March 10, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde
In parts One and Two, we have learned:
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be in the year 2033.
The antichrist will be revealed in the year 2026 through the signing of the 7-year peace agreement between Israel and surrounding countries.
The rapture will happen also in 2026, and BEFORE the antichrist is revealed.
The purpose of the rapture is twofold:
1.God plans to rescue His followers from the wrath that He intends to pour out onto the inhabitants of the earth during the Tribulation Period.
2.It’s also His plan to remove the restrainer from the earth, His Spirit which resides withing His believers, so that the antichrist can be revealed.
Today, I would like to write about who is included in the rapture, and how a person can know for themselves…even RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT, if they will be included in the rapture or not.
Let’s revisit the defining scripture of the rapture to learn more details:
First Epistle to the Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
It is not a complex process to see if you “qualify” for the rapture. In fact, it is VERY SIMPLE. It has nothing to do with our “Good Works;” the amount of tithing that we paid, how attentive that we were going to the church or temple. The Rapture is NOT a judgment based on anything that has to do with our Good Works.
The qualification for the rapture is stated in the scripture. We must be “in Christ” to be raptured. So how can we know if we are in Christ? Let’s return to the scriptures.
Scripture Defining those In Christ
To know that someone is “in Christ” according to the King James Version (KJV), we need to look at both what it means spiritually and the scriptural evidence that confirms it. Being “in Christ” means being spiritually united with Him, having faith in His sacrifice, and walking in obedience to God. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Faith in Jesus Christ
The first sign that someone is in Christ is faith in Him as Lord and Savior.
- Romans 10:9-10 KJV:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
If you truly believe in Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection, and lordship, you are “in Christ.”
2. Walking in Righteousness
Being in Christ leads to a changed life. The fruit of being “in Christ” is obedience and spiritual growth. Our Good Works do not make us “in Christ,” rather, they are the fruit that comes after we are there.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Evidence: Your habits, thoughts, and desires are being renewed by the Spirit; sin loses its grip as you grow.
3. ***Indwelling of the Holy Spirit*****
The Holy Spirit is a guarantee that you are in Christ.
- Romans 8:9 KJV:
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Many of you KNOW that you have the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost that helps you navigate through your life. Feeling the guidance, conviction, and comfort of the Spirit confirms that YOU are in Christ.
***This item in itself is the most telling, that a person can know that they will be included in the rapture.
4. Love for God and Others
A person in Christ demonstrates love in practical ways.
- 1 John 3:14 KJV:
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
Love for God and others is a natural outflow of being in Christ.
5. Confidence of Salvation
A key assurance is inner peace and confidence in God’s promises.
- 1 John 5:13 KJV:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
God allows believers to know and be certain that they are saved.
Summary:
A person can know they are “in Christ” by:
- Believing in Jesus Christ as Savior.
- Experiencing a life change and growing in righteousness.
- Having the Holy Spirit dwell in them.
- Loving God and others sincerely.
- Having assurance of eternal life.
A person does NOT have to have all of these to be considered in Christ. However, being in Christ will result in a person feeling and experiencing all of these things.
Does a person need to believe in the rapture to be raptured? The answer is NO!
Again, from the scripture, our belief in the rapture is not the qualification to be raptured. The only qualification is to be someone who is “in Christ.”
If you are in Christ, God will find you, and you will be included in the rapture that will soon take place. It is not required that you be looking up, or be in a certain place like a church. God will find those in Christ, and do everything necessary to lift you up in the “twinkling of an eye.” You will not see yourself slowly ascending into heaven, rather, in an instant your body will be changed, and you will find yourself with Jesus Christ in the clouds.
There are so many of my friends and family who choose not to learn of the end times because their church does not teach anything about it. They have also conveyed that the end times give them anxiety.
From what I have taught you about the rapture happening before the 7-year Tribulation period even beginning, how much more PEACE can a person who is following Jesus Christ have? Knowing that God will soon save you from what is coming is Incredibly Peaceful. Knowing that if you have the Holy Spirit that has been helping you through life, lets you know for CERTAINTY that you will be included in this RESCUE that God has planned…The Rapture.
EVERYONE can even know RIGHT NOW if they are “in Christ” which gives them a “ticket” to be included in the rapture. You do not need to “wait and see” if you will be included or not.
Take a moment right now and see if you are in Christ. If you are, you can sit back and enjoy peace and calm, despite everything that is happening in the world right now. You do not need to worry about ANY of the events that will happen during the 7-year Tribulation Period, for you will not be here. =)
For those of you who are not in Christ, GET THERE TONIGHT. Get on your knees and invite Jesus Christ into your life. Learn about His atoning sacrifice that He completed so that you can be forgiven of your sins. In that prayer, repent for your sins, and turn your life over to Him. Realize that you need His HELP in life, and ask Him to guide you.
Repentance has NOTHING to do with a person’s church! Repentance is done by confessing your sins to God directly in prayer. Tell Him what you have done that was wrong, and ask for His forgiveness. In doing this, HE will forgive you 100% for 100% of all of your sins. That forgiveness is immediate, and comes from Him and not a church!
Did you know that the atonement of Jesus Christ was performed for ALL mankind, but only those who accept His gift and repent of their sins will be able to use it?
Like everything else in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the atonement is not FORCED upon us, because we have been given our free agency. Those who choose not to accept this atonement and refuse to repent of their sins will be held accountable for EVERY SIN that they have ever committed. This disqualifies them from ever living in the presence of God. Can you see how this all works.
