The Stages of Christ's Ascension and Return (Part 11)

Having looked at what the trumpet represented in part 10, let's put our focus on the other phrases connected to this stage of Christ's return, —the stage where He appears in the clouds at the end of the Tribulation.

In a twinkling of an eye

1 Thess.4:16  refers to 'the voice of the archangel', and 1 Cor.15:52 mentions 'in the twinkling of an eye'. Unlike the phrases, 'with a shout' and 'in a moment', that are connected to the imminent rapture of the Body of Christ, the next set of phrases in our key verses represent descriptions for the 2nd Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. Let's dig into these phrases and find out what exactly they mean in the context of Christ's return.

With regard to the phrase, "In the twinkling of an eye", the following is taken from the Strongs Lexicon,

Strongs Greek 4493: "In the twinkling of an eye"  - ῥιπή rhipḗ, phonetic: 'hree-pay';

—description: a jerk or wink of the eye, i.e. (by analogy) a moment, an instant.

—expression: least conceivable duration of time. twinkle or flash of the eye; any rapid movement.

'Eye' also denotes: "To see, or being visible".

In the context of the description above, the rapture of the saints that occurs at the end of the Tribulation can be depicted as an instant movement (or removal), by means of being snatched away rapidly, in a flash of the eye. Given that the descriptions point to a very quick event, my opinion is that it is a similar experience to that of the Body of Christ, discussed in part 8. Having said this, and without claiming to be dogmatic about it, I do want to add that the reference to 'eyes' is intriguing. Although I believe that the rapture of these saints will be too quick for the eye to see, I do want to add that there will definitely be a visible nature to this transpiring event; the appearing of Jesus, visibly in the clouds, the physical resurrection of saints as they escape their graves, and the visible glory of this event in the sky. There most certainly will be a visual drama unfolding before the eyes of unbelievers in that day!

With the voice of an archangel

Have you ever asked what "the voice of an archangel" is all about? Why does Paul mention this? There must be a reason? Right? Well, in the context of the whole passage, it might be an insignificant detail, especially if you though the whole passage was a picture of the rapture of the Body of Christ! Well, it's not, which makes this voice become quite relevant in the context of things. The voice of the archangel is a wonderful confirmation that validates the Kingdom program and the rapture of the Tribulation Saints at the second coming of Christ.

A picture of the rapture (reaping) of the Tribulation Saints

Rev.14:14-16 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

The bolded part in the above verse is the only angelic voice that cries out before the rapture of the Tribulation Saints. I am aware that this cannot be proved as being the voice of an archangel, but there are two things that give me confidence that this is the case.

1. This is the ONLY angelic voice that occurs directly before Christ reaps the harvest of believers off the earth. Paul's writing plainly says that a voice of an archangel will be heard at this time, so this passage, that attributes this happening, must be the voice that Paul refers to.
2. There is a scripture in Daniel 12 that speaks of the archangel, Michael, who would stand up at this time, during the second coming of Christ, before Israel [and the Tribulation Saints] are delivered. The verse reads as follows,
   
   Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people [Israel]; And there shall be a time of trouble [the Tribulation], Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake [to resurrection], Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt [abhorrence].
   
   Notice how the verse even refers to the resurrection of the dead during this time. So, in summary, Michael will make an announcement that the time is ready for the earth to be reaped. This type of heavenly announcement, and the significance of it, would not be made by any angelic being. The momentous occasion of this announcement is something only an archangel would make.

The Revelation passage continues with a picture of the battle of Armageddon

Between verse 16 and 17 we have approximately 30 days. During these days, God's wrath, in the form of the vials [bowls] are poured out upon the earth. These vials end with Armageddon being cast into the winepress of God's wrath.

Rev.14:17-20 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses' bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

The above verses speak of the graphic visuals that will occur at the end of the battle. Great hailstones in excess of 100 pounds will fall upon the armies gathered in Megiddo. We read details of this in both Rev.16, ...

Rev.16:16 -21 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent [±120 pounds]: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

... and Rev.19,

Rev.19:11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Rev.16:16-21 -- Hailstones [120lbs] and river of blood.)

I've gone on a bit of a sideroad with the Armageddon details, but let me wrap up with the purpose of this post. We set out to prove that the current stage of Christ's return is identified with the trumpet (which we dealt with in the previous post) and with the phrases, 'the voice of the archangel', and 'in the twinkling of an eye'. The rapture of the saints at the end of the tribulation will be instant, but at the same time it will be accompanied with very visible and miraculous sights of Christ in the clouds and the resurrection of the dead. The voice of the archangel, Michael, who is connected to Israel through prophetic scripture is heard, crying out an announcement that the earth is ready to be harvested. It's at this announcement that Jesus Christ comes at His second coming and raptures the saints of that day into the clouds. From these scriptures, and the evidence they provide, we can confidently interpret the events of this day and connect them to the details in Paul's famous verses of 1 Thess.4:16-17 and 1 Cor.15:51-52.

I have a few more things to say regarding this time and this topic. This I will do in the next post which should be the last in this series. I continue to hope and trust that what I have shared in this series will have inspired you to dig into the scriptures for yourself, and to study these things to confirm their validity and gain hope and confidence in the details of Christ's return.

God bless.