Ezekiel chapter eight is one of the easiest prophetic chapters in the Scriptures. The chapter has a distinct starting point.
Igice cya munani cy’Igitabo cya Ezekiyeli ni kimwe mu bice by’ubuhanuzi byoroshye cyane mu Byanditswe. Icyo gice gifite intangiriro isobanutse neza.
And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. Ezekiel 8:1.
Nuko mu mwaka wa gatandatu, mu kwezi kwa gatandatu, ku munsi wa gatanu w’uko kwezi, ubwo nari nicaye mu nzu yanjye, kandi abakuru b’Abayuda bari bicaye imbere yanjye, ukuboko k’Umwami Imana kunzaho aho. Ezekiyeli 8:1.
The vision has a distinct ending in chapter eleven.
Iyerekwa rifite iherezo risobanutse mu gice cya cumi na kimwe.
Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had showed me. Ezekiel 11:24, 25.
Hanyuma umwuka aranterura, unjyana mu iyerekwa kubw’Umwuka w’Imana anjyana i Kaludaya, aho abajyanywe mu bunyage bari. Nuko iyerekwa nari nabonye rinterukaho. Maze mbwira abajyanywe mu bunyage ibintu byose Uwiteka yari yeretse. Ezekiyeli 11:24, 25.
The vision of chapter eight begins on the fifth day, of the sixth month of the sixth year, just a day before the date aligns with “666,” and sure enough the vision is about the Sunday law, which is the mark of the beast, whose number is the number of the “man of sin,” and also the number of the eighth kingdom that is of the seven. Those that get the victory over the number “666,” receive the seal of God, and in chapter nine, the seal of God is being placed upon God’s faithful people of the last days.
Iyerekwa ryo mu gice cya munani ritangira ku munsi wa gatanu w’ukwezi kwa gatandatu k’umwaka wa gatandatu, umunsi umwe gusa mbere y’uko itariki ihura na “666,” kandi rwose iryo yerekwa rirebana n’itegeko ryo ku Cyumweru, ari ryo kimenyetso cya ya nyamaswa, umubare wayo ukaba ari umubare wa wa “muntu w’icyaha,” kandi nanone ukaba n’umubare w’ubwami bwa munani bukomoka kuri bwa burindwi. Abanesha umubare “666,” bahabwa ikimenyetso cy’Imana, kandi mu gice cya cyenda, ikimenyetso cy’Imana kiri gushyirwa ku bwoko bw’Imana bw’indahemuka bwo mu minsi y’imperuka.
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:1–3.
Nuko mbona ikindi kimenyetso mu ijuru, gikomeye kandi gitangaje, abamarayika barindwi bafite ibyago birindwi bya nyuma; kuko muri byo ari ho uburakari bw’Imana busohojera. Nuko mbona nk’inyanja y’ibirahuri ivanze n’umuriro; kandi abanesheje ya nyamaswa, n’igishushanyo cyayo, n’ikimenyetso cyayo, n’umubare w’izina ryayo, bahagaze kuri iyo nyanja y’ibirahuri, bafite inanga z’Imana. Kandi baririmba indirimbo ya Mose, umugaragu w’Imana, n’indirimbo y’Umwana w’intama, bavuga bati: Imirimo yawe irakomeye kandi iratangaje, Mwami Mana Ishoborabyose; inzira zawe zirakiranuka kandi ni iz’ukuri, wowe Mwami w’abera. Ibyahishuwe 15:1–3.
Just before the close of probation (for the seven angels with the seven last plagues are going to pour out God’s wrath in the next chapter of Revelation), God’s last day people are identified. They have obtained the victory over four things. The word translated as victory means to conquer. The faithful have conquered the beast, the image of the beast, the mark of the beast and the number of his name. The victory includes the fact that they understand what the four symbols represent. It is only a very small percentage of people that know what those four prophetic symbols actually represent.
Mbere gato y’isozwa ry’igihe cy’igeragezwa (kuko mu gice gikurikira cy’Ibyahishuwe abamarayika barindwi bafite ibyago birindwi bya nyuma bagiye gusuka umujinya w’Imana), abantu b’Imana bo mu minsi y’imperuka baramenyekana. Bageze ku ntsinzi ku bintu bine. Ijambo risobanurwa ngo intsizi risobanura kunesha. Abizerwa banesheje inyamaswa, igishushanyo cy’inyamaswa, ikimenyetso cy’inyamaswa, n’umubare w’izina ryayo. Iyo ntsinzi ikubiyemo n’uko basobanukiwe icyo ibyo bimenyetso bine by’ubuhanuzi bihagarariye. Ni ijanisha rito cyane ry’abantu bazi koko icyo ibyo bimenyetso bine by’ubuhanuzi bisobanura.
The world used to know the papacy was the whore of Babylon in chapter seventeen, but as God’s Word identified, the understanding of the whore of Tyre who commits fornication with the kings of the earth is forgotten during the history of the United States. To get victory over the beast means to rightly divide the word of truth in ascertaining that the beast of Bible prophecy is the papacy. In the very next chapter, the dragon, the beast and the false prophet lead the world to Armageddon, and God’s faithful of the last days must know who those three powers are.
Isi yamenyeraga ko ubupapa ari maraya w’i Babuloni uvugwa mu gice cya cumi na karindwi, ariko nk’uko Ijambo ry’Imana ryabigaragaje, gusobanukirwa na maraya w’i Tiro usambana n’abami bo mu isi byibagiranye mu mateka ya Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika. Kunesha ya nyamaswa bisobanura kugabanya neza ijambo ry’ukuri kugira ngo hamenyekane neza ko ya nyamaswa yo mu buhanuzi bwa Bibiliya ari ubupapa. Mu gice gikurikiraho ako kanya, ikiyoka, ya nyamaswa n’umuhanuzi w’ibinyoma bayobora isi bayijyana kuri Harimagedoni, kandi abizerwa b’Imana bo mu minsi y’imperuka bagomba kumenya abo bubasha uko ari butatu abo ari bo.
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:12–16.
Nuko marayika wa gatandatu asuka igikombe cye ku ruzi runini Efurate; amazi yarwo arakama, kugira ngo inzira y’abami b’iyo iburasirazuba itegurwe. Nuko mbona imyuka itatu ihumanye imeze nk’ibikeri isohoka mu kanwa k’ikiyoka, no mu kanwa k’inyamaswa, no mu kanwa k’umuhanuzi w’ibinyoma. Kuko ari imyuka y’abadayimoni, ikora ibitangaza, ijya ku bami b’isi n’ab’isi yose, kugira ngo ibateranyirize hamwe ku rugamba rw’uwo munsi ukomeye w’Imana Ishoborabyose. Dore, ndaza nk’umujura. Hahirwa ūhora maso, kandi akazigama imyenda ye, kugira ngo atagenda yambaye ubusa, maze bakabona isoni ze. Nuko abateranyiriza hamwe ahantu hitwa mu rurimi rw’Igiheburayo Harumagedoni. Ibyahishuwe 16:12–16.
The victory over the beast is the victory of understanding correctly who the beast is. The passage just cited pronounces a blessing upon those that watch and keep their garments, yet by the sixth plague, probation has fully closed for all men. When Michael stands up, human probation closes and then the seven last plagues are poured out. There is no way to change garments after the close of probation, yet there is a warning associated with the sixth plague. That warning has to do with having the correct understanding of the beast before probation closes, and if you do not have that understanding, you will lose the garment of Christ’s righteousness before the close of probation.
Ugutsinda inyamaswa ni ugutsinda kuzanwa no gusobanukirwa neza uwo nyamaswa uwo ari we. Umurongo tumaze kuvuga uvuga umugisha ku b’abantu bari maso kandi bakarinda imyambaro yabo, nyamara ku cyorezo cya gatandatu, igihe cy’igeragezwa ku bantu bose kiba cyarafunzwe burundu. Igihe Mikayeli ahagurutse, igihe cy’igeragezwa cy’abantu kirafungwa, hanyuma ibyorezo birindwi bya nyuma bigasukwa. Nta buryo bwo guhindura imyambaro nyuma y’ifungwa ry’igihe cy’igeragezwa, nyamara hari umuburo ujyanye n’icyorezo cya gatandatu. Uwo muburo werekeye kugira gusobanukirwa nyako kw’inyamaswa mbere y’uko igihe cy’igeragezwa gifungwa, kandi niba udafite uko gusobanukirwa, uzatakaza umwambaro wo gukiranuka kwa Kristo mbere y’ifungwa ry’igihe cy’igeragezwa.
“Those who become confused in their understanding of the word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist. There is no time now for us to assimilate with the world. Daniel is standing in his lot and in his place. The prophecies of Daniel and of John are to be understood. They interpret each other. They give to the world truths which everyone should understand. These prophecies are to be witness in the world. By their fulfillment in these last days, they will explain themselves.” Kress Collection, 105.
“Abazimira mu gusobanukirwa kwabo kw’ijambo, bakananirwa kubona icyo antikristo asobanura, rwose bazishyira ku ruhande rwa antikristo. Ubu nta gihe dufite cyo kwivananga n’isi. Daniyeli ahagaze mu mugabane we no mu mwanya we. Ubuhanuzi bwa Daniyeli n’ubwa Yohana bugomba gusobanurwa. Busobanurana ubwabwo. Buha ab’isi ukuri buri muntu akwiriye gusobanukirwa. Ubu buhanuzi bugomba kuba ubuhamya mu isi. Kubwo gusohora kwabwo muri iyi minsi y’imperuka, buzisobanura ubwabwo.” Kress Collection, 105.
If a person does not understand that the antichrist is the papacy, they will end up on the side of the papacy, or as John wrote, they will walk naked and manifest their shame. To get the victory over the beast is to understand that the beast is the papal power, and all that is revealed of the papal power. Those who get the victory and understand that the papacy is the man of sin, will need to understand that the image of the papacy represents the principle of the combination of church and state, with the church in control of the relationship.
Niba umuntu adasobanukiwe ko antikristo ari ubupapa, azarengera ku ruhande rw’ubupapa; cyangwa nk’uko Yohana yanditse, bazagenda bambaye ubusa kandi bagaragaze isoni zabo. Gutsinda inyamaswa ni ugusobanukirwa ko inyamaswa ari ububasha bwa gipapa, n’ibyahishuwe byose byerekeye ububasha bwa gipapa. Ababona insinzi kandi bagasobanukirwa ko ubupapa ari wa muntu w’icyaha, bazakenera gusobanukirwa ko ishusho y’ubupapa ihagarariye ihame ryo guhuza itorero na leta, itorero ari ryo rigenzura uwo mubano.
In the book of Daniel, the structure of the beast, which is the combination of church and state, is represented as the transgression of desolation. Transgression is sin, and the sin that forms the papal beast is when kings surrender their power unto the papal authority. In doing this they commit spiritual fornication, which is Daniel’s transgression of desolation, and John’s image to the beast.
Mu gitabo cya Daniyeli, imiterere y’inyamaswa, ari yo ihuriro ry’itorero na leta, igaragazwa nk’igicumuro cy’ikirimbuzi. Igicumuro ni icyaha, kandi icyaha kigize inyamaswa ya papacy ni igihe abami begurira ububasha bwabo ubutware bwa papacy. Mu gukora ibyo, bakora ubusambanyi bwo mu mwuka, ari bwo gicumuro cy’ikirimbuzi cya Daniyeli, n’ishusho y’inyamaswa ya Yohana.
To get victory over the papal image is to understand through God’s Word that the United States first forms this relationship, and ratifies it at the soon-coming Sunday law, and then forces the entire world to accept the same relationship.
Kunesha intsinzi ku ishusho y’ubupapa ni ugusobanukirwa, binyuze mu Ijambo ry’Imana, ko Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika zibanza kugirana uyu mubano, zikawemeza mu itegeko ryo ku cyumweru rigiye kuza vuba, hanyuma zigahatira isi yose kwemera uwo mubano nyine.
The church and state relationship that will be forced upon the earth by the United States consists of the one-world government (the United Nations), coming into an alliance with the papacy as the controlling power in the arrangements. Getting the victory over the image of the beast, is to understand by God’s prophetic Word that the image of the beast represents these very things.
Isano riri hagati y’itorero na leta rizahatirwa isi n’Amerika rigizwe na guverinoma imwe y’isi yose (Umuryango w’Abibumbye), izinjira mu isezerano n’ubupapa nk’ububasha bugenzura ayo mabwiriza. Kunesha ishusho y’inyamaswa ni ukumva, binyuze mu Ijambo ry’ubuhanuzi ry’Imana, ko ishusho y’inyamaswa ihagarariye ibyo bintu nyirizina.
Getting the victory over the beast and the image of the beast includes getting the understanding of the beast’s (the papacy’s) mark of authority.
Kunesha intsinzi ku nyamaswa no ku ishusho y’inyamaswa bikubiyemo no gusobanukirwa ikimenyetso cy’ubutware bw’inyamaswa (ubupapa).
The mark of the beast is the forced observance of Sunday as God’s Sabbath. To get victory over the mark requires understanding that Sunday worship is the worship of the sun, and that it is nothing less than pagan Baal worship. The victory includes the truth that no one receives the mark of the beast until it is forced upon men.
Ikimenyetso cy’inyamaswa ni uguhatirwa kwizihiza Ku Cyumweru nk’Isabato y’Imana. Kugira ngo umuntu aneshe icyo kimenyetso bisaba gusobanukirwa ko kuramya ku Cyumweru ari uguramya izuba, kandi ko nta kindi ari cyo uretse kuramya Bāli kwa gipagani. Uko kunesha gukubiyemo ukuri ko nta muntu n’umwe uhabwa ikimenyetso cy’inyamaswa kugeza igihe kigahatirirwa abantu.
“But Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome—‘the mark of the beast.’ And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast.’” The Great Controversy, 449.
“Ariko Abakristo bo mu bihe byatambutse bubahirije ku Cyumweru, bibwira ko muri ubwo buryo bari bakomeje Isabato yo muri Bibiliya; kandi no muri iki gihe mu matorero yose harimo Abakristo nyakuri, hatanakuwemo n’umuryango wa Kiliziya Gatolika y’Abaroma, bizera babikuye ku mutima ko ku Cyumweru ari Isabato yashyizweho n’Imana. Imana yemera ukutaryarya kw’umugambi wabo n’ubutungane bwabo imbere yayo. Ariko igihe kubahiriza ku Cyumweru kuzashyirirwaho itegeko, kandi isi ikazabonerwaho umucyo ku byerekeye inshingano yo kubahiriza Isabato nyakuri, icyo gihe uzica itegeko ry’Imana kugira ngo yumvire itegeko ridafite ububasha buruta ubw’i Roma, azaba yubashye ubupapa kuruta Imana. Azaba aha icyubahiro Roma n’ubutegetsi bushyira mu bikorwa urwego rwashyizweho na Roma. Azaba asenga ya nyamaswa n’igishushanyo cyayo. Ubwo rero, igihe abantu bazaba baretse urwego Imana yatangaje ko ari ikimenyetso cy’ubutware bwayo, maze bakubaha mu mwanya warwo icyo Roma yihitiyemo nk’ikimenyetso cy’ubusumbane bwayo, bazaba bemeye ikimenyetso cyo kuyiyegurira Roma—‘ikirango cya ya nyamaswa.’ Kandi ikibazo ntikizaba kigize ubwo kigaragara neza imbere y’abantu, maze bakagezwa aho bahitamo hagati y’amategeko y’Imana n’amategeko y’abantu, ni bwo abakomeza kwica amategeko bazahabwa ‘ikirango cya ya nyamaswa.’” Intambara Ikomeye, 449.
Those who obtain the victory over the beast, the image of the beast and the mark of the beast must also obtain the victory over the number of his name. In the period of history when the whore of Tyre was not forgotten, the Protestant world knew the papacy was the antichrist. They knew that Paul had identified the papacy as “that wicked,” “the man of sin,” “the mystery of iniquity” and “the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” But now the great whore of Tyre has been forgotten.
Ababona kunesha intsinzi ku nyamaswa, no ku ishusho yayo, no ku kimenyetso cyayo, bagomba kandi kunesha umubare w’izina ryayo. Mu gihe cy’amateka ubwo maraya w’i Tiro yari ataribagiranye, isi y’Abaporotesitanti yari izi ko ubupapa ari bwo antikristo. Bari bazi ko Pawulo yari yaragaragaje ubupapa nk’“uriya munyabyaha,” “umuntu w’icyaha,” “amayobera y’ubugome,” n’“umwana wo kurimbuka; urwanya kandi wihesha hejuru y’icyitwa Imana cyose, cyangwa igisengwa; ku buryo yicara mu rusengero rw’Imana nk’Imana, yiyerekana ko ari Imana.” Ariko noneho maraya mukuru w’i Tiro yaribagiranywe.
In ages past there were various isopsephy, or gematria, applications that demonstrated that the number “666” symbolically represented the papacy. A classic example of this is that on the pope’s miter the words Vicarius Filii Dei are written. Vicarius Filii Dei, which means the “Vicegerent of the Son of God”, and therefore addresses his claim of being seated in God’s temple, claiming to be God. The Latin letters of Vicarius Filii Dei equate to the number six hundred and sixty-six.
Mu bihe bya kera habayeho uburyo butandukanye bwo gukoresha isopsephy, cyangwa gematria, byagaragazaga ko umubare “666” mu buryo bw’ikigereranyo wagereranyaga ubupapa. Urugero rwa kera ruzwi cyane ni uko ku mutako w’umushumba mukuru wa papa handitseho amagambo Vicarius Filii Dei. Vicarius Filii Dei, bisobanurwa ngo “Uhagarariye Umwana w’Imana”, bityo bikerekeza ku kirego cye cyo kwicara mu rusengero rw’Imana, yihandagaza ko ari Imana. Inyuguti z’Ikilatini zigize Vicarius Filii Dei zihwanye n’umubare magana atandatu na mirongo itandatu na gatandatu.
The beast, which is the papal power, is identified by his number and his number is “666,” but the man of sin received a deadly wound in 1798, and has been forgotten. In the last days the deadly wound is to be healed, and the healing of the deadly wound identifies that the United States first forms an image to the beast in its own nation, and then forces the world to do the same.
Iyo nyamaswa, ari yo butegetsi bwa papa, imenyekanishwa n’umubare wayo kandi umubare wayo ni “666,” ariko wa muntu w’icyaha yakomerekejwe uruguma rwica mu 1798, maze aribagirana. Mu minsi y’imperuka, urwo ruguma rwica ruzakira, kandi uko gukira kw’urwo ruguma rwica kugaragaza ko Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika zibanza kurema ishusho y’iyo nyamaswa mu gihugu cyazo, hanyuma zigahatira isi gukora nk’ibyo.
The world image of the beast is both twofold and threefold. It is prophetically twofold for it is made up of a combination of church and state, but it is threefold in that it is made up of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. When the threefold union of the very powers that will lead the world to Armageddon is established, they will be the beast that is the eighth kingdom that is of the seven, and it will also be the threefold union of the sixth kingdom. The number of the beast’s name in the last days is again “666,” for it represents three kingdoms that are each part of the sixth kingdom.
Ishusho ry’inyamaswa ryo mu isi rifite imiterere ibiri kandi rifite n’iy’itatu. Mu buryo bw’ubuhanuzi rifite imiterere ibiri, kuko rigizwe no guhuriza hamwe itorero na leta; ariko rifite n’imiterere itatu kuko rigizwe n’ikiyoka, inyamaswa, n’umuhanuzi w’ibinyoma. Igihe ubumwe bw’ibice bitatu bw’izo mbaraga nyir’izina zizayobora isi ku Arumagedoni buzaba bushyizweho, buzaba ari ya nyamaswa ari yo bwami bwa munani bukomoka kuri ya ndwi, kandi kandi buzaba ari n’ubumwe bw’ibice bitatu bw’ubwami bwa gatandatu. Umubare w’izina ry’inyamaswa mu minsi y’imperuka uzongera kuba “666,” kuko ushushanya ubwami butatu, buri bumwe muri bwo bukaba ari igice cy’ubwami bwa gatandatu.
To get victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name is to understand the riddle that “the eighth is of the seven”, which is the secret of Daniel two, which Daniel prayed to understand. It is an element of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before probation closes, for as John said, the “time is at hand.” For this reason, those who get that victory are represented as being with the angels who pour out the plagues, for they get the victory, or the necessary prophetic understanding, just before probation closes.
Kunesha intsinzi ku nyamaswa, ku gishushanyo cyayo, ku kimenyetso cyayo no ku mubare w’izina ryayo ni ugusobanukirwa igisakuzo kivuga ko “iya munani ari mu ndwi,” ari cyo ibanga ryo muri Daniyeli 2, Daniyeli yasabiye gusobanukirwa. Icyo ni kimwe mu bigize Ibyahishuwe bya Yesu Kristo bikurwaho ikimenyetso cyo gufungwa mbere gato y’uko igihe cy’imbabazi kirangira, kuko nk’uko Yohana yavuze, “igihe kiri bugufi.” Ni yo mpamvu abona iyo ntsinzi bashushanywa nk’abari kumwe n’abamarayika basuka ibyago, kuko babona iyo ntsinzi, ari bwo busobanuro bw’ubuhanuzi bukenewe, mbere gato y’uko igihe cy’imbabazi kirangira.
Those who understand that the Revelation of Jesus Christ is unsealed just before the close of probation, and that the number “666,” is an element of that vision will not miss that the vision of Ezekiel chapter eight begins on the fifth day (which is the day before the sixth day), in the sixth month of the sixth year. By the end of chapter eight twenty-five men are bowing down to the sun, and chapter nine identifies those who receive the seal of God.
Abumva ko Ibyahishuwe bya Yesu Kristo bifungurwa mbere gato y’isozwa ry’igihe cy’imbabazi, kandi ko umubare “666” ari kimwe mu bigize iryo yerekwa, ntibazabura kubona ko iyerekwa ryo muri Ezekiyeli igice cya munani ritangira ku munsi wa gatanu (ari wo munsi ubanziriza uwa gatandatu), mu kwezi kwa gatandatu k’umwaka wa gatandatu. Ku iherezo ry’igice cya munani abagabo makumyabiri na batanu baramya izuba bubamye, kandi igice cya cyenda kigaragaza abahabwa ikimenyetso cy’Imana.
The context of the vision is the mark of the beast and the seal of God, and the vision is opened up just before probation closes at the Sunday law, as typified by the number “666.” But the close of probation that is identified as occurring at the Sunday law in the United States, is not the close of human probation, it is the close of probation only for Seventh-day Adventists.
Imiterere y’iyerekwa ni ikimenyetso cya ya nyamaswa n’ikimenyetso cy’Imana, kandi iyerekwa risobanurwa neza mbere gato y’uko igihe cy’imbabazi gifungwa ku itegeko ryo ku Cyumweru, nk’uko bishushanywa n’umubare “666.” Ariko iryo fungwa ry’igihe cy’imbabazi rivugwa ko ribera ku itegeko ryo ku Cyumweru muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe z’Amerika, si ryo fungwa ry’igihe cy’imbabazi ku bantu bose, ahubwo ni ifungwa ry’igihe cy’imbabazi ku Badiventisiti b’Umunsi wa Karindwi bonyine.
The vision is represented as taking place within Jerusalem, which is a symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist church. At the Sunday law in the United States, Seventh-day Adventists are the only class that is, there and then, held accountable to the light of the Sabbath.
Iyerekwa ryerekanywe nk’iribera i Yerusalemu, ari yo kimenyetso cy’Itorero ry’Abadiventisiti b’Umunsi wa Karindwi. Itegeko ryo ku cyumweru nirishyirwaho muri Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, Abadiventisiti b’Umunsi wa Karindwi ni bo bonyine cyiciro kizaba, ako kanya kandi aho hantu nyine, kibazwa ku mucyo werekeye Isabato.
“If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls ‘my holy day,’ you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place?—When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working-day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast, and refuse the seal of God. If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgments pronounced against the disobedient must fall upon us. But the seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.” Review and Herald, April 27, 1911.
“Niba umucyo w’ukuri warabagejejweho, ukabahishurira Isabato y’itegeko rya kane, kandi ukerekana ko mu Ijambo ry’Imana nta shingiro na rito rihari ryo kwizihiza ku Cyumweru, nyamara mukomeza kwizirika ku isabato y’ikinyoma, mwanga kweza Isabato Imana yita ‘umunsi wanjye wera,’ mwakira ikimenyetso cy’inyamaswa. Ibyo bibaho ryari?—Iyo mwumviye itegeko ribategeka guhagarika imirimo ku Cyumweru no kuramya Imana, kandi muzi neza ko muri Bibiliya hatarimo na rimwe ijambo ryerekana ko ku Cyumweru hari ikindi kuba cyo kitari umunsi usanzwe wo gukora, muba mwemeye kwakira ikimenyetso cy’inyamaswa, kandi mukanga ikimenyetso cy’Imana. Nitwakira iki kimenyetso mu gahanga kacu cyangwa mu maboko yacu, imanza zavuzwe ku batumvira zigomba kutugeraho. Ariko ikimenyetso cy’Imana ihoraho gishyirwa ku bantu barinda Isabato y’Umwami babitewe n’umutimanama.” Review and Herald, 27 Mata 1911.
The vision of Ezekiel chapter eight through chapter eleven, identifies the history leading up to the close of probation for Jerusalem. It is portrayed as taking place just a day before the number “666” arrives, and chapter eight identifies an escalating rebellion within Jerusalem that culminates with the leading men bowing to the sun, thus receiving the mark of the beast.
Iyerekwa rya Ezekiyeli ryo mu gice cya munani kugeza mu gice cya cumi na kimwe, rigaragaza amateka ageza ku irangira ry’igihe cy’igeragezwa cya Yerusalemu. Rigaragazwa nk’iribaho umunsi umwe mbere y’uko umubare “666” ugera, kandi igice cya munani kigaragaza ubwigomeke bugenda bwiyongera muri Yerusalemu, bukarangirana n’uko abagabo bakuru bunamira izuba, bityo bakakira ikimenyetso cya ya nyamaswa.
Chapter nine, represents an angel going through Jerusalem (thus identifying a progression), and placing a seal upon one class in advance of the destroying angels who thereafter slay all who do not have the seal. Both chapters represent a progressive history that leads to the Sunday law, where one class bows to the sun, and the other receives the seal of God. The wicked are then removed from Jerusalem, for the Sunday law separates the wicked and the wise.
Igice cya cyenda kigaragaza marayika anyura i Yerusalemu (bityo kikerekana urukurikirane rw’ikorwa), maze agashyira ikimenyetso ku itsinda rimwe mbere y’abamarayika barimbura, hanyuma bakica bose badafite icyo kimenyetso. Ibyo bice byombi bigaragaza amateka agenda akurikirana ageza ku itegeko ryo ku Cyumweru, aho itsinda rimwe ryunamira izuba, irindi rikakira ikimenyetso cy’Imana. Hanyuma abanyabyaha bakurwamo i Yerusalemu, kuko itegeko ryo ku Cyumweru ritandukanya abanyabyaha n’abanyabwenge.
The sealing that is represented in Ezekiel chapter nine is the same sealing that is represented in Revelation chapter seven.
Gushyirwaho kugereranywa muri Ezekieli igice cya cyenda ni ko gushyirwaho ikimenyetso kumwe kugereranywa mu Byahishuwe igice cya karindwi.
“If such scenes as this are to come, such tremendous judgments on a guilty world, where will be the refuge for God’s people? How will they be sheltered until the indignation be overpast? John sees the elements of nature—earthquake, tempest, and political strife—represented as being held by four angels. These winds are under control until God gives the word to let them go. There is the safety of God’s church. The angels of God do His bidding, holding back the winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree, until the servants of God should be sealed in their foreheads. The mighty angel is seen ascending from the east (or sunrising). This mightiest of angels has in his hand the seal of the living God, or of Him who alone can give life, who can inscribe upon the foreheads the mark or inscription, to whom shall be granted immortality, eternal life. It is the voice of this highest angel that had authority to command the four angels to keep in check the four winds until this work was performed, and until he should give the summons to let them loose.
“Niba ibiboneka nk’ibi ari byo bigiye kuza, ari imanza zikomeye cyane ku isi yacumuye, ubuhungiro bw’ubwoko bw’Imana buzaba he? Bazakingirwa bate kugeza ubwo uburakari buzaba bushize? Yohana abona ibyaremwe—umutingito, umuyaga ukomeye, n’imidugararo ya politiki—bishushanywa nk’ibifashwe n’abamarayika bane. Iyo miyaga iri munsi y’ubutegetsi kugeza igihe Imana izatangira ijambo ryo kuyirekura. Aho ni ho hari umutekano w’itorero ry’Imana. Abamarayika b’Imana bakora ibyo ibategetse, bafata imiyaga yo ku isi, kugira ngo imiyaga itahuhuta ku isi, cyangwa ku nyanja, cyangwa ku giti na kimwe, kugeza ubwo abagaragu b’Imana bazashyirirwaho ikimenyetso mu ruhanga rwabo. Umumarayika ukomeye abonwa azamuka aturutse iburasirazuba (cyangwa aho izuba rirasa). Uyu mumarayika uruta abandi imbaraga afite mu kuboko kwe ikimenyetso cy’Imana ihoraho, cyangwa cy’Uwo wenyine ushobora gutanga ubugingo, ushobora kwandika mu ruhanga ikimenyetso cyangwa inyandiko, abo bazahabwa kudapfa n’ubugingo bw’iteka. Ni ijwi ry’uyu mumarayika usumba bose ryari rifite ubutware bwo gutegeka ba bamarayika bane gukomeza kubuza ya miyaga ine kurekurwa kugeza ubwo uyu murimo uzaba ukozwe, kandi kugeza ubwo azatanga itegeko ryo kuyirekura.”
“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God. Those whose hands are not clean, whose hearts are not pure, will not have the seal of the living God. Those who are planning sin and acting it will be passed by. Only those who, in their attitude before God, are filling the position of those who are repenting and confessing their sins in the great anti-typical Day of Atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy of God’s protection. The names of those who are steadfastly looking and waiting and watching for the appearing of their Saviour—more earnestly and wishfully than they who wait for the morning—will be numbered with those who are sealed. Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith, but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and be left in midnight darkness, having no oil in their vessels with their lamps. ‘Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.’
“Abanesha isi n’umubiri na Satani ni bo bazaba abatoranyijwe bazahabwa ikimenyetso cy’Imana ihoraho. Abafite amaboko adatunganye rwose, abafite imitima itanduye, ntibazagira ikimenyetso cy’Imana ihoraho. Abategura icyaha kandi bakagikora bazasimbukwa. Abonyine ni ba bandi, mu mimerere yabo imbere y’Imana, bahagaze mu mwanya w’abihannye kandi batura ibyaha byabo ku Munsi ukomeye w’Impongano nyakuri, bazamenyekana kandi barangwe nk’abakwiriye kurindwa n’Imana. Amazina y’abahanze amaso ubutarambirwa, bategereje kandi barindiranye ubwitonzi ukuboneka k’Umukiza wabo—babikora babishishikariye kandi babyifuza kurusha abategereza umucyo wa mu gitondo—azabarirwa hamwe n’abashyizweho ikimenyetso. Abafite umucyo wose w’ukuri urabagirana mu bugingo bwabo, nyamara bakagombye kugira imirimo ihuye no kwizera kwabo bavuga ko bafite, ariko bagashukwa n’icyaha, bakishingira ibigirwamana mu mitima yabo, bakonona ubugingo bwabo imbere y’Imana, kandi bagahumanya abifatanya na bo mu cyaha, amazina yabo azahanagurwa mu gitabo cy’ubugingo, kandi bazasigwa mu mwijima w’igicuku, badafite amavuta mu nzabya zabo hamwe n’amatabaza yabo. ‘Ariko mwebwe abubaha izina Ryanjye, Izuba ryo gukiranuka rizabarasira rifite gukiza mu mababa yaryo.’”
“This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation. He saw the sea and the waves roaring, and men’s hearts failing them for fear. He beheld the earth moved, and the mountains carried into the midst of the sea (which is literally taking place), the water thereof roaring and troubled, and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof. He was shown plagues, pestilence, famine, and death performing their terrible mission.” Testimonies to Ministers, 445.
“Iki gushyirwaho ikimenyetso ku bagaragu b’Imana ni na cyo Ezekiyeli yeretswe mu iyerekwa. Yohana na we yari umuhamya w’iri hishurirwa riteye ubwoba cyane. Yabonye inyanja n’imiraba yayo bikubagana, kandi imitima y’abantu ishengurwa n’ubwoba. Yarebye isi ihungabana, n’imisozi ijugunywa hagati mu nyanja (ibyo bikaba biri kuba mu buryo nyakuri), amazi yayo akubagana kandi ahagaritse umutima, n’imisozi igatigita bitewe no kuzamuka kwayo. Yeretswe ibyago, indwara z’ibyorezo, inzara, n’urupfu bisohoza ubutumwa bwabyo buteye ubwoba.” Testimonies to Ministers, 445.
The sealing of the one hundred and forty four thousand in Revelation chapter seven is also represented in chapter nine of Ezekiel, and the sealing angel is the mightiest angel, who ascends from the east. Those who are lost, who have their names blotted out of the book of life, are represented as having “no oil in their vessels with their lamps.” The two classes in the vision of Ezekiel chapter eight through eleven, are the wise and foolish virgins of Matthew twenty-five, and they are therefore Adventists.
Gushyirwaho kw’abihumbi ijana na mirongo ine na bine bavugwa mu Byahishuwe igice cya karindwi, na ko kugaragazwa no muri Ezekiyeli igice cya cyenda, kandi marayika ushyiraho ikimenyetso ni marayika ufite imbaraga ziruta iza bose, uzamuka ava iburasirazuba. Abazimiye, amazina yabo akaba yarahanaguwe mu gitabo cy’ubugingo, bagereranywa n’abafite “nta mavuta mu nzabya zabo hamwe n’amatabaza yabo.” Amatsinda yombi ari mu iyerekwa ryo muri Ezekiyeli igice cya munani kugeza ku cya cumi na rimwe, ni bo bakobwa b’isugi b’abanyabwenge n’ab’abapfu bo muri Matayo makumyabiri na gatanu, bityo rero ni Abadivantisiti.
“The parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people.” The Great Controversy, 393.
“Umugani w’abakobwa cumi b’isugi wo muri Matayo 25 na wo ugaragaza uburambe bw’abantu b’Abadivantisiti.” Intambara Ikomeye, 393.
Sister White specifically identifies Jerusalem of Ezekiel’s vision as Adventism:
Mushiki wacu White asobanura mu buryo bwihariye ko Yerusalemu yo mu iyerekwa rya Ezekiyeli ari Uwadiventisimu:
“The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet’s illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. ‘And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’” Testimonies, volume 3, 266.
“Abantu b’Imana b’ukuri, bafite ku mutima umwuka w’umurimo w’Umwami n’agakiza k’ubugingo bw’abantu, bazahora bareba icyaha mu miterere yacyo nyakuri, y’icyaha. Buri gihe bazahagarara ku ruhande rw’ukuburira mu budahemuka no mu buryo butaziguye ibyaha byoroshya kugusha ubwoko bw’Imana. By’umwihariko cyane mu murimo wa nyuma ukorerwa itorero, mu gihe cyo gushyirwaho ikimenyetso kwa bya bihumbi ijana na mirongo ine na bine bazahagarara imbere y’intebe y’Imana badafite inenge, ni bwo bazumva cyane kurushaho ibibi bikorwa n’abiyita ubwoko bw’Imana. Ibi byagaragajwe mu buryo bukomeye n’ikigereranyo cy’umuhanuzi cy’umurimo wa nyuma, kiboneka mu ishusho y’abagabo buri wese afite intwaro yo kwica mu ntoki ze. Umwe muri bo yari yambaye imyenda y’igitare, afite ku ruhande rwe ihembe ririmo wino ry’umwanditsi. ‘Uwiteka aramubwira ati: Genda unyure hagati mu murwa, unyure hagati muri Yerusalemu, ushyire ikimenyetso ku ruhanga rw’abantu banihira kandi bakaririra ibizira byose bikorerwa hagati yaho.’” Testimonies, volume 3, 266.
The vision of Ezekiel chapters eight through eleven, is directly addressing the history of Adventism leading up to and at the Sunday law. It identifies the two classes of worshippers who are within Jerusalem (Adventism), and is prophetically associated with the Revelation of Jesus Christ that is unsealed just before the close of probation, for its first references is setting forth the number “666” in prophetic symbolism. In doing so it identifies one of four things the wise must get victory over in the last days, and those four things are part of the light of the eighth being “of the seven”. Revelation fifteen also identifies that those that get the victory over the four symbolic aspects of the papacy, sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
Iyerekwa rya Ezekiyeli ibice bya munani kugeza ku cya cumi na kimwe, rirebana mu buryo butaziguye n’amateka y’Abadiventisimu ageza ku mategeko yo ku Cyumweru no muri ayo mategeko ubwayo. Rigena ibyiciro bibiri by’abaramya biri muri Yerusalemu (Abadiventisimu), kandi rifitanye isano ya gihanuzi n’Ibyahishuwe bya Yesu Kristo bikurwaho ikimenyetso gato mbere y’isozwa ry’igihe cy’imbabazi, kuko aho bibanza kubivugwamo hashyira ahagaragara umubare “666” mu kimenyetso cya gihanuzi. Mu kubigenza gutyo, rigaragaza kimwe mu bintu bine abanyabwenge bagomba kuneshesha mu minsi y’imperuka, kandi ibyo bintu bine ni igice cy’umucyo w’icya munani kiba “muri bya birindwi”. Ibyahishuwe igice cya cumi na gatanu na byo bigaragaza ko abanesha ibyo bintu bine by’ikigereranyo by’ubupapa, baririmba indirimbo ya Mose n’iy’Umwana w’Intama.
