2023 IN BIBLE PROPHECY

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For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion,
that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved!
Romans 11:25

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A. THE WILL OF GOD FOR 2023/5783
What is on the mind of God concerning the year 2023? Common threads and prophetic insights we are seeing are setting the pathway towards the focus of “Reformation.” What does that mean? We have all desired revival and fervently prayed for it, with a transformative effect happening in many places. However, we are in a war. As lawlessness increases, the Word of God will be vital to keep our love from growing cold. The pathway forward will require a visionary force with practical steps to foster reformation. It’s time for turn-around, to take action and pursue God for these three reasons:
1. To avert judgment
2. To attract His presence
3. To release His power on earth.
So, the Lord is saying 2023 is a year to focus on reformation by returning to the Word and the fear of the Lord. Much is weighing in the balance. This is a corporate word from the Global Watch Council. We pray it gives hope, encouragement, depth of perspective and vision for your lives for the coming season.

B. BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR 2023
2023 is the 23rd year of the 21st century, and Bible passages mentioning “the 23rd year” point in the direction of reformation and returning to God or the consequence of failing to return to God.

1. GOD’S PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION FOR CHANGE IN THE 23RD YEAR
2 Kings 12:1-10 : “In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. [2] Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. [3] But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. [4] And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the LORD-each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money-and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD, [5] let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.” [6] Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. [7] So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.” [8] And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple. [9] Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the LORD. [10] So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD”.
When the king saw the priests had been receiving money but had done nothing by the 23rd year, he took action, changed strategy and insisted the right thing be done. The 23rd year is a season of action and a time to end procrastination. It is a time of awakening towards delayed revival projects.

2. GOD REACTS AGAINST EVIL IN THE 23RD YEAR
2 Kings 13:1-3: “In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. [2] And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them. [3] Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days”.
Change in the 23rd year should be one that advances the will of God and honours Him. Otherwise, judgment could follow.
2 Samuel 23:3-4 says, “The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. [4] And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.”

3. THE 23RD YEAR IS THE TERMINUS OF DIVINE SILENCE AND THE BEGINNING OF REACTIONS
Jeremiah 25:1-11: “The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), [2] which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: [3] “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the LORD has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened. [4] And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. [5] They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. [6] Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands, and I will not harm you.’ [7] Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the LORD, “that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. [8] “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, [9] behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations. [10] Moreover, I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. [11] And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years”.
Jeremiah preached to the people for 22 years (from the 13th year of Josiah’s reign). There was no change. By the 23rd year of his ministry, he announced that a 70-year captivity was on the way.
In the same way, God made heaven and earth and man in the first book of the Bible. In the 23rd book of the Bible, he called heaven and earth to witness against man.
Malachi 4:5-6, the last verses of scripture before 400 years of silence carry significant weight. The spirit of Elijah is rising in the nations. As the nations rage and the anti-christ spirit intensifies, Malachi 4:5-6 is coming into view. God is moving to release the spirit of Elijah as a restorative force in the world and an intergenerational grace to connect and build is underway.
Isaiah 1:1-7 says, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. [2] Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; [3] The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” [4] Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward. [5] Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints. [6] From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. [7] Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers”.

4. THE 23RD YEAR IS THE SEASON OF THE THIRD AND LAST BLOW
Jeremiah 52:28-30: “These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; [29] in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; [30] in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand six hundred.”
The last batch of captives that went to Babylon from Judah (745 people) were taken in the 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar. Judah also fell to Babylon in the season of the 23rd king (Zedekiah), counting from Saul.

