THE "D" DREAM CONTINUES: "D" IS FOR DEPARTURE

"D" IS FOR DEPARTURE

Larry Grecu

Baker, Florida

April 8, 2015
 

For those of you who are not familiar with the "D" dream I had on March 17th, feel free to visit my new blog, http://asinthedaysofnoahandlot.blogspot.com/, where you will find the dream recorded. Today, I am going to continue with the revelation the Lord is giving me on this dream by discussing the subject of "D" is for DEPARTURE. I must admit that the first thing I thought of when I had this revelation is that this "D" for departure must refer to the rapture or catching away of the Church. But, apparently, the Lord had some other things to say related to this letter/word that I had never really given thought to.

But, first, let me explain how this part of the dream began to unfold. Last week, I received an email from a friend of mine in the south of the county I live in. The email contained a very disturbing video involving a coming calamity that will have catastrophic consequences internationally. According to the video, international governments appear to have knowledge of a coming catastrophe that they do not want the general population to know about so as to avert widespread panic. So, over the next two days as I was thinking about the video's message, I kept thinking about the "D" dream as it related to disasters, disease, dying, and death. On Monday morning (4/6), I went for a walk to pray and get alone with the Lord to see what He had to say to me. It did not take long for Him to speak. He simply told me to keep on doing what He had called me to do. Keep on warning. Keep on writing. Keep on waiting. And, as I began waiting on him on Monday morning, He began opening up to me what He wanted revealed about the word departure.

To my surprise, the Lord spoke to me that there is a theme of departure that runs throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. I am going to list what the Lord gave to me so that in your leisure, you can read about some of these departures. I am sure you could probably add to this list, so feel free. But, above all, please consider the Scriptures that I give at the end of this blog regarding specific warnings tied to the word departure. Here is the list the Lord gave me. You will notice that not all of these departures are positive in nature.

Adam and Eve - departure from God and from the Garden of Eden; departure of Enoch; departure of the World Population from God in days of Noah; departure of Noah and his family via the Ark; departure of Nimrod and the descendants of Noah at Babel; departures in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (good and bad); departure of Lot and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah; departure of Joseph from Canaan through betrayal by his brothers; departure of Joseph's father and brothers from Canaan; departure of Moses from Egypt to Midian; departure of Moses from Midian to Egypt; departure of Moses and Children of Israel, with Joseph's bones, from Egypt; departure from the Living God in the Wilderness; departures of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses; departure of Judges in Israel, resulting in departures from God; departures of Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha; departure of Israel from the Word of God; departure of Israel into Assyria; departure of Judah into Babylonian Captivity; departure of Ezra and Nehemiah from Babylon; departure of Mary and Joseph during census; departure of Wise Men via a star on one hand and a dream on the other; departure of Jesus into Egypt as a child; departure of Jesus from Egypt to Nazareth; departure of Jesus from earth; departure of the Holy Spirit from Heaven; departure of apostles Peter and Paul in death; departure of Jews from Israel in Diaspora; departure of the Early Church from SOUND doctrine; departure from Light and descent into Dark Ages; departure from God-given restraints in the Last Days; and departure of the Bride.

As you can see, this is a study in itself. But, today I want to hone in on some Scriptures that the Lord gave me specifically for the word departure.

First is 2 Timothy 2:19.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

"Every one who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity. Those who would have the comfort of the privilege must make conscience of the duty. If the name of Christ be called upon us, we must depart from iniquity, else he will not own us; he will say in the great day (Matt. 7:23), Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity. Observe, (1.) Whatever errors are introduced into the church, the foundation of God standeth sure, his purpose can never be defeated. (2.) God hath some in the church who are his and whom he knows to be his. (3.) Professing Christians name the name of Christ, are called by his name, and therefore are bound to depart from iniquity; for Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, Titus 2:14" (Matthew Henry's Commentary).

The second Scripture is Philippians 1:21-30.

Philippians 1:21-30 (KJV) - Paul's desire for departure from this present life

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Paul's time of departure from this life had not yet arrived. From this observation, the Lord spoke to me that there are many who have had a real experience of Heaven, and they know that to depart and be with Christ is far better than "living" in this world. However, they know that it is not the time of their departure. There are other aspects of their calling that have not yet been fulfilled. In this day and hour, we are either faced with persecution or coming persecution, and we live daily with the threat of terrorism. However, the Lord has left some of His disciples for such a time as this, disciples who know that "they shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith" in the midst of suffering and conflict. These men and women will be examples to us all of what true discipleship is: following the Master, the Lamb, wherever He leads and wherever He goes.

