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The Spirit of the Antichrist :: By Jan Markell

January 19, 2026 4:17 pm / Leave a comment

Minneapolis saw it in 2020 with George Floyd, and low and behold, that same spirit reigns again in my home town. This time the accused are ICE agents doing their job. And well.

In 2020 I wrote in an E-newsletter like this one, stating, “In the Twin Cities, 1,000 properties have been vandalized, looted, burned, or totally destroyed along with apartments above these businesses and homes.

“Our media shows business owners staring in stunned disbelief as many were reeling from Cornavirus destruction but now they face the result of rampant anarchy due to George Floyd fall-out. The media adds insult to injury by calling the destruction ‘peaceful protests.’”

Mogadishu on the Mississippi – Can You Imagine?

I said back then that Minneapolis looks like Somalia and I began calling us “Mogadishu on the Mississippi.” Rep. Ilhan Omar should finally be happy but she still wails and curses America. She needs to go.

Here We Go Again? How Is This Possible?

Then a few weeks ago it started all over again. Most Minnesotans are very normal people. They are hard working. Many have Scandinavian roots and although their homelands were comfortable with Socialism, many of them are not!

Yes, too many vote Democrat, and Minnesota—whose state bird is the loon—produces Democrat politicians who are equal loons. You’ve seen their distorted, weeping faces on the media for weeks. They all cry crocodile tears and they all love the criminal and hate the poor victims.

One of them almost became Vice President of the United States—Tim Walz. If that doesn’t keep you awake at night, nothing will.

Somalis Love America. Oh, Really?

But the lunacy of the Minnesota Left goes back to strong delusion of thirty years ago when these same foolish Democrats thought that importing 100,000 East Africans with no education or skills, would benefit this state. All they cared about was that these immigrants would vote for every corrupt leftist on the ballot.

The Coming Man of Lawlessness

Two relevant Bible verses read, “Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4)

Again, this occurs during the Tribulation from which the Church is absent. Yet, what we have seen playing out on the streets of Minneapolis, is a dress rehearsal, though subdued compared to the lawlessness and turmoil in the Tribulation. It is still setting the stage for the Antichrist.

The Antichrist won’t have to rent-a-mob—and be assured, many rioters are hired guns making good wages. When he reigns, much of the world will be lawless, godless, tumultuous, and confused. Antifa will be the normal! Anti-ICE demonstrations will be mild in comparison.

When People Glory in Chaos

With the restrainer gone, there will be absolutely nothing to hold back the evil, selfishness, and out-of-control behavior! The world can go crazy and will. They will glory in utter chaos. What we have now is a trial run that is a weak fire cracker in comparison. Multiply it by ten or a hundred or a thousand! I’m still embarrassed that my home town is the petri dish!

The good news is that God will consume the Antichrist and his minions at the end of the Tribulation with the brightness of His coming!

Paving the Way for the Coming Regime

Author Terry James writes, “The rage makes clear the existence of the Antichrist spirit in high places that continues to do everything to bring America and the world into the configuration Satan wants to establish for his soon-coming Antichrist platform. At the heart of the minions’ (both human and supernatural) effort, is destruction of moral values and norms based on Judeo-Christian precepts/concepts.”

He concludes, “Cultures and societies throughout the world—especially in America—must be altered drastically to pave the way for the coming Antichrist regime.”

Terry James sums it up saying, “Just as we witness the Antichrist spirit surging, we, as born-again believers, should have a surging sense of excitement and comfort. Redemption is near” (Titus 2:13).

Welcome to the Brave New World: Who Needs God in An Age of Artificial Intelligence? :: By Jan Markell

January 8, 2026 8:15 am / 3 Comments on Welcome to the Brave New World: Who Needs God in An Age of Artificial Intelligence? :: By Jan Markell

Most people have no idea what’s coming. In fact, what is here now. Very few people comprehend the level of mischief and evil that surrounds what is called artificial intelligence (A.I.). It is paving the way for a robot Messiah.

