UJehova ‘UnguMambuli Wezimfihlo’

“Ngempela uNkulunkulu wenu nina madoda unguNkulunkulu wonkulunkulu neNkosi yamakhosi noMambuli wezimfihlo.”—DAN. 2:47.

UNGAPHENDULA KANJANI?

Imiphi imininingwane yesikhathi esizayo uJehova asembulele yona?

Amelelani amakhanda ayisithupha okuqala esilo sasendle?

Ikuphi ukuhlobana esikuthola phakathi kwesilo sasendle nesithombe esabonwa uNebukhadinezari?

1, 2. Yini uJehova aye wasembulela yona, futhi kungani eye wenza kanjalo?

IMIPHI imibuso eyobe ikhonya emhlabeni lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uqeda ukubusa kwabantu? Siyayazi impendulo—siye sayembulelwa ‘uMambuli wezimfihlo,’ uJehova uNkulunkulu. Usenza sazi ukuthi imiphi leyo mibuso ngencwadi yomprofethi uDaniyeli neyomphostoli uJohane.

² UJehova wembulela lawo madoda uchungechunge lwemibono ekhuluma ngezilo zasendle ezibusa zidedelana. Waphinde watshela uDaniyeli incazelo yephupho elaliwumbono lesithombe esikhulu esenziwe ngezinto ezihlukahlukene. UJehova wenza ukuba lokho kulandisa kubhalwe phansi futhi kulondolozwe eBhayibhelini ngokwenzuzo yethu. (Roma 15:4) Wayenzela ukuqinisa ithemba lethu lokuthi maduze uMbuso wakhe uzochoboza yonke imibuso yabantu.—Dan. 2:44.

3. Ukuze siqonde iziprofetho ngokunembile, isiphi okudingeka sisiqonde kuqala, futhi ngani?

³ Ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli nokukaJohane, sekukonke akugcini ngokubalula amakhosi noma imibuso yabantu engu-8, kodwa kubonisa nendlela eyayiyolandelana ngayo. Nokho, lezo ziprofetho singaziqonda ngokunembile kuphela uma siqonda incazelo yesiprofetho sokuqala ngqa seBhayibheli. Kungani kunjalo? Ngenxa yokuthi ukugcwaliseka kwaleso siprofetho kuyisihloko esihlanganisa lonke iBhayibheli. Ngandlela-thile, siyintambo okuhlanganiswe ngayo zonke ezinye iziprofetho.

INZALO YENYOKA NESILO SASENDLE

4. Obani abakha inzalo yowesifazane, futhi leyo nzalo izokwenzani?

⁴ Ngemva nje kokuhlubuka kwase-Edene, uJehova wanikeza isithembiso sokuthi “owesifazane” wayeyoveza ‘inzalo.’a (Funda UGenesise 3:15.) Leyo nzalo yayiyogcina ichoboze ikhanda lenyoka, uSathane. Kamuva uJehova wembula ukuthi le nzalo yayiyovela ohlwini lozalo luka-Abrahama, ibe ilungu lesizwe sika-Israyeli, ivele kuJuda nasozalweni lweNkosi uDavide. (Gen. 22:15-18; 49:10; IHu. 89:3, 4; Luka 1:30-33) UKristu Jesu waba ingxenye eyinhloko yale nzalo. (Gal. 3:16) Amalungu agcotshwe ngomoya ebandla lobuKristu akha ingxenye yesibili yayo. (Gal. 3:26-29) UJesu nalaba agcotshiwe bayahlangana bakhe uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ithuluzi uNkulunkulu ayochoboza ngalo uSathane.—Luka 12:32; Roma 16:20.

5, 6. (a) Mingaki imibuso emikhulu ebalulwa uDaniyeli noJohane? (b) Amelelani amakhanda esilo sasendle esikusAmbulo?

⁵ Leso siprofetho sokuqala esashiwo e-Edene sabonisa nokuthi uSathane wayeyoveza ‘inzalo.’ Inzalo yakhe yayiyobonisa ubutha noma inzondo enzalweni yowesifazane. Obani abakha inzalo yenyoka? Yibo bonke abalingisa uSathane ngokuzonda uNkulunkulu nangokuphikisa abantu bakhe. Kuwo wonke umlando, uSathane uye wahlela inzalo yakhe yaba izinhlangano zezombusazwe noma imibuso ehlukahlukene. (Luka 4:5, 6) Nokho, imbalwa kuphela imibuso yabantu eye yaba nethonya elikhulu kubantu bakaNkulunkulu, kungaba isizwe sakwa-Israyeli noma ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. Kungani kuphawuleka lokhu? Yingoba kuchaza ukuthi kungani imibono kaDaniyeli noJohane ikhuluma ngemibuso yezwe emikhulu engu-8 kuphela.

