What is “The Hour of Temptation”?

We looked last time at two passages concerning the “Day of the Lord wrath.” Now, a third passage which is very significant in regard to this is Revelation 3:10 where Jesus is making a promise to Christians and He says, verse 10, “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation.” Literally, the hour of testing “which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Literally, “to try the earthdwellers.” Notice, He’s saying here that He will keep His saints, His true believers, out of the hour of test­ing.

Now, many scholars agree that the testing here is referring to a future period of wrath upon the face of the earth. It’s obviously referring to a time period because He talks about the “hour” of testing. So many agree that He’s promising here to believers to keep them out of that hour of testing.

But some say, “Well, it’s just the testing that He’s preserving them from. They’ll be here during the time of the testing, but God somehow will shelter them or protect them from the testing.”

But notice John doesn’t say here, quoting the Lord’s promise, that He will deliver them or keep them out of the testing, He says He will keep them out of “the hour of testing.” In other words, He will keep them out of the very time period when the testing is taking place.

And then He says here the purpose of that time period of testing, the purpose is not to do something with regard to Church saints, but the purpose of that hour of testing is to test or to try the earthdwellers. When you go through the book of Revelation, the earthdwellers consistently is referring to rebellious unsaved people who refuse to repent and who are so hardened against God that they will never repent. They will never get saved.

26 Comments

  1. don on July 1, 2016 at 11:54 am

    jesus is speaking to a certain church not all of them just philadelphia.. none of the others wheren keeping the WORD

    • Charles on October 16, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      First the letters are to each church individually but also to all churches. John is not writing 7 different letters. John is writing one letter and it will go to all 7 churches. And the letter contains a little personal mention to each church. However as a whole all 7 churches represent the church through the entire church age. We cannot say He is o lyntalking to the church in Philadelphia. For the actual members of that church have all passed away by now. The promises to the church are to all who “have an ear let them hear”

  2. Craig on July 23, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Good word John! I believe this verse (Rev 3:10) ties in with the parable of the ten virgins and Matthew 24:42-44 and others. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…. So we have to be faithful and ready because He could come at any time!

    • Ronald on April 26, 2023 at 8:06 am

      Craig,
      According to 2Thes2:1-5, our gathering to the Lord would only come after the Man of Lawlessness is revealed. How then can one say the Rapture can come any moment? Respectfully yours.

      • Phil on October 29, 2023 at 5:39 am

        Hi Ronald,
        It is the day of the Lord (Tribulation) which will only come after the Man of Lawlessness (Antichrist) is revealed. The Thessalonians had received a fake letter (verse 2) stating that the day of the Lord had come. This would mean that they had missed the rapture and so they were a bit shaken. Paul reassures them by reminding them of his previous teaching to them(verse 5 and also see 1 Thessalonians). You may also like to check out Dr. Andy Woods’ teaching on these verses – he argues quite persuasively that the apostasy of verse 3 is a physical departure (rapture) rather than spiritual departure! God Bless

  3. Charles D Maiden on May 6, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    The ‘hour of temptation’ is a short period of time when the antichrist will force those that dwell upon the earth to take a mark in order to buy and sell. The Bible says those that take this mark will burn in hell forever. Those that reject the mark are put to death by the antichrist. According to the Bible, they will receive a white robe and live with Jesus in the Kingdom of God for 1000 years.

    Revelation 20:4

    • dean on July 29, 2017 at 7:24 am

      Charles D Maiden, The Antichrist does not nor can he force anyone to take the mark, people will take the mark upon themselves freely,
      People will think that the Antichrist is the real Christ Jesus.that they will be found worshipping the Antichrist, Thinking he is the real deal Christ Jesus.
      There are alot of people who are not taught that the Antichrist comes first before the real Christ Jesus comes.This is that which is spoken of by Christ Jesus the hour of temptation. Revelation 3:10.

      • Dewey Clark on November 19, 2021 at 6:58 pm

        So true Dean ! Let’s consider this. The whole world will believe a lie. What’s the best lie possible? A lie that has had the groundwork laid down for years and fits right in with the imagination of man, and his refusal to believe in Jesus. He comes as an alien
        Saying that they,(he and the fallen angels) put us here.
        Sad that most of the world would rather believe in aliens than the Lord Jesus Christ.

  4. dean on July 29, 2017 at 7:12 am

    The hour of temptation means, That when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven when the 6th seal and the 6th trumpet is sounded, Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven at this point to the earth
    Revelation 12:7 – 12,
    At this time when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven, this is what causes silence to be in heaven Rev 8:1, do to Satan and his angels are not there to cause disruption and bickering in heaven, but there will be Rejoicing in heaven that Satan and his angels are finally cast out of heaven.
    Rev 12:12.
    When Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven, they are cast to the earth, at this time Satan begins his masquerading around by deception to deceive the whole world into believing that he is Christ Jesus, this begins the hour of temptation that shall come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” Rev 3:10.
    This is that which was spoken of by Christ Jesus in Matthew 24:21-22 –“For then shall be great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, No, nor ever shall be.
    And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”

    All this happens at the time when Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven to the earth. This is that which is spoken of by Christ Jesus the hour of temptation in Rev 3:10.

