Jan Markell’s
Understanding the Times
Olive Tree Ministries
www.olivetreeviews.org
P.O. Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311
Olivetreeministries
April-May-June 2011
The New Middle East:
Democratic or Demonic?
by Jan Markell
On December 10, 2010, a fruit seller in
Tunisia committed suicide in protest of
continued governmental harassment. It
was the shot heard around the world,
but particularly in all Middle East nations.
For Christians focused on Bible prophecy,
words out of Daniel 11 became prominent.
In Daniel 11:40 we read of the “king of the
south,” usually believed to be Egypt. In the
very end of days, this “king” will align with
other similar nations and join a coalition of
forces that will invade Israel.
On the surface, the quests for democratic
freedoms in the Middle East seem understandable, but apart from Israel, no model
democracy has ever manifested in the
Middle East. Historically, power shifts occur
in the region through assassinations, revolutions, rigged elections, or military coups.
Peaceful protests and popular elections as
a means to establish democratic rule is a
new and untested Arab experiment.
At first the protesters achieved their goals
relatively peacefully. In January 2011,
Tunisian president Zine El Bidine Ben Ali
stepped down from office. This marked the
first time in history an Arab dictator was
overthrown by popular revolution. Then in
February 2011, after 18 days of protests,
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak likewise
removed himself from office.
At this point, the world was stunned.
Washington announced that the Muslim
Brotherhood, an obvious winner in the regional conflict, was a benign bunch of good old
boys we need not fear. Never mind they were
instrumental in the formation of al-Qaida. The
White House and State Department, as well
as some in Congress, have been in denial
that all vacuums in the Middle East are filled
with evil worse than what has been driven
out. So what if Osama bin Laden has ties
to the Muslim Brotherhood, because to the
Leftists in charge, they insist we can do business with this gang of brutal outlaws. To all of
our Muslim-friendly national leaders observing today’s Middle East turmoil, this is a new
day in foreign affairs for them, and it is all rosy.
When PC propagandists assure us that
jihadists do not reflect “true,” “peaceful”
Islam, they’re not only wrong, they’re dangerous, because they lull America and the
West into letting their guard down against
their mortal enemy.
Arabs are now killing fellow Arabs across
the Middle East, which is an unpalatable
situation for the twenty-two member Arab
League which was formed in 1945 in order
to unite Arabs. Presently, the League’s goal
to unite Arabs takes a back seat to simply
stopping the brotherly bloodshed.
The U.S. and other Western leaders insist
democracy is waiting in the wings for many
of these nations. And yet Egypt’s leaders
quickly tipped their hand as we saw immediately upon Mubarek’s departure. Egypt
allowed Iranian ships through the Suez
Canal. The ships were carrying a dangerous
load of items that would be docked in Syria
and eventually used against the Jewish
state. More rockets and terrorist acts against
Israelis have been implemented in recent
months than before the turmoil in regional
Arab nations began in December.
We intervened in Libya on “humanitarian
grounds,” acknowledging that more will die
continued on page 2…
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OFFICERS
Jan Markell
Founder and President
John Wicklund
Chairman of the Board
Eric Douma
Vice Chairman of the
Board
Donna Chrest
Secretary of the Board
Dr. Carol Featherstone
Marjorie Holsten
Phil Marin
Kerry Smith
Heidi Swander
Barbara Westmark
BOARD OF REFERENCE
Eric Barger
Mike Gendron
Dr. Thomas Ice
Bill Koenig
Dr. J. Randall Price
Dr. David Reagan
Administrative
Assistants
Heidi Swander
Jan Hickey
Gail Rubenstein
Radio Production
Larry Kutzler
CitySites Media
THE OLIVE TREE IS ONE
OF THE
STRONGEST TREES . . .
When the dove returned
to Noah after the
deluge, it carried an
olive branch. The olive
tree was the first to
flourish! Ever since, it
has been a symbol of
enduring life and health.
In Romans, chapters 9 11, the olive tree is the
symbol of the spiritual
heritage of Israel and
the Jewish people.
By God’s grace, other
peoples now share
equal participation in
His promises of eternal
life and blessing.
“I Trust in you, O Lord . . . Our times are in Your Hands.” Psalm 31:14-15
1
OLIVETREEMINISTRIES
The New Middle East
…continued from page 1
are really just a set-up for a soon arrival of the antichrist.
in the Ivory Coast or the Congo. We wish to help the
His appearance as a miracle worker in every aspect
“rebels,” but we do not know who or what they are.
would be welcomed in the unstable parts of the world.
