ISahluko 32

Intukuthelo KaNkulunkulu Iyapheleliswa

 1. Yini eyobe seyenzekile lapho izitsha eziyisikhombisa sezithululiwe okokugcina, futhi yimiphi imibuzo manje ephakamayo ngokuqondene nezitsha?

UJOHANE usezethulile kakade izingelosi ezithunywe ukuba zithulule izitsha eziyisikhombisa. Usitshela ukuthi “lezi zingezokugcina, ngoba intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ipheleliswa ngazo.” (IsAmbulo 15:1; 16:1) Lezi zinhlupho, ezembula izijeziso zikaJehova ngenxa yobubi obusemhlabeni, kumelwe zithululwe okokugcina. Lapho sezidlulile, izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu ziyobe sezikhishiwe. Izwe likaSathane ngeke lisaba khona! Zisho ukuthini lezi zinhlupho ngesintu nangababusi besimiso esibi samanje? AmaKristu angakugwema kanjani ukuhlushwa kanye naleli zwe elilahliwe? Lena imibuzo ebalulekile futhi izophendulwa manje. Bonke abalangazelela ukunqoba kokulunga bazoba nesithakazelo esibukhali kulokho uJohane akubonayo ngokulandelayo.

Intukuthelo KaJehova “Emhlabeni”

 2. Yini eba umphumela wokuthulula kwengelosi yokuqala isitsha sayo emhlabeni, futhi yini efanekiselwa ‘umhlaba’?

² Ingelosi yokuqala ithatha isinyathelo! “Eyokuqala yahamba yathululela isitsha sayo emhlabeni. Isilonda esibuhlungu nesibulalayo sehlela abantu ababenophawu lwesilo sasendle nababekhulekela umfanekiso waso.” (IsAmbulo 16:2) Njengasendabeni yokukhala kwecilongo lokuqala, ‘umhlaba’ lapha ufanekisela isimiso sezombangazwe esibonakala siqinile uSathane aqala ukusakha lapha emhlabeni emuva esikhathini sikaNimrode, eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-4 000 edlule.—IsAmbulo 8:7.

 3. (a) Ohulumeni abaningi baye bakufuna kanjani ukukhulekelwa kohlobo oluthile kubantu babo? (b) Yini izizwe eziye zayiveza njengemelela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, futhi uyini umphumela kulabo abayikhulekelayo?

³ Kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ohulumeni abaningi baye bafuna ukukhulekelwa kohlobo oluthile kubantu babo, bephikelela ngokuthi uMbuso kumelwe uphakanyiswe ngaphezu kukaNkulunkulu nanoma yini enye. (2 Thimothewu 3:1; qhathanisa noLuka 20:25; Johane 19:15.) Kusukela ngo-1914 kuye kwaba okuvamile ngezizwe ukuba zibuthe intsha yazo ngempoqo ukuze ilwe, noma ilungele ukulwa, uhlobo lukakhukhulela-ngoqo wempi oluye lwangcolisa kakhulu ngegazi amakhasi omlando wanamuhla. Phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, izizwe ziye zaveza futhi umfanekiso wesilo—iNhlangano Yezizwe nomlandeli wayo, iZizwe Ezihlangene, njengokumelele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuhlambalaza okuyikho ukumemezela, njengoba kuye kwenza opapa bamuva, ukuthi le ndikimba eyenziwe ngabantu iwukuphela kwethemba lezizwe lokuthula! Imelene ngokunamandla noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Labo abayikhulekelayo baba abangcolile ngokomoya, abanezilonda, njengoba nje abaseGibhithe abamelana noJehova osukwini lukaMose bahlushwa ngamathumba angokoqobo nangezilonda.—Eksodusi 9:10, 11.

 4. (a) Kugcizelelani ngokunamandla lokho okuqukethwe isitsha sokuqala sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu? (b) UJehova ubabheka kanjani labo abamukela uphawu lwesilo sasendle?

