Isahluko 25

Ukuhlaziywa Kwamangqina Amabini

 1. Ingelosi enamandla icela uYohane ukuba enze ntoni?

NGAPHAMBI kokuba uyeha wesibini adlule ngokupheleleyo, ingelosi enamandla icela uYohane ukuba abe nenxaxheba kwesinye isiprofeto esinento yokwenza netempile. (ISityhilelo 9:12; 10:1) Naku okuchazwa nguYohane: “Ke kaloku ndanikwa ingcongolo enjengentonga njengoko yayisithi: ‘Sukuma uze ulinganise ingcwele yetempile kaThixo nesibingelelo nabo banqulayo kuyo.’”—ISityhilelo 11:1.

Ingcwele Yetempile

 2. (a) Yiyiphi ingcwele yetempile eyayiya kuhlala ikho de kube ngumhla wethu? (b) Ungubani uMbingeleli Omkhulu wengcwele yetempile, yaye iyintoni eYona Ngcwele yayo?

² Itempile ekhankanywe apha ayinakuba yiyo nayiphi na yeetempile zokoqobo ezaziseYerusalem, njengoko eyokugqibela kwezi tempile yatshatyalaliswa ngamaRoma ngowama-70 C.E. Noko ke, umpostile uPawulos wabonisa ukuba kwanangaphambi kwaloo ntshabalalo, kwakuvele enye ingcwele yetempile eyayiya kuhlala ikho de kube ngumhla wethu. Le yayiyitempile enkulu yokomoya eyafuziselwa ngumnquba naziitempile ezathi kamva zakhiwa eYerusalem. ‘Yintente yokwenyaniso, emiswe nguYehova, kungekhona umntu,’ yaye uMbingeleli Omkhulu wayo nguYesu, uPawulos amchaza njengosele ‘ehleli phantsi ngasekunene kwetrone yobuNgangamsha emazulwini.’ EYona Ngcwele yayo yindawo enoYehova ezulwini.—Hebhere 8:1, 2; 9:11, 24.

 3. Emnqubeni yintoni eyayifanekiselwa (a) sisikhuselo esasisahlula eYona Ngcwele kwiNgcwele? (b) ngamadini ezilwanyana? (c) sisibingelelo samadini?

³ Umpostile uPawulos ucacisa ukuba isikhuselo somnquba, esahlula eYona Ngcwele kwigumbi eliNgcwele, sifanekisela umzimba kaYesu wenyama. Xa uYesu wancama ubomi bakhe njengedini, esi sikhuselo sahlukana kubini, sibonisa ukuba umzimba kaYesu wenyama wawungasengomqobo ekungeneni kwakhe kwindawo enoYehova ezulwini. Ngenxa yedini likaYesu, ababingeleli bakhe abangaphantsi nabathanjisiweyo abafa bethembekile babeya kuthi, ngexesha elifanelekileyo, nabo bangene emazulwini. (Mateyu 27:50, 51; Hebhere 9:3; 10:19, 20) Kwakhona, uPawulos ubonisa ukuba amadini ezilwanyana awayeqhubeka esenziwa emnqubeni ayesalatha phambili kwidini likaYesu elinye lobomi bakhe obufezekileyo bobuntu. Isibingelelo sedini esasikwintendelezo sasimela ilungiselelo likaYehova, ngokokuthanda kwakhe, elalenzelwe ukwamkela idini likaYesu ngenxa ‘yabaninzi’—abangabathanjiswa, yaye kamva abezinye izimvu—ababeya kuthi ‘bamfune ngenyameko ukuze basindiswe.’—Hebhere 9:28; 10:9, 10; Yohane 10:16.

 4. Yintoni eyayifuziselwa (a) yiNdawo Engcwele? (b) yintendelezo engaphakathi?

⁴ Kule nkcazelo iphefumlelwe nguThixo, sinokugqiba kwelokuba iNdawo Engcwele eyayisemnqubeni ifuzisela imeko engcwele enanditshwa okokuqala nguKristu ize ke inanditshwe ngamalungu athanjisiweyo ababingeleli basebukhosini be-144 000 ngoxa esesemhlabeni, ngaphambi kokuba angene ngaphaya “kwekhuselo.” (Hebhere 6:19, 20; 1 Petros 2:9) Ikumela kakuhle ukwamkelwa kwawo njengoonyana bakaThixo bokomoya, kwanjengokuba uThixo wamvumayo uYesu ukuba unguNyana wakhe emva kokubhaptizwa kukaYesu eYordan ngowama-29 C.E. (Luka 3:22; Roma 8:15) Yaye kuthekani ngentendelezo engaphakathi, eyayikuphela kwendawo engaphakathi emnqubeni eyayibonwa ngamaSirayeli awayengengobabingeleli nendawo ekwakusenzelwa kuyo amadini? Yona ifanekisela ukuma okugqibeleleyo komntu onguYesu okwamenza wakufanelekela ukunikela ngobomi bakhe ngenxa yoluntu. Ikwamela ukuma kobulungisa njengabangcwele, okunanditshwa ngabalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo ngoxa besesemhlabeni nokwadluliswa ngenxa yedini likaYesu.a—Roma 1:7; 5:1.

Ukulinganiswa Kwengcwele Yetempile

 5. Kwiziprofeto zeZibhalo zesiHebhere, kwakuthetha ntoni (a) ukulinganiswa kweYerusalem? (b) ukulinganiswa kwetempile eyabonwa nguHezekile embonweni?

