The Great Hope for Believers: Kept from the Hour – Revelation 3:10 and the Power of ‘Ek’

Introduction

Greetings, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, we’re going to explore one of the most comforting promises in Scripture—one that brings hope, encouragement, and empowerment in the midst of trials. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus speaks to the church at Philadelphia, a faithful congregation in the face of hardship.

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

This promise is not just for the church in Philadelphia; it is a promise for all believers, including the Church of Guinea-Bissau. We will unpack the power of the word ek, a key Greek word in this verse, and how it speaks to our great hope as believers—both now and in the days to come.

1. Understanding Ek: “Kept from” the Hour of Trial

Revelation 3:10 ESV

10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

In Revelation 3:10, the phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” uses the Greek preposition ek, which is translated as “from.” But what does it truly mean? Many ask: Does ek mean that God will protect us through the trial, or does it mean He will remove us from it altogether? Jesus choses to use the word “Ek” meaning from. Jesus did not use words that would mean in, through, or with; he uses specifically the word from. In an time when the entire world is going through the outpouring of God’s wrath, there is only one possible meaning for Jesus keeping us “from” the hour of trial. That is by removing the Bride of Christ from the world.

The word ek is used throughout the New Testament in a way that suggests complete separation or removal from a situation, not just protection within it. Think of John 17:15, where Jesus prays for His disciples.

John 17:15 ESV

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Jesus is not asking God to protect His disciples from the devil’s influence within the world; He is asking God to keep them out of it entirely. This same idea is applied in Revelation 3:10.

When Jesus says, “I will keep you from the hour of trial,” He is not promising to preserve us through the tribulation; He is promising to remove us from it entirely. The hour of trial, the tribulation that will come upon the whole world, will not touch the church because God will call us to Himself before that time comes. This is the great hope we have in the Rapture!

2. The Assurance of Our Exemption: A Promise of Grace and Ek

In Revelation 3:10, Jesus promises to keep us from the hour of trial—and this promise is rooted in God’s grace. Let’s reflect on the relationship between grace and the Greek preposition ek, which means “from” or “out of,” and how this speaks to our ultimate hope.

Grace in the Old and New Testament: A Unified Theme

Throughout Scripture, grace is a consistent and overwhelming theme. In the Old Testament, God’s grace was evident in His covenant with Israel, not because they were righteous, but because of His steadfast love. He delivered them from Egypt, protected them in the wilderness, and promised them a future hope, despite their unfaithfulness.

In the New Testament, grace is fully revealed through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this in Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Grace is not something we earn; it is a gift from God. We cannot merit or deserve it, and yet God freely offers it to us.

Grace and Ek: Kept from the Hour of Trial

When we consider the word ek in Revelation 3:10 in light of grace, we see a beautiful, clear connection. The grace we receive from God is not only for salvation; it extends to the very promise of our exemption from the coming tribulation. The word ek signifies complete removal from the hour of testing—it is not a matter of being kept through the trial, but being kept out of it altogether. This is a direct act of grace. Grace empowers us to stand firm in our faith and gives us the strength to endure life’s trials. But grace doesn’t just keep us through hardships—it promises to keep us from certain trials altogether, specifically the hour of tribulation described in Revelation.

This idea connects beautifully with the larger narrative of Scripture. For instance, when God delivered Noah and his family from the flood, He did so by keeping them out of the judgment that fell on the rest of the earth. In Genesis 7:1, God says to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” (Genesis 7:1, ESV). Noah’s righteousness, as seen by God, did not make him worthy of salvation; it was God’s grace that removed him and his family from the floodwaters. This is a vivid foreshadowing of how God, in His grace, will remove the church from the tribulation through the Rapture.

In the New Testament, Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 echo this promise of grace.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Grace and Our Hope: The Rapture as the Ultimate Act of Grace

The promise of being kept from the hour of trial is not just a theoretical idea—it is the ultimate act of grace in the life of every believer. God does not merely spare us from temporary struggles; He rescues us from the ultimate trial: the tribulation, the wrath of God poured out on the earth.

This promise is not based on how well we have persevered through our own trials; rather, it is grounded in the grace of God which has been extended to us through Jesus Christ. Our hope is in His righteousness, His sacrifice, and His promise to deliver us.

The Rapture—the moment when we are caught up with Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)—is the pinnacle of God’s grace. It is His final act of deliverance for the church, His bride. We don’t escape the trials of this world because we are good enough to avoid them; we escape because God, in His grace, has promised that we will be kept from that hour. Just as God kept Noah out of the floodwaters, just as He kept the Israelites safe during the plagues in Egypt, He will keep us out of the coming tribulation. The Rapture is the ultimate display of God’s grace toward His people.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Grace and Living Out Our Hope

The hope of the Rapture gives us strength to live in a fallen world. As we anticipate our deliverance, we are called to live with purpose, as a Philadelphia Church—faithful, persevering, and mission-driven. Grace does not make us passive; it empowers us to share the message of the Gospel with others, so that they too may experience this grace and deliverance.

