“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev. 3:10 KJV)
Is this Rev. 3:10 a proof of the Pre-Tribulation Harpazo/Rapture of Church Age believers? Or is this showing a post Tribulation Rapture of Church Age believers view shown in Rev. 3:10?
Some who hold a Post Tribulation belief say it is not Pre-tribulation timing shown. They believe the word KEEP (Greek word G5083 ‘Tereo’) shows this. They believe that the meaning of this Greek word is defined as ‘take care of’ is why they believe this. Therefore, it shows God will take care of believers living THROUGH the Tribulation Period. Some also refer to the use of the Greek word ‘Tereo’ in Jesus’ prayer for the disciples (and us today) in John 17,
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest KEEP them from the evil.” (John 17:15 KJV)
But what about the next verse 16?
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16 KJV)
A born again believer may live on Earth but we dwell in Christ and Christ in us. This is abiding, where we dwell as believers in the Spirit.
In John 17, this is Jesus referring to His early church and is a prayer that God will keep believers after His soon to happen event of the Passion of Christ and the cross. It shows the intention that Christ will work through believers as He did Paul, as ambassadors on Earth, to build His Church. How? Because of the union born again believers have with Christ which we also read in John 17:21-22.
However, in Rev 3:10, it is a different timing view of context.
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” (Rev 1:9 KJV)
In Rev. 3:10, the view is ‘things which are’. It is the Church Age time period we now live in. The ‘…time of testing which will come upon THEM that dwell in Earth’ is the time period once the Church Age ENDS, “…things which shall be hereafter”. We see a pivotal change point in time. A distinct different time period. The Church Age will end and then the Tribulation Period will begin. The wrath of God will start in Rev. 6.
Looking at this in Strongs Greek concordance we see the definition of the word KEEP is ‘to guard from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon;’.
And when we read on in Rev 3:10 we see a strong pivoting word FROM, which in Strongs Greek concordance (Greek G1537 word ‘ek’) which is defined as,
‘a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):—after, among, × are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, × hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, × thenceforth, through, × unto, × vehemently, with(-out).’
The English translated word FROM (EK in Greek it was written) literally means OUT OF the time as well as the location of an event. We see the truth when we realize this pivotal point and see how the word KEEP (Tero) is being used. Church Age saints will be ‘taken care of’ (kept) and will be taken OUT OF the time as well as the location of the time of testing on THEM that dwell on the Earth at that time, Daniel’s 70th week, The Tribulation Period.
Who will endure this time of testing in Rev. 3:10? The verses reads, “…to try THEM that dwell upon the earth.”
The Church is removed, snatched off Earth and it is those left on Earth, not born again believers, but -THEM- that dwell upon the Earth.
Also, there are many other passages that point to a Pre-Tribulation Harpazo/Rapture that cannot be ignored on this topic event. Scriptures such as Romans 11:25, Acts 15:13-18, Romans 5:9, 1 Thes. 1:10, and 1 Thes. 5:9 . These are just some such passages. These cannot be ignored either as part of context about the Harpazo/Rapture event timing, and as examples of Church Age believers being snatched by force off of the Earth (Harpazo in Greek) before God’s wrath upon -THEM- that DWELL ON THE EARTH.
Apostle Paul wrote,
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which DELIVERED US FROM the wrath to come.” (1 Thes. 1:10 KJV)
‘Delivered’ is past tense. Christ made sure of this on the cross for all who believes on Him (John 3:14-18, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13-14, Colossians 2). Church Age believers are promised to be kept OUT OF the time as well as the location of the Tribulation Period which is God’s wrath to come.
All such passages certainly do make a strong case for the rapture taking place before Daniel’s 70th Week, The Tribulation Period on Earth. And Rev 3:10 is also one of the Scriptures in support of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Church Age believers.
And what is next? Read Rev 4:1 ! The Harpazo!
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” (Rev 4:1 KJV)
AMEN!!