⁵ UYohane uxelelwa ukuba ‘alinganise ingcwele yetempile kaThixo nesibingelelo nabo banqulayo kuyo.’ Kuthetha ntoni oku? Kwiziprofeto zeZibhalo zesiHebhere, ukulinganisa okunjalo kwakuqinisekisa imilinganiselo kaYehova egqibeleleyo yokuphumeza okusesikweni. Ngemihla yoKumkani ongendawo uManase, ukulinganiswa okungokwesiprofeto kweYerusalem kwaqinisekisa ukuba umgwebo ongenakujikwa wentshabalalo yeso sixeko wawuza kuphunyezwa. (2 Kumkani 21:13; IZililo 2:8) Noko ke, kamva, xa uYeremiya wabona iYerusalem ilinganiswa, oku kwaqinisekisa ukuba esi sixeko sasiza kubuya sakhiwe. (Yeremiya 31:39; bona kwanoZekariya 2:2-8.) Ngokukwanjalo, ukulinganiswa okukhulu nokuneenkcukacha kwetempile eyabonwa nguHezekile embonweni kwakusisiqinisekiso kubathinjwa abangamaYuda ababeseBhabhiloni sokuba unqulo lokwenyaniso lwaluza kubuyiselwa kwilizwe labo. Kwakhona kwakusisikhumbuzo sokuba, ngenxa yeemposiso zabo, ukususela ngoko ukusa phambili uSirayeli kwakuza kufuneka afikelele imilinganiselo engcwele kaThixo.—Hezekile 40:3, 4; 43:10.

 6. Ukuxelelwa kukaYohane ukuba alinganise ingcwele yetempile nababingeleli abanqula kuyo kungumqondiso wantoni? Cacisa.

⁶ Ngoko ke, xa uYohane eyalelwa ukuba alinganise ingcwele yetempile nababingeleli abanqula kuyo, oku kungumqondiso wokuba akukho nto inokuthintela ukuzaliseka kwenjongo kaYehova mayela nelungiselelo letempile nabo banxulumene nalo, yaye kungumqondiso wokuba loo njongo sele iza kufikelela kwincopho yayo. Njengokuba ngoku zonke izinto ziphantsi kolawulo lwengelosi kaYehova enamandla, kulixesha lokuba “intaba yendlu kaYehova imiselwe ngokuqinileyo encotsheni yeentaba.” (Isaya 2:2-4) Unqulo lukaYehova olunyulu lumele luphakanyiswe, emva kokuba uwexuko lweNgqobhoko luqhubeke kangangeenkulungwane ezininzi. Kukwalixesha lokuba abazalwana abathembekileyo bakaYesu abafileyo bavuselwe ‘kwiNgcwele yeeNgcwele.’ (Daniyeli 9:24; 1 Tesalonika 4:14-16; ISityhilelo 6:11; 14:4) Yaye abokugqibela ukutywinwa emhlabeni ‘kumakhoboka oThixo wethu’ bamele balinganiswe ngokuvisisana nemilinganiselo yobuthixo ukuze bafanelekele indawo yabo esisigxina kwilungiselelo letempile njengoonyana bakaThixo abazelwe ngomoya. Namhlanje udidi lukaYohane luyiqonda ngokupheleleyo loo milinganiselo ingcwele yaye luzimisele ukuyifikelela.—ISityhilelo 7:1-3; Mateyu 13:41, 42; Efese 1:13, 14; thelekisa amaRoma 11:20.

Ukunyathelelwa Phantsi Kwentendelezo

 7. (a) Kutheni uYohane engaxelelwa ukuba alinganise intendelezo? (b) Umzi ongcwele wanyathelelwa phantsi nini kangangeenyanga ezingama-42? (c) Abefundisi beNgqobhoko basilela njani ukuphakamisa imilinganiselo kaYehova yobulungisa kangangeenyanga ezingama-42?

⁷ Kutheni uYohane engazange avunyelwe nje ukuba alinganise intendelezo? Usichazela athi: “Kodwa yona intendelezo engaphandle kwengcwele yetempile, yiphosele phandle ngokupheleleyo ungayilinganisi, kuba inikelwe ezintlangeni, yaye ziya kusinyathela ngeenyawo isixeko esingcwele kangangeenyanga ezingamashumi amane anesibini.” (ISityhilelo 11:2) Siye saphawula ukuba intendelezo engaphakathi ifanekisela ukuma kobulungisa kwasemhlabeni kwamaKristu azelwe ngomoya. Njengoko siza kubona, apha kubhekiselwe kwiinyanga zokoqobo ezingama-42 ezisusela kuDisemba 1914 ukusa kuJuni 1918, xa bonke abathi bangamaKristu bafumana uvavanyo oluqatha. Ngaba babeya kuyiphakamisa imilinganiselo kaYehova yobulungisa ebudeni baloo minyaka yemfazwe? Uninzi lwabo aluzange lwenjenjalo. Bonke abefundisi beNgqobhoko babalaselisa ubuhlanga ngaphezu kokuthobela umthetho kaThixo. Kuwo omabini amacala emfazwe, ngokuyintloko eyayisiliwa kwiNgqobhoko, abefundisi bashumayeza amagatyana abafana ukuba aye edabini. Izigidi zabulawa. Ngexesha lokuqalisa komgwebo ngendlu kaThixo ngowe-1918, iUnited States nayo yayisele ingenelele kuloo mfazwe eyayiphalaza igazi, yaye abefundisi bayo yonke iNgqobhoko babezizisele ityala legazi ekusafuneka uThixo eliphindezelele. (1 Petros 4:17) Bagxothwe ngonaphakade yaye akunakuba sajikwa.—Isaya 59:1-3, 7, 8; Yeremiya 19:3, 4.

