Isahluko Sesishiyagalombili
Inkolo Yamanga—Ukuphela Kwayo Okuphawulekayo Kubonwa Kusengaphambili
1, 2. (a) Kungani kwabanye kubonakala zingenakwenzeka izinguquko ezinkulu emkhakheni wezwe wenkolo? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi amazwi ka-Isaya isahluko 47 asebenza esikhathini esizayo? (c) Kungani kufaneleka ukubiza inkolo yamanga ngokuthi “iBabiloni Elikhulu”?
“INKOLO Iyabuya.” Sasisho njalo isihloko se-New York Times Magazine. Lesi sihloko sathi kubonakala sengathi izinhliziyo nezingqondo zezigidi zabantu zisabambelele ngokuqinile enkolweni. Ngakho-ke kungase kube nzima ukukholelwa ukuthi sekuseduze kwenzeke izinguquko ezinkulu emkhakheni wenkolo. Kodwa ku-Isaya isahluko 47 kukhulunywa ngalezo zinguquko.
2 Amazwi ka-Isaya agcwaliseka eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-2 500 edlule. Nokho, amazwi aku-Isaya 47:8 ayacashunwa encwadini yesAmbulo futhi kuthiwa ayosebenza esikhathini esizayo. Lapho, iBhayibheli libikezela isiphelo senhlangano enjengesifebe ebizwa ngokuthi “iBabiloni Elikhulu”—umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 16:19) Ukubiza izinkolo zamanga zezwe ngokuthi “iBabiloni” kuyafaneleka ngoba inkolo yamanga yaqala eBabiloni lasendulo. Yabe isisakazekela emagumbini omane omhlaba. (Genesise 11:1-9) Cishe zonke izinkolo, kuhlanganise neLobukholwa, zinezimfundiso ezaqala eBabiloni, njengokungafi komphefumulo, isihogo somlilo nokukhulekela onkulunkulu abangoziqu-zintathu.a Ingabe isiprofetho sika-Isaya siyalicacisa ikusasa lenkolo?
IBabiloni Lehliselwa Phansi Othulini
3. Chaza ubukhulu boMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni.
3 Lalela lesi simemezelo saphezulu esishukumisayo: “Yehla uhlale phansi othulini, ndodakazi eyintombi yaseBabiloni. Hlala phansi emhlabathini lapho kungekho khona isihlalo sobukhosi, ndodakazi yamaKaledi. Ngoba ngeke usakubona futhi ukuba abantu bakubize ngokuthi untekenteke futhi uthambile.” (Isaya 47:1) Sekuyiminyaka eminingi iBabiloni libusa njengombuso wezwe oqavile. ‘Beliwumhlobiso wemibuso’—isikhungo esichumayo senkolo, ezentengiselwano nezempi. (Isaya 13:19) Lapho iBabiloni lifinyelela phezulu, umbuso walo usunwebeke wafika emngceleni weGibithe eningizimu. Futhi lapho linqoba iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E., kubonakala sengathi noNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uyehluleka ukulivimba ukuba linganqobi! Ngaleyo ndlela, lizibona ‘liyindodakazi eyintombi,’ engasoze yahlaselwa ezinye izizwe.b
4. Lizokwehlelwa yini iBabiloni?
4 Nokho, le “ntombi” ezigabisayo izokwethulwa esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi njengombuso wezwe ongaphikiswa, ‘ihlaliswe phansi othulini’ ithotshiswe. (Isaya 26:5) Ngeke iphinde ibhekwe ‘njengentekenteke nethambile,’ kuhle kwendlovukazi etotoswayo. Ngenxa yalokho uJehova ukhipha lo myalo: “Thatha isigayo sesandla ugaye ufulawa. Yembula umgubuzelo wakho. Hlubula isiketi esilazayo. Yembula umlenze. Wela imifula.” (Isaya 47:2) Ngemva kokugqilaza sonke isizwe sakwaJuda, iBabiloni nalo selizophathiswa okwesigqila! AmaMede namaPheresiya, okuyiwona alehlisa esikhundleni salo sokubusa, ayoliphoqa ukuba liwenzele umsebenzi ophansi.
