Revelation 3:10 - 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.
Keep - (Strongs G5083 "tēreō")
1) to attend to carefully, take care of
a) to guard
b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c) to observe
d) to reserve: to undergo something
John 17:15 - I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep (tēreō)them from the evil.
While You are There
1 hour ago
5 responses to "Philadelphian Church"
Do you think the Philadelphia church will be protected in the sense that they won't face martyrdom?
I know you are not a pretrib believer, I just wondered how you would view this. Is there a special promise of protection to this church?
Absolutely!
That is the point being made here.
Hosea 4:6 states "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge".
The saints that suffer and are killed under the rule of antichrist are not killed because they weren't "good enough" Christians.
Some are killed because they did not understand that they would be here and were unprepared to handle it.
I don't want to get into each of the churches mentioned, but if you will read Revelation chapter two, you will see what is addressed to each of these and why some of them suffer.
The "seven churches" does not describe seven literal churches. It describes seven types of believers.
Church = ekklēsia - a body of Christians.
If I were to walk into your church, I could find some there who have lost their first love (Ephesus), and some who commit fornication (Pergamos), on down the line.
It is not that "Main street Baptist Church" represents one of the churches mentioned, but each individual person lives their personal life similar to what is mentioned in Rev. 2
Yes, but how would one prepare? He says HE will keep us from the hour of temptation. I'm not trying to be contentious, just wondering how we can do this:)
Isaiah 26:19-21
Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
The dead will live and they will rise, but first it states we must hide ourselves for a little while until the indignation is over.
Once the indignation is over, the rapture takes place and the Wrath is poured out.
For a difference in this "indignation" and "wrath", read page six in the study.
Revelation 12:6 - And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
There is a place of protection where God will care for His people during this time.
Joel 2:16 - Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
When the bridegroom leaves Heaven, the Christians will come out of their protected places to meet Him.
If you look at the plagues of Egypt, you will notice that God's people STAYED there through them all. It wasn't until the mid-point that while they were in Goshen, although the plagues continued, they no longer affected God's people.
Although we will be here during that time, the plagues described in Revelation are poured out upon "the beast" and "those that worship the beast".
We don't need to worry about being affected by God's fury, we simply need to avoid the war that satan will wage against us.
Once the Israelites left Egypt, (Rapture) Pharaoh went after them (Armageddon) and all his armies were destroyed (Antichrist defeated)
You can't get to the promised land without going through the wilderness!
But while we are in the wilderness (Rev.12:6) God will care for us. (Exod.16:15)
I was listening to Friday's Anakypto forum this morning and Steve said that if we are still here this coming week, he's going to address your research presented on the 5doves site. I be looking forward to the discussion!