⁶ Ekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala C.E., uJesu ovusiwe wanikeza umphostoli uJohane uchungechunge lwemibono ekhexisayo. (IsAm. 1:1) Komunye wayo, uJohane wabona uDeveli, emelelwe udrako, emi ogwini lolwandle olukhulu. (Funda isAmbulo 13:1, 2.) UJohane wabona nesilo sasendle esiyinqaba siphuma kulolo lwandle futhi uDeveli esinika igunya elikhulu. Kamuva ingelosi yatshela uJohane ukuthi amakhanda angu-7 esilo sasendle esibomvu, esiwumfanekiso wesilo esikusAmbulo 13:1, amelela “amakhosi ayisikhombisa,” noma imibuso. (IsAm. 13:14, 15; 17:3, 9, 10) Ngesikhathi uJohane eloba le ncwadi, amakhosi amahlanu ayesewile, enye yayisabusa kanti enye ‘yayingakafiki.’ Imiphi le mibuso yezwe emikhulu? Ake sidingide ikhanda ngalinye lesilo sasendle esikusAmbulo. Sizobona nendlela incwadi kaDaniyeli eyanezela ngayo imininingwane eningiliziwe esikhanyisela ngeminingi yale mibuso, eminye yayo iyinikeza kusasele amakhulu eminyaka ibe khona.

AMAKHANDA AMABILI OKUQALA—IGIBHITHE NE-ASIRIYA

7. Limelelani ikhanda lokuqala, futhi kungani usho kanjalo?

⁷ Ikhanda lokuqala lesilo limelela iGibhithe. Ngani? Ngoba iGibhithe laba umbuso omkhulu wokuqala owabonisa ubutha kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Inzalo ka-Abrahama—okwakuyovela kuyo inzalo yowesifazane ethenjisiwe—yanda kakhulu eGibhithe. AbaseGibhithe babe sebewacindezela ama-Israyeli. USathane wazama ukuqothula abantu bakaNkulunkulu ingakafiki leyo nzalo. Kanjani? Ngokushukumisela uFaro ukuba abulale bonke abantwana besilisa bama-Israyeli. UJehova wawubhuntshisa lowo mzamo futhi wakhulula abantu bakhe ebugqilini baseGibhithe. (Eks. 1:15-20; 14:13) Kamuva wangenisa ama-Israyeli eZweni Lesithembiso.

8. Lingubani ikhanda lesibili, futhi lazama ukwenzani?

⁸ Ikhanda lesibili lesilo limelela i-Asiriya. Lo mbuso onamandla nawo wazama ukuqothula abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Yebo, uJehova walisebenzisa i-Asiriya ukuze ajezise umbuso wezizwe eziyishumi ngenxa yokuvukela nokukhulekela kwawo izithombe. Nokho, i-Asiriya labe selihlasela iJerusalema. Kungenzeka ukuthi uSathane wayenomgomo wokuluqeda nya uhlu lozalo lwasebukhosini olwaluyogcina luholele kuJesu. Lokho kuhlasela kwakungeyona ingxenye yenjongo kaJehova futhi wabakhulula ngokuyisimangaliso abantu bakhe abathembekile ngokubhubhisa labo bahlaseli.—2 AmaKh. 19:32-35; Isaya 10:5, 6, 12-15.

IKHANDA LESITHATHU—IBHABHILONI

9, 10. (a) UJehova wavumela abaseBhabhiloni ukuba benzeni? (b) Ukuze isiprofetho sigcwaliseke, yini okwakuyodingeka yenzeke?

⁹ Ikhanda lesithathu lesilo esabonwa uJohane limelela umbuso onhloko-dolobha yawo kwakuyiBhabhiloni. UJehova wavumela abaseBhabhiloni ukuba bagumbuqele iJerusalema futhi bathumbe abantu bakhe. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuvumela lokhu kuthotshiswa, uJehova wawaxwayisa ama-Israyeli avukelayo ukuthi ayeyokwehlelwa yileyo nhlekelele. (2 AmaKh. 20:16-18) Wabikezela ukuthi uhlu lwamakhosi angabantu ayehlala “esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaJehova” eJerusalema lwaluyonqanyulwa. (1 IziKr. 29:23) Nokho, uJehova wabuye wathembisa ukuthi kwakuyofika inzalo yeNkosi uDavide, ‘enelungelo elingokomthetho,’ ilibuyise lelo gunya.—Hez. 21:25-27.

¹⁰ Esinye isiprofetho sabonisa ukuthi amaJuda ayeyobe esakhulekela kulelo thempeli eJerusalema lapho uMesiya othenjisiwe, noma oGcotshiweyo efika. (Dan. 9:24-27) Isiprofetho esalotshwa ngaphambi kokudingiselwa kwama-Israyeli eBhabhiloni, sathi wayeyozalelwa eBhetlehema. (Mika 5:2) Ukuze lezo ziprofetho zigcwaliseke, kwakuyodingeka ukuba amaJuda akhululwe ekudingisweni, abuyele ezweni lenkaba yawo futhi akhe kabusha ithempeli. Kodwa kwakungeyona inkambiso yabaseBhabhiloni ukudedela izithunjwa. Pho kwakuyomiswa kanjani? UJehova wayembula kubaprofethi bakhe impendulo.—Amose 3:7.

