Kukho izikhankanyo “ezilishumi elinesithathu” zemihla kwincwadi kaHezekile; ezintandathu zibhekisa eYerusalem, ezintandathu zibhekisa eYiputa, yaye esinye sibhekisa eTire. Zonke ezi zikhankanyo zibekwe ngaphakathi komxholo wokuvukela, ofuziselwa linani “elilishumi elinesithathu.” Kunyaka olandelayo emva kokuba umfazi kaHezekile wasweleka sisibetho, nto leyo eyaphawula ukuqala kongqingo lwesithathu, uHezekile wayalelwa ukuba athethe ngokuchasene neYiputa, echaza ukuba yayiya kuba yinkangala iminyaka engamashumi amane.

Ndolenza ilizwe laseYiputa phakathi kwamazwe angamabhodlo, nezixeko zalo phakathi kwezixeko ezithe zabhujiswa zibe lidolophu engunxweme iminyaka emashumi mane; ndibachithachithe amaYiputa phakathi kweentlanga, ndibasasaze emazweni. Kanti utsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi; Ekupheleni kweminyaka emashumi mane ndiya kuwaqokelela amaYiputa kubantu ababesasazeke phakathi kwabo: Ndobuyisa ukuthinjwa kweYiputa, ndibenze babuyele ezweni lasePathros, ezweni lokuhlala kwabo; babe khona ubukumkani obuphantsi. Hezekile 29:12–14.

Ukungqingwa kwaqala ngowama-587 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu, xa uHezekile wayalelwa ukuba athethe. Kwivesi ‘yeshumi elinesixhenxe’, unyaka wama-571 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu ubonisa ukuba iYiputa iya kunikelwa kwiBhabhiloni njengomvuzo weenkonzo ezenziweyo. Iingcali zobalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile ziphakamisa ukuba ixesha elisusela kowama-567 ukuya kowama-527 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu lelo leminyaka engamashumi amane elichazwe kwezi vesi, yaye ukususela kumyalezo wokuqala womgwebo owavakaliswa ngowama-587 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu ukuya kwisibhengezo sowama-571 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu esikwivesi yeshumi elinesixhenxe, esithi iNkosi yayiyinikele iYiputa esandleni sikaNebhukadenetsare, sifumana ixesha ‘leminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe’.

Umkhosi kaNebhukadenetsare walwa iphulo elide nelinzima nxamnye neTire (ukurhangqwa kwahlala malunga neminyaka eli-13, phantse ngo-586–573 BC). Amajoni asebenza nzima kakhulu (yonke intloko yenza impandla, yaye onke amagxa akrweceka ngenxa yokuthwala imithwalo), ukanti akafumananga mvuzo ubalulekileyo okanye ixhoba livela kwiTire ngokwayo. Ngenxa yalo msebenzi ungazange uzise nzuzo, uThixo wagqiba ekubeni anikele iYiputa kuNebhukadenetsare njengembuyekezo (“umvuzo”) ngomsebenzi owenziwe ngumkhosi wakhe nxamnye neTire.

Nihlale kuloo ndlu inye, nisitya nisele izinto abaninikayo; kuba umsebenzi ufanelwe ngumvuzo wakhe. Musani ukusuka ndlu niye ndlwini. Luka 10:7.

Ngoko ke uNebhukadenetsare waqala ngokuthimba iTire, yaye emva kongqingo olwaluthabathe iminyaka elishumi elinesithathu wanikwa iYiputa. Ngaphambi kokuba athimbe iTire, wathimba iYerusalem ngowama-586 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu; emva koko wayingqinga iTire iminyaka elishumi elinesithathu, waza emva koko wathimba iYiputa. IYerusalem yathinjwa ngowama-586 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu, yaye ungqingo lweTire lwaqala ngowama-586 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu lwaza lwaqhubeka de kwangowama-573 phambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu. Inani elithi ishumi elinesithathu linxulunyaniswa neUnited States.

UDade White usazisa ukuba iYerusalem encwadini kaHezekile imela ibandla lamaSeventh-day Adventist laseLawodike, yaye uNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani wasentla, umela amandla obupopu kwimihla yokugqibela. Kumzekeliso wembali wesahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba, abaphangi babantu bakho bemihla yokugqibela, abamele iRoma yobupopu, boyisa amaziko amathathu kweso sahluko. Kuqala uthabatha iYerusalem, emva koko iTire, yaye ekugqibeleni iYiputa.

Umgwebo uqala endlwini kaThixo, yaye uphondo lobuProtestanti eUnited States loyiswa kuqala ngaphambi komthetho wangeCawa. Uphondo lobuProtestanti obuwexukileyo eUnited States luquka ibandla laseLawodike lama-Adventist oSuku lweSixhenxe, elimele abantu bomnqophiso “bangaphambili” abadlulwayo njengoko kwadlulwa kuSirayeli wamandulo ngonyaka wama-34, nanjengoko kwadlulwa kumaProtestanti ngowe-1844. Ukudlulwa kwabo bantu bakaThixo bomnqophiso bangaphambili ngowama-34 nangowe-1844 kuboniswa kwimbali engokwesiprofeto yesiprofeto seminyaka engamawaka amabini anamakhulu amathathu esikuDaniyeli 8:14. Umgwebo uqala ngendlu kaThixo, yaye uphondo lobuProtestanti lugwetywa ngaphambi kokuba kugwetywe uphondo lobuRiphabhlikhi.

Kuba ixesha lifikile lokuba umgwebo uqale endlwini kaThixo; yaye ukuba uqala kuthi kuqala, isiphelo sabo bangayithobeliyo iindaba ezilungileyo zikaThixo siya kuba siyintoni na? 1 Petros 4:17.

Ukukhankanywa kokuqala komgwebo waseYiputa kufumaneka kwivesi yokuqala yesahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba, kwaye umhla wokugqibela okhankanyiweyo ngokunxulumene neYiputa nguHezekile ukwivesi “yeshumi elinesixhenxe” yeso sahluko sinye. Esi sahluko sichaza iRoma yale mihla kuqala isoyisa uphondo lobuProtestanti, yandule ke iTire, emele uphondo lobuRiphabhlikhi oboyiswayo kumthetho weCawa osondelayo. Xa iTire (iUnited States) yoyiswa nguNebhukadenetsare kumthetho weCawa, neYiputa nayo inikelwa ezandleni zakhe. Ngelo xesha inxeba elibulalayo lobupopu liyaphiliswa. Akupheleli nje ekubeni inxeba elibulalayo lobupopu ngoko liphiliswe, kodwa uHezekile uyasazisa ukuba oku kwenzeka ngexesha lemvula yamva.

Ngaloo mini ndiya kuyihlumisa uphondo lwendlu kaSirayeli, ndize ndikunike ukuvulwa komlomo phakathi kwabo; bazi ke ukuba ndinguYehova. Hezekile 29:21.

Yakobi noSirayeli

UIsaya uchaza ukuba uSirayeli uyalihlumisa ihlumelo, aqhakaze, aze azalise umhlaba wonke ngesiqhamo. Yimvula ezisa ezi zinyathelo zintathu zokuhluma, zokuqhakaza, nezokuthwala isiqhamo, yaye ngokukaIsaya, imvula yamva ifika xa “umoya onamandla” uthintelwe. Uqhubeka achaze ukuba ngexesha lokuhluma, lokuqhakaza, nelokuthwala isiqhamo, izono zikaYakobi zimele zicocwe; yaye igama lesiHebhere eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “zicocwe” lithetha ukuxolelaniswa ngenxa yesono.

Ngomlinganiselo, xa usidubula, uya kuxoxisana naso; uyawubamba umoya wakhe onamandla ngemini yomoya wasempuma. Ngenxa yoku ke ubugwenxa bukaYakobi buya kucocwa; yaye esi sisiqhamo sonke sokususa isono sakhe; xa ezenza onke amatye esibingelelo abe njengamatye etshokhwe aqhekeziweyo, ooAshera nemifanekiso eqingqiweyo abayi kuma. Isaya 27:8, 9.

Xa imimoya emine (umoya wakhe onengcwangu) yembambano ibanjiwe, kuqalisa ukutywinwa kwekhulu elinamashumi amane anesine lamawaka, yaye abalumkileyo nabangendawo phakathi kwama-Adventist ekugqibeleni bayahlukaniswa, kwaye konke oku kufezekiswa “ngemini yomoya wasempumalanga.” Ixesha lokutywinwa laqala ngokufefwa nge-9/11 yaye liphela ngokuthululwa ngokupheleleyo xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawa, xa ke umhlaba uzaliswa ziziqhamo. Ixesha lokutywinwa lixesha lokuhlanjululwa nokusulungekiswa okwenzeka ngokuthe ngcembe, ngokungqinelana noMalaki isahluko sesithathu. Kodwa kwisithuba seminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe esimelwa yimihla yokuqala neyokuphela ekuHezekile isahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba, kwenzeka ukoyiswa kobukumkani besithandathu besiprofeto seBhayibhile, obumelwa yiYerusalem, umfuziselo wophondo lobuProtestanti—ibandla—kunye neTire, umfuziselo wophondo lobuRiphablikhi—urhulumente. Kanye emva kokuphela kokungqingwa kweTire okwathabatha iminyaka elishumi elinesithathu, kwenzeka ukoyiswa kobukumkani besixhenxe bookumkani abalishumi obumelwa yiYiputa. Oku koyiswa kokuthathu kweYerusalem, kweTire nokweYiputa kwenzeka xa “uphondo lwendlu kaSirayeli” luhluma luze lunikwe ukuvuleka komlomo.

Ukungakwazi ukuthetha kwabo bobabini, umbingeleli uHezekile nombingeleli uZekariya, kuyaphela ngexesha lomthetho wangeCawe, xa iUnited States ne-esile likaBhileham zithetha zombini. INkosi inika indlu kaSirayeli “ukuvulwa komlomo” ngexesha lomthetho wangeCawe. Ngelo xesha izono zikaYakobi sele zihlanjululwe, yaye igama lakhe litshintshwa libe yindlu kaSirayeli. Isigidimi abasivakalisayo sifanekiselwa lingqina lesithathu lokungakwazi ukuthetha okungokwesiprofeto, elifanekiselwa nguDaniyeli, othi ngelo xesha anikwe isigidimi sikaDaniyeli isahluko seshumi elinanye, esikwangumbono kaHabhakuki othi ngelo xesha ‘uthethe ungaxoki.’ UHezekile, uZekariya noDaniyeli bahambelana nokuvakaliswa kwesikhalo esikhulu sengelosi yesithathu, njengoko kunjalo nakuYeremiya kwisahluko seshumi elinesihlanu, apho athenjiswa khona ukuba uya kuba ngumlomo kaThixo ukuba wayenokuphinda aphakame emva kokuphoxeka kokuqala.

Kutheni intlungu yam isisigxina, nesilonda sam singanyangeki, esingavumiyo ukuphiliswa? Uya kuba kum ngokupheleleyo njengoxoki na, njengamanzi asilelayo na? Ngoko ke itsho iNkosi ukuthi, Ukuba uyabuya, ndiya kukubuyisa kwakhona, uze ume phambi kwam; nokuba uyalukhupha oluxabisekileyo kokungenaxabiso, uya kuba njengomlomo wam; mababuyele bona kuwe, kodwa wena uze ungabuyeli kubo. Yeremiya 15:18, 19.

UYesu ubonakalisa isiphelo ngesiqalo, yaye ngomhla ka-9/11 ukutshizwa kwavelisa amagqabi, nesityalo sikaYakobi saqalisa ukukhula; yaye ekugqibeleni, xa ubugwenxa bukaYakobi buhlanjululwa, indlu kaSirayeli iya kuthetha. Ukuntshula okwenzeka ngomhla ka-9/11 okwafezekiswa yimvula kufuzisela ukuntshula ekupheleni kwexesha lokutywinwa, xa “uphondo” lwendlu kaSirayeli luntshula, kanye apho iimpondo zobuProtestanti obuwexukileyo nobuRiphabhlikhi zoyiswa nguNebhukadenetsare.

Kwelo nqanaba uphondo lobuxoki lobuProtestanti luchasaniswa nophondo lokwenyaniso lobuProtestanti, olufuziselwa yintonga ka-Aron eyahlumayo, ngokungafaniyo nezinye iintonga zezizwe zakwaSirayeli. Imihla emibini ekwisahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba sencwadi kaHezekile ichonga imbali yokuphakanyiswa kwebhanile yekhulu elinamashumi amane anesine lamawaka ngexesha lomthetho wangeCawa oza kufika kungekudala.

Inkqubo yokuntshula, ukutyatyamba nokuzalisa umhlaba ngeziqhamo yaqala ekutshizweni kwemvula yamva ngomhla we-9/11, kanye njengokuba ixesha lePentekoste laqala ngokuthi uKristu aphefumlele abafundi baKhe amathontsi ambalwa, nto leyo eyakhokelela kwiPentekoste xa kwenzeka ukuthululwa okupheleleyo. Ukuntshula kwangomhla we-9/11 ekuqaleni kokuhlanjululwa kukaYakobi (othabathela omnye indawo), okulixesha lokutywinwa, kwakufuzisela ukuntshula kwendlu kaSirayeli (umeyisi) ngexesha lomthetho wangeCawa. Ukuntshula ekupheleni kuphawula umahluko phakathi kwabantu bomnqophiso bangaphambili nabalikhulu elinamashumi amane anesine lamawaka, kanye njengokuba ukuthululwa komlilo kwiNtaba yeKarmele kwabonakalisa umahluko phakathi komprofeti uEliya nabaprofeti bakaBhahali. Lo mahluko ubonakaliswa liqela elihlazekileyo ngokwesiprofeto ngenxa yesigidimi esingumgunyathi soxolo nokhuseleko, ngoxa elinye iqela livuya ngokwesiprofeto, yaye alisayi kuze lihlazeke.

Imihla Emithandathu yaseYiputa

UHezekile ukhankanya eminye imihla emine enxulumene neYiputa, yaye emibini yaloo mihla ibonisa unyaka weshumi elinanye, ize eminye emibini ibonise unyaka weshumi elinesibini wokuthinjwa.

Ukurhangqwa Konyaka Weshumi Elinanye

Kwathi ke ngonyaka weshumi elinamnye, ngenyanga yokuqala, ngomhla wesixhenxe wenyanga, ilizwi leNkosi lafika kum, lisithi, Nyana womntu, ndiyaphule ingalo kaFaro, ukumkani waseYiputa; yaye, khangela, ayiyi kubotshwa ukuze iphiliswe, kubekwe ibhande lokuyibopha, ukuze yomelele ukuba ibambe ikrele. Hezekile 30:20, 21.

Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi elinanye, ngenyanga yesithathu, ngolokuqala lwenyanga, ilizwi likaYehova lafika kum, lisithi, Nyana womntu, thetha kuFaro ukumkani waseYiputa, nakwisihlwele sakhe; Ufana nabani na ngobukhulu bakho? Hezekile 31:1, 2.

Ngonyaka weshumi elinanye wokuthinjwa, iingalo zeYiputa nezikaFaro ziyaphulwa, zize iingalo zeBhabheli zomelezwe kwisahluko samashumi amathathu. Ngonyaka weshumi elinanye, kwisahluko samashumi amathathu ananye, kuchazwa ukuwa kweYiputa nempembelelo yako ehlabathini.

Unyaka Weshumi elineSibini Nokuwiswa kweYerusalem

Imihla emibini ekunyakeni yeshumi elinesibini ifumaneka kuHezekile amashumi amathathu anesibini.

Kwathi ke ngonyaka weshumi elinesibini, ngenyanga yeshumi elinesibini, ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga, lafika ilizwi likaYehova kum, lisithi, Nyana womntu, phakamisa isililo ngoFaro ukumkani waseYiputa, uthi kuye, Ufaniswa nengonyama entsha phakathi kweentlanga, ukwanjengomnenga elwandle; waphuma ngemilambo yakho, wawaxhokonxa amanzi ngeenyawo zakho, wayingcolisa imilambo yawo. Itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi; Ndiya kwandlala umnatha wam phezu kwakho ngendibano yabantu abaninzi; baya kukukhupha ngomnatha wam. Hezekile 32:1–3.

Kwathi ke ngonyaka weshumi elinesibini, ngomhla weshumi elinesihlanu wenyanga, ilizwi likaYehova lafika kum, lisithi, Nyana womntu, zila ngenxa yenkitha yaseYiputa, uze ubawise ezantsi, bona kwakunye neentombi zeentlanga ezidumileyo, uye kwezezantsi iindawo zomhlaba, kunye nabo behla baya emhadini. Hezekile 32:17, 18.

UFaro Nenkitha Yakhe

Kwisibhengezo esichasene neYiputa sesahluko samashumi amathathu ananye, iivesi zokugqibela zithi:

Ndenze iintlanga zangcangcazela ngesandi sokuwa kwakhe, ekumwiseleni kwam esihogweni ndawonye nabo behlayo baye emhadini; yaye yonke imithi yase-Eden, ekhethiweyo neyona ilungileyo yaseLebhanon, yonke esela amanzi, iya kuthuthuzelwa ezinzulwini zomhlaba. Nazo zehla kunye naye zaya esihogweni, zaya kwabo babuleweyo likrele; nabo babeyingalo yakhe, ababehlala phantsi komthunzi wakhe phakathi kweentlanga. Ufana nabani na na ngolu hlobo ngobuqaqawuli nangobukhulu phakathi kwemithi yase-Eden? Kanti ke uya kuthotyelwa ezantsi kunye nemithi yase-Eden uye ezinzulwini zomhlaba; uya kulala phakathi kwabangalukileyo kunye nabo babulewe likrele. NguFaro lo, nesihlwele sakhe sonke, utsho iNkosi uYehova. Hezekile 31:16–18.

Kwisibhengezo esinxamnye neYiputa esikwisahluko samashumi amathathu anesibini, iindinyana zokugqibela ziphinda zize zandise oko kuthethwa kwisahluko samashumi amathathu ananye, yaye ziquka namazwi okuqukumbela ahambelana nalawo akweso sahluko.

Ngokuba ndibangele ukoyikeka kwam ezweni labaphilayo; yaye uya kulaliswa phakathi kwabangalukanga, kunye nabo babuleweyo likrele, unguFaro nesihlwele sakhe sonke, itsho iNkosi uYehova. Hezekile 32:32.

Iminyaka Elishumi Elinesixhenxe Yesahluko Samashumi Amabini Anesithoba

Imihla ebekwe kwixesha leminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe elimelwe kwisahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba ichaza uNebhukadenetsare oyisa iYiputa, kwanexesha leminyaka engamashumi amane lokuphanziswa kweYiputa. Amashumi amane amela intlango, efuzisela iwaka leminyaka apho umhlaba uliphango.

Ndakhangela emhlabeni, yaye, yabona, wawungenabume, ungenanto; nakumazulu, yaye ayengenakukhanya. Ndakhangela ezintabeni, yaye, yabona, zazingcangcazela, neenduli zonke zashukuma kancinane. Ndakhangela, yaye, yabona, kwakungekho mntu, neentaka zonke zezulu zazimkile. Ndakhangela, yaye, yabona, indawo echumileyo yaba yintlango, nezixeko zawo zonke zadilizwa phambi kobukho bukaYehova, nangenxa yomsindo wakhe ovuthayo. Kuba utshilo uYehova ukuthi, Ilizwe lonke liya kuba yinkangala; kodwa andiyi kulenza isiphelo esipheleleyo. Yeremiya 4:23–27.

Ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi amane yokuphanziswa kweYiputa ekuthethwa ngayo kuHezekile isahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba, kuboniswa uvuko lokugqibela lwabangendawo nentshabalalo yabo yokugqibela.

Uloyiko, nomhadi, nomgibe, ziphezu kwakho, wena mmi wehlabathi. Kwaye kuya kuthi, lowo usabayo kwingxolo yoloyiko uya kuwela emhadini; nalowo unyukayo ephuma embindini womngxuma uya kubanjiswa ngumgibe; ngokuba iifestile ezisezulwini zivuliwe, neziseko zehlabathi ziyagungqiswa. Ihlabathi laphukile kwaphela, ihlabathi lichithakele ngokupheleleyo, ihlabathi linyakaziswe ngokugqithisileyo. Ihlabathi liya kujinga-jinga njengonxilileyo, lishukunyiswe njengendlu yethutyana; nokugqitha kwalo umthetho kuya kuba ngumthwalo onzima phezu kwalo; lize liwe, lingabi savuka. Kwaye kuya kuthi ngaloo mini, uYehova wohlwaya umkhosi wabaphezulu abasezintlwini, nookumkani behlabathi abasehlabathini. Kwaye baya kuqokelelwa ndawonye, njengoko amabanjwa eqokelelwa emngxunyeni, bavalelwe entolongweni, baze emva kweentsuku ezininzi bahlolwe. Isaya 24:17–22.

Isigidimi sikaHezekile esidityaniswa yimihla emithandathu enxulumene neYiputa sibonisa intshabalalo yokugqibela yegunya lasemhlabeni lenamba, eqala ngokumiselwa komthetho wosuku lweCawa oza kufika kungekudala, ize iqhubeke de kufike intshabalalo yokugqibela yamaYiputa angendawo ekupheleni kwewaka leminyaka.

Kubungqina besiprofeto irhamncwa nomprofeti wobuxoki bafikelela esiphelweni sabo echibini lomlilo, elimele ukuBuya kweSibini kukaKristu, kodwa ukutshatyalaliswa kwamandla enamba echibini lomlilo kusekupheleni kweminyaka eliwaka.

Laza labanjwa irhamncwa, kunye nalo umprofeti wobuxoki, lowo wayesenza imiqondiso phambi kwalo, awababonisa ngayo abo babemkele uphawu lwerhamncwa, nabo banqula umfanekiso walo. Bobabini baphoswa bephila echibini lomlilo ovutha ngesulfure. Ke bona abaseleyo babulawa likrele lalowo wayehleli phezu kwehashe, elo krele laliphuma emlonyeni wakhe; zaza zonke iintaka zadla zada zahlutha yinyama yabo. ISityhilelo 19:20, 21.

Irhamncwa nomprofeti wobuxoki baphela ngokwesiprofeto ekubuyeni kwesibini kukaKristu, kodwa inamba ihlangabezana nesiphelo sayo emva kweminyaka eliwaka ekubuyeni kwesithathu kukaKristu.

Ndabona isithunywa sezulu sisihla ezulwini, sinesitshixo senzonzobila nekhonkco elikhulu esandleni saso. Sayibamba inamba, loo nyoka yakudala, enguMtyholi, noSathana, sayibopha iminyaka eliwaka, sayiphosa enzonzobileni, sayivalela, saza sabeka itywina phezu kwayo, ukuze ingabi sazilahlekisa iintlanga, lude luzaliseke iminyaka eliwaka; emva koko imelwe kukukhululwa okwexeshana elifutshane. ISityhilelo 20:1–3.

Unyaka Weshumi Elinanye Noweshumi Elinesibini

Ixesha leminyaka ‘elishumi elinesixhenxe’ eliboniswe yimihla emibini echazwe kuHezekile isahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba laqalisa kunyaka weshumi wokuthinjwa laza laphela kunyaka wamashumi amabini anesixhenxe. Izigidimi ezikwisahluko samashumi amathathu nakwisahluko samashumi amathathu ananye zanikelwa kunyaka weshumi elinanye, yaye imihla emibini echazwe kwisahluko samashumi amathathu anesibini yanikelwa kunyaka weshumi elinesibini wokuthinjwa. Ixesha leminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe elaqalisa kunyaka weshumi, malunga nasekuqaleni kokungqingwa kweYerusalem, lalandelwa zizigidimi ezibini zonyaka weshumi elinanye eziphathelele iYiputa, ezichazwe kwisahluko samashumi amathathu nakwisahluko samashumi amathathu ananye. Xa zidibene, ezi zigidimi zibini zonyaka weshumi elinanye zimela isigidimi esingaphambi nje komthetho weCawa. Ezinye izigidimi ezibini zonyaka weshumi elinesibini eziphathelele iYiputa zanikelwa ngexesha lokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem ngowama-586 ngaphambi kukaKristu okanye kungekudala emva koko.

Isigidimi sokuza kukaKristu sivakaliswa njengenxalenye yesigidimi seSikhalo Sasezinzulwini Zobusuku esiguquka sibe sisigidimi sesikhalo esikhulu xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawe. Izigidimi ezibini zeYiputa zivakaliswa ngaphambi kokumiselwa komthetho weCawe, yaye izigidimi ezibini zeYiputa zivakaliswa xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawe okanye kanye emva koko. Ukuphindwa kabini kwezigidimi ezinikwa ngonyaka omnye, ebudeni bokungqingwa okufikelela kuvuthondaba ngokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, nokwezinye izigidimi ezibini xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawe, kufuzisela isigidimi sengelosi yesibini, apho kusoloko kukho ukuphindwa kabini.

Isigidimi sesibini sisoloko silandelwa sisigidimi sesithathu.

“Ngosiba neelizwi simelwe kukuvakalisa eso saziso, sibonisa ukulandelelana kwazo, kwanokusetyenziswa kweziprofeto ezisizisa kwisigidimi sengwezi yesithathu. Akunakubakho eyesithathu ngaphandle kweyokuqala neyesibini. Ezi zigidimi simelwe kukuzinika ihlabathi ngeencwadi ezishicilelweyo, ngeentetho, sibonisa kumgca wembali yesiprofeto izinto ebezikho nezinto eziya kubakho.” Selected Messages, incwadi 2, 104, 105.

Kwisigidimi sesithathu umnyango wenceba uyavalwa. Ixesha lenceba liyaphela eUnited States xa kuwiswa umthetho weCawa, yaye ixesha lenceba lehlabathi liyaphela xa uMikayeli esukuma. Yomibini le minyango ivaliweyo imele isigidimi sesithathu esisoloko sandulelwa sisigidimi sesibini, esisoloko sisigidimi esintlu-mbini.

Ukunikwa amandla kwengelosi yesibini kufezekiswa xa isigidimi seSikhalo Sasezinzulwini Zobusuku simanyana nayo. Izigidimi ezibini ezibhengezwa eluntwini, njengoko zimelwe zizibhengezo zikaHezekile ngeYiputa kwisahluko samashumi amathathu nakwesamashumi amathathu ananye, zibonisa ukuba isigidimi seSikhalo Sasezinzulwini Zobusuku simanyana nini nengelosi yesibini, yaye izigidimi ezibini zesahluko samashumi amathathu anesibini zibonisa ukunikwa amandla kwengelosi yesithathu kwisikhalo esikhulu.

Amavili kaHezekile amela ukuthungelana okuntsonkothileyo kweziganeko zoluntu achonga isilumkiso sokugqibela kuluntu, esisisilumkiso sengelosi yesithathu, yaye ingelosi yesithathu ibunjwe zizilumkiso zengelosi yokuqala nezengelosi yesibini. Isikhalo Saphakathi Kobusuku esiphambi komthetho weCawa nesikhalo esikhulu esisemva komthetho weCawa zimelwa yimihla emine kaHezekile ewela kwisithuba seminyaka ‘elishumi elinesixhenxe’ yemihla ye-alfa ne-omega yesahluko samashumi amabini anesithoba ehambelana nembali efihlakeleyo ekuDaniyeli isahluko seshumi elinanye ivesi yamashumi amane, njengoko imelwe kwiivesi ezisusela kweyeshumi elinanye ukuya kweyeshumi elinesithandathu kwakweso sahluko.

Kwincwadi kaDaniyeli isahluko seshumi, uDaniyeli, njengokuba kwakunjalo ngoHezekile, wenziwa wasisidenge. Ukungathethi kukaDaniyeli kwenzeka phakathi kokuchukunyiswa kathathu; ukuchukunyiswa kokuqala nokwesithathu kwavela kwingelosi uGabriyeli, yaye ukuchukunyiswa okuphakathi kwakukokukaKristu. UDaniyeli, njengokuba kwakunjalo ngoPetros phakathi kweKesareya-Filipi nomnqamlezo, usembindini. Embindini uPetros wabona uKristu ozukisiweyo, njengokuba noDaniyeli wabonayo kwisahluko seshumi. Umbindi weengelosi ezintathu ngumyalezo wesibini, oyindibaniselwano yemiyalezo emibini.

Usuku lwe-5 lwenyanga ye-4 no-1844

Kwisahluko sokuqala sikaHezekile, kwivesi yokuqala neyesibini, uHezekile ukomhla wesihlanu wenyanga yesine, ohambelana nombindi wentshukumo yenyanga yesixhenxe ngowe-1844. UHezekile usembindini wexesha eliphakathi komhla we-19 kuTshazimpuzi nomhla wama-22 kweyeDwarha ngowe-1844, kanye njengokuba kwakunjalo nakuSamuel Snow, umthunywa weSikhalo saseZinzulwini zoBusuku ngowe-1844, xa wayenikela imbono yakhe yokuqala ecacileyo ngesigidimi eBoston, kwiintsuku ezingama-93 emva komhla we-19 kuTshazimpuzi nakwiintsuku ezingama-93 ngaphambi kokuba umnyango uvalwe ngomhla wama-22 kweyeDwarha ngowe-1844. USamuel Snow wayeseBoston ngomhla wama-21 kweyeKhala ngowe-1844, embindini wentshukumo yenyanga yesixhenxe, engazi ukuba ngokwesiprofeto wayemi kunye noPetros kwiNtaba yoKwenziwa Kumila Kumbi, noHezekile kunyaka wamashumi amathathu womjikelo weshumi elinesixhenxe weNtlokoma, kunye nokuchukunyiswa okwesibini kukaDaniyeli ngexesha lombono wesipili wesahluko seshumi.

ITire

Ngaphambi kokuba sibuyele ekubekweni komhla kwezalathiso ezithandathu zikaHezekile ngeYerusalem, sifanele kuqala sichonge loo mhla mnye owavakaliswayo nxamnye neTire.

Kwathi ngonyaka weshumi elinanye, ngomhla wokuqala wenyanga, lafika kum ilizwi likaYehova, lisithi, Nyana womntu, ngenxa yokuba iTire ithethile ngokuchasene neYerusalem, isithi, Aha, yaphukile, loo nto ibisango lezizwe; ijikelele kum; ndiya kuzaliswa, ngoku ekubeni idliwe yinkangala: ngenxa yoko itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, Yabona, ndichasene nawe, Tire, ndiya kunyusa iintlanga ezininzi zize kuwe, njengoko ulwandle luwanyusa amaza alo. Ziya kuzitshabalalisa iindonga zaseTire, zidilize neenqaba zayo; ndosula nothuli lwayo kuyo, ndiyenze ibe njengentloko yelitye. Iya kuba yindawo yokwandlalela iminatha phakathi kolwandle; ngokuba ndithethile, itsho iNkosi uYehova; ibe lixhoba leentlanga. Neentombi zayo ezisemaphandleni ziya kubulawa likrele; zazi ukuba ndinguYehova. Kuba itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi, Yabona, ndiya kuyizisela iTire uNebhukadenetsare, ukumkani waseBhabheli, ukumkani wookumkani, evela emantla, enamahashe, neenqwelo zokulwa, nabakhweli-mahashe, namaqela omkhosi, nabantu abaninzi.

Iya kuwabulala ngenkemba iintombi zakho ezisemaphandleni; yaye iya kwakha inqaba yokungqinga nxamnye nawe, iphose udonga olunyukelwayo nxamnye nawe, iphakamise ikhaka nxamnye nawe. Yaye iya kumisa oomatshini bemfazwe nxamnye neendonga zakho, ize ngezembe zayo iwadilize iinqaba zakho. Ngenxa yobuninzi bamahashe ayo, uthuli lwawo luya kukugubungela; iindonga zakho ziya kunyikima ngengxolo yabakhweli bamahashe, neyevili, neyeenqwelo zokulwa, xa iya kungena emasangweni akho, njengokuba kungenwa esixekweni apho kudalwe umngxuma. Ngeempuphu zamahashe ayo iya kuwanyathela onke amadlelo ezitrato zakho; iya kubabulala abantu bakho ngenkemba, neenqaba zakho ezinamandla ziya kuwela emhlabeni. Yaye baya kuphanga ubutyebi bakho, benze amaxhoba ngentengiso yakho; baziwisel’ phantsi iindonga zakho, bazitshabalalise izindlu zakho ezithandekayo; babeke amatye akho, nemithi yakho, nothuli lwakho phakathi kwamanzi. Yaye ndiya kuphelisa ingxolo yeengoma zakho; nesandi seehadi zakho asisayi kuva kwakhona. Yaye ndiya kukwenza ube njengomphezulu weliwa; uya kuba yindawo yokolulela iminatha kuyo; akusayi kuphinda kwakhiwe; kuba mna, Yehova, ndikuthethile oko, utsho iNkosi uYehova.

Utsho iNkosi uYehova eTire: Aziyi na iziqithi ukungcangcazela ngenxa yesandi sokuwa kwakho, xa abakreqileyo bekhala, xa kuxhelwa phakathi kwakho? Ziya kwandula ukuhla ezihlalweni zazo zonke iinkosana zolwandle, zibeke ecaleni iingubo zazo, zikhulule neengubo zazo ezilukiweyo; ziya kuzinxibisa ngokungcangcazela; ziya kuhlala emhlabeni, zingcangcazele ngamaxesha onke, zimangaliswe nguwe. Ziya kuthabatha isijwili ngawe, zithi kuwe, Hayi, utshatyalaliswe njani na, wena wawuhlalwa ngamadoda ahamba elwandle, mzi udumileyo, owawunamandla elwandle, wona nabemi bawo, ababebeka ukoyikeka kwabo phezu kwabo bonke abahlala kuwo! Ngoku iziqithi ziya kungcangcazela ngemini yokuwa kwakho; ewe, iziqithi eziselwandle ziya kuphazamiseka ngenxa yokumka kwakho. Kuba itsho iNkosi uYehova ukuthi: Xa ndiyakukwenza ube ngumzi oyinkangala, njengemizi engenabemi; xa ndiya kukuzisela enzonzobileni, namanzi amakhulu aya kukugubungela; xa ndiya kukuhlisa kunye nabo behla baya emhadini, kubantu bamandulo, ndikumise kwiindawo ezisezantsi zomhlaba, kwiindawo ezazisele ziyinkangala kwakudala, kunye nabo behla baya emhadini, ukuze ungabi nammi; ndibeke uzuko ezweni labaphilayo; ndiya kukwenza ube sisikhwankqiso, ungabi saba kho; nakuba ungafunwa, akusayi kuphinda kufunyanwe kwakhona naphakade, utsho iNkosi uYehova. Hezekile 26:1–21.

Umyalezo weTire wabhengezwa ngaloo nyaka iYerusalem yatshatyalaliswayo, yaye umele ukubhukuqwa kobukumkani besithandathu besiprofeto seBhayibhile ngexesha lomthetho weCawa osondelayo. Ngexesha lomthetho weCawa, iUnited States (iTire) ngokwesiprofeto iyavuya kuba ibhukuqe iYerusalem, leyo uDade White ayichaza njengebandla lamaSeventh-day Adventist laseLawodike, elo uHezekile alibiza ngokuba “ngamasango abantu.” ITire ichaza ukuba iYerusalem “yayiyeyo” amasango abantu ngexesha eladlulayo. “Isango” ngokwesiprofeto libandla.

Waza woyika, wathi, Hayi ukoyikeka kwale ndawo! Le asiyonto yimbi ngaphandle kwendlu kaThixo, yaye eli lisango lezulu. Wavuka uYakobi kwakusasa, walithabatha ilitye abelimisele phantsi kwentloko yakhe, walimisa laba sisikhumbuzo, wagalela ioli phezu kwentloko yalo. Wayibiza igama laloo ndawo ngokuba yiBheteli; kodwa kuqala igama laloo mzi lalisithiwa yiLuzi. Genesis 28:17–19.

Igama elithi “Bheteli” lithetha indlu kaThixo, yaye iTire iyavuya kuba inyanzelise ibandla lama-Adventist oSuku lweSixhenxe laseLawodike ukuba lamkele ukunyanzeliswa kokunqulwa kwelanga. Kodwa phezu kwako nje ukugcoba okuphosakeleyo kwabo banyanzelisa ukunqulwa kwelanga, uThixo uthi ngoHezekile, “Ndikuchasile, wena Tire, yaye ndiya kuzisa iintlanga ezininzi nxamnye nawe, njengoko ulwandle lunyusa amaza alo. Ziya kuzitshabalalisa iindonga zeTire, zidilize neenqaba zayo.”

“Iindonga zaseTire” zimele ukhuseleko lwaseTire. “Udonga” ngumqondiso weMithetho Elishumi.

“Apha umprofeti uchaza abantu abathi, ngexesha lokumka ngokubanzi enyanisweni nasebulungiseni, bafune ukubuyisela imigaqo eyisiseko sobukumkani bukaThixo. Bangabalungisi bomonakalo owenziweyo emthethweni kaThixo—udonga awalumiselayo abakhethiweyo baKhe ukuze bakhuselwe, kwaye ukuthobela imithetho yalo yobulungisa, yenyaniso, neyobunyulu makube lukhuselo lwabo olungapheliyo.” Prophets and Kings, 677.

Umthetho kaThixo uludonga lokhuselo, kodwa iindonga, xa zikwimo yesininzi, zimele imigaqo emibini ‘eyayikhusela’ neyavelisa ukuchuma nempumelelo yeTyrus, engumfuziselo wophondo loburiphabliki lwaseUnited States.

“‘Yaye ineempondo ezimbini ezifana nezemvana.’ Ezo mpondo zifana nezemvana zibonisa ubutsha, ubumsulwa, nobulali, ziwumela ngokufanelekileyo umlingiswa we-United States xa yaziswa kumprofeti njengelithi ‘liyenyuka’ ngowe-1798. Phakathi kwababaleki abangamaKristu abaqala basabela eMerika baza bafuna ikhusi kwingcinezelo yobukumkani nakukunganyamezelani kwabefundisi, babebaninzi abazimisela ukuseka urhulumente phezu kwesiseko esibanzi senkululeko yezoluntu neyonqulo. Iingcamango zabo zafumana indawo kwiSibhengezo seNkululeko, esibeka inyaniso enkulu yokuba ‘bonke abantu badalwe belingana’ yaye banikwe ilungelo elingenakuhluthwa ‘lobomi, lenkululeko, nelokufuna ulonwabo.’ Kwaye uMgaqo-siseko uqinisekisa ebantwini ilungelo lokuzilawula, ubonelela ukuba abameli abanyulwe yivoti yabantu benze baze balawule imithetho. Inkululeko yokholo lonqulo nayo yanikelwa, wonke umntu evunyelwe ukunqula uThixo ngokwemiyalelo yesazela sakhe. UbuRiphabhlikhi nobuProtestanti baba yimigaqo esisiseko yesi sizwe. Le migaqo iyimfihlelo yamandla nempumelelo yaso. Abacinezelweyo nabanyathelisiweyo kulo lonke elamaKristu baye bajika baya kweli lizwe benomdla nethemba. Izigidi ziye zafuna unxweme lwalo, kwaye i-United States inyukele kwindawo phakathi kwezona ntlanga zinamandla emhlabeni. …

“Iimpondo ezifana nezemvana nelizwi lenamba lalo mqondiso zikhomba ukungqubana okucacileyo phakathi kwezimangalo nendlela yokwenza kwesizwe esimelwe ngolo hlobo. ‘Ukuthetha’ kwesizwe kusisenzo samagunya aso owiso-mthetho nawokugweba. Ngesenzo esinjalo siya kuzichasa ezo migaqo yenkululeko neyoxolo esizibeke njengesiseko somgaqo-nkqubo waso. Isiprofeto esithi siya kuthetha ‘njengenamba’ size sisebenzise ‘onke amandla erhamba yokuqala’ sixela ngokucacileyo ukuphuhliswa komoya wokunganyamezelani nowentshutshiso owabonakaliswa zizizwe ezazimelwe yilenamba nelerhamncwa elifana nengwe. Kwaye amazwi athi irhamncwa elineempondo ezimbini ‘lilibangela ihlabathi nabo bahlala kulo ukuba banqule irhamncwa lokuqala’ abonisa ukuba igunya lesi sizwe liya kusetyenziswa ekunyanzeliseni umkhwa othile wonqulo oya kuba sisenzo sokunika imbeko kubupopu.”

“Isenzo esinjalo besiya kuba ngokuchasene ngqo nemigaqo yale rhulumente, nomoya wamaziko ayo akhululekileyo, nezibhengezo ezithe ngqo nezinesidima zeSibhengezo seNkululeko, kwakunye noMgaqo-siseko. Abaseki besi sizwe ngobulumko bazama ukukhusela ngokuchasene nokusetyenziswa kwamandla ehlabathi ngakwicala lebandla, nesiphumo sako esingenakuphepheka—ukunganyamezelani nentshutshiso. UMgaqo-siseko umisela ukuba ‘iCongress ayiyi kwenza mthetho ngokuphathelele ukumiselwa kwenkolo, okanye othintela ukuqhutywa kwayo ngokukhululekileyo,’ kwanokuba ‘akuyi kuze kufunwe uvavanyo lwenkolo njengomqathango wokufaneleka kuso nasiphi na isikhundla okanye intembeko yoluntu phantsi kwe-United States.’ Kungokophula ngokucacileyo kuphela ezi zikhuselo zenkululeko yesizwe apho nasiphi na isithethe senkolo sinokunyanzeliswa ligunya loluntu. Kodwa ukungangqinelani kwesenzo esinjalo akukhulu ngaphezu koko kumelwe ngumqondiso. Lirhamncwa elineempondo ezifana nezegusha—ekubeni ngokwembonakalo linyulu, lithambile, lingenabungozi—elithetha njengenamba.” The Great Controversy, 441, 442.

Isiseko se-United States simelwe yiSibhengezo seNkululeko kunye noMgaqo-siseko, ezimele ubuProtestanti nobuRiphabhlikhi ngokulandelelanayo. “Iindonga” zokhuseleko nempumelelo bubobuRiphabhlikhi nobuProtestanti, yaye ngexesha lomthetho weCawa iMigqibelo imithetho-siseko yazo zombini iSibhengezo seNkululeko noMgaqo-siseko iyabhukuqwa; kuba uNebhukadenetsare “uya kumisa izixhobo zemfazwe nxamnye neendonga zakho, aze ngezembe zakhe adilize iinqaba zakho.”

Xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawa, zonke “iinqaba” ziyadilizwa, yaye inqaba ingumfuziselo webandla elinentanda-bulumko esisiseko ebonakaliswa ngumzamo womntu wokuzisindisa. Xa kuthethwa ngoNimrod, umvukeli omkhulu, nangenqaba yakhe, sixelelwa kwincwadi ethi Abaprofeti nooKumkani, “Xa inqaba yayisele yakhiwe ngokuyinxenye, inxalenye yayo yayisetyenziswa njengendawo yokuhlala yabakhi; amanye amagumbi, awayefakwe ifanitshala aza ahonjiswa ngobukhazikhazi, ayenikezelwe kwizithixo zabo. Abantu bayivuyela impumelelo yabo, badumisa oothixo besilivere nabegolide, baza bazibeka nxamnye noMlawuli wezulu nomhlaba.” Xa kumiselwa umthetho weCawa, iTyrus iyavuya kuba iYerusalem ibhukuqiwe, kodwa uwexuko lwesizwe lulandelwa yintshabalalo yesizwe, yaye ukumkani wasentla uya kuthi ke adilize iindonga neenqaba zaseUnited States.

Siya kuqalisa ukuqwalasela imihla emithandathu yaseYerusalem kuHezekile kwinqaku elilandelayo.