Ok...My bad...but I'm in it now...I was answering Zeke, not you. The scripture we are discussion was the "explicit" one I was speaking of.
But as to explicitly stated scripture, in Revelation 3:10 the saints in Philadelphia are promised, 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 Greek word translated from in this passage is ek, (word number 1537 in Strongs Greek dictionary.) Its normal meaning is from in the sense of away from or out of.
But what is it that these faithful saints are promised to be kept away from or out of? It is the hour of trial. The Greek word translated hour in this passage is hora. (word number 5610 in Strongs Greek Dictionary) This Greek word literally means hour, but is often used figuratively for a period of time. But what hour are they promised to be kept away from or out of? It is not just some general period of time. It is a specific one. It is the hour of trial. But even this hour of trial is not just some general hour of trial. It is specifically referred to as the hour. Yes, the word the is in the Greek, as the word tou. (word number 3588 in Strongs Greek Dictionary) But what hour of trial are they promised to be kept away from or out of? It is the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
There is an hour of trial coming to test those who dwell on the earth. When we see the reason this hour is coming we understand the term hour of trial. For the Greek word translated trial here does not mean, or even imply, trouble. It is not described as the hour of trouble, but as the hour of testing. For testing is the literal meaning of the Greek word translated trial in this verse. That Greek word is peirasmos. (word number 3986 in Strongs Greek Dictionary) So we see that this scripture explicitly tells us that there is a particular time of testing coming, and that the purpose of that time is to test those who dwell on the earth.
But this passage tells us more than just that this coming time is a specific time of testing. It also tells us where this time of testing will come. It shall come upon the whole world. Again, we need to notice that the Greek word translated whole in this clause is holos. (word number 3650 in Strongs Greek Dictionary) This Greek word literally means whole, or all, that is, complete. That is, there is no part of the world that will be exempted from this time of testing.
So we see that there is a specific time of testing coming, and it is coming upon the whole world. But the faithful are promised that they will be kept away from or out of this time of testing. Now if this time is coming upon the whole world, but the faithful will be kept away from or out of it, they cannot be in the world during that time of testing.
Now some want to pretend that the Greek word ek only means out of in the sense of first being in it, and then being brought out of it. But this Greek word simply does not mean, or even imply, being safely brought through this time. Ek most definitely does not mean through. It means away from or out of.
In this line we need to remember a parallel passage in which the Holy Spirit said, then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. (2 Peter 2:9) The Greek words translated out of and temptations in this verse are the same ek and peirasmos used by the Holy Spirit to describe the keeping of the faithful out of or away from the hour of testing in Revelation 3:10. So we see that these two scriptures refer to the same future act of God.
You should be a lawyer Biblewriter! To take Rev 3:10 as a rapture really is a stretch.
The passage interprets itself and it has NOTHING to do with a rapture! Christ doesn't say HOW he will "keep" them."Keep" as it's used here is only meaning they will maintain their faith through whatever they encounter.
That would be in line with how God enables us to endure temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
You're doing as I said..."contriving" the scriptures.
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