ISahluko 36
Umuzi Omkhulu Wenziwa Incithakalo
Umbono 12—IsAmbulo 18:1–19:10
Isihloko: Ukuwa nokubhujiswa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu; umshado weWundlu uyamenyezelwa
Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka: Kusukela ngo-1919 kuze kube ngemva kosizi olukhulu
1. Yini eyophawula ukuqala kosizi olukhulu?
KUYAZUMA, kuyashaqisa, kuqeda amandla—kuyoba njalo ukufa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu! Kuyoba esinye sezehlakalo eziyinhlekelele kunazo zonke kuwo wonke umlando, esiphawula ukuqala ‘kosizi olukhulu olungakaze lube khona kusukela ekuqaleni kwezwe kuze kube manje, cha, futhi olungasayikuphinde lube khona.’—Mathewu 24:21.
2. Nakuba imibuso yezwe yombangazwe iye yama futhi yawa, luhlobo luni lombuso oluye lwahlala lukhona?
2 Inkolo yamanga isinesikhathi eside ikhona. Ibikhona ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa kusukela ezinsukwini zikaNimrode owayenequngo, owamelana noJehova futhi wenza ukuba abantu bakhe uMbhoshongo WaseBhabhele. Lapho uJehova esanganisa izilimi zalezo zihlubuki futhi ezihlakazela emhlabeni wonke, inkolo yamanga yaseBhabhiloni yahamba nazo. (Genesise 10:8-10; 11:4-9) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, imibuso yezombangazwe iye yama futhi yawa, kodwa inkolo yobuBhabhiloni iye yaqhubeka. Iye yaba izimo nezinhlobo eziningi, iba umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu okwaprofethwa ngalo. Ingxenye yalo evelele kakhulu eLobukholwa, elavela ekuxutshanisweni kwezimfundiso zobuBhabhiloni zasendulo nemfundiso ‘yobuKristu’ yokuhlubuka. Ngenxa yomlando omude kakhulu weBhabhiloni Elikhulu, abantu abaningi bakuthola kungakholeki ukuthi liyoke libhujiswe.
3. IsAmbulo sikuqinisekisa kanjani ukulahlwa kwenkolo yamanga?
3 Ngakho-ke kufanelekile ukuba isAmbulo siqinisekise ukulahlwa kwenkolo yamanga ngokusinikeza izincazelo ezimbili eziningiliziwe zokuwa kwayo nezenzakalo ezilandelayo eziholela ekubeni kwayo incithakalo ngokuphelele. Sesiyibonile kakade ‘njengesifebe esikhulu’ ekugcineni esibhujiswa izithandwa zaso zakuqala zezombangazwe. (IsAmbulo 17:1, 15, 16) Manje, komunye umbono futhi, kumelwe siyibheke njengomuzi, umfuziselo ongokwenkolo weBhabhiloni lasendulo.
IBhabhiloni Elikhulu Liyawa
4. (a) Yimuphi umbono uJohane awubonayo ngokulandelayo? (b) Singathi ingubani ingelosi, futhi kungani kufaneleka ngayo ukuba imemezele ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
4 UJohane uqhubeka nokulandisa, esitshela: “Ngemva kwalezi zinto ngabona enye ingelosi yehla ezulwini, inegunya elikhulu; umhlaba wakhanyiswa inkazimulo yayo. Yakhamuluka ngezwi elinamandla, ithi: ‘Liwile! IBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwile.’” (IsAmbulo 18:1, 2a) Sekungokwesibili uJohane ezwa leso simemezelo sengelosi. (Bheka isAmbulo 14:8.) Nokho, kulokhu ukubaluleka kwaso kugcizelelwa ukukhazimula kwengelosi yasezulwini, ngoba inkazimulo yayo ikhanyisa wonke umhlaba! Ingaba ubani? Emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambili umprofethi uHezekeli, ebika umbono wasezulwini, wathi ‘umhlaba wakhanya ngenxa yenkazimulo kaJehova.’ (Hezekeli 43:2) Ukuphela kwengelosi engakhazimula ngenkazimulo efana nekaJehova kungaba iNkosi uJesu, ‘ewukubonakaliswa kwenkazimulo [kaNkulunkulu] nomfanekiso okuyiwonawona wobuqu bakhe uqobo.’ (Hebheru 1:3) Ngo-1914 uJesu waba iNkosi yasezulwini, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi uye wasebenzisa igunya emhlabeni njengeNkosi noMahluleli okanye noJehova. Khona-ke, kungokufanelekayo ukuba amemezele ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu.
5. (a) Ingelosi isebenzisa bani ekumemezeleni ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu? (b) Lapho ukwahlulela kuqala kulabo abathi ‘bayindlu kaNkulunkulu,’ kwenzekani kweLobukholwa?
