Robert H. Gundry and Revelation 3:10 -- By: Thomas R. Edgar

Journal: Grace Theological Journal
Volume: GTJ 03:1 (Spring 1982)
Article: Robert H. Gundry and Revelation 3:10
Author: Thomas R. Edgar


Robert H. Gundry and Revelation 3:10

Thomas R. Edgar

Robert Gundrys interpretation of Rev 3:10 is impossible grammatically and linguistically. The separation of the expression τηρέω ἐκ into two separate and contradictory aspects is a grammatical impossibility. In addition, the lexical meanings Gundry assigns to the verb and preposition are impossible in the expression τηρέω ἐκ unless this grammatically incorrect separation is maintained. On a purely factual basis, it is shown that, contrary to Gundrys statements, the expression τηρέω ἐκ is ideally suited to the pretribulational perspective of Rev 3:10.

* * *

Rev 3:10 states, “Because thou has 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, which promises that believers will be “kept from the hour of trial coming on the entire earth,” seems to teach a pretribulational rapture (departure of the church to be with the Lord before the tribulation period). The words τηρέω ἐκ (“keep from,” “keep out of”) seem clear. However, those who believe that the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation (posttribulational rapture) argue that τηρέω ἐκ does not support a pretribulational rapture, but instead means “protect through,” or “protect in” the tribulation, or some similar concept.

A relatively recent argument against a pretribulational rapture, which stresses that τηρήσω ἐκ does not mean “keep from” the time of tribulation, is The Church and the Tribulation, by Robert H. Gundry. The publishers state on the flyleaf that they believe “it will become the standard text on the posttribulational viewpoint of the rapture of the church.”1 However, Gundry’s book is best described as an

argument against pretributationism rather than as support for posttribulationism, since the book consists of an attempt to refute the ideas of pretribulationalism rather than a real positive argument for a posttribulational rapture. Any attempt to derive Gundry’s “system” from his book is very difficult, since he does not state it explicitly and some of his arguments and conclusions contradict others.

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