📖 Ufunuo — Somo la Kina — Sehemu ya 7: Baragumu Saba📖 Revelation Intensive — Unit 7: The Seven Trumpets

Kifungu cha Maandiko: Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:2–11:19Text: Revelation 8:2-11:19

Maombi ya Watakatifu na Baragumu SabaThe Prayers of the Saints and the Seven Trumpets

Baada ya ukimya wa muhuri wa saba, malaika saba wanapewa baragumu saba. Lakini kabla baragumu hata moja haijapigwa, malaika mwingine anasimama mbele ya madhabahu ya dhahabu akiwa na chetezo, na "akapewa uvumba mwingi, ili autie pamoja na maombi ya watakatifu wote" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:3). Moshi wa uvumba na maombi ya watakatifu vinapanda pamoja mbele za Mungu, kisha malaika anakijaza chetezo moto wa madhabahu na kukitupa juu ya nchi, pamoja na ngurumo, umeme na tetemeko la nchi. Fundisho hili linashangaza: hukumu zinazofuata zinakuja kama jibu la maombi ya watu wa Mungu, kilio kile kile cha "Hata lini?" kilichopanda kutoka kwa mashahidi waliouawa walio chini ya madhabahu. Baragumu, kama mihuri, zinasomwa na Wakristo kwa njia mbalimbali, na kozi hii haisukumi tafsiri moja. Lililo wazi ni kwamba ni hukumu za onyo, nyingi zikiwa za sehemu tu, zinazopiga theluthi moja badala ya yote, zikipigwa ili kuuita ulimwengu mwasi utubu kabla ya mwisho wa mwisho.After the silence of the seventh seal, seven angels are given seven trumpets. But before a single trumpet sounds, another angel stands at the golden altar with a censer, and "much incense was given to him, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints" (Revelation 8:3). The smoke of the incense and the prayers of the saints rise together before God, and then the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and throws it to the earth, with thunder and lightning and an earthquake. The lesson is striking: the judgments that follow come in answer to the prayers of God's people, the very cry "How long?" that rose from the martyrs under the altar. The trumpets, like the seals, are read by Christians in different ways, and the course does not press one. What is plain is that they are warning-judgments, mostly partial, striking a third rather than the whole, sounded to call a rebellious world to repentance before the final end.

Baragumu Nne za Kwanza: Hukumu juu ya ViumbeThe First Four Trumpets: Judgment on the Created Order

Baragumu nne za kwanza zinaangukia ulimwengu wa asili, na kila moja inapiga theluthi moja. Katika ya kwanza, mvua ya mawe na moto vilivyochanganyika na damu vinatupwa juu ya nchi, na theluthi moja ya miti na majani mabichi yote yanateketea (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:7). Katika ya pili, kitu kama mlima mkubwa uwakao moto kinatupwa baharini, na theluthi moja ya bahari inakuwa damu, theluthi moja ya viumbe vyake vinakufa, na theluthi moja ya merikebu zinaharibiwa (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:8-9). Katika ya tatu, nyota kubwa iitwayo Pakanga inaanguka ikiwaka juu ya theluthi moja ya mito na chemchemi za maji, na maji yanakuwa machungu, hata watu wengi wanakufa (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:10-11); jina Pakanga linazungumzia uchungu na sumu. Katika ya nne, theluthi moja ya jua, mwezi na nyota inapigwa na kutiwa giza (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:12). Kwamba hukumu hizi zinagusa theluthi moja tu, hilo lenyewe ni rehema, kwa maana ni za sehemu na bado si za mwisho, ni maonyo badala ya mwisho wenyewe. Kisha Yohana anaona tai akiruka katikati ya mbingu, akilia kwa sauti kuu, "Ole, ole, ole, wakaao juu ya nchi" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 8:13), kwa maana baragumu tatu za mwisho zitakuwa za kutisha zaidi sana, nazo zinaitwa ole tatu.The first four trumpets fall on the natural world, and each strikes a third. At the first, hail and fire mingled with blood are cast to the earth, and a third of the trees and all green grass are burned (Revelation 8:7). At the second, something like a great burning mountain is thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea becomes blood, a third of its creatures die, and a third of the ships are destroyed (Revelation 8:8-9). At the third, a great star called Wormwood falls blazing on a third of the rivers and springs, and the waters turn bitter, so that many die (Revelation 8:10-11); the name Wormwood speaks of bitterness and poison. At the fourth, a third of the sun, moon, and stars is struck and darkened (Revelation 8:12). That the judgments touch only a third is itself a mercy, for they are partial and not yet final, warnings rather than the end. Then John sees an eagle flying in midheaven, crying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth" (Revelation 8:13), for the last three trumpets will be far more terrible, and they are called the three woes.

