For more on "That Hour" of Revelation 3:10
Dear Dave,
I like the Berean's! They knew how to study the Scriptures, rightly dividing the word of truth from that of error. "They received the word of God with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things they heard were true."
This shows me a people who knew how to receive God's word: at face value! They didn't try to make it fit some preconceived theory of theirs, spiritualize it, and/or assign all or part of it to some other people, event or time zone. To them the word of God was black and white, plain and simple, as is, and to be taken literally and in order whenever possible. They compared Scripture with Scripture as protection from false teachings, prophecy, and for edification, instruction, etc.
Therefore, like the Berean's and after reading your "Revival or Apostacy" message; and examining it against the Scriptures, this is what I found...
I totally agree as many Scriptures (2 Th.2:9-11; Rev.13:13, 14; Mt.24:24, 25) clearly demonstrate.
#1. I know that you hold to a pre-tribulation rapture doctrine with an imminent (any moment) return of Christ for His church, and yet I have no other recourse but to believe; that you by your own statements:
#2. you are quoting prophetic Scripture from Matthew 24 (the olivet discourse) concerning sorrows, deception, and the like, all the while claiming that, "these things Jesus is saying have been on the increase since Israel became a nation".
So what gives David? Doesn't the belief that we're in the beginning of sorrows, deception, signs and wonders (so as to deceive even the elect, if possible) destroy the pre-tribulation doctrine's "Imminent (any moment) Coming"???
It most certainly does! You yourself said that ALL prophecy has beens fulfilled, and that NONE needed to be fulfilled in order for Christ to rapture His church. Yet "Israel" hadn't become a Nation until 1948. That's a Long Time Ago.
I think everyone would agree that the "Beginning of Sorrows" (Mt.24:4-8; cf Rev.6:1-6) is the "Beginning" of the 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27) - or the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period heading towards the mid point (Abomination of Desolation) that opens with the revelation/wrath of the Antichrist and Great Tribulation?!
#3. his disciples asked Jesus specific questions dealing with specific time lines: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
At the close of your October '97 TBC message, "Revival or Apostacy",you wrote:
"In the meantime undertake a study to see what the Bible says. Check every source (including TBC) against Scripure! Be a Berean."
You said: "Clearly, the Bible predicts a last-days signs and wonders movement - but it will be of Satan, thus a delusion that will deceive many".
You also said: "Unquestionably, these specific 'sorrows' have been both prominent and accelerating since Israel became a nation in 1948. Since that time, the intensity and frequency of these signs have increased like the birthpangs of a woman approaching her time of delivery, exactly as Christ foretold."
"Since Israel became a nation in 1948" along with "increasing signs" destroy your 'Imminent' (any moment return of Christ) doctrine! (also see #2 and #3)
(I take it that you do believe it was the hand of God that caused the Jews to return to Israel in 1948, and not some Random act? (cf Isaiah 11:11, 12)
It's a well known fact that those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture have assigned (unlike the Berean's) the entire olivet discourse over to the Jews and over to those who are left behind on the earth after the church has been raptured.
Jesus answered them just as specifically as to the times and seasons comparing that future day by giving them a parable of a fig tree (Mt.24:32-34).
13 *But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.*
14 And this "GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM" shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 *Behold, I have told you before.*
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
"The ONLY WAY someone can believe that the Olivet Discourse is for the Jews AFTER the church is caught up is by HEARING, BELIEVING AND PREACHING A DIFFERENT GOSPEL other than the one and only spoken of in verse 14! And a Gospel that includes a belief in the 'Pre-tribulation rapture' in it is certainly a 'Different Gospel'."
In Christ,
Biff
In 538 B.C. (67 years after Jeremiah prophesied it), Daniel was made to realize from his study of Jeremiah that the 70-year captivity was coming to an end....
"This whole land shall be a desolation and a horror and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Jeremiah 25:11)
At the end of this time, the Lord said, "When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill my good word to you, to bring you back to this place." (Jeremiah 29:10)
24 - Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 - Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 - And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
(See Leviticus 25:8 further explaining the time reference)
Daniel 9:24 mentions six things that are to be accomplished in the 70 week period:
#1 - "Seven weeks" (or 49 years), for the restoration of Jerusalem.
The 'Seventy Weeks' are seventy weeks of years, or 490 years. This means that a total of 483 years were finished starting from the going forth of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem up to when "Christ" was crucified ("cut off"), leaving a time period of "one week" (or 7 years) to be divided (according to Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24, and in - The Time Frame - below) into two distinct 3 1/2 year periods that we may call, "The beginning of sorrows", and "The great tribulation"....
