“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” (1 Cor. 15:52 NKJ).
Paul describes the Second Coming of Christ as happening in a moment. In the Greek New Testament this word is atomos (at’-om- os). It is the word from which we derive our English words atom and atomic.
Paul had in his vocabulary the following words to indicate time: millennium (1,000 years), century (100 years), decade (10 years), year, season, month, week, day, and hour. (These are all Bible words. Paul did not have the words minute and second; these came later.) Yet when describing the return of the Lord, none of these words would suffice.
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write “in an atomos,” “in the twinkling of an eye.” Jesus is coming in an atomic second. A second can be calibrated to a half-second, a tenth of a second, a hundredth of a second, even a thousandth of a second. But an atomic second is a unit which is incapable of being further divided.
We are not expecting the world to slowly improve in quality until at last the golden age will be ushered in. The Bible tells us conversely that perilous times are ahead. But it also tells us that Jesus is coming back to redeem His Church in an atomic second.
Since none of us knows when that atomic second will click off, our attitude and stance is one of hope. We live in what the Bible calls a blessed hope. We know a better day is coming. Some day, in an atomic second, Jesus will return!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.