Jan Markell

Summoning Up Demons :: By Jan Markell

Published on: by RR7
I have to be honest: This is an article I wish I didn’t  have to write. The Christian walk is about good news, not bad. So I promise to take some bad news and turn it into good news before I am finished. But some of the paragraphs about which I write contain the inconvenient truth.
This is a call to prayer and spiritual warfare. We are battling principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12) and they are not even subtle today. They are bolder than some believers and some pulpits today. But were the church not here to provide a buffer against evil, the battle would be more intense. Can you imagine the chaos of the Tribulation when there is no restrainer?
Unprecedented Harassment  
I am hearing from Christian leaders who are struggling with Satanic pushback like never before.  They are experiencing discouragement, family struggles, health challenges, ministry conflict, and personal attacks. Frankly, they sense a horde of demons have been loosed to harass and discourage. I believe that is exactly what has happened.
Pastor J.D. Farag speaks of the rising tide of evil in hisOctober 7 prophecy update.  Pastor J.D.’s takeaway from speaking at my September 29 conference was that evil is increasing exponentially daily. He came to this conclusion, in part, by speaking to hundreds of attendees and hearing their stories.  To say these are difficult days is an understatement.
In Amir Tsarfati’s current event update of October 19, he reports a demonic-like hijacking of some of his social media with accompanying text threats. He even had a message from a dark organization I will not name. I also wish to respect his privacy. However, he has shared a good deal of this online.
Lawlessness and Anarchy
What are we to make of the lawlessness around the world and particularly in America? The Godless are stirred up. They want no morals, no laws, no restraint, no rules, no standards. They don’t like faith, family, or love of country. They think their evil is good (Isaiah 5:20). They are filled with strong delusion believing violent progressiveness is the savior of the world.
They think they are righteous in threatening good people, chasing conservatives out of restaurants, assaulting politicians with bodily harm, and cursing out men like Ted Cruz in demonic tantrums.   But evil is in the air and they are breathing it in and then acting it out.
Even more Godless activity is stirred up and financed by a man who is in love with evil — George Soros.
Ahab and Jezebel in Washington
On September 26 the Satanic Arch of Baal, also known as the Arch of Palmyra, was planted in the heart of Washington, D.C.  ISIS destroyed the original Temple of Baal in Syria in 2015. Its history goes back to the book of Kings and Ahab and Jezebel. Unspeakable activity went on in this pagan temple.  It is the essence of evil and rebellion.
Why would anybody want to bring a replica of it back and honor it?  Yet the replica began a global tour in 2015.
America welcomed it and had a “celebration” under it with the U.S. Capitol building in the background last month. It was at the same time the U.S. was embroiled in the Judge Kavanaugh controversy. Is it any wonder that his confirmation was consumed in turmoil when such a monument to evil was just a few miles away?
Spells Over a Cauldron
On Saturday, October 20, witches then put a hex on Judge Kavanaugh. Spectators were invited to pay $10 for tickets to watch spells being cast against a good and decent man.
Because evil has been unleashed, we cannot disagree with someone; rather, we must perpetrate acts of darkness with spells over a cauldron.  Who could have imagined wickedness rising to this level?
Anything Goes
Spencer Gifts inside of a Chicago mall is featuring items for teens including t-shirts encouraging them to summon up demons and engage in actual bloodshed (details being spared here.)  A local pastor intervened and stated, “We’re so close to being Sodom and Gomorrah. We’re living in a place where just anything goes. Do whatever you want, whatever you feel,” he lamented. “All I’m going to say is, repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
And at the same time, Facebook censors prayer.  The demons behind the tech giants couldn’t take it.
Pagan Pride
Pagan festivals are nothing new. People love to glory in wickedness and they suggest their nature worship is harmless. But I live in one of the occult capitols of the world here in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. This week they announced their forthcoming “Paganicon” for 2019 where revelers celebrate pagan pride. This is literally in my neighborhood and may be coming to yours.
 
 
 
The Devil’s Holiday
What you may not know is the pagan/occult world is on overdrive from October 13 – 31. Their special holiday is on the horizon: Halloween — the devil’s holiday. It is as if a spell comes over the entire globe for it is under the influence of the evil one (I John 5:19). As Amir Tsarfati reports, even Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews allow their youth to act ungodly only on this day. 
These Jews are spiritually blind. What is the excuse of believers who sanction the darkness represented by this unholy day? What blinds them to the fact that this day represents  far more than costumes and candy?  Why would any righteous person want to participate, party, and decorate with ghosts and all things dark?
 
It would seem that some who should know better are giving heed to the doctrine of demons (I Timothy 4:1). 
Evil to Wax Worse and Worse in the Last Days
The Bible is clear that the last days would be characterized by a demonic outpouring. Demons are real and the battle we wage is real.   Evil is to wax worse and worse (II Timothy 3:13). When we see these things increasing, we are to know His return is very near. 
 
Jesus Christ Crushes All Evil
I could fill many more paragraphs with further proof of this encroaching evil but I want to end on a note reminding you of a pending trumpet blast instead. Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work and He will (I John 3:8). 
 
As full as the day is now with evil and devils, it will someday soon be filled thousands of times over with God’s glory and beauty. Yes, the earth has to go through much pain before that happens, but it will take place.
And all of those who wish to exalt themselves above God will be crushed.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38,39 
 
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

What Happened to My Church? :: Jan Markell

Published on: by RR7
Church issues are the most frequent inquiry I get here at Olive Tree Ministries. Other leaders tell me the same. What has happened in the last 30-40 years? Many people visit church after church only to walk away disheartened. Others are lifetime members of a church and have seen changes that left it unrecognizable — spiritually speaking.
 
