1. Incwadi yesAmbulo yembulani mayelana nabantu bakaNkulunkulu?

 INCWADI yesAmbulo yembula ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini usumisiwe nokuthi uSathane uxoshiwe ezulwini. (IsAm. 12:1-9) Lokho kuxoshwa kuletha impumuzo ezulwini kodwa kusidalela izinkinga thina. Kungani? Kungoba uSathane uthukuthelele labo abakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka lapha emhlabeni.​—IsAm. 12:12, 15, 17.

2. Yini ezosisiza sime siqine?

² Singama kanjani siqine lapho sihlaselwa uSathane? (IsAm. 13:10) Okungasisiza ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni. Ngokwesibonelo, encwadini yesAmbulo umphostoli uJohane uchaza ezinye zezibusiso esizozijabulela maduze. Ezinye zazo kuzoba ukubhujiswa kwezitha zikaNkulunkulu. Manje ake sihlole ukuthi isAmbulo sizichaza kanjani lezo zitha nokuthi kuzokwenzekani kuzo.

3. Yiziphi ezinye zezibonakaliso ezisencwadini yesAmbulo?

³ Evesini lokuqala nje, isAmbulo sisitshela ukuthi lokho esizokufunda kwethulwa “ngezibonakaliso” noma ngolimi olungokomfanekiso. (IsAm. 1:1) Kamuva, sibe sesifunda ngezilo zasendle ezifanekisela izitha zikaNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, ‘kunesilo sasendle esinyuka siphuma olwandle.’ “Sinezimpondo eziyishumi namakhanda ayisikhombisa.” (IsAm. 13:1) Leso silo, silandelwa ‘esinye isilo sasendle esiphuma emhlabeni.’ Lesi esiphuma emhlabeni sikhuluma njengodrako futhi sehlisela ‘umlilo emhlabeni uvela ezulwini.’ (IsAm. 13:11-13) Sibe sesibona isilo esihlukile, ‘isilo sasendle esinombala  obomvu,’ esigitshelwe isifebe. Lezi zilo zasendle ezintathu zifanekisela izitha zikaJehova uNkulunkulu noMbuso wakhe osekunesikhathi eside zikhona. Ngakho, kubalulekile ukuba sizazi ukuthi zingobani.​—IsAm. 17:1, 3.

4-5. Okushiwo kuDaniyeli 7:15-17 kusisiza kanjani siqonde ukuthi lezi zibonakaliso zisho ukuthini?

⁴ Ngaphambi kokuba sifunde ngokuthi zingobani lezo zitha, kudingeka siqonde ukuthi lusho ukuthini lolo limi olungokomfanekiso. Ukuze siluqonde kahle, kudingeka sivumele iBhayibheli lizichaze. Imifanekiso eminingi etholakala encwadini yesAmbulo ichaziwe kakade kwezinye izincwadi zeBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, umprofethi uDaniyeli waba nephupho abona kulo ‘izilo ezine ezinkulu ziphuma olwandle.’ (Dan. 7:1-3) UDaniyeli uyasitshela ukuthi zimelelani. Lezi zilo ezinkulu zifanekisela ‘amakhosi’ noma ohulumeni abane. (Funda uDaniyeli 7:15-17.) Leyo ncazelo ecacile isisiza siqonde ukuthi lezi zilo ezichazwe encwadini yesAmbulo kumelwe ukuba nazo zimelela ohulumeni.

⁵ Manje, ake sihlole ezinye zezibonakaliso ezichazwe encwadini yesAmbulo. Njengoba senza kanjalo, sizobona ukuthi iBhayibheli lisisiza kanjani siqonde ukuthi zisho ukuthini lezi zibonakaliso. Sizoqale sixoxe ngezilo zasendle ngokuhlukahluka kwazo. Okokuqala, sizothola ukuthi zifanekisela obani. Sizobe sesiyabona ukuthi kwenzekani kuzo. Ekugcineni, sizohlola ukuthi lezi zenzakalo zisho ukuthini kithi.

6. Sifanekiselani isilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa okukhulunywa ngaso encwadini yesAmbulo 13:1-4?

