October 22, 2026 | www.gospelofjesuschrist.blog | River Wilde
For many of us, our focus has been entirely upon the events of the last days, as we look towards the coming of the rapture, when we “will meet Jesus Christ in the air, and forever be with the Lord.”
That glorious day will happen on God’s schedule, but I have recently been fascinated to know all that I can regarding what happens AFTER the rapture to those who have been rescued. What do we know about the events of eternity? Is there more information available for us to learn these details? Let’s go find out…
Today, I would like to share the teachings that involve the following events:
Rapture
Bodies Changed
Judgment Seat of Christ
Receive Rewards and Crowns
Marriage of the Lamb
Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Many Christians spend so much time watching for the Rapture that they don’t spend much time studying what comes afterward. Wouldn’t you want to know what is coming to those who are not on the earth during the time of the Tribulation Period?
We are going to look at the events in the order commonly known by Christians who believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture. This understanding holds that the Church is caught up to heaven before the seven-year Tribulation.
What happens to a believer after the Rapture?
1. We are caught up to meet Jesus in the air
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.”
Think about that moment!
- Jesus Himself comes for us.
- Christians who have died are raised first.
- Living Christians are caught up together with them.
- We meet our Saviour in the air.
- From that moment forward, we will forever be with Jesus.
Notice something especially precious: Paul doesn’t simply say we will go to heaven. He says we will ever be with the Lord.
2. Our bodies are instantly changed into glorified bodies
1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (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: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
At the Rapture, something extraordinary happens to our bodies. We will no longer have bodies subject to aging, sickness, weakness, or death. The dead will be resurrected, and the living will receive the same changed body as those who are resurrected.
Common sense plays into this teaching as well. There is no way for us to live with Jesus in the “air” with the current state of our body. We need to “change” in order for that to happen.
Philippians 3:20–21 tells us that Jesus will change our bodies to be fashioned like His glorious body. That means we will have resurrected, glorified bodies like Jesus has.
And consider 1 John 3:2:
“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.”
3. We appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ
This is one of the most important events to understand. I have spent my entire life with high anxiety towards God’s Judgment of me…until I finally understood the true teaching of Jesus Christ’s Gospel. Let’s spend some time here, so that we can fully understand what will take place at this moment,
2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV)
“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.”
Did you catch that…that every one may receive? It does not say “punished, nor condemned,” rather it states that everyone may receive. What does that mean? Let’s keep going, to further understand what this means.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is for all of those who have accepted Jesus Christ’s atonement, and have become “Born Again” as Jesus taught while He was on the earth.
By accepting the atonement of Jesus Christ and repenting of our sins, we have NO SINS to be judged upon. Jesus accepted all of our sins… ALL OF THEM! They are all forgiven, and do not even exist anymore.
Because of the Savior, and our acceptance of His Gift, there is nothing that will keep us out of heaven. We have all been washed clean through the blood of the atonement. This is all due to the power of the Atonement, and our accepting this into our lives.
This is not a judgment to decide whether a saved Christian goes to heaven or hell.
Jesus already paid for our sins.
Romans 8:1 says:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
To understand the Judgment Seat of Christ, we must understand this, and remove SIN from what we will be “judged” on. Are you with me so far?
During this “Judgment,” believers’ works will be evaluated. This is the “Judgment.”
1 Corinthians 3:13–15 (KJV)
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
“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.”
What do these verses mean? It sounds a bit confusing, but the concept is simple when understood.
Verse 13 — Our works will be tested.
Jesus will evaluate what we did during our Christian lives. The fire represents God’s testing of the true quality of our works.
Notice that Paul says “of what sort it is.” God is concerned not merely with how much we did, but with the quality of our service.
When we did something kind for someone, was it done for “show,” or to glorify ourselves, or was it done because we are filled with the Spirit of God, and seek to bring Him all of the glory through our acts of service? This, simply stated, is how we will be judged for the works that we have done.
If a person does things for recognition, or to promote themselves, they have already received their reward, these acts of service will be “burnt up” and will not be considered by God during this Judgment. God is interested in the good things that we have done in our life, for the right reasons. This is what the judgment is all about.
Verse 14 — Faithful works will be rewarded.
Things done faithfully for Christ will endure His examination and receive rewards. This is where things get interesting!!