Apparently, we came to their aid simply because they
Antichrist’s evil will far exceed the evil of a dozen or more
seemed both likable and Westernized on CNN, and
Middle East dictators who may fall in 2011.
because, for a moment, they seemed likely to win and
remove Qaddafi. It also seems it was based on the iniSo what is going on? The desire for a Muslim caliphtiative of the Europeans, who have sizable oil interests
ate that would take control of the world is one motive.
in Libya. This is a ludicrous and even embarrassing
To do that, radical forces such as al-Qaida want more
foreign policy, but in his June 2009 speech in Cairo,
control over many Arab nations. Foolish American and
Obama signaled the Arab world that he would very
European leaders are aiding their cause. The West
frequently give them a break. The terror-prone Muslim
has encouraged regime changes which are about to
Brotherhood was invited to attend that speech. Then
get a lot worse, and Egypt is the primary illustration.
President Hosni Mubarek was not present. America
We know from history that even mass movements for
was letting the Islamic terrorists know that we were
change, and so-called democratic elections, have been
now their friend. A new day had dawned for them! The
employed to bring the most vicious of rulers and dictaU.S.-backed political candidate in Egypt, Muhammed
tors to power. With the predominance of Islamic radicalEl Baradai, said he would order the bombing of Israel
ism and ascendant Shi’ite influence, we may well see
if Israel makes any incursion into Gaza.
the recent movements “for change and freedom” across
Just because a regime changes, it is not a guarantee
the Middle East exploited by these fanatical forces. In
that corruption, torture, and mayhem will subside. And
some nations we will eventually learn that America
you can be assured that changes in Islamic governments
actually sided with and came to the aid of jihadists.
will never blossom into friends of Israel. In fact, some
Watching world events through the lens of proper endwonder if the collapsing governments in the Middle East
time theology connects a lot of dots, but certainly not
all. In many ways, we still “see through a glass darkly.”
Let us spend whatever time we have left sharing the
Jan Markell is the founder and
Gospel and encouraging one another.
president of Olive Tree Ministries,
Inc. She became a Christian as
a young child under the teaching
of Jewish evangelist Dr. Hyman
Appleman. Jan began in ministry
www.olivetreeviews.org
in 1978. She has authored eight
One visitor called our site “onebooks with major Christian publishing
stop shopping.” Students use it
houses, and has produced ten DVDs and dozfor classes as well, along with
ens of audio teachings. The Understanding
over one million visitors a year
the Times newsletter has been published since 1993,
who check out a dozen special
and a syndicated radio talk show by the same name
categories of information. Twois produced by Olive Tree Ministries, headquartering
dozen books and DVDs are
out of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (see page 5).
available at “Our Products,” and
SUBSCRIPTION/CONTACT
you can listen to five years of radio programming at
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
“Radio Archives.” New programs are posted every
Sunday.
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“My People Perish for a Lack of Knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
OLIVETREEMINISTRIES
Understanding the
Times 2011 Conference
Presented by Jan Markell and Olive Tree Ministries.
October 7 - 8, Grace Church, Eden Prairie
Friday, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. • Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Joel Rosenberg is the best-selling author of numerous books and the producer of various
documentary films. He is the founder of The Joshua Fund, a non-profit educational organization
that mobilizes Christians to “bless Israel and her neighbors in the Name of Jesus.” He has been
interviewed on hundreds of radio and television programs focusing on the epicenter — the Middle
East. Joel has also spoken at the White House, the Pentagon, and to members of Congress.
www.joelrosenberg.com
Dr. Mark Hitchcock is a pastor, Bible prophecy expert, author of two-dozen books,
and conference speaker. He pastors Faith Bible Church in Edmond, OK. He has been a guest
on hundreds of radio and television programs. He and Jan Markell appeared together recently
on Jewish Voice Broadcasts’ international TV program. www.mlhitchcock.com
Brannon Howse is founder of American Family Policy Institute, Worldview Weekend,
and Worldview Weekend television and radio. He has been a guest on more than 1,000 radio and
television programs and has guest hosted The Michael Reagan Show. He is also the most frequent
guest host for Jan’s Understanding the Times radio. He has authored several books including the
very popular Grave Influence. www.worldviewweekend.com
Eric Barger has focused on Christian apologetics. His Take a Stand! Ministries confronts both the
culture and the church. His focus has been cults, world religions, the occult, spiritual warfare, the
Emergent Church, and more. He has authored several books and produced many DVDs. He has
been a frequent guest on Jan’s Understanding the Times radio program and even served as guest
host. www.ericbarger.com
Bill Koenig is a White House correspondent with Koenig’s International News.
His weekly e-newsletter, Koenig’s Eye-View from the White House, is popular and informative.
As a correspondent, he has been present to cover some of the most significant news events
in our nation’s history. Koenig has authored two books including Eye to Eye: Facing
the Consequences of Dividing Israel. www.watch.org
Jan Markell is founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, established in 1982.
