Isahluko 36
Ukuphanziswa Kwesixeko Esikhulu
Umbono 12—ISityhilelo 18:1–19:10
Umbandela: Ukuwa nokutshatyalaliswa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu; ukuvakaliswa komtshato weMvana
Ixesha lokuzaliseka: Ukususela ngowe-1919 de kube semva kwembandezelo enkulu
1. Yintoni eya kuphawula isiqalo sembandezelo enkulu?
UKUPHANZISWA kwequbuliso nokukhwankqisayo—eso iya kuba sisiphelo seBhabhiloni Enkulu! Siya kuba sesinye sezona ziganeko zilishwangusha kuyo yonke imbali, esiphawula isiqalo ‘sembandezelo enkulu ekungazange kubekho injengayo ukususela ekuqaleni kwehlabathi de kube ngoku, nekungasayi kubakho injengayo kwakhona.’—Mateyu 24:21.
2. Nangona iindidi zobukhosi bobupolitika ziye zavela zaza zawa, luhlobo luni lobukhosi oluye lwahlala lukho?
2 Unqulo lobuxoki kudala lukho. Belukho lungaphazanyiswa ukususela kwimihla kaNimrodi owayenxanelw’ igazi, owachasa uYehova waza wayalela abantu ukuba bakhe iNqaba yaseBhabheli. Xa uYehova wadubaduba iilwimi zabo bavukeli waza wabasasaza kuwo wonke umhlaba, unqulo lobuxoki lweBhabhiloni lwahamba kunye nabo. (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:4-9) Ukususela ngoko, iindidi zobukhosi bobupolitika ziye zavela zaza zawa, kodwa unqulo lwaseBhabhiloni luye lwahlala lukho. Luye lwabonakala ngeendlela nangeentlobo ezininzi, lusiba bubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki, iBhabhiloni Enkulu ekwaprofetwayo ngayo. Eyona nxalenye yayo ibalaseleyo yiNgqobhoko, eyaphuma kwiimfundiso zeBhabhiloni yangaphambili nemfundiso “yobuKristu” obuwexukileyo. Ngenxa yembali ende iBhabhiloni Enkulu enayo, abantu abaninzi bakufumanisa kunzima ukukholelwa ukuba iya kuze itshatyalaliswe.
3. ISityhilelo sikuqinisekisa njani ukutshatyalaliswa konqulo lobuxoki?
3 Ngoko ke kufanelekile ukuba iSityhilelo sikuqinisekise ukutshatyalaliswa konqulo lobuxoki ngokusinika iingcaciso ezimbini ezineenkcukacha zokuwa kwalo neziganeko eziya kulandela zikhokelela ekuphanzeni kwalo ngokupheleleyo. Sele silubonile ‘njengehenyukazi elikhulu’ elithi ekugqibeleni liphanziswe zizithandane zalo zangaphambili zobupolitika. (ISityhilelo 17:1, 15, 16) Ngoku, kwakomnye umbono, siza kulubona njengomzi, umfuziselo wonqulo lweBhabhiloni yamandulo.
Ukuwa KweBhabhiloni Enkulu
4. (a) Nguwuphi umbono obonwa nguYohane ngokulandelayo? (b) Sinokuyifanisa njani ingelosi, yaye kutheni kufanelekile nje ukuba ivakalise ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu?
4 UYohane uyaqhubeka nale ngxelo, esixelela oku: “Emva koko ndabona enye ingelosi isihla ivela ezulwini, inegunya elikhulu; yaye ubuqaqawuli bayo bakhanyisela umhlaba uphela. Yadanduluka ngelizwi elinamandla, isithi: ‘Iwile! IBhabhiloni Enkulu iwile.’” (ISityhilelo 18:1, 2a) Esi sisihlandlo sesibini uYohane esiva ingelosi ikhupha eso sibhengezo. (Bona iSityhilelo 14:8.) Noko ke, ngeli xesha ukubaluleka kwaso kubethelelwa kukuzuka kwengelosi, kuba ubuqaqawuli bayo bukhanyisela umhlaba uphela! Inokuba ingubani? Kwiinkulungwane ngaphambili umprofeti uHezekile, echaza ngombono wasezulwini, wathi ‘umhlaba wakhanya ngenxa yobuqaqawuli bakhe [uYehova].’ (Hezekile 43:2) Ekuphela kwengelosi ekhanya ngobuqaqawuli obufana nobukaYehova yiNkosi enguYesu, ‘eyimbonakaliso yozuko lwakhe [uThixo] nembonakaliso yoko kanye akuko.’ (Hebhere 1:3) Ngowe-1914 uYesu waba nguKumkani wasezulwini, yaye ukususela ngelo xesha ebenegunya phezu komhlaba njengoKumkani noMgwebi okunye noYehova. Ngoko, kufanelekile ukuba avakalise ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu.
5. (a) Ngoobani abasetyenziswa yingelosi ukuvakalisa ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu? (b) Xa kwaqalisa umgwebo kwabo bathi ‘bangabendlu kaThixo,’ kwenzeka ntoni kwiNgqobhoko?
5 Ngoobani abasetyenziswa yile ngelosi inegunya elikhulu ekuvakaliseni iindaba ezimangalisa ngolo hlobo phambi koluntu? Ewe, ikwangabantu abakhutshwe ngenxa yoko kuwa, abaseleyo babathanjiswa abasemhlabeni, abaludidi lukaYohane. Ukususela ngowe-1914 ukuya ngowe-1918, aba bantu beva ubunzima obukhulu obuvela kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu, kodwa ngowe-1918 iNkosi uYehova ‘nomthunywa wayo womnqophiso [ka-Abraham],’ uYesu Kristu, baqalisa umgwebo “ngendlu kaThixo,” abo bathi bangamaKristu. Ngaloo ndlela iNgqobhoko ewexukileyo yabekwa eluvavanyweni. (Malaki 3:1; 1 Petros 4:17) Ityala legazi elikhulu eyalifumanayo ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, ukuba nenxaxheba kwayo ekutshutshiseni amaNgqina kaYehova athembekileyo, nezivumo zayo zokholo zaseBhabhiloni azizange ziyincede kwixesha lomgwebo; ibe kungazange kubekho nanye enye inxalenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu eyaba yemkholisayo uThixo.—Thelekisa uIsaya 13:1-9.
6. Kutheni le nto kunokuthiwa iBhabhiloni Enkulu yayiwile ngowe-1919?
6 Ngoko ngowe-1919 iBhabhiloni Enkulu yayiwile, nto leyo eyavulela indlela yokuba abantu bakaThixo bakhululwe baze babuyiselwe kwilizwe labo elikwimeko entle ngokomoya, ngokungathi kunjalo, oko kusenzeka ngamini-nye. (Isaya 66:8) Ngaloo nyaka, uYehova uThixo noYesu Kristu, uDariyo Omkhulu noKoreshi Omkhulu, babelungelelanise imicimbi ukuze unqulo lobuxoki lungabi sabathintela abantu bakaYehova. Lwalungasenakubathintela ekukhonzeni uYehova nasekwaziseni bonke abasenokuphulaphula ukuba iBhabhiloni Enkulu enjengehenyukazi igwetyelwe intshabalalo yaye ukuthethelelwa kolongamo lukaYehova kusondele!—Isaya 45:1-4; Daniyeli 5:30, 31.
7. (a) Nangona iBhabhiloni Enkulu ingazange itshatyalaliswe ngowe-1919, uYehova wayijonga njani? (b) Xa iBhabhiloni Enkulu yawayo ngowe-1919, waba yintoni umphumo kubantu bakaYehova?
7 Kuyinyaniso ukuba, iBhabhiloni Enkulu ayizange itshatyalaliswe ngowe-1919—kanye njengokuba isixeko samandulo saseBhabhiloni singazange sitshatyalaliswe ngowama-539 B.C.E. xa sawela kwimikhosi kaKoreshi umPersi. Kodwa ngokwembono kaYehova, loo ntlangano yayiwile. Yayigwetyiwe ngokwasemthethweni, ilindelwe kukutshatyalaliswa; ngoko ke, unqulo lobuxoki lwalungasenakubathimba abantu bakaYehova. (Thelekisa uLuka 9:59, 60.) Aba bantu bakhululwa ukuze bakhonze njengekhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi leNkosi ekulungiseleleni ukutya kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo. Banconywa kwathiwa “Wenze kakuhle” yaye bathunywa ukuba baxakeke kwakhona emsebenzini kaYehova.—Mateyu 24:45-47; 25:21, 23; IZenzo 1:8.
8. Sisiphi isiganeko esivakaliswa ngumlindi ochazwe kuIsaya 21:8, 9, yaye ngubani namhlanje ofanekiselwa kwangaphambili nguloo mlindi?
8 Kumawakawaka eminyaka eyadlulayo uYehova wasebenzisa abanye abaprofeti ukuxela kwangaphambili ngesi siganeko siphawulekayo. UIsaya wathetha ngomlindi owasuka “wamemeza njengengonyama wathi: ‘Owu Yehova, ndimi rhoqo emboniselweni emini, yaye ndimi endaweni yam yokulinda ubusuku bonke.’” Yaye sisiphi isiganeko esiqondwa nesivakaliswa nguloo mlindi ngenkalipho enjengeyengonyama? Sesi: “Iwile! IBhabhiloni iwile, nayo yonke imifanekiso eqingqiweyo yoothixo bayo [uYehova] uyaphulele emhlabeni!” (Isaya 21:8, 9) Lo mlindi ulufanekisela kwangaphambili udidi lukaYohane oluphaphileyo namhlanje, njengoko lusebenzisa iphephancwadi IMboniselo nezinye iimpapasho zolawulo lobuthixo ukuvakalisa ngokubanzi iindaba zokuba iBhabhiloni iwile.
Ukuncipha KweBhabhiloni Enkulu
9, 10. (a) Impembelelo yonqulo lweBhabhiloni iye yancipha njani ukususela kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi I? (b) Ingelosi enamandla iyichaza njani imeko yokuwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu?
9 Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo ngowama-539 B.C.E. kwakusisiqalo sokuncipha okwakuza kuthabatha ithuba elide nokwaphela ekuphanzeni kwayo. Ngokufanayo, ukususela ngemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, impembelelo yonqulo lweBhabhiloni inciphe ngokuphawulekayo ehlabathini lonke. EJapan, ukunqulwa komlawuli wamaShinto kwagxekwa emva kwemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini. ETshayina, urhulumente wamaKomanisi ulawula bonke abantu abamiselwa kwezonqulo nemisebenzi yabo. KwiYurophu ekumntla nenamaProtestanti, uninzi lwabantu luye alwalukhathalela unqulo. Kutshanje iCawa yamaRoma Katolika iye yenziwa buthathaka ziiyantlukwano neembambano ezingaphakathi kummandla wayo ehlabathini lonke.—Thelekisa uMarko 3:24-26.
10 Alithandabuzeki elokuba zonke ezi zinto ziyinxalenye ‘yokutsha komlambo umEfrate’ ukulungiselela uhlaselo lomkhosi oluzayo kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Oku ‘kutsha’ kukwabonakaliswa kwisaziso esenziwa ngupopu ngo-Oktobha we-1986 sokuba icawa imele “kwakhona ingqibe imali”—ngenxa yamatyala amakhulu engenakuwahlawula. (ISityhilelo 16:12) Ingakumbi ukususela ngowe-1919 iBhabhiloni Enkulu iye yabhencwa kuwonke-wonke njengendawo ebharhileyo ngokomoya, kanye njengokuba ingelosi enamandla isenza esi saziso: “Yaba yindawo yokuhlala iidemon nendawo yokuncathama wonke umoya ongahlambulukanga nendawo yokuncathama zonke iintaka ezingahlambulukanga nezithiyekileyo!” (ISityhilelo 18:2b) Kungekudala iza kuba yindawo ebharhe ngokoqobo, ephanzileyo njengamabhodlo aseBhabhiloni akwi-Iraq yanamhlanje.—Bona kwanoYeremiya 50:25-28.
11. IBhabhiloni Enkulu iye “yaba yindawo yokuhlala iidemon” ‘nendawo yokuncathama wonke umoya ongahlambulukanga neentaka ezingahlambulukanga’ ngayiphi ingqiqo?
11 Igama elithi “iidemon” apha kusenokwenzeka ukuba libhekisela kwibinzana elithi ‘iidemon ezimilise okweebhokhwe’ (se‘i·rimʹ) elifumaneka kwingcaciso kaIsaya yeBhabhiloni ewileyo: “Abemi bemimandla engumqwebedu ngokuqinisekileyo baya kubutha apho, nezindlu zabo ziya kuzaliswa zizihuluhulu. Iya kuba likhaya leenciniba, needemon ezimilise okweebhokhwe ziya kudloba apho.” (Isaya 13:21) Lisenokungabhekiseli kwiidemon zokoqobo kodwa kunoko kwizilwanyana ezixhonti nezihlala entlango ezenza abantu abazibonayo bacinge ngeedemon. Kumabhodlo eBhabhiloni Enkulu, ubukho bokomfuziselo bezilwanyana ezinjalo, nomoya ombi nonetyhefu (“umoya ongahlambulukanga”) neentaka ezingahlambulukanga, bufanekisela imeko yayo efileyo ngokomoya. Ayinalo ithemba lobomi elinokunikelwa kuluntu.—Thelekisa amaEfese 2:1, 2.
12. Imeko yeBhabhiloni Enkulu ifana njani nechazwe kwisiprofeto sikaYeremiya isahluko 50?
12 Imeko yayo ikwafana nechazwe kwisiprofeto sikaYeremiya: “‘Kukho ikrele nxamnye namaKhaledi,’ utsho uYehova, ‘nanxamnye nabemi baseBhabhiloni nanxamnye neenkosana zayo nanxamnye nezilumko zayo. . . . Amanzi ayo ayaphanziswa, yaye amele ome. Kuba ililizwe lemifanekiso eqingqiweyo, kwaye ngenxa yemibono yabo eyothusayo benza ngempambano. Ngoko ke abemi bemimandla engumqwebedu baya kuhlala nezilwanyana ezenza umkhulungwane, yaye iinciniba zimele zihlale kuyo; akusayi kuze kuphinde kuhlalwe kuyo, nayo ingasayi kuhlala kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana.’” Ukunqulwa kwezithixo nokwenziwa kwemithandazo ephindaphindwayo akunakuyisindisa iBhabhiloni Enkulu kwimpindezelo efana neyokubhukuqa kukaThixo iSodom neGomora.—Yeremiya 50:35-40.
Iwayini Evusa Inkanuko
13. (a) Ingelosi enamandla iyitsalela njani ingqalelo ngomlinganiselo obanzi kubuhenyu beBhabhiloni Enkulu? (b) Kukuphi ukuziphatha okubi okwakuxhaphakile kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo okufumanekayo nakwiBhabhiloni Enkulu?
13 Ngokulandelayo ingelosi enamandla itsalel’ ingqalelo ngomlinganiselo obanzi kubuhenyu beBhabhiloni Enkulu, ivakalisa ngokuthi: “Kuba ngenxa yewayini yomsindo wohenyuzoa lwayo zonke iintlanga ziye zaba ngamaxhoba, nookumkani bomhlaba bahenyuza nayo, nabarhwebi abahambahambayo bomhlaba baba zizityebi ngenxa yamandla obunewunewu bayo bokungabi nazintloni.” (ISityhilelo 18:3) Iye yaphembelela zonke iintlanga zoluntu ngeendlela zayo zonqulo ezingacocekanga. KwiBhabhiloni yamandulo, ngokutsho kombhali-mbali ongumGrike uHerodotus, ntombi nganye kwakufuneka ukuba ithengise ngobuntombi bayo kunqulo lwasetempileni. Ukonakala ngokwesini kubonakaliswa nanamhlanje kwimifanekiso ekroliweyo eseAngkor Wat eKampuchea eyathi yonakaliswa yimfazwe nakuleyo ikwiitempile zaseKhajuraho, eIndiya, ebonisa uthixo wamaHindu uVishnu engqongwe yimifanekiso engamanyala ebonisa amalungu esini. EUnited States, ukutyhilwa kokuziphatha okubi okwagungqisa abashumayeli abavela koomabonwakude ngowe-1987, nangowe-1988, kwanokutyhilwa koqheliselo olusasazekileyo lobufanasini olwenziwa ngabefundisi bonqulo, kubonisa ukuba kwaneNgqobhoko iyabunyamezela ubuhenyu bokoqobo obugqithisele ngendlela ekhwankqisayo. Kanti, onke amazwe abe ngamaxhoba ohlobo lohenyuzo olunzulu ngokude kwangakumbi.
14-16. (a) Luluphi ulwalamano lokuziphatha okubi ngokomoya oluphakathi konqulo nezobupolitika olwathi lwabakho kwi-Itali yobuFasi? (b) Xa i-Itali yahlasela iAbyssinia, ngawaphi amazwi awavakaliswa ngoobhishophu beCawa yamaRoma Katolika?
14 Sele siluhlolisisile ulwalamano lokuziphatha okubi oluphakathi konqulo nezobupolitika olwenza okaHitler wafumana ulawulo kwiJamani yamaNazi. Ezinye izizwe nazo zeva ubunzima ngenxa yokugxuphuleka konqulo kwimicimbi yehlabathi. Ngokomzekelo: Kwi-Itali yobuFasi, ngoFebruwari 11, 1929, uMussolini noKhadinali Gasparri batyobela iSivumelwano saseLateran, esenza isiXeko saseVatican saba lilizwe elongamileyo. UPopu Pius XI wathi “wayebuyisele i-Itali kuThixo, noThixo embuyisele kwi-Itali.” Ngaba oko kwakuyinyaniso? Khawuqwalasele okwenzekayo kwiminyaka emithandathu kamva. Ngo-Oktobha 3, 1935, i-Itali yahlasela iAbyssinia, isithi “yayililizwe lenkohlakalo elalisaqhelisela ubukhoboka.” Ngenene, ngubani owayekhohlakele? Ngaba iCawa yamaKatolika yayigxeka inkohlakalo kaMussolini? Ngoxa upopu wayengade aphume egusheni, oobhishophu babeyisikelela ngokuphandle imikhosi exhobileyo “yelizwe looyise” eliyi-Itali. Kwincwadi ethi The Vatican in the Age of the Dictators, uAnthony Rhodes uthi:
15 “KwiLeta awayeyibhalela amaBandla yomhla we-19 kuOktobha [1935], uBhishophu waseUdine [eItali] wabhala wenjenje, ‘Akuloxesha lifanelekileyo okanye akuyonto ifanelekileyo ngathi ukuba sivakalise okufanelekileyo nokuphosakeleyo kule meko. Umsebenzi wethu njengabantu baseItali, yaye ngokungakumbi njengamaKristu kukufak’ isandla kwimpumelelo yezixhobo zethu.’ UBhishophu wasePadua wabhala oku ngomhla wama-21 kuOktobha, ‘Kumaxesha anzima esiphila kuwo, siyanicela ukuba nibe nokholo kwizithethi zethu zaseburhulumenteni nakwimikhosi yethu exhobileyo.’ Ngomhla wama-24 kuOktobha, uBhishophu waseCremona wangcwalisa iqela lezindwe zomkhosi waza wathi: ‘Ngamana intsikelelo kaThixo ingaphezu kwala majoni aya kuthi, kwelaseAfrika, oyise imihlaba emitsha nechumileyo ukuze kulungelwe i-Itali ekrelekrele, ngaloo ndlela kuziswe kuyo impucuko yamaRoma neyamaKristu. Ngamana i-Itali ingema kwakhona njengomcebisi ongumKristu kwihlabathi liphela.’”
16 IAbyssinia yahlaselwa, hlaselo olo olwalusikelelwa ngabefundisi bamaRoma Katolika. Ngaba nabaphi na kwaba, nangayiphi na ingqiqo, babenokuthi babefana nompostile uPawulos ngokuba ‘msulwa egazini labantu bonke’?—IZenzo 20:26.
17. ISpeyin yabuva njani ubunzima ngenxa yokuba abefundisi bayo bengazange ‘bawakhande amakrele abo abe ngamakhuba’?
17 Ukongezelela kwiJamani, i-Itali neAbyssinia, kukho nelinye ilizwe eliye laba lixhoba lokuhenyuza kweBhabhiloni Enkulu—iSpeyin. IMfazwe Yamakhaya yowe-1936-39 eyayikwelo lizwe, ngokuyinxenye, yabangelwa kukuthabatha amanyathelo korhulumente wolawulo-melo ukuze anciphise amandla amakhulu eCawa yamaRoma Katolika. Njengoko imfazwe yayiqhubeka, inkokeli yamaKatolika engumFasi neyayinemikhosi yemvukelo, uFranco, yazichaza ‘njengeNjengele engumKristu yeMfazwe Yomnqamlezo Engcwele,’ sibizo eso eyathi ayasisebenzisa kamva. Abemi baseSpeyin abangamakhulu amawaka aliqela bafa kuloo mfazwe. Ngaphandle koku, ngokoqikelelo lwabantu ababefuna inkqubo yangaphambili, iQela likaFranco lalibulele amalungu Aphambili Adumileyo angama-40 000, ngoxa wona la malungu ayebulele abefundisi abangama-8 000—iimonki, ababingeleli, oonongendi nabo babeqeqeshelwa ukuba ngoonongendi. Lawo ngamanyumnyezi nentlekele eziswe yimfazwe yamakhaya, nto leyo ebonisa ubulumko bokuthobela amazwi kaYesu athi: “Buyisela ikrele lakho endaweni yalo, kuba bonke abathabatha ikrele baya kutshabalala ngekrele.” (Mateyu 26:52) Hayi indlela ekumasikizi ngayo ukubandakanyeka kweNgqobhoko ekuphalazweni kwegazi elininzi! Abefundisi bayo ngenene basilele ngokupheleleyo ‘ukukhanda amakrele abo abe ngamakhuba’!—Isaya 2:4.
Abarhwebi Abahambahambayo
18. Bangoobani ‘abarhwebi abahambahambayo bomhlaba’?
18 Bangoobani ‘abarhwebi abahambahambayo bomhlaba’? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo namhlanje sinokubabiza ngokuba ngoosomashishini, imizi-mveliso emikhulu, nabaququzeleli abanobuqili kushishino olukhulu. Oku akuthethi ukuba kuphosakele ukubandakanyeka kushishino olufanelekileyo. IBhayibhile inikela isiluleko sobulumko ngabantu abakushishino, ilumkisa ngokunganyaniseki, ngokubawa nangokunye okufana noko. (IMizekeliso 11:1; Zekariya 7:9, 10; Yakobi 5:1-5) Eyona nzuzo inkulu ‘luzinikelo lobuthixo kunye nokwanela.’ (1 Timoti 6:6, 17-19) Noko ke, ihlabathi likaSathana aliyilandeli imigaqo yobulungisa. Ukonakala kwandile. Kufumaneka elunqulweni, kwiipolitiki—nakushishino olukhulu. Ngamathuba athile amaziko eendaba abhenca ubuqhophololo obulihlazo, obunjengokubiwa kwezinto ngokuqhatha ngamagosa aphakamileyo oburhulumente nokuthengiselana ngezixhobo ngokungekho mthethweni.
19. Sisiphi isibakala esingoqoqosho lwehlabathi esisinceda sicacise isizathu sokuba abarhwebi bomhlaba kungathethwa kakuhle ngabo kwiSityhilelo?
19 Ukurhweba ngezixhobo kwezizwe ngezizwe kuyanda kufikelela ngaphaya kwe-2 000 000 000 000 zeerandi nyaka ngamnye, ngoxa amakhulu ezigidi zabantu engazifumani izinto eziyimfuneko ebomini. Oko kubi gqitha. Kodwa izixhobo zibonakala ziluxhasa ngokusisiseko uqoqosho lwehlabathi. NgoAprili 11, 1987, inqaku elavela kwiSpectator saseLondon lathi: “Xa kubalwa nje kuphela imizi-mveliso ehlobene ngokungqalileyo, imisebenzi enokuba ngama-400 000 ibandakanyekile eUnited States yaye yengama-750 000 eYurophu. Kodwa okutsal’ umdla ngakumbi kukuba, njengoko indima yentlalo nengokoqoqosho yokwakha izixhobo iye yathabath’ unyawo, imbambano yokwenene emayela nokuba abavelisi bazo bakhuseleke kakuhle na iye yaphoswa kwelokulibala.” Kwenziwa ingeniso enkulu njengoko iibhombu nezinye izixhobo zithengiswa kuwo wonke umhlaba, kwanakubantu abasenokuba ziintshaba. Ngaminazana ithile ezo bhombu zisenokubuya ziyimbubhiso yomlilo etshabalalisa abo bazithengisayo. Enjani into ukuphikisana! Into eyongezelela koku bubuqhophololo obukwimizi-mveliso yezixhobo. EUnited States kuphela, ngokutsho kweSpectator, “nyaka ngamnye iPentagon ilahlekelwa ngendlela engaqondakaliyo zizixhobo ezixabisa imali ezizigidi ezingama-$900 [ezizigidi ezili-R1 800].” Akumangalisi ukuba abarhwebi bomhlaba kungathethwa kakuhle ngabo kwiSityhilelo!
20. Nguwuphi umzekelo obonisa ukubandakanyeka konqulo kuqheliselo loshishino olonakeleyo?
20 Njengoko kwaxelwa kwangaphambili yingelosi enobuqaqawuli, unqulo belubandakanyeke ngokunzulu kuqheliselo loshishino olonakele ngolo hlobo. Ngokomzekelo, iVatican yabandakanyeka ekuwohlokeni kweBanco Ambrosiano yaseItali ngowe-1982. Le meko iye yaqhubeka ukutyhubela iminyaka yee-1980, umbuzo ongaphendulekiyo ingulo: Yayaphi loo mali? NgoFebruwari we-1987 inkundla kamantyi yaseMilan yakhupha imvume yokuba kubanjwe abefundisi abathathu baseVatican, kuquka ubhishophu omkhulu waseMerika, ngezityholo zokuba babenento yokwenza nokutshona ngokwemali okwenzeka ngenxa yokuqhatha, kodwa iVatican ayizange ivume ukuba babanjwe. NgoJulayi we-1987, phakathi kwesiphithiphithi esikhulu sokugwayimba, imvume yokubanjwa kwabo yachithwa yiNkundla Yesibheno eyeyona iphakamileyo yaseItali ngenxa yesivumelwano esidala esasiphakathi kweVatican norhulumente waseItali.
21. Sazi njani ukuba uYesu wayengenalunxibelelwano noqheliselo loshishino oluthandabuzekayo lomhla wakhe, kodwa yintoni esiyibonayo namhlanje kunqulo lweBhabhiloni?
21 Ngaba uYesu wayenonxibelelwano noqheliselo loshishino oluthandabuzekayo lomhla wakhe? Akunjalo. Wayengenayo nendlu le, kuba ‘wayengenayo nendawo le yokufihla intloko.’ Umlawuli oselula owayesisityebi wacetyiswa nguYesu ngale ndlela: “Thengisa zonke izinto onazo, wabele amahlwempu, yaye uya kuba nobuncwane emazulwini; uze ube ngumlandeli wam.” Eso yayisisiluleko esihle, kuba ngesasiphumele ekwahlukaneni kwakhe nawo onke amaxhala emicimbi yoshishino. (Luka 9:58; 18:22) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, unqulo lweBhabhiloni lusoloko lunonxibelelwano olungeluhle noshishino olukhulu. Ngokomzekelo, ngowe-1987 iAlbany Times Union yakhupha ingxelo yokuba umphathi wezemali ongumdikoni omkhulu wamaKatolika aseMiami, eFlorida, eUnited States, uye wavuma ukuba icawa inezabelo kwiinkampani ezenza izixhobo zenyukliya, imifanekiso engcole ngokugqithiseleyo nemidiza.
“Phumani Kuyo, Bantu Bam”
22. (a) Lithini ilizwi eliphuma ezulwini? (b) Yintoni eyakhokelela ekuvuyeni kwabantu bakaThixo ngowama-537 B.C.E. nangowe-1919 C.E.?
22 Amazwi alandelayo kaYohane abonisa inzaliseko ebhekele phaya yomzekelo wesiprofeto: “Ndaza ndeva elinye ilizwi liphuma ezulwini lisithi: ‘Phumani kuyo, bantu bam, ukuze ningabelani nayo ngezono zayo, nokuze ningamkeliswa kwizibetho zayo.’” (ISityhilelo 18:4) Iziprofeto ezingokuwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere zikwaquka umyalelo kaYehova oya ebantwini bakhe: “Sabani niphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni.” (Yeremiya 50:8, 13) Ngokufanayo, ngenxa yokuphanziswa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu okuzayo, abantu bakaThixo ngoku bayabongozwa ukuba basabe. Ngowama-537 B.C.E. ithuba lokusaba eBhabhiloni labangela uvuyo olukhulu kumaSirayeli awayethembekile. Ngendlela efanayo, ukukhutshwa kwabantu bakaThixo ekuthinjweni yiBhabhiloni ngowe-1919 kwakhokelela ekuvuyeni kwabo. (ISityhilelo 11:11, 12) Yaye ukususela ngelo xesha izigidi zabanye abantu ziye zawuthobela umyalelo wokusaba.
23. Ilizwi eliphuma ezulwini likubethelela njani ukungxamiseka kokusaba kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu?
23 Ngaba ngenene kungxamiseke gqitha ukusaba kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu, ukungabi lilungu leenkonzo zehlabathi uze uzahlukanise ngokupheleleyo nazo? Kungxamisekile, kuba kufuneka sibe nembono kaThixo ngale Bhabhiloni Enkulu ingumzekelo ombi ngokugqithiseleyo, eyeyonqulo nekudala ikho. Wayengathethi nje xa wayesithi ilihenyukazi elikhulu. Ngoko ngeli thuba ilizwi eliphuma ezulwini lazisa uYohane ngokungakumbi malunga neli henyukazi: “Kuba izono zayo ziye zafumba zada zafikelela ezulwini, noThixo uye wazikhumbula izenzo zayo zokungekho sikweni. Yenzani kuyo njengoko nayo ngokwayo yenzayo, nenze kuyo ngokuphindwe kabini, ewe, liphindeni kabini inani lezinto eyazenzayo; kwindebe eyafaka kuyo umxube yifakeleni ngokuphindwe kabini umxube kuyo. Ngokomkhamo ezizukise nephile ngawo kubunewunewu bokungabi nazintloni, ukusa kuloo mkhamo yinikeni ukuthuthumba nokuzila. Kuba ithi entliziyweni yayo, ‘Ndingukumkanikazi, andingomhlolokazi, yaye andisayi kuze ndikubone ukuzila.’ Kungenxa yoko le nto ziya kuza ngamini-nye izibetho zayo, ukufa nokuzila nendlala, yaye iya kutshiswa ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo, ngenxa yokuba uYehova uThixo, oyigwebileyo, womelele.”—ISityhilelo 18:5-8.
24. (a) Abantu bakaThixo bamele basabe kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu ukuze baphephe ntoni? (b) Abo bangasabiyo kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu badlelana nayo kweziphi izono?
24 Lawo ngamazwi anamandla! Ngoko kufuneka kuthatyathwe inyathelo. UYeremiya wabongoza amaSirayeli ngomhla wakhe ukuba athabathe inyathelo, esithi: “Sabani niphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, . . . kuba lixesha lempindezelo kaYehova. Yimpatho ayibuyisela kuyo. Phumani phakathi kwayo, bantu bam, nize nisindise ngamnye umphefumlo wakhe ekuvutheni komsindo kaYehova.” (Yeremiya 51:6, 45) Ngendlela efanayo, ilizwi eliphuma ezulwini lilumkisa abantu bakaThixo namhlanje ukuba basabe kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu ukuze bangafumani inxalenye yezibetho zayo. Imigwebo kaYehova enjengezibetho kweli hlabathi, kuquka iBhabhiloni Enkulu, ngoku iyavakaliswa. (ISityhilelo 8:1–9:21; 16:1-21) Abantu bakaThixo kufuneka bazahlule kunqulo lobuxoki ukuba abafuni ukufumana ezi zibetho baze ekugqibeleni bafe kunye nayo. Ngaphandle koko, ukuhlala kuloo ntlangano kuya kubenza badlelane ngezono zayo. Baya kuba netyala lokukrexeza ngokomoya nelokuphalaza igazi ‘labo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni’ njengokuba inalo.—ISityhilelo 18:24; thelekisa amaEfese 5:11; 1 Timoti 5:22.
25. Abantu bakaThixo baphuma ngaziphi iindlela kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo?
25 Noko ke, abantu bakaThixo baphuma njani kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu? KwiBhabhiloni yamandulo, amaYuda kwafuneka ahambe ngokubonakalayo ukuphuma kwisixeko saseBhabhiloni yonke loo ndlela ukubuyela kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Kodwa kwakubandakanyeke okungakumbi kunoko. Ngokuprofetayo uIsaya waxelela amaSirayeli oku: “Mkani, mkani, phumani apho, ningachukumisi nto ingahlambulukanga; phumani phakathi kwazo, zigcineni nihlambulukile, nina nithwala impahla kaYehova.” (Isaya 52:11) Ewe, kwakufuneka ashiye lonke uqheliselo olungcolileyo lonqulo lwaseBhabhiloni olwalusenokungcolisa ukunqula kwawo uYehova.
26. AmaKristu aseKorinte awathobela njani amazwi athi, ‘Phumani phakathi kwabo nento engahlambulukanga ningayichukumisi’?
26 Umpostile uPawulos wacaphula amazwi kaIsaya kwincwadi yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte, wathi: “Musani ukubotshwa edyokhweni kunye nabangakholwayo. Kuba bunabudlelane buni na ubulungisa nokuchas’ umthetho? Okanye kunakwabelana kuni na ukukhanya nobumnyama? . . . ’Ngoko ke phumani phakathi kwabo, nizahlule,’ utsho uYehova, ‘nento engahlambulukanga ningayichukumisi.’” AmaKristu aseKorinte kwakungeyomfuneko ukuba ashiye iKorinte ukuze athobele loo myalelo. Noko ke, kwakufuneka aziphephe ngokoqobo iitempile ezingcolileyo zonqulo lobuxoki, aze azahlule ngokomoya kwizenzo ezingcolileyo zabo banquli bezithixo. Ngowe-1919 abantu bakaThixo baqalisa ukusaba kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu ngale ndlela, bezicoca kuzo naziphi na iimfundiso noqheliselo olungcolileyo olwalusasele. Ngaloo ndlela, bakwazi ukumkhonza njengabantu bakhe abenziwe nyulu.—2 Korinte 6:14-17; 1 Yohane 3:3.
27. Ziziphi izinto ezifanayo phakathi kwemigwebo yeBhabhiloni yamandulo naleyo yeBhabhiloni Enkulu?
27 Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo nokuphanza kwayo ekugqibeleni kwakusisohlwayo ngenxa yezono zayo. “Kuba umgwebo wayo unyuke wafikelela emazulwini.” (Yeremiya 51:9) Ngokufanayo, izono zeBhabhiloni Enkulu “ziye zafumba zada zafikelela ezulwini,” ukuze zifikelele kwingqalelo kaYehova ngokwakhe. Inetyala lokungekho sikweni, lokunqula izithixo, lokuziphatha okubi, lengcinezelo, lokuphanga nelokubulala. Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni yamandulo, ngokuyinxenye, kwakuyimpindezelo koko yayikwenzile kwitempile kaYehova nakubanquli bakhe bokwenyaniso. (Yeremiya 50:8, 14; 51:11, 35, 36) Ukuwa kweBhabhiloni Enkulu nokutshatyalaliswa kwayo ekugqibeleni ngokukwanjalo kuyimbonakaliso yempindezelo koko ikwenzileyo kubanquli bokwenyaniso kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo. Ngenene, ukutshatyalaliswa kwayo ekugqibeleni kusisiqalo ‘somhla wempindezelo kaThixo wethu.’—Isaya 34:8-10; 61:2; Yeremiya 50:28.
28. Nguwuphi umlinganiselo wokusesikweni uYehova awusebenzisayo kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu, yaye ngoba?
28 Phantsi koMthetho kaMoses, ukuba umSirayeli wayebe into yomntu onguwabo, kwakufuneka akubuyisele oko ubuncinane ngokuphindwe kabini. (Eksodus 22:1, 4, 7, 9) Kwintshabalalo ezayo yeBhabhiloni Enkulu, uYehova uya kusebenzisa umlinganiselo ofanayo wokusesikweni. Imele ifumane into ephindwe kabini kunaleyo yayinikelayo. Akuyi kuboniswa nceba kuba nayo iBhabhiloni Enkulu ayibonakalisanga nceba kumaxhoba ayo. Iye yamfimfitha izizwe zomhlaba ukuze izigcine ‘ikubunewunewu bayo bokungabi nazintloni.’ Ngoku iza kufumana ukubandezeleka nokukhala. IBhabhiloni yamandulo yaba noluvo lokuba yayinqabiseke ngokupheleleyo, iqhayisa ngokuthi: “Andiyi kuhlala njengomhlolokazi, nokulahlekelwa ngabantwana andiyi kukwazi.” (Isaya 47:8, 9, 11) IBhabhiloni Enkulu ikwaziva inqabisekile. Kodwa ukutshabalala kwayo, okumiselwe nguYehova ‘owomeleleyo,’ kuya kwenzeka ngokukhawuleza, ngokungathi ‘kungamini-nye’!
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
a Umbhalo osemazantsi weNW eneembekiselo.
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 263]
‘Ookumkani . . . Bahenyuza Nayo’
Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1800 abarhwebi baseYurophu babezithengisa ngokufihlakeleyo izixa ezikhulu zeziyobisi bezisa eTshayina. NgoMatshi we-1839 amagosa aseTshayina azama ukukuthintela oku kurhweba kungekho mthethweni ngokubamba izixa ezingama-20 000 zeziyobisi kubarhwebi baseBritani. Oku kwakhokelela kwimeko yonxunguphalo eyaba phakathi kweBritani neTshayina. Njengoko ulwalamano olwaluphakathi kwala mazwe lwaluphela, bambi abavangeli bamaProtestanti babongoza iBritani ukuba ilwe, bevakalisa amazwi anjengala alandelayo:
“Hayi indlela obu bunzima obayivuyisa ngayo intliziyo yam kuba ndicinga ukuba urhulumente wamaNgesi unokucaphuka, yaye uThixo, ngamandla Akhe unokwaphula imiqobo ethintela ivangeli kaKristu ukuba ingangeni eTshayina.”—UHenrietta Shuck, umvangeli waseBhaptizi.
Ekugqibeleni, kwaqhambuka imfazwe—imfazwe namhlanje eyaziwa ngokuba yiMfazwe Yesiyobisi. Ngeentliziyo ezipheleleyo abavangeli bakhuthaza iBritani ngamazwi anjengala:
“Ndinyanzelekile ukuba ndiyijonge le meko kungekhona njengemfazwe yesiyobisi okanye umcimbi wamaNgesi, kodwa njengecebo likaThixo lokwenza ubungendawo bomntu buphumeze iinjongo Zakhe zokubonisa inceba kwiTshayina ngokudiliza udonga oluyahlulayo.”—UPeter Parker, umvangeli wamaCongregational.
Omnye umvangeli wamaCongregational, uSamuel W. Williams, wongezelela ngelithi: “Isandla sikaThixo siyabonakala kuko konke oko kuye kwenzeka ngendlela ephawulekayo, yaye asiyithandabuzi into yokuba Lowo wathi wayeze kuzisa ikrele emhlabeni uzile apha yaye ezele intshabalalo ekhawulezileyo kwiintshaba Zakhe nokumiselwa kobukumkani Bakhe. Uya kubhukuqa aze abhukuqe de amisele uMthetheli Woxolo.”
Ngokubhekisele ekubulaweni okoyikekayo kwabantu baseTshayina, umvangeli uJ. Lewis Shuck wabhala oku: “Imibono enjalo ndiyijonga . . . njengezixhobo ezingqalileyo zeNkosi ekucoceni inkunkuma ethintela ukuhambela phambili kweNyaniso Yobuthixo.”
Umvangeli wamaCongregational uElijah C. Bridgman wongezelela ngelithi: “UThixo ebedla ngokusebenzisa izixhobo ezinamandla zegunya lasekuhlaleni ukulungiselela indlela yobukumkani Bakhe . . . Uthunywashe osetyenziswayo kula maxesha abalulekileyo ngabantu; abalathiswa ngamandla kaThixo. Umlawuli ophakamileyo wazo zonke iintlanga usebenzise iNgilani ukohlwaya nokuthoba iTshayina.”—Ezi ngcaphulo zithatyathwe kwisincoko esithi “Ends and Means,” 1974, esabhalwa nguStuart Creighton Miller nesathi sapapashwa kwiThe Missionary Enterprise in China and America (uHlolisiso lwaseHarvard olwahlelwa nguJohn K. Fairbank).
[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 264]
“Nabarhwebi abahambahambayo . . . Baba Zizityebi”
“Phakathi kowe-1929 nokuqhambuka kweMfazwe Yehlabathi II, [uBernadino] Nogara [umphathiswa wezemali waseVatican] wabela ikomkhulu laseVatican namalungu eVatican ukuba asebenze kwiinkalo ezahlukileyo zoqoqosho lwaseItali—ingakumbi kumaziko ombane, kunxibelelwano lwefowuni, ezibhankini, ekwenziweni kweendlela ezincinane nasekuvelisweni kwezixhobo zolimo, kwisamente nakumaziko okwenza imicu engeyoyamvelo. Uninzi lolu shishino lwalungenisa imali eninzi.
“UNogara ngokubawa wathabatha iqela leenkampani kuquka iLa Società Italiana della Viscosa, iLa Supertessile, iLa Società Meridionale Industrie Tessili neLa Cisaraion. Wazidibanisa zaba yinkampani enye, awayibiza ngokuba yiCISA-Viscosa waza wayibeka phantsi koBaron Francesco Maria Oddasso, omnye wawona marhamente athenjwe kakhulu eVatican, wandula ke uNogara wazama ukufunxa inkampani entsha ngomzi-mveliso wempahla eyolukiweyo ongowona mkhulu eItali, iSNIA-Viscosa. Ekugqibeleni imali yeVatican eSNIA-Viscosa yaba ninzi ngakumbi, yaye ekuhambeni kwexesha iVatican yathi yalawula—awathi uBaron Oddasso emva koko waba lisekela mongameli.
“Ngaloo ndlela uNogara wangenelela kumzi-mveliso wempahla eyolukiweyo. Wangenelela nakweminye imizi-mveliso ngezinye iindlela, kuba uNogara wayenobuchule obukhulu. Lo mfo ungazingciyo . . . mhlawumbi wenza okungakumbi ekubeni negalelo kuqoqosho lwaseItali kunokuba kwenza nawuphi na usomashishini ongomnye kwimbali yaseItali . . . UBenito Mussolini akazange akwazi ngokupheleleyo ukufumana ubukhosi awayebunqwenela, kodwa wabangela ukuba iVatican noBernadino Nogara bavelise olunye ulawulo.”—The Vatican Empire, nguNino Lo Bello, iphepha 71-3.
Lo ngumzekelo nje omnye wentsebenziswano esondeleyo phakathi kwabarhwebi bomhlaba neBhabhiloni Enkulu. Akumangalisi ukuba aba barhwebi beya kukhala xa iqabane labo loshishino lingasekho!
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 259]
Njengoko abantu babesasazeka kuwo wonk’ umhlaba, bahamba nonqulo lwaseBhabhiloni
[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 261]
Udidi lukaYohane, njengomlindi, luvakalisa ukuba iBhabhiloni iwile
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 266]
Amabhodlo eBhabhiloni yamandulo afanekisela imbubhiso ezayo yeBhabhiloni Enkulu