ISahluko 30
“IBhabhiloni Elikhulu Liwile!”
1. Imemezelani ingelosi yesibili, futhi lingubani iBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
SEKUYIHORA lesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu! Khona-ke, lalela isigijimi saphezulu: “Nenye ingelosi, eyesibili, yalandela, yathi: ‘Liwile! IBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile, lona elenza ukuba zonke izizwe ziphuze iwayini lentukuthelo yobufebe balo!’” (IsAmbulo 14:8) Ngokokuqala, kodwa hhayi okokugcina, isAmbulo sigxilisa ukunakekela eBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Kamuva, isahluko 17 sizolichaza njengesifebe esitamasayo. Lingubani? Njengoba sizobona, lingumbuso womhlaba wonke, lingokwenkolo, futhi liyisimiso mbumbulu sikaSathane asisebenzisa ekulweni nenzalo yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 12:17) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu liyiwo wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Lihlanganisa zonke izinkolo ezilondoloza izimfundiso nemikhuba yenkolo yaseBhabhiloni lasendulo nalezo ezibonakalisa umoya walo.
2. (a) Inkolo yaseBhabhiloni yahlakazekela kanjani kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba? (b) Iyini ingxenye evelele kakhulu yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu, futhi yavela nini njengenhlangano enamandla?
2 KwakuseBhabhiloni, eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-4 000 edlule, lapho uJehova asanganisa khona izilimi zababezoba ngabakhi boMbhoshongo WaseBhabhele. Amaqembu ahlukahlukene ezilimi ahlakazekela kuwo wonke umhlaba, ehamba nezinkolelo zokuhlubuka nemikhuba eyisisekelo sezinkolo eziningi kuze kube namuhla. (Genesise 11:1-9) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu liyingxenye engokwenkolo yenhlangano kaSathane. (Qhathanisa noJohane 8:43-47.) Ingxenye yalo evelele kakhulu namuhla eLobukholwa eliyisihlubuki, elavela njengenhlangano enamandla, engenamthetho ekhulwini leminyaka lesine ngemva kukaKristu, linezivumo zokholo nemithetho engaveli eBhayibhelini kodwa evela ikakhulukazi enkolweni yaseBhabhiloni.—2 Thesalonika 2:3-12.
3. Kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile?
3 Ungase ubuze, ‘Njengoba inkolo isenethonya elikhulu emhlabeni, kungani ingelosi imemezela ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile?’ Waba yini umphumela ngemva kuka-539 B.C.E. lapho iBhabhiloni lasendulo liwa? Phela, u-Israyeli wakhululwa ukuba abuyele ezweni lakhe futhi abuyisele ukukhulekela kweqiniso khona! Ngakho ukubuyiselwa kuka-Israyeli ongokomoya ngo-1919 ekuchumeni okukhazimulayo okungokomoya, okuqhubekayo nokwandayo kuze kube namuhla, kuwubufakazi bokuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lawa ngalowo nyaka. Alisenawo amandla okuvimbela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, liye laba nezinkathazo ezinkulu phakathi kwalo ngokwalo. Kusukela ngo-1919 ukonakala, ukungathembeki, nokuziphatha kabi kwalo kuye kwadalulwa kabanzi. Engxenyeni enkulu yeYurophu, bambalwa abantu abasasonta, futhi kwamanye amazwe abusa ngesimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni, inkolo ibhekwa ‘njengomlaliso wabantu.’ Njengoba lihlazekile emehlweni abo bonke abathandi beZwi likaNkulunkulu leqiniso, kunjengokungathi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu manje lisohlwini lokufa, lilindele ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova sokulunga kulo.
Ukuwa KweBhabhiloni Okuyihlazo
4-6. Kukanjani ukuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu . . lenza ukuba zonke izizwe ziphuze iwayini lentukuthelo yobufebe balo”?
4 Ake sihlole ngokuningiliziwe izimo ezihlangene nokuwa okuyihlazo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Lapha ingelosi isitshela ukuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu . . . lenza ukuba zonke izizwe ziphuze iwayini lentukuthelo yobufebe balo.” Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Kuhlangene nokunqoba. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova watshela uJeremiya: “Thatha le ndebe yewayini lokufutheka esandleni sami, futhi kumelwe wenze zonke izizwe engikuthuma kuzo ziyiphuze. Kumelwe ziphuze, zidiyazele futhi zenze njengabantu abasangene ngenxa yenkemba engiyithumela phakathi kwazo.” (Jeremiya 25:15, 16) Ekhulwini leminyaka lesithupha nelesikhombisa B.C.E., uJehova wasebenzisa iBhabhiloni lasendulo ukuba athulule indebe engokomfanekiso yosizi ukuze aphuzise izizwe eziningi kuhlanganise noJuda ohlubukayo, kangangokuthi ngisho nabantu bakhe bathunjwa. Khona-ke, ngethuba lalo, iBhabhiloni lawa ngoba inkosi yalo yaziphakamisa phambi kukaJehova, ‘iNkosi yamazulu.’—Daniyeli 5:23.
