Moment of the Rapture Undetectable to Secular People?

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

Had an interesting thought:

The Rapture will occur in the "twinkling of an eye." That is faster than the time it takes to blink, faster than a synapse firing in the brain. To a secular person, you would be standing there, and before their brain could even register you disappeared, blamo, you are gone and already thousands of feet in the air.

Some say the trumpet may sound like thunder to a secular person, but I suspect they will hear nothing at all. Some say the thunder is the sonic boom of all the people shooting upwards suddenly at WELL over the speed of sound (in fact, if we travel up at the same speed we vanish, we will be at the highest cloud levels inside 2 seconds). Why do I think the secular will hear nothing? Because, at the instant we vanish, we are also transformed, no longer subject to earthly physics and able to pass through matter regadless of its density. Therefore, no sonic boom. The only hint I believe the secular will get is our clothing hitting the floor roughly .10 seconds after we vansih, since it will happen so fast, our clothes will hover in place for a split moment before gravity takes over.

Also, no camera on earth can record the moment we transform, unless perhaps it is a camera that can see past the visible light spectrum. Since we are transformed inside and out, a camera of that specification MAY be able to take a snapshot of the moment we are glorified, the moment we go from flesh and blood to transdimensional, meaning, impervious to matter and time (as we know it), and fit for eternal life in any level of the 3 Heavens. The power exuded from a sudden transformation like that could theoretically elicit a form of light energy visible to any photo device. If the secular were able to see the light emission from the moment of transformation, that would mean that the transformation is not 100% efficient and therefore imperfect, producing waste in the form of visible light. On the other side of this coin, one could say that since our new bodies are made alive and animated through the very Spirit of God, it MUST elicit some type of detectable radiation due to the sheer magnitude and surge of transformative power. The result, detectable particle radiation somewhere in the spectrum of light. Could a camera catch the explosion of energy coming from us the split fraction of a second before we vanish? Possibly, yes. However, there will most likely be colors in Heaven we don't even know exist yet, so even though the reaction may be detectable with current technology, perhaps not all of it will be, accounting for the colors on the spectrum in a range that we are not technologically advanced enough to see yet. Our eyes will be glorified in Heaven, meaning we will most likely be able to see the entire color spectrum. This will alow us to see colors we never knew existed.

Since God is perfect, and we will have bodies like Jesus, I suspect the transformation will completely defy all known laws of physics in its suddeness and power. Such an immediate transformation in genetic and biological structure would normally kill us instantly, but since God is who He is, it will happen in such a manner that is not only 100% efficient, but perfect and blindingly fast. Another way of saying that is the moment we are transformed will be so sudden and complete, we won't even know until it's already over, and we suddenly realize we are not the same (and simultaneously going up REALLY fast). This also serves another purpose, in that the moment we are pulled up, we will accelerate to a level of g forces that would normally leave our bodies in a state similar to a slurpee. Due to the speed of our glorification, we won't even realize we are traveling up until we are well into the sky.

Given these things, the moment of the Rapture will throw the left behind world into absolute madness, clamoring for an explanation. To us, the moment of the Rapture will be so fast and sudden, our first few moments in will be overwhelming in intensity. Imagine going from your everyday life to being not only immortal, but seeing and hearing things you can't even describe in words, ALL this within the first few seconds after glorification. Meanwhile on earth, the left behind are sitting in ther living rooms and walking down the street, etc. Those inside are shocked by a sudden series of loud exploding sounds and screaming as cars slam into each other at high speeds, driverless. Those outside look about them only to see random sets of clothing strewn out along the sidewalk every few yards. It will be a strange and terrifying day for the unbeliever. While the moment of the Rapture may be undetectable, the consequences will not.

[Shannon9602]

This maybe off topic... but I have always imagined being in a grocery store or any store where there are cameras all over and the rapture occurred while its being filmed. I can see they replay the incident in variety of places all over the world in the news. They see you one moment and the next poof your gone all on film.