5 Le ngelosi enegunya elikhulu isebenzisa bani ekumemezeleni esintwini izindaba ezimangaza kangaka? Phela, yibo kanye labo bantu abakhululwa ngenxa yalokho kuwa, abagcotshiwe abasasele emhlabeni, isigaba sikaJohane. Kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ku-1918, laba bahlushwa kakhulu yiBhabhiloni Elikhulu, kodwa ngo-1918 iNkosi uJehova “nesithunywa [sayo] sesivumelwano [sika-Abrahama],” uJesu Kristu, baqala ukwahlulela “endlini kaNkulunkulu,” labo ababethi bangamaKristu. Kanjalo eLobukholwa elihlubukayo lavivinywa. (Malaki 3:1; 1 Petru 4:17) Icala lalo elikhulu legazi elazibangela lona ngempi yezwe yokuqala, ukuhlanganyela kwalo ekushushiseni ofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile, nezivumo zalo zokholo zaseBhabhiloni akuzange kulisize esikhathini sokwahlulelwa; futhi ayikho enye ingxenye yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu eyafanelwa ukuvunyelwa uNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa no-Isaya 13:1-9.
6. Kungani kungathiwa iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lase liwile ngo-1919?
6 Ngakho ngo-1919 iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lase liwile, livula indlela yokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhululwe futhi babuyiselwe, njengokungathi ngosuku olulodwa, ezweni labo lokuchuma okungokomoya. (Isaya 66:8) Ngalowo nyaka, uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, uDariyu oMkhulu noKoresi oMkhulu, base beqondise izinto ngendlela yokuthi inkolo yamanga ingabe isakwazi ukubamba abantu bakaJehova. Yayingasenakubavimbela ukuba bakhonze uJehova futhi bazise bonke ababengase bezwe ukuthi iBhabhiloni Elikhulu elinjengesifebe lilahliwe nokuthi ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova kuseduze!—Isaya 45:1-4; Daniyeli 5:30, 31.
7. (a) Nakuba iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lingazange libhujiswe ngo-1919, uJehova walibheka kanjani? (b) Lapho iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liwa ngo-1919, waba yini umphumela kubantu bakaJehova?
7 Yiqiniso, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu alizange libhujiswe ngo-1919—njengoba nje nomuzi wasendulo waseBhabhiloni ungazange ubhujiswe ngo-539 B.C.E. lapho uwela emabuthweni kaKoresi umPheresiya. Kodwa ngokubheka kukaJehova, leyo nhlangano yayisiwile. Ngokwesinqumo yayilahliwe, ilindele ukubhujiswa; ngakho, inkolo yamanga yayingasenakubathumba abantu bakaJehova. (Qhathanisa noLuka 9:59, 60.) Laba bakhululwa ukuba bakhonze njengenceku yeNkosi ethembekileyo nenqondayo ekunikezeni ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele. Babamukele isahlulelo sokuthi ‘Nenze kahle’ futhi bathunywa ukuba babe matasa futhi emsebenzini kaJehova.—Mathewu 24:45-47; 25:21, 23; IzEnzo 1:8.
8. Yisiphi isehlakalo umlindi ka-Isaya 21:8, 9 asimemezelayo, futhi ubani namuhla ofanekiselwa yilowo mlindi?
8 Ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka ezidlule uJehova wasebenzisa abanye abaprofethi ukuba abikezele ngalesi sehlakalo esiqopha umlando. U-Isaya wakhuluma ngomlindi ‘omemeza njengengonyama: “O Jehova, ngimi njalo phezu kwenqaba yokulinda emini, ngisendaweni yami yokuqapha ubusuku bonke.”’ Futhi isiphi isenzakalo lowo mlindi asibonayo nasimemezela ngesibindi esinjengesengonyama? Yilesi: “Liwile! IBhabhiloni liwile, futhi yonke imifanekiso ebaziwe yonkulunkulu balo [uJehova] uyiphule yawela emhlabathini!” (Isaya 21:8, 9) Lo mlindi usifanekisela kahle isigaba sikaJohane sanamuhla esiphapheme, njengoba sisebenzisa umagazini INqabayokulinda nezinye izincwadi ezingokwasezulwini ukuze simemezele kabanzi izindaba zokuthi iBhabhiloni liwile.
Ukuba Buthaka KweBhabhiloni Elikhulu
9, 10. (a) Yikuphi ukuba buthaka okuye kwenzeka ethonyeni lenkolo yobuBhabhiloni kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe I? (b) Ingelosi enamandla isichaza kanjani isimo sokuwa seBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
9 Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo ngo-539 B.C.E. kwakuwukuqala kokuba buthaka okwathatha isikhathi eside kwaphelela ekubeni kwalo incithakalo. Ngokufanayo, kusukela ngempi yezwe yokuqala, ithonya lenkolo yobuBhabhiloni liye laba buthaka ngokuphawulekayo emhlabeni wonke. EJapane, ukukhulekelwa kombusi kobuShinto kwenqatshelwa ngemva kwempi yezwe yesibili. EChina, uhulumeni wobuKhomanisi ulawula konke ukumiswa ezikhundleni okungokwenkolo nemisebenzi yenkolo. Enyakatho Yurophu yobuProthestani, abantu abaningi abasayinaki inkolo. Futhi muva nje iSonto LamaRoma Katolika liye lenziwa buthaka ukwehlukana nokungavumelani embusweni walo womhlaba wonke.—Qhathanisa noMarku 3:24-26.
