XIII. The Cornerstone Verse for Pre-Tribulation Teaching—Revelation 3:10.

This one verse, Revelation 3:10, has caused as much controversy and analysis as any verse in scripture. (Revelation 3:10 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.)  It seems absolutely inconceivable that this one verse, when you realize that it has been translated every which way you can imagine to fit any teacher’s wishes, would be the basis for our church today to use as proof for all of it’s teaching on pre-tribulation Rapture and end-time doctrine.  It is my opinion (my personal thinking, but there is no proof) that sometime in the middle nineteenth century, in the very early years of developing this new “belief concept,” the idea took root of the necessity for a Rapture before Daniel’s 70^th week begins.  This teaching had its early history in England some 150-200 years ago, which nation at that time was likely the epicenter of evangelicalism in the world.  Today you would be hard-pressed to find more than a few strong, Bible-believing churches in the entire country (similar to what happened to western Turkey after the first century).  The committed followers of Christ at that time must have been deceived by Satan into changing the clear Rapture teaching of Jesus and devise a Rapture plan of man.  This is what we now call pre-tribulation teaching, and which today is the dominant teaching on end time events in North America.  This teaching is pretty much limited to that continent. 

You might say, this could never have happened.  Just remember that hundreds upon hundreds of cults and false religions (I recently heard there are 18,000 worldwide) came into existence as a result of the influence of Satan and his efforts through the ages to defeat God the Father and His eternal Word and plan of redemption.  Satan must have planted a seed of deceit in the mind of a man named Elijah Mohammed and his followers in the mid seventh century, from which a new religion was created, based on the lineage of Ishmael, whose mother was an Egyptian Arab, as opposed to God the Father’s chosen lineage through Isaac (both had the same father, Abraham).  Thus, through deception, Satan could challenge the teaching of God the Father and our Holy Scripture through a new belief system.  Out of it grew the Muslim religion, which is fanatically embraced today by some 1.3 billion followers, 20% of earth’s population, and Muslim converts are on the upswing.  All of those who fall under the banner of Christianity today, including many hundreds of denominations and thousands of cults, a very large majority of which might only nominally make reference to the name of Jesus, if at all, plus Catholicism, number 2.015 billion, or 33% of earth’s population; and the growth of Christianity is staying even or on a slight decline.  Satan was not successful in killing Jesus as a baby with his diabolical plans, but he has been successful in deceiving those on earth to believe anything other than the precious, pure gospel and teaching of Jesus.

The following is my concept, and only a concept, of how this idea could have had its birth, and gained converts.  I would never say this is what did happen, but there is a possibility that Satan (see Genesis 3:1-6) planted a seed thought in the minds of some dedicated, well intentioned Christians in the early to mid 1800’s, when this teaching took root, that surely a good, loving, compassionate and caring God would never let His elect, His bride, His chosen ones, go into seven years of trials, testing, and wrath, so therefore there had to be a Rapture before the 70^th week of Daniel began.  You might say, what could possibly be the reason for Satan doing this?  The reason would be that Satan knows the scripture very well. (Matthew 4:5-6, 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”)  Satan also knew he could not tamper with the actual God-inspired word, where scripture says His word will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.)  But Satan also knew he could accomplish much of his objective by convincing the elect through this new teaching that they would avoid the seven year period of trials and testing.  Thus the elect would then be totally unprepared to enter this seven-year period when they would have to meet Satan’s wrath face to face.  This new teaching began in spite of the fact that already at that time, millions upon millions had faced testing, and were slain for the name of Jesus they claimed.  Perhaps they were not as aware of world statistics then as we are today.  But they did have the same scripture then as we do now, and must have known well the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and Revelation (which I delineated in detail on previous pages).  The adherents to this new concept must have concluded that, somehow, what Jesus taught in Matthew 24, had be eliminated from consideration as a viable teaching to the elect to make their new thinking acceptable.  This was easily accomplished by teaching that Matthew was positively written only to and for the Jews as well as all of Revelation after chapter three, and then Matthew 24, which describes the sequence of events before the Rapture, could be abolished as the teaching of Jesus to the disciples for the benefit of the elect. 

