Understanding the Times with Jan Markell

Part 2 – Jan Markell Interview

Tim Moore: Her latest book certainly aligns with that mission. Its subtitle reads, Making sense of the chaos leading to Earth’s final days. We intend to do just that on our program today. So, Jan, welcome again to Christ In Prophecy!

Jan Markell: Tim and Nathan, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it so much.

Tim Moore: Well, Jan, I actually, noted as I read your book, wonderful insights that you provide, but I had a great appreciation for the fact that it’s not dedicated to a single individual, but to all those who long for the truth and who wish to understand the times, contend for the faith, and be watchmen on the wall in this chaotic generation. It’s also dedicated to all those who long for our Lord’s appearing. And that certainly describes both Nathan and myself and many people watching Christ In Prophecy today.

Jan Markell: You know, Tim, I think there’s a term, and we probably will use it more than once in these segments that we’re doing today, and that is remnant or remnant believer. And you folks know what I’m talking, not everyone knows what that means, and I know you gentlemen do, but there’s a, I’m just going to say there’s a little subset within Evangelical Christianity that’s truly trying to under — Incredible times we’re in, they’re trying to understand them, they’re trying to contend for the faith, they’re trying to point to the fact that we’re running out of time and they’re trying to make up for a lot of what the Church is silent on. And I call those remnant believers, they’re longing for the truth and just as much they’re longing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. And probably they’re in a church that’s pretty silent about that.

Nathan Jones: Yeah, we call those the remnant believers now, too. We’ve kind of adopted that, because so many people are contacting Lamb & Lion Ministries and they say, “Well, we can’t find a church that’s doctrinally sound that teaches about the End Times.” And it’s very frustrating for them. Well, considering the End Times you cite the commendation, that 1 Chronicles 12:32 gives the sons of Issachar. It says, “that they were men who understood the times.” Well, Jan, how were they able to understand their times, and how can we aspire to understand our times?

Jan Markell: You know, I think that’s an intriguing verse, because how do you understand the times unless you’re doing it from a totally biblical perspective, which they must have. Remember the sons of Issachar, they didn’t have a computer, they didn’t have satellite TV, they didn’t have any kind of communication, they didn’t have a cell phone, they didn’t have a landline phone.

So, how do you understand the times when you are completely isolated in the world? And I think that they had to understand the times, therefore they must have been just interpreting straight out of the Bible, which, you know, is not a bad idea.

But having said all that, what a blessing this generation has in that we have every form of modern communication imaginable. As a matter of fact, when we see something on the nightly, whatever cable, preferably Fox or Newsmax or One America News, it’s happening as they speak and as we watch. The sons of Issachar didn’t have that convenience. They still understood the times.

Tim Moore: They certainly did. You know, I read the other day that there was an island out in the South Atlantic that took almost a year to hear that World War I had ended. That’s 100 years ago, just over and a whole year to get a message that a war had ended. Same thing happened, the Battle of New Orleans, happened after the war was technically over. So yes, we have instantaneous news. Jan, you actually mentioned regarding our contemporary moment, that it is both a privilege and a challenge to be alive these days. What do you mean by that and what do you mean by the term being a watchman? What is the role of a watchman?

Jan Markell: Well, I think that a lot of people would have preferred to be born in a different generation, if I can be honest. I’m not one of them. I mean, I think it’s so exciting to be watching all that’s going on to tie it to the Bible, as I think we should do and are privileged to do.

And so, but I think some people are weary, and they’re weary in well-doing and I want right now, I want to encourage them that they have been born for such a time as this. God didn’t make a mistake. I mean, quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to go back 100 years or 150 years. I mean, my goodness, I’m watching some of those programs on some online presentations, and my goodness, the challenges are unspeakable.

But at the same time, we have a challenge, because we’re part of this generation and because we’re watchmen on the wall. And I think, if I can be blunt, I think anybody who’s a watchman today, I think so that’s one of the most important assignments that anybody can have today.

And what does that mean? I think they’re here to, for one thing, sound warnings, to remind people the hour’s late, to remind people they need to get right with God, and to remind people they need to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and to remind people that eternity is a long place. And if you’re going to the wrong place and that eternal perspective, you don’t want to do that. And that’s kind of a message that we’re conveying here in this time as well.