In that day Isaiah, in chapter twenty-seven says that the righteous of the last days will sing the song of the vineyard, which is a song that the Lamb sang when he walked among men that identifies a chosen people who are being passed by as a new chosen people are being selected. That song is sung by “the wise” of the last days during the sealing of Ezekiel nine and Revelation seven. Ezekiel’s vision of chapters eight through eleven is part of that very song.
Uwo munsi, Yesaya, mu gice cya makumyabiri na karindwi, avuga ko abakiranutsi bo mu minsi ya nyuma bazaririmba indirimbo y’uruzabibu, ari yo ndirimbo Umwana w’Intama yaririmbye igihe yagendaga hagati y’abantu, ikaba iranga ubwoko bwatoranyijwe buri gusimbukwa mu gihe hatoranywa ubwoko bushya bwatoranyijwe. Iyo ndirimbo iririmbwa n’“abanyabwenge” bo mu minsi ya nyuma mu gihe cyo gushyirwaho ikimenyetso kivugwa muri Ezekieli icyenda no mu Byahishuwe birindwi. Iyerekwa rya Ezekieli ryo mu bice bya munani kugeza ku cya cumi na kimwe ni igice cy’iyo ndirimbo nyine.
We will continue this study in the next article.
Tuzakomeza iki cyigisho mu nyandiko ikurikira.
“The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet’s illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. ‘And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’
“Abantu b’Imana b’ukuri, bafite ku mutima umwuka w’umurimo w’Umwami n’agakiza k’ubugingo, bazahora babona icyaha mu miterere yacyo nyayo, y’icyaha rwose. Buri gihe bazahagarara ku ruhande rwo gucyaha ibyaha mu budahemuka no mu buryo bweruye, ibyaha byoroshya kugusha ubwoko bw’Imana. By’umwihariko cyane mu murimo usoza uw’itorero, mu gihe cyo gushyirwaho ikimenyetso kw’abo ibihumbi ijana na mirongo ine na bine bazahagarara badafite umugayo imbere y’intebe y’Imana, ni bwo bazumva mu buryo bwimbitse kurushaho ibicumuro by’abiyita ubwoko bw’Imana. Ibi byagaragajwe mu buryo bukomeye n’ishusho umuhanuzi yakoresheje y’umurimo wa nyuma, awugaragaza nk’abagabo buri wese afite intwaro yo kwica mu kuboko kwe. Umwe muri bo yari yambaye imyenda y’ibitare, afite ku rubavu rwe ihembe ririmo wino y’umwanditsi. ‘Nuko Uwiteka aramubwira ati: Genda unyure hagati mu murwa, hagati muri Yerusalemu, ushyire ikimenyetso ku gahanga k’abantu banihira kandi bakaririra ibizira byose bikorerwa hagati yawo.’
“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.
“Ni ba nde bahagaze mu nama y’Imana muri iki gihe? Mbese ni ba bandi rwose bitwaza ibibi bikorerwa mu bantu bitwa ubwabo ubw’abantu b’Imana, kandi bakitotombera mu mitima yabo, niba atari no ku mugaragaro, abarwanya icyaha bakagikebura? Mbese ni ba bandi bihagararaho kubarwanya kandi bakifatanya mu mutima n’abakora ibibi? Oya rwose! Keretse bihannye, bakareka umurimo wa Satani wo gucisha bugufi abafite umutwaro w’umurimo no gushyigikira abanyabyaha muri Siyoni, ntibazigera bahabwa ikimenyetso cy’iyemerwa ry’Imana mu kubashyiraho ikimenyetso cyayo. Bazagwa mu irimbuka rusange ry’abanyabyaha, ryagereranyijwe n’umurimo w’abo bagabo batanu bitwaje intwaro z’ubwicanyi. Mumenye neza iyi ngingo: Abakira ikimenyetso gitunganye cy’ukuri, gikorerwa muri bo n’imbaraga za Mwuka Wera, cyagereranyijwe n’ikimenyetso gishyirwaho n’umuntu wambaye imyenda y’ibitare, ni ba bandi ‘baniha kandi bakarira ibizira byose bikorerwa’ mu itorero. Gukunda kwabo ubutungane n’icyubahiro n’ikuzo by’Imana ni ko kuri, kandi bafite n’iyerekwa risobanutse cyane ry’ububi bukabije bw’icyaha, ku buryo bagereranywa n’abari mu mubabaro mwinshi, ndetse bakananiha bakanarira. Soma igice cya cyenda cya Ezekiyeli.”
“But the general slaughter of all those who do not thus see the wide contrast between sin and righteousness, and do not feel as those do who stand in the counsel of God and receive the mark, is described in the order to the five men with slaughter weapons: ‘Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” Testimonies, volume 3, 266, 267.
Ariko ubwicanyi rusange bw’abo bose batabona muri ubwo buryo itandukaniro rinini riri hagati y’icyaha no gukiranuka, kandi ntibiyumve nk’uko biyumva abahagarara mu nama y’Imana bakakira ikimenyetso, busobanuwe mu itegeko ryahawe ba bagabo batanu bitwaje intwaro z’ubwicanyi ngo: “Mumukurikire unyure mu murwa, mwice: ijisho ryanyu ntirigire uwo ryangarira, kandi ntimugire impuhwe na nke: murimbure rwose abasaza n’abasore, abakobwa b’inkumi, n’abana bato, n’abagore: ariko ntimukegere umuntu n’umwe uriho ikimenyetso; kandi muhere ku buturo Bwanjye bwera.” Testimonies, volumu ya 3, 266, 267.