The Crown for Those Who Watch for His Appearing — The Rapture and the “Crown of Righteousness” (KJV)

Sept 6, 2026 | www.GospelofJesusChrist.blog | River Wilde

There is something beautiful hidden within the subject of the Rapture that is sometimes overlooked. We spend considerable time studying when Christ may return, what signs may precede His coming, and what will happen when the trumpet sounds.

But Scripture reveals something deeply personal about those who are genuinely watching and waiting for Jesus Christ. There is a crown associated with loving His appearing.

During the “Judgment Seat of Christ” those “in Christ” will have no sins to be judged on, since they have all been removed through the atonement of Jesus Christ. So, what happens during this “judgment”

The Judgment Seat of Christ is the future judgment of believers, not to determine whether they are saved, but to evaluate their lives and service after salvation.

 2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body… whether it be good or bad.”

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 describes a believer’s works being tested “by fire”; works pictured as “gold, silver, precious stones” endure and receive reward, while those pictured as “wood, hay, stubble” are burned and result in loss of reward. Importantly, Paul adds, “but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Therefore, the Judgment Seat of Christ is not believers standing before Christ to discover whether they made it into Heaven; rather, it is Christ examining what we did with the life, opportunities, gifts, and service entrusted to us, resulting in reward or loss of reward.

At this “judgment” Jesus will be honoring people with “Crowns of Glory” relating to those “Good Works.” Let’s investigate further the crown associated with “Loving His Appearance.”

Paul reveals this shortly before his death:

2 Timothy 4:7–8 KJV
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Notice those final words carefully:

“ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING.”

This is remarkable. Paul wasn’t merely looking forward to heaven someday. He was looking forward to Jesus Christ Himself. His hope was centered upon the appearing of the Lord.

And Paul says that this crown wasn’t reserved exclusively for apostles, pastors, missionaries, or great teachers. He specifically says “not to me only.” There is something here for ordinary believers who sincerely love the thought of Christ appearing.

Watching Is Different from Date-Setting.

There is an important distinction we should make. Jesus plainly said:

Matthew 24:36 KJV
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Yet Jesus repeatedly commanded His followers to watch.

Matthew 24:42 KJV
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

And again:

Matthew 24:44 KJV
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Therefore, not knowing the exact hour and watching for His coming are not contradictions. In fact, not knowing is precisely why Jesus tells us to watch.

A believer can carefully examine prophecy, observe what is happening in the world, recognize biblical patterns, and wonder whether Christ’s coming could be very near—while still humbly acknowledging that God alone knows the appointed moment.

What Does It Mean to “Love His Appearing”?

There is a difference between merely believing Jesus will return and actually loving His appearing.

Imagine someone you dearly love has been away for a very long time. You receive word that they are finally coming home, but you don’t know exactly when they will arrive. Suddenly, every sound outside gets your attention. You find yourself looking toward the window. You listen for the car. You anticipate the moment the door opens.

Why?

Not because you are afraid of the person arriving. Because you love the person who is coming.

That may help us understand Paul’s remarkable expression: “them also that love his appearing.”

The Christian who longs for Christ isn’t simply longing to escape a troubled world. At the heart of our expectation should be something much greater: We want to see Jesus.

John expressed that hope beautifully:

1 John 3:2 KJV
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Think about those final words:

“WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.”

For approximately two thousand years, Christians have believed in Someone they have never physically seen. They have prayed to Him, trusted Him, worshipped Him, suffered for Him, and sometimes died proclaiming His name.

But Scripture promises that there is coming a moment when faith becomes sight.

The Trumpet Sounds

Paul gives us one of Scripture’s clearest descriptions of the event:

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.”

Notice what Paul emphasizes at the conclusion. He doesn’t end by emphasizing the trumpet. He doesn’t end by emphasizing the clouds. He doesn’t even end by emphasizing our transformation.

He ends with:

“AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.”

That is ultimately what the Rapture is about. Jesus Christ gathering His people unto Himself.

The Blessed Hope

Paul uses another wonderful expression:

Titus 2:13 KJV
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

The return of Christ wasn’t presented to believers as something they should dread. It was their “blessed hope.”

And notice again the word:

“LOOKING.”

There is anticipation in that word. There is expectation. There is watchfulness.

The Christian life isn’t supposed to consist merely of looking backward toward the Cross. We certainly look backward and remember what Jesus accomplished for us at Calvary—but Scripture also teaches us to look forward toward His coming.

We remember:

“It is finished.” — John 19:30.

And we anticipate:

“I will come again.” — John 14:3.

Watching Should Change How We Live

There is another side to watching for Christ that is extremely important.

Biblical watchfulness isn’t merely studying prophecy charts or watching events unfold. The expectation of seeing Jesus should affect the way we live today.

Immediately after describing Christ’s appearing, John says:

1 John 3:3 KJV
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

If we genuinely believe we could soon stand before Jesus Christ, certain things begin to look different.

Arguments seem less important. Possessions seem less permanent. Grudges become harder to justify. Opportunities to love people become more valuable. Sharing the Gospel becomes more urgent. And the things of this world begin to lose some of their grip upon us.

Watching for Christ isn’t supposed to make us abandon life. It should make us live the life we have remaining more intentionally.

Perhaps the Crown Reveals Something About the Heart

The KJV does not specifically call this the “Rapture crown,” nor does it say that someone earns a crown merely by calculating prophetic dates. Scripture calls it the “crown of righteousness” and associates it with “all them also that love his appearing.”

That distinction is important. Perhaps the deepest question isn’t:

“Have I figured out when Jesus is coming?”

Perhaps it is:

“Do I truly want Him to come?”

