The Hour of Temptation

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.^{Rev. 3:10} 

This is often cited to say that the saved believers will be protected from the tribulation, which is assumed to be the hour of temptation. One problem is that it doesn’t say anything about being kept from tribulation or the tribulation. Another problem is that the word used to promise to keep thee from the hour is terew: tereo is durative and means to guard which makes the promise a promise to guard through the hour of temptation, i.e., protect from the temptation while enduring the hour of temptation. 

Jesus spoke of this temptation during the ministry of His first coming, warning Peter Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. ^{Luke 22:31} Very much is being said by the Author with these few words. Jesus addresses Peter as Simon. Peter was named Simon, but Jesus named him Peter. Peter was the new man conceived in the Spirit, but Simon was the old man conceived in the flesh in the dominion of the devil. He is speaking of the old man, the part that still belongs to Satan until we receive our immortal bodies at His coming. The Greek word rendered has desired to have is exhtewmai exaiteomai. It is a legal term which means to demand by right. The sense of what is being said is Satan has presented a warrant to arrest and try you…. The word translated you is `umaV: humas, which means you, but is plural. Jesus is not only telling Peter that he will be tried, but is also warning the rest of us that Satan will try the old man, the Simon in all of us.

We are the Lord’s by faith and we have a lifetime of temptation, but the hour of temptation comes when the Lord says something like Hast thou considered my servant.^Job1:8 When the Lord claims the new man as His servant, Satan has a right to attempt to prove his claim to the old man to see who prevails. When our faith endures the hour of temptation, we have overcome Satan and are the Lord’s, in fact.