11. UMbuso WaseBhabhiloni ufanekiselwa ngaziphi izindlela ezihlukahlukene? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Umprofethi uDaniyeli wayephakathi kwezithunjwa ezayiswa eBhabhiloni. (Dan. 1:1-6) UJehova wamsebenzisa ukuba embule imibuso eyayiyolandela lowo mbuso wezwe omkhulu ngokulandelana kwayo. UJehova wembula lezi zimfihlo, esebenzisa izinto ezihlukahlukene ezifanekiselayo. Ngokwesibonelo, wenza ukuba inkosi yaseBhabhiloni uNebukhadinezari iphuphe isithombe esikhulu esenziwe ngezinto ezihlukahlukene. (Funda uDaniyeli 2:1, 19, 31-38.) NgoDaniyeli, uJehova wembula ukuthi ikhanda legolide lesithombe lalifanekisela uMbuso WaseBhabhiloni.b Umbuso wezwe owawuyolandela owaseBhabhiloni ufanekiselwa isifuba nezingalo zesiliva. Kwakuyoba imuphi lowo mbuso, futhi wawuyobaphatha kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

IKHANDA LESINE—UMBUSO WAMAMEDE NAMAPHERESIYA

12, 13. (a) Yini uJehova ayembula ngokunqotshwa kweBhabhiloni? (b) Kungani kufaneleka ukuba uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya ufanekiselwe ikhanda lesine lesilo sasendle?

¹² Kusasele iminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu ngaphambi kwesikhathi sikaDaniyeli, uJehova wembula ngomprofethi u-Isaya imininingwane ethile ngombuso wezwe owawuyonqoba iBhabhiloni. Akazange nje embule indlela umuzi waseBhabhiloni owawuyonqotshwa ngayo kodwa washo negama lomnqobi. Lowo mholi kwakunguKoresi, umPheresiya. (Isaya 44:28–45:2) UDaniyeli wanikwa neminye imibono emibili ephathelene noMbuso Wezwe WamaMede NamaPheresiya. Komunye wayo, lo mbuso ufanekiselwa ibhere okwakuphakanyiswe olunye uhlangothi lwalo. Latshelwa ukuba ‘lidle inyama eningi.’ (Dan. 7:5) Komunye umbono, uDaniyeli wabona lo mbuso wezwe ombaxambili ufanekiselwa inqama enezimpondo ezimbili.—Dan. 8:3, 20.

¹³ UJehova wasebenzisa uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya ukuze agcwalise isiprofetho ngokugumbuqela iBhabhiloni futhi abuyisele ama-Israyeli ezweni lenkaba yawo. (2 IziKr. 36:22, 23) Nokho, kamuva wona lo mbuso wacishe waqothula abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Incwadi yeBhayibheli ka-Esteri ilandisa ngozungu olwakhiwa undunankulu wasePheresiya, uHamani. Wahlela ukuba kuqothulwe wonke amaJuda ayehlala eMbusweni omkhulu wasePheresiya futhi wabeka nosuku oluqondile okwakuzokwenziwa ngalo lokho. Ukungenela kukaJehova kuphela okwenza ukuba abantu bakhe bavikelwe nakulobo butha benzalo kaSathane. (Est. 1:1-3; 3:8, 9; 8:3, 9-14) Ngakho-ke, kuyafaneleka ukuba uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya ufanekiselwe ikhanda lesine lesilo sesAmbulo.

IKHANDA LESIHLANU—IGRISI

14, 15. Imiphi imininingwane uJehova ayembula ngokuphathelene noMbuso WaseGrisi wasendulo?

¹⁴ Ikhanda lesihlanu lesilo sasendle sesAmbulo limelela iGrisi. Njengoba uDaniyeli ayembulile ekuqaleni lapho echaza iphupho likaNebukhadinezari, wona lo mbuso ubuye ufanekiselwe isisu namathanga ethusi esithombeni. UDaniyeli wanikwa nemibono emibili enikeza imininingwane emangalisayo ngesimo salo mbuso nangombusi wawo ovelele kakhulu.

¹⁵ Komunye umbono, uDaniyeli wabona iGrisi ifanekiselwa ingwe enamaphiko amane, okwakubonisa ukuthi lo mbuso wawuyonqoba ngokushesha okukhulu. (Dan. 7:6) Komunye umbono, uDaniyeli wachaza indlela impongo enophondo olulodwa olugqamile ebulala ngayo ngokushesha inqama enezimpondo ezimbili, emelela uMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya. UJehova watshela uDaniyeli ukuthi le mpongo yayifanekisela iGrisi nokuthi uphondo olukhulu lufanekisela enye yamakhosi ayo. UDaniyeli walandisa nokuthi uphondo olukhulu lwaluyophuka futhi esikhundleni salo kumile izimpondo ezine ezincane kunalo. Nakuba lesi siprofetho sabhalwa emakhulwini eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba iGrisi ikhonye, yonke imininingwane yaso yagcwaliseka. U-Alexander Omkhulu, inkosi evelele kakhulu yeGrisi yasendulo, wahola ekulweni noMbuso WamaMede NamaPheresiya. Nokho, lolu phondo lwephuka ngokushesha, njengoba le nkosi yafa umbuso wayo usadlondlobele, futhi ineminyaka engu-32 kuphela ubudala. Ngemva kwalokho, umbuso wayo wahlukaniselwa ojenene bayo abane.—Funda uDaniyeli 8:20-22.

16. Yini eyenziwa u-Antiochus IV?

¹⁶ Ngemva kokunqoba uMbuso WasePheresiya, iGrisi yabusa izwe labantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngalesi sikhathi amaJuda ayesezinzile eZweni Lesithembiso futhi eselakhe kabusha ithempeli eJerusalema. UNkulunkulu wayesawabheka njengesizwe sakhe esikhethiwe, futhi ithempeli elalakhiwe kabusha liseyisikhungo sokukhulekela kweqiniso. Nokho, ngekhulu lesibili B.C.E., iGrisi, ikhanda lesihlanu lesilo sasendle, yahlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. U-Antiochus IV, ongomunye wezindlalifa zombuso ka-Alexander owawusuhlukene, wabeka i-altare lobuqaba emagcekeni ethempeli eJerusalema futhi wenza ukuqhuba inkolo yamaJuda kwaba icala elinesijeziso sokufa. Yeka isenzo senzondo senzalo kaSathane! Nokho, ukuba kweGrisi umbuso wezwe kwasheshe kwaphela. Ubani owayeyoba ikhanda lesithupha lesilo sasendle?

IKHANDA LESITHUPHA, ‘ELESABEKAYO NELETHUSAYO’—UMBUSO WAMAROMA

17. Ikhanda lesithupha laba nayiphi indima ebalulekile ekugcwalisekeni kukaGenesise 3:15?

¹⁷ Kwakukhonya uMbuso WamaRoma ngesikhathi uJohane enikwa umbono wesilo sasendle. (IsAm. 17:10) Leli khanda lesithupha laba nendima ebalulekile ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho esikuGenesise 3:15. USathane wasebenzisa izikhulu zamaRoma ukuze ashaye inzalo ngegalelo elayikhubaza okwesikhashana, eyilimaza “esithendeni.” Kanjani? Zaqulisa uJesu icala lamanga lokuvukela umbuso futhi zambulala. (Math. 27:26) Kodwa lelo nxeba laphola ngokushesha ngoba uJehova wamvusa.

18. (a) Isiphi isizwe esisha uJehova asikhetha, futhi kungani? (b) Inzalo yenyoka yaqhubeka kanjani ibonisa ubutha enzalweni yowesifazane?

¹⁸ Abaholi benkolo bakwa-Israyeli bahlangana neRoma bakhela uJesu uzungu, futhi ingxenye enkulu yesizwe nayo yamala. Ngakho, uJehova wamlahla u-Israyeli wemvelo wangabe esaba isizwe sakhe. (Math. 23:38; IzE. 2:22, 23) Wabe esekhetha isizwe esisha, “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.” (Gal. 3:26-29; 6:16) Leso sizwe sasiyibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe elalakhiwa amaJuda nabeZizwe. (Efe. 2:11-18) Ngemva kokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu, inzalo yenyoka yaqhubeka ibonisa ubutha enzalweni yowesifazane. UMbuso WamaRoma wazama kaningi ukuqothula ibandla lobuKristu, elaliyingxenye yesibili yenzalo.c

19. (a) UDaniyeli uwuchaza kanjani umbuso wezwe wesithupha? (b) Yini ezocatshangelwa kwesinye isihloko?

¹⁹ Ephusheni likaNebukhadinezari elachazwa uDaniyeli, uMbuso WamaRoma ufanekiselwa imilenze yensimbi. (Dan. 2:33) UDaniyeli wabuye wabona umbono ongagcini nje ngokuchaza kahle uMbuso WamaRoma kodwa nombuso wezwe olandelayo owawuyovela kuwo. (Funda uDaniyeli 7:7, 8.) Kwaphela amakhulu eminyaka izitha zoMbuso WamaRoma ziwubheka ‘njengowesabekayo nowethusayo nonamandla ngokungajwayelekile.’ Nokho, isiprofetho sabikezela ukuthi kwakuyovela ‘izimpondo eziyishumi’ kulo mbuso nokuthi olunye kuzo lwaluyovelela. Ziyini lezi zimpondo eziyishumi, futhi lungubani uphondo oluncane? Lolu phondo oluncane lufanelana kanjani nencazelo yesithombe esikhulu esabonwa uNebukhadinezari? Izimpendulo zale mibuzo zizocatshangelwa esihlokweni esisekhasini 14.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

UJehova Wembula Lokho ‘Okumelwe Kwenzeke Maduzane’

“Isambulo sikaJesu Kristu, uNkulunkulu amnika sona, ukuze abonise izinceku zakhe izinto okumelwe zenzeke maduzane.”—ISAM. 1:1.

UNGAPHENDULA KANJANI?

Iziphi izingxenye zesithombe esikhulu ezifanekisela uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika?

UJohane ubuchaza kanjani ubuhlobo obuphakathi koMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika neZizwe Ezihlangene?

UDaniyeli noJohane bakuchaza kanjani ukuphela kwemibuso yabantu?

1, 2. (a) Isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli nesikaJohane zisisiza ukuba senzeni? (b) Amelelani amakhanda ayisithupha okuqala esilo sasendle?

IZIPROFETHO zikaDaniyeli noJohane zinezici ezifana ngendlela esisiza ukuba siqonde okushiwo izenzakalo zezwe eziningi zanamuhla nezesikhathi esizayo. Yini esingayifunda ngokuqhathanisa umbono kaJohane wesilo sasendle, ukulandisa kukaDaniyeli ngesilo esesabekayo esasinezimpondo eziyishumi nencazelo kaDaniyeli yesithombe esikhulu? Ukuziqonda ngokucacile lezo ziprofetho kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba senzeni?

