Sisesinqubweni sokucabangela izahluko zeshumi nanye kuya kweshumi nantathu zeSambulo, lapho sithola khona bonke abaphikisi empini yokugcina yesilingo yempikiswano enkulu eyenzeka enkundleni yempi yezulu lokuqala. Abaphikisi bangabantu abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, kanye nesixuku esikhulu esiphuma eBhabhiloni njengamandla esibili, bemelene neNhlangano Yezizwe, iBandla lamaKatolika, i-United States, noSathane uqobo lwakhe. Abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane kanye nesixuku esikhulu bayibutho likaNkulunkulu, bemele umlayezo wengelosi yesithathu, futhi izinhlangothi zombili empini ziphinde zibhekane nebutho lesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu, elingamelwe hhayi yingelosi yesithathu, kodwa ngomaye wesithathu.
Ukuze sikwazi ukubona izici ezithile ezaba nomthelela ekubulaweni kwezimpondo zobuRiphabhulikhi nezobuProthestani ngo-2020, sifuna ukubona izici zesiprofetho ezenzeka empini yesintu ezulwini lokuqala, kusukela emthethweni weSonto kuze kube uMikayeli esukuma. Kulowo mlando umhlaba wonke uphoqelelwa ukumisa umfanekiso wesilo. Lowo mlando uyimpinda yomlando wase-United States kusukela ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, kuze kube ngumthetho weSonto osuzofika maduzane, ohlukanisa leyo milando emibili ehambisanayo. Njengemilando ehambisanayo, yomibili imele ubufakazi komunye umlando. Okwenzeka komunye waleyo milando kuyokwenzeka nakomunye. Umlando wesibili yiwona ogxilwe kuwo ezahlukweni zeshumi nambili neshumi nantathu zeSambulo, futhi sihlose ukuqonda ufakazi wesibili, ukuze sikhanyisele ngokwesiprofetho umlando wokuqala, osucishe waphela manje.
Amandla amathathu aholela izwe e-Armagedoni amelwaniswa ezahlukweni zeshumi nambili neshumi nantathu. Amandla kadrako akhulunywa kuqala.
Kwase kubonakala esinye isimangaliso ezulwini; bheka, nanko udrako omkhulu obomvu, enamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi, nemiqhele eyisikhombisa phezu kwamakhanda akhe. Umsila wakhe wadonsa ingxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi zezulu, waziphonsa emhlabeni; udrako wayesemi phambi kowesifazane owayesezoteta, ukuze adle umntwana wakhe masinyane nje lapho esezelwe. IsAmbulo 12:3, 4.
UDadewethu uWhite uyasazisa ukuthi udrako kulesi sahluko nguSathane, kodwa ngomqondo wesibili uyiRoma yobuqaba. Kokubili uSathane neRoma yobuqaba kuyisifaniso seZizwe Ezihlangene. Izimpondo eziyishumi zesilo zimelela umfelandawonye omubi wamakhosi ayishumi kusAmbulo ishumi nesikhombisa. Lawo makhosi ayishumi amelwe kusAmbulo ishumi nesikhombisa, futhi lapho akhonjwa njengombuso wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Isilo simelwe njengesinezinhloko eziyisikhombisa ezinemiqhele eyisikhombisa, okusiphawula njengombuso wesikhombisa wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. KuDaniyeli ezimbili amelwe njengeGrisi yomoya, futhi futhi angu-Ahabi ebufakazini beNtaba iKarmeli, futhi ayizitha eziyishumi zeHubo lamashumi ayisishiyagalombili nantathu.
Amandla esibili asemhlabeni esitha okukhulunywa ngawo ezahlukweni zeshumi nambili neshumi nantathu zeSambulo, yisilo esiphuma olwandle, uDadewethu White asichaza ngokuqondile njengobuKatolika.
