Subj: Re: rastafari
Date: 12/12/98
From: Praize JAH
 
 

First, let me thank you for your honesty and straightforwardness in your e-mail. I'll try to reply with the same.

You first write:

"He, of course, believes in H.I.M. Where as I believe in Him, Jesus Christ, as my personal Lord and Savior."

This is a common point of argument which I have seen time and time again but still fail to understand... Many say that to be Rasta is to be "Anti-christ" or more specifically, "Anti-Jesus". This simply is not so. What Rastafari reject are the perversions and mis-interpretations which have found their way into the modern-day "Christian" faith. For just as the earliest followers of Christ Yesus were Jews, Rastafari is not something separate and apart from the followers of Christ. You must always remember that God is never changed, never different and in the same way, never ending. "Rastafari" as a term to catagorize a people is relatively new, but the faith Rastafari uphold is the same faith, as it was from the beginning of creation, in the time of Christ Yesus and now in the times of revelation - everlasting to everlasting. Just as some feel the New Testament somehow "replaces" the Old; that the Law of Yesus Christ somehow "replaces" those of the God of Israel, they assume that Rastafari is an attempt at "replacing" the laws of Yesus Christ. This way of thinking, on all three points is absolutely false. These three laws are one in the same: never changed, never different and neverending. "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets. I am come not to destroy but to FULFIL." ~Yesus Christ, (Matthew 5:17). On this same note, Rastafari is not come to destroy even the laws or prophecy of Christ but to fulfil which leads me to your next point...

"I just have a hard time accepting the fact that Christ has returned for a second time as a man. I know the background of His Majesty and I do not doubt that he is a direct descendent of King Solomon. That is something that I find quite possible."

It seems to me here that you've answered your own question on this matter. You seem to doubt (of course, I am only assuming) that christ should return "as a man" or "in flesh" but then go on to refer to the line of Solomon and the line of King David... This is key. For, you must know, then, that the Father "will raise unto David a righteous branch and a KING SHALL REIGN AND PROSPER and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth." (Jeremiah 23:5) and that this King should sit upon the THRONE OF DAVID that "in mercy shall the throne be established. and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5) And as in the Old Testament, so it is in the New Testament that, "being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, he would raise up Christ to SIT ON HIS THRONE." (Acts 2:30) now these three accounts clearly point to one in the same. Clearly a King, "in the flesh".

You then write:

"However, when I read in Isaiah and in the Psalms about a coming king, I believe it to be Jesus Christ who has already come."

Now, to this Christ himself also did prophecy, saying, "when the comforter is come, which I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which procedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." and as I explained earlier, this is not new or different but further adherence to the everlasting Law of God, for, "ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:26)

So, again, to sight Rastafari as something different and separate from Christ is false. "There is nothing new under the sun" and that simple fact is overlooked by too many. The History recorded in the Bible is just that... HISTORY. The throne of David is a historical fact just as the ministry of Christ is historical fact. Rastafari is simply the further unfolding of this history being revealed to us in this time. For, along with the Bible's history, we are given prophecy... in Old Testament times was the prophecy of the Spirit of the Almighty God of Israel made flesh to walk among man... and that prophecy is fulfilled in the man of Yesus Christos. And in New Testament times, the times of Christ, we are given the prophecy of the Spirit of the Almighty God of Israel, the Spirit of Christ Yesus again being revealed to us according to the flesh, "and lo, amidst the throne and of the four beasts, and amidst the elders stood a lamb as it had been slain" (revelation 5:6) who is, in this time, worthy "to recieve power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory." (revelation 5:12) and who would be called "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah." (revelation 19:16)... Christ returned, according to the flesh, to sit upon the throne of King David atop Mount Zion as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.

Please respond when you can.

Selassie I Love,

~ras john

Subj: Re: question help me
Date: 12/31/98 1:36:29 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Praize JAH
 
 

You've given I plenty here to ponder but I'll do my best to address each point to the fullest.

First, you write:

"...she was reading a book and it said that rastas was suppose to be only for jamaicans..."

This is a common misconception. First, let me say that Rastafari does not lend itself to books... InI faith is a complex one and though books can be helpful in tracing the history of the movement and providing a rough, undetailed outline of the principles of the faith, This trod is an ancient and mysterious one and ones who look only to books will find themselves with many voids to be filled.
Second, there are plenty people who will try to tell you, "to be Rasta, you must be this or that", and let me be the first to tell you that this is a lot bull-sh*t. JAH know it, I know it and anyone who looks into the scriptures know it. Know this... anyone who dare defile the name of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I for means of racism, segregation of other such abominations will feel JAH Fire, HOTTA! For, InI know, from reading the scriptures that, "the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; and they shall have inheritence with you among the tribes of Israel." (Ezekial 47:22) Therefor InI know that all ones who call on the name of JAH Rastafari, Lord and Saviour shall be saved and share in his kingdom equally. Now, to this His Majesty also did speak to InI saying, "He who would efface the sacred work of the Almighty, he who would abuse the mysteries of GOD's creations and discriminate between man and man, whom the highest himself created equal, on the basis of color, race or creed, calls down upon himself disaster and ruin." (HIM Haile Selassie I)

Now, your next question asks:

"...rastas think the aeroplane is babylon bird so explain that and if so why did bob carry it all over..."

