UDaniyeli—Incwadi Ethembekile Yesiprofetho

UMBHALO weBhayibheli uyasitshela: “Ngomnyaka wokuqala kaBelishasari inkosi yaseBabele uDaniyeli wabona iphupho nemibono yekhanda lakhe embhedeni wakhe, waliloba iphupho, walanda inhloko yezindaba [“yonke indaba yalezo zinto,” NW].”—Daniyeli 7:1.

Kwakusengxenyeni yesibili yekhulu lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E. lapho uDaniyeli eloba leli kanye namanye amaphupho nemibono okusithintayo namuhla. Sinayo “yonke indaba” yemibono enjalo encwadini kaDaniyeli yesiprofetho.

Umprofethi Othembekile

UKristu ngokwakhe wakufakazela ukuthi uDaniyeli wayengumprofethi. Ngokuthakazelisayo, uJesu wenza kanjalo esiprofethweni sakhe siqu ngesibonakaliso ‘sokuza [“sokuba khona,” NW] kwakhe nesokuphela kwezwe.’ Kanjalo wakhomba ukugcwaliseka okuphelele kwesiprofetho sikaDaniyeli osukwini lwethu, lapho sibona izici ezihlukahlukene zesibonakaliso, njengezimpi zezizwe zonke, ukuntuleka kokudla, ukuzamazama komhlaba, kanye nemihelo yosizi emhlabeni wonke.—Mathewu 24:3-8, 15.

UJesu wathi: “Kuyakuvela abaprofethi bamanga abaningi, badukise abaningi. . . . Lelivangeli lombuso liyakushunyayelwa ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke, andukuba kufike ukuphela. Ngakho-ke nxa nibona amanyala encithakalo ashiwo nguDaniyeli umprofethi emi endaweni engcwele—ofundayo makaqaphele—khona abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni. . . . Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke lokhu.”—Mathewu 24:11-34.

Iqiniso lokuthi uJesu waxwayisa ngokuthi kwakuyoba nabaprofethi bamanga ngaphambi nje kokuba akhulume nabafundi bakhe ‘ngoDaniyeli umprofethi’ libonisa ukuthi wayebheka uDaniyeli njengomprofethi weqiniso kaNkulunkulu. Siye saphawula esihlokweni esandulelayo ukuthi amanye amazwi kaDaniyeli angokwesiprofetho aphefumlelwe, njengalawo abikezela ukusangana kukaNebukadinesari okwakungokwesikhashana kanye nokuwa kweBabiloni, agcwaliseka phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kukaDaniyeli. Kodwa uDaniyeli wabikezela futhi izinto ezaziyokwenzeka emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva. Ziyini ezinye zeziprofetho zesikhathi eside ezilotshwe encwadini kaDaniyeli?

Ukuza Nokufa KukaMesiya

Isiprofetho esibonisa ngempela uDaniyeli njengomprofethi othembekile saziwa ngokuthi amasonto angama-70 angokwesiprofetho. Ngokwengxenye, sifundeka kanje: “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa anqunyelwe abantu bakho nomuzi ongcwele ukuqeda iziphambeko, nokukhawula izono, nokwenza ukubuyisana ngobubi . . . Ngalokho yazi, uqonde ukuthi, kusukela ekuphumeni kwezwi lokubuyisana nokwakha iJerusalema kuze kufike ogcotshiweyo, umbusi, kuyakuba-ngamasonto ayisikhombisa, . . . [futhi] amasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili [uma esewonke enza angama-69]. . . . Emva kwalawomasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nambili [okungukuthi, 7 + 62, noma ngemva kwesonto lama-69] ogcotshiweyo uyakunqunywa . . . Uyakuqinisa isivumelwano nabaningi isonto libe-linye [elama-70], imihlatshelo neminikelo ikhawuke phakathi kwesonto.”—Daniyeli 9:24-27.

Izazi eziningi zeBhayibheli ezingamaJuda, amaKatolika, namaProthestani ziyavuma ukuthi “amasonto” alesiprofetho angamasonto eminyaka. IRevised Standard Version, iNguqulo ye-Ecumenical, ifundeka kanje: “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka anqunyelwe abantu bakho.” Leyominyaka engama-490 yaqala ngo-455 B.C.E. lapho uNehemiya egunyazwa inkosi yasePheresiya uAritahishashita ‘ukubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema.’ (Nehemiya 2:1-8) Amasonto angamashumi ayisithupha nesishiyagalolunye eminyaka kamuva, okungukuthi, ngo-29 C.E., uJesu wabhapathizwa futhi wagcotshwa, eba uKristu, noma oGcotshiweyo, uMesiya. “Phakathi kwesonto [lama-70],” ngo-33 C.E., ‘wanqunywa.’ Ukufa kwakhe komhlatshelo kwenza inhlawulo yezono zesintu, kanjalo kwabangela ukuba imihlatshelo yezilwane ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose “ikhawuke.”a

Ngenxa yalesiprofetho esithembekile, abantu abangamaJuda bekhulu lokuqala “babazi ukuthi amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka anqunywa uDaniyeli ayesezophela; akukho muntu owamangala ukuzwa uJohane umBhapathizi ememezela ukuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu wawususondele.”—Manuel Biblique, nguBacuez noVigouroux.