This pre-tribulation teaching was likely gaining followers, but there was not one verse in scripture they could claim to prove their theory, unless they could use Revelation 3:10 (which most pre-tribulation teachers claim was written only to the believers in the church of Philadelphia).  The English translation of that verse from the Greek could then be massaged in such a way so it would prove their point, and they would then have a proof text.  Over time, this teaching could only become a believable concept if believers were convinced that the Rapture would be an imminent, any moment, secret event to take place before Daniel’s 70^th week began (even though there is not one verse in scripture that can confirm this idea as truth), and that the Rapture would be followed immediately by the wrath of God.  Again, they had the same Bible then that we have today, and they had to know the wrath of God does not start until after the sixth seal as taught in Revelation 6:16-17, because that was the time Jesus Himself revealed to the Apostle John that the wrath of God would begin. (Revelation 6:16-17, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”)

Oh, but how could that marvelous scene in Revelation 7:9, those that Jesus had gathered together, be explained. (Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.)  This verse tells us about the dead and living elect Jesus rescued from the great tribulation and transported their glorified bodies to Heaven, which John wrote about.  How could this verse be covered up to make it fit into this new pre-tribulation concept?  That too would be easy, by convincing everyone that the 144,000 Jews that were sealed would become evangelists (read what I wrote about the 144,000 and the timing of when they were sealed).  They would then evangelize the whole earth and convert hundreds of millions to Christianity from those that were left behind after the secret, pre-tribulation Rapture, and as Satan made martyrs of them, they show up in verse 9.  Friends, for 150 years this concept has been polished to perfection and our leaders have convinced themselves and the church that this wonderful idea was actually the truth and what was truly going to happen.  One verse: Revelation 3:10.  This writer, and I do not write this without considerable thought and prayer, is totally convinced that we have been taught a great deception over the years, and it will not stand the truth test when we face God almighty.

On the past several pages, you have been given hundreds of proof scriptures that detail why pre-tribulation teaching cannot be a justifiable concept.  If you still are not convinced, read them over and over, because they are correct, and they are correct because this is what Jesus our Savior taught.  One of the most prolific writers and teachers of the pre-tribulation concept wrote that Revelation 3:10 “guarantees” that Rapture before tribulation could not be any more powerful and sure, and this is why this verse is called “a cardinal Scripture.”  To further substantiate this claim, they tell us that the church will absolutely be pre-tribulationally Raptured because the word “church” is not mentioned again in Revelation after chapter three.  Therefore, every word after chapter three could not have been written to and for and about the church.  The word church is mentioned in Chapter 22:16, but if the above were true, then seven other books in the New Testament were not written for the church because “church” is not mentioned even once, and in several other books only once. (Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”)

One well-respected friend wrote that in Revelation 13:7, John was told to write that it was given to the Antichrist to overcome the saints. (Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.)  However, this friend wrote that we are told in Matthew 16:18 that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, and therefore Antichrist will not overcome the church, and for that reason alone we must conclude the church will be Raptured before the tribulation starts. (Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.)  A closer look at Revelation 13 shows that in verse five the Antichrist was given authority to continue for 42 months, the last 3 ½ years of the seven years. (Revelation 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.) Who gave him the authority?  It had to be God, Who set up this timetable all the way back in Daniel 12:7. (Daniel 12:7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time [three and one-half years]; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all those things shall be finished.)  Therefore, the beginning of these 42 months had to start at the exact middle of the 70^th week, at the very beginning of the “Great Tribulation” which Daniel wrote would immediately follow the abomination of desolation.  Then in verse seven John wrote, the Antichrist was granted (again, God did the granting) to make war with the saints, us, the elect, to overcome them, but we are not told that he succeeded or just how many were overcome. (Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.)  Why would Jesus tell the apostle John to write these words if the saints were already Raptured?  God told us if we are a part of His family, we, the elect, are overcomers. (I John 5:4-5, 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?)  If Satan was granted to make war on the saints, this would indicate to me that the church, the saints, were still present on earth at this time, because Satan and the Antichrist will not make war against those who are worshipping him, but against the saints, the elect, and the Jews.  John wrote in the next sentence (Revelation 13:7 above) that the Antichrist was also given authority (from whom?  Again it is from God) over every tribe, tongue, and nation, all who dwell on earth, beginning at the middle of the seven years.  This description of those that Satan was given authority over is the same description of those which Jesus Raptured or rescued, the elect, and which John saw in Revelation 7:9, “from all nations, tribes, people, and tongues”.  (See XVIII.  TIMELINE STUDY)

In the writings of John regarding the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus ends His letter to each of the churches by saying, he who overcomes, I will…etc.  When Jesus was revealing to John what he should write, He picked out seven churches that were representative of the many that were in existence at that time.  Did you know that these seven churches were on the very western edge of Asia Minor, what is now called Turkey?  This was an area where the gospel was preached soon after the beginning of the church, especially as a result of Paul’s missionary journeys, and Christianity was accepted and expanded rapidly, gaining many converts.  Today, this is a Muslim country, and in all of Turkey, Christians make up less than .1% of the population, almost non-existent.  When Jesus gave these letters to John to give to the seven churches, He knew exactly what was to happen to these churches.  He also knew there would be churches similar to these representative seven in existence before the Rapture, and having very similar problems, and in each letter He encouraged the true saints in all of those churches to endure and “overcome”, and He would be with them to the end, right through the “Great Tribulation.”  In Revelation 21:7, at the beginning of the new earth and the new Heaven, God again uses this word. (Revelation 21:7 “he who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.”  This is the church, the elect, and we are called the “overcomers”.

