David Wilkerson

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Has anyone ever heard of David Wilkerson? I was sent a “prediction” he has recently made about an “earth shattering calamity” that is about to happen. I am told he is a well known Christian evangelists. Just curious if any one has heard of him.

Also, what is his reputation within Protestant circles?

God bless

 

[mystified]

Don’t know much about him in recent years, or that he is “recognized as a kind of prophet,” but he first gained fame fora book, “The Cross and the Switchblade”, decades ago.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Don’t know much about him in recent years, or that he is “recognized as a kind of prophet,” but he first gained fame fora book, “The Cross and the Switchblade”, decades ago.

Thanks. I have not heard of his book.

I am guessing he is recognized as a prophet by those who follow him, but is this a fringe group or does he represent a large portion of evangelicalism?

God bless

 

[Hisalone]

Wilkerson is well respected.

I dont know his record as prophet. Ido know he started his ministry working amoung gang memebers in NYC and grew his church with work amoung the homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, alcoholics a gang members.

 

[Auriel]

He is respected even if all do not agree with his theology. His most famous work with gangs may be found in the story of Nicky Cruz. nickycruz.org/about/nicky_story/

Here is a portion:

Nicky was only 3-1/2 years old when his heart turned to stone. As one of 18 children born to witchcraft-practicing parents from Puerto Rico, bloodshed and mayhem were common occurrences in his life. He suffered severe physical and mental abuse at their hands, at one time being declared the “Son of Satan” by his mother while she was in a spiritual trance.

When he was 15, Nicky’s father sent him to visit an older brother in New York. Nicky didn’t stay with his brother long. Instead, full of anger and rage, he chose to make it on his own.

Tough, but lonely, by age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became their president. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the gangs most dreaded by rivals and police. Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence, his life took a tragic turn for the worse after a friend and fellow gang member was horribly stabbed and beaten and died in Nicky’s arms.

As Cruz’ reputation grew, so did his haunting nightmares. Arrested countless times, a court-ordered psychiatrist pronounced Nicky’s fate as “headed to prison, the electric chair, and hell.”

No authority figure could reach Cruz - until he met a skinny street-preacher named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky - showing him something he’d never known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously threatened his life, yet the love of God remained - stronger than any adversary Nicky had ever encountered.

Finally, Wilkerson’s presentation of the gospel message and the love of Jesus melted the thick walls of his heart. Nicky received the forgiveness, love and new life that can only come through Jesus. Since then, he has dedicated that life to helping others find the same freedom.

He reaches today’s youth because they relate to his background, trust his peer authority, and respond to the message of hope he delivers with both passion and conviction. As one kid said after an outreach into his neighborhood, “All I knew was he was an O.G. (original gangster) and he was having this big meeting tonight.”

“These kids are young, hardened criminals who don’t respond to parents, teachers, or the jail system. They receive a glorified message of gang activity everyday in rap music, television, and films. They need to hear a different message - and they need to hear it now! They come to our ‘invasions’ looking for an alternative to the hopeless cycle of drug abuse, alcoholism, and violence. We must offer them an alternative source of security than the one they find in the gangs. They won’t surrender to authority figures that have let them down all their lives. But, believe it or not, they will respond to a message about God if it comes from others who have survived their same living hell.”

• Cruz

Wilkerson as far as I know is not one of those preachers that weekly predicts Doom and Gloom. With all the work he has done he believes in hope. So this is a bit rare for him.

But I must say, he is not the only one to feel darkness falling. Since the 90’s many people of all religions have felt this coming. Even my normally Positive Energy, One with the Universe New Age friends and the 2012’rs feel it. My friends who are spiritually sensitive feel a heaviness approaching as well. It is not just in the physical world.

I feel it too, chaos in every city because our market is collapsing. What will happen to the people who depend on government care? I can see how riots would occur. I do not believe it is the end of things though, but a new beginning. America will still exist just not as it was. It does not take a rocket scientist to see what is happening even now. It is on the news every day. Our market is affecting even China.

People do strange things to survive when their safety net is ripped away and they are hungry, most do not understand that, thinking humanity is too civilized for anarchy.

I am not a church person and call me crazy but you know? I can also see this as being a positive thing too, many may respond to a message of Hope during this time. Another reason I do not believe in all the rapture stuff like my friends. Why would God take all his kids out at a time when he needs them the most here?

 

[ron77nyc]

Has anyone ever heard of David Wilkerson? I was sent a “prediction” he has recently made about an “earth shattering calamity” that is about to happen. I am told he is a well known Christian evangelists. Just curious if any one has heard of him.

Also, what is his reputation within Protestant circles?

God bless

David Wilkerson has a thriving church in midtown manhattan. He is very well respected and has an excellent team of ministers at his church. You can go to his website tscnyc.org/ to hear what they teach and learn all about him.
Also try worldchallenge.org/ and here him on youtube.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Thanks guys. Greatly appreciated.

Like I said his news letter was saying of a coming disaster and that everyone should go out and buy a 30 day supply of food and when it hits to wait it out. I was just curious who he was.

God bless

 

[Le_Cracquere]

Nothing personal against Rev. Wilkerson, who’s a brick of a fellow in many ways and devoted to God (whatever Catholics think about his understanding of God). However, he’s been “prophesying” one societal/religious disaster after another since the early '70s. I distinctly recall a remaindered paperback of his among my mother’s effects called “The Prophecy,” written in the mid-1970s. If I remember correctly, by the '80s there would be no more American government and we would be living in something like a combination of Caligula and The Road Warrior. (And I must confess to you, my brethren: as a teenaged boy, I had grave difficulties in considering such a possibility not to be awesome.)

Still, I’d take Wilkerson’s considerable good (charity, evengelical outreach), and pass by the questionable (where this country/world’s headed).

 

[joshua1]

I also think that things are going to happen in America. Whether or not they are apocalyptic, well, I cant say, but I do think that the world is only reaping what it has sown. Here in America, the free expression of worship is being oppresed, women are ripping their young out of their wombs in the name of birth control and science, homosexual unions or so called marriages are diminishing the family. Greed and I WANT IT NOW have taken over our financial system and economy. Pornography and filth are being protected as free speech. Human beings in our world have become their own little gods, saying I DECIDE whats best for me. Humanism and new ageism have taken over our colleges and universities, even our catholic ones or so called catholic ones. America has elected the most anti-life president in the history of our nation. Gee, and I wonder where is God in all this? He is only letting us reap what we sow. So these events may or not be apocalyptic, but I do think that God is going to bring america to its knees, or we will bring ourselves to our knees. As in the days of Noah…

 

[Vanny]

I have a lot of respect for David Wilkerson. He’s the inspiration behind the movie “The Cross and the Switchblade” about taking the gospel to the gangs of New York.
He runs a church right out of New York in Times square-ministering to the poor,homeless, drug addicts, ect.
He’s been predicting an economic holocaust for years as judgement against abortion, and all forms of Godlessness in recent years.

 

[Through_Him]

Has anyone ever heard of David Wilkerson? I was sent a “prediction” he has recently made about an “earth shattering calamity” that is about to happen. I am told he is a well known Christian evangelists. Just curious if any one has heard of him.

Also, what is his reputation within Protestant circles?

God bless

We went to a rivival/rally/ movie way back when we were about 25 years old. It was the movie cross and switchblade in 75 we saw it. Him and Nicky were doing the circuit with the movie. It was quite a testamony. Nicky was a quite abused child. I see the wikipedia doesn’t say a lot about it. His mother locked him in a shed for many days at time. He was so messed up. I believe David Wilkerson was very young also. He came into Nicky Cruses life and gave him a love that he needed. Became a real father figure. David Wilkerson is sort of like a Father Flannegan. But they seemed to form a real holiness type group. It seemed like it has taken an AofG faith. Within the last 5 years I saw Nicky at a AofG church and it was an interesting speach. He seemed upset about his daughters and life was just as chaotic for him as ever. Well I have left all that behind me. They are in the catagory of the left behind series etc. I don’t think I would take it all too serious.

