📖 Ufunuo — Somo la Kina — Sehemu ya 5: Kiti cha Enzi na Mwana-Kondoo📖 Revelation Intensive — Unit 5: The Throne and the Lamb

Somo: Ufunuo wa Yohana 4-5Text: Revelation 4-5

Mlango Uliofunguliwa MbinguniA Door Standing Open in Heaven

Barua kwa yale makanisa saba zikiisha, mandhari inabadilika. "Baada ya hayo naliona, na tazama, mlango ulikuwa wazi mbinguni, na sauti ile ya kwanza niliyoisikia, kama sauti ya baragumu ikisema nami, ikinena, Panda hata huku, nami nitakuonyesha mambo ambayo kwamba hayana budi kuwako baada ya hayo" (Ufunuo 4:1). Msomaji anainuliwa kutoka duniani, ambako makanisa yanapambana, hadi mbinguni kwenyewe, ulimwengu wa uhalisi usioonekana ulio nyuma na juu ya kila kitu tunachoweza kukiona. Kama katika sura ya kwanza, Yohana anasema, "Mara nalikuwa katika Roho" (Ufunuo 4:2), maneno yanayoonyesha maono makuu ya kitabu hiki; anachukuliwa na Roho Mtakatifu hadi kuona jambo ambalo hakuna jicho la asili lingeweza kulifikia. Mwito "Panda hata huku" umesomwa kwa njia zaidi ya moja: wengine wanasikia ndani yake kivuli cha kanisa kunyakuliwa ili kuwa pamoja na Kristo, wakati wengine wanauchukua tu kuwa mwito wa Yohana mwenyewe wa kupanda katika maono, na kozi hii inaliacha swali hilo wazi. Kilicho hakika ni kwamba pazia limefunuliwa, na sehemu iliyobaki ya kitabu itaeleweka tu kutoka mahali hapa pa kutazamia, tukiziangalia taabu za dunia kutoka chumba cha kiti cha enzi cha mbinguni.With the letters to the seven churches finished, the scene changes. "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this'" (Revelation 4:1). The reader is lifted from earth, where the churches struggle, into heaven itself, the realm of unseen reality that lies behind and above everything we can see. As in chapter one, John says, "Immediately I was in the Spirit" (Revelation 4:2), the phrase that marks the great visions of the book; he is carried by the Holy Spirit into a sight no natural eye could reach. The summons "Come up here" has been read in more than one way: some hear in it a foreshadowing of the church's being caught up to be with Christ, while others take it simply as John's own call to ascend in vision, and the course leaves the question open. What is certain is that the curtain is drawn back, and the rest of the book will be understood only from this vantage point, looking at the troubles of earth from the throne room of heaven.

Mmoja Ameketi juu ya Kiti cha EnziOne Seated on the Throne

Kitu cha kwanza anachokiona Yohana, na kitovu cha kila kitu kinachofuata, ni kiti cha enzi. "Tazama, kiti cha enzi kiliwekwa mbinguni, na juu ya kile kiti yuko mmoja ameketi" (Ufunuo 4:2). Kiti cha enzi ndicho kitovu cha kitabu chote cha Ufunuo; kabla muhuri wowote haujafunguliwa, kabla baragumu yoyote haijapigwa, au kabla kitasa chochote hakijamiminwa, msomaji anaonyeshwa kwamba Mungu ameketi, ni mwenye enzi, na anatawala yote. Yohana hajaribu kumweleza Yule aliyeketi juu ya kiti cha enzi kwa uso wala kwa umbo, bali kwa mng'ao wa mawe ya thamani tu: alikuwa "mfano wa jiwe la yaspi na akiki; na upinde wa mvua ulikizunguka kile kiti cha enzi, kwa kuonekana ni mfano wa zumaridi" (Ufunuo 4:3). Mng'ao huo unazungumzia utakatifu na utukufu ulio mkuu mno usioweza kuelezwa kwa maneno, na upinde wa mvua unaozunguka unakumbusha rehema ya agano la Mungu, ahadi kwamba hukumu zake daima zimezungukwa na neema. Dhoruba zozote zitakazoipiga dunia katika sura zinazokuja, hili ndilo jambo lisilobadilika lililo nyuma ya zote: kiti cha enzi kimesimama mbinguni, na Mungu ameketi juu yake.The first thing John sees, and the center of everything that follows, is a throne. "Behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2). The throne is the focal point of the entire book of Revelation; before any seal is opened, any trumpet sounded, or any bowl poured out, the reader is shown that God is seated, sovereign, and in command of all. John does not attempt to describe the One on the throne by face or form, but only by the flash of precious stones: He was "like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald" (Revelation 4:3). The brilliance speaks of a holiness and majesty too great for words, and the encircling rainbow recalls God's covenant mercy, the promise that His judgments are always ringed about with grace. Whatever storms break upon the earth in the chapters to come, this is the unchanging fact behind them all: a throne stands in heaven, and God is on it.

