The 24th birthday or Anniversary is the end of the 24th year and the beginning of a new year – the 25th year. Put another way, the 25th year is the 12-month season following the 24th birthday or anniversary. So, now that you have marked the 24th year, you have moved to your 25th year. I pray it will be a season of tremendous joy for you. It is important to understand the prophetic significance of the season you have stepped into – so you will know what to and how to pray. First Chronicles 12:32 tells us that the goal of understanding the times is to know what we ought to do. Zechariah 10:1-2 says we should ask God for things in their time. This article will help you to know what you ought to do and what should ask for in your 25th year.
God’s word is our lamp and light in all seasons. So, I will begin by showing you the Biblical patterns for the 25th year. The Biblical patterns will give you a broad perspective of the season and also serve as the “two or three witnesses” establishing and confirming the truth about this season.
SIX BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE 25TH YEAR
The 6 Biblical patterns for understanding the 25th day are
- The narrative of the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14-19)
- The 25th book of the Bible (Lamentations)
- The 25th chapters of the Bible.
- The narrative of Numbers 17-21
- The last 9 books of the Old Testament
- The mention of the 25th year in the Bible.
- 1. The 25th year is a fourth day of creation year. This year is a core fourth-season year. It is the fourth year within the fourth seven years (22-28). The fourth day of creation (Genesis 1: 14-19) is key to understanding the 25th year. On the fourth day of creation, God made the luminaries and gave them power and authority to rule over the creation of the first day (day and night) and to divide the light from the darkness. God also gave the luminaries the task of regulating and signaling seasons – days, months, and years. The luminaries were made for light, government, separation and to give regulatory signs. You need illumination in the 25th year. The luminaries God made on the fourth day of creation are guiding-lights. You need the guiding lights of God (the word of God, revelation from the Holy Spirit and wise counsel) to keep you from stumbling in this season. Do not isolate yourself from channels of truth or frpm people who have experience and counsel.
The FIRST returns in the FOURTH. God made light to work against darkness on the first and fourth days. As we all needed to be guided in the first seven years of life, we also need to be guided in the fourth seven years – where the 25th belongs.
- 2. Year 25 is like a book of Numbers year in a 7 year season also expressing the Book of Numbers. It is a Numbers 17-21 year. The fourth book of the Bible is the guiding light for the fourth seven years (22-28) and the 25th year is the fourth year in this season. It is the fourth of the fourth. So, the fourth prophetic division of the fourth book of the Bible is applicable to the 25th year.
If you divide the book of Numbers into seven parts, you would have five chapters and a remainder of one. Put the remainder in the first division to make it six chapters. You’ll see that Numbers 17-21 is the fourth part. In Numbers 17, Aaron’s dry rod, out of 12 rods belonging to Israel’s tribal heads, budded and brought forth ripe almond fruit overnight. This ended the contention against Aaron’s Levitical Priesthood. This is a year to settle some questions and arguments in your life. Numbers 18 is about the duties and privileges of the priests; including tithes for Levites and tithes from Levites. Numbers 19 is about laws of purification. In Numbers 20, Moses committed his fatal error of striking the rock twice, to bring water for Israel, instead of speaking to the rock. Edom also refused Israel passage through her territory. It was another grave error in this passage. May the Lord keep you from making costly mistakes in this year. This chapter (Numbers 20) opened with the death of Miriam and ends with the death of Aaron. God said Aaron would not enter the Promised Land because of the rebellion at Neribah. Israel mourned him thirty days. In the 21st chapter, Israel faced the fiery serpents because of murmuring. They also had major victories against three strong kings. God wants the 25th year to be a season of triumphs – not death and defeat. Heaven reacts against rebellion in this season.
- 3. The 25th year is a book of Lamentations year. Lamentations is the 25th book of the Bible. Jeremiah wrote the five-chapter book following the destruction of Jerusalem and the final captivity. The prophetic message of the book of Lamentations is that if we reject guidance in the 25th year or season, the end would be lamentations. The 25th President of the United States was William McKinley. He was assassinated. Franklin D. Roosevelt was President in the 25th seven years of the United States. He also died in office in 1945. That was the first year in the fourth 7years of the United States and the year the Second World War ended – following the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. God’s will for the 25th year is laughter – not lamentation. It is lack of discernment that makes it a season of lamentation.
The Book of Lamentation is a great guiding light for the 25th year. It is a very unique book in the Bible. The first and last two chapters have 22 verses each. The 3rd and middle chapter has 66 verses. There are seven 22 verses The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. So, the number 22 represents comprehensiveness. God has comprehensive light for you in this season. As you read this 25th book of the Bible, determine and pray that the story of your 25th year will not be a story of lamentations. This is a season to carefully discern the will of God and focus on it without distractions.
