Ukuwa KweBabiloni Kwasakazwa EJapane
“LIWILE, liwile iBabiloni Elikhulu, eliphuzisé izizwe zonke iwayini lolaka lobufebe balo.” Lesosimemezelo sengelosi esishukumisayo sazwiwa ngokokuqala ngqá umphostoli uJohane emuva ekhulwini lokuqala leSikhathi sethu Esivamile. Nokho, esikhathini sethu, “ngosuku lweNkosi,” besinanelwa oFakazi BakaJehova abangamaKristu kuzwa sonke isintu.—IsAmbulo 1:10; 14:8.
IBabiloni Elikhulu liyisimiso somhlaba wonke senkolo yamanga, eLobukholwa eliyingxenye yalo enecala kunazo zonke. Kuso sonke ‘isikhathi sokugcina,’ izahlulelo zikaJehova kulo ziye zasakazwa ngesibindi oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. (Daniyeli 12:4) Ngokwesibonelo, omagazini beNqabayokulinda baka-April noMay ngonyaka odlule babenezihloko ezinamandla ezidalula icala lenkolo yamanga nokubhujiswa kwayo okuzayo. Kwasakazwa amakhophi angaphezu kwezigidi ezingama-50 alabomagazini emhlabeni wonke—ukumenyezelwa okunamandla kokwahlulelwa kweBabiloni Elikhulu!
IJapane Ikhuphula Izinga
Isibonelo sentshiseko yoFakazi BakaJehova kulabomagazini abakhethekile sabonakala eJapane, ikomkhulu lobuShinto nobuBuddha ingxenye yeBabiloni Elikhulu. EJapane INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso kaDecember 1988 yazisa amabandla ngomkhankaso okhethekile wenkonzo yasensimini owawuhlelelwe izinyanga zangoApril noMay 1989. Izimemezelo zokusekela lomsebenzi okhethekile kamagazini zaphuma kuNkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yezinyanga ezalandela, nasezincwadini ezaziya emabandleni nasezindikimbeni zabadala.
Ukusabela kwakukuhle kakhulu. Ngosizo lukaJehova, phakathi nalezozinyanga ezimbili zonyaka odlule, iJapane yathola ubufakazi ukwedlula noma inini ngaphambili.
Inkonzo Yobuphayona Obusizayo
Isaziso sangoDecember 1988 sahlanganisa lamazwi: “Sinikhuthaza ukuba nibe nomgomo wokujabulela ubuphayona obusizayo phakathi kuka-April noMay, ikakhulukazi ngoApril.” Lamazwi aphindwa kuNkonzo Yethu YoMbuso kaFebruary 1989, eyanxusa abazalwane ukuba ‘bahlele isimiso sabo sansuku zonke ukuze izinceku ezizinikezele eziningi ngangokunokwenzeka zibhalise njengamaphayona asizayo ngoApril.’
OFakazi bazindla ngalezikhumbuzo. Waba yini umphumela? Inani eliphakeme kunawo wonke enanini lamaphayona asizayo. NgoMarch 1989 inani lamaphayona asizayo kakade lase lifinyelele enanini elisha eliphakeme labayizi-24 115. Kodwa ngoApril lelonani lacishe laphindeka kabili laba yizi-41 055. Umzamo ophawuleka ngempela!
Emabandleni amaningi, bonke noma iningi labamemezeli lahlanganyela esicini esithile senkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele esikhathini sezinyanga ezimbili zomsebenzi okhethekile. Lokhu ngokuvamile kwadinga ukuhlela okukhulu. Enye inkosikazi yekhaya yangabaza ukuthi yayingahlanganyela, njengoba ihlala phezulu ezintabeni endaweni ephakeme cishe ngamamitha angama-900 lapho izinto zokuhamba zimbalwa kakhulu khona. Nakuba kunjalo, yayikufuna ngempela ukuba iphayona elisizayo. Ngakho abadala bahlela ukuyisiza ngento yokuhamba, futhi yona, kanye nabo bonke abanye abamemezeli ebandleni, bajabulela inyanga yokuphayona.