Wazee na Wenye UhaiThe Elders and the Living Creatures

Kukizunguka kiti cha enzi Yohana anaona duara mbili za waabudu. Kwanza, "viti ishirini na vinne vilikizunguka kile kiti cha enzi; na juu ya viti vile wazee ishirini na wanne wameketi, wamevikwa mavazi meupe, na juu ya vichwa vyao taji za dhahabu" (Ufunuo 4:4). Mavazi yao meupe yanazungumzia usafi, na taji zao za dhahabu zinazungumzia thawabu na kutawala. Wao ni akina nani kumeeleweka kwa njia zaidi ya moja: wengi wanawachukua kuwa watu wa Mungu waliokombolewa, labda muungano wa Israeli na kanisa katika hesabu yao ya kumi na mbili na kumi na mbili; wengine wanaona daraja tukufu la viumbe wa mbinguni; kozi hii inaeleza maoni hayo kwa haki na haishikilii moja. Kutoka katika kiti cha enzi "zatoka umeme na sauti na radi," na mbele yake zinawaka "taa saba za moto... ambazo ndizo Roho saba za Mungu" (Ufunuo 4:5), picha ya utimilifu wa Roho Mtakatifu. Mbele ya kiti cha enzi kunaenea kitu kinachoonekana "kama bahari ya kioo mfano wa bilauri" (Ufunuo 4:6), sakafu ya utulivu na uangavu. Na katikati kuna wenye uhai wanne waliojaa macho, mmoja mfano wa simba, mmoja mfano wa ndama, mmoja mwenye uso kama wa mwanadamu, na mmoja mfano wa tai arukaye — viumbe wanaofanana sana na makerubi wa Ezekieli na maserafi wa Isaya, waliofunikwa na macho kuonyesha kwamba hakuna kitu kinachoepuka kuonekana nao wanapokilinda kiti cha enzi cha Mungu.Around the throne John sees two circles of worshipers. First, "around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads" (Revelation 4:4). Their white robes speak of purity and their golden crowns of reward and reign. Who they are has been understood in more than one way: many take them as the redeemed people of God, perhaps the union of Israel and the church in their twelve-and-twelve numbers; others see an exalted order of heavenly beings; the course presents the views fairly and does not insist on one. From the throne proceed "lightnings, thunderings, and voices," and before it burn "seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God" (Revelation 4:5), a picture of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Before the throne stretches what looks like "a sea of glass, like crystal" (Revelation 4:6), a floor of stillness and clarity. And in the midst are four living creatures full of eyes, one like a lion, one like a calf, one with a face like a man, and one like a flying eagle — beings much like the cherubim of Ezekiel and the seraphim of Isaiah, covered with eyes to show that nothing escapes their sight as they guard the throne of God.

Mtakatifu, Mtakatifu, Mtakatifu: Kumwabudu MuumbaHoly, Holy, Holy: The Worship of the Creator

