Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 166:663 (Jul 2009)
Article: The Meaning of “Earth Dwellers” in Revelation
Author: Thomas D. Ice

BibSac 166:663 (Jul 2009) p. 350

The Meaning of “Earth Dwellers” in Revelation

Thomas D. Ice

Thomas D. Ice is Executive Director, Pre-Trib Research Center, and Associate Professor of Theology, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Revelation 3:10 is known as a verse that supports the pretribulational rapture. The second half of the verse introduces the concept of the “earth dwellers.” “Because you have kept the word of My 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 dwell upon the earth.” The clause οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, “those who dwell on the earth” (or a close variant) is used eleven times in nine verses in Revelation (3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10 [twice]; 13:8, 12, 14 [twice]; 14:6; 17:8). This is “a technical term throughout Revelation for unbelieving idolaters, who suffer under various forms of retributive tribulation.”1

Old Testament Background

The concept “earth dwellers” originates in the Old Testament, where participial forms of יָשַׁב (“to dwell”) are used in construct with אֶרֶץ (“earth”) almost fifty times. Often “earth dwellers” in the Old Testament is translated “land dwellers” or “inhabitants of the land,” since the context refers to a localized area of land or country such as Israel. However, in a global context the phrase is best rendered “inhabitants of the earth” (Ps. 33:14; Isa. 24:6, 17; 26:21; Jer. 25:30; Zeph. 1:18). A similar phrase, יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל, “world dwellers,” occurs five times. All five instances of “inhabitants of the world” appear in a global context (Ps. 33:8; Isa. 18:3; 26:9, 18