In the season of creation, God decreed what He wanted to happen on each day. What He did on each day of creation has become a pattern for our seasons. That is the reason the seventh day is Shabbat.
God made man in His image and likeness so we can do things His way. He wants us to decree that what is revealed in the Bible concerning each season becomes manifest reality in that season. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10).
Let’s begin with what is revealed in the Word concerning the 25th season.
SIX BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE 25TH WEEK
There are 6 Biblical patterns that will help give a broader perspective of the season and guide us to understand the Lord’s heart for the 25th week.
Here are the six Biblical patterns:
- 1. The narrative of the fourth day of creation.
- 2. The 25th book of the Bible
- 3. The 25th chapters of the Bible
- 4. The narrative of Numbers 18-24
- 5. The last 9 books of the Old Testament.
- 6. The mention of the 25th year in the Bible.
- 1. Week 25 is a fourth day of creation season in the fourth seven weeks of the year. God made luminaries on the fourth day of creation. He made them to give light, to rule the day and the night, to divide the darkness from the light, and to regulate seasons. It is supposed to be a season of the dominion of light. If light fails in the fourth season, darkness takes over. The 25th season is a season to depend on God’s luminaries (the Word, the Spirit and wise men/women) to escape fear, deception, and stumbling.
- 2. Week 25 is a Numbers 17-21 season. The five chapters in the 4th division of the fourth book of the Bible are applicable to the fourth week in the fourth 49 days of the year. Aaron’s rod budded and bore ripe almond fruits overnight in Numbers 17 to end contention. Numbers 18 and 19 are about laws surrounding the duties and privileges of priests and laws of purification. Numbers 20 is about the error of Moses at the waters of Meribah. This is where he made the mistake that cost him entering the Promised Land. Miriam and Aaron died in this chapter. The 21st chapter is about the fiery serpents and the defeat of three Canaanite kings. The 25th season is a season of reaction against foolishness and rebellion.
- 3. Week 25 is a book of Lamentations season. Every dated or numbered season expresses the book and chapters of the Bible that correspond to its number. The book of Lamentations is the 25th book of the Bible and is applicable to the 25th week of the year. The 25th book of the Bible reveals that the 25th has something to do with number ’22’. The first, second, fourth and fifth chapters have 22 verses each. The third chapter has 66 (22×3) verses. The number 1-22 (signifying comprehensiveness, exhaustiveness, and fulfillment) is the number of the perfect Word of God. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters; and when applied to the word of God, it shows that the Word is complete and comprehensive revelation. Psalm 119 is about God’s Word and has 22 sections subtitled after the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The 25th season is the season of the fulfillment of God’s word. In the first chapter of Lamentations, the author reflects on the condition of Judah and Jerusalem. In the second chapter, he acknowledges their problem came as judgment from the hand of God. In the third chapter, he dwells on his personal burdens. He used “I”, “Me”, and “My” 66 times in this 66-verse chapter. In the fourth chapter, he looks at the nature and weight of the judgment and challenges the people to cry out to God. In the fifth chapter, he calls on God to look on the state of Jerusalem and intervene,
- 4. Week 25 is a 25th chapters of the Bible season. The 25th chapters of the Bible reveal that the 25th season is for tests and trials. It is a test bridge-season when men reveal what is in them – wisdom or folly.
- 5. Week 25 is Obadiah – Malachi week in the fourth seven weeks of the year. Going through a seven week season is like taking a journey through the Bible. The first four weeks constitute the Old Testament side of the season and express the 39 books of the Old Testament. The last three weeks belongs to the New Testament side of the season and express the 27 books of the New Testament. The 25th week is the fourth week in the fourth seven weeks and expresses the last 9 books of the Old Testament. These 9 books are the bridge to the New Testament. The 25th week is the bridge to the New Testament side of the fourth seven weeks of the year.
6. The 25th week is Ezekiel 40 season. What happened in Ezekiel 40 in a 25th year is applicable to the 25th week. In Ezekiel 40, in a 25th year, God began to give the prophet the vision of New Jerusalem. This week, God will want to give you a vision of your future. Be sensitive and attentive. The 25th season is a window or gate of time from which you can view the future – by the help of God. This is a week of prophetic revelations
BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 25TH WEEK:
Going through the 25th week of the year (June 18-24 in a clear year) is like taking a prophetic journey through the 25th book (Lamentations) and 25th chapters of the Bible. So, the Book of Lamentation and the 25th chapters of the Bible (20 of them) are great guiding lights for the week. This is a season to carefully discern the will of God and focus on it without distractions.