The first 3 1/2 years ---
Up to Daniel 11:31 -- And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
From Matthew 24:1-15 -- (15 is the start of the Great Tribulation) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Up to Daniel 12:11 -- And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
The last 3 1/2 years ---
Beginning at Daniel 12:7 -- And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Beginning at Daniel 7:25 -- And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
From Matthew 24:16-31 -- (verse 30 is the Lord's Return - which marks, "The Day of the Lord")
#2 - "Sixty-two weeks" (or 434 years), from that time to the Messiah being "cut off".
#3 - "One week" (or seven years). The time that marks the last 7 year period.
A further study of the Three Parts of the 70 Weeks...
The 70 weeks of Daniel are separated into three distinct parts, suggesting that different units are involved in the various parts. [That is why the 7 weeks, and the 62 weeks, and one week are all mentioned separately.]
In Daniel 12:7, the phrase "time, times, and a half" is given as the duration of the period encompassed by his prophecies. The completion of this period marks a time when (as the Scriptures say) "all these things shall be finished."
Daniel 7:25: a time, and times, and the dividing of time
Daniel 12:7: time + times + a half
Daniel 12:11: 1290 days
Daniel 12:12: 1335 days
In the book of Revelation, John applies this same pattern to derive his variations on three and a half years...
Revelation 11:2: 42 months
Revelation 11:3: 1260 days
Revelation 11:9: 3.5 days
Revelation 12:6: 1260 days
Revelation 12:14: time + times + a half
Revelation 13:5: 42 months
(A Time = 1 year -- Times = 2 years -- Dividing of Time = 1/2 year. Total=3 1/2 years)
The edict to rebuild Jerusalem is reckoned from the seventh year of Artaxerxes, coinciding with the 4,256th year of the Julian period, and in the month Nisan, in which Ezra was commissioned to restore the Jewish state and polity, (Ezra 7:9-26) will bring us to the month of Nisan of the 4,746th year of the same period, or A.D. 33, the very month and year in which our Lord suffered, and completed the work of our salvation.
#1 - The edict to rebuild Jerusalem could not have been the one issued by Cyrus in 539 B.C. (II Chronicles 36:22) because Cyrus' command refers to the "rebuilding of the Temple", and Not to the city. Further, the inhabitants of the city did not erect natural defences around the city in order to defend themselves - hence this was not a complete rebuilding, as was prophesied.
#2 - It could not have been the decree that was issued in 519/18 B.C. by Tattenia, governor of Judah (Ezra 5:3-17). His decree simply confirmed Cyrus', referring again to the Temple, and not to the city.
#3 - It could not be the decree of Artaxerxes to Ezra in 457 B.C. (Ezra 7:12-16). Yet again, this decree says nothing about the city of Jerusalem, only the Temple.
#4 - The only possible decree was the one issued by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8). This directly refers to the prophesied restoration of the city gates and walls (c.f. Daniel 9:25). In addition, Artaxerxes wrote a letter to Asaph specifically asking for materials which would be used to build the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:8). In both Nehemiah and Ezra one is informed that the restoration of the walls was performed in most distressing circumstances (Ezra 4:7-23) - again, compare with Daniel 9:25.
Using the [accepted] 360-day [lunar] year, and multiplying the 69 weeks by seven years for each week by 360 days gives a total of 173,880 days. The difference between 444 B.C. and A.D. 33 is 476 solar years.
When we reduce 173,880 days to "Lunar Years" we get "483 years" (or 69 weeks, which contain approximately 7.1 years less than if we had calculated solar years over the same period).
Therefore, "69" of the 70 weeks have been exactly fulfilled to the day, leaving one remaining "week" left unfulfilled.
The first part (the 483 lunar year period from the time of the decree) marks the time of His First Coming, as The Messiah, the Crucified Savior -- and the second part of the prophecy (when the last 7 years begin) will mark the time of His Second Coming, as Lord of Lord's and King of King's!
This (483 year lunar period, and its 476 year solar equivalent) marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. . . . As prophsied by Zechariah in 9:9,
More "Proof" that a separation of time between both comings exist in the 70 weeks (His first coming at the 69th week, the pause, then His second coming at the 70th week) and points to both of His comings....
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:17-19
This is where Jesus closed the book! Note where He ended His reading: "Preaching the acceptable year of the Lord." This is the acceptable year we're in now. We're at the end of the 69th week now! This is the pause between the 69th and the 70th week of years. This is the time of Grace, "all the way up until He returns again".
He was reading from the book of Isaiah. Especially note what He purposely ommitted and what comes after the acceptable year of the Lord....
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord... "and the day of vengeance of our God" Isaiah 61:2
This happens at Christs second coming!!!