There is something revealing about that question. A heart deeply attached to this world may dread the interruption. But a heart increasingly attached to Christ can say:

Come, Lord Jesus.

Those are almost the final words of the entire Bible:

Revelation 22:20 KJV
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

What a remarkable way for Scripture to end.

Jesus says:

“Surely I come quickly.”

And the response of the believer is:

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Perhaps that is the heart of what it means to love His appearing.

We don’t know the exact moment the trumpet will sound. Although we feel that the rapture will happen during a particular feast, we don’t know if it will be at midnight, in the morning, or at an hour nobody expects.

But there is something we can know. Jesus Christ promised:

“I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” — John 14:3 KJV

And Paul tells us that awaiting the Lord isn’t wasted anticipation. There is laid up “a crown of righteousness” not for Paul alone, but for “all them also that love his appearing.”

So perhaps the greatest preparation for the Rapture isn’t figuring out the final piece of the prophetic puzzle.

Perhaps it is simply being able to look toward heaven with a heart that sincerely says:

“Lord Jesus, whenever that moment comes, I am watching. I am waiting. And more than anything else, I am looking forward to seeing You.”

I have heard several people who have expressed some feelings of “unfairness,” due to the fact that some are incredible devoted, watching and preparing for the Rapture to happen, compared to many who do not even know anything about this prophecy.

I can personally tell you that God does notice your dedication, preparation, excitement and anticipation that you have regarding the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, to catch us up in the Rapture rescue.

Furthermore, He has acknowledged this “reward” specifically with a “Crown of Glory” that He intents to honor you with, because this has been a very important issue to you, and not so much with others who you might be doing a mortal comparison with right now.

Can you imagine being honored by Jesus Christ for something that you have done?

Let me share the sequence of events that I have learned relating to what happens immediately after the rapture, for those who have been “caught up.”

Under the pre-tribulation understanding of the KJV, the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage/Marriage Supper of the Lamb are generally understood to occur during the same heavenly period after the Rapture, but the Bible does not explicitly say they happen simultaneously.

In fact, there is a good reason to see a sequence:

First believers are caught up to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17);

Then believers appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ where their works are evaluated and rewards are given (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15);

And then, Revelation presents the Bride as having been prepared for the marriage.

Revelation 19:7–9 KJV is especially interesting:

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

So, within a pre-tribulation framework, a very reasonable order is:

Rapture → Judgment Seat of Christ → Marriage of the Lamb/Marriage Supper → Christ’s return to earth for His Second Coming.

One fascinating connection for this writing is 2 Timothy 4:8: Christ awards the “crown of righteousness” to those who “love his appearing.” That fits beautifully with the possibility that after being caught up to Christ, believers receive their rewards before participating in the celebration of the Lamb and His Bride.

This being the case, can you see what a celebration this indeed will be?

We are with our Savior Jesus Christ.

Our Sins have been forgiven because of Him.

From this moment, we will ALWAYS be with the Lord.

We realize that we will be in “Heaven” when it is created.

We have just been honored by Jesus Himself, for some of the Good Works that we have done on earth, by receiving “Crowns of Glory.”

We have been reunited with our loved ones who are “in Christ” and will forever be with them as well. WHAT A REUNION!

We will have just received our new glorified, perfect bodies. No more imperfections, sickness, Brain Fog, nor all of the other mortal challenges that we have had on earth.

A CELEBRATION for MANY REASONS!

And something will follow, that I am anticipating greatly. We will follow our Savior, as He rides His horse down to the earth to defeat evil once and for all, during the battle of Armageddon. WE WILL WITNESS THIS EVENT, with front row seats.

There have been many, many things that I have suffered personally because of the evil from other people. This might be small in comparison, to many children who have had some very terrifying things done to them because of evil men and women.

Being there to witness their destruction fulfills the justice portion of my soul. I will not find pleasure in their destruction, however, I will find fulfillment in knowing that Justice will have been served, by our King, with the mindset of this:

Romans 12:19 KJV:

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Jesus sees the level of harm that these people have caused others. And He is coming to serve justice. He has been patient, giving adequate time for these people to repent, and call upon God for forgiveness due to such evil acts. However, they have refused to do so, and it is time for justice to be served.

I think of my religious leaders who have caused me and my family such great emotional harm, by teaching very personal things that have been a deception…Nothing but “made up” doctrine. ETERNAL things! Eternal Promises.

This has not been a small oversite from them, this has been a deliberate partnership with the adversary for their own financial gain and glory, while putting us at risk in never teaching the ONLY gospel teaching that is necessary for salvation…Being Born Again.

Interestingly enough, I have often prayed that I would be able to share a “Victim Impact Statement” when these pathetic people are judged, so that I could let them know just how harmful these lies have been for our family and others.

And surprisingly enough, I have felt an assurance that this would be the case. Not necessarily me speaking at their judgment, but that through the powers of God, all of these men would be able to see and know of the harm that they have done to others.

This same church often holds “courts” against people who have spoken the harmful truths about these men and their religious deceptions…Putting the person who is speaking on behalf of God, and calling these leaders to face accountability. In these cases, God’s servants are often disciplined or excommunicated from the church.

This court is NOTHING compared to the “COURT” that these men will face from God for their deception, and discipline of those who were serving God, and calling out untruth and injustice. Who is powerful now I ask?!? And their attorneys…Where are they now? I can predict with precise certainty, that wherever they are, they will be powerless.

I so look forward to riding along side of the Savior as he successfully defeats evil with the power of His peach alone. Justice will indeed be served this day.

Everything that has been foretold is no longer, “Down the Road.” The time has COME, right now for us to witnesses Prophecies that were shared by Prophets of God, thousands of years ago.

My heart is bursting with Joy, because of what God has planned for these Final Seven Years on Earth.