Who are the saints in Rev. 13:7 on the earth that the Antichrist can make war with on the earth?
Revelation 13:7
ESV - 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.
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Asked January 12 2024
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karen Casey
Supporter
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Mark Vestal
Supporter
I see this being anyone who will become a believer during the 7-year tribulation, those who refuse the mark of the beast and "endure unto the end" (Matt 24:13, Rev 20:4). I am a believer in the pre-tribulation "catching away" for the church, the body of Christ (1 Thes 4:17). Paul describes believers today not being appointed to God's coming wrath, but to obtain salvation by God's grace (1 Thes 5:9). It would not make sense for believers today, during God's Eph 3:2 'age of grace', who are compiling the church, the body of Christ, and already protected and hidden "in Christ" upon belief, to also endure Daniel's prophetic '70th week' for Israel of God's wrath. Israel's 'prophecy' does not coincide with the 'mystery' church that was revealed to Paul for us. 1 Thes 5:5 "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." 1 Thes 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," Obtaining salvation means eternal security for believers, thus being protected from God's coming wrath. God poured His wrath out on Jesus Christ for all who will believe today as His gift to the world (Eph 2:8-9), and be freed from the punishment that is to come for those who refused to believe in His Gift of love and grace.
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
In my opinion, these are the saved people who have not already been killed in the first 3 years of the 7 year tribulation. These are not just people who have been saved after a pre-tribulation rapture. To me the book of Revelation is pretty clear that verses 12 through 16 of the 14th chapter is where God harvests the earth (the rapture) and verses 17-20 describe the wrath of God poured out on all those who are left. In the first chapter of Revelation, we are told that it is a book of prophecy. Elsewhere in the Bible, we are told that prophecy is a gift for believers. If there were no Christians around due to a pre-tribulation rapture, why would we need to know what would happen then? There are many other reasons I don't believe there will be a pre-tribulation rapture. Some of which are the 3 1/2 year periods spoken of in different ways in the book of Daniel and in Revelation. There has to be a major significance about the midway point of the 7 year tribulation. Another is the verses in chapter 13 that says paraphrased: From now on, he who is to die by the sword will die by the sword, he is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. This to me was a way of saying at that time that from now on you can't be saved. This is just be before the day of judgment spoken on in chapter 14. As much as I hope I am wrong because I believe that time is coming soon, I believe Christians in the last days will need this information because they will have to try to survive for at least 3 1/2 years of the worse times in earth's history.
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