The Bible prophesies that in the last days, the fourth beast, led by the Assyrian, will make “war with the saints” (ref. Daniel 7:21, Revelation 13:7), and furthermore, Mystery Babylon, led by the False Prophet, will be “drunken with the blood of the saints” (ref. Revelation 17:6). So, to understand what is about to unfold in these last days, it is important to examine the meaning of a “saint”.
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them
Daniel 7:21
And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…
Revelation 17:5-6
A saint is a sanctified person, somebody set apart from the world. As Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Holy One of God, so a saint is one of the sons of God, one of the holy ones of God.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 2:26-27
Protestants today think that all Bible believing Christians are saints. By contrast, Catholics today insist that a saint is someone who has been beatified and then canonized by the Vatican, typically someone who has died and someone who had performed at least two miracles while he or she lived.
I am here to tell you that both sides are wrong.
First of all, it should be obvious that the position of the Catholic church must be wrong, because of the aforementioned prophecy that the enemy will wage war against the saints, and will spill the blood of the saints. If a saint were someone already in heaven, then spilling the blood of the saints would be impossible.
The next thing to understand is that, after the reaping on the day of the LORD, there will be two groups of born-again Christians. One group, numbering in the ten thousands, will return to earth alongside Jesus Christ (ref. Jude 1:14-15, Deuteronomy 33:2), and the other, which is everyone else, will remain in heaven to serve the throne of God there (ref. Revelation 7:9-17).
The group that returns with Lord Jesus Christ is described in Jude as “saints”. This essentially answers the question, what is a saint?
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all…
Jude 1:14-15
The Greek of “saints” in Jude 1:14-15 is “hagiais”, which is the feminine plural form of “holy”. It is feminine, because, by this time, the saints will be “the bride of Christ”.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:7-8
As Paul put it, on the day of Christ, the church will be “one flesh” with its head who is Jesus Christ (ref. Ephesians 5:30-32). In other words, the saints will be given the Holy Spirit, and so thereafter be one with Christ.
And I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 2:28
To be specific, a saint is a man, given wings as eagles (ref. Isaiah 40:31) and made equal unto the angels (ref. Luke 20:35-36), who returns to earth as a servant of Jesus to judge the world.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1 Corinthians 6:1-3
A saint is also to be a priest of God in the world.
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:10
And a saint is also to be, in the world, a soldier of Christ.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Because Jesus Christ is “the arm of the LORD” (ref. Isaiah 53:1), throughout the world, the saints, being one with Christ, will wield, as it were, the hand of God (ref. 1).
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isaiah 40:10
So, the “King of the saints” (ref. Revelation 15:3) is Jesus Christ, and the saints are the soldiers of one of his armies (ref. Revelation 19:14) – the other being the angelic army led by the archangel Michael.
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
Psalms 89:7-8
Another way to look at things is to regard a saint as a kind of knight. During the Middle Ages, a knight was not only a warrior who had pledged allegiance to the king, someone in command of men-at-arms, but he was also a noble and a lord. As a lord, a knight governed a fief on behalf of the king. This liege lord not only provided safety to those under his care through his castle and his men-at-arms, but he also judged any disputes. This idea of fiefdom explains the parable of the talents (ref. Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-26).
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Luke 19:17
His lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:21
The analogy of a knight, who is to have lordship over an area, also explains the other title of Jesus Christ, “Lord of lords”, which is beside “King of kings”.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:16
On the day of Christ, the saints will even be upon white horses (ref. Revelation 19:14), wielding the two-edged sword that is the Word of God (ref. Psalms 149:6), like a cavalry of medieval knights.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Revelation 19:14
There will be no women and children among the saints. Those Christians that are not to fight the evil in this world will remain in heaven for the duration of the Millennial Reign. A thousand years on earth is like one day in heaven (ref. 2 Peter 3:8).
To be a saint is a “reward” (ref. Revelation 22:12) and an “honour” (ref. Psalms 149:9).
Everyone who is to be a saint has been “chosen” and “predestined” to be so (ref. Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-11).
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
1 Samuel 2:9
Everyone who is to be a saint will have been named by God (ref. Isaiah 40:26).
… that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isaiah 40:26
Everyone who is to be a saint should, at some stage, understand the mystery of the will of God (ref. Ephesians 1:9, Colossians 1:26) – that is to say, understand Bible prophecy!
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself
Ephesians 1:9
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
Colossians 1:26
I say, at some stage, because every saint must figure things out. No one is born with wisdom.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
To this point, Paul who was himself a saint (ref. Ephesian 3:8) said on a number of occasions that he had to go to certain places to minister unto the saints who were there (ref. Romans 15:25).
