In the Twinkling of an Eye?

Paul wrote about a certain event taking place – “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” (1 Cor. 15:52).

Many apply this to the sudden disappearance of Christians in the Rapture. Supposedly, in less than the time it takes to blink, all true believers will vanish from the earth before the Tribulation and the rise of Antichrist. Is this really what Paul meant? Or could such an idea be o­ne of the many “fables” (see 2 Tim. 4:4) taught as truth in these last days? To find out the answer, all o­ne has to do is read the context of the verse.

Paul wrote in language too plain to be misunderstood, “Behold, I show 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put o­n incorruption, and this mortal must put o­n immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

Here are the facts:

1. This event takes place “at the last trump,” not seven years before it.
2. When this happens, “the trumpet shall sound.” It will be loud, not quiet.
3. It is not the return of Jesus Christ that takes place in the twinkling of an eye.
4. Rather, it is the changing of the bodies of believers from mortality to immortality.

Thus, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 does not teach the idea of vanishing Christians at all. Rather, it reveals a loud return of Jesus Christ during the final sounding of the last trumpet and the “instant” transformation of believers into immortality at the end of the world.