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# The Book of Daniel - Number Thirty

Incwadi kaDaniyeli - Inani Lamashumi Amathathu

The Hour of Fear

Iyure Yoyiko

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

December 25, 2023

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Belshazzar’s fear of the mysterious handwriting addresses not only his death and the end of the sixth kingdom of Bible prophecy, but also the point in prophetic history when fear takes hold of the kings of the earth. Their fear is produced by the “east wind” of Islam. Their fear is as a woman in travail, thus identifying a progressively increasing pain, which comes with more and more rapidity. The fear begins at the “hour” of Belshazzar’s feast, though it initially arrived on September 11, 2001. From then onward the winds begin to slip through the hands of the four angels who are holding them during the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. The lamentation for Tyrus that Ezekiel identifies, defines Tyrus by asking the prophetic question, “What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?”

Uloyiko lukaBheleshatsare ngenxa yokubhala okungaqondakaliyo alubhekiseli ekufeni kwakhe kuphela nakwisiphelo sobukumkani besithandathu besiprofeto seBhayibhile, kodwa lukwabhekisa kwinqanaba lembali yesiprofeto apho uloyiko lubamba khona ookumkani bomhlaba. Uloyiko lwabo luveliswa “ngumoya wasempumalanga” wamaSilamsi. Uloyiko lwabo lunjengolomfazi osezintlungwini zokubeleka, ngaloo ndlela lubonisa intlungu eyanda ngokuqhubekayo, efika ngokuqhubeka isiba ngesantya esikhulu ngakumbi. Uloyiko luqala “ngexesha” ledili likaBheleshatsare, nangona lwafika kuqala ngoSeptemba 11, 2001. Ukususela ngoko ukuya phambili imimoya iqala ukutyibilika iphume ezandleni zeengelosi ezine eziyibambileyo ngexesha lokutywinwa kwekhulu elinamashumi amane anesine amawaka. Isijwili seTire esichongwe nguHezekile, siyichaza iTire ngokubuza umbuzo wesiprofeto othi, “Ngowuphi na umzi onjengeTire, onjengotshatyalalisiweyo phakathi kolwandle?”

> The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas. Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin. The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots. And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land; And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall. All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more. Ezekiel 27:25–36.

> Iinqanawa zaseTarshishe zazikuvuyela ezimarikeni zakho; wazaliswa, waza wenziwa wanobuqaqawuli obukhulu phakathi kweelwandle. Abagwedli bakho bakuse emanzini amakhulu; umoya wasempuma ukwaphule phakathi kweelwandle. Ubutyebi bakho, neemarike zakho, urhwebo lwakho, oomatiloshe bakho, nabaqhubi bakho, abalungisi bezikhewu zakho, nabasebenzi borhwebo lwakho, nawo onke amadoda akho emfazwe akuwe, nalo lonke ibandla lakho eliphakathi kwakho, baya kuwa phakathi kweelwandle ngemini yokutshabalala kwakho. Iindawo ezisemaphandleni ziya kunyikima sisandi sesikhalo sabaqhubi bakho. Kwaye bonke abaphatha umgwedlo, oomatiloshe, nabo bonke abaqhubi bolwandle, baya kuhla ezinqanaweni zabo, beme emhlabeni; bakhulise izwi labo nxamnye nawe, bakhale kabuhlungu, baziphosele uthuli ezintlokweni zabo, bazigingqele eluthuthwini; baza kuziphungula iinwele zabo ngokupheleleyo ngenxa yakho, bazibhinqise ngeengxowa, bakulile ngenxa yakho ngobukrakra bentliziyo nangokubhomboloza okukrakra. Ekuhlweni kwabo baya kukuphakamisela isililo, bakhale ngawe, besithi, Sisiphi isixeko esinjengeTire, esinjengaleso sitshatyalalisiweyo phakathi kolwandle? Xa izinto zakho zokurhweba zaphuma elwandle, wazalisa izizwe ezininzi; wawatyebisa ookumkani bomhlaba ngobuninzi bobutyebi bakho noborhwebo lwakho. Ngexesha oya kwaphulwa ngalo ziilwandle enzulwini yamanzi, urhwebo lwakho nalo lonke ibandla lakho eliphakathi kwakho luya kuwa. Bonke abemi beziqithi baya kumangaliswa nguwe, nookumkani babo baya koyika kakhulu, ubuso babo buya kuphazamiseka. Abarhwebi phakathi kwezizwe baya kukutsholozela; uya kuba yinto eyoyikekayo, ungasayi kuba sabakho naphakade. Hezekile 27:25–36.