² Ake sixoxe ngombono kaJohane wesilo sasendle. (IsAm., isahl. 13) Njengoba sibonile esihlokweni esandulele, amakhanda esilo ayisithupha okuqala amelela iGibhithe, i-Asiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMede NamaPheresiya, iGrisi kanye neRoma. Yonke le mibuso yabonisa inzondo enzalweni yowesifazane. (Gen. 3:15) IRoma, eyikhanda lesithupha, yaqhubeka ingumbuso onamandla kwezombusazwe amakhulu eminyaka ngemva kokuba uJohane elobe umbono wakhe. IRoma yayiyogcina ithathelwe indawo ikhanda lesikhombisa. Laba imuphi umbuso wezwe wezombusazwe, futhi wawuyoyiphatha kanjani inzalo yowesifazane?

UKUDLONDLOBALA KWEBRITHANI NE-UNITED STATES

3. Simelelani isilo esesabekayo esinezimpondo eziyishumi, futhi zimelelani izimpondo eziyishumi?

³ Singakwazi ukuthola ukuthi lingubani ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle sesAmbulo, isahluko 13, ngokuqhathanisa umbono kaJohane nombono kaDaniyeli wesilo esesabekayo esinezimpondo eziyishumi.a (Funda uDaniyeli 7:7, 8, 23, 24.) Isilo esabonwa uDaniyeli sasimelela uMbuso Wezwe WamaRoma. (Bheka ishadi elisemakhasini 12-13.) UMbuso WamaRoma waqala ukuqhekeka ngekhulu lesihlanu C.E. Izimpondo eziyishumi ezavela ekhanda laleso silo esesabekayo zimelela imibuso eyavela kulowo mbuso.

4, 5. (a) Lwenzani uphondo oluncane? (b) Lingubani ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle?

⁴ Isiprofetho sikhuluma ngokukhethekile ngezimpondo ezine, noma imibuso, eyavela ekhanda lesilo esesabekayo. Ezintathu zincothulwa olunye uphondo, “oluncane.” Lokhu kwagcwaliseka lapho iBrithani, eyayingaphansi koMbuso WamaRoma, idlondlobala. IBrithani yayilokhu iwumbuso onganakekile kwaze kwaba sekhulwini le-17. Ezinye izifundazwe ezintathu zoMbuso WamaRoma omdala—iSpain, iNetherlands neFrance—zazinamandla kakhudlwana kunayo. IBrithani yayincothula leyo mibuso ngokulandelana, yayehlisa kulezo zikhundla. Maphakathi nekhulu le-18, iBrithani yayidlondlobala emhlabeni. Kodwa yayingakabi ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle.

⁵ Nakuba iBrithani yayidlondlobala, amakoloni aseMelika Esenyakatho aqembuka. Noma kunjalo, i-United States yayekwa yakhula, ivikelwe amabutho asolwandle aseBrithani. Lapho kuqala usuku lweNkosi ngo-1914, iBrithani yayisikhule yaba umbuso omkhulu kunayo yonke emlandweni futhi i-United States isibe izwe elikhulu kunawo wonke emhlabeni kwezezimboni.b Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, i-United States yakha ubuhlobo obukhethekile neBrithani. Labe selivela-ke ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo liwuMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika. Leli khanda layiphatha kanjani inzalo yowesifazane?

6. Ikhanda lesikhombisa liye labaphatha kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

⁶ Ngemva nje kokuqala kosuku lweNkosi, ikhanda lesikhombisa lahlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu—abaseleyo babafowabo bakaKristu emhlabeni. (Math. 25:40) UJesu wabonisa ukuthi insali yayiyobe ikhona futhi yenza umsebenzi wayo phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe. (Math. 24:45-47; Gal. 3:26-29) UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika walwa nalabo bantu abangcwele. (IsAm. 13:3, 7) Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, wacindezela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, wavimbela ezinye zezincwadi zabo futhi wagquma abameleli besigaba senceku ethembekile ejele. Okwesikhathi esithile, kwaba sengathi leli khanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle laliwuqede nya umsebenzi wokushumayela. UJehova wasibona kusengaphambili lesi senzakalo esiphawulekayo futhi wasembulela uJohane. Wamtshela nokuthi ingxenye yesibili yenzalo yayiyovuselelwa futhi iwandise umsebenzi wayo ongokomoya. (IsAm. 11:3, 7-11) Umlando wezinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla uqinisekisa ukuthi lezo zenzakalo zenzeka.

UMBUSO WEZWE WAMANGISI NAMAMELIKA NEZINYAWO ZENSIMBI NOBUMBA

7. Ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle lihlobene kanjani nesithombe esikhulu?

⁷ Ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle lihlobene kanjani nesithombe esikhulu? IBrithani—futhi singathi ne-United States—yavela eMbusweni WamaRoma. Nokho, kuthiwani ngezinyawo zesithombe? Zichazwa njengengxube yensimbi nobumba. (Funda uDaniyeli 2:41-43.) Le ncazelo ihambelana nesikhathi okwakuthiwe ikhanda lesikhombisa—uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika—wawuyovelela ngaso kanye. Njengoba nje into eyenziwe ngensimbi nobumba ibuthaka kuneyenziwe ngensimbi kuphela, ngokufanayo uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika ubuthaka uma uqhathaniswa nombuso owavela kuwo. Kwenzeka kanjani?

8, 9. (a) Umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wazibonisa kanjani izici ezinjengezensimbi? (b) Lumelelani ubumba olusezinyaweni zesithombe?

