Rastafarians are the True Israelites: How a Mistranslation Fulfilled Biblical Prophecy

"Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him." Holy Bible, KJV, Psalm 68:4.

The Origins of the Bible

The Bible is a collection of texts—narratives, laws, poetry, prophecies, letters, and more—written over centuries by multiple anonymous or pseudonymous authors and editors for varied purposes (theological, cultural, political, etc.). The Bible is not a literal history textbook as it blends historical elements with myth, theology, typology and literary artistry.

While some events and characters (e.g., Roman rule) have historical corroboration, many stories (e.g., Genesis creation, supernatural miracles) lack realism and external evidence and are better understood as symbolism, allegories, poetry and prophecies rather than literal ancient eye-witness testimonies.

According to Joseph Atwill, the New Testament and Christianity was created by the Flavian Dynasty as Roman propaganda. "To circumvent the Jews' religious stubbornness, the Flavians therefore created a religion that worshipped Caesar without its followers knowing."¹ 

Atwill suggests that after the Jewish military leader and "historian" Josephus was captured and brought before Vespasian, he was adopted by the Flavians and commissioned to write the New Testament. This was done in order to establish Flavian mythology so that they could legitimize their dynasty on one level, and also, to satirically mock, counter and potentially pacify the missionaries of the Jewish militaristic messianic movement that fought against Rome at the time during the first century, on another.²

The ministry of Jesus was therefore written by Josephus to closely parallel the episodes of the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius's military campaigns against the rebellious Jews in Judea, even the Greek term "Evangelion" (translated as the "Gospels") technically means "good news of military victory".³ If one interprets the scriptures metaphorically they can be seen to have a spiritual meaning, but if one interprets them literally, when read in conjunction with Josephus's War of the Jews (the scriptures were intended to be read intertextually), it is obviously dark humor or as Atwill puts it, "black comedy" for the Roman elite.⁴

The biblical Jesus never actually existed in antiquity, the character was merely invented to represent Titus Flavius who wanted to deify his deceased father Vespasian Caesar—this is where the dichotomy of the Father and the Son comes from in the Bible.⁵

In going through the process of deifying his father and sister and establishing their cults, Titus received an education in a skill few humans have ever possessed. He learned how to create a religion. Titus not only created and administered religions, he was a prophet. While emperor, he received the title of Pontifex Maximus, which made him the high priest of the Roman religion and the official head of the Roman college of priests—the same title and office that, once Christianity had become the Roman state religion, its popes would assume.⁶

The Hebrew Bible was canonized by Jewish rabbis and scribes (by ~2nd century CE), and the Christian Bible by early Christian leaders, bishops, and councils (notably Rome 382 CE, Hippo 393 CE, Carthage 397 CE), with regional variations like the Ge'ez Bible reflecting local adoption of the broader Christian canon.

Below is a list of the first twenty-one significant languages (or versions) in which the Bible was originally written and subsequently translated into:

1. Hebrew (~1200–200 BCE)
2. Aramaic (~600–200 BCE)
3. Greek (Septuagint, ~250–100 BCE)
4. Greek (New Testament, ~50–100 CE)
5. Latin (Vetus Latina, ~150–300 CE)
6. Syriac (Peshitta, ~200–400 CE)
7. Latin (Vulgate, ~382–405 CE)
8. Coptic (Sahidic, ~300–400 CE)
9. Gothic (~350–400 CE)
10. Ge'ez (~350–600 CE)
11. Armenian (~405–450 CE)
12. Georgian (~450–600 CE)
13. Ethiopic (other dialects, ~500–700 CE)
14. Old Church Slavonic (~863–900 CE)
15. Arabic (~800–900 CE)
16. Persian (~800–1000 CE)
17. Old English (~700–1000 CE)
18. Old High German (~800–900 CE)
19. Old Norse (~900–1000 CE)
20. Old French (~950–1100 CE)
21. Middle English (~1100–1400 CE)

The Ge'ez Bible

Ge'ez is an ancient South Semitic language, historically spoken in the Axumite Empire (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea). It served as the liturgical and literary language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, used for the Ge'ez Bible translation (~350–600 CE) and texts like the Kebra Nagast. Though no longer a spoken language, it remains central to Ethiopian religious and cultural traditions, akin to Latin in Catholicism.