For those of you who are reading this today, you might think that you need to get busy with your good works to be included in the rapture. Can I again let you know that your Good Works have NOTHING to do with who is included in the rapture. It is not about church or temple attendance, paying tithing, service, or any other “Good Works” that you might think are important. Let’s learn more:
Supporting Scriptures
- Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
- Titus 3:5 (KJV)
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
- Romans 11:6 (KJV)
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
- Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Summary
- Salvation is entirely God’s gift.
- Faith is the instrument through which we receive that gift.
- Works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. Good works follow naturally when someone truly believes.
By doing as I have written, you will IMMEDIATELY be saved which happens in an instant. But you Must believe in what you have just done. You must believe in the atonement of Jesus Christ. You must recognize that you are a sinner, and that you NEED Jesus Christ into your life so that you can repent and be forgiven of your sins.
- John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Whosoever believeth” implies that at the moment of belief, eternal life is granted.
- Acts 16:31
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
The promise is direct and immediate upon belief.
- Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Notice “shalt be saved” is future from the moment of confession and belief — not after a series of works or rituals.
So, from a KJV perspective, salvation happens the moment faith is placed in Christ, not through a long process or by human effort. It’s a spiritual transaction that is instantaneous, though growth in Christ and sanctification continue over a lifetime.
I’d like to support what I have just written by giving you a “First Hand” example which came directly from Jesus Christ Himself.
Do you remember when Christ was hanging upon the cross alongside of two thieves? Let’s learn more about this:
It is written in Gospel of Luke 23:39–43 (KJV)
Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One thief mocked Him, saying if Jesus was truly Christ, He should save Himself and them.
The other thief rebuked the first thief, admitting they deserved their punishment but that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Then he said:
“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
— Luke 23:42 (KJV)
Jesus replied:
“Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
— Luke 23:43 (KJV)
Jesus had just told the THEIF that he was “saved.” The thief would be with Jesus Christ in Paradise. How is this even possible?
Why Jesus said that the thief was saved:
- The thief recognized Jesus as Lord and King.
- He admitted his own guilt.
- He placed his faith in Christ even while dying.
This story powerfully shows the biblical truth taught in Epistle to the Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV) — that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works.
Even a dying man who simply believed in Christ was saved instantly by Christ Himself.
This biblical story is evidence of the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not about our good works; it is about accepting Jesus Christ into your life and recognizing that we CAN NOT do it without Him. Asking for His help, and then letting Him guide us through all of our problems.
To repent of our sins, and believe in His atonement, which then causes God to completely forgive us for what we have done wrong. We have faith in all of that which is how we accept the atonement into our lives.
Jesus showed us this teaching personally through His interactions with the thief on the cross. That thief was “saved” immediately. You can understand the concept of being saved in some of my other writings. Just prayerfully consider the concept right now.
Peace
There is a spiritual, enduring peace that comes from your relationship with Jesus Christ… A few key scriptures:
- John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
- Christ’s peace is different from worldly peace; it calms the heart and mind even in trials.
- Romans 5:1 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Peace here is immediate upon being justified, meaning salvation brings reconciliation with God.
- Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- God’s peace guards our hearts and minds, offering stability in uncertainty.
- Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
- Peace is not just a feeling; it rules in the heart, influencing decisions and attitudes.
In short, being in Christ brings peace that the world cannot give, a peace that starts immediately upon belief and continues as we trust in Him. And then, you will have the peace that comes from knowing of God’s rescue plan, so that you will not have to endure any of the upcoming Tribulation events in the final 7 years on earth.
So now tell me… Doesn’t it make more sense to take responsibility of your own spiritual knowledge, and not simply wait until your church leaders tell you? As I learned this for myself two years ago, I have been enjoying blissful peace regardless of what is happening in the world. I honestly wished that my church leaders would have taught me all of this.
Some think that if a church leader doesn’t teach you something, then it must not be important or true. This is a FRIGHTENING position to be in.
Sometimes I feel impressed to gently remind readers that the things I share are not my own ideas. They come from the prophets of the Bible and from the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself.
These prophecies about the last days were written long ago for people living in the time we are living in now. God allowed His prophets to record these things because He wants His children to understand them.
Because of this, a thoughtful question naturally arises: Why are these teachings not discussed more often in many churches?
I do not believe the answer is necessarily because church leaders have bad intentions. Most leaders sincerely desire to help and protect the people they serve. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings peace, hope, and salvation, and many leaders focus on teaching those beautiful truths.
But the prophecies about the end times are also meant to bring peace, especially for those who follow Christ. When we understand what God has revealed about the future, it reminds us that He is in control and that He has a plan to rescue His people.
The scriptures also teach that there is an adversary who tries to create confusion and keep people from understanding God’s word. Sometimes that confusion can even affect religious systems or leaders who are trying to do good.
Jesus Himself lovingly warned us about this possibility.
In the Gospel of Matthew, He said:
Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
This scripture reminds us that deception in the last days can be very convincing, and that even sincere believers must remain watchful.
This does not mean that religious leaders are evil people. It may simply mean that even good people can sometimes misunderstand or overlook certain teachings. Some may feel that discussing the end times might create fear or anxiety among their congregations, and they may believe they are protecting people by focusing on other subjects.
Because these teachings come from the prophets and apostles recorded in scripture, their truth does not depend on whether we accept them or not. They describe God’s plan for the last days, a plan that will unfold according to His will.
I encourage all of you to realize your relationship with Jesus Christ as being priority over your relationship with your church. They are not the same thing. Following God’s promptings and personal revelation will always keep you informed, and will ensure that you are never deceived.
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