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1. Great Love For God’s Name Jehovah -- Act 15:14; Hebrews 6:10
2. Profound Respect for God’s Word the Bible -- 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
3. Fully expect the coming of an EARTHLY Messiah -- Zechariah 8:23 [New World Translation DELIBERATELY ALTERED here by adding the word “people” twice in this verse ]
All three (3) things mentioned above are major points and have over time, systematically PREPARED & CONDITIONED the people of Jamaica, exclusively, for this most amazing privilege from God’s Hand, yes to be revealed prophetically-speaking in the “End Times.” No doubt, the influence of devout “Rastafarian” believers, who represent a significant portion of the populous of the Island, have played no small part in this remarkable biblical phenomenon.
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~Acts 15:14~ |
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© 1994 - 2011 Donald C. Burney |
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To set the stage for such a phenomenon, we recall Jesus made the incredible statement about wayward Israel of the first century,
“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU and given to a people producing its fruits.” -- Matthew 21:43 ESV
Jesus was able to make such a shocking statement because the nation of Israel had broken God’s Sacred Covenant made with them on Mt. Sinai, and “did not continue” in that Holy Covenant. They worked against it. (Hebrews 8:9) The same today can be said of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as a nation. Yes, they have broken the “Christian Covenant,” as foretold in Daniel 11:30. They have done this willingly, unrepentantly.
Therefore, Jehovah will take the exact same steps as He did against the nation of Israel of the first century, the ones who rejected John the Baptist’s & Jesus’ message of repentance. (Matt. 3:8; Matt. 4:17) Infact, we recall, Jesus once said to the people of Israel, much to their chagrin and anger:
“25 For instance, I tell YOU in truth, There were many widows in Israel in the days of E·li′jah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, so that a great famine fell upon all the land, 26 yet E·li′jah was sent to none of those [women], but only to Zar′e·phath in the land of Si′don to a widow. 27 Also, there were many lepers in Israel in the time of E·li′sha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, but Na′a·man the man of Syria.” 28 Now all those hearing these things in the synagogue became filled with anger; 29 and they rose up and hurried him outside the city, and they led him to the brow of the mountain upon which their city had been built, in order to throw him down headlong. 30 But he went through the midst of them and continued on his way.” (Luke 4:25-30 ESV)
No doubt, Israel expressed the same hatred and anger against Jesus, just as Jehovah’s Witnesses today, when they learn Jehovah has every intention to REPLACE them as a nation with the nation of Jamaica, yes, and grant great “blessings” to this people. All the while the Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves will be considered “Not His People,” [Lo-ammi], existing in an alienated state from God, just as prophecy indicates. -- See Deuteronomy 32:21; Hosea 1:8. |
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Because of this unique circumstance, in short we (YORWW Congregation) believe the people of Jamaica are very, very special, as far as bible prophecy goes. You see, many of the people of Jamaica can show they are direct descendants of the nation of Ethiopia. And that fact is important since practically the entire nation of Ethiopia itself, for centuries upon centuries, has unquestionably been heavily influenced by the faith of Judaism. This fact is readily apparent to all observers when we closely examine the religious customs and sacred practices of the people, whether they are believers of Judaism and/or Christianity … makes no difference in this case. Thus, creating a people that we could call, “Black Jews” as it were, Africans who have been staunch, devoted adherents of the faith of Judaism for many centuries now, presently living on the continent of Africa. -- See Psalms 68:31.
It is a well-known fact, the nation of Ethiopia’s Imperial Royal Line of Kings [chronicled through the Fetha Nagast] traces their lineage back to an early union or (some say) marriage between the world renown Jewish King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, which accordingly produced a son (Menelik), a royal offspring of the tribe of Judah. In time, centuries later, this same royal line has led to one, Emperor Haile Selassie, who himself embraced Christianity in the 1930s, and proclaimed himself to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and fulfillment of Revelation 5:5 as the “Lion of The Tribe of Judah.” Indeed, this unique proclamation would make him a Second “Messiah” and the first “Ras” [His father’s name which means: “Head”] “Tafarian” [His original name] of our time. (The title Haile Selassie was adopted by the Ethiopian Emperor when he became a Christian in the 1930s.)
Please remember, it was first taught and believed by Rastafarians, a second “messiah,” an earthly “messiah,” in the person of Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia, would never die and thus, live forever on earth as the promised Heir and rightful recipient of the Davidic Covenant, with Kings, Princes and Heads of States voluntarily paying homage to him on an earth wide scale – and all of this, in fulfillment of bible prophecy. (See 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Psalms 72:10, 11, Isaiah 49:7 and John 12:34.) Keep in mind, it was Hebrew prophecies like these (numbering over 70 in the Hebrew Text alone) that unequivocally proved to those of Judaism, Jesus of Nazareth, was NOT … NOT the promised “Messiah” to come.
No doubt, it was for these reasons and more, a serious breach occurred between those of Judaism and Christianity, since those of the Jewish Faith never accepted Jesus as the “Christ” or Messiah of God. However, by adopting a second “messiah” concept, when he became a “Christian” in the 1930s, Emperor Haile Selassie made it possible to bring both parties (Judaism & Christianity) together in thought and purpose, vividly showing the bible does indeed teach a “Two-Messiah” / “Two Kingdom” Concept … wherein Jesus would rule in heaven as “Christians” accept, and the True Davidic Heir would rule upon earth eternally, therein making one rulership (the earthly one) a reflection or paradigm of the greater one (Jesus’ heavenly rulership). – Please compare Daniel 7:13, 14 & Revelation 11:15 [both eternal rulerships] with 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 [a temporary rulership]. Think about it.
Bible Scholars and religionists of our time have long known, the bible itself attests to the fact the people of Ethiopia have enjoyed a long and rich history with Ancient Israel for many centuries, yes in Christian times and pre-Christian times. (See Jeremiah 38:7-12; Acts 8:27-39) In fact, Some bible scholars even believe long ago Moses himself, was married to a non-Israelite proselyte believer, who was of Ethiopian [“Cushite”] extraction. – See Numbers 12:1.
We believe, these facts and others may indeed explain why the people of Ethiopia today, are noticeably very close or similar in cultural beliefs and ideas of religious persuasion, to the faith of Judaism itself.
For example, today in our modern society, Christian Ethiopians [aka The Ethiopian Orthodox Church] view the “Ark of The Covenant” as a symbol of great religious veneration and significance and hold it in high esteem similar to the way Christians of the Western World view the Cross. To that end, many of the nation of Ethiopia hold to the belief the “Ark Of The Covenant” currently resides in their nation, and that one day, the finding or revealing of that ancient renowned religious artifact itself, would indeed signal the magnificent return of the Earthly “Messiah” himself, the one the Jewish nation has been expecting for many centuries. In fact, did you know, every single Christian Church in modern-day Ethiopia, has a small replica or copy of the "Ark of The Covenant" [called The “Tabot”] within them demonstrating this unique belief?
Additionally it must be noted, this particular nation of people (Ethiopia) are quite unique in that, they, and only them, possess what's called the "Ethiopian Book of Enoch" (which was quoted by the Christian Disciple Jude in verses 14 & 15) that among other things, interestingly tells of the coming of a mysterious, "hidden" Son of Man, who would prove to be the Messiah in the “End Times.” Thus today, many have noted "Rastafarian" believers on the Island of Jamaica, still hold the "Ethiopian Book of Enoch" to be a sacred writing, in pointing forward to the coming of the Messiah. -- See Isaiah 49:2; John 7:27.
For these reasons and more, amazingly and to the shock of many around the world, bible prophecy actually indicates the awesome, grand privilege of being God's “Name People,” can be properly traced back to the PEOPLE OF JAMAICA, descendants of the nation of Ethiopia, numbering possibly 4 million plus today, on a world wide scale. -- Carefully consider the following bible prophecies: Psalms 68:31; Isaiah 18:1, 2 and Zephaniah 3:9, 10.
Indeed today, the nation of Jamaica, are now to be properly recognized as "a People for God's Name," Modern Day "Israel" even, with the elite number of the 144,000 being selected or chosen from among their number, for a very special purpose in the “End Times.” Yes, these very special individuals (144,000) would bear the Name of God "upon their foreheads" as loyal servants of God, singing as if a "New Song" upon Mount Zion, a "Song" that ONLY they themselves could and should, properly "master" or "learn fully," with the special help and assistance of the "Hidden" or "Concealed" Son of Man, the Modern Day "Servant" of Bible Prophecy. -- See Isaiah 49:2; Acts 15:14; Revelation 14:1-5.
Interestingly, the island of Jamaica is also said to be 144 square miles in size according to the Jamaican Observer on August 19, 2008.
Written By Donald C. Burney |