    • Anthony on March 15, 2022 at 1:27 pm

      Thank you for the effort brother, but you need to do some more study. The Bible is written in several different styles. Revelation 12 is timeless. In other words, it is referring to future events, but also past events. Ha-satan and the fallen anger have already been cast out of heaven. The fallen ones are mentioned first in Genesis 6, and that it how the Nephillim were created. They were afterwards bound in chains. Ha-satan has been roaming the earth since the fall. He HAD access to the Throne Room in the Old Covenant, but no longer. Please continue to do your research and study. Study to show yourself approved! Blessings and shalom to you. 🙂

      • Johnoy Campbell on January 8, 2024 at 1:35 pm

        That is correct @Anothy.

  5. God watcher on September 29, 2017 at 10:48 am

    could the awful hour of Temptation be when they come to your house one will be taken one will be left or two women grinding at the Mill one will be taken and the other one left and the disciples ask the Lord where would they be taken to in the Lord says where there are dead bodies vultures will gather so could this be the awful hour where they ask you if you believe in Christ Jesus or if you will renounce him some will say yes and some will say no the ones who say no will be taking to the FEMA camps the death camps just a thought…

  6. SerenityMap on December 23, 2021 at 8:16 am

    This has not been mentioned yet but here we are now, Dec 2021. President Biden puts out a vaccine mandate with OSHA and many states are now forcing the COVID vaccines or we cannot work. In Europe many are to remain quarantined.
    Hard for me to believe this isn’t the hour of temptation.

    May the Most High God have mercy upon His people.

  7. Anthony on March 15, 2022 at 1:31 pm

    The “Hour of Tempatation” refers to the revealing of the antichrist, and the temptation to follow him. Most will believe that he is Jesus returning. Unless you study your Bible DAILY, and pray without ceasing, you will be deceived. We will not be able to stand or resist by our own strength, because there will be a “great delusion”. The jab is not the hour of temptation, nor is it the mark of the beast. That won’t be revealed until AFTER the A/C is on the scene. You can see Matthew 24 for this. Blessings and shalom. 🙂

    • Will on October 27, 2022 at 2:05 am

      Hi Anthony,
      I believe that you mean well, but your research seems a little “off target” maybe based on your interpretation as opposed to receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit.
      If I may, I’d suggest that you take some time to review the scriptures with the assistance from the blueletterbible study guide with David Guzik, a renown biblical scholar.

      We all can learn from one another and while it’s critical that in order to become an effective witness for Christ, we must understand that in all of our getting, we must get understanding from the Holy Spirit.

      Prior to posting comments publicly, I’d recommend that you maybe vette your thoughts with a knowledgeable believer to ensure that what we post actually helps and nit hinder anyone.

    • Luther on March 17, 2023 at 11:19 am

      Anthony, I agree with you.

      • Nancy on April 16, 2023 at 1:33 pm

        Anthony is on point in regard to the anti Christ.

  8. Slam Dunk on June 23, 2022 at 7:53 am

    QUALIFYING FOR THE RAPTURE

    “Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.” (Rev. 3:10)

    Many believe this passage is the rapture where the church is taken up to be kept from or out of the hour of trial, which is viewed as the tribulation period. All believers want to be raptured, but are they all qualified? That may sound like a silly question, but notice Jesus said that ONLY those who have kept His word of perseverance will be kept from the hour of trial. But is Jesus talking about a general perseverance in the faith, something specific, or is He talking about the tribulation? The following gives us a clue:

    “If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the PERSEVERANCE and faith of the saints.” (Rev. 13:10)

    “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment as-cends forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, whoever receives the mark of his name. “Here’s the PERSEVERANCE of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Rev. 14:9-12)

    It will be those who stand strong in their faith and perseverance whom God will keep from the temptation to deny Christ, worship the antichrist or take his mark. God will not let His faithful turn away from Him (Jer. 32:40, 1 Pet. 1:5). The hour of trial is not a seven-year tribulation

  9. Jamie on December 5, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    Someone pointed out to me that Revelations 3:10 is directed in the singular (thou). Therefore it must be referring to only one person. What can we say about that? How can we say that it is more than one person when the verse only says ‘thou’.

  10. Gods Child on March 12, 2023 at 10:58 pm

    The lord knows us individually and as a whole so when he says “thou ” it’s as if he is speaking to each of us DIRECTLY as in saying ” YOU”.

    It’s a collective YOU or “thou” …

  11. Dennis Hines on February 16, 2024 at 10:15 pm

    I believe that Jesus Christ will rapture his saint’s before the mark of the beast comes to put a mark on his right hand or foreheads.
    2 Timothy 2:15 states: be not of ashamed of rightly dividing the word of God.
    Paul taught a rapture or caught up together in 1 thessalonians 4 13-18
    Revelation 3:10 states God will keep us away from what is coming up on the whole world.
    I believe this is the mark of the beast.
    I fully believe we will be gone.
    Saved through the blood of Jesus Christ through faith in truth and spirit.
    It the grace of God. A gift, not of your works.

