INTRODUCTION
Why do things happen when they do? Why do nations and regions go through certain experiences in the times they occur? The simple answer from the Bible is that things happen in their season – when they had been scheduled or programmed to happen. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” (NKJV). We cannot separate experiences from seasons. The reason for snow is the winter season. The reason for rain is the rainy season.
The key to understanding and interpreting what a nation or region is going through is to first understand the significance of the dated and numbered seasons she is going through. There is a time and a season for EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN – whether the purpose is divine or demonic. Things do not just happen. Purposes under heaven (whether sponsored by heaven or hell) follow a spiritual calendar. Although we can always ask what we desire for a nation, and also for the supply of needs in the nation, Zechariah 10:1 teaches us to ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. This means our prayers must align with time. We need understanding of the timing of purposes to pray accurately for the supply of needs. We must ask for things in their time.
The Bible teaches that evil agenda and programs prosper because men do not know the timing of evil programs. Ecclesiastes 9:12 says,
“For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them. Matthew 24:43 says, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into”. We do not mind pleasant surprises but everyone detests evil surprises. We all have problems with bad things happening in our nation or region when we did not expect them. The good news is that the Bible helps us to know what to pray for concerning a nation by guiding us to understand the significance of the numbered and dated seasons of nations.
In this article, I want to share something the Lord has been teaching me about watching and praying over the seasons of nations; and I hope it blesses you. The understanding I want to share with you will help all who watch over nations and labor in intercession. I stand in awe each time as I see events in nations falling in line and agreeing with patterns already revealed in the Bible. It strengthens my faith in Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path”. The principles and patterns in the Bible give sufficient light for each season and for each step. The thoughts I want to share here will work for any region or nation. Although I am focusing on Africa in this article, it will also work for Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Antarctica, and Oceania.
There are three critical dated and numbered seasons we need to watch in nations. The first is the current 49-year season of the nation. Is the nation going through her first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh…tenth 49 years? The Bible can help us understand the direction of any 49-year season in any nation. The second critical prophetic season is the current seven-year season of the nation. Is the nation going through her first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or twentieth or fortieth 7 years? There is an agenda for every seven-year season a nation goes through. The Bible helps us to understand both the agenda of Heaven and the agenda of hell for the seven-year seasons of nations. The third critical prophetic season in any nation is the current year of the nation. Is the nation in her 10th , 30th, 50th or 150, or 200th year? All these would help us to understand what is happening in a nation, what is coming to the nation, and what we need to speak, and program, into the future of the nation or region.
Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth (in our nation and region) as it is in heaven. Since we have never been to heaven physically, to see what is happening there, how are we going to know the will of God “as it is in heaven”? It’s simple: by the revelation of the Word and Spirit of God! The Word of God reveals the will of God for each season and region “as it is in heaven”. Let me illustrate with Nigeria, my country.
- PRAY OVER THE 49-YEAR SEASON OF A NATION
Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960. She completed her first 49 years on October 1, 2009. She is currently going through her second 49 years; which will end October 1, 2058. A nation in her second 49 years is like it is living in Exodus, the second book of the Bible. That nation would be dealing with issues of oppression and freedom. This may be expressed through civil war. As at 2020, there are 40 African countries going through their second 49 years. People in most of those countries are seeking to be liberated from oppressive leadership and systems in their countries. Perhaps, this would help us to understand and appreciate the situation in Africa . Much of Africa (40 countries as of August 2020) is experiencing the second-49-years-book-of-Exodus-season – dealing with issues of oppression and freedom and establishing principles on which the nation must be founded. Coups, revolutions, and war, may occur in this season because of the desperation for change. South Africa, the leader in this group, became independent December 11, 1931; began her second 49 years December 11, 1980, and will complete it December 11, 2029. Apartheid ended in South Africa in her second 49 years. We need to pray down and pray out the ‘Pharaohs’ and evil monopolies in these nations. We need to pray for the deliverance of those nations from tyrannical leaders and from their ethnic and religious supremacists.
