Isahluko 30
“IBhabhiloni Enkulu Iwile!”
1. Yintoni evakaliswa yingelosi yesibini, yaye iyintoni iBhabhiloni Enkulu?
YIYURE yomgwebo kaThixo! Ngoku, khawuphulaphule isigidimi sobuthixo: “Kwalandela enye, eyesibini ingelosi, isithi: ‘Iwile! IBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile, leyo yaseza zonke iintlanga iwayini yomsindo wohenyuzo lwayo!’” (ISityhilelo 14:8) Okokuqala, kodwa kungekhona okokugqibela, iSityhilelo sinikela ingqalelo kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kamva, isahluko 17 siza kuyichaza njengehenyukazi elithanda uyolo. Iyintoni? Njengoko siza kubona, ibubukhosi behlabathi lonke, iyinkqubo yonqulo lobuxoki uSathana ayisebenzisayo ekulweni nembewu yomfazi kaThixo. (ISityhilelo 12:17) IBhabhiloni Enkulu ibubo bonke ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki. Iquka zonke iinkonzo ezineemfundiso noqheliselo lonqulo lweBhabhiloni yamandulo nezibonakalisa umoya wayo.
2. (a) Kwenzeka njani ukuba unqulo lwaseBhabhiloni lusasazeke kuzo zonke iindawo zomhlaba? (b) Yiyiphi eyona nxalenye ibalaseleyo yeBhabhiloni Enkulu, yaye yavela nini njengentlangano enamandla?
2 Ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-4 000 eyadlulayo, kwakuseBhabhiloni apho wathi uYehova wadubaduba iilwimi zabantu ababefuna ukwakha iNqaba yaseBhabheli. Amaqela awahlukeneyo eelwimi asasazeka aya eziphelweni zomhlaba, ehamba neenkolelo noqheliselo lowexuko, ezisekelwe kuzo iinkonzo ezininzi namhlanje. (Genesis 11:1-9) IBhabhiloni Enkulu iyinxalenye yonqulo yentlangano kaSathana. (Thelekisa uYohane 8:43-47.) Eyona nxalenye yayo ibalaseleyo namhlanje yiNgqobhoko ewexukileyo, eyavela njengentlangano enamandla nechas’ umthetho kwinkulungwane yesine emva kobukho bukaKristu, ivela nezivumo zokholo neenkqubo ezaziphuma ubukhulu becala kunqulo lwaseBhabhiloni, kungekhona eBhayibhileni.—2 Tesalonika 2:3-12.
3. Kunokutshiwo njani ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile?
3 Usenokubuza uthi, ‘Ekubeni unqulo lusenempembelelo enkulu emhlabeni, kutheni le nto ingelosi ivakalisa ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile?’ Kaloku, waba yintoni umphumo emva kowama-539 B.C.E. xa kwawa iBhabhiloni yamandulo? USirayeli wakhululwa ukuze abuyele kwilizwe lakhe aze abuyisele unqulo lokwenyaniso apho! Ngoko ukubuyiselwa koSirayeli wokomoya ngowe-1919 kwimeko entle ngokomoya, eqhubekayo neyandayo ukuza kuthi ga kulo mhla, kububungqina bokuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu yawa ngaloo nyaka. Ayisenawo amandla okuthintela abantu bakaThixo. Ngaphezu koko, isenkathazweni embi kwakumalungu ayo. Ukususela ngowe-1919 ukonakala kwayo, ukunganyaniseki kwayo nokuziphatha okubi kwayo kuye kwabhencwa ngokubanzi. Kwinxalenye enkulu yaseYurophu, bambalwa abantu abasayayo ecaweni, ibe kwamanye amazwe obusoshiyali, unqulo lugqalwa ‘njengesiyobisi sabantu.’ Ekubeni ihlazekile emehlweni abo bonke abantu abathanda iLizwi likaThixo lenyaniso, iBhabhiloni Enkulu ngoku ilindele ukufa, ngokuthi kuphunyezwe umgwebo kaYehova wobulungisa kuyo.
Ukuwa Okulihlazo KweBhabhiloni
4-6. Kwenzeka njani ukuba ‘iBhabhiloni Enkulu iseze zonke iintlanga iwayini yomsindo wohenyuzo lwayo’?
4 Makhe sihlolisise ngokweenkcukacha ezingakumbi iimeko eziphathelele ukuwa okulihlazo kweBhabhiloni Enkulu. Ingelosi apha isixelela ukuba ‘iBhabhiloni Enkulu iseze zonke iintlanga iwayini yomsindo wohenyuzo lwayo.’ Kuthetha ntoni oku? Kuhlobene noloyiso. Ngokomzekelo, uYehova waxelela uYeremiya oku: “Thabatha le ndebe yewayini yomsindo esandleni sam, useze ngayo zonke iintlanga endikuthumela kuzo. Yaye zimele zisele, zihexe zize zibe njengabantu abanempambano ngenxa yekrele endilithumela phakathi kwazo.” (Yeremiya 25:15, 16) Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu neyesixhenxe ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uYehova wasebenzisa iBhabhiloni yamandulo ukuthulula indebe yokomfuziselo yembandezelo kwiintlanga ezininzi ukuba zisele, kuquka uYuda owayewexukile, kangangokuba kwanabantu bakhe basiwa ekuthinjweni. Kwandula ke, ngexesha layo, iBhabhiloni yawa ngenxa yokuba ukumkani wayo waziphakamisa nxamnye noYehova, ‘iNkosi yamazulu.’—Daniyeli 5:23.
