Isahluko 35
Ukutshatyalaliswa KweBhabhiloni Enkulu
1. Ingelosi ilichaza njani irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela, yaye luhlobo luni lobulumko obufunekayo ukuze kuqondwe imifuziselo yeSityhilelo?
EKUCHAZENI ngokungakumbi ngerhamncwa elimfusa leSityhilelo 17:3, ingelosi ixelela uYohane oku: “Nantsi ke inkcazelo yobulumko yako konke oku: Iintloko ezisixhenxe zithetha iintaba ezisixhenxe, ahleli phezu kwazo umfazi. Yaye kukho ookumkani abasixhenxe: abahlanu bawile, omnye ukho, omnye akakafiki, kodwa xa athe wafika umele ahlale ithuba elifutshane.” (ISityhilelo 17:9, 10) Apha ingelosi idlulisela ubulumko obuvela phezulu, obukuphela kobulumko obunokubangela ukuba iqondwe imifuziselo yeSityhilelo. (Yakobi 3:17) Obu bulumko bunika ulwazi kudidi lukaYohane namaqabane alo ngobunzulu bamaxesha esiphila kuwo. Bubangela ukuba abaneentliziyo ezizinikeleyo bayiqonde imigwebo kaYehova, ngoku esele iza kuphunyezwa, ibe bubethelela uloyiko olufanelekileyo ngoYehova. Kunjengokuba iMizekeliso 9:10 isithi: “Ukoyika uYehova kukuqala kobulumko, nokwaziwa kwaLowo Ungoyena Ungcwele kukuqonda.” Yintoni esiyityhilelwa bubulumko bobuthixo ngerhamncwa?
2. Iyintoni intsingiselo yeentloko ezisixhenxe zerhamncwa elimbala ungqombela, yaye kwenzeka njani ukuba ‘abahlanu babe bawile yaye omnye ukho’?
2 Iintloko ezisixhenxe zelo rhamncwa loyikekayo zimela “iintaba” ezisixhenxe, okanye “ookumkani” abasixhenxe. Omabini la magama asetyenziswa ngokweZibhalo ukubhekisela kumagunya oburhulumente. (Yeremiya 51:24, 25; Daniyeli 2:34, 35, 44, 45) EBhayibhileni, amagunya amathandathu ehlabathi akhankanywa njenganento yokwenza kwimicimbi yabantu bakaThixo: iYiputa, iAsiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMedi namaPersi, iGrisi neRoma. Kula, amahlanu ayesele edlule ngexesha uYohane awafumana ngalo iSityhilelo, yaye ngexesha lakhe kwakulawula igunya lehlabathi laseRoma. Oku kungqamana kakuhle namazwi athi, “abahlanu bawile, omnye ukho.” Kodwa kuthekani ‘ngomnye’ owayeseza kuza?
3. (a) Bahlukana njani uBukhosi baseRoma? (b) Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzekayo eNtshona? (c) Bumele bujongwe njani uBukhosi Obungcwele baseRoma?
3 UBukhosi baseRoma bahlala bukho baza banda kangangamakhulu eminyaka emva komhla kaYohane. Ngowama-330 C.E., uMlawuli uConstantine walifudusa ikomkhulu lakhe ukusuka eRoma walisa eByzantium, awaphinda wayinika igama elitsha eliyiConstantinople. Ngowama-395 C.E., uBukhosi baseRoma bahlukana, enye inxalenye yaba seMpuma enye yaba seNtshona. Ngowama-410 C.E., iRoma ngokwayo yawela kuAlaric, ukumkani wamaVisigoth (isizwe samaJamani esasiguqukele kuhlobo “lobuKristu” buka-Arius). Izizwe zaseJamani (nazo “ezizezobuKristu”) zayoyisa iSpeyin nommandla omkhulu weRoma kuMntla Afrika. Kangangeenkulungwane ezininzi kwabakho isiphithiphithi, isidubedube nokuhlengahlengiswa ngokutsha kwezinto kwelaseYurophu. Kwavela abalawuli abadumileyo kwelaseNtshona, abanjengoCharlemagne, owazimanyanisa noPopu Leo III ngenkulungwane yesi-9, noFrederick II, owalawula ngenkulungwane ye-13. Kodwa ulawulo lwabo, nangona lwalubizwa ngokuba buBukhosi Obungcwele baseRoma, lwaluluncinane kunolo loBukhosi baseRoma bangaphambilana ngethuba obabusebobona bunamandla gqitha. Kunokuba lube bubukhosi obutsha lwalukukubuyiselwa nje kwabo okanye lwalukukuhanjiselwa phambili kweli gunya lamandulo.