 8. Ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi I, yintoni eyaqondwa ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile abaninzi, kodwa yintoni abangazange bayiqonde ngokupheleleyo?

⁸ Noko ke, kuthekani ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile ababeliqaqobana? Ngaba babeza kulinganiswa ngoko nangoko ngowe-1914 ngokunamathela kwabo kwimilinganiselo kaThixo? Akunjalo. Njengabantu beNgqobhoko abathi bangamaKristu, nabo bamele bavavanywe. ‘Baphoswa phandle, banikelwa ezintlangeni’ ukuze bavavanywe ngokuqatha baze batshutshiswe. Abaninzi kubo baqonda ukuba babengamele babulale abantu abadlelana nabo, kodwa okwelo xesha abazange bakuqonde ngokupheleleyo ukungathabathi cala kwamaKristu. (Mika 4:3; Yohane 17:14, 16; 1 Yohane 3:15) Ngenxa yengcinezelo eyayivela kwiintlanga, bambi balalanisa.

 9. Uyintoni umzi ongcwele owanyathelelwa phantsi ziintlanga, yaye emhlabeni, ngoobani abamela lo mzi?

⁹ Noko ke, kwenzeka njani ukuba umzi ongcwele unyathelelwe phantsi zezo ntlanga? Ngokucacileyo, oku akubhekiseli kwiYerusalem eyatshatyalaliswa kwiminyaka engama-25 eyadlulayo ngaphambi kokubhalwa kweSityhilelo. Kunoko, umzi ongcwele yiYerusalem Entsha kamva echazwa kwiSityhilelo nefanekiselwa ngoku emhlabeni ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo asaseleyo kwintendelezo engaphakathi yetempile. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, nawo aya kuba yinxalenye yomzi ongcwele. Ngoko ukunyathelelwa kwawo phantsi kufana nokunyathelelwa phantsi komzi ngokwawo.—ISityhilelo 21:2, 9-21.

Amangqina Amabini

10. Yintoni eza kwenziwa ngamangqina kaYehova athembekileyo ngoxa enyathelelwa phantsi?

¹⁰ Kwanangoxa benyathelelwa phantsi, aba banyanisekileyo abayeki ukuba ngamangqina kaYehova athembekileyo. Ngenxa yoko, isiprofeto siyaqhubeka sisithi: “‘Ngokunjalo ndiya kumisa amangqina amabini ukuba aprofete imihla eliwaka elinamakhulu amabini anamashumi amathandathu ambethe amarhonya.’ Wona afuziselwa yiminquma emibini neziphatho zezibane ezibini yaye ami phambi kweNkosi yomhlaba.”—ISityhilelo 11:3, 4.

11. Kwakuthetha ntoni ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo nathembekileyo ukuprofeta ‘ngamarhonya’?

¹¹ La maKristu athembekileyo nathanjisiweyo kwakufuneka abe nophawu lonyamezelo, kuba kwakufuneka eprofete ethiwe wambu ‘ngamarhonya.’ Kwakuthetha ntoni oku? Kumaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile amarhonya ayedla ngokufuzisela ukwenza isijwili. Ukuwanxiba kwakungumqondiso wokuba umntu wayebuhlungu okanye enxunguphele kakhulu. (Genesis 37:34; Yobhi 16:15, 16; Hezekile 27:31) Irhonya lalinxulunyaniswa nezigidimi zentshabalalo okanye zobuhlungu ezibangela usizi ekwakufuneka abaprofeti bakaThixo bazivakalise. (Isaya 3:8, 24-26; Yeremiya 48:37; 49:3) Ukunxitywa kwamarhonya kwakunokubonisa ukuthobeka okanye inguquko ngenxa yesilumkiso sobuthixo. (Yona 3:5) Kubonakala ukuba amarhonya awayenxitywe ngamangqina amabini ayebonisa unyamezelo lwawo lokuthobeka ekuvakaliseni imigwebo kaYehova. La yayingamangqina awayevakalisa ngomhla wakhe wempindezelo owawuza kuzisa isijwili kwanakwiintlanga.—Duteronomi 32:41-43.

12. Kutheni sibonakala sisesokoqobo nje isihlandlo sexesha ekwathi ebudeni baso umzi ongcwele wanyathelelwa phantsi?

¹² Udidi lukaYohane kwakufuneka lusishumayele esi sigidimi kangangexesha eliqingqiweyo: imihla eli-1 260, okanye iinyanga ezingama-42, xesha elo elinomlinganiselo ofanayo nelokunyathelelwa phantsi komzi ongcwele. Eli xesha libonakala lilelokoqobo, ekubeni livakaliswa ngeendlela ezimbini ezahlukeneyo, okokuqala ngokweenyanga lize kamva ngokweentsuku. Ukongezelela, ekuqaleni kwemini yeNkosi, kwakukho ithuba eliphawuliweyo leminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha laxa izinto ezibuhlungu ezehlela abantu bakaThixo zazifana neziganeko ezaziprofetwe apha—ukususela ngoDisemba 1914 ukuya kutsho ngoJuni 1918. (ISityhilelo 1:10) Babeshumayela isigidimi ‘samarhonya’ esingomgwebo kaYehova kwiNgqobhoko nakwihlabathi.

13. (a) Yintoni eboniswa sisibakala sokuba amaKristu athanjisiweyo ayefuziselwa ngamangqina amabini? (b) Sisiphi isiprofeto sikaZekariya esisikhunjuzwa kukubiza kukaYohane amangqina amabini ngokuba “yiminquma emibini neziphatho zezibane ezibini”?

