1. Rastafari, Jesus, and the BibleA Biblical Look At Rastafari

2. Welcome, RastasWe are blessed to have 6-10,000 Rastafarianscome to our small town every year for the SierraNevada World Music Festival. Or the SNWMF forshorthand. 3. Last Sunday We examined the history of the RastafariMovement. Now we will look at the unique distinctivesBiblically of Rastafari, andcompare the RastafariMovement with the Bible. Reviewing last Sundaywe find. 4. www.religionfacts.com The Rastafari movement is a "messianic religio-politicalmovement" that began in the Jamaican slums in the 1920sand 30s. The most famous Rastafari is Bob Marley, whosereggae music gained the Jamaican movement internationalrecognition. There is significant variation within the Rastafari movementand no formal organization. Some Rastafarians see Rastamore as a way of life than a religion. But uniting the diversemovement is belief in the divinity and/or messiahship ofEthiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, the influence ofJamaican culture, resistance of oppression, and pride inAfrican heritage. The Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use ofmarijuana, avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of ones hairin dreadlocks, and vegetarianism. 5. Some Critical Biblical Points Are Is Haile Selassie I, God (Jah) On Earth? Messiahship of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I Bobo Dreads worship of Prince Emmanuel (inaddition to Haile Selassie) as a reincarnation ofChrist and embodiment of Jah True Rastas are believed to be immortal, bothphysically and spiritually, a concept called"everliving. What is the Gospel? 6. Who Is God (Jah) On Earth? Isaiah 43:10-11 "You are My witnesses," declaresthe LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen,In order that you may know and believe Me, Andunderstand that I am He. Before Me there was noGod formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 I,even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is nosavior. 2 Timothy 1:10 our Savior Christ Jesus Titus 1:4 Christ Jesus our Savior. Luke 2:11 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Matthew 1:16 Jesus, who is called Christ. 7. Is Jesus God (Jah) On Earth? Genesis 3:15 and her seed; He shall bruise you on thehead, And you shall bruise him on the heel. Isaiah 7:14 virginwith child His name Immanuel. Matthew 1:21-23 "And she will bear a Son; and youshall call His name Jesus [the LORD is salvation] , for it is Hewho will save His people from their sins. Now all thistook place that what was spoken by the Lord throughthe prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "Behold, thevirgin [parthenos] shall be with child, and shall bear a Son,and they shall call His name Immanuel," whichtranslated means, "God with us." 8. Is Jesus God (Jah) On Earth? Isaiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel Andhis Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and Iam the last, And there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 41:4 I, the LORD, am the first, and with thelast. I am He. Isaiah 48:12 I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. Revelation 2:8 The first and the last, who was dead,and has come to life, says this: Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," saysthe Lord God, "who is and who was and who is tocome, the Almighty. Revelation 1:17-18 "Do not be afraid; I am the firstand the last, and the living One; and I was dead, andbehold, I am alive forevermore 9. Is Jesus The Only God (Jah)? Isaiah 44:6 I am the first and I am the last, And there isno God besides Me. Jude 1:4 our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. John 10:30 "I and the Father are one. John 10:33 The Jews answered HimYou, being a man,make Yourself out to be God. John 10:38 know and understand that the Father is in Me,and I in the Father. John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have knownMy Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seenHim. John 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, theLORD is one! 10. Is Emperor Haile Selassie I Messiah? What did Marcus Garveysay about him? What did Haile Selassie sayabout his diety? What does the Bible sayabout the Messiah? What does the Bible sayabout Messiah Jesus? 11. Is Emperor Haile Selassie I Messiah? What did MarcusGarvey say about him? Marcus Garvey? 12. Fast Facts www.religionfacts.com Date founded: Generally said to be November2, 1930, the year Emperor Hailie Selassie I(1892-1975) was crowned, but based in amovement of the 1920s. Place founded: Jamaica Founder: Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), a blackJamaican who taught in the 1920s and isconsidered a second John the Baptist. 13. Marcus Garvey, (1887-1940) Garvey encouraged pride inbeing black and worked toreverse the mindset ofinferiority that centuries ofenslavement had ingrainedon the minds of blacks.Garvey is regarded as asecond John the Baptist andfamously prophesied in1927, "Look to Africa, forthere a king shall becrowned." 14. Marcus Garvey, John the Baptist? Followers of Garveys teachings believed thatSelassie is the messiah that had beenpredicted, and that his coronation indicatedthe divine punishment was completed and thereturn to Africa would begin. Rastafariansnamed their movement for Ras Tafari andregarded the emperor as the physicalpresence of God (Jah) on earth. 