Chaputala 4

“Babulo” Wosatetezereka Aweruziridwa ku Chiwonongeko

1. (a) Kodi nchiyani chimene liwu lakuti “Babulo” limatanthauza, ndipo ndani amene anayambitsa mzinda wokhala ndi dzina limenelo? (b) Kodi ndintchito yomanga yotani imene Nimrode wodzikweza anayamba, ndipo ndizotulukapo zotani?

DZIKO liri lodzala ndi chisokonezo lerolino—mwa ndale zadziko, mwa makhalidwe, ndi mwachipembedzo. Liwu la Baibulo Lachihebri lotanthauza chisokonezo lamasuliridwa ndi lakuti “Babulo” m’Chicheŵa. M’Genesis, Babulo walankhulidwa kukhala Babele, dzina limene limatanthauzanso “chisokonezo.” Mzinda wokhala ndi dzinalo unayambidwa ndi Nimrode, wopandukira Yehova. (Genesis 10:8-10) Kumeneko, amuna motsogozedwa ndi Nimrode wodzikwezayo anayamba kumanga nsanja imene ikakwera m’mwamba mochitira chipongwe Yehova. Yehova anagonjetsa ntchito yonyoza Mulungu imeneyi mwa kusokoneza chinenero chimodzi cha omangawo, kotero kuti sakamvana wina ndi mnzake pamene anayesa kugwirira ntchito pamodzi.—Genesis 11:1-9.

2. (a) Kodi nchiyani chimene chinachitikira ulamuliro wadziko wa Babulo mu 539 B.C.E., ndipo kodi zimenezo zinali mapeto a mzinda wokhala ndi dzinalo? (b) Kodi nchiyani chimene mzinda wa Babulo wakale sunatsimikizire kukhala?

² Nthaŵi yaitali pambuyo pake, mzinda watsopano wokhala ndi dzina la Babulo unalembedwa kukhala unali utamangidwa pa Mtsinje wa Firate. (2 Mafumu 17:24; 1 Mbiri 9:1) Mu 539 B.C.E. Ulamuliro wa Dziko wa Babulo unagubuduzidwa ndi Koresi Wamkulu, wolamulira wa Amedi ndi Aperisi, mokwaniritsa ulosi wa Yehova pa Yesaya 45:1-6. Ngakhale kuli kwakuti Babulo anagwa mwamphamvu, iye analoledwa kupitirizabe kukhalako monga mzinda. Kwasimbidwa kuti analiko ngakhale m’mbali zotsirizira za zaka za zana loyamba la Nyengo Yathu. (1 Petro 5:13) Komabe, mzinda wakale umenewo, sunatsimikizire kukhala “Babulo Wamkulu,” umene mtumwi Yohane analemba za uwo m’bukhu la Chivumbulutso chaputala 17.

3. Kodi kwenikweni Babulo Wamkulu nchiyani?

³ “Babulo Wamkulu,” wa m’chivumbulutso wolongosoledwa kukhala mkazi wachisembwere amene wakwera pa “chirombo chofiira,” amaimira ulamuliro wa dziko lonse wa chipembedzo chonyenga, kuphatikizapo zipembedzo zonse zotchedwa Dziko Lachikristu.a (Chivumbulutso 17:3-5) Mogwirizana ndi zimene mtumwi Yohane anawona ponena za mkaziyo, gulu lophiphiritsira limeneli lachita chigololo chauzimu ndi olamulira onse andale zadziko a dziko lapansi. Ulamuliro wa dziko wa chipembedzo chonyenga, Babulo Wamkulu, ukali kugwiritsirabe ntchito chisonkhezero chachikulu.

“Bwenzi la Dziko”—Osati la Mulungu

4. Mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko I, kodi ndimotani mmene Babulo Wamkulu anawonjezerera maupandu amene amachitira banja laumunthu?

⁴ Komabe, mkhalidwe wa Babulo Wamkulu ngwosatetezereka kwambiri, ndipo zimenezi zakhala makamaka choncho chiyambire mapeto a Nkhondo Yadziko I. Mkati mwa nkhondo imeneyo iye anawonjezera maupandu ake otsutsana ndi banja laumunthu. Atsogoleri a Dziko Lachikristu, amene amanena kuti ali otsatira a Yesu Kristu, anasonkhezera anyamata kumka kumabwalo ankhondo. Malemu Harry Emerson Fosdick, mtsogoleri wachipembedzo wotchuka Wachiprotestanti, anachirikiza zoyesayesa za nkhondo koma pambuyo pake anavomereza kuti: “Ngakhale m’matchalitchi athu taimikamo mbendera zankhondo . . . ndi mbali imodzi ya pakamwa pathu timatamanda Kalonga wa Mtendere ndipo ndi mbali inayo timalemekeza nkhondo.” Ansembe ndi atsogoleri ena achipembedzo a Dziko Lachikristu anapereka mapemphero kaamba ka magulu ankhondo ochita nkhondo pamisonkhano yachipembedzo, ndipo iwo anatumikira monga ansembe akunkhondo kaamba ka gulu la ankhondo, gulu la ankhondo apanyanja, ndi ankhondo a m’ndege.b

5. (a) Kodi ndimawu otani a Yakobo 4:4 amene Dziko Lachikristu silinawalabadire? (b) Kodi chiweruzo chake chaumulungu chiyenera kukhala chotani?

⁵ Dziko Lachikristu, motsogozedwa ndi atsogoleri achipembedzo ameneŵa, silinalabadire mawu a Yakobo 4:4: “Akazi achigololo inu, kodi simudziŵa kuti ubwenzi wa dziko lapansi uli udani ndi Mulungu? Potero, iye amene afuna kukhala bwenzi la dziko lapansi adziika mdani wa Mulungu.” Motero Dziko Lachikristu likupitirizabe monga mdani wa Mulungu Wam’mwambamwamba kufikira nthaŵi yathu yeniyeni ino. Ndithudi ilo liribe chitetezo cha Mulungu, ndipo kaamba ka chifukwa chachikulu chimenechi kukhalapo kwake kwenikweniko kuli kosatetezereka. Mabwenzi ake andale zadziko sangathe kudaliridwa, ndipo funde la malangizo otsutsa chipembedzo likupitirizabe kukula. Si kwa iye kumene Mulungu amanena kuti: “Musamachitira choipa aneneri anga.”—1 Mbiri 16:22.

“Tulukani M’menemo, Anthu Anga”

6, 7. (a) Kodi ndimfuu yofulumira yotani imene ikuperekedwa pa Chivumbulutso 18:4, ndipo ikulunjikitsidwa kwa ayani? (b) Kodi ndiliti pamene mfuu yoyambirira koma yofanana inayamba kugwira ntchito kwa Ayuda otsenderezedwa m’Babulo wakale?

⁶ Kwa odzozedwa ameneŵa ndi atsamwali awo mkati mwa mapeto ano a dongosolo la zinthu, mfuu ya Mulungu ikumveka mofulumira yakuti: “Tulukani m’menemo, anthu anga; kuti mungayanjane ndi machimo ake, ndi kuti mungalandireko ya miriri yake.” (Chivumbulutso 18:4) Inde, tulukani m’Babulo Wamkulu, ulamuliro wa dziko wachipembedzo chonyenga.

⁷ Mfuu imeneyo ikubwereza mawu a Yeremiya 50:8 ndi 51:6, 45, amene analunjikitsidwa kwa otsalira a Ayuda amene Yehova anaweruzira kukakhala zaka 70 mu ukapolo ndi mu undende m’dziko la Babulo. Mawu amenewo anayamba kugwira ntchito kwa Ayuda amene anali otsenderezeka m’Babulo mu 537 B.C.E., pambuyo pakuti Koresi Wamkulu wonenedweratuyo wagubisira magulu ake ankhondo a Amedi ndi Aperisi kuoloka Mtsinje wa Firate umene unali pafupifupi woumawo kuloŵa mu mzinda wa Babulo.

8. (a) Kodi ndimotani mmene Koresi Wamkulu anakwaniritsira Yesaya 45:1-6? (b) Kodi nchifukwa ninji uyo wophiphiritsiridwa ndi Koresi Wamkulu anafunikira kuchita mogwirizana ndi chitsanzo chophiphiritsira chimenechi?

⁸ M’chaka choyamba cha kulamulira kwake, Koresi Wamkulu anachita mokwaniritsa ulosi wa Yesaya 45:1-6. Mofananamo, wophiphiritsiridwa ndi Mfumu Koresi, koma amene ali wamphamvu kwambiri Yesu Kristu, anachita mogwirizana ndi chitsanzo cholosera chimenechi cha zinthu. Zimenezi zinali panthaŵi yoikika ya Mulungu atatha kuloŵa mu ulamuliro wake wachifumu kumwamba kudzanja lamanja la Yehova Mulungu, pamene “nthaŵi zoikidwiratu za amitundu” zinatha m’October 1914. (Luka 21:24) Mkati mwa nkhondo yoyamba ya dziko ya 1914-18, otsalira a Israyeli wauzimu analoŵetsedwa mu ukapolo padzanja la Babulo Wamkulu ndi okondedwa ake andale zadziko.

9, 10. (a) Kodi ndichochitika chotani chimene chinachitidwa motsutsana ndi mamembala asanu ndi atatu ogwira ntchito pamalikulu a Sosaite? (b) Kodi ndiumboni wotani umene ulipo wakuti Babulo Wamkulu anali kusonkhezera chochitika cha kuimitsa ntchito ya anthu a Yehova?

⁹ Mwachitsanzo, m’United States bukhu limene linali lofalitsidwa chatsopano ndi Watch Tower Society panthaŵi imeneyo, The Finished Mystery, linaletsedwa monga loukira boma. Olemba aŵiri a bukhulo anatengeredwa kubwalo lamilandu la chitaganya m’Brooklyn, New York, ndipo mopanda chilungamo anaweruziridwa kukakhala zaka 20 m’ndende yokhaulitsira ya chitaganya ku Atlanta, Georgia. Choteronso prezidenti wa gulu lofalitsa, mlembi ndi msunga chuma, ndi ena atatu ogwira ntchito pamalikulu. Amene anali ndi phande m’kutembenuza anaweruziridwa theka lanthaŵi imeneyo m’ndende yokhaulitsira ya chitaganya.

¹⁰ Ndipo chotero pa July 4, 1918, Akristu odzipatulira asanu ndi atatu ameneŵa anakwezedwa tireni yomka ku Atlanta, Georgia, kuti akabindikiritsidwe kumeneko. Mamembala a malikulu a Brooklyn a Watch Tower Society panthaŵiyo anafunikira kusamalira ntchito monga momwe akathera. Kodi ndani amene anali ndi liwongo lamkhalidwe umenewo? Bukhu lotchedwa Preachers Present Arms likuyankha: “Kupendedwa kwa nkhani yonseyo kumachititsa kutsimikizira kuti kwakukulukulu anali matchalitchi ndi atsogoleri achipembedzo amene anali magwero a gulu lofuna kufafaniza Araselo [Mboni]. . . . Pamene mbiri ya kukhala m’ndende zaka makumi aŵiri inafikira atola nkhani olemba nyuzi zachipembedzo, pafupifupi lirilonse la mabukhu ameneŵa, lalikulu ndi laling’ono anasangalala chifukwa cha chochitikacho. Sindinapeze mawu alionse omvera chifundo mu alionse a magazine achipembedzo.—Ray H. Abrams, tsamba 183, 184.

Kugwa—Koma Osati Kuloŵa m’Chiwonongeko

11, 12. (a) Kodi nchiyani chimene Babulo Wamkulu adalinganiza kuchita? (b) Kodi ndimotani mmene anagwera mwamphamvu, ngakhale kuli kwakuti sanawonongedwe? (c) Kodi nchiyani chimene chinali chotulukapo pa anthu omasulidwa a Yehova?

¹¹ Koma kusangalala m’Babulo Wamkulu kunali kwakanthaŵi. M’ngululu ya 1919, Babulo Wamkulu anagwa mwamphamvu, kumene pambuyo pake kuyenera kutsatiridwa ndi zochitika zina zachipembedzo asanawonongedwe kotheratu. Babulo Wamkulu analingalira kusunga anthu a Yehova ali chipsinjikire ndi mu ukapolo kosatha. Koma m’March wa 1919 oimira asanu ndi atatu a Watch Tower Society, anatseguliridwa zitseko za ndende ndi kuti iwo anatuluka mwa kulipira ndalama yachikole. Pambuyo pake, iwo anapezeka opanda mlandu kotheratu pa zinenezo zonse.

¹² Tsopano chikondwerero chochitidwa ndi Babulo Wamkulu chinali chitatha! Likutero bukhu la Preachers Present Arms ponena za chosankha cha bwalo lamilandu cha kumasula Mboni: “Chosankha chimenechi chinachititsa matchalitchi kukhala chete.” Koma chisangalalo chinali chachikulu pakati pa anthu a Yehova. Gulu lawo la padziko lonse linatsitsimulidwa. Pamsonkhano wawo mu 1919, pa Cedar Point, Ohio, prezidenti wa Sosaite anasonkhezera omvetsera zikwi kuchitapo kanthu mwa nkhani yake yakuti “Kulengeza Ufumuwo.” Kachiŵirinso Mboni za Yehova zinali zaufulu, zikumalengeza molimba mtima Ufumu wa Mulungu poyera! Babulo Wamkulu anali atagwa, ngakhale kuli kwakuti anali asanawonongedwe. Koresi Wamkulu, Yesu Kristu, anali atamgonjetsa ndipo adamasula otsatira ake okhulupirika.

13. Pamene Chigwirizano cha Amitundu chinawonekera, kodi nchiyani chimene Babulo Wamkulu anachita?

¹³ Motero Babulo Wamkulu analoledwa kupulumuka kuloŵa m’nyengo ya pambuyo pa nkhondo. Pamene Chigwirizano cha Amitundu chinavomerezedwa kukhala gulu la dziko losungitsa mtendere, Bungwe Ladziko Lonse la Matchalitchi a Akristu m’Amereka linalichirikiza, likumalengeza poyera kuti Chigwirizano cha Amitundu chinali “chisonyezero cha ndale zadziko cha Ufumu wa Mulungu padziko lapansi.” Pamene potsirizira pake Chigwirizano chovomerezedwacho chinakhazikitsidwa, Babulo Wamkulu anakwera pamsana pake ndimo mmene kukwera kwake pa “chirombo chofiira” chophiphiritsira chimenechi kunayambira.—Chivumbulutso 17:3.

14. (a) Mkati mwa Nkhondo Yadziko II, kodi nchiyani chimene chinali mchitidwe wa Babulo Wamkulu? (b) Pamene gulu lopangidwa ndi anthu losungitsa mtendere linatuluka m’phompho pambuyo pa Nkhondo Yadziko II, kodi nchiyani chimene Babulo Wamkulu anachita?

¹⁴ Pamene gulu losungitsa mtendere lolephera limeneli linaloŵa m’phompho la kusachita ntchito pa kuulika kwa Nkhondo Yadziko II, Babulo Wamkulu anasiyidwa wopanda chokwera. (Chivumbulutso 17:8) Koma iye analiko pamene mitundu 57 imene inaphatikizidwa m’Nkhondo Yadziko II. Kukhala kwake atagaŵanitsa kukhulupirika kwake pakati pa magulu omenyana nkhondo sikunamvutitse, monga momwe kukhala kwake wogaŵanika kukhala timagulu tamipatuko tokwanira mazana ambiri ndi matchalitchi sikunamvutitse konse. Pamene gulu lopangidwa ndi anthu losungitsa mtendere, mu mpangidwe wa Mitundu Yogwirizana linatuluka m’phompho la kusachita ntchito pamapeto a Nkhondo Yadziko II, Babulo Wamkulu mwamsanga anakwera pamsana pake ndipo anayamba kusonyeza ulamuliro wake pa iro.

Maulamuliro Andale Zadziko Adzatembenukira Babulo

15, 16. (a) Kodi anthu tsopano akuyang’anizana ndi chochitika chochititsa mantha chotani? (b) Kodi nchiyani chimene Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse ali wotsimikizira, mogwirizana ndi kunena kwa Chivumbulutso 17:15-18?