I wrote an article several years ago about this, but when talking about advancing technology, just a few years is a lifetime. Back in 2018, I began to read that people would even form a church that worshiped an A.I. god.

A Billion Times Smarter Than Humans? Really?

I was learning that he who created and mastered A.I. would rule the world. That sounds very Antichrist-esque. Imagine such evil in the hands of ultimate evil? What a convenient tool to run the Antichrist’s last days’ empire. Just as the Nazis needed the IBM punch card system, the “man of sin” will need the genius of artificial intelligence.

I began watching some online videos of A.I. robots who look human and who “think.” They answer questions and seem to process real thoughts. By now, we have all learned of the robot Sophia. This A.I.-driven monster is attractive, clothed, looks you in the eye, and answers your questions. She can be your friend, companion, problem solver, and perhaps someday, your spouse. At the very least, she will run your errands and put away your groceries. In the wrong hands, she will be dangerous.

Developers say these A.I. robots will solve all of society’s problems. These men also say that they believe that it is possible for artificial intelligence to be a billion times smarter than humans. Try to process that. To be honest, I am puzzled why God would even allow that, and it may be one reason He nearly destroys the earth before His Second Coming.

Are We Summoning Demons?

Many are warning that with A.I., we are playing with fire and that in the end, machines will win! Others say we are summoning up demons.

Most recently, I am learning that people are going to talk to the dead through A.I. “griefbots.” It just doesn’t get any stranger.

A new report reveals how artificial intelligence programs will advise terrorists how to attack a sports venue, buy nuclear material on the dark web, buy spyware, bombs, and more. Jihadists will use A.I. to plan attacks and map targets. Who could have envisioned this back on 9/11? We’ve come a long way, sadly.

Talk about the abuse of power.

A.I. Is Actively Watching and Listening

Maybe this new religion isn’t the promise of paradise after all. Some promoting A.I. are evangelists, and some of them offer a new Promised Land. But some of the very movers and shakers of the artificial intelligence industry are sounding serious warnings.

And this is not the wave of the future today, as it is all being employed now! Outfits like Google have every bit of information on us they need. They have all our vitals and can weaponize such information in this age of A.I. Google admits that they want to be like the mind of God and suggests they will be “godlike” as they grab bundles of data from us. It is watching us and listening to us.

There is a “home invasion” going on by the world of technology and A.I. If you think you have any privacy, think again. To say we are being monitored is not sensationalism. It is not kooky conspiracy language. Don’t brush this off as silliness. Welcome to the brave new world.

Who Needs God in an Age of Artificial Intelligence?

Young people are particularly drawn to artificial intelligence. Some of them will tell you that they can get an answer more quickly from a search engine or Alexa than they can get from God. Who needs God in an age of artificial intelligence? A.I. is almost all-knowing. And these technologies will tell you what you want to hear in technicolor, 3-D, and in an instant.

Very likely, A.I. will manage the Antichrist agenda, such as all buying and selling. Mankind will almost become a useful idiot of this kind of last days’ technology. People will think God has been outsmarted. Deception will rule. All of this gives new meaning to the term “big brother.”

Younger people are cheering for these technological advancements. They are falling into a terrible trap if they do not have a biblical worldview. They are welcoming evil with open arms. Once they figure this out, it will be too late.

A.I. Is Fearfully Fraudulent

But remember, A.I. cannot speak anything into existence or give anyone eternal life. It cannot give anyone comfort, guidance, or offer anyone peace or hope. It cannot still the wind or calm the sea. It is more like Frankenstein than like God. It is trying to be like God but will fall far short! We are fearfully and wonderfully made. A.I. is fearfully fraudulent.

Another End Times Accelerant

There is no way a computer can do anything but copy what it has been taught, and there is something about the human spirit that can never be created by a machine. Yet, I agree with Dr. Mark Hitchcock, who says that artificial intelligence is a major “end times accelerant.”

