Isahluko Seshumi

Ubani Ongamelana NeSikhulu Sezikhulu?

 1, 2. Kungani ubalulekile kithina umbono uDaniyeli awuthola ngonyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaBelishasari?

SEKUDLULE iminyaka engu-57 kwabhujiswa ithempeli likaJehova eJerusalema. UBelishasari noyise uNabonidasi babusa ngokubambisana eMbusweni WaseBabiloni, umbuso wezwe wesithathu wesiprofetho seBhayibheli.a Umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uDaniyeli uthunjiwe eBabiloni. Futhi phakathi ‘nonyaka wesithathu wokubusa kwenkosi uBelishasari,’ uJehova uthumelela uDaniyeli umbono owembula imininingwane ethile ngokubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso.—Daniyeli 8:1.

² Umbono ongokwesiprofetho owabonwa uDaniyeli wamthinta kakhulu futhi usithakazelisa kakhulu nathi esiphila ‘esikhathini sokuphela.’ Ingelosi uGabriyeli itshela uDaniyeli: “Bheka, ngiyakukwazisa okuyakwenzeka ngasekupheleni kwentukuthelo, ngokuba kungokwesikhathi sokuphela.” (Daniyeli 8:16, 17, 19, 27) Khona-ke, masikucabangele ngesithakazelo esibukhali lokho okwabonwa uDaniyeli nokuthi kusho ukuthini kithi namuhla.

INQAMA ENEZIMPONDO EZIMBILI

 3, 4. Silwane sini esabonwa uDaniyeli simi phambi komfula, futhi sifanekiselani?

³ “Ngabona embonweni,” kubhala uDaniyeli, “kwase kuthi ekuboneni kwami ngangiseShushani endlini yenkosi esifundeni sase-Elamu; ngabona-ke embonweni, ngangisemfuleni i-Ulayi.” (Daniyeli 8:2) Akushiwo-ke noma uDaniyeli wayeseShushani (eSusa) ngokoqobo yini—inhloko-dolobha yase-Elamu, engamakhilomitha angu-350 empumalanga yeBabiloni—noma umbono wamenza wacabanga ukuthi ulapho.

⁴ UDaniyeli uyaqhubeka: “Ngase ngiphakamisa amehlo ami, ngabona; bheka, kwakumi phambi komfula inqama inezimpondo ezimbili.” (Daniyeli 8:3a) Ukuthi ingubani le nqama akuzange kuhlale kuyimfihlo kuDaniyeli. Kamuva ingelosi uGabriyeli ithi: “Inqama oyibonileyo inezimpondo ezimbili, zingamakhosi aseMediya nasePheresiya.” (Daniyeli 8:20) AmaMede ayedabuka enkangala yezintaba empumalanga ye-Asiriya kanti amaPheresiya ayengonozulane endaweni esenyakatho yePersian Gulf. Nokho, njengoba uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya wawukhula, abantu bakhona bakuthanda ngendlela emangalisayo ukunethezeka.

 5. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uphondo ‘olwamila kamuva’ lube lude kunolunye?

⁵ “Lezo zimpondo ezimbili zazizinde,” kubika uDaniyeli, “kodwa olunye lwalulude kunolunye, futhi olude kunolunye yilolo olwalumile kamuva.” (Daniyeli 8:3b, NW) Uphondo olude kunolunye, olwamila kamuva lufanekisela amaPheresiya, kanti olunye lumelela amaMede. Ekuqaleni, amaMede yiwona ayevelele. Kodwa ngo-550 B.C.E., uKoresi umbusi wasePheresiya wayinqoba kalula iNkosi yaseMediya u-Astyages. UKoresi waxuba amasiko nemithetho yalezi zizwe zombili, wahlanganisa imibuso yazo, wandisa izindawo ezazizinqobile. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, lo mbuso waba mbaxambili.

INQAMA IYAZIPHAKAMISA

 6, 7. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba ‘kungabi khona silo sasendle esima phambi’ kwenqama?

