Author, Simon.
Published, March 12, 2009.
An American preacher, David Wilkerson, has made a bizarre prophetic statement on his blog. Here’s a snippet:
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.
Read the rest here. Then read on.
This seems whacky to me, but he is, from all reports a Godly man. It appears he is inclined towards over-the-top eschatology and catastrophic warnings, which immediately makes me suspicious. I tend to be cynical at the best of times. However, he is being very serious.
So, what is an appropriate response? John Piper, on the Desiring God blog, has some words of advice about how to respond, which are worth considering.
so you won’t be buying 30 days of groceries?
oh wait it’s ok, you don’t live in New York :)
but by the way, it strikes me that ‘words from God’, by all accounts throughout the Bible, are generally ‘odd’.
Well good luck to the people who live in new york then…
Whilst I don’t agree with Wilkerson’s prophecy, I don’t think that it necessary a problem if it is extra-Biblical. The Bible itself speaks of people prophecying in a different time to when it was written. So, whilst prophecy itself is Biblical, its contents (future events, etc) are not supposed to be found explicity stated in the Bible. Prophetic words are therefore notoriously difficult to test. However, prophecy has had less to do with foretelling the future and more to do with a moral commentary of the times.
For example, the knowledge that a foreign power was coming to conquer your land was not a special insight that a Prophet of old had. Anyone who kept up to date with current affairs could tell you that. Rather, it was the prophet’s job to explain why it was happening - why God would allow such a thing to occur.
So, I like Piper’s criticism but I don’t think he addresses the issue directly. It would be far easier to go with your intuition and say that Wilkerson’s prophecy is false, but that would be throwing the baby out with bath water if you wanted to believe in true prophecy. Only time will tell. For the moment, as with most prophecies of this nature, it is impossible to verify and is thus resilient to criticism.
I just realised that I am probably over-analysing everything I come across lately and being a bit too philosophical. My apologies.
hahah i’m loving it :)
I find with this kind of thing that people are expected to care more than they actually need to. I’d explain more thouroughly but I don’t think it needs or deserves my efforts. But none the less this is just another example of people thinking that fear is a good way to get people to do something, to learn or to care. I just hope that America doesn’t bleed into other cultures.
Now Adam you don’t have to feel bad for thinking too hard :P
Kathryn; I’m beginning to think that McDonalds is paying you to say that…
I know I said that thing about america like it was there fault and it’s that it’s not already happening in other places. Didn’t mean it like that, just that America is a prime example of the weserner’s love of using fear as a lubricator. Ok brain, shut up now.
Fear as motivation? Who ever heard of such a thing!!? Certainly only exists it backward cultures - not ours.
Speaking of manipulation, it reminded me of those crappy (I would love to use other more offensive language here) bulk emails you get about not spending enough time with God or something. And then putting on the biggest guilt trip if you don’t send it on to 10 of your friends. Makes me so angry. SO ANGRY!
!!! YES!
*Does an angry dance*
The prophetic office in the bible is as much about forthtelling as it is about foretelling. That is to say, the prophets ALWAYS had a “moral commentary” (Adam, see above). i.e. This is why you are in this mess, please repent and turn to me, or if you do not—
It does strike me that this prophecy has no implications. While reserving my judgment, I will not be at all surprised if nothing eventuates. Jesus Christ does not worry for my body, and that is the only consideration given. Prophecy is hard to hear, because it requires action.
Adam, “a bit too philosophical”? This is GREYLEADS! Hopefully a premise and a place to think, and to be thinking. In any case, I agree.
Who approved Trent’s message? Sorry Trent if you are a real person, but it looks like your comment is spam.
Thanks everyone. This is a good discussion, and has caused quite a stir!
Holly and Kathryn, you probably have the best approach of all of us!
Adam, while I agree that prophecy can be extra-biblical (and it really must be), I think there is a way of measuring the words against the ones we already have from God. Piper suggests that the ‘advice’ that Wilkerson receives from God seems rather out of character. This is, in my view, a wise way of analysing it. There have also been plenty of prophecies in the past (probably most prophecies) which have gone by without a whimper. I suppose that’s why I find it hard to believe this one.
Roger, the prophetic office descrption is telling. This prophecy has no moral commentary. Simply the foretelling of doom.
Anyway, it’s all very interesting. I’m having fun reading everyon’s responses.
I think God’s character is diverse enough to accommodate what Wilkerson has prophesied. Hypothetically, if what Wilkerson has foretold comes to pass, Piper being the Calvinist he is would have trouble denying that Wilkerson’s prophecy was from God. And it is at least possible that what he has said will come to pass, even though it’s quite improbable. Mind you, there are mentions of some prophets in the Old Testament saying ‘woe to those false prophets who prophecy disaster’. But some of those ‘real prophets’ on occassion prophesied disaster. When it comes to prophecy in the Bible it does not seem to be clear at all. There are multiple ways of interpreting them, and multiple ways of testing them. If they were specific we would have a clearer idea of which are correct and which are false.
Mmm, I feel slightly awkward for Wilkerson. I have once in a blue moon had a look at David’s thoughts over the years. He was a champion with The Cross and The Switchblade.
This is not the first time he has encouraged people to store up food and grow everything yourselves because of coming calamity. I remember it was huge in the early 80s.
I understand Pipers response, and I wasn’t surprised he would respond in this way.
When reading Wilkersons notes, It did seem to smell of American dramatics. I know the bible is quite dramatic, but why is it only happening in America? What about us shmucks in Australia, why can’t we get a bit of the ol Judgement and Fire….. it reads like and American Movie, all the good stuff happens to America.. Aliens, Natural Disasters
yeah, I tend to feel the same way you guys do too- but I keep thinking of a couple of parts of ‘Cross and the Switchblade’ and run baby run where DW was this small time preacher from a small town who had this ‘Word from God’ to Go to the Big Apple and he would make a difference- it was a hugely brave move- the story of Nicki Cruz holding a knife to DW (who at the time was a cold-blooded killer- Dw didnt’ back down and it payed off.
I’m not sure DW is saying that it’s only going to happen to America- but in his defence NY and America IS where he is based- so little wonder he seems pre-occupied with it.