The promise of Revelation 3:10—that we will be kept from the hour of trial—is a promise of grace, pure and simple. God, in His mercy, has promised to remove us from the coming tribulation. This grace is not earned, and it is not deserved. It is freely given to all who trust in Christ as Savior.

3. Hope for the Present: Encouraged in Perilous Times

Beloved, we live in perilous times. The world around us is filled with uncertainty, confusion, and fear. Yet, the message of Revelation 3:10 gives us powerful hope. The Rapture is our blessed hope, the moment when Christ will remove us from the suffering and wrath of this world. The promise of ek gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding, because we know that when that hour comes, we will be with our Lord in heaven, safe and secure.

This assurance of deliverance does not mean we live in passivity, waiting for Christ to return while we do nothing. Quite the opposite. The hope of the Rapture gives us empowerment to fulfill the Great Commission. We are not simply waiting to escape; we are living out God’s calling, sharing the hope of the Gospel with others, so that they too can know the great deliverance that awaits those who trust in Christ.

1. The Rise of Natural Disasters

Jesus warned in Matthew 24:7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” The frequency and severity of natural disasters have been on the rise, with earthquakes, storms, and wildfires causing destruction in many parts of the world. In 2024 alone, we’ve seen significant earthquakes in areas like Turkey and Syria, along with record-breaking hurricanes in the Atlantic. These are part of the birthing pains—the labor pains before the final return of Christ.

For example, in Morocco, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in September 2023 killed thousands, showcasing the global frequency of earthquakes. Similarly, typhoons and other extreme weather patterns are becoming more common, leading many to question the implications of these events on the broader prophetic picture.

2. The Ongoing Global Tensions and Wars

In Matthew 24:6-7, Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” The geopolitical tensions in places like Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel have escalated over the past few years, with the world teetering on the brink of more widespread conflict. In the Middle East, the ongoing struggle in Israel—particularly in relation to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the constant threat of war—has brought the region to the forefront of global discussions.

3. Increasing Persecution of Christians

In Matthew 24:9, Jesus warned that “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” Around the world, we are seeing an increase in the persecution of Christians, from governments restricting religious freedom to violence against believers in countries like China, North Korea, and various parts of the Middle East. Christian communities are increasingly being targeted by militant groups, and many believers are suffering for their faith.

In Guinea-Bissau, while the country is primarily a mix of Muslim and indigenous religions, the church faces pressure, especially with the rise of radicalism in the region. There have been reports of church leaders being harassed, and evangelical Christians in some rural areas experience subtle but real forms of oppression. This points to the broader trend across Africa where the rise of Islamism threatens the relative peace in nations like Guinea-Bissau, and Christians there are living in a state of heightened alert as they share the Gospel in challenging environments.

4. The Spread of Lawlessness and Morality Decline

The apostle Paul also prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 that in the last days, there would be an increase in lawlessness, moral decay, and self-centeredness. We’re witnessing a breakdown of moral values in many countries as secularism continues to rise. The global push for acceptance of issues like same-sex marriage, gender identity, and abortion rights has caused friction within nations and even entire regions.

5. Signs in the Heavens and the Prophetic Fulfillment of Israel

Jesus also spoke of signs in the heavens as a sign of His return (Luke 21:25). From blood moons to the discovery of new celestial phenomena, the heavens are increasingly becoming a source of awe and speculation. While these signs are often debated, they point to a greater prophetic reality—the return of Christ is drawing near.

In Israel, the ongoing work to rebuild the Third Temple and the discovery of a genetically pure red heifer in 2024 point directly to prophecy fulfillment. Many prophecy experts believe that this discovery is significant because, according to the Old Testament, the ashes of a red heifer are required for the purification rituals to restore the temple. This development in Israel is stirring up more prophetic conversations globally, especially in relation to the tribulation period and the Antichrist’s rise.

4. The Call to Be a Philadelphia Church: Faithful, Persistent, and Mission-Driven

In Revelation, Jesus commends the church at Philadelphia for its steadfast faith and its obedience to God’s word. This is the kind of church we are called to be today. We are to be a church that perseveres through trials, yes—but also a church that is awake, alert, and working while we await Christ’s return.

We must not fall into the habits of the Laodicean church—lukewarm, complacent, and self-sufficient. Instead, we must be a church that lives in the hope of Christ’s soon return, a church that is burning with zeal for the mission God has entrusted to us. The promise of ek—that we will be removed from the coming hour of trial—does not make us passive; it makes us active, eager to share the hope we have with the world.

Conclusion: Rejoicing in the Rapture

As we reflect on the word ek in Revelation 3:10, we are reminded that our ultimate hope is secure in Christ. We will be kept from the hour of trial because of His grace, and this promise should encourage us to live with urgency, joy, and purpose as we await His return.

Revelation 19:10 (ESV)

Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

In the midst of trials, we have hope. In the face of persecution, we have peace. And in the uncertainty of the world, we have the promise of deliverance. Christ is coming quickly, and we can say with confidence, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Let us encourage one another with these words, as we live as a faithful church, keeping His word and persevering in the hope of the Rapture. The hour of trial is coming, but it will not come near us. We are kept by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this is our great hope.