¹³ Isibakala sokuba babefuziselwa ngamangqina amabini sisiqinisekisa ukuba isigidimi sabo sasichanile yaye sinesiseko esihle. (Thelekisa iDuteronomi 17:6; Yohane 8:17, 18.) UYohane uwabiza ngokuba “yiminquma emibini neziphatho zezibane ezibini,” esithi “ami phambi kweNkosi yomhlaba.” Ngokucacileyo oku kubhekisela kwisiprofeto sikaZekariya, owabona isiphatho sesibane esinezibane ezisixhenxe nemithi yomnquma emibini. Imithi yomnquma kwakusithiwa ifanekisela ‘ababini abathanjisiweyo,’ oko kukuthi, iRhuluneli uZerubhabheli noMbingeleli Omkhulu uYoshuwa, “abema ecaleni kweNkosi yomhlaba uphela.”—Zekariya 4:1-3, 14.

14. (a) Yintoni eyaboniswa ngumbono kaZekariya weminquma emibini? nasisiphatho sesibane? (b) Yintoni eyayiya kufunyanwa ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala?

¹⁴ UZekariya wayephila kwixesha laxa kwakusakhiwa kwakhona, yaye umbono wakhe wemithi yomnquma emibini wawuthetha ukuba uZerubhabheli noYoshuwa babeya kusikelelwa ngomoya kaYehova ekomelezeni abantu ekwenzeni umsebenzi. Umbono wesiphatho sesibane wakhumbuza uZekariya ukuba ‘angayideleli imini yezinto ezincinane’ kuba iinjongo zikaYehova zaziya kuphunyezwa—‘“kungengamkhosi wamajoni, kungengamandla kodwa ngomoya wam,” utsho uYehova wemikhosi.’ (Zekariya 4:6, 10; 8:9) AmaKristu aliqaqobana awazingisayo ekuseni ukukhanya kwenyaniso eluntwini ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala ngokufanayo ayeya kusetyenziselwa umsebenzi wokuphinda kwakhiwe. Nawo ayeya kuba ngumthombo wokhuthazo yaye, njengoko ayeliqaqobana, ayeya kufunda ukukholosa ngamandla kaYehova, angayideleli imini yeziqalo ezincinane.

15. (a) Isibakala sokuba amaKristu athanjisiweyo echazwa njengamangqina amabini sikwasikhumbuza ngantoni? Cacisa. (b) Luhlobo luni lwemiqondiso amangqina amabini agunyaziswa ukuba ayenze?

¹⁵ Isibakala sokuba achazwa njengamangqina amabini sikwasikhumbuza ngokwenziwa kumila kumbi. Kuloo mbono, abapostile bakaYesu abathathu bambona ekuzuko loBukumkani, ephelekwe nguMoses noEliya. Oku kwafanekisela kwangaphambili ukuhlala kukaYesu kwitrone yobuqaqawuli bakhe ngowe-1914 ukuze afeze umsebenzi owafanekiselwa kwangaphambili ngabo baprofeti babini. (Mateyu 17:1-3) Ngokufanelekileyo, amangqina amabini ngoku abonwa esenza imiqondiso esikhumbuza ngaleyo yenziwa nguMoses noEliya. Ngokomzekelo, uYohane uthi ngawo: “Ukuba nabani na ufuna ukuwonakalisa, kuphuma umlilo emilonyeni yawo uze uziqwenge iintshaba zawo; uya kubulawa ngolo hlobo ke umntu ofuna ukuwonakalisa. Wona anegunya lokulivala izulu ukuba kungani mvula ebudeni bemihla yokuprofeta kwawo.”—ISityhilelo 11:5, 6a.

16. (a) Umqondiso oquka umlilo usikhumbuza njani ngexesha laxa igunya likaMoses lacelwa umngeni kwaSirayeli? (b) Abefundisi beNgqobhoko babadelela njani aBafundi BeBhayibhile baza babangela ukuba bahlelwe yinkathazo ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, yaye baphindisa njani ke bona?

¹⁶ Oku kusikhumbuza ngexesha laxa igunya likaMoses lacelwa umngeni kwaSirayeli. Lo mprofeti wavakalisa amazwi awoyikekayo omgwebo, waza uYehova wabatshabalalisa abavukeli, ebulala abangama-250 babo ngomlilo wokoqobo owawuvela ezulwini. (Numeri 16:1-7, 28-35) Ngokufanayo, iinkokeli zeNgqobhoko zabadelela aBafundi BeBhayibhile, zisithi abazange bafumana izidanga kwiikholeji zobufundisi. Kodwa amangqina kaThixo ayeneziqinisekiso eziphakame ngakumbi njengabalungiseleli, ezingabantu abalulamileyo ababephulaphule isigidimi sawo seZibhalo. (2 Korinte 3:2, 3) Ngowe-1917 aBafundi BeBhayibhile bapapasha incwadi ethi The Finished Mystery, ncwadi leyo eyayinamagqabaza anamandla angeSityhilelo noHezekile. Emva kwayo kwasasazwa imibhalo ezizi-10 000 000 yephecana elinamaphepha amane elithi The Bible Students Monthly nelalinenqaku elibalaseleyo elinomxholo othi “Ukuwa KweBhabhiloni—Isizathu Sokuba INgqobhoko Imele Ibandezeleke Ngoku—Umphumo Wokugqibela.” EUnited States, abefundisi abacaphukileyo basebenzisa umoya wemfazwe owawukho njengesizathu sokuba ibhangiswe le ncwadi. Kwamanye amazwe le ncwadi yabekelwa imiqathango. Sekunjalo, abakhonzi bakaThixo baqhubeka bephindisa besebenzisa iinkupho ezoyikekayo zephecana elinamaphepha amane elithi Kingdom News. Njengoko imini yeNkosi yayiqhubeka, ezinye iimpapasho zaziya kuyicacisa imeko yeNgqobhoko yokungaphili ngokomoya.—Thelekisa uYeremiya 5:14.