5 IBhabhiloni Elikhulu nalo liye lanqoba, kodwa okuningi kwalokhu kunqoba kuye kwaba okobuqili. Liye “lenza ukuba zonke izizwe ziphuze” ngokusebenzisa ukuyenga kwesifebe, lifeba nazo ngokwenkolo. Liye layengela ababusi bezombangazwe ezivumelwaneni nasebunganeni nalo. Ngokuheha ngenkolo, liye laceba ukucindezela kwezombangazwe, okwezentengiselwano, nokwezomnotho. Liye laphehla ushushiso lwenkolo nezimpi ezingokwenkolo, kanye nezimpi zezizwe, ngezizathu zezombangazwe nezentengiselwano. Liye langcwelisa lezi zimpi ngokuba lithi ziyintando kaNkulunkulu.
6 Ukuhileleka kwenkolo ezimpini nakwezombangazwe zekhulu leminyaka lama-20 kuyinto eyaziwayo—njengaseJapane yobuShinto, eNdiya yobuHindu, eVietnam yobuBuddha, eNyakatho Ireland “yobuKristu” naseLatin America, nakwamanye amazwe—singakhohlwa ingxenye yabefundisi bamabutho ezinhlangothini zombili zezimpi zezwe ezimbili ekukhuthazeni izinsizwa ukuba zibulalane. Isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokufeba kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu yingxenye elaba nayo eMpini Yombango YaseSpain ngo-1936-39, lapho kwafa okungenani abantu abangu-600 000. Lokhu kuchithwa kwegazi kwabangelwa abasekeli babefundisi bamaKatolika kanye nabangane babo, ngokwengxenye ngenxa yokuthi umcebo nesikhundla sesonto kwakusongelwa uhulumeni waseSpain ongokomthetho.
7. Ubani oye waba isisulu esiyinhloko seBhabhiloni Elikhulu, futhi liye lasebenzisa maphi amacebo ngokumelene nalesi sisulu?
7 Njengoba iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liyingxenye engokwenkolo yenzalo kaSathane, ngaso sonke isikhathi liye lenza “owesifazane” kaJehova, “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” isisulu salo esiyinhloko. Ekhulwini lokuqala, ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe lalaziwa kahle njengenzalo yowesifazane. (Genesise 3:15; Galathiya 3:29; 4:26) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu lazama kanzima ukunqoba lelo bandla elimsulwa ngokulinxenxela ukuba lenze ubufebe obungokwenkolo. Abaphostoli uPawulu noPetru baxwayisa ngokuthi abaningi babeyohlehla futhi umphumela wawuyoba ukuhlubuka okukhulu. (IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Petru 2:1-3) Izigijimi zikaJesu eziya emabandleni ayisikhombisa zabonisa ukuthi lapho sekusondele ukufa kukaJohane, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lalithuthuka emizamweni yalo yokonakalisa. (IsAmbulo 2:6, 14, 15, 20-23) Kodwa uJesu wayesebonisile kakade ukuthi laliyovunyelwa ukuba lifinyelele kude kangakanani.
Ukolweni Nokhula
8, 9. (a) Wabonisani umfanekiso kaJesu kakolweni nokhula? (b) Yini eyenzeka “ngesikhathi abantu besalele”?
8 Emfanekisweni wakhe kakolweni nokhula, uJesu wakhuluma ngomuntu owatshala imbewu enhle ensimini. Kodwa “ngesikhathi abantu besalele,” isitha safika satshala ukhula. Kanjalo, ukolweni wasithwa ukhula. UJesu wawuchaza ngala mazwi umfanekiso wakhe: “Umhlwanyeli wembewu enhle yiNdodana yomuntu; insimu yizwe; kepha imbewu enhle, ngabantwana bombuso; ukhula ngabantwana bomubi, isitha esaluhlwanyela uDeveli.” Wabe esebonisa ukuthi ukolweni nokhula kwakuyovunyelwa ukuba kukhule ndawonye kuze kube ‘sesiphelweni sesimiso sezinto,’ lapho izingelosi ‘zaziyobutha’ ukhula olungokomfanekiso.—Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43.
9 Lokho uJesu nabaphostoli uPawulu noPetru abaxwayisa ngakho kwenzeka. “Ngesikhathi abantu besalele,” ngemva kokuba abaphostoli sebelele ekufeni noma lapho ababonisi abangamaKristu bozela ekuqapheni umhlambi kaNkulunkulu, ukuhlubuka kobuBhabhiloni kwavela phakathi kwalo ibandla. (IzEnzo 20:31) Ngokushesha ukhula lwaba luningi kakhulu kunokolweni futhi lwawusitha. Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, kungenzeka kwabonakala sengathi inzalo yowesifazane yayimbozwe ngokuphelele izingubo ezinkulukazi zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu.
10. Yini eyenzeka ngawo-1870, futhi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lasabela kanjani kulokhu?
10 Ngawo-1870 amaKristu agcotshiwe aqala ukwenza imizamo yokuzimisela yokuzehlukanisa nezindlela zobufebe zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Alahla izimfundiso zamanga eLobukholwa elalizithathe ebuqabeni futhi asebenzisa iBhayibheli ngesibindi ekushumayeleni ngokuthi iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaziyophela ngo-1914. Ithuluzi eliyinhloko leBhabhiloni Elikhulu, abefundisi beLobukholwa, lamelana nalezi ziphakamiso zokubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso. Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, basebenzisa ukwesaba kwangesikhathi sempi ukuze bazame ukuqeda lelo qembu elincane lamaKristu athembekile. Ngo-1918, lapho imisebenzi yawo icishe imiswa ngokuphelele, kwabonakala sengathi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu laliphumelele. Kwabonakala sengathi laliwanqobile.
11. Yini eyaba umphumela wokuwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo?
11 Njengoba siphawulile ngaphambili, umuzi waseBhabhiloni oqhoshayo wabhekana nokuwa okuyinhlekelele emandleni okubusa ngo-539 B.C.E. Khona-ke ukumemeza kwezwakala: “Liwile! IBhabhiloni liwile!” Ikomkhulu lombuso wezwe lase liwele emabuthweni amaMede namaPheresiya ngaphansi kukaKoresi Omkhulu. Nakuba umuzi ngokwawo wasinda kulokho kunqotshwa, ukuwa kwawo emandleni okubusa kwakungokoqobo, futhi umphumela waba ukukhululwa kwabathunjwa bawo abangamaJuda. Babuyela eJerusalema ukuyovuselela ukukhulekela okumsulwa lapho.—Isaya 21:9; 2 IziKronike 36:22, 23; Jeremiya 51:7, 8.
12. (a) Esikhathini sethu, kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile? (b) Yini efakazela ukuthi uJehova ulilahle ngokuphelele eLobukholwa?
12 Esikhathini sethu kuye kwezwakala futhi ukumemeza kokuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile! Ukuphumelela kwesikhashana kweLobukholwa leBhabhiloni ngo-1918 kwaguquka ngokushesha ngo-1919 lapho insali yabagcotshiwe, isigaba sikaJohane, ibuyiselwa ngovuko olungokomoya. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu laliwile ngokuqondene nokubamba abantu bakaNkulunkulu njengabathunjwa. Njengesikhonyane, abafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe baphuma kwalasha, belungele umsebenzi. (IsAmbulo 9:1-3; 11:11, 12) ‘Babeyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ yanamuhla, futhi iNkosi yababeka phezu kwayo yonke impahla yayo emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ukusetshenziswa kwabo ngale ndlela kwabonisa ukuthi uJehova wayelilahle ngokuphelele eLobukholwa naphezu kokuzisholo kwalo ukuba ummeleli wakhe emhlabeni. Ukukhulekela okumsulwa kwamiswa kabusha, futhi yavuleka indlela yokuba kufezwe umsebenzi wokubeka uphawu ensalini yabangu-144 000—abasele benzalo yowesifazane, isitha esidala seBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Konke lokhu kwabonisa ukunqotshwa okukhulu kwaleyo nhlangano kaSathane engokwenkolo.
Ukukhuthazela Kulabo Abangcwele
13. (a) Imemezelani ingelosi yesithathu? (b) UJehova ubahlulela kanjani labo abamukela uphawu lwesilo sasendle?
13 Manje ingelosi yesithathu iyakhuluma. Lalela! “Nenye ingelosi, yesithathu, yazilandela, ithi ngezwi elikhulu: ‘Uma umuntu ekhulekela isilo sasendle nomfanekiso waso, amukele uphawu ebunzini lakhe noma esandleni sakhe, uyophuza newayini lentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu elithululelwa endebeni yolaka lwakhe lingahlanjululiwe.’” (IsAmbulo 14:9, 10a) KusAmbulo 13:16, 17, kwembulwe ukuthi phakathi nosuku lweNkosi labo abangawukhulekeli umfanekiso wesilo sasendle babeyohlupheka—babulawe ngisho nokubulawa. Manje sifunda ukuthi uJehova uhlose ukwahlulela labo ‘abanophawu, igama lesilo sasendle noma isibalo segama laso.’ Bayophoqelelwa ukuba baphuze “endebeni” ebabayo “yolaka” lwentukuthelo kaJehova. Kuyosho ukuthini lokhu ngabo? Ngo-607 B.C.E., lapho uJehova ephoqelela iJerusalema ukuba liphuze “indebe yakhe yokufutheka,” lowo muzi wahlangabezana ‘nokuphanga nokwaphuka, indlala nenkemba’ okuvela kwabaseBhabhiloni. (Isaya 51:17, 19) Ngokufanayo, lapho abakhulekeli bemibuso yomhlaba yezombangazwe nomfanekiso wayo, iZizwe Ezihlangene, bephuza indebe yolaka lukaJehova, umphumela uyoba inhlekelele ngabo. (Jeremiya 25:17, 32, 33) Bayobhujiswa ngokuphelele.
