Kept From the Hour of Testing

'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.'

Revelation 3:10

In my previous post I alluded to this verse and stated that this was not a pre-tribulational promise of rapture, but a promise to those who were faithful. I would like to take a deeper look at this, to further explain what I meant.

This verse is similar to a verse found in John's gospel. The context is the period of time right after the Passover meal, just before Jesus went to Gethsemane, where He was betrayed by Judas.

Jesus has washed the disciples feet, and given them some final words of consolation and encouragement. He was about to face the cross, and ultimately leave this earth, returning to His Father. He assures the disciples that they will not be alone, but He will send them the Holy Spirit. They are also warned that persecution is to be expected. Jesus did not want them to caught by surprise when it arrived, and He does not want us to be either.

John 17 records Jesus' prayer for His disciples, and for all who would come to believe in Him as well. There is one part of this prayer that can shed some light on the verse quoted above.

"I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one."

John 17:15

The word "keep" in this passage as well as the passage pertaining to the philadelphian Church is the same word meaning to guard or to watch over, to preserve. We often think of this word as to prevent something from happening. For example in this verse, to prevent believers from experiencing Satan's attacks. But we know this cannot be true, as Christians throughout the ages have experienced Satan's attacks in various forms. The Bible tells us that we will (1Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7). Jesus is praying that the Father would watch over and preserve us through the attacks of Satan, and many can attest to the faithfulness of God when trials and testing come.

Likewise, dispensationalism teaches that the Church will be raptured before the great tribulation. They see a promise of escape in the promise to keep faithful believers from the hour of testing to come upon the whole earth.  But as I previously stated, the word "keep" means to watch over, to guard, to preserve. To be consistent with the previous passage, we must conclude that Jesus will watch over and preserve us through tribulation, yes, even the great tribulation as well. 

It is interesting to note that in His prayer He did not ask that the disciples be removed from the earth. Why? Because they had a mission to reach the lost, to disciple all of the nations. If they would have been quickly "raptured" out when Jesus ascended how would any of us have heard and believed the good news of salvation? So why should we be raptured out early? Are we better than they were? No, we, just like them, have the same call and mission to bring the gospel to the lost. We must finish what they began. They were promised persecution and we share that same promise, and just like the first disciples, we too have the promise of God's faithfulness to watch over, guard, and preserve us, as we faithfully carry out the task He has given us.

We might face suffering, and even death because of who we serve, but He is faithful to bring us safely home.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20 NASB 

Perseverance of the Saints

7. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

10. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and faith of the saints. 

Revelation 13:7-10 NASB 

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB 

The context of these passages (Rev 12:1-13:18) describe the 42 month period known as the "great tribulation." Chapter 12 tells of Satan being cast down to earth, and in a great rage he pursues the Jews to destroy them. We are also informed that he makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Rev13:17). In other words Christians.

Chapter 13 describes how Satan seeks to  accomplish this. It is through a figure referred to as the beast, also known as the Antichrist. This individual is given authority by Satan for this purpose. Contrary to popular teaching, followers of Jesus will be on the earth, and will face this persecution. This is abundantly shown in scripture. Many are "secure" in the belief that we won't be here to experience this, but instead of resting in a false comfort, we need to reconcile with reality and prepare ourselves for what is to come. 

When these dark days come upon the earth Christians will need endurance. In the above verses we read of perseverance in the midst of persecution. The temptation to cave in, to renounce our faith will be overwhelming. Yet to give up for the sake of some momentary safety will cost us in the end.

11. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

12. Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:11-12 NASB 

Again we see the necessity of perseverance or endurance, and faith. The faith mentioned here goes beyond mental assent to Biblical facts. This faith is better defined as loyalty. To take the mark is to give allegiance to the beast, and ultimately to the dragon or Satan who is the power behind the beast. To be faithful even unto death is the way to overcome Satan.

9. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?"

11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Revelation 6:9-11 NASB 

Here we read of martyrs who were put to death because of their faithfulness to the word of God, and the testimony that they maintained, even under the most severe conditions. The word martyr means witness. To die for your faith in Christ is the ultimate testimony to the world. It is sealed in blood.

In the old covenant sacrificial system the blood of the sacrifice was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). These martyrs placed their very lives upon the altar of sacrifice, and their souls were poured out in death. This is the picture we see described here.

In Revelation 7:9-17 John beheld a great multitude of people from every nationality standing before the throne and the Lamb. They also were wearing white robes and carrying palm branches. When asked who they were, and where the had come from, John had no answer. 

14. I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and  night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 

16. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat.

17. "for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:14-17 NASB

Earlier we saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar. Now we see the full number of martyrs standing before Jesus, apparently now in their glorified bodies. They no longer cry out for God to avenge them. Now they cry out in worship, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Rev 7:10). Their conflict is over and they are safely in the presence of Jesus, their robes have been washed in His blood, they maintained their testimony, and they did not cling to their lives when faced with death. 

To be sure, there will be those who are alive and remain at Christ's second coming (1 Thess 4:17), but primarily, to come out of the great tribulation will be through death. 

This is how we overcome Satan with his wrath against those who follow Jesus. It will be essential that we resolve now to be steadfast in the face of persecution. The scriptures are filled with warnings against deception, lawlessness, and persecution in the last days. These things will cause many to fall away from the faith. A great apostasy from the faith is foretold as a warning to us. We must be strong, we must steadfast, we must persevere. 

2. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 

3. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!

4. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For you alone are holy; for ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED. "

Revelation 15:2-4 NASB

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4

To be victorious demands endurance. I do not mean that we pick ourselves up by the boot straps and exert all of our self effort, because we really are insufficient in and of ourselves. We read of a Church with little power, but who kept the word of Jesus and did not deny Him. They were given an open door, and kept from the hour of testing that is to come. This is not a pre-tribulational promise of rapure, but God's promise to those who are faithful. We read Jesus' words that He will be with us always, even to the end of the age (see Rev 3:7-12, Matt 28:20 John 17:15). We are called to overcome numerous times throughout scripture. Endurance is vital if we are to come out of this world victorious over everything that Satan throws at us, especially in Earth's final days. 

  

Endurance Until the End

3. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows even greater;

4. therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

5. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6. For after all it is only just for God to repay with afflictions those who afflict you,

7. and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in Flaming fire,

8. dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 

10. when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

11. To this end we also pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,

12. so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 NASB 

In Acts 17 we read that the apostle Paul went to Thessalonica where He planted a church. All this took place within the space of a couple of weeks as a mob formed as a result, creating such a disturbance that Paul was forced to leave.

Paul was concerned for these new Christians and sent Timothy to encourage them. On Timothy's return Paul found that these believers were not only remaining faithful, but we're thriving in the face of persecution.  We often speak of individuals as "baby Christians" and yes, a new convert is technically just that. But compare what you read of the Thesalonian Church with the fact that we so often consider others, or even ourselves "baby Christians" months, even years after a profession of faith. I have always been amazed reading through First Thessalonians as it describes these new disciples growing and prospering. They only had two weeks with Paul, then persecution came. And they became an example for others to follow (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

While Paul was with them he prepared them for persecution (1 Thessalonians 2:11-14). He also instructed them concerning the endtimes (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). All this in two weeks!

This Church understood that persecution was a normal consequence once a life was committed to following Jesus. They expected it, and remained faithful in spite of it. Nowhere do we read that they were looking for an escape, a sudden mysterious rapture out of it. In fact the opposite is true. In the passage above they were told, and we as well, that relief finally comes at Christ's second coming.

This coming is visible, not secret, everyone will be aware, they will see, they will know. Jesus returning in flaming fire, with His angels, dealing out retribution is not a secret rapture. No, it is His return to gather His elect, and punish the wicked. This is when our relief comes according to scripture. 

Paul commended this Church for their faithfulness thru affliction. It is the same for us. Just like the Christians of old, we also need to faithfully endure hardship as well.

This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:6

I fear we, at least here in the west, have bought into an easy Christianity that promises escape at the expense of teaching endurance. Generations have been spoon fed "Left Behind" theology. What will happen to them when things turn out different than that which was expected?

Not Destined to Wrath

1. Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

2. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

3. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;

5. for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

6. so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

7. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 

8. But since we are of the day, let us be sober,  having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-9

This passage is often used as a proof text by those promoting a pre-tribulational rapture of the Church. The emphasis is on the sudden, unexpected thief-like taking up of those who are "of the day" verses those who are "of the night" who are left behind to face the tribulation.  The passage then closes with the assurance that the Church is not appointed to wrath. This verse then, is taken to mean that the rapture must by necessity occur first, to remove believers from the earth before God pours out His wrath upon a sinful world.

It is possible to encounter a biblical text and read our preconceived ideas into it. That is the danger of searching for a "proof text." If however we come to scripture with an open mind, desiring to know and understand truth,  God will graciously give us understanding. 

