Let me quote some of this and explain.....
“The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious." It is almost always used in the plural, “saints.. . . .
The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints: "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints …" (Romans 16:2). "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3)”. . . .
The “saints” or “holy ones” are “the body of Christ”...a consecrated group, set apart for a specific “calling” or role....to be
“kings and priests” to rule with Christ in heaven. These are said to be part of
“the first resurrection”. (Rev 20:6)
As I have mentioned before, kings need subjects to rule, and priests need sinners for who to perform their duties, so not all Christians can be called to this role. We believe that 144,000 are chosen to rule with Christ in his Kingdom, which is in heaven. It is the governmental arrangement that will bring sinful mankind, back into a clean and sinless relationship with God. That is it’s purpose...to reinstate what God first proposed in Eden. Rev 21:2-4 shows that this rulership comes from heaven to rule mankind and to give back to humans the life God first intended for them. (Isaiah 55:11) What God starts...he finishes. Satan merely interrupted it.
“Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints. All Christians are saints—and at the same time are called to be saints. First Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…”
This is the scripture I have highlighted before, except that I quoted all of it....
“to the congregation of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones (saints), together with all those everywhere who are calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”.
What was left out describes others who do not have the heavenly calling....these serve “together with” those “saints” and these support their work and take care of their needs.
When the “sheep and goats” are separated, Jesus says that it is the ones who have supported his “brothers” in their trials, who will inherit everlasting life. The goats have not done so. So Christ’s “brothers” are those “adopted as sons” by God and who are “born again” as spirits upon their resurrection to heaven.
In the Revelation, John sees two groups who are saved....
”the 144,000" "who are chosen from among mankind as firstfruits” and
“a great multitude which no man could number”.....who are attributing
“salvation to God and to the Lamb”. This "great multitude" are said to
“come out of the great tribulation”, which occurs on earth as the final act of this dying system of things. (Rev 7:9-10: 13-14; Rev 14:1-5) These are the earthly survivors of that world calamity and will form the nucleus of the “new earth” ruled over by “the new heavens”. (2 Pet 3:13)
I hope that explains why we are so different from Christendom in what we believe and why we believe it.
Thank you for the question.....I am always happy to answer but need time to respond.
Fantastic !!
I wish everyone would do that...straight from the horse's mouth is so much more accurate than the 'hate sites' who misinterpret what we believe and run away with themselves because it's not their truth. There can only be one truth....and if you don't think you have it, you shouldn't be here.....
I have to go now but will be back later....best wishes....