The Ge'ez Bible (~350–600 CE) was pivotal in shaping the Ethiopian canon. Translated under Axumite Christianization, it incorporated the Greek Septuagint's broader Old Testament and early Christian New Testament texts. The Ge'ez translation's early date and isolation preserved texts that were later marginalized elsewhere which is partly why it has the most books (88) and is considered the oldest canon compared to the Catholic Bible: (73 books), the Protestant Bible (66 books) and Eastern Orthodox (76–79 books).

Below is a list of the unique Ethiopic works in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Bible that are considered original Ge'ez compositions (not translations from earlier Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek texts), along with their approximate time periods of composition:

1. 1–3 Meqabyan (Mäṣḥäfä Mäḳabeyan): ~4th–6th centuries CE
2. Book of the Covenant (Mäṣḥäfä Kidan): ~4th–6th centuries CE
3. Sinodos (Ser'atä Seyon): ~4th–6th centuries CE
4. Clement (Qälëmentos): ~4th–6th centuries CE
5. Didascalia (Didesqelya): ~4th–6th centuries CE

Though uniquely preserved in the Ethiopian canon, the book of Jubilees and the book of Enoch do not originate from the Axumite Empire but are translations from earlier Hebrew and Greek texts. The Ethiopian Meqabyan should not to be confused with the various Hebrew and Greek books of Maccabees.

A common misconception is that the Ge'ez Bible is the oldest Bible known to man, yet the fact that its translation stems from the Greek Septuagint debunks this claim. The reason it's considered to be one of the oldest versions of the Bible is because it contains the largest portion of the original canon.

Biblical Ethiopia vs. Modern-day Ethiopia

The Hebrew term "Kush" (or "Cush") in the Old Testament refers to a specific kingdom and region primarily during the 2nd and 1st millennia BCE, with biblical references spanning events and contexts from approximately 1500 BCE to the 6th century BCE.

Kush appears over forty times in the Old Testament, referring to a powerful kingdom located in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt, centered along the Nile Valley south of the First Cataract (modern Aswan). The biblical references to Kush reflect historical interactions and contexts tied to this region, known archaeologically as the Kingdom of Kush or Nubia, during specific time periods (1500–500 BCE) with the core historical events tied to the Napatan period (c. 1000–656 BCE), especially the 25th Dynasty (727–656 BCE).

"In the Bible, Kush is the name of the son of Ham and grandson of Noah (Gen 10:6–8) as well as the toponym used for Nubia (Ezek 29:10; 30:4; 9; Jes 11:11, 20:3–5). The Septuagint uses Χους for the former and Aithiopia for the latter."⁷

The Hebrew term "Kush" in the Bible was mistranslated into "Ethiopia" in the 14th century CE because the Greek term "Aithiopia" referred to people along the Nile above the fourth cataract in Greek biblical translations (dated ~250–100 BCE).⁸ The first English translator who then transliterated the Greek term "Aithiopia" to "Ethiopia" in his Bible translation was John Wycliffe in 1382 CE.⁹ "At the time, there was no specific political state or government labeled 'Ethiopia' known to English speakers. The use of the word 'Ethiopia' in English was formerly a legitimate, though overly broad, translation of kush, well into the 1800's."¹⁰

In situations where ancient borders overlap modern states, it is best to translate with a word that is not equated with a present political state. Thompson, writing about Bible translation and geography, noted that to translate kush by "Ethiopia" today is "misleading" (1981:432, 433), and the same should be said for translating kush as "Sudan". Though kush was indeed mostly within the borders of modern Sudan, it was only a small part of the present state of Sudan. Another reason for avoiding the use of the words "Ethiopia" and "Sudan" in a translation is that the borders of the two modern countries are still susceptible to change, Ethiopia's borders having changed significantly in 1964 and 1992, and in both countries there are secessionist movements that seek to further change their borders.¹¹

"The D'mt Empire (c. 8th–7th century BCE), centered in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, is poorly understood but is likely a precursor to the Axumite Empire (c. 100–940 CE). D'mt, known for trade and Sabean cultural ties, may have evolved into or been united under Axum, a major trading empire that adopted Christianity under King Ezana (c. 325 CE) and flourished along Red Sea routes."¹²

