7. To believe that in the past there were noble venerated beings who attained the ‘fruits of the path’

It is a noble characteristic of Right View to have the conviction that in the past there lived noble ones who were stream-enterers (sotāpanna), once-returners (sakadāgāmi), non-returners (anāgāmī), and fully enlightened ones (arahat). To believe that it is always possible to attain these supermundane fruitions of the path (magga phala) as long as the Dhamma remains ‘directly visible by oneself’ (sandiṭṭhika) is a feature of Right View. 

If someone were to hold a pernicious view that no noble ones who attained these supermundane fruits lived in the past, simply owing to that misconception they would forfeit the factors, the energy (viriya), needed to realize the fruits of the path. Veering away from believing in the path of extinguishment (nibbāna), they would descend into the path of ‘becoming’ (bhava). This misconception alone inhibits in them the enterprise of forming saddhā towards the triple-gem. Simply due to the weakening of the belief in supreme qualities and intellectual faculties of the Jewel of Saṅgha, they would suffer a major setback in cultivating wholesome qualities. Similarly, in a time like this where the noble Dhamma is still directly visible by oneself, even if they were to come upon a venerable monk who has genuinely attained full enlightenment―an arahat―they would regard such venerables with suspicion and draw towards grave unwholesome deeds. Therefore, to believe there have been noble venerated beings who had attained the fruits of the path is a worthy characteristic of Right View.

You asked what the characteristics of Right View were. Seven factors relevant to it have been mentioned above. Be skilful to incorporate these factors in your life, viewing them as the gateway to the dispensation. It’s the one who cultivates this exalted Right View who embarks upon the Noble Eightfold Path.