History reveals that Jesus is a true Prophet. From Jesus' time until now, philosophers have searched for an earthly utopia. But only Jesus was able to prophesy of world history as it actually has taken place.

Many of the calamities of which Jesus spoke have happened already. Some of His sayings have not been fulfilled as yet but we know they will be. We know also from what the Scripture teaches, and from the present-day burden of the Holy Spirit, that the greatest woes of all soon are to come upon the world.

If we look at Revelation 3:10 and Luke 21:36 together we can see that they proclaim the same message: Prepare yourself to stand in the evil day!

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Watch ye therefore [keep on the alert!], and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy [that ye may prevail—alternate reading] to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)

The concept in both of these passages is that of trying conditions on the earth and the Lord keeping in safety and well-being the disciple who has served his Lord diligently and faithfully.

The saints from the days of Jesus have known of these promises and have placed their hope and trust in them. Each generation of the faithful has viewed the turmoil of their own day as the sign of the end. Each generation has served the Lord with diligence, and the Lord Jesus has kept His Word to those who have served Him. He has guarded them. He has made a way of escape for each person who has kept the Lord's Word.

We feel certain that we of today have reached the end-time. Perhaps every calamity of history will be repeated and magnified during the next few years of world history as we approach the end of the age.

What does Jesus mean when He states He will guard us from the hour of trial? What danger will threaten us if He is not guarding us?

Let us take Stephen, for example. Was he an alert, faithful, diligent saint? Did Stephen meet Jesus' requirements of worthiness (or strength) to "escape all these things"? We think that most saints hold Stephen in high regard as we know that Jesus does also.

Stephen kept Christ's word of patience. Did Jesus guard Stephen from temptation and testing? We believe He did indeed. Stephen was guarded with utmost care, although he died under the stones of enraged Jews as Saul of Tarsus held the robes of his murderers.

If such be the case, being kept or guarded from the hour of temptation has little to do with our physical well-being.

With what, then, is our protection concerned? It is concerned with our spiritual well-being, with our ability to stand before the son of man.

To be continued.