Egypt became independent February 22,1922; began her second 49-year journey February 1971, and completed it February 22, 2020. She has begun her journey into the third 49 years of hearing new voices, seeing faces, and embracing new platforms. This is the season to reveal and manifest the hidden and obscure. Egypt has moved into a game-changing 49 year season. The Bible reveals that the story changes in the third point. The third chapter of any book of the Bible is a major turning point. The third 49 years is a book of Leviticus season. It is a season to ensure the hindering waters over Egypt is rolled away; so that the earth of Egypt can connect to the heaven over Egypt. Watchmen and intercessors must labor on this heavenly agenda concerning Egypt.
Liberia gained independence July 26, 1847 and has been in her fourth 49 years since July 1994; and therefore experiencing the fourth book of the Bible, Numbers. You remember that Israel had a hard time in the book of Numbers (with wars, plagues, scarcity, and bad manners); and many Israelites who came out of Egypt in the book of Exodus perished in the book of Numbers. Liberia had her first Civil war 1989 – 1996. This war claimed about 250, 000 lives. Three years after her first civil war, another 52-month civil war broke out 1999 – 2003 and claimed between 150, 000 – 300, 000 lives. In 2014 – 2016, the outbreak of Ebola virus took its leading toll on the nation. The season is not all about pain. Like in the case of Deborah in the fourth chapter of the book of Judges, Liberia produced the first female head of state on the African continent, Ellen Johnson, who led the nation for 12 years (2006-2018). She handed over to the 25th president. Pray for Liberia and her 25th President, George Weah, who is also leading the nation through her 25th seven years. Liberia’s fourth 49 years will end July 2043. Pray that darkness will not overtake Liberia in her fourth 49 years; and that her 25th seven years will not end with lamentations.
With the exception of Ethiopia, the remaining 13 African countries (Namibia, Zimbabwe, Somaliland, Eritrea, Mozambique, Djibouti, Seychelles, Cape Verde, Comoros, South Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola) are in their first 49 years. This is a book of Genesis of unstable experimental leadership. In this season, the nation is just trying her hands on nation-building as well as struggling with her identity. Coups and counter-coups are common in this season. Nations in this group need patience, transparency, and mutual understanding between the groups forming the nation.
In praying over the 49-year seasons of nations, invoke the will of God from the book and chapters of the Bible that correspond to the number of the 49-year season. Pray Genesis and first chapters of the Bible over nations in their first 49 years. Pray Exodus and second chapters of the Bible over countries going through their second 49 years. Pray Leviticus and the third chapters of the Bible over nations in their third 49 years. Pray the book of Numbers and the fourth chapters of the Bible over nations going through their fourth 49 years.
