When I was in divinity school I used to watch Jack Van Impe’s television show. Van Impe’s wife Rexella (we often referred to her as Jack’s “lovely wife Rexella”) would read a story in the news and then turn to Jack and let him riff on how that particularly story fit into the grand scheme of a dispensational view of biblical prophecy. I was writing an M.A. thesis on Protestant fundamentalism at the time. Van Impe’s show was research.
I was always amazed at Van Impe’s ability to rattle-off scripture verses at such a rapid-fire rate. While his interpretation of scripture is certainly up for debate, Van Impe deserves the name “Walking Bible.” He must have done a lot of sword drills as a kid.
Van Impe passed away over the weekend. Here is Bob Smietana’s piece on his life and legacy:
Jack Van Impe, a televangelist who spent decades warning Christians that the end of the world was nigh, has died, his ministry announced on Saturday (Jan. 18).
He was 88.
“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,” reads an announcement posted on the website for Jack Van Impe Ministries International. “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 and his wife, Rexella, were longtime hosts of “Jack Van Impe Presents,” which mixed Bible teaching with a review of news and current events, often linking those events to Bible prophesies about the Second Coming of Jesus. He often ended the program by asking viewers to become followers of Jesus.
Read the rest here.
Here is Rexella and Jack railing on rock music in 1989:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGPTfJp-47A&w=560&h=315]