Revelation: The End and a New Beginning
Yes, I’m one of those nuts who believes Revelation is one of the most amazing
books in the Bible. Genesis begins the written journey into God’s heart and
mind, and Revelation completes it. Genesis introduces us to the history of
creation, while Revelation foretells its end.
Revelation is overflowing with truths that apply to us in our everyday walks
with God. Our desperate need for God, His guidance, and an obedient, persevering
heart that yearns for a life led by the Spirit penetrate the chapters from
beginning to end. The spiritual realm of good and evil that surrounds us is
painted across every page with great detail that forces us to ponder. So many
topics of truth are included within its pages, including Israel, the Church, the
different strengths and weaknesses within the professing church, a long
suffering but just God, grace, wrath, sovereignty, Satan and his followers, and
a never-ending love that God has given to all who know His Son, to name just a
few.
I believe Revelation is filled with things that are symbolic, but I also think
there are many things to be taken literally. Deciphering between the two, and
seeking the meaning of the symbolism, takes a careful consideration of the
entire Bible.
In doing this, I have concluded that The Revelation of Jesus Christ is just
that, the revealing of Jesus, His ways, His thoughts, His heart, and much, much
more. I am also convinced that this book reveals future events in a step-by-step
order that lines up with Daniel, Matthew, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and the many
other books that contain promises and prophecies throughout the Bible.
The things I find continually stimulate me to know and understand Jesus and His
ways more completely every time I search this book. There are so many things I
have yet to discover, and many things I don’t think I’ll ever understand
until I meet Him, but I don’t plan to abandon the search.
I hope the few pages ahead motivate you to seek His face and His plan more
thoroughly, for Rev. 1:3 tells us:
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those
who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near
(Rev. 1:3).
'I Will Keep You From the Hour of Trial’
Now let’s take a look at one of the most controversial verses in the rapture
debate: “I will keep you from the hour of trial” (Rev. 3:10). Remember my
comment in the introduction? That this is the only verse in the entire Bible
that even appears to say we will not go through the Tribulation? This is the
verse the pre-trib teachers use as the foundation for the entire theory. Yes, at
first glance, it seems to tell us that we will be kept from the persecution, but
I believe this verse has been slaughtered by the pre-trib doctrine and needs to
be investigated.
We’ve been told what this verse means by the pre-trib teachers so many times
that it’s hard to see it any way other than what they tell us it means. I hate
to start off in Revelation with such a confusing verse, but I feel that it’s
very important not to skip over this pre-trib foundation.
So far, everything we’ve looked at in Matthew and 1 and 2 Thessalonians has
said the opposite of what Rev. 3:10 appears to be saying, so it would be unwise
to throw out everything we’ve seen thus far because of one verse. Please study
this on your own with Strong’s Concordance and a Bible with a Greek parallel
and dictionary so that you have more than just my word.
The seven churches in the beginning of Revelation each receive a letter coming
from the mouth of Jesus. Each letter addresses that church’s present state, as
well as a future promise, both of which are relevant to us in this lifetime. The
promises given to these churches are based on the same principle as the promises
given to men like Abraham in Hebrews 11, meaning that they didn’t get to see
them fulfilled in their lifetimes, but they will be fulfilled in the future.
This is the promise given to the church of Philadelphia that is causing all of
the controversy:
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you
from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those
who live on the earth" (Rev. 3:10 NIV).
"Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I will also keep you
from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10 NASB).
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10 KJV).
Defining ‘Keep’
As we begin our study of this verse, let’s start with the phrase “I will
keep you.” The word “keep” in its origin was tereo (Strong’s, 5083).
Tereo means to watch over protectively, or to guard. I believe the use of the
word tereo in Rev. 3:10 is speaking of the keeping of our/the church of
Philadelphia’s soul, or the keeping of us spiritually. “Kept by God” is a
good way to look at it.
Tereo is translated “preserved” in Jude and 1 Thessalonians, and I believe
this word best explains the way it’s used in Rev. 3:10. We are kept or
preserved in Christ because He is the One Who holds our salvation.