15. Marcus Garvey, John the Baptist? the divine punishment wascompleted the return to Africa wouldbegin Did Marcus Garvey thinkhighly of Selassie?Marcus Garvey Earthday: Father of Black Dignity 16. Marcus Garvey, John the Baptist? the divine punishment was completed Did black oppression end in 1930? 17. Marcus Garvey, John the Baptist? the return toAfrica would begin If the return toAfrica began in1930, and God weredoing it.? History shows. 18. Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie met with Rasta elders in AddisAbaba in the 1950s. In 1955, he offered 500 acresof his personal land to black people wishing toreturn to Africa. Around 2,200 blacks, mainlyRastafarians, moved to the land (in Shashemene)during the 1960s. But poverty, a lack ofacceptance by the Ethiopian population anddisputes with the government that overthrewSelassie has caused that population to dwindle.The current population is estimated at 250. 19. Marcus Garvey, John the Baptist? Did Marcus Garvey think highly of Selassie? Marcus Garvey himself, however, did notthink highly of Selassie. He regarded him as anincompetent leader and in collusion withwhite oppressors after his defeat by theItalians and acceptance of British assistance toregain his throne. In 1937, Garvey wrote aneditorial entitled "The Failure of Haile Selassieas Emperor. 20. What Did John The Baptist ThinkAbout Jesus? John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming tohim, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God whotakes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He onbehalf of whom I said, After me comes a Manwho has a higher rank than I, for He existedbefore me. Mark 1:7-8 And he was preaching, and saying,"After me One is coming who is mightier than I,and I am not fit to stoop down and untie thethong of His sandals.8 "I baptized you with water;but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 21. Outline: Haile Selassie Messiah? What did Marcus Garvey say about him?What did Haile Selassie sayabout that? What does the Bible say about Messiah? What does the Bible say about Messiah Jesus? 22. Is Emperor Haile Selassie I Messiah? What did HaileSelassie say abouthis being theMessiah? 23. Haile Selassie Emperor Of Ethiopia Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian andhe explicitly denied his divine status as proclaimed inJamaica. In a radio interview with Canadas CBC newsin 1967, he said, "I have heard of that idea [that I amdivine]. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told themclearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I willbe replaced by the oncoming generation, and that theyshould never make a mistake in assuming orpretending that a human being is emanated from adeity." This denial has not deterred Rastafarians frombelieving the emperor to be divine 24. Is Emperor Haile Selassie I Messiah? What did Marcus Garvey say about him? What did Haile Selassie say about that?What does the Bible sayabout Messiah? What does the Bible say about Messiah Jesus? 25. Whats The Bible Say About Messiah? Genesis 3:15 her seedbruise him on the heel. Isaiah 43:10-11I, even I, am the LORD, And besidesMe there is no savior. Matthew 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King ofthe Jews?... 2:5 And they said to him, "In Bethlehem ofJudea Psalm 2:12 Do homage to the Son, lest He becomeangry Psalm 22:17-18 I can count all my bones. They look,they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments amongthem, And for my clothing they cast lots. 26. Whats The Bible Say About Messiah?Watch for singular pronouns. Isaiah 53:3-11 He was despised and forsaken ofmen, A man of sorrows, and acquainted withgrief; And like one from whom men hide theirface, He was despised, and we did not esteemHim. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And oursorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemedHim stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 ButHe was pierced through for our transgressions,He was crushed for our iniquities; The chasteningfor our well-being fell upon Him, And by Hisscourging we are healed. 27. Whats The Bible Say About Messiah? 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of ushas turned to his own way; But the LORD hascaused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 7 Hewas oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He didnot open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led toslaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before itsshearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 Byoppression and judgment He was taken away;And as for His generation, who considered ThatHe was cut off out of the land of the living, Forthe transgression of my people to whom thestroke was due? 28. Whats The Bible Say About Messiah? 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet Hewas with a rich man in His death, Because He haddone no violence, Nor was there any deceit in Hismouth. 10 But the LORD was pleased To crushHim, putting Him to grief; If He would renderHimself as a guilt offering, He will see Hisoffspring, He will prolong His days, And the goodpleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will seeit and be satisfied; By His knowledge theRighteous One, My Servant, will justify the many,As He will bear their iniquities. 