Revelation 3:10

Revelation 3:10

v10 - Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

- The hour of trial is mentioned in Dan 12:1, Mark 13:19

Daniel 12:1 "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 and it is likely that it is depicted by the seven trumpets and Ch 7-19 later in Revelation.

The hour of trial is for the world not for the church, which will be spiritually but not physically protected from it. The spiritual protection of the church is indicated in the sealing of the 144,000 (7:3), see also God’s care of the woman in the desert (12:6, 14). The best example of this is the fifth trumpet in which the locusts are specifically told only to harm those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (9:4 cf. Isa 18:3). The term 'the inhabitants of the earth', which is similar to ‘those who live on the earth’ (see 11:10, 14:6) always +refers to the world not to the church (Rev 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, 13:14, 17:8). This promise is not just for the church at Philadelphia but for all that fulfil the requirement of the promise, which is to endure patiently (see 1:9, 13:10, 14:12). Just as Satan tests the church in Smyrna through persecution (2:10), so God tests the world through trial or adversity. The meaning of the word ‘keep’ (Gk.67 67 tereo) is to guard, to watch over, so that the idea of this verse is preservation through the hour of trial.

The Christians in Philadelphia had obeyed what Jesus taught. They had been loyal to him. They suffered because they belonged to the Lord Jesus. But they did not disappoint the Lord. They were strong in their belief.

The Lord will come to be the king of the whole earth. He will set up his kingdom here. But immediately before that, there will be a terrible time. It will last for three and a half years. There will be a strong and evil king. His name is Antichrist. He will rule for this period. Then Jesus will come and punish him. This period is the time of trouble.

Starting in chapter 6, we read about the things that will happen in those three and a half years.

The Lord promised to protect his church from the time of trouble. This may mean that the Lord will take them out of the time of trouble. Jesus may remove the church from the earth before this time starts. But it might mean that he will protect them from damage during the time of trouble. Christ will come for his church but we do not know when.