THE HOUR OF TRIAL

1/1/2023

January 1-Start Your Day Right Devotion

Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

THE HOUR OF TRIAL

Christ’s promise to His faithful followers in Philadelphia to keep them from the hour of trial is identical to Paul’s promise to the Thessalonians that they would be rescued from the “coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). This promise extends to all of God’s faithful people throughout the ages (Revelation 3:13, 22). In the original Greek, the phrase “keep you from” can mean either “keep you from experiencing” or “keep you through.” For the church then and the church today, both interpretations are relevant. God will help His people to endure and prevail through the difficulties and opposition they experience in the world, and He will ultimately rescue them from the final “hour of trial.” This final hour includes God’s appointed time of wrath and distress that will come on “the whole world” in the last years of this age, just prior to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth (Revelation 5:10; 6-19; 20:4). Concerning this time, the Bible reveals the following truths.

This time of trial involves God’s wrath (justified anger, judgment and punishment) on the ungodly (Revelation 6-19; Isaiah 13:6-13; 17:4-11; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 24:9-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:2).
Also included in this time of trial and tribulation, however, is Satan’s brutal attack on the godly (on those who accept and follow Christ). For these bold believers, there will be hunger, thirst, exposure to harsh weather (Revelation 7:16) and great suffering and tears (Revelation 7:9-17: Daniel 12:10; Matthew 24:15-21). They will experience the natural catastrophes of war, famine and death. Many will be tortured or killed for their faith in Christ (Revelation 6:11; 13:7; 14:13). They will experience the ravages of Satan and demonic forces (Revelation 9:3-5; 12:12), hate and violence from wicked people and persecution by the antichrist (Revelation 6:9; 12:17; 13:15-17). Many will be forced to flee from their homes (Matthew 24:15-21). It will be an especially disastrous time for those with families and children (Matthew 24:19). Those who accept, follow and die for Christ during the tribulation period are considered blessed, for “they will rest from their labor” (Revelation 14:13).
For those who are overcomers (true followers of Christ) before that terrible “day” arrives (Revelation 2:7; Luke 21:36), God will rescue them from that time of severe trial. This most likely will happen through the rapture – the catching up of God’s faithful people to meet Christ in the air before God unleashes His wrath on the world (John 14:3). This rescue is a reward for those who persevere in devotion to Christ and live by God’s Word in true faith.
Present-day believers who hope to escape all these things that are going to come on the world in the end will do so only by faithfulness to Christ and His Word. This will require diligent prayer (Luke 21:36) so that they will not be deceived (Matthew 24:5).

BIBLE STUDY TOOLS I USE

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