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Specific to Smyrna

Notice how the message to Smyrna is limited to their time-period and locale: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) The ten days of persecution and the circumstances remain a mystery today. However, the essential question we should ask is why would Jesus allow those people in this church to suffer, even to the point of death, yet spare members in the church of Philadelphia form the Great Tribulation? Today, if some people belong to the church of Philadelphia, who belongs to the church of Smyrna? If we apply the same interpretation logic in revelation 2:10 as pre-trib believers do in Revelation 3:10, then who would want to belong to the church of Smyrna?

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Specific to Philadelphia

In A.D. 95, Christians were suffering oppression from both the Romans and the Jews. All who accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God were severely persecuted. The Jews hated the Christians because Christians proclaimed all over the world that Judaism was a false religion. The Romans hated the Christians because Christians would not worship the man-god, Caesar. The church at Philadelphia had suffered great losses. John himself was on the isle of Patmos because of his loyalty to Jesus prevented him from submitting to the demands of Rome. It was not a good time to be a Christian. Notice how tenderly Jesus spoke to the suffering people in Philadelphia: “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.” (Revelation 3:10) In effect, Jesus was commending that local church for their patient endurance because they had suffered for the gospel. He further assured them that He would continue to sustain them during the hour of trial that was coming upon the world (not just their city). No doubt, the Philadelphians were wondering how they could continue to endure additional suffering on a longer or even larger scale. No doubt they knew about the predicted Great tribulation mentioned in Daniel, Matthew and Luke, but like us, they did not know exactly when it would begin. No doubt, they were asking themselves how things could get any worse! I am sure they took the words of Jesus to mean: Hang on! I will continue to sustain you during the hour of trial that will come upon the Earth to test the whole world.

Summary on Revelation 3:10

Tradition teaches that nine or ten of Christ’s disciples were martyrs for their faith. History confirms that millions died for their faith during the Dark Ages. If this is true, then we need to ask ourselves why born again Christians living today, out of all generations, should be spared from the Great Tribulation? Further, the use of Revelation 3:10 to support a pre-trib rapture of the entire Christian church is simply not justified when we consider the following issues: the timing surrounding the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of the living, the many uses of the Greek preposition ‘ek, Jesus promise to be with His disciples until the very end of the age, the earthy location of the saints during the Great tribulation mentioned in Revelation, and the messages given to the seven churches that were timely and local (especially as related to the church of Philadelphia).

The Rapture Doctrine is Not a Testing Doctrine!

I have a problem with those individuals who make the pre-trib rapture a testing doctrine. Many Protestants are threatened with eternal loss if they refuse to believe in a pre-trib rapture. Some people say that if you do not believe in the rapture, you cannot be saved after it happen there is no second chance. This is interesting, since this position stands in opposition to the basic premise of the pre-trib rapture. Pre-trib advocates teach that sinners will have seven more years (the 70^th week) to “get right” with the Lord. So, condemnation for rejecting the rapture has no scriptural support. When did the rapture doctrine become a testing truth for salvation and who had the authority to establish this test?

The Bible identifies one unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31,32) and that sin is not the denial of a pre-trib rapture. This type of threat regarding eternal loss is a form of manipulation. Doctrines that trap and hold uninformed people in a prison of toxic faith should be openly refuted. We are not living in the Dark Ages. In most countries today, anyone who wants to own and read a Bible can easily obtain one. As you may surmise, I give no credence to the concept that a person could be lost simply by refusing to believe the doctrine of the rapture. On the contrary, we receive the assurance of salvation (1 John 5:12) when we surrender our life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. He is my Shepard (Psalm 23). He guides me into all truth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit! (John 16:13) I do not trust any pastor, priest or rabbi to tell me what I must believe or what I must do in order to be saved. My duty is to listen to the Holy Spirit. (John 3:8) He brings enlightenment and conviction as I study God’s Word for myself. Yes, I enjoy listening to religious speakers for study and investigation, but when I study, I follow and obey Jesus as the Spirit convicts me. Let no one deceive you in this: Salvation is a personal, matter between you and your Savior. (John 14:21-24; Philippians 2:12,13)

“One Will be Taken and the Other Left”

One of the favorite texts used by people who believe in a pre-Second Coming rapture is found in Matthew 24:40-42. Jesus said, “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with the hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.’”

