INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STUDENT

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The book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ and shows how God’s final Gospel Day is understood through spiritual prophecy. Preparing a Study Plan before starting this Study Guide will assist you in completing it within a designated timeframe. It also helps in developing the discipline required for studying God’s Word effectively.

Proverbs 16:3:

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

My Study Guide Journal

Keep a record as you progress through your Study Guide, including the “Personal Responses”, for each section for future reference and goal setting.

Content

• PREFACE
• INTRODUCTION
• THE GOSPEL DAY
• THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL DAY
• HOW DO WE KNOW THE GOSPEL DAY IS HERE
• THE GOSPEL DAY: SEVEN PROPHETIC DAYS
• THE GOSPEL DAY FORESHADOWED BY NOAH
• THE GOSPEL DAY: FOUR MAJOR EPOCHS OF TIME
• THE TOWER OF BABEL AS A TYPE OF THE 4 EPOCHS
• CONCLUSION: THE GOSPEL DAY DEFINED

Important Points:

• COGMA does not claim to be infallible or the authority.
• Infallibility and authority belong only to God and His Word.

COGMA therefore strongly advises that you prayerfully study the content of each Study Guide with the heart of a Berean: “Acts 17:10-12”.

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PREFACE

This Study Guide introduces you to the great subject of the Gospel Day, also called the Day of Salvation. It is God’s appointed season when His plan of redemption is revealed through Jesus Christ. The Gospel Day began with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and continues until His final gathering of the redeemed.

The lessons in this Study Guide are drawn from the beliefs of the Church of God in Caloundra, Australia. These beliefs are not based on human opinion or tradition. They are examined carefully by rightly dividing God’s Word. Each truth is weighed against the Scriptures so you can clearly see the foundation of what is taught.

As you continue, you will also see how the Gospel Day is divided into seven time periods and four epochs. These divisions show the unfolding of God’s plan in history and in the life of His church. More than giving knowledge, these truths will challenge you to consider your own walk with Christ.

INTRODUCTION

The Gospel Day is the key to understanding God’s plan for His people. It is more than a timeline. It is a spiritual framework that reveals the story of salvation. By studying it, you will see how Christ has guided His church through centuries of trial and victory.

In this course you will also study subjects that are central to the belief of the Church of God in Caloundra. Among the topics covered are:

• The ordinances of the New Testament
• The Trinity
• Pentecostalism and its deception
• The Millennium and the Kingdom
• And more

Each of these lessons will be studied carefully, with the Bible as the final authority. By rightly dividing God’s Word, you will gain a deeper understanding of God’s truth. You will also see how these lessons fit into the greater framework of the Gospel Day.

The Battle of Truth and Deception

The Gospel Day also reveals the battle between truth and deception. Every generation has faced challenges that tested faith. Yet Christ has always been faithful. As you begin this study, remember that the same Christ who led the early church is still present with you today.

Revelation and the Gospel Day

This module will also introduce the book of Revelation and explain its division into seven series. Each series aligns with the seven periods of the Gospel Day, providing a prophetic framework that reflects the progression of God’s plan. Through these series, you will gain a foundational understanding of Revelation’s structure, helping you interpret its symbols and messages with greater clarity.

These foundational concepts — the Gospel Day and the structure of Revelation — will set the stage for deeper study in the coming topics. They provide essential context for understanding God’s unfolding plan in Scripture.

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THE GOSPEL DAY

The Meaning of Gospel

When we explore the Greek definition of the word gospel in the Scriptures, we find that it means ‘a good message’ or ‘good news.’ The Greek word EUAGGELION comes from EU, meaning ‘good or well,’ and ANGELOS, meaning ‘messenger’ or ‘message.’

In the New Testament, gospel describes the proclamation of God’s redemptive plan through Christ. It offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. It includes the message of salvation, the kingdom of God, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Gospel Proclaimed

The gospel not only points to Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, but it is also the message the church proclaims, just as the disciples did in the beginning.

Acts 5:42 says:

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

The word preach here is the verb EUAGGELIZO, which means ‘to proclaim the good news.’ In the King James Version, it is translated as ‘glad tidings.’

The Fulfilment of the Gospel Day

The Gospel Day is the time when this good news comes to fulfilment. For long and dreadful ages, humanity endured darkness and ignorance, ruled by the power of sin. To live without victory over evil is a history of profound sorrow. The god of this world, Satan, has rejoiced in stealing, killing, and destroying.

