3:10 Because thou hast (g) 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. 

(g) Because you have been patient and constant, as I would have my servants be.

Verse 10. The word of my patience] The doctrine which has exposed you to so much trouble and persecution, and required so much patience and magnanimity to bear up under its attendant trials. 

The hour of temptation] A time of sore and peculiar trial which might have proved too much for their strength. He who is faithful to the grace of God is often hidden from trials and difficulties which fall without mitigation on those who have been unfaithful in his covenant. Many understand by the hour of temptation the persecution under Trajan, which was greater and more extensive than the preceding ones under Nero and Domitian. 

To try them] That is, such persecutions will be the means of trying and proving those who profess Christianity, and showing who were sound and thorough Christians and who were not.

The hour of temptation; a season of fiery trial, apparently in the shape of severe persecution.

10. patience--"endurance." "The word of My endurance" is My Gospel word, which teaches patient endurance in expectation of my coming (Re 1:9). My endurance is the endurance which I require, and which I practice. Christ Himself now endures, patiently waiting until the usurper be cast out, and all "His enemies be made His footstool." So, too, His Church, for the joy before her of sharing His coming kingdom, endures patiently. Hence, in Re 3:11, follows, "Behold, I come quickly." 

I also--The reward is in kind: "because thou didst keep," &c. "I also (on My side) will keep thee," &c. 

from--Greek, "(so as to deliver thee) out of," not to exempt from temptation. 

the hour of temptation--the appointed season of affliction and temptation (so in De 4:34 the plagues are called "the temptations of Egypt"), literally, "the temptation": the sore temptation which is coming on: the time of great tribulation before Christ's second coming. 

to try them that dwell upon the earth--those who are of earth, earthy (Re 8:13). "Dwell" implies that their home is earth, not heaven. All mankind, except the elect (Re 13:8,14). The temptation brings out the fidelity of those kept by Christ and hardens the unbelieving reprobates (Re 9:20,21; 16:11,21). The particular persecutions which befell Philadelphia shortly after, were the earnest of the great last tribulation before Christ's coming, to which the Church's attention in all ages is directed.

V. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience-The word of Christ is indeed a word of patience. 

I also will keep thee-O happy exemption from that spreading calamity! 

From the hour of temptation-So that thou shalt not enter into temptation; but it shall pass over thee. The hour denotes the short time of its continuance; that is, at any one place. At every one it was very sharp, though short; wherein the great tempter was not idle, Re 2:10. 

Which hour shall come upon the whole earth-The whole Roman empire. It went over the Christians, and over the Jews and heathens; though in a very different manner. This was the time of the persecution under the seemingly virtuous emperor Trajan. The two preceding persecutions were under those monsters, Nero and Domitian; but Trajan was so admired for his goodness, and his persecution was of such a nature, that it was a temptation indeed, and did throughly try them that dwelt upon the earth.

Hast kept the word of my patience. Hast endured and kept my word. 

In the hour of temptation. Of stern and cruel trial. Some great crisis of trial and sorrow which should come on all the world. We may not know just what our Lord referred to, but we can believe that he fulfilled his promise. The Lord's coming is promised in Re 2:25; in Re 3:3, and here. In the first instance it is said he will "come;" in the second, "as a thief;" here, that he will come "quickly."

Patience (hupomenês). "Endurance" as in Re 13:10; 14:12 as also in 2Th 3:5. Thou didst keep (etêrêsas) --I also will keep (kagô têrêsô). Aorist active indicative and future active corresponding to each other. For a like play on the tenses of this verb by Christ see Joh 17:6 (tetêrêkan), Joh 17:11 (têrêson), Joh 17:12 (etêroun). From the hour of trial (ek tês hôras tou peirasmou). This use of ek after têreô in Joh 17:15, apo in Jas 1:27. Trial brings temptation often (Jas 1:2,13). Jesus endured (Heb 12:1) and he will help them. There is still a church in Philadelphia in spite of the Turks. Which is to come (tês mellousês erchesthai). Agreeing with hôras (feminine), not with peirasmou (masculine). Upon the whole world (epi tês epoikoumenês holês). The inhabited earth (gês) as in Re 12:19; Lu 2:1; Ac 16:6, etc.), not the physical earth, but the world of men as explained by the next clause. To try (peirasai). First aorist active infinitive of purpose from peirazô, probably to tempt (cf. the demons in Re 9:1-21), not merely to afflict (Re 2:10). That dwell upon the earth (tous katoikountas epi tês gês). Present active articular participle of katoikeô, explaining "the whole world" just before.

Word of my patience. The teachings of Jesus which encourage and enjoin loyal endurance.

Keep thee from the hour of trial. This does not mean kept from tribulation, but delivered from disaster in the time of trial.

The whole world. This is the first intimation of a widespread persecution, which reaches its climax in Re 3:13.

Still our blessed Saviour proceeds with promises and encouragements to this church, Because thou hast kept the word of my patience. 

Here note, That the doctrine of the gospel is called the word of Christ's patience, partly because it teaches patience in persecuting times, and partly because it is a doctrine which cannot firmly be adhered to without patience, Thou hast kept the word of my patience. 

To keep this word of Christ's patience, implies not only the keeping his doctrine pure and uncorrupted from error, but also the observing and practising all the duties of a good life. 

And note, The reward promised to this church for the performing of this duty, Because thou hast kept--I will keep thee; Christ will not be behind-hand in rewarding our obedience, no, not in this life: I will (here) keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world. 

Here note, 1. That a time of affliction, much more of persecution, is a time of temptation, because an afflicted and persecuted state hath many circumstances attending it, by which all are tried and some ensnared. 

Note, 2. That a time of trial and temptation will come, most certainly come, sooner or later, upon all persons that dwell upon the earth, upon sinners as well as saints, upon hypocrites as well as sincere Christians; which trials will infallibly discover the faith and constancy of the one, the corruption and apostasy of the other: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation.