No, really. Paul refers to saints who are on this earth; he also refers to believers who are "called to be saints," --- aspiring to be saints, evidently in the future sense, saints in heaven; since if there is only one sense of the word "saint," then these believers care not merely "called to be" saints.
Paul also writes of the saints in heaven: (1 Thessalonians 3:13) - " And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints." Here Jesus is coming from Heaven, accompanied by the saints who were with Him in heaven.
Jpn often refers o the saints in heaven, in Revelation 5:8-9, and in Rev. 8:3-4, Rev. 18:24 and Rev. 19:8. In fact, where John in his heavenly vision sees the angels of God offering God incense which represents the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8) the angels are interceding for saints, either ones on earth or ones in heaven. This shows that the citizens of heaven intercede for us.
I am very grateful for the intercessory prayers of angels and saints.
Dear FRiend,
You wrote...
“Paul refers to saints who are on this earth;”
“he also refers to believers who are “called to be saints,” -— aspiring to be saints, evidently in the future sense,”
No friend, they were called by God. It is not their aspiration. No one becomes a saint by aspiring to do so or working for it. God’s calling is sure.
“Paul also writes of the saints in heaven: (1 Thessalonians 3:13) - “ And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Here Jesus is coming from Heaven, accompanied by the saints who were with Him in heaven.”
We agree. Wherever Christians are - heaven or earth, God calls them saints.
“the angels are interceding for saints, either ones on earth or ones in heaven. This shows that the citizens of heaven intercede for us.”
No, dear friend, the angels present the prayers. Nowhere does Scripture say those prayers went to the angels or saints. Nowhere do they pray in Scripture. Nowhere in Scripture do saints intercede for us.
best to you