You may want to read the suggested passages as follows:
1. June 18: Lamentations 1: 1-22
2. June 19: Lamentations 2: 1-22
3. June 20: Lamentations 3: 1-22
4. June 21: Lamentations 3: 23-44
5. June 22: Lamentations 3: 45-66
6. June 23: Lamentations 4: 1-22
7. June 24: Lamentations 5: 1-22
THOUGHTS AND PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
Here are 6 things to note about the 25th season:
1. A TIME TO END TROUBLES
The 25th season is a time to end troubles. Isaiah 25 captures this theme very well. The 12-verse chapter highlights the end of troubles:
a) the fortified evil city (Isaiah 25:1-5).
b) the surface of the covering cast over all people and the veil that is spread over all nations (Isaiah 25:6-7).
c) death, tears and the rebuke of God’s people (Isaiah 25:8-9).
d) Moab (Isaiah 25:10-12)
Rebekah’s barrenness ended in Genesis 25. The Second World War ended at the beginning of the 25th seven years of the United States (in 1945). That is the reason the psalmist prays to be delivered and helped in Psalm 25. Psalm 25:17 says, “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!” Troubles increase when they’re about to end.
That the 25th season is a time to end troubles is key to understanding all the other things that are associated with the 25th season.
In a season when troubles end, hunger pressurized Esau to sell his birthright for food (Genesis 25).
In a season when troubles end, Israel succumbed to temptations at Baal-peor (Numbers 25).
In a season when troubles end, David was tempted to take vengeance against Nabal (Samuel 25) before Abigail intervened.
PRAYER: Proclaim that this is a week of ending troubles in the nations and families and pray against distractions and for victory in temptations.
- 2. A SEASON TO TEST GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION
God demanded offering from Israelites in Exodus 25. Nabal was not generous to David and his men in First Samuel 25.isaiah 25 shows the generosity of God in throwing a feast of choice pieces. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) the man who received one talent did not have a generous heart. In the parable of the sheep and goat nations, it took generosity to feed the hungry and visit the sick and prisoners. In the 25th season, it is important to show respect to all men – especially the weak and vulnerable.
PRAYER: Pray that God’s people in the nations will not miss opportunities to be generous this week.
- 3. A TIME TO SEEK MERCY:
This is a season when Perfection reacts against iniquity. This is the season when inadequacy stands before Completeness and Comprehensiveness for judgment. The number of God’s perfection, completeness, and comprehensiveness is 22. The book of Lamentations, the 25th book of the Bible, has 5 chapters and 154 (22×7) verses. The first 2 chapters and the last 2 chapters have 22 verses each. The third chapter has 66 verses. Every day of the week has a share of 22 verses. Mercy is very precious in this season because it is a season of judgment. This season has zero tolerance for rebellion. It does not spare the rebellious. Moses committed his fatal error in the fourth division chapters of the book of Numbers (Numbers 20).. God commanded him to give the people water by speaking to the rock. Moses struck the rock with his rod instead. God was displeased and said he would not enter the Promised Land. In Numbers 21, many Israelites died in the plague of the fiery serpents for rebellion against God. Three kings of the Amorites also fell in this section of the fourth book of the Bible – for resisting the purpose of God. In Numbers 25, twenty-four thousand Israelites perished at Baal-peor because of sin. The 25th book of the Bible is about the judgment that befell Judah and Jerusalem because of rebellion against God. Mercy is a great need in the 25th season. In Psalm 25, the Psalmist prays for mercy. The 25th book of the Bible is a song of God’s mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” .
PRAYER: Pray for the repentance and salvation of people living in rebellion against God. Pray that the Lord will keep you from walking the path of rebellion this week. Pray to be in alignment with heaven in the steps you take this week. Pray that God’s mercy will destabilize the wicked and save the godly and needy.