This can include serving others, sharing the Gospel, giving, remaining faithful through suffering, and doing things out of genuine love for Jesus. These are the “Acts” which will survive the judgment of fire referred to in the scripture. These acts will be recognized with rewards or Crowns of Glory, as I will share with you. But first, this:
Verse 15 — Some believers will suffer loss of rewards.
This is particularly interesting.
Paul says:
“He shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
This too is a very important teaching. During this Judgment seat of Christ, a person’s being saved, and going to heaven is not in question. That is a guarantee because of the gift of the atonement, however, there is a possibility of a person suffering loss. How so?
A person’s works may fail the test even though that person is saved.
In this interpretation, the loss is of rewards, not salvation.
One important detail
Look at the preceding verses, 1 Corinthians 3:11–12.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;”
What do these verses mean?
Paul is explaining that Jesus Christ is the only foundation of our salvation. But after we are saved, we build upon that foundation through the way we live and serve the Lord.
The six materials represent different qualities of work:
- Gold: Works done for God’s glory, with pure motives and genuine faith.
- Silver: Faithful service and obedience to God’s Word.
- Precious stones: Enduring spiritual fruit and deeds of eternal value.
- Wood: Works that may appear impressive but lack lasting spiritual value.
- Hay: Activities done for temporary recognition or earthly rewards.
- Stubble: Worthless works that cannot withstand God’s judgment.
(These are illustrative interpretations; Paul does not assign an exact meaning to each material.)
Paul describes Jesus Christ as the foundation and speaks of building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble.
Gold, silver, and precious stones illustrate works that endure testing. Wood, hay, and stubble illustrate works that do not.
Alright, let’s go on now to the rewards which we have discussed.
4. We receive rewards and crowns
The Bible speaks of several crowns associated with faithfulness that will be presented during the Judgment Seat of Christ.
| Crown | Scripture | Associated with |
| Crown of righteousness | 2 Timothy 4:8 | Loving Christ’s appearing |
| Crown of life | James 1:12 | Enduring temptation faithfully |
| Incorruptible Crown | 1 Corinthians 9:25 | Spiritual discipline |
| Crown of rejoicing | 1 Thessalonians 2:19 | Joy in those brought to Christ |
| Crown of glory | 1 Peter 5:4 | Faithful shepherding |
These passages describe these CROWN rewards, and the qualifying reason that these rewards will be given.
Here is a beautiful picture from heaven.
Revelation 4:10–11 describes twenty-four elders falling before God’s throne and casting their crowns before Him.
“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Why would a person cast their crown to God?
Using the logic of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that question becomes obvious. Most of us are aware that EVERY good thing in our life is a result of the assistance from Jesus Christ. Our personalities, ability to work hard, and the empathy that we show all are a result of the assistance of Jesus Christ.
So, if we were to receive a reward for something good that we did, we know that we were only able to do such a thing because of the involvement of Jesus Christ in our lives, so the glory is not for us, it belongs to the Savior.
All glory belongs to Jesus.
5. The Marriage of the Lamb
Then, it is time for celebration. This is one of the most beautiful events in Bible prophecy.
Revelation 19:7–8 (KJV)
“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.”
Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church, (those who have been Born Again,) is understood as His bride.
Think about the love behind this.
The same Jesus who died on the cross for us will receive His redeemed people into everlasting fellowship with Him. We are forever reunited with Jesus Christ, and will always be with Him. This is the “Marriage” that He speaks of.
In the pre-tribulation view, the marriage takes place in heaven while the Tribulation unfolds on earth.
6. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Revelation 19:9 (KJV)
“Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
What a wonderful promise!
Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what food will be served, how long the celebration will last, or every detail of the gathering. But it tells us there is a blessed marriage supper associated with the Lamb. A celebration for all present to be reunited with Jesus Christ FOREVER!
In today’s writing, I have placed this event following the Mariage of the Lamb, however, it is my personal belief that this will actually occur after the Second Coming of the Savior. The reason being is that there will be people who come to Christ and are Born Again during the 7-year Tribulation Period, and this celebration will be for them as well.
We still have a lot more to uncover. Look for Part Two, as we will learn the details of the following:
We will Return with Jesus for His Second Coming
Jesus Defeats Evil
Discover more from The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
