What Is Revelation 3:10 Talking About?

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The "hour of trial" Refers to the Return of Christ,

Not to the Great Tribulation

Revelation 3:10

Complete Jewish Bible

{Paraphrased}

¹⁰ Because you did obey My message about persevering {during the great tribulation}, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world {when I return} to put the people living on earth to the test {about God}.

Let’s keep the discussion in context and refer to the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) version for clarity.

Revelation 3:7-13

Complete Jewish Bible

⁷ “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Philadelphia, write: ‘Here is the message of HaKadosh, the True One, the one who has the key of David, who, if he opens something, no one else can shut it, and if he closes something, no one else can open it {Isa. 22:22}.

⁸ “I know what you are doing. Look, I have put in front of you an open door, and no one can shut it. I know that you have but little power, yet you have obeyed my message and have not disowned me.

⁹ Here, I will give you some from the synagogue of the Adversary, those who call themselves Jews but aren’t — on the contrary, they are lying — see, I will cause them to come and prostrate themselves at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.

¹⁰ Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test.

¹¹ I am coming soon; hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

¹² I will make him who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God’s city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.

¹³ Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’

The "hour of trial" in Revelation 3:10 does not refer to the great tribulation, but to the day of God’s wrath when Jesus returns. Before Jesus executes God’s wrath on the earth, He first removes both the dead and living members of the church of the firstborn through the first resurrection and the rapture—this happens in the blink of an eye (1 Cor. 15:50-57/ 1 Thes. 4:13-18). Jesus then returns with the resurrected and raptured church to carry out God’s wrath on the devil and his followers (Rev. 19). In this way, the living church is spared from God’s wrath at Jesus’ return, as He saves believers from the wrath of God through the rapture.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

Authorized (King James) Version

⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Afterward, the church, together with the angels and under Jesus’ leadership, participates in God’s final judgment of fierce wrath as they return with Him through the first resurrection and the rapture to execute God's wrath on those sleeping in the blackness of darkness of Satan's leadership in the earth.

Jude 11-15

Authorized (King James) Version

¹¹ Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

¹² These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 

¹³ raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

¹⁴ And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 

¹⁵ to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

What are the Midnight Hour and the Blackness of Darkness?

These terms refer to the period of intense spiritual darkness and evil during the great tribulation, Marked by Satan’s leadership through the Imam Mahdi and his reign of terror

Click Me to read, "The Midnight Cry" (By Darrin Pegram - 2021)

According to scripture, the only event from which God removes the church to spare them is the outpouring of His wrath when Jesus returns. There is no wrath of God to be spared from during the tribulation before the Lord’s return. The great tribulation is not God’s wrath; rather, it is Satan’s wrath (Revelation 12:11-17). The seals, bowls, and trumpets described in Revelation chapters 8 through 16 are also God’s judgments on Satan and his followers, not expressions of His wrath.

The great tribulation is implied in Revelation 3:10 when Jesus commends His church for being "patient during tribulation" (see Luke 8:15; Romans 2:5-8; 12:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:23-25; Hebrews 6:14-15; James 5:7-11; 1 Peter 2:19-21; 2 Peter 1:2-11). This tribulation refers to the great tribulation, and because the church remained faithful and obedient to God during this time, He will spare them from His wrath that comes after the great tribulation, when Jesus returns. Their perseverance during the great tribulation demonstrates their faithfulness, and as Jesus says in Luke 8:15, "they bring forth fruit with patience."

Luke 8:15

Authorized (King James) Version

¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

To bear fruit means to lead others to Jesus through witnessing and preaching. Bearing fruit during the great tribulation involves remaining patient, getting up, and continuing to share the gospel despite challenges. Through patience in the great tribulation, to bear fruit means to listen to God and faithfully continue to preach.

Luke 8:15

Living Bible

¹⁵ “But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe.”

Romans 2:5-8

Modern English Version

⁵ But because of your hardness and impenitent heart, you are storing up treasures of wrath against yourself on the day of wrath when the righteous judgment of God will be revealed, 

⁶ and He “will render to every man according to his deeds.”

⁷ To those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality will be eternal life. 

⁸ But to those who are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath,

Romans 12:12

Authorized (King James) Version

¹² rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

2 Thessalonians 3:5-6

Authorized (King James) Version

⁵ And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2 Timothy 2:23-25

Authorized (King James) Version

{Paraphrased}

²³ But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

²⁴ And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

²⁵ in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God {possibly} will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Hebrews 6:14-15

Modern English Version

¹⁴ saying, “Surely I will bless you, and surely I will multiply you.”

¹⁵ So after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

James 5:7-11

Modern English Version

{Paraphrased}

Patience and Prayer

⁷ Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain. 

⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is drawing near. 

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Look, the Judge is standing at the door.

¹⁰ My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 

¹¹ Indeed we count them happy who endure {in patience}. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the purpose of the Lord, that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.