⁶ Siyini isilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa? (Funda isAmbulo 13:1-4.) Siyaphawula ukuthi lesi silo sinjengengwe, kodwa izinyawo zaso zinjengezebhere, umlomo waso unjengomlomo webhubesi futhi sinezimpondo eziyishumi. Izilo ezine ezichazwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 7 nazo zinezici ezifana nalezi. Nokho, kule ncwadi yesAmbulo, lezi zici zitholakala esilweni esisodwa, hhayi kwezine. Lesi silo sasendle asifanekiseli uhulumeni owodwa nje kuphela noma umbuso wezwe owodwa. Kuthiwa sibusa “phezu kwazo zonke izinhlanga nabantu nezilimi nezizwe.” Ngakho, kumelwe ukuba asifanekiseli uhulumeni wezwe elilodwa. (IsAm. 13:7) Lesi silo sasendle kumelwe ukuba sifanekisela yonke imibuso yezwe eye yabusa abantu kuze kube manje. *​—UmSh. 8:9.

7. Lifanekiselani ikhanda ngalinye kwayisikhombisa?

⁷ Lifanekiselani ikhanda ngalinye kwayisikhombisa? Kunokuthile okutholakala encwadini yesAmbulo isahluko 17 okuchaza isithombe sesilo okukhulunywa ngaso encwadini yesAmbulo isahluko 13. IsAmbulo 17:10 sithi: “Kukhona amakhosi ayisikhombisa: Ayisihlanu asewile, enye ikhona, enye ayikafiki; kodwa lapho ifika kumelwe ihlale isikhashana.” Kuyo yonke imibuso yezwe uSathane aye wayisebenzisa, eyisikhombisa iye yavelela ‘njengamakhanda.’ Lena imibuso yezwe eye yabathinta kakhulu abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngosuku lukamphostoli uJohane, emihlanu yayisibusile emhlabeni: iGibhithe, i-Asiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMede NamaPheresiya neGrisi. Ngesikhathi uJohane ethola isambulo, kwakusabusa umbuso wezwe wesithupha, iRoma. Yimuphi umbuso wezwe, noma ikhanda, owawuzoba owesikhombisa nowokugcina?

8. Lifanekiselani ikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle?

 ⁸ Njengoba sizobona, iziprofetho ezisencwadini kaDaniyeli zisisiza sibone ukuthi liyini ikhanda lesikhombisa nelokugcina lesilo sasendle. Yimuphi umbuso wezwe obulokhu ubusa phakathi nalesi sikhathi sokuphela, noma phakathi ‘nosuku lweNkosi’? (IsAm. 1:10) Yinhlanganisela ye-United Kingdom ne-United States of America, ngamanye amazwi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika. Ngakho, singaphetha ngokuthi uyikhanda lesikhombisa lesilo sasendle okukhulunywa ngaso encwadini yesAmbulo 13:1-4.

9. Isilo sasendle ‘esinezimpondo ezimbili njengewundlu’ simelelani?

⁹ Isahluko 13 sencwadi yesAmbulo sibuye sisitshele ukuthi leli khanda lesikhombisa, uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika, liphinde lenze njengesilo sasendle ‘esinezimpondo ezimbili njengewundlu, kodwa laqala ukukhuluma njengodrako.’ Lesi silo “senza izibonakaliso ezinkulu phambi kwabantu, size sehlisele nomlilo emhlabeni uvela ezulwini.” (IsAm. 13:11-15) IsAmbulo isahluko 16 no-19 sichaza lesi silo sasendle ngokuthi ‘umprofethi wamanga.’ (IsAm. 16:13; 19:20) UDaniyeli usho into ethi ayifane, uthi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika ‘uyoletha incithakalo eyesabekayo.’ (Dan. 8:19, 23, 24, mbhw.) Yilokho kanye okwenzeka phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Amabhomu amabili e-athomu ayenziwe ososayensi baseBrithani nabaseMelika, adlala indima ebalulekile ekuqedeni leyo mpi eyayisePacific. Kwafana nokuthi uMbuso Wezwe WamaNgisi NamaMelika ‘wehlisela umlilo emhlabeni uvela ezulwini.’

