Isahluko 4
“IBabiloni” Elingalondekile Limiselwe Ukubhujiswa
1. (a) Lisho ukuthini igama elithi “ibabiloni,” futhi ubani owaqamba umuzi onalelogama? (b) Imuphi umsebenzi wokwakha owenziwa uNimrode oqhoshayo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
UMHLABA uphawuleka ngokukhungatheka namuhla—ngokwezombangazwe, ezenhlalo, nangokwenkolo. Igama leBhayibheli lesiHeberu elisho ukukhungatheka lihunyushwe ngelithi “ibabiloni” ngesiZulu. KuGenesise, iBabiloni likhulunyelwa njengeBabele, nalo okuyigama elisho “ukukhungatheka.” Umuzi owawunalelogama waqanjwa uNimrode, owahlubuka kuJehova. (Genesise 10:8-10, Esd) Lapho, abantu ababeholwa uNimrode oqhoshayo baqala ukwakha umbhoshongo owawuyophakama uqonde ezulwini ngenjongo yokudelela uJehova. UJehova wawuchitha lomsebenzi ohlambalaza uNkulunkulu ngokusanganisa ulimi lwabakhi olulodwa, ukuze bangazwani lapho bezama ukusebenza ndawonye.—Genesise 11:1-9, Esd.
2. (a) Yini eyenzeka embusweni wezwe waseBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E., futhi ingabe lokho kwakusho ukuphela komuzi onalelogama? (b) Yini umuzi wasendulo waseBabiloni ongabonakala uyikho?
2 Esikhathini eside kamuva, kwalotshwa ngomuzi omusha owawunegama elithi iBabiloni njengowawakhiwe eMfuleni iEwufrathe. (2 AmaKhosi 17:24; 1 IziKronike 9:1; qhathanisa ne-Esd.) Ngo-539 B.C.E. uMbuso Wezwe waseBabiloni wagumbuqelwa uKoresi oMkhulu, umbusi wamaMede namaPheresiya, ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sikaJehova esikuIsaya 45:1-6. Nakuba iBabiloni laliwe kanzima, lavunyelwa ukuqhubeka likhona njengomuzi. Kubikwa ukuthi lalikhona ngisho nangengxenye yokugcina yekhulu lokuqala leSikhathi sethu Esivamile. (1 Petru 5:13) Nokho, lowomuzi wasendulo wawungelona “iBabiloni Elikhulu,” umphostoli uJohane aloba ngalo encwadini yesAmbulo isahluko 17.
3. Liyini ngempela iBabiloni Elikhulu?
3 “IBabiloni Elikhulu” lesAmbulo, elichazwe njengowesifazane oziphethe kabi ogibele “isilo esibomvu,” limelele umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, kuhlanganise nazo zonke izinkolo zalokho okuthiwa eLobukholwa.a (IsAmbulo 17:3-5) Ngokwalokho umphostoli uJohane akubona, lenhlangano engokomfanekiso iye yafeba ngokomoya nabo bonke ababusi bezombangazwe bomhlaba. Umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, iBabiloni Elikhulu, usalokhu unethonya elikhulu.
“Umhlobo Wezwe”—Hhayi OkaNkulunkulu
4. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, iBabiloni Elikhulu lanezela kanjani emacaleni alo eliwenza emkhayeni wesintu?
4 Nokho, isimo seBabiloni Elikhulu asilondekile neze, futhi lokho kuye kwaba njalo ikakhulukazi kusukela ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe I. Phakathi naleyompi, lanezela emacaleni alo eliwenza emkhayeni wesintu. Abefundisi beLobukholwa, abathi bangabalandeli bakaJesu Kristu, bashoshozela izinsizwa ukuba ziye empini. UHarry Emerson Fosdick ongasekho, owayengumfundisi ongumProthestani ovelele, wasekela umzamo wempi kodwa kamuva wavuma: “Ngisho nasemasontweni ethu simise amafulege empi . . . Ngemilomo yethu siye sadumisa iNkosi yokuthula ngayo leyomilomo sakhazimulisa impi.” Abapristi nabanye abefundisi beLobukholwa bathandazela amabutho alwayo emibuthanweni yenkolo, futhi basebenza njengabefundisi bempi, bamabutho asolwandle, nabamabutho asemkhathini.b
5. (a) Imaphi amazwi kaJakobe 4:4 eLobukholwa elingawathathanga ngokungathi sína? (b) Kumelwe sibe yini isahlulelo saphezulu kulo?