Imibuso Yezwe Enjengesilo

Esinye isiprofetho sesikhathi eside, esibaluleke kakhulu kubantu abaphila namuhla, sabikezela ukulandelana kwemibuso yezwe, efanekiswa yizilo ezesabekayo, okwakuyomelwe zidedele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

UDaniyeli walandisa: “Ngabona embonweni wami ebusuku . . . Izilo ezine ezinkulu zakhuphuka elwandle, zahlukile esinye kwesinye. Esokuqala sasinjengengonyama . . . Bheka, esinye isilo, esesibili, sinjengebhere . . . Bheka, esinye, sinjengengwe . . . Emva kwalokho ngabona emibonweni ebusuku; bheka, isilo sesine, esesabekayo, sinamandla, siqinile kakhulu. . . . Lezozilo ezinkulu ezine zingamakhosi amane ayakuvela emhlabeni. Kepha abangcwele boPhezukonke bayakwamukeliswa umbuso, umbuso ube-ngowabo kuze kube-phakade.”—Daniyeli 7:2-18.

Ukuthi lezilo zimelela imibuso yezwe kusobala komunye umbono owabonwa uDaniyeli. Echaza lombono, waloba: “Inqama oyibonileyo inezimpondo ezimbili, zingamakhosi aseMediya nasePheresiya. Impongo iyinkosi yaseJavani.”—Daniyeli 8:20, 21.

Ngokufanayo, izilo ezine zikaDaniyeli isahluko 7 zifanekisela imibuso emine yomhlaba kusukela osukwini kukaDaniyeli kuya phambili, kuze kube sesikhathini sokumiswa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UDaniyeli waphila kwaze kwaba ngalé kokuwa koMbuso Wezwe WaseBabiloni (ingonyama) kwaze kwaba sekuqaleni kowawulandela, owamaMede namaPheresiya (ibhere). Isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli sesikhathi eside sabikezela ukuwa kwamaMede namaPheresiya ngaphambi [kweJavani] kweGrisi (ingwe), nayo eyayiyothathelwa indawo “isilo sesine,” uMbuso WaseRoma nomxhantela wawo, uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika.b

UDaniyeli wabikezela ngokushaya emhloleni ukulandelana kwemibuso yezwe, yonke eye yachitha igazi njengezilo zasendle ekulangazeleleni kwayo ukubusa umhlaba. Ngokufanayo, uMbuso wokulunga awubikezela ngokushesha uzothatha indawo yemibuso yezombangazwe yosuku lwanamuhla. Embonweni, uDaniyeli wabona “omdala wezinsuku,” uJehova uNkulunkulu, enikeza ‘indodana yomuntu,’ uJesu onguMesiya, “ukubusa, nobukhosi, nombuso, ukuze bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bayikhonze.” Ingabe lokhu kuyonikeza ikhambi elihlala njalo ezinkingeni zesintu? Yebo, ngoba ukubusa kukaJesu lapha kuchazwe ‘njengokubusa okuphakade okungayikudlula, nombuso wakhe yiwo ongayikuchithwa.’—Daniyeli 7:13, 14; qhathanisa noMathewu 16:27, 28; 25:31.

Iziprofetho zesikhathi esifushane nezesikhathi eside eziye zacatshangelwa kafushane kulezihloko ezimbili zimane ziyizibonelo zamaphupho, imibono, neziprofetho ezikuDaniyeli. Lezibonelo ziwubufakazi bokuthi uDaniyeli incwadi ethembekile yesiprofetho—umlando owalotshwa kusengaphambili. Ukugcwaliseka kwaleziprofetho kuqhubekela ekhulwini lama-20 leminyaka, futhi kunikeza ithemba elimangalisayo, njengoba omagazini abalandelayo bezochaza.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 6]

UMQONDO “WOSUKU LWAKAMUVA”

IBHAYIBHELI libiza incwadi kaDaniyeli ngomprofethi walelogama, lokho okubeka ukulotshwa kwalencwadi ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E. (Daniyeli 7:1) Kodwa iziprofetho eziqukethe zimangalisa kangangokuthi abaningi baye bangabaza ukuthi zalotshwa ngaphambi kwezenzakalo ezazibikezelwe. Abanye abangesiwo amaKristu, ngisho nabahlaziyi beBhayibheli abaningi abazibiza ngamaKristu, baye bakungabaza ukwethembeka kwencwadi kaDaniyeli. Bakhetha lokho okubizwa ngokuthi umqondo wosuku lwakamuva, noma wosuku lukaMaccabaeus, owathuthukiswa okokuqala yisazi sefilosofi esasimelene nobuKristu uPorphyry ekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka C.E. Iziphi izizathu ezisekela lomqondo, futhi zibaluleke kangakanani?

Ephuzwini lokuthi akunakwenzeka ukuprofetha, uPorphyry wagomela ngokuthi empeleni incwadi enegama likaDaniyeli yalotshwa umJuda ongaziwa phakathi nenkathi yamaMaccabee, ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka B.C.E., okungukuthi, ngemva kokuba izenzakalo eziningi ezazibikezelwe kuDaniyeli sezenzeka. Wacabangela ukuthi umkhohlisi owaloba egameni likaDaniyeli wenza kanjalo ukuze aqinise isibindi samaJuda ngesikhathi amaMaccabee evukela amaSeleucid ngekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. Kodwa ingabe ukuziphatha kwenhlonipho nokungenabudlova kukaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHeberu eBabiloni kungacatshangelwa nganoma iyiphi indlela njengokwakushukumisela ukuhlasela ngezikhali? Akunjalo neze. (Daniyeli 1:8; 2:49; 3:16-18, 30) Ukuvela ‘kogcotshiweyo, umbusi’ ngesikhathi esiyiso ngokuthe ngqó ngo-29 C.E., ekupheleni ‘kwamasonto’ angama-69 eminyaka kaDaniyeli 9:25, nakho kwenza ukuphawula kukaPorphyry ngekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. kubonakale kuwubuwula.

Ngokwesazi-mlando esingumJuda uJosephus, imiBhalo eNgcwele yesiHeberu, ehlanganisa uDaniyeli, yavalwa ngesikhathi sikaEzra, ngekhulu lesihlanu leminyaka B.C.E. Khona-ke, kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi uDaniyeli akalotshwanga kwaze kwaba “usuku lwakamuva” lwekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E.? Ngokuqhubekayo, imiQulu yasoLwandle Olufile iye yabonisa ukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli yamukelwa kabanzi njengomBhalo phakathi kwamaJuda ngekhulu lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. Ingabe lokhu kwakuyokwenzeka ukuba lencwadi yayiwumsebenzi wangaleso sikhathi?

Esinye isizathu esasisetshenziswa uPorphyry kanye nabagxeki abaningi beBhayibheli siwukuthi incwadi kaDaniyeli iqukethe amaphutha angokomlando. Umbono wabo uwukuthi uDaniyeli walotshwa ekhulwini lesibili leminyaka B.C.E. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi, amaJuda aqondayo ayephika iNcwadi kaMaccabees wokuQala njengengakufanelekele ukuhlanganiswa emiBhalweni eNgcwele, ngisho nakuba ayeyibheka njengeyayishaya emhloleni ngokomlando. AmaJuda afundile, ayenegunya emibhalweni yezazi ezinjalo zomlando wezwe ezinjengoHerodotus, ngokuqinisekile ayeyoyinqaba incwadi kaDaniyeli uma yayiqukethe amaphutha angokomlando. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imivubukulo yezinto zasendulo iye yakuqinisekisa ukuba khona kukaBelishasari neminye imininingwane ekuDaniyeli leyo uPorphyry kanye nabagxeki beBhayibheli abaningi ababeyibheka njengeyiphutha.

Ngokuqondene nephuzu likaPorphyry lokuthi iziprofetho zikaDaniyeli zalotshwa ngemva kwezenzakalo ezazibikezelwe, uPhilip R. Davies, woMnyango Wezifundo Zokuhlolwa KweBhayibheli, eYunivesithi yaseSheffield, eNgilandi, uyaloba: “Lesi yisinqumo esidabukisayo ngencwadi kaDaniyeli sokuthi iyinkohliso yangamabomu eyafakwa (ngokucatshangelwayo) emphakathini okhohliseka kalula, ukuze ibonakale inenjongo enhle ngezindlela ezingelona iqiniso . . . Ngikuthola kunzima ukuvuma ukuthi abafundi bokuqala balencwadi bakhohliseka ngaleyo-ndlela. Uma kunokukhohliseka kalula kulendaba, ngokunokwenzeka kukubagxeki abathembele ekuhlakanipheni kwabo.”—Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Issue 17, 1980.

Akumangalisi ukuthi isazi sefilosofi yamuva kaPlato singaphika ukuthi umlobi weBhayibheli wayephefumlelwe uNkulunkulu ukuba aprofethe izenzakalo zekusasa. Kodwa kuyadabukisa ukuthi abagxeki beBhayibheli abazibiza ngamaKristu kumelwe bazame ukululaza ukuthembela kwabantu encwadini ebalulekile engokwesiprofetho yemiBhalo. Kubonisa ukuntuleka kokholo kuLowo owathi: “Engimemezela ngaphambili okuyakuza, nasendulo izinto ezingakenziwa.”—Isaya 46:10.

[Umdwebo ekhasini 5]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Amasonto angama-70 (iminyaka engama-490)

Amasonto angama-69 (iminyaka engama-483) Isonto elilodwa (iminyaka eyi-7)

455 B.C.E. 29 C.E. 33 C.E. 36 C.E.

. . .”

[Izithombe ekhasini 7]

iBabiloni

amaMede namaPheresiya

iGrisi

iRoma—iBrithani neU.S.A. namaMelika