The Aksumite Empire, which was strongly influenced by Greek culture (Hellenism), took over the term Aithiopia as the Greek equivalent of the indigenous term HBST or Abyssinia. In the non-Christian inscription DAE 4:2 Ezana is called "king of the Ethiopians", as compared to its Ethiopic version "king of Abyssinia", cf. DAE 7:1). In these inscriptions, other parts of the Empire are mentioned as the people of the "Bega" and the country of Kasu/KS ("Kush"). There, Kush and Ethiopia are clearly distinguished as being two different but neighbouring regions. In later Christian inscriptions, the name of Ethiopia is no longer mentioned.¹³

Kush has always played a role in Ethiopian tradition, beginning with the Candace (her proper name being in fact a misinterpretation of the female Meroitic title kdke, a misunderstanding occurring first in Greek literature; Zach 1992:98ff., 2001:513ff., 2004:449ff.). Folklore etymology links Aksum to Kush (but see Schneider 1996; Muller 1998), generally personified and seen as an ancestor of the Ethiopians: e.g., Ityopis in the 15th-cent. Liber Axumae is styled "the son of Kwesa, son of Kam" (CRAxum 3; for similar "genealogies" cp. also Fiaccadori 1992a:89f. and 1992b:439, 442f.). The main reasons for that are the confusion between Kush and Greek Aithiopia of the Septuagint, and the wish to be part of the biblical tradition, an issue closely connected with that of the origins of Ethiopian Judaism (UllBibl and esp, Rodinson 1964; Marrassini 1979). It is therefore not surprising that several names of Kushite pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty (i.e. Pi[ankh]y, Taharqa, Tanutamani) and other Napatan and Meroitic kings (i.e. Aspelta, Nastasen), taken from scholarly Egyptological literature, are included in the the "king lists" of ras Tafari Makwannen (Kropp 2005; Zach 2002, 2005).¹⁴

Axum declined due to environmental factors, trade shifts, and Islamic conquests, leading to a southward shift. Around 960 CE, a non-Christian ruler, possibly Gudit, disrupted Axum, ushering in a "Dark Age." The Zagwe Dynasty (c. 1137–1270 CE) emerged, led by the Agaw people in Lasta, maintaining Christianity and building rock-hewn churches at Lalibela

In 1270, Yekuno Amlak, claiming descent from Axumite kings and King Solomon via the Kebra Nagast, overthrew the Zagwe, founding the Solomonic Dynasty (1270–1974). This dynasty expanded the empire, centered in Amhara and Shewa, and legitimized its rule through Solomonic lineage.

The derogatory and obsolete term "Abyssinia", derived from the Habesha people, was used historically to describe the region, especially during the Zagwe and Solomonic periods by foreigners. By the 20th century, "Ethiopia" (which appears to be a self-designation) fully replaced Abyssinia in modern usage, notably under Menelik II and Haile Selassie.

According to Gadaa Melbaa, Emperor Haile Selassie officially changed the name of his country from "Abyssinia" to "Ethiopia" when he promulgated the nation's first constitution on July 16, 1931.¹⁵ However, this change occurred slightly earlier on November 2, 1930 when the Emperor's first Penal Code was enacted on his coronation.¹⁶ The 1930 Penal Code refers to Emperor Haile Selassie as "King of Kings of Ethiopia" thus he unintentionally fulfilled the prophecy of the scriptures pertaining to the acquisition of the biblical titles of God and the establishment of his kingdom on earth (Psalm 87:4, Matthew 6:10, Revelation 19:16).

But as we have seen above, the kingdom of kush was not within the borders of present day Ethiopia, but rather within the borders of Sudan and Egypt. So we must conclude that the use of "Ethiopia" in English translations (and other languages) today leads readers to the erroneous conclusion that the Biblical references were to people and places actually within the delineated borders of the present state of Ethiopia."¹⁷

From a literal historical interpretation of the Bible the term Kush was indeed mistranslated into Ethiopia. However, according to our church's unitarian Rastafarian interpretation (which claims spiritual authority through the one and only true Messiah—Primus St. Croix), the Bible is not a literal history textbook but rather poetry that's written in parables, allegories and prophecies which describes the identity of God and his prophet (even though it was initially written and intended to be satirical Roman propaganda). Therefore, the mind of God consciously chose to localize himself into the soul of Emperor Haile Selassie at the moment of his conception in modern-day Ethiopia as according to the English mistranslation of the Bible—making Unitarian Rastafarianism the only scientifically valid Abrahamic religion in the world today.

The Psychohistory of Rastafarianism

The social historian, Lloyd DeMause, defined psychohistory as "the science of historical motivations," combining psychotherapy's insights with social science methodologies to understand the emotional origins of group behavior, past and present.¹⁸ Group-psychohistory specifically examines the "why" behind collective actions—why groups wage wars, adopt religions, or shift politically etc.¹⁹

Lloyd deMause introduced the term "psychoclass" in his psychohistorical framework to describe a group of individuals within a society who share a similar psychological profile due to experiencing a common mode of childrearing during their formative years.²⁰ Traditional Rastafarians emerging in Jamaica during the early 20th century can be viewed as a psychoclass shaped by the harsh realities of colonial oppression and its lingering effects post-slavery. Colonial oppression provided the historical crisis that activated this psychoclass's emotional tone.

The traditional Rastafarians, living in a society that devalued their African heritage and imposed European norms, turned to a "group-fantasy" of redemption, that is, Emperor Haile Selassie as the returned messiah and black redeemer/savior, and modern-day Ethiopia as the biblical promised land (due to the mistranslation of "Kush" in the King James Version of the Bible).²¹

The early Rastafarians' access to information about the Emperor and Ethiopia was very limited however, mostly filtered through western media, oral traditions, mistranslations and misreports. DeMause's framework interprets this as fertile ground for a group-fantasy. By creating a religion and culture based on a literal interpretation of the Old Testament and their belief in the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie the First of Ethiopia (1892–1975) as the returned Messiah, rather than strictly following the Emperor's philosophies, the traditional Rastas unwittingly fulfilled the biblical prophecy of the scriptures pertaining to the insubordinate nation of Israel.

Apart from the obvious correlations of the Rastas adherence to the Old Testament's Nazarite Vow and dietary laws, there are many other biblical parallels with regards to their theology that solidifies their biblical identity. Relying on trinitarianism and misleading reports about His Majesty's official titles (particularly the "Lion of Judah" and the "Light of the World"), the traditional Rastas created a doctrine which proclaimed the Emperor as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ (the Son of God) thus fulfilling the prophecy of "Israel" written in Jeremiah 3:19–20 (brackets indicate our interpretation):

I [God the Father Emperor Haile Selassie the First] myself said, “‘How gladly would I treat you [Rastafarians] like my children and give you a pleasant land [religious understanding], the most beautiful inheritance [the most appealing biblical identity] of any nation [religion].’ I [Haile Selassie the First] thought you [Rastafarians] would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me. But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel [trinitarian Rastafarians], have been unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord [Haile Selassie the First].²²

All throughout the scriptures the Lord rebukes the Israelites for their insubordination and insincerity: 

This people [traditional Rastafarians] draweth nigh unto me [Haile Selassie the First] with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips [they sing and chant 'Jah Rastafari!']; but their heart [sincerity] is far from me [Haile Selassie the First]. But in vain they do worship me [Haile Selassie the First], teaching for doctrines the commandments of men [erroneous Rastafarian elders].²³

The timing of His Majesty's reign eerily coincides with the Bible. Interestingly enough, His Majesty's reign (from April 3, 1930 to September 12, 1974) was 44 years, 5 months and 10 days long. He spent exactly 4 years, 8 months and 18 days in exile. Though there are credible sources that state that the Emperor never lost control of his nation even while in physical exile, if we were to subtract his time in exile from the length of his reign we would get 39 years, 8 months and 19 days approximately. Either way his reign is calculated, it is about the time of forty years as according to the scriptures: 

