Zion Publishing

This month in our study in the book of Revelation, we began to see the unfolding of the mysteries concerning the seven seals, the seven letters, and the seven trumpets.  We will study them as they unfold together. 

            There are seven principle themes of the book of Revelation.  The first is the seven letters found in chapter 2 and 3.  The second principle theme is the seven seals found in chapters 6-8; then the seven trumpets found in chapters 8 and 9.  Next is the two witnesses as another principle theme found in Revelation chapter 11.  The woman and the dragon in chapter 12, the two beasts in chapter 13, and the binding and loosing of the dragon in chapter 20. 

            Each one of these principle themes give a different view or aspect of the church and her conflict throughout the gospel day using symbols and metaphors.  The Roman Catholic Church and her persecution to the true church of God is vividly seen in Revelation.  Protestantism in this present age of religious confusion is seen in the book of Revelation.  The Apostasy of the early church is clearly projected through the symbolic language of the writer. 

            In this study we will establish a foundation for a proper understanding of the "Gospel Day."  The Gospel Day according to the word of God is the day of salvation offered to mankind.  Different times in the word of God, it states, "To day is the day of salvation." - II Corinthians 6:2.   Salvation, which is deliverance from the power and effect of sin, was brought to humanity by the offering of Jesus Christ. - Hebrews 10:12.  The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin and cleanse the heart of mankind. - Hebrews 10:4.  But the blood of Jesus, shed upon the cross of Calvary, by faith delivers and sets a person free from the power of sin, enabling them to walk in newness of life and live righteously and holy. - Romans 3:25.  

            The Gospel Day or the day that grace and salvation is offered to mankind began with the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ and will end upon the second coming of Christ.  At the second coming of Christ there will be no sacrifice for sin. - Hebrews 9:26-28.  Christ is the sin-offer in this Gospel Day.  No other offering for sin can atone for the sins of man. - Acts 4:11, 12.

            Now we will look at further proof through the word of God, showing that there is only one "day" or opportunity for salvation.   In Matthew 20, the householder, which is Christ, hired laborers for the vineyard.  There was only one day to work in the vineyard.  In the Old Test-ament, prophesy was given many times concerning the Gospel Day.   Many references began by saying, "In that Day..." - (example: Isaiah 11:10, Amos 8:9, Zechariah 13:1.)

            Another scriptural re-ference that we will study is Isaiah 30:26.  "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."  Here two different metaphors are stated in this text which will give the foundation of our study in Revelation, enabling us to see the segments and divisions of time within the Gospel Day.  The moon which is the lesser light in comparison to the sun signifies the Old Testament or the Old Covenant Dispensation.  The sun which is the greatest light signifies the new Testament or the New Covenant Dispensation which is the greatest spiritual light or understanding given to humanity by Jesus Christ who is the Sun of Righteousness. - Malachi 4:2. 

            Isaiah states again that "the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, in the day..."  In the Gospel Day, Isaiah the prophet declares that there would be seven parts that make up “the day.”  This prophesy is clearly projected within our minds by the seven churches, the seven angels, the seven trumpets and the seven seals all found in the book of Revelation. 

            So the entire book of Revelation shows a panoramic view of the church of Jesus Christ throughout all seven parts of the Gospel Day.  This is what Christ meant in Revelation 1:19 when He told John to, "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter."

            Now that we have a clear understand of what the book of Revelation's mission and purpose is, we can now go further into our studies with better knowledge.  How are the seven parts of the Gospel Day divided and what are their time-frames? What part of the seven are we living in now?  All these questions and many more will be answered in the next Subscription of "The Way to Zion Journal."