by Michael G. Mickey

Is the timing of the Rapture of the Church as debatable as some suggest or is it as plain as the nose on your face?

Some people believe the event will take place during the middle of the Tribulation Period. Others think it will come at the end of the Tribulation Period. Some believe it will come before the Tribulation Period ever begins. I am of the latter opinion for any number of reasons, but, for the purposes of this commentary on the topic, I'll use one verse of Scripture to defend the Pre-Tribulational Rapture position - and effectively.

Although some suggest those believing in a Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church are standing on shaky ground Scripturally, I believe there is a strong Scriptural basis for those of us placing our faith in Jesus Christ to return for us before the Tribulation Period begins to be satisfied with the end result of our faithfulness to Him, as well as rewarded.

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.

In Revelation 3:10, the Lord is seen addressing those who have placed their faith in Him - those who have kept the word of His patience. Their reward for this? Being kept from the hour of temptation. What is the hour of temptation? The Tribulation Period.

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.

Does this passage of Scripture reveal Christians will be kept from the Tribulation Period? Absolutely! Could it possibly be any more obvious than it is? Even so, let's look at it more closely.

The same passage of Scripture demonstrates this hour of temptation - the Tribulation Period - will come upon all the world. Are Christians part of the world?

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.

Jesus, speaking of Christians, said, as documented in John 15:19, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

Christians may be in the world, but they're not of the world. As Revelation 3:10 demonstrates, the day is coming when those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ are no longer going to be in the world either!

Why will they no longer be in the world? Because the hour of temptation, the Tribulation Period, will be coming to try a different group of people - a multitude of people who will still be in the world, both spiritually and physically.

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.

There is no mistaking the fact this one Scripture is addressing two groups of people - believers in Christ and nonbelievers. These two groups, as shown in the Scripture, have completely different and distinguishable destinies.

Those supportive of a Pre-wrath, Mid-Tribulational or Post-Tribulational Rapture of the Church envision the Church entering the Tribulation Period along with everyone else. Revelation 3:10 doesn't picture it that way at all.

Revelation 3:10 says those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ will not only be kept from the trial to come, but will be kept safe from the entire period of time - the hour of temptation itself!

The word hour, as used in Revelation 3:10, isn't referring to a 60-minute time period. As used in Revelation 3:10, the word hour refers to a set period of time for a specified activity - in this instance the Tribulation Period.

Did you ever get exempted from taking a quiz or a test when you were in school, but still had to attend the class? Revelation 3:10 promises believers exemption from the entire class! Not only will believers be gone from the world during the world's hour of temptation, they'll be in the presence of the Lord Himself as a result of the Rapture of the Church!

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.

It doesn't get much simpler than that, does it?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.