⁶ Eqhubeka nencazelo yakhe yenqama, uDaniyeli uthi: “Ngabona inqama iqhubukusha ngasentshonalanga, nangasenyakatho, nangaseningizimu; kwakungekho silo ebesinokuma phambi kwayo, kwakungekho ongophula esandleni sayo, kepha yenza njengentando yayo, [“yaziphakamisa,” NW].”—Daniyeli 8:4.

⁷ Embonweni ongaphambili owanikezwa uDaniyeli, iBabiloni lalifanekiselwa isilo sasendle esavela olwandle nesasifana nengonyama enamaphiko okhozi. (Daniyeli 7:4, 17) Leso silo esingokomfanekiso asikwazanga ukuma phambi ‘kwenqama’ ekulo mbono omusha. IBabiloni lanqotshwa uKoresi Omkhulu ngo-539 B.C.E. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-50 kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ‘akukho zilo zasendle,’ noma ohulumeni bezombangazwe, abakwazi ukumelana noMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya—umbuso wezwe wesine wesiprofetho seBhayibheli.

 8, 9. (a) “Inqama” ‘yaqhubukusha kanjani entshonalanga nasenyakatho naseningizimu’? (b) Incwadi ka-Esteri ithini ngokuqondene nowalandela iNkosi yasePheresiya uDariyu I?

⁸ Njengoba wawuqhamuka ‘empumalanga,’ uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya wawuzenzela umathanda nje, ‘uqhubukusha ngasentshonalanga, nangasenyakatho, nangaseningizimu.’ (Isaya 46:11) INkosi uCambyses II, owalandela uKoresi Omkhulu, wanqoba iGibithe. Walandelwa inkosi yasePheresiya uDariyu I, owaya ngasentshonalanga wanqamula izinsungubezi zaseBosporus ngo-513 B.C.E., wahlasela indawo yaseYurophu iThrace, enhloko-dolobha yayo kwakuyiByzantium (manje i-Istanbul). Ngonyaka ka-508 B.C.E., wahlula iThrace, wanqoba iMakedoniya ngo-496 B.C.E. Ngakho, ngesikhathi sikaDariyu, “inqama” yaseMediya nasePheresiya yayisidle izindawo ezisezingxenyeni ezintathu eziyinhloko: enyakatho iBabiloni ne-Asiriya, entshonalanga i-Asia Minor kanti eningizimu iGibithe.

⁹ Lifakazela ubukhulu boMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya, iBhayibheli lithi lowo owalandela uDariyu, uXerxes I, ‘ngu-Ahashiveroshi lowo owabusa kusukela eNdiya kuze kube seKushe phezu kwezifunda eziyikhulu namashumi amabili nesikhombisa.’ (Esteri 1:1) Kodwa lo mbuso omkhulu wawuzodedela omunye, futhi ngokuphathelene nalokhu, umbono kaDaniyeli wembula imininingwane ethile ethakazelisayo okufanele iqinise ukholo lwethu ezwini likaNkulunkulu lesiprofetho.

IMPONGO IYILAHLA PHANSI INQAMA

10. Embonweni kaDaniyeli, yisiphi isilwane esalahla phansi “inqama”?

¹⁰ Cabanga indlela okummangalisa ngayo lokho uDaniyeli akubona manje. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Ngisacabanga, bheka, kwavela impongo ngasentshonalanga ebusweni bawo wonke umhlaba, ingawuthinti umhlaba kodwa; impongo yayinophondo oluqhamileyo emkhathini wamehlo ayo. Yafika enqameni eyayinezimpondo ezimbili, engayibona imi phambi komfula, yatheleka kuyo ngokufutheka kwayo okunamandla. Ngayibona isondela kakhulu enqameni, yababa ngayo, yayishaya inqama, yazaphula izimpondo zayo ezimbili; kwakungekho mandla enqameni okuma phambi kwayo, kepha yayiphonsa phansi, yayinyathela, kwakungekho ongayophula inqama esandleni sayo.” (Daniyeli 8:5-7) Kusho ukuthini konke lokhu?

11. (a) Ingelosi uGabriyeli yayichaza kanjani “impongo” ‘nophondo lwayo olukhulu’? (b) Ubani owayefanekiselwa uphondo oluqhamile?

