I WILL KEEP YOU FROM...

By way of encouragement, the Lord led me to expound on this very important verse in Revelation. I know many of us are weary these days as we watch and wait for our Lord. It can be tempting to just give up and slip back into the world and focus on worldly things. But the Lord wants you to know, He always keeps His promises and He is coming very soon! 

 

I'm listing the passage in 3 different versions below. I find it very interesting that each version offers a slightly different interpretation in regard to what exactly this particular church (Church of Philadelphia) has done so well that Jesus says He will take them out before the Tribulation. Personally, I find the King James Version the most accurate, but let's examine the Greek words to be sure.

  

  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. KJV

 Let's first look at the Greek word for "Word" in the phrase "Word of my patience."

 
Word Logos:  a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea, also the Written word of God. what someone has said;   the sayings of God; decree, mandate or order of the moral precepts given by God;    Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets;    what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim

Essentially it is the Holy Scriptures and commands of God. 

 

Patience: Greek Word:  hypomonē - a patient, steadfast waiting for; a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

 

So we can then interpret this phrase  "Keep the Word of my patience" as Patiently obeying God's Word. 

Yet the following 2 versions seem to imply that all you have to do to be rescued from the Tribulation is endure patiently. But endure what patiently? That's a missing key element. That's why it's so important to look at the Greek. 

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth NIV

 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. NASB

 

But what about the word FROM. in the phrase "from the hour of testing"  Could this just mean God will protect us during the Tribulation? 

 

From: Greek Word EK  from,out of, from, by, away from

 

That would seem to indicate God takes us away from and out of this "hour of testing" What about hour? Will He only protect us for a short time? 

 

Hour: Greek Word: coule means day hour season 

 

Testing or temptation Greek Word peirasmos adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness  

 

So, to put this whole verse together, we might paraphrase it as "Because you have patiently obeyed God's Word, I will take you out from the season on the entire Earth where I will send trouble, affliction and adversity."

  

Yes, we will be taken out, rescued, snatched away before this season of affliction (Tribulation) starts! But we must meet the conditions. Does that mean we have to be perfect? No. As I've said over and over, it's not about works, it's about your heart. Do you love Jesus, trust Him for your salvation, and do your best to follow His commands?  Do you walk with Him in the cool of the day? That's it!

  

So we press on. We don't give up. Jesus walks right beside us. He picks us up if we stumble, He takes our hand to give us support. He says. "We're almost home, child. Don't give up now!"  

 

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.