In this time, Sistren, man can not live as he did 3000 years ago. The earth is not as it was then. Whoever should fight against technology is a fool and is fighting a loosing battle. For, it is not the technology that is evil but the ways in which man uses it. His Majesty worked hard in "technologically upgrading" Ethiopia so that the country would be able to work equally with the more technologically advanced countries of the world. Even now, as InI are using the Internet to discuss matters of the Almighty, InI are using it as a tool... not an evil instrument of Babylon. So, when InI choose to use these tools, we must be extra careful of the ways with which we use them.
As for Bob (I assume you mean Bob Marley), ones should not follow the example of man but of the Almighty perfect example. Though Bob Marley was a Rasta blessed with musical ability as well as the ability to spread the word of Rastafari to all the four corners of the earth, righteousness shall be judged by no man but the Most High.

You then state:

"...then she said if Jah is god that walk de earth..."

I think there is some confusion here. The word "JAH" is literally the shortened version of "JAHOVIAH", the name of God, as written in Psalm 68:4, "extol HIM that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH". Therefor the words are synonymous.

Next you ask,

"why it say in the bible jesus instead of tafari"

InI know from reading the Bible that in the last days JAH would come in a new name. In Old Testament times was the prophecy of the Spirit of the Almighty God of Israel made flesh to walk among man... and that prophecy is fulfilled in the man of Yesus Christos. And in New Testament times, the times of Christ, we are given the prophecy of the Spirit of the Almighty God of Israel, the Spirit of Christ Yesus again being revealed to us according to the flesh, "and lo, amidst the throne and of the four beasts, and amidst the elders stood a lamb as it had been slain." (revelation 5:6), who is, in this time, worthy "to recieve power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory." (revelation 5:12) and who shall come in a new name, "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah." (revelation 19:16)... Christ returned, In a new name, to sit upon the throne of King David atop Mount Zion as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.

Finally, you write:

"...when a friend whose faith use to be stronger than i said she was going to be christian again it make me wonder why."

This trod of Rastafari is not for the weak in faith nor the weak in heart. InI must fight down babylon constantly and stand strong in good times and bad. For, "InI glory in tribulation also" (Romans 5:3) I hope the seed of Rastafari is planted deep within fertile soil in you I-rits, Sistren.

Stand strong, Selassie I Lives.

~john

Anyone who would call himself/herself "Rasta" and call on the name of the Most High JAH Rastafari, King Selassie I of Zion should seek to know Africa, it's history, it's children and it's place as cradle and foundation of mankind both historically and spiritually. To one who follows Rastafari it would be (and should be) impossible to ignore the crimes committed upon the children of Africa, as many do. Aside from the obvious political and moral reasons that these evils, such as slavery, oppression, descrimination, etc. must be dealt with and destroyed, to anyone who studies the book of life, these things are clearly defined as the works of the wicked... "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor..." (Psalm 10:2)... "They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression..." (Psalm 73:8) and that JAH work is the redemption of his people unto whom these crimes have for centuries been committed, "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD JAH Rastafari..." (Psalm 12:5).

The zeal of ALL Rastafari children should be to fight for total spiritual and physical liberation for JAH children, and nowhere is this liberation more lacking than for JAH sons and dawtas of Africa.

For, there are ones who call on the name of JAH Ras Tafari that do not live in the fullnes(t) of Rasta livity nor stand to right the wrongs of babylon. There are ones who call on the name of JAH Ras Tafari that do not know the King HIMself, nor the glory of HIS Kingdom. Pop-Culture has had a hand in attempting to cold the fiyah while leading ones to a superficial, escapist, mis-representation of the truths of Rastafari. Having reasoned with ones such as these, it is not difficult nor time consuming to sort the true followers of the shepard from the wolves. InI are warned of these too in the scriptures, "Not everyone that saith unto me, LORD, LORD shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father. Many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD have we not prophesised in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that worketh iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)

This is a call to ALL NATIONS who cry Rastafari Hola Name to know the Roots, Struggle, History and Culture of Rastafari African sons and dawtas. Rastafari livity is not a livity of escapism nor is it a livity of self-interest and false security. Rastafari faith is not a faith for the weak-hearted. Those who have truly seen JAH light must fight for liberation, arms in arms with the oppressed, knowing that it is right, whatever nation they may be.

One Perfect Selassie I Love.

 Subj: FYAH BUN!
Date: 4/14/00 11:33:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Praize JAH
 

Selassie I Greetings, Rastafari Bredren and Sistren. For, in HIS image InI was created and still some work to alter that perfect creation. InI Rastafari say NO! InI shall not cut or ink our flesh, it is an insult to the Almighty JAH Rastafari. Babylon say that InI is living a life of conformation, conforming to laws and vows and this and that but what InI adhere to is divine law and is etched on our hearts from creation. Still, babylon trim and pierce and ink and tattoo, desecrating the Lord's creation for the sake of the days vanity trend. There is no act which is more conformist than that, and worse still, it is to conform to the wicked society of vanity and lust. It is through InI adherence to Nyabinghi Selassie I I-vine law that does not constrain, conform or enslave InI to this wicked babylon society, in thought and spirit as well as form and flesh. For, only through InI adherence to JAH laws of life and creation are InI freed from babylon laws of vanity and lust. When will the blind see what they are doing to InI Father? Hot today, cold tomorrow vanity trends, lust and greed are the shackles of modern days and JAH fire will burn Hotter still. Mark these words!

Teach the children well.

Selassie I Reign
~Ras John