David Wilkerson is the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. It seems he has had a ‘vision’ predicting calamity and disaster which he describes on his blog. Read more about the David Wilkerson prophecy below, see photos, and watch a video.
David Wilkerson
David Wilkerson, of David Wilkerson Ministries, is a well-respected founding pastor of the Times Square Church in NYC. He is a best selling author – writing the best selling book The Cross and The Switchblade among many others – which is about his work with gangs and drug addicts in New York, and he founded Teen Challenge which is a major international ministry to troubled teens.
Now it seems, David Wilkerson is talking about his latest prophecy: one that sees ‘an imminent earth-shattering calamity’ centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world. He says he has been compelled by the Holy Spirit to make this vision public and that this is all part of what he sees as a judgment from God.
“An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen,” he writes. “It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us.”
David Wilkerson’s prophecy includes fires raging throughout 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,” he explains. “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?”
As an evangelical christian myself, I am always a wee bit nervous when national Christian leaders have these ‘doomsday-type visions’. I vacillate on whether it is a clarion call or fear mongering — and God help us if any of them ever came true!
Like the others who had ‘visions’ before him, David Wilkerson is a highly regarded mentor to other pastors in evangelical circles and travels the world holding conferences for other Christian ministers.
So I suppose we have two options with this David Wilkerson prophecy: we can take it seriously or we can laugh at it. History is full of prophesies that amounted to nothing but buffoonery. However, according to this report, in the three months before 9/11, people in the Times Square Church were constantly praying for the city because they had a sense that something terrible was about to happen. Sounds compelling doesn’t it? But, on the other hand, here is a boatload of prophesies from David Wilkerson that did not come true.
The truth is, most Christians do believe in prophecy. However whether David Wilkerson’s prophesy is true or buffoonery is, I suppose, a time-will-tell issue. You can read the full prophecy transcript from David Wilkerson’s blog here.
David Wilkerson Photos
David Wilkerson Video
March 8th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Every prophesy you can think of has a finite probability of coming true if you know the number of possible scenarios, the n. Mammalian archetypal thinking delimits the number of possibilities so that when something some what like that happens it seems to be true. So one day a comet will hit the earth, but will it be in may 2009 or april 3650? But it will happen as long as the earth is here. As we slide further into what appears an economic depression should we scare people even more? Pat Robertson predicted calamity for last year that didn’t happen in that form, instead we got this collapsing economy. or is it? Archetypal thinking, highly symbolic in nature, creates its own mythologies that it plasters onto all sorts of really nonrelated events, but still has that “aha” epipheny that makes some belivers. Its this muddling of the realities, the mixing of the facts, the manipulation of th e masses that makes evangelicals or marxists most annoying. God knows us. Nothing has changed. He isn’t suddenly going to turn on us and blight the planet just because we continue to stumble as we grow. We are at an global economic inflection point when all our fancy profit raking in financial engineering is no longer going to be our growth engine. Instead we are going to have to change our ways–either manufacture useful things once again that sell here and abroad, or simple go into some other undefineable mode, and that may not necessarily be the dark ages again. The banks, hedge funds, and brokerages, and even corporations pilfered the profit out of the first stages of globalization. I think that is all that happened and human nature being what it is, which is to build and grow and explore and develop should take foothold again. God made a fundamentally optimistic human people with great growth potential. So there is that archetype or the one exposed by the dark human reverand. What are the odds of him being right after two million years of human evolution that endlessly presses foward?
March 8th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Well it saddens me to say this but I have the same feeling he does…I know many others that have this *gut* feeling of something is about to happen i.e. all he!! breaking loose….just like the ’60’s, only on a wider scale. I think that as soon as people realize the *One* isn’t going solve all their problems and in fact is actually going to make things worse then they will retaliate..and how do they do this? Same way they always have..violence, rioting looting etc.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I agree JoAnne – a lot of ppl feel that way. I worry about the fact that both Iran and North Korea are making open threats and testing missiles. Things happen so fast these days that we wouldn’t have time to prepare or even brace ourselves. Having a weak leader is disastrous.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
You wish. Then you can blame it on Obama.
