"In the Twinkling of an Eye"
This lovely phrase—”in the twinkling of an eye”—describes a moment in time that will be like no other. It will be well-worth waiting for, because the Lord has positively crammed it full of abundant grace. The most astounding thing about it is how quickly and powerfully He will accomplish our entire transformation. This sometimes gets overlooked in the debate over the Rapture where the focus is on the when, not the amazing what. Even, so if you catch the wink you’ll get a clear picture of when it all happens: You’re going to want to be “on the ground” for this.
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52
All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Eye
What a wonderful phrase: “In the twinkling of an eye.” Doesn’t it call to mind those moments when someone you loved or were intrigued by gave you that look, that lovely look, of a happy secret thought towards you just bubbling out of them? Personally, I have never been privileged (yet) to see that look in Jesus’ eye, but I have certainly had those times of sharing in a humorous moment with Him when I was quite sure it was there.
The moment being described here will be one of wonder for us, no doubt, but we should also realize that it will be overflowing with joy for Him. This is the moment when His redeemed Bride becomes fully redeemed. This is the moment when He Returns to gather us fully and forever to Himself. How He has planned for this moment. How He has waited upon its arrival. Have we yearned to see Him face to face? He has had that same yearning for us, but on an infinite scale. Yes, there will be a twinkle in His eye!
That twinkle with be all the more “delicious” for Him to enjoy because of what happens in this unprecedented and absolutely unique moment. Jesus will be transforming—“we will be changed”—the whole vast multitude of believers still alive on the earth “in a twinkling of an eye.” All that is perishable about us, all that is subject to the fallen side of things, will pass away and the “incorruptible” will fully fill our spiritual sails at last. Pause a moment to think of what that means.
The Old Pattern and the New Way
Recall how much effort we now have to put into restraining our sinful flesh. Consider how difficult it is at times to let go all care and yield ourselves entirely to Jesus. The life of faith is hard work! Remember also those moments when your spirit soared with perfect freedom. You’ve been sort of free many times, perhaps, but gloriously free? Those are the rare times. Then, be honest about how little daily progress we seem to make towards moral perfection, spiritual growth and character development. Sure, usually we can look back and see that some progress was made after surviving a difficult time of trial or a sustained time of prayer and fasting. But what an effort it all takes! And how little we truly have to show for it. By this we can see better the magnitude of what’s coming.
This moment will be like none that have gone before it. Every faithful believer is changed once they die and go to heaven. How that happens we don’t know (not having died yet), but we do know that the dead are changed from perishable to imperishable. While passing through death, the fallen nature and the physical body are removed, and the new heavenly body is given. That pattern is the only change of this kind that believers have ever known.[1] Until now. But in this moment, no one will be passing through death—that is what “we shall not all sleep” means. Even better, without the slightest effort on our part, we “shall all be changed.” Full transformation will come!
Here Comes the Twinkle
Pulling off this massive transformation for more people than He has ever done it for in one moment and pulling it off for a living multitude will certainly put a twinkle in the Lord’s eye. And you had better believe it will put a twinkly in ours, too. But you are going to have to stay alive and stay on the earth until He comes to experience it. This delicious moment is the Rapture and according to this passage it happens “at the last trumpet.” When does that happen? That’s obvious and easy. This last trumpet happens at the end. You don’t get a last trumpet anywhere else. In this case, we are given even more to go on.
Paul shows us exactly when to listen for this last trumpet. He says, “the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” It is all of one piece. The dead are not raised before this moment. The living will not be changed before this moment. Specifically, we will not be changed by some (imagined) pre-trib Rapture, taken up to heaven, be given heavenly bodies there, then brought back down for this moment. No, you have to be on earth waiting with patient perseverance through a great test of faith to see this moment come to you.[2] Only then will we hear the last trumpet herald the Lord’s return to earth (See "At the Last Trumpet" for further insight to the exact time.)
Like a key piece to a child's puzzle, this three-sided piece locks in a "sane and sensible" understanding of the Rapture as an event that arrives at the very end--just as Jesus arrives. That may not be the picture we want to see. But it is the picture on the cover of the box. This is exactly what Jesus told us would happen when He gave us the timeline in Matthew 24 (See “The Great Tribulation”). Paul, for one, apparently had no qualms about being still alive on earth, willing to go through hardship, if it meant being among the blessed company of those who would be changed in the "twinkling of an eye." So, let's not do what some frustrated children do and try to force this piece to fit some interpretation that we would rather have. Rather, let it show us the wonder of the extraordinary event we can look forward to experiencing.
Next Rapture Study
We Who Are Left (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) The fascinating thing about this passage is the way Paul readily includes himself in the company of those who will go through all of the terrible things he expects to come upon the earth in the run up to the Lord’s return. There is no thought here that the Church will be taken out of the way. He looks forward to being “left behind” and on the ground, still alive and waiting for Jesus to come down. In Paul’s mind, the “tribulation saints” won’t be some supposed second-string team, recruited in the last days of the campaign, but the most seasoned players the Lord has on the field. Why would we have ever imaged otherwise?
Free Downloads
When Is the Rapture? (62-page eBook)
Signs of the Second Coming (36-page eBook)
Signs of Christ's Return (2-page Handout)
Endnotes
[1] There are two outstanding exceptions: Enoch and Elijah were lifted up to heaven without passing through death.
[2] Of course, if we die as faithful martyrs in the persecution, or die in the usual way of accident, disease and old age, we would see this moment. But that would be to see it in company with the dead who are raised, not as believers still on earth.