Ngase ngima esihlabathini solwandle, ngabona isilo sikhuphuka siphuma olwandle, sinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi, phezu kwezimpondo zaso kukhona imiqhele eyishumi, naphezu kwamakhanda aso kukhona igama lokuhlambalaza. Isilo engasibonayo sasifana nengwe, izinyawo zaso zinjengezebhere, nomlomo waso unjengowengonyama; udrako wasinika amandla akhe, nesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi, negunya elikhulu. Ngabona elinye lamakhanda aso sengathi lalinxeba lokufa; kepha inxeba lalo lokufa laphola; izwe lonke lamangala lalandela isilo. IsAmbulo 13:1–3.
Kuvesi lokuqala uJohane wayemi ogwini lolwandle, wabona isilo sikhuphuka siphuma olwandle; emva kwalokho wabona esinye isilo sikhuphuka siphuma emhlabeni. UDade White ucacisa ukuthi isikhathi uJohane abona ngaso lezi zilo ezimbili kwakungu-1798, ngoba lowo kwakungunyaka lapho ubupapa “buphucwa amandla abo,” ngaleyo ndlela bamukela inxeba elibulalayo elalizogcina selipholile.
“Ngesikhathi lapho ubuPapa, sebuphucwe amandla abo, baphoqeleka ukuba buyeke ukushushisa, uJohane wabona amandla amasha evela ukuze aphinde azwakalise izwi likadrako, aqhubekisele phambili lowo msebenzi ofanayo ononya nowokuhlambalaza. La mandla, okuwokugcina okuyolwa impi nebandla nomthetho kaNkulunkulu, amelwe yisilo esinezimpondo ezinjengezewundlu. Izilo ezazisandulela zaziphume olwandle; kodwa lesi saphuma emhlabeni, okufanekisa ukuvela ngokuthula kwesizwe esasifanekiselwa yiso—i-United States.” Signs of the Times, February 8, 1910.
UJohane ubheka emuva emlandweni lapho ebona isilo sasolwandle, esingubupapa. Ebheka phambili emlandweni, ubona isilo somhlaba, okuyi-United States. Yingakho isilo esivela olwandle sakhiwe ngokwesiprofetho ngendlela esinjalo ngayo. Lapho ebheka emuva esuka ku-1798, uJohane uqale abone “amakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi,” ephawula leso sikhathi emlandweni lapho ezintathu zezimpondo zakhiwa zakhishwa ukuze kwenziwe indawo yophondo olukhulu lobupapa, olwalukhuluma izinto ezinkulu.
Khona-ke ngangifuna ukwazi iqiniso ngesilo sesine, esasihluke kuzo zonke ezinye, esasesabeka ngokwedlulele, amazinyo aso ayengensimbi, nezinzipho zaso ziyithusi; esadla, saphihliza saba yizicucu, sanyakaza izinsali ngezinyawo zaso; Futhi nangezimpondo eziyishumi ezazisekhanda laso, nangaleyo enye eyavela, eyathi phambi kwayo kwawa ezintathu; yebo, ngaleyo mpondo eyayinamehlo, nomlomo owakhuluma izinto ezinkulu kakhulu, ukubukeka kwayo kwakunamandla kunokwabanye bayo. Daniyeli 7:19, 20.
Ngaphambi kokuba lezo zimpondo ezintathu zamaHeruli, ama-Ostrogoth namaVandali zisuswe, iRoma yobuqaba yayimelwe “yimiqhele eyishumi.” Leyo miqhele eyishumi imele iRoma yobuqaba. Bese uJohane ekhomba ingwe yaseGrisi, bese kuba ibhere laseMede namaPheresiya, bese kuba ibhubesi laseBhabhiloni.
Esokuqala sasifana nebhubesi, futhi sasinamaphiko okhozi; ngabheka kwaze kwahluthunwa amaphiko aso, saphakanyiswa emhlabeni, samiswa ngezinyawo njengomuntu, sanikwa inhliziyo yomuntu. Futhi bheka esinye isilo, esesibili, esifana nebhere, saziphakamisa ngolunye uhlangothi, sasinamathambo amathathu ezimbambo emlonyeni waso phakathi kwamazinyo aso; base bethi kuso kanje: Sukuma, udle inyama eningi. Emva kwalokhu ngabheka, futhi bheka esinye, esifana nengwe, esasinamaphiko amane enyoni emhlane waso; isilo sasinamakhanda amane futhi; sabuswa. Daniyeli 7:4–6.
