The Shocking News At The Final Throne | PODCAST

By Pastor Vinnie

Jesus predicted only two types of people before His throne at that end of the world, however, incredibly unexpected to both groups, is the utterly shocking news neither group ever expected to hear Jesus say to them!

Join us as we bring season one of Simply Devotion to a close with the final parable of Jesus about the end of the world in Matthew 25. Are you ready for the shocking news Jesus gives the those he separates at the end of the world?

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The End Of The World As We Know It

By Pastor Vinnie MacIsaac

The 80’s Pop band, R.E.M.,  sang, “ It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.”[i] And that lyric has been stuck in my head since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) story broke. Now, I don’t know when you are reading this, but I wrote this on Sunday, March 15^th, 4 days before my 50^th birthday[ii]. But, what I do know is that this blog will be read over and over into the future because it is not the end of the world… Yet.

Ironically 80’s Pop band R.E.M. also sang, “That’s me in the corner. That’s me in the spotlight. Losing my religion. Trying to keep up with you.”[iii] And that is what some people are doing, they are losing their religion, in so many ways. Some are paralyzed by fear. Some really fear this could be the end of the world. And frankly, as I watch whole nations come to their knees and go into lockdown mode I really can’t blame them for that fear. Others are all in… for themselves! Seriously, what is it with the toilet paper hoarding!!! Others are walking around in self-made hazmat suits made from rubber gloves, a coat, and facemasks. And even worse, others dove off the stupid, and reckless cliff, of believing it is all a conspiracy theory or some kind of political game one side is playing with the other. This line of reason perhaps bothers me the most. Because it is careless, and people buying into this point of view are putting real lives at risk! I just want to scream at them to “shut up before they get someone they know killed!” Here’s a clue, if your political bias starts putting people at risk, it is not your political side but you who are unhinged! Lastly, there are those who use this as an excuse to be a racist.[iv] No, this is not a Chinese or Asian disease, it is a human global disease! One, on-air, TV Morning News show actually had the gall to demand an apology from China![v]

Here is my point, while it is not the end of the world, it is terrifying. And the way people are responding right now, as I write this, is exactly the way they will respond when the world really does come to the end crisis before Jesus returns. STOP… and evaluate your response. Jesus is calling you to use this moment to check yourself. And ask, if this is how I act now, how will I deal with the grand end of the world events painted in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and the books of Daniel and Revelation?  Just as a high fever is a serious sign of COVID-19, a high unhinged emotional fever is a sign of a spiritual virus. Jesus is giving you this chance to turn to Him and learn to overcome. Remember, the Apostle Paul says that those who can’t control their outbursts, use hate, and are selfish, are in serious danger of by-passing the Kingdom, but those who have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness are living in the Spirit.[vi]

God is calling you to a Non-Anxious Presence. What is a non-anxious presence? It is living in the Christian reality that God is sovereign. He is King. Even more so, He is God and accepting we are not. And if we are not God we don’t need to control everything, understand everything, and or even to ascribe blame to everything because God’s got it, and how He ultimately deals with it, is His. The serenity prayer describes a non-anxious presence in action this way:

“God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;

taking, as Jesus did,

this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it;

trusting that You will make all things right

if I surrender to Your will;

so that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.”[vii]

Won’t you take a moment and re-pray it? I mean it. Read it again, pray it. Bookmark this page. If you’re a Christian, understand, this world is going to go literally nuts before it ends. But, you are not called to go nuts with it! You are called to be a light in the darkness of madness and to do that, God needs you in control. And the only way you can be in control when the “sky is falling” is to trust God and to submit to his ability to run the world and your life better than you can.

The Apostle Paul makes this process clear, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”[viii]

It’s the end of the world as we know it… The world is changing. It is winding down. When is the final end? I don’t know, but we are not quite there yet. But when it is really is the end of the world, I don’t want to you to feel fine, I want you to feel faith because you walk in a non-anxious presence that Jesus has called you to. Jesus died with the words, ”Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Can’t you put this and every crisis you face into the loving hands of your Father in Heaven? Did not the death and resurrection of Jesus teach you that your Heavenly Father can make you rise up from anything that touches you? Put yourself in His hands.