Baragumu ya Tano: Nzige kutoka KuzimuThe Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Abyss

Baragumu ya tano, ole ya kwanza, inafungua shimo la kuzimu. Nyota iliyoanguka kutoka mbinguni inapewa ufunguo wa shimo la kuzimu, na kutoka humo unatoka moshi unaotia giza jua na anga, na kutoka katika moshi huo wanatoka nzige walio kama nge (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:1-3). Hawa si nzige wa kawaida; wanapewa uwezo wa kutesa, lakini si wa kuua, kwa muda wa miezi mitano, nao wamekatazwa kudhuru majani au miti. Wanaweza kuwadhuru "wale watu wasio na muhuri wa Mungu katika vipaji vya nyuso zao" peke yao (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:4). Hapa tena watumishi wa Mungu waliotiwa muhuri wanalindwa, hawaguswi na mateso yanayowaangukia wengine. Maumivu ni kama kuumwa na nge, ya kutisha kiasi kwamba "siku zile wanadamu watatafuta kufa, wala hawataona njia ya kufa" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:6). Nzige hao wanaelezwa kama jeshi la kipepo, kama farasi waliowekwa tayari kwa vita, wenye taji, nyuso za wanadamu, meno ya simba, na mikia kama ya nge; nao wana mfalme juu yao, "malaika wa kuzimu," ambaye jina lake kwa Kiebrania ni Abadoni na kwa Kiyunani ni Apolioni (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:11), majina yote mawili yakimaanisha Mharibu. Ole hii ya kwanza ni mateso ya nafsi, kuachiliwa kwa mharibu juu ya ulimwengu uliomkataa Mungu.The fifth trumpet, the first woe, opens the bottomless pit. A star fallen from heaven is given the key to the abyss, and out of it pours smoke that darkens the sun and air, and out of the smoke come locusts like scorpions (Revelation 9:1-3). These are no ordinary locusts; they are given power to torment, but not to kill, for five months, and they are forbidden to harm the grass or the trees. They may hurt "only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads" (Revelation 9:4). Here again the sealed servants of God are protected, untouched by the torment that falls on the rest. The pain is like the sting of a scorpion, so dreadful that "in those days men will seek death and will not find it" (Revelation 9:6). The locusts are described as a demonic army, like horses prepared for battle, with crowns, the faces of men, the teeth of lions, and tails like scorpions; and they have a king over them, "the angel of the bottomless pit," whose name is Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek (Revelation 9:11), both meaning Destroyer. This first woe is a torment of the soul, the unleashing of the destroyer upon a world that has refused God.

Baragumu ya Sita: Jeshi kutoka FratiThe Sixth Trumpet: The Army from the Euphrates

Baragumu ya sita, ole ya pili, inaua zaidi bado. Sauti kutoka madhabahu ya dhahabu inaamuru kufunguliwa kwa malaika wanne waliofungwa kwenye mto ule mkubwa Frati, waliokuwa wamewekwa tayari kuua theluthi moja ya wanadamu (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:13-15). Jeshi kubwa mno la wapanda farasi linatokea, idadi yao ikiwa milioni mia mbili, na farasi ambao vichwa vyao ni kama vya simba na kutoka vinywani mwao hutoka moto, moshi na kiberiti; kwa mapigo hayo matatu theluthi moja ya wanadamu wanauawa (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:16-18). Kisha inakuja mojawapo ya mistari yenye kutia uzito zaidi katika kitabu hiki. Baada ya hayo yote, "wanadamu waliosalia, ambao hawakuuawa kwa mapigo hayo, hawakuzitubia kazi za mikono yao" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:20). Hawakukubali kuacha kuabudu mashetani na sanamu za dhahabu na fedha, wala kuacha uuaji wao, uchawi wao, uasherati wao, wala wizi wao (Ufunuo wa Yohana 9:20-21). Fundisho hili ni gumu lakini ni la kweli: hukumu peke yake hailainishi moyo mgumu. Mapigo yanaweza kutisha, lakini yenyewe hayawezi kuzaa toba; ni neema peke yake inayoweza kumgeuza mwenye dhambi kumrudia Mungu.The sixth trumpet, the second woe, is deadlier still. A voice from the golden altar commands the release of four angels bound at the great river Euphrates, who had been prepared to kill a third of mankind (Revelation 9:13-15). An immense army of horsemen appears, numbering two hundred million, with horses whose heads are like lions and whose mouths pour out fire, smoke, and brimstone; by these three plagues a third of mankind is killed (Revelation 9:16-18). And then comes one of the most sobering verses in the book. After all this, "the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands" (Revelation 9:20). They would not turn from worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver, nor from their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts (Revelation 9:20-21). The lesson is hard but true: judgment by itself does not soften a hardened heart. Plagues may terrify, but they cannot of themselves produce repentance; only grace can turn a sinner to God.

