A favorite Pauline term to describe members of the church is saints (hagios), which means, “to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God” (e.g. Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:2). For example, the apostle Paul, recalling his days when he persecuted the church, describes the church as saints; compare Phil 3:6 with Acts 26:10.
John in the book of Revelation uses this term as well, especially as the object of the Beast’s persecution (e.g. Rev 5:8; 8:3, 4; 11:18; 13:7; 13:10; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6; 18:20, 24; 20:6, 9; 22:11). For instance, the saints are described with the status of suffering as the object of persecution by the Beast in 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 (cf. Dan 7:21–22!).”
Then the saints are later described as the Bride of Christ in the privileged status of participating in the wedding celebration in Rev 19:7–8:
“Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen” (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).”