17. (a) Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzeka ngemihla kaEliya eziquka imbalela nomlilo? (b) Umlilo waphuma njani emilonyeni yamangqina amabini, ibe yiyiphi imbalela eyayibandakanyekile?

¹⁷ Kuthekani ngoEliya? Ngemihla yookumkani bakwaSirayeli, lo mprofeti wavakalisa imbalela njengembonakaliso yengqumbo kaYehova kumaSirayeli awayenqula uBhahali. Yaqhuba kangangeminyaka emithathu enesiqingatha. (1 Kumkani 17:1; 18:41-45; Luka 4:25; Yakobi 5:17) Kamva, xa uKumkani ongathembekanga uAhaziya wathumela amajoni ukuba anyanzelele uEliya ukuba eze kwindawo yasebukhosini awayehlala kuyo, lo mprofeti wabiza umlilo ukuba uhle ezulwini udle amajoni. Kuphela kuxa umphathi-mkhosi wabonakalisa intlonelo efanelekileyo ngesigxina sakhe njengomprofeti awathi uEliya wavuma ukumpheleka ukuya kukumkani. (2 Kumkani 1:5-16) Ngokukwanjalo, phakathi kowe-1914 nowe-1918, intsalela ethanjisiweyo ngokungafihlisiyo yatsalela ingqalelo kwimbalela yokomoya ekwiNgqobhoko yaza yalumkisa ngomgwebo onjengomlilo ‘ekufikeni kwemini kaYehova enkulu neyoyikekayo.’—Malaki 4:1, 5; Amosi 8:11.

18. (a) Liliphi igunya elinikwa amangqina amabini, yaye lifana njani nelo lalinikwe uMoses? (b) Amangqina amabini ayibhenca njani iNgqobhoko?

¹⁸ UYohane uhlabela mgama esithi ngamangqina amabini: “Yaye anegunya phezu kwamanzi lokuwajika abe ligazi nelokuwubetha umhlaba ngalo lonke uhlobo lwesibetho ngokufuthi kangangoko enqwenela.” (ISityhilelo 11:6b) Ukuze ashukumise uFaro ukuba akhulule uSirayeli, uYehova wasebenzisa uMoses ekuthwaxeni iYiputa ecinezelayo ngezibetho, kuquka ukujika amanzi abe ligazi. Kwiinkulungwane kamva, iintshaba ezingamaFilisti zikaSirayeli zazizikhumbula kakuhle izenzo zikaYehova ngokuchasene neYiputa, nto leyo eyazibangela ukuba zidanduluke zithi: “Ngubani na oya kusisindisa esandleni salo Thixo uyingangamsha? Lo ngulo Thixo owabetha iYiputa ngalo lonke uhlobo lokubulala ngogonyamelo [“lwesibetho,” Revised Standard Version] entlango.” (1 Samuweli 4:8; INdumiso 105:29) UMoses wayefanekisela uYesu, owayenegunya lokuvakalisa imigwebo kaThixo kwiinkokeli zonqulo zomhla wakhe. (Mateyu 23:13; 28:18; IZenzo 3:22) Yaye ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala abazalwana bakaKristu, amangqina amabini, alubhenca uphawu oluhambisana nokufa ‘lwamanzi’ awayehanjiswa yiNgqobhoko kwimihlambi yayo.

Amangqina Amabini Ayabulawa

19. Ngokutsho kwengxelo yeSityhilelo, kwenzeka ntoni xa amangqina amabini egqiba ukunikela ubungqina?

¹⁹ Esi sibetho sasiqatha kwiNgqobhoko kangangokuba emva kokuba amangqina amabini eprofete iinyanga ezingama-42 enxibe amarhonya, iNgqobhoko yasebenzisa impembelelo yayo yehlabathi ukuba ‘abulawe.’ UYohane ubhala oku: “Xa ebufezile ubungqina bawo, kuya kunyuka irhamncwa liphuma enzonzobileni, lenze imfazwe nawo, liwoyise lize liwabulale. Kwaye izidumbu zawo ziya kuqungquluza endleleni ephangaleleyo yesixeko esikhulu eso ngengqiqo yokomoya sibizwa ngokuba yiSodom neYiputa, apho neNkosi yawo yabethelelwa khona. Abantu bezizwana nezizwe neelwimi neentlanga baya kukhangela kwizidumbu zawo kangangeentsuku ezintathu ezinesiqingatha, bangavumi ukuba izidumbu zawo zingcwatywe. Abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba baya kuba nemihlali ngenxa yawo, baziyolise, bathumelelane nezipho, ngenxa yokuba aba baprofeti babini babebathuthumbisa abo bemiyo phezu komhlaba.”—ISityhilelo 11:7-10.

20. Liyintoni ‘irhamncwa elinyuka liphuma enzonzobileni’?

²⁰ Kuzo zonke iimbekiselo ezingama-37 ezithetha ngerhamncwa kwiSityhilelo le yeyokuqala ukuba ibonakale. Ngexesha elifanelekileyo siza kuhlolisisa eli rhamncwa kwanamanye ngokweenkcukacha. Okwangoku kwanele ukuba sithi ‘irhamncwa elinyuka liphuma enzonzobileni’ liyilwe nguSathana, liyinkqubo yezinto yobupolitika ekhoyo.b—Thelekisa iSityhilelo 13:1; Daniyeli 7:2, 3, 17.

