Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my commandments to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.
The church is promised deliverance from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world. The word "trial" means the same thing as "tribulation." This does not refer to normal "trials" or "tribulations" that we all face each day, but to a special hour of trial that will involve the whole world. In some countries Christians are going through great tribulation and facing death each and every day. This does not fulfill this verse because the persecution is not world wide. The promise of the Lord is that the church will be kept from that hour of tribulation.
This verse seems to indicate the church will be taken up to heaven (ruptured) from the earth before the 'hour' of trial comes upon the whole earth. In the rapture Jesus meets His church in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.) The word rapture isn't used here, but it says in verse 17 "Then we which are alive shall be "caught up". The dead in Christ will be raised first to meet Jesus in the air and 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.
There are three main views of the rapture. l. Jesus will rapture the church before the tribulation. 2. Jesus will rapture the church in the middle of the tribulation 4. Jesus will rapture the church at the end of the tribulation. The tribulation period will last seven years.
The most important thing to remember: "Jesus is coming for those who are looking for His coming. We should be looking for Him to come at any moment. Hebrews 9:28 'Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
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