When it is the end of the world as we know it, I will feel faith! What about you? Know in whom you believe.

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FOOTNOTES:

[i] https://youtu.be/-s97_bBGobQ

[ii] Fine, now you know I am old. LOL

[iii] https://youtu.be/xwtdhWltSIg

[iv] Such people are always racist but this is their chance to do it without being called out.

[v] https://youtu.be/JbK_0gL1Jh0

[vi] Galatians 5:19-22

[vii] Reinhold Niebuhr

[viii] Philippians 4:6-7

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Houston in the Harvey:

The Enemy Came In Like A Flood

By Pastor Vinnie 

 Why didn’t they get out? They had time. Yet many stayed. They believed the worst would not happen. Houston was perhaps the hardest hit. It is a city on flat land and was a sure hit for incredible flooding given where landfall of Harvey was happening. But even this reality could not shake the city free of its apathy.

Photo: Austin American-Statesman

The lack of belief that I need to be prepared for the worst is an infectious problem we all struggle with, in the realm of balance. I think, to some degree, it is actually healthy and functions as an internal trade-off to afford ourselves the peace we need to avoid the slippery slope of pessimism and defeatism. Still, while I am no fan of fear mongering, maybe there is room here for a healthy wakeup call in all of this.

As bad as Harvey, and its aftermath, is going to be, the truth is that we know even worst things will come upon this earth before Jesus returns. One striking thought hit me as I read through the various news articles on Harvey is that, realistically, all the people who had to move out of the path of the storm could not have evacuated even if they had wanted to.

Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner said it best in a Press Conference, “You literally cannot put 6.5 million people on the road.” “If you think the situation right now is bad, you give an order to evacuate, you are creating a nightmare.”^[1]

If that is the case then what will happen when one day worse than Harvey hits? Imagine, if you will, a scenario of disasters Harvey- size running continually and simultaneously all over the nation at once. There literally would be no way to escape, nor any place to escape to. Yet that is exactly what the Bible predicts:

“The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Revelation 6:14)^[2]

And Jesus himself said,

“How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Matthew 24:20-21)^[3]

The unpopular truth is, there is a time of trouble that is coming upon this whole earth that will be many times over the problem of Harvey and will leave no place to evacuate to. There is a time coming, for which we cannot physically prepare. And the only rescue boat that can save you is Jesus!

Photo: AP HARVEY A USA TX

You can hoard wealth, but it will be useless in that day as commerce is swiped away. You can hone survival skills, but there will be no resources in that day. You can stockpile weapons, but the evil of that day will not be people. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it will never happen, never come, and pretend it is all fear mongering and speculation. However, that will only make you be the greatest “Houston in the Harvey” the world has ever seen.

Only Jesus saves in that day! Only Jesus can reach you in that day. When 911 no longer works, and rescue boats no longer come, and when the whole world has lost hope, look up, look up to the light in the sky because it will be Jesus and His mighty army of angels returning to get you and bring you to safety.

The question is, how is your relationship with Jesus today? I know, “Tomorrow, tomorrow we will always have tomorrow…,” said Houston yesterday! The truth is there is no tomorrow unless there is today. Matthew chapter 25 makes it quite clear that if you have not prepared a relationship with the bridegroom (Jesus) today, then when He returns there will be no time do so.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:10-13)^[4]

Jeep Cherokee Sports Edition 4 Wheel Drive model. This is very similar to their model.

I remember a few years back when I was living in the more southern part of the United States. One day I was in the church parking lot on my way into worship, and a saw two very elderly sisters drive up whom I knew well. Betsy and Dana^[5] who were well into their late 80’s drove up to church in a massive Jeep Cherokee Sports Edition 4 Wheel Drive with giant tires on it. I felt pretty sure Betsy and Dana were not the off-road driving type so I asked them why in the world would they buy a giant Jeep like that!

“Oh the time of trouble is coming, Vinnie, you better be getting ready!” Dana spoke up proudly. “And we plan to paint it camouflage too” busted in Betsy as an add-in. “Yep, yep,” Continued Betsy, “You better look seriously into getting your escape together now! You know the Bible says in those days there will be no buying and selling so if you plan to flee to the mountains when all hell breaks loose you better get it together now!”

