(CBN News)
Rev. David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, and author of the well-known book The Cross and the Switchblade, was killed Wednesday in a head-on collision in Texas. He was 79.
It appears that there is a connection between Wilkerson and the New Apostolic Reformation, but it was clearly against it. He believed in the Pretribulation rapture. In the following video, he talks about false manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
(YouTube link)
In one of his articles, he talks about witchcraft in the Church:
"When the Lord showed me the kind of witchcraft present in the church today, it shook my soul. It is revealed in 1 Samuel 15:22-23: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."I think Wilkerson knew more about what was happening in the Church than most of us realize.
The Bible describes here a witchcraft far more dangerous than the occult. It controls more pastors and congregations than any other kind of demonic influence. It is rebellion against the Word of God! Don't be quick to sit back and relax, thinking, "Thank God, that can't possibly mean me. I'm not rebellious against Gods Word. I love the Word. I'm walking in obedience!"
That's what I thought, too. But then God convicted me of the dangers of falling under the spell of this witchcraft! He showed me the seed of its beginnings -- exactly what erupted in the Garden of Eden! We all have the seed of this sin. In fact, you may unknowingly be under the influence of this evil charm.
Jesus gives us a parable that exposes this witchcraft! I've read the parable of the evil husbandmen many times. I've prayed over it. But not until now have I seen in it the witchcraft that Jesus was exposing... You see, this parable (Matthew 21: 33-41) is about how a people of God can become bewitched by the devil and end up totally possessed by an anti-Christ spirit. Christ was talking here of a most powerful form of witchcraft -- rebellion against the truth!
Here is the Key to this parable: "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance" (verse 38). That is the devil speaking! "Let us create rebellion against the Son! Let us crucify Him! We will take control!"
It is true that when the Pharisees heard this parable, "they perceived that he spake of them" (verse 45). But Jesus is also speaking to His church! In Hebrews 6:5, we find a people who "have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come...." They have rebelled against that good Word they heard, and as a result, "they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (verse 6).
Who is crucifying Christ over and over again, putting Him to open shame before the whole world? Are they witches? Satanists? Homosexuals? Murderers? No! They are those who heard, tasted and partook of the true Word of God -- and then allowed a spirit of rebellion to take root! Satan moved in, and they ended up possessed -- crucifying Christ!
Believer, I tell you on the authority of God's Word that as long as you have this spirit of rebellion in you, it is impossible for God to revive or renew you! "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost...if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance" (verse 4,6).
I believe this means that repentance has no effect whatsoever in those who are in rebellion against the Word![1]
