A Shepherd’s Rod for the Biblical Year 5785 and the Gregorian Year 2025

Beloved People of God,
 
according to 1 Corinthians 13:9 we recognize and know in part, therefore we want to use our prophetic perspective regarding the new biblical year 5785 on the basis of this scripture. We encourage each of you to pray over this word and to proclaim the Father’s plan for the coming year.
 
1 Corinthians 13:9:
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, …
 
On the eve of the 2’nd of October 2024 we as the Body of Christ together with the Jewish people enter the new biblical year 5785 also called the cycle of blessing or ‘civil year’. For us, who have been grafted as wild olive shoots into the precious olive tree, it is vital to acknowledge this, because we participate in the fatness of the root, in the anointing contained therein (cf. Romans 11:17-18).
 
Romans 11:17-18:
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
 
The Apple of God’s Eye
 
According to Zechariah 2:8b, Israel is the apple of God’s eye with Jerusalem functioning as His pupil; so for us as Christians from the gentile nations it is beneficial and even wise to look at our lives and environment through Israel. For us, this will result in walking confidently and with enlightened eyes into our future with Jesus Christ.
 
Zechariah 2:8b:
… 8b for whoever touches you (Note: Israel) touches the apple of his eye.
 
The revelations we receive by this approach contain strategies helping us to position our lives in the center of the will and peace of God, just as Epaphras prayed (cf. Colossians 4:12).
 
Colossians 4:12:
12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
 
The Decade ‘Pe’ and the Expression of Knowledge
 
As God’s people we are currently in the biblical cycle of the ‘eighties’ linked to the Hebrew letter ‘Pe’ which, amongst others, means ‘mouth’. This is the decade connected to the verbal ‘expression of knowledge’, and it brings forth that which was spoken through words.
 
It also brings forth manifestations of the spoken words for the years to come within this biblical decade and lays foundations for times to come (cf. Habakkuk 2:14 i.c.w. Proverbs 18:21).
 
Habakkuk 2:14:
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
 
Proverbs 18:21:
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
 
The Hebrew Letter ‘He’
 
The biblical year 5785 is linked to the Hebrew letter ‘He’, which also has the numerical value ‘5’ and is associated with the breath of God’s wind, which calls us as God’s people to recognize the revelations of God initiated by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. This results in a greater knowledge of God, the Heavenly Father, who is Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:17 i.c.w. John 4:24a).
Ephesians 1:17:
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
 
John 4:24a:
24a God is spirit, …
 
This greater knowledge of God is akin to Jesus’ act in blowing on His disciples with His breath and inviting them to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. John 20:22).
 
John 20:22:
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
 
Related to this, Genesis 2:4-7 says that before the first man came into contact with the breath of God, it had not yet rained on the earth and a mist rose from the earth. This moistened all the land so that God began to form the outline of Adam’s soul, which was the structure of a mature and full-grown man.

Genesis 2:4-7:
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no-one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.
7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
 
The Untouched Soil

At this time, the soil of the earth was untouched, as no rain had yet fallen on the earth, which may indicate that no false doctrine or teaching had taken hold on the earth. As we already know, rain is associated with teaching and spoken words (cf. Deuteronomy 32:2; Isaiah 55:10-11).
 
Deuteronomy 32:2:
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
 
Isaiah 55:10-11:
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
 
It was God’s will to create Adam without spot or blemish.
The rising mist reveals that God formed His presence, His principles of the supernatural and His promise in Adam without a human being having to teach Adam about it.
 
The Rising Mist

The flawless soul body of Adam was filled by God with fiery, pure light, which is clear from the Hebrew word for ‘mist – 'ēd’, which is used in Genesis 2:6 and its root word ‘'ûd’.
 
The Hebrew root word ‘'ûd’ means ‘log’. It is also associated with ‘fiery coals or embers drawn together by a poker’. (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the words ‘fog – 'ēd, log – 'ûd’ with the word key number: *111 and *185 as well as from Strong’s Concordance with the word key number: H181).
 
On the basis of the above word explanation, we understand that God, the Heavenly Father, is presenting Adam and Eve as fiery coals (Note: they are before the throne of God; cf. Ezekiel 1:13; Ezekiel 28:14) to create them first as one spirit man and sometime later to perform a holy ‘cell division’ so that they were able to walk before God in real togetherness, pure intimacy and divine love as two spirit men in holy fellowship (Note: in the holy covenant).
 
The two ‘fiery throne room coals’ drawn together by God oxidized the moisture in the ground so that it rose as mist through the heat of God’s fire into the atmosphere of God’s paradise (Note: Eden is the garden of God).
 
God thus formed a fiery, flawless and unified soul body as man and woman that corresponded to His consuming and unified spirit being (cf. Genesis 1:26a i.c.w. Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 9:3a; Hebrews 12:29).

Genesis 1:26a:
26a Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, …’
 
Deuteronomy 4:24:
24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
 
Deuteronomy 9:3a:
3a But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. …
 
Hebrews 12:29:
… 29 for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’
 
Created in the Image of God

If we as human beings are created in the image of God and God is spirit, then so are we (cf. Genesis 1:26-27).

