Your last question asked whether King Haile Selassie was God in the flesh. Marcus Garvey, the founder of Rasta, claimed that Ras Tafari Makonnen (Haile Selassie) was essentially God in the flesh, the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah, and Selassie was crowned in 1930 as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" and was worshiped as a god. Furthermore, quoting from a Rastafarian web site: "To greater represent the truth, Rasta rejects the Bible used by most Christians, opting instead for a 'black man's Bible' known as the Holy Piby." The book of Matthew is crystal clear in regard to the true identity and nature of the Messiah. Before Mary gave birth an angel appeared to her husband Joseph declaring the supernatural origin of and name to be given the baby in her womb: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. "But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the HOLY SPIRIT. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name IMMANUEL,' which is translated, 'GOD WITH US.' " (Matthew 1:18-23, NKJV, emphasis added).
The Apostle John confirms the unique nature of Jesus' existence by stating: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the ONLY begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, NKJV)
Jesus, when he came two thousand years ago, was literally God in the flesh (or God dwelling in flesh) and was the ONLY begotten son of God the Father. Based on these and many other scriptures, Mr. Selassie was not and could not be "god in the flesh." Furthermore, when the TRUE second coming of Jesus occurs it will not happen secretly nor take place in a far-flung part of the world unbeknownst to the vast majority of humanity. The WHOLE WORLD will know when Jesus is coming back to earth ---- and that he is doing so with POWER and with the authority to set up the kingdom of God on earth: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL, and with the TRUMPET OF GOD. And the dead in Christ will rise first." (1Thessalonians 4:16, NKJV) "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. . . . And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16, NKJV)
Based on the word of God, one must reject Rasta as just another false religion. While no doubt having some good points and teaching some truth, this religion will lead a person away from the Bible and the teaching of Jesus and, therefore, away from salvation. |
