May 29, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde
(The views expressed here are my personal beliefs, shaped by extensive study of end-times prophecy in the Bible. I have prayerfully sought God’s guidance throughout my research to remain focused on truth. I do not speak on behalf of any religious organization.)
In my study of end times prophecy over the past 3.5 years, I’ve come to know some teachings that were new to me. Through my past religion, I was confused regarding where I would actually end up after I died… Which kingdom, and which level in each kingdom. And, what about outer darkness, taught with so many changes over the years?
Joseph Smith taught that outer darkness was for those who were “Sons of Perdition”
Brigham Young taught that this place was for “those who committed the unpardonable sin after receiving a fullness of light and knowledge.”
Modern LDS Teachings bounced around from “those who deny the Holy Ghost” to, ‘It is for satan and his followers,” and now this: “Outer Darkness is for those who deny Christ after receiving a sure witness through the Holy Ghost.”
What a confusing mess! There is absolutely no comfort in these teachings, rather, uncertainty, and a constant strife to seek perfection.
Let me show you how SIMPLE the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually is. It is easy to understand, and something that you can take to God in prayer, and know that it is HIS doctrine, and not a man-made religion’s.
You can actually know today, right this very minute, if you will be going to “heaven” or if you are headed to the “lake of fire.” There is NO confusion in the teachings of Christ. And even more refreshing, He wants you to know this right now, and to not have to wait until your judgment happens. It does not get any simpler, or easier to understand than this.
Let’s begin by looking at the two judgments that are taught in the New Testament. Two separate judgments for two different groups of people.
The “Judgment Seat of Christ” – For those who have experienced the spiritual transformation of becoming Born Again as taught in the New Testament.
The Great White Thorne Judgment – For those who have REJECTED Jesus Christ and His atonement.
Let’s get into the details of both judgments.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Judgment Seat of Christ is for those who have already placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have been saved by grace. This judgment is not to determine salvation (“living together with Jesus Christ forever”), because salvation was already secured through faith in Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
Believers will give an account of their lives, and their works will be examined. Paul explains that some WORKS will endure and receive rewards, while other WORKS will be burned up:
“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:14–15 (KJV)
Notice that even if a believer’s works are burned up, he himself shall be saved. This judgment concerns rewards, crowns, and faithfulness—not whether someone enters heaven.
Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ are not judged for their sins at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because every sin—past, present, and future—was paid for through His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
The Bible teaches that Christ “bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24 KJV), and that “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 KJV).
Instead of being judged for sin, believers will stand before Christ to receive rewards for their faithfulness and service. Among these rewards are crowns, including the “crown of righteousness,” which the Apostle Paul described when he wrote,
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV).
The crowns specifically mentioned in Scripture are commonly identified as:
- Incorruptible Crown — 1 Corinthians 9:25
- Crown of Rejoicing — 1 Thessalonians 2:19
- Crown of Righteousness — 2 Timothy 4:8
- Crown of Life — James 1:12; Revelation 2:10
- Crown of Glory — 1 Peter 5:4
These crowns are not earned for salvation, which is a free gift of grace, but are given as rewards to those who have faithfully loved and served the Lord while awaiting His appearing.
So, for those who have accepted Jesus Christ into their life resulting in the spiritual transformation of becoming born again, they will all be presented into the judgment seat of Christ. While there, they will be “judged” for their works, some good, meaning that they were done with the intent to give the glory to God, and some bad, including good works that were done for selfish reasons. All attending this judgment will then go with Jesus Christ and be with Him in “heaven.”
A person CHOOSES to accept Jesus Christ into their life due to their free agency.
The Great White Throne Judgment
The Great White Throne Judgment occurs after the Millennium and is the final judgment of the unbelieving dead.
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away…”
— Revelation 20:11 (KJV)
John then describes the dead standing before God:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life…”
— Revelation 20:12 (KJV)
Those who appear at this judgment are judged according to their works, which includes ALL of their sins, because they never accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
For a moment here, let’s simply apply “common sense” here.
If a person CHOOSES to reject the atonement of Jesus Christ, due to the free agency which they have been given, they are responsible for the sins that they have committed, right? There is NO forgiveness for those sins, and the consequences of those sins makes it impossible for them to ever be in the presence of God. The atonement does not apply to them, because they rejected it.
The final verdict of this judgment is sobering:
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
— Revelation 20:15 (KJV)
Where is the Lake of Fire?
The Lake of Fire is described in the Book of Revelation as the final place of judgment for Satan, his followers, death, and all whose names are not found in the Book of Life. The Bible tells us what it is, but it does not reveal a physical location.
Revelation 20:10 (KJV)
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20:14 (KJV)
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
What We Know from Scripture
- The Lake of Fire is different from hell (Hades), because Revelation says that death and hell are cast into it (Revelation 20:14).
- It is the place of final and eternal judgment after the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
- The Beast and False Prophet are cast there at Christ’s Second Coming (Revelation 19:20).
- Satan is cast there after the Millennium (Revelation 20:10).
God has chosen not to reveal its exact location. The emphasis of Scripture is not where it is, but rather who can avoid it through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Difference Between the Two Judgments
The Judgment Seat of Christ is for the saved and produce rewards. The Great White Throne Judgment is for the lost and concerns eternal condemnation.
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers stand before their Savior, whose blood has already paid for their sins. At the Great White Throne Judgment, those who rejected God’s offer of salvation stand before the Judge.
This distinction is why Paul could confidently say:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 8:1 (KJV)
Those who are in Christ will never face condemnation for their sins because Christ already bore that judgment on the cross. Their future judgment concerns rewards and service. Those who reject Christ’s gift of salvation will face the Great White Throne Judgment, where eternal destinies are determined according to God’s perfect justice.
The good news of the Gospel is that anyone can avoid the Great White Throne Judgment by trusting in Jesus Christ today:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13 (KJV)
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 (KJV)
So, to all of you reading this writing, YOU can choose TODAY where you will go after your death, by deciding if you will accept the atonement of Jesus Christ as taught in the New Testament, or if you will choose to reject this atonement. It’s that simple to understand
URGENT WARNING
One of the greatest deceptions of our day is the growing belief that people can reach heaven through their own goodness, morality, religious activity, or personal efforts without Jesus Christ.
Yet the Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not found in ourselves but only in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus declared,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, KJV).
The natural heart desires independence from God and seeks a path that avoids repentance and faith in Christ, but Scripture warns that
“there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10, KJV) and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, KJV).
Any teaching that suggests mankind can earn eternal life apart from the Savior ultimately leads people away from the only One who can save them. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not that we can save ourselves, but that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that all who trust in Him might receive the free gift of eternal life.
This is one way that satan is deceiving people today. And surprisingly, this is something that the adversary has woven into the very fabric of many religions.
“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do“ comes from 2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon.
We are saved by grace and nothing further. Let’s now read the TRUE Gospel that Jesus Christ taught:
“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.“ (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV)
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28 KJV)
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus 3:5 KJV)
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” (Romans 11:6 KJV)
I invite all of you to continue to study what I have written today. Again, take these teachings to God for validation of the truth. Trust HIM for everything, NOT MANKIND.
I hope that I have given you the take away of knowing that you no longer need to wonder what will happen to you when you die. Do you know how freeing these gospel teachings are?
John 8:31–32 (KJV):
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Again, I leave you with this thought… “It’s not about what’s false, for that serves no purpose. It’s about learning what is TRUE!”
I hope to see you soon in the “clouds of the rapture.”
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