¹⁵ Dziko lonse la anthu tsopano liri pafupi kuyang’anizana ndi chochitika chochititsa mantha. Chimenechi chidzakhala kutembenuka kwa maulamuliro andale zadziko motsutsana ndi Babulo Wamkulu, ncholinga cha kumuwononga. Zimenezi zingamvekere kukhala zogwiritsa mwala kwa anthu amene amakhulupirira mowona mtima kuti zipembedzo zonse nzabwino. Koma Yehova Mulungu, mfumu yachilengedwe chonse, ali wotsimikiza kuti Babulo Wamkulu alibe malo m’chilengedwe chaponseponse chonse ndi kuti iye waipitsa gawo la chilengedwe kwautali wokwanira. Iye ayenera kuwonongedwa kotheratu mwachiwawa.

¹⁶ Pali kale magulu amphamvu amene Mulungu angalole kupangitsa chiwonongeko chake, ndiko kuti, magulu andale zadziko a dziko. Bukhu louziridwa ndi Mulungu la Chivumbulutso limaneneratu kuti Yehova adzatembenuza okondedwa ake kutsutsana naye, ndipo iwo adzamvula kukhala wamaliseche, kumvumbula kaamba ka zimene iye alidi—wonyenga wauchiŵanda! Ndiyeno pamenepo, kunena kwake titero, adzamtentha ndi moto ndi kumpangitsa kukhala dzala laphulusa. Iwo adzamchitira zofanana ndendende ndi zimene iye anachitira olambira osagonjera a Mulungu wowona.—Chivumbulutso 17:15-18; 18:24.

17. Kodi zochita za olamulira andale zadziko zotsutsana ndi Babulo zimawatembenuzira kukulambira Yehova, ndipo kodi timadziŵa motani?

¹⁷ Chochitika chachiwawa chotsutsana ndi chipembedzo chimenechi chochitidwa ndi olamulira andale zadziko sichimatanthauza kuti pambuyo pa kutero iwo adzatembenukira kukulambiridwa kwa Yehova Mulungu. Mchitidwe wawo wochititsa mantha wotsutsana ndi Babulo sumatanthauza kuti iwo tsopano adzakhala mabwenzi a Mulungu. Ngati zinali zotero iwo sakanachita zimene bukhu la Chivumbulutso limasonyeza kuti adzachita pambuyo pake. (Chivumbulutso 17:12-14) Iwo angakondwere kwakukulu ndi zipambano zotsutsa chipembedzo zimene Yehova Mulungu wawalola kukwaniritsa, koma iwo adzapitirizabe kusokeretsedwa ndi “mulungu wa nthaŵi yino ya pansi pano,” Satana Mdyerekezi, wotsutsa waphamphu, wa Yehova Mulungu ndipo wosatopa.—2 Akorinto 4:4.

18, 19. (a) Kodi ndani amene sadzapulumuka kuti awone kulemekezedwa kwa ufumu wachilengedwe chonse wa Yehova kudzera mwa “Kalonga wa Mtendere”? (b) Koma kodi ndani amene adzakhala mboni zosatha za kulemekezedwa kwa Yehova pa Babulo Wamkulu?

¹⁸ Babulo Wamkulu sadzapulumuka kuwona chimake chenicheni, cha kulemekezedwa kwa ulamuliro wachilengedwe chonse wa Yehova kudzera mwa “Kalonga wa Mtendere,” amene tsopano ali “Mulungu Wamphamvu” padzanja lamanja la Mulungu Wamphamvuyonse ndi Namalenga Wamkulu, Yehova.—Yesaya 9:6.

¹⁹ Mboni za Yehova zidzakhala openyerera, otetezeredwa ndi Mulungu wolungama. (Yesaya 43:10, 12) Mwa lamulo lochokera ku miyamba yolungama, iwo momvera adzakhala atatuluka m’Babulo Wamkulu. (Chivumbulutso 18:4) Chikondwerero chawo cholungama chidzakhala chopanda malire pa zimene awona. Iwo pambuyo pake adzakhala mboni za Yehova kuumuyaya wonse ndipo adzakhoza kuchitira umboni ponena za kulemekezedwa kwake pa Babulo Wamkulu.—Chivumbulutso 19:1-3.

[Mawu a M’munsi]