The Gospel of Jesus Christ as HE Taught When He Was on the Earth – Part 7 – Rapture – Judgment Seat of Christ – Wedding Feast of the Lamb – Heaven

April 16, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde

In Part 4 we learned about the “Judgment Seat of Christ.” This judgment will be for all of those who have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. We’ve learned that during this “judgment” we will not be judged for our sins, simply because the atonement of Jesus Christ removes ALL of our sins, and we are washed clean once again. We learned that we will also, at this time, receive “crowns” for our good works.

But, today, I’d like to show you where this judgment fits into the timeline of the “End Times.” It is exciting to me to realize that this event will be happening very soon, and that it’s not just a story of a far-off unclear teaching that will happen.

I have written a great deal about the Rapture of Jesus Christ. I invite you to learn all that you can about the Rapture, because this will be the very next end times event, which can happen any day now.

But today, I’d like to briefly teach you the “merging” concepts of the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, and Heaven.

In some religions, they teach about having “Oil in your lamps” so that you will be prepared for the returning of Jesus Christ. Let me show you what this expression means.

The teaching of “oil in your lamp” comes from Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13 (KJV). In this story, ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom to come so they can go into the wedding feast. All of them have lamps, but only five are wise and bring extra oil. The other five are foolish and do not prepare. When the bridegroom is delayed, all of them become tired and fall asleep, but at midnight the cry goes out that he is coming. Five are prepared with enough oil in their lamps for His coming and five are not.

The oil is often understood as a picture of being spiritually prepared—having a real, living relationship with God, not just outward religion. It reflects being filled with faith, the Holy Spirit, and a heart that is truly ready for Christ. It is not something that can be borrowed or quickly obtained at the last minute; it must be lived and prepared ahead of time.

Jesus Christ, the “Bridegroom” and He will soon be coming for His “Bride” which are His Followers.

The story continues, while the 5 virgins go to buy more oil, the door is shut, and they are not allowed into the wedding feast.

We also learn something very interesting through this parable. Jesus is coming for His Bride to gather them so that He can take them to the “Wedding Feast.”

Through this parable we’ve learned that Jesus will come for His Bridegroom (His followers) at a later date in the End-Times. But how will He gather them? How will he come for us, and receive us unto Himself? The scriptures give us some very clear insight into answering that question.

The Event is Known as The Rapture

1 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.”

This is how Jesus will come for His Bride. Notice in this scripture, Christ does not come down to the earth, but calls for those “in Christ” to meet Him in the clouds. This event is VERY different from the second coming of Jesus Christ, when He physically comes all of the way down to earth, with His “Feet placed upon the mount of olives.” He will return to earth at the end of the 7-year Tribulation period WITH His followers to defeat the antichrist and finish the battle with evil. This is His final coming to the earth, which will occur 7 years after the rapture happens.

Let’s keep learning.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (KJV)

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…”

The first scripture teaches us that the Dead in Christ will rise first. They will actually be resurrected into their perfect bodies at this time, so that they can dwell with Christ forever. Those of us who are “in Christ” and living upon the earth are not dead yet, will have our bodies “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” into the same perfect condition as those who were dead. This is how we are able to live with Christ forever in another place.

In simple terms:

• Resurrected = dead believers raised
• Changed = living believers transformed

Both receive glorified, incorruptible bodies fit for eternity.

John 14:2–3 (KJV)

“In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

In this verse, Jesus was explaining His return to the apostles. He wasn’t JUST meaning that He would be with be reuniting with the apostles, but with all of those who are “in Christ.” He will come again, and receive us unto Himself.

Matthew 24:40–41 (KJV)

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

Jesus is teaching us about the rapture, NOT His second coming. He is not coming for everyone. He is only coming for “His Bride.” Those, “In Christ” as it states in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. One will be taken up, and the other one left behind as it states in this scripture.

So, will this rapture involve you? Will you be one that is taken, or will you be one that is left behind to have to endure the 7-year Tribulation Period which will then follow?

I can answer this for you, in a way that you can KNOW for sure if you will be included in the rapture or not, by asking you a simple question?

Are you “in Christ?”

To be “in Christ” in KJV teaching means to belong to Jesus Christ through faith, having your life spiritually joined to Him. It is not just knowing about Him, but being united with Him so that His righteousness, His salvation, and His life become yours.

The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). This means a person who is in Christ has been spiritually changed (born again)—no longer defined by their old life of sin, but made new by God’s grace.

Being in Christ also means you are justified before God, not by your works, but by faith in Him.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 KJV).

Your standing before God is secure because it is based on Christ’s righteousness, not your own “good works.” You realize that salvation is a gift from Jesus Christ, and you accept His gift (the atonement) and see it as complete, and enough. You do not feel that you have done anything to earn your way to heaven, but realize going to heaven is made possible only through accepting Jesus Christ into your life, and repenting of your sins, NOT because of your good works.

It also means you are spiritually joined to His body, the Church of believers.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members… so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV).

In Christ, you are no longer separated from God, but brought near through Him.

So, to be “in Christ” is to be saved by faith, made new by His Spirit, covered by His righteousness, and united to Him forever.

If you are “in Christ” you will 100% be included in the rapture, and will be immediately changed and be with Him forever. Let me tell you more about this, for it is something that you MUST know.

If you are “in Christ” today, this not only means that you will be included in the rapture, but will also be invited to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, attend the Judgment Seat of Christ, Receive Crowns for your Good Works, and live with Jesus Christ in “heaven” for all of eternity.

What I have just said is a lot!!! But I want you to realize that everything that is good in life after death is ALL TIED to being “in Christ” You MUST be in Christ, (Born Again), in this life, and once you are, you will receive all that God has planned for “His Followers” after this life. THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN CHRIST…. TODAY!!!!