10. Simelelani “isithombe sesilo sasendle”? (IsAmbulo 13:14, 15; 17:3, 8, 11)

¹⁰ Sibe sesibona esinye isilo sasendle. Lesi sicishe sifane nesilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa kodwa sona sinombala obomvu. Sibizwa ngokuthi “isithombe sesilo sasendle” futhi sichazwa ngokuthi “siyinkosi ka-8.” * (Funda isAmbulo 13:14, 15; 17:3, 8, 11.) Le ‘nkosi’ kuthiwa ifike ibe khona, ingabe isaba khona, kamuva iphinde ivele. Le ncazelo iyichaza kahle kakhulu inhlangano yeZizwe Ezihlangane ekhuthaza ukuba kwenziwe izinto ezifunwa ohulumeni bezwe! Yaqale yaba iNhlangano Yezizwe. Yangabe isaba khona phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Kamuva yaphinde yavela isiyiZizwe Ezihlangene.

11. Yini eyenziwa ohulumeni futhi kungani kungafanele sibesabe?

¹¹ Lab’ ohulumeni basebenzisa inkulumo-ze yabo ukuze baphikise uJehova nabantu bakhe. Ngokomfanekiso, babuthela ndawonye ‘amakhosi omhlaba wonke owakhiwe’ empini e-Armagedoni ‘ewusuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla Onke.’ (IsAm. 16:13, 14, 16) Kodwa thina ngeke sesabe. UNkulunkulu wethu omkhulu, uJehova, uyosabela ngokushesha ukuze asindise bonke labo abasekela ukubusa kwakhe.​—Hez. 38:21-23.

12. Yini eyokwenzeka kuzo zonke izilo?

¹² Kwenzekani kuzo zonke izilo? IsAmbulo 19:20 siyaphendula: “Isilo sasendle sabanjwa, sabanjwa nomprofethi wamanga owenza izibonakaliso phambi kwaso, lezo adukisa ngazo labo abamukela uphawu lwesilo sasendle nalabo abakhulekela isithombe saso. Baphonswa bobabili besaphila echibini lomlilo ovutha isibabule.” Ngakho, lab’ ohulumeni abayizitha zikaNkulunkulu bayobhujiswa unomphela lapho besabusa.

13. Yiziphi izinkinga amaKristu abhekana nazo ngenxa yohulumeni bezwe?

¹³ Kusho ukuthini lokhu kithi? NjengamaKristu,  kumelwe sibe qotho kuNkulunkulu naseMbusweni wakhe. (Joh. 18:36) Ukuze senze kanjalo, kudingeka singathathi hlangothi ezindabeni zezepolitiki zohulumeni bezwe. Ukungathathi hlangothi okunjalo kungase kube nzima kakhulu nokho, ngenxa yokuthi ohulumeni bezwe bafuna sibasekele ngokugcwele ngesikushoyo nangesikwenzayo. Labo abavumayo ukuphoqwa ukuba babasekele bathola uphawu lwesilo sasendle. (IsAm. 13:16, 17) Nokho, noma ubani owamukela lolo phawu, uJehova ngeke esamamukela futhi uyolahlekelwa ukuphila okuphakade. (IsAm. 14:9, 10; 20:4) Kubaluleke ngempela-ke ukuba ngamunye wethu aqhubeke engathathi hlangothi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ucindezelwa kangakanani ukuba asekele ohulumeni!

14. Iyiphi into emangazayo eyabe isibonwa umphostoli uJohane njengoba kuchazwe encwadini yesAmbulo 17:3-5?

¹⁴ Umphostoli uJohane uthi kunenye into ayibona ‘eyammangaza kakhulu.’ Kwakuyini? Kwakungowesifazane owayegibele esinye sezilo ezesabekayo. (IsAm. 17:1, 2, 6) Uchazwa ngokuthi ‘isifebe esikhulu’ futhi ubizwa ngokuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu.” ‘Uziphatha kabi ngokocansi’ ‘namakhosi omhlaba.’​—Funda isAmbulo 17:3-5.

15-16. Lingubani iBhabhiloni Elikhulu futhi lokho sikwazi kanjani?

¹⁵ Lingubani “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu”? Lona wesifazane akakwazi ukumelela izinhlangano zezepolitiki ngoba kuthiwa uziphatha kabi ngokocansi nabaholi bezwe bezepolitiki. (IsAm. 18:9) Empeleni, uzimisele ukubalawula laba babusi, kufana nokuthi ubagibele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akakwazi ukumelela ezentengiselwano ezinobugovu zezwe likaSathane ngoba zona zivezwa njengezizimele futhi zibizwa ngokuthi “abahwebi bomhlaba.”​—IsAm. 18:11, 15, 16.

