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

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