The third Scripture the Lord gave was all of I Timothy 4. However, I want to quote, in particular, verses 1 and 16.

1 Timothy 4:1,16 (KJV)

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils . . . 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

In the first verse, it is not just anyone speaking. It is the Spirit of God Himself warning us ahead of time what is coming and is now upon us in these "latter times." People - one time people of faith - are departing from the faith. We are seeing this all around us. But, we are to give heed to ourselves, examine ourselves to see that we are still in the faith. We are to give heed to the doctrine of Christ, and not just give heed to the doctrine(s), but continue in them. How few do we see about us who are heeding these warnings! The time of great delusion is fast approaching, and if you are standing on the shifting sands of man's traditions and man's doctrines, your house will collapse as the storms come. If we are going to save ourselves and others, we must build a firm foundation upon the doctrines of the apostles and prophets.

Paul had not failed to warn the early Church and the Church of the latter days! But, the day came when the Lord told him and he told others that his departure was at hand.

In scripture number four we find these words:

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (KJV)

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

In this scripture, Paul reminds Timothy that Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom! How easily we forget these words, these final words of the departing man of God. Judgment is coming, but in the meantime, we must be instant in season and out; we must reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine! We are living in the time when people do not want to hear the truth, even truth given by a man who is departing this life and warning of a departure of others from the faith.

This apostle Paul gave another serious warning of events that would occur after his departure. In the fifth Scripture, Paul tells the elders from the church at Ephesus:

Acts 20:27-31 (KJV)

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

In these Scriptures, we are given the parting message of a man on the verge of departure. Here was a man who had not failed to declare to the Church all the counsel of God! (Note: He either declared the whole counsel of God or he didn't! Either he is telling the truth or he is telling a lie!) And yet, how many so-called apostles and prophets have moved away from the foundation of this apostle and the foundation of his doctrine, which IS the doctrine of Christ? How many in our day, while reading the early Church "fathers," have been drawn away from the faith once delivered to the saints? How many have been drawn away by reading the very traditions and doctrines of men "speaking perverse things" that Paul warned about.

My exhortation to you: get back to the Bible! I am not a cessationist. I believe in the gifts of the Spirit and their operation in the Church. But, I also believe that if your church is not grounding you in the foundational doctrines of Christ, the foundational doctrines of the whole counsel of God that Paul the apostle laid out, then you better get busy yourself and examine what you are being taught! God is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. It is not a one or the other. It is both/and!

 

I repeat again.  Strong delusion is coming, and it is coming from God Himself! Why? Because men do not love the truth. There is much talk in the Body of Christ about leaving your first love, and we can get all emotional and touchy-feely. But, I would ask you: what about your love for the Word of God? Have you forgotten what is was like when you were first saved? Your insatiable hunger for the Word of God? Your voracious appetite for the Word of God? The distances you would go to hear the Word of God? If you have forgotten, REPENT! RETURN! Return to your first love!

Next, Brothers and Sisters, the Lord spoke to me that just as there are saints who are staying on this earth to do the will of God, there are others that the Lord is taking home to be with Him. We will see more departures of saints in these Last Days, saints who have been faithful to warn. They will know and they will warn of their coming departure. In the Early Church, another apostle, Peter, knew of his coming departure, and he left us some words of advice and warning. These are the final two sets of Scriptures I am commenting on.

2 Peter 1:12-15 (KJV)

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

2 Peter 3:1-2 (KJV)

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour . . .

In both of the Scriptures above, Peter WRITES to disciples in order to keep them in remembrance "of the words spoken by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour"! Do you see this? The words of a departing man are being written down so that we can read the warnings of things coming in these end times! Beloved, we will be without excuse! We will not be able to say, "I didn't know." I would recommend that you read both I and II Peter to hear what the Lord is warning about in advance!

You will be surprised to find that the prophets Peter references in 2 Peter 2 are not some of the so-called prophets of our day or even of his day, but the Old Testament prophets who still have a lot to say to us about these Last Days! Do not turn a deaf ear to what they are warning us about! Do not heap unto yourselves teachers, having itching ears, teachers who are going to "prophesy" to you things that are going to leave you with nothing but false security! Get back to the Bible, the whole Bible, both the Old and New Testaments and see what the Lord is saying, and not man!

In conclusion, I hope that you will take the time to pray over and consider what I have written. I am writing what I believe the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to the Church in this season. Time is short. The strong delusion is at hand. This is not a time to back away from the Truth. This is the time to run to the Truth, Jesus Christ, the soon-coming Judge and King, who shall judge the quick and the dead!

Your brother in Christ,

Larry Grecu