¹¹ Thina kanye noDaniyeli asishiywa ukuba siziqagelele incazelo yalo mbono. “Impongo iyinkosi yaseJavani; uphondo olukhulu olusemkhathini wamehlo ayo luyinkosi yokuqala,” ingelosi uGabriyeli itshela uDaniyeli. (Daniyeli 8:21) Ngo-336 B.C.E., kwabekwa esihlalweni inkosi yokugcina yoMbuso WasePheresiya, uDariyu III (Codommanus). Ngawo lowo nyaka, u-Alexander waba inkosi yaseMakedoniya. Umlando ubonisa ukuthi u-Alexander Omkhulu waba “inkosi” yokuqala “yaseJavani” (iGrisi) eyayibikezelwe. Eqala “entshonalanga” ngonyaka ka-334 B.C.E., u-Alexander wenza izinto ngokushesha. Wanqoba izindawo futhi walahla phansi “inqama” njengokungathi ‘akawuthinti umhlaba.’ Ngokuqeda ukubusa kwamaMede NamaPheresiya kweminyaka ecishe ibe amakhulu amabili, iGrisi yabe isiba umbuso wezwe wesihlanu obalulekile eBhayibhelini. Yeka ukugcwaliseka okumangalisayo kwesiprofetho saphezulu!

12. “Uphondo olukhulu” lwempongo engokomfanekiso “lwaphuka” kanjani, futhi zaziyini izimpondo ezine ezavela esikhundleni salo?

¹² Kodwa ukubusa kuka-Alexander akuhlalanga sikhathi. Lo mbono uyaqhubeka uthi: “Impongo [“yayisiziphakamisa,” NW] kakhulu; kwathi lapho isinamandla, uphondo olukhulu lwaphuka; esikhundleni salo kwamila ezine ziqhamela ngasemimoyeni yomine yezulu.” (Daniyeli 8:8) Echaza lesi siprofetho, uGabriyeli uthi: “Olwaphukileyo, esikhundleni salo okwavela ezine, kuyakuvela imibuso emine esizweni salo, ingenamandla alo kodwa.” (Daniyeli 8:22) Njengoba kwakubikezelwe, lapho esemvuthwandaba wokunqoba kwakhe, u-Alexander ‘waphuka,’ noma wafa, eneminyaka engu-32 kuphela. Umbuso wakhe omkhulu wagcina uhlukaniselwe ojenene bakhe abane.

UPHONDO OLUNCANE OLUXAKAYO

13. Yini eyamila kolunye lwalezi zimpondo ezine futhi yaziphatha kanjani?

¹³ Ingxenye elandelayo yalo mbono ithatha iminyaka engaphezu kuka-2 200, ukugcwaliseka kwayo kuze kufinyelele ezikhathini zanamuhla. UDaniyeli uyabhala: “Kolunye lwazo [izimpondo ezine] kwamila uphondo oluncane olwakhula kakhulu ngaseningizimu, nangasempumalanga, nangasezweni elihle. Lwakhula kwaze kwaba nasebandleni lasezulwini, lwaphonsa phansi okunye kwebandla, okwezinkanyezi, lwakunyathela. Yebo, lwazikhulisa kwaze kwaba nasesikhulwini sebandla, lwasaphuca umnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke, nendawo yendlu yaso engcwele yaphonswa phansi. Kwabekwa impi yokulwa kanye nomnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke ngesiphambeko: lwaphonsa phansi iqiniso, lwenza njengentando yalo, lwaba nempumelelo.”—Daniyeli 8:9-12.

14. Ingelosi uGabriyeli yathini ngezinto ezazizokwenziwa uphondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso, futhi yini eyayizokwenzeka kulolo phondo?

