ISahluko 33

Ukwahlulela Isifebe Esinyanyekayo

Umbono 11—IsAmbulo 17:1-18

Isihloko: IBhabhiloni Elikhulu ligibele isilo sasendle esibomvu ekugcineni esiliphendukelayo futhi silibhubhise

Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka: Kusukela ngo-1919 kuya osizini olukhulu

 1. Yini enye yezingelosi eziyisikhombisa eyembulela uJohane?

ULAKA lukaJehova lokulunga kumelwe luthululwe lonke, izitsha eziyisikhombisa zalo! Lapho ingelosi yesithupha ithulula isitsha sayo eBhabhiloni lasendulo, yafuzisela ngokufanelekayo ukuhlushwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu njengoba izenzakalo zisondela ngokushesha empini yokugcina ye-Armagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:1, 12, 16) Cishe, yile ngelosi efanayo manje eyembula ukuthi kungani nokuthi uJehova uzikhipha kanjani izahlulelo zakhe zokulunga. UJohane kuyamshaqisa lokho akuzwayo nakubonayo ngokulandelayo: “Enye yezingelosi eziyisikhombisa ezazinezitsha eziyisikhombisa yeza yakhuluma nami, yathi: ‘Woza, ngizokubonisa ukwahlulelwa kwesifebe esikhulu esihlala phezu kwamanzi amaningi, amakhosi omhlaba afeba naso, kanti labo abahlala emhlabeni badakwa yiwayini lobufebe baso.’”—IsAmbulo 17:1, 2.

 2. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi ‘isifebe esikhulu’ (a) asilona iRoma lasendulo? (b) asizona ezomnotho? (c) siyindikimba engokwenkolo?

² ‘Isifebe esikhulu’! Kungani kusetshenziswa igama elibi kangaka? Singubani? Abanye baye bahlanganisa lesi sifebe esingokomfanekiso neRoma lasendulo. Kodwa iRoma lalingumbuso wezombangazwe. Lesi sifebe sifeba namakhosi omhlaba, futhi lokhu ngokusobala kuhlanganisa namakhosi aseRoma. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ngemva kokubhujiswa kwaso, kuthiwa “amakhosi omhlaba” alilela ukubhubha kwaso. Ngakho, asinakuba umbuso wezombangazwe. (IsAmbulo 18:9, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba sililelwa nangabathengisi bomhlaba, asinakufanekisela ezomnotho. (IsAmbulo 18:15, 16) Nokho, sifunda ukuthi ‘izizwe zonke zadukiswa ukusebenzelana kwaso nemimoya.’ (IsAmbulo 18:23) Lokhu kwenza kucace ukuthi isifebe esikhulu kumelwe ukuba siyindikimba yomhlaba wonke engokwenkolo.

 3. (a) Kungani isifebe esikhulu kumelwe sifanekisele okungaphezu kweSonto LamaRoma Katolika noma ngisho nalo lonke eLobukholwa? (b) Yiziphi izimfundiso zaseBhabhiloni ezitholakala ezinkolweni eziningi zaseMpumalanga nasemahlelweni eLobukholwa? (c) Yini ukhadinali ongumRoma Katolika uJohn Henry Newman ayivumayo ngokuqondene nomsuka wezimfundiso eziningi, izinkonzo, nemikhuba yeLobukholwa? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

³ Yiphi indikimba engokwenkolo? Ingabe siyiSonto LamaRoma Katolika, njengoba abanye beye bakholelwa kanjalo? Noma ingabe siyilo lonke eLobukholwa? Cha, kumelwe sibe sikhulu ngisho nangaphezu kwalokho uma sizodukisa zonke izizwe. Eqinisweni, siyiwo wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Umsuka waso ezimfihlakalweni zaseBhabhiloni ubonakala ekutheni izimfundiso nemikhuba eminingi yaseBhabhiloni kuyatholakala ezinkolweni emhlabeni wonke. Ngokwesibonelo, inkolelo yokungafi komphefumulo womuntu okungokwemvelo, yesihogo sokuhlushwa, neyonkulunkulu abanguziqu-zintathu iyatholakala ezinkolweni eziningi zaseMpumalanga nasemahlelweni eLobukholwa. Inkolo yamanga, eyaqanjwa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-4 000 edlule emzini wasendulo waseBhabhiloni, iye yaqhubeka yaba isimanga sanamuhla esibizwa, ngokufanelekile, ngokuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu.a Nokho, kungani lichazwa ngegama elinyanyekayo elithi ‘isifebe esikhulu’?

 4. (a) U-Israyeli wasendulo wabenza ngaziphi izindlela ubufebe? (b) Kungayiphi indlela evelele iBhabhiloni Elikhulu eliye lenza ngayo ubufebe?

⁴ IBhabhiloni (noma iBhabhele, elisho “Ukudideka”) ladlondlobala ngesikhathi sikaNebukhadinezari. Laliwumbuso oxube inkolo nezombangazwe onamathempeli nezindlu zokukhulekela ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane. Abapristi balo babenamandla amakhulu. Nakuba iBhabhiloni lanyamalala kudala njengombuso wezwe, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu elingokwenkolo liyaphila, futhi njengelasendulo, lisafuna ukuthonya futhi lilolonge izindaba zezombangazwe. Kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu uyakuvumela ukungena kwenkolo kwezombangazwe? EmiBhalweni yesiHebheru, kuthiwa u-Israyeli wayephinga lapho ehileleka ekukhulekeleni kwamanga nalapho futhi, esikhundleni sokuthembela kuJehova, enza isivumelwano nezizwe. (Jeremiya 3:6, 8, 9; Hezekeli 16:28-30) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu nalo lenza ubufebe. Ngendlela evelele, liye lenza noma yini eliyibona ifanelekile ukuze lizuze ithonya namandla phezu kwamakhosi omhlaba abusayo.—1 Thimothewu 4:1.

 5. (a) Yikuphi ukugqama abefundisi benkolo abakujabulelayo? (b) Kungani isifiso sokuvelela ezweni siphikisana ngokuqondile namazwi kaJesu Kristu?

⁵ Namuhla, abaholi benkolo bahlala bekhankasela izikhundla eziphakeme kuhulumeni, futhi kwamanye amazwe, bahlanganyela kuhulumeni, baze bananezikhundla kuhulumeni. Ngo-1988 abefundisi ababili abaziwayo bamaProthestani bakhankasela isikhundla sobongameli base-United States. Abaholi eBhabhiloni Elikhulu bayakuthanda ukuvelela; ngokuvamile izithombe zabo zibonakala emaphephandabeni omphakathi njengoba bezimbandakanya nezazi zombangazwe ezivelele. Ngokuphambene, uJesu wakuxwaya ukuhileleka kwezombangazwe futhi wathi ngabafundi bakhe: “Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.”—Johane 6:15; 17:16; Mathewu 4:8-10; bheka futhi noJakobe 4:4.

‘Ubufebe’ Bosuku Lwanamuhla

 6, 7. (a) IQembu likaHitler lamaNazi lawathola kanjani amandla okubusa eJalimane? (b) Isivumelwano iVatican eyasenza neJalimane lobuNazi samsiza kanjani uHitler ekufuneni kwakhe ukubusa umhlaba wonke?

⁶ Ngokugaxela kwaso kwezombangazwe, isifebe esikhulu siye saletha usizi olungenakulinganiswa esintwini. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela amaqiniso abangela ukwenyukela kukaHitler emandleni ombuso eJalimane—amaqiniso amabi abanye abangathanda ukuwacima ezincwadini zomlando. Ngo-May 1924 iQembu LamaNazi lalinezikhundla ezingu-32 kuHulumeni waseJalimane. Ngo-May 1928 lezi zikhundla zase zinciphe zaba ngu-12. Nokho, uKuwa Okukhulu Kwezomnotho kwamboza izwe ngo-1930; esizakala ngakho, amaNazi asimama ngokumangalisayo, ezuza izikhundla zasephalamende ezingu-230 kwezingu-608 okhethweni lwaseJalimane luka-July 1932. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, owayengumongameli uFranz von Papen, owagcotshwa njengeQhawe likaPapa, wasiza amaNazi. Ngokwezazimlando, uvon Papen wayenombono woMbuso Ongcwele WaseRoma omusha. Isikhathi sakhe esifushane njengomongameli asibanga yimpumelelo, ngakho manje wayethemba ukuzuza isikhundla ngeqembu lamaNazi. Ngo-January 1933, wayesetholele uHitler ukusekela kwezicebi zezimboni, futhi ngamacebo obuqili waqiniseka ukuthi uHitler uba umongameli weJalimane ngo-January 30, 1933. Yena ngokwakhe wenziwa isekela likamongameli futhi wasetshenziswa uHitler ukuba azuze ukusekela kwezingxenye zaseJalimane zobuKatolika. Phakathi nezinyanga ezimbili ethole amandla okubusa, uHitler walivala iphalamende, wathumela izinkulungwane zabaholi bamaqembu aphikisayo emakamu okuhlushwa, futhi waqala umkhankaso osobala wokucindezela amaJuda.

⁷ Ngo-July 20, 1933, isithakazelo seVatican embusweni wamaNazi okhulayo sabonakala lapho uKhadinali Pacelli (kamuva owaba nguPapa Pius XII) esayina isivumelwano eRoma phakathi kweVatican neJalimane lobuNazi. Uvon Papen wasayina lesi sivumelwano njengommeleli kaHitler, futhi lapho, uPacelli wanikeza uvon Papen umhlobiso wobupapa weSiphambano Esikhulu sesiGaba SikaPius.b Encwadini yakhe ethi Satan in Top Hat, uTibor Koeves ubhala ngalokhu, ethi: “IsiVumelwano sasiwukunqoba okukhulu ngoHitler. Samnikeza ukusekelwa kokuqala akuthola kuvela ezweni elingaphandle, futhi kuvela emthonjeni ophakeme kakhulu.” Isivumelwano sasidinga ukuba iVatican iyeke ukusekela iqembu laseJalimane iCatholic Center Party, kanjalo igunyaze “umbuso” kaHitler “ophelele” obuswa iqembu elilodwa.c Ngaphezu kwalokho, umthetho-sisekelo waso we-14 wathi: “Ukumiswa kwababhishobhi abakhulu, ababhishobhi, nabanye kuyokwenziwa kuphela ngemva kokuba umbusi, omiswe uMbuso waseJalimane, eseqinisekile ukuthi akukho kungabaza ngokuqondene nemibono evamile engokwezombangazwe.” Ekupheleni kuka-1933 (owabizwa nguPapa Pius XI ngokuthi “Unyaka Ongcwele”), ukusekela kweVatican kwase kuyisici esikhulu emzamweni kaHitler wokubusa umhlaba.

 8, 9. (a) IVatican kanye neSonto LamaKatolika nabefundisi balo basabela kanjani ebudloveni bamaNazi? (b) Yimaphi amazwi ababhishobhi bamaKatolika aseJalimane abawasho ekuqaleni kweMpi Yezwe II? (c) Buye baphumelaphi ubuhlobo benkolo nezombangazwe?

⁸ Nakuba idlanzana labapristi nezindelakazi laphikisana nobudlova bukaHitler—futhi lahlupheka ngenxa yalokho—iVatican kanye neSonto lamaKatolika nebutho lalo labefundisi kwalusekela ngenkuthalo noma buthule unya lwamaNazi, okwakulubheka njengesivikelo ekungeneni kobuKhomanisi bomhlaba. Etamasa eVatican, uPapa Pius XII wavumela ukuqothulwa kwesizwe samaJuda nokushushiswa ngonya koFakazi BakaJehova nabanye ukuba kuqhubeke kungagxekwa. Kuyahlekisa ukuthi uPapa John Paul II, lapho evakashele eJalimane ngo-May 1987, watusa ukumelana namaNazi komfundisi oyedwa oqotho. Zazenzani ezinye izinkulungwane zabefundisi baseJalimane phakathi nokubusa kukaHitler konya? Incwadi yabefundisi eyakhishwa ababhishobhi bamaKatolika baseJalimane ngo-September 1939 ekugqashukeni kweMpi Yezwe II yenza liqondakale leli phuzu. Ngokwengxenye ifundeka kanje: “Kuleli hora lamanqamu siyala amasosha ethu angamaKatolika ukuba enze umsebenzi wawo ngokuthobela iFuehrer [uMholi] futhi alungele ukunikela ngobuqu bawo. Sinxusa abaThembekile ukuba bahlanganyele emithandazweni yentshiseko yokucela ukuba uMlondolozi Waphezulu ahole le mpi ibe yimpumelelo ebusisiwe.”

⁹ Ukuhileleka okunjalo kwamaKatolika kwezombangazwe kubonisa uhlobo lobufebe inkolo eye yabenza eminyakeni engu-4 000 edlule ngokuzishelela eMbusweni wezombangazwe ukuze izuze amandla. Ubuhlobo obunjalo benkolo nezombangazwe buye bakhuthaza impi, ushushiso, nosizi lwesintu ngezinga elikhulu. Yeka ukuthi isintu singajabula kanjani ngokuthi isahlulelo sikaJehova phezu kwesifebe esikhulu siseduze. Kwangathi singabhujiswa masinyane!

Sihlezi Phezu Kwamanzi Amaningi

10. Ayini “amanzi amaningi” iBhabhiloni Elikhulu elithembela kuwo ukuze lithole isivikelo, futhi yini eyenzekayo kuwo?

¹⁰ IBhabhiloni lasendulo laliphezu kwamanzi amaningi—uMfula i-Ewufrathe nemisele eminingi. La manzi ayeyisivikelo kulo futhi ewumthombo womnotho okhiqiza umcebo, kwaze kwaba yilapho esha ngobusuku obubodwa. (Jeremiya 50:38; 51:9, 12, 13) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu nalo lithembele ‘emanzini amaningi’ ukuba alivikele futhi alicebise. La manzi angokomfanekiso “abantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi,” okungukuthi, zonke izinkulungwane zezigidi zabantu eliye labusa phezu kwazo futhi lathola kuzo ukusekelwa ngezinto ezibonakalayo. Kodwa futhi la manzi ayasha, noma ahoxisa ukusekela kwawo.—IsAmbulo 17:15; qhathanisa neHubo 18:4; Isaya 8:7.

11. (a) IBhabhiloni lasendulo ‘lawudakisa’ kanjani ‘umhlaba wonke’? (b) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu ‘liwudakise’ kanjani ‘umhlaba wonke’?

¹¹ Ngaphezu kwalokho, iBhabhiloni lasendulo lachazwa ‘njengendebe yegolide esandleni sikaJehova, lenza wonke umhlaba udakwe.’ (Jeremiya 51:7) IBhabhiloni lasendulo laphoqelela izizwe ezingomakhelwane ukuba zigwinye intukuthelo kaJehova lapho lizinqoba empini, lizenza buthaka njengabantu abadakiwe. Ngaleyo ndlela, laliyithuluzi likaJehova. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu, futhi, liye lanqoba kwaze kwaba seqophelweni lokuba umbuso wezwe. Kodwa ngokuqinisekile alilona ithuluzi likaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, liye lakhonza “amakhosi omhlaba” elifeba nawo ngokwenkolo. Liye lanelisa la makhosi ngokusebenzisa izimfundiso zalo zamanga nemikhuba egqilazayo ukuze ligcine abantu, “labo abahlala emhlabeni,” bengenamandla njengabantu abadakiwe, besekela ababusi babo ngaphandle kokuphikisa.

12. (a) Ingxenye yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu eJapane yaba kanjani necala lokuchithwa kwegazi eliningi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II? (b) “Amanzi” asekela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu ancipha kanjani eJapane, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

¹² IJapane yobuShinto inikeza isibonelo esiphawulekayo salokhu. Isosha elingumJapane elaliqeqeshwe ngabo lalikubheka njengokuhlonipheka kakhulu ukunikela ngokuphila kwalo ngenxa yombusi—unkulunkulu ophakeme wobuShinto. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, amasosha aseJapane angaba ngu-1 500 000 afa empini; cishe wonke ngothi lwawo, ayebheka ukucela umaluju njengokuhlazisayo. Kodwa ngenxa yokwehlulwa kweJapane, uMbusi uHirohito waphoqeleka ukuba ayeke ukuzibiza ngonkulunkulu. Lokhu kwaphumela ekuhoxeni okuphawulekayo ‘kwamanzi’ asekela ingxenye yobuShinto yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu—maye, ngemva kokuba ubuShinto bugunyazé ukuchithwa kwegazi eliningi enkundleni yempi yasePacific! Lokhu kuncipha kwethonya lobuShinto kwavula futhi indlela eminyakeni yamuva yokuba amaJapane angaphezu kuka-200 000, iningi lawo elalingamaShinto namaBuddha, abe yizikhonzi ezizinikezele, ezibhapathiziwe zeNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova.

Isifebe Sigibele Isilo

13. Yimuphi umbono omangalisayo uJohane awubonayo lapho ingelosi imthatha ngamandla omoya imyisa ehlane?

¹³ Yini enye isiprofetho esiyembulayo ngesifebe esikhulu nekusasa laso? Njengoba uJohane elandisa manje, kubonakala omunye umbono ocacile: “Yangithwala [ingelosi] ngamandla omoya yangiyisa ehlane. Ngabona owesifazane ehlezi phezu kwesilo sasendle esinombala obomvu esasigcwele amagama enhlamba, sinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi.”—IsAmbulo 17:3.

14. Kungani kufaneleka ukuthi uJohane wayiswa ehlane?

¹⁴ Kungani uJohane eyiswa ehlane? Isiprofetho sangaphambili sokulahlwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo sachazwa ‘njengesimelene nehlane lolwandle.’ (Isaya 21:1, 9) Lokhu kwanikeza isixwayiso esifanele sokuthi, naphezu kwazo zonke izivikelo zalo ezingamanzi, iBhabhiloni lasendulo laliyoba yincithakalo engenakho ukuphila. Khona-ke, kuyafaneleka ukuba uJohane embonweni wakhe ayiswe ehlane ukuze abone lokho okumiselwe iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Nalo futhi kumelwe libe yincithakalo neze. (IsAmbulo 18:19, 22, 23) Noma kunjalo, uJohane umangazwa yilokho akubonayo lapho. Isifebe esikhulu asisodwa! Sihlezi phezu kwesilo sasendle esisabekayo!

15. Yimuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kwesilo sasendle sesAmbulo 13:1 nesesAmbulo 17:3?

¹⁵ Lesi silo sinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi. Khona-ke, ingabe siyefana nesilo sasendle uJohane asibone ekuqaleni, naso esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi? (IsAmbulo 13:1) Cha, kukhona umehluko. Lesi silo sasendle sibomvu, futhi ngokungafani nesilo sasekuqaleni, akushiwo ukuthi sinemiqhele. Esikhundleni sokuba sibe namagama enhlamba emakhanda aso ayisikhombisa kuphela, “sigcwele amagama enhlamba.” Nokho, kumelwe kube khona ubuhlobo phakathi kwalesi silo sasendle esisha nesasekuqaleni; ukufana okuphakathi kwazo kugqame kakhulu ukuba kungaba okube khona ngengozi.

16. Siyini isilo sasendle esibomvu, futhi yini eye yashiwo ngokuqondene nenjongo yaso?

¹⁶ Khona-ke, siyini lesi silo sasendle esisha esibomvu? Kumelwe sibe umfanekiso wesilo sasendle owenziwa ngenxa yokukhuthaza kwesilo sasendle esingumbuso wamaNgisi namaMelika esinezimpondo ezimbili ezinjengezewundlu. Ngemva kokuba umfanekiso sewenziwe, leso silo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili savunyelwa ukuba siphefumulele umfanekiso wesilo sasendle. (IsAmbulo 13:14, 15) Manje uJohane ubona umfanekiso ophilayo, ophefumulayo. Ufanekisela iNhlangano Yezizwe isilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili esayakha ngo-1920. UMongameli wase-U.S. uWilson wayecabange ukuthi le Nhlangano “iyoba inkundla yokusakazwa kokulunga kubo bonke abantu futhi isuse ukusongela kwempi phakade.” Lapho ivuswa ngemva kwempi yezwe yesibili njengeZizwe Ezihlangene, injongo yayo egunyaziwe ‘yayiwukulondoloza ukuthula nokulondeka komhlaba.’

17. (a) Kungayiphi indlela isilo sasendle esibomvu esingokomfanekiso sigcwele amagama enhlamba? (b) Ubani ogibele isilo sasendle esibomvu? (c) Inkolo yobuBhabhiloni iye yazihlanganisa kanjani neNhlangano Yezizwe nomlandeli wayo kusukela ekuqaleni?

¹⁷ Kungayiphi indlela lesi silo sasendle esingokomfanekiso sigcwele amagama enhlamba? Ngokuthi abantu baye bamisa lesi sithombe esihlanganisa zonke izizwe endaweni yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu—ukuba sifeze lokho uNkulunkulu athi uMbuso wakhe kuphela ongakufeza. (Daniyeli 2:44; Mathewu 12:18, 21) Nokho, okuphawulekayo ngombono kaJohane ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu ligibele isilo sasendle esibomvu. Njengokusho kwesiprofetho, inkolo yobuBhabhiloni, ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa, iye yazihlanganisa neNhlangano Yezizwe nomlandeli wayo. Emuva ngo-December 18, 1918, indikimba manje eyaziwa ngokuthi uMkhandlu Wesizwe Wamasonto KaKristu EMelika yamukela isimemezelo esasithi ngokwengxenye: “INhlangano enjalo ayimane nje iyisu lezombangazwe; kunalokho iwukubonakaliswa okungokwezombangazwe koMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. . . . ISonto linganikeza umoya woxolo, okungekho Nhlangano Yezizwe engama ngaphandle kwawo. . . . INhlangano Yezizwe isekelwe eVangelini. NjengeVangeli, injongo yayo ‘iwukuthula emhlabeni, noxolo kubantu.’”

18. Abefundisi beLobukholwa bakubonisa kanjani ukusekela kwabo iNhlangano Yezizwe?

¹⁸ Ngo-January 2, 1919, iphephandaba i-San Francisco Chronicle lalinesihloko esikhulu ekhasini elingaphambili esithi: “UPapa Unxusela Ukwamukelwa KweNhlangano Yezizwe KaWilson.” Ngo-October 16, 1919, isicelo esasayinwa abefundisi abangu-14 450 bamahlelo aphambili sethulwa esiGeleni sase-U.S., sinxusa leyo ndikimba “ukuba iqinise isivumelwano sokuthula saseParis esihlanganisa isivumelwano senhlangano yezizwe.” Nakuba isiGele sase-U.S. sehluleka ukuqinisa lesi sivumelwano, abefundisi beLobukholwa baqhubeka nokukhankasela le Nhlangano. Yavulwa kanjani iNhlangano? Umbiko wezindaba ovela eSwitzerland, wangomhla ka-November 15, 1920, wawufundeka kanje: “Ukuvulwa komhlangano wokuqala weNhlangano Yezizwe kumenyezelwé ngehora leshumi nanye namuhla ekuseni ngokushaywa kwazo zonke izinsimbi zamasonto eGeneva.”

19. Lapho isilo sasendle esibomvu sivela, iyiphi inkambo isigaba sikaJohane esayithatha?

¹⁹ Ingabe isigaba sikaJohane, ukuphela kweqembu emhlabeni elamukela ngentshiseko uMbuso kaMesiya owawungena, sahlanganyela neLobukholwa ekukhulekeleni isilo sasendle esibomvu? Lutho neze! NgeSonto, ngo-September 7, 1919, umhlangano wabantu bakaJehova eCedar Point, e-Ohio, wawunenkulumo yeningi ethi: “Ithemba Ngesintu Esicindezelekile.” Ngosuku olulandelayo, iphephandaba laseSandusky i-Star-Journal labika ukuthi uJ. F. Rutherford, lapho ekhuluma nabantu abacishe babe ngu-7 000, wayeye “waqinisa ngokuthi intukuthelo yeNkosi ngokuqinisekile izoba phezu kwale Nhlangano . . . ngoba abefundisi—bamaKatolika nabamaProthestani—bezisholo ukuthi bangabameleli bakaNkulunkulu, baye balahla icebo lakhe futhi bagunyaza iNhlangano Yezizwe, beyihalalisela njengokubonakaliswa okungokwezombangazwe kombuso kaKristu emhlabeni.”

20. Kungani kwakuwukuhlambalaza ngabefundisi ukuhalalisela iNhlangano Yezizwe ngokuthi “iwukubonakaliswa okungokwezombangazwe koMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni”?

²⁰ Ukwehluleka okukhulu kweNhlangano Yezizwe kwakufanele kubonise abefundisi ukuthi amathuluzi anjalo enziwe abantu awayona ingxenye yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Yeka ukuhlambalaza okuyikho ukusho kanjalo! Kwenza kubonakale sengathi uNkulunkulu wayeyingxenye yokwehluleka okukhulu iNhlangano eyaba yikho. Ngokuqondene noNkulunkulu, “uphelele umsebenzi wakhe.” UMbuso kaJehova wasezulwini ngaphansi kukaKristu—hhayi inhlanganisela yezazi zombangazwe ezilwayo, eziningi zazo ezingakholelwa kuNkulunkulu—uyindlela azoletha ngayo ukuthula futhi intando yakhe yenziwe emhlabeni njengasezulwini.—Duteronomi 32:4; Mathewu 6:10.

21. Yini ebonisa ukuthi isifebe esikhulu sisekela futhi situsa umlandeli weNhlangano, iZizwe Ezihlangene?

²¹ Kuthiwani ngomlandeli weNhlangano, iZizwe Ezihlangene? Kusukela ekubunjweni kwayo, le ndikimba nayo ibigitshelwe isifebe esikhulu, sihlangene nayo ngokusobala futhi sizama ukuqondisa ikusasa layo. Ngokwesibonelo, ekugujweni kweminyaka yayo engu-20, ngo-June 1965, abameleli beSonto LamaRoma Katolika neSonto lobu-Orthodox laseMpumalanga, kanye namaProthestani, amaJuda, amaHindu, amaBuddha, namaMuslim—okuthiwa babemelele izigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezimbili zenani lomhlaba—bahlangana eSan Francisco ukuze bagubhe ukusekela kwabo nokutusa kwabo i-UN. Lapho evakashele i-UN ngo-October 1965, uPapa Paul VI wayichaza ngokuthi “ileyo nhlangano yezizwe zonke enkulu kunazo zonke” futhi wanezela: “Abantu bomhlaba baphendukela eZizweni Ezihlangene njengethemba lokugcina lokuzwana nokuthula.” Esinye isihambeli esingupapa, uPapa John Paul II, sikhuluma ne-UN ngo-October 1979, sathi: “Ngithemba ukuthi iZizwe Ezihlangene ziyohlala njalo ziyinkundla ephakeme yokuthula nokulunga.” Ngokuphawulekayo, upapa akashongo lutho olutheni ngoJesu Kristu noma ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu enkulumweni yakhe. Phakathi nokuhambela kwakhe e-United States ngo-September 1987, njengoba kwabika i-New York Times, “uJohn Paul wakhuluma kabanzi ngendima enhle yeZizwe Ezihlangene yokuthuthukisa . . . ‘ubunye obusha bomhlaba wonke.’”

Igama, Imfihlakalo

22. (a) Luhlobo luni lwesilo isifebe esikhulu esiye sakhetha ukusigibela? (b) UJohane usichaza kanjani isifebe esingokomfanekiso iBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

²² Masinyane umphostoli uJohane uzothola ukuthi isifebe esikhulu sikhethe ukugibela isilo esiyingozi. Nokho, okokuqala uphendulela ukunakekela kwakhe eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ngokwalo. Lembethe izingubo ezibizayo, kodwa, oh, yeka ukuthi linyanyeka kanjani! “Owesifazane wayevunule ngokunsomi nokubomvu, ehlobe ngegolide nangetshe eliyigugu nangamaparele, esandleni sakhe ephethe indebe yegolide eyayigcwele izinengiso nezinto ezingcolile zobufebe bakhe. Ebunzini lakhe kwakulotshwe igama, imfihlakalo: ‘IBhabhiloni Elikhulu, unina wezifebe nowezinengiso zomhlaba.’ Ngabona ukuthi owesifazane wayedakwe yigazi labangcwele negazi lofakazi bakaJesu.”—IsAmbulo 17:4-6a.

23. Lingubani igama eliphelele leBhabhiloni Elikhulu, futhi lisho ukuthini?

²³ Njengoba kwakuyisiko eRoma lasendulo, lesi sifebe sibonakala ngegama elisebunzini laso.d Yigama elide: “IBhabhiloni Elikhulu, unina wezifebe nowezinengiso zomhlaba.” Lelo gama ‘liyimfihlakalo,’ okuthile okunencazelo efihlakele. Kodwa ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, imfihlakalo izochazwa. Eqinisweni, ingelosi inikeza uJohane ukwaziswa okwanele ukuze izinceku zikaJehova namuhla ziqonde incazelo ephelele yaleli gama elichazayo. Siqaphela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu njengeliyiyo yonke inkolo yamanga. ‘Lingunina wezifebe’ ngoba zonke izinkolo zamanga ezihlukahlukene emhlabeni, kuhlanganise namahlelo amaningi kweLobukholwa, zinjengamadodakazi alo, alilingisa ebufebeni obungokomoya. Futhi lingunina “wezinengiso” ngokuthi liye lazala inzalo enyanyekayo enjengokukhulekelwa kwezithombe, ukusetshenziswa kwemimoya, ukubikezelwa kwenhlanhla, ukufundwa kwezinkanyezi, ukubhula ngokufunda intende yesandla, ukunikela ngabantu, ubufebe basethempelini, ukudakwa okwenzelwa ukukhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga, neminye imikhuba enyanyekayo.

24. Kungani kungokufanelekile ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu libonakala lembethe “okunsomi nokubomvu” nokuthi ‘lihlobe ngegolide nangetshe eliyigugu nangamaparele’?

²⁴ IBhabhiloni Elikhulu lembethe “okunsomi nokubomvu,” imibala yobukhosi, futhi ‘lihlobe ngegolide nangetshe eliyigugu nangamaparele.’ Yeka ukuthi kufaneleka kanjani! Cabanga nje ngazo zonke izakhiwo ezinhle, izithombe nemidwebo okungavamile, imifanekiso eyigugu, nezinye izinto zenkolo, kanye nendawo nemali okungenakubalwa, izinkolo zaleli zwe eziye zakuqongelela. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuseVatican, kusembusweni wobuvangeli bakuma-TV ozinze e-United States, noma ezindlini zezindela nasemathempelini aseMpumalanga, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liye laqongelela—futhi ngezinye izikhathi lalahlekelwa—ingcebo enkulu.

25. (a) Yini efanekiselwa ‘okusendebeni yegolide eyayigcwele izinengiso’? (b) Kungamuphi umqondo isifebe esingokomfanekiso sidakiwe?

²⁵ Ake ubheke manje ukuthi isifebe siphetheni ngesandla saso. Kumelwe ukuba uJohane wethuka lapho ekubona—indebe yegolide ‘egcwele izinengiso nezinto ezingcolile zobufebe baso’! Lesi isitsha esiqukethe ‘iwayini lentukuthelo lobufebe baso’ esidakise ngalo zonke izizwe. (IsAmbulo 14:8; 17:4) Sibonakala sicebile ngaphandle, kodwa okuphakathi kuso kuyenyanyeka, kungcolile. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 23:25, 26.) Siphethe yonke imikhuba engcolile namanga isifebe esikhulu esiye sakusebenzisa ukuze siyenge izizwe futhi sizilethe ngaphansi kwethonya laso. Okwenyanyisa ngisho nangaphezulu, uJohane ubona ukuthi isifebe ngokwaso sidakwe igazi lezinceku zikaNkulunkulu! Eqinisweni, kamuva sifunda ukuthi ‘kwatholakala kuso igazi labaprofethi nelabangcwele nelabo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni.’ (IsAmbulo 18:24) Yeka icala elikhulu legazi!

26. Kunabuphi ubufakazi becala legazi leBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

²⁶ Phakathi namakhulu eminyaka adlule, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga uye wachitha amathantala egazi. Ngokwesibonelo, eJapane yenkathi ephakathi, amathempeli aseKyoto aguqulwa aba izinqaba, futhi amaqhawe ayizindela, enxusa “igama elingcwele likaBuddha,” alwa wodwa imigwaqo yaze yaba bomvu igazi. Ekhulwini leminyaka lama-20, abefundisi beLobukholwa bahambisana namabutho amazwe abo, futhi la mabutho abulalana, kwalahleka okungenani ukuphila okuyizigidi eziyikhulu. Ngo-October 1987 owayengumongameli wase-U.S. uNixon wathi: “Ikhulu leminyaka lama-20 liye laba eligcwele igazi kunawo onke emlandweni. Kuleli khulu leminyaka kuye kwabulawa ezimpini abantu abangaphezu kwababulawa kuzo zonke izimpi ezalwiwa ngaphambi kokuba liqale leli khulu leminyaka.” Izinkolo zezwe zahlulelwa kanzima uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuhlanganyela kwazo kukho konke lokhu; uJehova uyazizonda “izandla ezichitha igazi elingenacala.” (IzAga 6:16, 17) Ngaphambili, uJohane uzwe ukumemeza okuvela e-altare: “Kuyoze kube nini, Nkosi enguMbusi ongcwele noweqiniso, uyeka ukwahlulela nokuphindisela igazi lethu kulabo abahlala emhlabeni na?” (IsAmbulo 6:10) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu, unina wezifebe nowezinengiso zomhlaba, liyohileleka kakhulu lapho kufika isikhathi sokuphendula lowo mbuzo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Kunokuba angcwelise ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe okunjalo, “uJehova uMninimandla onke” uyala amaKristu: “Phumani phakathi kwabo, nizihlukanise, . . . futhi niyeke ukuthinta into engcolile.”—2 Korinte 6:14-18.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 237]

UChurchill Udalula ‘Ubufebe’

Encwadini yakhe ethi The Gathering Storm (1948), uWinston Churchill ubika ukuthi uHitler wamisa uFranz von Papen njengongqongqoshe waseJalimane eVienna, ukuze “alulaze noma azuze abavelele kwezombangazwe zase-Austria.” UChurchill ucaphuna ungqongqoshe wase-U.S. eVienna ethi ngovon Papen: “Ngesibindi esikhulu nangokunyundela . . . uPapen waqhubeka wangitshela ukuthi . . . wayehlose ukusebenzisa idumela lakhe njengomKatolika omuhle ukuze athonye ama-Austria anjengoKhadinali Innitzer.”

Ngemva kokuba i-Austria isicele umaluju futhi amabutho kaHitler anonya esengene eVienna, ukhadinali wamaKatolika u-Innitzer wayala ukuba wonke amasonto ase-Austria aphephezelise ifulegi le-swastika, ashaye izinsimbi zawo, futhi athandazele u-Adolf Hitler ehlonipha usuku lwakhe lokuzalwa.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 238]

‘UMTHANDAZO WEMPI’ OWENZELWA UMBUSO WASEJALIMANE

Ngaphansi kwalesi sihloko, kwavela indaba elandelayo ohlelweni lokuqala lwephephandaba i-New York Times ka-December 7, 1941:

“AbaBhishobhi bamaKatolika EFulda Bacela Isibusiso Nokunqoba . . . UMhlangano WabaBhishobhi BamaKatolika BaseJalimane obuhlangene eFulda uye watusa ukuba kuqaliswe ‘umthandazo wempi’ okhethekile okumelwe ufundwe ekuqaleni nasekuphethweni kwazo zonke izinkonzo zaphezulu. Lo mthandazo unxusa uMlondolozi ukuba abusise izikhali zaseJalimane ngokunqoba futhi avikele ukuphila nempilo yawo wonke amasosha. AbaBhishobhi baqhubeke bayala abefundisi bamaKatolika ukuba babeke futhi bakhumbule entshumayelweni ekhethekile yangeSonto okungenani kanye ngenyanga amasosha aseJalimane ‘asezweni, olwandle nasemoyeni.’”

Lesi sihloko sasuswa ezinhlelweni zakamuva zephephandaba. U-December 7, 1941, wawuwusuku iJapane, umhlobo weJalimane lobuNazi, eyahlasela ngalo iviyo lemikhumbi yase-U.S. ePearl Harbor.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 244]

“Amagama Enhlamba”

Lapho isilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili sigqugquzela iNhlangano Yezizwe ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, ngokushesha amashende ayo amaningi angokwenkolo afuna ukunika lesi sinyathelo igunya elingokwenkolo. Ngenxa yalokho, le nhlangano entsha yokuthula ‘yagcwala amagama enhlamba.’

“UbuKristu buyonikeza umusa, amandla asekela inhlangano [yezizwe], futhi ngaleyo ndlela buguqule isivumelwano ekubeni isicucu sephepha sibe yithuluzi lombuso kaNkulunkulu.”—The Christian Century, U.S.A., June 19, 1919, ikhasi 15.

“Umqondo weNhlangano Yezizwe wokwandiswa komqondo woMbuso kaNkulunkulu uba ubudlelwane bezizwe zonke njengohlelo lwezwe lomusa. . . . Uyinto onke amaKristu ayithandazelayo lapho ethi, ‘Umbuso wakho mawuze.’”—The Christian Century, U.S.A., September 25, 1919, ikhasi 7.

“Ingcina ehlanganisa iNhlangano Yezizwe yiGazi likaKristu.”—UDkt. Frank Crane, umfundisi ongumProthestani, U.S.A.

“UMkhandlu [weZizwe] [WamaSonto AmaCongregationalist] usekela isiVumelwano [seNhlangano Yezizwe] njengesiwukuphela kwethuluzi lezombangazwe elikhona manje uMoya kaJesu Kristu ongathola ngalo indawo ebanzi yokusebenza ngokunenzuzo ezindabeni zezizwe.”—The Congregationalist and Advance, U.S.A., November 6, 1919, ikhasi 642.

“Umhlangano unxusa wonke amaWeseli ukuba asekele futhi agqugquzele kakhulu imiqondo [yeNhlangano Yezizwe] njengoba iboniswa umqondo kaNkulunkulu uYise nabantwana bakaNkulunkulu basemhlabeni.”—ISonto LaseWeseli eBrithani.

“Uma sicabangela izinjongo, lokho okungenzeka kanye nezinqumo zalesi sivumelwano, siyabona ukuthi siqukethe umongo wezimfundiso zikaJesu Kristu: UMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe . . . Asiyilutho olungaphansi kwalokho.”—Intshumayelo yoMbhishobhi omkhulu waseCanterbury ekuvulweni koMhlangano weNhlangano Yezizwe eGeneva, ngo-December 3, 1922.

“INhlangano Yezizwe kuleli zwe inelungelo elifanayo elingcwele njenganoma iyiphi inhlangano yabantu yabavangeli, ngoba njengamanje iyithuluzi eliphumelela kakhulu lokubusa kukaKristu njengeNkosi yokuthula phakathi kwezizwe.”—UDkt. Garvie, umfundisi wamaCongregationalist, eBrithani.

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 236]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Izimfundiso ezingamanga ezikholelwa emhlabeni wonke zinendabuko yazo eBhabhiloni

IBhabhiloni

OZiqu-zintathu noma onkulunkulu abathathu koyedwa

Umphefumulo womuntu uyasinda ekufeni

Imimoya—ukukhuluma “nabafile”

Ukusetshenziswa kwezithombe ekukhulekeleni

Ukusetshenziswa kweziphonso ukuze kushwelezwe emademonini

Ukubusa ngobupristi obunamandla

[Isithombe ekhasini 239]

IBhabhiloni lasendulo laliphezu kwamanzi amaningi

[Isithombe ekhasini 239]

Isifebe esikhulu namuhla naso sihlezi phezu “kwamanzi amaningi”

[Isithombe ekhasini 241]

IBhabhiloni Elikhulu lihlezi phezu kwesilo sasendle esiyingozi

[Izithombe ekhasini 242]

Isifebe esingokwenkolo siye senza ubufebe namakhosi omhlaba

[Izithombe ekhasini 245]

Owesifazane ‘udakwe igazi labangcwele’