5 IBhabhiloni Enkulu nayo iye yoyisa, kodwa ubukhulu becala, olu loyiso beluchulwe ngakumbi. ‘Iseze zonke iintlanga’ ngokusebenzisa ubuqhophololo bukanongogo, ngokwenza uhenyuzo lonqulo kunye nazo. Iye yalukuhla abalawuli bobupolitika ukuba bamanyane baze benze ubuhlobo nayo. Ngezinto ezinomtsalane zonqulo, iye yenza iyelenqe lokuphumeza ingcinezelo yobupolitika, yezorhwebo neyoqoqosho. Iye yaqhwaya intshutshiso yonqulo neemfazwe zonqulo nezomnqamlezo, kwaneemfazwe zamazwe, ngenxa nje yezizathu zobupolitika nezorhwebo. Ibe iye yazingcwalisa ezi mfazwe ngokuthi zikukuthanda kukaThixo.
6 Ukubandakanyeka konqulo kwiimfazwe nakwezobupolitika kwinkulungwane yama-20 kwakuyinto eqhelekileyo—njengakwicawa yamaShinto eJapan, yamaHindu aseIndiya, yamaBhuda kwelaseVietnam, “yamaKristu” kuMntla Ireland nakwiLatin America, kwanakwezinye—singasathethi ke ngenxaxheba ababa nayo abefundisi bomkhosi kumacala omabini eemfazwe ezimbini zehlabathi ekubongozeni amatyendyana abafana ukuba abulalane. Umzekelo obalaseleyo wokuhenyuza kweBhabhiloni Enkulu ligalelo eyaba nalo kwiMfazwe Yamakhaya yaseSpeyin yowe-1936-39, ekwathi kuyo kwafa ubuncinane abantu abangama-600 000. Oku kuphalazwa kwegazi kwaxhokonxwa ngabaxhasi babefundisi bamaKatolika ababemanyene nabo, ngokuyinxenye ngenxa yokuba ubutyebi nesigxina secawa zazisongelwa ngurhulumente osemthethweni waseSpeyin.
7. Ngoobani abona bantu bebehlaselwa ngokuphambili yiBhabhiloni Enkulu, yaye ziziphi iindlela eye yazisebenzisa kubo?
7 Ekubeni iBhabhiloni Enkulu iyinxalenye yonqulo yembewu kaSathana, ibisoloko ihlasela ngokuphambili ‘umfazi’ kaYehova, “iYerusalem ephezulu.” Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, ibandla lamaKristu athanjisiweyo lafaniswa ngokucacileyo njengembewu yomfazi. (Genesis 3:15; Galati 3:29; 4:26) IBhabhiloni Enkulu yazama ngamandla ukoyisa elo bandla linyulu ngokulilukuhlela ekuhenyuzeni ngokonqulo. Umpostile uPawulos noPetros balumkisa ngelokuba abaninzi babeya kuyekelela kuze oku kuphumele kuwexuko olukhulu. (IZenzo 20:29, 30; 2 Petros 2:1-3) Izigidimi zikaYesu eziya kumabandla asixhenxe zabonisa ukuba ngasekupheleni kobomi bukaYohane, iBhabhiloni Enkulu yayisenza inkqubela kwimigudu yayo yokonakalisa. (ISityhilelo 2:6, 14, 15, 20-23) Kodwa uYesu wayesel’ ebonisile ukuba yayiya kuvunyelwa ukuba yenjenjalo ukusa kuwuphi na umkhamo.
Ingqolowa Nokhula
8, 9. (a) Umzekeliso kaYesu ongengqolowa nokhula wawubonisa ntoni? (b) Kwenzeka ntoni ‘ngoxa abantu babelele’?
8 Kumzekeliso wakhe wengqolowa nokhula, uYesu wathetha ngendoda eyahlwayela imbewu entle entsimini. Kodwa ‘ngoxa abantu babelele,’ utshaba lwafika lwaza lwahlwayela ngaphezulu ukhula. Ngenxa yoko, ingqolowa yaminxaniselwa lukhula. UYesu wawucacisa umzekeliso wakhe ngala mazwi: “Umhlwayeli wembewu entle nguNyana womntu; intsimi lihlabathi; yona ke imbewu entle, ngoonyana bobukumkani; kodwa ukhula ngoonyana bongendawo, kwaye utshaba olwalutyalayo nguMtyholi.” Wandula ke wabonisa ukuba ingqolowa nokhula zaziya kuvunyelwa zikhule kunye de kube ‘sekuphelisweni kwenkqubo yezinto,’ xa iingelosi zaziya ‘kuqokelela’ ukhula lokomfuziselo.—Mateyu 13:24-30, 36-43.
9 Oko uYesu nompostile uPawulos noPetros balumkisa ngako kwenzeka. ‘Ngoxa abantu babelele,’ emva kokufa kwabapostile okanye xa abaveleli abangamaKristu bathi bozela ekulondolozeni umhlambi kaThixo, uwexuko lwaseBhabhiloni lwavela kanye ngaphakathi ebandleni. (IZenzo 20:31) Kungekudala ukhula lwayigqwesa kanobom ingqolowa lwaza lwayifihla ayabonakala. Kangangeenkulungwane eziliqela, kusenokuba kwabonakala ngathi imbewu yomfazi yayigqunywe ngokupheleleyo yiBhabhiloni Enkulu.