Kipindi cha Katikati: Malaika Mwenye Nguvu na Kitabu KidogoThe Interlude: The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll

Kati ya baragumu ya sita na ya saba, kama vile kati ya muhuri wa sita na wa saba, kunakuja kipindi cha katikati. Malaika mwenye nguvu anashuka, amevikwa wingu na upinde wa mvua juu ya kichwa chake, uso wake kama jua, mguu mmoja juu ya bahari na mmoja juu ya nchi, akiwa ameshika kitabu kidogo kilichofunguliwa mkononi mwake (Ufunuo wa Yohana 10:1-2). Ngurumo saba zinanena, lakini Yohana anaambiwa ayatie muhuri yale yaliyonenwa nazo wala asiyaandike, kwa maana si kila jambo tumepewa kulijua. Malaika anainua mkono wake kuelekea mbinguni na kuapa kwamba "hakutakuwa na kukawia tena," na kwamba katika siku za baragumu ya saba "siri ya Mungu itakuwa imetimizwa" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 10:6-7). Kisha Yohana anaambiwa akichukue kile kitabu kidogo na kukila, naye anakiona "kitamu kama asali" kinywani mwake lakini kichungu tumboni mwake (Ufunuo wa Yohana 10:9-10). Ni picha hai ya neno la Mungu, na hasa ujumbe wake wa hukumu: neno ni tamu kulipokea, kwa maana ni kweli ya Mungu nalo linaishia katika ushindi wake, lakini ni chungu kulibeba, kwa maana linazungumzia hukumu juu ya waliopotea. Na Yohana anaambiwa kwamba lazima atoe unabii tena, kwa maana kazi yake bado haijamalizika.Between the sixth trumpet and the seventh, as between the sixth seal and the seventh, comes an interlude. A mighty angel descends, robed in a cloud with a rainbow over his head, his face like the sun, one foot on the sea and one on the land, holding a little scroll open in his hand (Revelation 10:1-2). Seven thunders speak, but John is told to seal up what they said and not write it, for not everything is given to us to know. The angel lifts his hand to heaven and swears that "there should be delay no longer," and that in the days of the seventh trumpet "the mystery of God would be finished" (Revelation 10:6-7). Then John is told to take the little scroll and eat it, and he finds it "sweet as honey" in his mouth but bitter in his stomach (Revelation 10:9-10). It is a vivid picture of the word of God and especially its message of judgment: the word is sweet to receive, for it is God's truth and it ends in His triumph, yet it is bitter to carry, for it speaks of judgment on the lost. And John is told he must prophesy again, for his task is not finished.