[Compatriot G]

Wow! That was only a thought? Seriously though, you present an interesting scenario. I just wonder how all this is going to be explained. It will have to be explained away as some sort of "natural" event. All of the scientists, at that time, will be unsaved. They will have to find some sort of "natural" explanation. Personally, I don't believe people will accept that all of the missing persons were abducted by aliens. It will have to be something more believable. Some sort of global catastrophe like an asteroid strike, extremely massive solar flare, or even some sort of cosmic event. It will be interesting. I'm glad I won't be here to hear the explanation.

[treasures]

You had me at the highest cloud levels inside 2 seconds.

[iSong6:3]

Pretty cool! I'd never considered that cameras won't be fast enough to pick it up...

How exciting...even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

[Shonsu]

I'm not so sure that we are going to ascend in the twinkling of an eye. The passage says that we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, not that we ascend in that same twinkling.

[Anymomentnow]

Have you considered that when 1 billion + people are changed there will be a molecular mass balance issue in the universe. One could surmise that this could cause some ructions or instabilities that will wake up the secular world (earth quakes maybe),
Just a thought..

[Tall Timbers]

Aside from collateral damage, I expect that it'll happen so fast that there will be great confusion. The brains of folks left behind simply won't be able to process what they just saw... or didn't see. What they will have to try to deal with mentally and emotionally, is what was an instant ago, and what is an instant later. The inability of the human mind to digest and comprehend the moment will make it very easy for most to be deceived as to what did occur... and then the fun begins... Can't wait for the ride home!

[Miggy]

"Caught on Camera: Rapture Edition".

[waiting1]

I'm not so sure that we are going to ascend in the twinkling of an eye. The passage says that we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, not that we ascend in that same twinkling.

Good point Shonsu and what is more when it comes to the Rapture. We don't know if people will actually see us ascend or not and it may be slow. But either way many will go insane over what they have just saw. Many will also get on their knees and repent at that moment too.

[waiting1]

The majority of those Raptured will be children "not" adults.

[Verisimilitude]

Have you considered that when 1 billion + people are changed there will be a molecular mass balance issue in the universe. One could surmise that this could cause some ructions or instabilities that will wake up the secular world (earth quakes maybe),
Just a thought..

I've thought for a long time that all the electrical energy unleashed during our transformation will certainly cause a worldwide EMP. I'm talking a world without power, not a major deal in parts of the less civilized world, but in Europe and North America especially, it will be devestating.

I do not know how quick our trip into the sky and then beyond will take, but it seems we are going to be quickly snatched up which is what the word harpazo hints at. The fricion caused by this on the molecules in the air could cause a very loud, worldwide sonic boom that may be strong enough to set off numerous earthquakes as well as deafen a lot of people. Our bodies will be different, far different, but they will still be physical. The apostles could touch Jesus after He rose from the dead, He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. He could eat, He occupied space. For these reasons, I believe our physicallity will effect the molecules around us during the rapture. There's gonna be a huge mess to deal with because of the rapture no matter how it affects nature. What a great incentive it will be for the world to pull together and unite under one leader.

The majority of those Raptured will be children "not" adults.

Among the living, that's a distinct possibility. We must remember, 2000 years of Christians will be raptured, not only the living, but those who are currently asleep in Christ. For that reason I wonder if there will be more children than adults. Over the past 2 millenia, have more children passed away before reaching the age of reason, whatever that may be, than made it to adulthood and accepted Jesus as Savior? It's an interesting question and I'm wondering if things will turn out that way.

Going back to the two best examples of the rapture in the Bible, Noah and Lot, only Noah's children were spared and only Lot's young daughters were spared as well. He had married daughters as well who's husbands scorned Lot's fervent request to come with and my belief is that Lot's wife looked back because she knew at least two of her children were there suffering the Lord's wrath. Will all children be raptured or just children of believers? This is something that we don't know for certain, it is another 'wait and see' game.

[savedatcamp]

The majority of those Raptured will be children "not" adults.

[Raphael]

We may have been able to understand the Rapture a little better had there been cameras at the graves of saints who arose during the Crucifixion (and were seen in Jerusalem).