Tyrus is the city, or kingdom that the merchants of the earth cry bitterly over, and then ask, “what city is like Tyrus?” They do so in the “time,” when the city is broken in the sea. In Revelation chapter eighteen, the whore of Tyre, who is the whore of Rome, who has committed fornication with the kings of the earth and is identified as that great city whose judgment comes in one hour, and in one day. She is the city that raises the prophetic question from the wailing kings and merchants.

ITire sisixeko, okanye ubukumkani, abathi abarhwebi bomhlaba basikhalela ngokukrakra, baze emva koko babuze bathi, “sisiphi na isixeko esinjengeTire?” Benza oko ngelo “xesha,” xa isixeko siqhekezwa elwandle. KwiSityhilelo isahluko seshumi elinesibhozo, ihenyukazi laseTire, eliyihenyukazi laseRoma, eliye lahenyuza nookumkani bomhlaba, nelichongwa njengeso sixeko sikhulu esigwebo saso sifika ngeyure enye, nangosuku olunye. Siso isixeko esiphakamisa umbuzo wesiprofeto ophuma kookumkani nakubarhwebi abalilayo.

> Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Revelation 18:8–19.

> Ngenxa yoko ke ziya kumfikela izibetho zakhe ngemini enye, ukufa, nokulila, nendlala; yaye uya kutshiswa ngokupheleleyo ngomlilo: kuba inamandla iNkosi uThixo emgwebayo. Kananjalo ookumkani bomhlaba, abahenyuze kunye naye, baphila ngobunewunewu kunye naye, baya kumkhalela, bamlilele, xa bebona umsi wokutsha kwakhe, beme mgama ngenxa yokoyika intuthumbo yakhe, besithi, Yeha, yeha, sixeko esikhulu iBhabhiloni, sixeko esinamandla! kuba isigwebo sakho sifike ngeyure enye. Nabarhwebi bomhlaba baya kulila, benze isijwili ngenxa yakhe; kuba akukho mntu usathenga urhwebo lwabo: urhwebo lwegolide, nesilivere, namatye anqabileyo, neeperile, nelinen ecikizekileyo, nebomfusa, nesilika, nebomvu bubomvu, nayo yonke imithi yethayini, nazo zonke iintlobo zeempahla zendlovu, nazo zonke iintlobo zeempahla zemithi exabisekileyo kakhulu, nezekopolo, nezesinyithi, nezemabhile, nesinamoni, neziqholo, neziqhumiso, nentlaka yokuqhumisa, newayini, neoli, nomgubo ocolekileyo, nengqolowa, neenkomo, neegusha, namahashe, neenqwelo, namakhoboka, nemiphefumlo yabantu. Neziqhamo ezanqwenelwa ngumphefumlo wakho zimkile kuwe, nazo zonke izinto ezimnandi nezibukekayo zimkile kuwe, yaye akusayi kuze uphinde uzifumane kwaphela. Abarhwebi bezi zinto, abatyebiswa nguye, baya kuma mgama ngenxa yokoyika intuthumbo yakhe, belila, besenza isijwili, besithi, Yeha, yeha, eso sixeko sikhulu, esasambathiswe ngelinen ecikizekileyo, nebomfusa, nebomvu bubomvu, sihonjiswe ngegolide, namatye anqabileyo, neeperile! Kuba ngobutyebi obungaka kwenziwe into engekhoyo ngeyure enye. Kwaye wonke umphathi wenqanawa, nabo bonke abasebenza ezinqanaweni, noomatiloshe, nabo bonke abarhwebayo elwandle, bema mgama, bakhala xa bebona umsi wokutsha kwaso, besithi, Sisiphi na isixeko esinjengesi sixeko sikhulu! Baphosa uthuli ezintlokweni zabo, bakhala, belila, besenza isijwili, besithi, Yeha, yeha, eso sixeko sikhulu, ekwatyebiswa ngaso bonke ababenazo iinqanawa elwandle ngenxa yobunewunewu baso! kuba senziwe saphanziswa ngeyure enye. ISityhilelo 18:8–19.

The unsealing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ includes the message of the Midnight Cry. That message is the second prophecy of Ezekiel thirty-seven that brings the dead dry bones that have laid in the streets for three and a half days to life as a mighty army. That message is the message that includes the truth that it is Islam that the Lord employs to bring executive judgment upon the United States for Sunday enforcement. That judgment arrives in the “hour” of the great earthquake, which is also the “hour” that the handwriting came upon Belshazzar’s wall. The handwriting produced the fear, that is represented as taking hold of all the kings and merchants when the economic structure of planet earth is taken down by the “east wind” of Islam, who have secretly slipped into Belshazzar’s kingdom, through the neglected lower “wall” to the south.

Ukutyhilwa kweSityhilelo sikaYesu Kristu kubandakanya isigidimi sesikhalo saphakathi kobusuku. Eso sigidimi sisiprofeto sesibini sikaHezekile amashumi amathathu anesixhenxe esizisa emaphilweni amathambo omileyo afileyo athe alala ezitratweni iintsuku ezintathu nesiqingatha, ukuze abe ngumkhosi onamandla. Eso sigidimi sisigidimi esibandakanya inyaniso yokuba yi-Islam iNkosi eyisebenzisayo ukuzisa umgwebo olawulayo phezu kwe-United States ngenxa yokunyanzeliswa kweCawa. Lowo mgwebo ufika “ngelixa” lenyikima enkulu, ekwangelo “xesha” apho umbhalo wesandla wavela eludongeni lukaBheleshatsare. Lo mbhalo wesandla wavelisa uloyiko, oluchazwa njengolubambayo bonke ookumkani nabarhwebi xa ulwakhiwo loqoqosho lweplanethi yomhlaba ludilizwa “ngumoya wasempuma” we-Islam, abathe bangena ngasese ebukumkanini bukaBheleshatsare, ngomzantsi “wodonga” olusezantsi olwalungahoywanga.

The “city” or kingdom that the kings and merchants lament of and ask, “what city is like unto this great city” is the kingdom of the whore of Tyre, who is then singing her songs and committing fornication with those very kings. All the prophets speak of the end of the world and they agree with one another, so Ezekiel’s merchants are the same merchants in Revelation chapter eighteen. Three times in Revelation chapter eighteen they lament “alas, alas,” as the great city and the financial structure of planet earth is taken down. The Greek word translated as “alas,” in the passage, is the very same word that is translated three times in Revelation chapter eight, and verse thirteen, which is there translated with a different English word.

“Isixeko” okanye ubukumkani obulilwelwa ziikumkani nabarhwebi, baze babuze bathi, “sesiphi isixeko esinjengesi sixeko sikhulu,” bubukumkani behenyukazi laseTire, elo ke ngoko licula iingoma zalo lize lihenyuze kanye nezo kumkani. Bonke abaprofeti bathetha ngesiphelo sehlabathi yaye bayavumelana omnye nomnye, ngoko ke abarhwebi bakaHezekile ngabona barhwebi bakwanye abakhankanywa kwiSityhilelo isahluko seshumi elinesibhozo. Izihlandlo ezithathu kwiSityhilelo isahluko seshumi elinesibhozo bayakhala besithi, “yeha, yeha,” njengoko esi sixeko sikhulu kunye nolwakhiwo lwezezimali lweplanethi yomhlaba lubhukuqwa. Igama lesiGrike eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “yeha,” kweso siqendu, lelona gama linye kanye eliguqulelwe izihlandlo ezithathu kwiSityhilelo isahluko sesibhozo, ivesi yeshumi elinesithathu, apho ke liguqulelwe ngelinye igama lesiNgesi elahlukileyo.

> And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! Revelation 8:13.

> Ndabona, ndeva isithunywa sezulu siphaphazela phakathi kwezulu, sisithi ngezwi elikhulu, Yeha, yeha, yeha, kubemi bomhlaba ngenxa yamanye amazwi exilongo eengelosi ezintathu eziseza kuvuthela! ISityhilelo 8:13.

The kings and merchants are lamenting the destruction of the world’s economy with the words, “alas, alas,” meaning “woe, woe,” and the “Woe” is a symbol of Islam. The fear that takes hold of Belshazzar and his lords when the handwriting appears on the wall, is the fear produced when the economic structure of planet earth is destroyed by ongoing attacks from Islam, which God employs as His providential tool to bring about His executive judgment upon those who drink the wine of Babylon, that is Sunday enforcement. This truth is the theme of the Isaiah twenty-three “burden” of the whore of “Tyre.”

Ookumkani nabathengisi bayakhalela ukutshatyalaliswa koqoqosho lwehlabathi ngamazwi athi, “yeha, yeha,” okuthetha ukuthi, “iswe, iswe,” yaye le “Yeha” ingumfuziselo wobuSilamsi. Uloyiko olubamba uBheleshatsare neenkosi zakhe xa umbhalo wesandla ubonakala eludongeni, lululoyiko oluveliswa xa isakhiwo soqoqosho seplanethi yomhlaba sitshatyalaliswa ziintlaselo eziqhubekayo ezivela kubuSilamsi, uThixo abubenzisayo njengesixhobo saKhe solondolozo ukuze azise umgwebo waKhe wesigqeba phezu kwabo basela iwayini yaseBhabhiloni, oko kukuthi ukunyanzeliswa kweCawe. Le nyaniso ngumxholo “womthwalo” kaIsaya wamashumi amabini anesithathu wehenyukazi lase “Tire.”

> The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. Isaiah 23:1–18.

> Isigwebo esinxamnye neTire. Bhombolozani, nina nqanawa zaseTarshishe; ngokuba ichithiwe, akwabikho ndlu, akwabikho kungena kuyo; oko kutyhilwe kubo kuvela ezweni laseKhitim. Thulani, nina bemi besiqithi; wena uzaliswe ngabarhwebi baseTsidon, abawela ulwandle. Ngamanzi amakhulu imbewu yaseSihore, isivuno somlambo, yeyona ngeniso yayo; ibe yona iyindawo yorhwebo lweentlanga. Yiba neentloni, Tsidon; kuba ulwandle luthethile, amandla olwandle esithi, Andikhulelwanga zintlungu, andizali bantwana, andondli madodana aselula, andikhulisi zintombi. Njengakwisigidimi esingayo iYiputa, baya kuva iintlungu ezibuhlungu ngenxa yesigidimi esingayo iTire. Welani niye eTarshishe; bhombolozani, nina bemi besiqithi. Ngaba sesi sisixeko senu esasivuya, esasikho kwakudala, semihla yamandulo? Iinyawo zaso ngokwaso ziya kusithwala zisiye kude ukuze siphambukele khona. Ngubani na oyicebisileyo le ngcebiso ngokuchasene neTire, isixeko esithwesayo izithsaba, esabarhwebi baso bengabathetheli, abarhwebi baso bengabahloniphekileyo behlabathi? UYehova wemikhosi uyimisele, ukuze angcolise ukuzingca kwalo lonke uzuko, aze azise ekudeleni bonke abahloniphekileyo behlabathi. Gqitha ezweni lakho njengomlambo, ntombi yaseTarshishe; akusekho mandla. Wolule isandla sakhe phezu kolwandle, wazishukumisa izikumkani; uYehova uwise umthetho ngokuchasene nesixeko sorhwebo, ukuba atshabalalise iinqaba zaso ezinqatyisiweyo. Wathi, Akusayi kuba sabuya uvuye, ntombi icinezelweyo, ntombi yaseTsidon; suka, uwele uye eKhitim; nalapho akuyi kuba nakuphumla. Yabonani ilizwe lamaKaledi; aba bantu babengengabo, kwada kwaba ngowaseAsiriya owabamiselayo abo bahlala entlango; bamisa iinqaba zalo, baphakamisa amabhotwe alo; waliguqula laba yinxuwa. Bhombolozani, nina nqanawa zaseTarshishe; ngokuba amandla enu achithiwe. Kuya kuthi ke ngaloo mini, iTire ilityalwe iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe, ngokwemihla yokumkani omnye; ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe iTire iya kucula njengonongogo. Thabatha uhadi, ujikeleze umzi, wena nongogo ubulityelwe; dlala kamnandi, cula iingoma ezininzi, ukuze ukhunjulwe. Kuya kuthi ke ekupheleni kweminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe, uYehova ayivelele iTire, ibe yona iya kubuyela emvuzweni wayo, ihenyuze nezikumkani zonke zehlabathi phezu kobuso bomhlaba. Kanti urhwebo lwayo nomvuzo wayo ziya kuba bubungcwele kuYehova; akuyi kugcinwa buncwane, kungabekwa ecaleni; kuba urhwebo lwayo luya kuba lolwabo bahlala phambi koYehova, ukuze badle ngokwaneleyo, babe neengubo ezihlala zihleli. Isaya 23:1–18.

The seventy years, which is as “the days of one king”, is represented by the kingdom of Babylon, for a king is a kingdom, and literal Babylon reigned for seventy years. The seventy years of literal Babylon ended in the “hour” the handwriting appeared upon the walls of Belshazzar’s banquet hall. That very night he was slain, by the power that came through the “wall” unnoticed, for he was having a party drinking the wine of Babylon, while Nebuchadnezzar’s orchestra was playing the music, and the whore of Tyre sang the sweet melody, and apostate Israel danced and bowed.

Iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe, ethi “njengeentsuku zokumkani omnye,” imelwe bubukumkani baseBhabheli, kuba ukumkani bubukumkani, yaye iBhabheli yokoqobo yalawula iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe. Iminyaka engamashumi asixhenxe yeBhabheli yokoqobo yaphela “ngexesha” olo kubonakala kulo umbhalo wesandla ezindongeni zeholo lesidlo sikaBheleshatsare. Kwangobo busuku wabulawa, ngamandla awafika “ngodonga” engabonwa, kuba wayesenza umbhiyozo esela iwayini yaseBhabheli, lo gama iokhestra kaNebhukadenetsare idlala umculo, yaye ihenyukazi laseTire licula uncuthu olumnandi, yaye uSirayeli owawexukile edanisa aze aqubude.

