Jan Markell

I Didn’t Have the Imagination! :: By Jan Markell

Published on: by RR10
 

Be honest. You’re seeing things every day that you didn’t think you would see in your lifetime! It must be the last days. Up is down, and black is white. Evil is good, and good is evil. But some of these items listed, I never could have imagined. Here is just my latest short list of things I didn’t think I would see:

1)  Per Tucker Carlson, I have a brain virus because I support Israel. Who could have imagined such an accusation? As a self-proclaimed Christian, Tucker surely doesn’t know the Bible, which is as pro-Israel as you can get! “He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4). Nor does he understand the word “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29), which tells us God keeps His promises (to the Jews).

2)  I never thought that I would get worn out, exhausted, and depleted from warning the clueless that time is running out. This is a new level of delusional thinking that life will only get better despite all the biblical warnings. It’s all falling apart, folks, so that last day’s issues can fall into place! Happy days are only in eternity.

3) The fact that we keep celebrating evil is mind-blowing and the essence of perilous times: Israel’s October 7 and the election of a radical—Zohran Mamdani as NY City Mayor. It’s beyond our imagination. First, we cheered for Hamas and now for Mamdani. Why do we keep having sympathy for the devil? I had hoped that died with the Rolling Stones. How will Mamdani honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next year? Does this bother anybody else?

4)  I never thought I would see, and I can’t understand, why most churches stayed silent after October 7, but those same churches were silent after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September of this year. What gives? Why will pulpits today not take a stand?

5)  A violent school shooting—Annunciation Catholic School—transpired last August, a few miles from where I grew up in Minneapolis. The takeaway, sadly, was that no one should exercise “thoughts and prayers.” Not that blue cities like mine don’t work and that they draw criminals like a magnet. But that prayers were a worthless waste of time. Who could have imagined such a twisted conclusion? What a sign of the times! The predicted mockery is displayed.

6)  I didn’t think I would live to see antisemitism become normalized and even celebrated post-WW2. Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral election because he hated Jews. It is the new normal. Will this drive more Jews to Israel? You can count on it. Once again, they are running for their lives because there is only one safe haven for them. That is how God designed it.

7)  I couldn’t imagine the day when hundreds of thousands of Christians would be slaughtered in parts of Africa, and I would have to hunt for details. Why does no one care that over 200,000 have been killed? Since the victims weren’t Palestinians, I guess no one cared. No Jews, no news.

8)  I still can’t believe that a new study from George Barna’s Cultural Research Center reveals that millions of Americans no longer see many behaviors once considered sinful as wrong at all. In short, the very definition of sin is being rewritten. Mankind has become its own priest, pastor, prophet, and moral authority, and all are doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; Deut. 12:8).

9) I didn’t think I would see the fulfillment of the red-green alliance—Islam and Marxism merging in my lifetime. Forget New York, my hometown, Minneapolis, barely dodged another Islamic mayoral victory. Our “Little Mogadishu” hosts almost 100,000 Muslims here in town and elects and celebrates Ilhan Omar. Twenty-four years after 9/11, the country is saying “Allah Akbar” in too many places. How about the global Shia Islamic center now open in Houston? How have we allowed this? My friend, Phil Haney, warned us, but he was mysteriously bumped off right after I met with him in 2021. Did you notice Al Qaeda made it into the White House on November 10?

10) And I never thought I would see prophecy conferences across America and the world close one by one. Covid did terrible damage and brought mine to an end a few years ago. But they continue to fall due to lack of interest, age of attendees, and the fact that so few comprehend the lateness of the hour, so attendance has been sinking!

So, these are just ten points in my latest list of things I didn’t expect to see! But one thing never changes: the fact that Jesus is coming again and we must not be silent. Somebody’s eternity depends on it.

John 16:20-24

“There was chaos, and the world rejoiced at the death of Jesus, just like the world rejoices at the evil today. Yet, there will come a time when people will rejoice because of God’s glorious promises coming to pass. The world is gloriously dark now because we are being prepared for the glorious Son of God who will bring great light.”

www.olivetreeviews.org

 

An Unexpected Journey :: By Jan Markell

Published on: by RR10

Anyone reading these paragraphs who is slightly shy or withdrawn will identify with a few lines here! That describes me—all of my life. I was an only child. I never married, and to this day, I consider myself just a bit of a loner—introspective and even insecure.  I am happy in the shadows rather than the spotlight.

