Christian Post (CP) recently reported on a curious video posted to Youtube last week by Louis Farrakhan, the former leader of the Nation of Islam. It suggests the controversial leader may have become a Christian.

Farrakhan, 87, gave up leadership of the 50,000 Black Muslim group in 2006 due to ill-health. He was suffering the after effects of prostate cancer.

William Fard started the Nation of Islam in 1934 and during the 1970s it had upwards of two million members. The organization holds to the tenants of Islam and believers that Allah is the only god. Some believe Fard was the Muslim Mahdi, the Islamic equivalent of a messiah.

Farrakhan became involved with the Nation of Islam after a brief career as a professional musician. In the mid-70s, he even served as a Sunni Muslim Imam for about three years.

As early as 2015, a video shows Farrakhan talking about Jesus as the Redeemer though at the time he said Jesus was a Muslim.

However, in the video posted recently Farrakhan seems to have a new perspective on Christ:

“I thank God for guiding me for 40 years absent my teacher (Elijah Muhammad). So my next journey will have to answer the question. I’m gonna say it.

I know that my Redeemer lives.

I know. I’m not guessing that my Jesus is alive. I know that my redeemer liveth and because he lives I know that I, too, will pass through the portal of death yet death will not afflict me.”

Farrakhan went on to say:

“So I say to the devil. I know I gotta pay the price for what I have been teaching all these years. You can have the money, you can have the clothes, you can have the suit, you can have the house, but me you can’t have.”

With this second statement, CP wondered if the former Nation of Islam leader was now rejecting his earlier beliefs and pointed to the possible Christian influence of Bishop Larry Trotter who pastors Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago.

In a second Youtube video, Farrakhan was seen visiting Trotter who had been hospitalized due to sickness after visiting Israel.

However, nothing is for sure as Muslims also accept Jesus as a prophet. Because of this, CP approached Farrakhan for clarification on his statements, but had not received a response at the time the article was published.

In some ways, it reminds me of the controversy surrounding Nebuchadnezzar II who led  Babylon between about 605 BC and 562 BC. He is considered one of the great kings in Babylonian history and was responsible for invading Judah and sacking of the Jewish temple.

He is also the king referred to in the book of Daniel.

After being taken into captivity, Daniel rose up to a leadership position in Babylon and along with other Jews, had a profound spiritual impact on Nebuchadnezzar.

Several times Nebuchadnezzar referred to Jehovah as the true God leading some to wonder if he might have become a believer.

When Nebuchadnezzar received a dream of what nations would follow after him, only Daniel was able to interpret it causing Nebuchadnezzar to proclaim:

⁴⁷ “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” (Daniel 2:47 NASV)

At this point, Nebuchadnezzar simply added Jehovah to a list of gods he believed in. But he seems to have given Jehovah the highest prominence.

Nevertheless, this declaration didn’t stop Nebuchadnezzar from creating a golden image of himself and requiring people to worship it. When Daniel’s friends were caught not bowing, they were tossed into a furnace.

After an angel appeared and miraculously spared their lives, the Babylonian king stated:

²⁹ Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” (Daniel 3:29 NASV)

Then when Nebuchadnezzar received a second dream, Daniel interpreted it warning the Babylonian king he needed to acknowledge the hand of God in his life. However, he refused and was struck with insanity for seven years.

After Nebuchadnezzar finally came to his senses, he seems to have made a firmer declaration about Jehovah:

“How great are His signs
And how mighty are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And His dominion is from generation to generation.

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” (Daniel 4:3, 37 NASV)

Some believe at this point, the Babylonian king became a believer and we may actually see him in heaven.

However, others are not convinced suggesting through this whole process Nebuchadnezzar was just including Jehovah as part of the pantheon of Babylonian gods.

It is something we won’t know until we reach heaven.

Sources:

• Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan declares Jesus is his redeemer, says Devil can’t have him: Christian Post