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Pretrib related questions
Question:
1. Does Revelation 3:10 teach a Pretrib rapture?
Answer:
The book of Revelation was one prophecy in one scroll written to all seven churches in Asia about the Second Coming (revelation) of Yeshua. The prophecy is intended for the generation of churches
who are going to experience Yeshua's Second Coming or as Yeshua says in his teaching about His Second Coming on the Mount of Olives:
Matthew 24:33: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:34: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
These things in verse 33 point to the teaching just given on the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24 where Yeshua spoke about wars, famines, diseases but also about the Great tribulation by the Antichrist.
Revelation chapters 2 and 3 relate to the generation of churches that will see these things. In light of this, let us now look at the letters:
First letter to Ephesus:
Revelation 2:3: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Revelation 2:5: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
The Bible texts speak of perseverance and witnessing to His Name during the Great tribulation (verse 3) until the Second Coming (verse 5) and overcoming the Antichrist (verse 7).
Later in the book of Revelation we read how a Christian must overcome the Antichrist:
Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Now let's look at the remaining letters, each with the same scenario:
Second letter to Smyrna:
Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Again the Great tribulation by the Antichrist and the call to be faithful unto death (verse 10) and the overcomming over the Antichrist (verse 11).
Third letter to Pergamos:
Revelation 2:13: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Revelation 2:16: Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Revelation 2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Here too we read about perseverance by holding on to His Name and not denying the faith (verse 13), the Second Coming (verse 16) and the overcomming over the Antichrist (verse 17).
Fourth letter to Thyatira:
Revelation 2:22: Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Revelation 2:25: But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Revelation 2:26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And here too the Great Tribulation (verse 22), the Second Coming (verse 25) and the overcomming over the Antichrist (verse 26). Verse 25 is the same as Revelation 3:11 which follows our question from Revelation 3:10.
Fifth letter to Sardis:
Revelation 3:2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Revelation 3:3: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Again perseverance by being watchful and strengthening the remaining Christians (verse 2), the Second Coming as a thief if one does not repent (verse 3) and the overcomming over the Antichrist (verse 5).
Verses 2 and 3 are a reference from Yeshua to his teaching on the Mount of Olives according to the Bible book of Matthew chapter 24:
Matthew 24:42: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:43: But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Now we come to the heart of the question of whether Revelation 3:10 teaches a Pretrib rapture. Let's take a look at the Bible texts:
Sixth letter to Philadelphia:
Revelation 3:8: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
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.
Revelation 3:11: Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:12: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
In verse 8 we read about Christians who had little strength during the Great Tribulation yet kept His Word and did not deny His Name.
Then we read in verse 3:10 that the Christians who persevered (can also be the translation of patience from Greek) during the Great Tribulation are kept from the hour of temptation (the bowls).
So the hour of temptation can only be God's (Yahweh's) Wrath.
This is entirely according to the Midwrath view and therefore not a Pretrib-rapture. Verse 11 is the Second Coming as also described in Revelation 2:25. And again a reference to overcom the Antichrist (verse 12).
Now that we have answered the question, we will look at the last letter for the sake of completeness.
Seventh letter to Laodicea:
Revelation 3:18: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Verse 18 refers to the white garments (that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear) as further on in the Book of Revelation:
Revelation 7:13: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Revelation 7:14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 16:15: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
So here again an indirect reference to the Great Tribulation (verse 7:14) and the Second Coming as a thief if one does not repent (verse 16:15). However, Jesus Christ's Second Coming is just around the corner and He calls for repentance (verse 3:20).
Finally, once again a reference to overcom the Antichrist (verse 3:21).
This is not to say that the letters of the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 have had no historical or practical significance for the local churches in Asia.
The letters of the book of Revelation are partly fulfilled in history, but are for the most part still future events.
So Revelation 3:10 teaches a Midwrath rapture. Both Pretrib and Posttrib cannot interpret this verse any better.
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