10. Kwenzeka ntoni ngeminyaka yee-1870, yaye yasabela njani iBhabhiloni Enkulu koku?
10 Ngeminyaka yee-1870 amaKristu athanjisiweyo aqalisa ukwenza imigudu yokuzimisela ukuzahlukanisa neendlela zobuhenyu zeBhabhiloni Enkulu. Azishiya iimfundiso zobuxoki ezaziziswe yiNgqobhoko zivela kubuhedeni aza ngokungafihlisiyo asebenzisa iBhayibhile ekushumayeleni ukuba amaxesha eeNtlanga ayeya kuphela ngowe-1914. Abefundisi beNgqobhoko, abasisixhobo esiphambili seBhabhiloni Enkulu, bakuchasa oku kubuyiselwa konqulo lokwenyaniso kuchulumancisayo. Ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, basebenzisa umoya owawukho ngexesha lemfazwe ukuze bazame ukushenxisa elo qela lincinane lamaKristu athembekileyo. Ngowe-1918, xa umsebenzi wawo phantse ube wawucinezelwe ngokupheleleyo, kwabonakala ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu yayiphumelele. Yayibonakele iwoyisile.
11. Waba yintoni umphumo wokuwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo?
11 Njengoko sesiphawulile ngaphambilana, isixeko esinekratshi saseBhabhiloni sawa ngendlela eyintlekele kulawulo lwaso ngowama-539 B.C.E. Kwandula ke kwavakala esi sikhalo: “Iwile! IBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile!” Isihlalo esikhulu sobukhosi behlabathi siwele kwimikhosi yamaMedi namaPersi phantsi koKoreshi Omkhulu. Nangona isixeko ngokwaso singazange soyiswe, ukuphulukana kwaso nolawulo kwakuyinto yokwenene, yaye kwaphumela ekukhululweni kwabathinjwa ababekuso abangamaYuda. Babuyela eYerusalem ukuze baphinde bamisele unqulo olunyulu apho.—Isaya 21:9; 2 Kronike 36:22, 23; Yeremiya 51:7, 8.
12. (a) Kweli xesha siphila kulo, kunokutshiwo njani ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile? (b) Yintoni engqina ukuba uYehova uyichase ngokupheleleyo iNgqobhoko?
12 Kweli xesha siphila kulo, isikhalo sokuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile naso siviwe! Ukuphumelela okwexeshana kweNgqobhoko yeBhabhiloni ngowe-1918 kwawa phantsi ngequbuliso ngowe-1919 xa intsalela yabathanjiswa, udidi lukaYohane, yabuyiswa ngovuko lokomoya. IBhabhiloni Enkulu yayiwile ngokubhekisele ekubeni ithimbe abantu bakaThixo. Njengeenkumbi, abazalwana bakaKristu abathanjisiweyo baba libubu ukuphuma enzonzobileni, belungele ukusebenza. (ISityhilelo 9:1-3; 11:11, 12) ‘Babelikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi’ lanamhlanje, yaye iNkosi yabamisela phezu kwayo yonke impahla yayo esemhlabeni. (Mateyu 24:45-47) Ukusetyenziswa kwabo ngale ndlela kwangqina ukuba uYehova wayeyichase ngokupheleleyo iNgqobhoko phezu kwako nje ukuthi kwayo imela yena emhlabeni. Unqulo olunyulu lwaphinda lwamiselwa, yaye yavulwa indlela yokuba kugqitywe umsebenzi wokutywinwa kwentsalela ye-144 000—abasaseleyo bembewu yomfazi, utshaba oludala lweBhabhiloni Enkulu. Konke oku kwaphawula uloyiso olutyumza loo ntlangano yonqulo lukaSathana.
Unyamezelo Lwabangcwele
13. (a) Yintoni evakaliswa yingelosi yesithathu? (b) Nguwuphi umgwebo ovakaliswa nguYehova kwabo bafumana uphawu lwerhamncwa?
13 Ngoku kuthetha ingelosi yesithathu. Khawuphulaphule! “Kwalandela enye ingelosi, eyesithathu, isithi ngelizwi elikhulu: ‘Wonke umntu onqula irhamncwa nomfanekiso walo, aze amkele uphawu lwalo ebunzini lakhe okanye esandleni sakhe, uya kusela kwiwayini yomsindo kaThixo egalelwa ingaphithikezwanga kwindebe yengqumbo yakhe.’” (ISityhilelo 14:9, 10a) KwiSityhilelo 13:16, 17, kwatyhilwa ukuba ebudeni bemini yeNkosi abo bangawunquliyo umfanekiso werhamncwa babeya kuva ubunzima—bade babulawe. Ngoku sifunda ukuba uYehova uzimisele ukubagweba abo ‘banophawu, igama lerhamncwa okanye inani legama lalo.’ Baya kunyanzeleka ukuba basele ‘indebe yengqumbo’ yomsindo kaYehova. Kuya kuthetha ntoni oku kubo? Ngowama-607 B.C.E., xa uYehova wanyanzela iYerusalem ukuba isele “indebe yomsindo wakhe,” eso sixeko safumana “ukuphangwa nokuwa, nokulamba nekrele” kumaBhabhiloni. (Isaya 51:17, 19) Ngokufanayo, xa abantu abawenza izithixo zabo amagunya obupolitika asemhlabeni nomfanekiso wawo, iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, besela indebe yengqumbo kaYehova, umphumo uya kuba yintlekele kubo. (Yeremiya 25:17, 32, 33) Baya kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo.