10 Ngokungangabazeki konke lokhu kuthambekela kuyingxenye ‘yokusha komfula i-Ewufrathe’ okulungiselela ukuhlaselwa ngempi okuzayo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Lokhu ‘kusha’ kubonakala futhi esimemezelweni sikapapa sika-October 1986 sokuthi isonto kumelwe “libe isinxibi futhi”—ngenxa yokuntuleka okukhulu kwezimali. (IsAmbulo 16:12) Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1919 lapho iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liye ladalulwa kubantu bonke njengeliwugwadule olungokomoya, njengoba nje ingelosi enamandla imemezela lapha: “Futhi liye laba yindawo yokuhlala yamademoni nendawo yokuquba yawo wonke umoya ongcolile nendawo yokuquba yazo zonke izinyoni ezingcolile nezizondekayo!” (IsAmbulo 18:2b) Ngokushesha lizoba ugwadule olunjalo olungokoqobo, libe yincithakalo njengamanxiwa eBhabhiloni e-Iraq yanamuhla.—Bheka futhi uJeremiya 50:25-28.
11. Kungamuphi umqondo iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liye laba ‘indawo yokuhlala yamademoni nendawo yokuquba umoya ongcolile nezinyoni ezingcolile’?
11 Cishe igama elithi “amademoni” lapha limelela igama elithi “amademoni afana nezimbuzi” (se‘i·rimʹ) elitholakala encazelweni ka-Isaya yeBhabhiloni eliwile: “Futhi yilapho ngokuqinisekile kuyolala khona okuhlala ezifundeni ezingenamanzi, futhi izindlu zako ziyogcwala izikhovankozi. Kuyohlala khona izintshe, namademoni amise okwembuzi ayotshakadula khona.” (Isaya 13:21) Lingase lingabhekiseli emademonini angokoqobo kodwa kunalokho ezilwaneni zasendle, ezinoboya obude ezinesimo esasenza ababukele bacabange ngamademoni. Emanxiweni eBhabhiloni Elikhulu, ukuba khona okungokomfanekiso kwezilwane ezinjalo, kanye nomoya onobuthi (“umoya ongcolile”) nezinyoni ezingcolile, kubonisa isimo salo esifile ngokomoya. Alikho ithemba lokuphila eliliphathele isintu.—Qhathanisa nabase-Efesu 2:1, 2.
12. Isimo seBhabhiloni Elikhulu sifanelana kanjani nesiprofetho sikaJeremiya esahlukweni 50?
12 Isimo salo futhi sifanelana nesiprofetho sikaJeremiya: “‘Kukhona inkemba ngokumelene namaKhaledi,’ kusho uJehova, ‘nangokumelene nabakhileyo eBhabhiloni nezikhulu zalo nabahlakaniphile balo. . . . Kukhona ukuchithwa kwamanzi alo, futhi ayokoma. Ngoba yizwe lemifanekiso ebaziwe, futhi ngenxa yemibono yabo ethusayo baqhubeka benza ngendlela yokusangana. Ngakho-ke okuhlala ezifundeni ezingenamanzi kuyohlala kanye nezilwane ezihewulayo, futhi izintshe ziyohlala kulo; akusayophinde kuhlale muntu kulo, noma lihlale izizukulwane ngezizukulwane.’” Ukukhulekela izithombe nokuthemeleza imithandazo ephindaphindwayo akunakulisindisa iBhabhiloni Elikhulu esijezisweni esifuze ukugumbuqela kukaNkulunkulu iSodoma neGomora.—Jeremiya 50:35-40.
Iwayini Elivusa Inkanuko
13. (a) Ingelosi enamandla ikudonsela kanjani ukunakekela ezingeni elikhulu lobufebe beBhabhiloni Elikhulu? (b) Yikuphi ukuziphatha okubi okwakwandile eBhabhiloni lasendulo okutholakalayo futhi eBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
13 Ngokulandelayo ingelosi enamandla idonsela ukunakekela ezingeni elikhulu lobufebe beBhabhiloni Elikhulu, imemezela: “Ngoba ngenxa yewayini [elivusa inkanuko] yobufebe baloa izizwe zonke ziye zaba izisulu, namakhosi omhlaba afeba nalo, nabathengisi abahambahambayo bomhlaba baceba ngenxa yamandla okunethezeka kwalo kokungabi namahloni.” (IsAmbulo 18:3) Liye lafundisa zonke izizwe zesintu izindlela zalo zenkolo ezingcolile. EBhabhiloni lasendulo, ngokwesazimlando esingumGreki uHerodotus, intombi ngayinye kwakudingeka inikele ngobuntombi bayo ekukhulekeleni kwasethempelini. Kuze kube namuhla ukonakala ngokobulili okwenyanyisayo kuvezwe emifanekisweni eqoshwe ematsheni eyonakala ngempi e-Angkor Wat eKampuchea nasemathempelini eKhajuraho, eNdiya, abonisa unkulunkulu wamaHindu uVishnu ezungezwe imifanekiso yobulili enengekayo. E-United States, ukudalulwa kokuziphatha okubi okwazamazamisa umhlaba wabavangeli bakuma-TV ngo-1987, nango-1988 futhi, kanye nokwambulwa komkhuba owandile wobungqingili babefundisi benkolo, kubonisa ukuthi ngisho neLobukholwa libekezelela ukweqisa okwethusayo kobufebe obungokoqobo. Nokho, izizwe zonke ziye zaba izisulu zohlobo lobufebe obungathí sina ngokwengeziwe.
