1. Sobanura uko byagenze igihe Yerusalemu yarimburwaga.

MU MWAKA wa 607 mbere ya Yesu, ingabo za Babuloni zari ziyobowe n’Umwami Nebukadinezari wa II zigaruriye umugi wa Yerusalemu. Bibiliya isobanura ukuntu hamenetse amaraso menshi igira iti ‘[Nebukadinezari] yicishirije inkota abasore mu rusengero rwabo, ntiyagirira impuhwe abasore n’inkumi, abakuze n’abasaza rukukuri. Yatwitse inzu y’Imana y’ukuri, asenya inkuta z’i Yerusalemu, iminara yose yo guturwamo ndetse n’ibintu by’agaciro byose byari bihari arabitwika, byose birarimbuka.’—2 Ngoma 36:17, 19.

2. Ni uwuhe muburo Yehova yari yaratanze? Byari kugendekera bite Abayahudi?

² Abaturage b’i Yerusalemu ntibagombye kuba baratunguwe n’uko yarimbutse. Hari hashize imyaka myinshi abahanuzi b’Imana baburira Abayahudi ko iyo bakomeza gusuzugura Amategeko y’Imana, na yo yari kuzabahana mu maboko y’Abanyababuloni. Abayahudi benshi bari kwicishwa inkota; kandi n’abari kurokoka bashoboraga kuzapfira mu bunyage i Babuloni (Yer 15:2). Ariko se ubuzima bwo mu bunyage bwari kuba bumeze bute? Ese hari ibyabaye ku Bakristo bisa n’ibyabaye ku Bayahudi igihe bajyanwaga mu bunyage bw’i Babuloni? Niba bihari, byabaye ryari?

3. Ubunyage bw’i Babuloni bwari butandukaniye he n’ubucakara Abisirayeli babayemo muri Egiputa?

³ Ibyo abahanuzi bari barahanuye byagombaga gusohora. Yehova yakoresheje Yeremiya asaba abari kuzajyanwa mu bunyage kwemera ubwo buzima bushya. Yarababwiye ati “mwubake amazu [i Babuloni] muyabemo, kandi muhinge imirima murye imbuto zayo. Kandi uyu mugi natumye mujyanwamo mu bunyage, mujye muwushakira amahoro, musenge Yehova muwusabira kuko mu mahoro yawo ari mo muzabonera amahoro” (Yer 29:5, 7). Abumviye iyo nama, mu rugero runaka babayeho neza i Babuloni. Bari bafite umudendezo, ku buryo bashoboraga kujya aho bashaka hose mu gihugu. Muri icyo gihe Babuloni ni yo yari ihuriro ry’ubucuruzi, kandi ibyataburuwe mu matongo bigaragaza ko Abayahudi benshi bize gucuruza, abandi biga imyuga itandukanye. Hari n’Abayahudi babaye abakire. Ubunyage bw’i Babuloni bwari butandukanye cyane n’ubucakara bwo muri Egiputa Abisirayeli bari barabayemo mu binyejana byinshi mbere yaho.—Soma mu Kuva 2:23-25.

4. Uretse Abisirayeli bari barigometse, ni ba nde bandi bajyanywe mu bunyage i Babuloni? Ni izihe nzitizi zatumaga badashobora gukurikiza Amategeko y’Imana yose?

⁴ Abayahudi bari mu bunyage babonaga ibyo bakeneye mu buryo bw’umubiri. Ariko se byari byifashe bite mu buryo bw’umwuka? Urusengero rwa Yehova rwari rwararimbuwe, kandi abatambyi ntibashoboraga gukora umurimo wabo kuri gahunda. Mu bajyanywe mu bunyage harimo n’abagaragu b’Imana b’indahemuka batari bakwiriye guhanwa, ariko byabaye ngombwa ko na bo bababarana n’ishyanga ryose. Icyakora bakoraga ibyo bashoboye byose bakubahiriza Amategeko y’Imana. Urugero, igihe Daniyeli yari i Babuloni, we na bagenzi be batatu ari bo Shadaraki, Meshaki na Abedenego banze kurya ibyokurya Abayahudi bari babujijwe. Nanone tuzi ko Daniyeli yakomeje gusenga Imana buri gihe (Dan 1:8; 6:10). Icyakora Abayahudi batinyaga Imana si ko buri gihe bashoboraga gukurikiza Amategeko y’Imana yose, kubera ko bategekwaga n’abapagani.

