What does "in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye" signify? Setting the Scene 1 Corinthians 15:52: “in an instant, 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.” The Greek Snapshot • “Instant” (en atomō) – the smallest indivisible unit of time; shorter than a heartbeat. • “Twinkling” (rhipē) – the rapid flick of an eyelid or a quick flash of light. Together they emphasize absolute immediacy. What Happens in That Split Second • The last trumpet sounds—God’s final summons (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16). • All who have died in Christ are raised with incorruptible bodies. • Believers still alive are transformed without dying (1 Corinthians 15:51). • Mortality is swallowed up by life—our bodies become like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). Linked Passages That Echo the Suddenness • Matthew 24:27—Christ’s coming “like lightning.” • Luke 17:34-36—two people side by side, one taken, one left. • 1 John 3:2—“We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him.” • John 14:2-3—Jesus promises to return and take us to Himself. • 2 Corinthians 5:1-5—God prepares us for a heavenly dwelling. Why Instantaneity Matters • Affirms God’s sovereign power: He needs no gradual process to glorify His people. • Offers unshakeable hope: death will have no time to sting, and decay cannot cling. • Calls for readiness: because the change is sudden, continual faithfulness is vital (Matthew 24:42-44). • Comforts the grieving: reunion with believing loved ones will be immediate and bodily (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). Living in Light of This Truth • Stand firm, abounding in the Lord’s work, knowing it is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Fix hearts on the incorruptible inheritance kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4). • Encourage one another with the certainty of rapid, glorious transformation (Hebrews 10:24-25). |
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