2. PRAY OVER THE SEVEN-YEAR SEASON OF A NATION
The second way watchmen and intercessors can pray over nations is to cover the seven-year seasons of nations. Our God is the God of sevens – seven days, seven years, seven spirits, seven trumpets, seven seasons, seven churches, seven bowls, seventy times seven, and so on. Every seven year season of a nation is a unique prophetic week. A 49-year season is simply seven 7-year seasons. Pray for each seven-year season with the book and chapters of the Bible that correspond to the number of the seven year season. The first African country to gain independence, Liberia, is in her 25th seven years (July 26, 2015 – July 26, 2022). She is in a book of Lamentations season. Her presidency is also in a book of Lamentations season. George Weah is the 25th President of Liberia. Stand on the 25th book and chapters of the Bible and pray that Liberia’s 25th seven years would not be a season of lamentations and regrets. Invoke spiritual sensitivity and divine wisdom over Liberia and any nation going through the 25th seven years. Egypt is now in her 15th seven years; and the 15th book and chapters of the Bible are applicable. The 17 countries that gained independence in 1960 (including Nigeria) are in their ninth seven years. That is a book of First Samuel season. It is also a 9th chapters of the Bible season. It is a season of critical constitutional and leadership changes. Without divine intervention, killings are common in this season. The ninth seven years of a nation is a season to reverse the ‘irreversible’ and recover what’s lost in the nation. Apartheid ended in South Africa in the ninth seven years of her nationhood. The ninth book and chapters of the Bible bear witness to this. As spiritual watchmen over Africa, we should invoke the ninth book and chapters of the Bible over African countries going through their ninth seven years. The youngest African nation, South Sudan, is in her second seven years. She gained independence from Sudan in 2011. She is going through a seven-year book-of-Exodus season. Pray over South Sudan’s second seven year season using the second book and second chapters of the Bible
3. PRAY OVER THE CURRENT YEAR OF A NATION
The first day of a nation is her day of her independence. God told Israel that the Passover would be the beginning of her months. So, new year of a nation begins the day following her independence anniversary. Nigeria marks her independence each year on October 1. Her 60th anniversary comes up October 1, 2020. The day after is the beginning of her 61st year. Watchmen over Nigeria would be declaring and invoking the the 61st book and chapters of the nation. Praying ahead of, and over, the current year is a great way to take spiritual control of every 12 months of that country. Every year comes with its own ups and downs; good and bad. Watchmen must not wait for things to happen before they wake up. We ought to look into the word of God and invoke what the Holy Spirit reveals through patterns in the Word; concerning the current or new year of a nation – even before the year arrives.
How can I pray for, or over, the current year of a country that is in her 200th year? Which book and chapters of the Bible will I use? To answer the questions, I will use Liberia as example. Liberia gained independence July 26, 1847. She marked her 173rd independence anniversary July 26, 2020. She is now in her 174th year ending July 26, 2021. The question to ask is: where can we locate Liberia’s 174th year in her current 25th seven-year season? Year 174 is the sixth year in Liberia’s 25th seven years. That means Liberia would be having a sixth season experience in her 174th year. The sixth book and chapters of the Bible; and even the sixth day of creation narrative, are key to understanding, and praying for, a nation in her 174th year. They reveal that the sixth is a season of conflict and economic hardship. That is the reason there is a reference to food in many sixth chapters of the Bible (Genesis 6 and even the sixth day of creation, Joshua 6, Judges 6, Second Kings 6,. Matthew 6, Mark 6, Luke 6, John 6, Acts 6, First Timothy 6, Revelation 6). So, if the current year of a country does not have a book or chapter of the Bible matching it directly, locate the year within the current seven-year season and apply the corresponding creation narrative, with corresponding book and chapters of the Bible, to the year. Find out if the year is the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh year in the current seven-year season of the nation; and apply the corresponding book of the Bible and chapters of the Bible.
PRAYING FOR ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is the one African country without a colonial history. She was not colonized by the British, the Portuguese, or the French. Italy annexed Ethiopia in 1936; the emperor went to exile in Britain; but returned to power in 1941 after sacking the Italians with the help of South African, British, and Ethiopian forces. Ethiopian monarchy lasted 704 years from 1270 to 1974 when the 225th and last emperor Haile Selessa was dethroned by pro-communist revolutionaries in 1974 – his 44th year. The communist government, backed by the Soviet Union, ended in 1991. The Ethiopia we know in the 21st century began in 1991; under the People’s Democratic Revolutionary Front. You can reckon the age of a country from the time of a major constitutional change. Imperialist Ethiopia ended in 1974. Communist Ethiopia ended May 28, 1991. Ethiopia celebrates her national day on May 28 to commemorate the Derg Downfall. May 28, 2020 was the 29th anniversary of the liberated Ethiopia. The new Ethiopia is currently in her 30th year (the second year in her fifth seven years). Pray the 30th book and chapters of the Bible over her current year. Pray the fifth book and fifth chapters of the Bible over her current seven year season.
