“holy ones.” God’s holy people. See commentary on Daniel 7:18.

“and the time came that the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.” The “holy ones” are the believers, and the “kingdom” they take possession of is the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom of Christ, when Christ rules the earth. After the Rapture of the Christian Church there will be terrible wars, plagues, and more, and eventually the Antichrist will rule the earth and persecute and kill believers. This time is called by Christ a time of “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14). The Great Tribulation will end when Christ comes from heaven, fights the battle of Armageddon, conquers the earth, and sets up his kingdom on earth, which many scholars refer to as “the Millennial Kingdom” because it lasts 1,000 years (Rev. 20:2-6).

[For more on the coming kingdom of Christ on earth, the Millennial Kingdom, see Appendix 3, “Christ’s Future Kingdom on Earth.” For more on the duration of the last half of the Tribulation, as well as the days of Judgment following Armageddon, see commentary on Daniel 12:11. For more on the terrible death and destruction in the Great Tribulation and Armageddon, see commentary on Dan. 12:1. For more on the first and second resurrection, see commentary on Acts 24:15. For more on how the future will unfold from this present age to the Millennial Kingdom to the Everlasting Kingdom, see commentary on Matt. 25:32 and Rev. 21:1].