Like the re-birth of Israel, it is a profound end-time marker. It would behoove every Christian to better understand it and its last days role. We can’t stop this train. We can pray for the rapture of believers, which will remove us from this Alice in Wonderland, bizarre, invasive world.

Stay ahead of the game and become informed. Events of the Tribulation are casting a shadow today. The shout and the trumpet are close. He is coming soon!

When the Wisdom of the Creator Rules!

God sits in the Heavens and laughs at these people (Psalm 2). He has the final say. He has the last word! The Bible says God will crush the agenda of the Antichrist and rule the world from Jerusalem for one thousand years. During that time, there will be no need for artificial intelligence. We will have the wisdom of the creator of the universe in charge.

Jan Markell is an author, speaker, Founder of Understanding the Times radio heard on over 1,000 stations across America, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.

Paul’s Assurance: The Rapture Comes First – By Jonathan Brentner

November 19, 2025 8:38 am / Leave a comment

Why did the Thessalonians panic when someone told them that the Day of the Lord had begun? Is it possible that this assures us of a pre-Tribulation Rapture?

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

November 11, 2025 4:19 pm / 2 Comments on I Didn’t Have the Imagination! :: By Jan Markell

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 home town, 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 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.”

Five Minutes After Death by Dr. Adrian Rogers

November 11, 2025 9:54 am / 1 Comment on Five Minutes After Death by Dr. Adrian Rogers

This sermon by Dr. Rogers is one that is among the most important ever preached, in my view. This is because it is about the eternal destiny of each and every person who has ever lived. It gets right to the matter of what happens when the heart stops, and eternity for the person who has just died begins.

Please share this, after listening carefully to the entire message. –Terry James

The Final War in Heaven: (Revelation 12:7-12) :: By Bill Salus

October 30, 2025 2:57 pm / 1 Comment on The Final War in Heaven: (Revelation 12:7-12) :: By Bill Salus

(Article taken from The FUTURE WAR Prophecies book by Dr. Bill Salus)

“So it will happen on that day, That the Lord will punish the rebellious angels of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. (Isaiah 24:21 NASB)

The prophet Isaiah informs that a time is coming when the LORD will punish Satan and his army of fallen angels. This article explains when, why and how this punishment will happen. Let’s start by exploring the details of this war in heaven prophecy.

The Details of the War in Heaven: (Revelation 12:7–12)

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”” (Rev. 12:7-12)

This is the war that serves as a punishing blow to Satan and the rebellious angels. As a result of this war, Satan and his fallen angelic followers are cast down to earth. This future event relocates Satan into his fourth of seven abodes.

The Seven Abodes of Satan

The Bible tells us that Satan, at various points of his career, occupies seven separate addresses.

The First Abode: The Throne of God.

The Second Abode: The Mineral Garden of Eden.

(The first two abodes are to be found in Ezekiel 28:11-15).

The Third Abode: The Atmospheric Heavens – (Ephesians 2:2 and 6:12, 1 John 5:19). Presently, the Devil and his rebellious angels share dual citizenship between earth and heaven.

The Fourth Abode: The Earth – (Rev. 12:7-12). This results from the war in heaven at the midpoint of the Tribulation period.

The Fifth Abode: The Abyss (a.k.a. the Bottomless Pit) – (Rev. 20:1-3). This happens at the beginning of the Millennium.

The Sixth Abode: The Earth Revisited – (Rev. 20:3). This happens at the end of the Millennium and only lasts until the final Gog of Magog battle ends in Rev. 20:7-9.

The Seventh Abode: The Lake of Fire – (Rev. 20:10). Satan gets cast here after losing the battle in #6 above. According to the Bible, this is his final abode.

The Lake of Fire: Satan’s Seventh and Final Abode

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10)

The War in Heaven Happens at the Midpoint of the Tribulation Period

The biblical support for this prophecy finding fulfillment at the midpoint of the Tribulation Period is found in the fact that the event is sandwiched in-between two key timing verses.