⁸ Ngezinye izikhathi, ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo liye labonisa izici ezinjengezensimbi. Ngokwesibonelo, labonisa amandla alo ngokunqoba iMpi Yezwe I. Amandla aleli khanda lesikhombisa abonakala naphakathi neMpi Yezwe II.c Ngemva kwaleyo mpi, ikhanda lesikhombisa laqhubeka libonisa izici ezinjengezensimbi ngezinye izikhathi. Nokho, kusukela ekuqaleni, leyo nsimbi ibilokhu ixubene nobumba.

⁹ Sekuyisikhathi eside izinceku zikaJehova zifuna ukuqonda incazelo yalokho okufanekiselwa izinyawo zesithombe. UDaniyeli 2:41 uchaza ingxube yensimbi nobumba ‘njengombuso’ owodwa, hhayi eminingi. Ngakho-ke, ubumba lumelela abantu abasendaweni ebuswa uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, abawenza ube buthaka kunoMbuso WamaRoma owawufanekiselwa insimbi yodwa. Ubumba luchazwa ngokuthi ‘inzalo yabantu,’ noma abantu abavamile. (Dan. 2:43) Kulo Mbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, abantu baye balwela amalungelo abo besebenzisa imikhankaso yokulwela amalungelo abantu, izinyunyana zezisebenzi nemibhikisho yokufuna ukuzibusa. Abantu abavamile bawenza buthaka lo Mbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, okuwenza ungakwazi ukubonisa amandla ensimbi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuba nemibono ephikisanayo kanye nemiphumela yokhetho eshiyana kancane eyenza amaqembu aphumelele angakwazi ukulawula ngaphandle kokuphikiswa kuye kwenza ngisho namandla abaholi abathandwayo aba buthaka, ngakho abakwazi ukuba nezwi elicacile lokusebenzisa izinqubo zabo. UDaniyeli wabikezela: “Ngokwengxenye umbuso uyoba namandla futhi ngokwengxenye ube ophuka kalula.”—Dan. 2:42; 2 Thim. 3:1-3.

10, 11. (a) Liyoba yini ikusasa ‘lezinyawo’? (b) Singaphetha ngokuthini ngenani lezinzwani?

¹⁰ Ekhulwini lama-21, izwe laseBrithani nelase-United States aye aqhubeka nobuhlobo bawo obukhethekile, ngokuvamile ebambisana ezindabeni zezwe. Isiprofetho sesithombe esikhulu nesesilo sasendle ziqinisekisa ukuthi awusekho omunye umbuso wezwe ozolandela futhi uthathe indawo yoMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika. Lo mbuso wezwe wokugcina ungase ube buthaka kunalowo owawumelelwa imilenze yensimbi, kodwa ngeke uziwohlokele ngokwawo.

¹¹ Ingabe inani lezinzwani zesithombe linencazelo ekhethekile? Ake ucabange: Kweminye imibono, uDaniyeli unikeza amanani aqondile—ngokwesibonelo, usitshela inani lezimpondo ezisemakhanda ezilo ezihlukahlukene. Lawo manani anencazelo ekhethekile. Nokho, lapho echaza isithombe, uDaniyeli akalisho inani lezinzwani. Ngakho-ke, inani lazo libonakala lingabalulekile njengoba nje kunjalo nangeqiniso lokuthi isithombe sinezingalo, izandla, iminwe, imilenze nezinyawo. UDaniyeli usho ngokuqondile ukuthi izinzwani zaziyoba ezensimbi nobumba. Kule ncazelo yakhe, singaphetha ngokuthi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika yiwo oyobe ukhonya ngesikhathi “itshe” elimelela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu lishaya izinyawo zesithombe.—Dan. 2:45.

UMBUSO WAMANGISI NAMAMELIKA NESILO SASENDLE ESINEZIMPONDO EZIMBILI

12, 13. Simelelani isilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili, futhi senzani?

¹² Nakuba uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika uyingxube yensimbi nobumba, imibono uJesu ayinika uJohane ibonisa ukuthi lo mbuso wawuyoqhubeka unendima ebalulekile ezinsukwini zokugcina. Kanjani? UJohane wabona umbono wesilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili esasikhuluma njengodrako. Simelelani? Njengoba sinezimpondo ezimbili, siwumbuso ombaxambili. UJohane usabona wona uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, kodwa uwubona ufeza indima ekhethekile.—Funda isAmbulo 13:11-15.

¹³ Lesi silo sikhuthaza ukuba kwenziwe umfanekiso wesilo sasendle. UJohane wabhala ukuthi lo mfanekiso wesilo wawuyovela, unyamalale bese uphinda uvela. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka enhlanganweni eyaba khona ngokugqugquzela kweBrithani ne-United States, eyayihloselwe ukuhlanganisa futhi imelele imibuso yezwe.d Le nhlangano yavela ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I futhi yaziwa ngokuthi iNhlangano Yezizwe. Yanyamalala lapho kuqala iMpi Yezwe II. Phakathi naleyo mpi, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bamemezela ukuthi ngokwesiprofetho esikusAmbulo, lo mfanekiso wesilo sasendle wawuyophinda wenyuke. Nembala wenyuka—sewubizwa ngokuthi iZizwe Ezihlangene.—IsAm. 17:8.