But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
Romans 15:25
This means, those who have been called to be saints must learn about what is going on: the saints must seek the truth and others must help the saints do so.
Ephesians 4:7-12 is clear that the saints must be perfected through apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ… And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
Ephesians 4:7-12
At the time of the ministry of Paul, there were saints in churches all over, among the population of Christians (ref. 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1).
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints… Grace be unto you…
1 Corinthians 1:2
And at that time, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had to minister unto them, despite some of the saints back then being near bishops and deacons. The Holy Spirit through Paul had to minister because the canon of the Bible had not yet formed.
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you…
Philippians 1:1
Having explained what a saint is, I will now move on to the matter of who some of the saints might be at the time of the end, during the period known as the great tribulation.
It is Bible prophecy that at the time of the end, the Antichrist will make war against the saints (ref. Revelation 13:7), and furthermore Mystery Babylon under the False Prophet will be drunk with the blood of the saints (ref. Revelation 17:6).
The Greek of “saints” in Revelation 13:7, the ones against whom the Antichrist will make war, is “hagion”, which is the masculine plural form of “hagios”, meaning “holy” or “sanctified”. It is masculine, because at this time, the saints will still be human beings.
The Greek of “saints” in Revelation 17:6, whose blood will make Mystery Babylon drunk, is also “hagion”, again the masculine plural form.
Some of these saints will be Christians, which is the point of Revelation 12:17, because the testimony of Jesus Christ is the New Testament.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:17
Some of these saints will be Jews, which is the point of Revelation 12:13, because the woman which brought forth the Son of man Jesus Christ is the bloodline of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a certain “elect” of the Jews.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast out unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Revelation 12:13
In Daniel, it is also written that the beast will war against “the saints”. The original Aramaic of “saints” in Daniel 7 is transliterated “qiddiysh”, which is close to “kadosh”, Hebrew for “holy”.
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus said he, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth…
Daniel 7:21-23
About the saints among the Jews, notice that the 144000, “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (ref. Revelation 14:1-5), are all Jewish men (ref. Revelation 7:1-8). These are described in Revelation, before Revelation moves on to the great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and tongues (ref. Revelation 7:9) – the Gentiles.
Therefore, certain individual Jews are to be counted among the saints.
And, I think, it will be these saints especially that the Assyrian will try to kill.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days should be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
Regarding the Jews who come under attack at the time of the end, it should be noticed that those of them that are “the elect” will be given the Holy Spirit (ref. Mark 13:11), even before the Holy Spirit is poured out generally unto the remnant of Israel (ref. Zechariah 12:10, Joel 2:28-29). This means, these individual Jews will be, by definition, prophets of God.
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations [task of the two witnesses]. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mark 13:9-11
A prophet of God is someone who speaks by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (ref. 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:20-21
So, when the Bible says, Babylon shall shed the blood of prophets (ref. Revelation 16:6, 18:24), to my mind, it means these individuals.
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Revelation 18:24
As for Christians in these last days, apart from the two witnesses of Revelation 11, my sense is that there will not be any prophets of God, but only false prophets (ref. Matthew 24:11, Mark 13:22), wolves in sheep’s clothing. There will be no Christian prophets because all Christians already have access to the complete Word of God.
All this is not to say that Babylon will not kill Christians. Babylon’s bloodshed of Christians is described in the Bible as the woman being drunk with the blood of the “martyrs of Jesus” (ref. Revelation 17:6), and perhaps also with the blood of some of the “saints” (ref. Revelation 17:6).
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…
Revelation 17:6
The martyrs of Jesus are they who, along with the saints, will refuse to take the mark of the beast, and refuse to worship the beast (ref. Revelation 14:9-12). These are all who remain faithful to Jesus Christ, come what may.
Now, I would like to draw your attention to the Netflix TV series Shadow and Bone (2021), which tells the story of a “saint”, one “Alina Starkov”.
This story was inspired by a daemon, also known as a genie. I know this because Leigh Bardugo, the author of the novels “Shadow and Bone” and “Six of Crows”, which the TV series is based on, has explained in an interview that she suffers chronic pain due to a degenerative bone disease, which suggests that she has taken painkillers (ref. 2). Remember, taking painkillers invites demons!
Fundamental to the story of Shadow and Bone (2021) is something called the Shadow Fold, a darkness and shadowy region created by “the Black Heretic” that cuts the country of Ravka into west and east. Ravka is supposed to be a kind of Tsarist Russia. And neighbouring Ravka is another country called Shu Han, which is supposed to be a kind of China. Think Russia and China, as in the kings of the east.