“Then the woman, (Representing a believing remnant within Israel), fled into the wilderness, (In order to avoid persecution outsourced from Satan), where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Rev. 12:6, NKJV; emphasis added)

“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, (At the midpoint of the Tribulation Period), he persecuted the woman, (Israel), who gave birth to the male Child, (Jesus Christ). But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, (Time = 1 year + Times = 2 years and half a time = ½ year totals 3 ½ years), from the presence of the serpent.” (Rev. 12:13-14, NKJV; emphasis added)

The fleeing of the woman above, who represents the faithful Jewish remnant, into the wilderness happens during the second 3 ½ years of the Tribulation period. After losing the war in heaven at the midpoint of the Tribulation period, Satan immediately begins his persecution of the woman identified in these above verses.

The timeline below sequences the events in the middle of the Tribulation period in the order that I believe they could happen. As the timeline depicts, in the aftermath of the war in heaven a flurry of powerful prophetic events happen in rapid succession.

1. Satan loses the war in heaven and he and the fallen angels are cast down to earth, (Rev. 12:7-12).

2. The Ten Kings desolate the Harlot World Religion, (Revelation 17:16).

3. The Antichrist dies and gets resurrected, (Rev. 13:3).

4. The Two Witnesses get killed, resurrect and then ascend to heaven, (Rev. 11:7-13).

5. The Abomination of Desolation gets set up in the Third Jewish Temple, (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15).

6. False Covenant gets annulled, (Isaiah 28:18, Daniel 9:27).

7. The Antichrist declares and shows himself as god, in the temple, (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

8. The Antichrist begins genocidal campaign against the Jews, (Zechariah 13:8).

9. The False Prophet emerges, (Rev. 13:11-15).

10. The Mark of the Beast gets implemented, (Rev. 13:16-17).

Satan Loses the War and the Divine Debate

Revelation 12:10b says that Satan, “is the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Revelation 12:9 acknowledges that the Devil deceives the whole world, but the brethren in Rev. 12:10 are not falling for his lies. These brethren realize that as per John 14:6, “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.” Rev. 12:11 says they overcome the great dragon’s deceit “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

These details narrow the identity of the “brethren” down to believers. Unbelievers are not covered by the blood of the Lamb, which was shed by Christ at the time of His crucifixion. More specifically, we can zoom closer in on this subset group of believers by understanding that historically, when Satan accuses someone before God, he is addressing a specific individual, someone relevant to the time of the accusation. Some of the examples of this are found in Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6 and Zechariah 3:1-5.

We can also eliminate the believers from the Church Age since those Christians have already been caught up to heaven in the Rapture and, as such it would serve no purpose for Satan to accuse them. The Apostle John states, “the accuser of our brethren,” inferring “our” is the Church and the “brethren” are the believers who get saved after the Church Age ends.

Thus, the brethren of Rev. 12:10 are people who get saved after the Rapture. These overcomers serve as God’s rebuttal to Satan’s campaign of deception. Satan had likely claimed during the Church Age that if he were fully freed from any restraint, he could dupe all of humanity through powerful signs and lying wonders into believing what 2 Thess. 2:11 calls, “The Lie.” The Lie is a designed delusion that overtakes people who deny the truth, alluding to Jesus Christ.

These overcomers serve as a monkey wrench in the Devil’s campaign and they provoke him to become an “accuser of our brethren.” These accusations persist “before our God day and night.” Thus, these brethren are Post-Rapture believers who receive Christ after the restraint upon Satan gets removed.

However, these Post-Rapture believers do not include those who get saved in the final 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period because they come to faith after Satan has already been cast out of heaven at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Satan won’t be able to accuse the believers of the second 3 ½ years of the Tribulation before God in heaven because the Devil is gravity bound on earth.

So, it appears that the brethren being accused are those who get saved after the Rapture, but before the second 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period. They, receiving Christ amidst Satan’s unrestrained deception on earth, conclude the divine debate in heaven. These brethren saw through all the supernatural satanic deception and chose to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior even at the cost of severe persecution and possible martyrdom. Thus, the LORD can rest His case as Satan accusations are all proven baseless.

With the conclusion of the divine debate, Satan’s attempts to overstep God fail.

“For you (Satan) have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:13-14; emphasis added)

Isaiah points out in the next verse that NONE of the five I wills above will happen. Satan will not ascend above the heights of the clouds like the Most High, but he will be sent to the lowest depths of the Bottomless Pit, which is his fifth abode.

“Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.” (Isaiah 14:15)

Having lost the divine debate, there is no longer a point for Satan to be lurking around in heaven and so he needs to leave. Apparently, the Devil doesn’t want to depart voluntarily, but wages a war against Michael the Archangel in a final coup to overthrow God and maintain his residence in his third abode of the atmospheric heavens. Just like Satan loses the Divine Debate in Heaven he also loses the War in Heaven.

Conclusion

The war in heaven begins the rapid downfall of the Devil. He gets temporarily confined in his fourth abode, the earth. Realizing that his time in the fourth abode is short, he unleashes his rage against humanity.

“Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”” (Rev. 12:12)

Then, only 3 ½ years later at the end of the Tribulation Period he gets chained up in his fifth abode, the Bottomless Pit.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” (Rev. 20:1-3)

When Satan gets cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:9, he’s not alone, but is accompanied by his rebellious angelic comrades. However, he soon loses his strength and the support of his follower angels. The above passage points out that a single no-name angel single-handedly, apparently without much of a fight, lays hold of the Devil and binds him up with a great chain for 1000 years.

The sequence of events that lead to Satan’s rapid decline are as follows:

1. The restraint upon the Devil gets removed, (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

2. Satan employs supernatural deception to deceive mankind into believing “The Lie,” (2 Thess. 2:9-12).

3. The Brethren, those who get saved after the Rapture, but before the second 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period, don’t fall for “The Lie,” (Rev. 12:10).

4. Satan has them martyred, (Rev. 6:9-11), through the Harlot World Religion, (Rev. 17:6).

5. Satan is forced to find fault with these brethren in order to justify their martyrdoms.

6. Satan presents his accusations of these murdered Brethren before God and all the angels, good and bad, in the heavenly court, (Rev. 12:10).

7. The Devil’s defense for causing their deaths does not win over God and Satan’s accusations are thereby overruled.

8. Satan wages war against Michael and the good angels to avoid getting permanently evicted from heaven, (Rev. 12:7-8).

9. Michael wins and Satan and his fallen angels get cast down to earth and the doors to heaven are permanently locked to them, preventing their return, (Rev. 12:9).

10. Satan creates woeful conditions for the inhabitants of the earth during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period, (Rev. 12:12).

11. Jesus Christ returns in His Second Coming and along with His good angels, (Matthew 16:27).

12. One of these good angels, apparently an ordinary angel, binds Satan with a great chain and casts that Devil into the Bottomless Pit for 1000 years, (Rev. 20:1-3).

13. Then, Isaiah 24:21, which was quoted at the start of this chapter and again below, finds final fulfillment.

“So it will happen on that day, That the Lord will punish the rebellious angels of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.” (Isaiah 24:21, NASB)

An Unexpected Journey :: By Jan Markell

October 2, 2025 11:20 am / 2 Comments on An Unexpected Journey :: By Jan Markell

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 air waves! 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.

Biblical Audio Commentary – Martyrdom & The Final Ingathering 9-26-25 :: By Gary W. Ritter

September 30, 2025 8:22 am / 1 Comment on Biblical Audio Commentary – Martyrdom & The Final Ingathering 9-26-25 :: By Gary W. Ritter

There has been a lot of discussion about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Rightly so, those on the side of desiring to honor God have lamented his brutal end, but also predicted what good might arise from the ashes of his earthly grave. Those on the side of evil have made their intentions quite clear: they hate God and intend to use his murder as a springboard for further violence. Given these two polar extremes what can we determine of all this from a prophetic perspective?

