Let’s read Revelation 3:10 from the King James Version and the New King James version:

“Because thou HAST KEPT the word of my patience, I also WILL KEEP you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

“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.”

The vast majority of translations read like these two translations, which use the word “keep.” The “New Living Translation” is rare in using the word “protect” though in fairness it has the same meaning as the word “keep.” It is the Greek word TEREO which denotes “preserve or protect.” So, the Lord Jesus is telling the church at Philadelphia (and ALL BELIEVERS) that “because you have PRESERVED/PROTECTED the word of My patience, I will also PRESERVE/PROTECT you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.”

I believe that this verse is speaking about the Rapture of the church, which will result in taking believers home to heaven BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS, thus the church will be “KEPT (protected) from the hour of tribulation” (the word “temptation” or “trial” means “tribulation”). The “Tribulation Period is   known as “the TIME of Jacob’s TROUBLE” in Jeremiah 30:7, when the nation of Israel will go through unparalleled persecution and judgments from God. We read of it also in Daniel 12:1, “At THAT TIME Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a TIME OF TROUBLE, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.” The Lord Jesus referred to this “time of trouble” in Matthew 24:15-16, 21, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…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.” Of course, we saw in Revelation 3:10 that this time of tribulation will affect the whole world, but the nation of Israel will be at the center of it all. The Tribulation is described in great detail in Revelation chapters 6-18 and includes all the judgments that will be poured out upon the earth resulting in billions of people losing their lives.

How wonderful to see, from Revelation 3:10, that the church will be “KEPT FROM the hour of trial.” Notice, it doesn’t say “kept through,” but “kept from,” which means that God isn’t going to protect and preserve the church “THROUGH the hour of trial”; He is going to protect and preserve the church “FROM the hour of trial.” In order to “keep the church FROM the hour of trial” we must not be here “DURING the trial.” In other words, God will have to “REMOVE us from that time period before it begins.” And that’s where the Rapture comes in, for we learn from 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 that the Lord will “remove us from earth and take us to heaven.” Let’s read those verses: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” These words are simple and clear and should be taken literally, which means the time is coming when Christ will summon us (those who died believing in Christ and those who are alive and believing in Christ) to the clouds of heaven with a shout and then He will conduct us to heaven where we will be with Him forever. The Lord had already referred to this in John 14:2-3, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO.”  This promise is the believer’s BLESSED HOPE (see Titus 2:13).

Is my reader a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, won’t you believe on Him right now? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). If you do, you can claim this blessed promise as your own and know, on the authority of Revelation 3:10; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; and John 14:2-3, that you will “KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL which shall come upon all the world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”  (457.3)  (DO)