Rev 3:10
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.

For those who don't believe in a rapture (which I don't think is a big deal) what do you say to this verse? Only this verse so far!

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Kristy

I think we've been over this before, but just to refresh the memory
The word "keep" here means guard. This is from Thayer's Greek Lexicon
G5083
τηρέω
tēreō
Thayer Definition:
1) to attend to carefully, take care of
1a) to guard
1b) metaphorically to keep, one in the state in which he is
1c) to observe
1d) to reserve: to undergo something
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to G2334)
Citing in TDNT: 8:140, 1174
[u]Here is the Strong's[/u]
G5083
τηρέω
tēreō
tay-reh'-o
From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, 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): - hold fast, keep (-er), (ob-, pre-, re) serve,
It does not mean to take away from, never has never will.
There is a rapture, as Scripture says, but I believe some are confused about its timing.
Hopefully looking at these verses will give a little light.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 [b]Then cometh the end[/b], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Notice it is the end here, and then look at what happens
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 [b]The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [/b]
So if the last enemy is death and Christ is to have all enemies put under His feet, would it not be safe to say that it must be at the end of time?
Of course the rest of this chapter deals with death and resurrection, and it culminates with the following-
1Co 15:54 [b]So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.[/b]
This would no doubt be after the resurrection of the dead, which if you look at
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 [b]But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power[/b](remember "oh death where is thy sting"), but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

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patrick heaviside

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Kristy

I do believe that GOD will keep(protect through) the Church through the tribulation to come just as He kept Israel while pouring out wrath upon Egypt.

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patrick heaviside

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Aaron Ireland

bro Gracealone
for starters, the verse you have quoted ought to be looked at in the context in which it is given, ie in reference to the Church it is being spoken of. of all 7 Churches, only Smyrna is told she will be spared from the hour of trial. the rest (even Philadelphia which had no reprimand brought against it) were not given any such guarantee. 5 of them, Pergamos, Ephesus, Laodicea, thyatira and sardis were told some sort of judgment would befall them unless they repented. i don't buy the whole pretrib rapture thing because as it stands, the Church needs much cleansing and judgement does begin at the house of God (see 2 Peter) and if you look at the Revelation, the first people who get judged before the tribulation begins are the very saints of God. now let us suppose that the above verse does point to a rapture, this would mean the rapture would not be for every saint because only Smyrna got the out and if we take each church to comprise a part of the whole, then only a small portion will be eligable making the rapture am event of much smaller proportion than is widely believed...there are going to be a lot of unhappy saints...

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Farai Bamu

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Kristy

bro Gracealone
i said what i did in under the assumption that whoever read that verse was trying to use it as justification for the rapture. it seems to me it's more about God giving the saints grace enough to endure and indeed this applied to saints throughout the ages. i think though that the illustration of the 7 Churches each with differing characteristics is indicative of Christians, from then till now; which church are you more like? maybe this is something we ought to consider?

the bottom line is that the Church is in need of much cleansing and if out Lord chooses to use the trib to that end somehow, who is to stop Him? also it is better to suffer for a season and be purged and purified than to suffer for all eternity.in that scenario it may be for us what it was like for Israel in the days of the plagues in egypt.

either way God's will shall be done.

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Farai Bamu

Thanks one reason I don't think its a big deal... if there is a rapture we'll all find out sooner or later :-)

If not- we'll find out at the end of the trib!

God Bless

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Kristy

bro Gracealone
that's what i said :-P i agree bro.

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Farai Bamu