The original NT manuscripts did not include chapter and verse divisions. Stephen Langton developed the modern verses and chapters in AD 1205.
The original NT manuscripts followed scriptio continua, that is, continuous capital letters (uncials) in block letters with no spaces between words or sentences. Occasionally, a scribe would put a small mark to indicate where he thought a new paragraph or subject began. In later uncials (fifth century and later) and minuscules (9th to 15th centuries; lowercase letters written in a cursive style and taking up less space), scribes added rudimentary punctuation.
Here are two options for punctuating Rev 3:9-10 with the key issue in bold:
Option 1: … I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial…
Option 2: … I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you, because you have kept My command to persevere. I also will keep you from the hour of trial…
Years ago, Dr. John Niëmela gave a powerful message at our conference advocating for option 2. He won me over the moment I understood that he introduced a comma instead of a period at the end of v 9. He pointed out that John rarely started a sentence with the word because. Over ninety percent of the time, John concludes a sentence with a clause beginning with the word because. That makes perfect sense here.
What difference does it make?
The main difference is that many Evangelicals suggest that God does not love us for what we do. He simply loves us unconditionally because we are His.
If verse nine should end with a comma, then God’s love for the believers at Philadelphia is indeed because of their works.
Some, like Dr. John Walvoord in his commentary on Revelation, think that “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole earth” refers to the Tribulation. Believers will be “kept out of” the Tribulation by being removed before it starts.
Vacendak suggests a different understanding of the hour of trial:
That it is not referring to the Tribulation Period is clear, as all Church-Age believers will be protected from that hour (via the Rapture). Here Jesus assures the obedient believers in Philadelphia that they would have His protection during this time of turmoil sent to trouble “those who dwell on the earth” (i.e., the unsaved; cf. 6:10; 11:10; 13:14; 14:6; 17:8) (“Revelation” in GNTC, p. 1268).
In any case, Rev 3:9-10 and the NT as a whole strongly connect God’s love with believers’ perseverance. Consider these verses:
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21).
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him…” (John 14:23).
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” (John 15:10).
“…keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).
We might add Rev 3:9 to that list: “I have loved you, because you have kept My command to persevere” (Rev 3:9).
Keep grace in focus, and you will meditate on God’s Word and its meaning.
