Kukhona izinkomba eziyishumi nantathu eziphathelene nezinsuku encwadini kaHezekeli; eziyisithupha zibhekiswe eJerusalema, eziyisithupha zibhekiswe eGibhithe, kanti esisodwa sibhekiswe eTire. Zonke lezi zinkomba zibekwe ngaphakathi komongo wokuvukela, okufanekiselwa yinombolo ethi “ishumi nantathu.” Ngonyaka olandela ukushona komkaHezekeli ngenxa yesifo sohlangothi, okwaphawula ukuqala kokuvinjezelwa kwesithathu, uHezekeli wayalwa ukuba akhulume amelane neGibhithe, ememezela ukuthi liyakuba yincithakalo iminyaka engamashumi amane.
Ngiyakwenza izwe laseGibhithe libe yincithakalo phakathi kwamazwe ayincithakalo, nemizi yalo phakathi kwemizi eyincithakeleyo iyakuba yincithakalo iminyaka engamashumi amane; futhi ngiyakusakaza abaseGibhithe phakathi kwezizwe, ngibahlakazele emazweni. Nokho usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuthi: Ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi amane ngiyakuqoqela ndawonye abaseGibhithe ezizweni lapho babehlakazelwe khona; ngibuyise ukuthunjwa kweGibhithe, ngibabuyisele ezweni lasePathrosi, ezweni lokuhlala kwabo; khona bayakuba ngumbuso ophansi. Hezekeli 29:12–14.
Ukuvinjezelwa kwaqala ngonyaka ka-587 ngaphambi kukaKristu, lapho uHezekeli eyalwa ukuba akhulume. Evesini ‘leshumi nesikhombisa’, unyaka ka-571 ngaphambi kukaKristu ubonisa ukuthi iGibhithe liyonikelwa eBhabhiloni njengenkokhelo yomsebenzi owenziwe. Izazi zokulandelana kwezikhathi zeBhayibheli zisikisela ukuthi inkathi esukela onyakeni ka-567 ngaphambi kukaKristu kuya onyakeni ka-527 ngaphambi kukaKristu iyinkathi yeminyaka engamashumi amane ebalulwe kula mavesi, futhi kusukela emyalezweni wokuqala wesahlulelo owamenyezelwa ngonyaka ka-587 ngaphambi kukaKristu kuze kube yisimemezelo esisevesini leshumi nesikhombisa sonyaka ka-571 ngaphambi kukaKristu sokuthi iNkosi yayilinikele iGibhithe esandleni sikaNebukadinesari, sithola inkathi ‘yeminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa’.
Ibutho likaNebukadinesari lalwa umkhankaso omude nowunzima wokulwa neTire (ukuvinjezelwa kwahlala cishe iminyaka eyi-13, okungaba ngu-586–573 BC). Amasosha asebenza kanzima kakhulu (yonke ikhanda lenziwa impandla, futhi wonke ihlombe lakhuhlwa laba yize ngenxa yokuthwala imithwalo), nokho awatholanga mvuzo obalulekile noma impango evela eTire uqobo. Ngenxa yalo msebenzi ongazange ulethe nzuzo, uNkulunkulu wanquma ukunika uNebukadinesari iGibhithe njengesinxephezelo (“umvuzo”) ngomsebenzi ibutho lakhe elawenza ngokumelene neTire.
Nihlale kulowo muzi, nidla niphuza lokho abanipha khona; ngokuba isisebenzi sifanele umvuzo waso. Ningasuki endlini niye kwenye indlu. Luka 10:7.
Ngakho uNebukadinesari waqala ngokunqoba iTire, kwathi ngemva kokuyivimbezela iminyaka eyishumi nantathu wanikwa iGibhithe. Ngaphambi kokuba anqobe iTire, wanqoba iJerusalema ngowe-586 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu; wabe esevimbezela iTire iminyaka eyishumi nantathu, kwase kulandela iGibhithe. IJerusalema lanqotshwa ngowe-586 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu, futhi ukuvinjezelwa kweTire kwaqala ngowe-586 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu kwaqhubeka kwaze kwaba ngowe-573 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaKristu. Inombolo eyishumi nantathu ihlotshaniswa ne-United States.
UDade White usazisa ukuthi iJerusalema encwadini kaHezekeli imele ibandla lamaSeventh-day Adventist laseLawodikeya, futhi uNebukadinesari, inkosi yasenyakatho, umele amandla obupapa ezinsukwini zokugcina. Emfanekisweni womlando wesahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, abaphangi babantu bakho bezinsuku zokugcina, abamele iRoma yobupapa, banqoba izikhungo ezintathu kuleso sahluko. Kuqala uthatha iJerusalema, bese kuba iThire, ekugcineni iGibhithe.
Ukwahlulela kuqala endlini kaNkulunkulu, futhi uphondo lobuProthestani e-United States lunqotshwa kuqala ngaphambi komthetho weSonto. Uphondo lobuProthestani obuhlubukile e-United States luhlanganisa ibandla lamaSeventh-day Adventist laseLawodikeya, elimelela abantu besivumelwano “bangaphambili” abeqiwayo njengoba kweqiwa u-Israyeli wasendulo ngonyaka wama-34 nanjengoba kweqiwa amaProthestani ngowe-1844. Ukweqiwa kwalabo bantu bakaNkulunkulu besivumelwano bangaphambili ngowama-34 nangowe-1844 kuvezwa emlandweni ongokwesiprofetho wesiprofetho seminyaka eyizinkulungwane ezimbili namakhulu amathathu esikuDaniyeli 8:14. Ukwahlulela kuqala ngendlu kaNkulunkulu, futhi uphondo lobuProthestani lwahlulelwa ngaphambi kophondo lwezimiso zeriphabhuliki.
Ngokuba isikhathi sesifikile sokuba ukwahlulela kuqale endlini kaNkulunkulu; futhi uma kuqala kithi, kuyakuba yini ukuphela kwalabo abangayilaleli ivangeli likaNkulunkulu na? 1 Petru 4:17.
Ukukhulunywa kokuqala kwesahlulelo saseGibhithe kutholakala evesini lokuqala lesahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, kanti usuku lokugcina olukhulunywa ngalo maqondana neGibhithe nguHezekeli lutholakala evesini “leshumi nesikhombisa” saleso sahluko esifanayo. Lesi sahluko sikhomba iRoma yanamuhla kuqala inqoba uphondo lobuProthestani, bese ilandela iThire, emele uphondo lobuRiphabhulikhi olunqotshwa ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto osuseduze ukufika. Lapho iThire (i-United States) inqotshwa uNebukhadinezari ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto, iGibhithe nalo linikelwa ezandleni zakhe. Kuleso sikhathi inxeba elibulalayo lobupapa liyaphola. Akugcini nje ngokuthi inxeba elibulalayo lobupapa liphole ngaleso sikhathi, kodwa uHezekeli uyasazisa ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka ngesikhathi semvula yokugcina.
Ngalolo suku ngiyakuhlumisa uphondo lwendlu ka-Israyeli, ngikunike ukuvulwa komlomo phakathi kwabo; bazi ukuthi nginguJehova. Hezekeli 29:21.
uJakobe no-Israyeli
U-Isaya uveza ukuthi u-Israyeli uyahluma, aqhakaze, agcwalise umhlaba wonke ngesithelo. Yimvula eletha lezi zigaba ezintathu zokuhluma, zokuqhakaza nezokuthela izithelo, futhi ngokuka-Isaya, imvula yokugcina ifika lapho “umoya onamandla” usumisiwe. Uyaqhubeka aveze ukuthi phakathi nenkathi yokuhluma, yokuqhakaza neyokuthela izithelo izono zikaJakobe ziyakuhlanjululwa, futhi igama lesiHebheru elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ukuhlanjululwa” lisho ukubuyisana.
Ngesilinganiso, lapho ihluma iphume, uyakuphikisana nayo; ubamba umoya wakhe onolaka ngosuku lomoya wasempumalanga. Ngalokho-ke ububi bukaJakobe buyakuhlanjululwa; futhi lokhu kuyoba yiso sonke isithelo sokususwa kwesono sakhe; lapho enza wonke amatshe e-altare abe njengamatshe etshokhi aphihlizwe aba yizicucu, izixuku zezihlahla nezithombe ngeke kusame. U-Isaya 27:8, 9.
Lapho imimoya emine (umoya wakhe onamandla) yombango ivinjelwa, kuqala ukubekwa uphawu kwabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, futhi abahlakaniphile nababi phakathi kwama-Adventist bayahlukaniswa ekugcineni, kanti konke lokhu kufezwa “ngosuku lomoya wasempumalanga.” Isikhathi sokubekwa uphawu saqala ngokufafazwa nge-9/11 futhi siphela ngokuthululwa ngokugcwele ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto, lapho-ke umhlaba ugcwaliswa ngezithelo. Isikhathi sokubekwa uphawu siyisikhathi sokuhlanzwa nokucwengwa okuqhubekayo ngokuvumelana noMalaki isahluko sesithathu. Kodwa phakathi nenkathi yeminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa emelelwa yizinsuku zokuqala nezokuphela ezikuHezekeli isahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, ukunqotshwa kombuso wesithupha wesiprofetho seBhayibheli kwenzeka njengoba kufanekiselwa yiJerusalema, eliwuphawu lophondo lobuProthestani—ibandla—kanye neTire, eliwuphawu lophondo lobuRiphabhulikhi—umbuso. Ngemva nje kokuphela kokuvinjezelwa kweTire okwathatha iminyaka eyishumi nantathu, kunqotshwa umbuso wesikhombisa wamakhosi ayishumi omelwe yiGibithe. Ukunqotshwa okuthathu kweJerusalema, kweTire nokweGibithe kwenzeka lapho “uphondo lwendlu yakwa-Israyeli” luhluma futhi lunikezwa ukuvuleka komlomo.
Ukungakwazi ukukhuluma kwabo bobabili, umpristi uHezekeli nompristi uZakariya, kuyaphela ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto, lapho kokubili i-United States nembongolo kaBalami kukhuluma khona. INkosi inika indlu yakwa-Israyeli “ukuvulwa komlomo” ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto. Ngaleso sikhathi izono zikaJakobe zisuke sezihlanziwe, futhi igama lakhe liguqulwa libe yindlu yakwa-Israyeli. Isigijimi abasimenyezelayo simelelwa ufakazi wesithathu wokungakwazi ukukhuluma okungokwesiprofetho, omelwe nguDaniyeli, onikezwa ngaleso sikhathi isigijimi esikuDaniyeli isahluko seshumi nanye, esibuye sibe ngumbono kaHabakuki obese ‘ukhuluma futhi ungaqambi amanga.’ UHezekeli, uZakariya noDaniyeli bahambisana nokumenyezelwa kokumemeza okukhulu kwengelosi yesithathu, njengoba kwenza noJeremiya esahlukweni seshumi nanhlanu, lapho ethenjiswa khona ukuthi uyoba ngumlomo kaNkulunkulu uma ephinde asimame ngemva kokudumazeka kokuqala.