Beth, the only think weak is your head.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
arch – dude – I’m trying to decipher what you wrote – ‘the only think weak is your head’? lol
hey arch – nobody WISHES any such thing. Some of us don’t see this as a ‘we won’ or ‘we lost’ situation. We see us as a country – not a democrat or republican party member. I know most dems just think its about winning and losing as a party. Most of the rest of us want the US to win – as a country.
But then, that kind of thinking takes some maturity and a clear head. I know that adolescents don’t see the bigger picture so well and we don’t expect them to. That’s part of being an adolescent.
You’ll understand it better when you get all grown up and move out on your own.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
If you two had just studied some inferential statistics in school you would see just how your emotional thinking doesn’t really reflect anything more than managed media inducing emotions for more eyeball time and higher advertising rates. North Korea actually wants raproachmant with the US as a bulwark against China and at the same time undergoing a leadership succession change. Iran is about to undergoe presidential elections soon and they are confused as to whether to really weoponize or try to engage the US again in rapproachmont with obama’s new take on things. The game is simply in play and a north korean or Iran missle is nothing but a whisp o willow compared to a trident mirved slbm even if they can ever get here. especially when dozens of them times up to 10 warheads face them in moveable submerged launchers. they know they are no match. Dont let the fear mentality overtake your reason. That already lost us 8 years of useful global opportunities in the bush presidency. Fear is out as a method of operation and looking for fresh opportunities to build on something positive is in.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Brian…you just gave me a headache…a whisp o what?
March 8th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
whisp of willow off a tree near swamp edges, looks like a tall reed with a tuft.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Oh…you mean like a Wisp-O-Willow…alrighty then.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:47 am
When this prophecy fails to come true, will any newspapers follow it up? Will David admit he was an idiot? Will the media mock him so severely that the next time some lunatic has an upsetting dream, he’ll think twice before issuing a Press Release?
March 9th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Religious Crackpot Foresees “About a Thousand” Fires in NYC…
Worry not, Christ followers, Mr. Wilkerson has the answer: STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. Wait, I have a better answer — put the damn fire out or run away!
……
March 9th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Be the prophecy true or false, the wise reaction is basically the same: be ready and prudent.
In the past, people warned about catastrophic events that actually happened. Christ was one for example, that spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem (and yes, he also talked about the end of the world), and told the multitudes to flee when they saw the city surrounded by troops. He did not specify a date, but almost 40 years later, it happened. Had it been a false prophecy, it took only a quick look over the walls every morning just in case.
The thing is, that every person has an appointment with a catastrophic event that should prompt each one of us to take a look at eternity, and prepare before it arrives. Of course, I am talking about death.
About Wilkerson, however,I would give a bit of more attention than usual to this prophecy though. Why? There are many reasons. Wilkerson preaches much more about holy daily living than about catastrophic events, and those messages are actually biblically solid. Second, it is not a mistery in the Bible that sin is punished, be it in a personal or national scale. And we have not been behaving very well as of late. And last, there are many other events that have been happening lately around Israel that indicate that something big might actually happen soon, just as the Bible predicts.
So, what should we do? As Jesus said, be wise and vigilant in prayer, living in holiness, because we don’t know when he will come, but it will be soon.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I, too, have seen the link you referenced listing a “boatload of prophecies…that did not come true.” That guy takes one or two statements he attributes to David Wilkerson (with no links to corroborating evidence) and gives his “evidence” that it did not come true. My thinking is this…if David Wilkerson has missed so many things so badly (and he did confess one incident where he was wrong because he responded out of his own fear) wouldn’t there be multitudes of evidence showing that he had? As we all know, our current society just loves it when a Christian leader “misses it.”
It is really easy to miss what God might be saying because we don’t want to hear it. Right or wrong, is it such a bad thing to be prepared not only in a physical sense but more so in a spiritual sense? Jesus said “my sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27)
March 9th, 2009 at 8:17 am
You don’t have to try hard to show Wilkinson is a failed prophet. The ‘New York on fire’ prophecy is the same one he’s been peddling for decades.
In case you don’t know, Wilkerson has a 30 year history of successfully publishing books based around his failed prophecies. Look in the discount bin at your local Christian store and you might find a copy of his 1970’s masterpiece ‘The Vision’. After reading it, you may agree that he is borderline psychotic, if not just prone to fabulism.
