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© 2011 SCOTT WEBSTER MINISTRIES.  Pag e 1 of 4 Pr ophetic Brie f  The Christmas Story Part 1 2011 has been a great year at SWM. As we have continued to send out teachings and analysis in these prophetic briefs more people have recommended them to their friends and family members to the point that 40% of our list is new subscribers as of 2011. With so many joining in the last year, we are re-sending a two part arti cle initially mailed in 2008 – The Christmas Stor y. Have a great time with your family this holiday season. For many, Christmas evokes memories of childhood joy , opening gifts and feasting with family. Favorite family recipes, a break from school, the gathering of family and friends or the exchanging of gifts – we all look at this holiday and time of year through a set of personal lenses. However we must look again and look more closely to get a biblically accurate account of history a nd a correct perspective. I think it is reaso nable to say that most Believers in Christ are very conscious of the fact that what is engineered and  purported to be a Christian holiday is muc h more about int ens e consumerism and corporate profits than about the values of Christ. In the midst of the economic crisis, including an unemployment rate edging up to 9.8 % in November, this year retailers have added even earlier and deeper discounts to draw out more consumers. In the race to get the best deals, one woman who was waiting with hundreds of others at Toys r us, ran to the front of the line. When confronted by fellow shoppers, she threatened to pull out a gun and shoot. She was later arrested by police but the spending this year was clearly not. Consumer spending at retail outlets on the same day as last year (Black Friday) was up by 4%, online sales increased by 15.9%. The day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday and the Monday following known as Cyber Monday accounts for 25% of all holiday sales. Moving past the obvious errors and extremes of consumerism, there are many that may not be as aware of the reality that the emphasis of Christ  being birthed into the earth was not simply an act of individual salvation  but a violent clash of kingdoms. It is a tradition in many households to gather around the Christmas tree and read the opening words of Matthew’ s gospel during the holiday season. But let us take this well known passage quoted often in December and look at it for what it really is: a clash of Kingdoms. Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the New Video Series We are living in an unmatched time in the earth; a time when crisis is erupting through natural disasters, political destabilization, and  economic meltdown. Politicians and religious leaders are all weighing in on these events, but they don’t seem to have the answers to a world in intense distress, and are rightly wondering: What in the World is Going On? In this series of Prophetic Briefs, Scott Webster addresses questions that are on people’s minds, and brings prophetic perspective to the events happening in the earth today, so that we can stand effectively in a day when so many things are falling apart. View the rst three episodes in the series “What in the World is Going On” at scottwebsterministries.org . ISSUE 419 DECEMBER 14TH 2011 Insight and Analysis for the 21st Century
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[The Christmas Story] 07 – The Christmas Story, Part 1 (2011)

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© 2011 SCOTT WEBSTER MINISTRIES.  Page 1 of 4

P r o p h e t i c B r i e f  

The Christmas StoryPart 1

2011 has been a great year at SWM. As we have continued to send outteachings and analysis in these prophetic briefs more people haverecommended them to their friends and family members to the point that40% of our list is new subscribers as of 2011. With so many joining in thelast year, we are re-sending a two part article initially mailed in 2008 – The Christmas Stor y. Have a great time with your family this holidayseason.

For many, Christmas evokes memories of childhood joy, opening gifts andfeasting with family. Favorite family recipes, a break from school, thegathering of family and friends or the exchanging of gifts – we all look atthis holiday and time of year through aset of personal lenses. However wemust look again and look more closelyto get a biblically accurate account of history and a correct perspective.

I think it is reasonable to say that mostBelievers in Christ are very consciousof the fact that what is engineered and purported to be a Christian holiday is

m u c h m o r e a b o u t i n t e n s econsumerism and corporate profitsthan about the values of Christ. In themidst of the economic crisis, includingan unemployment rate edging up to 9.8 % in November, this year retailershave added even earlier and deeper discounts to draw out moreconsumers. In the race to get the best deals, one woman who was waitingwith hundreds of others at Toys r us, ran to the front of the line. Whenconfronted by fellow shoppers, she threatened to pull out a gun and shoot.She was later arrested by police but the spending this year was clearly not.Consumer spending at retail outlets on the same day as last year (Black Friday) was up by 4%, online sales increased by 15.9%. The day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday and the Monday following known

as Cyber Monday accounts for 25% of all holiday sales.

Moving past the obvious errors and extremes of consumerism, there aremany that may not be as aware of the reality that the emphasis of Christ being birthed into the earth was not simply an act of individual salvation but a violent clash of kingdoms. It is a tradition in many households togather around the Christmas tree and read the opening words of Matthew’s gospel during the holiday season. But let us take this wellknown passage quoted often in December and look at it for what it reallyis: a clash of Kingdoms.

Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the

New Video Series

We are living in an unmatched time

in the earth; a time when crisis is

erupting through natural disasters,

pol i t ical destabi l izat ion, and 

economic meltdown.

Politicians and religious leaders areall weighing in on these events, but 

they don’t seem to have the

answers to a world in intense

distress, and are rightly wondering:

What in the World

is Going On?

In this series of Prophetic Briefs,

Scott Webster addresses questions

that are on people’s minds, and brings prophetic perspective to the

events happening in the earth

today, so that we can stand 

effectively in a day when so many 

things are falling apart.

View the first three episodes in the

series “What in the World is Going 

On” at scottwebsterministries.org .

ISSUE 419 DECEMBER 14TH 2011

Insight and Analysis for the 21st Century

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time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We

  saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by nomeans least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come aruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”(NIV)

The events of Jesus birth and early years of life were couched within  political intrigue, murderous plots, acts of genocidal rage, stateintelligence activities, issues of immigration and covert border crossings, avisiting delegation of foreign dignitaries and the census and tax decrees of an empire. We must be aware of the actual introduction of the King intothe earth and the drama which unfolded in a political and social context.The narrative actually opens with the empire conducting a census andlevying a special tax upon the colonies (Luke 1:21), an exercise intendednot just to raise revenue from the province but as a way for Rome toconduct political surveillance of a potentially dissident colony. The firstChristmas wasn’t about days off of work, holly or jingle bells – it wasdefined by nations posturing themselves.

Politics and the ChurchHerod’s first action was to gather the leaders of the church and ask themfor the location of the birth of Christ, and Matthew records that they

 provided this without reservation. This is a church which has a completelack of discernment; they are so blind, unaware and spiritually dull thatthey willingly participated in a political process that resulted in a bloodyassault against the Kingdom of God! We must wonder: where was theinsight of the Church regarding this fresh new Divine initiative being birthed into the earth? Weren’t they aware that a new move of God was athand and required their participation? Did they have no discernmentregarding the true nature of Herod’s request for information?

Certainly the political leadership knew of this King and took His presencevery seriously indeed, and Herod’s response was political and inherentlycompetitive and wicked. When Herod asked where the Christ was to be

 Matthew 2:1-3 

After Jesus was born inBethlehem in Judea,during the time of KingHerod, Magi from theeast came to Jerusalem2 and asked, "Where isthe one who has beenborn king of the Jews?We saw his star in theeast and have come toworship him."

ISSUE 419 DECEMBER 14TH 2011

The events of Jesus

birth and early years

of life were couched 

w i t h i n po l i t i c a l  

intrigue, murderous

p l o t s , a c t s o f  

 genocidal rage, state

i n t e l l i g e n c e

activities, issues of 

immigration and 

c o v e r t b o r d e r  

crossings, a visiting 

delegation of foreign

dignitaries and the

census and tax 

d e c r e e s o f a n

empire.