1 Peter 2:19-21

Modern English Version

¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God a person endures grief, suffering unjustly. 

²⁰ For what credit is it if when you are being beaten for your sins you patiently endure? But if when doing good and suffering for it, you patiently endure, this is favorable before God. 

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

2 Peter 1:2-11

Modern English Version

{Paraphrased}

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through {knowing} God and Jesus our Lord.

The Christian’s Call and Election

³ His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through {knowing} Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, 

⁴ by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; 

⁶ and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; 

⁷ and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love. 

⁸ For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

⁹ But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 

¹¹ For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you.

The "hour of trial" mentioned in Revelation 3:10 is not the great tribulation; it refers to the return of Jesus. Those who interpret this verse as describing a pre-tribulation rapture misunderstand the timing of God’s wrath. As previously explained, they believe that God’s wrath is the seals, bowls, and trumpet judgments described in Revelation chapters 8 through 16, which are indeed poured out during the great tribulation. However, these judgments are not the wrath of God; rather, they are His judgments during the tribulation. The true wrath of God is poured out on the day Christ returns. As a result, those who hold this view expect Jesus to save them from being killed by these judgments before the tribulation begins.

Furthermore, being kept from the hour of trial is a promise for those who have proven their faithfulness during the great tribulation. If you have not demonstrated steadfast devotion to God through the great tribulation, you are not prepared to be saved from this final test. Only those who have overcome the tribulation in faithful obedience to God will be kept from the hour of trial that comes upon the whole world. As Revelation 22:14 says, these individuals have earned the "right" to enter heaven through their obedience, but if you have not, this salvation does not apply to you. This is referring to the martyrs in the church of Philadelphia.

Revelation 22:14

Modern English Version

{Paraphrased}

¹⁴ Blessed are those who do {God's} commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of {eternal} life, and may enter through the gates {of the New Jerusalem}.

Prophetic Comfort from the Holy Spirit for the Martyrs of Today

However, Revelation 3:10 is not referring to a pre-tribulation rapture. Instead, it speaks of a rapture that occurs when Jesus returns. The wrath of God is not poured out during the tribulation—the seals, bowls, and judgments are not the wrath or the "hour of trial" mentioned in Revelation 3:10. Rather, this verse and the "hour of trial" refers to the wrath of God that Jesus will execute, together with the resurrected and raptured church and the angels, on the day of His return.

Another passage where Jesus speaks about the testing at His return, is Luke 21:34-36. In this passage, Jesus describes His return as "a trap" that will come upon everyone on the earth. The test and the trap of Christ’s return is whether people are spiritually awake or asleep. For those who are not watchful, His return will come suddenly, like a trap, testing everyone to see if they truly believe in God.

Luke 21:34-36

Modern English Version

{Paraphrased}

Exhortation to Watch

34 “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day {of the Lord} comes on you unexpectedly. 

35 For as a {trap} it will come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

36 Therefore watch {and be ready for My return} always and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things {through the rapture} that will happen {during and after the great tribulation} and to stand before {Me}, the Son of Man {when I return}.”

Many who hold to a pre-tribulation rapture view are mistaken about when God’s wrath occurs. They believe that Jesus rescues believers from God’s wrath—through the rapture—before the great tribulation, and that this wrath during the tribulation is the seals, bowls, and trumpet judgments found in Revelation chapters 8 to 16. However, a careful reading of these chapters reveals that Jesus returns after all these judgments, as described in Revelation 19. In fact, passages such as Revelation 19, 2 Peter 3, and Zechariah 14 show that God’s wrath is poured out on the very day Jesus returns, not before or during the great tribulation.

In Luke 21:22, Jesus refers to the great tribulation described in Luke 21:20-28 as "the days of vengeance" or "the days of God's judgment" that occur just before His return. This means the great tribulation is a period of God’s vengeance and judgment, not His wrath. Similarly, Revelation chapters 8 through 16 show that during the great tribulation, God carries out the seals, bowls, and trumpet judgments, all leading up to the day of His wrath when Jesus returns.

Therefore, the pre-tribulation doctrine is a false teaching, as it claims that God’s wrath is poured out by Christ, the resurrected and raptured church, and the holy angels during the great tribulation. This is not supported by scripture. The reason some teachers promote the pre-tribulation rapture is that they take verses out of context to fit their own interpretations. They misunderstand the true nature of God’s wrath, either due to lack of knowledge or intentional deception.

Understanding Revelation 3:10 becomes clear when you consider it in the entire context of Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-11. In this passage, Jesus commends the church for remaining faithful and persevering through the great tribulation, rather than giving up. These are the same believers Jesus refers to in Matthew 24:12-14—those who endure great tribulation, resist growing cold in their love, and continue to share the gospel.