Martyrdom isn’t a rare event in the world. Yes, in America we react in absolute shock because we’ve essentially closed our eyes to that which occurs elsewhere around the globe. Our easy Christian life hasn’t really prepared us for the worst, yet that happens every day, multiple times a day, in nations such as Nigeria, China, India, North Korea, and so many more. In fact, the church in America has been pretty determined not to see those atrocities; the result being that we are spectacularly unprepared for what is still to come.

Not long after I was saved, I learned about Christian persecution for the first time. That led to my volunteering with Voice of the Martyrs. In that role I spoke at a variety of churches concerning the troubling opposition Christians had, primarily, in the 10-40 Window, i.e. the area generally between 10 to 40 degrees latitude north of the equator. My speaking opportunities came through churches inquiring about having someone visit to speak to their congregations and through my own initiative in creating contacts. I also worked the yearly conferences VOM held in my area where I served in a variety of ways.

Over time a distressing reality became apparent: fewer churches had any interest in learning about their brothers and sisters in Christ who were persecuted around the world. Finally, literally all speaking opportunities dried up. When Covid came along, that stopped the regional conferences, and VOM had to go online to present information. One of the major sentiments that I heard regarding the potential of having someone like me from VOM speak at churches as time went on was that learning about persecution was too hard – too distressing – and people simply didn’t want to listen.

I was quite interested in Bible prophecy even in those early days, and one of the warnings I gave regarding persecution and being too comfortable here in our nation was that a day was coming when we would also have to face it. I stressed that I didn’t believe it would be of the nature that Christians faced daily in Third World countries, but that it was going to reach us in some way. I knew this because the Bible told me so. I don’t know how many really heard that warning, but as we’ve seen over the years now, Christians in the US have been targeted in many ways and the hatred fueling the attacks is increasing.

The horrors of Christian persecution are very real. Entire villages are laid waste with tens, even hundreds, of believers – both simply professing and those truly sold-out for Christ – raped, tortured, kidnapped, maimed, or murdered. The persecutors don’t make a distinction. If Christ’s Name is attached to you in some manner, you will be targeted in those locales.

Here in our country, we’ve had freedoms threatened and perhaps a few murders, but nothing on the scale that happens elsewhere. In one sense, we haven’t become anesthetized to the brutality, but we also don’t expect it for having a Christian label. That could be about to change.

What the enemy has found, although few admit it, is that indeed Tertullian was correct in saying that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” The way that God has designed us is that for our faith in Him, when we witness persecution, that raises up something in us to desire God more. It can happen in lukewarm Christians as well as in secular atheists. Sadly, it can also cause those who are on the fence to hop onto the other side and oppose or run away from Christianity in the hope they will be spared. They are sadly mistaken. What we also see is that the blood of martyrs increases the bloodlust of those who hate God. In those 10-40 Window nations, the enemy is strong, and his allure is to man’s sinful nature that glories in the shedding of blood.

This is exactly what’s been happening since Charlie Kirk was assassinated. His Turning Point USA organization has been flooded with tens of thousands of new chapter requests as young people, and some older, have had their consciences stricken by the Holy Spirit. They realize that Charlie had something they don’t, and it’s attractive to them.

If anyone is shocked by the opposite reaction, he shouldn’t be. Social media has been awash in demon-possessed people mocking Charlie, his murder, and those affected by it. There are also reports that those who profess this ideology are increasing in numbers because they wish to carry out the hatred in their hearts in a physical manner.

Real Raw News is a rather fringy website, but I find it interesting to peruse at times. It came out with an article titled: ANTIFA Recruitment Surges Following Kirk’s Death and Trump Promising to Label ANTIFA Domestic Terrorists, which doesn’t surprise me a bit. Here are a couple pertinent quotes:

Within hours of Kirk’s death, leaflets celebrating his demise and encouraging young men and women to join the resistance were being passed around at college campuses across the country.