5. Yehova yari yarasezeranyije iki abagaragu be? Kuki iryo sezerano ryari rishishikaje?

⁵ Ese hari igihe Abisirayeli bari kongera gusenga Imana mu buryo yemera? Icyo gihe byasaga naho bitari kuzigera bishoboka. Abanyababuloni ntibajyaga barekura imfungwa zabo. Icyakora Yehova yari yarasezeranyije ko abagize ubwoko bwe bari kuzarekurwa, kandi koko bararekuwe. Ibyo Imana yasezeranyije irabisohoza.—Yes 55:11.

6, 7. Kuki byabaye ngombwa ko twongera gusuzuma iby’ubunyage bwa Babuloni bwo muri iki gihe?

⁶ Ese hari ibintu byabaye ku Bakristo byagereranywa n’ubunyage bwa Babuloni? Iyi gazeti yamaze imyaka myinshi ivuga ko abagaragu b’Imana bo muri iki gihe bajyanywe mu bunyage bwa Babuloni mu mwaka wa 1918 kandi ko babuvanywemo mu mwaka wa 1919. Icyakora muri iki gice no mu kizakurikiraho, tuzareba impamvu byabaye ngombwa ko iyo nyigisho yongera gusuzumwa.

⁷ Tekereza kuri ibi bikurikira: Babuloni Ikomeye igereranya amadini yose y’ikinyoma. Ubwo rero, abagize ubwoko bw’Imana bari kujya mu bunyage bwa Babuloni mu mwaka wa 1918, ari uko idini ry’ikinyoma ribashyize mu bubata muri  uwo mwaka. Icyakora amateka agaragaza ko mu myaka ibarirwa muri za mirongo yabanjirije Intambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose, abagaragu b’Imana basutsweho umwuka barimo bava mu bubata bwa Babuloni Ikomeye. Nubwo abasutsweho umwuka batotejwe mu Ntambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose, ahanini ntibatotezwaga na Babuloni Ikomeye, ahubwo batotezwaga n’abategetsi ba za leta. Bityo rero, nta kigaragaza ko abagaragu ba Yehova bajyanywe mu bunyage bwa Babuloni Ikomeye mu mwaka wa 1918.

8. Byagenze bite intumwa zimaze gupfa? (Reba ifoto ibimburira iki gice.)

⁸ Kuri Pentekote yo mu mwaka wa 33, Abakristo babarirwa mu bihumbi basutsweho umwuka wera. Abo Bakristo bashya babaye “ubwoko bwatoranyijwe, abatambyi n’abami, ishyanga ryera, abantu Imana yatoranyije ngo babe umutungo wayo.” (Soma muri 1 Petero 2:9, 10.) Igihe cyose intumwa zari zikiriho zakomeje kwita ku matorero. Ariko intumwa zimaze gupfa, hadutse abantu “bagoreka ukuri” kugira ngo “bireherezeho abigishwa” (Ibyak 20:30; 2 Tes 2:6-8). Abenshi muri abo bantu bari bafite inshingano mu matorero ari abagenzuzi, nyuma yaho baza kuba ba “musenyeri.” Nubwo Yesu yari yarabwiye abigishwa be ati ‘mwebwe mwese muri abavandimwe,’ hari hatangiye kuvuka itsinda ry’abayobozi b’idini (Mat 23:8). Abantu bari bakomeye bakundaga ibitekerezo bya Platon na Aristote, batangiye kwinjiza mu itorero inyigisho z’idini ry’ikinyoma, amaherezo bazisimbuza inyigisho nzima z’Ijambo ry’Imana.

