Rastafarianism is named after the former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie’s pre-coronation name (Ras Tafari).  Many Rastafarians literally believe that Haile Selassie was the return of Jesus.  Some Rastafarians believe that Selassie was the first coming of the Messiah.  They thus also believe that the Jesus of the Bible was not the Messiah.  Though not all Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie was Jesus, Rastafarianism overall has made an idol out of Selassie. 

The basis of the Rastafarian claims about Selassie stem from a statement spoken by Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey.  “Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand.”  Shortly after this statement was made, Haile Selassie was crowned as the Emperor of Ethiopia in the year 1930.  It is on the basis of Garvey’s vague statement that many Rastafarians came to worship Selassie- even though Garvey himself had denounced Selassie by 1937.  

Even if you were to discount the many, many other reasons why this particular statement by Garvey should not be seen as reliable proof of Selassie’s divinity nor viewed as some prophetic utterance of divine origin nor even viewed as a statement which pertained to Selassie at all, there is one overarching reason why Selassie could not be the return of Jesus.  

That reason is the Bible teaches that Jesus left earth after His resurrection and will not come back in person until His second coming where He will put down His enemies, take power over all nations directly with a rod of iron, and this will all be accompanied by the resurrection of the righteous dead who (along with the righteous who remain alive at that time) will be transformed into redeemed bodies and reign over the nations with Him then.

Hebrews 10:12-13: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”

There is also no solid proof that Haile Selassie was a descendant of King Solomon.  And even if there was, it would be meaningless.  Similarly, since being a natural Israelite never caused one to inherently be in Gods’ favor, then even if a person or the majority of a particular nation or continent could prove that they were descendants of the lost tribes of Israel (and none can prove that), it would not mean that God had a special favor towards that individual or group.  

The Bible also speaks nothing of Ethiopia being the seat of God or of Ethiopia being a special land of redemption for black people or anything like that.  And as the Bible makes it clear that no one can serve God faithfully while serving mammon, no one can serve God faithfully either while being governed by the interests of those with the same color skin as themselves.  

It is true that white people have corrupted Christianity and used their corrupted brands for their own ungodly ends.  However, they are not the only ones.  Those of all skin colors, and those of every type of ancestry, have done things to promote corrupted versions of Christianity and to otherwise oppose Christianity in its authenticity. 

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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