Exegetical Study of Revelation 3:10

DOES REVELATION 3:10 TEACH A PRETRIBULATIONAL RAPTURE?

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”

Notes from MacArthur:

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE LORD TAKING US THROUGH THE GREAT TRIBULATION

VERSUS REMOVING US FROM THE TRIBULATION, FROM A PASTORAL AND PRACTICAL

PERSPECTIVE, IS PROFOUND.

I. Significant Problems with a Pretribulation Interpretation of Revelation 3:10

A. The promise is conditional.

1) If this passage is speaking of the rapture, then it is speaking

of a partial rapture: only those who are holy enough will be

raptured, whereas those who are unworthy will be left

behind.

B. The promise was first and foremost given to a particular Church in the

1st century-not to all Christians universally. (Revelation 3:7-11)

1) The original context is to the first century church of

Philadelphia. But no one in the first century church of

Philadelphia was raptured to heaven!

C. Consistency demands that if Revelation 3:10 applies to all Christians,

then all the other verses apply too.

1) In this case, Revelation 2:8-11 should apply to all believers.

D. There is not a single witness among the early church writers who take

E.

a pretribulational view.

1) Tyconius (4th century)

2) Aspringius of Beja (6th century)

3) Oecumenius (7th century)

4) Bede the Venerable (7th century)

It violates the words of Jesus in His High Priestly prayer (John 17:15-20)

1) Canned foods "keep" or are "preserved" through the winter,

but still pass through it. "keep" tereo: "to watch over, to

guard"

2) The Goshen Pattern (Exodus 8:22)

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have

tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33