Jack Van Impe

I think he has promoted some major errors, although I am a pretribulationist myself.
Among those: he claimed that the Soviet Union would invade America in the 1970s. he has quoted mainstream Buddhist "prophets" and Nostradamus to support his views. he has made several end-time predictions (especially Y2K) that never came to pass.
If you watch him be careful. Some of his stuff is good, but beware of sensationalism.

He ranks up there with Hal Lindsey and Benny Hinn

Hi Kristen,
I love to watch JVI. I also know that a lot of people misunderstand what he is doing. Some people claim that he is a false prophet, not true at all. I have never, ever seen him prophecy, or even say that he is a prophet. Some believers just don't know what a prophet is, and probably most of these weak minded believers that are accusing him are sitting on the fence. (One foot in the church, and one foot in the world) = LUKEWARM.

Usually Jack will read a prophecy from the Bible, and then try to show how the newspapers are describing it as it comes to pass. The neat thing about it is, that the secular news media don't even have a clue that they are seeing prophecy fulfilled. But those that are wise know, and it encourages us to keep looking up, and it also catches the attention of some of the lost, who end up getting saved. But Jack does talk very fast, and if your not paying real close attention, it would not be hard to mis-understand what he said. Just remember - He is just reading the news and matching it up with what the scriptures say. I think it is a very creative idea, and he has been blessed, and God is using him in a mighty way. Some are jealous probably, not realizing that God could also be using them in some powerful way, but not when they are pointing the finger at someone that is busy doing a good work.

I still have yet to watch him. I have been to his website though, but it's been a while.

I've often wondered about this guy, myself. Every time I see his name on my onscreen cable guide, I just have to stop and see what he's talking about. Like someone said earlier, I've never heard him actually say "This is absolutely going to happen", or that he was in any way a prophet. I am one of the most untrusting people that I know, so I've always guardedly listened to what he's said. I've never had a problem...until now. Since the events of Sep. 11th, he has done nothing but praise Dubya (our prez, for the uninitiated). Now, there is nothing wrong with this, except for there is something about George W. that I just don't like. I don't care about political parties, or even politics, for that matter. But I just don't trust the president. And Jack's unending praise of him makes me even more wary. But, be that as it may, I still watch to see what JVI will say about current world situations, because he does put a Biblical spin on current events, and that's pretty interesting.

A friend of mine calls him a huskster. He pitches his videos that he sells, and that is how he makes a living.

When I was a new christian 20 some years ago, I did not know any of the stuff he was teaching and I use to watch the program. When I went to order a video for $20, it turned out to have pretty much the same stuff on it that he talks about on the TV program, it was a waste of money, as far as getting anything out of it.

Now my impression of him is that he just does not have anything new to contribute. Just the same old stuff. Reminds me of a Baptist church I went to once that kept preaching the same sermons over and over again.

The pastor at my church is not like that at all. He always has something new to teach us. Sometimes he gets tired of waiting for us and will run on ahead, leaving us scrambling trying to keep up with Him. He taught on the mind of Christ for quite a while, all the different things that make up the Mind of Christ. Now He has been preaching and teaching on the Jesus attitude. The attitude Jesus had. Of course the purpose of the teaching is so we open up to the Holy Spirit so He can do a work in us to change us, that that every day we become more like Jesus. Thanks, JohnR7

I don't agree with Jack Van Impe's teaching but I do find it fascinating how he doesn't believe in any end of the world anymore. Check this out:

http://216.231.22.150:7080/ramgen/fdrive/jvi/jan02/jvi0210.rm

-Jason

Originally posted by Kristen
I have never heard him say the world was going to end. I believe he was reaffirming his views on the subject. As far as I see he goes strictly by the word.

Here's the scripture he used to back it up:

Psalms 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Eccl 1:4 [One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
Eph 3:21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Is 45:17 [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
Matt 5:5 Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

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I agree, but I remember in the past hearing him say that he believed in a literal destruction of the earth as in Matthew 24:29, Revelation 8:12.

-Jason

Originally posted by Kristen
I agree with rollinthunder, he takes the news and applies it to scripture.

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I would say he imposes the news on scripture. This newspaper theology is bad biblical exegesis. Not to mention all of the false prophecies he has made over the years. I wouldn't label him as a good biblical teacher.

God Bless

I think JVI is a good man with good intentions. He is definitely an end times scholar and just relays world event news that MAY be leading up to the end time Prophesies in Revelations!

After reading Revelations one must come to the conclusion that the earth WILL be in pretty bad shape, thats why God is going to renew it for us!

Originally posted by Kristen
Posted by Hoonbaba


Matt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Rev 8:12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Obviously there will be destruction. When the Lord comes back there will be a new earth.