Ukuhola okuhle kwabadala kwaboniswa esiFundeni saseOsaka, eDolobheni laseTakatsuki, eBandleni laseOtsuka labamemezeli abangama-77, lapho bonke abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo babephakathi kwabangama-73 abahlanganyela ohlotsheni oluthile lwenkonzo yobuphayona. Lawomaphayona ahlanganisa futhi bonke abamemezeli ababhapathiziwe abasebasha abasafunda isikole. Umoya wobuphayona owaboniswa yilaboFakazi abasebasha wawufana nalowo obonakala emabandleni amaningi. Ngokwesibonelo, entsheni ebhapathiziwe engama-23 eBandleni laseHeiwadai esiFundeni saseTokyo, eyi-11 ingamaphayona avamile, futhi eyi-11 yaba amaphayona asizayo ngoApril. Kulelobandla, ingqikithi yabamemezeli abangama-93 yaphayona ngayo leyonyanga.
Usuku Olukhethekile Lomsebenzi
Uhlelo lwaseJapane lweNkonzo Yethu YoMbuso kaMarch lwakhuthaza abazalwane ngalamazwi: “Umsebenzi kamagazini awusekelwanga ngoMgqibelo wesibili nowesine kuphela kodwa ngayo yonke iMigqibelo yenyanga. Intshiseko abazalwane abayibonisayo iyancomeka. NgoApril umsebenzi kamagazini uhlelelwe futhi yonke iMigqibelo, kodwa sizani nenze umzamo okhethekile wokubekela eceleni uApril 8 njengosuku lukamagazini ukuze wonke umuntu ahlanganyele emsebenzini kamagazini ngalolosuku. Ukuze sizwakalise isixwayiso kubo bonke abayolalela, kungokudingekile ukubasakaza kabanzi labomagazini abafike ngesikhathi.”—Isaya 61:2; IsAmbulo 18:4, 5.
NgoFebruary uhlelo lwaseJapane lweNkonzo Yethu YoMbuso lwaluwugcizelele lomsebenzi obalulekile. Yathi: “NgoMgqibelo wesibili, ngoApril 8, wonke umuntu onguFakazi KaJehova eJapane—manje ababalelelwa ngaphezu kwezi-130 000—makahlanganyele emsebenzini kamagazini.” Abadala bakhuthazwa ukuba bahlele izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zomsebenzi kamagazini ezithatha usuku lonke ukuze kuhlanganyele abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. Ngenxa yokusabela okuhle kwabadala nokusekela kwenhliziyo yonke kwabo bonke abamemezeli, lolosuku lwaba impumelelo enkenenezayo. Singasho ukuthi ngalolosuku kwafinyelelwa umvuthwandaba eJapane ekumenyezelweni kwezahlulelo zikaJehova eBabiloni Elikhulu.
Ngokwesibonelo, eBandleni laseUshioda, eDolobheni laseYokohama abadala bahlela inkonzo eyayizoqhubeka amahora ayi-13, kusukela ngo–7:00 a.m. kuya ku–8:00 p.m. Kwahlanganiswa nezinkathi ezimbili zokufakaza emgwaqweni, kanye nezikhathi zokuhambela abantu abebengekho emakhaya ngaphambili nesokufakaza okuvamile endlini ngendlu. Abamemezeli abaningi bakwazi ukuhlanganyela okungenani kwesisodwa salezici ezihleliwe zenkonzo, futhi abaningi bahlanganyela cishe kuzo zonke izici zomsebenzi ezazihleliwe.
Inkonzo eqhubekayo yahlelwa futhi eBandleni laseJonan, eDolobheni laseFukuoka. Lapho, kwenziwa amalungiselelo ahlanganisa amahora asukela ku–8:00 a.m. kuya ku–9:00 p.m., kube nekhefu elincane phakathi nosuku. Kwahlanganiswa nesikhathi sokufakaza endlini ngendlu, ukuhambela insimu yamabhizinisi nezindawo zokuthenga, nokuhambela lapho kungatholakalanga muntu khona ekuhambeleni okudlule. Abanye oFakazi kulelobandla babika amahora afinyelela kwayisishiyagalombili omsebenzi wokushumayela ngalolosuku!
Ukusabela ngenhliziyo yonke kwabazalwane kwabonakala esiFundeni saseWakayama, lapho bonke abamemezeli abangama-55 eBandleni laseKainan bahlanganyela osukwini olukhethekile lomsebenzi. Omunye udade lapho oyiphayona elivamile, wabeletha ngoApril 7. Ingabe lokho kwamvimbela ukuba afakaze ngoApril 8? Cha. Wahambisa omagazini khona kanye lapho esibhedlela! Ebonisa umoya ofanayo, omunye umzalwane wasesiFundeni saseOsaka waphoqeleka ukuba ayonakekela izindaba emsebenzini wakhe wokuziphilisa ngoApril 8. Wayengahlanganyela kanjani kulomsebenzi okhethekile? Wenza indawo asebenza kuyo yaba insimu yakhe futhi wathola izikhokhelo ezinhlanu.