What a marvellous thing it is, and what truly good news, that the prophecy of our Redeemer has been fulfilled. Through Christ, we are no longer victims of the devil’s attacks, but we are set free in the light of the Gospel Day.

i.The Promise of Redemption

Genesis 3 recounts how Satan stole every good thing from humanity. Through Adam’s disobedience, spiritual death came upon him, and the principle of sin entered the world.

However, in the same chapter, we find the glorious promise of the woman’s seed bruising the serpent’s head. God, knowing humanity would fall into sin, had a remedy prepared before the world began.

2 Timothy 1:9 says:

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

This verse reminds us that salvation was not an afterthought but part of God’s eternal purpose. His grace was already provided in Christ Jesus before creation itself.

ii.The Gospel Day Brings Light

The record of victory over sin and Satan is found throughout the Word of God. In the Gospel Day, those who accept the remedy for sin are no longer children of the night, but children of the day.

For those still suffering under the abuses of the evil one, there is no excuse, because we have Jesus. God has given us His Son, and He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Isaiah 9:2 says:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

This prophecy looked forward to the coming of Christ, who brought light to those in darkness.

Matthew 4:17 says:

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

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THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL DAY

The Gospel Day is a time of deliverance and light. It calls each person to embrace repentance and walk in the liberty provided by Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice in this good news and live in the power of the Gospel.

We no longer need to be victims of the devil’s attacks. We can repent and be translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Thank God for the great light of the Gospel Day.

Lessons from the Old Testament

The Old Testament shows us how God’s people were frustrated in their efforts to please Him and live in His favour. Sin easily beset them. But we thank God that He not only gave us examples of how not to serve Him, but also the promise of a better day.

Isaiah 28:12 says:

“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

This rest was not fully realised under the old covenant, but pointed forward to Christ.

Jeremiah 31:33 says:

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

These promises looked forward to the Gospel Day, a time of victory, peace, and rest for the people of God.

The Promise of ‘In That Day’

There was a day of victory, peace, and rest promised for God’s people. The Scriptures repeatedly speak of ‘in that day,’ pointing to the fulfilment of God’s promises and the manifestation of His glory.

Isaiah 2:11 says:

“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”

Zechariah 13:1 says:

“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

The fountain opened for sin and uncleanness points to Christ’s redeeming work, giving us cleansing and renewal.

Life in the Gospel Day

Through Christ, we experience being born again, recreated into His image, and accepted in the beloved. As believers, we inherit the fullness of God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 4:15 says:

“For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 3:21 says:

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.”

We no longer need to live as spiritual paupers, but as kings and priests unto God.

Our Choice Today

Each of us now has a choice:

• To put our faith in the temporary or the eternal
• To allow the disposition of sin to rule, or to become heirs and joint heirs with Christ, giving Him full authority over every enemy in our lives

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HOW DO WE KNOW THE GOSPEL DAY IS HERE?

Jesus Himself told us that the Gospel Day had arrived.

Mark 1:15 says:

“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

This declaration announced the fulfilment of prophecy and the arrival of God’s kingdom.

John 4:23 says:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

John 10:10 says:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

This abundant life is the very heart of the Gospel Day.

John 5:25 says:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”

Here Jesus declared that spiritual life had come to those who would hear His voice.

Confirmation Through Christ’s Works

When John the Baptist, in prison, sought confirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, Jesus pointed to the fulfilment of His works.

Matthew 11:2–5 says:

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

The Gospel Day is marked by the fulfilment of prophecy, the breaking of sin’s power, and the abundant life Jesus offers.

The Power to Become Sons of God

In the Gospel Day, as many as receive Christ are given the power to become the sons of God.

John 1:12 says:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

He is come. Will you receive Him? This can be a day of brightness, gladness, liberty, and peace if you will believe the gospel given to us in this Gospel Day. Let this be the day when you embrace the full blessings of the Gospel and walk in the light of His salvation. Truly, we have reason to rejoice in this day and celebrate the good news of His redeeming work.

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THE GOSPEL DAY: SEVEN PROPHETIC DAYS

The Gospel Day represents the time beginning at Pentecost in 31 A.D. and continuing until the end of time. It is the final dispensation, as shown in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 10:6–7 says:

“And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

We will study this in Revelation later, but it is important to understand that the physical universe will one day come to an end. There will be a last day when time will be no more.