"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are
sanctified by God the Father, and preserved [tereo] in Jesus Christ, and
called" (Jude 1:1 KJV).
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be preserved [tereo] complete, without blame at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23 NASB).
Defining ‘From’
Next, let’s look at the word “from.” Ek (Strong’s, 1537) is what has
been translated “from” in this passage. Ek in the Strong’s Dictionary is
defined as “a state or condition, out of which one comes.”
What is the “state or condition” that Rev. 3:10 is speaking of? The
condition is the hour of testing (NASB), hour of trial (NIV), or hour of
temptation (KJV) that is going to come upon the whole world. When ek is combined
with tereo, as it is in Rev. 3:10 -— tereo ek -—it forms the meaning of
being watched protectively, guarded, or preserved, out from within the midst of
the hour of temptation, the condition believers will be in.
If we were to be kept away from the hour of temptation—as in removed by the
rapture, as pre-trib teachers would have us believe—instead of ek, apo (Greek)
would have been used. Apo (Strong’s, 575) means “away from” or to
“separate from something.” In John H. Dobson’s book, Learn New Testament
Greek (John H. Dobson, Baker Book House, 1989, p. 72), there is an illustration
showing two people standing in a house and then walking out of it to show the
meaning of ek. As an example of apo, two people are shown walking away from the
house to clarify the difference between the two words.
I feel the statement, “I will keep thee from the hour of temptation,” is
better understood in English to mean: “I will spiritually keep you, out from
within the midst of the temptation.”
Here is a good example. While Jesus is praying to His Father in the book of
John, He says: "I do not ask Thee to take them out of [ek] the world but to
keep [tereo] them from [ek] the evil one" (John 17:15 NASB).
Jesus isn’t asking for us to be taken out from within the midst (ek) of the
world. He is asking for the Father to spiritually preserve (tereo) us out from
within the midst (ek) of the evil one. We are not kept away from (apo) the world
and Satan in distance. We are preserved while in the world and within the midst
of Satan’s evil and influence. Tereo ek is combined here as it is in Rev.
3:10.
Now let’s take a peek at what LaHaye has to say about this verse. I think
it’s quite interesting. LaHaye gives these verses as examples to prove that ek
means we will be kept out of, or away from, the Tribulation (Rapture Under
Attack, p. 50).
“Out of [ek] Egypt I have called My Son” (Matt. 2:15).
“First cast out the beam out of [ek] thine own eye" (Matt. 7:5).
“for out of [ek] the heart proceed evil thoughts” (Matt. 15:19).
“And [many bodies of saints] came out of [ek] the graves after His
resurrection” (Matt. 27:53).
“I will spew thee out of [ek] My mouth” (Rev. 3:16).
Do you see it? Every one of these verses translate ek to say “out of.” Every
one of these verses speaks of something coming out from within the midst of
something else, not being kept away from something completely! Each one of these
verses could also be translated “from”: from Egypt, from thy own eye, from
the heart, from the graves and from My mouth.
Interesting, very interesting.
What Kind of Temptation Is It?
It seems to me that the meaning of keep/tereo, and from/ek, have both been
interpreted by men with preconceived ideas. But I also believe the “hour of
trial” (NIV)/ “testing” (NASB)/ “temptation” (KJV) has quite possibly
been missed, in part, by them too. Most have concluded that “the hour of
temptation” is referring to the physical time period of the Tribulation and
what goes on within that period. I think it’s deeper than that.
"Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from
the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3:10 KJV).
Temptation has been translated from peirasmos (Strong’s 3986), which comes
from peirazo (Strong’s 3985), which means to try, to prove in a good sense or
a bad one.
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial [peirasmos]; for once he has
been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to
those who love Him" (James 1:12 NASB).
This shows us that one of the purposes of temptations (peirasmos) is to approve
us. We will be blessed if we persevere (i.e. “keep the word of [His]
perseverance” as it says in Rev. 3:10 NASB) at His coming.
