What You Need to Know about David Wilkerson's 'Urgent Message' | Christianity Today

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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2009 |

What You Need to Know about David Wilkerson's 'Urgent Message'

How people are responding to his warning of riots, fires, and economic collapse in NYC.

Ted Olsen | posted 3/16/2009 12:08PM

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Piper, meanwhile, is concerned that Wilkerson is not handling Scripture carefully. Wilkerson's warning quotes Psalm 11:4 this way: "He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven — his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men." Piper responded: "This does not have the feel of authority to me because what Psalm 11:4 really says is: 'The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.'"

Dallas Morning News columnist and Beliefnet blogger Rod Dreher, meanwhile, says Wilkerson's comments create a real dilemma for Christians who believe that prophecy is real. "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," he wrote. "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."

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March (Web-only) 2009, Vol. 53

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Brenda

Posted: March 26, 2009 11:50 PM

Christianity Today hedged its bet, unlike David Wilkerson who sincerely passed along exactly what he received. Typically, I pay very little attention to modern day prophets with "a word from the Lord." But Pastor Wilkerson has stood the test of a good man and a true prophet for many decades. In 1973 or 1974 I read The Vision and thought, "O no, Lord! This just can't be true." But within six months, the pouring out of evil in America came to pass point by point as Wilkerson had prophesied. Now, what he foresees for the New York City area seems to be more reasonable than startling. Even with our eyes of flesh, we can see many avenues by which these fires could come to pass, if we keep up with the daily news

The Kingwillbeheresoon

Posted: March 26, 2009 11:41 PM

This is a man of G-d who has been telling people this for years and now it is here, these fools who mock the word of G-d need to listen. Jesus will be here soon and we may be gone before this hits and the food stored up will be for those who are left behind. As for Piper he should mind his own business and come to the conclusion that not only is pastor Wilkerson sticking with the Bible this word is sticking with the bible and warning those luke warm christians get right with Jesus. I hope someone tells piper to stay out of the bars and since piper thinks drinking beer is good christian fellowship he (john piper) should himself stick with the bible and repent!

Carolyn

Posted: March 26, 2009 10:09 PM

I was actually visiting NYC the week before 9/11 and it is true that the church was in fervent prayer for several weeks before the towers fell. We visit TSC each time we are in the city because we love the way God is honored and worshipped there. They weren't even sure why, but they were being obedient to pray and listen to God. I can tell you honestly that whatever was going on in that church before 9/11 was real and it was of God. By the way, everyone also thought Noah was crazy for all those years he was building the ark!

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