4. Yiyiphi impumelelo eyafunyanwa buBukhosi baseMpuma, kodwa kwenzeka ntoni kwinxalenye enkulu yommandla owawufudula ungoweRoma yamandulo kuMntla Afrika, eSpeyin naseSiriya?
4 UBukhosi baseRoma obungaseMpuma, obabunekomkhulu eliseConstantinople, banyamezela ulwalamano olungeluhle noBukhosi baseNtshona. Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu, umlawuli waseMpuma uJustinian I waphinda wawoyisa ummandla omkhulu okuMntla Afrika, yaye kwakhona wangenelela naseSpeyin naseItali. Ngenkulungwane yesixhenxe, uJustinian II waphinda wayifumana imimandla yoBukhosi eseMacedonia eyayoyiswe sisizwe samaSlavic. Noko ke, ngenkulungwane yesibhozo, inxalenye enkulu yommandla owawufudula ungoweRoma yamandulo kuMntla Afrika, eSpeyin naseSiriya waba phantsi kobukhosi obutsha bamaSilamsi waza ngaloo ndlela waphuma kulawulo lweConstantinople neRoma.
5. Nangona isixeko saseRoma sawayo ngowama-410 C.E., kwenzeka njani ukuba kuthabathe iinkulungwane ezininzi ngakumbi ukuba ziphele ehlabathini zonke iinkqubo zobupolitika zoBukhosi baseRoma?
5 Isixeko saseConstantinople sakha sahlala ithuba elide noko. Sasinda kwiintlaselo ezazisoloko zikho zivela kubantu basePersi, kuma-Arabhu kubantu baseBulgaria nakumaRashiya de sawa ekugqibeleni ngowe-1203—singaweli kumaSilamsi kodwa siwela kumaJoni Omnqamlezo awayevela eNtshona. Noko ke, ngowe-1453, saba phantsi kwegunya lomlawuli wamaSilamsi aseOttoman uMehmed II saza kungekudala saba likomkhulu laseOttoman, okanye uBukhosi bamaTheki. Ngaloo ndlela, nangona isixeko saseRoma sawayo nje ngowama-410 C.E., kwathabatha iinkulungwane ezininzi ngakumbi ukuba ziphele ehlabathini zonke iinkqubo zobupolitika zoBukhosi baseRoma. Yaye nangoko, impembelelo yayo yayisabonakala kubukhosi bonqulo obabusekelwe kupopu waseRoma nakwiicawa zobuOthodoki baseMpuma.
6. Ziziphi iindidi ezintsha zobukhosi ezathi zavela, yaye luluphi olwaba nempumelelo yokwenene?
6 Noko ke, ngenkulungwane ye-15, amazwe athile ayebumba iindidi ezintsha zobukhosi. Ngoxa amanye ala magunya matsha ayekummandla owawukade ungamathanga aseRoma, ubukhosi bawo babungekuko nje ukuqhubela phambili koBukhosi baseRoma. IPortugal, iSpeyin, iFransi neHolland onke loo mazwe ayelawula imimandla ekude. Kodwa elona lizwe laphumelela ngokwenene yayiyiBritani, eyathi yongamela ubukhosi obukhulu. Obu bukhosi banda ngamaxesha awahlukeneyo bufikelela inxalenye enkulu yoMntla Merika, yeAfrika, yeIndiya neyoMzantsi-mpuma weAsia, kwanommandla omkhulu woMzantsi Pasifiki.
7. Igunya lehlabathi elintlu-mbini labakho njani, yaye uYohane wathi ‘intloko’ okanye igunya lesixhenxe lehlabathi, laliya kuqhubeka likho ithuba elide kangakanani?