14. Umfanekiso wesilo sasendle ‘uyinkosi yesishiyagalombili’ ngamuphi umqondo?

¹⁴ UJohane wabiza umfanekiso wesilo ngokuthi “inkosi yesishiyagalombili.” Uyinkosi ngamuphi umqondo? Awuchazwa njengekhanda lesishiyagalombili lesilo sasendle sokuqala. Umane ungumfanekiso waleso silo. Noma imaphi amandla onawo, uwathola ezizweni ezingamalungu awo, ikakhulukazi izizwe eziyinhloko eziwusekelayo zoMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika. (IsAm. 17:10, 11) Kodwa unikwa igunya lokusebenza njengenkosi ukuze ufeze umsebenzi okhethekile, wokuqala uchungechunge lwezenzakalo ezizoshintsha umlando.

UMFANEKISO WESILO USHWABADELA ISIFEBE

15, 16. Simelelani isifebe, futhi yini eye yenzeka ngabantu abasisekelayo?

¹⁵ UJohane wabona isifebe esingokomfanekiso sigibele, noma silawula, isilo sasendle esibomvu—umfanekiso wesilo sasendle. Igama laso kuthiwa “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu.” (IsAm. 17:1-6) Lesi sifebe sizimelela kahle zonke izinkolo zamanga, eziphambili kuzo okungamasonto eLobukholwa. Izinhlangano zenkolo ziye zawubusisa lo mfanekiso wesilo futhi zazama nokuwulawula.

¹⁶ Nokho, phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, amanzi, okungukuthi abantu abasekela iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, aye asha ngendlela ephawulekayo. (IsAm. 16:12; 17:15) Ngokwesibonelo, lapho umfanekiso wesilo uqala ukuvela, amasonto eLobukholwa—ingxenye enethonya elikhulu yeBhabhiloni Elikhulu—ayelawula amazwe aseNtshonalanga. Namuhla, amasonto nabefundisi bawo baye baphelelwa inhlonipho yezixuku nokubasekela kwazo. Eqinisweni, abantu abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi inkolo inomthelela noma ibangela izimpi. Liya likhula izwi lamaqembu ezigagayi ezingongqondongqondo baseNtshonalanga ezifuna ukuba kuqedwe ithonya lenkolo emphakathini.

17. Yini ezokwenzeka maduzane enkolweni yamanga, futhi ngani?

¹⁷ Nokho, inkolo yamanga ngeke imane ishabalale. Isifebe siyoqhubeka sinamandla, sizama ukugoba amakhosi ukuba enze intando yaso kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu efaka umqondo othile ezinhliziyweni zababusi. (Funda isAmbulo 17:16, 17.) Maduze uJehova uzobangela izingxenye zezombusazwe zesimiso sikaSathane, ezimelelwa iZizwe Ezihlangene, ukuba zihlasele inkolo yamanga. Zizoqeda ithonya layo futhi zichithe nomcebo wayo. Isenzakalo esinjalo sasingabonakala singenakwenzeka emashumini eminyaka nje adlule. Namuhla, isifebe sihlezi lubhojozi emhlane wesilo esibomvu. Noma kunjalo, ngeke simane sishelele kancane kancane bese siwa. Siyowa ngokushesha futhi kabuhlungu.—IsAm. 18:7, 8, 15-19.

ISIKHATHI SEZILO SIYAPHELA

18. (a) Isilo sasendle siyokwenzani, futhi kuyoba namuphi umphumela? (b) Imiphi imibuso incwadi kaDaniyeli 2:44 ethi izobhujiswa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu? (Bheka ibhokisi elisekhasini 17.)

¹⁸ Ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga, isilo sasendle, okuyinhlangano kaSathane yezombusazwe yasemhlabeni, siyogqugquzelwa ukuba sihlasele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Njengoba engenakukwazi ukufinyelela ezulwini, amakhosi omhlaba ayobhodla ulaka lwawo kulabo abasemhlabeni abasekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ayoyikhotha imbenge yomile. (IsAm. 16:13-16; 17:12-14) UDaniyeli uchaza isici esisodwa sempi yokugcina. (Funda uDaniyeli 2:44.) Isilo sasendle okukhulunywa ngaso encwadini yesAmbulo 13:1, umfanekiso waso kanye nesilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili kuyobhujiswa.

19. Yikuphi ukuqiniseka esingaba nakho, futhi manje yisikhathi sokwenzani?

¹⁹ Siphila ezinsukwini zekhanda lesikhombisa. Awekho amanye amakhanda asazovela kulesi silo ngaphambi kokuba sibhujiswe. UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika yiwo oyobe ukhonya emhlabeni lapho inkolo yamanga iqedwa. Yonke imininingwane yeziprofetho zikaDaniyeli noJohane iye yagcwaliseka, ngisho nemincane kakhulu. Singaqiniseka ukuthi sekuseduze ukuba kufike ukubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga nempi ye-Armagedoni. UNkulunkulu uye wembula le mininingwane kusengaphambili. Siyozinaka yini izixwayiso eziseziprofethweni? (2 Pet. 1:19) Manje yisikhathi sokuba sohlangothini lukaJehova futhi sisekele uMbuso wakhe.—IsAm. 14:6, 7.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 17]

INKULUMO ETHI “YONKE LE MIBUSO” IBHEKISELA KUMIPHI IMIBUSO?