Kungani ubuhlungu bami buhlala njalo, nenxeba lami lingelapheki, elinqaba ukuphulukiswa? Uyoba kimi ngokuphelele njengomqambimanga, nanjengamanzi aphoxayo na? Ngakho usho kanje uJehova: Uma ubuya, ngiyakukubuyisa futhi, ume phambi kwami; futhi uma ukhipha okuyigugu kokuyize, uyakuba njengomlomo wami; mababuyele kuwe bona, kodwa wena ungabuyeli kubo. Jeremiya 15:18, 19.
UJesu ufanekisa ukuphela ngesiqalo, futhi ngo-9/11 ukufafazwa kwaveza amahlumela, nesihlahla sikaJakobe saqala ukukhula; futhi ekugcineni, lapho ububi bukaJakobe sebususwe, indlu ka-Israyeli iyakukhuluma. Ukuhluma okwenzeka ngo-9/11, okwafezwa yimvula, kufanekisela ukuhluma ekupheleni kwesikhathi sokubekwa uphawu, lapho “uphondo” lwendlu ka-Israyeli luhluma khona, khona lapho izimpondo zobuProthestani obuhlubukayo nezobuRiphabhulikhi zinqotshwa nguNebukadinesari.
Kulelo qophelo, uphondo lwamanga lobuProthestani lubekwa ngokuphambene nophondo lweqiniso lobuProthestani, olufanekiselwa yinduku ka-Aroni eyahluma ngokungafani nezinye izinduku zezizwe zakwa-Israyeli. Izinsuku ezimbili ezishiwo esahlukweni samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye sencwadi kaHezekeli zikhomba umlando wokuphakanyiswa kwebhanela labayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto ozofika maduze.
Inqubo yokuhluma, yokuqhakaza neyokugcwalisa umhlaba ngezithelo yaqala ekufafazweni kwemvula yamuva ngo-9/11, njengoba nje inkathi yePhentekoste yaqala ngokuthi uKristu aphefumulele amaconsi ambalwa phezu kwabafundi baKhe, okwaholela ePhentekoste lapho kwenzeka khona ukuthululwa okuphelele. Ukuhluma kwango-9/11 ekuqaleni kokuhlanjululwa kukaJakobe (othatha indawo yomunye), okuyisikhathi sokubekwa uphawu, kwakufanekisela ukuhluma kwendlu ka-Israyeli (umnqobi) ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto. Ukuhluma ekugcineni kuveza umehluko phakathi kwabantu bangaphambili besivumelwano nabayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, njengoba nje ukuthululwa komlilo eNtabeni yaseKarmeli kwaveza umehluko phakathi komprofethi u-Eliya nabaprofethi bakaBali. Umehluko ubonakaliswa yiqembu elihlazekile ngokwesiprofetho ngenxa yesigijimi esingumgunyathi sokuthula nokulondeka, kanti elinye iqembu liyathokoza ngokwesiprofetho, futhi alisoze lahlazeka.
Izinsuku Eziyisithupha zaseGibhithe
UHezekeli ubalula ezinye izinsuku ezine ezihlobene neGibhithe, futhi ezimbili zalezo zinsuku zikhomba unyaka weshumi nanye wokuthunjwa, kanti ezinye ezimbili zikhomba unyaka weshumi nambili wokuthunjwa.
Ukuvinjezelwa Konyaka Weshumi Nanye
Kwase kuthi ngonyaka weshumi nanye, ngenyanga yokuqala, ngosuku lwesikhombisa lwenyanga, izwi leNkosi lafika kimi, lathi: Ndodana yomuntu, ngiphule ingalo kaFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe; bheka, ayiyikuboshwa ukuba iphole, kufakwe ibhandeshi lokuyibopha, ukuze yenziwe iqine ukubamba inkemba. Hezekeli 30:20, 21.
Kwase kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanye, ngenyanga yesithathu, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga, izwi leNkosi lafika kimi, lathi: Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kuFaro inkosi yaseGibithe, nakwisixuku sakhe, uthi: Ufanani ngobukhulu bakho na? Hezekeli 31:1, 2.
Ngonyaka weshumi nanye wokuthunjwa, esahlukweni samashumi amathathu izingalo zeGibhithe nezikaFaro ziyaphulwa, kanti izingalo zeBhabhiloni ziyaqiniswa. Ngonyaka weshumi nanye, esahlukweni samashumi amathathu nanye, kuvezwa ukuwa kweGibhithe nomthelela walokho kuwa emhlabeni.
Unyaka Weshumi Nambili Nokuwiswa KweJerusalema
Lezi zinsuku ezimbili zonyaka weshumi nambili zitholakala kuHezekeli amashumi amathathu nambili.
Kwase kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nambili, ngenyanga yeshumi nambili, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga, izwi likaJehova lafika kimi, lathi: Ndodana yomuntu, phakamisa isililo ngoFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe, uthi kuye: Wawunjengebhongo elincane phakathi kwezizwe, futhi wawunjengomkhomo olwandle; waphuma ngemifula yakho, waphazamisa amanzi ngezinyawo zakho, wangcolisa imifula yawo. Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova: Ngakho-ke ngiyakwendlalela inetha lami phezu kwakho, kanye nebandla lezizwe eziningi; ziyakukukhuphula ngenetha lami. Hezekeli 32:1–3.
Kwathi futhi ngonyaka weshumi nambili, ngosuku lweshumi nanhlanu lwenyanga, izwi leNkosi lafika kimi, lathi: Ndodana yomuntu, klamelela isixuku saseGibithe, usiphonsele phansi, yebo sona kanye namadodakazi ezizwe ezidumileyo, eziyise ezingxenyeni ezingezansi zomhlaba, kanye nabaya emgodini. Hezekeli 32:17, 18.
UFaro Nesixuku Sakhe
Esimemezelweni sesahluko samashumi amathathu nanye esimelene neGibhithe, amavesi okugcina athi:
Ngazamazamisa izizwe ngomsindo wokuwa kwakhe, lapho ngimphonsa phansi esihogweni kanye nalabo abehlayo baye emgodini; futhi yonke imithi yase-Edene, ekhethiweyo nengcono kunayo yonke yaseLebanoni, konke okunatha amanzi, kuyakududuzwa ezingxenyeni ezingezansi zomhlaba. Nazo zehla kanye naye zaya esihogweni, zaya kulabo ababulewe ngenkemba; futhi labo ababeyingalo yakhe, ababehlala ngaphansi komthunzi wakhe phakathi kwezizwe. Ufani nani kanjalo ngenkazimulo nangobukhulu phakathi kwemithi yase-Edene na? Nokho uyakwehliselwa phansi kanye nemithi yase-Edene ezingxenyeni ezingezansi zomhlaba; uyakulala phakathi kwabangasokile kanye nalabo ababulewe ngenkemba. Lo nguFaro nabo bonke ubuningi bakhe, usho iNkosi uJehova. Hezekeli 31:16–18.
Esimemezelweni esimelene neGibhithe esisesahlukweni samashumi amathathu nambili, amavesi okugcina aphinda lokho okushiwo esahlukweni samashumi amathathu nanye futhi anabe ngakho, abuye afake nesitatimende sokuphetha esihambisana nesaleso sahluko.
Ngokuba ngibeke ukwethusa kwami ezweni labaphilayo; yena uyolaliswa phakathi kwabangasokile kanye nalabo ababulewe ngenkemba, yebo uFaro nalo lonke ibandla lakhe, kusho iNkosi uJehova. Hezekeli 32:32.
Iminyaka Eyishumi Nesikhombisa Yesahluko Samashumi Amabili Nesishiyagalolunye
Izinsuku ezitholakala kuleso sikhathi seminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa esivezwe esahlukweni samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye zikhomba uNebukadinesari enqoba iGibhithe, kanye nesikhathi seminyaka engamashumi amane sokuchitheka kweGibhithe. Inani elingamashumi amane limelela ihlane, lifanekisa iminyaka eyinkulungwane lapho umhlaba uchithekile.
Ngabuka umhlaba, bheka, wawungenasimo, ungenalutho; ngababuka namazulu, futhi ayengenakho ukukhanya. Ngabuka izintaba, bheka, zazamazama, nawo wonke amagquma anyakaza kalula. Ngabuka, bheka, kwakungekho muntu, nazo zonke izinyoni zamazulu zase zibalekile. Ngabuka, bheka, indawo ethelayo yayiyihlane, nayo yonke imizi yayo yayidilikile phambi kukaJehova, nangenxa yentukuthelo yakhe evuthayo. Ngokuba kanje usho uJehova ukuthi: Izwe lonke liyakuba yincithakalo; nokho angiyikwenza ukuphela okuphelele. Jeremiya 4:23–27.
Ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi amane yokuba yincithakalo kweGibhithe okukhulunywa ngayo kuHezekeli isahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, kuvezwa ukuvuswa kwababi kwabafileyo kokugcina nokubhujiswa kwabo kokugcina.
Ukwesaba, nomgodi, nesicupho, kuphezu kwakho, wena ohlala emhlabeni. Kuyakuthi-ke, lowo obalekela umsindo wokwesaba awele emgodini; nalowo okhuphuka ephuma phakathi komgodi abanjwe esicuphweni; ngokuba amafasitela avela phezulu avulekile, nezisekelo zomhlaba ziyazamazama. Umhlaba uphukile nya, umhlaba uncibilikile ngokuphelele, umhlaba uzanyazanyiswa kakhulu. Umhlaba uyantengantenga njengodakiwe, uyakususwa njengendlu eyakhiwe okwesikhashana; nesiphambeko sawo siyakuba nzima phezu kwawo; uyakuwa, angabe esavuka futhi. Kuyakuthi ngalolo suku, uJehova ajezise ibutho labaphakemeyo abasezindaweni eziphakemeyo, namakhosi omhlaba asemhlabeni. Bayakubuthwa ndawonye, njengokuba iziboshwa zibuthwa emgodini, bavalelwe etilongweni, kuthi emva kwezinsuku eziningi bavakashelwe. U-Isaya 24:17–22.
Umyalezo kaHezekeli ohlanganiswa yizinsuku eziyisithupha ezihlobene neGibhithe uveza ukubhujiswa kokugcina kwamandla kadrako wasemhlabeni, okuqala ngomthetho weSonto osezofika maduze futhi okuqhubeka kuze kube sekubhujisweni kokugcina kwabaseGibhithe ababi ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane.
Ebufakazini besiprofetho isilo nomprofethi wamanga bafinyelela ekupheleni kwabo echibini lomlilo, elimelela ukuBuya Kwesibili kukaKristu, kodwa ukubhujiswa kwamandla kadrako echibini lomlilo kusekupheleni kwenkulungwane yeminyaka.
Futhi isilo sabanjwa, kanye naso umprofethi wamanga owenza izimangaliso phambi kwaso, ngazo akhohlisa labo ababesamukele uphawu lwesilo, nalabo ababekhulekela umfanekiso waso. Laba bobabili baphonswa bephila echibini lomlilo ovutha ngesibabule. Abaseleyo babulawa ngenkemba yalowo owayehlezi phezu kwehhashi, leyo nkemba ephuma emlonyeni wakhe; futhi zonke izinyoni zasutha ngenyama yabo. IsAmbulo 19:20, 21.
Isilo nesiphrofethi samanga siphetha ngokwesiprofetho ekubuyeni kwesibili kukaKristu, kodwa udrako uhlangabezana nesiphetho sakhe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane kamuva ekubuyeni kwesithathu kukaKristu.
Ngase ngibona ingelosi yehla ivela ezulwini, inesihluthulelo somgodi ongenasiphelo neketanga elikhulu esandleni sayo. Yase ibamba udrako, leyo nyoka endala, onguDeveli noSathane, yambopha iminyaka eyinkulungwane, Yase iyamphonsa emgodini ongenasiphelo, yamvalela, yabeka uphawu phezu kwakhe, ukuze angabe esedukisa izizwe, ize igcwaliseke leyo minyaka eyinkulungwane; futhi emva kwalokho kumelwe akhululwe isikhashana esincane. IsAmbulo 20:1–3.
Unyaka Weshumi Nanye Noweshumi Nambili
Inkathi yeminyaka ‘eyishumi nesikhombisa’ evezwa yizinsuku ezimbili ezishiwo kuHezekeli isahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye yaqala ngonyaka weshumi wokuthunjwa futhi yaphela ngonyaka wamashumi amabili nesikhombisa. Imiyalezo yesahluko samashumi amathathu neyesahluko samashumi amathathu nanye yanikezwa ngonyaka weshumi nanye, kanti izinsuku ezimbili ezishiwo esahlukweni samashumi amathathu nambili zanikezwa ngonyaka weshumi nambili wokuthunjwa. Inkathi yeminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa eyaqala ngonyaka weshumi, cishe ekuqaleni kokuvinjezelwa kweJerusalema, yalandelwa yimiyalezo emibili ephathelene neGibhithe yonyaka weshumi nanye evezwe esahlukweni samashumi amathathu nasesahlukweni samashumi amathathu nanye. Le miyalezo emibili yonyaka weshumi nanye, ihlangene, imelela umyalezo wangaphambi nje komthetho wangeSonto. Eminye imiyalezo emibili ephathelene neGibhithe yonyaka weshumi nambili yanikezwa ngesikhathi sokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngowe-586 ngaphambi kukaKristu noma ngemva nje kwalokho.
Isigijimi sokuza kukaKristu simenyezelwa njengengxenye yesigijimi seSimemezelo Saphakathi Kwamabili, esiguqukela esigijimini sesimemezelo esikhulu ngesikhathi somthetho wangeSonto. Izigijimi ezimbili zaseGibhithe zimenyezelwa ngaphambi komthetho wangeSonto, kanti izigijimi ezimbili zaseGibhithe zimenyezelwa ngesikhathi somthetho wangeSonto noma ngokushesha nje ngemva kwawo. Ukuphindeka kabili kwezigijimi ezinikezwa ngonyaka ofanayo, phakathi nokuvinjezelwa okuphetha ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema, kanye nokwezinye izigijimi ezimbili ngesikhathi somthetho wangeSonto, kufanekisela isigijimi sengelosi yesibili, lapho kuhlale kunokuphindeka kabili.
Umlayezo wesibili ulandelwa ngaso sonke isikhathi umlayezo wesithathu.
“Ngepeni nangezwi simelwe ukumemezela lesi saziso, sibonise ukuhleleka kwazo, kanye nokusebenza kweziprofetho ezisiletha emyalezweni wengelosi yesithathu. Akunakuba khona eyesithathu ngaphandle kweyokuqala neyesibili. Le miyalezo kufanele siyinike izwe ngezincwadi ezishicilelwe, nangezinkulumo, sibonisa emlandweni wesiprofetho izinto ebezikhona nezinto ezizakuba khona.” Selected Messages, book 2, 104, 105.
Esigijimini sesithathu umnyango wesikhathi somusa uyavalwa. Isikhathi somusa siyaphela e-United States lapho kushaywa umthetho weSonto, kanti emhlabeni siyaphela lapho uMikayeli esukuma. Yomibili le minyango evaliwe imelela isigijimi sesithathu esihlale sandulelwa isigijimi sesibili, sona esihlale siyisigijimi esinezingxenye ezimbili.
Ukunikezwa amandla kwengelosi yesibili kufezeka lapho isigijimi seSimemezelo Saphakathi Kwamabili sihlangana nayo. Izigijimi ezimbili ezimenyezelwe esintwini, njengoba zifanekiselwa yizimemezelo zikaHezekeli ngeGibhithe esahlukweni samashumi amathathu nasesahlukweni samashumi amathathu nanye, zikhomba ukuthi isigijimi seSimemezelo Saphakathi Kwamabili sihlangana nini nengelosi yesibili, kanti izigijimi ezimbili zesahluko samashumi amathathu nambili zikhomba ukunikezwa amandla kwengelosi yesithathu esimemezelweni esikhulu.
Amasondo kaHezekeli, amele ukuxhumana okuyinkimbinkimbi kwezehlakalo zesintu, ahlonza isixwayiso sokugcina esibhekiswe esintwini, okuyisixwayiso sengelosi yesithathu, futhi ingelosi yesithathu yakhiwe yizixwayiso zengelosi yokuqala neyesibili. Isimemezelo Saphakathi Kwamabili ngaphambi komthetho weSonto kanye nesimemezelo esikhulu ngemva komthetho weSonto kumelelwa yizinsuku ezine zikaHezekeli eziwela enkathini yeminyaka ‘eyishumi nesikhombisa’ ephakathi kwezinsuku ze-alfa ne-omega zesahluko samashumi amabili nesishiyagalolunye, ezihambisana nomlando ofihlekile okuDaniyeli isahluko seshumi nanye ivesi lamashumi amane, njengoba uvezwe emavesini asukela kweleshumi nanye kuya kweleshumi nesithupha aso leso sahluko.
Esahlukweni seshumi sikaDaniyeli, uDaniyeli, njengakuHezekeli, wenziwa waba yisimungulu. Ukuthula kukaDaniyeli kwalethwa phakathi kokuthintwa okuthathu; ukuthintwa kokuqala nokwesithathu kwavela engelosini uGabriyeli, kanti ukuthintwa okuphakathi kwakungukuthintwa kukaKristu. UDaniyeli, njengakuPetru phakathi kweKesariya Filipi nesiphambano, usesemaphakathi. Phakathi nendawo uPetru wabona uKristu okhazinyulisiwe, njengoba noDaniyeli enza esahlukweni seshumi. Ophakathi kwezingelosi ezintathu ungumlayezo wesibili, oyinhlanganisela yemilayezo emibili.
Usuku lwesi-5 lwenyanga yesi-4 no-1844
KuHezekeli isahluko sokuqala, evesini lokuqala nelesibili, uHezekeli usesukwini lwesihlanu lwenyanga yesine, oluhambisana nesikhathi esimaphakathi senhlangano yenyanga yesikhombisa ngo-1844. UHezekeli uphakathi nendawo phakathi komhla ka-19 ku-Ephreli nomhla ka-22 ku-Okthoba ngo-1844, njengoba kwakunjalo nakuSamuel Snow, isithunywa seSimemezelo Saphakathi Kwamabili ngo-1844, lapho ethula umbono wakhe wokuqala ocacile wesigijimi eBoston, ezinsukwini ezingama-93 ngemva komhla ka-19 ku-Ephreli nasezinsukwini ezingama-93 ngaphambi kokuba umnyango uvalwe ngomhla ka-22 ku-Okthoba ngo-1844. USamuel Snow wayeseBoston ngomhla ka-21 kuJulayi ngo-1844, maphakathi nenkathi yenhlangano yenyanga yesikhombisa, engazi ukuthi ngokwesiprofetho wayemi noPetru eNtabeni Yokuguqulwa Kwesimo, noHezekeli onyakeni wamashumi amathathu womjikelezo weshumi nesikhombisa weJubili, kanye nokuthintwa kwesibili kukaDaniyeli ngesikhathi sombono wesibuko osesahlukweni seshumi.
ITire
Ngaphambi kokuba sibuyele ekubekweni kwezinsuku kwezinkomba eziyisithupha zikaHezekeli ngeJerusalema, kufanele siqale sikhombe usuku olulodwa olwamemezelwa ngokumelene neTire.
Kwathi ngomnyaka weshumi nanye, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga, izwi leNkosi lafika kimi, lathi, Ndodana yomuntu, ngenxa yokuthi iTire lishilo ngeJerusalema lathi, Aha, lidiliziwe lona ebeliyizango lezizwe; seliphendukele kimi; mina ngiyakusuthiswa, manje seliyincithakalo; ngalokho usho kanje uJehova uNkulunkulu, uthi: Bheka, ngimelene nawe, wena Tire, ngiyakuvusela izizwe eziningi ukuba zize zimelane nawe, njengolwandle luvusa amagagasi alo. Zona ziyakuchitha izindonga zaseTire, zidilize nemibhoshongo yalo; ngiyakukhuhla nothuli lwalo lusuke kulo, ngilenze libe njengesiqongo sedwala. Liyakuba yindawo yokwelulela amanetha phakathi kolwandle, ngokuba ngikukhulumile, isho iNkosi uJehova; liyakuba yimpango ezizweni. Namadodakazi alo asemasimini ayakubulawa ngenkemba; azi ukuthi mina nginguJehova. Ngokuba usho kanje iNkosi uJehova, uthi: Bheka, ngiyakwehlisela phezu kweTire uNebukadirezari inkosi yaseBabele, inkosi yamakhosi, evela enyakatho, enamahhashi, nezinqola, nabagibeli bamahhashi, namabandla, nabantu abaningi.
Uyakubulala amadodakazi akho ensimini ngenkemba; ayakukwakhela inqaba yokukuvimbezela, abuthele indunduma yokukuhlasela, aphakamise ihawu kuwe. Ayakumisa imishini yempi imelane nezindonga zakho, abhodloze imibhoshongo yakho ngezimbazo zawo. Ngenxa yobuningi bamahhashi awo, uthuli lwawo luyakukumboza; izindonga zakho ziyakuzamazama ngomsindo wabagibeli bamahhashi, nowamasondo, nowezinqola zempi, lapho engena emasangweni akho, njengokungena kwabantu emzini ogebhulekile. Ngezinselo zamahhashi akhe uyakunyathela zonke izitaladi zakho; uyakubulala abantu bakho ngenkemba, nezinqaba zakho eziqinileyo ziyakuwa phansi. Bayakuphanga ingcebo yakho, benze impango ngempahla yakho yokuthengiselana; baphule izindonga zakho, bachithe izindlu zakho ezinhle; babeke amatshe akho, nezingodo zakho, nothuli lwakho phakathi kwamanzi. Ngiyakuqeda umsindo wezingoma zakho; nomsindo wamahabhu akho awusayikuzwakala. Ngiyakukwenza ube njengesiqongo sedwala; uyakuba yindawo yokwendlalisa amanetha; awusayikwakhiwa futhi, ngokuba mina Jehova ngikukhulumile, usho kanje iNkosi uJehova.
Isho kanje iNkosi uJehova ngeTire, ithi: Iziqhingi aziyikuthuthumela yini ngezwi lokuwa kwakho, lapho abalimala bekhala, lapho kubulawa phakathi kwakho na? Khona-ke zonke izikhulu zolwandle ziyakwehla ezihlalweni zazo zobukhosi, zibeke eceleni izingubo zazo zobukhosi, zikhumule izambatho zazo ezifekethisiweyo; ziyakwembatha ukuthuthumela; ziyakuhlala phansi emhlabathini, zithuthumele umzuzu ngomzuzu, zimangaliswe ngawe. Ziyakukhalela isililo, zithi kuwe: Ubhujiswe kanjani wena, owawuhlalwa ngamadoda ahamba olwandle, wena muzi odumileyo, owawunamandla olwandle, wona kanye nabakhileyo kuwo, ababesabisa bonke abahlala kuwo! Manje iziQhingi ziyakuthuthumela ngosuku lokuwa kwakho; yebo, iziQhingi ezisolwandle ziyakukhathazeka ngokuhamba kwakho. Ngokuba isho kanje iNkosi uJehova, ithi: Lapho ngikwenza umuzi oyincithakalo, njengemizi engahlali muntu kuyo; lapho ngikhuphula utwa phezu kwakho, namanzi amakhulu akusibekela; lapho ngikwehlisela phansi kanye nalabo abehlayo baye emgodini, kubantu basendulo, ngikubeke ezingxenyeni eziphansi zomhlaba, ezindaweni eziyincithakalo zasendulo, kanye nalabo abehlayo baye emgodini, ukuze ungahlalwa muntu; ngibeke inkazimulo ezweni labaphilayo; ngiyakukwenza ube yinto eyesabekayo, ungabe usaba khona; noma ufunwa, awusayikuphinde utholakale naphakade, isho iNkosi uJehova. Hezekeli 26:1–21.
Umlayezo waseThire wamenyezelwa ngonyaka iJerusalema elabhujiswa ngawo, futhi umele ukuketulwa kombuso wesithupha wesiprofetho seBhayibheli emthethweni weSonto osuseduze ukufika. Emthethweni weSonto, i-United States (iThire) iyajabula ngokwesiprofetho ngoba iye yayiketula iJerusalema, uDade White ayichaza njengebandla lama-Adventist losuku lwesikhombisa laseLawodikeya, uHezekeli alibiza ngokuthi “amasango abantu.” IThire iveza ukuthi iJerusalema “yayiyiyo” amasango abantu, kusetshenziswa inkathi eyedlule. “Isango” ngokwesiprofetho liyibandla.
Wasesaba, wathi: Yeka ukwesabeka kwale ndawo! lokhu akusiyo enye into ngaphandle kokuba yindlu kaNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kuyisango lezulu. UJakobe wavuka ekuseni kakhulu, wathatha itshe ayelibeke ngaphansi kwekhanda lakhe, walimisa laba yinsika, wathela amafutha phezu kwalo. Wayiqamba igama laleyo ndawo ngokuthi iBethele; kepha igama lalowo muzi ekuqaleni lalinguLuze. UGenesise 28:17–19.
Igama elithi “Bethele” lisho indlu kaNkulunkulu, futhi iTire iyathokoza ngokuthi iphoqelele ibandla lama-Adventist oSuku Lwesikhombisa laseLawodikeya ukuba lamukele ukuphoqelelwa kokukhulekelwa kwelanga. Kodwa naphezu kokuthokoza okuyiphutha kwalabo abaphoqelela ukukhulekelwa kwelanga, uNkulunkulu uthi ngoHezekeli, “Ngimelene nawe, wena Tire, futhi ngiyokwenza izizwe eziningi zikhuphuke zimelane nawe, njengoba ulwandle lukhuphula amaza alo. Ziyobhubhisa izindonga zaseTire, zibhidlize nemibhoshongo yayo.”
“Izindonga zaseTyrus” zimelela ukuvikelwa kweTyrus. “Udonga” luyisifanekiselo seMiyalo Eyishumi.
“Umprofethi lapha uchaza abantu okuthi, ngesikhathi sokusuka okuvamile eqinisweni nasekulungeni, bafuna ukubuyisela izimiso eziyisisekelo zombuso kaNkulunkulu. Bangabalungisi besibhobo esenziwe emthethweni kaNkulunkulu—udonga alubeke lwazungeza abakhethiweyo bakhe ukuze bavikelwe, futhi ukulalela iziyalezo zalo zobulungisa, zeqiniso, nezokuhlanzeka kuyisivikelo sabo saphakade.” Prophets and Kings, 677.
Umthetho kaNkulunkulu uwudonga lwesivikelo, kodwa igama elithi izindonga, elisebuningini, limelela izimiso ezimbili ‘ezavikela’ futhi zaletha ukuchuma nempumelelo yeTyrus, ewuphawu lophondo lobuRiphabhulikhi lwase-United States.
