Jesus himself had undergone extreme pressures during his ministry to deny the Lord his God (see Luke 4:1–44), to say nothing of the stresses he endured during his trial and crucifixion. Yet he endured in the midst of temptations and so demonstrated his sovereignty over any (evil) force. His victory in the face of pressures was proclaimed to the saints in Philadelphia, and the saints in this church acted in step with the obligation that follows from belonging to this sovereign Saviour (they “kept” Jesus’ word). Because they followed in Jesus’ footsteps in the face of opposition from the synagogue of Satan, Jesus would keep them in the coming hour of trial.
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.