Isahluko 15—IBhayibhili Lomvukela Waselizweni LaseFrance.

Kusukela ngomnyaka ka 1517 imfundiso yeMvuselelo, yayilethe phambi kwabantu iBhayibhili elalivuliwe, njalo imizamo yonke yayenziwe eyokuthi imfundiso yeqiniso ifinyelele amazwe wonke wezwekazi laseEurope. Amanye amazwe ayamukela ngentokozo, njengesithunywa sasezulwini. Kwezinye indawo umbuso kapapa waphumelela ukwenqabela ukungena kwayo, njalo ukukhanya kolwazi lweBhayibhili, lendonsela yalo ephakamisayo, kwavinjwa kwangafinyeleli abantu. Kwelinye ilizwe, lobanje ukukhanya kwasekungenile, akuzange kwamukelwe yibunyama. Okwamakhulu amanengi eminyaka, imfundiso yeqiniso yalwisana lemfundiso yamanga. Ekucineni ububi banqoba, njalo iqiniso lasezulwini lalahlelwa phandle. “Ukulahlwa kuyilokhu ukuthi ukukhanya kufikile emhlabeni, kodwa abantu bathanda umnyama kulokukhanya, ngoba imisebenzi yabo imibi.” (Johane 3:19). Ilizwe lonke latshiywa ukuthi livune isivuno salokho elalikukhethile. Isandla soMoya kaNkulunkulu esivikela ububi babantu sasuswa ebantwini ababeyale ukwamukela isipho somusa wakhe. Ububi bavunyelwa ukuthi bukhule njalo bugxile. Njalo umhlaba wonke wabona izithelo zokuphika ngamabomo ukukhanya. {GC 265.1}IEP 265.1

Impi yokulwisa iBhayibhili, eyayiqhutshwe okweminyaka eminengi elizweni laseFrance, yaphetha ezehlakalweni zoMvukela. Ububi lobu obasabalalayo kwakungumphumela womsebenzi weRoma wokuncindezela iBhayibhili. Kwabonisa umzekeliso osobala ongakaze ubonwe ngumhlaba wonke owawungenxa yokusebenza kombuso kapapa, kwaba yisibonelo somphumela womsebenzi wezinkulungwane zeminyaka owawenziwe yimfundiso yebandla leRoma. {GC 265.2}IEP 265.2

Ukuncindezelwa kweBhayibhili phakathi kwesikhathi sokubusa kukapapa kwakuveziwe ngabaprofethi, njalo loMambuleli uchaza isiphetho esibi esasizakwehlela ilizwe laseFrance ngenxa yamandla “wendoda yesono.” {GC 266.1}IEP 266.1

Ingilosi kaNkulunkulu yathi: “Zona zizakunyathela phansi umuzi ongcwele inyanga ezingamatshumi amane lambili. Ngizakubanika ofakazi bami ababili amandla wokutshumayela insuku eziyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha begqoke amasaka. ... Kuzakuthi sebebuqedile ubufakazi babo, isilo esiphuma emgodini ongelamkhawulo silwe labo, sibanqobe sibabulale. Lezidumbu zabo zizakusala zidindilizile emigwaqweni yomuzi omkhulu othiwa ngokomoya Isodoma leGibhithe, lapho iNkosi yethu yabethelwa khona. ... Labakhileyo emhlabeni bazakuthokoza ngabo, bathabe, banikane izipho, ngoba abaprofethi laba ababili babeluhlupho kulabo abakhileyo emhlabeni. Kwathi ngemva kwalezo nsuku ezintathu ezilengxenye yosuku umoya wokuphila ovela kuNkulunkulu wangena kibo, basebesukuma besima ngenyawo zabo, abababonayo behlelwa yikwesaba okukhulu.” (Isambulo 11:2-11). {GC 266.2}IEP 266.2

Isikhathi esichazwa lapha “eseminyaka ezinyanga ezingamatshumi amane lambili” njalo “lamalanga ayinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha”- sikhomba isikhathi esifananayo, esiveza ngokufanayo isikhathi lapho ibandla likaKrestu elalizahlukunyezwa ngaphansi kwamandla waseRoma. Iminyaka enyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha yokubusa kukapapa yaqala ngomnyaka ka A.D 538, njalo yaze yaphela ngomnyaka ka1798. Ngaleso isikhathi ibutho laseFrance langena edolobheni laseRoma lafika labopha upapa, njalo wafela khona. Loba nje upapa omutsha wabekwa esikhundleni sakhe, umbuso wobupapa awukaze kusukela lapho uthole amandla owawulawo endulo. {GC 266.3}IEP 266.3

Ukuhlukunyezwa kwebandla akuzange kuqhubeke ngasosonke isikhathi eminyakeni leyi eyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha. UNkulunkulu ngomusa wakhe waquma isikhathi sokuhlukunyezwa kwabo sabasifitshane. Nxa wayechaza ngaphambilini “uhlupho olukhulu” olwaluzakwehlela ibandla, uMsindisi wathi: “Uba lezonsuku bezingafinyezwanga, bekungesiliswe muntu; kodwa lezonsuku zizakufinyezwa ngenxa yabakhethekileyo.” (Mathewu 24:22). Ngenxa yendonsela yeMvuselelo ukuhlukunyezwa kwamaKrestu kwama ngaphambi kokufika komnyaka ka1798. {GC 266.4}IEP 266.4

Nxa wayekhuluma ngofakazi ababili umprofethi waqhubekela phambili wathi: “Laba bayizihlahla ezimbili zamaoliva lezinti zezibane ezimbili ezimiswe phambi kweNkosi yomhlaba.” (Isambulo 11:4). “Ilizwi lakho” watsho uDavida, “liyisibani enyaweni zami, lokukhanya endleleni yami.” (Amahubo 119:105). Ofakazi ababili bamele imiBhalo etholakala eThestamenteni elidala lelitsha. Wonke womabili aqakathekile kakhulu ekuvezeni ukudabuka lokuqhubeka komthetho kaNkulunkulu. Wonke njalo angofakazi becebo losindiso. Imifanekiso, leminikelo, njalo lesiprofethi seThestamente elidala ikhomba phambili uMsindisi ozayo. Incwadi zeThestamente elitsha zikhuluma ngoMsindisi osebuyile ngendlela efana xathu laleyi eyachazwa endulo lasesiprofethini. {GC 267.1}IEP 267.1

“Bazakutshumayela insuku eziyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha begqoke amasaka.” Phakathi kwesikhathi lesi, ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu bahlala besesimeni esifihlakeleyo. Amandla kapapa enza imizamo yokufihlela abantu ilizwi leqiniso, babeka phambi kwabo ofakazi bamanga ukwenzela ukuthi baphikise ubufakazi babo. Nxa iBhayibhili laselikhitshwe ngabaphathi bebandla lamakhosi, nxa ubufakazi balo basebungcolisiwe, njalo nxa yonke imizamo yaseyenziwe eyayingacatshangwa ngabantu njalo lamadimoni eyokususa inqondo zabantu kilo, ngesikhathi lapho bonke abenza imizamo yokuveza amaqiniso walo babezingelwa, bethengiswa, belinyazwa, begqitshelwa emigodini, bebulawelwa ukholo lwabo, kumbe bebanjwa ngamandla ukuthi babalekele ezintabeni, lasembalwini zomhlaba, ngaso lesi isikhathi ofakazi ababili batshumayela begqoke amasaka. Loba kwakunjalo baqhubeka ngobufakazi babo okweminyaka eyinkulungwane lamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisithupha. Phakathi kobunyama kwakulamadoda athembekileyo ayethanda ilizwi likaNkulunkulu njalo ayelomhawu ngokudunyiswa kwakhe. Kuzo lezi inceku ezithembekileyo kwanikwa ukuhlakanipha, lamandla wokuveza iqiniso lakhe phakathi kwaso sonke lesi isikhathi. {GC 267.2}IEP 267.2

“Uba kukhona ofuna ukubalimaza laba, kuphuma umlilo emilonyeni yabo, uqothule izitha zabo; uzakufa ngokunjalo ofisa ukubalimaza.” (Isambulo 11:5). Abantu ngeke bavoxe umthetho kaNkulunkulu betholakale bengelacala phambi kwakhe. Umutsho wecala leli elesabekayo ubekwe wacaca emaphethelweni wencwadi kaSambulo: “Ngiyabaxwayisa bonke abawezwayo amazwi esiprofethi alotshiweyo kulincwadi. Uba umuntu esengezelela kuwo, uNkulunkulu uzakwengezelela kuye izifo ezilotshiweyo kulincwadi. Uba umuntu ephungula amazwi esiprofethi alotshiweyo kule incwadi, uNkulunkulu uzaphungula isabelo sakhe esihlahleni sokuphila lasemzini ongcwele, lasezintweni ezilotshiweyo kulincwadi.” (Isambulo 22:18, 19). {GC 268.1}IEP 268.1