The God [Haile Selassie the First] of this people of Israel [Rastafarians] chose our fathers, and exalted [recognized] the people [Rastas] when they dwelt as strangers [societal outcasts] in the land of Egypt [spiritual bondage], and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years [Haile Selassie's reign from April 3, 1930 to September 12, 1974] suffered he [tolerated] their manners [the Rastafarians' lawless behavior and contradictory teachings] in the wilderness [aimless wandering and ignorance of His Majesty's administration].²⁴

Likewise, Primus's campaign also aligns with the biblical time frames:

Speak unto all the people of the land [religion], and to the priests [prominent Rasta elders], saying, When ye [Rastas] fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years [from April 3, 1930 to May 18, 2000], did ye at all fast unto me [Haile Selassie the First], even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye [trinitarian Rastas] eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves [create false doctrines for your own selfish motives]?²⁵

The Emperor did not directly rebuke the traditional trinitarian Rastafarians during his time on earth but now, with this interpretation, he speaks directly to them through the scriptures posthumously:

Harden not your [Rastafarian] hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness [aimless wandering and ignorance of His Majesty's administration]: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years [Haile Selassie's reign from April 3, 1930 to September 12, 1974]. Wherefore I [Haile Selassie the First] was grieved with that generation [early trinitarian Rastafarians], and said, They do alway err in their heart [create contradictory doctrines]; and they have not known my [Haile Selassie's] ways [Imperial Ethiopian law and the Emperor's philosophies].²⁶

Being an Israelite therefore has nothing to do with genetics as it's a spiritual prophecy based someone's adherence to specific erroneous theological beliefs about the Emperor:

Who are Israelites [Rastafarians]; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God [Haile Selassie the First], and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [Primus St. Croix] came, who is over all, God [Haile Selassie the First] blessed for ever. Amen.²⁷

"Ras Tafari" being the earlier name and title of the Emperor and thus the eponymous name of the religion "Rastafarianism":

"And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD [Rastafarian]; and they shall be afraid of thee [they will respect you]."²⁸

The fact that Primus St. Croix is a traditional Rastafarian (though Unitarian rather than trinitarian) also aligns with the scriptures:

I [Haile Selassie the First] will raise them up [the Rastas] a Prophet [Primus St. Croix] from among their brethren [traditional Rastafarians], like unto thee, and will put my [Haile Selassie's] words in his [Primus St. Croix's] mouth [speech]; and he [Primus] shall speak unto them [the Rastafarians] all that I [Haile Selassie the First] shall command [posthumously inspire and teach] him.²⁹

Primus is a very controversial figure in the Rastafarian community and his unwitting messianic fulfillment of the scriptures is rejected by the majority of traditional trinitarian Rastafarians. Although Primus St. Croix has had physical altercations with traditional Rastafarians in the past, the opposition Christ faces from the Jews in the Bible is allegorical. The traditional Rastas' God is the trinity: Father/Son/Holy Spirit as the name "Haile Selassie" literally means "Power of the Trinity" in Amharic. Therefore the Rastas refuse to accept Primus's unitarian position and they erroneously equate his doctrine with their trinitarianism and think he and his followers are trying to insert Primus into their concept of the trinity—exactly how it's written in the Bible:

I [Primus St. Croix] and my Father [Haile Selassie the First] are one [in agreement]. Then the Jews [traditional trinitarian Rastafarians] took up stones [old teachings] again to stone [berate] him [Primus St. Croix]. Jesus [Primus] answered them, Many good works [the Emperor's achievements, fulfillment of prophecies etc.] have I shewed you from my Father [Haile Selassie the First]; for which of those works do ye stone [lambast/criticize] me? The Jews [trinitarian Rastas] answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.³⁰

By labeling cannabis as a holy sacrament, smoking it and advocating for its legalization the traditional Rastafarians have associated the Emperor and his name with a hippie lifestyle that has maligned the the Emperor across the world:

And when they [the Rastafarians] entered unto the heathen [presented themselves to idolaters], whither they went, they profaned [maligned] my holy name [Haile Selassie the First], when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord [Haile Selassie the First], and are gone forth out of his land [religious understanding]. But I had pity for mine holy name [Haile Selassie the First], which the house of Israel [traditional Rastafarians] had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel [the Rastas], Thus saith the Lord God [Haile Selassie the First]; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel [the mansions of Rastafarians], but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither they went. And I will sanctify my great name [Haile Selassie the First], which was profaned [maligned] among the heathen which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God [Haile Selassie the First], when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries [false religious understandings], and will bring you into your own land [religious understanding]. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you [proper philosophies], and ye shall be clean [upright]: from all your filthiness [false doctrines and lawless behavior], and from all your idols [Abba Quiddus theories, Bobo Ashanti's religious veneration of Marcus Garvey and Charles Edwards, etc.], will I cleanse [correct] you. A new heart [renewed sincerity] also will I give you, and a new spirit [set of principles] will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart [religious stubbornness] out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh [sincere mindset]. And I will put my spirit [principles] within you, and cause you to walk [obey] in my statutes [Imperial Ethiopian laws], and ye shall keep my judgments [laws, political dispositions, philosophies, principles, etc.], and do them.³¹

"Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord [Haile Selassie the First], that my people [Rastafarians] is taken away for nought? they [erroneous Rasta elders] that rule over them make them to howl [chant and sing "Jah Rastafari!"], saith the Lord [Haile Selassie the First]; and my name continually every day is blasphemed."³²

And I [Haile Selassie the First] have seen folly in the prophets [Rasta elders] of Samaria [their erroneous collective consciousness]; they prophesied [taught] in Baal [the idol worship of nature], and caused my people Israel [Rastafarians] to err. I [Haile Selassie the First] have seen also in the prophets [Rasta elders] of Jerusalem [unitarian Rastafarians] an horrible thing [a schism about the nature of Christ (Primus)]: they commit adultery [spiritual fornication], and walk in lies [false teachings]: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers [mentally ill criminals as according to Imperial Ethiopian law], that none doth return from his wickedness [lawlessness]: they are all of them unto me as Sodom [unnatural spirituality], and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah [tyrannical, oppressive]. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts [Haile Selassie the First] concerning the prophets [Rasta elders]; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood [make them suffer the consequences of adhering to an incoherent theology], and make them drink the water of gall [make them swallow the bitter pill of truth]: for from the prophets [Rasta elders] of Jerusalem [unitarian Rastafarianism's schism] is profaneness gone forth into all the land [religious understanding].³³

The prophetic interpretation of the Bible is clear: "For the name of God [Haile Selassie the First] is blasphemed among the Gentiles [non-Rastafarians] through you [Rastafarians], as it is written."³⁴

By associating the Emperor with fake supernatural events, the traditional Rastas have discredited their own theology. By not following His Majesty's laws and philosophies, by calling the Emperor Jesus Christ, by rejecting his only begotten son Primus St. Croix, and by maligning the Emperor's name, the traditional trinitarian Rastafarians have unintentionally fulfilled the prophecy of the scriptures pertaining to the nation of Israel—meaning they are the true Israelites prophesied in the Bible. DeMause's psychohistorical theory also posits that group-fantasies prioritize emotional coherence over empirical accuracy. However this case seems to involve both emotional coherency and retroactive understanding.

Using deMause's psychoclass, the traditional Rastafarians emerged as a group unified by a colonial-era psychogenic mode—marked by trauma and resistance—whose group-fantasy of Haile Selassie's trinitarian divinity arose from limited, often distorted information. This psychoclass, reacting to oppression, unconsciously fulfilled Israel-related scriptures by projecting their liberation onto the Emperor, supporting our view that the divine mind of God orchestrated history by leveraging human psychology.

I therefore argue that God's manifestation on earth culminating during the Industrial Revolution, with its technological leaps, was by design because it amplified this phsychohistrical lens as the ability to record and disseminate His Majesty's image and titles globally (via newspapers, phonographs, etc.) fueled early traditional Rastafarian beliefs. Information during this time period traveled slowly, it was limited, skewed and impossible to verify. The mind of God, knowing how the scriptures were created and how they were being misused by humanity, decided to manifest on earth as Emperor Haile Selassie the First in order to fulfill the prophecies of every religious text and thereby give us the potential to end all religious disputes once and for all. 