Therefore, the church will experience the great tribulation but will not be harmed by it, because they remain steadfast in their faith and love for God. Instead of becoming distant or cold during times of trial and conflict, they persevere and stay close to Him until death, or Jesus returns.

The devil tries to provoke Christians into reacting in the flesh, as described in Matthew 6:27-38. Persecution and tribulation are traps of the devil designed to draw believers into retaliation and bitterness, keeping them from walking in victory over the flesh, the world and the devil through the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26). Many people, when faced with such attacks, lose heart and fall into despair, becoming paralyzed by bitterness (2 Corinthians 4:7-18; Hebrews 12:12-17).

However, the believers in Philadelphia are different—they persevere. Even if they fall, they rise again, as Proverbs 24:16 says. They endure hardship and continue preaching the gospel, just as Jesus described in Matthew 24:12-14. The devil’s goal is to silence the church and prevent the message of Jesus’ sacrifice from reaching the world. He attacks and even kills believers to stop them. Yet, those who persevere and remain faithful during tribulation will be saved from God's wrath when Jesus returns, because they chose to obey God through every trial.

Hebrews 3:14 says,

Hebrews 3:14

Complete Jewish Bible

¹⁴ For we have become sharers in the Messiah, provided, however, that we hold firmly to the conviction we began with, right through until the goal is reached.

Hebrews 3:14

Authorized (King James) Version

¹⁴ For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 3:14

Modern English Version

¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence firmly to the end,

Hebrews 3:14

Common English Bible

¹⁴ We are partners with Christ, but only if we hold on to the confidence we had in the beginning until the end.

False prophets who teach the pre-tribulation rapture claim that Revelation 3:10 is Jesus promising to rapture believers out of the earth to spare them from God’s wrath during the tribulation. However, this is not what Jesus is saying. In Revelation 3:10, God assures the church in Philadelphia that, because they have remained faithful to Him during the most difficult times—the great tribulation—He will deliver them through the rapture to save them from His wrath when He returns after the great tribulation.

The church’s reward for remaining faithful to Jesus during the great tribulation is salvation from God’s wrath when He returns. This verse does not refer to a pre-tribulation rapture. Instead, it highlights that God will remove His faithful church from the earth to spare them from His wrath, just before Christ’s return. This promise is given because they demonstrated perseverance and devotion to God throughout the great tribulation. The church will endure the great tribulation and remain faithful to God, even to the point of being killed for their faith (Revelation 7:9-14; Daniel 11:31-33).

Revelation 7:9-14

Modern English Version

The Multitude From Every Nation

⁹ Then I looked. And there was a great multitude which no one could count, from all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 

¹⁰ They cried out with a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 

¹² saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honorand power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these clothed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

He said to me, “These are those who came out of great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Daniel 11:31-33

(Modern English Version)

{Paraphrased}

31 “The armies of the Mahdi—the false prophet described in Revelation 13:11-18 and chapter 17—will rise up and desecrate the sanctuary fortress in Jerusalem. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination that causes desolation. This means that Islam, through its followers, will place their black flags inside the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem, making it their sanctuary fortress and world headquarters. The presence of these black flags in the Lord’s temple is the abomination of desolation.

32 Through flattery, he will corrupt those who act wickedly against the covenant. But the people who know their God will remain strong and take action.

33 The wise among the people will instruct many, but for many days they will suffer—falling by the sword, by fire, by captivity, and by destruction.

Many people hope to avoid death for their faith in Jesus, believing that God will spare them through a pre-tribulation rapture. However, those who are truly born-again and love Jesus more than life itself will overcome the devil when they are killed for their faith and devotion for Jesus (Revelation 12:11). The devil cannot harm someone who values God above their own life, even when they are martyred for preaching. Instead of leaving this world in pain, they enter God’s presence with joy (2 Corinthians 5:8).

God Stands Up for You When You Lay Your Life Down for Him

You Win When the Devil Kills You

Revelation 12:11

Authorized (King James) Version

{Paraphrased}

¹¹ And they overcame {the devil and his world} by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Jesus will keep the Church faithful throughout the great tribulation and, through their perseverance, save them from His wrath. He does not save the Church from the great tribulation by removing them from the earth before it begins through the rapture. Instead, He raptures the Church after the tribulation has begun—during the great tribulation—in order to save them from His wrath on the day He returns.

Use what you know, use what you have, and apply what God has taught you about remaining faithful in preaching—even when others try to stop you, even if it means facing death. Endure hardship, rise again, and continue sharing the message. This is exactly what Jesus instructs in Matthew 24:12-14.

Matthew 24:12-14

Complete Jewish Bible

¹² and many people’s love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah.

¹³ But whoever holds out till the end will be delivered.

¹⁴ And this Good News about the Kingdom will be announced throughout the whole world as a witness to all the Goyim. It is then that the end will come.

Matthew 24:12-14

Modern English Version

¹² Because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

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World without end. Amen.