NO. 69 THE TEMPTATION IN THE END TIME

TEXT: REVELATION 3: 10, 11 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.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (KJV)

Today I am going to give a message entitled “THE TEMPTATION IN THE ENT TIME.”

The text is one of the parts of the letters to the church in Philadelphia among the seven. It is written of the hour of temptation that shall come upon the whole world.

We are going to learn of it.

Judging from the word, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,” there are many who think that this church will be taken into the rapture. I personally do not think so.

For the word keep in the same original language is also used in the following verse.

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

The word applied here is the same as the one to the church in Philadelphia in terms of original language. This is the word of the Lord when He prays to be with them at the last supper. Attention should be paid to His word.

“Thou shouldest take them out of the world” may foresee that the Church will be taken into heaven and will not suffer from the pain or trouble in the tribulation age. But this is not His wish or prayer. On the contrary His wish is that “thou shouldest keep them from the evil” in the age. His prayer assumes that His disciples are still in the world in the age.

The word translated into temptation is peirasmos in Greek. We are going to see how this word is used in the New Testament.

(1) JAMES 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. (KJV)

We find the same two words, temptation and crown, as used in the text. We know from this verse that it is very hard to receive the crown of life in the end time. For it is written, not that the crown is for anybody who wants, but “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.”

Though Revelation mentions four churches that go through the end time, there is only one church, the church in Philadelphia that will not be judged in the end time. The other churches all imply to be judged in the end time if they continue their own way of walking without repentance. They will not receive the crown.

It is written in the text, “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.” This verse is similar to, “Blessed is the man who endureth temptation.” What do they suggest?

It seems to tell not that the Church will escape from the tribulation age but that it will endure through the age.

Paul says that we should run the race to receive the crown. As only the winner receives the crown in the ancient Olympic, we are also expected to do so.

(2) MATTHEW 6: 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (KJV)

The prayer for the temptation in the end time is included in the Lord’s Prayer. For the word of temptation used here is the same as the word in the Revelation. God has given us this prayer and we devote ourselves to it every week. That has some meaning. That is, we must prepare for the time of temptation. Why do we have to pray this prayer repeatedly? For many will fall into the temptation despite of their prayers.

There are many verses to mention of the temptation.

(3) 1 PETER 4: 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. (KJV)

He calls the temptation as the fiery trial.

(4) LUKE 8: 13 Then 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. (KJV)

It is written in Ezekiel, “to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” We must build the foundation and spread the roots to prepare for the end time day, the day of temptation. Otherwise, “which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

(5) 1 CORINTHIANS 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 temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (KJV)

We may enter the temptation in the tribulation age. But the way to escape is also provided with in it.

(6) MATTHEW 26: 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week. (KJV)

The word used here, “temptation,” is the same one as “trial” in original language. The image of the disciples who have fallen into sleep though they want to follow the Lord in the darkness of Gethsemane speaks something to the disciples in the end time. When we are awake and continue to pray, we will be protected from the time of temptation.

(7) 2 PETER 2: 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. (KJV)

The time of temptation or trial is when the believers are put into sifting. The devout will be delivered out of the temptation, but the unjust will be reserved to put into the delusion until the judgment day.

(8) LUKE 22: 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. (KJV)

This is the word for His disciples. And if we walk as His disciples, we will be able to follow Him even in the time of temptation.

Let’s do His will in the end time.

End.