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  born, the church quickly acquiesced and gave him intelligence for hismurderous plot. Politicians who feign piety, but whose true motivation is toextend their own political influence, have always existed and apparentlythey have always been able to dupe that segment of the church that isenamored with carnal power. Perhaps these church leaders were happy thatthe political power structure was asking their opinion, or maybe they choseto believe Herod’s actions were the beginning of a national revival thatwould begin in the highest levels of government? I am only speculatinghere since we are not told, although it wouldn’t be surprising if this was thecase since these things can be seen in the church down through history andup to the present day. This is a church that makes it clear that we need areformation in the earth!

StatecraftWhatever the churches shortcomings, Herod initiated a multi-layeredoperation against Christ by using standard systems of statecraft that we can recognize, including:

A Need to Know Basis. Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact timethe star appeared . The clandestine meeting was restricted to only those who needed to be involved in thediscussion, and the limiting of information flows ensured that few would see into the king’s true intentions. Thiswas a clandestine operation that was managed very carefully by Herod. What is historically plain to see from theclarity of the Word of God was, at that time, a covert operation launched by the state which was known to veryfew.

Syncretism Matthew 2:8 He (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem and said. Syncretism is a word that means a mixtureof things that are opposed, and we see this when Herod tried to use the wise men for his political purposes. Hisarrogance is manifest when he joined his purposes (seeking to find and neutralize the child) to the divine missionof the men from the East. Politicians from all sides of the aisle commonly engage in this unholy mixture, and thechurch has so diluted the message of the Kingdom of God that many have come to believe that “God and country”are one. However, the Magi went to Bethlehem not out of obedience to Herod but because they had spiritual sightand were sent by God.

Disinformation. Matthew 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." Herod lied about his true intentions,which is called disinformation when it is a deliberate attempt by the state to deceive. Herod told the men that hewanted to go and worship Christ when in fact his intention was to have the child murdered. The release of disinformation seeks to obfuscate in order to cloak true intentions and therefore to produce wrong action on the

 part of others.

State Surveillance. Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned totheir country by another route. The return of the wise men by a different route was done to evade the surveillancemechanisms Herod had ordered so that they would not be followed and coerced to give up the location of theChrist. This dream was part of God’s intelligence apparatus which outmaneuvered Herod (and the devilish sourceof his human actions) at every front.

Genocide. Matthew 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordancewith the time he had learned from the Magi. Herod used the power of his security forces (army & police) toconduct state sponsored genocide, something predicted by Jeremiah 700 years before when the prophet looked

ISSUE 419 DECEMBER 14TH 2011

A Developed PROPHETIC

PERSPECTIVE

A fresh look

at PropheticOperations

from aKingdom

Viewpoint.

Now

Available>

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into the spirit realm and heard the sound of Rachel weeping and lamenting for her children, but unable to becomforted because they were no more (Jeremiah 31:15).

Herod had in fact not been outwitted by the Magi, he was not aware that hewas matching wits with the Eternal God. Herod was being used as a pawn by the power of darkness, which sought to abort the purposes of God fromcoming into the earth. The birth of Christ was a bold strike against the

Kingdom of darkness, which responded with various schemes andmechanisms. God provided prophetic insight to His people in the earth inorder for them to outmaneuver darkness. They were able to move the purposes of God towards completion because they were connected to theLord and their actions in the earth were piloted from another realm. Wewill look at that prophetic intelligence in the next issue.

The Church must have a heightened and more insightful view of the Wordof God. Seeing the Bible as simply a plan for individual salvation is tostrip it of all of its richness, and this limited view has produced a people inthe earth who are narrow and whose lives are segmented into quadrants that  produce internal conflict and separation. For instance, Christians todaywould look to the Word of God for answers about sin and salvation, butthey would not have been taught to understand economic principles and political leadership from a Kingdom perspective. Therefore, they would besomewhat lost to speak to large aspects of life that are occurring all around them from a Kingdom perspective.Because of this, the church is (rightly) ignored by the earth when it comes to these issues, though that is changing.We are becoming a more insightful people who understand that God’s promises apply in every context of life!

ISSUE 419 DECEMBER 14TH 2011

Releasing The New Prophetic Dimension • Activating The Capacity To Build • Obeying The Command To Finish

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