Please go to my other writings to see the timing of the rapture, being before the antichrist is revealed to the world, which starts the 7-year tribulation period. You don’t have to take my word on this, for I have done some extensive research and study regarding the timing of the rapture, and would like to share with you. The rapture could happen any day now…are you prepared by being “in Christ?”

The Judgment Seat of Christ

After the rapture, believers will be with the Lord in His presence. Jesus said,

“that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3 KJV).

This speaks of being united with Christ and never separated from Him again. It is the fulfillment of salvation—eternal fellowship with the Savior.

Scripture teaches that after the rapture even, all who are “in Christ” both the resurrected dead, and those who were living and have been changed, will all be sent to an event called the Judgment Seat of Christ.  

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV).

This is where the works of believers are evaluated, not for salvation (which is already secured in Christ), but for reward and accountability.

This is our Judgment… Scary right?  Not At All! We’ve learned in prior writing that we will be receiving crowns for our good works at this time. And, since we have no sins because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we will not be “judged” for any of those sins.

But wait, won’t there be some people who are not taken up in the rapture that will come to Christ during the 7-year Tribulation period. YES.

Remember there will be 144,000 “missionaries” as well as the Two Prophets that will be teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ during the 7-year Tribulation period.

The scriptures specifically teach us this:

Revelation 7:9 (KJV) describes a great number of saved people coming out of this 7-year period:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number… stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes…”

Then it is explained:

“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14 KJV)

This shows clearly that many will be saved during this 7-Year Tribulation Period through faith in the Lamb (Jesus Christ).

These people that come to Christ will also be taken to the “Judgment Seat of Christ” as well; The same judgment that we will be at being taken from the rapture.

Wedding Feast of the Lamb

After the rapture, and the Judgment seat of Christ…Then, the CELEBRATION BEGINS!!! The Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Jesus relates this to a traditional “Jewish” wedding. This is why it is so symbolic of the Bridegroom coming for the Bride, followed by the Wedding Feast.

To explain this feast, it is easier to just try to have a visual of what has just happened through a traditional wedding that took place at the time of Jesus Christ.

In the imagery Jesus Christ used, a Jewish wedding involved a bridegroom who would first prepare a place for his bride, then return at an unexpected hour to receive her and take her to the wedding. The bride was to remain watchful and ready, with lamps burning, because she did not know the exact time of his. This picture symbolized Christ as the bridegroom, believers as the bride, His return for them, and the joyful union and celebration that follows called the wedding feast.

Christ prepared a place for His Bride, Will come for us in an unexpected hour (rapture), then take us to the Judgment Seat of Christ, (parallels a time of readiness and presentation: the bride made ready) where we will receive crowns of Glory, and then onto the CELEBRATION.

A LIFETIME in the making, and a chance for Christ to tell us:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
— Matthew 25:21 (KJV)

“Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
— Revelation 19:9 (KJV)

This “supper” is mainly a picture of celebration and union between Christ (the Lamb) and His redeemed people. In Scripture, a wedding feast often symbolizes joy, covenant fulfillment, and fellowship, not just eating food.

Jesus also used feast language to describe the Kingdom of God, such as:

“And I appoint unto you a kingdom… that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.”
— Luke 22:29–30 (KJV)

This shows that fellowship with Christ is real, personal, and joyful. The Bible emphasizes more the spiritual meaning than the physical menu. The focus is on:

• Being united with Christ forever
• Celebrating salvation
• Entering eternal joy and fellowship with Him

So, while it may include real fellowship described in “feast” language, the main point is not just food—it is the joyful celebration of redemption and eternal union with Jesus Christ.

From there, ALL in attendance will be sent to the “New Heaven and Earth” that God will prepare for us…That’s right…You will be going to HEAVEN!

(We have learned in previous writing that all of those who are NOT in Christ, and have not accepted the atonement of Jesus Christ will attend a different Judgment occurring at the end of the 1,000 year Millennial Period, the Great White Thorne Judgment, and will be cast into the lake of fire not heaven.)

Can you see what your eternal future will be if you are “in Christ”? These prophecies and teachings recorded in the Bible detail the plan that God has for His children. He has TOLD US this so that you will know and be prepared.

Ok, lets shift gears for just a moment.…

If all of this is true, why isn’t my church teaching this? That is a question that you need to ask yourselves not me. That is a question that you should be asking God for direction, because it’s kind of a big deal. 

I can tell you this. Each and every end-times prophecy, as well as all of these teachings are from Jesus Christ, His Apostles, and His Prophets are recorded in the Bible. They are their writings, not mine. God also promised us this:

Amos 3:7 (KJV):

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

God does not act without first revealing His plans to His prophets—showing that He gives warning, insight, and truth to His servants before major events unfold.

All of what I write Has Been Foretold by the prophets of the Bible, as well as Jesus Christ Himself. God has fulfilled His promise of letting us know His plans for the end times in GREAT detail.

If a man living today professes to be a prophet of God, I feel that he would certainly AT LEAST be teaching about the end times prophecies that are recorded in the bible. For, there are things coming that if a person is deceived, they might lose their soul. Don’t you think that God’s prophet would be warning us of such an important event? I believe that failure to do so, in itself, disqualifies him from being a true prophet. (We will talk more about this in an upcoming writing regarding prophets.)

In tomorrow’s writing, I will identify the ONE and only Gospel of Jesus Christ, and where we can look to study this for ourselves, so that we can learn the truth. Please join me at www.gospelofjesuschhrist.blog . I’ll see you there.