June 25, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde
(The views expressed in this article are my personal interpretations of the Bible, particularly concerning biblical prophecy and the end times. They are offered for discussion, study, and personal reflection. I do not claim special revelation, nor do I speak on behalf of any church, denomination, religious organization, or its leaders. Readers are encouraged to study the Scriptures for themselves, seek God’s guidance through prayer, and draw their own conclusions.)
I had been a VERY ACTIVE member of the Mormon church for all of my life. It produced a very good way of life for me and my family, and I do not regret ever belonging to this church.
But my life took an unexpected turn after an experience I could not ignore. I was required to surrender my temple recommend because I chose to pay my full tithing directly to those in need rather than to the Church. Although I gave the full ten percent, my bishop told me that my tithing “did not count.” That moment caused me to step back and ask a question that would ultimately change the course of my life: What does God truly require, and what does the Bible actually teach?
That statement triggered something in my spirit, which caused a tremendous desire to search for the truths that Jesus Christ taught when He was on the earth, as recorded in the New Testament.
What I had done did count—in fact, it was exactly what Jesus Christ taught in His New Covenant. The Old Testament required Israel to give a tenth under the Law. But Christ shifted the focus from fulfilling a legal requirement to demonstrating love through a willing heart. He repeatedly taught His followers to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and help those in need. He never established a required percentage. Instead, He taught us to give generously from what God has entrusted to us—not from money we do not have.
So where did that leave me? I had been denied entry into the temple because I chose to give my full tithing directly to those in need instead of to the church. Once again, I turned to the Scriptures.
As I studied, I discovered that under the New Covenant, believers no longer need a temple made with human hands to approach God. Through Jesus Christ, every believer has direct access to the Father, and the Holy Spirit now dwells within those who belong to Him. As Stephen declared before the council,
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48, KJV).
Paul likewise taught,
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, KJV).
This realization became another turning point in my journey. The temple I had been told I needed was never where God promised to dwell under the New Covenant. Through Christ, His presence now resides within every person who has been born again by faith.
Because of this experience, I was given a precious gift, and one that I would like for you to consider. I took ownership of my spirituality from that point. Just me, God, Jesus Christ through the teachings of the Holy Spirit. And what would I study? I would study the words of Jesus Christ and His apostles. They were once on the earth, and what they taught is recorded in the New Testament.
I also found the anchor of what would be very instrumental in my search for truth. One of the strongest warnings in the Bible about preserving the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:8 (KJV)
Paul immediately repeats the warning for emphasis:
“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:9 (KJV)
What does this mean?
Paul was teaching that the gospel he preached was received directly from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11–12). Because it came from Christ Himself, no one has the authority to alter it—not a preacher, prophet, not a church leader, not an apostle, and not even an angel from heaven.
This passage teaches several important truths:
- The gospel of Jesus Christ is complete and does not need to be added to or changed.
- Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by human works or religious systems (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV).
- Any teaching that adds requirements for salvation beyond the gospel Christ gave is to be rejected.
- The authority of a message comes from whether it agrees with God’s Word—not from the status or appearance of the messenger.
Paul’s warning is especially striking because he includes “an angel from heaven.” Even a supernatural being is not to be believed if its message contradicts the gospel already revealed by Jesus Christ.
I then realized that the majority of my spiritual learning that I had been given was a DECEPTION. I also learned that Jesus had warned us all about this very thing:
“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.”
— Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
The very elect were me, and my ward family!
This teaching was also followed up by something else that got my attention:
Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV)
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The issue was not that these people lacked religious activity—it was that they never had a genuine relationship with Christ. Their relationship was with their church, and not directly with the Savior. Salvation is not earned by works, miracles, or religious service. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in a new birth, being “born again.”
So, how are you in spiritual danger by following a prophet? “He has never deceived me in my life.”
Let me skip past the subtle talk, for we are running out of time. HE HAS DECEIVED you by teaching a false gospel. Joseph Smith did not RESTORE the gospel of Jesus Christ, he CHANGED it… SUBSTANCIALLY!
Salvation is not earned with us “..doing all that we can do first,” then the gift of the atonement comes into play. It is a gift that we can receive by going through the process of being spiritually reborn, as taught beautifully in the New Testament.
