[Following are excerpts from David Wilkerson as reported in a recent newsletter, dated 12/10/01, from World Challenge, Inc., containing a word from the Lord about the future:]

Recently in Times Square Church, a holy hush came over the congregation. There wasn't a sound; only a profound sense of God's presence filled the place. In that awesome quiet, the Holy Spirit came upon me and I was moved to give the following prophetic word:

"Very fearful times are just ahead! Even now, while the nation and the city are still in fear, there are great calamities still to come to America. I warn you because I love you, and I want you to draw near to Me.

"When you hear these things you are not to fear. My Word says men's hearts shall fail them for fear. But when you see these sudden things coming upon the nation and upon this city, you are not to fear; you are to run to Me in your mind and in your heart. Immediately run to Me and My embrace, because I will keep you. I will hold you safe in My arms, if you will come in confidence and faith in Me and be not afraid.

"This will be your testimony in the days ahead: That around you on the job, on the subways, everywhere you go, people are literally going to break down and weep and cry, "Why, why, why?" Even now they do so. But you are not to cry, "Why?" You are to say, "Even so, come Lord Jesus."

"So be not afraid! More, much more, is to come - - frightening the whole world. But My people will rise up in faith. And I promise that if you will trust Me, I will keep you from the wicked one. I will keep you from the spirit of this age. I will send angels to walk with you and to guard you. And no weapon formed against you shall prosper."

I ask you to do as I am doing: I am keeping this short message near at hand to read and re-read when the warning is fulfilled. I have been warning about the economy and about riots coming to our major cities, all the result of economic problems. I am not wanting to scare people. I personally dread what I see coming. But please hear me: Our greatest problem goes beyond terrorism. America's number-one problem is not another terrorist attack, though that is very posible. It is the looming financial disasters that will follow a short false promise of a stock-market boom.

Let me say it again: Diligently pray that President Bush will be given the spirit and godly zeal of Josiah, the king of Israel who turned a godless society back to God. If President Bush touches Israel - - if he allows the Palestinians to have a portion of Jerusalem as their capital - - we are doomed. We will soon be in the worst depression in history.

If America gets victory in Afghanistan, our leaders must publicly give God the credit and not our armed might, or great judgments will fall upon us. I fear it will end with a ticker-tape parade down Broadway for our generals, as happened after the Gulf War. The message of the prophecy God gave me is DO NOT FEAR. He will keep us through unemployment. And He will go with us through every kind of calamity. We are to trust Him.

Love in Christ, His bondservant,

David Wilkerson