Who are the Saints in this verse?

[Praxeas]

Rev 13:7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,

[Scott Hutchinson]

I feel this could be saints who were being persecuted by imperial rome.
Seeing as how the book of Revelation as well as being a prophetic book ,was also an epistle written to the seven churches in Asia Minor.

[Sam]

well, I'm sure you'll get several opinions on that one.

As a pre-trib person, my opinion is that these folks here are those who have turned to Jesus after the rapture and could be both Jews and Gentiles. Just my opinion.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Sam

well, I'm sure you'll get several opinions on that one.

As a pre-trib person, my opinion is that these folks here are those who have turned to Jesus after the rapture and could be both Jews and Gentiles. Just my opinion.

Why would God permit him to go to war with them?

[Michael The Disciple]

The Saints are the Church. Its simple The Beast is given to kill the Saints until the Lord comes. This is sound doctrine.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Rev 13:7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,

The saints are not the Church. The Church was removed from the Earth before this. These saints are the people who come to Christ after the Church is removed from the Earth in the blessed hope (the event often referred to as the "rapture"). Many of these saints will be martyred for their faith.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Why would God permit him to go to war with them?

Why not? His Spirit was taken from the Earth and Satan was given free-rein. At that time, Satan will be allowed to do pretty much whatever he wants on Earth until Jesus returns (with the Church) at the end of Daniel's 70th week to cast Satan into the bottomless pit and then reign on Earth for 1,000 years (after which, Satan will be released and allowed to deceive the nations one more time before finally being cast into the lake of fire).

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Chan

The saints are not the Church. The Church was removed from the Earth before this. These saints are the people who come to Christ after the Church is removed from the Earth in the blessed hope (the event often referred to as the "rapture"). Many of these saints will be martyred for their faith.

It pains me to agree with Chan however on this I do.

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

It pains me to agree with Chan however on this I do.

Be comforted. It is error.

Since the Spirit is gone after the church is raptured, according to Chan, none can be saved. A little scripture is buzzing around in my mind that you will clearly recall; "without the spirit of Christ you are none of his."

No Holy Ghost baptism...no salvation. I thought that you was an ardent Jn 3:5/Acts 2:38 believer. Am I mistaken.

Originally Posted by Brother Strange

Be comforted. It is error.

Since the Spirit is gone after the church is raptured, according to Chan, none can be saved. A little scripture is buzzing around in my mind that you will clearly recall; "without the spirit of Christ you are none of his."

No Holy Ghost baptism...no salvation. I thought that you was an ardent Jn 3:5/Acts 2:38 believer. Am I mistaken.

This is where you are in error!

While those who put their trust in Christ after the "rapture" are not part of the Church, they do have a place in God's kingdom just as the Old Testament saints (who also didn't have the Holy Ghost) do. Are you saying that Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the various other Old Testament saints aren't saved? Are you saying they're burning in the lake of fire (since, in your mind, the only people who are saved are those who obeyed Acts 2:38 as you wrongly interpret it and not as it is actually written)?