Not stretching anything, you’re simply misinterpreting and misunderstanding the context of the scripture you referenced above. The twinkling of an eye is in regard to the pre-tribulation Rapture and the last trump, not trumpet as so many misinterpret. That “trump” is not a trumpet but is actually Jesus’ voice which sounds like a trumpet when He calls His church up on the Lord’s day.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Revelation 1:10-11






The church is mentioned 19 times in the first three chapters of Revelation. The very first verse after these chapters in Chapter 4 of Revelation is a foreshadowing of the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church and the church is therefore never mentioned again through the detailed description of the 7-year Tribulation which spans from Chapters 4-20. The reason for this is because the church isn’t on earth and is taking part in the Wedding celebration in Heaven during the 7-year Tribulation.

You will also notice that the title of Chapter 4 in Revelation is titled “The Throne Room” because this is exactly where those Raptured in the pre-tribulation Rapture will stand which is the Judgment Seat of Christ so they may receive their heavenly rewards for their time on earth and will be told to rest from their labors and enter Heaven.

The Throne Room of Heaven

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Revelation 4:1