Why does this teaching matter?
In 'The False Gospel of Prosperity,' Wilkerson warned that Satan's most effective strategy is not attacking the church from without, but corrupting it from within through a false gospel of self, prosperity, and success. He described prosperity preachers as 'pillow prophets' — those who offered only comfort and never correction. He noted preachers who 'have no burden for repentance, don't preach against sin, and offer blessings without sorrow.' He said he would 'shudder to think of standing before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, having preached that kind of a message.' The prosperity gospel replaces the cross with the credit card, repentance with 'positive thinking,' and holiness with happiness.
What did David Wilkerson teach?
"Right now, these false doctrines of Satan are prevailing in the church in many areas. Multitudes of God's people are walking to conventions and meetings to hear this other gospel. This gospel of self and prosperity and success. The gospel of the flesh is riding high in the church."
Speaker: David Wilkerson
Source: David Wilkerson, 'The False Gospel of Prosperity' sermon, Times Square Church — sermonindex.net
What does Scripture confirm?
Galatians 1:6-9
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed."
— NKJV
Paul pronounced a CURSE — anathema — on anyone preaching a different gospel. The prosperity gospel IS a different gospel. The true gospel is about the cross, self-denial, repentance, and Christ's suffering. The prosperity gospel is about money, success, health, and self-fulfillment. There is no middle ground: you either preach Christ's cross or Satan's lie.
Luke 6:24-26
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets."
— NKJV
Jesus pronounced WOE on the rich, the satisfied, and those whom everyone speaks well of — and compared them to FALSE PROPHETS! Prosperity preachers live in wealth, are 'satisfied' with worldly goods, and surrounded by admirers. They fulfill every criterion in Jesus' woes. Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen — all live in extreme wealth while preaching that God wants YOU to be rich.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
— NKJV
We live in the time Paul prophesied: people who CANNOT ENDURE sound doctrine and gather teachers who tickle their ears. The prosperity gospel is the perfect 'tickle' — it says exactly what the carnal heart wants to hear: you deserve wealth, God wants you to succeed, your poverty is due to lack of faith. Wilkerson's warning was prophetic: 'The gospel of the flesh is riding high in the church.'
James 5:1-3
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you."
— NKJV
James' warning to the rich is terrifying: their wealth will testify AGAINST them. Prosperity preachers accumulate wealth and call it 'God's blessing' — but James calls it 'fire that devours flesh.' A speaker at a Copeland conference bragged about his $15,000 dog, $32,000 ring, and 8,000 square-foot house he was selling to buy a BIGGER house. THAT is prosperity theology in practice.