Isiprofetho esikuDaniyeli 2:44 sithi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu “uyochoboza uqede yonke le mibuso.” Leso siprofetho sibhekisela kuphela emibusweni efanekiselwa izingxenye ezihlukahlukene zesithombe.

Kuthiwani ngayo yonke eminye imibuso yabantu? Isiprofetho esifanayo esikusAmbulo sembula umbono obanzi kunalowo osencwadini kaDaniyeli. Sibonisa ukuthi ‘amakhosi omhlaba wonke owakhiwe’ ayobuthwa ukuba alwe noJehova ‘osukwini olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.’ (IsAm. 16:14; 19:19-21) Ngakho, akuyona kuphela imibuso esesithombeni ezobhujiswa e-Armagedoni, kodwa nayo yonke eminye imibuso yabantu.

Amakhosi Ayisishiyagalombili Ayembulwa

Incwadi yeBhayibheli kaDaniyeli neyesAmbulo, azigcini ngokubalula amakhosi angu-8 noma imibuso yabantu, kodwa zibonisa nokuthi yayiyolandelana kanjani. Ukuqonda isiprofetho seBhayibheli sokuqala ngqa kungasisiza ukuba sithole incazelo yalezi ziprofetho.

Kuwo wonke umlando, uSathane uye wahlela inzalo yakhe yaba imibuso noma izinhlangano zezombusazwe ezihlukahlukene. (Luka 4:5, 6) Nokho, imbalwa kuphela imibuso yabantu eye yaba nethonya elikhulu kubantu bakaNkulunkulu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isizwe sakwa-Israyeli noma ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. Imibono eyabonwa uDaniyeli noJohane ichaza imibuso emikhulu engu-8 kuphela.

[Ishadi/Izithombe emakhasini 12, 13]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

1. IGibhithe

2. I-Asiriya

3. IBhabhiloni

5. IGrisi

6. IRoma

ABANTU BAKANKULUNKULU

2000 B.C.E.

U-Abrahama

1500

Isizwe Sakwa-Israyeli

1000

UDaniyeli 500

B.C.E./C.E.

UJohane

U-Israyeli KaNkulunkulu 500

1000

1500

2000 C.E.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Izithombe]

Isithombe esikhulu (Dan. 2:31-45)

Izilo ezine eziphuma olwandle (Dan. 7:3-8, 17, 25)

Impongo nenqama (Dan., isahl. 8)

Isilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa (IsAm. 13:1-10, 16-18)

Isilo esinezimpondo ezimbili sigqugquzela ukuba kwenziwe umfanekiso wesilo sasendle (IsAm. 13:11-15)

[Imithombo]

Photo credits: Egypt and Rome: Photograph taken by courtesy of the British Museum; Medo-Persia: Musée du du Louvre, Paris

Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi

UMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika waba nini umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli?

▪ Isithombe esikhulu esabonwa iNkosi uNebukhadinezari asimeleli yonke imibuso yezwe. (Dan. 2:31-45) Simelela emihlanu kuphela eyabusa kusukela esikhathini sikaDaniyeli kuqhubeke neyasebenzelana ngokuphawulekayo nabantu bakaNkulunkulu.

Incazelo kaDaniyeli yalesi sithombe inikeza umqondo wokuthi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika wawuyovela embusweni wamaRoma, hhayi ukuthi wawuyowunqoba. Kulo mfanekiso, uDaniyeli ubona insimbi kusukela emilenzeni kwehle kuye ezinyaweni nasezinzwanini. (Ezinyaweni nasezinzwanini, insimbi ixubene nobumba.)a Le ncazelo ibonisa ukuthi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika wawuyovela emilenzeni yensimbi. Umlando uyifakazela ngokunembile le ncazelo. IBrithani, eyake yaba ingxenye yoMbuso WamaRoma, yaqala ukuvelela ekupheleni kweminyaka yawo-1700. Kamuva, i-United States of America yaba isizwe esinamandla. Noma kunjalo, umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli wawungakaveli. Kungani? IBrithani ne-United States zazingakabambisani ngendlela ephawulekayo. Lokhu kwenzeka phakathi neMpi Yezwe I.

Ngaleso sikhathi, “abantwana bombuso” babenza umsebenzi wabo ikakhulu e-United States, indlunkulu yabo yomhlaba wonke iseBrooklyn, eNew York. (Math. 13:36-43) Amalungu esigaba sabagcotshiwe ayematasa eshumayela emazweni ayebuswa uMbuso WaseBrithani. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, umbuso waseBrithani nowaseMelika yakha umfelandawonye lapho ilwa nezitha zayo zezombusazwe. Njengoba ukushisekela ubuzwe okwakubangelwe yimpi kwakwanda, le mibuso yabonisa ubutha kulabo ababeyingxenye yenzalo ‘yowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu, yavimbela izincwadi ababezikhiqiza futhi yabopha labo ababehola emsebenzini wokushumayela.—IsAm. 12:17.

Ngakho, ngokwesiprofetho seBhayibheli, umbuso wezwe wesikhombisa awuzange uvele ekupheleni kwawo-1700 lapho iBrithani iqala ukudlondlobala. Kunalokho, wavela ekuqaleni kosuku lweNkosi.b

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 19]

Abazalwane abangu-8 basendlunkulu ye-Watchtower baboshwa ngo-June 1918