¹⁴ Ngaphambi kokuba sikuqonde okushiwo amazwi asanda kucashunwa, kumelwe silalele ingelosi kaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokukhuluma ngokuqala kokubusa kwemibuso emine eyavela embusweni omkhulu ka-Alexander, ingelosi uGabriyeli ithi: “Ekugcineni kokubusa kwayo, lapho izihlubuki seziphelele, inkosi elukhuni ngobuso, eqonda izimfumbe, iyakuvela. Iyakuba namandla amakhulu, ingenamandla eyokuqala kodwa; iyakuchitha ngokumangalisayo, iphumelele ukukwenza; iyakuchitha abanamandla nabantu abangcwele. Ngokuhlakanipha kwayo iyakuphumelelisa inkohliso esandleni sayo, [“iziphakamise,” NW] enhliziyweni yayo, ichithe abaningi ekuthuleni; iyakumelana nesikhulu sezikhulu, ichotshozwe kungengasandla.”—Daniyeli 8:23-25.

15. Ingelosi yatshela uDaniyeli ukuba awenzeni umbono?

¹⁵ “Kepha gcina wena umbono [“uyimfihlo,” NW],” kusho ingelosi kuDaniyeli, “ngokuba ungowezinsuku eziningi.” (Daniyeli 8:26) Le ngxenye yombono yayizothatha ‘izinsuku eziningi’ andukuba igcwaliseke futhi uDaniyeli kwakumelwe ‘awugcine uyimfihlo.’ Kusobala ukuthi uDaniyeli wahlala engayazi incazelo yawo. Kodwa kumelwe ukuba manje sezadlula lezo “zinsuku eziningi.” Ngakho siyabuza: ‘Umlando womhlaba wembulani ngokuqondene nokugcwaliseka kwalo mbono oyisiprofetho?’

UPHONDO OLUNCANE LUBA NAMANDLA AMAKHULU

16. (a) Uphondo oluncane lwavela kuluphi uphondo olungokomfanekiso? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iRoma ibe umbuso wezwe wesithupha wesiprofetho seBhayibheli, kodwa kungani yayingelona uphondo oluncane olungokomfanekiso?

¹⁶ Ngokomlando, uphondo oluncane lwaluwumxhantela wolulodwa kwezine ezingokomfanekiso—olwalukude kunazo zonke entshonalanga. Lona kwakuwumbuso wamaGreki kaJenene Cassander owawubusa eMakedoniya naseGrisi. Kamuva, lo mbuso wagwinywa umbuso kaJenene Lysimachus, inkosi yaseThrace nase-Asia Minor. Ekhulwini lesibili ngaphambi kweNkathi yethu Evamile, lezi zingxenye ezisentshonalanga zombuso wamaGreki zanqotshwa iRoma. Futhi ngonyaka ka-30 B.C.E., iRoma layidla yonke imibuso yamaGreki, lazenza umbuso wezwe wesithupha wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Kodwa uMbuso WaseRoma wawungelona uphondo oluncane lombono kaDaniyeli, ngoba lowo mbuso awuqhubekanga kwaze kwaba ‘sesikhathini sokuphela.’—Daniyeli 8:19.

17. (a) IBrithani yayihlangana kanjani noMbuso WaseRoma? (b) UMbuso WaseBrithani uhlobene kanjani nombuso omncane wamaGreki waseMakedoniya naseGrisi?

¹⁷ Khona-ke umlando uthi ingubani le “nkosi elukhuni ngobuso”? Empeleni iBrithani yayiwumxhantela wasenyakatho-ntshonalanga woMbuso WaseRoma. Kuze kube sekuqaleni kwekhulu lesihlanu C.E., kwakunezifundazwe zamaRoma endaweni eyiBrithani manje. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uMbuso WaseRoma waphelelwa amandla, kodwa ithonya lempucuko yamaGreki namaRoma laqhubeka likhona eBrithani nakwezinye izingxenye zeYurophu ezazikade zibuswa amaRoma. “Lapho uMbuso WaseRoma uwa, iSonto lathatha indawo yawo,” kubhala imbongi engumlobi waseMexico eyazuza uMklomelo kaNobel, u-Octavio Paz. Yanezela: “Ofata bamaSonto kanye nezazi zakamuva, bafaka ifilosofi yamaGreki ezimfundisweni zobuKristu.” Futhi isazi sefilosofi nesezibalo sekhulu lama-20 uBertrand Russell saphawula: “Impucuko yaseNtshonalanga, evela ebuGrekini, isekelwe emasikweni efilosofi nawesayensi aqala eMilethu [umuzi wamaGreki e-Asia Minor] eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane ezimbili nengxenye edlule.” Ngakho kungashiwo ukuthi umsuka wamasiko oMbuso WaseBrithani usembusweni wamaGreki waseMakedoniya naseGrisi.

18. Luyini uphondo oluncane olwaba “inkosi elukhuni ngobuso” ‘esikhathini sokuphela’? Chaza.

¹⁸ Ngo-1763 uMbuso WaseBrithani wawusuzinqobile izimbangi zawo ezinamandla, iSpain neFrance. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke wazibonisa uyingqungqulu yasolwandle nombuso wezwe wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Ngisho nangemva kokuba amakoloni aseMelika angu-13 eseqembukile eBrithani ngo-1776 azakhela i-United States of America, uMbuso WaseBrithani wakhula wahlanganisa ingxenye yesine yomhlaba neyabantu abakuwo. Lo mbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wathola amandla amakhulu nakakhulu lapho i-United States of America ihlangana neBrithani ukuze yakhe umbuso wezwe ombaxambili wamaNgisi NamaMelika. Kwezomnotho nakwezempi ngempela lo mbuso uye waba “inkosi elukhuni ngobuso.” Ngakho uphondo oluncane olwaba umbuso wezombangazwe onolaka ‘esikhathini sokuphela,’ nguMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika.

19. Uyini ‘umuzi omuhle’ okukhulunywa ngawo embonweni?

¹⁹ UDaniyeli wabona ukuthi uphondo oluncane ‘lwakhula kakhulu ngasezweni elihle.’ (Daniyeli 8:9) IZwe Lesithembiso, uJehova alinikeza abantu bakhe abakhethiwe, lalilihle kangangokuba kwathiwa ‘lihle kunawo onke amazwe,’ okungukuthi, kunawo wonke amazwe omhlaba. (Hezekeli 20:6, 15) Yiqiniso, iBrithani yalinqoba iJerusalema ngo-December 9, 1917, kwathi ngonyaka ka-1920 iNhlangano Yezizwe yanikeza iBrithani igunya lokuphatha iPalestine, igunya elalizoqhubeka kuze kube u-May 14, 1948. Kodwa lo mbono uyisiprofetho, ziningi izinto ozifanekiselayo. Futhi leli “zwe elihle” okukhulunywa ngalo kulo mbono alifanekiseli iJerusalema, kodwa lifanekisela isimo sasemhlabeni sabantu uNkulunkulu ababheka njengabangcwele ngesikhathi sombuso wezwe wesikhombisa. Ake sibone indlela uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika ozama ngayo ukusongela abangcwele.

‘INDAWO YENDLU YASO ENGCWELE’ IPHONSWA PHANSI

20. Lingobani ‘ibandla lasezulwini nezinkanyezi’ uphondo oluncane oluzama ukulilahla phansi?

²⁰ Uphondo oluncane ‘lwakhula kwaze kwaba nasebandleni lasezulwini, lwaphonsa phansi okunye kwebandla, nezinkanyezi.’ Ngokwencazelo yengelosi, ‘ibandla lasezulwini nezinkanyezi’ uphondo oluncane oluzama ukukuphonsa phansi “abantu abangcwele.” (Daniyeli 8:10, 24) Laba “abangcwele” bangamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya. Ngenxa yokuthi bangena ebuhlotsheni noNkulunkulu ngesivumelwano esisha, esenziwa sisebenze ngegazi likaJesu Kristu elachitheka, bayangcweliswa, bahlanzwe, futhi bahlukaniselwe inkonzo kaNkulunkulu ekhethekile. (Heberu 10:10; 13:20) Njengoba ebabele ukuba babe izindlalifa neNdodana yakhe efeni lasezulwini, uJehova ubabheka njengabangcwele. (Efesu 1:3, 11, 18-20) Ngakho, embonweni kaDaniyeli, ‘ibandla lasezulwini’ libhekisela ensalini esesemhlabeni ‘yabangcwele’ abangu-144 000 abayobusa ezulwini neWundlu.—IsAmbulo 14:1-5.