The Last Dispensation: The Fulness of Time

We are now living in the last dispensation of time, which Paul called the ‘fulness of time.’

Galatians 4:4 says:

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”

The word fulness in Greek is PLEROMA, meaning completion. The word time is CHRONOS, which refers to a measurable period or duration. This shows that Paul was speaking of a defined, measurable period of history. Paul was pointing to the birth and reality of Jesus Christ. His appearance ushered in the final measurable period of time, which will last until time is no more.

Ephesians 1:10 says:

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

Seven Prophetic Days

The Gospel Day is presented in Scripture as seven prophetic days. These days are not ordinary twenty-four-hour days, but spiritual periods within the final dispensation.

The Significance of the Number Seven

The number seven throughout Scripture points us to the perfection of God’s plan and the completion of His redemptive work.

i.The Number Seven and Creation

The seven days of creation were called ‘the day,’ connecting them symbolically to the Gospel Day.

ii.The Number Seven and the Passover

Paul reinforces this truth.

Colossians 2:10 says:

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

The word complete in Greek is PLEROO, meaning to fill to capacity or to bring something to completion.

iii.The Number Seven and the Battle of Jericho

The importance of seven is also seen in the fall of Jericho. Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho for seven days, and then seven times on the seventh day. When they completed the seventh circuit, the walls fell, and victory was complete. This story symbolises the spiritual completeness and victory available in Christ during the Gospel Day. The number seven throughout Scripture points us to the perfection of God’s plan and the completion of His redemptive work.

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THE GOSPEL DAY FORESHADOWED BY NOAH

The concept of seven prophetic days is foreshadowed in the story of Noah and the Ark. Many events in the Old Testament serve as types or shadows pointing to New Testament spiritual realities. This is the case with Noah and the building of the Ark.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom of God, they expected a literal, re-established kingdom. Jesus corrected their view, teaching that the true kingdom is spiritual, dwelling within the born-again believer.

Luke 17:26 says:

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”

Looking back at the account of Noah in Genesis, we see a prophetic parallel:

Genesis 7:4 says:

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.”

After the Ark was completed, God allowed seven days of opportunity for mankind to enter into safety before the flood came. At the end of this period, God Himself ‘shut the door’ and closed the way of escape.

Genesis 7:16 says:

“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.”

This is a literal picture of Christ, who built His church and now gives humanity seven prophetic days to enter in. At the end of this period, the door of mercy will close, and time will be no more. Jesus identified Himself as the Door into salvation.

John 10:9 says:

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Just as Noah and his family were safe inside the ark, so those who enter by Christ find deliverance and life. The Gospel Day, like the seven days of Noah, represents a limited but sufficient time to enter into God’s plan of salvation. Those who respond to His call will experience deliverance and eternal safety. Those who refuse will face eternal loss when the door of opportunity is closed.

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THE GOSPEL DAY: FOUR MAJOR EPOCHS OF TIME

The word epoch refers to a significant event or period in history, marked by its distinctive features or moments of great importance. The Gospel Day is marked by four such periods, each characterised by its relation to truth and light.

The Four Periods of the Gospel Day

The Gospel Dispensation is divided into four distinct periods. These are not defined by exact dates but by spiritual conditions:

• The Morning Time — 31 to 270 A.D.
• The Noon Time — 270 to 1530 A.D.
• The Cloudy and Dark Day — 1530 to 1880 A.D.
• The Evening Time — 1880 A.D. until the end of time

These periods begin with the Morning Time, move through phases of darkness and partial light, and end in the Evening Time, where truth shines brightly once again.

The Morning Time

The Morning Time began after 400 years of silence from God, known as the ‘silent years.’ This period stretched from the close of Malachi to the ministry of John the Baptist. During this time, there was no prophetic voice in Israel, symbolising spiritual darkness.

Isaiah 21:11–12 says:

“The burden of Dumah. He calleth me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.”

The name Dumah, meaning silence, refers to the 400 years of prophetic silence. Yet Isaiah also announced a coming dawn.

Isaiah 60:1–3 says:

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

With the coming of Jesus Christ, the glorious Morning of the Gospel Day was ushered in. His light dispelled the darkness of the silent centuries, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecies and declaring the arrival of the kingdom of God.

The Evening Time

The final period of the Gospel Day and the fourth epoch, referred to as the Evening Time or the Evening Light, is the time when God calls His people out of spiritual Babylon — the systems of confusion and false religion — into the fullness of the truth of Jesus Christ and the church He built.

Revelation 18:4 says:

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

This fourth and final epoch of the Gospel Day includes the sixth and seventh prophetic days. We believe that we are now living in the end time of the Evening Light, within the seventh prophetic day of the Gospel Day.

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THE TOWER OF BABEL AS A TYPE OF THE FOUR EPOCHS

The account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 provides a clear type of the four epochs of the Gospel Day. Each stage of the story symbolises a different phase in church history. Genesis 11 records humanity’s united attempt to build a tower that would reach heaven. Because of this rebellion, God scattered the people and confounded their language. This event carries deep symbolic meaning and points to spiritual realities fulfilled in the New Testament Gospel Day.

This biblical account foreshadows key themes in the Gospel Day, including:

• Unity that comes from God
• Apostasy or rebellion against divine authority
• Division as a result of departing from truth
• Gathering again to restore God’s people to unity in Christ

It also serves as a warning about the consequences that follow when people turn away from God’s instruction and pursue self-exalting goals.

1 Corinthians 10:11 says:

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Romans 15:4 says:

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Evening-Time Restoration — 1880 to Present

The final period of the Gospel Day and the fourth epoch, referred to as the Evening Time or the Evening Light, is the time when God calls His people out of spiritual Babylon — the systems of confusion and false religion — into the fullness of the truth of Jesus Christ and the church He built. This is symbolised by God’s call to Abram, who was told to leave his homeland and journey to a new land.

Genesis 12:1 says:

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”

This call to Abram parallels the spiritual call in the book of Revelation, where God commands His people to come out of Babylon.

Revelation 18:4 says:

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

The honey represents the Holy Spirit, whose presence brings joy, liberty, and divine satisfaction to the believer. This Evening-Time restoration is a return to:

• The original teachings of Christ and the apostles
• Spiritual unity and one faith
• Holiness, truth, and the power of the Holy Spirit

Zechariah 14:7 says:

“But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.”

Ezekiel 34:12 says:

“So will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”

The Evening Light fulfils this promise. After centuries of scattering, God is now gathering His sheep back into one-fold under Christ, restoring the full light of the Gospel.

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CONCLUSION: THE GOSPEL DAY DEFINED

The Gospel Day is the final dispensation of time, beginning at Pentecost in A.D. 31 and continuing until the end of the world. It is not simply a period of history but a spiritual day, also called the Day of Salvation. It stretches across the New Testament age, revealing Christ’s redemptive work in His church.

We have seen that the Gospel Day is divided into seven prophetic days and also into four great epochs. These divisions are not human inventions but are drawn from the witness of Scripture and confirmed by the unfolding of church history. Each epoch reveals the spiritual condition of God’s people in its time:

• The Morning Time — when the church shone in unity and truth at Pentecost.
• The Dark Day — when compromise and apostasy spread, and truth was obscured.
• The Scattering Day — when denominations divided the church into confusion.
• The Evening Time — when light shines again, and Christ calls His people back to unity.

The story of Babel provides a picture of these conditions. The scattering at Babel foreshadowed the scattering of God’s people during the Gospel Day. Just as God judged the pride of Babel, so He has judged false systems that exalt themselves above His Word. In contrast, the Evening Light restores what was lost, gathering God’s people into one-fold under Christ.

These truths make clear that the Gospel Day is the final dispensation, with no new age to follow. The call is urgent: you are living in the closing period of this great day. Christ calls you to walk in His light, hold fast to His truth, and prepare for the fulfilment of prophecy.

Yet this lesson has only laid the foundation. To understand the Gospel Day in its fullness, we must now turn to the book of Revelation. This prophetic book provides the detailed framework for what we have studied. It reveals Christ as the central figure of history, leading His church through every trial and victory. Within its pages, you will see how the seven series of Revelation — the letters, seals, trumpets, and vials — align with the seven periods of the Gospel Day.

In the next Study Guide, you will begin to explore Revelation itself. You will see that it is not a sealed book of mysteries, but an open revelation of Jesus Christ. Its symbols are not meant to confuse but to reveal God’s plan. As you continue, you will discover how Revelation defines the Gospel Day with precision, showing Christ’s work in His church across every age.

You should now prayerfully review this Study Guide and then continue to the Submission section, which you will submit to COGMA for appraisal. The online submission process can be found at cogma.com.au.

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SUBMISSION TO COGMA FOR APPRAISAL