In Revelation 3:10-11 the Lord in addressing the angel of the Church of Philadelphia (which, taken in its historical order, corresponds with the present time), says, “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from (or out of) the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
Here we have a distinct and express scripture speaking of God’s people being kept, not in or through the hour of temptation, but from or out of it. The manner of its accomplishment is brought out in the next verse, “Behold, I come quickly;” the word “quickly” being added for the first time. What more forcible language could be employed to show that the Lord Himself is on the very eve of coming, that we should be expecting Him every moment? And thus will the saints be removed from this scene in a moment, delivered from the awful judgments that shall come upon all the world.
The Christian, who is not of the world, will be saved out of it, being translated before the judgment, like Enoch before the flood (Gen. 5:22-24). Noah passes through it in the ark, and comes out of it on to the earth again, a type of other saints saved after (to whom we have already briefly referred), who pass through the judgments, and are brought into blessing on the earth, when Christ comes as King to reign. These are quite a distinct class from Christians, who wait for God’s Son from heaven; they are preserved Israelites and Gentiles blest under a fresh dealing of God, which will go on during the short interval of judgment between the rapture or catching up of the heavenly saints, and His descent with His saints to reign.
We find then in Revelation 7, Israelites and Gentiles distinct, which clearly shows that they are not the saints of this present interval; for Christians compose the Church of God, and in the Church there is neither Jew nor Gentile (1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 3:11). Whenever you find these distinguished in blessing, you may rest assured the Church is not in question. But we shall speak more of this period further on.
I must next call your attention to another very interesting and precious distinction, made by the Spirit of God in relation to the coming of Christ. In the end of the Old Testament (Mal. 4:2) the prophet says “Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings,” etc., when rays of light and blessing shall go out to all quarters of the earth, and He shall bring in all the glories of His millennial kingdom and everlasting righteousness. This will be at His glorious appearing; the day of the Lord. Whereas in the end of the book of the Revelation, the prophecy for the Church, we find Him saying, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.” The Church, the Bride, during the darkness of the night of this world (and “the night is far spent, the day is at hand,” Rom. 13:12), should be watching, and waiting for Jesus in this double character. Blessed, glorious hope!
Knowing that many are much perplexed as to whether the heavenly saints will be removed before the hour of tribulation, I will add further Scripture testimony to prove it, trusting it may be helpful to souls.
In Revelation 2:3, we have seven addresses to the angels of the seven churches in Asia, which not only treat of their state at that time, but give us a succession of features which would characterize the professing Church on earth till the close of its existence. In each address we have the words, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
(To be continued.)