“‘Futhi yayinezimpondo ezimbili ezifana nezewundlu.’ Izimpondo ezifana nezewundlu zibonisa ubutsha, ubumsulwa, nobumnene, zifanekisela ngokufaneleyo isimilo se-United States ngesikhathi yethulwa kumprofethi njengaleyo ‘ekhuphukayo’ ngo-1798. Phakathi kwababaleki abangamaKristu abaqala ukubalekela eMelika befuna isiphephelo ekucindezelweni kobukhosi nasekungabekezelelaneni kwabapristi, kwakukhona abaningi abazimisela ukumisa uhulumeni phezu kwesisekelo esibanzi senkululeko yezakhamuzi nenkululeko yenkolo. Imibono yabo yathola indawo eSimemezelweni Sokuzimela, esiveza iqiniso elikhulu lokuthi ‘bonke abantu badalwa belingana’ futhi baphiwe ilungelo elingenakuphucwa ‘lokuphila, lenkululeko, nelokufuna injabulo.’ Futhi uMthethosisekelo uqinisekisa abantu ilungelo lokuzibusa, uhlinzeka ngokuthi abamele abakhethwe ngevoti labantu yibona abayomisa imithetho futhi bayiphathise ukusebenza. Inkululeko yokholo lwenkolo nayo yanikezwa, umuntu ngamunye evunyelwe ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuvumelana nokuyala konembeza wakhe. UbuRiphabhulikhi nobuProthestani baba yizimiso eziyisisekelo zesizwe. Lezi zimiso ziyimfihlo yamandla nokuchuma kwaso. Abacindezelwe nabacwiliswe phansi kulo lonke izwe lobuKristu baphendukela kuleli zwe ngentshisekelo nangethemba. Izigidi ziye zafuna ugu lwalo, futhi i-United States iye yaphakama yaya endaweni phakathi kwezizwe ezinamandla kakhulu emhlabeni. …”
“Izimpondo ezinjengezewundlu nezwi likadrako lophawu zikhomba ukuphikisana okugqamile phakathi kwezimemezelo nokwenziwa kwesizwe esimelelwa ngaleyo ndlela. ‘Ukukhuluma’ kwesizwe kuyisenzo seziphathimandla zaso zomthetho nezokwahlulela. Ngesenzo esinjalo siyakuphika leyo migomo yenkululeko neyokuthula esiyiveze njengesisekelo senqubomgomo yaso. Isiprofetho sokuthi siyakukhuluma ‘njengodrako’ futhi sisebenzise ‘wonke amandla esilo sokuqala’ sibikezela ngokusobala ukuthuthuka komoya wokungabekezeleli nowokuhlupha owabonakaliswa yizizwe ezazimelelwe udrako nesilo esinjengengwe. Futhi isitatimende sokuthi isilo esinezimpondo ezimbili ‘senza umhlaba nabahlala kuwo bakhuleke esilweni sokuqala’ sibonisa ukuthi igunya lalesi sizwe liyakusetshenziswa ekuphoqeleleni ukugcinwa kokuthile okuyakuba isenzo sokuhlonipha ubupapa.”
“Isenzo esinjalo besiyoba siphambene ngokuqondile nezimiso zalo hulumeni, nomoya wezikhungo zawo ezikhululekile, nezimemezelo eziqondile nezinesithunzi seSimemezelo Sokuzimela, kanye noMthethosisekelo. Abasunguli besizwe bafuna ngobuhlakani ukuvikela ekusetshenzisweni kwamandla ezwe ngasohlangothini lwesonto, kanye nomphumela wako ongenakugwenywa—ukungabekezelelani nokushushisa. UMthethosisekelo uhlinzeka ngokuthi ‘ICongress ayiyikwenza mthetho maqondana nokumiswa kwenkolo, noma ovimbela ukuqhutshekwa ngokukhululekile kwayo,’ nokuthi ‘akukho sivivinyo senkolo esiyoke sidingeke njengemfuneko yanoma yiliphi ihhovisi noma ukwethembwa komphakathi ngaphansi kwe-United States.’ Kungokwephulwa okusobala kuphela kwalezi zivikelo zenkululeko yesizwe lapho noma yikuphi ukugcinwa kwenkolo kungaphoqelelwa yisiphathimandla sombuso. Kodwa ukungavumelani kwesenzo esinjalo akukhulu ngaphezu kwalokho okumelelwe uphawu. Yileso silo esinezimpondo ezinjengezewundlu—ngokuziveza simsulwa, simnene, futhi singalimazi—esikhuluma njengodrako.” The Great Controversy, 441, 442.
Isisekelo se-United States simelelwa yi-Declaration of Independence kanye noMthethosisekelo, okumelana neProthestani kanye neRiphabhulikhi ngokulandelana. “Izindonga” zokuvikelwa nokuchuma ziyiyo iRiphabhulikhi neProthestani, futhi ngomthetho weSonto izimiso zombili ze-Declaration of Independence noMthethosisekelo ziyachithwa, ngoba uNebukhadinezari “uyakumisa imishini yempi imelane nezindonga zakho, futhi ngezimbazo zakhe uyakwehlisa imibhoshongo yakho.”
Ngesikhathi somthetho wokugcinwa kweSonto yonke “imibhoshongo” iyadilizwa, futhi umbhoshongo uwuphawu lwebandla elinefilosofi eyisisekelo emelelwa umzamo womuntu wokuzisindisa. Ngokuphathelene noNimrode, isihlubuki esikhulu, nombhoshongo wakhe, siyatshelwa encwadini ethi Abaprofethi naMakhosi, “Lapho ukwakhiwa kombhoshongo sekuphothulwe ngokwengxenye, ingxenye yawo yasetshenziswa njengendawo yokuhlala yabakhi; amanye amagumbi, ayefakwe impahla yasendlini ewubukhazikhazi futhi ayehlotshiswe ngobukhazikhazi, anikezelwa ezithixweni zabo. Abantu bathokoza ngempumelelo yabo, badumisa onkulunkulu besiliva nabegolide, futhi bamelana noMbusi wezulu nomhlaba.” Ngesikhathi somthetho wokugcinwa kweSonto iTire liyathokoza ngokuthi iJerusalema selichithiwe, kodwa ukuhlubuka kwesizwe kulandelwa incithakalo yesizwe, futhi inkosi yasenyakatho iyobe isibhidliza izindonga nemibhoshongo yase-United States.
Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizoqala ukucubungula izinsuku eziyisithupha zaseJerusalema kuHezekeli.