⁴ Okuqukethwe yilesi sitsha kugcizelela ngokunamandla ukukhetha okuphambi kwabantu. Kumelwe bazondwe yizwe noma bathukuthelelwe uJehova. Isintu siye saphoqelelwa ukuba samukele uphawu lwesilo sasendle, ngenjongo yokuba “kungabikho muntu ongase akwazi ukuthenga noma ukuthengisa ngaphandle komuntu onophawu, igama lesilo sasendle noma isibalo segama laso.” (IsAmbulo 13:16, 17) Kodwa kunomphumela obuhlungu walokhu! UJehova ubheka labo abamukela uphawu njengabavelwe “isilonda esibuhlungu nesibulalayo.” Kusukela ngo-1922 baye babekwa uphawu obala njengabamenqabile uNkulunkulu ophilayo. Amacebo abo ezombangazwe awaphumeleli, futhi balusizi. Ngokomoya, bangcolile. Ngaphandle kokuba baphenduke, lesi sifo “esibuhlungu” siyoba esibulalayo, ngoba manje usuku lukaJehova lokwahlulela. Akukho ukungathathi hlangothi phakathi kokuba yingxenye yesimiso sezinto sezwe nokukhonza uJehova ohlangothini lukaKristu wakhe.—Luka 11:23; qhathanisa noJakobe 4:4.

Ulwandle Luphenduka Igazi

 5. (a) Kwenzekani lapho kuthululwa isitsha sesibili? (b) UJehova ubabheka kanjani labo abahlala olwandle olungokomfanekiso?

⁵ Manje kumelwe kuthululwe isitsha sesibili sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Kuyosho ukuthini ngesintu? UJohane uyasitshela: “Neyesibili yathululela isitsha sayo olwandle. Lwaba yigazi elinjengelomuntu ofileyo, yonke imiphefumulo ephilayo yafa, yebo, izinto ezisolwandle.” (IsAmbulo 16:3) Njengokukhala kwecilongo lesibili, lesi sitsha sibhekiswe “olwandle”—isintu esiyaluzayo, esihlubukayo esihlukanisiwe noJehova. (Isaya 57:20, 21; IsAmbulo 8:8, 9) Emehlweni kaJehova, lolu “lwandle” lunjengegazi, alukufanele okuphilayo ukuba kuphile kulo. Kungalesi sizathu amaKristu kumelwe angabi yingxenye yezwe. (Johane 17:14) Ukuthululwa kwesitsha sesibili sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu kwembula ukuthi sonke isintu esikulolu lwandle sifile emehlweni kaJehova. Ngenxa yokuba nomthwalo wemfanelo njengomphakathi, isintu sinecala lokuchithwa okukhulu kwegazi elingenacala. Lapho usuku lwentukuthelo lukaJehova lufika, siyofa ngokoqobo ezandleni zababhubhisi bakhe.—IsAmbulo 19:17, 18; qhathanisa nabase-Efesu 2:1; Kolose 2:13.

Ukubaphuzisa Igazi

 6. Kwenzekani lapho isitsha sesithathu sithululwa, futhi kuzwakala maphi amazwi avela engelosini nase-altare?

⁶ Isitsha sesithathu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu, njengokukhala kwecilongo lesithathu, siyayiphazamisa imithombo yamanzi amahle. “Neyesithathu yathululela isitsha sayo emifuleni nasemithonjeni yamanzi. Yaba yigazi. Ngezwa ingelosi ephezu kwamanzi ithi: ‘Wena, okhona nowawukhona, othembekileyo, ulungile, ngoba ukhiphé lezi zahlulelo, ngoba bathulula igazi labangcwele nelabaprofethi, futhi ubaniké igazi ukuba baliphuze. Kubafanele.’ Ngezwa i-altare lithi: ‘Yebo, Jehova Nkulunkulu, Mninimandla onke, ziyiqiniso futhi zilungile izahlulelo zakho.’”—IsAmbulo 16:4-7.

 7. Yini efanekiselwa ‘imifula nemithombo yamanzi’?

⁷ Le ‘mifula nemithombo yamanzi’ ifanekisela lokho okubizwa ngokuthi imithombo emisha yesiqondiso nenhlakanipho eyamukelwa yileli zwe, njengamafilosofi ezombangazwe, ezomnotho, ezesayensi, ezemfundo, ezenhlalo nawezenkolo aqondisa izenzo nezinqumo zesintu. Kunokuba bathembele kuJehova, uMthombo wokuphila, ukuze bathole iqiniso elinika ukuphila, abantu baye ‘bazimbela imithombo eqhekekile’ futhi baphuza “ukuhlakanipha kwaleli zwe [o]kungubuwula kuNkulunkulu.”—Jeremiya 2:13; 1 Korinte 1:19; 2:6; 3:19; IHubo 36:9.