You may want to read the book of Lamentations in seven days as follows:
Day 1: Lamentations 1: 1-22
Day 2: Lamentations 2: 1-22
Day 3: Lamentations 3: 1-22
Day 4: Lamentations 3: 23-44
Day 5: Lamentations 3: 45-66
Day 6: Lamentations 4: 1-22
Day 7: Lamentations 5: 1-22
- 4. The 25th year is a 25th chapters of the Bible season. The 25th chapters of the Bible reveal that the 25th season is a time to walk cautiously to avoid turning it into a season of tears and regrets. Just as the 25th year is called Lamentations, there are also stories of regrets and tears in the 25th chapters of the Bible. Genesis 25 records the death of Abraham and Ishmael; and Esau’s sale of his birthright to Jacob. In Numbers 25, Israel fell into Balaam’s trap and committed idolatry and immorality with Moabites. 24, 000 Israelites died of plague on that day. In First Samuel 25, Nabal died of drunkenness and heart attack. The death of Samuel the prophet is also recorded in this chapter. The fall and captivity of Judah is recorded in Second Kings 25. The assassination of Gedaliah, whom the Babylonian King made governor of Judah, and the people with him, is recorded in this chapter also. In Second Chronicles 25, Amaziah became king and executed his servants who had murdered his father, Joash, the king. Amaziah later became idolatrous and obstinate after defeating Edom. Israel defeated him in battle. The death of Amaziah is recorded in this passage. In Matthew 25, Jesus gave the Parable of the ten virgins and of the talents. He also spoke of the judgment of the sheep and goat nations. In this chapter, Jesus said there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In Acts 25, Paul escaped death at the hands of the Jews because he wisely appealed to Caesar for judgment. He refused to go to Jerusalem for judgment. You can escape the pit of the season by following the God-given luminaries for the season.
- 5. The 25th year is Obadiah – Malachi season in the fourth seven years. Going through any seven-year season (like the fourth seven years) is like a journey through the Bible. The fourth 7 years has an Old Testament side and a New Testament side. The first four years of the season (22-25) belong to the Old Testament side and express the 39 books of the Old Testament. The remaining three years of the season (26-28) constitute the New Testament side and express the 27 books of the New Testament. The 25th year is the year closing the Old Testament side of the seven-year season. It is a bridge-year and a promotion examination year in the fourth seven years. Your relationship with both God and men will be tested. Pray and determine to pass the tests. The 25th year expresses the last nine books of the Old Testament. It is the bridge-year leading to the New Testament side of the fourth 7 years. The books of ‘the minor prophets’ are part of the last 9 books of the O.T. They are about judgment and promises of restoration. The 25th year is a season of the dominion of guiding lights. Let the God-given luminaries dominate this season of your life. Expose yourself to people who have light and understanding in this season.
- 6. The 25th year is an Ezekiel 40 year. In Ezekiel 40, in a 25th year, God began to give the prophet the vision of New Jerusalem. God will want to give you a vision of your future in this 25th year. Be sensitive and attentive. The 25th year is a window or gate of time from which you can view the future – by the help of God. This is a year of prophetic revelations.
THOUGHTS AND PRAYER POINTS FOR THE YEAR
Time is a gate that purposes must pass through to find expression on earth. So, you should watch over this season as a gate through which certain purposes will seek to enter your life. An unmanned gate is a disaster.
Here are 4 things to note about the 25th year:
- 1. IT IS A SEASON TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE AND SEEK MERCY:
This is a season when Perfection reacts against iniquity. This is the season when inadequacy stands before Completeness and Comprehensiveness for judgment. 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 that the Lord will keep you from walking the path of rebellion this year. Pray to be in alignment with heaven in the steps you take this 25th year.
- 2. IT IS A SEASON TO OPERATE WITH WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT:
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 year. Be generous and treat all men with respect – especially the weak.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will shield your heart from every form if foolishness in this year. Pray to walk in Proverbs 25 wisdom in the 25th year. Pray to be delivered from making wrong decisions that would bring tears, sorrow, or unnecessary pains.
- 3. IT IS A SEASON END TEARS AND BE DELIVERED FROM PAIN:
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. INn this 25th year, you must 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. 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 year will be a season of joy; not lamentations. Pray against sudden disasters, surprise attacks, death and wasteful destruction. Pray that murderers who may seek to harm you and yours, in this year, 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”.
- 4. IT 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. In the 25th week of 1865, the Juneteenth proclamation was made in Texas, on June 19, to establish the freedom of blacks and mark the end of slavery. That was a new beginning. 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 the era they initiated in their countries. 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 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. 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 25th year will mark the end of a phase and the opening of a new page in your life, family or career. Be glad!!!
PRAYER: Prophesy and declare that this 25th year is the end of a phase of life and the beginning of a new season in your life.
CONCLUSION: Remember that many have successfully gone through this season you are now going through. You are not alone. Do not be afraid. It is your season to shine as light because you have His light. You will succeed like many others who had gone this way before you. You don’t have to be like those who failed. Enjoy your 25th year!
Happy 25th year!