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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Hi Kristen,

If what you're saying is true, then doesn't that clearly contradict all these passages:

Ps. 78:69; 89:36-37; 93:1; 96:10; 104:5; 119:90; 145:13; 148:4,6; Eccl. 1:4; Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:44; 4:3,34; 7:14,18,27; Lk. 1:33; Eph. 3:21

And doesn't Matt 24:29 sound a lot like Isaiah 13:10?

History tells us that Isaiah chapter 13 was fulfilled in 539 BC upon Babylon (Isaiah 13:1). So is that to say the stars literally fell, the sun was darkened, and the moon didn't give it's light during the fall of Babylon?

Or would it be understandable that maybe such prophetic language wasn't always literal?

God bless!

-Jason

I disagree that Isaiah has been fulfilled completely.
Isaiah 13:10 is yet future which Jesus spoke of again in Matt 24.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and a the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10(-13)

Originally posted by Mandy
I disagree that Isaiah has been fulfilled completely.
Isaiah 13:10 is yet future which Jesus spoke of again in Matt 24.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and a the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10(-13)

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Mandy,

you're missing the point: Isaiah 13:10 has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the end times. It had to do with the fall of Babylon in 539 BC. Check out Isaiah 13:1, it says it so explicitly. Many scholars (even liberals) agree that this is fulfilled and history recorded it. This is NOT an end times prophecy.

God bless!

-Jason

But Babylon will be rebuilt and destroyed again!, and as far as I know the earth hasn't been torched yet! Why not take Revelations literally?

Just because it may speak figuratively, does not mean it should not be taken literally.

Revelations was written expressly for end times Christians and it's message is clear!

Originally posted by Badfish
But Babylon will be rebuilt and destroyed again!, and as far as I know the earth hasn't been torched yet! Why not take Revelations literally?

Just because it may speak figuratively, does not mean it should not be taken literally.

Revelations was written expressly for end times Christians and it's message is clear!

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Hi Badfish,

I found something you might find interesting. I don't believe Babylon is spoke of a literal babylon, and there's scriptural reasoning for it. Check this out:

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WHO IS "BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES"? SHE IS . . . JERUSALEM


1. SHE FILLS HERSELF WITH THE BLOOD OF THE PROPHETS AND SAINTS: Rev 16:6, 17:6, 18:20, 24. Cf. Mt 23:37 and Acts 7:52.
2. SHE IS THE "GREAT CITY ... WHERE ALSO THE ... LORD WAS CRUCIFIED" (Rev 11:8) Although Rev 11 clearly is speaking of Jerusalem, is this the "Babylon the Great" of later chapters? Yes, the designation, "great city" is used both in ch. 11 and chs. 17-18 (17:18, 18:10, 16, 19, 21).

3. THE IMAGE OF THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE, THE HARLOT, WAS OFTEN USED OF ISRAEL IN THE OT. Israel is repeatedly called the wife of God (Jer 2:2, 3:14, Is 54:5). But she was an unfaithful wife (Jer 3:20, Hos 1:2, Ez 6:9, Ez 16, Is 50:1) behaving as a prostitute (Jer 3:1-2). In the context of Jerusalem’s designation as a prostitute, Is 1:21 is especially noteworthy: "See how the faithful city has become a harlot."

4. HER ARRAY


a. Dressed in purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones and pearls (Rev 17:3-5) - an almost exact description of the high priest’s ephod (Ex 28:5-6, 36)
b. This combination of fabrics and gems also describes the temple tapestry which, according to Josephus, was "Babylonian tapestry in which blue, purple, scarlet and linen were mingled." (Wars 5.5.4)

c. The gold cup she holds (Rev 17:4) is symbolic of the temple’s implements: "The greatest part of the vessels ... were of silver and gold" (Wars 5.4.4.)

d. Josephus’ description of the temple reflects the same opulence: "The outward face of the temple in its front ... was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun's own rays. But this temple appeared to strangers, when they were at a distance, like a mountain covered with snow; for, as to those parts of it that were not gilt, they were exceeding white." (Wars 5.5.6)

The inscription on the prostitute’s forehead is a perverse image of that on the high priest’s: "Holy to the Lord."


5. HER DESTRUCTION:

a. EVEN JERUSALEM’S END RESEMBLES THAT OF AN ADULTEROUS WIFE - DEATH BY STONING: Josephus writes: "The stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was a white color" (Wars 5.6.3) This account is reminescent of hailstones, weighing a talent each, that rain down on the "great city" in Rev 16:19-21.
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God bless!

-Jason

Kristen, Jack is a comedian! : ) I think he is beyond futurism!