21. (a) Iintshaba zonqulo ezazichase amangqina amabini zayisebenzisa njani imeko yemfazwe? (b) Yintoni eboniswa sisibakala sokuba izidumbu zamangqina amabini zashiywa zingangcwatywanga? (c) Isihlandlo sexesha seentsuku ezintathu ezinesiqingatha simele sijongwe njani? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi.)

²¹ Ukususela ngowe-1914 ukuya kowe-1918 iintlanga zazibandakanyeke kwimfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala. Umoya wokuthanda ubuhlanga wathabatha unyawo, yaye ekwindla lowe-1918, iintshaba zonqulo ezazichase amangqina amabini zathi zayisebenzisa le meko. Zaphembelela amalungu asemthethweni obuRhulumente ukuze abalungiseleli baBafundi beBhayibhile bavalelwe entolongweni ngezityholo zobuxoki zokuvukela urhulumente. Abantu abathembekileyo ababesebenza naba balungiseleli bothuswa koku. Umsebenzi woBukumkani waphantse wema. Kwaba ngathi umsebenzi wokushumayela wawufile. Kumaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile kwakulihlazo eloyikekayo ukungangcwatywa. (INdumiso 79:1-3; 1 Kumkani 13:21, 22) Ngoko ke, ukushiya la mangqina mabini engangcwatywanga kwakuya kuzisa ugculelo olukhulu. Kwimozulu eshushu yasePalestina, isidumbu esishiywa kwisitrato esiphangaleleyo ngenene besiya kuqalisa ukunuka emva kwemihla yokoqobo emithathu enesiqingatha.c (Thelekisa uYohane 11:39.) Ngaloo ndlela ezi nkcukacha zikwesi siprofeto zibonisa ihlazo la mangqina mabini ekwakufuneka elinyamezele. Aba bakhankanywe ngasentla abavalelwa entolongweni abazange bayinikwe nebheyile ngoxa amatyala abo ayesaya kwinkundla yesibheno. Babhencwa kuwonke-wonke kangangethuba elide ukuze banuke kubemi ‘besixeko esikhulu.’ Kodwa sasiyintoni esi ‘sixeko sikhulu’?

22. (a) Uyintoni umzi omkhulu? (b) Amaziko eendaba zikawonke-wonke abathelela njani abefundisi ekuvuyeleni ukuvalwa umlomo kwamangqina amabini? (Bona ibhokisi.)

²² UYohane usithela thsuphe. Uthi uYesu wabethelelwa apho. Ngoko ngokukhawuleza sicinga ngeYerusalem. Kodwa ukwathi umzi omkhulu ubizwa ngokuba yiSodom neYiputa. Kaloku, iYerusalem yokoqobo yayikhe yabizwa ngokuba yiSodom ngenxa yoqheliselo lwayo olungacocekanga. (Isaya 1:8-10; thelekisa uHezekile 16:49, 53-58.) Yaye iYiputa, igunya lokuqala lehlabathi, maxa wambi ibonakala ifuzisela le nkqubo yehlabathi yezinto. (Isaya 19:1, 19; Yoweli 3:19) Ngenxa yoko, lo mzi mkhulu ufanekisela “iYerusalem” engcolileyo ethi inqula uThixo kodwa eye ayacoceka yaza yanesono njengeSodom, yaza yaba yinxalenye yale nkqubo yezinto yehlabathi likaSathana njengeYiputa. Ifanekisela iNgqobhoko, leyo namhlanje efana neYerusalem engathembekanga, intlangano enamalungu awayenezizathu ezininzi gqitha zokuvuya xa akuvalayo ukushumayela okuphazamisayo okwenziwa ngamangqina amabini.

Ukuvuswa Kwawo Kwakhona!

23. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kula mangqina mabini emva kweentsuku ezintathu ezinesiqingatha, yaye uyintoni umphumo kwiintshaba zawo? (b) ISityhilelo 11:11, 12 nesiprofeto sikaHezekile esingokuphefumlela kukaYehova amathambo omileyo awayesentilini zizaliseke nini kwixesha lethu?

²³ Amaziko eendaba athelela abefundisi ekuhlazeni abantu bakaThixo, njengoko elinye iphepha-ndaba lathi: “Isiphelo seThe Finished Mystery sichaziwe.” Noko ke, kwakungenjalo konke konke! Amangqina amabini akazange ahlale efile. Sifunda oku: “Emva kweentsuku ezintathu ezinesiqingatha umoya wobomi ovela kuThixo wangena kuwo, kwaye ema ngeenyawo zawo, baza abo bawabonayo bangenwa luloyiko olukhulu. Yaye eva ilizwi elikhulu liphuma ezulwini lisithi kuwo: ‘Nyukelani apha.’ Aza enyukela ezulwini ngelifu, ziwabona iintshaba zawo.” (ISityhilelo 11:11, 12) Ngaloo ndlela, kwenzeka kuwo oko kwenzeka kumathambo awomileyo awayesentilini eyatyelelwa nguHezekile embonweni. UYehova waphefumlela loo mathambo omileyo, aza abuyela ebomini, nto leyo eyafanekisela ukuzalwa kwakhona kohlanga lukaSirayeli emva kweminyaka engama-70 yokuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni. (Hezekile 37:1-14) Ezi ziprofeto zibini, esikuHezekile nesikwiSityhilelo, zazaliseka ngokuphawulekayo kwixesha lanamhla ngowe-1919, xa uYehova wabuyisela amangqina akhe ‘afileyo’ kubomi obupheleleyo.