“We’re seeing it all over the place, and ANTIFA is winning the hearts and minds of Leftwingers. Promoting violence, anarchy. Even if Trump labels them terrorists, which they are, they won’t be stopped unless the government freezes every single one of Soros’ bank accounts and confiscates his assets,” our source said.

So, what do we have in the aftermath of the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk? With all the interest coming forth in TPUSA, we may actually be seeing the beginning of the final ingathering of God’s people prior to the Rapture. Of course, it’s a given that many who are influenced in this way won’t become true Christ-followers. The Parable of the Sower shows us this explicitly. However, even with those who are exposed to Christ who don’t believe today, they may be some of the martyrs in the Tribulation.

Likewise, the rise of evil is exactly what the Bible foretells. What we see now is only a taste of that which is coming. Once the Holy Spirit steps aside in the Rapture of Christ’s true church, all bets are off and every evil under the sun will be made manifest. If you’ve seen some of the craziness on social media following what was done to Charlie, that will have been a day at the park compared to what’s in store once the Tribulation begins.

Many in the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) camp have predicted a great Christian revival throughout the world whereby great numbers of people come to Christ, leading to His return in the 2^nd Coming. There are many in secular circles who likewise describe a coming Great Awakening whereby spirituality intensifies and good overcomes evil, mostly in the political realm. Since there’s nothing Biblical about a massive Christian turning to the Lord before the Rapture, actually the secular-spiritual Great Awakening makes more sense. Unfortunately, its manifestation is exactly what’s being shown on social media as many profess their hatred toward Charlie Kirk. Demonic presence is growing. The only real Great Awakening in this regard will be to the realization that vast numbers of people who reject God will be demon possessed and express that in violence and chaos.

Despite this, it may very well be that this awareness of Christ through Charlie’s example could be that which leads to the fullness of the Gentiles. It’s quite possible we’re seeing this reality in a final ingathering of true believers.

Pray that this is so. Pray also that God will have finally had it with those whose hard hearts will never turn to Him. Judgment is at hand and for this dark and decaying world, it can’t come too soon. Just as Jesus instructed us to knock the dust from our feet and move on after encountering those who hate God and refuse to see truth, let us hope that the Lord likewise does this so as to bring down His much-deserved wrath.

Yes, we desire all who will turn to the Lord to do it soon, but after that for those who don’t turn to Him, there is nothing left but God’s punishment upon this unbelieving world.

Surely, that time is here, which means our time as believers is also ended. In other words, we’ll soon be going up, and God’s wrath in Judgment will come down.

https://garyritter.com/biblical-audio-commentary-martyrdom-the-final-ingathering/

Be Like Noah – By Jeffrey Hauck

September 18, 2025 6:25 am / 3 Comments on Be Like Noah – By Jeffrey Hauck

As a believer I understand that the ‘last days’ would be like the days of Noah and of Lot (Luke 17:26-29). It seems that it’s becoming more apparent for Christians today. On the surface, this warning has always provided proof that Jesus will return in the clouds for his church at a time that is not expected by the unbelieving world. The flood had come after 100 years of warning and faithful building by Noah and his family. Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes and ruin in 1 day, following an attack on Lot’s home. People were going about their normal lives with eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting and building. Then suddenly, they were destroyed.

But now, I believe we can see more clearly the underlying culture that Jesus warned about that would be present at the time of his return. Looking at the times of Noah and Lot (remember, they lived over 500 years apart from each other) we can see much evidence of overt wickedness throughout the chapters of Genesis 6,18, and 19. In Noah’s time, we learn that the daughters of men had ‘relations’ with the Sons of God. People’s hearts were always full of evil, and the earth was filled with violence.

With the case of Lot, homosexual men surrounded his house, demanding he give the ‘men’ in his house. Before this time, Lot had to be rescued by Abraham after the battle of 5 vs 4 kings over possessions and food supplies. What becomes clear is that cultures that have every need satisfied, yet they wipe their mouths, look around and try to fill their insatiable appetite for evil, while despising authority. Those generations met their sudden destruction, as will ours.