- 4. A TIME TO BE WISE AND DISCERNING:
This season does not smile at, or sympathize with, foolishness. In Genesis 25, Esau gave his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of food. That was a costly price for any kind of food. May the Lord keep from throwing the future away because of present pressures or pleasures. First Samuel 25 reveals the wisdom of Abigail in her time]y intervention to stop bloodshed and save her foolish husband. Matthew 25 tells the story of the ten virgin; five of whom were foolish. The other two parables in Matthew 25 also show how people miss great opportunities through lack of wisdom and discernment. Paul’s discerning appeal to Caesar in Acts 25 saved his life. Wisdom is a lifeline in the 25th season.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will shield your heart from foolishness in every form. Pray to walk in Proverbs 25 wisdom in the 25th week. Pray to be delivered from making wrong decisions that would bring tears, sorrow, or unnecessary pains. Pray for all who occupy strategic positions of leadership to be kept from erroneous and costly decisions or policies.
- 5. A TIME TO WATCH AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF DEATH:
The 25th book and chapters of the Bible indicate that there is a spirit that seeks to push people into weeping and mourning in the 25th season. That evil spirit accomplishes this by causing destructions, losses, and death. The 25th book of the Bible is called Lamentations. This week, we should watch against choices, decisions, and steps that could lead to lamentations. The US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened within the 25th seven years of the US. That was the first use of atomic bomb in world history. It brought lamentations to Japan. This week in 2022, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan killing over 1000 people and injured over 1500. It was a week of lamentation for Afghans.The will of God is that 25th season should be a season feasting and wiping tears away. Isaiah 25:6-9 says, “And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. [7] And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. [8] He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. [9] And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
PRAYER: Pray that this week will be a season of joy; not lamentations. Pray against sudden disasters, surprise attacks, mass death, and wasteful destruction. Pray that murders who seek to kill and destroy, in this week, will run out of mercy and be frustrated. Pray Psalm 25:2-3 – “O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause”.
- 6. A TIME TO MARK THE END OF AN ERA:
The 25th season is the end of an era. The arrival of a 25th season is the arrival of the end of a phase of life. Abraham and Ishmael died in Genesis 25; where Isaac and Rebecca had their sons. That marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new season. Miriam and Aaron died in the fourth division chapters of the fourth book of the Bible (Numbers 20). Eleazar became the new high priest. Samuel died in First Samuel 25. The death of Samuel ended an era in Israel. Gedaliah, Governor of Judah was murdered in Second Kings 25 – the last chapter of the book. The 25th book of the Bible, Lamentations, is about the end of the era of the first temple in Jerusalem. Proverbs 25 is the beginning of the end of Solomon’s Proverbs in the book. Matthew 25 is the last teaching of Jesus before His arrest and crucifixion. This week in 1865, the Juneteenth proclamation was made in Texas, on June 19, to establish the freedom of blacks and mark the end of slavery. William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States was assassinated in 1901. He was the last of US Presidents that served in the American Civil War. That was the end of an era. Sun Yat-sen, the Provisional President of the Republic of China died in 1925 (March 12) at the age of 58. It was the end of an era in China. Benito Mussolini became dictator in Italy in January 1925. Adolf Hitler became leader of the Nazi Party in February 1925. In 1945, at the beginning of the 25th seven years of the United States, both Mussolini and Hitler died to end end the era they initiated in their countries. Hitler died in the 25th year of his delivery of the Nazi Party Platform in 1920. In the same 1945, the longest serving US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12; at the beginning of his 4th term. He was the first and last US president to serve more than two consecutive terms. His death ended an era. It was in the 25th seven years of the US that the Second World War ended. That was also the first time the atomic bomb was used in a war. That was the end of an era. In 1985, the 25th year of Nigeria, War Against Indiscipline in Nigeria ended win the overthrow of the Buhari – Idiagbon government. That was the end of an era. This week in 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe Vs Wade by a 6-3 vote. This is the end of an era. This 25th week of the year will mark the opening of a new page in the year. Be glad!
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will protect and preserve His own who occupy positions of power and authority (in different spheres) in the nations. Prophesy and declare that this 25th week of the year is the end of a season and the beginning of a new season in the year.
Happy 25th week!
LEARN ABOUT EACH DAY OF THE WEEK