Has he ever published an apology? What about the families who grew up in perpetual fear, hoarding food for the coming apocalypse, because of this crackpot? I’m sure Wilkerson really helped the children of those fearful families have a great childhood and grow up to be well adjusted citizens.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:17 am
christy i am not a theologian. however i do know the scriptures say that a prophet is always right and if they are not, they are a false prophet. Deuteronomy 18:22
i think david wilkerson has done really good work for the kingdom. i think it is our job as christians to be aware and alert.
in regards to this specific prophecy we need to all pray it not to be true.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am
We bible in hand I can read the words of revelation and its end time supernatural calamities.
The woes of time are many, I’m sure that some faithful Christians do have a conscious and spiritual influence. War and rumors of war are always with us in this life. Gideon had irrefutable confirmation and so did John on the Island of Patmos.
What would or could precipitate such dangerous actions in our time? Muslim or religious terrorism have created such havoc in recent times, assassination of a popular figure would probably cause riots in the streets of America. If it is the time of God’s ordained end time scenario, we do not need to give credit to any one singular individual, who does not in my estimate represent a deputy authority of prophecy.
Sell what you have not what you do not have. The truths of the bible are not disputed, what is are man deviations or misaiming even if with good intention. Suppose you have 2 men of reknown speaking opposite philosophies of doom. Whom do you believe; I had a good God fearing friend who would tell me God told him the California is going to drop off because he had a dream about it. Even if it was true would God only speak to him and not confirm it through others. I don’t mean that he only told him to enlighten his knowledge, but as he was suppose to go out and heralded other to leave 20 years ago.
I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils my eyes,
And o’er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And every joy He sends me comes
A sweet and glad surprise.
Many will come in my name, how about many will come in my voice, or writings, or they will also come and tell of doom unauthorized. What say Ye!
March 9th, 2009 at 8:28 am
It seems that even we are so ready to espouse our views or dreams of predictions. What it really shows is that on who authority do you speak.
With bible in hand I can read the words of revelation and its end time supernatural calamities.
The woes of time are many, I’m sure that some faithful Christians do have a conscious and spiritual influence. War and rumors of war are always with us in this life. Gideon had irrefutable confirmation and so did John on the Island of Patmos.
What would or could precipitate such dangerous actions in our time? Muslim or religious terrorism have created such havoc in recent times, assassination of a popular figure would probably cause riots in the streets of America. If it is the time of God’s ordained end time scenario, we do not need to give credit to any one singular individual, who does not in my estimate represent a deputy authority of prophecy.
Sell what you have not what you do not have. The truths of the bible are not disputed, what is are man deviations or misaiming even if with good intention. Suppose you have 2 men of reknown speaking opposite philosophies of doom. Whom do you believe; I had a good God fearing friend who would tell me God told him the California is going to drop off because he had a dream about it. Even if it was true would God only speak to him and not confirm it through others. I don’t mean that he only told him to enlighten his knowledge, but as he was suppose to go out and heralded other to leave 20 years ago.
I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils my eyes,
And o’er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And every joy He sends me comes
A sweet and glad surprise.
Many will come in my name, how about many will come in my voice, or writings, or they will also come and tell of doom unauthorized. What say Ye!
repeated to correct former mistakes sorry. Even I error
March 9th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Firstly, the majority of people do not react well in mob situations – objectivity goes out the window; So however you want to explain it with statistics, your fancy hypothesis will fall apart in about 2 seconds once the riots start and it is every man for himself. Secondly, I do believe that hard times are ahead – and thankfully, I had the “gut” feeling about 6 months ago and started collecting what I consider essentials. Now as far as prophecy is concerned, Reverend Wilkerson appears to be legit – he can be judged by his “fruits” and he for one seems to be the real deal – no need to press any non-believer hard, since all of these things are foreign to them and their eyes are covered. Just continue on your merry way.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
We aren’t at Doomsday, yet…but you can see it from here.
Professor Michael T. Klare of Hampshire College and Human Rights has already received these references, thanked me, and stated: “I will examine them closely.” (“A Planet at the Brink. Will Economic
Brushfires Prove Too
Virulent to Contain?”)