 

[Contarini]

Wilkerson as far as I know is not one of those preachers that weekly predicts Doom and Gloom. With all the work he has done he believes in hope.

That’s not true. In 1985 he published a book called Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth which predicted that America would be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. This is old hat for him.

He’s a very conservative Pentecostal. Most evangelicals know of his work with inner-city youth and respect him for it, but don’t actually read his other stuff. Obviously some do–my point is that many more people know about the *Cross and the Switchblade *(though I’m not sure it’s as popular as it was in the 80s).

Edwin

 

[Through_Him]

I didn’t get back right away but I also wanted to say. When Nicky Cruz was at the AofG about 5 years ago he also spoke of reconciling with his mother and he did so before she died. She did die shortly after that and unfortunatlely many do wait till someone is on their death door. He said it was very hard to forgive her and to ask for forgiveness for the things he did. This is a big push by this church as of right now. My question is if he was carrying around this resentment for so many years and unforgiveness yet he was preaching and acting as a holy minister of the youth it just doesn’t connect. Wouldn’t something like this cloud his judgement and witness. Well that is just my opinion on the matter.

 

[Auriel]

That’s not true. In 1985 he published a book called Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth which predicted that America would be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. This is old hat for him.

He’s a very conservative Pentecostal. Most evangelicals know of his work with inner-city youth and respect him for it, but don’t actually read his other stuff. Obviously some do–my point is that many more people know about the *Cross and the Switchblade *(though I’m not sure it’s as popular as it was in the 80s).

Edwin

Actually I had forgotten that the Cross and the Switchblade existed. I had to read it for a book report years ago.

And as for his quantity of predictions, BY many standards that **IS **conservative!

The ones I hear of now, and some of the Charismatics seem to predict destruction and Judgments by God weekly!

Of course no one mentions it when it does not come to pass.

My friends try to get me to listen all the time, to be prepared maybe. I do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture re: Left Behind. That makes me the odd ball who has not seen the error of her ways. hehehehe. Oh well…at least we can agree to disagree. I pointed out that there is no commandment to believe in a pre trib rapture.

With Wilkerson’s though…there are lots of people feeling the same way that are of different faiths, even New Age. So it was shocking to see it spelled out like that by someone. I can’t say it will be by fire. But I do believe there will be chaos of some sort, and not just in new york.

Something is amiss, not just the economy. It is like an oppressive heaviness, a spiritual darkening in the air.

 

[Contarini]

Actually I had forgotten that the Cross and the Switchblade existed. I had to read it for a book report years ago.

And as for his quantity of predictions, BY many standards that **IS **conservative!

The ones I hear of now, and some of the Charismatics seem to predict destruction and Judgments by God weekly!

Of course no one mentions it when it does not come to pass.

My friends try to get me to listen all the time, to be prepared maybe. I do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture re: Left Behind. That makes me the odd ball who has not seen the error of her ways. hehehehe. Oh well…at least we can agree to disagree. I pointed out that there is no commandment to believe in a pre trib rapture.

With Wilkerson’s though…there are lots of people feeling the same way that are of different faiths, even New Age. So it was shocking to see it spelled out like that by someone. I can’t say it will be by fire. But I do believe there will be chaos of some sort, and not just in new york.

Something is amiss, not just the economy. It is like an oppressive heaviness, a spiritual darkening in the air.

Well, from my perspective it can be explained this way: conservative Christians have been pampered for eight years, and they lost big last November. Those of them (you? us?) who think apocalyptically naturally are going to interpret this change in the political climate in apocalyptic terms. I think it’s a good thing for conservative Christians to be reminded that they aren’t the lords of the universe just yet, and it’s good for everyone’s soul that they aren’t.

Making apocalyptic predictions because things aren’t going your way looks disturbingly like a temper tantrum to me. But I recognize that if I were more thoroughly in sympathy with the political views that prompt these predictions, I might grant them more dignity.