Akukho ngisho nesisodwa isici sobuKhatholika esingesobuKristu, futhi isilo sasolwandle simelela ukuhlanganiswa kwayo yonke imibuso yobuqaba eyandulela esiprofethweni seBhayibheli. Isilo sasolwandle sivezwa ngokulandelana komlando okuhlehlisiwe, ngoba uJohane ubheka emuva emlandweni. Waqala wabona umbuso owasungulwa lapho kususwa izimpondo ezintathu—upapa. Wabe esebona izimpondo eziyishumi ezinemiqhele eyishumi—iRoma yobuqaba. Wabe esebona ingwe—iGrisi. Wabe esebona ibhere—iMede-Pheresiya. Wabe esebona ibhubesi—iBhabhiloni. Incazelo yesilo sasolwandle iqukethe izici zombuso ngamunye wobuqaba owandulelayo, futhi le ncazelo iqinisekisa ukuthi upapa uyinhlanganisela yazo zonke izinhlobo zobuqaba ezake zaba khona emlandweni weBhayibheli. Akukho ngisho nesisodwa isici sobuKhatholika esingesobuKristu. Noma yini engase ibonakale iyeyobuKristu ngaphakathi kobuKhatholika ingumgunyathi.
ENtabeni iKarmeli, lapho u-Eliya elwa nabaprofethi bakaJezebeli kanye nomyeni wakhe oyisihlubuki, uJezebeli wayesekhaya eSamariya. Isifebe saseTire siyakhohlakala ngesikhathi somlando wesilo sasemhlabeni esinezimpondo ezimbili. UJezebeli uhlale efihlakele, futhi ezahlukweni zeshumi nambili neshumi nantathu zeSambulo izwe limangala limlandela, kodwa akavezwa njengesimangaliso esimangazelwa ezulwini, njengoba kunjalo ngeZizwe Ezihlangene, i-United States noSathane. Usemuva esikhungweni sakhe sokuyala eSamariya—umuzi waseRoma.
Umlando wesilo somhlaba uyindawo lapho kuhlonzwa khona uvivinyo lomfanekiso wesilo emhlabeni wonke. Lolo vivinyo lwenzeka ngesikhathi sempi yezulu lokuqala. Yilokhu esifisa ukukucabangela kulesi sikhathi. Ngizofaka i-United States esikhundleni segama elithi “yena” emavesini esizowacabanga manje.
Ngase ngibona esinye isilo sikhuphuka emhlabeni; futhi i-United States yayinezimpondo ezimbili ezinjengezewundlu, kepha i-United States yakhuluma njengodrako. Futhi i-United States isebenzisa wonke amandla esilo sokuqala phambi kwaso, futhi yenza umhlaba nabahlala kuwo bakhuleke esilweni sokuqala, esasilimele ngokufa, kepha inxeba laso laphulukiswa. Futhi i-United States yenza izimangaliso ezinkulu, ize yenze nomlilo wehle ezulwini uze emhlabeni phambi kwabantu. Futhi ikhohlisa abahlala emhlabeni ngezibonakaliso eyaphiwa amandla okuzenza phambi kwesilo; ithi kwabahlala emhlabeni mabenzela isilo umfanekiso, leso esaba nenxeba lenkemba kodwa saphila. Futhi i-[United States] yaphiwa amandla okunikeza ukuphila kumfanekiso wesilo, ukuze umfanekiso wesilo ukhulume futhi ubangele ukuba kubulawe bonke abangeke bakhuleke kumfanekiso wesilo. Futhi i-United States yenza bonke, abancane nabakhulu, abacebile nabampofu, abakhululekileyo nezigqila, ukuba bamukele uphawu esandleni sabo sokunene noma emabunzini abo; futhi ukuze kungabikho muntu ongathenga noma athengise ngaphandle kwalowo onophawu, noma igama lesilo, noma inani legama laso. IsAmbulo 13:11–17.
