Mission City Church w/ Pastor Josh Hershey

In chapter 16 of Revelation John sees a vision of the fulness of judgment coming upon old covenant Israel. Seven golden bowls are brought out of the heavenly sanctuary and “poured out” on different zones of old creation. These are the bowls filled to the brim with the shed blood of the martyrs, and in them the wrath of God is complete (15:1). The plagues of each bowl mirror the plagues of Egypt as Jerusalem itself had become spiritually Egypt (11:8). On top of this, the seven bowls correspond to the seven days of creation, and what is happening is a de-creation moment. God is removing the old world order and making the new world order more evident for the world to see! The final covenantal transition takes place and the new creation realities in Christ begin to shine bright! We are now living in that new creation light!

In Revelation 16 there is a great battle between two armies—the army of the 'kings from the sunrise' and the army summoned by 'frog demons'. The battle occurs at the Mountain of Assembly. It is primarily a spiritual warfare. An epic battle between those who belong to Christ and those who belong to Christ's enemies! A battle that ends with lightning, thunder, earthquakes, and one-hundred pound hailstones!

Join us for our Bible Study! We will be worshipping the LORD and digging into Proverbs 25-26. Proverbs like “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21), “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28), “As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11), and “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (Proverbs 26:17).

In Revelation 15 we see the martyrs standing on the crystal sea in heaven. But this time we are told the sea is "mingled with fire." The crystal blue sea has become a red sea. Dyed in the fiery witness of the blood of the martyrs! As they stand they "sing the song of Moses" and there are "plagues" that pour out from heaven to earth. It is another exodus from Egypt. God is always bringing His people out of Egypt and into His Promises! Our only duty is to stand in faith and sing praises to the Lamb! Join us as we worship the LORD!

In Revelation 14 we meet the 144,000 again. The people of God who were "sealed" by the Holy Spirit and who "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." These saints are victorious in an ironic way. They are victorious through martyrdom. Just like Jesus! Their martyrdom makes them the "firstfruits" harvest of the apostolic generation. Jesus comes with a "sickle" in hand and reaps this harvest to heaven. Their blood that is poured out will serve as the portion of blood that Babylon will drink in judgment at the end of the age. Their blood will be a seed that will set the tone for a massive growth of the church!

In Revelation 13:11 John writes, "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." This is the false prophet that appears three times later in the book of Revelation. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. One who works lying signs and wonders and causes the people of the land to worship the seven-headed sea beast. What does this lamblike dragon signify? What is the mark of the beast on the right hand and forehead? How does it all apply to our lives today? Join us as we worship the LORD, fellowship together, and discern how to resist dragon-like beasts!

Join us for our Bible Study! We will be worshipping the LORD and digging into Proverbs 23-24! Proverbs like “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!" (Proverbs 23:4), “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:17-18), and “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” (Proverbs 24:10)

In Revelation 13 John sees a monstrous beast rise up out of the sea made in the image and likeness of the Red Dragon. It is one of the two beastly 'hosts' in chapter 13 that the devil uses for his purposes in attacking the saints. Famously, this beast has a number: 666! Who is this beast that some refer to as the antichrist? What is the meaning of 666? How does it apply to our lives today?

Join us as we worship the LORD and dive into Proverbs 21-22! Proverbs like “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts" (Proverbs 21:2), “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6), and “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).

At the center of Revelation there is a cosmic battle between a seven-headed red dragon and a heavenly woman crowned with twelve stars. It is the story of the Gospel on a big screen! The story of the Seed of the woman who would come and bruise the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). This dragon is “cast down” in a beautifully strange way—by "the blood" of the Lamb Child! The Lamb Child who is then caught up into heaven to reign, and the "blood of the Lamb" is how the church continues to conquer the Dragon in their own lives! (Rev. 12:11) Join us as we worship the LORD, fellowship together, and are established in the Gospel!