¹⁶ EBhayibhelini, igama elithi “isifebe” lingabhekisela kulabo abathi bakhonza uNkulunkulu kodwa bebe behlanganyela ohlotsheni oluthile lokukhonza izithombe noma ngandlela-thile bakhe ubungane nezwe. (1 IziKr. 5:25; Jak. 4:4) Kanti labo abakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka kuthiwa ‘bamsulwa’ noma ‘banjengezintombi.’ (2 Kor. 11:2; IsAm. 14:4) IBhabhiloni lasendulo laliyisidleke senkolo yamanga. Ngakho-ke, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu kumelwe ukuba limelela zonke izinhlobo zenkolo yamanga. Empeleni, liwumbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga.​—IsAm. 17:5, 18; bheka isihloko esiku-jw.org/zu esithi “Liyini IBhabhiloni Elikhulu?”

17. Kuzokwenzekani ngeBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

¹⁷ Kuzokwenzekani ngeBhabhiloni Elikhulu? IsAmbulo 17:16, 17 siwuphendula kanje lo mbuzo: “Izimpondo eziyishumi ozibonile nesilo sasendle, ziyosizonda isifebe zisicekele phansi zisihambise nqunu, ziyoyidla ziyiqede inyama yaso futhi zisishise ngomlilo siphele. Ngoba uNkulunkulu ukufake ezinhliziyweni zawo ukuba afeze umqondo wakhe.” Yebo, uJehova uyokwenza izizwe zisebenzise isilo sasendle esinombala obomvu, okuyiZizwe Ezihlangene, ukuba zijikele umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga futhi ziwubhubhise ngokuphelele.​—IsAm. 18:21-24.

18. Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi akukho lutho olusihlanganisa neBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

¹⁸ Kusho ukuthini lokhu kithi? Kudingeka silondoloze “indlela yokukhulekela ehlanzekile nengangcolile ngokombono kaNkulunkulu.” (Jak. 1:27) Akufanele nanini sivumele ukuthonywa izimfundiso ezingamanga, imikhosi yamaqaba, ukuxega kwesimilo  nemikhuba yokusebenzelana nemimoya eyenziwa iBhabhiloni Elikhulu! Siyaqhubeka sixwayisa abantu ukuba ‘baphume kulo’ ukuze bangahlanganyeli ecaleni kanye nalo phambi kukaNkulunkulu.​—IsAm. 18:4.

19. Ungubani “udrako omkhulu onombala obomvu njengomlilo”?

¹⁹ Incwadi yesAmbulo iphinde ichaze “udrako omkhulu onombala obomvu njengomlilo.” (IsAm. 12:3) Lo drako ulwa noJesu nezingelosi zakhe. (IsAm. 12:7-9) Uhlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi unika ohulumeni amandla. (IsAm. 12:17; 13:4) Ungubani lo drako? ‘Uyinyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane.’ (IsAm. 12:9; 20:2) Nguye olawula zonke izitha zikaJehova.

20. Kuzokwenzekani kudrako?

²⁰ Kwenzekani kudrako? IsAmbulo 20:1-3 sithi ingelosi izojikijela uSathane kwalasha, okuyindawo enjengejele ayovalelwa kuyo. Njengoba ezobe esavalelwe, uSathane ‘ngeke akwazi ukudukisa izizwe kuze kuphele iminyaka engu-1 000.’ Ekugcineni, uSathane namademoni akhe bazobhujiswa bangaphinde babe khona, okumelelwa ukuphonswa kwabo “echibini lomlilo nesibabule.” (IsAm. 20:10) Cabanga nje ukuthi kuyoba njani emhlabeni engasekho uSathane namademoni akhe. Kuyoba isikhathi esijabulisa kakhulu leso!

21. Kungani kungasijabulisa lokho esikufunde encwadini yesAmbulo?

²¹ Kukhuthaza ngempela ukuqonda incazelo yalezi zibonakaliso ezitholakala encwadini yesAmbulo! Asigcinanga nje ngokuthola ukuthi zingobani izitha zikaJehova, kodwa sibonile nokuthi kuzokwenzekani kuzo. Impela, “uyajabula lowo ofunda ngokuzwakalayo, nalabo abezwa amazwi alesi siprofetho”! (IsAm. 1:3) Kodwa lapho izitha zikaNkulunkulu sezibhujisiwe, yiziphi izibusiso eziyojatshulelwa abantu abathembekile? Sizoxoxa ngalokho esihlokweni sokugcina salolu chungechunge.