5. THE NUMBER 3 IS ALSO KEY THIS YEAR for unlocking reformation. It reflects the following
Consecration: Exodus 19:10-11: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Zechariah 3 also speaks to this consecration. God is preparing a company that can see and hear clearly from Him. They have been through the challenges that create an inner character and have not resisted humbling themselves before a holy God. This company walks in the fear of the Lord. They have been through the Zechariah 3 confrontation with a holy God and have not resisted His molding hand.
Radical Obedience will shift us from trial to triumph. Persevering through trial will release the following:
Accurate discernment: Malachi 3 speaks into the modern-day era of radical obedience in tithes, in our thoughts and in perseverance. If we are obedient, God will reward with sound discernment, “Between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him,” v. 17.
Promises fulfilled: It was on the third day, while on the journey to Moriah, Abraham saw the land he was to sacrifice Isaac. Gen 22:4
Deliverance: It was on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead
Return to the “Fear of the Lord” (This may result in significant judgment or discipline when people act aggressively and outside of the will of God. Subsequently, there will be governmental shifts this year as God draws all things under His feet)
God descended upon Mt. Sinai: Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Ex 19:16
Then Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God. If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” Gen 42:19-20
On the third day, the Lord separated the waters from the earth. Prophetically, waters can reflect a symbol of cleansing (Mt 3:11-12; Acts 2:38), the power of God, pathways to deliverance and freedom (parting of the Red Sea; Exodus 14:21), the Presence of the Living God (John 6:48-49). The separation of waters revealed land that would be a place for new life and fruit to be produced.

C. THE WITNESS OF THE 23RD CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE
The 23rd chapters of the Bible indicate that the 23rd season is ripe time to confront for change (from trial to triumph).
Josiah began his sweeping reforms in Second Kings 23.
Jeremiah spoke against the shepherds of Israel (religious leaders) in Jeremiah 23.
In Ezekiel 23 is the prophet’s declarations against Israel and Judah (Oholah and Oholiba).
Jesus denounced the religious leaders of His day in Matthew 23.
What the Bible records in the above 23rd chapters are a prophetic pattern for what He wants done in 2023. God wants action towards change.

D. WHAT DOES REFORMATION ENTAIL?
Isaiah was a prophet of reformation. The 23rd book of the Bible gives us a picture of what is involved in reformation. The first part is pulling down the wrong thing. (Isaiah 1-39). The second part is restoring and establishing the real thing. Reformation is about pulling down evil and establishing the good. It is about confrontation on one hand and restoration on the other hand. We cannot afford to have one without the other. Casting out without restoring what should be is a waste of time. Restoring what should be without pulling down just won’t work.

E. THE PROCESS OF REFORMATION
What King Josiah did in 2 Kings 23 is a good illustration of how to carry out a reformation.
1. He had the Law read to him. He first went through a personal change.
2. He gathered the people together
3. He read the word of God to them
4. He challenged and led them to make a covenant with God.
5. He dismantled things and people in the land that were offensive to God.
6. He led the people to observe an exceptional Passover as Moses commanded.
Reformation begins with the individual, extends to the people around and then hits the wider society.

F. THE CHALLENGES OF REFORMATION
Agents of reformation are enemies of those who do not want the status quo to change. So, they are satan’s targets. The enemy wants them destroyed or weakened, and hell will go to any length to fight against reformation and the agents. We will need to be equipped and trained to fight the betrayal culture now rising in the nations. It will be an important theme for us to develop personally and corporately…”Beware of offenses.”
In Genesis 23, Abraham was attacked through the death of Sarah.
In 2 Samuel 23, Saul wanted to eliminate David. People were ready to betray David.
Josiah died in a battle he shouldn’t have fought in Second Kings 23.
The spirit of death rose against Hezekiah in the 23rd book of the Bible.
In Luke 23, the religious leaders of the Jews moved for the crucifixion of Jesus.
In Acts 23, the Jews wanted to kill Paul.
The 23rd season is a time of confrontation, correction and change.
Lessons from the United States
In the 23rd year of the 19th century, the US foreign policy took a new turn with the (Monroe) Doctrine of President James Munroe that drew boundaries prohibiting European nations from meddling with states in the Americas.
The 23rd President of the United States lost his re-election bid to the same person he defeated to become President. The 23rd position exposed his weakness.
The 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in office in 1923 (the 23rd year of the 20th century). Scandals that followed his death revealed his hypocritical lifestyle.
Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States within the 23rd seven years of the United States. Change was desperately needed in this season.

G. PRAYER POINTS FOR 2023
1. Pray that God will raise prophecy-fulfilling revolutionary leaders like Josiah for the church and nations around the world in this season. Pray for reformation in ‘closed’ countries like Iran, China and North Korea.

2. Pray for the restoration of God’s word and its central place in the church. Pray for church leaders to take the people back to the Word of God.