Now let us examine just what Revelation 3:10 does say.  I have reviewed both pre-tribulation interpretations of the Greek translation and others.  I am not going to suggest that I have the slightest knowledge of Greek, but I have read and studied what others say, and through this will endeavor to enlighten you as to my interpretation of the meaning of this verse.  It seems most pre-tribulation teachers use the King James Version, or very similar translations, when referring to this verse, since they can make this translation better substantiate their conclusions.  In verse 10 it says, “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.”  What I believe Jesus is saying is that since His elect in the Church of Philadelphia, as well as the other six churches, kept His commands to persevere during the Great Tribulation, Jesus in turn will reward them by keeping them from harm during this hour of trial.  This word “from” is the translation of the Greek word “ek”, and of the many meanings for the word ek, pre-tribulation teachers use the meaning, “take you out of,” or “remove you from.”  In other words, Jesus will keep the church from, or “take the elect out of” this hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth, to test those who dwell on the earth; or, secretly Rapture the elect before the seven years begin.  This particular trial and testing, referred to above, is generally agreed by most that it is at least the time of the “Great Tribulation,” instigated by Satan and the Antichrist, which begins at the exact midpoint of the seven years, and lasts up to the time of the rapture and the beginning of God’s Day of the Lord trumpet judgments.  How can I be so sure the Great Tribulation begins at the exact midpoint?  Because God revealed it to Daniel to write in chapter 9, verse 27, that at the “midpoint” of the seven years, the prince who is to come (Antichrist), will bring to an end sacrifices and offerings of the Jews in the temple.  And Jesus confirmed the exact time of this abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), and in verse 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Jesus confirms that the “Great Tribulation” starts at this moment.  Earlier I suggested that just one verse was the keystone for pre-tribulation teaching, but now all of pre-tribulation teaching hinges on just one word—from: ek.

Let me give you Revelation 3:10 from several different translations for you to compare.

New King James Version   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.

Today’s English Version  Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people on earth.

The Darby Translation  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Amplified New Testament 1958  Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance—have held fast the lesson of My patience with the expectant endurance that I give you—I will also keep you (safe) from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.

God’s Word to the Nations Bible  Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth.

Phillips Modern English 1971 Because you have obeyed my call to patient endurance, I will keep you safe from the hour of trial which is to come upon the whole world, to test all who live upon the earth.

The New Living Translation Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.

Paraphrased Living Bible 1971 Because you have patiently obeyed me despite the persecution, therefore I will protect you from the time of Great Tribulation and temptation, which will come upon the world to test everyone alive.         

Wesley’s New Testament I  Because in spite of suffering you have guarded my word, I in turn will guard you from the hour of trial which is soon coming upon the whole world, to put to the test the inhabitants of the earth.

Worldwide English New Testament  You have obeyed my word and been patient.  So I will keep you safe in the time of trouble which will come all over the world.  It will test the people who live on earth.

There are other translations similar to the New King James Version, with minor variations, but the above will give you a sampling of the many different ways this verse has been translated, and all are acceptable.  Please take note that several translate from the Greek that God the Father will guard, take care of, the believers while in this hour of testing, but not remove them out from it.  But what many of these translations do tell us is that to conclude from Revelation 3:10 that a Rapture must take place before this hour of testing, and that its only meaning is “take you out of” in the form of Rapture, becomes very inconclusive evidence.  Let me expand on just the first and third words of “keep you from.”  The first word “keep” is the Greek word Tereo, which in the New Testament is translated keep, 57 times, reserve, 8, observe, 4, watch, 2, preserve, 2, and keeper once.  And from Strongs Concordance, the meaning is: 1, to attend, to carefully take care of; 2, to guard, keeping the eye upon; 3, to keep one in the state in which he is; 4, to observe; and 5, to reserve, to undergo something.  The word “from” is the Greek word “Ek”, which in the New Testament is translated “of,” 366 times, “from,” 181, “out of,” 162, “by,” 55, “on,” 34, “with,” 25, and miscellaneous uses 98.  And the meaning is: out of, from, by, away from, and keep you out of.  So now you be the translator and a teacher, and put together combinations of the various meanings of the two words, and you will understand why I wrote earlier that the translation of Greek to English could be massaged into meaning anything you want to prove.  Let us try a few: “I will keep you in the state in which you are, and keep you out of” the hour of testing; or, “I will guard you away from” the hour of testing; or, “I will carefully take care of or guard you in” the hour of testing, etc, etc.  I am sure you see my point.