Nathan Jones: My parents, they tell me often they’re just so tired of this. They’re so tired of this world and the evil. They look forward to the Kingdom of Christ. And they hate seeing what’s happening to the Jewish people. And as you know, one of the bellwether events of our time happened on October 7th, 2023. You know, that’s when the terrorists invaded Gaza and Southern Israel. They murdered 1,200 Jews, and in their blood lust, they committed unspeakable acts of barbarism.

They kidnapped over 300 men, women, and children. And you know, many are still being held as hostages as we’re recording this. So, the world initially condemned their actions as heinous, but then many nations have now turned on Israel and showing them great animosity. So, you refer this as Israel derangement syndrome? Exactly what do you mean by that?

Jan Markell: Well, I think the biggest shock for all of us since October 7th, now 2023, has been the fact that you would think that such a traumatic, and as we properly have already stated, barbaric occasion that happened to Israel would have caused them worldwide sympathy, and in some circles it did.

But you know, the primary response that we saw globally was cheering for Hamas. What’s wrong with the society that cheers for Hamas? What’s wrong with the society that lifts up the banners of the barbarians and terrorists of the world and seems to be celebrating them, while in fact, Israel, and again, keeping in line with Scripture in Zechariah 12:3, is it being abandoned more and more and more and more.

Why? Because she’s defending herself. She’s going into Gaza to get rid of these monsters, and they are monsters. They torture anything they can get their hands on and the world has sympathy for, is that not in one sentence, a sad statement of where we are here in the beginning of 2025?

Tim Moore: It certainly is. You know, Jan, I think back to Germany in the 1930s and even into the 40s, and people wonder how professing Christians there in that day and age could have been silent as the Jews began to be persecuted and killed. And yet, we could argue that some of those folks living in Germany may not have known. They at least claim they didn’t know.

But there is no mistaking what is happening in our world today. We can see with our own eyes, as you said, we can watch the evening news. It’s being reported contemporaneously immediately, and yet, the Church oftentimes is silent in the face of this unmitigated evil. It took over a year for a church I’m familiar with to even mention that there’d been an outrage happening on October 7th.

So, what is wrong with so many churches right here at home, even in the supposedly Christian West and the United States in particular?

Jan Markell: Well, I think there’s a large segment of them who are mishandling the theology as it concerns Israel and Jewish people. I think many, many are amillennial, post-millennial replacement theology. So, that there we get down to a theological problem, which is going on big time. I think a heavy percentage of those who follow Lamb & Lion and Olive Tree don’t fall in that category.

But they’ve got family members who do, they’ve got loved ones who are in churches who are marginalizing what we’re talking about, because of theology. And I know we all want to celebrate what Martin Luther did, but at the same time, the reformers did not handle this topic very well. I mean, between Calvin and Luther and some of the others, the Church is the New Israel.

I mean, what are we to do with that? We have the fallout of that as we speak, our followings could probably be 10 times higher, not for the fact that the churches are saying what you’re saying is nonsense and what I’m saying is nonsense. Not all of them, thankfully, but many of them would call us heretics.

Tim Moore: I think it’s interesting you mentioned Luther and Calvin. Obviously, they had some great ideas in terms of reforming what was a dead church. But at the time, I think they had a failure of imagination, or dare I say, a failure of belief, because the Word of God clearly says that the Jewish people would be regathered, that Israel would be re-established, but they could not imagine how that would happen.

All the way down through the end of the 1800s, many Christians could not imagine how God was going to fulfill those promises. And so, they oftentimes tended to discount them, but we have witnessed all those promises being fulfilled, which is why I certainly do not understand how some can still deny the clear teaching of Scripture that God is fulfilling His promises right before our eyes, if we merely understand the times we live in.

Jan Markell: No, Tim, I think the point you’re making, which is so accurate. Is since 1948, there was a wakeup call in 1948, and the churches that want to deny that, you know, you can’t spiritualize everything post-1948, and I can see why they may have before that. But that was a huge wake-up call, and I mean, a biblical wake-up call.

That means that prophecies that the Bible said would happen eventually, starting in 1948, were about to begin happening. And pastors, please, it’s time you address it. And you know, I heard from so many people the week and the two weeks after October 7th, 2023, and they were writing this, and my church still hasn’t mentioned it. My church still hasn’t prayed for Israel. My church still hasn’t prayed that America will continue to stand by.

Okay, so there’s the silence, the absence that includes all the silence, I think it is just as grievous as the replacement theology. You can openly and blatantly deny Israel has a role or you can ignore it and pretend it doesn’t matter and we’re not going to talk about it. Wake up, pastors, please. It’s late, we need to talk about it.