We know that God does not tempt (James 1:13), but He does allow Satan to tempt
us. He allows tempting as a test, to prove our hearts genuine or false. What God
said to Satan in the first chapter of Job is a good example “Have you
considered My servant Job?” (Job 1:8). Satan was allowed by God to take away
Job’s children, wealth, and property. This was physical, and was only part of
the test. The test was an inwardly spiritual test to prove Job’s righteousness
by his willingness or refusal to succumb to the temptation to deny God.
Likewise, 1 Peter 4:17 tells us that judgment begins with the house of God. This
“test” during Daniel’s 70th Week is, in part, a purification process to
divide the true followers from the false.
Who Will Be ‘Kept’?
I think of the temptation in Rev. 3:10 as being like Job’s temptation. It is
not just the physical time period of the temptation itself. It is the spiritual
act of being inwardly tempted by Satan to deny God and worship the Antichrist
during the Great Tribulation. Those who have kept Christ’s command to
persevere, as Job did, will be rescued out from within the temptation to deny
Him as Job was. Job’s faith in God, his perseverance and understanding of
God’s sovereignty, helped him to refuse the temptation and stand strong in the
belief that God is always right. It will be the same for those of us who
persevere in the way that the church of Philadelphia did.
Notice the verse right before Rev. 3:10:
'I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not
denied My name' (Rev. 3:8).
I think that those of us who have persevered, kept His Word, and not denied His
name will be spiritually rescued from the temptation to deny His name during the
temptation the rest of the Church will be facing.
"Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those
who are being tempted" (Heb. 2:18).
If you read about the other six churches spoken of in Revelation, you will see
that five of them are warned to repent of their half-hearted ways. If they
don’t, Christ promised serious consequences such as, “I am about to spit you
out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:16). These five churches are doing what many of us
call “walking the fence” in this day and age. These “fence walkers” who
enter the Tribulation are in danger of the serious consequences that will come
as a result of failing the test during the persecution of the Antichrist.
Now that we have looked at all this, I feel Rev. 3:10 is really saying,
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will spiritually keep you
and deliver you out from within the midst of the hour of temptation that is
going to come upon the whole world as a test to prove who is truly Mine.”
Not Fit For a Foundation
All pre-trib teachers use 3:10 as a rapture verse. In Are We Living in the End
Times? (p. 109), LaHaye speaks of this verse, saying, “The guarantee of
rapture before Tribulation could hardly be more powerful. No wonder one writer
labeled it ‘a cardinal Scripture.’
Now that we’ve examined Rev. 3:10, it should be obvious that this verse is
very complicated and should not be a foundation for anything. It bears
absolutely no “powerful” qualities that support the pre-tribulation theory.
I will humorously agree that it is a “cardinal Scripture” for the
pre-tribulation theory, though.
Those who believe we will go through the persecution of the Antichrist use Rev.
3:10 as a rapture verse, too. They believe this verse is speaking of our
physical deliverance out from within the temptation. I have studied this passage
until I’m blue in the face, and unfortunately, my conscience won’t allow me
to agree with them either.
I believe Rev. 3:10 is of spiritual content from beginning to end. Those who
have spiritually persevered will be spiritually preserved and spiritually
delivered out from within the midst of the spiritual temptation (to deny
Christ), which is allowed by God as a spiritual test for the world.
I hope you don’t think I’m a heretic, changing the words in the Bible. I
know the Bible is wholly inspired by God, but this does not mean that every word
translated or interpreted from the original text is inspired. It’s just like
commentary Bibles. Some will say pre-trib all the way, while others say the
opposite. Some will say we can lose our salvation while others teach eternal
security. We need to study deeply for ourselves so as to not be fooled by
men’s interpretations or by tricky translations.
This is certainly not the last word on Rev. 3:10, and I encourage you to dig in
and study all this carefully for yourself.
Now that we’ve finally concluded this verse, let me ask one question: Which
church do you or I best represent? I say we had better be living whole-heartedly
in the here and now so that we will be spiritually ready if things begin in our
lifetimes. I want to be a Philadelphian.
Dave Bussard
www.whowillbeleftbehindandwhen.com