Edwin

 

[ron77nyc]

Well, from my perspective it can be explained this way: conservative Christians have been pampered for eight years, and they lost big last November. Those of them (you? us?) who think apocalyptically naturally are going to interpret this change in the political climate in apocalyptic terms. I think it’s a good thing for conservative Christians to be reminded that they aren’t the lords of the universe just yet, and it’s good for everyone’s soul that they aren’t.

Making apocalyptic predictions because things aren’t going your way looks disturbingly like a temper tantrum to me. But I recognize that if I were more thoroughly in sympathy with the political views that prompt these predictions, I might grant them more dignity.

Edwin

David Wilkerson is not political, pampered of having a temper tantrum. Do you know anything about him?

 

[Auriel]

Well, from my perspective it can be explained this way: conservative Christians have been pampered for eight years, and they lost big last November. Those of them (you? us?) who think apocalyptically naturally are going to interpret this change in the political climate in apocalyptic terms. I think it’s a good thing for conservative Christians to be reminded that they aren’t the lords of the universe just yet, and it’s good for everyone’s soul that they aren’t.

Making apocalyptic predictions because things aren’t going your way looks disturbingly like a temper tantrum to me. But I recognize that if I were more thoroughly in sympathy with the political views that prompt these predictions, I might grant them more dignity.

Edwin

I would not call myself a pampered conservative. I could not stand Bush…

I did not vote for McCain, neither did I vote for Obama. I both objected and exercised my right to vote by writing in a name that shall go unnamed.

I do not see Wilkerson as the temper tantrum throwing type. I mean he is nothing like that one at ORU who said God would kill him if he did not get a Million dollars, or something to that affect.

Now I do agree that there are those people who already have the mindset. seeing the world in apocalyptic terms, It has been that way since the beginning. But in the here and now, that explanation does not cover the full spectrum.

Too many of my Love and Light friends feel the same way. And it is not 2012 they are talking about. They sense something coming down, a darkness. Time to pay, of course to them we pay for other reasons. To them, there is not as much Light now. lol

Not that it is funny, but you know.

Well, still love them.

 

[Contarini]

David Wilkerson is not political, pampered of having a temper tantrum. Do you know anything about him?

I admit that I know a lot more about people who read his books than I do about him. And I know a lot more about his former colleague Leonard Ravenhill than I do Wilkerson.

I’m not claiming that Wilkerson is political in the sense of being actively involved in politics. I’m claiming that Wilkerson would see the events of last year as a plunge into darkness for America. I agree that some of my language was unfair–I’m sure Wilkerson wasn’t all sunny and gung-ho over Bush. But I would bet any reasonable amount of money that he saw Obama’s election as a decisive turn toward the darkness for America, and it’s logical to suspect that this might have influenced the kinds of messages he was disposed to receive from God, and/or to believe himself to be receiving.

Edwin

 

[InCatholicTruth]

Unfortunately David Wilkerson has historically made some anti-Catholic statements. In one of his books from the 80’s (I believe it was Racing Toward Judgement), Wilkerson, in his “prophecy” demanded that Catholics who truly love Jesus “come out of that Mary-worshipping Catholic Church”.

I’m a recent covert to the Catholic faith after having spent nearly 20 years in various forms of fundamental-evangelicalism, including several years in “AoG”-type churches. Make no mistake about it, Wilkerson does much good in the name of Jesus. However, I believe from years of exposure to his writings that the good David Wilkerson would have us Catholics “get saved the old fashion” way at his evangelical altar.

He and indeed most in the AoG deny and at times even rail against a number of key Catholic doctrines and out-and-out reject the legitimate Apostolic authority of Rome and our Holy Father. In place of this, they enthrone Sola Scriptura, “private judgement”, and host of other protestant fallacies.

I doubt seriously if Wilkerson would be impressed or in agreement with any Catholic who stood up for our understanding of salvation through the ministry of Christ in His visible Apostolic Church and its inextricable connection to the 7 Sacraments as the norm for the Christian life. Therefore, in accordance with Trent, I’d say he could be on pretty shaky ground -especially consider the role of “authoritative prophet” that he’s often cast in.

ICT