There's a Crack in Your Armor Perry Stone

unless it was for them to prove and demonstrate the miraculous gifts as a sign of apostleship, which Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:12. Another powerful example where this word is used is in Revelation 3:10: Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. There is time of testing and trial coming upon the entire earth, to test (or “try,” KJV ) those who dwell in the earth. The Greek word peirazo is the word for “test.” This testing is believed to refer to the Great Tribulation that is coming in the future upon the entire world. Here Christ promised to “keep” the church from the hour of testing. The Greek word for “keep” here refers to guarding something to prevent it from loss or injury; to keep an eye upon. This is the same Greek word used when Christ was praying for His disciples that the Father would keep them from evil and keep them through His name (John 17:11, 15). It should be clear that there is a difference between a test that is permitted by the Lord and a test that is initiated by Satan. When God places us in a test, the purpose is to reveal the strength of our faith and to purify our minds and spirits by burning out the excessive dross that is in the precious metal vessel (2 Tim. 2:20). The test of Satan, in the form of temptation and harassment, is designed to make us fall into sin, lose our faith and confidence in God, and turn away from the truth.