I’m about raptured out. Good conversation, Rob. I will have to confess a preference for a position that stands with the great Confessions of the Church and the great teachers of the faith. I see the rapture not as heresy, but as innovation, and I am no innovator.

Rev 3:10 ESV Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

1) Whatever it says, it doesn’t teach two coming of Christ, one secret and one public.
2) It is written to the First Centruy Church at Philadelphia, so unless you believe in multiple layers of meaning in plain texts, whatever it meant applied to the first century primarily.
3) Here is Strong’s on the word for “Keep”:

5083 tereo {tay-reh’-o}
Meaning: 1) to attend to carefully, take care of 1a) to guard 1b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is 1c) to observe 1d) to reserve: to undergo something
Usage: AV – keep 57, reserve 8, observe 4, watch 2, preserve 2, keeper 1, hold fast 1; 75

4)In Revelation, the believers are called to obedience to Christ and not capitulation to emperor worship. The entire book predicts suffering even death, in the future, BUT believers are promised that they will be protected (Sealed, kept) during any future trials, persecutions of judgements. This follows the pattern of Exodus, where the plagues of judgement do not fall upon the Israelites. They are “kept” from the hour of trial. This fits in with the “sealing” of the 144,000 (All God’s people) that protects them during trials of history.

5)Other verses that use the same greek word:

ESV 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ESV 1 Peter 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

I would conclude that this is a promise of God’s protection during persecution, not a promise to escape it. The word does not mean escape, but preservation or being held. The texts that tell Christians to expect persecution are too numerous too mention.

Bring out the doctrine of election at your own risk brother! That will get my wife on here. (A Shi’ite Calvinist carrying a metal chair for ammo.)

Ralph Stanley. Ralph Stanley sings on the corner of my block every Saturday night. Alison Krauss is my neighbor. Del Mc is my boy. You know who should have won all the awards? STEVE EARLE!!!!! Now that’s music!