Nathan Jones: Jan, your book, Understand the Times, I knocked it out in two evenings. It’s a real easy read. And this particular chapter really resonated with me, ”Artificial intelligence, are we summoning up demons?” And you brought up a number of examples of the social and technological trends that are evident today from apostacy to AI to gender confusion, the LGBTQ+++ revolution. What do you think all these threats have in common? Is this a rise of demonic activity in the world?

Jan Markell: For sure, Nathan. And again, it’s challenging. Again, this generation is beyond words challenging. But I think this artificial intelligence, I think this is something we have to pay attention to, because it’s going to run the beast system. We won’t be here. But again, it allows us to see the setup of the beast system, which will be run by this incredible, who can fathom.

Can you imagine our parents’ generation imagining and visualizing and watching and experiencing artificial, why do we need artificial? Isn’t human intelligence enough? Apparently not. Apparently not. So, now we have to tap into artificial, what does that even mean? What is the meaning of art…? Didn’t God give intelligence to human beings? Are you saying God gave intelligence to machines?

Well He gave mankind the ability to have the intelligence to put all that together. And if it can be used for good, praise the Lord. Someday it’s going to be used for evil, total evil.

Nathan Jones: Well, it’s interesting when you follow even the Japanese sci-fi and stuff like that, and you hear from the World Economic Forum that the idea is that these people want to transcend their human bodies and put their souls into these AI computers and have eternal life. So, isn’t it like going back to the old system that mankind wants to be gods again?

Jan Markell: Mankind wants to be God. I think that probably sums it up in a sentence. So true, so true.

Tim Moore: And the sad thing is as mankind tries to become God-like, he actually becomes dehumanized, because it takes us away from other people. It obviously takes us away from the Lord. Well, Jan, looking forward and through your discerning eye, how do you think the Antichrist will take advantage rather of all these trends? You mentioned that we’re seeing the very powers that technology comes into play that he will use. But how do you think he’ll take advantage of these trends of thinking of ideology to ascend to power and consolidate his reign of terror?

Jan Markell: You know, I’m not sure any of us have the creative imagination to figure that out, Tim, but I think he’s going to, he’s going to be empowered by evil. He’s going to have wisdom and knowledge that’s certainly not from God. He’s going to have a technological ability. He’s going to have, we’ve already mentioned, that he’s going to have artificial intelligence and the Church is going to be gone.

But I think that there’s this element that’s coming to faith during the Tribulation. And the Bible says that may be one of the greatest revivals of all time coming to faith during the Tribulation.

Can you imagine the wake-up call these new believers in the Tribulation are going to have as they get their eyes opened and they begin seeing things even from a spiritual perspective, and they see who this man of lawlessness is, and they see this artificial intelligence running everything. And, of course, the first thing they’re going to say is, why didn’t I act sooner, because now I’m left behind?

Which is, again, this is why we do what we do. We don’t do this to sound smart and to put out newsletters and programs. We do this to rescue the parish. And while there’s time and guys, we’re running out of time.

Tim Moore: You know, I so appreciate the way you answered that question, Jan, because you prove that you don’t claim to be a prophetess. You said there’s some things we can’t know, and you are so right about that. But you are a prophetic voice, because you take the Word of God and you understand the times, and you apply the Word of God to what we are seeing instead of the other way around.

And so, that is so very insightful and wise on your part. That’s exactly what we try to do. Nathan and I don’t claim to be prophets. We couldn’t even get the…who was going to win the Super Bowl this year, right?

Nathan Jones: I was close.

Tim Moore: He was close. So, the point being that we teach the Word of God, that’s all that we need to do. And in doing so, we aspire to be a prophetic voice as well. But you actually advise your readers, I love this statement you have, it’s on page 67. You say, “Ignore the naysayers, forget the scoffers, and don’t be discouraged or don’t get discouraged by the siege.”

Instead you say, “We should be excited.” And you call those that live expecting the Lord to return to be motivated to serve Him faithfully and boldly,” like you said before, “remnant believers.” So, what are some of the characteristics of these remnant believers? And there’s 10 of them that you list on pages 70 to 72, but just as we’re dialoguing today.

Jan Markell: And again, my hunch is many who are watching fall into this category. And you’re right there, I have about 10 points and we certainly can’t list them. But I think that one key characteristic, and your listeners are going to identify with, because they attend your events, my events. Enthusiastic remnant believers will travel literally, around across town, across country, in some cases across the world to be together, because this like-minded fellowship is so, so important. And they may not have it in their hometown, or they may not have it at the level that they would like to have it.