14-16. (a) Yibuphi ubuhlobo obungokomoya benkolo nezombangazwe obungemthetho obakheka eNtaliyane lobuFascist? (b) Lapho iNtaliyane ihlasela i-Abyssinia, iziphi izinkulumo ababhishobhi beSonto LamaRoma Katolika abazisho?
14 Sesibubukezile kakade ubuhlobo obungemthetho benkolo nezombangazwe obanyusela uHitler emandleni okubusa eJalimane lobuNazi. Nezinye izizwe ziye zahlupheka ngenxa yokugxambukela kwenkolo ezindabeni zezwe. Ngokwesibonelo: ENtaliyane yobuFascist, ngo-February 11, 1929, uMussolini noMfundis’ uGasparri basayina isiVumelwano saseLateran, benza iDolobha laseVatican umbuso wobukhosi. UPapa Pius XI wathi “unikele iNtaliyane kuNkulunkulu, noNkulunkulu eNtaliyane.” Ingabe lokho kwakuyiqiniso? Cabangela lokho okwenzeka eminyakeni eyisithupha kamuva. Ngo-October 3, 1935, iNtaliyane yahlasela i-Abyssinia, ithi “iyizwe lamaqaba elisaqhuba ubugqila.” Ubani ngempela owayenza ubuqaba? Ingabe iSonto LamaKatolika labulahla ubuqaba bukaMussolini? Nakuba upapa ayekhuluma izinkulumo ezingacacile, abefundisi bakhe babengafihli ekubusiseni amabutho ahlomile “ezwe labo lendabuko” laseNtaliyane. Encwadini ethi The Vatican in the Age of the Dictators, u-Anthony Rhodes uyabika:
15 “ENcwadini yakhe eya emabandleni yangomhla ka-19 October [1935], uMbhishobhi Wase-Udine [eNtaliyane] wabhala, ‘Akusona isikhathi futhi akufanele ngathi ukuba sisho okulungile nokungalungile kwale ndaba. Umsebenzi wethu njengamaNtaliyane, futhi ikakhulu njengamaKristu uwukuba nengxenye ekuphumeleleni kwezikhali zethu.’ Ngomhla ka-21 October uMbhishobhi WasePadua wabhala, ‘Kula mahora anzima esidlula kuwo, sicela ukuba nibe nokholo eziphathimandleni zethu zikahulumeni nasemabuthweni ahlomile.’ Ngomhla ka-24 October, uMbhishobhi WaseCremona wabusisa amafulege empi amaningi futhi wathi: ‘Isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu masibe phezu kwala masosha azonqoba, emhlabathini wase-Afrika, amazwe amasha navundile ngenxa yezimiso zaseNtaliyane, ngaleyo ndlela ewalethela isiko lamaRoma nelobuKristu. Kwangathi iNtaliyane ingaphinda futhi ime njengomfundisi wezwe lonke wobuKristu.’”
16 I-Abyssinia yaphangwa, ngesibusiso sabefundisi bamaRoma Katolika. Ingabe noma yibaphi balaba babengasho, nganoma imuphi umqondo, ukuthi babenjengomphostoli uPawulu ‘bamsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu’?—IzEnzo 20:26.
17. ISpain yahlupheka kanjani ngenxa yokuthi abefundisi bayo bahluleka ‘ukukhanda izinkemba zabo zibe ngamageja’?
17 Ngaphezu kweJalimane, iNtaliyane, ne-Abyssinia yenezela esinye isizwe esiye saba isisulu sobufebe beBhabhiloni Elikhulu—iSpain. IMpi Yomphakathi ka-1936-39 kulelo zwe, ngokwengxenye, yasuswa ukuthatha kukahulumeni obusa ngentando yeningi izinyathelo zokunciphisa amandla eSonto lobuRoma Katolika. Njengoba impi iqhubeka, umholi ongumFascist ongumKatolika wamabutho avukelayo, uFranco, wazichaza ngokuthi ‘unguJenene Omkhulu OngumKristu WamaButho Angcwele,’ okuyisiqu kamuva asilahla. Izinkulungwane eziningi zamakhulu abantu baseSpain zafa empini. Ngaphandle kwalokhu, ngokwesilinganiso esingeqisi, iqembu likaFranco lamaNational lalibulale amalungu angu-40 000 eqembu lePopular Front, kuyilapho laba bamuva babebulale abefundisi abangu-8 000—izindela, abapristi, izindelakazi, nezimfunda-makhwela. Lezo izinto ezisabekayo nezixhaphazelisa amathumbu zempi yomphakathi, okubonisa ukuhlakanipha kokulalela amazwi kaJesu: “Buyisela inkemba yakho endaweni yayo, ngoba bonke abaphatha inkemba bayobhubha ngenkemba.” (Mathewu 26:52) Yeka ukuthi kunenga kangakanani ukuthi eLobukholwa lihileleka ekuchithweni kwegazi eliningi kangaka! Ngempela abefundisi balo baye bahluleka ngokuphelele ‘ukukhanda izinkemba zabo zibe ngamageja’!—Isaya 2:4.