9. Byagenze bite ngo Abakristo b’abahakanyi bashyigikirwe n’Ubwami bwa Roma? Ibyo byatumye habaho iki?

⁹ Mu mwaka wa 313, Umwami w’abami w’Umuroma Konsitantino wari umupagani, yahaye ubuzima gatozi abo Bakristo b’abahakanyi. Kuva icyo gihe, idini na leta byabaye agati gakubiranye. Urugero, nyuma y’inama yabereye i Nicée, Konsitantino wari muri iyo nama, yategetse ko umupadiri witwaga Arius acibwa mu gihugu kubera ko yari yanze kwemera ko Yesu ari Imana. Nyuma yaho, ku ngoma y’Umwami w’abami Théodose wa I (379-395), Kiliziya Gatolika yari igizwe n’abo Bakristo b’abahakanyi, yabaye idini ry’Ubwami bwa Roma. Abahanga mu by’amateka bavuga ko Roma y’abapagani yayobotse abo “Bakristo” mu kinyejana cya kane. Ariko mu by’ukuri, icyo gihe Ubukristo bwari bwaranywanye n’amadini y’abapagani yo mu Bwami bwa Roma, bukaba bwari bwaramaze kwinjira muri Babuloni Ikomeye. Nubwo byari bimeze bityo ariko, Abakristo bake basutsweho umwuka bagereranywa n’ingano bakoraga ibishoboka byose bagasenga Imana, ariko ijwi ryabo ryari ryaraburijwemo. (Soma muri Matayo 13:24, 25, 37-39.) Mu by’ukuri, bari mu bunyage bwa Babuloni!

10. Ni iki cyatumye abantu b’imitima itaryarya batangira gushidikanya ku nyigisho za kiliziya?

¹⁰ Icyakora nyuma y’imyaka ibarirwa mu magana Yesu avuye ku isi, abantu benshi basomaga Bibiliya mu kigiriki cyangwa mu kilatini. Bityo rero, bashoboraga kugereranya inyigisho zo mu Ijambo ry’Imana n’inyigisho za kiliziya. Bamwe muri bo banze kwemera inyigisho za kiliziya bitewe n’uko babonye ko zidahuje n’ibyo basomye muri Bibiliya. Icyakora kubibwira abandi byari biteje akaga, ndetse byashoboraga gutuma bicwa.

11. Byagenze bite kugira ngo abayobozi ba kiliziya abe ari bo bonyine biharira Bibiliya?

 ¹¹ Nyuma y’igihe abari bazi indimi Bibiliya yari yanditsemo babaye bake cyane, kandi kiliziya ntiyemeraga ko Ijambo ry’Imana rihindurwa mu ndimi zavugwaga na rubanda. Ibyo byatumye abayobozi ba kiliziya n’abandi bantu bake bari barize ari bo bonyine bashobora gusoma Bibiliya, kandi n’abayobozi ba kiliziya si ko bose bari bazi gusoma no kwandika. Umuntu wese wavuguruzaga ibyo kiliziya yigishaga, yahanwaga by’intangarugero. Abagaragu b’Imana b’indahemuka basutsweho umwuka bateraniraga mu matsinda mato mu ibanga, kandi hari n’igihe guteranira hamwe byabaga bidashoboka. Nk’uko byari bimeze igihe Abayahudi bari mu bunyage i Babuloni, abasutsweho umwuka bari “abatambyi n’abami” ntibashoboraga gukora umurimo wabo kuri gahunda. Babuloni Ikomeye yari yarashyize abantu mu bubata bukomeye.

12, 13. Ni ibihe bintu bibiri byatumye Babuloni Ikomeye idakomeza kwifatira abantu? Sobanura.

¹² Ese hari igihe Abakristo b’ukuri bari kubohorwa, bagashobora gusenga Imana ku mugaragaro kandi mu buryo yemera? Yego rwose! Ahagana mu mwaka wa 1450, hari ibintu bibiri by’ingenzi byabayeho bituma umucyo utangira kumurikira mu mwijima. Icya mbere, ni uko havumbuwe imashini icapa. Mbere y’uko iyo mashini ivumburwa, abantu bandukuraga Bibiliya n’intoki, kandi uwo wari umurimo utoroshye. Kopi za Bibiliya zari nke cyane kandi zarahendaga. Umwandukuzi w’umuhanga yashoboraga kwandukura kopi imwe gusa ya Bibiliya mu mezi icumi yose! Nanone impu abandukuzi bandikagaho zarahendaga cyane. Ariko umuntu  w’umuhanga wakoreshaga imashini icapa, yashoboraga gucapa amapaji 1.300 ku munsi!

¹³ Icya kabiri, ni uko mu ntangiriro z’ikinyejana cya 16, hari abagabo b’intwari biyemeje guhindura Ijambo ry’Imana mu ndimi zavugwaga na rubanda. Abahinduzi benshi bakoze uwo murimo nubwo bari bazi ko bashoboraga kuwuzira. Kiliziya yahiye ubwoba. Abayobozi ba kiliziya batinyaga ko abagabo n’abagore b’imitima itaryarya basoma Bibiliya bagatangira kubabaza ibibazo! Kandi koko Bibiliya imaze kuboneka, abantu barayisomye, batangira kubaza bati “mu Ijambo ry’Imana purugatori yanditse he? Ni he handitse ko tugomba kwishyura amafaranga yo gusabira misa uwapfuye? Ni he handitse abapapa n’abakaridinari?” Kiliziya yabonaga ko ibyo ari ukuyikora mu jisho. Ubonye ngo rubanda baratinyuka kuvuguruza abayobozi bayo! Kiliziya yarabarwanyije cyane. Abagabo n’abagore benshi bahamijwe icyaha cy’ubuhakanyi kubera ko banze kwemera inyigisho za kiliziya, zimwe muri zo zikaba zari zishingiye ku bitekerezo bya gipagani by’abagabo babayeho mbere ya Yesu Kristo, ari bo Aristote na Platon. Kiliziya yabakatiraga urwo gupfa, leta igahita ibica. Intego yari iyo kubuza abantu gusoma Bibiliya kugira ngo badashidikanya ku nyigisho za kiliziya. Kandi Kiliziya yabigezeho nubwo hari abantu b’intwari banze kubatwa na Babuloni Ikomeye. Bari bamaze gusogongera ku Ijambo ry’Imana, kandi bifuzaga kumenya byinshi kurushaho. Byaragaragaraga rwose ko abantu bari hafi kwigobotora idini ry’ikinyoma.

14. (a) Abifuzaga kwiga Bibiliya bakoraga iki? (b) Sobanura uko umuvandimwe Russell yashakishije ukuri.

¹⁴ Benshi mu bari bafite inyota yo kumenya ukuri kwa Bibiliya bahungiye mu bihugu kiliziya itari ifitemo imbaraga nyinshi. Bifuzaga gusoma Bibiliya no kuyiga, bakayiganiraho bisanzuye. Kimwe muri ibyo bihugu ni Leta Zunze Ubumwe za Amerika, aho Charles Taze Russell na bagenzi be bake batangiye kwiga Bibiliya ahagana mu mwaka wa 1870. Mu mizo ya mbere, umuvandimwe Russell yifuzaga kumenya idini ryigishaga inyigisho z’ukuri. Yasuzumye yitonze inyigisho z’amadini menshi, hakubiyemo n’amadini atari aya gikristo, azigereranya n’ibyo Bibiliya ivuga. Ntiyatinze kubona ko nta na rimwe muri ayo madini ryahuzaga n’Ijambo ry’Imana. Hari n’igihe yajyaga ahura n’abayobozi b’amadini yiringiye ko bari kwemera ukuri we na bagenzi be bavumbuye, bakajya bakwigisha mu madini yabo. Ariko ibyo ntibyari bishishikaje abo bayobozi b’amadini. Abigishwa ba Bibiliya babonye ko batashoboraga gusenga Imana bafatanyije n’abiyemeje kuguma mu idini ry’ikinyoma.—Soma mu 2 Abakorinto 6:14.

15. (a) Ni ryari Abakristo bagiye mu bubata bwa Babuloni Ikomeye? (b) Ni ibihe bibazo tuzasuzuma mu gice gikurikira?

¹⁵ Muri iki gice, twabonye uko Abakristo b’ukuri bagiye mu bubata bwa Babuloni intumwa zimaze gupfa. Icyakora dushobora kwibaza tuti “ni iki kindi kitwemeza ko mu myaka yabanjirije umwaka wa 1914, abasutsweho umwuka barimo bigobotora ububata bwa Babuloni Ikomeye? Ese koko Yehova yarakariye abagaragu be bitewe n’uko badohotse ku murimo wo kubwiriza mu Ntambara ya Mbere y’Isi Yose? Ese hari abavandimwe bateshutse ku kutabogama kwa gikristo bigatuma Yehova atabemera? Hanyuma se niba Abakristo baragiye mu bunyage bw’idini ry’ikinyoma intumwa zimaze gupfa, babuvuyemo ryari?” Ibyo ni ibibazo bishishikaje, tukaba tuzabisuzuma mu gice gikurikira.