But apparently God exercised his sense of humor with me. In the late 1990s, Salem Media came to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. I began hearing Christian talk radio and was totally captivated. They were talking about issues that were so relevant, but with a biblical twist.

Rush Limbaugh had gotten my attention in 1988, but now I was hearing “Christian talk”—a medium much different than secular talk. This was important, I knew. It analyzed issues and interviewed important people who were in the know. It also was a good tool to get the gospel out, to debate atheists, and to sharpen people’s faith. It focused on a biblical worldview.

But how could I do this? An introvert doesn’t take to the airwaves! But wasn’t it worth a try? Wasn’t taking a stand worth the risk? So few people wanted to stand for anything, and so the church was falling for everything.

Our World Was About to Change!

And thus, in the Fall of 2000, I decided to buy time on that local Christian station in St. Paul, MN, and see if it was a fit for me—and for them. Zola Levitt was my first radio guest. The studio equipment failed, and Zola was impatient and wanted to hang up and end the interview! What a way to start this new endeavor. We got through it—somehow.

I can’t wrap my brain around the fact that that was 25 years ago. But the dawn of the new millennium brought so many things to discuss and debate that I knew this had been the right thing to do! And just a few months later, on 9/11, America experienced its worst terrorist attack in history.

Our world changed. We needed to talk about it. Islam was going to want to take over the world. Israel was going to become the world’s “burdensome stone.” (Zechariah 12:3) Would anybody be around to defend her?

Doesn’t the Bible command us to “Comfort ye my people”? (Isaiah 40:1) Was I being called to do that on air? I think so. She was rapidly losing support, even though her buses and restaurants were being blown up in the early 2000s.

Your Church Teaches What??

I knew that the church was a mess. Of course, not all, but too many pulpits were majoring in minors, were avoiding current events and politics, were teaching false doctrine, and were insisting that they—the church—was Israel! How nuts is that? Replacement Theology was gaining traction.

So, I talked about it—and talked about it some more! Many denominations came against me. Another major Christian network headquartered in the Twin Cities—the station almost everyone listened to and that was attached to a prominent college—called me a heretic, but why? I was only speaking the truth.

Bible Prophecy a Waste of Time??

I spoke against the “church growth movement.” I wasn’t fond of The Purpose Driven Life. I publicly questioned Pastor Rick Warren for calling Bible prophecy a waste of time that would distract you from your purpose. I came against contemplative prayer and so-called Christian Yoga.

And plenty of people got mad at me! That other network I referenced melted down, probably because I dared to name names.

But church apostasy was in full bloom! We talked about it. Over and over. Yes, the Bible predicts an end-time falling away, not a revival. That comes in the Tribulation.

Where Does the Time Go?

So, where has the time gone? Twenty-five years goes by quickly. The time lapse is stunning. But in the spring of 2025, I felt I needed to focus on other ministry projects, including writing, and let go of that radio experience now spanning a quarter-century.  On August 1, I finished my journey on one thousand Christian radio stations. It started on one station where my first guest was angry at me because he was cut off! Despise not small beginnings.

Pastor Josh Schwartz and Ken Mikle had begun an online outreach a year earlier, and I offered the radio time to them. My hope is that you’ll grow to appreciate their insights and interviews—and style. No, it’s not me, but they offer cutting-edge and even urgent information being given out on what remains Understanding the Times Radio. I will be their guest on frequent occasions. 

You can still hear it on air and online on all previous outlets. The issues that surfaced 25 years ago are even more urgent and complicated. Our new hosts bring on the best guests to help you continue to be excellent watchmen on the wall.

The same conclusion is being drawn twenty-five years later: Things are not falling apart—they are all falling into place. Let Understanding the Times Radio continue to guide you on this end-time journey as we all await His return.

www.olivetreeviews.org