Genesis 1:26-27:
26 Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
 
This spiritual structure calls us to fix our eyes not on the earthly, but on the spiritual, to see what God reveals (cf. Matthew 6:33 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:4-6; Colossians 3:1-3).
 
Matthew 6:33:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
 
Ephesians 2:4-6:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …
 
Colossians 3:1-3:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
 
It is the breath of God in the form of His Holy Spirit that sensitizes our spiritual awareness to the supernatural realm in order to recognize what the Heavenly Father is doing and speaking (cf. John 5:19-20; John 8:38).
 
John 5:19-20:
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
 
John 8:38:
‘… 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.’
 
Because of this, we should be aware that the Spirit’s communication, and therefore His words, will not be understandable to those who are earthly-minded but to those who are spiritual-minded (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
 
1 Corinthians 2:12-16:
12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.
 
Language reveals the culture in which we live.
Since we are moving in the biblical decade of ‘Pe – mouth’, from which the ‘He – breath’ emerges, we can recognize a prompting of the Spirit to communicate the kingdom through these two Hebrew letters. These result in the Hebrew word פֶּה – päh’, which means ‘mouth, opening, access’. (Note: part excerpt of the Hebrew word פֶּה – päh’ from the Elberfelder Study Bible with the word key number: 6442)
 
Peter, for example, was also recognized by his ‘dialect of the kingdom of God’ (cf. Matthew 26:73).
 
Matthew 26:73:
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.’
 
God’s communication, as well as that of His Son Jesus, is like the sound of many waters, among other things, and thus the Holy Spirit is to be made to flow in the form of streams of living waters. This implies that our words should be sweet, which means words saturated with revelation (cf. Ezekiel 1:24; Revelation 1:15b i.c.w. John 7:38-39a).
 
Ezekiel 1:24:
24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
 
Revelation 1:15b:
… 15b , and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
 
John 7:38-39a:
38 Whoever believes in me [Note: Jesus Christ], as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’
39a By this he meant the Spirit, …
 
The Number ‘5’ and its Meaning

=> The number ‘5’ is an effective number. It counts to the effect of grace, manifested and worked as the hand of God in a life or ministry. This is because everything the LORD does is freely provided and cannot be purchased by earthly currency. It is a gift of grace. This number is mainly like the hand symbolism and represents the performance of a vow to the LORD. It applies in part to sacrificial or devotional service.

In addition, the number ‘5’ indicates a pledge of devotion expressed through the power in someone else’s hands (Note: hand pressing) to accomplish something. Hand symbolism primarily characterizes the Tanakh and has been brought into the New Testament by the Apostle Paul in his presentation of the offices of the five-fold ministry to the New Testament church.

In the Tanakh, the tabernacle and temple already point to the hand fulfillment of the New Testament church. The tabernacle had five pillars to support the structure, and the temple had a pentagon in the entrance area (cf. Exodus 26:37; 1 Kings 6:31).
Thus, ministries of ministers, elders, and leaders are implied there (cf. Ephesians 4:11 i.c.w. Galatians 2:9; Revelation 3:12). <= (The text placed in ‘=>’ is based on an explanation from the ‘Prophet’s Dictionary’ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; pp. 221; 222).

The Sea, the Heaven and the Hand of God
 
The measure of the sea as well as the heavens are, according to the biblical passage from Isaiah 40:12a, the realms associated with the hand of God and thus with His supernatural being, which is spirit (cf. John 4:24a).
 
Isaiah 40:12a:
12a Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? …

John 4:24a:
24a God is spirit, …

Based on this truth, we can see that we are dealing with two spiritual realms that encompass in themselves the sustaining and protecting or covering power of God.

Considering the hollow hand below and the extended hand of the LORD above, we can see in it the dimension of a fish, which also resembles the symbol of the ‘ichthỵs – fish’ (note: <>< symbol of the ichthỵs – fish), where the lower level is joined to the upper level in revealing the structure of a fish.

Since the fish and the birds were created before man, a spiritual principle is also revealed in this. This involves the element of water and air, which point to the power of the truth of God’s Word and the principle of the Spirit in the form of faith (cf. Ephesians 5:26b i.c.w. Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 11:1).

Ephesians 5:26b:
… 26b by the washing with water through the word, …

Isaiah 40:31:
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Hebrews 11:1:
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
 
The connection between the so-called depths in the form of the fish and heights in the form of the birds in Christ Jesus is equal to the temporary implantation of Jonah, which means ‘dove’, in the belly of the fish. Through this, the power of prophecy in the form of God’s instruction could be secured for the future in order to give divine direction to the people (cf. Jonah 2:1.10; Jonah 3:1-2).