14. Ngisho nangaphambi kokubhujiswa kwalabo abakhulekela isilo sasendle nomfanekiso waso, yini abanjalo okumelwe bayizwe, futhi uJohane ukuchaza kanjani lokhu?
14 Nokho, ngisho nangaphambi kokuba lokho kwenzeke, labo abanophawu lwesilo kumelwe bezwe imiphumela eyiminjunju yokulahlwa uJehova. Ikhuluma ngomkhulekeli wesilo sasendle nomfanekiso waso, ingelosi itshela uJohane: “Ahlushwe ngomlilo nesibabule emehlweni ezingelosi ezingcwele nasemehlweni eWundlu. Umusi wokuhlushwa kwabo unyuka kuze kube phakade naphakade, futhi abanakho ukuphumula imini nobusuku, labo abakhulekela isilo sasendle nomfanekiso waso, nanoma ubani owamukela uphawu lwegama laso.”—IsAmbulo 14:10b, 11.
15, 16. Asho ukuthini amazwi athi ‘umlilo nesibabule’ kusAmbulo 14:10?
15 Abanye baye babheka ukuthintwa komlilo nesibabule lapha njengobufakazi bokuba khona kwesihogo somlilo. Kodwa ukuhlola kafushane isiprofetho esifanayo kubonisa incazelo yangempela yala mazwi kulo mongo wendaba. Emuva ezinsukwini zika-Isaya, uJehova waxwayisa isizwe sakwa-Edomi ukuthi sasiyojeziswa ngenxa yobutha baso ku-Israyeli. Wathi: “Izifufula zalo ziyoguqulwa zibe yikolitayi, nothuli lwalo lube yisibabule; izwe lalo liyoba njengekolitayi elivuthayo. Ngeke licinywe ebusuku noma emini, umusi walo uyoqhubeka unyuka kuze kube nini nanini. Liyogangatheka izizukulwane ngezizukulwane; akukho muntu oyodabula kulo kuze kube phakade naphakade.”—Isaya 34:9, 10.
16 Ingabe i-Edomi laphonswa esihogweni esithile somlilo sasenganekwaneni ukuba lishe kuze kube phakade? Akunjalo. Kunalokho, leso sizwe sanyamalala ngokuphelele emhlabeni njengokungathi siqothulwe umlilo nesibabule. Umphumela wokugcina wesijeziso awubanga ukuhlushwa kwaphakade kodwa waba ‘ubuze, ugwadule neze.’ (Isaya 34:11, 12) Umusi ‘onyuka kuze kube nini nanini’ ukufanekisela ngokucacile lokhu. Uma indlu isha, umusi uyaqhubeka ushunqa emlotheni isikhathi esithile ngemva kokuba amalangabi ecishile, kunikeza ababukele ubufakazi bokuthi bekunomlilo obhubhisayo. Ngisho nanamuhla abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayasikhumbula isifundo okumelwe sifundwe ekubhujisweni kwe-Edomi. Ngale ndlela ‘umusi wokuvutha kwalo’ usenyuka ngendlela engokomfanekiso.
17, 18. (a) Uyini umphumela ngalabo abamukela uphawu lwesilo sasendle? (b) Bahlushwa ngayiphi indlela abakhulekeli besilo sasendle? (c) “Umusi wokuhlushwa kwabo unyuka” kanjani “kuze kube phakade naphakade”?
17 Nalabo abanophawu lwesilo bayobhujiswa ngokuphelele, njengokungathi ngomlilo. Njengoba isiprofetho sembula kamuva, izidumbu zabo ziyoshiywa zingangcwatshiwe ukuze izilwane nezinyoni zidle. (IsAmbulo 19:17, 18) Ngakho, ngokusobala, abahlushwa ngokoqobo kuze kube phakade! ‘Bahlushwa’ kanjani “ngomlilo nesibabule”? Ngokuthi ukumenyezelwa kweqiniso kuyabadalula futhi kubaxwayise ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esizayo. Ngakho banyundela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, futhi, lapho kunokwenzeka, bashoshozela ngobuqili isilo sezombangazwe ukuba sibashushise futhi sibabulale ngisho nokubabulala oFakazi BakaJehova. Njengomvuthwandaba, laba baphikisi bayobhujiswa njengokungathi ngomlilo nesibabule. Khona-ke “umusi wokuhlushwa kwabo unyuka kuze kube phakade naphakade” ngokuthi ukwahlulelwa kwabo nguNkulunkulu kuyosebenza njengobufakazi uma ubukhosi bukaJehova obufanelekile buphinda bubekelwa inselele. Leyo mpikiswano iyobe ixazululwe phakade.