29. Whats The Bible Say About Messiah?Watch for singular pronouns. Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout intriumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king iscoming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation,Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foalof a donkey. Matthew 21:2-5 saying to them, "Go into the villageopposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tiedthere and a colt with her; untie them, and bring them toMe. 3 "And if anyone says something to you, you shall say,The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will sendthem." 4 Now this took place that what was spoken throughthe prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 5 "Say to thedaughter of Zion, Behold your King is coming to you,Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foalof a beast of burden." 30. Is Emperor Haile Selassie I Messiah? What did Marcus Garvey say about him? What did Haile Selassie say about that? What does the Bible say about Messiah?What does the Bible sayabout Messiah Jesus? 31. What does the Bible say aboutMessiah Jesus? Exodus 23:13do not mention the name of other gods,nor let them be heard from your mouth. Acts 4:10-12 Jesus Christ the Nazarene there issalvation in no one else; for there is no other nameunder heaven that has been given among men, bywhich we must be saved. John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; hewho does not believe has been judged already,because he has not believed in the name of the onlybegotten Son of God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 you were washed, but you weresanctified, but you were justified in the name of theLord Jesus Christ 32. What does the Bible say aboutMessiah Jesus? John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that Hegave His only begotten Son [singular] , that whoeverbelieves in Him should not perish, but haveeternal life. (monogenes) Meaning: only begotten Origin: from 3441 and 1096 Usage: only(3), only begotten(6). Notes: 1 Or, unique, only one of His kind 33. What does the Bible say aboutMessiah Jesus? 1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us,that God has sent His only begotten Son into the worldso that we might live through Him. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and thetruth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, butthrough Me. John 6:44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Fatherwho sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on thelast day. John 6:47-48 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he whobelieves in Me has everlasting life."I am the bread oflife. 34. What does Acts 2:32 say aboutMessiah Jesus? Acts 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which weare all witnesses. 33 "Therefore having been exalted tothe right hand of God, and having received from theFather the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has pouredforth this which you both see and hear. 34 "For it wasnot David who ascended into heaven, but he himselfsays: The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know forcertain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." 35. What else does the Bible say aboutMessiah Jesus Return? Zechariah 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand onthe Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem onthe east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in itsmiddle from east to west by a very large valley, so thathalf of the mountain will move toward the north andthe other half toward the south. Matthew 24:27 "For just as the lightning comes fromthe east, and flashes even to the west, so shall thecoming of the Son of Man be. Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds,and every eye will see Him, even those who piercedHim; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn overHim. Even so. Amen. 36. What else does the Bible say aboutMessiah Jesus Return? Isaiah 45:22-24 "Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends ofthe earth; For I am God, and there is no other. 23 "I havesworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouthin righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me everyknee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. 24 "Theywill say of Me, Only in the LORD are righteousness andstrength. Men will come to Him, And all who were angry atHim shall be put to shame. Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore also God highly exalted Him,and bestowed on Him the name which is above everyname, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under theearth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that JesusChrist is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 37. Everliving? Rastafarians do not believe in an afterlife, 5but instead look to Africa (called "Zion") as aheaven on earth. True Rastas are believed tobe immortal, both physically and spiritually, aconcept called "everliving. 38. What Does The Bible Say About It? Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed forman to die once, and after that comes judgment,28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear thesins of many, will appear a second time, not todeal with sin but to save those who are eagerlywaiting for him. Hebrews 9:22 And according to the Law, one mayalmost say, all things are cleansed with blood,and without shedding of blood there is noforgiveness. 