21. Obani ‘abasendaweni engcwele’ umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa ozama ukuyichitha?

²¹ Namuhla abaseleyo babangu-144 000 bangabameleli basemhlabeni ‘beJerusalema lasezulwini’—uMbuso kaNkulunkulu onjengomuzi—kanye nelungiselelo lawo lethempeli. (Heberu 12:22, 28; 13:14) Ngalo mqondo ‘basendaweni engcwele’ leyo umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa ozama ukuyinyathela nokuyichitha. (Daniyeli 8:13, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Ebiza le ndawo engcwele nangokuthi “indawo yendlu [kaJehova] engcwele,” uDaniyeli uthi: ‘[UJehova] waphucwa umnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke, nendawo yendlu yakhe engcwele yaphonswa phansi. Kwabekwa impi yokulwa kanye nomnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke ngesiphambeko: lwaphonsa phansi iqiniso, lwenza njengentando yalo, lwaba nempumelelo.’ (Daniyeli 8:11, 12) Kwagcwaliseka kanjani lokhu?

22. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wasenza kanjani “isiphambeko” esiphawulekayo?

²² OFakazi BakaJehova babhekana nani phakathi neMpi Yezwe II? Bashushiswa kabuhlungu kakhulu! Kwaqala emazweni obuNazi nawobuFascist. Kodwa ngokushesha ‘iqiniso laphonswa phansi’ kuzo zonke izindawo ezinkulu ‘zophondo oluncane olwase lunamandla amakhulu.’ “Ibandla” labamemezeli boMbuso nomsebenzi walo wokushumayela “izindaba ezinhle” lavinjelwa cishe kuwo wonke amazwe akha uMfelandawonye Wamazwe Ayebuswa AmaNgisi. (Marku 13:10) Ngesikhathi lezi zizwe zibutha amadoda ayezoya empini, zenqaba ukukhulula oFakazi BakaJehova enkonzweni yezempi ngoba beyizikhonzi, zangakuhlonipha ukumiswa kwabo okungokwasezulwini njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu. Izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile e-United States zabhekana nobudlova bezixhwanguxhwangu nokwedelelwa okuhlukahlukene. Kufana nokuthi umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wawuzama ukuqeda umhlatshelo wokudumisa—“isithelo sezindebe”—abantu bakaJehova ababesinikela kuYe njalo ‘njengomnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke’ wokukhulekela kwabo. (Heberu 13:15) Ngakho lowo mbuso wezwe wenza ‘isiphambeko’ ngokuhlasela indawo efanele kaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke—‘indawo yendlu yakhe engcwele.’

23. (a) Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika wamelana kanjani ‘neSikhulu sezikhulu’? (b) Ubani “iSikhulu sezikhulu”?

²³ Ngokushushisa “abangcwele” phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, uphondo oluncane lwaziphakamisa “kwaze kwaba nasesikhulwini sebandla.” Noma, njengoba ingelosi uGabriyeli isho, lwamelana ‘neSikhulu sezikhulu.’ (Daniyeli 8:11, 25) Isiqu esithi ‘iSikhulu sezikhulu’ sisebenza kuJehova uNkulunkulu kuphela. Igama lesiHeberu elithi sar, elihunyushwe ngokuthi “isikhulu” lihlobene nesenzo esisho “ukusebenzisa igunya eliphakeme kunawo wonke.” Ngalé kokubhekisela endodaneni yenkosi noma kumuntu osesikhundleni esiphezulu, leli gama libhekisela nakumuntu oyinhloko noma omkhulu. Incwadi kaDaniyeli ikhuluma nangezinye izikhulu eziyizingelosi—ngokwesibonelo, uMikayeli. UNkulunkulu uyiSikhulu Esikhulu sazo zonke lezo zikhulu. (Daniyeli 10:13, 21; qhathanisa neHubo 83:18.) Singacabanga yini ngomuntu omelana noJehova—iSikhulu sezikhulu?

“INDAWO ENGCWELE” IBUYISELWA ESIMWENI ESIFANELE

24. Yisiphi isiqinisekiso esisinikezwa uDaniyeli 8:14?

²⁴ Akekho noyedwa ongamelana neSikhulu sezikhulu—ngisho nenkosi ‘enobuso obulukhuni’ njengoMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika! Imizamo yale nkosi yokuchitha indlu engcwele kaNkulunkulu iyabhuntsha. Ngemva ‘kokuhlwa nokusa okuyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu,’ kusho isithunywa esiyingelosi, “indawo engcwele iyobuyiselwa esimweni sayo esifanele,” noma “iyonqoba.”—Daniyeli 8:13, 14; The New English Bible.

25. Yinde kangakanani inkathi engokwesiprofetho yezinsuku ezingu-2 300, futhi kumelwe ihlanganiswe nasiphi isenzakalo?

²⁵ Lezi zinsuku ezingu-2 300 zakha inkathi engokwesiprofetho. Ngakho, kuhileleke unyaka ongokwesiprofetho wezinsuku ezingu-360. (IsAmbulo 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14) Ngakho, lezi zinsuku ezingu-2 300 ziyiminyaka eyisithupha, izinyanga ezine nezinsuku ezingamashumi amabili. Yayinini le nkathi? Eminyakeni yawo-1930, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqala ukubhekana nokushushiswa okwandayo emazweni ahlukahlukene. Futhi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, oFakazi BakaJehova bashushiswa kanzima emazweni ombuso wezwe ombaxambili wamaNgisi NamaMelika. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuphikelela kwabo ‘belalela uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.’ (IzEnzo 5:29) Ngakho-ke, kumelwe ukuba lezi zinsuku ezingu-2 300 zihlangene naleyo mpi.b Kodwa yini engase ishiwo ngokuqala nokuphela kwale nkathi engokwesiprofetho?

26. (a) Kufanele zibalwe kusukela nini izinsuku ezingu-2 300? (b) Yaphela nini inkathi yezinsuku ezingu-2 300?

²⁶ Ukuze “indawo engcwele” yenziwe ibe sesimweni okufanele ibe kuso, noma ‘ibuyiselwe’ kuso, kumelwe ukuba lezi zinsuku ezingu-2 300 zaqala ngesikhathi ‘isesesimweni esifanele’ ngokubheka kukaNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakungo-June 1, 1938, ngesikhathi INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ikhipha ingxenye 1 yesihloko esithi “Ukuhleleka.” Ingxenye 2 yavela kumagazini ka-June 15, 1938. Uma kubalwa izinsuku ezingu-2 300 (iminyaka eyisithupha, izinyanga ezine nezinsuku ezingamashumi amabili ekhalendeni lesiHeberu) kusukela ngo-June 1 noma 15, 1938, sifika ku-October 8 noma 22, 1944. Ngosuku lokuqala lomhlangano okhethekile owawusePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A., ngo-September 30 nango-October 1, 1944, umongameli we-Watch Tower Society wakhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Ukulungisa Okungokwasezulwini Namuhla.” Emhlanganweni wabaphathi waminyaka yonke owawungo-October 2, kwalungiswa umthetho-sisekelo weNhlangano ukuze ube seduze nohlelo olungokwasezulwini ngangokuvunyelwa umthetho. Njengoba kwanyatheliswa izimfuneko ezicacile ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, ngokushesha kwaba nokuhleleka okugcwele okungokwasezulwini emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova.

27. Yibuphi ubufakazi obabukhona bokuthi ‘umnikelo oshiswa mihla yonke’ wawuvinjelwe phakathi neminyaka yeMpi Yezwe II eyayigcwele ushushiso?

²⁷ Phakathi nezinsuku ezingu-2 300 ngesikhathi seMpi Yezwe II, eyaqala ngo-1939, ukunikelwa ‘komnikelo oshiswa imihla yonke’ endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu kwavinjelwa kakhulu ngenxa yoshushiso. Ngo-1938 i-Watch Tower Society yayinamagatsha angu-39 ayeqondisa umsebenzi woFakazi emhlabeni wonke, kodwa ngo-1943 ayesengu-21 kuphela. Ukwanda kwabamemezeli boMbuso kwakukuncane phakathi naleyo nkathi.