The adversary could not stop the atonement from happening. His contingency plan was to then “dilute” the accomplishment, and have people believe that Christ’s atonement alone is not enough. It requires our good works, religious or temple ordinances in addition to what He had done. This is not true, and believing anything other than this is a deception.
Again, the adversary has influenced us through church systems, teaching that we need a “religion” to contribute to the repentance process, and grant us forgiveness. Repentance is done directly to God, through Jesus Christ alone. Forgiveness is God’s to give, and not a church.
Here is something else that is urgent. Many of my recent conversations with my ward family, as well as even my own family and friends, has gone like this…
“I don’t believe in the Rapture, 7-year Tribulation Period, the Antichrist, Mark of the Beast, Temple Built by the Jewish people in Jerusalem, nor do I even know anything about the 7 Bowls of Wrath that God has planned to pour out onto all of the inhabitants on the earth.” This is what I hear from others.
My follow-up question provides the evidence as to their non-belief… “What have you studied that teaches you that these things are not true,” I ask. They are quick to say, “They don’t study, and are trusting in their prophet to teach them what is important to know regarding the end times.”
If this is your belief, doesn’t it trouble you that God has revealed incredible details about the end times, to His PROPHETS, which are recorded in the Bible… Almost one third of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times…OUR DAY… RIGHT NOW, and that this prophet is not teaching anything about it?
Amos 3:7 (KJV)
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealed his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
God has already told us what He will be doing in the last 7 years on earth. He told His prophets thousands of years ago, so that we would all know.
The fact that your church “prophet” is not teaching any of what God has already revealed about the end times should set off a “spiritual alarm” inside of you. And why is he speechless? I will let you come to your own conclusion, but to me it is very clear… The less a person knows, the easier they are to be deceived.
Let me make things as easy as possible because of the minimal amount of time that we have left.
This 7-year Tribulation, (the final 7 years on earth), is about to begin. The world will be led by a man referred to as the “beast” of the Antichrist. He will be extremely charismatic, and his goal is to get all mankind to take his mark, the mark of the beast. This is not a simple mark; it is a commitment to follow satan rather than following God.
For those who take the mark, there is no “do overs” or second chances. At the end of the 7-year period, those who take this mark will be “Cast into the lake of fire” to spend eternity in misery along with satan.
Now, don’t you think this is something a church leader would be teaching you about, in preparation so that you will not make such a drastic ETERNAL mistake? I do, and so did God, which is why He revealed all of this information to the prophets in the bible. And, like everything else that is good, the adversary is doing all that he can to keep this information away from you, AND IT IS WORKING!!!!!
My love for all of you is tremendous, and I must provide the “NEXT STEP” to show you how God intends to rescue those who are “in Christ” from the 7-year Tribulation Period. Let me teach you about the Rapture, and how to ensure that you will be removed from the earth.
The Rapture
The rapture is the future event when Jesus Christ comes to gather all who have trusted Him as Savior. The Bible teaches that believers who have died will be raised first, and those who are alive will be transformed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord. The purpose of the rapture is not judgment, but the joyful rescue of Christ’s people to Himself.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV) says:
“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.”
The word “rapture” does not appear in the King James Bible, but it describes the event of believers being “caught up together” to meet Christ. This is why Christians often refer to this event as the rapture. It is a moment of great hope because it fulfills Jesus’ promise that He would come again for His followers. Do you remember His promise when He was talking to His apostles?
John 14:2–3 (KJV):
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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.”
The rapture will happen suddenly. There will be no warning countdown. Scripture tells believers to be watching and ready because no one knows the exact day or hour.
When Christ comes, every believer will receive a glorified body. Our mortal, sinful bodies will be changed into bodies that will never die, become sick, or suffer again.
1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (KJV) says:
“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… For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Paul ended his teaching on the rapture with these comforting words:
1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV):
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
The message of the rapture is ultimately a message of hope. Jesus Christ keeps His promises. Just as He came the first time to die for our sins and rise again, He will come again to receive everyone who has been born again through faith in Him. For those who belong to Christ, the rapture is not the end—it is the beginning of eternal joy in His presence.
Alright, as you can see in the scripture, the qualification of being included in the rapture is to be “in Christ.” What does this mean? This should be your TOTAL focus, for if you are “in Christ’ you need not worry about anything else that is coming. Let’s return to the scriptures for more understanding of this teaching.