Abathengisi Abahambahambayo
18. Bangobani “abathengisi abahambahambayo bomhlaba”?
18 Bangobani “abathengisi abahambahambayo bomhlaba”? Ngokungangabazeki namuhla singababiza ngokuthi abahwebi, izinhlangano ezinkulu zezentengiselwano, ongqondongqondo bamabhizinisi amakhulu. Lokhu akusho ukuthi akulungile ukuhileleka ebhizinisini elisemthethweni. IBhayibheli linikeza iseluleko esihlakaniphile kubantu bamabhizinisi, lixwayisa ngokungethembeki, ukuhaha, nokunye. (IzAga 11:1; Zakariya 7:9, 10; Jakobe 5:1-5) Inzuzo enkulu ‘ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kanye nokwaneliswa.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:6, 17-19) Nokho, izwe likaSathane alizilandeli izindinganiso zokulunga. Ukonakala kwandile. Kutholakala enkolweni, kwezombangazwe—nasemabhizinisini amakhulu. Ngokuvamile imithombo yezindaba idalula izindaba ezingamahlazo, njengokukhwabanisa kweziphathimandla zikahulumeni nokuthengiswa kwezikhali okungemthetho.
19. Yiliphi iqiniso ngomnotho wezwe elisiza ekuchazeni isizathu sokuba abathengisi bomhlaba bakhulunyelwe kabi kusAmbulo?
19 Ukuthengiselana kwezizwe ngezikhali kudlula u-R2 000 000 000 000 unyaka ngamunye, kuyilapho amakhulu ezigidi zabantu entula izidingo zokuphila. Lokho kubi ngokwanele. Kodwa izikhali zibonakala ziyisisekelo somnotho wezwe. Ngo-April 11, 1987, indaba esephephandabeni laseLondon i-Spectator yabika: “Uma kubalwa izimboni ezihlangene ngokuqondile, kuhileleke imisebenzi engaba ngu-400 000 e-U.S. nengu-750 000 eYurophu. Kodwa ngokuthakazelisayo, njengoba iye yakhula ingxenye yezenhlalo neyezomnotho ekwakheni izikhali, umbuzo wangempela wokuthi abakhiqizi bezikhali bavikelekile yini uye wakhohlakala.” Kwenziwa inzuzo enkulu njengoba amabhomu nezinye izikhali kuthengiswa emhlabeni wonke, ngisho nakwabangase babe izitha. Ngolunye usuku lawo mabhomu angase abuye esewukhukhulela-ngoqo ongamalangabi ozobhubhisa labo abawathengisayo. Yeka indida! Ngaphezu kwalokhu kunokungathembeki okuzungeze ukukhiqizwa kwezikhali. E-United States kuphela, ngokusho kwe-Spectator, “unyaka ngamunye iPentagon (indlunkulu yoMnyango Wezokuvikela e-U.S.) ilahlekelwa ngokungaqondakali izikhali nezinto zokusebenza ezilinganiselwa ku-[R1 800-million].” Akumangalisi ukuthi abathengisi bomhlaba bakhulunyelwa kabi kusAmbulo!
20. Yisiphi isibonelo esibonisa ukuhileleka kwenkolo emikhubeni eyonakele yamabhizinisi?
20 Njengoba kwabikezelwa ingelosi ekhazimulayo, inkolo ibihileleke ngokujulile emikhubeni enjalo eyonakele yezentengiselwano. Ngokwesibonelo, kunokuhileleka kweVatican ekuweni kweBanco Ambrosiano yaseNtaliyane ngo-1982. Icala liye laqhubeka phakathi nawo-1980, umbuzo ongaphenduliwe uwukuthi: Imali yayaphi? Ngo-February 1987 izimantshi zaseMilan zakhipha izincwadi zokubopha abefundisi abathathu baseVatican, kuhlanganise nombhishobhi omkhulu waseMelika, ngamacala okuthi baba abalekeleli ekubikeni ukuwa ngokwezimali okuwumgunyathi, kodwa iVatican yasenqaba isicelo sokuba baye kulelo cala. Ngo-July 1987, phakathi nesiphithiphithi sokubhikisha, iNkantolo ephakeme yaseNtaliyane Yokudlulisa Amacala yazihoxisa izincwadi zokuboshwa ngenxa yesivumelwano esidala phakathi kweVatican nohulumeni waseNtaliyane.
21. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJesu wayengenabudlelwane nemikhuba yamabhizinisi engabazekayo yosuku lwakhe, kodwa yini esiyibonayo namuhla enkolweni yobuBhabhiloni?
21 Ingabe uJesu wayenabo ubudlelwane nemikhuba yezentengiselwano engabazekayo yosuku lwakhe? Cha. Wayengenayo ngisho nendawo engeyakhe, ngoba ‘wayengenandawo yokubeka ikhanda.’ Umbusi osemusha ocebile walulekwa uJesu: “Thengisa zonke izinto onazo wabele abantu abampofu, khona-ke uyoba nengcebo emazulwini; bese uza ube ngumlandeli wami.” Leso kwakuyiseluleko esihle, ngoba kwakungaphumela ekuqedeni kwakhe konke ukukhathazeka ngezindaba zebhizinisi. (Luka 9:58; 18:22) Ngokuphambene, inkolo yobuBhabhiloni ngokuvamile inobuhlobo obungathandeki namabhizinisi amakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1987 i-Albany Times Union yabika ukuthi umqondisi wezimali wesifunda samaKatolika saseMiami, eFlorida, e-U.S.A., wavuma ukuthi isonto linezimali ezinkampanini ezakha izikhali zenuzi, emabhayisikobho abadala kuphela, nogwayi.
