so very little evidence for it. Even the pre-wrath view is stronger in terms of objective evidence. It appears to me that the two strongest positions are the pre and post positions.
KJV. A pre Trib Rapture, is what the bible teaches.1. 1 THESS. 1:4 Paul was writing to corthens, he called them brethern. 2. They were already Develired FROM THE WRATH of HELL. John 3:36 3.KJV. NOTICE, , Which delievered us, is translated in the past tense, this is incorrect, as the Greek has it in the FUTURE tense, it shoul read as who delievers us or which delievers us. 4. THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD has it wright, who rescues us from the wrath to come, FUTURE TENSE. 5. "The wrath to come," is not in reffernce to hell, as they were alreadydelivered from HELL. JOHN 3:36. 6. BUT ratherdelivers us from the "TRIBULATION PERIOD" as stated in REVELATION 6:17. Go to this web site and you can read all of DR. Max D. Younce books on line or order them, I know who holds tomorro is a good book on Rev. http://www.heritagebbc.com I talk to him allot, he is 77 and very bibical smart. FRIEND IN CHRIST RANDALL SUSAN i could answer your questions but i am tired for now good night
Grant i believe you have done a very good job sharing the word, thank you. Iam wondering if you could share Ephesians 3:4-5. I have been taught that the mistery was the old testment and the 4 gospels didn't know anything about the rapture that was the mistery? I hope to hear from you. In Christ Randall
Randall, thanks for your comments. The "mystery" in Eph 3:4-5 is the church. God did not reveal the concept of the church until he gave Paul that revelation (Eph 3:1ff). In other words, the idea of the church was not something that any prophet or anyone else knew about until Paul came on the scene.
Grant I belive what you said, but can you share scripture where even i could understand and share with others, we had a bible study wednesday, and our pastor said the mistery was Jesus Christ, asking for help. Thanks Randall
Randall, your pastor is right in saying that the mystery was Christ. However, it is more than just the person of Christ but what He represented to believers. The entire book of Ephesians is about positional (legal) truth, that is, our status before God forever because of Christ. Note the phrases “in Christ, in Him, in the Beloved One” especially in chapter one but also throughout the first three chapters. In chapter three Paul shows that no one knew of the mystery of being “in Christ” doctrinally before God revealed it to him (3:8).
Up until the New Testament God deal with a nation, the nation of Israel. When God launched the church His primary dealings was no longer with Israel but with an organism (the church), not an organization (Israel). In this new “body” (3:6) of Christ (the church) God incorporated “Gentiles” (3:6; 3:8). The mystery (in context) is to “preach among the Gentiles” (non-Jews) the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8). By doing this Paul would make “all see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (3:9). This mystery was “hidden in God” from “the beginning of the ages” (3:9).
Ephesians 3:4 "by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ…"
This is a great discussion: Scholarly, courteous and friendly
Thanks for your excellent commentary. It reinforced our faith in god and Jesus Christ.
It is believers (not Christians only) that will endure to assist others through!!! God is in us ALL!!!
Randy, it is God, not believers or anyone else that is in view here, that does the keeping.
What is the best bible to buy in your opinion, I bought a Geneva bible 1560. my paster said it wasn’t any good.
Randall, the Geneva Bible had certain highlights:
The Geneva Bible accomplished several things for the first time:
• First English Bible translated by a committee of scholars from biblical languages. Although it was a revision of the Great Bible, the Geneva Bible was the first multi-scholar-produced English translation.
• First to use reader-friendly Roman type instead of Gothic or black letter.
• First to use numbered verses. The translators adopted the numbers supplied by Stephanus’ Greek text of 1551.
• First to use italics to mark words not found in the Greek or Hebrew. This is still practiced today by the New King James Version and the New American Standard Bible.
• First purposefully small, moderately priced Bible. The Geneva Bible was a compact, quarto edition intended to be easy to handle and affordable to purchase.
• First English Bible used in North America. The Puritans who arrived at the Plymouth colony in 1620 brought with them the 1588 edition of the Geneva Bible. It became known as the “Pilgrim’s Bible.”
• First study Bible. The Geneva Bible features attest to it being considered the first study Bible.
Kuykendall, M. (2016). Geneva Bible. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
However, this Bible did not have many of the manuscripts we have today or the discoveries of the many tools for translation. It would be better to get a more modern translation.
There are allot of modern translation’s out there which bible would reckmend? Thanks.