Omunye udade esiFundeni saseSaitama wayelangazelela ukuhlanganyela kulomsebenzi okhethekile wosuku, kodwa kwakudingeka ukuba ahambe amakhilomitha acishe abe ngu-1 300 eya eDolobheni laseAsahikawa nomyeni wakhe ongakholwa. Nokho, akazange adikibale. EAsahikawa, waya nabantwana bakhe abancane ababili esiteshini sikaloliwe, futhi lapho, ngaphandle kwasesiteshini, wakuthola lokho ayenethemba lokukuthola: isixuku sabamemezeli esivela ebandleni lakuleyondawo sisenkonzweni yasensimini. Wakwazi ukuhlanganyela nabo emisebenzini yosuku.
Ukufakaza Emgwaqweni
INkonzo Yethu YoMbuso yaseJapane yakhuthaza ikakhulukazi abadala ukuba bahlele ukufakaza kwasemgwaqweni ngoApril 8, futhi lokhu kwaba isici esivelele salolosuku olukhethekile. Njengoba kwenzeka, izulu lana kakhulu kulo lonke izwe, kodwa lokho akuzange kuyidambise intshiseko yabazalwane. Abaningi babonisa umoya ofana nobonakala kodade abathathu abakhubazekile eBandleni laseMinamata, esiFundeni saseKumamoto. Naphezu kweminyaka yabo yobudala—65, 80, nengama-85—basiqungela isibindi lesisimo sezulu esibi futhi baba isikhuthazo esihle kulo lonke ibandla; futhi badonsa ukunakekela kwabantu abaningi ababedlula.
Lapho efakaza emgwaqweni, omunye udade eBandleni eliseDolobheni laseKashiwa West wabuza enye indoda: “Wake wezwa yini ngeBabiloni Elikhulu?” Lapho eyinika omagazini baka-April, leyondoda yathi, “Anginasithakazelo,” yase ihamba. Nokho, lapho ifika endaweni yokuwela ujantshi futhi ima, yayikhuluma yodwa, “Liyini iBabiloni Elikhulu?” Omunye umzalwane owayefakaza emgwaqweni eduze wayizwa wayesehambisana nayo, echaza lokho iBabiloni Elikhulu eliyikho. Leyondoda yabamukela omagazini.
Amanye amabandla ayengakaze afakaze emgwaqweni ngaphambili. Kodwa kusukela ngoApril 8, aye akwenza ingxenye yasikhathi sonke yomsebenzi wawo. Futhi akumangalisi! Ukufakaza emgwaqweni kuyindlela ephumelela kakhulu yokuthola abantu abangatholakali ngenye indlela. Omunye udade eDolobheni laseNaha, eOkinawa, wahlanganyela ekufakazeni emgwaqweni ngaphandle kwesakhiwo sehhovisi oFakazi BakaJehova abangavunyelwe ukuba bangene kuso ngenjongo yokufakaza. Wahambisa omagazini abayi-12 ngehora ngokukhuluma nalabo abangena nabaphuma kulesosakhiwo.
Omunye udade eDolobheni laseMuroran, eHokkaido, wayehlanganyela ekufakazeni emgwaqweni ngaphandle kwezitolo ezithengisa izinto ezihlukahlukene enkabeni yedolobha. Watshela enye indoda eyathatha omagazini: “Uma ungathanda ukuzwa okwengeziwe, singakuvakashela kwakho.” Yamnikeza ikheli layo, inombolo yocingo, nebalazwe elincane elibonisa umuzi wayo, nezikhathi eyoba ngazo ekhaya! Ngesonto elilandelayo, lowodade nomunye umzalwane bayihambela futhi bathola ukuthi yayihlala engxenyeni yesakhiwo eyayikwenqabela ukuhambela kwasikhathi sonke okuphathelene nenkonzo okwenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ukuzifundela kwayo siqu lensizwa iBhayibheli kwakuyiqinisekisile ukuthi eLobukholwa alithokozelwa uNkulunkulu. Yayifuna ubuKristu beqiniso futhi yakujabulela ukuqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya sasikhathi sonke.