To be “in Christ” is one of the greatest truths in the Bible. It does not mean being in a particular church, holding a priesthood office, attending a temple, or faithfully following religious ordinances. It means that through faith you have personally trusted in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the complete forgiveness of your sins, and God has made you a new creation.
The moment a person believes the gospel, they are spiritually placed in Christ by God Himself.
“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).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, KJV).
Salvation is not found in belonging to an organization—it is found in belonging to Jesus Christ.
For members of the Mormon church, this is an important question to consider personally: Am I trusting completely in Jesus Christ, or am I also trusting in my church, temple ordinances, priesthood authority, personal worthiness, or other religious requirements to make me acceptable before God?
The Bible teaches that we are saved by God’s grace through faith, not by our own works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, KJV).
When you are in Christ, He is enough. His finished work on the cross is sufficient. Your assurance rests in Him alone, because “he that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:12, KJV). The invitation of the gospel is not first to join a religion, but to come directly to the Savior and place your complete trust in Him.
The Apostle Paul warned believers not to mix grace with works as the basis of salvation.
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16, KJV).
He also wrote,
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” (Romans 11:6, KJV).
In Scripture, grace and works are not combined as the means by which a person is justified before God.
Being “in Christ” means placing your confidence entirely in what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1, KJV).
A believer rests in Christ’s finished work rather than in his own ability to perform enough righteous acts or receive enough ordinances.
The thief on the cross is a powerful example. He had no opportunity to be baptized, receive temple ordinances, perform a lifetime of good works, or join a church. He simply believed in Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus answered, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43, KJV).
This does not mean Christians stop doing good works. Those who truly know Christ are called to obey Him, love others, and serve faithfully. But they do these things because they have already been saved, not in order to earn salvation.
For someone whose current belief is that salvation depends on faith plus temple ordinances, required religious works, or personal worthiness, the New Testament repeatedly calls people to trust Christ alone as the sufficient Savior. Paul summarized the gospel this way:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, KJV)
To be in Christ is to rely on Him and His finished work, not on anything we add to it. Good works are the evidence of genuine faith, but according to the KJV Scriptures, they are not the basis upon which God justifies a sinner before Him.
Only God knows a person’s heart, and He will be the one that determines who is rescued in the rapture, and who will remain behind to face the difficulty of the Tribulation period.
He is coming for those who are “in Christ” and not for members of a certain church. It is up to you to take this information to God now and let Him lead you in your continued study. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…Trust GOD in your spiritual knowledge, not a man, nor a woman, not even me. TRUST GOD!
We are headed into some very tragic waters ahead, and many of you have no idea how to prepare because you are waiting for what I believe is a false prophet to guide you. You can find the truth the exact same way that I did. Just YOU, God, Jesus Christ through the teachings of the Holy Spirit while studying the KJV of the Bible.
Learn what it means to be born again as Christ taught in the New Testament. Trust in the atonement of Jesus Christ SOLELY, and not in a church, temple ritual, or ANYTHING ELSE, for that is the ONLY thing that is necessary for salvation.
The person most at risk is the person who does not know what lies ahead. God loves us so much, that He provided all of this information for us to KNOW what to do, and what to know. Take that ownership right now, and trust God as the final authority… It’s as simple as that.
Now, for those of you that are just too comfortable to look into this, let me simply state that you will indeed witness the rapture, as all children will be removed from the earth, as well as those who are in Christ. You will then see the antichrist emerge as the new world leader…then it is “Game On.” You will have a difficult time with him deceiving you, because you have currently been deceived by your church yet you choose to do nothing. When you see these things happen, it’s time to go to God in prayer and ask for His help and guidance through what will be the most traumatic 7 years of your life.
And, no matter what… DO NOT TAKE the mark of the beast, even if you “church leader” encourages you to do so, or minimizes the consequences of such an act. If you trust him now, chances are you’ll trust him later. You must break free of depending on any person for spiritual guidance…ONLY GOD!
This has been difficult for me, as it is like watching a train wreck…Knowing that it is going to happen, and trying to warn people about it, yet they are too caught up in the comfort of their seating to do anything other than just “ride along.” My prayers are with all of you, as I have placed this burden in the hands of God, hoping that His influence will be important enough for you to consider what I have written.
And for those who are already “in Christ” I respect you for seeing through the deceptive nature of the adversary. It has been a journey for all of us. One that I am so grateful to be exactly where I am today. God’s Speed.
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