I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (John 17:15)

What Jesus means in Revelation 3:10 He explains in John 17:15. In both instances the Apostle John recorded the message.

It is not the will of Christ that we be lifted out of the world but rather that we be kept, or guarded, from the evil (one). In Revelation 3:10, we are kept from the evil of the "hour of temptation." The word for "temptation" is used in the Lord's prayer, "Lead us not into temptation."

The problem of Antichrist's reign, as far as the saints are concerned, is not as much in the realm of suffering as it is in the area of temptation to sin. In many instances Satan can overcome a believer more easily through sin than through suffering.

The trap and delusion of the last days is lawlessness and materialism. Already numerous Christians have had their spiritual vitality destroyed because of their participation in the lawless, wealthy cultures of our day. The believers are being overcome by sin, by physical luxuries, by fornication, by covetousness, by neglect of their salvation because of eating, drinking, buying, selling, marrying, giving in marriage—by the normal business of civilization.

The world of Noah and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were caught off guard by the Divine judgment because of lawlessness and materialism.

In the majority of instances God does not deliver us from temptation by taking us to Heaven, although sometimes we could wish He would do so. Rather, God makes a way of escape for us so we may be able to triumph throughout the particular trial. God keeps us in the midst of temptation.

When we think of Israel in Goshen, Jeremiah in the dungeon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace, Daniel in the lions' den, we realize that God can and shall deliver us out of every trial if we stand fast in trust and hope in Jesus. God provides a way of escape.

Some of the older saints will testify that God's way is to enable us to overcome every difficulty through Him. Sometimes the Lord allows us to remain in trying circumstances until we achieve victory through His faithfulness and glory. When we have achieved victory He removes us from the conflict or the conflict from us, as His plan indicates. Have you found this to be the way of the Lord?

It is the promise and the Glory of God to bring a saint through deep waters and fiery trials and to keep him or her free from every spiritual harm (and sometimes from every physical harm as well). This is God's way. We achieve victory in the place where we are.

It is our belief that the hour of temptation, of lawlessness, already is upon us in its early stages. Every saint who follows Christ with an undivided heart will be kept in spiritual safety, and often in physical safety as were Elijah and Elisha, no matter what comes to pass on the earth.

We must guard the Word of Christ's patience. It is in the realm of patience that some of our greatest trials take place, some of the fiercest battles rage, and some of the most glorious victories are won.

If we continue to watch soberly and vigilantly in prayer, standing steadfast in Christ throughout every temptation and peril that approaches us, the Lord Jesus will provide a means of deliverance for us and we shall escape all these things that will come to pass on the earth. We shall survive and finally stand in absolute triumph in the Presence of the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). (from The Conqueror)