Her radio program, Understanding the Times, is syndicated nationally and heard internationally
electronically. She has authored eight books and produced a dozen DVDs, some featured on Sky
Angel. www.olivetreeviews.org
No cost * No registration needed
Due to an overwhelming response to this year’s conference, we now have two hotel blocks available:
Hampton Inn, Eden Prairie (952-942-9000) or Fairfield Inn, Minneapolis/Eden Prairie (952-903-9444). The rate is $79 + tax per night.
Ask for the Olive Tree Ministries/Understanding the Times conference rate. Watch for further newletters, e-alerts and postings on our Web site for updates.
Contact: 763-559-4444 or www.olivetreeviews.org
“I Trust in you, O Lord . . . Our times are in Your Hands.” Psalm 31:14-15
3
OLIVETREEMINISTRIES
Christian Palestinianism
and the Anti-Israel Crusade
By Jan Markell
A U.K. scholar, Paul Wilkinson, coined the term “Christian Palestinianism”
back in 2003. However, the sentiment behind the term has been alive
and well since Israel’s modern rebirth in 1948. In a sentence, promoters of this term believe Jesus was a Palestinian and the Palestinian
people are today being crucified not only by the Israelis but by friends
of Israel often known as Christian Zionists.
Several global organizations now promote this sentiment and theology including the World Council of Churches, National Council of
Churches, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding, the Near East
Council of Churches, and more. Their purpose is to support Arab
churches in the Middle East, and, sadly, many members of these organizations denounce any Christian support of Israel. These outfits all
hurl accusations toward Israel of land confiscation, land occupation,
and even brutal torture.
Statements will be heard from “Christian Palestinianism” supporters
that Jesus is now the powerless Palestinian humiliated at a checkpoint,
the young student who cannot get to the university to study, and the
unemployed father who needs to find bread to feed his family. All of
this is being prevented by the cruel Israelis even though it is the corrupt Palestinian leadership who cause their people to be deprived. But
the cry is that all Palestinians are being crucified today. Their land has
become one huge Golgotha. The false claim is that the Israeli government is operating a crucifixion system today. Even Yaser Arafat used to
play into this scenario by making such statements.
The error of Replacement Theology (the church has replaced Israel
as the people of God) is fueling much of this movement. This theology
has left just a tiny remnant within the church who are willing to stand
by Israel.
Proponents of “Christian Palestinianism” place no relevance on Israel’s
rebirth in 1948. They are also opposed to any eschatological (end-time)
theology that stresses Israel’s role in the last days. Sadly, people with a
microphone such as Hank Hanegraaff and Gary DeMar feature major
players in this movement including Stephen Sizer and Colin Chapman.
At the same time, these same people call such excellent scholars as
Dr. Tim LaHaye and Dr. Thomas Ice “racists” for suggesting God still
has a chosen people.
The term Palestinian didn’t even come along until the mid-1960s, yet
Hanegraaff and DeMar would likely see them as far more “chosen”
than the Jews. The tragedy of the Middle East conflict is only exacerbated when such theology is skewed. Replacement Theology leads to
“Christian Palestinianism” and many other non-biblical conclusions. At
its worst, it contributes to blatant anti-Semitism.
Note our new phone number: 763-559-4444
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“Declare His glory... His wonders
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“My People Perish for a Lack of Knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
4
OLIVETREEMINISTRIES
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5
The Blood-Drained Gospel
of Rob Bell
Rob Bell is a part of the renegade
leadership of the movement known
as the Emergent Church. Bell has
now drawn a line in the sand with
his new book, clearly identifying the
Emergent movement as heretical.
In his book, Love Wins: Heaven,
Hell, and the Fate of Every Person
Who Ever Lived, Bell asserts that in
the end, God’s love wins and everyone who ever lived will end up in
Heaven. This represents the oxymoron called “Christian Universalism.”
In this book, Bell mocks truth, gives
false hope, and suggests that hell
is earth-based only. In other words,
experiences like the Holocaust are
hell-on-earth and that is the limit of
Hell as we know it. Eternal flames
just do not exist in spite of many
references to them in the Bible.
On page 151, Bell states, “Jesus
Himself demonstrates how seriously he takes his role of saving,
rescuing, and redeeming not just
everything, but everybody.”
This pastor rages against the
words and ways of the sovereign
King of the universe. His arrogance
reminds us of the devil’s seductive
message in Genesis 3. There we
see Satan’s main emphasis to block
God’s plan, twist His truth, and
deceive His people.
Sadly, Bell is identified as an “evangelical Christian.” This is another
reminder that the true meaning of
an evangelical faded away a few
decades ago.