Jonah 2:1.10:
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. …
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah 3:1-2:
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
The Verse of the Year for the Gregorian Year 2025
 
The Herrnhut’ annual scripture for the Gregorian calendar year 2025 is from 1 Thessalonians 5:21 which reads:
 
“… but test them all; hold on to what is good, …”
 
The above-mentioned scripture shows that in the context of prophecy it is necessary to filter or test this supernatural communication on the basis of the truth of the Word of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
 
Wherein we are instructed not to quench the Spirit (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
 
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21:
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, …
 
For this we need to know that there are three sources of a prophetic word, which are the Spirit of God (Note: Holy Spirit), the spirit of misapprehension (Note: of demonic origin) and the own flesh (Note: own will, power of the soul).
 
It is possible to receive a prophetic word from God and manipulate it through our own will (Note: own wishes, ideas, conditioning or education) afterwards. This is why our main subject of our devotion should always be the LORD, and He should always be the centre and focus of all of our concerns.

It is inevitable that all spiritual experiences take our heart and our passion into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it is indispensable that we don’t overreact on spiritual experiences.
 
Take for instance the encounter John had with the angel in Revelation 19:10, where the apostle was in danger of changing his worship because of the significance of the revelation. Consequently, he was warned by the angel to maintain true worship and to worship God alone.
 
Revelation 19:10:
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Hence it is vital we use a verification scheme or method in accordance to the Word of God to find out whether the prophetic impressions we receive are indeed a directive revelation from God.

Sobriety in the Spirit

It is crucial to make sure that our mind, body and soul are completely submitted unto the LORD and that we are sober, earnest and pure in our heart before God, if we want to correctly determine whether a prophetic intuition addressed to us comes from God (cf. Matthew 5:8; John 3:3; 2 Timothy 4:5 i.c.w. 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 5:8).

Matthew 5:8:
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 
John 3:3:
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
 
2 Timothy 4:5:
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
 
1 Peter 1:13:
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1 Peter 5:8:
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (Note: with words- Satan, the old serpent seduced Adam and Eve in the Garden Eden.; cf. Genesis 3:1ff.)

Avoiding Traps

There are unfortunately believers among the people of God who are afraid of the unknown and supernatural experiences. This kind of fear or worry implies the unsustainable statement that supernatural experiences are dangerous and should be avoided to prevent deception and hopelessness.
 
Even if there are possible dangers regarding spiritual experiences such as someone remaining outside the boundaries of the Word, way or will of God in any area of his life, we should not close our minds to God’s prophetic words. Just as is the case with the supernatural there are also possible dangers in the natural, if we do not abide by the right principles.

The Example of Driving a Car

We know that driving a car can be extremely dangerous if we do not abide by traffic rules and regulations. When we know the laws however, have read the car manual, stay within the bounds of regulation, keep attention and show consideration for others, we most likely will stay safe while driving.
 
Nevertheless, all these risks and inherent dangers should not deter us from getting into a car to reach our destination. Other examples could be given here that mean the same thing.

Applying this example to the supernatural realm means in any case we should know every element of danger or deceit but at the same time we should not risk refusing the prophetic realm, as the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (cf. Revelation 19:10e i.c.w. 1 Corinthians 14:1).

Revelation 19:10e:
… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 14:1:
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
 
In his letter to his spiritual son Timothy Paul indirectly mentioned the importance of the fear of God and the acknowledgement of the power by which the genuine prophetic word is released (cf. 2 Timothy 3:5).

2 Timothy 3:5:
… 5 having a form of godliness (Note: faking the fear of God) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
 
The reason why it is so important to test any personal revelation we receive against the powerful, living Word of God according to Hebrews 4:12 is because it is possible that if our heart is not properly positioned in the center of God’s will, it can lead us into deception (cf. Jeremiah 17:9 i.c.w. Matthew 15:19).

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.; …” Jeremiah 17:9a

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:19

Also in Jeremiah 10:23 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:8-10 it is revealed to us that it is not up to man to direct his own steps.

Jeremiah 10:23:
23 LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Significance of Prophets in the Body of Christ

For this reason, God appointed prophets to His body on earth who aid saints to test personally received intuitions and prophecies if they are not sure, just as revealed in 1 Corinthians 14:29.

1 Corinthians 14:29:
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others (Note: prophets) should weigh carefully what is said.

Experience has shown that it is advisable for believers to have a certain personal relationship with the prophet to ensure accurate knowledge according to the principle of discipleship and mentoring.
 
The Lord determined all members in the body of Christ to depend on one another. By this He secures and supports the full complement of the service, as well as supplying spiritual food for every need so that every saint can grow into full spiritual maturity in Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.12-14; Ephesians 4:11-14 i.c.w. Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 5:14).

1 Corinthians 12:4-7.12-14:
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good; …
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Ephesians 4:11-14:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
 
Matthew 4:4:
4 Jesus answered, “It is written (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3): ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
 
Hebrews 5:14:
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 
Accordingly, let us increase in God’s communication in the new year by allowing ourselves to recognize the current and given revelations of the LORD through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in order to respond appropriately without quenching or even excluding the Holy Spirit (cf. Hebrews 12:25).
 
Hebrews 12:25:
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
 
Amen and Amen.
 
A spirit-filled and sweet year 5785,
 
Daniel and Tina Glimm