The idea of a pre-trib rapture cannot be proven by concrete passages of scripture. The verses simply do not exist. Multiple verses, like those above, are often quoted as proof, but again, the belief has to be read into the verse. If taken at face value, these verses often state the opposite. 

Paul begins this section by reminding his readers that they do not need additional information concerning the times and seasons related to the endtimes events. They have a solid understanding. I once heard a Sunday School teacher tell the class that we shouldn't bother studying the end times as there are more important Biblical topics to study. He used these verses to make that claim. To the contrary, we find in the Bible numerous passages that foretell of these events, giving us a remarkable timeline with signs to watch for. God does not want us to be caught unaware as these events unfold.

The day of the Lord will indeed come like a thief, suddenly and unexpected. People will be caught unaware. There will be some form of a false peace that will lull many into complacency. Paul warns that destruction will come upon them suddenly. But a believer should not be caught by surprise. Paul goes on to differentiate between those who belong to Christ, and those who belong to this world. 

So since we are sons of light and not darkness we must be alert and sober minded. We must be in the word, and not only reading it, but obeying it, letting it transform our lives. And praying as we watch, so that we may escape what is coming upon the earth, and to  stand before Jesus at His return (Luke 31:36). We have all that we need in Jesus, and by His grace we need not slip back into darkness.

If we fail to watch, if we get bogged down with the cares and pursuits of this life, we will find ourselves in the same condition as those who will be caught by surprise by Christ's return.

34. "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap;

35. for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth.

36. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

This is not speaking about escape in the sense of a pre-tribulational rapture, but of strength to endure to end (see Matt 24:13).

Paul exhorts us to put on a breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. This is a similar concept to the spiritual armour found in Ephesians 6:13-18. 

Jesus states thst the love of most will grow cold as the day of the Lord approaches (Matthew 24:12). He also asks a question thst we should take seriously. Will He find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8)? It should be noted that this question follows His teaching on persistent prayer.

As we walk in faith and love we must look  past any trial and hardship that comes our way and look to the day that our salvation is final. Peter tells us that we are protected by God's power through faith, for a salvation that will be revealed in the last time ( 1 Peter 1:3-15). 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:13

Back to what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Thessslonian Church. It all flows to the verse where he states that we are not destined or appointed to wrath, but to salvation. 

The pre-trib position maintains that God will not "beat up His bride",  therefore the Church must be removed so it will not go through His wrath. There are several errors in this position.

First, the persecution and hardship that will occur during the tribulation are not God's wrath being poured out. Persecution is a natural result of following Christ, and numerous passages of scripture affirm this fact. Nowhere do we read that this is God pouring out His wrath on those who are faithful to Him. In fact Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted because we are following in the steps of the great men of God who have gone before us (Matthew 5:11-12).

We read in Revelation 12:7-17 of a war in heaven, where Satan is cast down to the earth. This event triggers the final three and one half years known as the great tribulation. We will know that this has occurred when the Antichrist is revealed in the temple at what is referred to as "the abomination that causes desolation."

"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time"....So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 12:12, 17

The persecution that believers will face during the great tribulation can be attributed to Satan's wrath. God is not "beating up His bride."

The second point that I will make concerns the bowls of God's wrath that are poured out during this time period. Revelation 16:1-21 make it clear that the intended recipients of God's wrath are those who have taken the mark, and worshipped the image of the beast (Rev 16:2), those who have persecuted the saints (Rev 16:5-6), and ultimately those who are hardened in their sin (Rev 16:8-11). It is the kingdom of the beast that will face the wrath of God. 

This is a event reminiscent of the plagues in Egypt. At that time God made a distinction between the children of Israel and Egypt. It will be the same again. God does not pour out His wrath on His children. He is fully capable of preserving His own while judging those who have filled up the measure of their sinful acts.

And thirdly, the ultimate day of wrath occurs at Christ's return. Revelation 14:14-20 describes the final harvest of the earth, with verses 19-20 describing the wicked being thrown into the great wine press of God's wrath.  Compare this passage with Isaiah 63:1-6 where we read of the day of God's day of redemption as well as His year of redemption. At the return of Jesus we read that men, regardless of wealth, strength, and honor, will hide themselves in caves and among the rocks. Why? They are hiding from the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:12-17). 

There is a distinction between light and darkness,  night and day, those who are alert and sober, and those who will be caught unaware. We, as those who follow Jesus, are not destined to experience God's wrath, but to receive salvation at Christ's return in glory. This is not about escaping tribulation, but patient endurance in the face of tribulation.