August 18, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde
I believe that many of you have finally come to feel that the rapture will occur very soon, and have made a mental shift in your mind preparing for this to actually happen.
Going through this process myself, I found that this new knowledge of timing brough on a few surprises. See if these sound fimilure.
When your perception shifts from just acknowledging that something will happen, to realizing that it is actually going to now occur, there is a bit of anxiety that seems to pop up.
We feel that a CHANGE is coming. It will be a change unlike anything we have ever experienced. We won’t simply be moving to another city, another state, or even another country. We will be leaving…EARTH! Everything familiar to us—our homes, routines, possessions, neighborhoods, and the world we have awakened to every morning—will suddenly be behind us. All we have ever known is this life upon the earth. Even with complete faith in Jesus Christ, it is understandable that we might wonder: What will it actually be like to leave everything familiar behind?
Our BODIES will be changed…I LIKE THAT!!! But there are still very human questions that can enter our minds. What will that moment feel like? Will we feel ourselves being caught up, or will the transformation happen so quickly that we won’t even comprehend it? What will we see? Where exactly will we go? Will we immediately recognize Jesus? Will we recognize one another? Will someone direct us, or will we simply KNOW exactly where we belong? Scripture tells us that we will be caught up “to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV), but it doesn’t tell us every detail of what those incredible first moments will feel like.
And perhaps the most difficult thought of all concerns the PEOPLE WE LOVE. Most of us have family members and dear friends whose relationship with Jesus Christ we simply cannot know with certainty. When we imagine suddenly being taken and realize that someone we desperately love might remain behind, there can be a profound sense of sadness mixed with our anticipation. In a very real sense, we may wonder whether this could be a sudden “good-bye.”
These are just a few examples of what emotion a person might be going through right now. If there are others, please identify them to yourself, as it is important to address all of your worries and concerns that you might be experiencing right now.
The Solution
In finding comfort, let’s again go to the scripture that many of us should have memorized by now:
1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 — 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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Today, I’d like to share some things that hopefully will help you find comfort in knowing that we are weeks away from the biggest change in our lives.
Let’s start with the most obvious one; the one where many of you have already found the COMFORT in knowing about the rapture. To do this, let’s zoom out to see the entire picture for just a moment.
The most HORRIBLE period on earth is about to begin. We have studied the 7 seals; the 7 trumpet Judgments, as well as the 7 Bowls of Wrath that God will be pouring out onto the inhabitants of the earth. We all should be very aware of what is coming to the earth.
For those who would like a quick summary of what the Tribulation Period will be like,, here is a scripture:
Matthew 24:21–22 — KJV
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Our Heavenly FATHER, does not have any desire for His Children to experience any of this. And this is why He has planned for us to be rescued through the rapture event, prior to the Tribulation period even beginning. Can you see the LOVE that God has for us? Are you RELIEVED that you do not have to go through this? Do you find COMFORT in knowing this? I DO!!!
Let’s continue…
Our comfort is ultimately Jesus Christ—not a date
Jesus told His disciples:
John 14:1–3 — KJV
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions…
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.”
Notice what Jesus emphasizes: “receive you unto myself.” The greatest promise of the Rapture isn’t simply escaping trouble. It is being with Jesus Christ. He has also “prepared a place for you.”
This is important in itself. We are not just headed into the vast universe, trying to navigate to a certain place. Our place has already been prepared by Jesus Christ. When we have faith in KNOWING this, our “Flight” will be landing at a certain location, and our room is already ready. This removes some of the uncertainty of wondering “what’s next.”
Paul Says to “Comfort one another.”
Paul doesn’t conclude, Therefore, be terrified about what is coming.
Comfort one another.
For Christians who hold a “rapture is near” understanding, this passage carries an especially powerful hope: whatever darkness may eventually come upon this world, our destiny is not abandonment. Our destiny is Christ.
Our security doesn’t depend upon predicting everything correctly. This may be one of the greatest sources of peace.
A believer doesn’t have to correctly calculate the year, month, feast day, geopolitical event, or prophetic timeline in order to belong to Christ.
Our salvation rests upon Jesus Christ.
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.”