7 Ngenkulungwane ye-19, wambi amathanga oMntla Merika ayesele ahlukene neBritani ukuze ayile iUnited States of America ezimele geqe. Ngokobupolitika, kwaqhubeka imfazwe phakathi kwesizwe esitsha nelizwe elalikade lingunina waso. Sekunjalo, imfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala yawanyanzela omabini la mazwe ukuba azivume izilangazelelo zawo ezifanayo aze aqinise ulwalamano olukhethekileyo oluphakathi kwawo. Ngaloo ndlela, kwabakho igunya lehlabathi elintlu-mbini, elayilwa yiUnited States of America, ngoku elelona lizwe lityebileyo ehlabathini, kwakunye neBritani, esisihlalo sobona bukhosi bukhulu ehlabathini. Yiyo ke leyo ‘intloko’ okanye igunya lesixhenxe lehlabathi, eliqhubeka likho kwixesha lesiphelo nakwimimandla amaNgqina kaYehova anamhla aqala kuyo ukuzinza. Xa kuthelekiswa nolawulo olude lwentloko yesithandathu, eyesixhenxe iza kuhlala “ithuba elifutshane” nje kuphela, de uBukumkani bukaThixo butshabalalise onke amaqumrhu eentlanga.
Kutheni Libizwa Ngokuba Ngukumkani Wesibhozo?
8, 9. Ingelosi ilibiza njani irhamncwa lokomfuziselo elimbala ungqombela, yaye liphuma ngayiphi indlela kwabasixhenxe?
8 Ingelosi imcacisela ngokungakumbi uYohane isithi: “Irhamncwa elalikho kodwa elingekhoyo, lona lingowesibhozo ukumkani, kodwa ophuma kwaba basixhenxe, kwaye liyemka liye entshabalalweni.” (ISityhilelo 17:11) Irhamncwa lokomfuziselo elimbala ungqombela ‘liphuma’ kwiintloko ezisixhenxe; oko kukuthi, lizalwa, okanye ubukho balo bubangelwe zezo ntloko ‘zerhamncwa langaphambili eliphuma elwandle,’ irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela elingumfanekiselo walo. Ngayiphi indlela? Kaloku, ngowe-1919 igunya lamaNgesi namaMerika laliyintloko eyavelayo. Iintloko ezintandathu zangaphambili zaziwile, yaye isikhundla segunya lehlabathi elibalaseleyo sasidluliselwe kule ntloko intlu-mbini ibe ngoku sasisekelwe kuyo. Le ntloko yesixhenxe, njengommeli okhoyo womnombo wamagunya ehlabathi, yayingunobangela owashukumisa ukumiselwa koManyano Lwezizwe yaye isengumkhuthazi ophambili nomxhasi ongokwezimali weZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Ngaloo ndlela, ngokufuziselayo, irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela—ukumkani wesibhozo—‘liphuma’ kwiintloko ezisixhenxe zangaphambili. Ekubeni oku kujongwa ngale ndlela, amazwi athi laphuma kwabasixhenxe avisisana kakuhle nesityhilelo sangaphambilana esithe irhamncwa elineempondo ezimbini ezifana nezemvana (iGunya Lehlabathi lamaNgesi namaMerika, intloko yesixhenxe yelo rhamncwa langaphambili) labongoza ukuba kwenziwe umfanekiso laza lawubangela ukuba uphile.—ISityhilelo 13:1, 11, 14, 15.
9 Ukongezelela, amalungu angaphambili oManyano Lwezizwe ayequka iBritani kunye noorhulumente ababelawula kwikomkhulu leentloko zangaphambili ezithile, ezizezi, iGrisi, i-Iran (iPersi) neItali (iRoma). Ekugqibeleni, oorhulumente ababelawula ummandla owawulawulwa ngamagunya amathandathu ehlabathi angaphambili baye baxhasa amalungu omfanekiso werhamncwa. Kwanangale ndlela, kunokutshiwo ukuba eli rhamncwa limbala ungqombela laphuma kumagunya ehlabathi asixhenxe.