18 Obani abakhipha isigijimi esihluphayo namuhla? Khumbula, isikhonyane esingokomfanekiso sinegunya lokuhlupha abantu abangenalo uphawu lukaNkulunkulu emabunzini abo. (IsAmbulo 9:5) Ngokusobala, yisona esingabahluphi ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwezingelosi. Ukuphikelela kwalesi sikhonyane esingokomfanekiso kukhulu kangangokuthi “abanakho ukuphumula imini nobusuku, labo abakhulekela isilo sasendle nomfanekiso waso, nanoma ubani owamukela uphawu lwegama laso.” Futhi ekugcineni, ngemva kokubhujiswa kwabo, ubufakazi obuyisikhumbuzo balokho kulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova, “umusi wokuhlushwa kwabo,” buyokwenyuka phakade naphakade. Kwangathi isigaba sikaJohane singakhuthazela kuze kuphele lokho kulwelwa! Njengoba ingelosi iphetha: “Lapha kulapho kusho khona ukukhuthazela kulabo abangcwele, abagcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu nokholo lukaJesu.”—IsAmbulo 14:12.
19. Kungani ukukhuthazela kudingekile ngabangcwele, futhi yini uJohane ayibikayo ebaqinisayo?
19 Yebo, “ukukhuthazela kulabo abangcwele” kusho ukukhonza kwabo uJehova ngokuzinikela okukhethekile ngoJesu Kristu. Isigijimi sabo asithandwa. Siholela ekuphikisweni, ekushushisweni, ngisho nasekubulawelweni ukholo. Kodwa baqiniswa yilokho uJohane akubikayo ngokulandelayo: “Ngezwa izwi livela ezulwini lithi: ‘Loba: Bayajabula abafileyo, abafa bemunye neNkosi kusukela kulesi sikhathi kuqhubeke. Yebo, kusho umoya, mabaphumule emishikashikeni yabo, ngoba izinto abazenza ziyabalandela.’”—IsAmbulo 14:13.
20. (a) Isithembiso esibikwa uJohane sivumelana kanjani nesiprofetho sikaPawulu sokuba khona kukaJesu? (b) Labo babagcotshiwe abafa ngemva kokuxoshwa kukaSathane ezulwini bathenjiswa liphi ilungelo elikhethekile?
20 Lesi sithembiso sivumelana kahle nesiprofetho sikaPawulu ngokuqondene nokuba khona kukaJesu: “Abafileyo bamunye noKristu bayovuka kuqala. Ngemva kwalokho thina esiphilayo esisekhona [labo babagcotshiwe abaphila kuze kube usuku lweNkosi] siyothathwa kanye nabo ngamafu ukuze sihlangabeze iNkosi emoyeni.” (1 Thesalonika 4:15-17) Ngemva kokuxoshwa kukaSathane ezulwini, labo ababefe bemunye noKristu bavuka kuqala. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 6:9-11.) Ngemva kwalokho, labo babagcotshiwe abafa phakathi nosuku lweNkosi bathenjiswa ilungelo elikhethekile. Ukuvuselwa kwabo ekuphileni komoya ezulwini kwenzeka ngaso leso sikhathi, “ngokuphazima kweso.” (1 Korinte 15:52) Yeka ukuthi kumangalisa kanjani lokhu! Futhi imisebenzi yabo yokulunga iqhubekela nasendaweni yasezulwini.
Isivuno Somhlaba
21. Yini uJohane asitshela yona ‘ngesivuno somhlaba’?
21 Nabanye futhi kumelwe bazuze kulolu suku lokwahlulela, njengoba uJohane eqhubeka esitshela: “Ngabona futhi, bheka! ifu elimhlophe, phezu kwalo kuhlezi othile onjengendodana yomuntu, enomqhele wegolide ekhanda nesikela elibukhali esandleni sakhe. Kwaqhamuka enye futhi ingelosi [yesine] iphuma endlini engcwele yethempeli, imemeza lowo ohlezi efwini ngezwi elikhulu, ithi: ‘Faka isikela lakho uvune, ngoba selifikile ihora lokuvuna, ngoba isivuno somhlaba sesivuthwe ngokuphelele.’ Ohlezi phezu kwefu walifaka isikela lakhe emhlabeni, umhlaba wavunwa.”—IsAmbulo 14:14-16.
22. (a) Ungubani lona othwele umqhele wegolide futhi ohleli phezu kwefu elimhlophe? (b) Wenzeka nini umvuthwandaba wokuvuna, futhi kanjani?
22 Akungatshazwa ukuthi ungubani lona ohlezi phezu kwefu elimhlophe. Ohlezi phezu kwefu elimhlophe, efana nendodana yomuntu enomqhele wegolide, ngokusobala unguJesu, iNkosi enguMesiya noDaniyeli ayibona embonweni. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14; Marku 14:61, 62) Kodwa kuyini ukuvuna okuprofethwe ngakho lapha? Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wafanisa umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi nokuvunwa kwensimu yomhlaba engabantu. (Mathewu 9:37, 38; Johane 4:35, 36) Umvuthwandaba walokhu kuvuna ufika ngosuku lweNkosi, lapho uJesu ebekwa njengeNkosi futhi ekhiphela uYise isahlulelo. Kanjalo, isikhathi sakhe sokubusa, kusukela ngo-1914, siyisikhathi esijabulisayo futhi sokungenisa isivuno.—Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 16:13-15.