5 ELobukholwa, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwalabaholi benkolo, alizange liwathathe ngokungathi sína amazwi kaJakobe 4:4: “Ziphingi, anazi yini ukuthi ukuthanda izwe kungubutha kuNkulunkulu na? Ngakho lowo othanda ukuba-ngumhlobo wezwe, umi eyisitha sikaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho kuze kube manje eLobukholwa lisaqhubeka liyisitha sikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke. Ngokuqinisekile alinaso isivikelo saphezulu, futhi ngenxa yalesizathu esibalulekile khona kanye ukuba khona kwalo akulondekile. Akumelwe kuthenjelwe kubangane balo bezombangazwe, futhi abantu abangayifuni inkolo bayaqhubeka banda ngamandla. UNkulunkulu akakhulumi ngalo uma ethi: “Ningathinti abagcotshiweyo bami.”—1 IziKronike 16:22.
“Phumani Kulo, Bantu Bami”
6, 7. (a) Yiluphi ubizo oluphuthumayo olukhishwa kusAmbulo 18:4, futhi luqondiswe kobani? (b) Ubizo lwangaphambili kodwa olufanayo nalolu lwaqala nini ukusebenza kumaJuda ayecindezelekile eBabiloni lasendulo?
6 Kulaba abagcotshiwe nakubangane babo phakathi nalesiphelo sesimiso sezinto, kuzwakala ubizo oluphuthumayo: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami, ukuze ningahlanganyeli nalo izono zalo.” (IsAmbulo 18:4) Yebo, phumani embusweni wezwe wenkolo yamanga, iBabiloni Elikhulu.
7 Lolubizo lunanela amazwi kaJeremiya 50:8 no-51:6, 45, ayeqondiswe ensalini yamaJuda uJehova ayeyigwebele ukuba ichithe iminyaka engama-70 yokuthunjwa nokudingiselwa ezweni laseBabiloni. Lawomazwi aqala ukusebenza kumaJuda ayecindezelekile eBabiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., ngemva kokuba uKoresi oMkhulu owayebikezelwe ahola amabutho akhe amaMede namaPheresiya ngasosebeni olwalushile loMfula uEwufrathe futhi ewangenisa emzini waseBabiloni.
8. (a) UKoresi oMkhulu wamgcwalisa kanjani uIsaya 45:1-6? (b) Kungani lowo owayefanekiselwa uKoresi oMkhulu kwakudingeka enze ngokuvumelana nalesisimo sezinto esingokomfanekiso?
8 Ngonyaka wokuqala wokubusa kwakhe, uKoresi oMkhulu wathatha isinyathelo ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho sikaIsaya 45:1-6. Ngokufanayo, lowo owayefanekiselwa uMbusi uKoresi, kodwa onamandla angaphezu kwawakhe, uJesu Kristu, wenza ngokuvumelana nalesisimo sezinto esingokwesiprofetho. Lokhu kwakungesikhathi esifanele ngemva kokuba ethathe amandla akhe okubusa ezulwini ngakwesokunene sikaJehova uNkulunkulu, lapho “izikhathi zabezizwe” ziphela ngo-October 1914. (Luka 21:24) Phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala ka-1914-18, insali yamaIsrayeli angokomoya yathunjwa ezandleni zeBabiloni Elikhulu nezithandwa zalo zezombangazwe.