The significance of the word, KEPT OUT FROM.....
Please Understand that the Greek word for KEEP THEE FROM, would be an issue ONLY IF --"IF"-- THE HOUR OF TRIAL refers to the tribulation.
However, I will demonstate with the word of God that the HOUR OF TRIAL has no connection with the tribulation period at all, but instead, refers to the Day Of The Lord. This, (and not the great tribulation) is what we are to be kept from having to face = "His wrath"!!!
The following Scripture has Jesus talking about something entirely different than what He had been...
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep ("tereo") thee from ("ek") the hour of temptation ("peirasmos". ASV = "trial".), which shall come upon all the world, to try ("peirazo") them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:10-11
5083 tereo (from the Greek for keep)
1537 ek
3986. peirasmos
3985. peirazo
tereo tay-reh'-o from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):--hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.
out of, from, by, away from
from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.
from 3984 peira; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.
To TRY who? The word says, "To TRY "THEM"! They are the Unbelievers that will be Tried by Fire, not us. We have many promises that we, Christians, will not incur His wrath! Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; etc.)
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7
This is a Test... a coming test or trial [A Trying or Putting to Proof]... a putting of flesh and blood men to the test of fire - facing the wrath of God. It's like taking and throwing a dried twig into the fire and watching it burn. (In the presence of the Fire what else can it do??? Isaiah 33:14) I see no other recourse from the above Scriptures other than that it will be Jesus Himself who will be the one that will be doing the testing as a flaming fire! "A Trial by Fire"!
The Spirit is not talking about keeping us from having to face that hour by way of some "Secret pre-trib. Rapture", as the teachers of this escaping the tribulation through a pre tribulation rapture nonsense believe and teach others, rather of preserving us from having to face Him as the ungodly will in His "unquenchable fire".
He is talking about a specific "hour" (i.e. a very short period), about a future "trial" that is about to come upon the whole earth, that will put all men to the proof, or test what they're made of. This is going to be a trial by... "Fire" (see 1 Corinthians 3:13 below). He is saying that those who are keeping the word of His patience in enduring to the end will avoid having to come and face this firey trial. That is the importance of keeping the word of His patience, or His Patient, Prophetic Word to the very end!
Every man's work shall be made manifest (5319): for the day shall declare it (1213), because it shall be revealed (575 & 2572) by fire (4442); and the fire shall TRY (1381) every man's work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:13
5319. phaneroo
1213. deloo
575 and 2572. apokaluptw apokalupto ap-ok-al-oop'-to
4442. pur pur poor
1381. dokimazo
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees (i.e. full of pride): that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. Zephaniah 1:12
from 5318; to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).212. dhlow deloo day-lo'-o to make plain (by words):--declare, shew, signify.
from 1212; to make plain (by words):--declare, shew, signify.
to take off the cover, i.e. disclose:--reveal.
a primary word; "fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning):--fiery, fire.
to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:--allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Over and over the word of God keeps us safe with Scriptures as Matthew 24:29-31 and these --
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:12
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: Malachi 3:2
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
He is not speaking here of some pre-tribulation rapture where we may "escape" all these things by leaving this earth, instead He is speaking of The Day Of The Lord! There is only ONE WAY to Escape all these things and stand before Christ, and that is through keeping His word Patiently while eagerly looking for His coming/parousia/appearing!
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7
Judgement begins in the church (1 Peter 4:17). The Light TESTS (i.e. "Judges") all who profess to be Christians (both the true and the false professors), and deals with each accordingly. Read the parable of the Ten Virgins and The Wheat and The Tares, for but two examples of what is being said here.
In my estimation concerning the last days, there can be no greater danger that will affect "Christians" than believing in the pre-tribulation rapture lie! This "false teaching" is what is giving these people a false hope that has them looking for a pre tribulation rapture by a Christ that will never come and appear at the time that "they" say He will.
Also, belief in this lie teaches those like the 5 foolish virgins that there is no need to worry nor prepare for a long tribulation journey (by carrying extra oil with our lamps), because they say that the Lord will come at any second now and rapture us out of here before the great tribulation even begins. So they have need of nothing (see Rev.3:17).
How nicely this lie fits in with the parable of the five foolish virgins and obviously why they weren't prepared in the first place?! The true meaning of Revelation 3:10 (by patiently keeping "His" word, [rather than theirs] and enduring to the end) is lost to them, simply because they believed and latched onto the lie!
They even have the great audacity to rule over God's word by saying that Scriptures as The Olivet Discourse, Revelation (after chapter three), etc. does not apply to the Christian but to the Jew. They claim that when the great tribulation begins it will be the Jew who'll be around and witnessing then, as they will be the ones who'll have the testimony of Jesus! How blind! How ridiculous! It is clearly written that the Jews will not believe or know Jesus at all until His one and only living appearance...
Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they which have pierced him, and all the tribes of the land shall wail because of him. Yea. Amen. Revelation 1:7
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:35
It has never been the Lord's intention to take His church out of the world at the first sign of trouble or persecution but to preserve us through it all and make us more than conquerers through Him...
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
The Lord is praying here for His followers to be kept from evil, not to escape the world's tribulation.
Take a special note on the following...
But of that DAY and HOUR knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an HOUR as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an HOUR that he is not aware of, Matthew 24:50
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what HOUR I will come upon thee. Revelation 3:3
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the HOUR of temptation/trial, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10
It becomes clearly evident that this "HOUR" that Jesus is refering to in Revelation 3:10 centers around the "HOUR" of His Coming! This is THE HOUR that Revelation 3:10 speaks of - this is the equivalent time beginning when the rain began to fall in the days of Noah (see Matthew 24 above) until the flood (aka The Wrath of God!) came to take them all away. When the rain began to fall only those in the ark were prepared and saved. For everyone else it was too late!
Notice too that twice we see "The Patience of the saints" mentioned...
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Revelation 13:10
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
Of course what we are looking at here is the saints who patiently endure through these hardships and trials keeping His word - the word of His patience, as shown in THE LAST DAYS when the antiChrist is on the scene. These "Patiently Enduring Christians" are the same ones who are seen in those LAST DAYS patiently keeping His word - of the testimony of Jesus - of the Gospel of the Kingdom - of keeping the word of His second coming/parousia/return and when that would be... intact to the very end!
Jesus Himself said when His return would be ...Immediately after the tribulation of those days... Matthew 24:29
It is obvious that Jesus is refering to THE LAST DAYS and our not being found wanting or lacking of in Revelation 3:10. Compare what He is saying here with these Scriptures...
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:4
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;2 Thessalonians 2:3
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:17
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:17
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1
What Jesus is saying in Revelation 3:10 is simply this...
To those of you who keep the word of my patience, I am going to keep you out of the hour of temptation/testing, which shall come upon all the world, in order to try/judge them that dwell upon the earth.
NOTE: "To TRY THEM that dwell where?? ON EARTH!!" What is this HOUR that is about to come upon the whole world???
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares.
Compare: "as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth -- watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE (cf with Rev. 3:10) all these things that shall come to pass",
with: "I also will KEEP THEE FROM (cf with Luke 21:35) the hour of temptation/testing, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell on earth".
We are simply found Keeping the word of His patience.
Paul says it like this...
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
You can see where all of this going, can't you?!
The way to ESCAPE "His Wrath" (the firey trial) is by keeping and enduring in the word of His patience to the very end.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it (The Day Of The Lord) come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:31-36
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what HOUR your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:36-42
It will be the same when Jesus comes suddenly as a thief in the night... only His wrath and coming will be in the form of His coming in flaming fire instead of water!
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 2 Peter 3:10-11
Again, Jesus clearly explains what it is....
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth..
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:34-36
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
At the end, the moment He appears (immediately after the tribulation of those days and signs in the sun, moon, stars - Matthew 24:29) is when we will no longer be on the earth to face His wrath, but caught up to meet Him in the sky, thus avoid what is about to happen to the whole earth.
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
Revelation 3:10 DOES NOT REFER TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION AT ALL but refers to keeping us from having to face the consequences of the 3rd woe - what happens after the blowing of the 7th trumpet, and the moment that the vials containing the wrath of God are poured out.....
Revelation 3:10-11 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation (i.e. "TESTING"), WHICH SHALL COME upon all the world, to TRY them THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH.
Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the HOUR of his judgment IS COME and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
Matthew 24:37-42 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
In flaming fire taking vengeance on "THEM" that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
To "TRY" --- (To try who???) TO TRY "THEM" THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH!!!
(Now Compare that with 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall "TRY" every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; YET SO AS BY FIRE.
The phrase, “those who dwell on the earth,” is used 9 times in Revelation, and each time it is referring to those who are the enemies of God and worshipers of the beast.
I believe that the wrath of God is seen upon the opening of the 6th. seal (beginning at Revelation 6:14), and experienced during the pouring out of the 1st. Bowl of Wrath (Revelation 16:1).
And so, the real meaning of Revelation 3:10-11 is: "Because you have continued to endure patiently in My word to the end, I will keep you safe throughout that hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world in order to test/judge them by fire. I will keep you safe through it all! So keep holding fast to that which you have."
For more on "That Hour" of Revelation 3:10
