IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE - Not IF ... but WHEN [Spirituality & Religion]
Imagine looking into someone’s eyes, and seeing a flash of light reflect off of them. This twinkle would occur quite rapidly.
The reference to this twinkling of an eye, comes from the Bible, when it speaks of the coming Rapture:
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we shall all (born-again believers) be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15: 51-52)
The rapture is an event that will take place sometime in the future. Could be any day, and even soon. Jesus will come in the air, catch up the Church (born-again believers) from the earth, and then return to Heaven with the Church. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are given a clear description of the rapture: “The dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord.”
The term "rapture" is not found in the Bible, so where does the word come from? The Greek word from which we take the term 'rapture' appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, translated 'caught up.' The Latin translation of this verse, used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away instantly...before you could even blink your eye.
So is this the same as the Second Coming of Christ?
No, and here's the difference:
At the rapture, believers will meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
A second difference is that the rapture is an any-moment event (1 Corinthians 15:50-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). The second coming will clearly take place at the end of a seven-year tribulation (Revelation 6—19).
A third difference is that believers will be removed from the earth in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 5:9). Meaning, not all shall join this event. Only born-again believers.
A fourth difference is that the rapture will be instant and secret (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). The second coming will be visible to all (Matthew 24:29-31).
These differences are of great importance. If the rapture can take place at any moment, then perhaps you may want to re-evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Are you sure you are rapture ready?