10. (a) Kunokutshiwo njani ukuba irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela ‘likwangukumkani wesibhozo’? (b) Inkokeli yelizwe elalikade liyiSoviet Union yakuvakalisa njani ukuxhasa iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo?
10 Phawula ukuba irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela ‘likwangukumkani wesibhozo.’ Ngaloo ndlela, namhlanje iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo zenziwe ukuba zibonakale njengorhulumente wehlabathi. Maxa wambi zide zenza njengaye, zithumela imikhosi edabini ukuze icombulule iimpikiswano zezizwe ngezizwe, njengaseKorea, kuSingasiqithi waseSinayi, kumazwe athile aseAfrika naseLebhanon. Kodwa zingumfanekiso nje wokumkani. Njengomfanekiso oqingqiweyo wonqulo, azinampembelelo okanye amandla okwenene ngaphandle kwalawo zawanikwa ngabo babangela ukuba zibekho nabazinqulayo. Ngamathuba athile, eli rhamncwa lokomfuziselo libonakala libuthathaka; kodwa alikaze lishiywe ngokupheleleyo ngamalungu atyekele kubuzwilakhe awabangela ukuba uManyano Lwezizwe lugxadazele lude lweyele enzonzobileni. (ISityhilelo 17:8) Nangona kweminye imicimbi inezimvo ezahluke kakhulu, ngowe-1987 inkokeli ebalaseleyo yelizwe elalikade liyiSoviet Union yathelela oopopu baseRoma ekuvakaliseni ukuxhasa iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Yade yahlab’ ikhwelo ukuba kubekho “inkqubo ebanzi yonqabiseko lwezizwe ngezizwe” esekelwe kwiZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Njengoko uYohane athi kungekudala aqonde, liza kufika ixesha laxa iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo ziya kusebenzisa igunya elikhulu. Emva koko, nazo ‘ziya entshabalalweni.’
Ookumkani Abalishumi Ilixa Elinye
11. Ingelosi kaYehova ithini ngeempondo ezilishumi ezikwirhamncwa lokomfuziselo elimbala ungqombela?
11 Kwisahluko esingaphambili seSityhilelo, ingelosi yesithandathu neyesixhenxe, ziye zaphalaza izitya zomsindo kaThixo. Ngaloo ndlela siye saxelelwa ukuba ookumkani bomhlaba bahlanganiselwa emfazweni kaThixo yaseArmagedon yaye sixelelwe nokuba ‘iBhabhiloni Enkulu iza kukhunjulwa emehlweni kaThixo.’ (ISityhilelo 16:1, 14, 19) Ngoku ngokweenkcukacha ezingakumbi siza kufunda indlela eza kuphunyezwa ngayo imigwebo kaThixo kwaba kumkani nakwiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kwakhona phulaphula ingelosi kaYehova njengoko ithetha noYohane. “Iimpondo ezilishumi ozibonileyo zithetha ookumkani abalishumi, abangekafumani bukumkani, kodwa bathi bafumane igunya njengookumkani ilixa elinye kunye nerhamncwa. Bona banengcamango enye, yaye banikela amandla negunya labo kwirhamncwa. Baya kulwa neMvana, kodwa, ngenxa yokuba iyiNkosi yeenkosi noKumkani wookumkani, iMvana iya kuboyisa. Ngokunjalo, nabo babiziweyo nabanyuliweyo nabathembekileyo abakunye nayo baya koyisa nabo.”—ISityhilelo 17:12-14.
12. (a) Zifanekisela ntoni iimpondo ezilishumi? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba iimpondo ezilishumi zokomfuziselo zibe ‘zazingekabufumani ubukumkani’? (c) Iimpondo ezilishumi zokomfuziselo zinabo njani ‘ubukumkani’ ngoku, yaye zoba nabo ithuba elide kangakanani?