David S. Mason, Professor of Political Science at Butler University in Indianapolis, has posted them on his personal blog. (“The End of the American Century”)
link to supportingdocumentation located here:
http://tinyurl.com/cmzt92
The ‘bibliography’ is ten pages long…and growing.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Regarding missed prophecy:
Scientifically – - observation affects the observed.
If you received a call that someone was about to break into your house; you would lock the doors and windows. When your “action� thwarts the burglar, was the caller wrong?
We do not know what “actions� may have transpired in response to modern-day prophecy that kept the prophecy from coming true. We could view the prophets as buffoons, or we could thank them for having the courage to speak what they are told, thus thwarting the calamity that they had prophesied.
The gift of prophecy would be somewhat neutered, if it was limited to foretelling and never resulted in saving us from impending doom.
Thank you Lord for the gifts.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:38 am
God works in credit default swaps?
March 10th, 2009 at 5:38 am
IN REGARD TO YOUR ARTICLE ON DAVID WILKERSON, I DO BELIEVE YOU ARE SINCERE, AND I PERCEIVE YOU ARE SAVED. FOR US IT DOES NOT MATTER IF WE DIE WE WILL LIVE WITH HIM FOR EVER.
I ONLY WRITE TO CAUTION YOU, THAT GOD DOES SEND PREFACE TO TURN THE WICKED TO REPENTANCE.
I DON’T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED TO WRITE THIS SAME ARTICLE IN THE DAY JOAN PROPHESIED TO THE WICKED PEOPLE OF NINEVEH, FOR THEN HEARTS MIGHT HAVE NOT TURNED, AND JOAN WOULD HAVE HIS PROPHECY FULFILLED. AND IN ALL FAIRNESS YOU DID LEAVE OUT ALL THE PROPHECIES OF DAVID WILKERSON THAT CAME TO PASS.
IN CHRIST
JON PINO
March 10th, 2009 at 10:04 am
God is never wrong. Whatever God promises will come tue. A prophet of God is suppose to be a person who is to speak the very words of God. We must be awful careful to not speak words that we claim are the words of God when in fact they are nothing more than our gut feelings. God’s written word speaks for itself and only reveals that which mankind needs to know. The times and hour of God’s actions are His and His alone. His knowledge is revealed to us in small amounts as we need it and as He chooses. When we speak claiming to know God’s will and purposes, we must be very careful because if we are wrong we do a great disservice to the work of Christ here on earth. Pastor Wilkerson has spoken a number of times claiming to speak words that God has revealed to him and those things have not come true. When a prophet of God speaks the words of God, it will happen. That shows the credibility of the prophet. I feel that Pastor Wilkerson is a godly man but should not speak as if speaking the very words of God.
March 10th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Lots of different prophets are predicting the same thing… Apparently 09 is time for the Judgemant of God. Orr at least a lifting of His grace for a season..
March 11th, 2009 at 12:52 am
God does still judge nations as well as individuals. I cannot say if David Wilkerson is truly inspired or a false prophet preying on peoples’ fears. But I do agree with him that God has judged America. God has also judged her inhabitants and found them far beneath contempt. And so, He will make them suffer sorely before He destroys America…No matter how much the economy might seem to improve between now and late summer, this year will end with worse news than it began with. Pundits and experts will no longer refrain from admitting that America and the remainder of our world’s nations have slipped into a depression–a very deep depression. Next year (2010) will be horrible–like the 1930s crammed into one year. Beware of next year’s season of the Lion (late July through early August). America has never experienced the woes that shall plague her then and America’s proud inhabitants will begin to realize that history has turned against them and their nation. As bad as things will then seem, though, America’s problems will only get worse and worse, and worse, and worse until…In her 237th year, she shall suffer a fatal blow. The wrath of the Great Bear of the North and the Dragon of the East will turn America into a vast wasteland. Before then, social strife, political turmoil, cultural upheval, famines, plagues, floods, hail storms, cyclones, heat waves, conflagrations, droughts, and blizzards will never cease tormenting America’s inhabitants. A multisided civil war will rip her apart–and those peoples of the Earth who love America the most will suffer the most. More than a few nations will fall with her. Russia also will not escape desolation. But China will survive and become more menacing than ever…In the aftermath of America’s death throes, the Antichrist and False Prophet will pick up America’s banner and rally the peoples of Europe to create their Empire of Infamy….