Breaking Prophecy News; Christian Resurrection from the Dead, Pt 3 (TPR #434)

PROPHECY HEADLINES: Israel continues Operation Protective Edge against Gaza militants | Muslim extremists attack Christian church in CAR | Iran says it wants 190,000 nuclear centrifuges | N. Korea fires 2 missiles | 3.16 quake in Nevada

PROPHECY BOOTCAMP: "The Christian Resurrection from the Dead (Part 3)" from Dr. Tim LaHaye

Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Saints

The Bible is not entirely clear on whether Old Testament saints will be included in the rapture. Some believe the rapture is only for the church, and that Old Testament believers who looked forward to the cross by faith will remain in the grave until the glorious appearing. That may account for the fact that the Old Testament saints are not specifically mentioned in any rapture passage. The rapture may be for the church only, which would fit the overall plan of God’s dealing with Israel in the Old Testament, as separate from His dealing specifically with the church for almost 2,000 years in the present church age. (Then, during the seven years of the Tribulation, God will go back to leading Israel in a personal way. And at the end of the Tribulation, God will resurrect the dead Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints, who will be joined together with the church to go with Christ into the millennium.)

The resurrection-rapture of the Old Testament saints may be what the psalmist foresaw in Psalm 50. There, the Messiah is seen in the air calling back to heaven for the Old Testament saints and the believers who died during the Tribulation. Then He gathers those on earth to Him by changing their mortal bodies as He comes to earth in His glorious appearing. This would account for the resurrection of all believers of all time up to that point. (The millennial saints will be resurrected and changed 1,000 years later.)

OCCUPY TILL I COME: Spiritual Warfare (Part 13) by Adrian Rogers

MUSICAL SELECTION: "The King is Coming" by Newsboys