Alan Clark (14 Jul 2024)
"Revelation 13:7"

 
Revelation 13, which has a lot of stuff in it. There are major characters introduced and fantastic events taking place. It ends with the famous Mark of the Beast 666. But don’t miss verse 7. 

Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him (the Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them. 
Yet to the Church Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.“
Let’s go back to the first five chapters of Revelation to try to figure this out. 
Verses in NKJV.

Jesus gave promises in his letters to the churches in Rev 2 and 3. 
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,” Rev 3:21
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,” Rev 3:5
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev 2:10
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests,” Rev 1:6

Then in the next chapter we are taken to the Throne Room of God in Heaven and introduced to a new group called the Elders. In Isaiah and Ezekiel their Throne Room scenes don’t have these Elders. 

Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven…“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Rev. 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Rev. 5:9-10 The Elders say, “For You (Jesus) were slain, And have redeemed US to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” 

Some try to place the Church in Rev. 6-18, but we are the Bride of Christ. There is only one group that qualifies to be called Kings and Priests, have crowns, be dressed in white and seated on Thrones in Heaven, singing the song of the Redeemed as seen in Rev. 4 and 5. 
Jesus tells the Church in Rev. 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you FROM the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

Yes, the antichrist overcomes the saints in chapter 13. These are the ones who come to faith in Christ during the tribulation. The Church saints are in Heaven at that time, we are not appointed to wrath.