Zinjalo izixwayiso ezinikwe nguNkulunkulu ukuvimbela abantu ukuthi bangenzi imizamo yokutshintsha loba ngayiphi indlela lokhu okuveziweyo lokukhulunyiweyo. Izixwayiso lezi ziyakhuluma njalo lakulabo abasebenzisa indosela yabo ukuhugela abanye ukuthi baphathe kalula umthetho kaNkulunkulu. Kumele zenze besabe bonke abakhuluma amagama wokuthi akusondaba yalutho ukuthi sigcina umthetho kaNkulunkulu loba asiwugcini. Bonke abaphakamisa imbono yabo phezu kwalokho okuvezwe lizulu, bonke abenza imizamo yokuguqula umutsho woMbhalo osobala ukwenzela ukuthi usekele intando yabo, kumbe besenzela ukuthi bahambelane lomhlaba, bazithezela olulenkume. Ilizwi elilotshiweyo, umthetho kaNkulunkulu, uzalinganisa isimo somuntu wonke njalo ubeke icala bonke abazatholakala belecala phambi komhloliso lowu. {GC 268.2}IEP 268.2

“Nxa sebeqedile intshumayelo yabo.” Isikhathi lapho ofakazi laba ababili ababezatshumayela begqoke amasaka, saphela ngomnyaka ka1798. Nxa basebesemaphethelweni womsebenzi wabo owawusithele, impi yayizaba phezu kwabo ilethwa ngumbuso owawuvezwe sengathi wawuphuma “emgodini ongelamkhawulo.” Emazweni amanengi ezwekazi laseEurope amandla amanengi ayebusa ebandleni laselizweni okweminyaka engamakhulu amanengi ayethunganyelwa nguSathane esebenzisa umbuso kapapa weRoma. Kodwa lapha kuvezwa olunye uhlobo lwamandla kaSathane olwaseluphakama. {GC 268.3}IEP 268.3

Kwakuyindlela yokusebenza kweRoma, ngaphansi kokucatsha ngokuthi babengabalungileyo abalandela iBhayibhili, ukuligcina livalelwe phakathi kolimi olungaziwayo njalo licatshile emehlweni wabantu. Ngaphansi kombuso weRoma ofakazi laba batshumayela “begqoke amasaka.” Kodwa omunye umbuso, isilo esasiphuma emgodini ongelamkhawulo, sasizaphakama senze impi esegcekeni silwisane lelizwi likaNkulunkulu. {GC 269.1}IEP 269.1

“Idolobho elikhulu” emgwaqweni walo lapho ofakazi ababulawelwa khona, njalo lapho izidumbu zabo ezilele khona, “ngokomoya” yiGibhithe. Phakathi kwawo wonke amazwe aveziweyo embalini yeBhayibhili, ilizwe laseGibhithe laziqhenya laphika ukuthi kwakuloNkulunkulu ophilayo njalo laphika lemilayo yakhe endulo. Ayikho eyinye inkosi eyake yazimisela ukuphikisana lamandla asezulwini okwedlula lokho okwenziwa yinkosi yaseGibhithe. Nxa umbiko wawusiza phambi kwakhe ulethwa nguMose, egameni likaNkulunkulu, uFaro watsho amazwi alendelayo ngokuziqhenya: “INkosi ingubani ukuba ngilalele ilizwi layo, ngivumele abakoIsrayeli bahambe na? Kangiyazi iNkosi, futhi kangiyikubavumela abakoIsrayeli ukuba bahambe.” (Eksodusi 5:2). Lokhu kuyinkolo yalabo abangamukeliyo ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu ezulwini, njalo ilizwe elivezwe njengeGibhithe lalizanika ilizwi elifananayo lokuphika intando kaNkulunkulu ophilayo njalo babezabonisa umoya ofananayo wokungakholwa njalo lenkani. “Umuzi omkhulu” ufananisiwe njalo ngokwakomoya lomuzi waseSodoma. Isono somuzi waseSodoma esokwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu saboniswa kakhulu ngesimo sokungabi lomgoqo ekwenzeni kwabo okubi. Njalo isono esifananayo sasizabonakala kakhulu elizweni leli elalizagcwalisa amazwi wevesi leyi. {GC 269.2}IEP 269.2

Nxa silandela amazwi womprofethi, ngalezonsuku, sekusele isikhathi esincane ukuthi umnyaka ka1798 ufike, omunye umbuso owawusungulwe ngaphansi kwesimo sikaSathane, wawuzaphakama ulwisane leBhayibhili. Njalo endaweni lapho ubufakazi babofakazi ababili bakaNkulunkulu ababezathuliswa khona, kwakuzabonakala khona inkolo efana lekaFaro yokungakholwa ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu ophilayo njalo lesono sokungabi lomgoqo ekoneni okufana laseSodoma. {GC 269.3}IEP 269.3

Isiprofethi lesi sagcwaliseka ngokuphelela kwaso embalini yelizwe laseFrance. Ngesikhathi soMvukela, ngomnyaka ka1793, “umhlaba ngokokuqala wezwa iqula lamadoda, ayezalelwe njalo akhulela emadolobheni, njalo ayethethe amalungelo okubusa elinye lamazwe aphakemeyo aseEurope, bephakamisa ilizwi elilodwa bephika iqiniso elingwele okwedlula wonke, elamukelwa yimphefumulo yabantu, njalo bephika ngelizwi elilodwa ukukholwa njalo lokukhonza uNkulunkulu.” — (Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17). “Ilizwe laseFrance yilo lodwa emhlabeni wonke elilembali eliqiniso, elaphakamisa isandla salo lahlamukela uNkulunkulu egcekeni kungasomfihlo. Kwabakhona abantu abanengi ababengakholwa ukubakhona kukaNkulunkulu njalo kwabalabanye abahlambaza ibizo lakhe, njalo basekhona futhi lakathesi, lasemazweni afana laweNgilandi, Germany, laseSpain, njalo lakwezinye indawo; kodwa ilizwe laseFrance lihamba phambili njalo lima phezu kwamanye embalini yomhlaba njengelizwe elilodwa elabeka umthetho edale lephalamende, wokuthi akulaNkulunkulu emhlabeni kumbe ezulwini, abantu bonke phakathi kwelizwe, okwakugoqela obaba, labomama, labantwana, bagida bahlabela lezingoma besamukela umbiko lowu.”- (Blackwood’s Magazine, November, 1870.) {GC 269.4}IEP 269.4

Ilizwe laseFrance labonisa njalo isimo esifana lalesi esasiseSodoma. Phakathi koMvukela owabakhona kwakulomoya wokona lobudlova ofanana lalowo owabangela ukuthi amadolobho ayesemagcekeni abhidlizwe endulo. Njalo abalobi bembali baveza ndawonye ukungakholwa kuNkulunkulu lokungabi lomgoqo ekwenzeni okubi elizweni laseFrance, ngendlela okubekwe ngayo esiprofethini: “Okwakubambane kakhulu lomthetho lowu owawubekiwe, kwakuyilowo owawusehlisa umtshado, wona oletha ubudlelwano obungcwele obedlula bonke abantu abangabambana ngabo, njalo oyisizatho esikhulu esibangela ukubambana komphakathi, umtshado wenziwa ukuthi ubeyinto nje esungulwa emthethwandaba ngokuthanda kwabantu njalo babelamandla wokwehlukana njalo ngokuthanda kwabo... Nxa abantu babezimisele ukusebenzela ukudinga icebo lokubhidliza konke okuhle emphakathini okuletha ukuthula empilweni zabantu, njalo bethole lesiqiniseko sokuthi isenzo sabo sasizaqhubeka kunzalo yonke eyayizalandela, babengeke baphume lecebo eledlula ukwehlisa isipho somtshado... USophie Arnoult, owayengomunye wababukisi owayedume ngobubi, wachaza umtshado welizwe lakibo “njengenkonzo yobufebe.’”- (Scott, vol, 1, ch. 17.) {GC 270.1}IEP 270.1

“Lapho iNkosi yethu layo eyabethelwa khona.” Amazwi lawa lawo agcwaliseka elizweni laseFrance. Kwakungakaze kube lelinye ilizwe lapho umoya wokuzonda uKrestu owawuboniswe ngale indlela. Kwakungekho njalo elinye ilizwe lapho iqiniso elalithole ukuphikiswa ngale indlela. Ngesenzo sokuhlukumeza okwenziwa yilizwe laseFrance kulabo ababemele ivangeli, basebebethele uKrestu owayesesimeni sabalandeli bakhe. {GC 271.1}IEP 271.1

