I think it's pretty safe to say that David Wilkerson, the pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, has stopped checking his 401(k). Excerpt of something he put out today:
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.
For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires--such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.
There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting--including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,
"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations.
There's more, but you get the gist of it. Now, you can take it seriously, or you can laugh at it. Personally, I don't take it seriously, but I will note that a friend in NYC who used to go to Times Square Church said that in the three months before 9/11, people in the church were constantly praying for the city because they had a sense that something terrible was about to happen. Me, I don't take it seriously because I have no reason to, not knowing much of anything about Wilkerson. But the thing is, I do believe, as most Christians believe, that prophecy is real.
The question is, how do you know when to take a particular prophecy seriously, and how do you know when to disregard it? History is replete with prophets whose predictions amounted to nothing. But do we know of any modern prophets whose predictions actually panned out? How do you know ahead of time whether or not to take them seriously?
(Frankly, readers who believe all prophecy is bunk, please hold your fire on this thread. Your position is certainly a valid one, but I'm really more interested in hearing from people who believe that God does from time to time send forewarnings to His people through prophets, and who have some idea how to discern true prophecy from false prophecy.)
UPDATE: To clarify, I think Wilkerson could be right, but I don't have any reason to believe he is ... though there's an entry in the comboxes below that, in tandem with what my NYC friend said about the atmosphere at Times Square Church just prior to 9/11, makes me somewhat more disposed toward taking Wilkerson seriously in this. But if I did take him seriously, I'd be planning on doing some radically different things in the coming days ... and I'm not. So there you are. Maybe I'll be sorry, who knows...
UPDATE.2: A reader posts this collection of Wilkerson prophecies that never came to pass, suggesting that you probably won't go wrong if you bet against the pastor.
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Truth Seeker,
Sir, the author asked that anyone who does not believe in prophecy for today not post on this forum. It seems to me you are one that does not believe in prophecy for today... If you do, please give me a list of people you believe are true prophets. Secondly, and I say this to all, it is common among those who are anti-spiritual gifts, anti-prophecy to give all their quotes from the O.T. when God changed the role of prophecy (Paul commanded in Corinthians that while one is giving a prophecy the others should test whats being said, he did not say if someone got it wrong they were a false-prophet,etc like was the case in the O.T.)
Sir, it is as undiscerning and anti-truth to reject everything charismatic as it is to accept everything charismatic, and I pray that you allow Christ to touch your heart and bring His truth to you through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, not through a head filled with knowledge that puffs up. Jesus came and the ones who "really knew their Bible" so to speak attacked Him b/c they thought he was contrasting the Scriptures, when in fact He was the fulfilling them.
If you are set on obeying the Word, please, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead as Jesus commanded in Matthew 10 (don't tell me that was an assignment only for the Apostles, b/c the whole Bible was a list of commandments given to someone else that we believe is also for us)Not to mention, in a Biblical context of miracles Jesus said "He who believes in me will do the things that I do, greater things than these he will do..."--If you aren't doing that spend more time seeking God and less time arguing (this is a word for me also, as I have seen some miracles, but still very little)
I hope God blesses you and guides you into all Truth as you seek Him,
Winston
Hi Rod,
As you said "Now, you can take it seriously, or you can laugh at it"
I tell you & all the people not to laugh at it for nobody knows EVEN the one who made prophecy the exact date or day only God knows.
It is already written in the bible but God still uses people like DW to continuously warn those who are blinded by truth, by those who are afraid to face the reality that there is a judgement coming & trying everything to deny the power of God to punish those who deny Jesus.
But God is good, He always remind the people of his love.
Friends as long as the man who made those prophesies are found within the framework of the bible - believe me that is from God.
"If You are Unfaithful in Little, You are Also, Unfaithful in Much!". I Personally Don't Believe in ALOT of what David Wilkerson Teaches! He is a Pretribulation Rapture Believer, and The Bible DOESN'T Teach a Pretribulation Rapture! "In a Moment, in a Twinkling of an Eye, at the LAST Trump...etc". There are 7 Trumpets...The LAST One is the SEVENTH Trumpet! THAT Time Frame SUPERCEDES, David Wilkerson's and OTHER 'Liars of Leaving's' Time Frame! So...If David is Wrong about The rapture...he Is Wrong About MANY MANY MANY OTHER Things as WELL! The Twinkling of an Eye Only Pertains to have FAST The Dead in Christ are Raised Up FIRST...Then The Christians that are Still Alive When Jesus returns, On His Way Down to Earth for the 1,000 Year Millenium! The Twinkling of an Eye is NOT Talking about How Fast Jesus Returns...He is NOT Going Back To Heaven....He's On His Way DOWN TO EARTH'S Soil! PERIOD! Now...I can ASSURE You That There are Things FAR WORSE That is Going to Happen To Earth, That SURPASSES What is Being Told! The Lord Has Judgements FAR MORE INTENSE, Than The Prosperity Glutton Churches THINKS! They are Only into God for MATERIAL Gain,and THAT'S IT!! God Is DISGUSTED With Today's Comfort Zone Gluttons, with Their Effeminated ways,and Sissified Lifestyles! Huch Ministries is The EPITOME of Crotch Rot Doctrine being Loved and Worshipped,Like a PIG at a Roast Beef Feast! The GREATER DAMNATION Awaits Them If They DON'T Repent! God Has a NEW REMNANT, That He has Put Through a RIGOROUS Bootcamp Like Intensity, Because The Church that FORESOOK Sound Doctrine,to Hire Teachers to Tickle Their Ears Can No Longer STOMACH The REAL DEAL, So They Left Their First Love, for the Prosperity Doctrine,and God No Longer Has ANY Use for THEM! America is NO Ready for The UNIMAGINABLE PUNISHMENT, That is Sticking Its Head Out from Just Down The Pike,and is EVEN NOW, Roaring Forth God's RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION! Either REPENT, Church NOW...Or, YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY FEEL TOTALLY BAD!! Ipso - Facto!
Hi Rod,
It is nice to heard the bible rules in the middle of the blogs i like the word like trying everything to deny the power of God to punish those who deny Jesus.
keep it up.
I read your notes about not believing David Wilkerson.... I pray you change your mind.. this is serious and will affect your entire family...
Remember the story of Noah? they did not believe him either and he walked by faith honest believing God told him to build an ark... and he and his FAMILY entered the ark and was safe.....
Don't take a chance... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and your will be saved and YOUR HOUSE........
Why take a chance to see "whose right"... as long as we are 'RIGHT"
WITH God...
have a great day.
Consider....... even the ants prepared for safety... even the squirrels.......etc... we are much wiser....
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