14. Kwanangaphambi kokuba abo banqula irhamncwa nomfanekiso walo batshabalale, yintoni abamele bayifumane, yaye uYohane uyichaza njani?
14 Noko ke, kwanangaphambi kokuba oko kwenzeke, abo banophawu lwerhamncwa bamele bafumane imiphumo yentuthumbo ebangelwa kukungakholiseki kukaYehova. Ithetha ngomnquli werhamncwa nomfanekiso walo, ingelosi yazisa uYohane ngokuthi: “Yaye uya kuthuthunjiswa ngomlilo nesalfure emehlweni eengelosi ezingcwele nasemehlweni eMvana. Umsi wokuthuthunjelwa kwabo unyuka ngonaphakade kanaphakade, yaye abaphumli imini nobusuku, abo banqula irhamncwa nomfanekiso walo, naye nabani na owamkela uphawu lwegama lalo.”—ISityhilelo 14:10b, 11.
15, 16. Iyintoni intsingiselo yamazwi athi ‘umlilo nesalfure’ akwiSityhilelo 14:10?
15 Bambi ukukhankanywa komlilo nesalfure apha baye bakujonga njengobungqina bobukho besihogo somlilo. Kodwa ukukhangela ngokufutshane kwisiprofeto esifana nesi kubonisa intsingiselo yokwenene yala mazwi alapha. Emva phayaa ngemihla kaIsaya, uYehova walumkisa uhlanga lukaEdom ngelokuba lwaluya kohlwaywa ngenxa yobutshaba balo kuSirayeli. Wathi: “Imilambo yabo iya kutshintshwa ibe yitela, nothuli lwabo lube yisalfure; nelizwe labo liya kuba njengetela evuthayo. Ebusuku okanye emini ayiyi kucinywa; umsi wayo uya kunyuka ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo. Izizukulwana ngezizukulwana liya kubharha; ngonaphakade kanaphakade akuyi kudlula mntu kulo.”—Isaya 34:9, 10.
16 Ngaba uEdom waphoselwa kwisihogo somlilo esithile esibuntsomi ukuze atshe ngonaphakade? Akunjalo. Kunoko, olu hlanga lwathi shwaka ngokupheleleyo ehlabathini ngokungathi lwaludliwe ngokupheleleyo ngumlilo nesalfure. Umphumo wokugqibela wesohlwayo wawungeyontuthumbo engunaphakade, kodwa ‘wawukukungabi nanto, inkangala nento engento.’ (Isaya 34:11, 12) Ibinzana elithi ‘ukunyuka komsi ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo’ licacisa oku. Xa indlu isitsha ngokupheleleyo, umsi uyaqhubeka uphuma eluthuthwini kangangethuba elithile emva kokuba amadangatye ecimile, nto leyo ebangela ukuba ababukeli babe nobungqina bokuba bekukho umlilo otshabalalisayo. Nanamhlanje abantu bakaThixo bayasikhumbula isifundo abamele basifunde kwintshabalalo ye-Edom. Ngale ndlela ‘umsi wokuvutha kwayo’ usenyuka ngendlela yokomfuziselo.
17, 18. (a) Uyintoni umphumo kwabo bafumana uphawu lwerhamncwa? (b) Kungayiphi indlela abathi abanquli berhamncwa bathuthunjiswe? (c) ‘Umsi wokuthuthunjelwa kwabo unyuka njani ngonaphakade kanaphakade’?
17 Abo banophawu lwerhamncwa nabo baya kutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo, ngokungathi kungomlilo. Njengoko isiprofeto kamva sityhila, imizimba yabo efileyo iya kushiywa ingangcwatywanga ukuze idliwe zizilwanyana naziintaka. (ISityhilelo 19:17, 18) Ngoko, ngokucacileyo, abathuthunjiswa ngokoqobo ngonaphakade! ‘Bathuthunjiswa njani ngomlilo nesalfure’? Bathuthunjiswa ngendlela yokuba ukuvakaliswa kwenyaniso kuyababhenca kuze kubalumkise ngomgwebo kaThixo ozayo. Ngoko ke bayabanyelisa abantu bakaThixo baze, apho kunokwenzeka khona, ngobuqhophololo baphembelele irhamncwa lobupolitika ukuba litshutshise amaNgqina kaYehova lide liwabulale. Ekugqibeleni, aba bachasi baya kutshatyalaliswa ngokungathi kungomlilo nesalfure. Uya kwandula ke ‘umsi wokuthuthunjelwa kwabo unyuke ngonaphakade kanaphakade’ ngendlela yokuba umgwebo kaThixo kubo uya kusebenza njengento eqinisekisa ukuba ulongamo lukaYehova olufanelekileyo alusayi kuze lucelwe umngeni kwakhona. Loo mbambano iya kuba izinziswe ngonaphakade.