5. (a) IBabiloni liyohlutshulwa kanjani ‘umgubuzelo walo nesiketi salo esilazayo’? (b) Yini okungenzeka ukuthi ishiwo umyalo othi “wela imifula”?
5 Ngakho iBabiloni liyohlutshulwa ‘umgubuzelo walo nesiketi salo esilazayo,’ kuphele zonke izinsalela zobukhulu nesithunzi salo sangaphambili. Abacindezeli balo bayothi: “Wela imifula.” Kungenzeka ukuthi kuyothiwa abanye baseBabiloni abenze imisebenzi egqilazayo yangaphandle. Noma kungenzeka ukuthi lesi siprofetho sisho ukuthi abanye bayohudulwa ngokoqobo baweliswe imifula lapho bethunjwa. Kunoma yikuphi, iBabiloni ngeke lisatetemuka kuhle kwendlovukazi eweliswa umfula ihlezi phezu kwesihlalo noma enqoleni. Kunalokho liyofana nesigqila, okuthi ukuze sikwazi ukugxambuza siwele umfula, kudingeke sikhohlwe ukuzithanda, sikhuphule isiketi kuvele imilenze. Yeka ukuhlaziswa!
6. (a) Buyokwembulwa kanjani ubunqunu beBabiloni? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uNkulunkulu ‘angahlangabezani namuntu ngomusa’? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)
6 UJehova uyaqhubeka ebabhuqa: “Kufanele ubembule ubunqunu bakho. Futhi, isihlamba sakho kufanele sibonakale. Ngizophindisela, ngeke ngihlangabezane namuntu ngomusa.” (Isaya 47:3)c Yebo, iBabiloni liyokwenziwa libe namahloni futhi lihlaziswe. Ububi nonya elibenza kubantu bakaNkulunkulu buyodalulwa. Akukho muntu ongavimba impindiselo kaNkulunkulu!
7. (a) Izithunjwa ezingamaJuda ziyozamukela kanjani izindaba zokuwa kweBabiloni? (b) UJehova uyobathenga kabusha kanjani abantu bakhe?
7 Ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 bethunjelwe eBabiloni elinamandla, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayothokoza kakhulu lapho liwa. Bayomemeza: “Ukhona Osithenga kabusha. NguJehova wamabutho igama lakhe, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.” (Isaya 47:4) Ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose, uma umIsrayeli ezithengisa abe isigqila ngenjongo yokukhokha isikweletu sakhe, umuntu owayengamthenga kabusha (isihlobo segazi) wayengambuyisa, noma amthenge kabusha amkhiphe ebugqilini. (Levitikusi 25:47-54) Njengoba amaJuda eyobe ethengiswe ebugqilini eBabiloni, kuyodingeka athengwe kabusha, noma akhululwe. Ezigqileni, ukunqotshwa kwezwe ngokuvamile kumane nje kusho ukushintsha kwabaphathi bazo. Kodwa uJehova uyokwenza inkosi enqobayo uKoresi ikhulule amaJuda ebugqilini. UKoresi uyonikezwa iGibithe, iTopiya neSeba “njengesihlengo” esikhundleni samaJuda. (Isaya 43:3) Kuyafaneleka ukuthi uMhlengi ka-Israyeli ubizwa ngokuthi “uJehova wamabutho.” Ibutho laseBabiloni elibonakala linamandla liwubala uma liqhathaniswa namabutho kaJehova ezingelosi ezingabonakali.
Umvuzo Wonya
8. IBabiloni ‘liyongena ebumnyameni’ ngamuphi umqondo?
8 UJehova uqala isiprofetho sakhe sokulahla iBabiloni: “Hlala phansi buthule ungene ebumnyameni, ndodakazi yamaKaledi; ngoba ngeke usakubona futhi ukuba abantu bakubize ngokuthi uyiNkosikazi Yemibuso.” (Isaya 47:5) Kuyolihambela kabi iBabiloni. Ngeke liphinde liqinele eminye imibuso njengenkosikazi enonya.—Isaya 14:4.
9. Kungani uJehova ethukuthelela amaJuda?
9 IBabiloni livunyelelwani nje ukuba liphathe kabi abantu bakaNkulunkulu? UJehova uyachaza: “Ngathukuthelela abantu bami. Ngalingcolisa ifa lami, ngabanikela esandleni sakho.” (Isaya 47:6a) UJehova unesizathu esihle sokuthukuthelela amaJuda. Wayewaxwayisile ngokuthi ukungawulaleli uMthetho wakhe kuyophumela ekuxoshweni kwawo ezweni. (Duteronomi 28:64) Lapho ewela ekukhonzeni izithombe nasekuziphatheni okubi kobulili, ngothando uJehova wayethuma abaprofethi ukuze bawasize bawabuyisele ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa. Kodwa “babeqhubeka betekula ngezithunywa zikaNkulunkulu weqiniso bedelela amazwi akhe futhi bebahleka insini abaprofethi bakhe, uJehova waze wabafuthekela abantu bakhe, kwaze kwangaba bikho kuphulukiswa.” (2 IziKronike 36:16) Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu uvumela ukuba ifa lakhe, uJuda, lingcoliswe lapho iBabiloni lihlasela izwe futhi lingcolisa ithempeli laKhe elingcwele.—IHubo 79:1; Hezekeli 24:21.
10, 11. Kungani uJehova elithukuthelele iBabiloni yize kuyintando yakhe ukuba linqobe abantu bakhe?
10 Uma sicabangela lokho, iBabiloni alive yini lenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngokugqilaza amaJuda? Cha, ngoba uNkulunkulu uthi: “Awubabonisanga neze isihe. Wenza ijoka lakho laba nzima kakhulu phezu kwexhegu. Wawulokhu uthi: ‘Ngizoba yiNkosikazi isikhathi esingenasiphelo, kuze kube phakade.’ Awuzange uzifake enhliziyweni yakho lezi zinto; futhi awuzange usikhumbule isiphetho sendaba.” (Isaya 47:6b, 7) UNkulunkulu akashongo ukuthi iBabiloni alenze izinto ngesihluku eseqile, ‘lingabonisi musa ngisho nasemaxhegwini.’ (IsiLilo 4:16; 5:12) Akalicelanga futhi ukuba lisizakale ngezithunjwa ezingamaJuda.—IHubo 137:3.
11 IBabiloni liyehluleka ukubona ukuthi ukubusa kwalo amaJuda kungokwesikhashana. Alizinakanga izixwayiso zika-Isaya ezithi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova uyobakhulula abantu bakhe. Lenza sengathi ligunyazwe ukuba liwabuse phakade amaJuda futhi lihlale liyinkosikazi phezu kwezizwe ezikhonza kulo. Aliwulaleli umyalezo othi ukubusa kwalo okucindezelayo kuyoba ‘nesiphetho’!
Ukuwa KweBabiloni Kuyabikezelwa
12. Kungani iBabiloni libizwa ngokuthi ‘owesifazane ozinikele ezinjabulweni’?
12 UJehova uthi: “Manje, yizwa lokhu, wena wesifazane ozinikele ezinjabulweni, ohlezi ngokulondeka, othi enhliziyweni yakhe: ‘Yimi yimi, akekho omunye. Ngeke ngihlale njengomfelokazi, futhi ngeke ngikwazi ukulahlekelwa abantwana.’” (Isaya 47:8) Laziwa kahle idumela leBabiloni lokuthanda injabulo. Isazi-mlando sekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E. uHerodotus sikhuluma “ngesiko eliyihlazo kakhulu” labaseBabiloni, lokuthi bonke abantu besifazane kudingeka bafebe nonkulunkulukazi wabo wothando, njengophawu lokumhlonipha. Isazi-mlando sasendulo uCurtius naso sathi: “Izindlela zokwenza zalo muzi zazingcole ngokwedlulele; ukukhohlakala kwakhona kwakuvusa inkanuko futhi kuhehela abantu ekuzitikeni ngokweqile.”
13. Ukuthanda kweBabiloni injabulo kuyokusheshisa kanjani ukuwa kwalo?
13 Ukuthanda kweBabiloni injabulo kuzoliwisa ngokushesha. Ngobusuku eliyowa ngabo, inkosi yalo nezicukuthwane zakhona ziyobe zisedilini, zizitika ngophuzo oludakayo. Ngenxa yalokho, ngeke ziwanake amabutho amaMede namaPheresiya ayobe ehlasela umuzi. (Daniyeli 5:1-4) ‘Lihlezi ngokulondeka,’ iBabiloni liyocabanga ukuthi izindonga zalo okungadlulwa kuzo nomselekazi walo kuyolivikela ekuhlaselweni. Lizitshela ukuthi “akekho omunye” ongathatha isikhundla salo esiphakeme. Alicabangi ukuthi lingaba ‘umfelokazi,’ lilahlekelwe umbusi walo kanye ‘nabantwana’ balo, noma umphakathi walo. Noma kunjalo, akukho donga olungalivikela engalweni kaJehova uNkulunkulu ephindiselayo! Kamuva uJehova uyothi: “Ngisho noma iBabiloni lingase linyukele emazulwini ngisho noma lingase lenze indawo ephakeme yezikhwepha zalo ibe ngengafinyeleleki, abaphangi bayofika kulo bevela kimi.”—Jeremiya 51:53.
14. Kungaziphi izindlela iBabiloni ‘liyolahlekelwa abantwana futhi libe umfelokazi’?
14 Uyoba yini umphumela eBabiloni? UJehova uyaqhubeka: “Kodwa lezi zinto ezimbili zizokufikela ngokuzumayo, ngalusuku lunye: ukulahlekelwa abantwana nobufelokazi. Kumelwe zikwehlele ngesilinganiso esiphelele, ngenxa yobuningi bobuthakathi bakho, ngenxa yamandla agcwele eziphonso zakho—ngokudlulele.” (Isaya 47:9) Yebo, ubukhulu beBabiloni njengombuso wezwe buyophela ngokuzumayo. Emazweni asendulo aseMpumalanga ukuba umfelokazi nokulahlekelwa abantwana kwakuyizinto ezibuhlungu kunazo zonke ezazingehlela owesifazane. Asazi ukuthi iBabiloni lilahlekelwa “abantwana” abangaki ngobusuku bokuwa kwalo.d Kodwa ngesikhathi esifanele, lowo muzi uyobe ungakhiwe muntu. (Jeremiya 51:29) Liyoba umfelokazi nangokuthi amakhosi alo ayosuswa esihlalweni sobukhosi.
15. Ngaphandle konya lwabaseBabiloni kumaJuda, yisiphi esinye isizathu esenza uJehova alithukuthelele?
15 Nokho, ukuphatha kabi amaJuda kweBabiloni akukuphela kwesizathu solaka lukaJehova. ‘Ubuningi bobuthakathi balo’ nabo buyamthukuthelisa. UMthetho kaNkulunkulu ku-Israyeli uyakwenqabela ukusebenzisa imimoya; kodwa iBabiloni likukhuthalele ukuyisebenzisa. (Duteronomi 18:10-12; Hezekeli 21:21) Incwadi ethi Social Life Among the Assyrians and Babylonians ithi abantu baseBabiloni “babephila ngokwesaba inqwaba yamademoni ababekholelwa ukuthi abazungezile.”
Ukwethembela Ebubini
16, 17. (a) IBabiloni ‘lithembela’ kanjani “ebubini balo”? (b) Kungani singenakunqandwa isiphetho seBabiloni?
16 Ingabe ababhuli baseBabiloni bayokwazi ukulisindisa? UJehova uyaphendula: “Waqhubeka uthembela ebubini bakho. Uthé: ‘Akekho ongibonayo.’ Ukuhlakanipha kwakho nolwazi lwakho—yikho lokhu okukudukisile; futhi ulokhu uthi enhliziyweni yakho: ‘Yimi yimi, akekho omunye.’” (Isaya 47:10) IBabiloni licabanga ukuthi ngokuhlakanipha kwalo kwezwe nokwenkolo, amandla alo ezempi nobuqili obunonya, lingakwazi ukulondoloza isikhundla salo njengombuso wezwe. Linomuzwa wokuthi ‘alibonwa’ muntu, okusho ukuthi akukho muntu elingalandisa kuye ngezenzo zalo ezimbi. Aliyiboni nembangi esondelayo. Lizitshela ukuthi ‘yilo yilo, akekho omunye.’
17 Nokho, ngomunye wabaprofethi bakhe, uJehova uyaxwayisa: “Ingabe umuntu angakwazi yini ukucasha ezindaweni zokucasha mina ngingamboni?” (Jeremiya 23:24; Heberu 4:13) Ngakho-ke uJehova uthi: “Inhlekelele iyokwehlela; ngeke uyazi indlela yokuyigwema. Okubi kuyokwehlela; ngeke ukwazi ukukugwema. Uyokwehlelwa ngokuzumayo yincithakalo ongakaze uyazi.” (Isaya 47:11) Onkulunkulu baseBabiloni noma “ukuloya” kwabasebenzisa imimoya ngeke kuyinqande inhlekelele ezayo—engafani nalutho okwake kwalehlela!
Abeluleki BeBabiloni Bayehluleka
18, 19. Ukuthembela kweBabiloni kubeluleki balo kuyoyidala kanjani inhlekelele?
18 Ngokubhuqa okuntinyelayo, uJehova ukhipha lo myalo: “Manje yima unganyakazi, kanye neziphonso zakho nobuningi bobuthakathi bakho, oye wakhandleka kukho kusukela kwasebusheni bakho; ukuze mhlawumbe ukwazi ukuzuza, ukuze mhlawumbe uthuthumelise abantu.” (Isaya 47:12) IBabiloni kuthiwa ‘alime linganyakazi,’ noma liqhubeke nokwethembela kwalo emilingweni. Phela, kusukela “kwasebusheni” balo njengesizwe belilokhu liwuthuthukisa lo mkhuba.
19 Kodwa uJehova uyalihleka, ethi: “Udiniwe ubuningi babeluleki bakho. Mabasukume, manje, bakusindise, abakhulekeli bamazulu, ababheka izinkanyezi, abanikeza ulwazi ekwethwaseni kwezinyanga ngokuphathelene nezinto ezizokwehlela.” (Isaya 47:13)e Abeluleki beBabiloni bayohluleka kakhulu. Yebo, kuyobe kuchithwe amakhulu eminyaka kuhlolwa izinkanyezi eBabiloni. Kodwa ngobusuku eliyowa ngabo, ukwehluleka ngendlela edabukisayo kwabafundi balo bezinkanyezi kuyokwembula ukuthi ukubhula akusizi ngalutho.—Daniyeli 5:7, 8.
20. Siyoba yini isiphetho sabeluleki baseBabiloni?
20 UJehova uphetha le ngxenye yesiprofetho ngokuthi: “Bheka! Sebenjengezinhlanga. Ngokuqinisekile umlilo uyobashisa ubaqede. Ngeke bawukhulule umphefumulo wabo emandleni elangabi. Ngeke kube khona ukuvutha kwamalahle ukuze abantu bothe, noma ukukhanya komlilo okungahlalwa phambi kwako. Ngokuqinisekile bayoba kanjalo kuwe, labo oye wakhandleka nabo njengabathwebuli bakho kusukela ebusheni bakho. Empeleni bayonhlanhlatha, yilowo nalowo aziyele esifundeni sakhe. Ngeke kube namuntu wokukusindisa.” (Isaya 47:14, 15) Yebo, laba beluleki bamanga sebezobhekana nezikhathi ezivutha njengomlilo. Ngeke kube imbuthuma emnandi abantu abazifudumeza ngayo, kodwa kuyoba umlilo obhubhisayo noqothulayo oyodalula abeluleki bamanga ukuthi bayizinhlanga ezingathí shu. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi abeluleki baseBabiloni bayobaleka ngenxa yokwethuka! Sebengasekho abasizi balo bokugcina, kuyobe kungasenamuntu wokulisindisa. Liyobhekana nenhlekelele eliyobe liyenze eJerusalema.—Jeremiya 11:12.
21. Amazwi ka-Isaya angokwesiprofetho agcwaliseka nini futhi kanjani?
21 Ngonyaka ka-539 B.C.E., la mazwi aphefumulelwe aqala ukugcwaliseka. Amabutho amaMede namaPheresiya eholwa uKoresi ayawuthatha umuzi, abulale inkosi yakhona uBelishasari. (Daniyeli 5:1-4, 30) Ngobusuku obubodwa iBabiloni liyasuswa esikhundleni salo sokuphatha umhlaba. Kuphela kanjalo ukubusa kwamaSemite okwase kuthathe amakhulu eminyaka, futhi manje umhlaba usubuswa ama-Aryan. IBabiloni liyaqhubeka liwohloka kuze kuphele amakhulu eminyaka. Ngekhulu lesine C.E., ‘liyinqwaba yamatshe.’ (Jeremiya 51:37) Ngakho isiprofetho sika-Isaya sigcwaliseka ngokuphelele.
IBabiloni Lanamuhla
22. Ukuwa kweBabiloni kusifundisa siphi isifundo ngokuziqhenya?
22 Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sinikeza amaKristu namuhla okuningi angacabanga ngakho. Phakathi kokunye, sigcizelela ingozi yokuziqhenya nokuzidla. Ukuwa kweBabiloni eliziqhenyayo kufakazela lesi saga seBhayibheli: “Ukuziqhenya kwandulela ukuphahlazeka, nomoya ozidlayo wandulela ukukhubeka.” (IzAga 16:18) Ngezinye izikhathi isimo sethu sokungapheleli sibuswa ukuziqhenya, kodwa ‘ukukhukhumala ngokuziqhenya’ kungaholela ‘ekuweleni esihlambeni nasogibeni lukaDeveli.’ (1 Thimothewu 3:6, 7) Ngakho senza kahle ngokulalela iseluleko sikaJakobe: “Zithobeni emehlweni kaJehova, futhi uyoniphakamisa.”—Jakobe 4:10.
23. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya sisisiza ukuba sithembele kubani?
23 La mazwi angokwesiprofetho ayasisiza futhi sithembele kuJehova, yena onamandla ngaphezu kwabo bonke abaphikisi bakhe. (IHubo 24:8; 34:7; 50:15; 91:14, 15) Kuyisikhumbuzo esiduduzayo lokhu kulezi zinsuku ezinzima. Ukuthembela kuJehova kuqinisa ukuzimisela kwethu ukuhlala singasoleki phambi kwakhe, sazi ukuthi “ikusasa [lomuntu ongasoleki] liyoba nokuthula.” (IHubo 37:37, 38) Kuwukuhlakanipha ukuba sibheke kuJehova njalo nje futhi singathembeli emandleni ethu lapho sibhekene ‘nezenzo’ zikaSathane “zobuqili.”—Efesu 6:10-13, umbhalo waphansi we-NW.
24, 25. (a) Kungani kungenangqondo ukufunda izinkanyezi, kodwa kungani abaningi bekwenza? (b) Yiziphi ezinye zezizathu ezenza amaKristu agweme izinkolelo-ze?
24 Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi sixwayiswa ngemikhuba yokusebenzisa imimoya, ikakhulukazi ukufunda izinkanyezi. (Galathiya 5:20, 21) Lapho iBabiloni liwa, abantu abayekanga ukufunda izinkanyezi. Ngokuthakazelisayo, incwadi ethi Great Cities of the Ancient World iveza ukuthi izinkanyezi ezahlukaniswa abaseBabiloni “sezigudlukile” lapho zazimi khona endulo, “okwenza yonke le nto [yokuhlola izinkanyezi] ibe umbhedo.” Nakuba kunjalo, ukuhlola izinkanyezi kuyaqhubeka kwanda, futhi amaphephandaba amaningi anezinhlu abafundi abangafunda kuzo izinkanyezi kalula.
25 Yini eyenza abantu—abaningi babo abayizifundiswa—ukuba bafunde izinkanyezi noma benze eminye imikhuba engenangqondo neyinkolelo-ze? I-World Book Encyclopedia ithi: “Cishe izinkolelo-ze ziyolokhu ziyingxenye yokuphila uma nje abantu besasabana futhi bengaqiniseki ngekusasa.” Ukwesaba nokungaqiniseki kungase kubangele abantu bakholelwe ezeni. Kodwa amaKristu ayakugwema ukukholelwa ezeni. Awamesabi umuntu—uJehova ungumsekeli wawo. (IHubo 6:4-10) Futhi ayaqiniseka ngekusasa; ayazazi izinjongo zikaJehova ezambuliwe futhi awangabazi ukuthi “yona kanye injongo kaJehova iyokuma kuze kube phakade.” (IHubo 33:11) Ukwenza ukuphila kwethu kuvumelane nenjongo kaJehova kusho ikusasa elijabulisayo nelingenasiphelo.
26. “Imicabango yabantu abahlakaniphileyo” ibonakale kanjani “iyize”?
26 Eminyakeni yamuva abanye baye bazama ukubona ikusasa besebenzisa izindlela “zesayensi.” Kukhona nanomkhakha wemfundo obizwa ngokuthi i-futurology, ochazwa ngokuthi “imfundo ephathelene nezinto ezingenzeka esikhathini esizayo ezisekelwe kokwenzeka manje.” Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1972 iqembu lezifundiswa nosomabhizinisi elaziwa ngokuthi i-Club of Rome labikezela ukuthi ngo-1992 lonke igolide elisemhlabeni, isigidi (mercury), i-zinc nophethiloli ongahluziwe kuyobe kuphelile. Umhlaba uye wabhekana nezinkinga ezimbi kakhulu kusukela ngo-1972, kodwa leso sibikezelo sasingamanga. Lisekhona igolide, i-zinc nophethiloli ongahluziwe emhlabeni. Yebo, umuntu uye wazikhandla ezama ukubikezela ikusasa, kodwa izibikezelo zakhe zihlale zingathembekile. Yiqiniso, “imicabango yabantu abahlakaniphileyo iyize”!—1 Korinte 3:20.
Isiphelo Esizayo SeBabiloni Elikhulu
27. IBabiloni Elikhulu labhekana nini futhi kanjani nokuwa okufuze okweBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E.?