Thus, the Rasta's psychohistory thrived and they've thoroughly demonstrated that partial truths can ignite mass movements that echo ancient predictions. All the biblical prophecies were therefore fulfilled unintentionally by everyone during our era: the traditional Rastas as the Israelites, the Emperor as God the Father (because he was unaware of his divinity due to human's naturally limited consciousness), Primus as the Messiah, the city of New York as Babylon, every Pope as Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:2–4) and the Vatican as Mystery Babylon.

The word "trinity" isn't in the Bible but since the Emperor's

name literally means "Power of the Trinity" in Amharic, an

ad hoc explanation has been provided using this diagram.

The traditional Rasta beliefs, based on debunked titles and historical inaccuracies, became a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing deMause's idea that emotional history drives events beyond rational intent.

Again, Primus St. Croix's and Haile Selassie's fulfillment of prophecy has changed humanity's fundamental understanding of theology. Since every biblical prophecy has been fulfilled, it is no longer necessary to cling to obsolete theological beliefs such as the continued practice of traditional trinitarian Rastafarianism which is not only futile at this point but also counterproductive. The Rastas have already left their time stamped mark on history so there is no need to continue that lifestyle as it will not change anything with regards to this interpretation of the scriptures.

What of Traditional Abrahamic Faiths?

Catholicism: Catholics unintentionally fulfill Revelation 13:11–14 as the deceived worshippers who uphold the Roman system (Sunday law etc.), reinforcing the Pope's deception through their global adherence and monetary support. Their participation in Catholic rituals (e.g., Mass, veneration of saints, idol "worship") can be allegorically seen as "worshipping the image," and opposing the truth. Their adherence is mostly driven by historical loyalty to the Church, rather than conscious rejection of Haile Selassie's divinity as Rastafarianism is still a fringe cult that a majority of people have not even heard of yet. In the prophecy of Revelation, the Roman Catholic Church emerges as Mystery Babylon, deceiving nations with false worship (Revelation 17:1–6). Catholics unwittingly fulfill this role as the deceived masses, driven by a psychohistorical need for spiritual unity amidst secularism and scandals. Their devotion to the Pope—who is unwittingly Satan incarnate (2 Thessalonians 2:2–4)—and trinitarian doctrine aligns them with those who "drink the wine" of Babylon's fornication [spiritual deviations]. The Roman Catholic Church, through its institutional power and theological claims (e.g., papal infallibility, Christ's vicar and apostolic succession etc.), represents the ultimate opposition to Haile Selassie's divinity.

Judaism: Nothing stated here should be interpreted as "antisemitic" as the Emperor (whom we worship) was himself of hamito-semitic descent. The Jews' trauma-driven group-fantasy of literal restoration and their ignorance or rejection of Rastafarianism's messianic claims fulfills the allegorical "synagogue of Satan" prophecy (Revelation 2:9, 3:9), defining their role as covenantal claimants who spiritually obstruct the true "nation of Israel" (traditional Rastafarians). Adherents of Judaism do not believe that God can or ever will physically manifest in the flesh. However, according to God himself (Emperor Haile Selassie the First of Ethiopia), literal Zionism has its limits, which are, the Middle East borders contained in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967.³⁵

Orthodoxy: With its mystical liturgy and apostolic claims, Orthodox Christianity fulfills the role of worshippers of the beast's image (Revelation 13:11–15), deceived by a false religious system that upholds trinitarianism over Haile Selassie's unitarian divinity. Driven by a psychohistorical need to preserve tradition amidst collapsing empires and persecution, Orthodox Christians cling to icons and obsolete doctrines while rejecting His Majesty's truth. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, despite its ties to Ethiopia's Solomonic legacy, exemplifies this deception, denying Haile Selassie's divinity while venerating a false Christ.

Western Christianity: Fear of moral decline drives a group-fantasy of apocalyptic certainty, fulfilling various false teacher prophecies.

Islam: Ironically, traditional Muslims unintentionally fulfill the prophecy of disbelievers in the Qur'an: "Whereas Highly Exalted is Allah, the Monarch [Haile Selassie the First], the Truly Existing One. There is no other, cannot be and will never be one worthy of worship but He, the Lord of the Glorious Throne! And he who calls upon another God along with Allah [Haile Selassie the First] for (the god-head of) which he has no proof, shall have to render account to his Lord. Certainly such disbelievers will never gain their object."³⁶ Colonial trauma fuels a group-fantasy of purification, fulfilling allegorical war and tumult prophecies in the Bible as well.