Kipindi cha Katikati: Mashahidi WawiliThe Interlude: The Two Witnesses

Yohana anapewa mwanzi wa kupimia na kuambiwa apime hekalu la Mungu, huku ua wa nje ukiachwa kwa mataifa, ambao watauvunja mji mtakatifu kwa miezi arobaini na miwili (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:1-2); upimaji huo unaonyesha Mungu akiwatenga na kuwahifadhi walio wake hata wakati ulimwengu unakanyaga. Kisha Mungu anawateua mashahidi wawili watoe unabii siku elfu moja mia mbili na sitini, wamevaa magunia (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:3). Wanapewa uwezo mkubwa, kama manabii wa zamani: moto unatoka vinywani mwao dhidi ya adui zao, nao wanaweza kuzifunga mbingu mvua isinyeshe, kugeuza maji kuwa damu, na kuipiga nchi kwa mapigo, kama vile Eliya na Musa walivyofanya zamani. Wanapomaliza ushuhuda wao, yule mnyama apandaye kutoka kuzimu anafanya vita nao na kuwaua, na maiti zao zinalala katika njia ya mji ule mkubwa, "ambapo pia Bwana wetu alisulibiwa," huku ulimwengu ukitazama, ukifurahi na kupelekeana zawadi, ukiwa na furaha kuondolewa kwao (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:7-10). Mashahidi hao wawili ni nani kumeeleweka kwa njia zaidi ya moja, wengine wakiwaona kuwa manabii wawili halisi na wengine kuwa picha ya kanisa linaloshuhudia, na kozi hii inaeleza maoni hayo kwa haki. Lakini baada ya siku tatu na nusu roho ya uhai kutoka kwa Mungu inaingia ndani yao; wanasimama kwa miguu yao, sauti inawaita wapande mbinguni, nao wanapanda katika wingu huku adui zao wakitazama (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:11-12). Tetemeko kubwa la nchi linafuata, sehemu ya kumi ya mji inaanguka, na waliosalia, wakiwa na hofu, wanampa Mungu utukufu. Ushuhuda wa uaminifu unaweza kuishia katika kile kinachoonekana kuwa kushindwa, lakini Mungu huwathibitisha watumishi wake kwa kuwafufua.John is given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God, while the outer court is left to the nations, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months (Revelation 11:1-2); the measuring pictures God marking out and preserving His own even while the world tramples. Then God appoints two witnesses to prophesy twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth (Revelation 11:3). They are given great power, like the prophets of old: fire goes out of their mouths against their enemies, and they can shut heaven so it does not rain, turn waters to blood, and strike the earth with plagues, much as Elijah and Moses once did. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit makes war on them and kills them, and their bodies lie in the street of the great city, "where also our Lord was crucified," while the world looks on, rejoices, and exchanges gifts, glad to be rid of them (Revelation 11:7-10). Who the two witnesses are has been understood in more than one way, some taking them as two individual prophets and others as a picture of the witnessing church, and the course presents the views fairly. But after three and a half days the breath of life from God enters them; they stand on their feet, a voice calls them up to heaven, and they ascend in a cloud while their enemies watch (Revelation 11:11-12). A great earthquake follows, a tenth of the city falls, and the rest, terrified, give glory to God. Faithful witness may end in apparent defeat, but God vindicates His servants by raising them.

Baragumu ya Saba: Ufalme ni wa BwanaThe Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Is the Lord's

Kisha malaika wa saba anapiga baragumu, na ole ya tatu inatoa nafasi kwa kelele kuu ya ushindi: "Ufalme wa dunia umekuwa ufalme wa Bwana wetu na wa Kristo wake, naye atamiliki hata milele na milele!" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:15). Wazee ishirini na wanne wanaanguka kifudifudi na kuabudu, wakishukuru kwa kuwa Mungu ameutwaa uweza wake mkuu na kuanza kumiliki. Wanatangaza kwamba mataifa walikasirika, lakini sasa ghadhabu ya Mungu imekuja, wakati wa wafu kuhukumiwa, wakati wa kuwapa thawabu watumishi wake manabii na watakatifu, na wakati "wa kuwaharibu wale waiharibuo nchi" (Ufunuo wa Yohana 11:18). Mwishowe hekalu la Mungu linafunguliwa mbinguni, na sanduku la agano lake linaonekana, pamoja na umeme, sauti, ngurumo, tetemeko la nchi na mvua kubwa ya mawe. Baragumu ya saba haielezi mwisho kwa undani bali inatangaza uhakika wake: utawala wa Kristo ni hakika, ufalme wa dunia umekuwa wake, na kile ambacho sehemu iliyobaki ya kitabu inafunua ni utekelezaji wa ushindi huu. Basi, baragumu ni maonyo ya Mungu yanayozidi kuongezeka, yakijibu maombi ya watu wake; haziwezi kupindisha moyo mgumu, lakini pia haziwezi kuwagusa watumishi wake waliotiwa muhuri, nazo zinasogeza historia kwa uhakika kuelekea siku ile ambayo Kristo atamiliki milele.Then the seventh angel sounds, and the third woe gives way to a great shout of triumph: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15). The twenty-four elders fall on their faces and worship, giving thanks that God has taken His great power and begun to reign. They declare that the nations were angry, but now God's wrath has come, the time for the dead to be judged, the time to reward His servants the prophets and saints, and the time "to destroy those who destroy the earth" (Revelation 11:18). Finally the temple of God is opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant is seen, with lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. The seventh trumpet does not describe the end in detail but announces its certainty: the reign of Christ is sure, the kingdom of the world has become His, and what the rest of the book unfolds is the working out of this triumph. The trumpets, then, are God's escalating warnings, answering the prayers of His people; they cannot bend a hardened heart, but they cannot touch His sealed servants either, and they move history surely toward the day when Christ reigns forever.

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