9, 10. (a) Isiphi isinyathelo esathathwa ngokumelene namalungu ayisishiyagalombili ezisebenzi zasendlunkulu yeNhlangano? (b) Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona bokuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu lalikhuthaza isenzo sokumisa umsebenzi wabantu bakaJehova?
9 Ngokwesibonelo, eUnited States incwadi yokugcina eyakhishwa yiWatch Tower Society ngalesosikhathi, ethi The Finished Mystery, yavalwa njengevukela umbuso. Abalobi ababili balencwadi bayiswa enkantolo yamazwe eBrooklyn, eNew York, futhi bavalelwa ngokungemthetho iminyaka engama-20 etilongweni lenhlangano yamazwe laseAtlanta, eGeorgia. Kwaba okufanayo nangomongameli wenhlangano ekhipha izincwadi, umphathisikhwama ongunobhala, nabanye abathathu bezisebenzi zasendlunkulu. Umhumushi owayekanye nabo wagwetshwa isikhathi esiyingxenye yaleso etilongweni lenhlangano yamazwe.
10 Ngakho ngoJuly 4, 1918, lamaKristu azinikezele ayisishiyagalombili afakwa esitimeleni esiya eAtlanta, eGeorgia, ukuze agqunywe khona. Khona-ke amalungu endlunkulu yeWatch Tower Society eBrooklyn kwadingeka anakekele yonke into ngokusemandleni awo. Ubani owayenecala ngalesisimo? Incwadi ethi Preachers Present Arms iyaphendula: “Ukuhlaziywa kwayo yonke lendaba kuholela esiphethweni sokuthi ekuqaleni amasonto nabefundisi babekhuthaza isenzo sokuqeda abalandeli bakaRussell [oFakazi]. . . . Lapho izindaba zesigwebo seminyaka engamashumi amabili zifika kubahleli bamaphephandaba enkolo, wonke lamaphephandaba, amakhulu namancane, asijabulela lesenzakalo. Angikwazanga ukuthola noma imaphi amazwi okudabuka kunoma iziphi izincwadi ezivunyelwe ngokwenkolo.”—Ray H. Abrams, amakhasi 183, 184.
Ukuwa—Kodwa Okungekhona Okokubhujiswa
11, 12. (a) Yini iBabiloni Elikhulu elalihlose ukuyenza? (b) Lawa kanjani kanzima, nakuba kwakungekhona ukubhujiswa? (c) Waba yini umphumela kubantu bakaJehova abakhululiwe?
11 Kodwa ukujabula kweBabiloni Elikhulu kwakungeke kuhlale isikhathi eside. Ekwindla ka-1919, iBabiloni Elikhulu lawa kanzima, ngemva kwalokho kumelwe kube nezenzakalo ezithile ezingokwenkolo ngaphambi kokuba libhujiswe ngokuphelele. IBabiloni Elikhulu lalicabanga ukuthi lizogcina abantu bakaJehova becindezelwe futhi besekuthunjweni kuze kube phakade. Kodwa ngoMarch ka-1919 abameleli abayisishiyagalombili beWatch Tower Society bavulelwa iminyango yejele, baphuma ngebheyili. Kamuva, amacala abo asulwa ngokuphelele.
12 Kwase kuphelile manje ukujabula kweBabiloni Elikhulu! Incwadi ethi Preachers Present Arms ikhuluma ngokuqondene nesinqumo senkantolo sokukhulula oFakazi ithi: “Amasonto awasihalaliselanga lesinqumo.” Kodwa abantu bakaJehova bajabula kakhulu. Inhlangano yabo yomhlaba wonke yavuselelwa. Emhlanganweni wabo ka-1919 eCedar Point, eOhio, umongameli waleNhlangano washukumisela izinkulungwane zababekhona esenzweni ngenkulumo yakhe ethi “Ukumemezela NgoMbuso.” OFakazi BakaJehova base bekhululekile futhi, bewumemezela obala ngesibindi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu! Lase liwile iBabiloni Elikhulu, nakuba kwakungekhona ukubhujiswa. UKoresi oMkhulu, uJesu Kristu, wayelinqobile futhi ebakhululile abalandeli bakhe abathembekile.
13. Lapho kuvela iNhlangano Yezizwe, lenzani iBabiloni Elikhulu?
13 Ngaleyondlela iBabiloni Elikhulu lavunyelwa ukusindela enkathini yangemva kwempi. Lapho kusongozwa iNhlangano Yezizwe njengenhlangano yomhlaba yokugcina ukuthula, uMkhandlu Wenhlangano Yamazwe YamaSonto KaKristu eMelika wayisekela, umemezela obala ukuthi iNhlangano Yezizwe ‘yayiwukubonakaliswa okungokombangazwe koMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni.’ Lapho leNhlangano eyayisongozwa imiswa ekugcineni, iBabiloni Elikhulu lanamathela emhlane wayo futhi kanjalo laqala ukugibela kwalo “isilo esibomvu” esingokomfanekiso.—IsAmbulo 17:3.
14. (a) Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, yayiyini inkambo yeBabiloni Elikhulu? (b) Lapho inxusa lokugcina ukuthula elenziwe umuntu linyuka kwalashwa ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II, lenzani iBabiloni Elikhulu?
14 Ngesikhathi lelinxusa lokugcina ukuthula eliyingcacamezela lingena kwalasha wokungasebenzi lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II, iBabiloni Elikhulu lasala lingagibele lutho. (IsAmbulo 17:8) Kodwa lalilapho nezizwe ezingama-57 ezazilwa iMpi Yezwe II. Isidingo sokuba lizanelise zonke izizwe ezilwayo asizange silihluphe, njengoba nje lingazange likhathazwe ukwehlukana kwalo laba ngamakhulu amaningi amahlelo namaqembu enkolo akhungathekisayo. Lapho lelinxusa lokugcina ukuthula elenziwe umuntu liphuma kwalasha wokungasebenzi ekupheleni kweMpi Yezwe II liyisimo seZizwe Ezihlangene, ngokushesha iBabiloni Elikhulu lanamathela emhlane walo futhi laqala ukusebenzisa ithonya lalo kulo.
Imibuso Yezombangazwe Izophendukela IBabiloni
15, 16. (a) Yimuphi umbukwane othusayo isintu esibhekene nawo manje? (b) Yini ayinqumile uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, ngokuvumelana nesAmbulo 17:15-18?
15 Sekusondele ukuba lonke izwe lesintu libone umbukwane othusayo. Lokhu kuyoba lapho imibuso yezombangazwe iphendukela iBabiloni Elikhulu, ngenhloso yokulikhukhula lingabibikho. Lokhu kungase kuzwakale kudumaza kubantu abakholelwa ngokuqotho ukuthi zonke izinkolo zilungile. Kodwa uMbusi weNdawo Yonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu, uye wanquma ukuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu alinandawo endaweni yonke nokuthi liye layingcolisa isikhathi eside ngokwanele indalo. Kumelwe libhujiswe ngokuphelele ngobudlova.
16 Asekhona kakade amanxusa anamandla uNkulunkulu angawavumela ukuba alibhubhise, okungukuthi, imibuso yezombangazwe yezwe. Incwadi yesAmbulo ephefumlelwe nguNkulunkulu ibikezela ukuthi uJehova uyokwenza izithandwa zalo ziliphendukele, futhi ziyolihlubula, ziveze lokho eliyikho ngempela—inkohliso enobudemoni! Khona-ke, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ziyolishisa ngomlilo zilenze inqwaba yomlotha. Ziyoliphatha ngendlela efana nelaphatha ngayo abakhulekeli abangahlehli bakaNkulunkulu weqiniso.—IsAmbulo 17:15-18; 18:24.
17. Ingabe izenzo zemibuso yezombangazwe ngokumelene neBabiloni ziyiphendulela ekukhulekeleni uJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi sazi kanjani?