23. (a) Livela kubani izwi eliyala ukuba ukuvuna kuqale? (b) Yikuphi ukuvuna okuye kwenzeka kusukela ngo-1919 kuze kube manje?
23 Nakuba eyiNkosi noMahluleli, uJesu ulindela izwi elivela kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe ngaphambi kokuba aqale ukuvuna. Lelo zwi livela “endlini engcwele yethempeli” ngengelosi. Ngokushesha, uJesu uyalalela. Okokuqala, kusukela ngo-1919 kuya phambili, izingelosi zakhe ziphothula ukuvunwa kwabangu-144 000. (Mathewu 13:39, 43; Johane 15:1, 5, 16) Ngokulandelayo, kubuthwa isivuno sesixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu. (Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 7:9) Umlando ubonisa ukuthi phakathi kuka-1931 no-1935 inani elihle lalezi ezinye izimvu laqala ukuvela. Ngo-1935 uJehova wenza ukuba isigaba sikaJohane siqonde ukuthi singobani ngempela isixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo 7:9-17. Kusukela lapho, kwagcizelelwa kakhulu ukubuthwa kwalesi sixuku. Ngonyaka ka-2005, inani laso lase ledlule iqophelo lezigidi eziyisithupha, futhi namanje lisanda. Ngokuqinisekile, ofana nendodana yomuntu uye wavuna isivuno esikhulu, esijabulisayo phakathi nalesi sikhathi sokuphela.—Qhathanisa no-Eksodusi 23:16; 34:22.
Ukunyathela Umvini Womhlaba
24. Yini esezandleni zengelosi yesihlanu, futhi ingelosi yesithupha imemeza ithini?
24 Njengoba isivuno sensindiso sesiphelile, sekuyisikhathi sesinye isivuno. UJohane uyabika: “Kwaqhamuka nenye futhi ingelosi [yesihlanu] iphuma endaweni engcwele yethempeli ezulwini, nayo iphethe isikela elibukhali. Kwaqhamuka nenye futhi ingelosi [yesithupha] iphuma e-altare, inegunya phezu komlilo. Yamemeza leyo eyayiphethe isikela elibukhali ngezwi elikhulu, yathi: ‘Faka isikela lakho elibukhali ubuthe amahlukuzo omvini womhlaba, ngoba izithelo zawo sezivuthiwe.’” (IsAmbulo 14:17, 18) Izingelosi ziphathiswe umsebenzi wokuvuna okukhulu phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, zihlukanisa abahle kwababi!
25. (a) Yini eboniswa iqiniso lokuthi ingelosi yesihlanu yaphuma endaweni engcwele yethempeli? (b) Kungani kufaneleka ukuthi umyalo wokuba ukuvuna kuqale uvela engelosini ‘eyayiphuma e-altare’?
25 Ingelosi yesihlanu ivela lapho kukhona khona uJehova endaweni engcwele yethempeli; kanjalo, nokuvuna kokugcina kwenzeka ngokwentando kaJehova. Ingelosi iyalwa ukuba iqale umsebenzi wayo ngesigijimi esidluliselwa ngenye ingelosi ‘eyaphuma e-altare.’ Leli qiniso libaluleke kakhulu, njengoba imiphefumulo ethembekile ngaphansi kwe-altare yayibuzile: “Kuyoze kube nini, Nkosi enguMbusi ongcwele noweqiniso, uyeka ukwahlulela nokuphindisela igazi lethu kulabo abahlala emhlabeni na?” (IsAmbulo 6:9, 10) Ngokuvunwa komvini womhlaba, lesi sikhalo sokuphindiselelwa siyophendulwa.
26. Uyini ‘umvini womhlaba’?
26 Kodwa uyini ‘umvini womhlaba’? EmiBhalweni yesiHebheru, kwakhulunywa ngesizwe samaJuda njengomvini kaJehova. (Isaya 5:7; Jeremiya 2:21) Ngokufanayo, uJesu Kristu nalabo abayokhonza kanye naye eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu kukhulunywa ngabo njengomvini. (Johane 15:1-8) Kulesi simo, isici esibalulekile somvini siwukuthi uthela izithelo, futhi umvini wobuKristu beqiniso uye wathela izithelo eziningi kwaba udumo kuJehova. (Mathewu 21:43) Ngakho, kumelwe ukuba ‘umvini womhlaba’ awusiwo lo mvini woqobo, kodwa okaSathane ofaniswe nawo, isimiso sakhe esibonakalayo esonakele sikahulumeni esibusa isintu, ‘namahlukuzo’ aso ahlukahlukene esithelo sobudemoni akhiqizwe phakathi namakhulu eminyaka adlule. IBhabhiloni Elikhulu, lapho ubuKristu obuyisihlubuki buvelele khona kakhulu, liye laba nethonya elikhulu kulo mvini onobuthi.—Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 32:32-35.