39. What Does The Bible Say About It? Jesus said in John 8:24 "I said therefore toyou, that you shall die in your sins; for unlessyou believe that I am He, you shall die in yoursins. Ezekiel 18:20 "The person who sins will die Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, butthe free gift of God is eternal life in ChristJesus our Lord. 40. What Does The Bible Say About It? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, theunbelieving, the vile, the murderers, thesexually immoral, those who practice magicarts, the idolaters and all liars--they will beconsigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.This is the second death." 41. What Is The Biblical Gospel? What Is The Biblical Gospel? Its the good news ofavailable salvation from the bad news. Matthew 5:22 "But I say to you that everyone who isangry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall beguilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say,You fool, shall be guilty enough to go into the fieryhell. Matthew 13:41 "The Son of Man will send forth Hisangels, and they will gather out of His kingdom allstumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in thatplace there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 42. What Is The Biblical Gospel? Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall shortof the glory of God, Romans 3:10 as it is written, "There is nonerighteous, not even one; Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His ownlove toward us, in that while we were yetsinners, Christ died for us. 43. What Is The Biblical Gospel? John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to thosewho believed in his name, he gave the right tobecome children of God John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he whohears My word, and believes Him who sentMe, has eternal life, and does not come intojudgment, but has passed out of death intolife. 44. What Is The Biblical Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I make known to you,brethren, the gospel which I preached to you,which also you received, in which also you stand,2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast theword which I preached to you, unless youbelieved in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of firstimportance what I also received, that Christ diedfor our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and thatHe was buried, and that He was raised on thethird day according to the Scriptures, 45. What Is The Biblical Gospel? Romans 10:9-13 that if you confess with yourmouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heartthat God raised Him from the dead, you shallbe saved; 10 for with the heart man believes,resulting in righteousness, and with themouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes inHim will not be disappointed.13 for"Whoever will call upon the name of the LORDwill be saved." 46. Beware Of False Gospels And Christs Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name,saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many. Galatians 1:8 But even though we, or an angel fromheaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to thatwhich we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Matthew 24:26 "If therefore they say to you, Behold,He is in the wilderness, do not go forth, or, Behold, Heis in the inner rooms, do not believe them. 27 "For justas the lightning comes from the east, and flashes evento the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if one comes and preachesanother Jesus whom we have not preached, or youreceive a different spirit which you have not received,or a different gospel which you have not accepted 47. God Bless, Drive Safely Home Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no oneelse; for there is no other name under heaventhat has been given among men, by which wemust be saved. 48. Genesis 1:29, every plant yielding seed Dear Compass, I have a friend who claims to be a Christian who says that marijuana falls under the verse I havegiven you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth . . . it shall be food for you;(Genesis 1:29). He says you cant condemn using it. What do you think? ANSWERHe is NUTS! There is no nutritional value in eating marijuana leaves. By smoking it you can harmyour body (cancer1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and your mind (lethargy). By smoking it you run the riskof being subject to a yoke of slavery. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject againto a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 And probably the most important reason hes nuts is thatmarijuana is illegal!! Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is noauthority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Romans 13:1 Remindthem to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed Titus3:1 He needs to grow up/mature. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as tomen of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yetable to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 . . . you were formerlydarkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light, for the fruit of the lightconsists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:8-9