18 Ngoobani abadlulisa isigidimi sentuthumbo namhlanje? Khumbula ukuba, iinkumbi zokomfuziselo zinegunya lokuthuthumbisa abantu abangenalo itywina likaThixo emabunzini abo. (ISityhilelo 9:5) Kucacile ukuba, phantsi kolwalathiso lweengelosi ezi nkumbi zizo ezingabathuthumbisi. Iinkumbi zokomfuziselo ziyazingisa kangangokuba “abaphumli imini nobusuku, abo banqula irhamncwa nomfanekiso walo, naye nabani na owamkela uphawu lwegama lalo.” Yaye ekugqibeleni, emva kokutshatyalaliswa kwabo, “umsi wokuthuthunjelwa kwabo,” ubungqina obukhumbulekayo bokuthethelelwa kolongamo lukaYehova, uya kunyuka ngonaphakade kanaphakade. Kwanga udidi lukaYohane lunganyamezela de oko kuthethelelwa kugqitywe! Ingelosi iqukumbela isithi: “Oku kuthetha unyamezelo kwabo bangcwele, bagcina imiyalelo kaThixo nabakholwayo kuYesu.”—ISityhilelo 14:12.
19. Kutheni abangcwele kufuneka benyamezele, yaye yintoni uYohane ayichazayo ethi ibomeleze?
19 Ewe, ‘unyamezelo lwabangcwele’ luthetha ukunqula kwabo uYehova ngokuzinikela okupheleleyo ngoYesu Kristu. Isigidimi sabo asithandwa. Sibangela inkcaso, intshutshiso kwanokubulawelwa ukholo. Kodwa bomelezwa koko kuchazwa nguYohane ngokulandelayo: “Yaye ndeva ilizwi liphuma ezulwini lisithi: ‘Bhala: Banoyolo abafileyo, abo bafela eNkosini ukususela ngoku kuse phambili. Ewe, utsho umoya ukuthi, baphumle ekubulalekeni kwabo, kuba imisebenzi yabo ilandelana nabo.’”—ISityhilelo 14:13.
20. (a) Isithembiso esichazwa nguYohane sivisisana njani nesiprofeto sikaPawulos esingobukho bukaYesu? (b) Bathenjiswa ngaliphi ilungelo elikhethekileyo abathanjisiweyo abafa emva kokukhutshwa kukaSathana ezulwini?
20 Esi sithembiso sivisisana kakuhle nesiprofeto sikaPawulos esingobukho bukaYesu: “Abo bafe bemanyene noKristu baya kuvuka kuqala. Emva koko thina baphilayo basaseleyo [abathanjiswa abaphilayo ngemini yeNkosi], siya kuthatyathelwa emafini, ndawonye nabo, ukuze sihlangabeze iNkosi esibhakabhakeni.” (1 Tesalonika 4:15-17) Emva kokukhutshwa kukaSathana ezulwini, abo babefile bekuKristu bavuka kuqala. (Thelekisa iSityhilelo 6:9-11.) Emva koko, abo bathanjisiweyo bafa ebudeni bemini yeNkosi bathenjiswa ngelungelo elikhethekileyo. Ukuvuselwa kwabo kubomi bokomoya ezulwini kwenzeka ngephanyazo, “ngokuqhwanyaza kweliso.” (1 Korinte 15:52) Hayi indlela okumangalisa ngayo oku! Yaye imisebenzi yabo yobulungisa iyaqhubeka nakummandla wasezulwini.
Isivuno Somhlaba
21. Usixelela ntoni uYohane ‘ngesivuno somhlaba’?
21 Kukho nabanye abaza kungenelwa kule mini yomgwebo, njengoko uYohane ehlabela mgama esixelela ngokuthi: “Yaye khangela! ndabona ilifu elimhlophe, kulo kuhleli uthile onjengonyana womntu, enesithsaba segolide entlokweni yakhe nerhengqa elibukhali esandleni sakhe. Kwathi gqi enye ingelosi [eyesine] ivela engcweleni yetempile, idanduluka ngelizwi elikhulu kulowo wayehleli efini isithi: ‘Lifake irhengqa lakho uze uvune, ngokuba lifikile ilixa lokuvuna, kuba isivuno somhlaba sivuthwe ngokupheleleyo.’ Waza lowo wayehleli efini walifaka irhengqa lakhe emhlabeni, waza umhlaba wavunwa.”—ISityhilelo 14:14-16.
22. (a) Ngubani lo ofake isithsaba segolide nohleli kwilifu elimhlophe? (b) Yenzeka nini incopho yokuvuna, ibe yenzeka njani?
22 Igama lalowo uhleli kwilifu elimhlophe alithandabuzeki. Lowo uhleli kwilifu elimhlophe, ofana nonyana womntu nofake isithsaba segolide, ngokucacileyo nguYesu, uKumkani onguMesiya owabonwa nguDaniyeli embonweni. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Marko 14:61, 62) Kodwa siyintoni isivuno ekuprofetwa ngaso apha? Ngoxa wayesemhlabeni, uYesu wafanisa umsebenzi wokwenziwa kwabafundi nokuvunwa kwentsimi yehlabathi engabantu. (Mateyu 9:37, 38; Yohane 4:35, 36) Incopho yoku kuvuna ifika ngemini yeNkosi, xa uYesu enikwa isithsaba njengoKumkani aze aphumeze umgwebo ngenxa kaYise. Ngaloo ndlela, ixesha lakhe lokulawula, elisusela kowe-1914, ikwalixesha lovuyo nelesivuno.—Thelekisa iDuteronomi 16:13-15.