Let’s compare our generation. There are many aspects of our culture that have been captured wonderfully by many writers for Rapture Ready. I will just mention a couple. In our own nation we’ve seen the drastic decline of Christianity since the 1960s, following the removal of the Bible from public schools. Since then we’ve seen the proliferation of false religions, sexual deviancy, violence and broken families. It’s heart breaking for believers to watch our nation fall, to see gleeful celebration of martyred Christians, attempted murder and murder of righteous leaders. It’s so sad to watch lawlessness overcome our cities and others. Recently, Australia passed the Conversion Practices Ban Act that bans prayers aimed at changing or suppressing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. 2 Timothy 3:13b comes to mind, concerning the last days. “..while evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.”

What we are witnessing today is only going to get worse. Birth pains are increasing as we were warned by our Savior in Matthew 24.

How should we be?

We understand that Jesus will come and rescue our generation, not Abraham nor angels. But how should we be in the meantime? Let’s look again at the generations of Noah and Lot and how they acted. I suspect there will be a better role model between the two.

Let’s start with Lot. When Abraham and Lot were going their separate ways, Abraham told Lot to choose first. He chose the plains of the Jordan because they were watered and apparently bustling with business. We see him sitting at the gate of Sodom when the 2 angels come to investigate. He has some authority. And with his authority he offers his daughters to appease the vicious mob that want the 2 new ‘men’ (angels) in town. When warned to leave the city immediately, Lot hits the snooze alarm in the morning and negotiates with the angels about how far he must go to protect himself and his family. And let’s not forget Lot’s wife who aimed to preserve her own life and lost it. (Luke 17:32,33). I won’t even mention what happened with Lot and his daughters, afterward. Lot did not make the Hall of the Faithfull in Hebrews 11. But he is still declared a righteous man because he was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people. (2 Peter 2:7,8). The fact of the matter is if God choses you and you respond, there is nothing that can separate you from the love of Jesus. Romans 8:35. Praise God! I can not give God enough thanks for his tender mercies.

Let’s look at Noah’s example. He was immersed in a severely, unholy culture. Looking through Genesis 6,7,8 and 9, we see a man who walked with God despite the earth filled with corruption and violence. God asked him to complete a task that was devoid of common sense and would take about 100 years to complete. He would have been mocked and possibly attacked by his peers. But he led his family faithfully. Not one of his peers befriended or trusted him.

Due to Noah’s faithfulness, he and his family were delivered while the rest of the world was destroyed. God blessed Noah following the flood and he had domain over all the creatures of the earth. Was Noah perfect? No. But he did make the Hall of the Faithful in Hebrews 11.

What can we take from these two righteous examples submerged in a culture that has outright disgust for all things ethical, honorable or decent? Let’s not use our authority to appease the wicked or put ourselves in situations where we need a rescue. Let’s stand our ground but not try to preserve our own lives. We go and do as the Spirit leads us. It won’t be violent. Noah did not use violence in his violent culture. But we can be sure he did not back down from his mission.

Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13 says “a sinner can do evil a hundred times and still live a long life; although I know that in the end things will go well with those who fear God because they fear him. But things will not go well with the wicked..”

We’ve seen this scenario play out many times throughout the Bible. And it’s playing out right now. Let’s keep our noses to the grindstone not giving ground to the enemy but giving a reason for our hope at each opportunity. A flood is coming soon.

Maranatha!

Jeff Hauck

jeffreyjhauck@yahoo.com

Terry James Prophecy Line

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Jan Markell is an author, speaker, Founder of Understanding the Times radio heard on over 1,000 stations across America, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.

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Category Archives: i.e. Issues and Events in “others words”

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Jan Markell is an author, speaker, Founder of Understanding the Times radio heard on over 1,000 stations across America, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.

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