Intrigued I looked right at both sisters and asked, “If you can’t buy or sell, where are you going to get the gas to put in this giant gas guzzler to get away?” And not even understanding the ironic hypocrisy of her answer Dana shot back, “Oh, the Lord will provide that!” And Betsy quickly backed her up and vocally supported, “Yep Yep, my Jesus, hmmm hmmm… my Jesus, yep yep, my Jesus, will provide!” And I walked away scratching my head wondering why Betsy’s Jesus could provide gas, but not a Jeep. I guess Betsy’s Jesus has limited supplies on demand!

Photo: Mashable

That is the tension we live with as faithful Christians living in what are some of the earth’s final days. We don’t want to live in fear-laden hypocrisy of Dana and Betsy, nor the unready apathy that can lead to the havoc of Houston in a Harvey. And it seems pretty clear with every passing day that likeliness of man to solve his own problems are about as probable as evacuating 6.5 million people from every urban center all at once, as the world tumbles around you. The only viable solution there can be is to have a solid trust-filled, loving relationship with Jesus now, today, that builds you with the certainty of tomorrow. You must have the faith that Jesus will move Heaven and Earth to save you in that day! Jesus will be the only rescue boat safe to be on when this world starts to fall apart.

Photo: Houston Transtar

Yes, it is like the old song said, “The enemy came in like a flood…But he was defeated by one drop of blood.”^[6] We don’t have to live in fear of the Harveys of life to avoid the dangers around us. We can see the storm of today as seasonal warnings to have a daily and ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. The opposite of apathy is not fear; the opposite of apathy is faith. It is true that the havoc of Harvey in Huston is nothing compared to the trouble coming upon this earth. But it is also true that the spilled blood of Jesus proves that the Father will stop at nothing to save you in that day if you believe in him. The faith of today has the power to stop all the storms of tomorrow. But unless that faith is forged, now, it will be lost as in the havoc of Huston. Harvey has sent us yet another reminder to set our eyes on the sky in which Jesus will return. Set your faith now!

Photo: NewsWorks

Footnotes:

^[1] https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/27/us/houston-evacuation-hurricane-harvey/index.html

^[2] NIV

^[3] NIV

^[4] NIV

^[5] Not their real names

^[6] One Drop Of Blood by Ray Blotz

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Fools Rush In

Sign Hunters

By Vinnie MacIsaac

I was recently in a Facebook conversation about prophecy and the role signs and miracles would play in the lead up to the return of Jesus. It was an interesting discussion to read and join in with.  Plus, I have to admit I love me some good signs! Who does not want some sort of clear finger coming out of no place and pointing out the right way to go? Because at the end of the day, in more ways than just understanding prophecy, have we not all tortured ourselves over what God’s will is, at some point in our life? I know I have.

I honestly don’t think there is anything, intrinsically, wrong with signs. After all, Matthew 24 for example, is jammed packed with all kinds of signs; big and small. Both about the return of Jesus and also the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, and about what we should watch for and what we should be doing while awaiting the second coming of Christ[1]. But, recently, I have seen the fascination of signs reaching new proportions, often power-packed with sensationalism. And much too often very odd and outrageous speculation, for which there is no Biblical support for at all. Yes, according to Jesus, in Matthew 24-25, there are indeed, real signs, yet, He also warns of false prophets, and false teachings, not to mention even global deceptions to lead people away from the clear teaching of the Bible.

The problem I see is, some are seeking after a sign so passionately that they go against what the Bible clearly teaches. And that is the real danger that many sincere students of prophecy are unaware even exists. Think about it; this was a massive problem in Jesus’ day. Did the Jewish leaders not have enough Bible prophecy in their day that pointed to Jesus as the coming Messiah? Of course, they did!!! They refused to see who Jesus was because, in their heart, wickedness was still hidden. So when they were finally cornered on the truth of who Jesus was, they demanded a sign, or a miracle, from Him as proof. And that is the danger. Jesus was not above doing signs and miracles, His life was full of them! But He did not do them to prove who He was; He did them out of compassion and love. The proof of who He was came from the scriptures that testified of Him and the prophecies that foretold of Him. The danger is in setting aside the clear teaching of Scripture because of a miracle or sign. Notice what Jesus calls them when they do that, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29, Mark 8:12, Matthew 16:4. The sign of Jonah was the fact that Jesus was in the grave three days and was resurrected. His point is that if this sign, His resurrection, is not significant enough to them, nothing else will be. Look, if you can’t believe the reality of the resurrection, then nothing else, no matter how sensational, will help you.