In the commentary written by Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, they beautifully portray a meaning of this verse.  They write that the Word of My patience, or endurance, is His Gospel Word, which teaches patient endurance in expectation of His coming.  “My” endurance is the endurance which Jesus requires and which Jesus practiced.  Christ Himself now endures, patiently waiting until the usurper be cast out, and all “His enemies be made His footstool.”  So, too, His Church, for the joy before her of sharing eternity with Him, must endure patiently.  The reward He speaks of is in kind: “because thou didst keep—I also will keep.”  And the most important part of their commentary on this verse is concerning the word “from”; in the Greek it means, “so as to deliver thee out of,” not to exempt thee from the hour of testing. 

There are two verses in Revelation that speak directly to this patience, or endurance, during this time of testing mentioned above, and refers directly to what Jesus wrote through John in Revelation 3:10.  Look at Revelation 13:9-10, where John is directed by Jesus to write, in verse 9, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear” (remember, these are the words Jesus used when He ended each letter to the seven churches, to the elect), and in verse 10 John wrote that believers, the saints, are told to endure persecution, imprisonment, or execution, and then “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  And in Revelation 14:12, during this time of “great tribulation,” John wrote “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” exactly what we described in paragraphs above and in some paragraphs to follow. (Study XVII.  Revelation 14, and Blood Flowing 184 Miles?)

Let me also quote several lines from the Matthew Henry Complete Commentary for you to digest.  “Another instance of favour that Christ promises to this church is persevering grace in the most trying times (v.10), and this as the reward of their past fidelity.  To him that hath shall be given.  Here observe, [1.] The gospel of Christ is the word of his patience.  It is the fruit of the patience of God to a sinful world; it sets before men the exemplary patience of Christ in all His sufferings for men; calls those that receive it to the exercise of patience in conformity to Christ. [2.] This gospel should be carefully kept by all that enjoy it; they must keep up to the faith, and practice, and worship prescribed in the gospel. [3.] After a day of patience we must expect an hour of temptation; a day of gospel peace and liberty is a day of God’s patience, and it is seldom so well improved as it should be and therefore it is often followed by an hour of trial and temptation. [4.] Sometimes the trial is more general and universal; it comes upon all the world, and, when it is so general, it is usually the shorter. [5.] Those who keep the gospel in a time of peace shall be kept by Christ in an hour of temptation.  By keeping the gospel they are prepared for the trial; and the same divine grace that has made them fruitful in times of peace will make them faithful in times of persecution.”  This is beautifully written, and [5] describes perfectly that the children of God, the elect, will be on earth through the hour of testing, even the Great Tribulation, but under the watchful care of our Lord and Savior.

Remember, there are three statements from Jesus to John common in each letter to the seven churches; “I know your works,” “he who overcomes” and “he who has an ear let him hear.”  This includes the church in Philadelphia.  Why do you think Jesus included “he who overcomes” to the saints in Philadelphia in His letter to that church, as well as to the other six churches?  It was because, even though some of the Philadelphians may have been somewhat more faithful than those in the other churches, they still were no better, and they had to prove themselves in the hour of testing by “overcoming” just as those in the other six churches.  They were not going to be Raptured any sooner than the others, and were going to go through the hour of testing with all the other elect.  I believe I have clearly demonstrated this in the above paragraphs.

After my studying and research regarding Revelation 3:10, let me give you what I think could be an acceptable, but somewhat lengthy, translation, without going into more Greek ad nauseam.  “Because you have followed, or observed, My instructions to you concerning perseverance, or patient endurance, I will also guard and protect you while you are within the sphere of the hour of testing, and bring you safely out from the midst of this hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world, to test all those who dwell on the earth.”  And then the very next verse Jesus told John to write, “Behold, I am coming quickly,” after the hour of testing is completed.  Now it is your turn to decide just what credence you want to put in Revelation 3:10 as the one verse, and the one word “from,” as your ‘cardinal verse,’ and whether or not this is truly what you want to rest all your pre-tribulation Rapture teaching beliefs on.  I believe the case has been made very convincingly that this teaching, pre-tribulation Rapture based on Revelation 3:10, can no longer be accepted as that which Jesus taught, and that it was not His intention of verifying a false pre-tribulation teaching when He, through an Angel, told John what to write. 

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