 8. Isintu siye sazibangela ngaziphi izindlela icala legazi?

⁸ “Amanzi” anjalo angcolile aye abangela abantu ukuba babe necala legazi, ngokwesibonelo, ngokubakhuthaza ukuba bachithe igazi ngezinga elikhulu ezimpini, lezo ezathatha ukuphila okungaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu ekhulwini leminyaka eledlule. Ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa, lapho izimpi ezimbili zezwe zasuka khona, abantu baye ‘bashesha ukuchitha igazi elingenacala,’ futhi lokhu kuye kwahlanganisa negazi lofakazi bakaNkulunkulu siqu. (Isaya 59:7; Jeremiya 2:34) Isintu siye sazibangela futhi icala legazi ngokusebenzisa kabi kwaso izinqwabanqwaba zegazi ekumpontshelweni, sephula imithetho kaJehova yokulunga. (Genesise 9:3-5; Levitikusi 17:14; IzEnzo 15:28, 29) Ngenxa yalokhu, kakade sesiye savuna usizi ngokubhebhetheka kwengculaza, isifo sokusha kwesibindi, nezinye izifo, ngenxa yokumpontshelwa igazi. Isijeziso esiphelele salo lonke icala legazi siyofika ngokushesha lapho lezi zoni zikhokha inhlawulo ephakeme, zinyathelwa “esikhamweni sewayini esikhulu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu.”—IsAmbulo 14:19, 20.

 9. Kuhilelani ukuthululwa kwesitsha sesithathu?

⁹ Osukwini lukaMose, lapho uMfula iNayile uphendulwa igazi, amaGibhithe akwazi ukuqhubeka ephila ngokufuna eminye imithombo yamanzi. (Eksodusi 7:24) Nokho, namuhla phakathi nenhlupho engokomoya, akukho ndawo ezweni likaSathane lapho abantu bengathola khona amanzi anikeza ukuphila. Ukuthululwa kwalesi sitsha sesithathu kuhlanganisa nokumemezela ukuthi ‘imifula nemithombo yamanzi’ yezwe injengegazi, ibangela ukufa okungokomoya kubo bonke abaphuza kuyo. Ngaphandle kokuba abantu baphendukele kuJehova, bavuna isahlulelo sakhe esibuhlungu.—Qhathanisa noHezekeli 33:11.

10. Yini “ingelosi ephezu kwamanzi” eyenza yaziwe, futhi yibuphi ubufakazi “i-altare” elibunezelayo?

¹⁰ “Ingelosi ephezu kwamanzi,” okungukuthi, ingelosi ethulula lesi sitsha emanzini, idumisa uJehova njengoMahluleli Wendawo Yonke, ozinqumo zakhe zokulunga ziphelele. Ngakho, ithi ngalokhu kwahlulelwa: “Kubafanele.” Ngokungangabazeki, le ngelosi ngokwayo ibingufakazi wokuningi ukuchithwa kwegazi nonya obekushoshozelwa ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka edlule yizimfundiso zamanga namafilosofi aleli zwe elikhohlakele. Ngakho, iyazi ukuthi isahlulelo sikaJehova silungile. Ngisho ‘ne-altare’ likaNkulunkulu liyakhuluma. KusAmbulo 6:9, 10, kuthiwa imiphefumulo yalabo ababulawelwa ukholo ingaphansi kwalelo altare. Ngakho “i-altare” linezela ubufakazi obunamandla ngokuqondene nokulunga nokuqonda kwezinqumo zikaJehova.a Ngokuqinisekile, kungokufanelekile ukuba labo abaye bachitha futhi basebenzisa kabi igazi eliningi kangaka baphoqelelwe ukuba badle igazi, okufanekisela ukubagwebela kukaJehova ekufeni.

Ukuhangula Abantu Ngomlilo

11. Siyini isisulu sesitsha sesine sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu, futhi yini eyenzekayo lapho sithululwa?

¹¹ Ilanga liyisisulu sesitsha sesine sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. UJohane uyasitshela: “Neyesine yathululela isitsha sayo elangeni; ilanga lanikwa ukuba lihangule abantu ngomlilo. Abantu bahangulwa ukushisa okukhulu, kodwa bahlambalaza igama likaNkulunkulu, onegunya phezu kwalezi zinhlupho, futhi abazange baphenduke ukuze bamkhazimulise.”—IsAmbulo 16:8, 9.

12. Liyini “ilanga” laleli zwe, futhi yini enikezwa leli langa elingokomfanekiso ukuba liyenze?

¹² Namuhla, esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto, abafowabo bakaJesu abangokomoya ‘bakhanya ngokukhazimulayo njengelanga embusweni kaYise.’ (Mathewu 13:40, 43) UJesu ngokwakhe ‘uyilanga lokulunga.’ (Malaki 4:2) Nokho, isintu sinelaso “ilanga,” ababusi baso abazama ukukhanya ngokumelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ukukhala kwecilongo lesine kwamemezela ukuthi eqinisweni ‘ilanga, inyanga, nezinkanyezi’ emazulwini eLobukholwa kuyimithombo yobumnyama, akuyona eyokukhanya. (IsAmbulo 8:12) Isitsha sesine sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu manje sibonisa ukuthi “ilanga” lezwe liyoshisa ngokungenakubekezeleleka. Labo okuthenjelwa kubo njengabaholi abanjengelanga ‘bayohangula’ isintu. Lokhu kuyonikezwa ilanga elingokomfanekiso ukuba likwenze. Ngamanye amazwi, uJehova uyokuvumela lokhu njengengxenye yesahlulelo sakhe esinjengomlilo esintwini. Kuye kwenzeka ngayiphi indlela lokhu kuhangula?

13. Ababusi baleli zwe abanjengelanga baye ‘basihangula’ ngayiphi indlela isintu?

¹³ Ngemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala, ababusi balo mhlaba bakha iNhlangano Yezizwe emzamweni wokuxazulula inkinga yokulondeka kwezwe, kodwa lokhu kwahluleka. Ngakho kwazanywa ezinye izinhlobo zobubusi bokuhlola, njengobuFascist, nobuNazi. Ubukhomanisi baqhubeka banda. Kunokuba bathuthukise ukuphila kwesintu, laba babusi abanjengelanga kulezi zimiso baqala ‘ukuhangula isintu ngokushisa okukhulu.’ Izimpi zomphakathi eSpain, eTopiya, naseManchuria zaholela empini yezwe yesibili. Umlando wanamuhla ubonisa ukuthi uMussolini, uHitler, noStalin njengomashiqela babangela ngokuqondile nangenye indlela ukufa kwamashumi ezigidi, kuhlanganise nabaningi bezizwe zabo siqu. Muva nje, izingxabano zezizwe noma zomphakathi ziye ‘zahangula’ abantu basemazweni anjengeVietnam, iKampuchea, i-Iran, iLebanon, ne-Ireland, nasemazweni aseLatin America nase-Afrika. Ngaphezu kwalokhu kunokulwisana okuqhubekayo phakathi kwemibuso emikhulu, ezikhali zayo ezisabekayo zinamandla okuqothula sonke isintu. Kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ngokuqinisekile isintu siye sachayeka ‘elangeni’ elishisayo, ababusi baso abangalungile. Ukuthululwa kwesitsha sesine sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu kuye kwawakhomba ngokuqondile la maqiniso angokomlando, futhi abantu bakaNkulunkulu baye bawamemezela emhlabeni wonke.

14. Yini oFakazi BakaJehova abaye bayifundisa ngokungaguquki ukuthi iwukuphela kwekhambi lezinkinga zesintu, sasabela kanjani isintu sisonke?

¹⁴ OFakazi BakaJehova baye bafundisa ngokungaguquki ukuthi okuwukuphela kwekhambi lezinkinga zesintu ezixakayo uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJehova ajonge ukungcwelisa ngawo igama lakhe. (IHubo 83:4, 17, 18; Mathewu 6:9, 10) Nokho, isintu sisonke silenqabile leli khambi. Abaningi abenqaba uMbuso bahlambalaza negama likaNkulunkulu futhi, njengoba nje uFaro enza lapho enqaba ukuqaphela ubukhosi bukaJehova. (Eksodusi 1:8-10; 5:2) Bengenasithakazelo eMbusweni kaMesiya, laba baphikisi bakhetha ukuhlupheka ngaphansi ‘kwelanga’ labo elishisayo lobubusi babantu obucindezelayo.

Isihlalo Sobukhosi Sesilo Sasendle

15. (a) Isitsha sesihlanu sithululelwa phezu kwani? (b) Siyini ‘isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle,’ futhi yini ehilelekile ekuthululweni kwesitsha phezu kwaso?