12 Iimpondo ezilishumi zifanekisela onke amagunya obupolitika okwangoku alawula ihlabathi naxhasa umfanekiso werhamncwa. Ambalwa gqitha amazwe akhoyo ngoku awayesaziwa ngomhla kaYohane. Yaye lawo ayesaziwa, anjengeYiputa nePersi (i-Iran), namhlanje anenkqubo eyahluke ngokupheleleyo yobupolitika. Ngenxa yoko, ngenkulungwane yokuqala, ‘iimpondo ezilishumi zazingekabufumani ubukumkani.’ Kodwa ngoku ngemini yeNkosi, zibufumene ‘ubukumkani,’ okanye igunya lobupolitika. Ngokuwohloka kobukhosi obukhulu bamathanga, ingakumbi ukususela ngemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini, kuye kwavela amazwe amatsha amaninzi. La mazwe, kwanamagunya ekudala ekho, amele alawule nerhamncwa ithuba elifutshane—‘ilixa nje elinye’—ngaphambi kokuba uYehova aphelise lonke igunya lehlabathi lobupolitika eArmagedon.
13. Iimpondo ezilishumi ‘zinengcamango enye’ ngayiphi indlela, yaye oku kuqinisekisa ukuba ziya kuba nasiphi isimo sengqondo ngeMvana?
13 Namhlanje, ubuhlanga buyenye yezona mpembelelo zinamandla zishukumisa ezi mpondo zilishumi. ‘Zinengcamango enye’ ngendlela yokuba zifuna ukulondoloza ulongamo lwazo lwesizwe kunokwamkela uBukumkani bukaThixo. Le yayiyinjongo yazo ekuvumelaneni noManyano Lwezizwe nentlangano yeZizwe Ezimanyeneyo ekuqaleni—ukulondoloza uxolo lwehlabathi kuze ngaloo ndlela kulondolozwe nobukho bazo. Isimo sengqondo esinjalo siqinisekisa ukuba iimpondo ziya kuyichasa iMvana, ‘iNkosi yeenkosi noKumkani wookumkani,’ kuba uYehova unenjongo yokuba uBukumkani bakhe phantsi kukaYesu Kristu kungekudala buthabathel’ indawo zonke ezi zikumkani.—Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Mateyu 24:30; 25:31-33, 46.
14. Kwenzeka njani ukuba abalawuli behlabathi balwe neMvana, yaye uya kuba yintoni umphumo?
14 Kakade ke, ayikho into enokwenziwa ngabalawuli beli hlabathi kuYesu. Usezulwini, ukude lee ukuba bangafikelela kuye. Kodwa abazalwana bakaYesu, abaseleyo bembewu yomfazi, basesemhlabeni yaye babonakala bechanabekile. (ISityhilelo 12:17) Uninzi lweempondo sele lubonakalise ubutshaba obubi kubo, yaye ngale ndlela lulwe neMvana. (Mateyu 25:40, 45) Noko ke, kungekudala liza kufika ixesha lokuba uBukumkani bukaThixo ‘buzityumze buziphelise zonke ezi zikumkani.’ (Daniyeli 2:44) Baya kwandula ke, ookumkani bomhlaba balwe okokugqibela neMvana, njengoko siza kubona kungekudala. (ISityhilelo 19:11-21) Kodwa apha sifunda okwaneleyo ukuze siqonde ukuba iintlanga aziyi kuphumelela. Nangona zona kwakunye nerhamncwa elimbala ungqombela eliziZizwe Ezimanyeneyo ‘zinengcamango enye,’ azinakuyoyisa ‘iNkosi yeenkosi noKumkani wookumkani,’ zingenako nokuboyisa ‘abo babiziweyo nabanyuliweyo nabathembekileyo,’ abaquka abalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo abasesemhlabeni. Nabo aba baya kuba boyisile ngokugcina ingqibelelo ukuphendula kwizimangalo ezingcolileyo zikaSathana.—Roma 8:37-39; ISityhilelo 12:10, 11.
Ukuphanziswa Kwehenyukazi
15. Ithini ingelosi ngehenyukazi nangesimo sengqondo nenyathelo eliya kuthatyathwa ziimpondo ezilishumi nerhamncwa nxamnye nalo?
15 Abantu bakaThixo asingabo kuphela abangamaxhoba obutshaba beempondo ezilishumi. Ngoku ingelosi itsalela ingqalelo kaYohane emva kwihenyukazi: “Yandula yathi kum: ‘Amanzi owabonileyo, apho lihleli khona ihenyukazi, athetha izizwana nezihlwele neentlanga neelwimi. Iimpondo ezilishumi ozibonileyo, nerhamncwa, ngabo baya kulithiya ihenyukazi, baliphanzise, balihlube libe ze, bazidle iinxalenye zenyama yalo baze balitshise ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo.’”—ISityhilelo 17:15, 16.
16. Kutheni iBhabhiloni Enkulu ingayi kukwazi ukukholosa ngamanzi ayo ukuze ifumane inkxaso yenkuselo xa oorhulumente bobupolitika beyijikela?
16 Kanye njengokuba iBhabhiloni yamandulo yayikholose ngamanzi ayo awayeyikhusele, iBhabhiloni Enkulu namhlanje ikholose ngamalungu ayo amaninzi “izizwana nezihlwele neentlanga neelwimi.” Ngokufanelekileyo ingelosi itsalela ingqalelo yethu kula malungu ngaphambi kokusixelela ngesiganeko esikhwankqisayo: Oorhulumente bobupolitika balo mhlaba baya kuyijikela ngogonyamelo iBhabhiloni Enkulu. Ziya kwenza ntoni “izizwana nezihlwele neentlanga neelwimi” ngelo xesha? Abantu bakaThixo sele beyilumkisa iBhabhiloni Enkulu ngokuba amanzi omlambo umEfrate aza kutsha. (ISityhilelo 16:12) Loo manzi ekugqibeleni aya kukhukuliseka ngokupheleleyo. Akayi kukwazi ukulixhasa ngempumelelo ihenyukazi ekukudala likho nelilisikizi kwilixa lalo lobunzima obugqithiseleyo.—Isaya 44:27; Yeremiya 50:38; 51:36, 37.
17. (a) Kutheni ubutyebi beBhabhiloni Enkulu bungayi kuyisindisa nje? (b) Isiphelo seBhabhiloni Enkulu siya kuba lihlazo eligqithiseleyo njani? (c) Ngaphandle kweempondo ezilishumi, okanye amazwe ngamanye, yintoni enye eya kuthelela ekuhlaseleni iBhabhiloni Enkulu?
17 Ngokuqinisekileyo, ubutyebi obukhulu bezinto eziphathekayo beBhabhiloni Enkulu abuyi kuyisindisa. Bunokude buyenze ikhawuleze intshabalalo yayo, kuba lo mbono ubonisa ukuba xa irhamncwa neempondo ezilishumi zibonakalisa intiyo yazo kuyo ziya kuyihluba imiwunduzo yayo embejembeje nawo onke amatye ayo axabisekileyo. Ziya kubuphanga ubutyebi bayo. Ziya ‘kuyihluba ibe ze,’ zibubhence ngokulihlazo ubuntu bayo bokwenene. Okunjani kona ukuphanziswa! Isiphelo sayo silihlazo eligqithiseleyo. Ziyayitshabalalisa, ‘zidle iinxalenye zenyama yayo,’ ziyishiye ingamathambo. Ekugqibeleni, ‘ziyitshisa ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo.’ Itshiswa njengento enesibetho, ingangcwatywa nangendlela endilisekileyo! Asizontlanga kuphela, njengoko zimelwa ziimpondo ezilishumi, ezitshabalalisa ihenyukazi elikhulu, kodwa “irhamncwa,” eliziZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, liyazithelela kolu hlaselo. Liya kunikela inkxaso ekutshatyalalisweni konqulo lobuxoki. Uninzi lwamazwe ali-190 nangaphezulu akwiZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, ngendlela avota ngayo, sele ebubonakalisile ubutshaba anabo ngonqulo, ingakumbi lawo eNgqobhoko.
18. (a) Luluphi utyekelo olusele lubonakala nolubonisa ukuba amazwe aya kulujikela unqulo lweBhabhiloni? (b) Siya kuba yintoni isizathu esisisiseko sokuhlaselwa ngokupheleleyo kwehenyukazi elikhulu?