Okwamakhulu eminyaka ayelandelene igazi labangcwele lalichithekile. Nxa amaWaldensi ayebeke phansi impilo zabo ezintabeni zasePiedmont, “ngenxa yelizwi likaNkulunkulu, njalo lobufakazi bukaJesu Krestu,” ubufakazi obufanayo babuyenzwe ngabazalwane, abohlanga lwamaAlbigenses elizweni laseFrance. Ngezinsuku zeMvuselelo abafundi laba babebulewe ngaphansi kochuku olumangalisayo. Amakhosi labaphakemeyo, abesifazana besikhosini, abantu ababeligugu lelizwe, babethokozele ukubukela ubuhlungu obabuboniswa ngabalandeli bakaJesu. Abantu bohlanga lwamaHuguenots ababelezibindi, balwela amalungelo abo bachitha igazi labo ezimpini ezinengi abadlula kizo. Abavuseleli babekwa icala lokuba yizephulamthetho, kwabekwa intengo emakhanda abo, bazingelwa njengenyamazana zeganga. {GC 271.2}IEP 271.2

Ibandla enkangala, izizukulwana ezimbalwa zamaKrestu asendulo zazilokhe zikhona elizweni laseFrance ngalesi isikhathi, babecatshile ezintabeni zasenhla, njalo babelokhe bephakamisa ukukholwa kwabokhokho babo. Nxa babezama ukuhlangana ezinkonzweni zantambama, babedonswa ngamasotsha njalo behudulwe bagcinwe njengezigqili okwempilo yabo yonke. Abantu ababelunge okwedlula bonke, njalo ababekhaliphe kakhulu abelizwe laseFrance, babotshwa ngamaketane, bahlukunyezwa ngochuku olwesabekayo behlanganiswa lezikliwi lababulali. (Wylie, b. 22, ch. 6.) Abanye ababethole uzwelo babedutshulwa bahle bafe, bengalazikhali njalo bengelayo indlela yokuzivikela, babewela phansi ngamadolo bethandaza. Amakhulu amaxhegu, labesifazana ababengela ndlela yokuzivikela, labantwana ababengelacala babetshiywa befile endaweni zabo zokubuthana. Ekuhambeni phakathi kwezintaba kumbe ehlathini, lapho ababejwayele ukubuthana khona, kwakungasiyo into emangalisayo “ukuthola izidumbu zabantu ababegwaziwe kumbe ababelengisiwe ezihlahleni.” Imizi yabo eyayibhidlizwe ngenkemba, langamahloka,” yayiguquka ibeyinkangala enkulu.” “Izenzo zonke lezi ezochuku aziyenziwanga phakathi kobunyama, kodwa ngaphansi kombuso kaLouis XIV. Kwakuyisikhathi lapho imfundo yesayensi yayiphakanyisiwe, abantu ababesebenza esigodlweni babengabantu abaqeqetshileyo kakhulu, njalo babalendonsela ekwehliseni uthando lokulunga elizweni.” —(Ibid, b. 22, ch. 7.) {GC 271.3}IEP 271.3

Kodwa isehlakalo esabamnyama okwedlula zonke ogwalweni lokwenza okubi, olwalusesabeka okwedlula zonke izenzo zochuku phakathi kweminyaka yonke, kwakuyikubulawa okwenziwa endaweni okuthiwa yi St. Bartholomew. Umhlaba usakhumbula lalamhlanje uchuku olwenziwa ngalolusuku. Inkosi yaseFrance ifuqwa ngamapristi eRoma, yabeka ilizwi lokuthi kwenziwe lokhu. Kwakuzakhala insimbi ebusuku eyayizakwazisa abantu ukuthi kwasekuyisikhathi sokubabulala. Amakholwa ngezinkulungwane zabo, ababelele ngokuthula emizini yabo, bethembele ekuvikelweni kwenkosi yabo, bahudulwa kungelalizwi lokubalimukisa njalo babulawa kabuhlungu. {GC 272.1}IEP 272.1

Njengoba uKrestu wayengumthungameli ongabonwayo nxa wayesusa abantu bakhe ebugqilini baseGibhithe, ngokufanayo uSathane wayengumthungameli ongabonakaliyo emsebenzini lowu wokubulala amakholwa. Okwensuku eziyisikhombisa ukubulawa kwabantu kwaqhubeka edolobheni laseParis, insuku ezintathu zokuqala zazigcwele ulaka olungelakubalwa. Njalo ukubulawa lokhu kwakungekho edolobheni leli kuphela, kodwa ngaphansi kwelizwi lenkosi kwadluliselwa kwezinye indawo lapho abaVuseleli ababetholakala khona. Kabazange behloniphe iminyaka lemihlobo yabantu. Kumbe abantwana abancane ababengelacala lamaxhegu ayelenwele ezimhlophe. Abaphakemeyo, labaswelayo, abadala labancane, omama labantwana, bonke baqunywa ndawonye. Elizweni lonke jikelele, ukubulala lokhu kwaqhubeka okwenyanga ezimbili. Kwafa abantu abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa. {GC 272.2}IEP 272.2

“Nxa umbiko wokubulawa kwabantu wawufika eRoma, kwaba lenjabulo phakathi kwabathungameli bebandla engelamkhawulo. Umthungameli waseLorraine wabonga isithunywa lesi ngemiqhele eyinkulungwane; umthungameli waseSt. Angelo wakhala ngentokozo; njalo insimbi zakhala endaweni zonke, kwabaswa imililo eyathunqa ubusuku bonke, njalo uGregory XIII, ehanqwe ngabathungameli bebandla labanye abahloniphekileyo, wasuka waya ebandleni laseSt. Louis, lapho umthungameli wase Lorraine owayehlabela khona... Kwabekwa isicoco sokujabulela ukubulawa lokhu okwakuyenzwe elizweni laseFrance, njalo lalamuhla esigodlweni saseVatican kulokhe kukhona imibhalo emithathu yaseVasari, echaza ukuhlaselwa kwamakholwa, lenkosi labasekeli bayo behlela isenzo lesi, njalo lokubulala ngokwakho. UGregory wathumela uCharles iluba legolide, njalo ngemva kwenyanga ezine ukubulawa lokhu kudlulile, ... walalela intshumayelo eyayinikwa ngumpristi owayevela elizweni laseFrance, ... owakhuluma ‘ngalolo suku egcwele injabulo lentokozo, lapho upapa owathola khona umbiko, njalo waphakama esiyabonga uNkulunkulu njalo loSt. Louis.”‘- (Henry White, The Massacre of St. Bartholomew, ch. 14, par. 34.) {GC 272.3}IEP 272.3

Umoya ofanayo owathungamela abantu ukuthi babulale abantu eSt. Bartholomew yiwo njalo owathungamela izehlakalo zoMvukela. UJesu Krestu wabizwa njengomzenzisi, njalo amazwi abantu baseFrance ayengawokuthi “Chola Umzenzisi,” besitsho uKrestu. Amazwi ayesabekayo okuthuka uKrestu njalo lokwenza ububi kwakuhamba ndawonye, njalo amadoda ayizoni ezinkulu, ayegcwele uchuku olukhulu aphakanyiswa emphakathini. Kukho konke lokhu uSathane waphakanyiswa, kodwa uKrestu, esimeni sakhe seqiniso, lokulunga, njalo lothando lwakhe olungela bumina, wabethelwa. {GC 273.1}IEP 273.1

“Isilo esiphuma emgodini ongela mkhawulo sizalwisana labo, njalo sibanqobe, sibabulale.” Amandla ayebusa ilizwe laseFrance ngesikhathi soMvukela njalo lokubusa ngokwesaba, alwisana loNkulunkulu njalo lelizwi lakhe eliNgcwele ngendlela engakaze ibekhona emhlabeni. Ukukhonzwa kukaNkulunkulu kwasuswa ngokusebenzisa imithetho eyayibekwa ephalamende. AmaBhayibhili aqoqwa atshiswa phambi kwabantu bonke kusenziwa yonke inhlekisa. Umthetho kaNkulunkulu wanyathezelwa ngaphansi kwenyawo. Yonke imfundiso yeBhayibhili yalahlelwa phandle. Usuku lokuphumula kanye ngeviki lwabekwa eceleni, njalo endaweni yalo usuku lwetshumi lwabekwa lwaba lusuku lokuzithokozisa njalo lokwenza okulihlazo phambi kwezulu. Inkonzo yokubhabhathiza leyesidlo yayingasavunyelwa. Njalo imbiko eyayilengiswa emangcwabeni yayisitsho ukuthi ukufa kwakuyikulala okunaphakade. {GC 273.2}IEP 273.2

