Sermon Central
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The Saints Of The End Times
Contributed by Larry Wolfe on Jul 1, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: The saints found in Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ exposed
‘The Saints of the End Times’
Understanding the language structure of the book of Daniel provides key insights into just who is being spoken of in the Scripture text. Chapters 1:1-2:4, the introduction of the book, are written in Hebrew. Chapter 2:4 through 7:28, including 2:4-6:28 the historic section and Daniel’s first prophetic vision 7:1-28, are written in Aramaic/Chaldee and focus upon Gentile/world history with chapter 8-12, the Hebrew/Jewish section, emphasizing the Jews, Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.
“The saints” who are mentioned in the Chaldee/Gentile section, which includes Daniel’s vision of chapter seven, indicates the worldwide end time Church of Jesus Christ, made up mainly of Gentiles, but also containing Jews as has been the case throughout the Church’s existence.
While the Aramaic/Chaldee language of chapter seven is an indicator of the continuing Gentile global application, the text itself also provides the key to this important fact as the word “saints” appears six times:
“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever. (Daniel 7:18)
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them (Daniel 7:21)
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most high (Daniel 7:22)
And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom (Daniel 7:22)
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:27)
In these six occurrences three important facts concerning all end times saints are recorded which are repeated in the Revelation:
1. The “little horn” [Antichrist] leads a global war with the saints
2. The “little horn” [Antichrist] prevails against the saints worldwide
3. The saints are given judgment, dominion, and the kingdom which
they possess eternally (Revelation 20:4, 22:5)
In the book of the Revelation the word “saints” is found (13) times referring once again to faithful Jews and Gentiles with a direct parallel to Daniel 7:21 found in Revelation 13:7:
“And it was given to him [The beast/Antichrist] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations.”
The global scope of the Antichrist’s actions during the end times against the saints, both Jew and Gentile, is seen in both of these references. The six occurrences of the word “saints” in Daniel chapter seven do not differentiate between Jew or Gentile saints.
These saints, both in Daniel chapter seven and Revelation chapter thirteen, comprise the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ and not just specifically Jews, for the kingdom will eventually belong to all children of God, Jews and Gentiles alike.
So, the saints mentioned in Daniel chapter seven and Revelation chapter thirteen make up the end times Church, which is the source for the majority of the other believers who are called:
“The People of the Apocalypse”.
The Church will be the source group from which Elijah (Malachi 4:5, 6; Matthew 17:11), The Woman (Revelation 12), The Remnant [rest] of Her [The Woman] Seed (Revelation 12:17), and Those that understand and have insight who instruct many in the land of Israel (Daniel 11:32, 35, 12:3, 10), The Martyrs (Revelation 6:11ff), and the 144 Thousand (Revelation 7:3-8) will all come forth.
These saints will experience Satan’s “great wrath” (Revelation 12:12) which is the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:14) when the Antichrist makes war with them and overcomes them during the most intensive time of persecution ever inflicted upon the people of God.
Those that endure and remain will be rescued (Matthew 24:14) when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to rapture the saints as He shortens the great tribulation in order to preserve His elect (Matthew 24:21, 22;
These are those saints who will experience first hand the Lord’s merging of economies, the Old and the New, the Church and the Jew, as His earthly people first of all, return to the Promised Land, become a nation, and occupy their beloved Jerusalem. In the process the Jews will fulfill the necessary 70th Week Bible prophecy with each progressive step (Daniel 9:24).
These saints are that privileged generation who will be:
“Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13, 14)
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26)