17 Lesinyathelo sobudlova semibuso esimelene nenkolo asisho ukuthi ngemva kwalokho iyophendukela ekukhulekeleni uJehova uNkulunkulu. Isenzo sayo sonya ngokumelene neBabiloni asisho ukuthi manje isizoba abangane bakaNkulunkulu. Ngaphandle kwalokho ibingeke ithathe isinyathelo esilandelayo incwadi yesAmbulo ebonisa ukuthi iyosithatha. (IsAmbulo 17:12-14) Ingase ijabule kakhulu ngezenzo zokumelana nenkolo uJehova uNkulunkulu ayivumele ukuba izifeze, kodwa isazoqhubeka idukiswa “unkulunkulu walelizwe,” uSathane uDeveli, umphikisi kaJehova uNkulunkulu osebenza ngamandla, futhi ongahlehli.—2 Korinte 4:4.
18, 19. (a) Obani abangeke basinde ukuba babone ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke ‘ngeNkosi yokuthula’? (b) Kodwa obani abayoba ofakazi baphakade bokuzilwela kukaJehova ngeBabiloni Elikhulu?
18 IBabiloni Elikhulu ngeke lisinde ukuba libone umvuthwandaba okhazimulayo, ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke ‘yiNkosi yokuthula,’ manje ‘enguNkulunkulu onamandla’ ngakwesokunene saLowo onguMninimandla onke nonguNkulunkulu oPhakeme, uJehova.—Isaya 9:6.
19 OFakazi BakaJehova bayobe beyizibukeli, bengaphansi kwesivikelo saphezulu esilugange. (Isaya 43:10, 12) Ngenxa yokulalela umyalo ovela emazulwini okulunga, bayobe bephumile eBabiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo 18:4) Injabulo yabo yokulunga ngeke iphelele kulokho abakubonayo. Ngemva kwalokho bayoba oFakazi BakaJehova phakade futhi bakwazi ukufakaza kuze kube phakade ngokuqondene nokuzilwela kwakhe ngeBabiloni Elikhulu.—IsAmbulo 19:1-3.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ngokuchazwa okuningiliziwe, bheka incwadi ethi “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules!, amakhasi 468-500, eyakhishwa yiWatchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
b Ingxoxo eningiliziwe yokusekela kwabefundisi iMpi Yezwe I inikezwe encwadini ethi Preachers Present Arms, kaRay H. Abrams (New York, 1933). Lencwadi ithi: “Abefundisi banikeza impi ukubaluleka nomfutho wayo ongokomoya okunomdlandla. . . . Impi ngokwayo kwakuyimpi engcwele esekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Ukunikela komuntu ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yezwe lakubo kwakuwukunikela ngakho ngenxa kaNkulunkulu noMbuso waKhe. Elithi uNkulunkulu nelithi izwe aba ngamagama asho into efanayo. . . . AmaJalimane naMazwe Ayelwa Nawo ayefana kulokhu. Uhlangothi ngalunye lwalukholelwa ukuthi lwalulawulwa uNkulunkulu . . . Abefundisi abaningi babengenabo nakancane ubunzima bokubeka uJesu phambi kwengxenye enzima kakhulu yempi eholela amabutho akhe ekunqobeni. . . . Ngaleyondlela isonto laba yingxenye yesimiso sempi. . . . Abaholi [besonto] abachithanga sikhathi ekuzihleleni kahle ngokwesisekelo sesikhathi sempi. Phakathi namahora angamashumi amabili nane ngemva kokumenyezelwa kwempi, uMkhandlu Wenhlangano Yamazwe YamaSonto KaKristu eMelika wahlela ukubambisana ngokugcwele. . . . Amasonto amaningi enza okungaphezu kwalokho ayecelwe khona. Aba amaziko okubhalisa amabutho.”—Amakhasi 53, 57, 59, 63, 74, 80, 82.