And remnant believers see the times and the darkness that’s growing. The times are getting more tense, the darkness is growing, and they don’t despair, because they know this is a herald of His coming. And isn’t that why you folks start doing what you’re, again, with second time we’ve said it, we’re doing this, you know, not for popularity, or for likes, or for clicks. We’re doing this, because time’s running out, gentlemen.

Time’s running out and we want to get the Gospel out and we want to proclaim the Good News, while we can. And a remnant believer is going to be backing what you folks and I’m doing, and they’re probably, not all, many of them may be a part of a church.

Again, we’ve already referenced that. May be a part of a church that’s not telling the total truth and having to seek out your ministry and mine and many, many others that are fine. To fill in the part of their spiritual life that’s missed, that’s lacking. And they’re looking to each other, as I just said, they’ll travel around the world to find each other.

Nathan Jones: Jan, I had to mark up the book, you have so many great quotes. I had to put little explanation marks next to them. One of those 10 points you say, “Remnant believers often feel isolated and misunderstood even though they possess the truth and naysayers are clueless.” That’s the exasperation that we get from people. We connect with people all over the world online, and they tell us, they’re like, “My family won’t talk to me anymore.

I show them what the Bible says. I show them what’s on the news and they just, they don’t want to talk about it.” And so, page 67 you say, “Don’t believe that your enthusiasm for the soon return of Christ is misguided. Don’t let naysayers discourage you and inspire doubt in your mind and heart.”

Jan, for me at least in the 20 years or so I’ve been following your ministry, that’s what I think the primary message I’ve got from Olive Tree is that you teach us that we’re not insane. That the world does make sense when you look at it through a biblical lens. And that gives us hope.

Jan Markell: Yep, because I’ve had lots of emails that say they’re a lonely fish in a fishbowl. And they’ve said that 100 different ways, but they feel like they’re on their own. They may have one or two, and if they’re really blessed, they may have a family member who’s like-minded with them theologically and all. Otherwise, they’re a lonely fish in a goldfish bowl.

So, that’s why you’re here and that’s why I’m here. And I’m here to say that’s why Olive Tree, one of the reasons we exist, is we want to be there for that lonely fish in the goldfish bowl.

Tim Moore: Well, you obviously, remind me when you say that of Elijah, who at one point felt like he was all alone and I’m the only one left, and the Lord let him have a small pity party, we like to say. But then the Lord said, “No, you’re not the only one left. There are 7,000 who have not bent their knee to Baal. They’re scattered.”

And today, we have the blessing through modern technology to connect with people across the airwaves, through, you know, through remote connection or even to drive or fly and be together with other remnant believers who are like-minded and looking forward to the Lord’s return. So, there’s no reason to feel sorry for ourselves.

As a matter of fact, we can encourage one another and all the more, as Hebrews says in Chapter 10, as we see the day approaching, and that allows us to go back to the places where the Lord has scattered us, like leaven, so that we can help to inspire others and draw them to our soon coming King.

Jan Markell: I think you just quoted one of the most important verses in the Bible, Tim, and that’s that verse that we are to encourage one another. And I mean, all you have to do, and the three of us do it all the time, is look at the headlines online. They’re staggering, they’re overwhelming, they’re totally depressing. And if we can’t be about encouraging one another, then that’s pretty disappointing, but a lot of people are doing that, and I think that’s one of the spiritual gifts. So, we need to be practicing that every day.

Tim Moore: Amen.

Jan Markell: Every single day.

Tim Moore: Yes, ma’am.

Nathan Jones: Well, people often accuse us as a bible prophecy ministry. I’m sure you hear it all the time. That it’s all gloom and doom and Antichrist and destruction. But you and your book “Understanding The Times” with a wonderful quote by a pastor who wrote you, and he said, “We don’t live in uncertain times, not at all, these times are as certain as any time and of all of human history.” So, how can our viewers have that same kind of confident faith in such a time as this?

Jan Markell: Well, I encourage them to look up, and I think everyone watching this is, is capable of doing that. And I mean that from a very biblical perspective that they are looking up, they’re looking up, they’re anticipating the trumpet sound. You know, I mean, I can throw out the question, Tim and Nathan, you know, why are we still here?

Apparently, God’s plan of the ages is not finished yet. And we’re going to serve out our time, so to speak, but we need to be looking up and longing for His appearing.