“Phumani Kulo, Bantu Bami”
22. (a) Lithini izwi elivela ezulwini? (b) Yini eyaholela ekujabuleni kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngo-537 B.C.E. nango-1919 C.E.?
22 Amazwi kaJohane alandelayo akhomba kokunye ukugcwaliseka komfuziselo ongokwesiprofetho: “Ngezwa futhi elinye izwi livela ezulwini lithi: ‘Phumani kulo, bantu bami, uma ningafuni ukuhlanganyela nalo ezonweni zalo, futhi ningafuni ukwamukela ingxenye yezinhlupho zalo.’” (IsAmbulo 18:4) Iziprofetho zokuwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo emiBhalweni yesiHebheru zihlanganisa futhi nomyalo kaJehova kubantu bakhe: “Balekani niphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni.” (Jeremiya 50:8, 13) Ngokufanayo, ngenxa yokuchithwa okuzayo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu, abantu bakaNkulunkulu manje bakhuthazwa ukuba babaleke. Ngo-537 B.C.E. ithuba lokubaleka eBhabhiloni labangela ukujabula okukhulu kuma-Israyeli athembekile. Ngendlela efanayo, ukukhululwa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ekuthunjweni kwaseBhabhiloni ngo-1919 kwaholela ekujabuleni okukhulu ngabo. (IsAmbulo 11:11, 12) Futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi izigidi zabanye ziye zawulalela umyalo wokubaleka.
23. Izwi elivela ezulwini likugcizelela kanjani ukuphuthuma kokubaleka eBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
23 Ingabe ngempela kuphuthuma kangako ukubaleka eBhabhiloni Elikhulu, ukuyeka ukuba ilungu lezinkolo zezwe nokuzahlukanisa nazo ngokuphelele? Kuyaphuthuma, ngoba sidinga ukuba nombono kaNkulunkulu ngalesi simanga esidala esingokwenkolo, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Wayengagwegwesi lapho elibiza ngokuthi liyisifebe esikhulu. Ngakho manje izwi elivela ezulwini lazisa uJohane ngokwengeziwe ngokuqondene nalesi sifebe: “Ngoba izono zalo ziye zanqwabelana zaze zafika phezulu ezulwini, noNkulunkulu wazikhumbula izenzo zalo zokungalungi. Yenzani kulo njengokwenza kwalo, futhi nenze kulo ngokuphindwe kabili, yebo, siphindwe kabili isibalo sezinto elazenza; endebeni elafaka kuyo ingxube lifakeleni leyo ngxube iphindwe kabili. Ngezinga elazikhazimulisa futhi laphila ngalo ngokunethezeka kokungabi namahloni, linikeni ngalelo zinga ukuhlushwa nokulila. Ngoba enhliziyweni yalo liqhubeka lithi, ‘Ngihlezi njengendlovukazi, angiyena umfelokazi, futhi angisoze ngakubona ukulila.’ Kungakho zizofika ngalusuku lunye izinhlupho zalo, ukufa nokulila nendlala, futhi liyoshiswa ngomlilo liphele, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu, olahlulele, unamandla.”—IsAmbulo 18:5-8.
24. (a) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kumelwe babaleke eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ukuze bagwemeni? (b) Labo abahlulekayo ukubaleka eBhabhiloni Elikhulu bahlanganyela nalo kuziphi izono?
24 Amazwi anamandla lawo! Ngakho kudingeka isinyathelo. UJeremiya wakhuthaza ama-Israyeli ngosuku lwakhe ukuba athathe isinyathelo, ethi: “Balekani niphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, . . . ngoba yisikhathi sempindiselo kaJehova. Kukhona impatho alibuyisela yona. Phumani phakathi kwalo, bantu bami, nenzele yilowo nalowo umphefumulo wakhe indlela yokuphunyuka entukuthelweni kaJehova evuthayo.” (Jeremiya 51:6, 45) Ngendlela efanayo, izwi elivela ezulwini lixwayisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla ukuba babaleke eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ukuze bangamukeli ingxenye yezinhlupho zalo. Manje kumenyezelwa izahlulelo zikaJehova ezinjengezinhlupho kuleli zwe, kuhlanganise neBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo 8:1–9:21; 16:1-21) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kudingeka bazehlukanise nenkolo yamanga uma bona ngokwabo bengafuni ukuhlushwa yilezi zinhlupho futhi ekugcineni bafe kanye nalo. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ukuhlala kuleyo nhlangano kuyobenza bahlanganyele ezonweni zayo. Njengalo, bayoba necala lobufebe obungokomoya nelokuchitha igazi “labo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni.”—IsAmbulo 18:24; qhathanisa nabase-Efesu 5:11; 1 Thimothewu 5:22.
25. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphuma ngaziphi izindlela eBhabhiloni lasendulo?
25 Nokho, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphuma kanjani eBhabhiloni Elikhulu? Endabeni yeBhabhiloni lasendulo, amaJuda kwadingeka athathe uhambo olungokoqobo esuka emzini waseBhabhiloni ephindela eZweni Lesithembiso. Kodwa kwakuhileleke okwengeziwe kunalokho. Ngokwesiprofetho u-Isaya watshela ama-Israyeli: “Sukani, sukani, phumani lapho, ningathinti lutho olungcolile; phumani phakathi kwalo, zigcineni nihlanzekile, nina enithwala izitsha zikaJehova.” (Isaya 52:11) Yebo, kwakumelwe alahle yonke imikhuba engcolile yenkolo yaseBhabhiloni eyayingase ingcolise ukukhulekela kwawo uJehova.