27. (a) Yini eyenzekayo lapho ingelosi ephethe isikela ibutha umvini womhlaba? (b) Yiziphi iziprofetho emiBhalweni yesiHebheru ezibonisa ubukhulu besivuno?
27 Isahlulelo kumelwe sikhishwe! “Le ngelosi yalifaka isikela layo emhlabeni yawubutha umvini womhlaba, yawuphonsa esikhamweni sewayini esikhulu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Isikhamo sewayini sanyathelwa ngaphandle komuzi, kwaphuma igazi esikhamweni sewayini lakhuphuka laze lafika ematomwini amahhashi, ibanga elingamastadiyu ayinkulungwane namakhulu ayisithupha.” (IsAmbulo 14:19, 20) Intukuthelo kaJehova kulo mvini kade yamenyezelwa. (Zefaniya 3:8) Isiprofetho esisencwadini ka-Isaya asishiyi kungabaza ngokuthi zonke izizwe ziyobhujiswa lapho isikhamo sewayini sinyathelwa. (Isaya 63:3-6) NoJoweli futhi waprofetha ngokuthi “izixuku” ezinkulu, izizwe zonke, zaziyonyathelwa zibhujiswe ‘esikhamweni sewayini,’ “ethafeni eliphansi lesinqumo.” (Joweli 3:12-14) Ngempela, isivuno esikhulu kakhulu esingayikuphinde sibe khona nanini esifana naso! Ngokombono kaJohane, akuvunwa nje kuphela izithelo zomvini kodwa wonke umvini ongokomfanekiso uyanqunywa futhi uphonswe esikhamweni sewayini ukuze unyathelwe. Ngakho umvini womhlaba uyosishulwa futhi awuyikuphinde ukwazi ukumila futhi.
28. Ubani onyathela umvini womhlaba, futhi kusho ukuthini ukuthi isikhamo sewayini ‘sinyathelwa ngaphandle komuzi’?
28 Ukunyathela kwasembonweni kwenziwa amahhashi, ngoba igazi elikhanywa emvinini lifinyelela “ematomwini amahhashi.” Njengoba igama elithi “amahhashi” ngokuvamile libhekisela ezimpini, lesi kumelwe kube isikhathi sempi. Amabutho asezulwini alandela uJesu kuyiwa ekulweni kokugcina nalesi simiso sezinto sikaSathane kuthiwa anyathela “isikhamo sewayini sentukuthelo yolaka lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.” (IsAmbulo 19:11-16) Lawa ngokusobala yiwo anyathela umvini womhlaba. Isikhamo sewayini ‘sinyathelwa ngaphandle komuzi,’ okungukuthi, ngaphandle kweZiyoni lasezulwini. Ngempela, kungokufanelekayo ukuba umvini womhlaba unyathelwe emhlabeni. Kodwa futhi ‘uyonyathelwa ngaphandle komuzi’ ngokuthi akukho ngozi eyokwehlela abasele benzalo yowesifazane, abamelela iZiyoni lasezulwini emhlabeni. Laba kanye nesixuku esikhulu bayokhoseliswa ngokuphephile ngaphakathi kwelungiselelo likaJehova lasemhlabeni eliyinhlangano.—Isaya 26:20, 21.
29. Lijule kangakanani igazi eliphuma esikhamweni sewayini, lithatha indawo enkulu kangakanani, futhi kubonisani konke lokhu?
29 Lo mbono ocacile unomfuziselo ekuphihlizweni kwemibuso yomhlaba yitshe loMbuso okuchazwe kuDaniyeli 2:34, 44. Kuyoba khona ukuchithwa. Umfula wegazi ovela esikhamweni sewayini ujule kakhulu, ufinyelela ematomwini amahhashi, futhi uthatha indawo engamastadiyu angu-1 600.a Lesi sibalo esikhulu, esitholakala ngokuphindaphinda u-4 ophindwe ngo-4 no-10 ophindwe ngo-10 (4 x 4 x 10 x 10), sinikeza ngokugcizelela umqondo wokuthi ubufakazi bokubhujiswa buyohlanganisa wonke umhlaba. (Isaya 66:15, 16) Ukubhujiswa kuyoba okuphelele futhi okungenakuguquka. Umvini kaSathane womhlaba ngeke uphinde nanini umile!—IHubo 83:17, 18.
