WELCOME TO HIM in FOCUS

HIM in FOCUS

THE TEACHINGS OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY

THE EARLY YEARS

This blessed child was born in Ejersa Goro in Harrar which is one of the Eastern province's of Ethiopia on 23rd July 1892 = (16th Hamle 1884 E.T. calender) and was named Lidj Teferi Makonnen by his proud parents Ras Makonnen and Woizero Yeshimebet.

Teferi Makonnen was baptised in 1892 at 40 days old by the Orthodox Church according to Ethiopian custom and was given the spiritual name of HAILE SELASSIE (Power of the Trinity) the name which he would use to ascend the Throne as Emperor of Ethiopia 38 years later.

Young Teferi was three and a half years old when his father Ras Makonnen who was the first-cousin of Emperor Menelik II gathered 30,000 men to fight the Italians at the battle of Adwa in 1896.

Emperor Menelik died in 1913 having no sons and so he named his relative Lij Iyasu as the heir to the Throne. But before Lij Iyasu was crowned he succumbed to foreign influences and then changed his name and religion to Islam, these actions went against the Christian faith of Ethiopia.

A champion of the christian faith was needed for a modern-day David against Goliath showdown to establish what is the faith in Ethiopia.
The young Prince Ras Teferi Makonnen who was a cousin to Emperor Menelik II and great grandson of Emperor Sahle Selassie stepped forward. ... TO BE CONTINUED ...

Emperor Haile Selassie I & The Miracle at Lake Alamya (1906)

POEM of ALEQA AREYA WORETA

The following poem was related to His Majesty Haile Selassie I before he was given the title Dejazmatch Tefari Makonnen while he was administrator in Harar in Gara Muleta. The poem was to show the difference of uniqueness he had from that of Lij Iyasu.

TRANSLATION into English from Amharic

Haile Selassie do not be surprised when I say I saw you under the wood of Harar.

Don't be surprised because you are also to climb to the sky, which is the throne of Menelik II.

Since there is time for you to light like a pearl on the throne of your father Menelik, which is decorated with a pearl called 'Bahery".

Don't be surprised when I say I saw you under the tree of Beles".

But the Church of Mekane Selassie will eat the honey bread of Gebre Medhine, which is mixed with the wheat of surprise. This means it accepts the teachings of the Gospel from the mouth of Gebre Medhine.

I will dive in a deep sea of happiness when I hear your judgement, which is a shelter for the denied at the square of Menelik.

I will dive as in a sea of happiness.

I will be happy since sheep and wolves, rich and poor will flock together. I will be happy when I hear your justice.

MEANING & INTERPRETATION

Aleqa Araya Woreta recited this quine, based on the Gospel of John (Jn 1:46 - end)

To Dejazmatch Tefari Makonnen I can't tell the story of His Majesty Haile Selassie I in this poem because both the good and the bad parts of his life from birth to end are known by this present generation. I can't tell that here.

My book focuses on these famous people in history but because they are past, the contemporary generation dosen't know them, these incluse the scholars, the kings, the authorities and the princes.

However, as the poet said, His Majesty Haile Selassie I received this poem when he was 14 years old, at that time he was assigned in Harar as Dejazmatch to rule Garamuleta, this was to keep the name of his kind father Ras Makonnen.

At that time, since Lij Iyasu and Dejazmatch Tefari were brought up together under the shadow of the throne of Menelik. Lij Iyasu degraded Dejazmatch Tefari, he was also looking at him badly, it seems that in both their minds was the sayings of the scholors, "The soul (life) knows her predator".

The tragic event that would happen between them was as follows.

On the 30th of Gimbot (8th June) Lij Iyasu seeking the death of Dejazmatch Tefari called him to swim in Lake Alamya, many people were following them.

They started to swim, when they were diving after one another in play, all of a sudden Dejazmatch Tefari stayed underwater while Lij Iyasu got out of the lake, this created a great shock among the people, the divers tried their best but they couldn't ffnd Dejazmatch Tefari. The news reached the palace in Harar and everybody came in horse cart from the palace.

By the will of God Dejazmatch Tefari Makonnen emerged from the lake "1hour & 30 mins" later without any injury on his body. It was a MIRACLE ... At that ime it was known that God had saved him from his enemyand he would reach a greater position in the future.

The poet seeing the event on the day recited the poem by representing Dejazmatch Tefari as a lamb. It was the will of God that the power was given to Dejazmatch Tefari at last, and he was crowned as His Majesty Haile Selassie I.