Ukwesaba uNkulunkulu kwenziwa kwabakhatshana lokuqala kokuhlakanipha kodwa kwamukelwa njengokuqala kobuthutha. Zonke inkonzo zokukhonza zamiswa, kwasala inkonzo yokukhululeka elizweni. Omunye “wamabhishopi waseParis wabizwa ukuthi azokuba lengxenye kwesinye isenzo esibi esedlula zonke esezike zenziwa phambi kwelizwe lonke... Wabizelwa phambili ehanqwe ngabantu abanengi, ukuba ezokutsho ukuthi ukukhonza kumbe inkolo eyayifundiswe okweminyaka eminengi, ngokuphelela kwayo, yayingela nsika yayo embalini kumbe eBhayibhilini kodwa kwakuyinto yokuzibumbela eyayiphume ezandleni zamapristi. Waqhubeka njalo ngokuphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu ezulwini onguye ayegcotshelwe ukuthi amsebenzele, njalo wanikela impilo yakhe ukuthi wayezasebenzela ukukhululwa kwabantu, lokulingana kwabantu, njalo lokuziphatha kwabantu. Waqhubeka njalo wabeka phezu kwetafula izembatho zakhe zebandla, njalo wanga umongameli womhlangano lowu. Abapristi abanye labo balandela isenzo sikabhishopi lowu.”- (Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17.) {GC 274.1}IEP 274.1

“Labakhileyo emhlabeni bazathokoza ngabo, bathabe, banikane izipho, ngoba lababaprofethi ababili babeluhlupho kulabo abakhileyo emhlabeni.” Ilizwe laseFrance laselithulise ilizwi labafakazi ababili bakaNkulunkulu. Ilizwi leqiniso lalala lifile emigwaqweni yalo, njalo labo ababezonda imigoqo lemfundiso yomthetho kaNkulunkulu bathokoza kakhulu. Amadoda akhuluma phambi komuntu wonke bethuka uNkulunkulu osezulwini. Njengezoni zasendulo, bakhala besithi,” UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona yini ulwazi kuMdali Ophakemeyo? (Amahubo 73:11.) {GC 274.2}IEP 274.2

Ngesibindi sokuhlaza uNkulunkulu esimangalisayo okunzima ukuthi sikholwe ngumuntu, omunye wabapristi benkolo entsha wathi: “Nkulunkulu nxa ukhona, phindisela igama lakho elilinyaziweyo. Ngicela ukubona uzilwela! Lokhe uthule, uyesaba ukuletha umdumo wakho. Ngubani ngemva kwalokhu ozakholwa ukuthi uyaphila?”- (Lacatelle, History, vol. 11, p. 309: in Sir Archibald Alison, History of Europe, vol. 1, ch. 10.) Kambe akufanani yini lamazwi kaFaro: “Ngubani uJehova, ukuthi ngilalele ilizwi lakhe?” “Angimazi mina uJehovah!” {GC 274.3}IEP 274.3

“Isiwula sithi enhliziyweni yaso, akula Nkulunkulu.” (Amahubo 14:1). Njalo iNkosi nxa ikhuluma ngalabo abaguqula iqiniso lakhe: “Ubuthutha babo buzakuba sobala kibo bonke.” (2 Timothi 3:9). Ngemva kokuba ilizwe laseFrance laselifake umthetho onqabela ukukhonzwa kukaNkulunkulu, “yena ophezulu ophila inaphakade”, kwakusele isikhatshana ukuthi bawele ekukhonzeni izithixo, ngokukhonza kwabo unkulunkulukazi Womcabango, owayemelwe ngowesifazana. Njalo lokhu kwakwenzwe yiphalamende ephezulu elizweni laseFrance. Omunye oloba ngembali uthi: “Leyi ngeyinye yezinkonzo zesikhathi lesi ebonisa ukuthi abantu basebelahlekelwe ngumcabango njalo kwakungela eyinye eyiphikisayo ngendlela eyayingelanqondo ngayo njalo ingelabuntu. Iminyango yesigodlo lesi yavulwa kwangena abaculi, ababelandelwa ngabathungameli bedolobho, behlabela ingoma yenkululeko, njalo beqhuba isithombe esasibunjwe njengomuntu wesifazane oweyembathe ingubo emele unkulunkuluzi wabo abasebezamkhonza abambiza ngokuthi ngunkulunkulukazi Womcabango. Wathi engeniswa esigodlweni, bamvula ingubo yakhe, wabekwa esandleni sikamongameli, ...Benza isithombe lesi ukuthi sibe ngumeli walowo ababekhethe ukumkhonza, iphalamende yaseFrance yasikhothamela njalo yasikhonza. {GC 275.1}IEP 275.1

“Isenzo lesi esibi sasilesimo esithile, njalo ukubekwa kukankulunkulukazi Womcabango kwavuseleleka, kwenziwa ngumuntu wonke elizweni, endaweni zonke lapho abantu ababefuna ukufinyelela izinga eliphezulu loMvukela.” (Scott, vol. 1, ch. 17). {GC 275.2}IEP 275.2

Lowo owasungula inkolo yokukhonza uMcabango wathi: “Bathungameli! Ukuthathela izinto phezulu sekususiwe kwatshiyela indawo ukucabanga. Amehlo wakho avalekileyo ahlulekile ukumelana lobuhle bokukhanya. Lamhlanje kubuthene abantu abanengi abaphakemeyo ngaphansi kophahla lolu, lapho okukhulunywe khona iqiniso ngokokuqala. Kule indawo izizukulwane zaseFrance sezenelise ukubaphakathi kokukhonza kweqiniso, - lokho okokuKhululeka, njalo okoMcabango. Kule indawo sibumbe izifiso ezizaletha ukuphumelela kwelizwe lethu. Kule indawo sisuse izithombe ezingaphiliyo, saletha isithombe esiphilayo, esiligugu lemvelo.” — (M. A. Thiers, History of the French Revolution, vol. 2, pp. 370, 371.) {GC 275.3}IEP 275.3

Bathi bengenisa unkulunkulukazi wabo esigodlweni, lowo owayeyisikhulumi wamthatha ngesandla, wakhangela ebantwini esithi: “Bantu, yekelani ukuqhaqhazela phambi kwemdumo engelamandla kaNkulunkulu elicabanga ukuthi ukhona ngenxa yokwesaba kwenu. Kusukela lamuhla lingaphakamisi omunye ngaphandle koMcabango. Ngilinika isithombe sakhe esihle njalo esilungileyo, nxa kudingeka libe lezithixo, linikele kuphela kulezo ezifana lalesi...Liwe phambi koMkhululi omkhulu...” {GC 276.1}IEP 276.1

“Isithombe lesi ngemva kokuthi umongameli asange, sabekwa phezu kwemota enhle, njalo sadluliswa phakathi kwexuku labantu, sayabekwa ethempelini lase Note Dame, ukuba sithathe indawo kaNkulunkulu. Kule indawo isthombe lesi sabekwa endaweni ephezulu abantu baqala ukusikhonza.”- (Alison, vol. 1, ch. 10.) {GC 276.2}IEP 276.2

Lokhu kwalandelwa ngemva kwesikhatshana yisenzo sokutshisa iBhayibhili phambi kwabantu. Ngakolunye usuku “olunye ugatsha lwezembali” lwangena endlini enkulu yedolobho, besithi “Phambili ngoMcabango!” njalo bethwele phezu kwesigodo ingwalo ezazitshiswe ingxenye yazo, ezazigoqela iThestamente elitsha lelidala, umongameli wabo wathi, “yibo bonke ubuwula ababangele ukuthi uluntu lonke lubenze.”- (Journal of Paris, 1793, No. 318. Quoted in Buchez-Roux, Collection of Parliamentary History, vol. 30, pp. 200, 201.) {GC 276.3}IEP 276.3

Kwakungumbuso kapapa owawusungele umsebenzi owawusuqediswa yinkolo yokuthi akulaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Imithetho yeRoma yiyo eyayilethe isimo lesi, kwezokuphilisana kwabantu, lakwezombusazwe, njalo lakwezenkolo, ezaziholela ilizwe laseFrance ekubhujisweni. Abalobi nxa beloba ngobubi obayenzakala ngesikhathi soMvukela, bathi icala lezenzo zonke lezi kumele libekwe phezu kwebandla lesihlalo sikamongameli. Nxa kulandelelwa ukwehlulela okulukhuni kumele libekwe phezu kwebandla. Umbuso kapapa wawungcolise ingqondo zababusi wabenza ukuthi bazonde umsebenzi weMvuselelo, wabenza bawenze isitha sombuso, njalo njengento eyayihlukumeza ukuthula lokubambana emphakathini. Kwakuyikukhalipha kweRoma okwabangela ukuthi kube lochuku olungaka olwaphuma esihlalweni sababusi. {GC 276.4}IEP 276.4