And Jesus gives this tremendous assurance:
John 10:28 — KJV
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
So rather than waking every morning thinking, “What terrible prophetic event might happen today?”, the Christian can wake thinking:
“Whatever happens today, I belong to Jesus Christ.”
Role Reversal
For many, as I mentioned, we feel like we are leaving our Home, to go to “heaven.” But in all reality, that’s exactly what I believe happened when we left “heaven” to come to earth. Think of this for a moment.
We lived with God, and this was the only “Home” that we knew. We were safe, secure, in the presence of God. He explained what was going to happen and I’m CERTAIN that there was some apprehension in considering the time when we would actually be sent down to earth.
God blessed us by placing a veil over our minds. I’ve given this a great deal of thought throughout my life. There are certainly several reasons I can imagine why He may have done this, but today I’d like to focus on just one: perhaps it keeps us from experiencing an overwhelming LONGING TO RETURN HOME.
Think about it. If we could clearly remember the presence of God and fully comprehend what awaits us beyond this mortal life, how difficult would it be to remain here? It wouldn’t simply be a matter of feeling “homesick.” We might constantly recognize just how temporary, imperfect, and fallen this earthly existence really is compared with being in the presence of God.
LONGING TO RETURN HOME!!!! Can you see this? Perhaps if we could remember what “home” was truly like, our hearts would ache to return there every single day. The veil allows us to live this earthly life—to love, learn, serve, grow, and walk by FAITH—without being consumed by the knowledge of what lies beyond it.
But NOW, we get to return HOME, not leave what we think is our home. This is indeed COMFORTING!
To recognize something specific to this thought. I have heard many on social media make statements like, “I feel like I don’t belong here anymore.” Have you heard this yourself? Have YOU FELT this recently yourself as well?
I must tell you, this is God’s whisper to your heart. The veil is thinning, and you are recognizing that this earth is NOT your home…and “HOME” is calling for you. Please do NOT discount this feeling, for God is involved in “comforting” you this very moment, in helping you realize “reality.”
Are you feeling more comfortable? I hope that you are… Let’s keep going…
I’d like to address a big one for some of us: “Leaving others behind, knowing what they will face.” This is a very Christ-Like thought, developed by genuine love and concern for others. It is a “natural” feeling to have when you are “Christ-like.”
I’d like to use a personal analogy for a moment if I might to help me teach this concept.
I have a family member who struggled with addiction. We tried EVERYTHING that we could to help him overcome this “demon.” Years of helping, two times in a rehab center, and still, no change.
It was only when he hit his extreme low, after going to jail, that he was able to make a change and overcome his addiction.
Many of those we love, have not accepted Jesus Christ into their life, even though we have TRIED to do EVERYTHING possible to help them. God knows this, and actually has a plan to address these “stubborn” people. During the Tribulation, God will cause HARDSHIP on an entirely different level to those we love, in hopes to humble them to the point when they recognize the need for God, and Jesus Christ.
This tribulation period that you are worried about is EXACTLY what they need to hit their bottom and make a change. This is TOUGH LOVE, not from you, but from a Heavenly Father. Does this help change your perspective regarding what you loved one actually needs, and not you just wishing that they could avoid the hardships?
Now, I’ve been holding onto SOMETHING, for the right time… and I think that time is now to share it with you.
We KNOW because of scripture teachings that MANY people will come to Christ during the Tribulation Period:
Revelation 7:9, 13–14 — KJV
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
John is then told who this enormous multitude is:
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
We also know that there will be 144,000 “missionaries” reaching out to our loved ones, teaching them about Christ.
When a person comes to Christ during the Tribulation Period, there are two “solutions” that I’ve discovered that are possible for this person to avoid God’s wrath during the Tribulation Period.
Here is the first, and please see this with your spiritual eyes. Before I show you the scriptures, remember EVERYONE living upon the face of the earth will either be killed, or changed by the close of the 7th year. OK… let’s go there now…
Revelation 20:4 — KJV
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Revelation also describes martyrs crying out to God:
Revelation 6:9–11 — KJV
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
During the Tribulation, death will be the way in which a person can receive relief from the physical suffering of the tribulation period. They will IMMEDIATELY be in your presence and the presence of Jesus Christ, for they have been “Born Again.”
