Saints
While the Greek word for church, εκκλεσια, ecclesia, is not mentioned after Revelation chapter three, the saints, which are the church, certainly are mentioned after Revelation chapter three. Those saints are mentioned at least fifteen times after Revelation chapter three.
Church, Ecclesia
There is an argument in some circles, that since the word ‘church’ is not mentioned in Revelation after chapter three, the church is absent during that period. This type of argument is known as an argument from silence. That is a rhetorical fallacy that uses the absence of evidence as actual evidence in support of the argument.
While an argument from silence is sometimes a legitimate argument, that is not the case in this instance. For example, the word Sabbath is not mentioned from Moses’ Death until the book of Second Kings. Though the word is not mentioned, the Sabbath did occur just as the law required during that time. Additionally, the word, ‘God’ is not mentioned in the Book of Esther. However, it is obvious from the reading of the book that God was most definitely involved in the freeing of the Jews; He was there.
This argument from silence, that is, no mention of the word ‘church’ after chapter three of Revelation, is fallacious and illogical, for the church, which is made up of the saints, is certainly included in the remainder of Revelation.
The Saints Are the Church
A cursory reading of Paul’s Epistles will prove beyond doubt that the saints are the church. The following four verses are proof enough.
1Co 1:2, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
1Co 14:33, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
2Co 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia.
Php 1:1, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Additionally, the salutation in Revelation’s first verse states, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.”
In other words, the book of Revelation was written for and given to His servants through the Apostle John. The saints are the servants of Christ. His servants are those that believe in Him as their Savior. The unsaved Jews are not His servants nor are the unsaved Gentiles. Only saved Jews and Gentiles qualify as the servants of Christ.
Saints in Revelation
The following is a list of verses in Revelation that mentions saints, which are the church.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 12:17 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.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Rev 19:8 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.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Conclusion
Please do not accept the fallacious argument that since the church is not mentioned after Revelation chapter three as proof that the church is not on earth at that time, but in Heaven after Christ gathers His elect to Himself (AKA the rapture). Remember also that Christ’s elect are not unsaved Jews or unsaved Gentiles. The group known as Christ’s elect consists only of both saved Jews and saved Gentiles, which are mentioned throughout the book of Revelation.
Copyright 2021, The Bible Church Online
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? He is going to return to the world soon. Are you ready? When He does if you do not know Him as your Savior, you will join all those who do not know Him in “Outer Darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mat 22:13-14).
Mark Oaks, June 17, 2021
While the Saints of the Church are mentioned, it is clear they are no longer on Earth. There will be Saints of the tribulation but those are ones saved after Church is taken. Remember that they will not be invited to sit at the wedding table. It is reserved only for the bride who are saved at the end of the church age. Following this, Revelation focuses on the 144,000 Jews. Of course Gentiles will be saved but, it is through these men that they hear the Gospel. I won’t be drawn into an argument, this is how I interpret these things.
Phil,
Thank you for your comments. I am afraid we have a huge disagreement. Your analysis is unbiblical and inaccurate. Each and every one of the items you mention is provably unbiblical; all of them are false. You are obviously following the false doctrine of Dispensationalists. Their theology, which they call Dispensationalism, is false.
These “facts” you have presented are those of the sensationalist teachers, preachers, and writers, and their end-times fantasies. You should ditch those folks and their false doctrines, read the Scriptures yourself and really, truly see what the Scriptures actually say about the end-times events and then you will realize your error. Those sensationalist writers and speakers are misleading you.
Your major mistake is that you have mixed up the Tribulation with the Wrath of God. Those are two very different things. Christians will be on earth during the tribulation, but will be removed before God’s wrath is poured out on unbelievers.
Here is a very simple example of the biblical order:
The Tribulation is that of the Devil against the saints (Rev 12:17).
The Wrath of God comes next against all unbelievers (Rev 16:1).
The gathering of the Church to Jesus Christ occurs after the tribulation (Mat 24:29), which is against the saints.
Then the wrath of God is poured put on unbelievers in Revelation 16.
Thank you for what you have carefully written.
I have come to the conclusion that fear plays a big part in this debate. Understandably, but wrongfully so.
Thank you, Catie, I agree. The idea that the Church does not appear anywhere in the Apocalypse after chapter 3 is another example of eisegesis from Dispensationalists. They must read into the Scriptures to come up with their “Pre-tribulation Rapture”, which is false doctrine.