Esahlukweni seshumi nantathu sencwadi yesAmbulo, udrako waseRoma lobuqaba wanika upapa izinto ezintathu lapho ebeka upapa esihlalweni sobukhosi somhlaba.
Nesilo engasibona sasinjengengwe, nezinyawo zaso zazinjengezebhere, nomlomo waso unjengowengonyama; udrako wasinika amandla akhe, nesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi, negunya elikhulu. IsAmbulo 13:2.
Amakhosi ayishumi amele iRoma lobuqaba (iFulansi iyinkosi ephambili phakathi kwalawo ayishumi njengoba ifanekiswa ngu-Ahabi) anika upapa izinto ezintathu: amandla, isihlalo, negunya. Lapho umbusi uConstantine esusa inhlokodolobha emzini waseRoma entshonalanga wayiyisa empumalanga, wenza iConstantinople yaba yinhlokodolobha entsha yoMbuso wamaRoma ngonyaka ka-330, iRoma lobuqaba lase linika ibandla laseRoma “isihlalo” salo.
Lapho uClovis, inkosi yamaFranks (eFrance), eguqukela ebuKhatholikeni futhi eqala ukulwa namandla ayelokhu emelana nokuphakama kobupapa esihlalweni sobukhosi somhlaba ngonyaka ka-496, iRoma yobuqaba yabe isinika ubupapa “amandla” ayo.
Ngo-533, uJustinian wakhipha isimemezelo esamenza ibandla laseRoma laba yinhloko yawo wonke amabandla, futhi laba ngumqondisi wabahlubuki. Ngaleso sikhathi, igunya leRoma lamaqaba lase linikezwe upapa.
Evesini leshumi nambili, “[i-United States] isebenzisa wonke amandla esilo sokuqala phambi kwaso.” Amandla asetshenziswa ubupapa amelwe nguClovis, owanikela amandla akhe ezempi nawomnotho kubupapa. Kungalesi sizathu ubuKatolika bubiza uClovis ngokuthi “izibulo lebandla lamaKatolika,” kanti iFrance “indodakazi endala yebandla lamaKatolika.” I-United States iyokwenza lowo msebenzi ofanayo ongcolile ngenxa yobupapa lowo uClovis awuqala ngo-496.
Amandla e-United States ayosetshenziswa ukubangela “umhlaba nabo abahlala kuwo ukuba bakhonze isilo sokuqala, esasilimele ngokufa, kodwa isilonda saso saphulukiswa.” I-United States iyosebenzisa amandla ayo ezempi nawomnotho ukubangela ukuba umhlaba wonke wamukele iSonto njengosuku lokuphumula. Isifebe saseTire siyakuqala ukuphinga nesilo somhlaba emthethweni weSonto osuseduze ukufika, bese siphuma siye kuphinga nawo wonke amanye amakhosi omhlaba.
Evesini leshumi nantathu, “[i-United States] yenza izimangaliso ezinkulu, ize yenze umlilo wehle ezulwini uze emhlabeni phambi kwabantu.” Umlilo umelela umlayezo ongcwele ngokungafanele. Izilimi zomlilo ngosuku lwePhentekoste zamelela umlayezo ongcwele owawuhambisana namandla okudlulisa lowo myalezo emhlabeni wonke. Umlilo owehliswa uvela ezulwini yi-United States nawo uyakuthinta zonke izizwe, nazo zonke izilimi.
Evesini leshumi nane, i-United States ikhohlisa “abahlala emhlabeni ngezibonakaliso lezo i-[United States] eyayinamandla okuzenza phambi kwesilo; isho kwabahlala emhlabeni ukuba benze umfanekiso wesilo, esasinenxeba lenkemba, kodwa saphila.” Inkohliso esetshenziswayo yi-United States ukukhohlisa izwe imelwe umlilo owehla uvela ezulwini evesini elandulelayo. Umlilo ovela ezulwini uveza izimangaliso ezisetshenziswa yi-United States ukuyala izwe ukuba lisungule umbuso owodwa womhlaba wonke, ohlanganisa ibandla nombuso, ibandla liphethe ukulawulwa kwalobo budlelwano.