23. (a) Ilizwi elithi makuqaliswe ukuvuna liphuma kubani? (b) Kukuphi ukuvuna okuye kwenzeka ukususela ngowe-1919 ukuza kuthi ga ngoku?
23 Nangona enguKumkani noMgwebi, uYesu ulindele ilizwi elivela kuYehova uThixo wakhe ngaphambi kokuba aqalise ukuvuna. Elo lizwi lidluliselwa yingelosi livela “engcweleni yetempile.” Ngokukhawuleza, uYesu uyalithobela. Okokuqala, ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili, uyalela iingelosi zakhe ukuba zigqibezele ukuvuna i-144 000. (Mateyu 13:39, 43; Yohane 15:1, 5, 16) Emva koko, ukuvuna kuyaqhubeka ngokuhlanganiswa kwesihlwele esikhulu sezinye izimvu. (Yohane 10:16; ISityhilelo 7:9) Imbali ibonisa ukuba phakathi kowe-1931 nowe-1935 inani elikhulu lezinye izimvu laqalisa ukubonakala. Ngowe-1935 uYehova wabangela ukuba udidi lukaYohane luqonde indlela yokwenene yokufanisa isihlwele esikhulu seSityhilelo 7:9-17. Ukususela ngoko ukusa phambili, kwabalaseliswa ukuhlanganiswa kwesi sihlwele. Ngonyaka wama-2005, inani laso lalingaphezu kwezigidi ezithandathu, yaye lisanda. Ngokuqinisekileyo, lowo ufana nonyana womntu uvune isivuno esiyintabalala nesivuyisayo ebudeni beli xesha lesiphelo.—Thelekisa iEksodus 23:16; 34:22.
Ukuxovula Umdiliya Womhlaba
24. Yintoni esezandleni zengelosi yesihlanu, yaye yintoni evakaliswa yingelosi yesithandathu?
24 Njengoko isivuno sosindiso sigqityiwe, kulixesha lesinye isivuno. UYohane uyachaza esithi: “Kwathi gqi nenye ingelosi [eyesihlanu] ivela engcweleni yetempile esezulwini, nayo inerhengqa elibukhali. Kwathi gqi enye ingelosi [eyesithandathu] ivela esibingelelweni, inegunya phezu komlilo. Yamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu kuleyo yayinerhengqa elibukhali, isithi: ‘Lifake irhengqa lakho elibukhali uze uzihlanganise izihloko zomdiliya womhlaba, ngenxa yokuba iidiliya zawo zivuthiwe.’” (ISityhilelo 14:17, 18) Imikhosi yeengelosi iphathiswe imbopheleleko yomsebenzi omkhulu wokuvuna ebudeni bemini yeNkosi, ukwahlula abalungileyo kwababi!
25. (a) Yintoni eboniswa sisibakala sokuba ingelosi yesihlanu yayivela kwingcwele yetempile? (b) Kutheni kufanelekile nje ukuba umyalelo wokuqalisa ukuvuna ube uvela kwingelosi ‘evela esibingelelweni’?
25 Ingelosi yesihlanu iphuma kwindawo enoYehova kwingcwele yetempile; ngenxa yoko, isivuno sokugqibela naso siyaqhubeka ngokokuthanda kukaYehova. Le ngelosi iyalelwa ukuba iqalise umsebenzi wayo, myalelo lowo odluliswa ngenye ingelosi ‘evela esibingelelweni.’ Esi sibakala sibaluleke kunene, ekubeni imiphefumlo ethembekileyo ephantsi kwesibingelelo yayibuzile yathi: “Koda kube nini na, Nkosi enguMongami ongcwele noyinyaniso, uyekile ukugweba nokuphindezelela igazi lethu kwabo bahleli emhlabeni?” (ISityhilelo 6:9, 10) Ngokuvunwa komdiliya womhlaba, esi sikhalo sempindezelo siya kuphendulwa.
26. Uyintoni ‘umdiliya womhlaba’?
26 Kodwa uyintoni ‘umdiliya womhlaba’? KwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, uhlanga lwamaYuda kwakuthethwa ngalo njengomdiliya kaYehova. (Isaya 5:7; Yeremiya 2:21) Ngokufanayo, uYesu Kristu nabo baya kukhonza naye kuBukumkani bukaThixo kuthethwa ngabo njengomdiliya. (Yohane 15:1-8) Kule meko, uphawu olubalaseleyo lwalo mdiliya kukuba uvelisa isiqhamo, yaye umdiliya wamaKristu okwenyaniso uvelise isiqhamo esiyintabalala esidumisa uYehova. (Mateyu 21:43) Ngoko ke, ‘umdiliya womhlaba,’ umele ukuba asinguwo lo wokwenyaniso, kodwa uyindlela kaSathana yokuxelisa owokwenyaniso, uyinkqubo yoburhulumente ebonakalayo neyonakeleyo elawula uluntu, eneziqhamo zobudemon ‘ezizizihloko’ ezahlukahlukeneyo ezaveliswa kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo. IBhabhiloni Enkulu, ekubalasele kakhulu kuyo ubuKristu obuwexukileyo, ibinempembelelo enkulu kulo mdiliya unetyhefu.—Thelekisa iDuteronomi 32:32-35.
27. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni xa ingelosi enerhengqa ihlanganisa umdiliya womhlaba? (b) Ziziphi iziprofeto ezikwiZibhalo zesiHebhere ezibonisa umlinganiselo wesi sivuno?
27 Umgwebo umele uphunyezwe! “Kwaye ingelosi leyo yalifaka irhengqa layo emhlabeni yawuhlanganisa umdiliya womhlaba, yaza yawuphosa kwisixovulelo esikhulu sewayini yomsindo kaThixo. Yaye isixovulelo sewayini saxovulwa ngaphandle kwesixeko, kwaza kwaphuma igazi kwisixovulelo sewayini laphakama leza kuthi xhaxhe ngemikhala yamahashe, kumgama oziitadiya eziliwaka elinamakhulu amathandathu.” (ISityhilelo 14:19, 20) Ingqumbo kaYehova kulo mdiliya kudala yavakaliswayo. (Zefaniya 3:8) Isiprofeto esikwincwadi kaIsaya asishiyi mathandabuzo okuba zonke iintlanga ziya kutshatyalaliswa xa isixovulelo sewayini sinyathelwa. (Isaya 63:3-6) KwanoYoweli waprofeta ngelokuba “izihlwele” zabantu abaninzi, zonke iintlanga, zaziya kunyathelwa zitshabalale ‘kwisixovulelo sewayini,’ ‘entilini yesigqibo.’ (Yoweli 3:12-14) Ngokwenyaniso, esi sisivuno esikhulu ekungasayi kuze kubekho esifana naso! Ngokwendlela obonisa ngayo umbono kaYohane, akuvunwa nje kuphela imidiliya kodwa kugawulwa wonke umdiliya wokomfuziselo uze uphoselwe kwisixovulelo sewayini ukuba unyathelwe. Ngoko umdiliya womhlaba uya kushenxiswa uze ungaphinde ukhule kwakhona.
28. Ngoobani abanyathela umdiliya womhlaba, yaye kuthetha ntoni ukuba isixovulelo sewayini ‘sixovulwa ngaphandle kwesixeko’?
28 Oku kunyathela kuqhubeka kulo mbono kwenziwa ngamahashe, kuba igazi eliphuma kulo mdiliya lifikelela ‘emikhaleni yamahashe.’ Ekubeni igama elithi ‘amahashe’ lidla ngokubhekisela emfazweni, eli limele ukuba lixesha lemfazwe. Imikhosi yamazulu elandela uYesu ukuya kwimfazwe yokugqibela nxamnye nenkqubo kaSathana yezinto kuthiwa inyathela ‘isixovulelo sewayini yomsindo wengqumbo kaThixo uSomandla.’ (ISityhilelo 19:11-16) Ngokucacileyo le mikhosi yiyo enyathela umdiliya womhlaba. Isixovulelo sewayini “saxovulwa ngaphandle kwesixeko” oko kukuthi, ngaphandle kweZiyon yasezulwini. Ngenene, kufanelekile ukuba umdiliya womhlaba unyathelwe emhlabeni. Kodwa kwakhona uya ‘kuxovulwa ngaphandle kwesixeko’ ngendlela yokuba akukho ngozi iya kubafikela abaseleyo bembewu yomfazi, abamela iZiyon yasezulwini emhlabeni. Aba bekunye nesihlwele esikhulu baya kufihlwa ngokukhuselekileyo kwilungiselelo likaYehova lasemhlabeni nelingokwentlangano.—Isaya 26:20, 21.
29. Lininzi kangakanani igazi elivela kwisixovulelo sewayini, lifikelela umgama ongakanani, yaye oku kuthetha ntoni xa kukonke?
29 Lo mbono ucacileyo uyafana nokutyunyuzwa kwezikumkani zomhlaba lilitye loBukumkani elichazwe kuDaniyeli 2:34, 44. Kuya kubakho imbubhiso. Umlambo wegazi obangelwa sisixovulelo sewayini unzulu gqitha, ufikelela emikhaleni yamahashe, yaye uhamba umgama oziitadiya ezili-1 600.a Eli nani likhulu, eliphuma ngokuphindaphinda ishumi elinesithandathu nekhulu (4 x 4 x 10 x 10), lidlulisa ngamandla isigidimi sokuba ubungqina bentshabalalo buya kuquka wonke umhlaba. (Isaya 66:15, 16) Intshabalalo iya kuba yepheleleyo nengenakurhoxiswa. Umdiliya kaSathana womhlaba awunakuze uphinde umile!—INdumiso 83:17, 18.
