The Hour of Temptation
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world,” (Rev 3:10a KJV)
The hour of temptation is referring to the wrath to come- the seven year tribulation that is about to be poured out upon the Earth (Rev 6-18). Jesus is promising that the Church that keeps His Word will be spared from His wrath and raptured beforehand. This is also taught by Paul to the Romans and the Thessalonians.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Rom 5:9 KJV)
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1Th 1:10 KJV)
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1Th 5:9 KJV)
The fact that this is referring to the wrath that is to come after the Church is raptured is also seen in the fact that the hour of temptation is coming upon all the world.
Them that Dwell on the Earth
“to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev 3:10b KJV)
Throughout the book of revelation, the phrase ‘them that dwell on the earth’ refers to the non-elect, those whose names were not written in the book of life.
“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Rev 6:10 KJV)
“And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” (Rev 8:13 KJV)
“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” (Rev 11:10 KJV)
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13:8 KJV)
“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Rev 17:8 KJV)
Since believers are spared from that hour, and that the wrath of God is poured out on all them that dwell on the earth, it stands to reason that the Church is no longer on the earth at this time.