Yilokhu okwafanekiselwa ubudlelwane buka-Ahabi noJezebeli ngesikhathi u-Eliya evuswa. Impi ka-Eliya eNtabeni iKarmeli yagcwaliseka ekuqaleni kwe-United States ngesikhathi sokunyakaza kwengelosi yokuqala kusukela ngo-1840 kuya ku-1844, ngenhloso yokuhlukanisa umprofethi weqiniso wobuProthestani kubo bonke abaprofethi bamanga bobuProthestani.
Kuphinde kugcwaliseke ekupheleni kwe-United States, ngesikhathi sovivinyo lokwakheka komfanekiso wesilo olwaqala ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, futhi oluqeda emthethweni weSonto osusondele ukuza.
Ukugcwaliseka okuphelele kuka-Eliya kwenzeka ngaphambi kosuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lweNkosi, oluyizinhlupho eziyisikhombisa zokugcina. Ngakho-ke, iNtaba iKarmeli, u-Eliya, u-Ahabi noJezebeli kubonakaliswa emsebenzini wase-United States wokuphoqa iplanethi yomhlaba ukuba yamukele umbuso womhlaba owodwa we-United Nations ophethwe yiBandla lamaKatolika. I-United States iyafeza lesi senzo ngamandla ayo ezempi, ngamandla ayo omnotho nangezokuxhumana ezonakele ezithakathayo eziqondisayo futhi ezizilawulayo, ezimelelwa yilokho okubizwa ngokuthi “umgwaqo omkhulu wolwazi” we-worldwide web.
Evesini leshumi nanhlanu, sitshelwa ukuthi “[i-United States] yayinamandla okunika umfanekiso wesilo ukuphila, ukuze umfanekiso wesilo ukhulume futhi ubangele ukuba bonke abangayikukhulekela umfanekiso wesilo babulawe.” Ngakho-ke usongo lokufa ngamandla ezempi e-United States, eyayimele inkosi ephakeme yeZizwe Ezihlangene, lunika uhulumeni womhlaba wonke weZizwe Ezihlangene amandla okukhuluma. Isenzo sokukhuluma senziwa ngegunya lezomthetho nangegunya lezokwahlulela. Igatsha lezomthetho leZizwe Ezihlangene liseNew York, kanti igatsha lezokwahlulela leZizwe Ezihlangene liseThe Hague, eNetherlands. IThe Hague imele iZwe Elidala, kanti iNew York imele iZwe Elisha. Kokubili i-United States neNetherlands kunemilando yangaphambili lapho zavelela khona njengabavikeli abavelele benkululeko nenkululeko yokuzimela, kodwa zombili ziphetha imilando yazo ngokwehlukana—zikhuluma njengodrako.
“Njengoba iSabatha isiphenduke iphuzu elikhethekile lengxabano kulo lonke elobuKristu, futhi iziphathimandla zenkolo nezombuso zihlangene ukuze ziphoqelele ukugcinwa kweSonto, ukwenqaba okuqhubekayo kwedlanzana elincane ukuvumela okufunwa ngabantu abaningi kuyobenza babe yizinto zokuzondwa ngumhlaba wonke.... futhi ekugcineni kuyokhishwa umthetho omelene nalabo abangcwelisa iSabatha yomyalo wesine, ubamemezele njengabafanele isijeziso esinzima kunazo zonke futhi unike abantu inkululeko, emva kwesikhathi esithile, yokubabulala. UbuRoma eZweni Elidala nobuProthestani obuhlubukile eZweni Elisha buyolandela indlela efanayo kulabo abahlonipha yonke imiyalo kaNkulunkulu.
“Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayobe sebecwiliswe kulezo zimo zokuhlupheka nosizi ezichazwe ngumphrofethi njengesikhathi sokuhlupheka kukaJakobe.” The Great Controversy, 615, 616.
Evesini leshumi nesithupha naleshumi nesikhombisa, ngemva kokuba umfanekiso wesilo usumisiwe futhi unikezwe amandla okukhuluma, i-“[United States] ibangela bonke, abancane nabakhulu, abacebileyo nabampofu, abakhululekileyo nezigqila, ukuba bamukele uphawu esandleni sabo sokunene, noma emabunzini abo: Futhi ukuba kungabikho muntu ongathenga noma athengise, ngaphandle kwalowo onophawu, noma igama lesilo, noma inombolo yegama laso.”
Ukubunjwa komfanekiso wesilo kuwuvivinyo olwandulela uvivinyo lophawu lwesilo. Uma singaluphumeleli uvivinyo olumelelwa ukubunjwa komfanekiso wesilo, siyohluleka uvivinyo lophawu lwesilo. Lezi yizivivinyo ezimbili ezihlukene, futhi ziyizinhlobo ezimbili ezihlukene zezivivinyo.
Ukwakheka komfanekiso wesilo okwaqala ngoSepthemba 11, 2001, kuyisexwayiso sesiprofetho sokuthi ukuvalwa komusa sekuzokwenzeka. Kungumyalezo ka-Eliya okhomba ukuthi iNtaba iKarmeli isiseduze kakhulu emkhathizwe, nokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu badinga ukuzitholela amafutha esimilo, amafutha kaMoya oNgcwele, namafutha omyalezo wokukhala kwaphakathi kobusuku ngaphambi kokuba kwenziwe ubizo lokugcina. Badinga ukuvuka, ukuze kuthi lapho u-Eliya ebabuza, “Koze kube nini nime phakathi kwemibono emibili?”—bangabi yizimungulu, ngoba ukuba yisimungulu ngaleso sikhathi kungukwamukela uphawu lwesilo. Uvivinyo lomfanekiso wesilo lumelela umsebenzi wokuqonda umyalezo omemezela ukuvalwa kokwahlulela, njengoba nje nomyalezo wamaMillerite wamemezela ukuvulwa kokwahlulela.
Isivivinyo sophawu lwesilo asihileli ukukhetha, ngoba asiqukethe nhlobo ingxenye yesikhathi sokuhlolwa. Siyisikhathi esisodwa nje, hhayi inkathi yesikhathi. Siyinhlekelele, ngakho-ke siyisivivinyo esiveza ngokusobala isimo salabo ma-Israyeli ababizelwe eNtabeni iKarmeli ngu-Ahabi ngesikhathi somthetho weSonto. Khona-ke bayobonakalisa isimo abasithuthukisile phakathi nenkathi yesikhathi eyedlule, ebizwa ngokwesiprofetho ngokuthi isivivinyo somfanekiso wesilo.
Ngakho-ke (njengokuba uMoya oNgcwele esho ukuthi: Namuhla, uma nizwa izwi lakhe, ningazenzi lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu, njengasesivukelweni, ngosuku lokulingwa ehlane; lapho okhokho benu bangilinga khona, bangivivinya, babona imisebenzi yami iminyaka engamashumi amane. Ngakho-ke ngathukuthela ngaleso sizukulwane, ngathi: Bahlala beduka ezinhliziyweni zabo; futhi abazazanga izindlela zami. Ngakho ngafunga olakeni lwami ngathi: Kabayikungena ekuphumuleni kwami.) Qaphelani, bazalwane, funa kube khona komunye kini inhliziyo embi yokungakholwa, ekudukeni nisuka kuNkulunkulu ophilayo. Kodwa khuthazanani izinsuku zonke, kusathiwa kuseNamuhla; funa kube khona omunye kini owenziwa lukhuni yinkohliso yesono. Ngokuba sesenziwe abahlanganyeli bakaKristu, uma sibambelela siqinile kuze kube sekupheleni ekuqiniseni kwethu kwasekuqaleni; kusathiwa: Namuhla, uma nizwa izwi lakhe, ningazenzi lukhuni izinhliziyo zenu, njengasesivukelweni. Hebheru 3:7–15.