Umoya wamalungelo wabantu wawuhamba leBhayibhili. Kuzozonke indawo lapho ivangeli elalisamukelwa khona, ingqondo zabantu zazivuswa. Babeqala ukuqamula intambo ezazibagqilazile zabenza ukuthi bengabi lolwazi, njalo bakholwe amasiko. Babeqala ukuzicabangela lokuziphatha njengabantu. Amakhosi wonke akunanzelela lokhu njalo aqala ukuqhaqhazela. {GC 277.1}IEP 277.1

Ibandla leRoma alizange lichithe isikhathi ukubasela imizwa leyi abasebelayo. Nxa upapa wayekhuluma lombusi waseFrance ngomnyaka ka1525 wathi: “Inkolo leyi ayisoke ibophe njalo ibhidlize ukukholwa kuphela, kodwa yonke into, ukulunga, imithetho, kanye lamazwi njalo lezikhundla zonke.”- (G. De Felice, History of the Protestants of France, b. 1, ch. 2, par. 8.) Ngemva kweminyaka embalwa eyalandelayo upapa waxwayisa inkosi wathi: “Mhlonitshwa ungadukiswa. AbaVuseleli bazahlukumeza imithetho yelizwe kanye laleyi eyokukholwa... Isihlalo sobukhosi sisengozini efana laleyi eyebandla...Ukusungulwa kwenkolo entsha kufanele kubuye lombuso omutsha.”- (D’ Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 36.) Njalo labo ababefundisa ngezenkolo benza ukuthi bahlulele bengakabi lokuzwisisa ngokubatshela ukuthi imfundiso yeMvuselelo “yenza ukuthi abantu benze ububi, lokuthi ibangela ukuthi inkosi ithathelwe uthando lwabantu abangaphansi kwayo, njalo ihlukumeza ibandla kanye lelizwe.” Ngale indlela ibandla leRoma lenelisa ukwenza ukuthi ilizwe laseFrance lizonde iMvuselelo. “Kwakuyimizamo yokuvikela isihlalo sobukhosi, lokuvikela ababusi, njalo lokuqinisa imithetho yelizwe, okwabangela ukuthi inkemba yokubulala ikhitshwe elizweni lase France.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 4). {GC 277.2}IEP 277.2

Abathungameli belizwe abazange bananzelele umphumela wezenzo lemithetho yabo. Imfundiso yeBhayibhili yayizahlanyela engqondweni zabantu iqiniso, lokuzithiba, lothando khona okuyinsika yokuphumelela kwelizwe. “Ukulunga kuyaphakamisa isizwe.” Ngale indlela “isihlalo siyaqiniswa.” (Izaga 14:34: 16:12) “Umsebenzi wokulunga uzaletha ukuthula;” njalo umphumela, “uzaba yikuthula lokuvikeleka kuze kube nini lanini.” (Isaya 32:17). Lowo olalela umthetho ongcwele uzahlonipha ngokwethembeka imithetho yelizwe lakibo. Lowo owesaba uNkulunkulu uzahlonipha inkosi yakibo ekwenzeni kwayo lokho okulungileyo ngaphansi kwamandla wayo. Kodwa ilizwe laseFrance elalingasela ntokozo labeka imithetho eyabangela ukuthi iBhayibhili litshiswe babulala labafundi balo. Eminyakeni eyalandelayo, amadoda ayelokulunga lokuzithiba, amadoda ayekhaliphe kakhulu kwezemfundo, ayebonise isibindi sokumela ukholo lwabo, okweminyaka eminengi basebenza ezihotsheni njengezigqili, abanye babulawa ngomlilo, abanye babolela emigodini. Inkulungwane ezinengi zathola ukuphephela emazweni ayeseduze labo, njalo lokhu kwaqhubeka okweminyaka engamakhulu amabili lamatshumi amahlanu ngemva kokusungulwa komsebenzi weMvuselelo. {GC 277.3}IEP 277.3

“Kwakungavamanga ukuthi kube lenzalo yabantu baseFrance phakathi kwesikhathi lesi eside engabonanga ngamehlo wayo abalandeli bakaKrestu begijinyiswa bebalekela ulaka lwalabo ababefuna ukuchitha imphefumulo yabo, njalo bebaleka lenhlakanipho ababelayo, kwezokusebenza ngezandla, kwezemithetho, besiya thuthukisa indawo ababebalekela kizo. Ngezinga elifananayo nxa babethuthukisa indawo lezi ngezipho ababelazo, ilizwe lakibo lalisala lisilela ebungcitshini lobu. Nxa lokhu okwakufuqelwe ngaphandle kwelizwe laseFrance kwakugciniwe, ngabe, phakathi kweminyaka leyi engamakhulu amathathu, izipho lobungcitshi beziphepheli lezi babusetshenziswe ukulima elizweni lakibo, ngabe phakathi kweminyaka leyi engamakhulu amathathu, isipho sokusebenzisa izandla sasisetshenziswa ukuphakamisa izinga kwezokubunjwa kwezinto, ngabe, phakathi kweminyaka leyi, ubungcitshi bokujula kwengqondo zabo, kwakusetshenziswe ukuthuthukisa ezemvelo lokucabanga kwabantu, ngabe inhlakanipho yabo yayihola imihlangano yabo, lesibindi sabo silwela ilizwe, lokulunga kwabo kubhala imithetho yelizwe, njalo lenkolo yeBhayibhili iqinisa imicabango njalo ilawula imzwangedwa yabantu bonke elizweni, belizaba ngakanani igugu elizungeze ilizwe laseFrance! Khepha ilizwe elilodumo, elithuthukileyo, njalo eligcwele injabulo, ilizwe ebelizaba ngumzekeliso kuwo wonke amazwe! {GC 278.1}IEP 278.1

“Kodwa isenzo esimnyama lesibi saxotsha emhlabathini waseFrance bonke ababalisi bobuntu, intshantshu zonke zokulunga, bonke abantu ababevikela isihlalo ngokwethembeka, ilizwe lonke lathi kulabo ababezimisele ukwenza ukuthi ilizwe lakibo liphakame kakhulu emhlabeni wonke, khethani lokho elikufunayo, ukutshiswa kumbe ukuphephela kwamanye amazwe. Ekucineni ukubhidlika kwelizwe kwasekuphelile; kwakungasela umzwangedwa olawula abantu, kwakungasela inkolo eyayizadonselwa ekutshisweni, njalo kungasela labo abathanda ilizwe lakibo ababengaphoqelwa ukuthi bayephephela kwamanye amazwe.” (Wylie, b. 13, ch. 20.) Njalo uMvukela lobubi bawo, waba ngumphumela. {GC 279.1}IEP 279.1

“Ngemva kokubaleka kwamaHuguenots kwabakhona ukuwa kwezinto zonke elizweni laseFrance. Amabhizimusi ayesebenza kahle aqala ukuvalwa, izigaba ezazilima emhlabathini ovundileyo zaphenduka inkangala, ukulahleka kolwazi lokuziphatha kwangena endaweni yokuphumelela okwakube khona. Idolobho laseParis laphenduka laba yindawo yabantu ababephila ngokucela uncedo, njalo kucatshangelwa ukuthi ekuqaliseni koMvukela, abantu abadlula inkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili basebephila ngokucela usizo enkosini. Inhlanganiso yamaJesuits yakhula kakhulu phakathi kwelizwe leli elaselibole laphela, babusa ngochuku phezu kwamabandla lezikolo, lasemajele njalo lasezihotsheni.” {GC 279.2}IEP 279.2

Ivangeli lalizaletha impendulo elizweni laseFrance kukho konke okwakuyinkinga kwezombusazwe lasekuphilisaneni kwabantu okwasekudide abathungameli lenkosi yabo, njalo lalabo ababeka imithetho, njalo okwasekubangele ukuthi ilizwe liwele esimeni lapho abantu basebezibusa. Kodwa ngaphansi kokubusa kweRoma abantu basebelahlekelwe yimfundiso kaKrestu yokuzidela lokuthanda abanye. Babedonselwe khatshana lempilo yokuzidela ukuze abanye baphumelele. Izinothi zazingatholanga ukusolwa ngezenzo zabo zokuncindezela labo abaswelayo, labaswelayo babengelasizo abalutholayo. Ukugodla kwezinothi kwakhula njalo baqhubeka besiba lamandla njalo lochuku phezu kwabantu abanengi ababeswela. Okweminyaka eminengi ubuhwaba balabo ababephezulu kwabangela ukuthi izisebenzi zihlukulezeke ngokuswela. Izinothi zazikhuba laba abaswelayo, njalo abaswelayo labo baqala ukuzonda izinothi. {GC 279.3}IEP 279.3