This verse understandably makes many people nervous. It seems to suggest that the appearing of Jesus will be a sudden and totally unexpected event. On the surface these verses appear to say that two people will be working side by side and poof – one person is taken and the other is left. Sometimes people who support the pre-trib rapture use these verses to make a sharp distinction between a sudden, “thief in the night” kind of gathering of the saints, and the glorious resurrection/ascension of the remaining saints mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 1:7. Do these verses really teach a secret gathering of the saints before the Second Coming? This is only possible if the context in which these words were spoken is totally ignored. So, let us take a close look at the context of these comments:

The setting for Matthew 24 begins as Jesus is leaving the temple. His disciples caught up with Him and they draw His attention to the magnificent buildings that make up the temple complex. The temple was the pride of the Jews. It was their most sacred religious shrine. Herod had expanded and adorned it with much gold and cedar in an attempt to win respect and cooperation of the Jews. The Jews believed that God would not allow His “restored” temple to be desecrated again and the disciples wondered when Jesus would establish His throne and rule from His temple. As Jesus looked upon the gleaming walls of the edifice, a deep sadness overcame Him. Then, He uttered this prophecy: “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” His words, no doubt, stunned the disciples. These were outrageous words! Jesus was predicting something very Big was going to happen in Jerusalem!

A short time later, while sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came privately to Jesus. Jesus’ previous remarks had raised both concern and curiosity within them. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this [destruction of the temple] happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ response to His disciples. In both gospels one compelling point surfaces: Jesus consistently speaks of one return or one coming. He does not allude to a pre-Second Coming rapture. Notice these seven highlights from Matthew 24 (italics mine.):

a. “…he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (24:13)

b.  “…This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (24:14)

c.    “…as lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (24:27)

d.   “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” (24:30)

e.   “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (24:37)

f.    “…they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (24:39)

g.    “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day you Lord will come.” (24:42)

These seven statements along with many others within the context of Matthew 24 and 25 are directed at the coming of the son of Man. To insist that Jesus also talks about a pre-trib rapture in two verses is to frustrate everything also He says in the other 95 verses of these two chapters. Consider the immediate context of verses 36-43 where the statements is made, “one will be taken, the other left’: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.” (Matthew 24:36-43) Three phrases from these verses deserve emphasis:

1. “No one knows about the day or hour…but only the Father.”

2. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

3. “…and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the son of Man. Two men will be in the field…"

Matthew 24:36-43 is concerned about the coming of the son of Man. This point is stated twice. No one but the Father knows the date of Christ’s coming (a singular coming).  Jesus says there is a twofold parallel between Noah’s day and His appearing-most people will be surprised and many will be lost because of willful ignorance. I believe most Christians will agree that two people can work side-by-side every day and yet, one will be saved and the other lost. This is the meaning and emphasis of the two verses in question. In other words, salvation boils down to personal preparation. We cannot depend on our friends, church membership or the charismatic oratory of a pastor for salvation. Salvation is a personal matter. When the end time events unfold, the faithful will be saved and the others will be lost. This point is underscored in the parable of the ten virgins – which is part of this discussion. No doubt, the wise and foolish virgins were close friends. The difference between the wise and foolish was preparation. When the foolish saw they were without oil, they went to search for it. Meanwhile, the bridegroom arrived and the wise virgins followed Him through the door and went into the banquet. Later, the foolish virgins showed up, but were rejected. (See Matthew 25:1-13.) The key thought in the parable of the ten virgins is daily preparedness.

Jesus said, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:44) “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.” (Matthew 24:30) “Therefore keeps watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)

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