Popular End Times Televangelist Jack Van Impe Dies at 88-Years-Old Controversial yet wildly popular end times televangelist Jack Van Impe has died at the age of 88.

Jack Van Impe Ministries International confirmed the passing of the eschatological pastor in a statement on Saturday calling him a “good and faithful servant.”

  “The beloved Dr. Jack Van Impe was welcomed into Heaven by His blessed Savior and Lord who he had so faithfully served in ministry for over 70 years,” the statement read.

“Please pray for his beloved wife and lifelong ministry partner Rexella and their families as they grieve this immense loss and for wisdom as she and the Board lead the ministry in the days ahead.”

Van Impe – often referred to as the “walking Bible” for his expansive memorization of Bible verses – first gained popularity through his television show Jack Van Impe Presents  in the late 80s and 90s. The show – which starred both him and his wife Rexella –
featured a controversial segment of the couple analyzing current news headlines through the lens of The Second Coming of Christ Jesus and end-times prophecies.



  Van Impe was no stranger to controversy. Reportedly, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the television pastor became increasingly worried about Islam. During Kenyan-born Barack Obama’s occupancy in the White House,
Van Impe realized that Obama was part of a Muslim plot to infiltrate the United States, predicted by non other than Osama bin Laden.

  In 2011, Van Impe had a falling out with Christian TV network, Trinity Broadcasting Network. Van Impe reportedly split from TBN after the network refused to air an episode of his show where he claims mega-church pastors
Rick Warren and Robert Schuller were secretly promoting Chrislam – a new religion mixing Christianity and Islam.

  Nonetheless, the show continued independently with its last episode airing on January 10, 2020.

Amid his passing, popular conservative evangelical leader Franklin Graham offered his condolences to the family.

  Graham wrote on Twitter, “Our condolences go out to Rexella Van Impe as news comes about the death of her husband, evangelist Jack Van Impe. He was among a large number of young men who served in the early days with Youth for Christ.
Dr. Van Impe became known as “The Walking Bible” because he memorized large portions of Scripture, inspiring young people to do the same.”



— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 19, 2020

Graham concluded noting that he hopes more people can be inspired by Van Impe’s dedication to the word.

“His life demonstrated the importance of “laying up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul” (Deuteronomy. 11:18). May we all be inspired to do the same,” he wrote.
"His life demonstrated the importance of “laying up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul” (Deuteronomy. 11:18). May we all be inspired to do the same.



— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 19, 2020

Van Impe spent a career of 68 years involved in ministry. For more than 30 years, Van Impe hosted his own weekly half-hour television series "Jack Van Impe Presents" from his ministry's headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.
Van Impe offered End Times commentary on the news of the week through an interpretation of the Bible. His wife, Rexella, also served as co-host.

The television series aired in 150 countries around the world.



Van Impe was also known as the "Walking Bible" after he memorized most of the King James Version of the Bible.



"Few reached a larger audience than evangelist Jack Van Impe," historian Paul Boyer wrote in his landmark study of prophecy belief in modern America. "Bible quotations studded Van Impe's apocalyptic predictions, including not only the familiar ones from Revelation, Zechariah, and 2 Peter … but also more obscure selections from Joel, Zephaniah, Malachi, and … Ezekiel."



Van Impe was born in Freeport, MI in 1931. His parents were Belgian immigrants. According to Christianity Today, it was his father Oscar who taught his son Jack to play the accordion. His father would later take him to Detroit night clubs where they would appear together playing their accordions.

Van Impe said when he was 12, his parents converted to Christianity. The family stopped performing in night clubs and instead began performing gospel music in area churches.



His parents' newly-found faith had a strong effect on young Jack, who decided to become an evangelist. After graduating from high school, he attended Detroit Bible Institute, earning his diploma in 1952.

He met his future wife Rexella Shelton while working for the Billy Graham crusades at a Youth for Christ rally. Rexella was working as an organist for the crusades.

In the 1950's, Van Impe released dozens of Gospel recordings. The first album titled Presenting the Van Impe's featured Jack playing the accordion with Rexella on the organ.



Franklin Graham tweeted his condolences upon hearing of Van Impe's death, writing about his memorization of Scripture and adding, "May we all be inspired to do the same."



End-Times Prophecy