24. Xa amangqina amabini abuyela ebomini, waba yintoni umphumo kubatshutshisi bawo bonqulo?

²⁴ Hayi indlela abakhwankqiswa ngayo abo batshutshisi! Izidumbu zamangqina amabini ngequbuliso zaphila zaza zasebenza kwakhona. Kwaba nzima ukuba aba befundisi bayikholelwe loo nto, ingakumbi njengoko abalungiseleli abangamaKristu ababebenzele iyelenqe lokubafaka entolongweni bakhululwayo kwakhona, kamva bavakaliswa bengenatyala ngokupheleleyo. Umothuko umele ukuba waba mkhulu ngakumbi xa, ngoSeptemba 1919, aBafundi beBhayibhile baba nendibano eCedar Point, eOhio, eUnited States. UJ. F. Rutherford, owayesandul’ ukukhululwa entolongweni, washukumisa abantu ababeze endibanweni ngentetho yakhe ethi “Ukuvakalisa UBukumkani,” eyayisekelwe kwiSityhilelo 15:2 noIsaya 52:7. Abo bodidi lukaYohane baphinda baqalisa ‘ukuprofeta,’ okanye ukushumayela ekuhleni. Bafumana amandla angakumbi, belubhenca ngokungenaloyiko uhanahaniso lweNgqobhoko.

25. (a) Axelelwa nini amangqina amabini oku, “Nyukelani apha,” yaye kwenzeka njani oko? (b) Nguwuphi umphumo okhwankqisayo owabangelwa kukubuyiselwa kwamangqina amabini kumzi omkhulu?

²⁵ INgqobhoko yazama kaninzi ukuphinda uloyiso lwayo lowe-1918. Yabhenela kwiintlaselo zamahlokondiba, ekusebenziseni ubuqhinga obungokomthetho, ekuwavaleleni ezintolongweni, kwanasekuwabulaleni—konke oko kwatsho phantsi! Emva kowe-1919 yayingenakuwufikelela ummandla wokomoya wamangqina amabini. Ngaloo nyaka uYehova wayethe kuwo: “Nyukelani apha,” ibe ayenyukele kwimeko yokomoya ephakamileyo apho iintshaba zawo zazinokuwabona kodwa zingawachukumisi. UYohane uchaza umphumo okhwankqisayo owabangelwa kukubuyiselwa kwawo kumzi omkhulu: “Kwaye ngelo lixa kwabakho inyikima enkulu yomhlaba, yaza inxalenye yeshumi yesixeko yawa; yaye abantu abangamawaka asixhenxe babulawa yinyikima, abanye bothuka baza bamzukisa uThixo wezulu.” (ISityhilelo 11:13) Ngokwenene kwakukho isiphithiphithi esikhulu kummandla wonqulo. Umhlaba wabonakala ushukuma phantsi kweenkokeli zeecawa ezimiselweyo njengoko eli qela lamaKristu ahlaziyiweyo laliqhubeka nomsebenzi. Inxalenye yeshumi yomzi wazo, ngokufuziselayo abantu abangama-7 000, yachatshazelwa ngokunzulu ngokokude kuthiwe ibulewe.

26. Ngoobani abafanekiselwa ‘yinxalenye yeshumi yesixeko’ ‘nangamawaka asixhenxe’ achazwe kwiSityhilelo 11:13? Cacisa.

²⁶ Ibinzana elithi “inxalenye yeshumi yesixeko” lisikhumbuza ukuba uIsaya waprofeta ngeYerusalem yamandulo esithi inxalenye yeshumi yayiya kusinda kwintshabalalo yomzi njengembewu engcwele. (Isaya 6:13) Ngokufanayo, inani elingama-7 000 lisikhumbuza ukuba xa uEliya wavakalelwa kukuba yayinguye kuphela owayethembekile kwaSirayeli, uYehova wamxelela ukuba, enyanisweni, kwakusekho abangama-7 000 ababengaqubudanga kuBhahali. (1 Kumkani 19:14, 18) Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, umpostile uPawulos wathi aba bangama-7 000 babefanekisela intsalela yamaYuda awayezamkele iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoKristu. (Roma 11:1-5) Ezi zibhalo zisinceda siqonde ukuba la ‘mawaka asixhenxe’ ‘nenxalenye yeshumi yesixeko’ ekuthethwe ngayo kwiSityhilelo 11:13, ngabo basamkelayo isigidimi samangqina amabini abuyiselweyo baza bawushiya umzi omkhulu onesono. Amagama abo ayakhutshwa kwiincwadi zabantu abangamalungu eNgqobhoko, ize ibajonge njengabafileyo.d

27, 28. (a) ‘Abaseleyo bamzukisa njani uThixo wezulu’? (b) Yintoni ekwanyanzeleka ukuba abefundisi beNgqobhoko bayivume?

²⁷ Kodwa ‘abanye [beNgqobhoko] bamzukisa njani uThixo wezulu’? Ngokuqinisekileyo abazange bamzukise ngokushiya unqulo lwabo oluwexukileyo babe ngabakhonzi bakaThixo. Kunoko, kunjengokuba kucaciswe kwiWord Studies in the New Testament kaVincent, ekuxubusheni ngebinzana elithi “bamzukisa uThixo wezulu.” Apho ithi: “Eli binzana alithethi kubuya, lingathethi nokuguquka, lingathethi nokwenza umbulelo, kodwa lithetha ukuqonda, yaye lidla ngokuqiqwa ngolu hlobo ezibhalweni. Thelekisa uYosh. vii. 19 (Sept.). UYoh. ix. 24; Ize. xii. 23; Roma iv. 20.” INgqobhoko kwafuneka ivume ukuba uThixo waBafundi BeBhayibhile wayenze isenzo esikhulu ngokubabuyisela kumsebenzi wobuKristu, nto leyo eyayenza yahlazeka.

