Saints
When a dry seed absorbs water for a while, the hardened heart becomes soft. After that, when the sunlight shines on its face, it feels warm and its heart is stirred. This warm feeling becomes stronger and stronger; the feeling becomes the motivating force. Then it takes action to break out of the shell and puts up its hand, touching the warm sunlight…
Maybe this is what most people (including the Saints) feel when they first come to know Jehovah God, Jesus, and the good news of the Bible. But it is only the beginning for the Saints. They have to face temptations, trials, and persecutions. The chosen ones are limited to a few. But what if I have not been chosen? Will I not be saved? Don’t worry—we can surely be saved even if we are not among the Saints. Please read <Salvation>.
Saints belong to YHWH God and they are God’s sons, but God gives them to the Lord Jesus. Jesus promised that He would guard them so that no one would be lost. They are the heirs of the Kingdom of God (the Heavenly Kingdom).
John 17:6,12
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them(Saints) to me, and they have kept your word.12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Saints – God’s Sons
What was the main purpose of Jesus’ coming? He said : I must preach the good news of “the kingdom of God“… for I was sent for this “purpose“(Luke 4:43).Yes, the main purpose of Jesus’ coming was to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to all.
Therefore His primary audience(speaking object) was those who would become God’s sons (the Saints), and He used many parables to tell them how to enter God’s Kingdom. The chosen ones will become God’s sons—the Saints—and that is why the Kingdom of God is directly related to the Saints.
They have a direct Father–Son relationship with YHWH God. All other people also have a father–son relationship with God, but it is not direct; YHWH God is their father’s father’s father… Their direct father–son relationship is with their biological father. Saints must be born of water and the Spirit to become God’s sons.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 4:5-7 “…so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
If the Saints have a direct Father–Son relationship with God, how can God also say they are the Bride of the Lamb? Just as a king has many sons and their relationship is a personal father–son relationship, he can still grant his sons titles in his kingdom. For example, the King of England could bestow upon his son the title of Duke so that he could carry out official duties.
In the same way, YHWH the Father bestows on His sons the title “Bride” in His Kingdom, so that they will reign in God’s Kingdom together with Jesus. In other words, they receive the title in order to perform the official duties of God’s Kingdom.
Who can be the Saints?
Everyone has the opportunity to become a Saint, but it depends on their inner personality, how they respond to the Gospel, and their faith in God… The most important factor is that they are chosen by God. The chosen ones will be guarded and saved by Jesus; no one will be lost. All Saints should be like those described in Matthew chapters 5–7:
They are “the poor in spirit”, “mourn”, “the meek”, “hunger and thirst for righteousness”;
they are “the merciful”, “the pure in heart”, “the peacemakers”, “persecuted for righteousness’ sake”.
They “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”
They “give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
They “forgive others their trespasses”
They “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”
Jesus said “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:3.
“Let the little children come to me… for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:4
Jesus said “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” — Matthew 19:21
It can be said that the above is the list of qualifications for becoming a Saint. How does a Saint grow and become chosen by God?
The Selection and Growth of Saints
Matthew 13:47,48
“the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the “good” into containers…”
Matthew 12:3-7
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.”
Sowing seeds means sowing the good news of the Kingdom to all people so that they hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. But not all grow up and bear fruit. Most among them do not understand or accept the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:19), so their seeds are devoured. They may think the good news of the Kingdom is impossible and unbelievable. They may laugh, “Ha ha, how could it be possible that people need not die? Don’t lie to me—I won’t be lied to. I’m not a kid; I won’t believe it!” — These are the seeds that fall along the path.
Some people hear the good news of the Kingdom just as seeds absorb water and sunlight. They feel warm and the seedlings grow, but they have no root. That means they have not continued learning God’s word patiently. They may think, “I’ve already heard and know all that,” or they may feel it takes up too much of their time. When ridicule and persecution come, they give up immediately. — These are the seeds that fall on rocky ground.
Those seeds that fall among thorns grow but remain unfruitful. They are unfruitful because of “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22). They spend their time pursuing riches rather than the Kingdom of God. Money and riches are visible and tangible, but God’s Kingdom is invisible and seems unreachable. — These are the seeds that fall among thorns.
All of those seeds may belong to good people, but they do not patiently keep learning God’s words, do not keep growing through persecution, and do not bear fruit because of the deception of riches. That is why they will not be chosen as God’s sons.
The good seeds are the ones selected through trials; they bear fruit abundantly. The chosen ones will become God’s sons—the Saints.
“Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” — Matthew13:8,9
The hidden value of God’s Kingdom
“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” — Matthew 13:11
Not everyone can hear and understand what Jesus said, but all the Saints can hear and know what Jesus said. They know and see the value of the Kingdom of heaven. Indeed, they know that the Kingdom of God is a priceless treasure.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” — Matthew 13:44
If people cannot see God’s Kingdom, it is like a worthless stone to them. But the Saints can see the value of the Heavenly Kingdom; to them it is a priceless treasure.
Saints – Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth…”
What does it mean that the Saints are “salt”? What is salt used for? It preserves things and prevents them from rotting. Therefore, when the Saints are called the salt of the earth, it means they preserve the earth and prevent it from rotting (they prevent the moral corruption of our world). How do they do that? By teaching people the words of Father God and Jesus, so that the world keeps God’s standard of morality.
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city(New Jerusalem) set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
What does it mean that the Saints are the light of the world? Light means goodness and truth. The Saints shine the light of truth on the world so that people may know YHWH God and Jesus and learn the goodness of God. In this way people may see and imitate the good behavior of the Saints and thereby glorify the Heavenly Father. The Saints must keep shining the light of truth so that all people can be illuminated in the house of God.
Saints – Wheat
Matthew 13:24-25,30
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away…30 Let both grow together until the harvest, …”
Matthew 13:37-39
37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom(Saints). The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Jesus told us that the Saints (the sons of the kingdom) would pass through a long period from the 1st century (Jesus’ time) until the End Day. About 2000 years have now passed, which means that the choosing of Saints has taken about 2000 years. They will continue to grow and be chosen until the End Day. If someone has been chosen, that means he has been “sealed” and will not change. But how many will be chosen? It will not be unlimited, right? Otherwise the choosing would last forever! And Jesus said they are few!
Saints – Sealing 144000
Ephesians 1:13,14
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel(Kingdom of God) of your salvation—having also believed, you were “sealed” in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession(Kingdom of God), to the praise of His glory.
Revelation 7:1-4
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth… 2 And I saw another angel… having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice… 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees “until” we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were “sealed“, 144000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
Revelation tells us that the four angels are holding back four destructive winds. When all the servants (Saints) have been sealed, the destructive winds will be released—that means the End Day will come. But how many Saints will be chosen and sealed?
Jesus did not mention the number beforehand, but an angel revealed in Revelation that they are 144,000. That is to say, when the last Saint is sealed, the four destructive winds will be released and the End Day will come! The sealing of the 144,000 is directly related to the End Day!
The Apostle Paul and John also said that the chosen ones would be sealed. “Sealed” means that a person is confirmed as a Saint and will not change. When the last one of them is sealed, the four destructive winds will be released. Why did God set the number at 144,000 and not some other number?
Maybe it is related to the duty shifts of the Priests in New Jerusalem. There are 12 Priests (Saints) on duty to serve God each month, making 12 shifts a year. This is related to what Revelation chapter 22 says: there are “twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month” (12 months). One year would have 144 Priests; 1,000 years would be 144,000 Priests. Those Priests who are not required to be on duty will rest at home, similar to the arrangement under the Law of Moses.
Saints – Offspring
The 144,000 Saints are the “offspring” of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15—the woman’s offspring who will bruise the serpent’s head. This is related to the covenant that God made with Abraham. There is something interesting about the 144,000 “offspring”.
Genesis 15:13,14
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your “offspring” will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for “four hundred years“. 14 But I will bring “judgment” on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
The offspring would be afflicted for 400 years; after that God would bring judgment. This was fulfilled when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. God said another one like Moses would come; perhaps he will do the same as Moses and bring God’s people to the real Promised Land—the New Heaven and New Earth—at the End Day.
The offspring were afflicted for 400 years. If we calculate 400 × 360 days (a biblical year = 360 days), the result is 144,000. Is there a relationship between the offspring (144,000) and the 400 years? I think so. Why did God set 400 years rather than 500 or 100? That number must have a special meaning related to the offspring and God’s covenant. After 400 years the nation of Israel was established and entered the Promised Land.
Similarly, when the sealing of the 144,000 Saints is complete, the heavenly Israel—the holy nation—will finish being established. After that God will judge all nations and then bring His people to the real Promised Land—the New Heaven and New Earth. Please read <Seven Seals> and <144000 and a great multitude>.
Another interesting point is that the Lord Jesus selected 72 disciples to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom (Luke 10:1, 2, 9). You know that many people were following Jesus at that time—perhaps more than ten thousand—but why did Jesus assign only 72, not 50 or 100 or many more, to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom?