  12. Bill on March 9, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    I would like to start with the following. I hope that this information will be of some help.

    What does “the hour of temptation” mean?

    Dr. John Ankerberg: Let me give you a little bit more information about Jesus’ promise, “I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation.” The Greek word for temptation, peirasmos, and its related verb, peirazo, have two basic meanings. First, they refer to testing or trying people to determine, demonstrate or expose the kind of people they are. For example, Jesus asked Philip a question to peirazo him, to test him, to try him (John 6:6).

    Arndt and Gingrich in their Greek Lexicon assert that the noun peirasmos means “test, trial” and its related verb peirazo means “to try, make trial of, put to the test to discover what kind of person someone is.” This definition fits the exact context of Revelation 3:10 where the purpose of the trial, temptation, or testing is said to be “to try them that dwell upon the earth.” The “earth dwellers” are not Christians; ——>they have turned against God and hate God. God will test or try these people during the “Tribulation time” period to expose the kind of people they are.
    ————————————————————————————

    Strongs # Hebrew Transliterated English Equivalent
    Old Testament (Hebrew) for “temptation”
    H4531 מַסָּה massâ temptation trial

    Strongs # Greek Transliterated English Equivalent
    New Testament (Greek) for “temptation”
    G3986 πειρασμός peirasmos temptation, temptations, try

    ————————————————————————————

    sa 95:8
    Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

    Mat 6:13
    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

    Mat 26:41
    Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

    Mar 14:38
    Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

    Luk 4:13
    And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

    Luk 8:13
    They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

    Luk 11:4
    And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

    Luk 22:40
    And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

    Luk 22:46
    And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

    1Co 10:13
    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

    Gal 4:14
    And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

    1Ti 6:9
    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

    Heb 3:8

    Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

    as 1:12
    Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

    Rev 3:10
    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.

  13. Bill on March 9, 2024 at 6:58 pm

    See the door coming open? There is more for us all to see and understand.

    Trail(H4531) is also a Temptation in the Old Testament. So all becomes “Time of Temptation”. But based on just the Strongs # number below, it could have been written as “Time of Trial”.

    Strongs # Hebrew Transliterated English Equivalent
    Old Testament (Hebrew) for “trial”<—–
    H974 בָּחַן bāḥan try, prove, examine, tempt, trial
    H4531 מַסָּה massâ temptation<—, trial<——–
    ——————————————————————————–
    Strongs # Hebrew Transliterated English Equivalent
    New Testament (Greek) for "trial"<——-
    G1382 δοκιμή dokimē proof, experience, trial, experiment
    G1383 δοκίμιον dokimion trying, trial
    G3984 πεῖρα peira assay, trial
    G4451 πύρωσις pyrōsis burning, fiery trial

  14. Bill on March 9, 2024 at 7:34 pm

    So what does this have to do with Revelation 3:10, specifically “hour of temptation”. Because one hour may be a number. But this raises another question. How can Biblical time be converted to Gregorian based on the 7 years of Tribulation. Well, here is your answer below. One hour is 15 Days. Now, is this important -Yes. Because, it was left for us to find. Both are important!

    HOW IS IT DONE – Hope this helps?

    One Biblical Week is 7 Years

    “Silence for half an hour (Rev.8.1) before God’s wrath begins“. If One hour is 15 days, then One half hour must 7.5 days. Translation, – Biblical time to Gregorian.

    The “hour of temptation” (Revelation 3:10) is equivalent to 15 days, if Daniel’s Seventieth Week (1 week) equals 2,520 days. One hour would be 1/168 of a week or .0059523 of a week, which is 15 days.

    7 days is 7 Years
    360 Days X 7 Biblical Years = 2520 Days for 7 Biblical Years
    360 Days X 24 Hours = 8640 Hours for 360 Biblical Days

    1 week X 7 days X 24 Hours = 168 hours
    1 week = 7 years
    7 years X 360 Days = 2520 Days for 7 Biblical Years

    one hour or 1 week
    (1) hour/168 hours = 0.005952380952381 of a week

    2520 days X 0.005952380952381 = 15 days

    one half hour for 1 week
    (.5) hour/168 hours = 0.0029761904761905 of a week
    2520 days X 0.0029761904761905 = 7.5 days

    Proof Only
    1 week X 7 days X 24 Hours = 168 hours
    (168) hour/168 hours = 1 week
    2520 days X 1 = 2520 days

  15. Bill on March 9, 2024 at 7:38 pm

    To the moderator. You may well wish that these postings did not disappear. G_D, be with you!

    • John Ankerberg Show Staff on March 11, 2024 at 10:35 am

      Hi Bill! Our site is manually moderated to insure our site guidelines for posting are met. Since we do not work on the weekends, all comments posted over the weekend will be moderated Monday mornings. I hope this helps!

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