18 Kutheni le nto amazwe eya kuyiphatha ngenkohlakalo engaka into ebifudula isisithandane sawo? Kwimbali yakutshanje sibone utyekelo olubonisa ukujikelwa ngolo hlobo konqulo lweBhabhiloni. Inkcaso yamagosa karhulumente iye yayinciphisa kanobom impembelelo yonqulo emazweni anjengelizwe elalikade liyiSoviet Union kunye neTshayina. Kumazwe amaProtestanti aseYurophu, ukungakhathali nokuthandabuza okusasazekileyo kubangele ukuba iicawa zikhal’ ibhungane, kangangokuba unqulo luphantse ukuba lufile. Ubukhosi obukhulu bamaKatolika budlakazwa yimvukelo nakukungavisisani, eziye iinkokeli zabo zoyisakala ukukuthothisa. Noko ke, asimele silahlekelwe sisibakala sokuba oku kuhlaselwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu ngokupheleleyo nokukokokugqibela kuza njengembonakaliso yomgwebo kaThixo ongenakujikwa kwihenyukazi elikhulu.
Ukuphunyezwa Kwengcinga KaThixo
19. (a) Ukuphunyezwa komgwebo kaYehova kwihenyukazi elikhulu kunokuzekeliswa njani nomgwebo wakhe kwiYerusalem ewexukileyo ngowama-607 B.C.E.? (b) Imeko ephanzileyo neyokungabikho kwabemi eYerusalem emva kowama-607 B.C.E. ifanekisela ntoni ngomhla wethu?
19 UYehova uwuphumeza njani lo mgwebo? Oku kunokuzekeliswa ngesenzo esaphunyezwa nguYehova kubantu bakhe abawexukileyo kumaxesha amandulo, awathi wathetha oku ngabo: “Nakubaprofeti baseYerusalem ndibone izinto eziqhiphula umbilini, ukukrexeza nokuhamba ebuxokini; yaye bomeleze izandla zabenzi bobubi ukuze bangabuyi, ngamnye ebubini bakhe. Kum bonke baye banjengeSodom, nabemi bayo banjengeGomora.” (Yeremiya 23:14) Ngowama-607 B.C.E., uYehova wasebenzisa uNebhukadenetsare ukuba ‘asihlube izambatho azithabathe emke nazo iimpahla zaso ezintle asishiye size kwaye singanxibanga’ eso sixeko sasikrexeza ngokomoya. (Hezekile 23:4, 26, 29) IYerusalem yelo xesha yayingumzekelo weNgqobhoko yanamhlanje, yaye njengoko uYohane wabonayo kwimibono engaphambilana, uYehova uya kuphumeza isohlwayo esifanayo kwiNgqobhoko nakulo lonke unqulo lobuxoki. Imeko ephanzileyo neyokungabikho kwabemi eYerusalem emva kowama-607 B.C.E. ibonisa indlela iNgqobhoko yonqulo eya kubonakala ngayo emva kokuba ihlutywe ubutyebi bayo yaza yabhencwa ngokulihlazo. Yaye inxalenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu nayo iya kuba kwimeko efanayo.
20. (a) UYohane ubonisa njani ukuba kwakhona uYehova uya kusebenzisa abalawuli abangabantu ekuphumezeni umgwebo? (b) Iyintoni “ingcamango” kaThixo? (c) Amazwe aya kuyiphumeza ngayiphi indlela ‘ingcamango yawo enye,’ kodwa ngenene yingcinga kabani eya kuphunyezwa?
20 Kwakhona uYehova usebenzisa abalawuli abangabantu ekuphumezeni umgwebo. “Kuba uThixo ubeke oko ezintliziyweni zabo ukuba baphumeze ingcamango yakhe, baphumeze nengcamango yabo enye yokunikela ubukumkani babo kwirhamncwa, ade afezekiswe amazwi kaThixo.” (ISityhilelo 17:17) Iyintoni “ingcamango” kaThixo? Ikukulungiselelwa kwabatshabalalisi beBhabhiloni Enkulu ukuba bamanyane, ukuze bayitshabalalise ngokupheleleyo. Kakade ke, into eya kushukumisa aba balawuli ukuba bayihlasele iya kuba kukuphumeza eyabo ‘ingcamango enye.’ Baya kuvakalelwa kukuba kukulungelwa kwabo njengeentlanga ukuhlasela ihenyukazi elikhulu. Basenokukujonga njengesisongelo kulongamo lwabo ukubakho konqulo kwimida yabo. Kodwa ngenene uYehova uya kuba nguye ocwangcisa imicimbi; baya kuphumeza ingcinga yakhe ngokutshabalalisa utshaba lwakhe oludala nolukrexezayo ngesithonga esinye!—Thelekisa uYeremiya 7:8-11, 34.
21. Ekubeni irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela liya kusetyenziswa ekutshabalaliseni iBhabhiloni Enkulu, ngokucacileyo iintlanga ziya kwenza ntoni ngokubhekisele kwiZizwe Ezimanyeneyo?
21 Ewe, iintlanga ziya kusebenzisa irhamncwa elimbala ungqombela, iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, ekutshabalaliseni iBhabhiloni Enkulu. Azizisukeli nje ngokwazo, kuba uYehova ubeke ezintliziyweni zazo ‘ukuphumeza ingcamango yazo enye yokunikela ubukumkani bazo kwirhamncwa.’ Xa elo xesha lifika, ngokucacileyo iintlanga ziya kuyibona imfuneko yokomeleza iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. Ziya kuzinika amazinyo, ngokungathi kunjalo, zizinike naliphi na igunya namandla ezinawo khon’ ukuze zijikele unqulo lobuxoki zize zilwe ngempumelelo nalo “ade afezekiswe amazwi kaThixo.” Ngaloo ndlela, ihenyukazi lamandulo liya kufikelela kwisiphelo salo esipheleleyo. Kuya kutsho kuthi qabu uNoqolomba efile nje!
22. (a) KwiSityhilelo 17:18, yintoni efanekiselwa yindlela ingelosi ebuqukumbela ngayo ubungqina bayo? (b) Asabela njani amaNgqina kaYehova ekutyhilweni kwale mfihlelo?
22 Ngokungathi ibethelela ukuqiniseka kokuphumeza kukaYehova umgwebo kubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki, ingelosi iqukumbela ubungqina bayo ngokuthi: “Umfazi ombonileyo yena uthetha isixeko esikhulu esinobukumkani phezu kookumkani bomhlaba.” (ISityhilelo 17:18) NjengeBhabhiloni yexesha likaBheleshatsare, iBhabhiloni Enkulu ‘ilinganiswe esikalini yaza yafunyaniswa ilula.’ (Daniyeli 5:27) Ukutshatyalaliswa kwayo kuya kwenzeka ngokukhawuleza kuze kube kokokugqibela. Asabela njani ke amaNgqina kaYehova ekutyhilweni kwale mfihlelo yehenyukazi elikhulu nerhamncwa elimbala ungqombela? Abonakalisa inzondelelo ekuvakaliseni imini kaYehova yomgwebo, ngoxa ebaphendula ‘ngokukholekileyo’ abo bayifuna ngokunyanisekileyo inyaniso. (Kolose 4:5, 6; ISityhilelo 17:3, 7) Njengoko isahluko sethu esilandelayo siza kubonisa, bonke abanqwenela ukusinda xa ihenyukazi elikhulu litshatyalaliswa bamele bathabathe inyathelo ngokukhawuleza!
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 252]
Ukulandelelana Kwamagunya Ehlabathi Asixhenxe
IYIPUTA
IASIRIYA
IBHABHILONI
AMAMEDI NAMAPERSI
IGRISI
IROMA
AMANGESI NAMAMERIKA
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 254]
‘Likwangukumkani wesibhozo’
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 255]
Beyinikela umva iMvana, “banikela amandla negunya labo kwirhamncwa”
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 257]
Njengenxalenye ephambili yeBhabhiloni Enkulu iNgqobhoko iya kufana neYerusalem yamandulo ngokutshatyalaliswa ngokupheleleyo