You and me, think that death is the WORST possible thing that can happen to a person, yet in the moment of the tribulation, it will be considered a relief, NOT a sad event.
So, this being the case, why doesn’t a person just “kill themselves” during the Tribulation Period, to escape the suffering? Because of this:
Revelation 9:6 — KJV
“And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
But for those who come to Christ, it is a very strong possibility that they will be killed. DEATH here is more of a RESCUE than a hardship. Can you see this spiritually?
OK… On to number two…The one that I have been holding onto until now.
I’d like you to consider this scripture for a moment:
1 Thessalonians 5:9 — KJV
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
In its immediate context, Paul is speaking to believers and contrasting their destiny with God’s judgment. The principle is powerful: those who belong to Christ are destined for salvation, not God’s condemning wrath.
What about someone who becomes saved after the Rapture? ….Hopefully our loved ones…
When a person comes to Christ during the Tribulation Period, that person then belongs to Christ. Now, with this thought, let’s read that scripture again:
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Those who belong to Christ are destined for salvation, not God’s condemning wrath.
If you apply this same gospel teaching to those people who come to Christ during the Tribulation Period, it suggests that all people who belong to Christ are NOT appointed to His wrath.
If that person would have come to Christ before, they would have been rescued by the Rapture and would not be subject to God’s wrath. But certain people NEED the experience of HARDSHIP so that they can be “Humbled” to get to the point of accepting Jesus Christ. When they finally get there, they are “saved” they are NOT appointed to His wrath, just like WE are not appointed to His wrath, and are being raptured…are you with me?
Let me continue with this teaching, for there is more involved with this concept.
We KNOW that there will be “safe places” on earth during the Tribulation Period. How do we know this?
Through the teachings of the TWO Prophets who will be assigned to “Judaea” to teach about Jesus Christ, and bring them “to Christ,” God has also planned a Rescue for them as well. Let’s read that scripture. Stick with me here, it might take some study and prayer for you to see this truth:
Matthew 24:15–16 — KJV
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:”
The abomination of desolation happens at the 3.5 year into the Tribulation. The Antichrist will enter the new temple that has just been built by the Jewish Temple in Israel and will proclaim that he is God, and DEMAND worship.
When this happens, “Judaea is told to flee into the mountains.” Why the mountains? Because this will be a safe place for them. These will be, what I believe are the Jewish people who have just been “saved” by accepting Jesus Christ.
I also believe this “escape to the mountains is their “rapture” or rescue to escape the Tribulation that will follow.
Alright. Let’s stop, and catch our breath for a moment.
The first 3.5 years of the Tribulation will be a “false peace,” however, it will be a fairly peaceful time on the earth. Remember, the antichrist is trying to “seduce” people into following him. He will be charismatic, and well liked at the beginning of the tribulation period.
At the 3.5-year mark, all hell is going to be unleashed…BY GOD…and this is the TRIBULATION that will be so terrible. But remember, “Those people who belong to Christ at this time, are not appointed to His wrath.”
At the 3.5-year mark, God is telling “HIS PEOPLE” to flee to the mountains. Is fleeing to the mountains a way to avoid God’s wrath? Let’s return to the scriptures for more details.
Matthew 24:17–18 — KJV
“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”
That sounds very much like physical escape from an immediate danger.
Then Revelation gives us something remarkable.
Revelation 12:6 — KJV
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”
That’s 1,260 days—approximately 3½ prophetic years. This fits exactly with the final 3.5 years of the tribulation period.
Jesus essentially is giving these people an advance warning:
When you see this particular event—GET OUT. Don’t even go home for your belongings. Flee to the safe place that I have created for you in the mountains.
Later we read:
Revelation 12:14 — KJV
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
Under the common interpretation, the woman represents Israel, and God provides a place of protection during the latter half of the Tribulation.
That makes a strong case within the interpretation that God has already given Israel instructions for what to do when this event occurs.
And that could become an extraordinary moment during the Tribulation: people who previously rejected Jesus may suddenly realize that He told them centuries beforehand exactly what would happen—and exactly what they should do when it did.