Lij Iyasu was in a plight and was exiled, so the disagreement was ended in this way.

Since on the 3rd day of every month St Mark is commemorated Dejazmatch Tefari after his coronation ordered the establishment near the lake of a church dedicated to St Mark. All this was to remember the miracle that was done for him, there is a festival at at that church every year on 30th of Gimbot (8th June) to remember His Majesty.

The prophecy which Aleqa Araya Woreta had made had been fulfilled, the prophecy that he made "Don't be surprised when i say I saw you under the tree of Harar, since you are to climb up to the sky which is the throne of Menelik II" had been fulfilled.

While the King was at his palace, Genete Leoul, AleqaAraya Woreta came and congratulated him, The King said, "All things will happen by the will of God".

When they talked the King asked, "When you gave me that quine Lij Iyasu was around and you did not fear that", Aleqa Araya replied, "Mine was very simple, but how did you accept it bravely whie Lij Iyasu was looking at you badly everytime?" The King smiled extraordinarily at the saying and ordered the "Zufan bet" (the person in charge) to take Aleqa Araya and decorate his clothes.

The "Zufan bet" dressed him in the second rank of dejazmatch and brought him before the King, but this didn't satisfy the King. so he ordered better dressing, the "Zufan bet" dressed Aleqa Araya in a golden crown that was worn by the contemporaryRasses, a person of high rank next to the Kings. In addition "one gasha" of land near lake Alamya was given to Aleqa Araya bt the King,

Aleqa Araya praised the King until his death. He prayed not to see the fall of the empire and to die before the King, so as he wished Aleqa Araya died on Nehassie 13th 1965 (19th Aug 1973) six months before the Fenruary1974 revolution. He was buried in Ketchine Medhani alem Church.

Aleqa Araya Woreta was born in the province of Gayent, also called Arb Gabya Agatte Tsion, he was not only a scholar but a hero. When Facist Italy occupied Ethiopia he was imprisoned in Mogadishu, after the victory he returned to his homeland, Ethiopia.

The kindness of Aleqa Araya Woreta is told in this story.

Taken from - The Meaning of Quine: The River of Life. by Kessis Keryalew Merahi

Speeches by The Emperor

CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR

Deep is Our thankfulness to our God for this grace. Numerous are our ancestors, who throughout the centuries have consecrated and sacrificed their lives on the battlefield that Ethiopia might survive strong in her Christian Faith...

We refer to all these only to indicate that this age above all ages is a period in history when it should be our prime duty to preach the Gospel of Grace to all our fellow men and woman.

The love shown in Christ by our God to mankind should constrain all of us who are followers and disciples of Christ to do all in our power to see to it that the Message of Salvation is carried to those of our fellows for whom Christ Our Saviour was sacrificed but who have not had the benefit of hearing the good news.

Since nobody can interfere in the realms of God we should tolerate and live side by side with other faiths.

However, We wish to recall here the spirit of tolerance shown by Our Lord Jesus Christ when He gave forgiveness to all including those that crucified Him.

The Apostle Paul says: "The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God" and "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise and they are vain."

The reason for this is because generally speaking man makes himself and his wisdom the beginning and the end of his aim i life, and we are convinced that the end of this is destruction and death.

Our Lord Jesus Christ says: "What has a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?:..It is our firm belief that a soul without Christ is bound to meet with no better fate.

Therefore O! Christians, let us arise and, with the spiritual zeal and earnestness which characterized the Apostles and early Christians, let us labour to lead our brothers and sisters to Our Saviour Jesus, who only can give life in its fullest sense.

(Important Utterances of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I October 28, 1966) Page 486 -490

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH

With the birth of the Son of God, an unprecedented, an unrepeatable, and a long-anticipated phenomenon occurred. Since our childhood, Our innermost thoughts have been overwhelmed by the mysterious deep spirit of the Divine infant’s birth, which is not only expressive but also glorious and inscrutable.

Likewise no matter what one’s reputation, whether one's accomplishment is great or humble, tiresome or fruitful, in the journey of life, the mystery of Bethlehem dominates our spirit.

Then he sacrificed himself at Golgothga for the atonement of our sin, shame be on those of us who are Christians and do not follow the way of the Saviour of the World, whose life was filled with kindness, humility and martyrdom! If we lived by the laws he gave us and were worthy of being called Christian, peace would have reigned on this earth.