30. Ziyini izithelo zomvini kaSathane, futhi kufanele kube yini ukuzimisela kwethu?
30 Njengoba siphila phakathi nesikhathi sokuphela, umbono walezi zivuno ezimbili ubaluleke kakhulu. Sidinga nje kuphela ukubheka endaweni esizungezile ukuze sibone izithelo zomvini kaSathane. Ukukhishwa kwezisu nezinye izinhlobo zokubulala; ubungqingili, ukuphinga, nezinye izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi; ukungathembeki nokuntuleka kothando lwemvelo—zonke izinto ezinjalo zenza leli zwe libe elinyanyekayo emehlweni kaJehova. Umvini kaSathane uthela “isithelo sesitshalo esinobuthi nomhlonyane.” Indlela yawo eyonakalisayo, yokukhonza izithombe, ihlazisa uMdali Omuhle wesintu. (Duteronomi 29:18; 32:5; Isaya 42:5, 8) Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukuhlanganyela ngenkuthalo nesigaba sikaJohane ekuvuneni izithelo ezinhle uJesu azilethayo kube udumo kuJehova! (Luka 10:2) Sengathi sonke singazimisela ukuthi asisoze sangcoliswa umvini waleli zwe, futhi sengathi ngaleyo ndlela singagwema ukunyathelwa kanye nomvini womhlaba lapho kukhishwa isahlulelo sikaJehova esibuhlungu.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Amastadiyu angu-1 600 athi awabe amakhilomitha angu-300, noma amamayela angu-180.—IsAmbulo 14:20, umbhalo waphansi we-New World Translation Reference Bible.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 208]
‘Iwayini Lobufebe Balo’
Ingxenye evelele yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu iSonto LamaRoma Katolika. Isonto libuswa upapa eRoma futhi lizisholo ukuthi upapa ngamunye ungumlandeli kamphostoli uPetru. Okulandelayo amanye amaqiniso asakazwa ngalaba okuthiwa abalandeli:
UFormosus (891-96): “Ezinyangeni eziyisishiyagalolunye ngemva kokufa kwakhe, isidumbu sikaFormosus savunjululwa ethuneni lopapa futhi samangalelwa phambi kwesigungu ‘sokuqulisa izidumbu,’ uStephen [upapa omusha] ayengumongameli waso. Upapa ongasekho wamangalelwa ngokuba nesifiso esidlulele sesikhundla sobupapa futhi yonke imisebenzi yakhe yabhekwa njengengasho lutho. . . . Isidumbu sakhunyulwa izembatho zobupapa; iminwe yesandla sokunene yanqunywa.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UStephen VI (896-97): “Phakathi nezinyanga ezimbalwa [zokuqulwa kwecala lesidumbu sikaFormosus] ukusabela kobudlova kwaqeda ubupapa bukaPapa Stephen; waphucwa izimpawu zobupapa, waboshwa, futhi waklinywa.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
USergius III (904-11): “Abanduleli bakhe ababili . . . baklinywa ejele. . . . ERoma wayesekelwa umndeni wakwaTheophylactus, okucatshangelwa ukuthi kwenye yamadodakazi akhona, uMarozia, wayenendodana (kamuva eyaba uPapa John XI).”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UStephen VII (928-31): “Eminyakeni yokugcina yokuba kwakhe upapa, uPapa John X . . . wayezibangele ulaka lukaMarozia, i-Donna Senatrix yaseRoma, futhi waboshwa wabulawa. UMarozia wabe esedlulisela isikhundla sobupapa kuPapa Leo VI, owafa ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-6 1/2 esesikhundleni. UStephen VII wamlandela, cishe ngenxa yethonya likaMarozia. . . . Phakathi neminyaka yakhe emibili enguPapa, wayengenamandla ngaphansi kokulawula kukaMarozia.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UJohn XI (931-35): “Ekufeni kukaStephen VII . . . , uMarozia, weNdlu YakwaTheophylactus, watholela indodana yakhe uJohn, owayesanda kweva eminyakeni engu-20, isikhundla sobupapa. . . . Njengopapa, uJohn wayelawulwa ngunina.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.
UJohn XII (955-64): “Wayengakayihlanganisi iminyaka eyishumi nesishiyagalombili ubudala, futhi imibiko yangaleso sikhathi iyavumelana ngokungabi nasithakazelo kwakhe ezintweni ezingokomoya, ukuba kwakhe umlutha wezinjabulo zokushinga, nokuphila ukuphila kokonakala ngokungazithibi.”—The Oxford Dictionary of Popes.
UBenedict IX (1032-44; 1045; 1047-48): “Wayedume kabi ngokuthengisela umnakekeli wakhe ongokwenkolo ubupapa futhi kamuva wabuye wasithatha lesi sikhundla kabili.”—The New Encyclopædia Britannica.
Kanjalo, kunokulandela isibonelo sikaPetru othembekile, laba nabanye opapa baba yithonya elibi. Bavumela icala legazi nobufebe obungokomoya nobungokwenyama, nethonya likaJezabeli, ukuba konakalise isonto ababelibusa. (Jakobe 4:4) Ngo-1917 incwadi yabaFundi BeBhayibheli ethi The Finished Mystery yaveza amaningi ala maqiniso njengoba enjalo. Lena kwakungenye indlela abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngalezo zinsuku ‘abashaya’ ngayo “umhlaba ngazo zonke izinhlobo zezinhlupho.”—IsAmbulo 11:6; 14:8; 17:1, 2, 5.
[Isithombe ekhasini 206]
UKristu obekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi ukhipha isahlulelo esekelwa izingelosi
[Isithombe ekhasini 207]
Ngemva kokuwa kweBhabhiloni ngo-539 B.C.E., iziboshwa zalo zakhululwa