But in the meantime, we are here on assignment. We’ve got; God has equipped us with certain gifts that are unique. I don’t care who’s watching or listening to this. They are equipped in a very unique way. And now is the time to quickly be about our Father’s business, while we have time left. Look, the trumpet could sound before we have a benediction here, but if it does not sound, then for some reason the Lord wants us to press on, press on, and press on some more. Tough as it is.

Tim Moore: Tough as it is. You know, I think some Christians might be lulled almost into complacency, because here in 2025, we’ve seen a reversal of some of the foolish policies of, dare I say, the last four years. And so, they might say we’re on the ascend.

I would warn that the trend lines are still very dangerous in terms of the culture, the ideology that permeates the United States and other parts of the West. And so, we need to be doubled down and warning people even in a time like this, to focus on eternal things and not to have some kind of false hope even in the political process that’s going on.

Jan Markell: And the Rapture is not on hold.

Tim Moore: No.

Jan Markell: Donald Trump may be president, but the Rapture is not on hold. It’s going to still happen in the twinkling of, it’s going to happen at a time when we’re caught off guard. It may happen in the peak of prosperity, but it is not on hold.

Tim Moore: Well, Jan, we cite your program on a regular basis and we cite you actually, on a regular basis, because we frequently repeat your assertion that the world is not falling to pieces, the pieces are falling in place. So, once again, what do you mean by that looking around prophetically at all that’s going on?

Jan Markell: And I think that in this previous few minutes here, and I think we’ve kind of summed that up, Tim. I think we’ve kind of indicated that for one thing, the Church, not all of them, some of the church is a little bit dysfunctional. That’s all predicted. That Israel is in the place it’s supposed to be, that Zechariah 12:3 is happening. She is the burdensome stone. Nobody wants to deal with her.

That there is a love of evil. If we’re going to cheer for Hamas, we’re celebrating evil. We are not doing that, but much of the world is doing that. These are things the Bible said, “Look at these things and you’ll know that the hour is late”. You and I, we could all give 20 more things that indicate the hour is late, the increase of travel of knowledge, et cetera.

So folks, we’re running out of time. That’s my point here. We’re running out of time. Be about your Father’s business, while we have time.

Nathan Jones: Jan, we only scratched the surface. Again, your wonderful book, Understanding The Times, can you explain how viewers can connect? Tell us how they can connect with your message over at Olive Tree.

Jan Markell: Well, they can go through my website, olivetreeviews.org. And you gentlemen are carrying my book and thank you for doing so. And my other book that came out by Harvest House, When Jesus Returns, and that’s a compilation of contributors, Jack Hibbs and a dozen others, olivetreeviews.org. But thank you for what you’re doing, because honestly, you’re one of the sister ministries that we cherish here at Olive Tree. And the pioneer work Dave did, we honestly, appreciate it so very, very much.

Tim Moore: Well, Jan, we certainly appreciate you and we are thankful for you being willing to join us today and grateful that we are co-laboring alongside you as together we proclaim Jesus’ soon return!

Jan Markell: Amen. Amen. What a privilege.

Tim Moore: Thank you, Jan, for being with us today.

Closing

Nathan Jones: Well, the Lord has been faithful to raise up prophetic voices in every generation, calling people to repent of their sins and urging Christians to be serious about their walk with Christ. That is the role of an evangelist, one who shares the Good News of the Gospel and warns people to flee from the wrath to come.

Tim Moore: Jan Markell has been faithful to her calling, serving as a watchwoman, as she has alerted people that Jesus is coming. You’d think that those who claim to love His Word would welcome that exciting news, but too many Christians have been duped into thanking God’s prophetic Word is divisive and discouraging. I’m glad that Jan has not wavered in her commitment to proclaiming that message.

Nathan Jones: If you’d like to get a copy of Jan’s insightful book, Understanding The Times, just call the number on the screen or visit our website at christinprophecy.org. For only $10, we’ll be glad to send you a copy. And if you’d like to ensure that Christ In Prophecy continues to reach people around the world, both the lost and the saved, please consider partnering with us. Our prophecy partners provide the resources we need to share the Gospel-centered message that Jesus is coming soon.

Tim Moore: We pray that you have been blessed today and that you too are longing for the Lord’s appearing. We also hope that our conversation has been an encouragement to you and allowed you to have an even better understanding of the times we live in. Until next week, on behalf of all of us here at Lamb & Lion Ministries. Godspeed!

End of Program