ISahluko 35
Ukubhubhisa IBhabhiloni Elikhulu
1. Ingelosi isichaza kanjani isilo sasendle esibomvu, futhi luhlobo luni lwenhlakanipho oludingekayo ukuze kuqondakale izimpawu ezikusAmbulo?
EKUCHAZENI ngokuqhubekayo isilo sasendle esibomvu sesAmbulo 17:3, ingelosi itshela uJohane: “Lapha kulapho kungena khona ukuhlakanipha: Amakhanda ayisikhombisa asho izintaba eziyisikhombisa, lapho kuhlezi khona owesifazane. Futhi kukhona amakhosi ayisikhombisa: ayisihlanu asewile, enye ikhona, enye ayikafiki, kodwa lapho ifika kumelwe ihlale isikhashana.” (IsAmbulo 17:9, 10) Lapha ingelosi idlulisela ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu, ukuphela kokuhlakanipha okunganikeza ukuqonda izimpawu ezikusAmbulo. (Jakobe 3:17) Lokhu kuhlakanipha kukhanyisela isigaba sikaJohane nabangane baso ngokuqondene nokungathí sina kwezikhathi esiphila kuzo. Kwakha ezinhliziyweni ezizinikele ukwazisa ngezahlulelo zikaJehova, manje esezizokhishwa, futhi kufaka ukwesaba uJehova okunempilo. Njengoba izAga 9:10 zisho: “Ukwesaba uJehova kungukuqala kokuhlakanipha, futhi ukuqonda kungukuba nolwazi ngoNgcwelengcwele.” Ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu kusembulelani ngesilo sasendle?
2. Iyini incazelo yamakhanda ayisikhombisa esilo sasendle esibomvu, futhi kukanjani ukuthi “ayisihlanu asewile, enye ikhona”?
2 Amakhanda ayisikhombisa aleso silo esisabekayo amelele “izintaba” eziyisikhombisa, noma “amakhosi” ayisikhombisa. Womabili la magama asetshenziswa ngokomBhalo ekubhekiseleni emibusweni yohulumeni. (Jeremiya 51:24, 25; Daniyeli 2:34, 35, 44, 45) EBhayibhelini, imibuso yezwe eyisithupha iphawulwa njengenethonya ezindabeni zabantu bakaNkulunkulu: IGibhithe, i-Asiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMede namaPheresiya, iGrisi, neRoma. Kulena, emihlanu yayisifikile yadlula ngesikhathi uJohane amukela isAmbulo, kuyilapho iRoma yayisengumbuso wezwe. Lokhu kuvumelana kahle namazwi athi, “ayisihlanu asewile, enye ikhona.” Kodwa kuthiwani ‘ngenye’ eyayisazofika?
3. (a) Wahlukana kanjani uMbuso waseRoma? (b) Yiziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka eNtshonalanga? (c) Kumelwe ubhekwe kanjani uMbuso Ongcwele WaseRoma?
3 UMbuso waseRoma waqhubeka futhi wanda amakhulu amaningi eminyaka ngemva kosuku lukaJohane. Ngo-330 C.E., uMbusi uConstantine wasusa inhloko-dolobha yakhe eRoma wayiyisa eByzantium, ayiqamba kabusha ngokuthi iConstantinople. Ngo-395 C.E., uMbuso waseRoma wahlukaniswa waba ingxenye eseMpumalanga nengxenye eseNtshonalanga. Ngo-410 C.E., iRoma ngokwayo yawela ku-Alaric, inkosi yamaVisigoth (isizwe samaJalimane esasiphendukele ‘ebuKristwini’ bohlobo lwama-Arian). Izizwe zamaJalimane (nazo “ezingamaKristu”) zanqoba iSpain nendawo eningi yeRoma eNyakatho Afrika. Kwaba namakhulu eminyaka ezinguquko ezinkulu, iziyaluyalu, nokuhlela kabusha eYurophu. ENtshonalanga kwavela ababusi abaqavile, abanjengoCharlemagne, owenza isivumelwano noPapa Leo III ekhulwini leminyaka lesi-9, noFrederick II, owabusa ngekhulu leminyaka le-13. Kodwa izwe ababelibusa, nakuba lalibizwa ngokuthi uMbuso Ongcwele WaseRoma, lalilincane kakhulu kunalelo uMbuso waseRoma owawulibusa ngesikhathi sokudlondlobala kwawo. Kwakuwukubuyiselwa noma ukuqhutshekiselwa phambili kwalo mbuso wasendulo kunokuba kube umbuso omusha.
4. Yikuphi ukuphumelela uMbuso waseMpumalanga owaba nakho, kodwa yini eyenzeka kweningi indawo yakuqala yeRoma eNyakatho Afrika, eSpain, naseSiriya?
4 UMbuso waseMpumalanga waseRoma, owawuzinze eConstantinople, waqhubeka ebuhlotsheni obubucayi noMbuso waseNtshonalanga. Ngekhulu leminyaka lesithupha, uMbusi waseMpumalanga uJustinian I wakwazi ukuphinde anqobe ingxenye enkulu yeNyakatho Afrika, futhi wangenela iSpain neNtaliyane. Ngekhulu leminyaka lesikhombisa, uJustinian II wabuyisela eMbusweni izindawo zaseMacedonia ezazinqotshwe izizwe zamaSlav. Nokho, ngekhulu leminyaka lesishiyagalombili eziningi zezindawo okwakungezeRoma lasendulo eNyakatho Afrika, eSpain, naseSiriya zase zingaphansi kombuso omusha wama-Islam futhi kanjalo zagudluka ekulawuleni kweConstantinople neRoma.
5. Nakuba umuzi waseRoma wawa ngo-410 C.E., kukanjani ukuthi kwathatha amakhulu amaningi eminyaka ukuba yonke imikhondo yoMbuso waseRoma ongokombangazwe iphele emhlabeni?
5 Umuzi waseConstantinople ngokwawo waqhubeka isikhathi esijana. Wasinda ekuhlaseleni okuningi kwamaPheresiya, ama-Arabhu, abaseBulgaria, namaRashiya waze wawa ekugcineni ngo-1203—ungaweli kumaMuslim kodwa emaButhweni Enkolo avela eNtshonalanga. Nokho, ngo-1453 waba ngaphansi kokubuswa umbusi ongumMuslim Ottoman uMehmed II futhi ngokushesha waba inhloko-dolobha yoMbuso wase-Ottoman, noma waseTurkey. Kanjalo, nakuba umuzi waseRoma wawa ngo-410 C.E., kwathatha amakhulu eminyaka amaningi ukuba yonke imikhondo yoMbuso waseRoma ongokombangazwe iphele emhlabeni. Ngisho nangaleso sikhathi, ithonya lawo lalisezwakala emibusweni engokwenkolo eyayisekelwe esimisweni sobupapa baseRoma nasemasontweni aseMpumalanga obu-Orthodox.
6. Yimiphi imibuso emisha shá eyavela, futhi yimuphi owaphumelela kakhulu?
6 Nokho, ngekhulu leminyaka le-15 amazwe athile ayakha imibuso emisha shá. Nakuba eminye yale mibuso emisha yayitholakala ezindaweni zamazwe ayengaphansi kweRoma, imibuso yayo yayingekhona nje ukuqhutshekiselwa phambili koMbuso waseRoma. IPortugal, iSpain, iFrance, neHolland konke kwaba yizizinda zemibuso ekude. Kodwa owawuphumelela kakhulu kwakuyiBrithani, eyengamela umbuso omkhulu ‘ilanga elalingashoni’ kuwo. Ngezikhathi ezihlukahlukene lo mbuso wanabela engxenyeni enkulu yeNyakatho Melika, i-Afrika, iNdiya, neNingizimu-mpumalanga Asia, kanye nodedangendlale weNingizimu Pacific.
7. Lwaba khona kanjani uhlobo lombuso wezwe ombaxambili, futhi uJohane wathi ‘ikhanda’ lesikhombisa, noma umbuso wezwe, laliyoqhubeka isikhathi eside kangakanani?
7 Ngekhulu leminyaka le-19, amanye amazwe ayengaphansi kweBrithani eNyakatho Melika ayesephumile kakade ngaphansi kwayo ukuze akhe i-United States of America ezimele. Ngokwezombangazwe, ukungezwani okuthile kwaqhubeka phakathi kwesizwe esisha nezwe esaphuma kulo. Nokho, impi yezwe yokuqala yaphoqelela la mazwe omabili ukuba aqaphele izithakazelo zawo ezifanayo futhi aqinisa ubuhlobo obukhethekile phakathi kwawo. Kanjalo, kwaba khona uhlobo oluthile lombuso ombaxambili, owawakhiwa i-United States of America, manje eyisizwe esicebe kunazo zonke emhlabeni, neGreat Britain, isizinda sombuso omkhulu kunayo yonke emhlabeni. Khona-ke, yileli ‘ikhanda’ lesikhombisa, noma umbuso wezwe, eliqhubekela esikhathini sokuphela nalapho futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla baqala khona. Uma kuqhathaniswa nesikhathi eside sokubusa kwekhanda lesithupha, elesikhombisa lihlala “isikhashana,” kuze kube yilapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ubhubhisa yonke imibuso yezizwe.
Kungani Kuthiwa INkosi Yesishiyagalombili?
8, 9. Ingelosi isibiza ngokuthini isilo sasendle esibomvu esingokomfanekiso, futhi siphuma kwayisikhombisa ngayiphi indlela?
8 Ingelosi iyaqhubeka ichazela uJohane: “Isilo sasendle esasikhona kodwa esingasekho, naso ngokwaso siyinkosi yesishiyagalombili, kodwa evela kulawa ayisikhombisa, futhi siya ekubhujisweni.” (IsAmbulo 17:11) Isilo sasendle esibomvu esingokomfanekiso ‘sivela’ emakhanda ayisikhombisa; okungukuthi, sizalwa, noma sikhona ngenxa yalawo makhanda ‘esilo sasendle’ sokuqala ‘esiphuma olwandle,’ isilo sasendle esibomvu esiwumfanekiso waso. Ngayiphi indlela? Nokho, ngo-1919 umbuso wamaNgisi namaMelika wawuyikhanda elibusayo. Amakhanda ayisithupha angaphambili ayesewile, futhi isikhundla sombuso wezwe obusayo sase sidlulele kuleli khanda elimbaxambili futhi manje sase sikulo. Leli khanda lesikhombisa, njengommeleli wanamuhla wohlu lwemibuso yezwe, lalingamandla abangela ukusungulwa kweNhlangano Yezizwe futhi lisalokhu lingumthuthukisi omkhulu nomthombo wokusekela ngokwezimali weZizwe Ezihlangene. Kanjalo, ngokomfanekiso, isilo sasendle esibomvu—inkosi yesishiyagalombili—‘sivela’ kuwo amakhanda okuqala ayisikhombisa. Uma sibhekwa ngale ndlela, inkulumo ethi sivela kuwo amakhanda ayisikhombisa ivumelana kahle nesambulo sangaphambili sokuthi isilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili ezinjengezewundlu (uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, ikhanda lesikhombisa laleso silo sokuqala) sakhuthaza ukwenziwa komfanekiso futhi sawunika ukuphila.—IsAmbulo 13:1, 11, 14, 15.
9 Ngaphezu kwalokho, amalungu okuqala eNhlangano Yezizwe ayehlanganisa ohulumeni ababusa lapho kwakubusa khona amakhanda angaphambili, okungukuthi, iGrisi, i-Iran (iPheresiya), neNtaliyane (iRoma), kanye neGreat Britain. Ekugcineni, ohulumeni ababusa izindawo ezazilawulwa imibuso yezwe eyisithupha edlule baba amalungu asekelayo omfanekiso wesilo sasendle. Ngalo mqondo, futhi, kungashiwo ukuthi lesi silo sasendle esibomvu savela emibusweni yezwe eyisikhombisa.
10. (a) Kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi isilo sasendle esibomvu “naso ngokwaso siyinkosi yesishiyagalombili”? (b) Umholi wezwe elaliyiSoviet Union wakubonisa kanjani ukusekela iZizwe Ezihlangene?
10 Phawula ukuthi isilo sasendle esibomvu ‘singesesishiyagalombili.’ Kanjalo, iZizwe Ezihlangene namuhla ziklanywe ngendlela yokuba zibukeke njengohulumeni wezwe. Ngezinye izikhathi ziye zasebenza njengawo zithumela amabutho empini ukuba axazulule izingxabano zezizwe, njengaseKorea, eNhlonhlweni yaseSinayi, emazweni athile ase-Afrika, naseLebanon. Kodwa zimane nje ziwumfanekiso wenkosi. Njengomfanekiso wenkolo, azinalo ithonya langempela noma amandla ngaphandle kwalawo eziwanikezwa yilabo abawakha nabawukhulekelayo. Ngezinye izikhathi, lesi silo esingokomfanekiso sibonakala sibuthaka; kodwa asikaze sibhekane nohlobo lokushiywa ngokuphelele amalungu athambekele ekubeni omashiqela okwajikijela iNhlangano Yezizwe kwalasha. (IsAmbulo 17:8) Nakuba enemibono ehluke kakhulu kwezinye izici, ngo-1987 umholi ovelele wezwe elaliyiSoviet Union wahlanganyela nopapa baseRoma ekuboniseni ukusekela i-UN. Wacela ngisho nokuba kwenziwe “isimiso esibanzi sokulondeka kwezizwe zonke” esisekelwe kuyi-UN. Njengoba uJohane ezwa masinyane, sizofika isikhathi lapho i-UN izosebenzisa igunya ngokuphawulekayo. Khona-ke, ngesikhathi sayo, ‘iye ekubhujisweni.’
Amakhosi Ayishumi Ngehora Elilodwa
11. Yini ingelosi kaJehova eyishoyo ngezimpondo eziyishumi ezisesilweni sasendle esibomvu esingokomfanekiso?
11 Esahlukweni esandulelayo sesAmbulo, ingelosi yesithupha neyesikhombisa zithulule izitsha zolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Kanjalo saziswa ukuthi amakhosi omhlaba abuthelwa empini kaNkulunkulu e-Armagedoni nokuthi ‘iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lizokhunjulwa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.’ (IsAmbulo 16:1, 14, 19) Manje sizoyizwa ngokuningiliziwe indlela izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu ezizokhishwa ngayo kuwo. Lalela futhi ingelosi kaJehova njengoba ikhuluma noJohane. “Izimpondo eziyishumi owazibona zisho amakhosi ayishumi, angakawamukeli umbuso, kodwa ayalamukela igunya njengamakhosi ihora linye kanye nesilo sasendle. Lawa anomqondo owodwa, ngakho anika isilo sasendle amandla awo negunya lawo. Lawa ayokulwa neWundlu, kodwa, ngenxa yokuthi liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi, iWundlu liyowanqoba. Labo ababiziweyo nabakhethiweyo nabathembekileyo abakanye nalo, nabo bayowanqoba.”—IsAmbulo 17:12-14.
12. (a) Zifanekiselani izimpondo eziyishumi? (b) Kukanjani ukuthi izimpondo eziyishumi ezingokomfanekiso ‘zazingakawamukeli umbuso’? (c) Izimpondo eziyishumi ezingokomfanekiso zinawo kanjani “umbuso” manje, futhi zinawo isikhathi esingakanani?
12 Izimpondo eziyishumi zimelela yonke imibuso yezombangazwe manje ebusayo emhlabeni nesekela umfanekiso wesilo. Ambalwa amazwe akhona manje ayaziwa ngosuku lukaJohane. Nalawo ayaziwa, njengeGibhithe, nePheresiya (i-Iran), namuhla anesimiso sezombangazwe esihluke ngokuphelele. Ngakho, ekhulwini lokuqala, ‘izimpondo eziyishumi zazingakawamukeli umbuso.’ Kodwa manje osukwini lweNkosi, ‘zinombuso’ noma igunya lezombangazwe. Ngokuwa kwemibuso emikhulu ebusa kwamanye amazwe, ikakhulukazi kusukela ngempi yezwe yesibili, kuye kwazalwa izizwe eziningi ezintsha. Lezi, kanye nemibuso esinesikhathi eside imisiwe, kumelwe zibuse kanye nesilo sasendle isikhashana—“ihora linye” kuphela—ngaphambi kokuba uJehova aphelise yonke imibuso yezwe yezombangazwe e-Armagedoni.
13. Izimpondo eziyishumi ‘zinomqondo owodwa’ ngayiphi indlela, futhi lokhu kuqinisekisa siphi isimo sengqondo ngeWundlu?
13 Namuhla, ubuzwe bungamandla amakhulu kakhulu ashukumisa lezi zimpondo eziyishumi. ‘Zinomqondo owodwa’ ngokuthi zifuna ukulondoloza ubukhosi bazo bobuzwe kunokuba zamukele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lena kwakuyinjongo yazo lapho zisekela iNhlangano Yezizwe nenhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangene kwasekuqaleni—ukulondoloza ukuthula kwezwe futhi ngaleyo ndlela zilondoloze ukuba khona kwazo. Isimo sengqondo esinjalo siqinisekisa ukuthi izimpondo ziyophikisana neWundlu, “iNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi,” ngoba uJehova uhlose ukuba ngokushesha uMbuso wakhe ngaphansi kukaJesu Kristu uthathe isikhundla sayo yonke le mibuso.—Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Mathewu 24:30; 25:31-33, 46.
14. Kungenzeka kanjani ngababusi bezwe ukuba balwe neWundlu, futhi uyoba yini umphumela?
14 Yebo, akukho lutho ababusi baleli zwe abangalwenza kuJesu ngokwakhe. Usezulwini, kude kakhulu nabo. Kodwa abafowabo bakaJesu, abasasele benzalo yowesifazane, basesemhlabeni futhi ngokusobala bangathinteka. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Kakade eziningi zezimpondo ziye zabonisa ubutha obukhulu kubo, futhi ngale ndlela ziye zalwa neWundlu. (Mathewu 25:40, 45) Nokho, ngokushesha sizofika isikhathi sokuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ‘uchoboze uqede yonke le mibuso.’ (Daniyeli 2:44) Khona-ke, amakhosi omhlaba ayolwa neWundlu kuze kube sekugcineni, njengoba sizobona masinyane. (IsAmbulo 19:11-21) Kodwa lapha sifunda okwanele ukuba sibone ukuthi izizwe ngeke ziphumelele. Nakuba zona kanye nesilo esibomvu sasendle esiyi-UN ‘zinomqondo’ wazo “owodwa,” azinakuyinqoba “iNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi,” futhi azinakubanqoba ‘labo ababiziweyo nabakhethiweyo nabathembekileyo abakanye naye,’ abahlanganisa nabalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe abasesemhlabeni. Nalaba futhi bayobe benqobile ngokugcina ubuqotho ekuphenduleni ukusola kukaSathane kokwedelela.—Roma 8:37-39; IsAmbulo 12:10, 11.
Ukubhubhisa Isifebe
15. Ingelosi ithini ngesifebe nangesimo sengqondo nesinyathelo sezimpondo eziyishumi nesilo sasendle kuso?
15 Abantu bakaNkulunkulu akubona kuphela abayizisulu zobutha bezimpondo eziyishumi. Manje ingelosi idonsela ukunakekela kukaJohane esifebeni: “Ithi kimi: ‘Amanzi owawabona, lapho isifebe sihlezi khona, asho abantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi. Izimpondo eziyishumi owazibona, nesilo sasendle, lezi ziyosizonda isifebe zisenze incithakalo zisihambise nqunu, ziyoyidla ziyiqede inyama yaso futhi zisishise ngomlilo siphele.’”—IsAmbulo 17:15, 16.
16. Kungani iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lingeke likwazi ukuthembela emanzini alo ukuze lithole ukusekelwa okuvikelayo lapho ohulumeni bezombangazwe beliphendukela?
16 Njengoba nje iBhabhiloni lasendulo lalithembele esivikelweni salo esingamanzi, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu namuhla lithembele enanini elikhulu lamalungu ‘angabantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi.’ Ngokufanelekile ingelosi idonsela ukunakekela kwethu kulokhu ngaphambi kokukhuluma ngezenzakalo ezishaqisayo: Ohulumeni bezombangazwe balo mhlaba bayophendukela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu ngobudlova. Bayokwenzenjani bonke labo “bantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi” ngaleso sikhathi? Kakade abantu bakaNkulunkulu baxwayisa iBhabhiloni Elikhulu ngokuthi amanzi omfula i-Ewufrathe ayokusha. (IsAmbulo 16:12) Ekugcineni lawo manzi ayophela nyá. Ngeke akwazi ukunikeza isifebe esidala esinyanyekayo ukusekelwa kwangempela ngehora laso lokuhlupheka okukhulu.—Isaya 44:27; Jeremiya 50:38; 51:36, 37.
17. (a) Kungani umcebo weBhabhiloni Elikhulu ungeke ulisindise? (b) Kungani isiphelo seBhabhiloni Elikhulu singeke neze sibe esihloniphekile? (c) Ngaphandle kwezimpondo eziyishumi, noma izizwe ngazinye, yini enye ehlanganyela ebudloveni obenziwa ngokumelene neBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
17 Ngokuqinisekile, ingcebo eningi yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu yezinto ezibonakalayo ngeke ilisindise. Ingase isheshise ngisho nokubhujiswa kwalo, ngoba umbono ubonisa ukuthi lapho isilo sasendle nezimpondo eziyishumi kubonisa inzondo yakho kulo, kuyolihlubula izingubo zobukhosi nawo wonke amatshe ayigugu. Kuyophanga ingcebo yalo. ‘Kulihambisa nqunu,’ kusidalula ngokuhlazisayo isimo salo sangempela. Yeka incithakalo! Futhi ukuphela kwalo akunasithunzi nakancane. Kuyalibhubhisa, ‘kudle inyama yalo kuyiqede,’ kulenze libe ngamathambo angenakho ukuphila. Ekugcineni, ‘kulishisa ngomlilo liphele.’ Lishiswa njengesidumbu esinegciwane, alingcwatshwa ngisho nangendlela ehloniphekile! Akuzona izizwe kuphela, njengoba zimelelwe izimpondo eziyishumi, ezibhubhisa isifebe esikhulu, kodwa ‘isilo sasendle,’ okungukuthi i-UN ngokwayo, sihlanganyela nazo kulobu budlova. Siyogunyaza ukubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga. Eziningi zezizwe ze-UN ezingu-190 nangaphezulu seziye zabonisa kakade, ngendlela yazo yokuvota, ubutha enkolweni, ikakhulukazi enkolweni yeLobukholwa.
18. (a) Yikuphi ukuba nokwenzeka kokuba izizwe ziphendukele inkolo yobuBhabhiloni osekubonakele kakade? (b) Siyoba yini isizathu esiyisisekelo sokuhlaselwa okuphelele kwesifebe esikhulu?
18 Kungani izizwe ziyoliphatha kabi kangaka ishende lazo lakuqala? Siye sabona emlandweni wamuva ukuba nokwenzeka kokunjalo ukuphendukela inkolo yobuBhabhiloni. Ukuphikisa kukahulumeni okungokomthetho kuye kwalinciphisa kakhulu ithonya lenkolo emazweni anjengelaliyiSoviet Union neChina. Ezingxenyeni zeYurophu zobuProthestani, ukunganaki nokungabaza okwandile kuye kwashiya amasonto engenamuntu, kangangokuthi eqinisweni inkolo isifile. Umbuso omkhulu wobuKatolika uhlukaniswe ukuhlubuka nokungavumelani, abaholi bawo abaye bahluleka ukukudambisa. Nokho, akufanele sikhohlwe iqiniso lokuthi lokhu kuhlaselwa kokugcina, okungukhukhulela-ngoqo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu kuza njengokubonakaliswa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esingenakuguquka esifebeni esikhulu.
Ukufeza Umqondo KaNkulunkulu
19. (a) Ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova ngokumelene nesifebe esikhulu kungafanekiswa kanjani ngesahlulelo sakhe eJerusalema elihlubukayo ngo-607 B.C.E.? (b) Isimo seJerusalema esiyincithakalo, nesokungahlalwa muntu ngemva kuka-607 B.C.E. safanekiselani ngosuku lwethu?
19 UJehova usikhipha kanjani lesi sahlulelo? Lokhu kungafanekiselwa ngesinyathelo uJehova asithatha ngokumelene nabantu bakhe abahlubukayo ezikhathini zasendulo, athi ngokuqondene nabo: “Kubaprofethi baseJerusalema ngiboné izinto ezinyantisayo, ukuphinga nokuhamba ngamanga; baqinisé izandla zabenzi bokubi ukuze bangabuyi, yilowo nalowo ebubini bakhe. Kimi bonke banjengeSodoma, futhi abakhileyo kulo banjengeGomora.” (Jeremiya 23:14) Ngo-607 B.C.E., uJehova wasebenzisa uNebukhadinezari ukuba ‘ahlubule izingubo, athathe izinto ezinhle, awushiye uhamba-ze futhi unqunu’ lowo muzi ophingayo ngokomoya. (Hezekeli 23:4, 26, 29) IJerusalema langaleso sikhathi laliwumfuziselo weLobukholwa namuhla, futhi njengoba uJohane ebonile emibonweni yangaphambili, uJehova uzoletha isijeziso esifanayo kweLobukholwa nakuyo yonke inkolo yamanga. Isimo seJerusalema esiyincithakalo, sokungahlalwa muntu ngemva kuka-607 B.C.E. sibonisa lokho eLobukholwa elingokwenkolo eliyoba yikho ngemva kokuba lihlutshulwe ingcebo yalo futhi ladalulwa ngokuhlazisayo. Futhi kuyoba okufanayo engxenyeni esele yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu.
20. (a) UJohane ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uyophinda futhi asebenzise ababusi abangabantu ekukhipheni isahlulelo? (b) Uyini “umqondo” kaNkulunkulu? (c) Izizwe ziyowenza ngayiphi indlela ‘umqondo wazo owodwa,’ kodwa umqondo kabani ngempela oyokwenziwa?
20 UJehova uyaphinda futhi usebenzisa ababusi abangabantu ekukhipheni isahlulelo. “Ngoba uNkulunkulu ukufake ezinhliziyweni zazo ukuba zifeze umqondo wakhe, nokuba zifeze ngisho nomqondo wazo owodwa ngokunika isilo sasendle umbuso wazo, kuze kube yilapho esefezekile amazwi kaNkulunkulu.” (IsAmbulo 17:17) Uyini “umqondo” kaNkulunkulu? Uwukuba alungiselele ababhubhisi beBhabhiloni Elikhulu ukuba bahlangane ndawonye, ukuze balibhubhise ngokuphelele. Yebo, isisusa sababusi ekulihlaseleni siyoba ukwenza owabo ‘umqondo owodwa.’ Bayoba nomuzwa wokuthi kungokwezithakazelo zabo zobuzwe ukuphendukela isifebe esikhulu. Bangase babheke ukuba khona kwenkolo ehleliwe phakathi kwemingcele yabo njengokuwusongo ebukhosini babo. Kodwa eqinisweni uJehova uyobe elawula izinto; bayofeza umqondo wakhe ngokubhubhisa isitha sakhe esidala, esiphingayo ngegalelo elilodwa!—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 7:8-11, 34.
21. Njengoba isilo sasendle esibomvu siyosetshenziswa ekubhubhiseni iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, yini ngokusobala izizwe eziyoyenza ngokuqondene neZizwe Ezihlangene?
21 Yebo, izizwe ziyosebenzisa isilo sasendle esibomvu, iZizwe Ezihlangene, ekubhubhiseni iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Azenzi ngokusuka kuzo, ngoba uJehova ukufaka ezinhliziyweni zazo ukuba “zifeze ngisho nomqondo wazo owodwa ngokunika isilo sasendle umbuso wazo.” Lapho isikhathi sifika, ngokusobala izizwe ziyobona isidingo sokuqinisa iZizwe Ezihlangene. Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ziyozinika amazinyo, zizinike noma iliphi igunya namandla ezinawo ukuze ziphendukele inkolo yamanga futhi zilwe nayo ngokuphumelelayo “kuze kube yilapho esefezekile amazwi kaNkulunkulu.” Kanjalo, isifebe sasendulo siyofinyelela ekupheleni kwaso. Futhi ngeke kusale namkhonjwana waso!
22. (a) KusAmbulo 17:18, yini eboniswa indlela ingelosi ephetha ngayo ubufakazi bayo? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova basabela kanjani ekwambulweni kwemfihlakalo?
22 Njengokungathi iqonde ukugcizelela ukuqiniseka kokukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova embusweni wezwe wenkolo yamanga, ingelosi iphetha ubufakazi bayo ngokuthi: “Owesifazane owambona usho umuzi omkhulu onombuso phezu kwamakhosi omhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 17:18) NjengeBhabhiloni lesikhathi sikaBhelishazari, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu ‘liye lakalwa esikalini latholakala lisilela.’ (Daniyeli 5:27, The New English Bible) Ukubhujiswa kwalo kuyoba okusheshayo nokokugcina. OFakazi BakaJehova basabela kanjani ekwambulweni kwemfihlakalo yesifebe esikhulu neyesilo sasendle esibomvu? Babonisa intshiseko ekumemezeleni usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela, bebe bebaphendula ‘ngomusa’ abafuni beqiniso abaqotho. (Kolose 4:5, 6; IsAmbulo 17:3, 7) Njengoba isahluko sethu esilandelayo sizobonisa, bonke abafisa ukusinda lapho isifebe esikhulu sibhujiswa kumelwe bathathe isinyathelo, futhi bathathe isinyathelo ngokushesha!
[Izithombe ekhasini 252]
Ukulandelana Kwemibuso Yezwe Eyisikhombisa
IGIBHITHE
I-ASIRIYA
IBHABHILONI
AMAMEDE NAMA-PHERESIYA
IGRISI
IROMA
AMANGISI NAMAMELIKA
[Izithombe ekhasini 254]
“Naso ngokwaso siyinkosi yesishiyagalombili”
[Izithombe ekhasini 255]
Njengoba zifulathela iWundlu, ‘zinika isilo sasendle amandla azo negunya lazo’
[Isithombe ekhasini 257]
ELobukholwa njengoba liyingxenye eyinhloko yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu liyofana neJerusalema lasendulo lapho lichitheke ngokuphelele