Endaweni ezinengi umnotho wawusezandleni zababusi, njalo izisebenzi zona zaziqhatshile kuphela; babesezandleni zabanikazi ababebaqhatshisele indawo zokuhlala njalo babengela eyinye indlela kulokuthi bamukele lokho ababefuna ukuthi bakubhadale. Umlandu wokukhipha imali eyayizagcina ibandla lesizwe wawela ezisebenzini zelizwe, ababehlawuliswa imali ezinengi nguhulumende labathungameli bebandla. “Ukujabula kwababusi kwakuthathwa njengomthetho omkhulu elizweni, abalimi lezisebenzi babengalamba, kuphela nxa ababusi bejabulile njalo babengela ndaba... Abantu babebanjwa ngamandla zonke izikhathi ukuba benze lokho okwakuthokozisa umnikazi wendawo ababehlala kuyo. Impilo zezisebenzi emaplazini zazizwisa ubuhlungu, ukukhonona kwabo, nxa babethole isibindi sokukhonona, kwakuwela endlebeni ezivalekileyo. Imthethwandaba layo yayikhetha ukulalela lowo ophezulu kulokulalela isisebenzi, abehluleli babethatha imali kubabusi, njalo labo abalemali babesenelisa ukuthola isinqumo abasifunayo, okwabangela ukuthi ilizwe ligcwale ububi. Imali yonke eyayithathwa ezisebenzini yayingafinyeleli ezikhwameni zelizwe, labo ababekhangelelwe ukuba benze umsebenzi lowu babezithathela yona. Njalo amadoda lawa ayekwenza lokhu wona ayengathathelwa mali, njalo ngomthetho babelelungelo lokukhetha izisebenzi zelizwe. Iqula labantu laba ababezenzela umathanda elizweni lalifika inkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi amahlanu, njalo ukuze benelise ukuphila impilo yabo yentokozo izigidi zabantu elizweni lonke zaziphila nzima njalo zilamba.” {GC 279.4}IEP 279.4

Inkantolo yayisiyindawo yokwenza imali njalo leyenkohlakalo. Kwasekungasela ukuthembana phakathi kwabantu lababusi. Zonke izenzo zelizwe zazibonakala zigcwele ubumina lokunxwanela. Okweminyaka edlula amatshumi amahlanu kungakaqali uMvukela isihlalo sasisezandleni zika Louis XV, owayesaziwa njengombusi ongelabuntu, owayethanda ukuzithokozisa njalo owayengaziphathanga. Ngokugcwala kwabantu ababehlukumezekile njalo bengalalwazi, njalo lelizwe lingasela mali, kwakungadingi ilihlo lomprofethi ukuveza ukuthi kwakulempi eyayizakuza maduzane. Nxa wayecebiswa ngabasekeli bakhe inkosi yayijwayele ukuphendula ngamazwi athi: “Zamani ukwenza ukuthi izinto ziqhubeke zinjalo okwesikhathi engizasiphila, ngemva kokufa kwami kuzakuba ngendlela okumele kube ngayo.” Yonke imizamo yokwenza inguquko elizweni yaba yize. Wabunanzelela bonke ububi obabusenzakala, kodwa kazange abelesibindi kumbe amandla okumelana labo. Iyezi elimnyama elalimelele ilizwe laseFrance lalifanekiswe kahle empendulweni yakhe ethi, “Ngemva kwami, kuyeza isikhukhula!” {GC 280.1}IEP 280.1

Ngokusebenzisa umhawu wamakhosi lababusi, ibandla leRoma lalibaholele ukuthi bagqilaze abantu, besazi ukuthi lokhu kwakuzaqeda isizwe amandla, njalo babelenjongo yokuthi ngale indlela bagcine ababusi labantu bengaphansi kwamandla ebandla. Ngokusebenzisa ilihlo elibanzi bananzelela ukuthi nxa befuna ukugqilaza abantu emcabangweni yabo, kwakumele basuse amandla wokuzicabangela, benze ukuthi bengabi lamandla wokuzikhulula. Ububi obabuphindwe kanengi obabusedlula ukuhlupheka kwabantu, kwaba yikulahlekelwa kwabo ngamandla wokwehlukanisa phakathi kobubi lobuhle. Ngokuswela kwabo iBhayibhili, njalo besele lemfundiso yokubandlulula labo abalenkolo ehlukene leyabo njalo lobugovu, abantu basebegcwele ukungazi lokulandela amasiko, njalo basebephila impilo yobubi, okwasekubangela ukuthi bengenelisi ukuzibusa. {GC 281.1}IEP 281.1

Kodwa umphumela wakho konke lokhu wabonakala usuhlukile kulalowo owawuhlelwe eRoma. Kulokuthi bagcine abantu bevalwe amehlo ukuba babone amanga wemfundiso yebandla, umsebenzi wabo wathela izithelo ezabenza ukuba babengabantu abangakhonziyo, njalo ababelomoya womvukela. Inkolo yeRoma bayizonda bayibiza umntwana wemicabango yamapristi. Babona abathungameli bebandla njengesizatho zokuhlukumezeka kwabo. Babesazi unkulunkulu oyedwa, oweRoma, njalo imfundiso yeRoma yiyo yodwa ababeyazi. Babona ubuhwaba bebandla njengesithelo esisodwa seBhayibhili ngakho abazange bafune ukuzwa ngemfundiso yebandla leRoma. {GC 281.2}IEP 281.2

IRoma yayenze konke ukuhlambaza isimo sikaNkulunkulu baguqula imithetho yakhe, manje abantu basengasafuni ukuzwa ngeBhayibhili njalo loMlobi walo. Ibandla lalizame ukuletha ukukholwa okwakungadingi ukuthi abantu bazicabangele, besithi yikho okwakufundiswa liBhayibhili. Impendulo yakho lokho yabangela ukuthi uVoltaire labanye bakhe bahambise imfundiso eyayiphika ilizwi likaNkulunkulu bagcwalisa indawo yonke itshefu yokuba ngabahedeni. Ibandla lalinyathezele abantu ngaphansi kwesithende salo sensimbi; njalo manje abantu bonke, ababehlukumezekile njalo besebuhlungwini, ekuvukeni kwabo ngaphansi kochuku lwebandla, basusa yonke imigoqo yalo. Ngokugcwala inzondo ngenxa yokugqilaza bamandla ababewahloniphe okwesikhathi esingaka, baphika iqiniso lamanga ndawonye, njalo benza iphutha lokungabi lokungazithibi ngoba becabanga ukuthi lokhu kwakusitsho ukukhululeka, izigqili lezi ezobubi zajabula kulokhu ababecabanga ukuthi kwakuyinkululeko. {GC 281.3}IEP 281.3

Ekuqaleni koMvukela, ngemva kokuvuma kwenkosi, abantu bavunyelwa ukuba labameli abadlula labo abababusi labathungameli bebandla behlangene. Ngale indlela amandla amanengi ayesebantwini, kodwa babengazimiselanga ukuwasebenzisa ngokukhalipha. Ngokufuqwa kwabo ngumoya wokuqondisa uchuku ababedlule kulo, bazimisela ukuqala ukwakha umphakathi. Izwekazi lonke laligcwele ulaka, njalo ababelengqondo ezigcwele ulaka, ngenxa yochuku ababedlule kulo, bazimisela ukutshintsha ubuhlungu ababedlule kubo, njalo lokuphindisela kulabo ababelethe ubuhlungu babo. Labo ababehlukunyeziwe basebefundile ngezenzo zalabo ababebahlukumezile labo baqala ukubahlukumeza. {GC 282.1}IEP 282.1

Ilizwe laseFrance elalingela njabulo lavuna egazini ababelihlanyelile. Umphumela wokuvumela ukuthi babuswe ngamandla waseRoma waba mubi kakhulu. Lapho ilizwe laseFrance ngaphansi kokufuqwa libandla leRoma, elalibase umlilo wakuqala nxa umsebenzi weMvuselelo wawuqala, manje uMvukela owawuholwa ngabantu wawusubasa umlilo omkhulu okwedlula owakuqala. Endaweni efananayo lapho abameli bevangeli bakuqala ababulawa khona, abantu bokuqala manje labo basebetshiswa. Ngokuphika kwabo ivangeli elalizaletha ukusila, ilizwe laseFrance lalivule umnyango langenisa ukungakholwa lokubhubha. Lapho imigoqo kaNkulunkulu eyayinyathezelwe khona, kwatholakala ukuthi imithetho yabantu yayingela mandla wokumisa imizwa yabantu; njalo ilizwe lonke lawela ekuvukeleni lasekuzibuseni. Impi ababeyisungulile belwisana leBhayibhili imile lalamuhla njengesikhathi sochuku embalini yomhlaba wonke. Ukuthula lenjabulo kwasekutshabalalisiwe emizini lasenhliziyweni zabantu. Kwakungasela muntu ophephileyo. Wonke umuntu owayephephile lamuhla wayekhangelwa ngelihlo lokusolwa, njalo wayegwetshwa ngelanga elilandelayo. Udlame njalo lemizwa yabantu yiyo eyayisibusa. {GC 282.2}IEP 282.2

Inkosi ndawonye labathungameli, labanye ababusi, babanjwa ngamandla ukuthi babengaphansi kwabantu laba ababegcwele uchuku. Ukuwomela kwabo ukuphindisela kwabaselwa yisenzo sokubulala inkosi, njalo labo ababehlele ukubulawa kwakhe labo bamlandela balengiswa. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi kubulawe bonke ababecatshangelwa ukuthi babephikisana loMvukela lowu owawusuqalile. Amajele agcwaliswa izibotshwa, ngakwesinye isikhathi kwakulezibotshwa ezidlula izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili. Amadolobho wonke ayegcwele izehlakalo zochuku. Eyinye ingxenye yabantu yayilwisana leyinye ingxenye bonke besithi bavukela ububi obabulethwe ngabaphathi, okwabangela ukuthi ilizwe laseFrance libe yinsimu enkulu yempi eyayiphakathi kozulu wonke, owayefuqwa lulaka lwemizwa yabo. “Edolobheni laseParis, ukulwa kwakulandelana, njalo umphakathi wawuqumekile usemaqenjini ayefuqwa ngumoya wokutshabalalisa elinye iqembu.” Njalo okwayenza ukuthi kubenzima kakhulu ilizwe laseFrance laqala ukulwisana lamanye amazwe aseEurope. “Ilizwe lalingasela mali, amasotsha ayelwela imbadalo yawo, abantu bonke babephakathi kwendlala, indawo yonke yayisele iyinkangala ngenxa yempi, njalo ukuphilisana kwabantu kwasekutshabalaliswe yikuzibusa kwabantu.” {GC 283.1}IEP 283.1

Abantu basebefunde kahle izifundo zokuhlukumeza lokwenza uchuku ezazifundiswe yibandla leRoma. Usuku lokuphindisela lwaselufikile ekucineni. Khathesi kwasekungasibo abafundi bakaKrestu abasebephoselwa emgodini njalo ababedonselwa emlilweni. Kwasekukudala babulawa kumbe baphoqelwa ukuthi babaleke baye kwamanye amazwe. Ibandla leRoma manje laselisizwa amandla wokubulala alabo elalibafundise ukuthi bajabulele izenzo zokuchithwa kwegazi. “Umzekeliso wokubulala owawuboniswe ngabaphathi bebandla elizweni laseFrance okweminyaka eminengi eyayedlule, manje yayisisenziwa phezu kwabo ngamandla amakhulu. Indawo zokulengiswa zazibomvu ngegazi lamapristi. Amajele lezihotsha ezazigcwele amaKrestu endulo, manje zasezigcwele labo ababengababulali babo. Bebotshiwe inyawo lezandla, khathesi abathungameli bebandla leRoma bezwa ubuhlungu bonke ibandla elalidlule kibo lingelacala.” {GC 283.2}IEP 283.2

“Kwalandala insuku lapha okwabekwa umthetho omubi okwedlula yonke, lapho kwakungasela muntu owayevunyelwa ukubingelela umakhelwane wakhe kumbe ukukhuleka... kungela ngozi yokwenza icala elikhulu, lapho abathengisi ababegcwele indawo zonke, lapho imililo yokutshisa abantu yayimide njalo isebenza ngamandla wonke, lapho amajele ayenjengomkhumbi othwele izigqili, lapho izifula zazigeleza zigcwele igazi zichithela emfuleni uSeine... Nxa inqola ezazigcwele labo ababegwetshelwe ukufa edolobheni laseParis, abathungameli, ababekhethwe ngumhlangano owawubunjwe ngabantu, babesungula izenzo zochuku ezazingakaze zibonwe ngumuntu edolobheni leli. Inkemba yokubulala yayiphakama isehla ibulala abantu. Imizila yabantu emide yayibulawa ngokuyekela amadwala amakhulu awele phezukwabo. Izikhala zazivulwa ngaphansi kwemikhumbi eyayigcwele abantu bewiswele elwandle. Endaweni yase Arras abantu babenganikwa ithuba lokufa masinyane. Kwakungelamusa onikwayo kungakhathalekile iminyaka lomhlobo wabantu. Inani labantwana elabulawayo lingamakhulu amanengi kakhulu. Abantwana babekhitshwa ebeleni bejikwa abanye bequnywa. Eminyakeni embalwa elitshumi, abantu abanengi babulawa. {GC 284.1}IEP 284.1

Konke lokhu kwenzakala ngendlela uSathane ayefuna kwenziwe ngayo. Lokhu yikho ayesebenze okweminyaka eminengi ukuthi kwenzakale. Indlela asebenza ngayo ngeyokudukisa kusukela ekuqaleni kusiya emaphethelweni, njalo injongo yakhe eyodwa yikuletha ukuhlupheka losizi ebantwini, ukungcolisa indalo kaNkulunkulu, lokunyathezela injongo yezulu yothando, ngale indlela alethe usizi ezulwini. Ngemva kwalokho ngokusebenzisa indlela zakhe zokudukisa uyavala ingqondo zabantu, abenze babeke icala kuNkulunkulu elomphumela wokusebenza kwakhe, sengathi ububi bonke lobu bungaphansi kwamacebo woMdali. Ngendlela efanayo, nxa labo abakade behlukunyezwa bethola ukukhululeka, uyabafuqela ukuthi labo baphindisele ngokwenza uchuku olufanayo. Kube sekubangela ukuthi umzekeliso lowu wochuku usetshenziswe yilabo abafuna ukuncindezela njengomphumela wokukhululeka kwabantu. {GC 284.2}IEP 284.2

Nxa ingxenye yemfundiso yakhe yamanga isiveziwe, uSathane akwenzayo yikuyivala ngesembatho esinye sokudukisa, njalo abantu abanengi bayayamukela ngendlela efanana leyakuqala. Nxa abantu basebebonile ukuthi inkolo yebandla leRoma yayingamanga, njalo nxa wayengaselamandla wokuthungamela abantu ukuthi bephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu ngokusebenzisa ibandla leli, waqhubeka ngokubenza ukuthi babone ukukholwa konke njengokuncindezelwa, njalo lokuthi bebone iBhayibhili njenge nganekwane; njalo ngokulahla imilayo kaNkulunkulu, bazinikela ebubini obungelamkhawulo. {GC 285.1}IEP 285.1

Iphutha elikhulu okwedlula wonke elenziwa yizakhamizi zelizwe laseFrance lalingelokulahla iqiniso elilodwa elikhulu kulawo wonke: elokuthi ukukhululeka kweqiniso kweyame ekulandeleni imithetho kaNkulunkulu. “Kungathi ngabe walela imilayo yami! Ngabe izibusiso zakho zazizakuba njengomfula ogelezayo, lokuphumelela kwakho kube njengamagagasi olwandle.” “Inkosi ithi: Kakulakuthula lakancinyane kwababi.” (Isaya 48: 18, 22). “Kodwa ongilalelayo uzakuhlala evikelekile, achelese, angabi lavalo ngokubi.” (Izaga 1:33). {GC 285.2}IEP 285.2

Labo abangakholwayo ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu ezulwini, labahlamuki bakhetha ukutshiya inkolo njalo baphike umthetho kaNkulunkulu; kodwa umphumela wendonsela yabo uyabonisa ukuthi impilakahle yabantu ibambene lokulandelwa kwemilayo yakhe. Labo abangafuni ukufunda isifundo egwalweni lukaNkulunkulu bayaxwayiswa ukuthi basifunde embalini yamazwe. {GC 285.3}IEP 285.3

Nxa uSathane wayesebenzisa ibandla leRoma ukuholela abantu ukuthi bephule imilayo, amaqhinga wakhe ayefihlakele, njalo umsebenzi wakhe wawufihlakele okukuthi ububi lokuhlupheka okwalandelayo kwakunzima ukuthi kubonakale njengezithelo zokwephula imilayo. Njalo amandla wakhe ayevinjelwe nguMoya kaNkulunkulu okwabangela ukuthi injongo yakhe ingafezeki ngokuphelela. Abantu abazange benelise ukulandelela umphumela ukuthi bayelungisa insika yokuhlupheka kwabo. Kodwa ngenxa yoMvukela umthetho kaNkulunkulu wabekwa eceleni ephalemende enkulu. Njalo ekubuseni kochuku okwalandelayo, ukusebenza kwensika lesiphetho kwabasobala emehlweni womuntu wonke. {GC 285.4}IEP 285.4

Nxa ilizwe laseFrance laseliphike uNkulunkulu phambi komuntu wonke njalo labeka eceleni iBhayibhili, abantu ababi lemimoya emibi bathokoza ngoba basebethole lokhu ababekade bekufuna, umbuso owawungela migoqo yemilayo kaNkulunkulu. Ngokuba isigwebo sokwenza okubi sasingabekwanga masinyane, ngakho inhliziyo zamadodana womuntu “zagxila kibo ukuthi benze okubi.” (Umtshumayeli 8:11). Kodwa ukwephulwa komthetho olungileyo njalo Longcwele ekucineni kuletha ukubhubha. Loba nje ukujeziswa kungafikanga masinya, ububi babantu babusebenzela ukubhubha okwakuzabehlela. Amakhulu eminyaka wokuhlamukela iqiniso lokwenza amacala ayelokhu ebabekela ulaka olwaluzakwehla ngusuku lokwahlulela, njalo nxa inkezo yokona kwabo yayisigcwele, labo abaphika uNkulunkulu bafunda sekungasela thuba lokubuyela emuva, ukuthi kuyinto eyesabekayo ukuqeda ukubekezela kwezulu. UMoya kaNkulunkulu ovikela abantu, oyiwo obamba amandla kaSathane wochuku, wawusususiwe, njalo lowo ojabuliswa yikuhlupheka kwabantu wanikwa imvumo yokwenza intando yakhe. Labo ababekhethe umsebenzi wokuhlamuka, batshiywa ukuthi bavune izithelo zakhona, kwazekwafika isikhathi lapho ilizwe lonke elaseligcwele amacala asebeka okokuthi akula siba olungaloba luchaze konke okwenzakalayo. Kusukela endaweni zonke ezasezibhidliziwe, kwezwakala ukukhala kosizi okumangalisayo. Ilizwe laseFrance lazanyazanyiswa kwangathi yikuzamazama komhlaba. Ukukholwa, lemithetho, lenhlalakahle yabantu, lezimuli, lelizwe, lebandla, konke lokhu kwatshaywa yisandla esasiphakanyiselwe ukulwisana lomthetho kaNkulunkulu. Amazwi wendoda ehlakaniphileyo agcwaliseka athi: “Kodwa omubi uwiswa yibubi bakhe.” (Izaga 11:5). “Lanxa isoni sisenza okubi izikhathi ezilikhulu, siphile isikhathi eside, kodwa ngiyazi ukuthi kuzabalungela abamesabayo uNkulunkulu, ngoba bayamesaba kodwa akusoke kubalungele ababi.” (Umtshumayeli 8:12,13). “Ngoba babezonda ukwazi, bengakhethanga ukwesaba iNkosi;” “Ngakhoke bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo, basuthiswe ngamacebo abo.” (Izaga 1: 29, 31). {GC 286.1}IEP 286.1

Ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu, ababebulawe ngamandla lawa ayethuka uNkulunkulu “ayephume emgodini ongelamkhawulo,” babengasoke bethule kokuphela. “Kwathi ngemva kwalezonsuku ezintathu ezilengxenye yosuku umoya wokuphila ovela kuNkulunkulu wangena kubo, basebesukuma besima ngenyawo zabo, abababonayo behlelwa yikwesaba okukhulu.” (Isambulo 11:11). Kwakungomnyaka ka1793 lapho imithetho eyayivimbela inkolo yesiKrestu njalo leyayikhiphe iBhayibhili elizweni yayifakwe yiphalamende yaseFrance. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu lengxenye, umhlangano ofananayo wabeka umthetho owawusesula umthetho lowu. Umhlaba wonke wema umangele nxa wawubona ububi obabubangelwe yikuphika uMbhalo Ongcwele, abantu bonke bananzelela ukuqakatheka kokukholwa kuNkulunkulu laseLizwini lakhe njengensika yokuphila lokuziphatha. INkosi yathi: “Ngubani omklolodeleyo wamthuka na? Uphakamisele bani ilizwi lakho na? Ukhangele bani ngokuzikhukhumeza na? NgoNgcwele kaIsrayeli.” (Isaya 37:23). “Ngakhoke ngizabatshengisa lokhu, ngalesisikhathi ngizabazisa amandla ami lobukhulu bami, bazakwazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.” (Jeremiya 16: 21). {GC 287.1}IEP 287.1

Nxa ekhuluma ngofakazi laba ababili umprofethi uyaqhubeka esithi: “Basebesizwa ilizwi elikhulu livela ezulwini lisithi kibo: Yenyukelani lapha. Basebesenyukela ezulwini ngeyezi’ lezitha zabo zibabona.” (Isambulo 11:12). Njengoba ilizwe laseFrance laliqale impi lisilwa labafakazi bakaNkulunkulu ababili, ofakazi laba baphakanyisiwe kusukela lapho okwedlula izikhathi zonke. Ngomyaka ka1804 inhlanganiso ebizwa ngokuthi British and Foreign Bible Society yasungulwa. Lokhu kwalandelwa zinhlanganiso ezihambelana layo, ezazilengatsha ezinengi, kuzwekazi laseEurope. Ngomnyaka ka 1816 kwasungulwa inhlanganiso yeAmerican Bible Society. Ngemva kokusungulwa kwenhlanganiso yeBritish Society, iBhayibhili laseliphendulelwe endimini ezingamatshumi amahlanu. Kuzofika lamhlanje seliphendulelwe endimini ezingamakhulu amanengi. {GC 287.2}IEP 287.2

Okweminyaka engamatshumi amahlanu kungakafiki umnyaka ka1792, abantu babenganaki abatshumayeli ababevela kwamanye amazwe. Kwakungela inhlanganiso ezazibunjiwe, njalo kwakulamandla amalutshwana ayeyenze imizamo yokuhambisa ivangeli emazweni lapho okwakulabahedeni khona. Kodwa ngemva kwesikhatshana kwabalenguquko enkulu. Abantu basebekhathele ngokubona izithelo zokuzibusa njalo bananzelela indingeko yokwazi uNkulunkulu njalo lenkolo yakhe. Kusukela kulesi isikhathi umsebenzi wokutshumayela kwamanye amazwe waqala ukukhula ngendlela eyayingazange ibonakale. {GC 287.3}IEP 287.3

Ukwanda kolwazi ekwenziweni kwengwalo kwanika umsebenzi lowu umdladla omkhulu, iBhayibhili lahanjiswa endaweni ezinengi. Ukukhula kwendlela zokukhulumisana phakathi kwamazwe, lokwephulwa kwemigoqo yasendulo eyokungabambani kwamazwe, njalo lokuwa kwamandla wombuso weRoma kwavula indlela yokuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lingene. Okweminyaka eminengi iBhayibhili selithengisiwe kungela kuvinjelwa emigwaqweni yedolobho laseRoma, njalo selithwalelwe endaweni zonke okulabantu khona emhlabeni wonke jikelele. {GC 288.1}IEP 288.1

UVoltaire owayengakholwa elizweni laseFrance wake watsho amazwi alandelayo ngokuzikhukhumeza: “Ngikhathele ngokuzwa abantu bephindaphinda amazwi wokuthi amadoda alitshumi lambili yiwo awasungula inkolo yesiKrestu. Ngizabonisa wonke umuntu ukuthi umuntu oyedwa ulamandla wokuyiqeda inkolo leyi.” Sekudlule iminyaka eminengi ngemva kokufa kwakhe. Izigidi zabantu sezike zangena empini leyi eyokulwisana leBhayibhili. Kodwa lisesekhatshana lokuthi libhujiswe, okungangokuthi lapho ayelikhulu kuphela ngesikhathi sikaVoltaire manje sekulenkulungwane ezilitshumi, yebo, inkulungwane ezilikhulu zogwalo lukaNkulunkulu. Emazwini womunye uMvuseleli ekuqaleni nxa wayekhuluma ngebandla lesiKrestu wathi: “IBhayibhili liyinsimbi esiqede izando ezinengi.” INkosi yona ithi: “Kakulasikhali esikhandelwa wena esizakuphumelela, bonke abakumangalelayo bazakwehluleka.” (Isaya 54:17) {GC 288.2}IEP 288.2

“Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lizakuma kuze kube nini lanini.” (Isaya 40:8). “Imithetho yayo yonke ithembekile. Imiswe kuze kube nininini, yenziwa ngeqiniso langobuqotho.” (Amahubo 111: 7,8). Loba yini eyakhelwe phezu kwamandla womuntu izatshabalaliswa, kodwa lokho okwakhelwe phezu kwedwala lelizwi likaNkulunkulu elingaguqukiyo kuzakuma inaphakade. {GC 288.3}IEP 288.3