Then fear took hold of all involved, for God had “taken counsel against Tyre” and had “purposed” “to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.” God therefore “shook the kingdoms” with the “great earthquake” of that “hour,” for God had “given a commandment against the merchant” kingdom, “to destroy the strong holds thereof.” In the “hour” of fear for Belshazzar, the kings and the merchants began a search to understand the meaning of the fiery words on the wall. The death of Belshazzar is about to happen, but at that point, he is still alive. He therefore sought to understand the mysterious words and offered rewards to the wise men, if they could interpret the writing, but it could not be done, for the wise men of Babylon employ the methodology of biblical study that was a counterfeit of truth. The mysterious words are as the vision of a book that is sealed.

Ngoko uloyiko lwabamba bonke ababandakanyekileyo, kuba uThixo waye “cebisene nxamnye neTire” yaye “wayezimisele” “ukungcolisa ikratshi labo bonke ubungangamsha, nokuzisa ekudelelweni bonke ababekekileyo bomhlaba.” Ngenxa yoko uThixo “washukumisa izikumkani” ngalo “nyikima inkulu” yaloo “yure,” kuba uThixo waye “enike umyalelo nxamnye” nobukumkani “bomrhwebi,” “ukutshabalalisa iinqaba zabo ezinqatyisiweyo.” Ngelo “yure” loloyiko lukaBheleshatsare, ookumkani nabarhwebi baqalisa ukukhangela ukuze baqonde intsingiselo yamazwi omlilo ayeseludongeni. Ukufa kukaBheleshatsare sekusondele ukuba kwenzeke, kodwa ngelo xesha usaphila. Ngenxa yoko wafuna ukuqonda loo mazwi ayimfihlakalo waza wanikela ngemivuzo kwizilumko, ukuba zinokuwatolika loo mazwi abhaliweyo, kodwa oko akuzange kwenzeke, kuba izilumko zaseBhabheli zisebenzisa indlela yokufunda iBhayibhile eyayiyinkohliso yenyaniso. Loo mazwi ayimfihlakalo anjengombono wencwadi etywiniweyo.

> Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing: And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel 5:8–16.

> Kwandula ke zonke izilumko zokumkani; kodwa azaba nako ukufunda umbhalo, nokumazisa ukumkani ukutyhilwa kwawo. Waza ukumkani uBheleshatsare wakhathazeka kakhulu, nobuso bakhe baguquka kuye, neenkosi zakhe zamangaliswa. Ke kaloku ukumkanikazi, ngenxa yamazwi okumkani neenkosi zakhe, wangena endlwini yesidlo; wathetha ukumkanikazi wathi, Kumkani, phila ngonaphakade; mazingakukhathazi iingcinga zakho, nobuso bakho mabungaguquki. Kukho umntu ebukumkanini bakho, okukuye umoya woothixo abangcwele; ngemihla kayihlo kwafunyanwa kuye ukukhanya, nokuqonda, nobulumko obunjengobobulumko boothixo; lowo ukumkani uNebhukadenetsare uyihlo, ukumkani, ndithi, uyihlo, wammisa ukuba abe yintloko yamagqirha, yabavumisi ngeenkwenkwezi, yamaKaledi, neyabaxeli-thamsanqa; ngenxa yokuba kwafunyanwa kuDaniyeli lo, awathi ukumkani wamthiya igama elinguBheleteshatsare, umoya ogqwesileyo, nolwazi, nokuqonda, nokutyhila amaphupha, nokucacisa izintsonkotha, nokusombulula amathandabuzo. Ke ngoku makabizwe uDaniyeli, yaye uya kukubonisa ukutyhilwa. Wandule ke uDaniyeli wangeniswa phambi kokumkani. Wathetha ukumkani wathi kuDaniyeli, Unguwe na loo Daniyeli, ongowabantwana bokuthinjwa bakwaYuda, awabakhupha kwaYuda ukumkani ubawo? Ndivile nokuvile ngawe, ukuba umoya woothixo ukuwe, nokuba ukukhanya nokuqonda nobulumko obugqwesileyo kufunyanwa kuwe. Ke kaloku izilumko, abavumisi ngeenkwenkwezi, zingeniswe phambi kwam, ukuze zifunde lo mbhalo, zindazise ukutyhilwa kwawo; kodwa azabanga nako ukutyhila intsingiselo yento le. Ke mna ndive ngawe, ukuba unako ukwenza iintyhilelo, nokusombulula amathandabuzo; ngoku ke, ukuba unako ukuwufunda lo mbhalo, undazise ukutyhilwa kwawo, uya kwambathiswa ezimfusa, ube nesacholo segolide entanyeni yakho, ube ngumlawuli wesithathu ebukumkanini. Daniyeli 5:8–16.

The queen in the palace was not Belshazzar’s wife, but the queen of his grandfather, and she knew who could read the writing on the wall. There was a church (for a woman is a church prophetically), in the kingdom that knew who could understand the secrets of God.

Ukumkanikazi ebhotwe wayengengomfazi kaBheleshatsare, kodwa wayengukumkanikazi kayisemkhulu wakhe, yaye wayesazi ukuba ngubani owayenokufunda umbhalo oseludongeni. Kwakukho ibandla (kuba umfazi, ngokwesiprofeto, uluphawu lwebandla), ebukumkanini, elalazi ukuba ngubani owayenokuqonda iimfihlelo zikaThixo.

> “There was in the palace a woman who was wiser than them all,—the queen of Belshazzar’s grandfather. In this emergency she addressed the king in language that sent a ray of light into the darkness. ‘O king, live forever,’ she said, ‘let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; …now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.’

> “Kwakukho ebhotweni umfazi owayelumkile ngaphezu kwabo bonke,—ukumkanikazi kayisemkhulu kaBheleshatsare. Kolu ngxamiseko wathetha kukumkani ngolwimi olwathumela umqadi wokukhanya ebumnyameni. ‘Kumkani, phila ngonaphakade,’ watsho, ‘mabanganikukhathazi iingcinga zakho, nobuso bakho mabungaguquki. Kukho indoda ebukumkanini bakho ekukho kuyo umoya woothixo abangcwele; yaye ngemihla kayihlo kwafunyanwa kuyo ukukhanya nokuqonda nobulumko, obunjengobulumko boothixo; awayenzayo ukumkani uNebhukadenetsare, uyihlo, ukumkani, nditsho, uyihlo, umphathi wabakhafuli, nabavumisi ngeenkwenkwezi, namaKaledi, nababhuli; …ke kaloku makabizwe uDaniyeli, yaye uya kubonisa ukutyhilwa kwako.’”

> “‘Then was Daniel brought in before the king.’ Making an effort to brace himself and to show his authority, Belshazzar said, ‘Art thou that Daniel which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, which the king, my father, brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee…. Now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.’

> “‘Emva koko uDaniyeli wangeniswa phambi kokumkani.’ Ezama ukuziqinisa nokubonakalisa igunya lakhe, uBheleshatsare wathi, ‘Nguwe na lowo Daniyeli, ongowabantwana bokuthinjwa bakwaYuda, awakhutshwa kwaYuda ngukumkani, ubawo? Ndive ke ngawe, ukuba umoya woothixo ukuwe, nokuba ukukhanya nokuqonda nobulumko obugqwesileyo kufunyanwa kuwe…. Kaloku ukuba unokulufunda olu bhalo, wandazise ukutyhilwa kwalo, uya kwambathiswa ezibomvu, ube nomxokelelwane wegolide entanyeni yakho, ube ngumlawuli wesithathu ebukumkanini.’”

> “Daniel was not awed by the king’s appearance, nor confused or intimidated by his words. ‘Let thy gifts be to thyself,’ he answered, ‘and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour…. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him…. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this, but hast lifted up thyself against the God of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk in them, and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.’

> “UDaniyeli akazange athabatheke bubungangamsha bokubonakala kokumkani, engadidaniswanga okanye esoyikiswa ngamazwi akhe. Waphendula wathi, ‘Izipho zakho mazibe zezakho, nemivuzo yakho uyinike omnye; kanti ke ndiya kukufundela ukumkani lo mbhalo, ndimazise nentsingiselo yawo. Kumkani, uThixo Osenyangweni wamnika uNebhukadenetsare uyihlo ubukumkani, nobukhulu, nozuko, nembeko…. Ke kaloku, xa intliziyo yakhe yaphakama, nengqondo yakhe yoma ngenxa yekratshi, wasuswa etroneni yakhe yobukumkani, nozuko lwakhe balususa kuye…. Wena ke, nyana wakhe, Bheleshatsare, akuyithobanga intliziyo yakho, nangona ubuwazi konke oku, koko uziphakamisile nxamnye noThixo wezulu; baza bazisa phambi kwakho izitya zendlu yaKhe, waza wena, nezidwangube zakho, nabafazi bakho, namashweshwe akho, nasela kuzo, wancoma oothixo besilivere negolide, nobhedu, nesinyithi, nomthi, nelitye, abangaboniyo, bangeviyo, bengazi nto; ke yena uThixo osesandleni saKhe umphefumlo wakho, nokuziindlela zakho zonke, awumdumisanga.’”

> “‘This is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene: God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. Tekel: Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres: Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’

> “‘Nanku umbhalo obubhaliweyo lo: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Nantsi intsingiselo yalo mbandela: Mene: UThixo ubalile ubukumkani bakho, wabuphelisa. Tekel: Ulinganisiwe ezikalini, wafunyanwa usweleka. Peres: Ubukumkani bakho bohluliwe, banikwa amaMedi namaPersi.’

> “Daniel did not swerve from his duty. He held the king’s sin before him, showing him the lessons he might have learned but did not. Belshazzar had not heeded the events so significant to him. He had not read his grandfather’s history correctly. The responsibility of knowing truth had been laid upon him, but the practical lesson he might have learned and acted upon had not been taken to heart; and his course of action brought the sure result.

> “UDaniyeli akaphambukanga emsebenzini wakhe. Wabeka isono sokumkani phambi kwakhe, embonisa izifundo ebenokuzifunda kodwa engazifundanga. UBelshatsare akazange azithobele iziganeko ezazibaluleke kangaka kuye. Akazange ayifunde ngokuchanekileyo imbali kayisemkhulu. Uxanduva lokwazi inyaniso lwalubekwe phezu kwakhe, kodwa isifundo esisebenzayo ebenokuthi asifunde aze enze ngokwaso asizange samiliselwa entliziyweni; yaye indlela yakhe yokwenza yazisa isiphumo esiqinisekileyo.”

> “This was the last feast of boasting held by the Chaldean king; for He who bears long with man’s perversity had passed the irrevocable sentence. Belshazzar had greatly dishonoured the One who had exalted him as king, and his probation was taken from him. While the king and his nobles were at the height of their revelry, the Persians turned the Euphrates out of its channel, and marched into the unguarded city. As Belshazzar and his lords were drinking from the sacred vessels of Jehovah, and praising their gods of silver and gold, Cyrus and his soldiers stood under the walls of the palace. ‘In that night,’ the record says, ‘was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom.’” Bible Echo, May 2, 1898.

> “Lo yayingumthendeleko yokugqibela yokuzigwagwisa eyabanjwa ngukumkani wamaKaledi; kuba Lowo unyamezela ixesha elide ukugwenxa komntu wayesele ewukhuphile umgwebo ongenakubuyiselwa. UBheleshatsare wayemhlazisile kakhulu Lowo wayemphakamisile ukuba abe ngukumkani, yaye ixesha lakhe lovavanyo lathatyathwa kuye. Ngoxa ukumkani nezidwangube zakhe babesekwincopho yemibhiyozo yabo enobunewunewu, amaPersi awuphambukisa uMlambo iYufrathe emjelo wawo, aza angene kuloo mzi ungakhuselwanga. Ngoxa uBheleshatsare neenkosi zakhe babesela kwiimpahla ezingcwele zikaYehova, bedumisa oothixo babo besilivere negolide, uKoreshe namajoni akhe babemi phantsi kweendonga zebhotwe. ‘Ngaloo busuku,’ itsho ingxelo, ‘wabulawa uBheleshatsare ukumkani wamaKaledi. Waza uDariyo umMedi waluthabatha ubukumkani.’” Bible Echo, Meyi 2, 1898.

In the midst of the crisis, the queen (a church), identified that there is a source that can identify the “Future for America”. Daniel once again stands in his lot to fulfill his purpose at the end of the days. The witness of the ensign given in the fiery furnace by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is now given by Daniel, as he adds to the line of truth that in the “hour” of the Sunday law crisis, those who represent the ensign will be brought before the state authorities to testify of the truth.

Phakathi kwengxaki, ukumkanikazi (ibandla), waqonda ukuba kukho umthombo onokuchaza “Ikamva leMerika”. UDaniel uphinda ame esabelweni sakhe ukuze azalisekise injongo yakhe ekupheleni kwemihla. Ubungqina bomqondiso obanikwa ezikweni lomlilo nguShadrach, Meshach noAbednego ngoku bunikwa nguDaniel, njengoko esongeza kumgca wenyaniso wokuba “ngexesha” lengxaki yomthetho weCawa, abo bamele umqondiso baya kuziswa phambi kwabasemagunyeni borhulumente ukuze bangqine inyaniso.

> “‘They will deliver you up to councils, … yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.’ Matthew 10:17, 18, R. V. Persecution will spread the light. The servants of Christ will be brought before the great men of the world, who, but for this, might never hear the gospel. The truth has been misrepresented to these men. They have listened to false charges concerning the faith of Christ’s disciples. Often their only means of learning its real character is the testimony of those who are brought to trial for their faith. Under examination these are required to answer, and their judges to listen to the testimony borne. God’s grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency. ‘It shall be given you,’ says Jesus, ‘in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.’ As the Spirit of God illuminates the minds of His servants, the truth will be presented in its divine power and preciousness. Those who reject the truth will stand to accuse and oppress the disciples. But under loss and suffering, even unto death, the Lord’s children are to reveal the meekness of their divine Example. Thus will be seen the contrast between Satan’s agents and the representatives of Christ. The Saviour will be lifted up before the rulers and the people.” The Desire of Ages, 354.

> “‘Baya kuninikele ezinkundleni zamatyala, … kanjalo naphambi kweenkosi neerhuluneli niya kusiwa ngenxa yaM, kube bubungqina kubo nakwiintlanga.’ Mateyu 10:17, 18, R. V. Intshutshiso iya kusasaza ukukhanya. Abakhonzi bakaKristu baya kuziswa phambi kwezikhulu ezinkulu zehlabathi, ezithi, ukuba bekungengako oku, mhlawumbi zingaze zive ivangeli. Inyaniso iye yamiselwa gwenxa kwaba bantu. Baye bamamela izityholo zobuxoki ezimalunga nokholo lwabafundi bakaKristu. Amaxesha amaninzi ekuphela kwendlela yabo yokufunda isimilo sako sokwenyaniso bubungqina babo baziswa ematyaleni ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Xa bephantsi kovavanyo aba bafuneka ukuba baphendule, nabagwebi babo ukuba baphulaphule ubungqina obunikelwayo. Ubabalo lukaThixo luya kwabelwa abakhonzi baKhe ukuze bahlangabezane neso sidingo singxamisekileyo. ‘Niya kunikwa,’ utsho uYesu, ‘kwangelo lixa into eniya kuthetha ngayo. Kuba asini nina nithethayo, kodwa nguMoya woYihlo othetha kuni.’ Njengoko uMoya kaThixo ekhanyisa iingqondo zabakhonzi baKhe, inyaniso iya kubonakaliswa ngamandla ayo obuthixo nangobuxabisekileyo bayo. Abo bayalayo inyaniso baya kuma ukuze bamangalela baze bacinezele abafundi. Kodwa phakathi kwelahleko nentlungu, kude kuse ekufeni, abantwana beNkosi bamele ukubonakalisa ubulali boMzekelo wabo wobuthixo. Ngaloo ndlela kuya kubonakala umahluko phakathi kwezixhobo zikaSathana nabameli bakaKristu. UMsindisi uya kuphakanyiswa phambi kwabalawuli nabantu.” Ulangazelelo Lwamaxesha Onke, 354.

As with the three worthies, Daniel was not interested in any gifts, nor did he need to rehearse what he was going to say. He very simply presented the interpretation of the “seven times,” represented upon the wall.

Njengakubo abo bathathu bafanelekileyo, uDaniyeli wayengenamdla nakwiziphi na izipho, yaye wayengenasidingo sokuphindaphinda kwangaphambili oko aza kukuthetha. Wabeka ngokulula kakhulu intsingiselo yala “maxesha asixhenxe,” awayemelwe eludongeni.

We will continue the story of Belshazzar in the next article.

Siya kuya kuqhubeka ibali likaBheleshatsare kwinqaku elilandelayo.

> “Those who are unfaithful to the work of God are lacking in principle; their motives are not of a character to lead them to choose the right under all circumstances. The servants of God are to feel at all times that they are under the eye of their employer. He who watched the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar is present in all our institutions, in the counting-room of the merchant, in the private workshop; and the bloodless hand is as surely recording your neglect as it recorded the awful judgment of the blasphemous king. Belshazzar’s condemnation was written in words of fire, ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting’; and if you fail to fulfill your God-given obligations your condemnation will be the same.” Messages to Young People, 229.

> “Abo bangathembekanga emsebenzini kaThixo baswele umgaqo; iinjongo zabo azinasimo sinokubakhokelela ekukhetheni okulungileyo phantsi kwazo zonke iimeko. Abakhonzi bakaThixo bafanele bazive ngamaxesha onke ukuba baphantsi kweliso loMqeshi wabo. Lowo wayebukele isidlo sikaBheleshatsare esingcolileyo ukho kuzo zonke iziko zethu, kwigumbi lokubala lomrhwebi, nakwindawo yokusebenzela yabucala; yaye isandla esingenagazi ngokuqinisekileyo sirekhoda ukungahoyi kwenu, njengoko sarekhoda umgwebo owoyikekayo wokumkani onyelisayo. Ukugwetywa kukaBheleshatsare kwabhalwa ngamazwi omlilo, ‘Ulinganisiwe ezilinganisweni, wafunyanwa usweleka’; yaye ukuba niyasilela ukuzalisekisa iimbopheleleko zenu enizinikwe nguThixo, ukugwetywa kwenu kuya kuba kokufanayo.” Messages to Young People, 229.

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