26. AmaKristu aseKorinte awalalela kanjani amazwi athi, ‘Phumani phakathi kwabo, niyeke ukuthinta into engcolile’?
26 Umphostoli uPawulu wacaphuna amazwi ka-Isaya encwadini yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte, ethi: “Ningaboshelwa ejokeni nabangakholwa. Ngoba kunabudlelwane buni ukulunga nokungalungi na? Noma, ukukhanya kunasabelo sini nobumnyama? . . . ‘Ngakho-ke phumani phakathi kwabo, nizihlukanise,’ kusho uJehova, ‘futhi niyeke ukuthinta into engcolile.’” AmaKristu aseKorinte akudingekanga ukuba aphume eKorinte ukuze alalele lowo myalo. Nokho, kwakumelwe awagweme ngokoqobo amathempeli angcolile enkolo yamanga, futhi azehlukanise ngokomoya nezenzo ezingcolile zalabo bakhulekeli bezithombe. Ngo-1919 abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqala ukubaleka eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ngale ndlela, bezihlanza kunoma iziphi izimfundiso nemikhuba engcolile eyizinsalela. Ngaleyo ndlela, bakwazi ukumkhonza njengabantu bakhe abahlanzekile.—2 Korinte 6:14-17; 1 Johane 3:3.
27. Ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kwezahlulelo zeBhabhiloni lasendulo nezeBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
27 Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo nokuba kwalo incithakalo ekugcineni kwakuyisijeziso ngenxa yezono zalo. “Ngoba isahlulelo salo sifinyelele emazulwini.” (Jeremiya 51:9) Ngokufanayo, izono zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu ziye “zanqwabelana zaze zafika phezulu ezulwini,” ukuze ziqashelwe uJehova ngokwakhe. Linecala lokwahlulela ngokungalungi, ukukhulekela izithombe, ukuziphatha okubi, ukucindezela, ukuphanga, nokubulala. Ngokwengxenye, ukuwa kweBhabhiloni lasendulo kwakuyimpindiselo ngenxa yalokho elalikwenzile ethempelini likaJehova nakubakhulekeli bakhe beqiniso. (Jeremiya 50:8, 14; 51:11, 35, 36) Ngokufanayo ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu nokubhujiswa kwalo ekugcineni kuwukuboniswa kwempindiselo ngenxa yalokho elikwenzile kubakhulekeli beqiniso emakhulwini eminyaka adlule. Ngempela, ukubhujiswa kwalo kokugcina kuwukuqala ‘kosuku lwempindiselo kaNkulunkulu wethu.’—Isaya 34:8-10; 61:2; Jeremiya 50:28.
28. Iyiphi indinganiso yokwahlulela ngokulunga uJehova ayisebenzisa eBhabhiloni Elikhulu, futhi ngani?
28 Ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, uma umIsrayeli ayentshontshele amanye ama-Israyeli, kwakumelwe akhokhe okungenani ngokuphindwe kabili. (Eksodusi 22:1, 4, 7, 9) Ekubhujisweni okuzayo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu, uJehova uyosebenzisa indinganiso efanayo yokulunga. Kumelwe lamukele okuphindwe kabili kwalokho elikunikile. Ngeke liboniswe musa ngoba iBhabhiloni Elikhulu alibonisanga musa ezisulwini zalo. Liye laxhaphaza abantu bomhlaba ukuze lizigcine ‘linethezekile lingenamahloni.’ Manje lizohlupheka futhi lilile. IBhabhiloni lasendulo lalinomuzwa wokuthi lilondeke ngokuphelele, liqhosha: “Ngeke ngihlale njengomfelokazi, futhi ngeke ngikwazi ukulahlekelwa abantwana.” (Isaya 47:8, 9, 11) IBhabhiloni Elikhulu nalo lizizwa lilondekile. Kodwa ukubhujiswa kwalo, okumenyezelwa uJehova ‘onamandla,’ kuyokwenzeka ngokushesha, njengokungathi “ngalusuku lunye”!
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Umbhalo waphansi we-New World Translation Reference Bible.
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“Amakhosi . . . Afeba Nalo”
Ekuqaleni kwawo-1800 abahwebi baseYurophu babeshushumbisela eChina izinqwabanqwaba zomlaliso i-opium. Ngo-March 1839 iziphathimandla zaseChina zazama ukukuvala lokhu kuthengisa okungemthetho ngokubamba amabhokisi angu-20 000 alo mlaliso kubahwebi baseBrithani. Lokhu kwaholela ebutheni phakathi kweBrithani neChina. Njengoba ubuhlobo phakathi kwala mazwe amabili babuncipha, abanye abavangeli bamaProthestani bakhuthaza iBrithani ukuba ilwe, ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi ezilandelayo:
“Yeka ukuthi lobu bunzima buyijabulisa kanjani inhliziyo yami ngoba ngicabanga ukuthi uhulumeni wamaNgisi ungase uthukuthele, futhi uNkulunkulu, ngamandla aKhe angase aphule imigoqo evimbela ukuba ivangeli likaKristu lingene eChina.”—Henrietta Shuck, umvangeli waseSouthern Baptist.