At first, members and attendees wonder if they are being a bit too judgmental, but the sad reality eventually sinks in that something has gone terribly wrong.
 
My background is in a fundamental church in Minneapolis that delivered verse-by-verse messages and had frequent prophecy conferences. Try to find that today! You will find a few but they are few and far between. This same church warned me about a coming apostasy back in the 1970s, but who knew it would get so bad starting somewhere in the 1990s. Nothing could have prepared me.
 
First it was music that became the great divider. Nobody minds some guitars and a bass but into the second decade of the 21st Century, ear plugs are handed out as one enters the church sanctuary. 
 
Some churches open with a secular song, dim the lights, add some smoky fog, and have an atmosphere similar to the local bar. All of this is to enhance choruses that will be sung two-dozen times by hypnotized church members. I would learn that it is to attract “seekers” — a 21st Century term. Bill Hybels admitted that he came up with the term but confessed it didn’t work well in his church!  
 
Organs and pianos were tossed out 25 years ago because they did not promote “church growth.” The over-age 55 crowd was on their own. Some churches threw them a bone with an 8 a.m. service for those with gray heads. That trend began “the great divide” between generations. 
 
Someone made a conscious decision that we should have a “new way of doing church”, although many members and attendees agreed there was nothing wrong with old ways of doing church. Terms began being used like “purpose-driven,” “seeker-sensitive,” “church-growth movement,” “postmodernism”, “Emergent”, and more.
 
People started to hear about love, unity and tolerance. We must be known for what we agree on, not what we disagree on. Everything and everyone must be accepted. Aberrations must be accepted. Sin must be accepted. People loved having their ears tickled. They would be encouraged to “feel good” and have their self-esteem built up. Sound doctrine was being set aside.
The saving of souls was being set aside for the entertainment factor and social justice causes. It seemed that many in the church no longer cared that so many were on their way to hell! What an offensive, intolerant thought. But clearly sound doctrine will separate and divide so we must tread lightly in that area.
 
Relevant issues have vanished. Pulpits have become afraid to talk about voting biblical values. Pastors quit speaking in favor of marriage and against abortion. It seemed like an “eleventh commandment” came into the church: Thou shalt not offend.    Taking a stand was clearly over.
 
When it came to issues like Bible prophecy, the silence became deafening! People were told this was “divisive” although rock music in the church apparently was not! Millions are going to be left behind at the Rapture of the Church but there are no warnings about this going out from hardly any church. Instead, pulpits are dispensing Osteen-type messages that talk about “your best life now” on this broken, corrupt planet.
This is just a short explanation as to why e-mails and letters pour into this ministry and others asking about how they might find a healthy, relevant church in their neighborhood.
 
In 2017 my friend Terry James invited me to submit a chapter in his proposed book titled “Deceivers: Exposing Evil Seducers & Their Last Days Deception.” I had been doing Christian radio across the country for many years and as I researched programs, I was reminded daily that there had been a straying from sound doctrine.
 
I was confronted with the fact that I had two choices: I could overlook this trend or expose it. I took the warning to watchmen in Ezekiel 33 very seriously and I determined to confront the false teaching head-on and tell the truth about it. I did not want the blood on my hands! I knew this would cost me listeners and friends. I would soon find out that certain radio stations would marginalize me and even ban me for the naming of names.
 
Was this too high of a price to pay? I had to seriously ponder that and count the cost. Could I stick with my plan? It’s a big, lonely world. We need all the support we can get. My plan would not win friends — but it might save some people from making lifelong theological mistakes by revealing who and what could be trusted and not trusted.
 
I began my research by tracing the history of false doctrine and reckless church movements going back to the early 1900s to the present. From mystical madness such as so-called Christian Yoga to the experiential of the New Apostolic Reformation, wolves were prowling around the flock.  
 
At the same time I saw that discernment was going over a cliff as books like “The Shack” and “Jesus Calling” were embraced as much as the Bible. 
 
An entire movement sprang up around Todd Bentley who kicked sick people with his biker boot to heal them and this was celebrated.
 
Evangelical organizations like the NAE embraced global warming and called for America to destroy all her nukes. What does this have to do with the gospel?
 
Ecumenism soared and Protestants began embracing Catholicism. Kenneth Copeland announced that the Reformation was over.
 
I observed something called the “laughing revival” and I concluded that it wasn’t so funny.
 
I could go on and on.  You can see that the odds of you having a healthy, well-balanced church are slim but they are out there! If you have one, thank God for it daily. If you don’t, know that you are not alone. Millions visit nearly every potential church in town and walk away perplexed and heart broken. Are they looking for perfection? A few may be but most are not.
They just know today’s church would most likely not be recognized by their parents or grandparents. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18). Having said that, the gates of hell are trying like crazy to penetrate the church, change it, change its message, change its purpose, distort the gospel, and wear down the saints — pastors included.
 
In summary, GotQuestions.org says, “….the church is not a building or a denomination. According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ — all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation ( John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Local churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Christ. 
 
Members of a local church may or may not be members of the universal church, depending on the genuineness of their faith. The local church is where believers can fully apply the ‘body’ principles of 1 Corinthians chapter 12: encouraging, teaching, and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christ died for the Church and we cannot give up on it! A heavenly endless church service awaits us in Eternity with a celestial choir and orchestra. The preaching will also be out of this world! We’ll all be one denomination. The bickering will be over with. We won’t insist on our own way. We’ll finally be in one accord.