It Hinges Upon The Meaning Of One Little Word

Q. I have a question about Revelation 3:10, I understand post trib rapture believers say that Revelation 3:10 implies protection while through but not removal from the tribulation. Here is one argument that I am constantly faced with when trying to tell a “post tribber” about the pre trib rapture:

Pre-tribbers claim the word “from” in the Greek [ek] means “out of.” Therefore, we claim we will be physically kept “out of” the tribulation.

Post-tribbers claim that the meaning of “ek” would more accurately be translated “out from among,” or “out of the midst of.” They say this is how it is defined in the Greek lexicons. In Rev. 3:10, the object is the tribulation. In order to come “out from among” the tribulation you must first be IN the tribulation.

A. According to Strong’s concordance the Greek word ek is “a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause); literal or figurative.”

If so, then the Lord’s promise to keep us from the hour of trial means out of the place of the hour of trial, out of the time of the hour of trial and out its cause, which according to Jeremiah 30:1-11 is the complete destruction of the nations among which Israel has been scattered and the discipline of Israel.

This view is supported by Paul’s declaration in 1 Thes. 1:10 that Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath. He used a different Greek word that’s also translated from. This word is “apo” and it means a separation of distance, time, and origin from the object.

Although none of the rapture timing positions can be absolutely proven from a literal reading of Scripture, the belief that the Church will be absent from all of the 70th Week of Daniel, including the Great Tribulation, is supported by the greatest weight of evidence by far.