27 Izinkolo zanamuhla ziye zasakaza eziningi izimfundiso zeBabiloni lasendulo. Ngakho, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga ubizwa kufanele ngokuthi “iBabiloni Elikhulu.” (IsAmbulo 17:5) Leyo nhlanganisela yezinkolo zomhlaba wonke isiwile kakade, ukuwa okufuze okweBabiloni ngo-539 B.C.E. (IsAmbulo 14:8; 18:2) Ngo-1919 insali yabafowabo bakaKristu yaphuma ebugqilini obungokomoya futhi yathintitha ithonya lenkolo leLobukholwa, ingxenye enkulu yeBabiloni Elikhulu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi eLobukholwa liye laphelelwa ithonya elikhulu emazweni amaningi elalinamandla kuwo.
28. IBabiloni Elikhulu liziqhayisa lithini, kodwa lilindelwe yini?
28 Nokho, lokho kuwa kwakumane nje kuyisandulela sokubhujiswa kokugcina kwenkolo yamanga. Ngokuthakazelisayo, isiprofetho sesAmbulo sokubhujiswa kweBabiloni Elikhulu sisikhumbuza amazwi angokwesiprofetho aku-Isaya 47:8, 9. NjengeBabiloni lasendulo, iBabiloni Elikhulu lanamuhla lithi: “Ngihlezi njengendlovukazi, futhi angiyena umfelokazi, futhi angisoze ngakubona ukulila.” Kodwa “zizofika ngalusuku lunye izinhlupho zalo, ukufa nokulila nendlala, futhi liyoshiswa ngokuphelele ngomlilo, ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu, owalahlulela, unamandla.” Ngakho amazwi angokwesiprofetho aku-Isaya isahluko 47 ayisixwayiso kulabo abasesenkolweni yamanga. Uma befuna ukungabhujiswa kanye nayo, mabalalele lo myalo ophefumulelwe: “Phumani kulo”!—IsAmbulo 18:4, 7, 8.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ukuze uthole ukwaziswa okwengeziwe ngokusunguleka kwezimfundiso zenkolo yamanga, bheka incwadi ethi Ukufuna Kwesintu UNkulunkulu, enyatheliswa yi-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
b NgesiHeberu, inkulumo ethi “ndodakazi eyintombi yaseBabiloni” iyisingathekiso esibhekisela eBabiloni noma kubantu baseBabiloni. ‘Liyintombi’ ngoba selokhu laba umbuso wezwe akukaze kube namnqobi oliphangayo.
c Izazi ziye zachaza inkulumo yesiHeberu ehunyushwe ngokuthi “ngeke ngihlangabezane namuntu ngomusa” ngokuthi “inkulumo okunzima kakhulu” ukuyihumusha. I-New World Translation ifaka igama elithi “ngomusa” ukuze idlulisele umqondo wokuthi akukho muntu wangaphandle oyovunyelwa ukuba asindise iBabiloni. Inguqulo ye-Jewish Publication Society ihumusha le nkulumo ngokuthi: “Ngeke . . . ngivumele muntu alikhulumele.”
d Incwadi ethi Nabonidus and Belshazzar kaRaymond Philip Dougherty, ithi nakuba uMbhalo KaNabonidasi uthi abahlaseli beBabiloni bangena “ngaphandle kokulwa,” isazi-mlando esingumGreki uXenophon sibonisa ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi kwaba nokuchitheka kwegazi okukhulu.
e Abanye bahumusha inkulumo yesiHeberu ethi “abakhulekeli bamazulu” ngokuthi “abahlukanisi bamazulu.” Lokhu kubhekisela emkhubeni wokuhlukanisa amazulu abe izingxenye ezithile ukuze kufundwe izinkanyezi.
[Izithombe ekhasini 111]
IBabiloni elithanda injabulo liyokwehliselwa othulini
[Isithombe ekhasini 114]
Abafundi bezinkanyezi baseBabiloni ngeke bakwazi ukubikezela ukuwa kwalo
[Isithombe ekhasini 116]
Ikhalenda laseBabiloni lokufunda izinkanyezi, langenkulungwane yokuqala yeminyaka B.C.E.
[Izithombe ekhasini 119]
IBabiloni lanamuhla lizoqothulwa maduze nje