Omunye ummemezeli eDolobheni laseKawasaki wahlanganyela ekufakazeni emgwaqweni ntambama ngoApril 8. Ekupheleni kwesikhathi ayesabele umsebenzi, wakhuluma nomuntu wokugcina, owesifazane osemusha owathi wayefunde iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova esikhathini esidlule. Kodwa wayephikiswe abazali bakhe futhi ngemva kwalokho waya eyunivesithi futhi wathuthela endaweni yakhona yokuhlala. Ngakho, wasiyeka lesosifundo. Nokho, ngenxa yokufakaza emgwaqweni, wasiqalisa kabusha ngenjabulo isifundo sakhe seBhayibheli futhi kakade useba khona emihlanganweni.
Ukusakaza Omagazini
Ngenxa yabaningi kangaka abasekela lomsebenzi okhethekile, ukuhanjiswa komagazini—ikakhulukazi labo abaqukethe izigijimi zokwahlulelwa kweBabiloni Elikhulu—kwakukuhle kakhulu. Omunye ummemezeli webandla esiFundeni saseOsaka wahambisa omagazini abangama-205 ngoApril. EDolobheni laseKagoshima, eBandleni laseEast, ngamunye wabamemezeli abayi-14 wahambisa omagazini abangaphezu kwekhulu, kuyilapho iqembu elingalodwa labamemezeli abayi-12 eDolobheni laseOgawa, esiFundeni saseIbaraki, lasakaza ingqikithi yomagazini abayi-1 388 phakathi noApril.
Eqinisweni, eJapane iyonke, kwahanjiswa omagazini abayizi-3 293 266 ngoApril wonyaka odlule—amaphesenti angama-92 ukwedlula uApril wango-1988! Yeka ukuthi isigijimi sokwahlulela kukaJehova iBabiloni Elikhulu sazwakaliswa ngokunamandla kanjani!
Amandla Angaphezu Kwavamile
Ngokuqinisekile, njengakuzo zonke ezinye izingxenye zomhlaba, oFakazi BakaJehova eJapane babenesimo esiqondile futhi beshiseka entwasahlobo ka-1989. Okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kwanikeza ubufakazi obusobala bokuthi uJehova wayekubusisa ukushiseka kwabo futhi eyisekela imizamo yabo yokusakaza izahlulelo zakhe aziletha enkolweni yamanga. Kwabanye, kwakungelula ukuhlanganyela; nakuba kunjalo, babezimisele, futhi uJehova wayibusisa intshiseko yabo. Abaningi bahlala ensimini esetshenzwa njalo, kodwa babonisa umoya ofanayo wokuphuthuma nentshiseko njengabafowabo abakwezinye izindawo. Kuzo zonke izimo, amazwi kaIsaya abonakala eyiqiniso: “Nguye omupha oyethileyo amandla, nakongenamandla uyandisa izikhwepha.”—Isaya 40:29.
Akungabazeki ukuthi okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kwabakhumbuza amazwi omphostoli uPawulu: “Sinalengcebo ezitsheni zebumba, ukuze amandla angaphezu kwavamile abe akaNkulunkulu futhi angabi avela kithi.” (2 Korinte 4:7, NW) Yebo, lapho umuntu ebeka inkonzo yobuKristu, “lengcebo,” kuqala ekuphileni kwakhe, uthola “amandla angaphezu kwavamile” anikezwa nguNkulunkulu. Kwangathi uJehova angaqhubeka esebenzisa izinceku zakhe eJapane nakuwo wonke amanye amazwe ukuba zinikeze ubufakazi obungashwampuluzi ngaphambi kokuba isiphelo sifike.—Mathewu 24:14.
Kulonyaka, omagazini beNqabayokulinda baka-April noMay bayoba nochungechunge lwezihloko zangaphandle ezithi “Ngubani Oyoholela Isintu Ekuthuleni?” “Ukuthula Kwezwe—Kuyosho Ukuthini Ngempela?” “Izigidi Ezifileyo Manje Ziyophinde Ziphile,” nesithi “IArmagedoni—Nini?” Kungani ungahleli ukuba uhlanganyele lokhu kwaziswa nomakhelwane bakho? Qikelela ukuthi abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka benziwa baqaphele izindaba ezinhle ezimangalisayo uNkulunkulu azigcinele usuku lwethu eBhayibhelini.