²⁸ Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abefundisi bakuvuma oku ngengqondo, okanye ngaphakathi kubo. Ngokuqinisekileyo, akukho namnye kubo ochazwa njengowamvuma ekuhleni uThixo wamangqina amabini. Kodwa isiprofeto sikaYehova ngoYohane siyasinceda siqonde oko kwakusezintliziyweni zabo size siqonde umothuko wokuhlazeka abawufumanayo ngowe-1919. Ukususela ngaloo nyaka ukusa phambili, njengoko ‘amawaka asixhenxe’ ashiya iNgqobhoko phezu kwayo nje imigudu yayo yokuzimisela ukuthintela izimvu zayo, kuye kwanyanzeleka ukuba abefundisi baqonde ukuba uThixo wodidi lukaYohane wayenamandla angakumbi kunothixo wabo. Kwiminyaka yamva babeya kukuqonda ngakumbi oku, njengoko imihlambi yabo emininzi ngakumbi yayiza kubashiya, iphinde amazwi athethwa ngabantu xa uEliya woyisa abantu bonqulo lukaBhahali kwiNtaba yeKarmele: “UYehova nguThixo oyinyaniso! UYehova nguThixo oyinyaniso!”—1 Kumkani 18:39.

29. UYohane uthi yintoni eza ngokukhawuleza, yaye kukuphi ukugungqiswa okungakumbi okuseza kwenzeka kwiNgqobhoko?

²⁹ Kodwa khawuphulaphule! UYohane usixelela oku: “Uyeha wesibini udlule. Khangela! Uyeha wesithathu uyeza ngokukhawuleza.” (ISityhilelo 11:14) Ukuba iNgqobhoko igungqiswa koko kuye kwenzeka ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, iya kwenza ntoni xa kuvakaliswa uyeha wesithathu, xa ingelosi yesixhenxe ivuthela ixilongo layo naxa ekugqibeleni kugqitywa imfihlelo engcwele kaThixo?—ISityhilelo 10:7.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 168]

Ukuvuya Okuchazwe KwiSityhilelo 11:10

Kwincwadi yakhe ethi Preachers Present Arms, eyapapashwa ngowe-1933, uRay H. Abrams uthetha ngokuchasa kwabefundisi ngokuqatha incwadi yaBafundi BeBhayibhile ethi The Finished Mystery. Uhlolisisa imizamo yabefundisi yokushenxisa aBafundi BeBhayibhile ‘nempembelelo yabo ebulalayo.’ Oku kwakhokelela kwityala lasenkundleni elaphumela ekubeni uJ. F. Rutherford namaqabane akhe asixhenxe bavalelwe entolongweni kangangeminyaka emininzi. UGqr. Abrams wongezelela ngelithi: “Ukuhlolisiswa kwalo lonke eli tyala kukhokelela kwisigqibo sokuba iicawa nabefundisi ngabo ngokuyintloko ababe ngoonobangela bephulo lokuzama ukuphelisa abalandeli bakaRussell. NgoFebruwari, 1918, eKhanada, abefundisi baqalisa iphulo labo elicwangcisiweyo lokubachasa bona neempapasho zabo, ingakumbi iThe Finished Mystery. Ngokutsho kweTribune yaseWinnipeg, . . . kukholelwa ukuba ukuvalwa kwencwadi yabo ngokungqalileyo kwabangelwa ‘zizicelo ezenziwa ngabefundisi.’”

UGqr. Abrams uqhubeka esithi: “Xa iindaba ezingokuvalelwa iminyaka engamashumi amabini zathi zafikelela abahleli bamaphephandaba onqulo, phantse kuzo zonke ezi mpapasho, ezinkulu nezincinane, savuyelwa esi siganeko. Andikawafumani amazwi ovelwano nakwabaphi na oolindixesha bonqulo lwesithethe. U-Upton Sinclair waqukumbela ngelithi, ‘alithandabuzeki elokuba intshutshiso . . . ngokuyinxenye yabangelwa kukuba babeyoyisile intiyo yamaqumrhu onqulo “lwesithethe.”’ Into iicawa ezazisilele ukuyenza ngemigudu yazo ehlanganisiweyo, zayenzelwa ngurhulumente.” Emva kokucaphula amagqabaza okugxeka eempapasho zonqulo eziliqela, lo mbhali wathetha ngokujikwa kwesigwebo kwiNkundla Yesibheno waza wathi: “Iicawa azizange zikhuphe nelimdaka ngokuvakaliswa kwesi sigwebo.”

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 163]

UYohane ulinganisa itempile yokomoya—imilinganiselo abamele bahlangabezane nayo ababingeleli abathanjisiweyo

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 165]

Umsebenzi wokuphinda kwakhiwe owenziwa nguZerubhabheli noYoshuwa wabonisa ukuba ngemini yeNkosi iziqalelo ezincinane zaziya kulandelwa lulwando olukhulu phakathi kwamaNgqina kaYehova. Izakhiwo ezinjengezi ziboniswe ngasentla, eziseBrooklyn, eNew York, kuye kwafuneka zandiswe ukuze kuhlangatyezwane neemfuno zawo

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 166]

Izigidimi ezoyikekayo zomgwebo ezavakaliswa ngamangqina amabini zafanekiselwa kwangaphambili ngumsebenzi obuprofeti kaMoses noEliya

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 169]

Njengamathambo omileyo achazwe kuHezekile isahluko 37, amangqina amabini ahlaziyelwa umsebenzi wokushumayela wanamhla