DISCLAIMER: My following thought is based on the Shroud of Turin being real (total speculation):

Although it's unlikely that our transformation would approximate the power of the Son's resurrection from death and the tomb, the Shroud indicates the likelihood of an "explosion of light" of some sort that created the image on the cloth. I imagine great light (and unsteady ground with Roman soldiers rolling) when the stone was rolled away. So maybe there will be enough power released at the Rapture to foul the recording capabilities of cameras (providing room for the AC to lie) as well as to blow out a wall or window here and there.

The Crystal Cathedral will probably remain unscathed (sorry).

[Carrie Grace]

I've often thought that with all the Light from the Holy Spirit leaving in the bodies of believers, there might be visible to the unbelieving eye, a great brightness in the sky--even if only fleeting. This would also make talk of UFOs and the like to be easily accepted. "Did you see the sky? Holy cats, it was like millions and billions of tiny bursts of light! And from what that Rachel Maddow fella is sayin' on MSNBC, it happened all over the world! I tell ya, Marge, that was them UFOs. Those poor people are being probed and experimented on. Thank god no one in my house was taken!" (small G on God, because we now know it isn't God they've been thanking.)

On another note, I am kind of hoping (in fact I have been dreaming a LOT of this lately, and I so hate to wake up!) that we will actually know what is happening to us (I believe in every one of my dreams, I say, "here we goooo!" ), and we get to enjoy the ride on up. I'll use my dreams as an example (NO, not prophetic, just dreams)--that we feel the pull upward, and we don't really float; we kind of glide. It isn't scary in the least because we feel protected and exhilirated at the same time. We can see others, too, and we KNOW everyone. Even people we have never met. We KNOW them. The BESTESTESTEST part is that we know that Jesus is at the end of this ride, and we are so excited, yet not apprehensive or nervous--it's like we felt on our wedding day (or other favorite day)--only way heightened. Good butterflies. No nausea at all.

*Sigh*

See why I hate waking up?

[twisty58]

All very cool thoughts! The idea of a great light sounds logical...but what could be logical to the unbeliever about Rapture-right?
The ONLY thing I really wonder about is the "left behind clothing" thing. I think that's pretty Hollywood. But who knows? If it DOES happen that way, it will really freak people out!

[IMSAVED]

I also think it is possible that those left behind will hear nothing.

[Verisimilitude]

Most of the saints going up in the rapture currently have no clothes on. No, they are not nudists. They are the dead in Christ. For most of them, their clothing has long since disintegrated. I don't believe they are going to be naked at the rapture. If they are provided with white robes representing the righteousness of the saints as I believe, then I believe that we who remain and caught up also will be robed in white.

Going by Biblical example alone, we know that the grave clothes wrapped around Jesus were not destroyed by the process of His transformation. They remained behind as a testament to His resurrection. I believe it will be the same way for he saints who remain, in fact, once we are transformed, I believe our every need will be provided for us by our Savior/Bridegroom, including our clothing. I cannot see anything manmade accompanying us into the Fathers house. There will be no need.

[twisty58]

Hey! That is a GREAT point about Jesus' burial wrappings being left behind. I'd never thought of that!

[LightOfMyLife]

Most of the saints going up in the rapture currently have no clothes on. No, they are not nudists. They are the dead in Christ. For most of them, their clothing has long since disintegrated. I don't believe they are going to be naked at the rapture. If they are provided with white robes representing the righteousness of the saints as I believe, then I believe that we who remain and caught up also will be robed in white.

Going by Biblical example alone, we know that the grave clothes wrapped around Jesus were not destroyed by the process of His transformation. They remained behind as a testament to His resurrection. I believe it will be the same way for he saints who remain, in fact, once we are transformed, I believe our every need will be provided for us by our Savior/Bridegroom, including our clothing. I cannot see anything manmade accompanying us into the Fathers house. There will be no need.

I agree about the white robes for our heavenly homebound lift up. I also think about those that rise first the dead in Christ. Will the ground be tore up or will God do a neat zapping up out of the grave? I can't wait to see our new glorified bodies. I think of bodies of energized light. I hope this is our homecoming year! Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!