Our Readers and Listeners Respond
Thank you for your radio ministry
heard here in Portland, OR, on
KPDQ. We surely cannot get this
kind of cutting-edge, truthful programming from most other outlets.
—Gene, e-mail
Your ministry is absolutely invaluable.
If it weren’t for you, I would have fallen
for all sorts of things. So many things
sound so good that we can’t always
tell. Keep preaching Understanding
the Times. —Paula, e-mail
Your e-newsletter update today was
outstanding and hit the nail on the
head as it concerns the blindness
of people who also have no ears to
hear the truth. I realized I was not
alone. —June, e-mail
Thank you for your Web site and
archived radio programs. I am listening even to old programs. Your
ministry is an inspiration when it
comes to contending for the faith.
—Katie, North Carolina
Your information will be invaluable
for our home schooling worldview
classes. —Kathy, e-mail
Jan, you have strengthened my
faith and encouraged my desire to
study the Word of God. We hear
you over WPOS near Toledo, OH.
—Robert, e-mail
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“I Trust in you, O Lord . . . Our times are in Your Hands.” Psalm 31:14-15
OLIVETREEMINISTRIES
Why Won’t They Listen?
A repeated theme coming into this office by e-mail is
that loved ones — friends and family — will not listen
when discerning people try to tell them about our
world today. If a reference is made to end-time activity,
people will often scoff and literally brush them away.
Some just don’t have ears to hear about any current
issue. While this has always been the case, it seems
to be accelerated today. And this is happening when
issues are so serious you would think it would help
people carry out their lives more effectively if they only
understood the times from a biblical perspective. For
that matter, from any perspective other than the mainstream media.
There are many reasons why people have closed their
ears. Let me list a few of them that may help you understand why you feel rejected for simply telling the truth:
• The news today is too violent, frightening, troubling,
and even shocking. Many want their minds and hearts
to dwell on safer and more uplifting issues. Detaching
from reality is a coping mechanism. There are many
compassionate people. To keep hearing about wars,
pain, suffering, injustice, weapons of mass destruction, persecution, jihad, and so much more, breaks
their hearts and spirits.
• Some have an end-time theology that says all believers will experience the worst of things outlined in the
Bible for the last days. We will go through part or all
of the Tribulation and we’ll even be here for the battle
of Armageddon. Thus if they have end-time theology
at all, it may lack the comfort of the “blessed hope” of
Christ’s imminent return. Church pulpits are silent on
these issues which then further diminishes hope and
adds to confusion.
• The greatest sign people need to watch is Israel. Yet
Replacement Theology (the church has replaced the
nation of Israel) dominates our churches today. Thus,
many are left clueless that the countdown has begun.
They feel life will go on for hundreds of years. There is
nothing unusual about our generation. Believers who
point to Israel, Middle East war, and related issues,
are just “the sky is falling” people. We have always had
wars and rumors of war they state.
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• There are enough pleasures in this life, so eternity
can wait. They cannot listen to events that may touch
their loved ones. What mother wants to contemplate
horrors coming upon her children? The last days are
also compared to the days of Noah where people
simply enjoyed life’s pleasures and turned away from
warnings.
• Many today are seduced by false teachers promising a perfect world (Dominion/Kingdom Now theology) that the church can and will bring in. Seeing and
hearing about instability, the Middle East in chaos, a
coming financial meltdown, and coming trials, doesn’t
fit their biblical agenda. Some of them believe in a
global revival and wish to focus on that. While there are
pockets of revival today, the Bible indicates apostasy
is more prominent and judgment faces the earth some
day. From such negativity, they must flee.
• Many know they are not right with God. They figure
that at the end of life they may do something about this.
Reality can break all of our hearts. We are not weak or
immature Christians because we ache for the world.
But suffice it to say that all creation groans as we wait
the return of the King of kings to set this world free
from bondage, sin, and sorrow.
In eternity, I first want to meet Noah. He preached his
heart out, admittedly not with the Internet, Facebook,
Twitter, or a sound system. But even in his corner of
the world, mankind ignored him for 120 years. Finally,
the ark door closed. Plugging the ears to the wise
words of many today will bring about a disaster for
some. So don’t give up!
We are always to be ready with an answer for everyone. Their response is not your responsibility.
The Bible tells us that the world will implode eventually.
It has nothing to do with the Mayans and their 2012
calendar suggestion! Everything has an end, but for
the Christian, the end begins a glorious future! I can
hardly wait. I hope to meet you all there! Your prayers
for this ministry and me are greatly appreciated.
STAY IN TUNE WITH THE NEWS WITH
OUR E-ALERTS/NEWS ANALYSES
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them, this is likely why. Contact your provider about this issue. They
are posted the same day on the Web site at Jan’s E-Updates.
“My People Perish for a Lack of Knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
6