What about our loved ones who come to Christ during the Tribulation Period. Will they be led to similar places of “safety?”
Through scripture, we can’t FULLY conclude that they will be spared any hardship from the Tribulation Period, but we can state with certainty that from this teaching, they appear to be preserved on earth through the final part of it.
If someone we love were left behind and subsequently truly came to Jesus Christ, Scripture gives us tremendous reason for hope concerning their eternal safety, even though we cannot promise their physical safety.
There may indeed be places where God supernaturally protects certain people—Revelation explicitly describes “a place prepared of God.” But others who come to Christ will face persecution and martyrdom.
And that means the most important message we could leave behind wouldn’t merely be:
“Find somewhere safe to hide.”
It would be:
“Come to Jesus Christ. Refuse the Beast. Do not worship his image. Do not take his mark. Hold onto your testimony of Jesus—even unto death. Whatever happens to your body, your eternal life belongs to Christ.”
That is where the ultimate safety of a Tribulation believer will be found. We can PRAY that God will watch over them, according to His will, and find great comfort in knowing that He will.
Now, finally, to the other concerns that might give us pause to worry.
God has the final 7 years planned out in great detail. And regardless of any worry that we have, don’t you think that He already has things figured out? Afterall, He is GOD!!
So, our part in all of this is simple…To have FAITH in, and TRUST in our Heavenly Father!
Right now, I’d like for you to take the worrisome burden that you have, relating to the rapture, and GIVE this burden to GOD… FULLY!
1 Peter 5:7 — KJV
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Psalm 55:22 — KJV
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
And Jesus gives this beautiful invitation:
Matthew 11:28–30 — KJV
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Give your burden to GOD to manage, and don’t take it back from Him. Once you give it to Him, LEAVE IT WITH HIM!!! Give HIM ALL of your BURDEN… ALL of IT! Then have FAITH in Him, and DON’T expect Him to proceed in a specific way…Have faith in HIS way of carrying your burden. You will then find TREMENDOUS Comfort in realizing that He is leading you and holding the “burden” for you.
I spent far too many years having God as my “Co-Pilot,” because I still wanted final control over everything in my life. Four years ago, I let GOD Pilot, and moved into the passenger seat. He ALWAYS has a better idea than I do by myself.
I have let the worry and fear go over everything that I have given to Him. HE CARRYS it, and prompts me when it’s time for me to do something. I take assignments from Him, instead of telling Him what I think is best.
If you have not yet done this with your burdens, start RIGHT now!!!
The Rapture is a BIG event in your life, and can produce some anxious feelings. HOWEVER, when we apply the teachings of Jesus Christ, it is then that we can truly find the COMFORT that is spoken about.
REMEMBER, we are all on our OWN spiritual journey…NOT as a group, nor even a church…It comes down to us all having our own mountain to climb. And, through this climb, we recognize that we are not truly alone, we have God, Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, and even other people who will help us get to the top of our mountain.
Every person is on their OWN climb as well. We can not expect them all to be right next to us during our accent. When we feel like we should get involved in helping others, we do, but if others are not at the same “height” that we have reached, we need to rely on the others who are part of their team…God, Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit, and even OTHER PEOPLE, who God will send to assist them, even during the Tribulation Period.
I sincerely ask that you give that burden of being concerned for others who have not yet “Come to Christ” to God… right now…It’s time to let that go. Not out of “giving up” nor lack of love, but as what is necessary for those we care about. Let us continue to pray for them, but let’s give the BURDEN of this to God, and let’s do it today!!!
Our comfort is that whatever happens next, we belong to Jesus Christ. We don’t have to understand every detail of what is coming to trust the One who does.
Jesus Himself said:
John 14:1–3 — KJV
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.”
“I don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming. I don’t know everything that will happen tomorrow. I don’t know what choices every person I love will eventually make. But I KNOW Jesus Christ. I belong to Him. My future is in His hands. And whatever happens next, He has promised that ultimately, I will be with Him forever.”
I hope that these gospel principles will bring you the COMFORT that God wants you to have right now, as we are moments away from meeting our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Discover more from The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
