'In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye': An Exposition on Paul's Words in 1 Corinthians 15:52

LESSON 7

IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE: AN EXPOSITION ON PAUL'S WORDS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:52

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The topic for this study is: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye": An Exposition on Paul's Words in 1 Corinthians 15:52. The complete message in this text reads: "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."

Friends, the text we just read is set within the context of the second coming of Christ; and the resurrection of the saints. In fact, within the entire passage of 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul argues hard in favour of the biblical fact that the saints who have died in the Lord will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ.

In this study, however, I want us to consider Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:52 critically, and ascertain whether the text can be used to further the secret rapture doctrine or not. The key text in question once again is: " 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" (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Beloved, from the text above, the apostle Paul captures two groups of people who will be rewarded with immortality at the second coming of Christ. The first group of people the apostle mentions is those who have died in the Lord. According to the apostle Paul, this group will be raised incorruptible. In other words, they will resurrect from the dead with immortal bodies; that is, bodies that never grow old, get sick or die.

Friends, the second group of people that the apostle mentions are the living saints. According to the apostle Paul, this group will be changed at the second coming of Christ. In other words, the living saints will also be giving the precious gift of immortal bodies at the second coming of Christ.

You see beloved, it is within the context of this transition of God's people that the apostle Paul writes down the words: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye … the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Thus friends, the phrase; "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…" as utilized by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52 basically describes the SPEED with which the saints will be translated from a corruptible or perishable nature to an incorruptible or immortal one at the second coming of Christ. To put this statement differently; one will say that from the text in 1 Corinthians 15:52, the apostle Paul wanted to carry across the point that our transition from this old body of death to an immortal one is going to be very fast or instantaneous; such as in a moment, or in the twinkling of an eye.

But beloved, contrary to this clear interpretation of the apostle's words, many Christians will want to use the phrase: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye ..." to support their belief in the secret rapture doctrine. Such Christians usually reason from this phrase that the saints are going to be taken quickly or suddenly to heaven as the secret rapture doctrine stipulates.

But friends, this explanation put forward by secret rapturists is not convincing. This is because besides the fact that the text in 1 Corinthians 15:52 does not say anything about the saints being taken suddenly to heaven, there are other details in the text that actually show us clearly that the apostle Paul is not promoting the secret rapture idea.

You see beloved, from our key text in 1 Corinthians 15:52, we also come across these phrases I have capitalized; "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" (Capital Emphasis Added).

From these powerful phrases, we learn clearly from the apostle Paul that before the dead in Christ are resurrected with immortal bodies; and the living saints are translated, there is the blowing of heavenly trumpets that announce the second coming of our King. Thus friends, contrary to the secret rapture doctrine, the second coming of Christ is going to be an audible event. We are going to hear through the blasts of heavenly trumpets that the great day of our Lord has come (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Psalm 50:3).

Beloved, there is another passage in Scripture from the apostle Paul that sheds further light on the passage we are considering today. This passage is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Friends, it is quite interesting that in this passage, the apostle Paul also deal with the issue of resurrection of the saints at the second coming of Christ. However, unlike in the passage of 1 Corinthians 15 where he argues in favour of the resurrection of the saints, this time around in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he actually uses the fact of the resurrection to encourage the believers in regard to the saints who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

Friends, from the verses 16 and 17 of 1 Thessalonians 4, we read the following from the apostle Paul: "16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." From the passage above, we also come across the fact that there are two groups of saints who are rewarded with immortality at the second coming of Christ. The first group is referred to as the dead in Christ. These people, we are told, rise first when the Lord appears in the skies of heaven. In other words, the living saints do not make it to heaven before them (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Thus friends, according to the apostle Paul, the dead in Christ rise first to join the living saints. After this reunion, they are all CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord in the air.

Now, if this was a live Bible study session, I believe someone in the audience is likely to have raised the hand and shouted; "Stop there! Did you catch that? That's the secret rapture. We are going to be CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord in the air. This is so clear. What do you have to say about that?"

You see beloved, when the Scripture says that we will be CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord in the air, the clear meaning that comes across when we compare Scripture with Scripture is that the innumerable host of angels who will attend Christ at His coming, will actually bear us up on their wings to meet our Lord in the air. Now, let's check the Bible evidence from Matthew 24:30-31. The text there reads: "30 And then shall APPEAR the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth MOURN, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Capital Emphasis Added). Friends, you may describe the passage above to mean anything but definitely not something that is secret or silent as the secret rapture doctrine stipulates. With our Lord coming back with power and great glory; and then sending His angels to gather His faithful ones with the great sound of heavenly trumpets; while the numerous wicked of the earth mourn because of their doom, how on earth can anyone describe these events as of a secret or silent nature?

Beloved, our Christ is not coming back as the humble Child who slept in a manger. He is fearlessly coming the second time with power and great glory, to redeem His faithful ones and dispense his wrath on the wicked inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 22:12).

Thus friends, in this study, we have proven from Scripture that the words of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:52 as well as the one in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 cannot be used in any way to support the secret rapture doctrine.

Exhortation: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13).

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection. The Bible Study references for this study are Matthew 24:30-31, Revelation 1:7, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:5-6, John 5:28-29, Daniel 12:2, John 6:39-40 and John 11:25. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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