28, 29. (a) Njengoba iMpi Yezwe II yayisondela ekupheleni, iyiphi intuthuko eyaba khona enhlanganweni kaJehova? (b) Yini engase ishiwo ngemizamo yesitha yonya yokuchitha nokubhubhisa “indawo engcwele”?

²⁸ Njengoba sesibonile, phakathi nezinyanga zokugcina zeMpi Yezwe II, oFakazi BakaJehova baqinisa ukuzimisela kwabo ukukhulisa ukubusa kukaNkulunkulu ngokumkhonza njengenhlangano engokwasezulwini. Yilo mgomo owenza ukuba ngo-1944 kuqalwe ukuhlela kabusha umsebenzi wabo kumiswe nesimiso esisha sokuphatha. Empeleni, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-October 15, 1944, yayinesihloko esasithi “Ukuhlelelwa Umsebenzi Wokugcina.” Sona, kanye nezinye zale nkathi ezazigxile enkonzweni, zabonisa ukuthi izinsuku ezingu-2 300 zase ziphelile nokuthi “indawo engcwele” yayisibuyele ‘esimweni sayo esifanele.’

²⁹ Imizamo yesitha yonya yokuchitha nokubhubhisa “indawo engcwele” yayibhuntshe ngokuphelele. Ngempela, “abangcwele” ababesele emhlabeni, kanye nabangane babo ‘besixuku esikhulu,’ babenqobile. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Kanti indlu engcwele, njengoba isisesimweni sayo esingokwasezulwini esifanele, manje iyaqhubeka inikeza uJehova inkonzo engcwele.

30. Yini ezokwenzeka maduze ‘enkosini elukhuni ngobuso’?

³⁰ UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika usekhona. ‘Uyakuchotshozwa kungengasandla,’ kusho ingelosi uGabriyeli. (Daniyeli 8:25) Maduze nje, lo mbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli—le “nkosi elukhuni ngobuso”—uzochotshozwa, hhayi ngezandla zabantu, kodwa ngamandla angaphezu kwawomuntu e-Armagedoni. (Daniyeli 2:44; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Yeka indlela okuvusa amadlingozi ngayo ukwazi ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi, ubukhosi bukaJehova uNkulunkulu, iSikhulu sezikhulu, buyobe bulwelwe!

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

YINI OYIZUZILE?

• Yini efanekiselwa

‘yinqama enezimpondo ezimbili’?

“impongo” ‘nophondo lwayo olukhulu’?

izimpondo ezine ezivela esikhundleni ‘sophondo olukhulu’?

uphondo oluncane olwavela kolulodwa ezimpondweni ezine?

• Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika wazama kanjani ukuchitha “indawo engcwele,” futhi ingabe waphumelela?

[Ibalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 166]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya

IMAKEDONIYA

IGIBITHE

IMemphis

ITOPIYA

IJerusalema

IBabiloni

I-Akimetha

ISusa

IPersepolis

INDIYA

[Ibalazwe/Isithombe ekhasini 169]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UMbuso WaseGrisi

IMAKEDONIYA

IGIBITHE

IBabiloni

UMfula I-Indus

[Ibalazwe ekhasini 172]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

UMbuso WaseRoma

IBRITHANI

I-ITALY

IRoma

IJerusalema

IGIBITHE

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi 164]

[Isithombe ekhasini 174]

Abanye babantu abavelele eMbusweni Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika:

1. UGeorge Washington, umongameli wokuqala wase-United States (1789-97)

2. Indlovukazi yaseBrithani uVictoria (1837-1901)

3. UWoodrow Wilson, umongameli wase-United States (1913-21)

4. UDavid Lloyd George, undunankulu waseBrithani (1916-22)

5. UWinston Churchill, undunankulu waseBrithani (1940-45, 1951-55)

6. UFranklin D. Roosevelt, umongameli wase-United States (1933-45)