From this point on we should be encouraging every believer to become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might so whatever comes upon us in the future will serve only to make our armor shine brighter.

The twenty-first chapter of the Book of Luke is speaking to Jews, as we have stated, preparing them for the tribulations ahead of them. There absolutely is no sound reason for Gentiles to be fastening on one of the Lord's exhortations in this chapter and using it as a support for the mythical flight to Heaven of Gentile believers before the coming of the Lord.

The unscriptural doctrine of the "pre-tribulation rapture" of Christian people is classic error, and this should be obvious to us.

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. (Revelation 3:10—NIV)

The above verse is often employed to prove Christians will be carried up to Heaven so they will not be tested during the coming hour of trial.

The key to the correct interpretation is found in the meaning of the verbs "kept" and "keep." They actually are derived from the same Greek term.

Now, what is the meaning of the Greek verb which we translate as "kept", "keep"?

The same writer, John, uses the same verb in another writing.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (John 17:15—NIV)

Here we see the verb translated "protect."

Today's proponents of the so-called pre-tribulation rapture translate the term as "remove."

The word actually means protect, or guard. Today it is translated as "remove."

Let us apply each of the two translations and see which one makes sense.

"Since you have removed my command to endure patiently, I will also remove you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."

"Since you have guarded my command to endure patiently, I will also guard you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."

Of the two, which makes sense to you? Since the same Greek verb is used, whatever we do to the Lord's command to endure patiently is what the Lord will do to us during the hour of testing.

Either it is true that we remove the Lord's command and He removes us, or else we guard the Lord's command and He guards us.

Can you see that there is no basis in Revelation 3:10 for the unscriptural myth that the Lord will carry a special group of Gentiles to Heaven so they will not be harmed by the troubles of the last days?

There are many scriptural examples of God guarding the saints during the times of extreme trouble and testing, such as Noah and his family who rode on the very waters of judgment, protected perfectly by the Lord; or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace; or Daniel in the den of lions. But I know of no scriptural example of the saints being carried to Heaven to avoid harm. Do you?

To be continued.