Ekugcineni, impi yagqashuka—impi namuhla eyaziwa ngokuthi iMpi Ye-Opium. Abavangeli bayikhuthaza ngenhliziyo yonke iBrithani ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi:
“Ngiphoqelekile ukuba ngibheke emuva esimweni sezinto esikhona manje hhayi njengendaba ye-opium noma indaba yamaNgisi, kodwa njengecebo elikhulu laPhezulu lokwenza ububi bomuntu bukhonze izinjongo zaKhe zomusa eChina ngokubhodloza udonga lwayo lokuzehlukanisa.”—Peter Parker, umvangeli wamaCongregationalist.
Omunye umvangeli wamaCongregationalist, uSamuel W. Williams, wanezela: “Isandla sikaNkulunkulu siyabonakala kukho konke okuye kwaba umphumela ngendlela ephawulekayo, futhi asingabazi ukuthi Lowo owathi uzelé ukuletha inkemba emhlabeni uze lapha futhi uzele ukubhubhisa izitha zaKhe ngokushesha nokumisa umbuso waKhe siqu. Uyogumbuqela agumbuqele kuze kube yilapho esemise iNkosi Yokuthula.”
Ngokuqondene nokubulawa okusabekayo kwamaShayina, umvangeli uJ. Lewis Shuck wabhala: “Ngibheka izenzakalo ezinjalo . . . njengamathuluzi aqondile eNkosi okususa izibi ezithiya ukuqhubeka kweQiniso Laphezulu.”
Umvangeli wamaCongregationalist u-Elijah C. Bridgman wanezela: “Ngokuvamile uNkulunkulu uye wasebenzisa ingalo enamandla yohulumeni ukuze alungiselele umbuso waKhe indlela . . . Ithuluzi kulezi zikhathi ezibalulekile lingabantu; amandla aqondisayo angawaphezulu. Umbusi ophakeme wazo zonke izizwe uye wasebenzisa iNgilandi ukuze ajezise futhi athobise iChina.”—Izingcaphuno zithathwe endabeni eyalotshwa nguStuart Creighton Miller ethi “Ends and Means,” ka-1974, eyasakazwa encwadini ethi The Missionary Enterprise in China and America (UkuHlola KwaseHarvard okwahlelwa nguJohn K. Fairbank).
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 264]
“Abathengisi Abahambahambayo . . . Baceba”
“Phakathi kuka-1929 nokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe II, [uBernadino] uNogara [umqondisi wezimali waseVatican] wasebenzisa izimali zaseVatican nabameleli beVatican ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zomnotho waseNtaliyane—ikakhulukazi emandleni kagesi, ekuxhumaneni ngezingcingo, ekubolekiseni nasekulondolozeni imali, emizileni emincane yezitimela, nasekukhiqizweni kwezinto zokulima, usimende, nemicu yezindwangu eyakhiwe. Eminingi yale misebenzi yaphumelela.
“UNogara wadla izinkampane eziningana kuhlanganise iLa Società Italiana della Viscosa, iLa Supertessile, neLa Società Meridionale Industrie Tessili, neLa Cisaraion. Ehlanganisa lezi zinkampani ezenza inkampane eyodwa, ayibiza ngokuthi iCISA-Viscosa futhi wayibeka ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaBaron Francesco Maria Oddasso, omunye wabantukazana baseVatican abethenjwa kakhulu, uNogara wabe esebangela ukudliwa kwenkampane entsha yimboni yezindwangu enkulu kunazo zonke eNtaliyane, iSNIA-Viscosa. Ekugcineni isithakazelo seVatican kuyiSNIA-Viscosa saqhubeka sikhula, futhi ngemva kwesikhathi kwalawula iVatican—njengoba kufakaza iqiniso lokuthi uBaron Oddasso kamuva waba iphini likamongameli.
“UNogara wangena kanjalo ezimbonini ezikhiqiza izindwangu. Wangena nakwezinye izimboni ngezinye izindlela, ngoba uNogara wayenamaqhinga amaningi. Le ndoda ezidelayo . . . cishe yenza okwengeziwe ekufakeleni umnotho waseNtaliyane ukuphila ukudlula noma imuphi omunye usomabhizinisi emlandweni waseNtaliyane . . . UBenito Mussolini akazange akwazi ngempela ukwakha umbuso ayephupha ngawo, kodwa wenza ukuba iVatican noBernadino Nogara bakwazi ukwakha umbuso wolunye uhlobo.”—The Vatican Empire, kaNino Lo Bello, amakhasi 71-3.
Lesi isibonelo esisodwa nje kuphela sokusebenzelana okuseduze phakathi kwabathengisi bomhlaba neBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Akumangalisi ukuthi laba bathengisi bayolila lapho umlingani wabo ebhizinisini esengasekho!
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Njengoba abantu babehlakazekela kuwo wonke umhlaba, bahamba nenkolo yobuBhabhiloni
[Izithombe ekhasini 261]
Isigaba sikaJohane, njengomlindi, simemezela ukuthi iBhabhiloni liwile
[Isithombe ekhasini 266]
Amanxiwa eBhabhiloni lasendulo abikezela ukuchithwa okuzayo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu