So, you have marked your 49th birthday or anniversary? Welcome to the 8th prophetic week – 8th seven years of life. It is important to gain understanding concerning the next seven years of your life. The 8th seven years is the seven-year season beginning the second 49 years of life (50 -98). The 8th seven years is a new beginning. It is for laying the foundation for the second 49 years of your life.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE SEASON
The 8th seven years is a first day of creation season. On the first day of creation, God released light against darkness. The light was released to undo darkness. That light was from the presence and glory of God. It was not from the sun, moon or stars. The eighth 7 years is for laying a foundation of light for your second 49 years. God is light and He must be given His prominent place in this season. This is a season of intense battle between light and darkness in your life. You must stand for light. God is First and the First of each new season belongs to Him. Give Him the first and He will bless the rest.
The 8th seven years is a book of Ruth season. Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible; and is applicable to the 8th seven years of life. In that book, the family of Elimelech ran into misfortune following their relocation from Judah to Moab. The main problem was that the relocation was not guided by God. Making unguided moves in the 8th season is a violation of the rules of the season. The man and his two adult sons died making their wives widows. It was a major attack because the Messiah was destined to come through this family. They left their home country in a time of famine. When Naomi , the man’s widow heard that famine had ended, she decided to return to Judah. Her daughter in-law, Ruth, decided to go with her. Eventually Ruth got married to Boaz and both became great grandparents to David, the king of Israel. The wrong had been undone. Light prevailed over darkness. The season began with pain and ended with joy. The 8th seven years does not have to be a season of pain at all.
The 8th years is an Exodus 1-6 season. The second book of the Bible (Exodus) is God’s guiding light for the second 49 years of life. The book is about what God did for Israel and what God wanted Israel to do for Him. The first six chapters of this book is applicable to the 8th years of life.
The oppression of Israel by the Egyptians began in the first chapter of Exodus. Moses was born in the second chapter and made attempt to fight Egyptians one man at a time. His plan did not work. Things changed when he encountered God in Exodus 3 and received a call to go to Egypt and deliver his people, the Israelites. He was reluctant to answer the call and made excuses in Exodus 4. In the fifth chapter, he and his brother Aaron, went to Pharaoh to demand Israel’s release. He continued with the demand in Exodus 6. That was a new beginning for both Moses and Israel. May this eighth seven years be the beginning of a positive new story in your life. Like the children of Israel, God wants to deliver you from limitations and bring you into what He had prepared for you. The enemy of your life will not want that to happen. Like Moses, God wants to awaken you to your assignment in life. He is calling you to take responsibility for delivering your people and generation. He wants to solve your problem. He also wants to use you to solve the problem of ‘your people’.
The 8th seven years is an eighth chapters of the Bible season. The eight chapters of the Bible reveal that the eighth season is for making a new beginning. Noah’s family began a new earth in Genesis 8. In First Samuel 8, Israel asked Samuel for a king. They changed from theocracy to monarchy. In Acts 8, the church made a new turn as Philip went to Samaria with the gospel. The 8th chapter of Hebrews is about the new covenant. The 8th seven years of life is not a ‘business as usual’ season. It is a season of change. May the Lord direct and help you to make the change this season of your life demands.
The eighth book and chapters of the Bible indicate that the 8th season is a season of pressure-driven movements and relocations. In Genesis 8, Noah and his family (eight people) came out the ark that saved them from the flood to begin life in a ‘scary world’ of only 8 people. The rest of humanity had died in the flood; having their flesh and bones littered all over. In the 8th book of the Bible, Elimelech and his family moved from Judah to Moab because of famine. Even Naomi’s return to Judah from Moab, with Ruth, was still out of pressure. In First Samuel 8, Israel made the decision to move from theocracy to monarchy. In Second Kings 8, the Shunemite woman moved to the land of the Philistines, by the word of the Lord, because of famine. In Acts 8, the believers in Jerusalem moved into the regions of Judea and Samaria because of persecution. The 8th season is a season of movements that may be rough at the beginning but will eventually end with rejoicing. May the Lord order your steps in the 8th seven years of your life.
That the 8th season is associated with movements and relocations (planned, guided or involuntary); is true in the Bible as in modern history. ‘Trail of Tears’, the forced hazardous relocation of Native Americans to a reserved territory west of the Mississippi River, happened in the season of the 8th US President, Martin Van Buren. The relocation of Nigeria’s Capital from Lagos to Abuja happened in the season of the 8th national leader, Ibrahim Babangida. In the 8th week of 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine; causing many Ukrainians to flee their country.
This season of your life, the Lord will help you against forced relocation. He will keep you from moving back and forth because of problems. He will deliver you from famine and scarcity. He will cause abundant divine supplies to come your way. May this be a season of God-guided movements and operations for you
The eighth book and chapters of the Bible also indicate that the eighth season is a season of fierce battles. Darkness-orchestrated war rages in the spirit in the 8th season. Elimelech’s family was a victim of, and casualty in, spiritual warfare in the 8th book of the Bible (Ruth). Moses released the second and third and fourth plagues (frogs, lice, and flies) against Egypt in Exodus 8. Israel fought Ai in Joshua 8. In Judges 8, Israel, under Gideon’s leadership subdued the Midianites. Gideon also killed Zebah and Zalmunna. In First Samuel 8, Israel wanted a king who could lead the nation to war and fight her battles. In Second Samuel 8, David fought battles and subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites. The nations became his servants. In Daniel 8, ‘the male goat’ nation confronted the warring and conquering ‘ram’ nation and subdued it. The goat was eventually overpowered. In Acts 8, Philip’s ministry in Samaria overthrew demons and dethroned Simon the Sorcerer; who had bewitched an entire nation to believe he was the great power of God. In Revelation 8, by the opening of the seventh seal, heaven declared war against the earth with the successive sounding of four devastating trumpets. This season, be sensitive to the Spirit, arm yourself for spiritual warfare, and get in the war against darkness.
The 8th seven years is an eighth-seven books of the Bible season. The eighth-seven books of the Bible are Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus. Each book is applicable to the year of this season that corresponds to it. Philippians is for the 50th year Colossians is for the 51st year and so on. These are Paul’s letters to encourage, correct, teach, and guide. Most of these epistles were written to challenge error and get things done the right way. In the epistle to the Colossians, Paul challenged Gnosticism. In this epistles to the Thessalonians, he challenged the errors concerning the Second Coming of Christ. In the epistles to Timothy and Titus, he gave instructions that would help the young pastors do the right thing in the churches they worked with. Those books were light against deception and error. They were a great support from Paul to the leaders and their churches. In the first seven years of life we needed guidance from parents and older members of the family and community. In the 8th seven years, we need mentors. Ruth had Naomi in the 8th book of the Bible. The Shunemite woman had Elisha in the 8th chapter of Second Kings. Philip had Peter in Acts 8. Timothy and Titus had Paul in the 8th seven books of the Bible. May the Lord bring necessary support to you in this season.
The 8th seven years of life (50-56) is a Psalm 50-56 season. It is helpful to apply Psalm 50 – 56 to the 8th seven years of life – each Psalm for the year that corresponds to it. You may consider the following Bible reading suggestions for the years:
50th year (Psalm 50, Isaiah 50, Jeremiah 50 and the book of Philippians)
51st year: (Psalm 51, Isaiah 51, Jeremiah 51 and the book of Colossians).
52nd year ( Psalm 52, Isaiah 52, Jeremiah 52 and the book of First Thessalonians)
53rd year (Psalm 53, Isiah 53 and the book of Second Thessalonians). The 53rd year is the midpoint in the season and is for examination and tests.
54th year (Psalm 54, Isaiah 54 and the book of First Timothy)
55th year (Psalm 55, Isaiah 55 and the book of Second Timothy)
56th year (Psalm 56, Isaiah 56 and the book of Titus)
Happy 8th seven years of life! Happy Age 50-56!!!