30. Ziyintoni iziqhamo zomdiliya kaSathana, yaye lumele lube yintoni uzimiselo lwethu?
30 Njengoko siphila enzulwini yexesha lesiphelo, umbono wezi zivuno zibini unentsingiselo egqithiseleyo. Simele nje sikhangele kufuphi nathi size sibone iziqhamo zomdiliya kaSathana. Ukuqhomfa nezinye iintlobo zokubulala; ubufanasini, ukukrexeza nezinye iintlobo zokuziphatha okubi; ukunganyaniseki nokungabikho kobubele—zonke izinto ezinjalo zenza ukuba eli hlabathi libe lelingcolileyo emehlweni kaYehova. Umdiliya kaSathana uvelisa “isiqhamo sesityalo esinetyhefu nomhlonyane.” Ikhondo lawo elonakalisayo nelokunqula izithixo liyamnyelisa uMdali Ozukileyo woluntu. (Duteronomi 29:18; 32:5; Isaya 42:5, 8) Elinjani lona ilungelo ukunxulumana ngenkuthalo nodidi lukaYohane esivunweni sesiqhamo esiphilileyo esiziswa nguYesu ukuze kudunyiswe uYehova! (Luka 10:2) Ngamana thina sonke singazimisela ukuba asinakuze singcoliswe ngumdiliya weli hlabathi, yaye ngamana singakuphepha ukunyathelwa kunye nomdiliya womhlaba xa kuphunyezwa umgwebo kaYehova oqatha.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Iitadiya ezili-1 600 zimalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-300, okanye iimayile ezili-180 ngokobalo lwasemaNgesini.—ISityhilelo 14:20, umbhalo osemazantsi weNW eneembekiselo.
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 208]
‘Iwayini Yohenyuzo Lwayo’
Inxalenye ebalaseleyo yeBhabhiloni Enkulu yiCawa yamaRoma Katolika. Le cawa ilawulwa ngupopu waseRome yaye ithi popu ngamnye ulilandela lompostile uPetros. Okuchazwe ngezantsi zizibakala ezithile ezipapashiweyo ezithetha ngaba kufane kuthiwe ngamalandela:
UFormosus (891-96): “Kwiinyanga ezisithoba emva kokufa kwakhe, umzimba kaFormosus wakhutshwa kwingcwaba loopopu waza wamiswa enkundleni phambi kwebhunga elachophela ‘ityala lesidumbu eso,’ awathi uStephen [upopu omtsha] yaba nguye owongamela elo tyala. Lo popu ungasekhoyo watyholwa ngokuba namabhongo angafanelekanga ngesikhundla sobupopu zaza zonke izenzo zakhe zavakaliswa zizezingafanelekanga. . . . Esi sidumbu sahlutywa izinxibo zobupopu; iminwe yesandla sasekunene yanqunyulwa.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UStephen VI (896-97): “Kwiinyanga ezimbalwa [zokuchotshelwa kwetyala lesidumbu sikaFormosus] isenzo sogonyamelo sabangela ukuba uPopu Stephen ayeke esikhundleni sakhe; wahluthwa imbasa yobupopu, wavalelwa entolongweni waza wakrwitshwa.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
USergius III (904-11): “Abanduleli bakhe ababini . . . bakrwitshelwa entolongweni. . . . ERome wayexhaswa yintsapho yakwaTheophylactus, ekucingelwa ukuba wathi ngenye yeentombi zale ntsapho, uMarozia, wafumana unyana (kamva owaba nguPopu John XI).”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UStephen VII (928-31): “Kwiminyaka yakhe yokugqibela yokuba ngupopu, uPopu John X . . . wacaphukisa uMarozia, iDonna Senatrix yaseRome, waza wavalelwa entolongweni yaye wagwintwa. Wandula ke uMarozia isikhundla wasinika uPopu Leo VI, owafa emva kweenyanga ezi-6 1/2 esesikhundleni. UStephen VII wamlandela, mhlawumbi ngenxa yempembelelo kaMarozia. . . . Ebudeni beminyaka yakhe emi-2 njengoPopu, wayengenagunya phantsi kolawulo lukaMarozia.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UJohn XI (931-35): “Ekufeni kukaStephen VII . . . , uMarozia, weNdlu yakwaTheophylactus, wafaka unyana wakhe uJohn esikhundleni sobupopu, owayelityendyana lomfana elalingaphezulwana nje kweminyaka engama-20. . . . Ngoxa wayengupopu, uJohn wayelawulwa ngunina.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UJohn XII (955-64): “Wayemalunga neminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo, yaye iingxelo zelo xesha ziyavuma ukuba wayengenamdla kwizinto zokomoya, wayethe phithi ziziyolo ezingcolileyo nobomi bokuzibhubhisa bukavula-zibhuqe.”—The Oxford Dictionary of Popes.
UBenedict IX (1032-44; 1045; 1047-48): “Wayedume kakubi ngokuthengisa ngesikhundla sobupopu kuyise onguthixo waza emva koko waphinda wasibanga izihlandlo ezibini esi sikhundla.”—The New Encyclopædia Britannica.
Ngaloo ndlela, kunokulandela umzekelo kaPetros othembekileyo, aba popu kwanabanye babeyimpembelelo embi. Bavumela ityala legazi nohenyuzo lokomoya nolokwenyama, kwanempembelelo kaIzebhele, ukuba zonakalise icawa ababeyilawula. (Yakobi 4:4) Ngowe-1917 incwadi yaBafundi BeBhayibhile ethi The Finished Mystery yandlala uninzi lwezi zibakala ngokweenkcukacha ezipheleleyo. Le yenye yeendlela abathi ngayo aBafundi beBhayibhile ngaloo mihla ‘babetha umhlaba ngalo lonke uhlobo lwesibetho.’—ISityhilelo 11:6; 14:8; 17:1, 2, 5.
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 206]
UKristu obekwe etroneni uphumeza umgwebo ngokuxhaswa ziingelosi
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 207]
Emva kokuwa kweBhabhiloni ngowama-539 B.C.E., amabanjwa awayekuyo akhululwa