Doomsday prophecy is a steady diet for some Christians

Paul warns us, as well, that not all that glitters is from Heaven. He warns that as time goes on false teachers will arise and lead people astray in the same way that Satan has. “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14.  So according to Paul, we must be careful because even Satan can make you think he is an Angel of light, while he is leading you to destruction. No wonder Paul says in Galatians, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8

Furthermore, the book of Revelation tells that such deceptions will only increase as we get deeper into the time of the end. In Revelation 13 it says that the Beast power will,”….perform great signs, even causing a fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.” And John warns, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”1 John 4:1. Jesus, Himself, gives us the most gut-wrenching, sober thought on signs in the end times, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

Sign Psycho: That condition you get when your eyes gloss over, and you obsess on the end the world.

So here is the point, signs are excellent. Seeking them, or needing them as your source of proof can lead us to self-manufacture them from the world of current events and not the Word of God. And that is not excellent but is to subject yourself to the Devil’s play yard and toys. When a sign comes, and it confirms what we already can see, clearly, in the Bible then we can welcome it; because of the Bible and what is says about the sign and not just the sign itself! The miracle must confirm the message! The Bible remains the burden of truth. All the sign does is point back, or bring to mind, the conviction of the Truth of the Bible. Many, and according to Jesus, if possible even the very elect, will in the end days be deceived because they choose a sign over the clear word of God. This is a worthy warning to be aware of!

 The Sermon of Olivet (Matthew 24-25), a profound and complex teaching that exceeds the length of this blog, involves more than just the return of Jesus; it also deals with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD, and the end of the age. There is a simple tool I use to keep the balance of recognizing signs, yet not being compelled to seek a sign in everything. I liken Matthew 24 to an interstate, which is full of many true signs of the road. Not every sign applies to you and where you are going. Jesus repeatedly says in Matthew 24,“Do you see this sign, the end is not yet.” There may be many mile markers along the road. They help you to know how far you traveled, and when to expect a rest station. But some signs actually can take you off your route and even turn you around, unless you know from the map where you are going. While all the signs you see are worth noting Jesus says there is one big exit sign that means you have arrived at your destination, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

One of my favorite movie comedies of the 90’s was “Fools Rush In” starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. In the film the couple’s ill-gotten and destructive relationship is doomed with hang-ups, which keep two people greatly in love apart from each other. Everything in their lives just keeps pulling them further apart. Finally, when she has had enough, Salma Hayek’s character (Isabel Fuentes) runs away to Mexico with plans to never be found again. And Matthew Perry’s character (Alex Whitman), feeling like a failure, gives up on love altogether. However, a series of common everyday events serve as “signs” to guide them together across two countries to meet at the exact time of their child’s birth. Now, I know it is a movie and filled with all kinds of Hollywood gobbledy- gook to sell us on the magic of it all. But still, those are the nature of signs I can get behind! Why? Because the romance, Hollywood’s glitter, or the fairytale ending? No! Because the Bible says, “”For I hate divorce,“ says the LORD, the God of Israel” —Malachi 2:16 and their signs were supported (in my eyes as the viewer) by the Word of God. I know it is a fictitious movie, but don’t miss the point. Signs always point us to the Word of God and never away from the Word of God, or what it teaches for our current generation. Lest we become “an evil generation that seeks for a sign…”

Let every sign we find be cemented to the principle of Scripture or else be tossed away, lest it lead us into outer darkness. “To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” — Isaiah 8:20

Don’t be a fool who rushes in, insist that the signs you accept are rock solid in their connection to Scripture.

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[1] I urge readers of Matthew 24 not to forget to read Matthew 25. There are no chapter divides in the original text, and despite being two chapters in our modern Bibles, the truth is they are both equally the answer to the Disciples question about the end of the age and the destruction of the temple. In 25 we see three parables of deep focus on how we the church ought to be conducting ourselves as we see the signs of the times being fulfilled.

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