When we see things come upon the world, we humble our hearts before a God who sees us and cares so much about us, and who has promised to keep those who are faithful to Him and who love Him and put their trust in Him and His commands. We see such a promise in the third chapter of the last book of the New Testament.
To the Faithful Church, in Revelation 3:10,the following promise is written, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Those who dwell on the earth describes humankind in opposition to God. Those who are in opposition to God are also mentioned several times throughout Revelations,for instance, Revelation 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:3, 8, 12, 14; 14; 3, 6,and elsewhere. But it’s to the faithful ones, the genuine believers, who have kept the Lord’s command to persevere, that He has given the promise to keep them!
In the next verse, Rev. 3:11, it says, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” This passage holds a warning to the oppressors, and an encouragement to the oppressed, that the LORD, the King of Glory, will come again a second time; that all these things must take place between the first and second coming, and that they could happen at any time, and that we are to remain true, every believer throughout history, and hold fast to the salvation that we have been granted, and hold onto the crown that is promised to be ours, if we will keep His commandment to persevere and to overcome!
These passages have great relevance today, for those of us who see the have understanding that we are in an “hour of trial,”which has “come upon the whole world.” We have promise of complete deliverance from the Great Tribulation (Rev. 6: 1-19; 10), and although that time has not yet come, it’s easy to see that this is a time that people all over the world are being tested. It’s easy to see that this is an hour of trial.We are to 1) keep His command to persevere, 2) hold fast what we have, so that no one takes our crown, and 2) overcome, (v. 12)!The beauty of this passage is the assurance of the Lord, that because we have kept His command to persevere, He will keep us from the hour of trial!
The words of the promise, “I will keep you,”in Rev. 3:10, is the Lord’s assurance that according to John 17: 6, 11, 12, 15,He is able to preserve His people and keep them, sound in faith and in the love of God, and to keep them from the hour of trial. Be blessed today, knowing that our God is a God who lives and who saves! Keep the faith today and keep your heart in a love relationship with Jesus, the Savior of the world, whom the Father sent to save us, and who will come again so that we might be with Him! And rest in this promise, today! Amen!
Article Written by: Deborah Harper Ph.D.
Thank you so much for your encouraging message. I always appreciate uplifting messages from fellow Christians. I feel honored to be one and hope I am of some encouragement to others. God bless you. Elizabeth