From the 1st century until now almost 2000 years have passed. If we divide 144,000 Saints by 2000 years, that comes to 72 Saints each year. What does it mean if the End Day is coming soon? It means that on average 72 Saints are chosen each year. Is that what Jesus wanted to tell us?
Anyway, Jesus will tell us later whether this is really what He meant. But surely the Saints have an important work to do. What is that?
Hold the Testimony of Jesus
Matthew 25:14-16
14 “For it will be like a man(Jesus) going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
The servants could be the Saints or people who have not yet been chosen. They must witness about Jesus and let others know the Kingdom of God, teach people what Jesus said, and show them how to become God’s sons. This is the work Jesus gave them to do; they must earn more talents (bring more people to become Saints), just as in the parable of the good seeds that bear fruit abundantly.
This man (Jesus) has now been on a journey of about 2000 years. Many servants have been working in different periods during these 2000 years. It is like the parable Jesus told of a landowner who hired laborers to work in his vineyard at different times of the day.
Matthew 20:1-8
1 “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard(Kingdom of God). 2 After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard…’ 5 …he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, … He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’”
It is like the mystery of the Seven Churches in Revelation. The seven churches represent the “3.5 working periods of the churches” from the 1st century to the End Day; they went to work for the Kingdom of God. This is the mystery of “a time, times, and half a time” and “1260 days”. Please read <Seven Churches and Seven Stars>, <Seven Churches period> and <Two Witnesses> .
War
Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you(Serpent) and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers(Saints);
Revelation 12:4-6
…the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Revelation 12:13-17
13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her “offspring“, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
The offspring who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” are at war with the Dragon. What does this mean?
You know that Satan’s main goal is to disrupt the establishment of God’s Kingdom; otherwise the woman’s offspring (the Kingdom of God) will bruise his head. How does he try to disrupt it? As you know, if all 144,000 Saints are completely sealed, the establishment of God’s Kingdom is complete. That is why he wants to kill the Saints. Or, if they do not keep God’s commandments, they will not be chosen (1 Corinthians 6:9–10), and the Kingdom of God could not be established.
Or if they do not hold to the testimony of Jesus, then no one afterward would know Jesus and God’s Kingdom, and no one would be chosen into God’s Kingdom (Romans 10:14–15). These methods can stop and disrupt the establishment of God’s Kingdom. Therefore Jesus told the seven churches to repent and keep God’s commandments, to “keep my works until the end,” and to “be zealous” in witnessing. The war will continue until the last Saint is sealed. After that the Heavenly Kingdom will finish being established, and God’s judgment will come…
Daniel 7:25-27
25 He(the beast) shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the “saints” of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Please read <Woman and Dragon> <Judgement has come> <Four Great Beasts> <The Mystery of Kingdom of God>.
The Bride(Saints) – New Jerusalem
When Jesus sacrificed His life after 3.5 years of ministry, half of the heavenly kingdom was established. When all 144,000 Saints have been sealed, the other half of the heavenly kingdom will also be completely finished. It is like the marriage of the Lamb and the Bride: the Lamb symbolizes Jesus and the Bride symbolizes the 144,000 Saints—New Jerusalem.
Revelation 19:7,8
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:5,6
5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
When all saints have sealed complete, the heavenly kingdom – New Jerusalem establishing is well done, the prayer of Jesus on earth will be fulfilled. Matthew 6:9,10
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom(New Jerusalem) come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”
Revelation 21:2,9,10,14
2 And I saw the holy city, “new Jerusalem“, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.9 …“Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Yes. New Jerusalem—the Heavenly Kingdom—will come down from God, and the will of God will be done. Amen.
Ephesians 3:5: “…which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” The Mystery of God’s Kingdom has been revealed now. Amen. Thanks be to Father God. Thanks be to the Lord Jesus. Amen.
<Seventy Sevens – Seventy Weeks>, <New Jerusalem>, <Salvation>
Let’s Prayer
Heavenly Father Jehovah, our God, may Your name be honored and glorified. Amen.
Thank You for Your salvation that has saved us from a hopeless situation. May Your kingdom come, may New Jerusalem come, may Jesus and the 144,000 saints come, and may Your will be done on earth.
Thank You for revealing to us the mystery of Your kingdom, the “offspring of the woman,” and the mystery of the Saints, Your sons. Although only a few are chosen to be Your sons, thank You for giving salvation to all of us. We are truly thankful and grateful to You and to Jesus Christ. Amen.
May all the saints, Your people, and everyone give honor, praise, thanks, and gratitude to You and to Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer is also in Jesus name. Amen.
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