The main character, Alina Starkov is part Ravkan and part Shu, at least in the TV series. More than that, she is played by the Chinese British actress Jessie Mei Li. I suppose, Alina Starkov being part Ravkan in the story is so that she can have the Ravkan surname, Starkov. The Russian sounding name “Starkov” essentially means “son of the star” or “belonging to the star”, since the suffix “ov” in Russian indicates possession and “kov” is a variation of that idea. I say “son” because if it were to be “daughter” then the suffix should be “ova” or “kova”, as in Starkova. The star in question, presumably, is the “Star out of Jacob”, namely Jesus Christ (ref. Numbers 24:17). So, Starkov can be understood as a son of God, the way that all Christians are “sons of God” (ref. John 1:12). So, this saint who is female but with a male name alludes to a man who becomes a part of the bride of Christ. Furthermore, the show was released on April 23. That’s 4+3 and 2. It also strikes me that the name “Alina” is an anagram. And above all, Alina is literally a “Great Light”.
By now, it might have occurred to you whom this person is that the demon that inspired the story is alluding to.
In the story, Alina Starkov is a Sun Summoner, a “saint”. Her title is “Sankta”.
Whether the demon of Shadow and Bone (2021) speaks the truth about the sanctity of the person meant by the character Alina Starkov is anybody’s guess. On the one hand, demons can time travel to see the future; on the other, demons like to lie.
Anyway, one takeaway from this is that Satan and his lot have identified someone who opposes them in these last days, a Christian who is actually “light”.
Ye are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
About the Shadow Fold of “the Black Heretic” (ref. Revelation 13:11), you should think the “confusion” (ref. Isaiah 24:10) and the misinformation of Mystery Babylon, the land of the False Prophet, a place of “strong delusion” (ref. 2 Thessalonians 2:11) and deception (ref. Revelation 18:23), a place that in these last days has become the habitation of winged demons (ref. Revelation 18:2).
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Revelation 18:2
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
Notice in the trailer that Sankta Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner, is able to destroy the winged creatures that live in the darkness, the volcra (ref. 3). This speaks to the point that during the Millennial Reign, the saints of Jesus Christ will be given the power to judge and destroy demons, also known as fallen angels.
However, the insinuation that the Shadow Fold is in Russia, or Ravka in the story, is entirely spin on the enemy’s part. So too I’d say is the suggestion that Alina Starkov could be deceived by, and would ever side with, the Black Heretic (ref. 4). The Black Heretic is an allusion to the coming False Prophet of Babylon, a black man.
Also, the Black Heretic remarks that there are no others like Alina Starkov, yet the Bible speaks of “saints”, plural, in these last days. For one thing, the beast will make war with the “saints”. For another, all told, there will be ten thousands of saints alongside Jesus Christ on the day of the LORD, called and chosen over the centuries.
In these last days, there will also be the two witnesses (ref. Revelation 11:1-13), the two olive trees on the left and the right of the candlestick (ref. Zechariah 4), the two anointed prophets of God who will be immortal for the duration of their testimony (ref. Revelation 11:5), whose light will surpass everyone else’s. One of the two must be Elijah (ref. Malachi 4:5), and the other, John of Patmos (ref. Revelation 10). If it turns out that as tradition has it, John of Patmos is the same as John the Apostle, then he will be not only a prophet but also a “saint” (ref. Matthew 19:28).
Another thing that the show gets wrong, and Catholics also, is the worship of saints. In reality, neither saints nor angels are to be worshipped. Twice in Revelation, John of Patmos himself fell to his feet to worship a man or an angel who was in heaven, and was told not to do so but to worship God instead (ref. Revelation 19:10, 22:9).
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10
Never forget, the power of the saints comes from God, and the saints exist and are chosen for God.
A saint is simply someone who will have the “honour” of serving God here on earth (ref. Psalms 149:6-9) during a momentous time in the history of the world, the forthcoming one-thousand-year reign of the Messiah.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 149:6-9
References:
1. “Priest (2011) Trailer”, youtube.com/watch?v=AnKtYv_PwIU
2. “Finding strength in a disability”, youtube.com/watch?v=R5Wq75ms_8o
3. “Shadow and Bone (2021) Teaser”, youtube.com/watch?v=UHJYYd_RnJc
4. “Shadow and Bone (2021) Trailer”, youtube.com/watch?v=b1WHQTbJ7vE