To be clear, Haile Selassie was great friends with the Pope, the State of Israel, Billy Graham and other western church leaders. He built mosques and was a devout Orthodox Christian. However, we should always bear in mind the following words of His Imperial Majesty with regards to religion: "The different religions in their historic forms bind us to limited groups and militate against the development of loyalty to the world community."³⁷

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Notes

1. Atwill, Joseph. Caesar's Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus, Publishers Group West, Berekely, CA, 2005, p. 10.
2. Ibid. pp. 10–12, 328.

3. Ibid.  pp. 1–2, 258.

4. Ibid. pp. 83–84.
5. "Full Movie! CAESAR'S MESSIAH: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus - OFFICIAL VERSION," YouTube, uploaded by CAESAR'S MESSIAH, 15 September 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmEScIUcvz0&t=1482s. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025. 

6. Atwill, Joseph. Caesar's Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus, Publishers Group West, Berekely, CA, 2005, pp. 26–27.

7. Breyer, Francis. "Kush." Encylcopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, vol. 3, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2007, p. 458.

8. Unseth, Peter. "Hebrew Kush: Sudan, Ethiopia, or Where?" Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, 18 February 1999, p. 147, www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ajet/18-2_143.pdf. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
9. Ibid. p. 148.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid. pp. 152–153.

12. Sima, Alexander "Dᶜmt." Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, vol. 2, Harrassowitz Verlag Wiesbaden, Germany, 2005, p. 185.

13. Voigt, Rainer. "Aithiopia." Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, vol. 1, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2003, p. 163.

14. Breyer, Francis. "Kush." Encylcopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, vol. 3, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2007, pp. 459–460.

15. Melbaa, Gadaa. Oromia: An Introduction to the History of the Oromo People, Kirk House Publisher, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1999 p. 40.
16. The Ethiopian Penal Code of 1930, Berhanena Selam Printing Press, October, 1930, p. 1; Lowenstein, Steven. Materials for the Study of the Penal Law of Ethiopia, Faculty of Law Haile Sellassie I University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1965, p. xiv.

17. Unseth, Peter. Hebrew Kush: Sudan, Ethiopia, or Where? Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, 18 February 1999, pp. 147–149, www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ajet/18-2_143.pdf. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
18. DeMause, Lloyd. Foundations of Psychohistory, Creative Roots, New York, 1982, p. 1.
19. Ibid. pp. 14–18, 135–138.

20. Ibid. pp. 132–135.

21. Howell, Leonard Percival. The Promised Key, Hogarth Blake Ltd., 2008, pp. 5, 8–9, 25–26. 

22. Holy Bible, New International Version, Jeremiah 3:19–20.

23. Holy Bible, King James Version, Matthew 15:8–9.

24. Ibid. Acts 13:17–18.

25. Ibid. Zechariah 7:5–6.

26. Ibid. Hebrews 3:9–10.

27. Ibid. Romans 9:4–5.

28. Ibid. Deuteronomy 28:10.

29. Ibid. Deuteronomy 18:18.

30. Ibid. John 10:30–33.

31. Ibid. Ezekiel 36:20–27.

32. Ibid. Isaiah 52:5.

33. Ibid. Jeremiah 23:13–15.

34. Ibid. Romans 2:24.

35. Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I, Ministry of Information, Addis Ababa, 1972, p. 420.

36. The Holy Qur’an, Sura 23:116–117, The Holy Quran - English (Android app), Peace Through Understanding, 30 Apr. 2011, www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.peacethroughunderstanding.quran. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

37. Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I 1918–1967, Ministry of Information, Addis Ababa, 1967, p. 132.

About the Author

His Eminence Liqa Wambar Petar Vukotic is the Archbishop of the Zufan Chilot Church and the Secretary for the Global Alliance of Justice for the Ethiopian Cause (GAJEC), he's a member of the International Society for the Imperial Ethiopian Orders and is the world's leading authority for interpreting Imperial Ethiopian case law. He's also Moa Anbessa's Imperial Ethiopian Constitutional Law Expert.