3. Pray that the church will experience a long-lasting reformation from this season

4. Pray for the protection and preservation of leaders who emerge to do the will of God in this season. Pray against miscarriage of God’s will in this season. Pray for protection over frontline and outspoken Christian leaders in this season.

5. Pray that God will stir the hearts of people to gather around leaders of reformation in this season as with Josiah in Second Kings 23 and as with David as his mighty men in Second Samuel 23.

6. Pray that 2023 will be a year of experiencing Psalm 23 in the church and the nations.

7. Pray that the mercy of God will push back the hand of judgment stretched against our world in this season.

8. Pray, in this season, for the global release of an Isaiah-type multifaceted prophetic mantle that touches religion and politics upon the church. This is also the Elijah anointing that releases change or judgment.

9. Pray for an inter-generational move of God that will impact both the older and younger generations – fathers and sons and mothers and daughters.

10. Pray for specific strategies, relationships, and collaboration that results in “prayer and action” to influence culture and government.

H. ACTION STEPS
THE STRENGTH OF THE REFORMATION GENERATION Reformation is spiritual warfare. It is as tough as swimming against the tide. We need preparation of the whole man for this season. Psalm 23 shows what a people of reformation should think and say daily. Psalm 23 is the reformers’ Psalm. 2023 is also a Psalm 23 year for those standing for God. The Lord must be the strength and backbone of a reformation generation in 2023. They can count on the Lord for protection, provision, and preservation. The presence of God and consciousness of it are the strength of agents of reformation. Preparation for warfare is very necessary in this season. Second Samuel 23 tells us about David’s mighty men and shows the kind of preparedness we need in this season. May the Lord give us mighty men and also help us to raise mighty men in this season.
As an Esther 10 season, look for alignments and divine assignments. Mordecai was raised up to be by Ahasuerus’ side as a reformation agent. This is a time to be bold with relational building and strategic alignments, particularly with those in government.
The power of life and death is in the tongue. As times intensify, offenses rise. Take time to seek the Lord for His desire and life-giving ways to deal with difficult situations or differences, just as Mordecai and Esther modeled.
Seek the Lord, and allow yourself to grow in wisdom and revelation as challenges mount. When God chooses to move, He may allow challenges to arise to grow us in wisdom and revelation. Ultimately, God desires His Church to be an overcoming bride that is radiant even in the darkest of times.
Be quick to forgive and be open and teachable in forging new and healthier ways of relating to others.
Your passion may be the provision for others. Look for new ways to give not only in material ways but spiritually to advance the Kingdom.
Prepare yourself as long contended for visions, callings, and destiny are coming into fulfillment. Prepare for specific steps and strategies to take so that when the door and timing open, you are ready to walk through the door.

PASSING THE TORCH OF REFORMATION It is important to think of, and plan for the future of any reformation effort. Josiah’s reformation did not outlive him. It died with him. His sons and successors could not continue the good work. They were a disappointment. The sons of Josiah are the subject of Jeremiah’s admonition in Jeremiah 22. We cannot afford to run without the next generation. We must be intentional about connecting with the next generation.
Take time to reach out and engage with the next generation.
The new “big” is small. Look for ways you can, in one-on-one encounters, begin to minister and influence in faith. Testimonies will be driving much of the next move of God (Rev 12:11).
Be sensitive to the promptings of the Lord, and have faith for the open door. These two issues, faith and responding to promptings, are recipes for “boldness” (1 John 4:17; Isaiah 22:22).
Relationship and agreement are more important than the size of the venue. Jesus chose 12 men, then there were the 3, then the 1, and they changed the world.
Revival requires a broken and contrite heart….Reformation requires a transformed heart!
May God encourage you and bless you as we focus forward into 2023
​Global Watch Council
Fred and Sue Rowe, USA
Nkem Okemiri, Nigeria
Sheldon Kidwell, South Africa
Shirley Momberg, South Africa
Hannah Corser, Canada
Mary Faus, USA/Indigenous People’s Watch
​Karen Davis, Israel
Kimberly Ulmer, USA
Cinthya Ortiz, Ecuador
Ulrike Novakova, Germany
Jenny Hagger, Australia
Alison Woskett, Australia
J & H, Turkey, Korea

Nostradamus predictions for 2023

Among the most relevant predictions for 2023, the following stand out: