ISahluko 2
Isihloko Esikhulu SeBhayibheli
Ukuchaza ImiBhalo Izimfihlakalo ezivalelwe encwadini yesAmbulo sekuyisikhathi eside zidida abafundi abaqotho beBhayibheli. Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, lezo zimfihlakalo kwafuneka zivezwe, kodwa kanjani, nini, futhi kobani? Umoya kaNkulunkulu kuphela owawungenza ukuba incazelo yaziwe njengoba isikhathi esimisiwe sasisondela. (IsAmbulo 1:3) Lezo zimfihlakalo ezingcwele zaziyokwembulelwa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezishisekayo emhlabeni ukuze ziqiniselwe ukwenza izahlulelo zakhe zaziwe. (Mathewu 13:10, 11) Akushiwo ukuthi izincazelo ezikule ncwadi azinakuba yiphutha. NjengoJosefa wasendulo, sithi: “Izincazelo akuzona yini ezikaNkulunkulu?” (Genesise 40:8) Nokho, ngesikhathi esifanayo sikholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi izincazelo ezibekwe lapha zivumelana neBhayibheli lilonke, zibonisa ukuthi isiprofetho saphezulu siye sagcwaliseka ngokuphawuleka kanjani ezehlakalweni zomhlaba zesikhathi sethu esigcwele izinhlekelele.
1. Iyini injongo kaJehova evelele?
ISAGA seBhayibheli sithi: “Kungcono ukuphela kwendaba kamuva kunokuqala kwayo.” (UmShumayeli 7:8) Kusencwadini yesAmbulo lapho sifunda khona ngomvuthwandaba ovusa amadlingozi wenjongo evelele kaJehova yokungcwelisa igama lakhe phambi kwayo yonke indalo. Njengoba uNkulunkulu amemezela ngokuphindaphindiwe ngomunye wabaprofethi bakhe bakuqala: “Bazokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.”—Hezekeli 25:17; 38:23.
2. Yiluphi ulwazi olwanelisayo isAmbulo, kanye nezincwadi zokuqala zeBhayibheli, ezisisiza ukuba siluthole?
2 Njengoba nje isAmbulo sicacisa ukuphela okunqobayo kwezindaba, kanjalo ukuqala kwazo sikuchazelwe ezincwadini zokuqala zeBhayibheli. Ngokuhlola lo mlando, singakwazi ukuqonda izimpikiswano ezihilelekile sithole wonke umbono wezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kwanelisa kanjani! Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufanele kusishukumisele esenzweni, ukuze sihlanganyele ekusaseni elikhazimulayo elilindelwe isintu. (IHubo 145:16, 20) Kuleli zinga, kubonakala kufanelekile ukuxoxa ngesizinda nesihloko salo lonke iBhayibheli, ukuze sigcine engqondweni impikiswano enkulu manje ebhekene naso sonke isintu, kanye nenjongo kaNkulunkulu eshiwo ngokucacile yokuxazulula leyo mpikiswano.
3. Yisiphi isiprofetho encwadini kaGenesise esiqalisa isihloko salo lonke iBhayibheli, kuhlanganise nesAmbulo?
3 Incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibheli, uGenesise, ilandisa ‘ngesiqalo’ futhi ichaza imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu yokudala, kuhlanganise nokuphelelisa kwakhe indalo yasemhlabeni, engumuntu. UGenesise futhi usitshela ngesiprofetho sokuqala saphezulu, esashiwo uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ensimini yase-Edene eminyakeni engaba ngu-6 000 edlule. Inyoka yayisanda kusetshenziswa nje ukuba ikhohlise owesifazane wokuqala, u-Eva; naye futhi wayenxenxe umyeni wakhe, u-Adamu, ukuba ahlanganyele naye ekwephuleni umthetho kaJehova ngokudla ‘emthini wolwazi lokuhle nokubi.’ Ekwahluleleni abantu ababili abanesono, uNkulunkulu wathi enyokeni: “Ngizobeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyokulimaza ekhanda wena uyoyilimaza esithendeni.” (Genesise 1:1; 2:17; 3:1-6, 14, 15) Leso siprofetho siqalisa isihloko salo lonke iBhayibheli, kuhlanganise nesAmbulo.
4. (a) Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esho isiprofetho sokuqala, yini eyenzeka kubazali bethu bokuqala? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo ephakamayo ngokuqondene nalesi siprofetho sokuqala, futhi kungani sidinga ukwazi izimpendulo?
4 Ngokushesha ngemva kokusho lesi siprofetho, uNkulunkulu waxosha abazali bethu bokuqala e-Edene. Babengasenakubheka phambili ekuphileni okuphakade ePharadesi; kwakuyodingeka baphile ukuphila kwabo ngaphandle emhlabeni ongalungisiwe. Bengaphansi kwesigwebo sokufa, babeyozala abantwana abanesono. (Genesise 3:23–4:1; Roma 5:12) Nokho, sisho ukuthini isiprofetho sase-Edene? Obani abahilelekile? Sihlangana kanjani nesAmbulo? Sisiphathele siphi isigijimi namuhla? Ukuze sithole ukukhululeka komuntu siqu emiphumeleni yesehlakalo esibuhlungu esaholela ekubeni uJehova asho leso siprofetho, kubalulekile ukuba sizazi izimpendulo zale mibuzo.
Abavelele Edrameni
5. Lapho inyoka ikhohlisa u-Eva, yini eyenzeka ngokuqondene nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu negama lakhe, futhi le mpikiswano iyoxazululwa kanjani?
5 Isiprofetho sikaGenesise 3:15 sasibhekiswe enyokeni eyaqamba amanga ku-Eva, isikisela kuye ukuthi wayengeke afe ngokungalaleli kwakhe kodwa ukuthi wayeyokuba ozibusayo, unkulunkulukazi. Kanjalo inyoka yenza uJehova umqambimanga futhi yagudlisela ukuthi abantu babengathuthukisa isimo sabo ngokwenqaba ukubusa kwakhe okuphakeme. (Genesise 3:1-5) Ubukhosi bukaJehova babekelwa inselele futhi igama lakhe elihle langcoliswa. Incwadi yesAmbulo ichaza indlela umaHluleli olungileyo, uJehova, asebenzisa ngayo ukubusa koMbuso weNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, ukuba alwele ubukhosi bakhe futhi asuse sonke isihlamba egameni lakhe.—IsAmbulo 12:10; 14:7.
6. IsAmbulo simchaza kanjani lowo owakhuluma ku-Eva ngenyoka?
6 Ngokuqondene nalelo gama elithi “inyoka,” ingabe lisebenza kuphela enyokeni engokoqobo? Lutho neze! IsAmbulo sisibonisa isidalwa somoya esibi esakhuluma ngaleyo nyoka. ‘Kwakuwudrako omkhulu, inyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane, odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe,’ ‘owayenga u-Eva ngobuqili bakhe.’—IsAmbulo 12:9; 2 Korinte 11:3.
7. Yini ebonisa ukuthi owesifazane kaGenesise 3:15 ungowasendaweni yomoya?
7 Ngokulandelayo uGenesise 3:15 ukhuluma ‘ngowesifazane.’ Ingabe lona kwakungu-Eva? Kunokwenzeka wacabanga kanjalo. (Qhathanisa noGenesise 4:1.) Kodwa ubutha obuhlala njalo phakathi kuka-Eva noSathane baba obungenakwenzeka lapho u-Eva efa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-5 000 edlule. Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba iNyoka uJehova ayekhuluma nayo yayiwumoya ongabonakali, kufanele silindele ukuthi owesifazane naye ungowasendaweni yomoya. IsAmbulo 12:1, 2 siyakuqinisekisa lokhu, sibonisa ukuthi lona wesifazane ongokomfanekiso uyinhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya.—Bheka futhi u-Isaya 54:1, 5, 13.
Izinzalo Ezimbili Ezimelene
8. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo esijulile kulokho manje okushiwo ngezinzalo ezimbili?
8 Ngokulandelayo kuGenesise 3:15 kuvela izinzalo ezimbili. Kufanele sibe nesithakazelo esijulile kuzo, ngoba zihlobene nempikiswano enkulu yobukhosi obufanele phezu kwalo mhlaba. Lokhu kuhilela ngamunye wethu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibasha noma sibadala. Iyiphi kulezi zinzalo oyithandayo?
9. Inzalo yeNyoka ihlanganisani ngokuqinisekile?
9 Okokuqala, kukhona inzalo yeNyoka. Iyini le nzalo? Ngokuqinisekile ihlanganisa lezo zidalwa zomoya ezahlanganyela noSathane ekuhlubukeni kwakhe futhi ekugcineni ‘ezaphonswa phansi kanye naye’ endaweni yasemhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 12:9) Njengoba uSathane, noma uBhelizebhubhe, ‘engumbusi wamademoni,’ kusobala ukuthi zakha inhlangano yakhe engabonakali.—Marku 3:22; Efesu 6:12.
10. IBhayibheli libachaza kanjani abanye njengengxenye yenzalo kaSathane?
10 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu watshela abaholi benkolo bamaJuda bosuku lwakhe: “Nina nivela kuyihlo uDeveli, futhi nifisa ukwenza izifiso zikayihlo.” (Johane 8:44) Ngokuphikisa kwabo iNdodana kaNkulunkulu uJesu, labo baholi benkolo babonisa ukuthi nabo futhi babeyinzalo kaSathane. Babeyingxenye yenzalo kaSathane, bemkhonza njengoyise ongokomfanekiso. Abanye abantu abaningi emlandweni wesintu nabo baye bazibonakalisa beyingxenye yayo ngokwenza intando kaSathane, ikakhulukazi ngokuphikisa nangokushushisa abafundi bakaJesu. Sebebonke, laba bantu bangachazwa njengabakha inhlangano kaSathane ebonakalayo emhlabeni.—Bheka uJohane 15:20; 16:33; 17:15.
Inzalo Yowesifazane Iyachazwa
11. Esikhathini esingamakhulu eminyaka, yini uNkulunkulu ayembula ngokuqondene nenzalo yowesifazane?
11 Ekugcineni isiprofetho esikuGenesise 3:15 sibhekisela enzalweni yowesifazane. Ngesikhathi uSathane ekhulisa inzalo yakhe, uJehova wayelungiselela “owesifazane” wakhe, noma inhlangano yasezulwini enjengomfazi, ukuba iveze inzalo. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-4 000, uJehova wambula ngokuqhubekayo kubantu abathobekile abesaba uNkulunkulu imininingwane ephathelene nokuza kwenzalo. (Isaya 46:9, 10) Kanjalo u-Abrahama, no-Isaka, noJakobe, nabanye babengakha ukholo esithembisweni sokuthi inzalo yayiyovela ngohlu lwenzalo yabo. (Genesise 22:15-18; 26:4; 28:14) USathane nezikhonzi zakhe babezishushisa njalo lezo zinceku zikaJehova ngenxa yokholo lwazo olunganyakazi.—Hebheru 11:1, 2, 32-38.
12. (a) Yafika nini futhi ngasiphi isenzakalo ingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo yowesifazane? (b) UJesu wagcotshelwa yiphi injongo?
12 Ekugcineni, ngonyaka ka-29 weNkathi Evamile, umuntu ophelele uJesu waziletha eMfuleni iJordani futhi wabhapathizwa. Lapho, uJehova wazala uJesu ngomoya ongcwele, ethi: “Lo yiNdodana yami ethandekayo, engiyamukele.” (Mathewu 3:17) Lapho, uJesu wabonakaliswa njengothunywe evela enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu engokomoya ezulwini. Futhi wagcotshwa njengeNkosi Emisiwe yoMbuso wasezulwini eyayizobuyisela ukubusa phezu komhlaba egameni likaJehova, ngaleyo ndlela axazulule ngokuphelele impikiswano ehilela uhulumeni, noma ubukhosi. (IsAmbulo 11:15) Khona-ke, uJesu ungoyiNhloko enzalweni yowesifazane, uMesiya owabikezelwa.—Qhathanisa nabaseGalathiya 3:16; Daniyeli 9:25.
13, 14. (a) Kungani kungafanele kusimangaze ukuzwa ukuthi inzalo yowesifazane yayingeke nje ibe umuntu oyedwa ovelele? (b) Bangaki uNkulunkulu abakhethe phakathi kwabantu ukuba babe yingxenye engaphansi yenzalo, futhi luhlobo luni lwenhlangano abalwakhayo? (c) Obani abanye abasebenza ngobunye nenzalo?
13 Ingabe inzalo yowesifazane yayiyomane ibe umuntu oyedwa ovelele? Kuthiwani ngenzalo kaSathane? IBhayibheli lichaza inzalo kaSathane njengehlanganisa isixuku sezingelosi ezikhohlakele nabantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. Khona-ke, akufanele kusimangaze ukuzwa ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokukhetha phakathi kwabantu abagcini bobuqotho abangu-144 000 ukuba babe ababusi abangabapristi kanye neNzalo enguMesiya, uJesu Kristu. IsAmbulo sibhekisela kulaba uma sithi uDeveli, ngenxa yenzondo yakhe ngenhlangano kaNkulunkulu enjengowesifazane, “wahamba wayokulwa nabaseleyo benzalo yakhe.”—IsAmbulo 12:17; 14:1-4.
14 EBhayibhelini, amaKristu agcotshiwe abizwa ngokuthi abafowabo bakaJesu, futhi njengabafowabo, banoBaba ofanayo nomama ofanayo. (Hebheru 2:11) UYise uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, unina kumelwe kube “owesifazane,” inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini enjengomfazi. Baba ingxenye yesibili yenzalo, uKristu Jesu eyingxenye eyinhloko. Ibandla lalama Kristu azelwe ngomoya emhlabeni lakha inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ebonakalayo ekhonza ngaphansi kwenhlangano yakhe enjengowesifazane emazulwini, lapho eyohlangana khona noKristu Jesu ekuvukeni kwawo. (Roma 8:14-17; Galathiya 3:16, 29) Nakuba zingeyona ingxenye yenzalo, izigidi zezinye izimvu ezivela kuzo zonke izizwe ziyahlanganiswa ukuze zikhonze nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Ingabe ungomunye walezi ezinye izimvu? Khona-ke ithemba lakho elijabulisayo liwukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi.—Johane 10:16; 17:1-3.
Indlela Ubutha Obavela Ngayo
15. (a) Chaza ukuvela kwenzalo kaSathane engabantu neyizingelosi. (b) Yini eyenzeka enzalweni kaSathane ngoZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa?
15 Inzalo kaSathane engabantu yaqala ukubonakala ekuqaleni kakhulu emlandweni wesintu. Ngokwesibonelo, kwakukhona uKhayini, umuntu wokuqala owazalwa, “owayevela komubi futhi wabulala umfowabo” u-Abela. (1 Johane 3:12) Kamuva, u-Enoke wakhuluma ngokuza kukaJehova “namashumi akhe ezinkulungwane ezingcwele, ezokhipha isahlulelo kubo bonke, futhi ezobalahla ngecala bonke abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu ngenxa yazo zonke izenzo zabo zokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu abazenza ngendlela yokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu, nangenxa yezinto ezishaqisayo izoni ezingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu ezazikhuluma ngaye.” (Jude 14, 15) Ngaphezu kwalokho, izingelosi ezihlubukayo zahlanganyela noSathane zaba yingxenye yenzalo yakhe. “Zashiya indawo yazo yokuhlala efanele” emazulwini ukuze ziziguqule zibe imizimba yenyama futhi zishade namadodakazi abantu. Zaveza inzalo exubile yeziqhwaga enamandla angaphezu kwawabantu. Lelo zwe lagcwala ubudlova nobubi, kangangokuthi uNkulunkulu walibhubhisa ngoZamcolo, uNowa othembekile nomkhaya wakhe baba ukuphela kwenyama engabantu eyasinda. Izingelosi ezingalaleli—manje ezingamademoni ngaphansi kokulawulwa uSathane—zaphoqeleka ukuba zishiye abafazi bazo abangabantu abalahliwe nabantwana bazo abayingxube. Zaziguqulela emizimbeni yomoya, zabuyela endaweni yomoya lapho manje zilindele okusondela ngokushesha ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kuSathane nenzalo yakhe.—Jude 6; Genesise 6:4-12; 7:21-23; 2 Petru 2:4, 5.
16. (a) Yisiphi isidlova esavela ngemva kukaZamcolo, futhi sabonisa kanjani ukuthi sasiyingxenye yenzalo kaSathane? (b) UNkulunkulu wabavimba kanjani ababezoba abakhi bombhoshongo waseBhabhiloni?
16 Ngokushesha ngemva kukaZamcolo omkhulu, isidlova esasibizwa ngokuthi uNimrode savela emhlabeni. IBhayibheli limchaza ‘njengephisi elinamandla ngokumelene noJehova’—ingxenye yenzalo yeNyoka ngempela. NjengoSathane, wabonisa umoya wokuhlubuka wakha umuzi waseBhabhele, noma iBhabhiloni, edelela injongo kaJehova yokuba isintu sande sigcwalise umhlaba. Injongo eyinhloko ngeBhabhiloni yayiwukuba libe umbhoshongo omkhulu “onesiqongo esisemazulwini.” UNkulunkulu wabavimba ababezoba abakhi balowo mbhoshongo. Wasanganisa ulimi lwabo futhi ‘wabahlakazela phezu kwawo wonke umhlaba’ kodwa walivumela iBhabhiloni ngokwalo ukuba lisale.—Genesise 9:1; 10:8-12; 11:1-9.
Imibuso Yezombangazwe Iyavela
17. Njengoba isintu sasanda, isiphi isici esonakele somphakathi wesintu esonakele esavelela, futhi ngenxa yalokho, imiphi imibuso emikhulu eyavela?
17 EBhabhiloni kwavela izici zomphakathi wabantu ezathuthuka ekuphikisaneni nobukhosi bukaJehova. Esinye salezi zici sasingesezombangazwe. Njengoba isintu sasanda, abanye abantu abangamagovu balandela isibonelo sikaNimrode ekuthatheni amandla. Umuntu waqala ukubusa umuntu kwaba ukulimala kwakhe. (UmShumayeli 8:9) Ngokwesibonelo, ngezinsuku zika-Abrahama, iSodoma, iGomora, nemizi eseduze yalawulwa amakhosi aseShineyari nawakwamanye amazwe akude. (Genesise 14:1-4) Ekugcineni, izinjula-buchopho zezempi nezokuhlela zakha imibuso emikhulu ukuze zizizuzele ingcebo nodumo. IBhayibheli likhuluma ngeminye yale mibuso, kuhlanganise neGibhithe, i-Asiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMede namaPheresiya, iGrisi, neRoma.
18. (a) Yisiphi isimo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abanaso ngababusi bezombangazwe? (b) Iziphathimandla zezombangazwe ngezinye izikhathi ziye zazikhonza kanjani izithakazelo zikaNkulunkulu? (c) Ababusi abaningi baye bazibonakalisa kanjani beyingxenye yenzalo yeNyoka?
18 UJehova wakubekezelela ukuba khona kwaleyo mibuso yezombangazwe, futhi abantu bakhe bayithobela ngokusesilinganisweni lapho behlala emazweni alawulwa yiyo. (Roma 13:1, 2) Ngezinye izikhathi, iziphathimandla zezombangazwe zazisebenzela ngisho nokuqhutshwa kwezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu noma njengesivikelo sabantu bakhe. (Ezra 1:1-4; 7:12-26; IzEnzo 25:11, 12; IsAmbulo 12:15, 16) Nokho, ababusi abaningi bezombangazwe baye bakuphikisa ngokunamandla ukukhulekela kweqiniso, bezibonakalisa beyingxenye yenzalo yeNyoka.—1 Johane 5:19.
19. Imibuso yomhlaba ifanekiswa kanjani encwadini yesAmbulo?
19 Ezikhathini eziningi, ukubusa komuntu kuye kwahluleka ngokudabukisayo ukulethela thina bantu injabulo noma ukuxazulula izinkinga zethu. UJehova uye wavumela isintu ukuba sizame zonke izinhlobo zohulumeni, kodwa akavumelani nokonakala noma indlela ohulumeni abaye babusa kabi ngayo abantu. (IzAga 22:22, 23) IsAmbulo sifanekisa imibuso yezwe ecindezelayo njengeyakha isilo sasendle esiqhoshayo nesisabekayo.—IsAmbulo 13:1, 2.
Abathengisi Bezentengiselwano Abanobugovu
20, 21. Yiliphi iqembu lesibili okumelwe lihlanganiswe ‘nezinduna zamabutho’ ‘namadoda anamandla’ njengelingelenzalo kaSathane ekhohlakele, futhi ngani?
20 Okuhlobene eduze nabaholi bezombangazwe okwavela kwaba abathengisi abangathembekile bezinto ezibonakalayo. Imibhalo eyavubukulwa emanxiweni aseBhabhiloni lasendulo ibonisa ukuthi izivumelwano zokuthengiselana ezazisizakala ngezimo ezingezinhle zabanye abantu zazande kakhulu emuva lapho. Abathengisi bomhlaba baye baqhubeka besebenzela inzuzo yobugovu kuze kube yilolu suku, lapho emazweni amaningi abambalwa beye baceba kakhulu kuyilapho abaningi babantu bephila ngobumpofu. Kule nkathi yezimboni, abathengisi nosozimboni baye benza inzuzo enkulu ngokwakhela imibuso yezombangazwe inqwaba yezikhali zempi zokubhubhisa ezinamandla ngokwedlulele, kuhlanganise nezikhali ezibulala uyaca ezikhathaza abantu kakhulu manje. Izikhulu ezinjalo zamabhizinisi ezihahayo nabanye abanjengazo kumelwe zihlanganiswe ‘nezinduna zamabutho’ ‘namadoda anamandla’ njengeziyinzalo kaSathane ekhohlakele. Bonke bayingxenye yenhlangano yasemhlabeni uNkulunkulu noKristu abayibheka njengefanelwe ukubhujiswa.—IsAmbulo 19:18.
21 Kwezombangazwe ezonakele nezentengiselwano ezihahayo kumelwe kunezelwe isici sesithathu somphakathi wesintu esifanelwe isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu. Siyini? Kungase kukumangaze okushiwo yisAmbulo ngale nhlangano eyaziwayo yembulunga yonke.
IBhabhiloni Elikhulu
22. Hlobo luni lwenkolo olwaba khona eBhabhiloni lasendulo?
22 Ukwakhiwa kweBhabhiloni lokuqala kwakungewona umsebenzi wezombangazwe kuphela. Njengoba lowo muzi wakhiwa ngokulwisana nobukhosi bukaJehova, inkolo yayihilelekile. Ngempela, iBhabhiloni lasendulo laba umthombo wokukhulekelwa kwezithombe. Abapristi balo bafundisa izimfundiso ezidelela uNkulunkulu, njengokusinda komphefumulo womuntu ngemva kokufa nokuthi indawo yabafileyo iyindawo yokuhlushwa kwaphakade ebuswa amademoni. Bakhuthaza ukukhulekelwa kwendalo nokonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi abaningi. Baqamba izinganekwane ukuze bachaze isiqalo somhlaba nomuntu phezu kwawo futhi benza izinkonzo ezihlazisayo neminikelo, okwakuthiwa iqinisekisa ukuthola abantwana nesivuno sokutshaliwe, nokunqoba empini.
23. (a) Ekusakazekeni besuka eBhabhiloni, yini abantu abahamba nayo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela? (b) IsAmbulo siwubiza ngaliphi igama umbuso wenkolo yamanga omboze umhlaba wonke? (c) Inkolo yamanga iye yalwa nani njalo?
23 Njengoba amaqembu ahlukahlukene ezilimi aseBhabhiloni esakazekela kuwo wonke umhlaba, ahamba nenkolo yaseBhabhiloni. Kanjalo, imikhuba nezinkolelo ezifana nalezo zaseBhabhiloni lasendulo zachuma phakathi kwezakhamuzi zokuqala zaseYurophu, e-Afrika, emazweni aseMelika, eMpumalanga Ekude naseziLwandle eziseNingizimu; futhi eziningi zalezi zinkolelo zisekhona kuze kube namuhla. Khona-ke, isAmbulo sibhekisela ngokufanelekile embusweni wenkolo yamanga omboza umhlaba wonke ngokuthi umuzi obizwa ngokuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo, izahluko 17, 18) Noma kuphi lapho iye yatshalwa khona, inkolo yamanga iye yakhiqiza ubupristi obucindezelayo, izinkolelo-ze, ukungazi, nokuziphatha okubi. Iye yaba yithuluzi elinamandla esandleni sikaSathane. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu njalo liye lalwa ngokunamandla nokukhulekelwa kweqiniso kweNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova.
24. (a) INyoka yakwazi kanjani ukulimaza ‘isithende’ seNzalo yowesifazane? (b) Kungani ukulinyazwa kwenzalo yowesifazane kuchazwa njengokulimala esithendeni kuphela?
24 Njengengxenye esoleka kakhulu yenzalo yeNyoka, ababhali nabaFarisi ebuJudeni bekhulu lokuqala bahola ekushushiseni futhi ekugcineni ekubulaleni ummeleli oyinhloko wenzalo yowesifazane. Kanjalo, iNyoka yakwazi ‘ukulimaza isithende sayo [“inzalo”].’ (Genesise 3:15; Johane 8:39-44; IzEnzo 3:12, 15) Kungani lokhu kuchazwa ngokuthi ukulimala esithendeni kuphela? Kungenxa yokuthi lokhu kulimala kwamthinta isikhashana nje kuphela lapha emhlabeni. Kwakungekhona okuhlala njalo ngoba uJehova wamvusa uJesu ngosuku lwesithathu futhi wamphakamisela ekuphileni komoya.—IzEnzo 2:32, 33; 1 Petru 3:18.
25. (a) UJesu okhazinyulisiwe useye wasithatha kanjani kakade isinyathelo ngokumelene noSathane nezingelosi zakhe? (b) Iyosuswa nini inzalo kaSathane yasemhlabeni? (c) Kuyosho ukuthini lapho iNzalo yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu ichoboza uSathane, inyoka, “ekhanda”?
25 Manje uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe ukhonza ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, ahlulela izitha zikaJehova. Usesithathile kakade isinyathelo ngokumelene noSathane nezingelosi zakhe, ebalahlela phansi futhi elinganisela imisebenzi yabo kulo mhlaba—okubangela ukwanda komaye osukwini lwethu. (IsAmbulo 12:9, 12) Kodwa kuyoba khona ukususwa okwabikezelwa kwenzalo kaSathane yasemhlabeni lapho uNkulunkulu ahlulela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu nazo zonke ezinye izingxenye zenhlangano kaSathane emhlabeni. Ekugcineni, iNzalo yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, iyochoboza uSathane, leyo nyoka endala enobuqili, “ekhanda,” futhi lokho kuyosho ukubhujiswa kwakhe okuphelele nokususwa kwakhe ngokuphelele ezindabeni zesintu.—Roma 16:20.
26. Kungani kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sihlole isiprofetho esisencwadini yesAmbulo?
26 Kuyokwenzeka kanjani konke lokhu? Yilokho esambulelwa khona encwadini yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo. Sambulelwa khona ngochungechunge lwemibono, eqokonyiswa ngezibonakaliso ezimangalisayo nangezimpawu ezicacile. Make sihlole lesi siprofetho esinamandla ngokulangazela. Siyajabula ngempela uma sizwa futhi sigcina amazwi esAmbulo! Ngokwenza kanjalo, sihlanganyela ekuletheni udumo egameni leNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova futhi sidle ifa lezibusiso zakhe zaphakade. Siza uqhubeke ufunde futhi usebenzise ngokuhlakanipha lokho okufundayo. Kungasho ukusinda kwakho kulesi sikhathi somvuthwandaba emlandweni wesintu.
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 13]
Imibhalo yasendulo yezivumelwano zokuthengiselana
Incwadi ethi Ancient Near Eastern Texts, eyahlelwa uJames B. Pritchard, inohlu lwemithetho ecishe ibe ngu-300 eyahlanganiswa uHammurabi ngezikhathi zaseBhabhiloni. Le mithetho ibonisa ukuthi kwakudingekile ukuba kuvinjelwe ukungathembeki okusobala ngokusobala okwakugcwele kwezentengiselwano ngalezo zinsuku. Nasi isibonelo esisodwa: “Uma isikhulu sithenge noma sinikezwe ukuba sigcine isiliva noma igolide noma isigqila noma isigqilakazi noma inkabi noma imvu noma imbongolo noma yini ngesandla sendodana yesikhulu noma isigqila sesikhulu bengekho ofakazi nezivumelwano, njengoba leso sikhulu siyisela, siyobulawa.”