Men were supposed to be the equals of the living angels who unceasingly sang their praises before the eternal God. Had this been so peoples of the world would not have been divided along lines of enmity, so that the spirit of the cursed will not gain predominance over the human race whom Christ redeemed with his blood.

THE HOLY BIBLE

WE IN ETHIOPIA HAVE ONE OF THE OLDEST VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE, but however old the version may be, in whatever language it might be written the Word remains one and the same. It transcends all boundaries of empires and all conception of race, it is Eternal.
No doubt you all remember reading in the Acts of the Apostles of how Philip baptised the Ethiopian official.
He is the first Ethiopian on record to have followed Christ and from that day onwards the Word of God has continued to grow in the hearts of Ethiopians.

And I might say for myself that from early childhood I was taught to appreciate the Bible and my love for it increases with the passage of time. All through my troubles I have found it a cause of infinite comfort. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" - who can resist an invitation so full of compassion?

Because of this personal experience in the goodness of the Bible, I was resolved that all my countrymen should also share its great blessing, and that by reading the Bible they should find Truth for themselves. Therefore...I caused a new translation to be made from our ancient language into the language which the old and the young understood and spoke.

Today man see all his hopes and aspirations crumbling before him.He is perplexed and knows not whether he is drifting. But he must realise that the Bible is his refuge, and the rallying point for all humanity.
In it man will find the solution of his present difficulties and guidance for his future action, and unless he accepts with clear conscience the Bible and its great Message, he cannot hope for Salvation, for my part I glory in the Bible...

THE REVISED AMHARIC BIBLE

Ethiopia, an island of Christianity, is recorded in history as having received first the Old Testament, and then the New Testament earlier than most countries of the world.

When, in Old Testament times, she received the Law, and when, in New Testament times she received the Gospel she ensured that the Scriptures were translated into the ancient language of Ge'ez.

All the ancient Scriptures were written for our instruction, in order that through the encouragement they give us, we may maintain our fortitude.

Because We desire that the light which comes from the Scriptures may shine to all.

(Selected Speeches of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I, July 23, 1961) Page 616 - 618

A LEADER MUST STAY AHEAD

The true leader is one who realizes by faith that he is an instrument in the hands of God, and dedicates himself to be a guide and inspirer of the noble sentiments and aspirations of the people.

(Selected Speeches of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I, July 17, 1959) Page 17

CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS

Question

What instruction did Emperor Haile Selassie 1st give concerning the Holy Bible?

Answer

The Holy Bible is Man's refuge.

However old the version may be, in whatever language it may be written the Word remains one and the same.
Man must realise that the Bible is his refuge, and the rallying point of humanity.Man can find the solution for his present difficulties and guidance for his future actions.

Unless he accepts with clear conscience the Bible and it's great message he cannot hope for Salvation.

Question
What stance did the Emperor take concerning his Religion in the revised constitution

Answer.
H.I.M Defended the Ethiopian Orthodox Church .

Article 16
Excludes from the Imperial Family those who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Faith.

Article 126
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the Established Church of the Empire and the Emperor must be Orthodox.

The Emperor shall always profess the Ethiopian Orthodox Faith.

(Taken From The Revised Constitution of Ethiopia)

Question
Who or what did the Emperor say was the Rallying Point and the Inspirer of her Saints, Heroes & Martyrs?

Answer. The Church
Our own Church is as ancient as our Faith and her history is replete with accounts of the unswerving faith of our people, the inspiring heroism of our martyrs and the holiness of our Saints. The history of our nation has always been closely related to the history of our Church, and the Church has been both the rallying point and the inspirer of our national unity.

Question
Who did the Emperor say was the Head & Pillar of his Faith.

Answer. Jesus Christ
We Christians living by the faith of Christ, the Head and Pillar on whom the Church is founded, cannot escape the responsibility to work for the peace of the world and to ensure equality for all human beings created by God.

Jan 12 1971

Question
What question did H.I.M ask concerning all the people in the world who read the Bible?

Answer.
How long will you remain divided.

How long will we the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ who are taught by the same Holy Bible continue to remain divided amongst ourselves?

Jan 12 1971

THE PLAIN TRUTH

THE PLAIN TRUTH ... DEC 1973 ... (CLICK HERE) to read in pdf

Herbert W. Armstrong "I visit the man who might have changed the course of history"

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