Wale wenye uhai hawaachi kamwe kulia, "Mtakatifu, Mtakatifu, Mtakatifu, Bwana Mungu Mwenyezi, Aliyekuwako, na Aliyeko, na Atakayekuja!" (Ufunuo 4:8). "Mtakatifu" mara tatu unainua usafi kamili wa Mungu usioweza kukaribiwa, na jina "Aliyekuwako, na Aliyeko, na Atakayekuja" linamtangaza kuwa Bwana wa milele wa nyakati zote. Kila mara wale wenye uhai wanapotoa utukufu, wale wazee ishirini na wanne huanguka mbele ya kiti cha enzi na kufanya jambo la kushangaza: huzitupa taji zao mbele yake, wakirudisha kila heshima waliyopewa kwa Yule aliyeitoa (Ufunuo 4:10). Wimbo wao unataja msingi wa tendo hili la kwanza kuu la ibada: "Wastahili wewe, Bwana wetu na Mungu wetu, kupokea utukufu na heshima na uweza; kwa kuwa wewe ndiwe uliyeviumba vitu vyote, na kwa sababu ya mapenzi yako vilikuwako, navyo vikaumbwa" (Ufunuo 4:11). Hapa Mungu anaabudiwa kama Muumba. Kwa sababu Yeye aliviumba vitu vyote na anavidumisha kwa mapenzi yake, Yeye peke yake anastahili utukufu, na kila taji mbinguni ni haki yake kuwekwa miguuni pake. Sura ya nne inaweka mbele yetu kiti cha enzi na ibada ya Muumba, na baada ya hapo tu kitabu kinasonga kwenye swali litakalojaza sura ya tano.The living creatures never cease their cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8). The threefold "holy" lifts up the perfect, unapproachable purity of God, and the title "who was and is and is to come" declares Him the eternal Lord of all time. As often as the creatures give glory, the twenty-four elders fall down before the throne and do a striking thing: they cast their crowns before it, surrendering every honor they have been given back to the One who gave it (Revelation 4:10). Their song names the ground of this first great act of worship: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:11). Here God is worshiped as Creator. Because He made all things and holds them in being by His will, He alone is worthy of glory, and every crown in heaven belongs at His feet. Chapter four sets the throne and the worship of the Creator before us, and only then does the book move to the question that will fill chapter five.

Kitabu Kilichotiwa Muhuri na Simba Aliye Mwana-KondooThe Sealed Scroll and the Lion Who Is a Lamb

"Kisha nikaona katika mkono wa kuume wake yeye aketiye juu ya kile kiti cha enzi, kitabu kilichoandikwa ndani na nje, kimetiwa muhuri saba" (Ufunuo 5:1). Kitabu hiki (gombo) kilichotiwa muhuri kinaeleweka vizuri zaidi kuwa mpango na kusudi la Mungu linalojifunua kwa historia yote, hati ya umiliki wa ulimwengu, ambayo haiwezi kutekelezwa mpaka apatikane mtu anayestahili kuzivunja muhuri zake. Malaika mwenye nguvu analia, "Nani astahiliye kukifungua kitabu hiki na kuzivunja muhuri zake?" (Ufunuo 5:2), na ukimya ni kamili: hakuna mtu mbinguni, wala duniani, wala chini ya nchi aliyeweza kukifungua. Yohana analia sana kwa jambo hili, kwa maana kama hakuna awezaye kukifungua kitabu, basi makusudi ya Mungu yanaonekana kukwama na historia haina mkombozi. Kisha mmoja wa wale wazee anamfariji: "Usilie; tazama, Simba aliye wa kabila la Yuda, Shina la Daudi, ameshinda, ili akifungue kile kitabu" (Ufunuo 5:5). Yohana anageuka kumwona Simba mshindi — na badala yake anaona "Mwana-Kondoo amesimama, kama amechinjwa" (Ufunuo 5:6). Hiki ndicho kiini cha maono haya. Simba mwenye nguvu wa Yuda, Mfalme wa wote, ameshinda, lakini alishinda kwa kuchinjwa; bado anabeba alama za Yule aliyekatwa koo kama dhabihu. Simba na Mwana-Kondoo ni Mtu yule yule, naye anashinda si kwa nguvu za mabavu bali kwa kifo chake mwenyewe. Mwana-Kondoo ana pembe saba na macho saba, utimilifu wa uweza na wa Roho waliotumwa katika dunia yote, naye anasonga mbele na kukitwaa kile kitabu kutoka mkono wa kuume wake yeye aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi."And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals" (Revelation 5:1). The sealed scroll is best understood as the unfolding plan and purpose of God for all history, the title-deed to the world, which cannot take effect until someone is found worthy to break its seals. A strong angel cries out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" (Revelation 5:2), and the silence is total: no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open it. John weeps much at this, for if no one can open the scroll, then God's purposes seem to stall and history has no redeemer. Then one of the elders comforts him: "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll" (Revelation 5:5). John turns to see the conquering Lion — and sees instead "a Lamb as though it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6). This is the heart of the vision. The mighty Lion of Judah, the King of all, has triumphed, but He triumphed by being slain; He still bears the marks of the One whose throat was cut as a sacrifice. The Lion and the Lamb are the same Person, and He conquers not by force but by His own death. The Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, the fullness of power and of the Spirit sent into all the earth, and He steps forward and takes the scroll from the right hand of Him who sits on the throne.

Wimbo Mpya: Astahili Mwana-KondooThe New Song: Worthy Is the Lamb

Wakati ule ule Mwana-Kondoo anapokitwaa kitabu, mbingu zinalipuka kwa ibada. Wale wenye uhai wanne na wale wazee ishirini na wanne wanaanguka mbele yake, kila mmoja akiwa na kinubi na "vitasa vya dhahabu vilivyojaa uvumba, ambao ndio maombi ya watakatifu" (Ufunuo 5:8) — jambo dogo lenye upole, kwamba maombi ya waamini wanaohangaika duniani yanakusanywa na kuthaminiwa mbinguni. Wanaimba wimbo mpya: "Wastahili wewe kukitwaa kile kitabu, na kuzifungua muhuri zake; kwa kuwa ulichinjwa, ukamnunulia Mungu kwa damu yako watu wa kila kabila, na lugha, na jamaa, na taifa, ukawafanya kuwa wafalme na makuhani kwa Mungu wetu" (Ufunuo 5:9-10). Mwana-Kondoo anastahili kwa sababu alichinjwa, na kwa damu yake alimnunulia Mungu watu kutoka kila taifa duniani, akiwafanya ufalme wa makuhani. Kisha duara la ibada linapanuka. Yohana anasikia sauti ya malaika wasiohesabika wakikizunguka kiti cha enzi, elfu kumi mara elfu kumi, na elfu mara elfu, wote wakisema kwa sauti kuu, "Astahili Mwana-Kondoo aliyechinjwa kupokea uweza, na utajiri, na hekima, na nguvu, na heshima, na utukufu, na baraka!" (Ufunuo 5:12). Kile ambacho sura ya nne ilimpa Muumba, sasa sura ya tano kinampa Mwana-Kondoo.The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, heaven erupts in worship. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before Him, each holding a harp and "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8) — a tender detail, that the prayers of struggling believers on earth are gathered up and treasured in heaven. They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God" (Revelation 5:9-10). The Lamb is worthy because He was slain and by His blood purchased a people for God from every nation on earth, making them a kingdom of priests. Then the circle of worship widens. John hears the voice of countless angels around the throne, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, all saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:12). What chapter four gave to the Creator, chapter five now gives to the Lamb.

Kila Kiumbe Kinamwabudu Mwana-KondooEvery Creature Worships the Lamb

Ibada inaenea mpaka inajaza uumbaji wote. "Na kila kiumbe kilichoko mbinguni, na juu ya nchi, na chini ya nchi, na juu ya bahari, na vitu vyote vilivyomo ndani yake, nikavisikia vikisema, Baraka na heshima na utukufu na uweza una yeye aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi, na Mwana-Kondoo, hata milele na milele!" (Ufunuo 5:13). Sifa hii ya mwisho inaelekezwa kwa wawili na bado inasikika kama moja: kwa yeye aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi na kwa Mwana-Kondoo pamoja. Mwana-Kondoo aliyechinjwa anapokea ibada ile ile inayotolewa kwa Mungu aliye juu ya kiti cha enzi, na hili ni mojawapo ya matamko yaliyo wazi zaidi katika Maandiko yote kwamba Yesu Kristo ni Mungu kikamilifu na anashiriki kiti cha enzi cha mbinguni. Wale wenye uhai wanne wanajibu "Amina!" na wazee wanaanguka na kuabudu (Ufunuo 5:14). Hivyo sura hizi mbili zinaandaa jukwaa kwa ajili ya kila kitu kinachofuata. Muhuri wowote unaokaribia kufunguliwa, hukumu yoyote inayokaribia kuanguka, historia iko salama kabisa, kwa sababu Yule aliye juu ya kiti cha enzi anatawala juu ya yote na Mwana-Kondoo aliyechinjwa ameshinda na anakishika kitabu. Itikio linalofaa, mbinguni na duniani, ni ibada.The worship spreads until it fills the whole creation. "And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: 'Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:13). This final doxology is addressed to two and yet sounds as one: to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb together. The slain Lamb receives the very worship given to God on the throne, which is among the clearest declarations in all of Scripture that Jesus Christ is fully God and shares the throne of heaven. The four living creatures answer "Amen!" and the elders fall down and worship (Revelation 5:14). So the two chapters set the stage for everything that follows. Whatever seals are about to be opened, whatever judgments are about to fall, history is utterly safe, because the One on the throne reigns over all and the slain Lamb has prevailed and holds the scroll. The right response, in heaven and on earth, is worship.

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