¹⁵ Ingelosi elandelayo isithululela kuphi isitsha sayo? “Neyesihlanu yathululela isitsha sayo esihlalweni sobukhosi sesilo sasendle.” (IsAmbulo 16:10a) ‘Isilo sasendle’ yisimiso sikaSathane sohulumeni. Asinaso isihlalo sobukhosi esingokoqobo, njengoba nesilo sasendle ngokwaso singesona esingokoqobo. Nokho, ukuphawulwa kwesihlalo sobukhosi kubonisa ukuthi isilo sasendle sisebenzise igunya lobukhosi phezu kwesintu; lokhu kuvumelana neqiniso lokuthi ngalunye lwezimpondo zesilo luthwele umqhele wobukhosi. Eqinisweni, ‘isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle’ siyisisekelo, noma umthombo, walelo gunya.b IBhayibheli lembula isimo okuyisona sona segunya lobukhosi lesilo sasendle lapho lithi “udrako wanika isilo amandla aso nesihlalo saso sobukhosi negunya elikhulu.” (IsAmbulo 13:1, 2; 1 Johane 5:19) Kanjalo, ukuthululelwa kwesitsha phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle kuhlanganisa isimemezelo esembula indima yangempela uSathane ayifezile futhi asayifeza ekusekeleni nasekuthuthukiseni isilo sasendle.

16. (a) Izizwe zikhonza bani, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ziyaqaphela noma aziqapheli? Chaza. (b) Izwe libubonakalisa kanjani ubuntu bukaSathane? (c) Siyoketulwa nini isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle?

¹⁶ Bulondolozwa kanjani lobu buhlobo phakathi kukaSathane nezizwe? Lapho uSathane elinga uJesu, wambonisa yonke imibuso yezwe embonweni futhi wathembisa ukumupha “lonke leli gunya nenkazimulo yale mibuso.” Kodwa kwakunombandela—uJesu kwakufanele enze isenzo sokukhuleka phambi kukaSathane kuqala. (Luka 4:5-7) Besingacabanga yini ukuthi kudingeké okungaphansi kwalokho kohulumeni bezwe ukuze bamukele igunya labo? Lutho neze. NgokweBhayibheli, uSathane ungunkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto, kangangokuthi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izizwe ziyakuqaphela noma cha, zikhonza yena. (2 Korinte 4:3, 4)c Lesi simo sibonakala esimweni sesimiso sezwe samanje, esakhelwe ebuzweni obubandlululayo, enzondweni, nasebugovwini. Sihlelwe ngendlela uSathane afuna ngayo—ukugcina isintu singaphansi kokulawula kwakhe. Ukonakala kohulumeni, ukuhalela ukubusa, ukusebenzelana kwezizwe ngenkohliso, umncintiswano wezikhali—lokhu kubonisa ubuntu bukaSathane obonakele. Izwe lisekela izindinganiso zikaSathane ezingalungile, kanjalo limenza unkulunkulu walo. Isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle siyoketulwa lapho leso silo sibhujiswa futhi iNzalo yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu ekugcineni ifaka uSathane ngokwakhe kwalasha.—Genesise 3:15; IsAmbulo 19:20, 21; 20:1-3.

Ubumnyama Nobuhlungu Obunjunjuthayo

17. (a) Ukuthululwa kwesitsha sesihlanu kuhlangene kanjani nobumnyama obungokomoya obebugubuzele umbuso wesilo sasendle sonke isikhathi? (b) Abantu basabela kanjani ekuthululweni kwesitsha sesihlanu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁷ Umbuso walesi silo sasendle ubusebumnyameni obungokomoya kusukela ekuqaleni kwawo. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 8:12; Efesu 6:11, 12.) Isitsha sesihlanu siletha ukumenyezelwa kwasobala okunamandla kwalobo bumnyama. Size sikugcizelele, ngokuthi lesi sitsha sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu sithululelwa phezu kwaso kanye isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle esingokomfanekiso. “Neyesihlanu yathululela isitsha sayo esihlalweni sobukhosi sesilo sasendle. Umbuso waso waba mnyama, baqala ukuziluma ulimi ngenxa yobuhlungu babo, kodwa bahlambalaza uNkulunkulu wezulu ngenxa yezinhlungu nangenxa yezilonda zabo, futhi abazange baphenduke emisebenzini yabo.”—IsAmbulo 16:10b, 11.

18. Yikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kokukhala kwecilongo lesihlanu nesitsha sesihlanu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁸ Ukukhala kwecilongo lesihlanu akufani ncimishí nesitsha sesihlanu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu, njengoba ukukhala kwecilongo kwakumemezela inhlupho yesikhonyane. Kodwa phawula ukuthi ekudedelweni kwaleyo nhlupho yesikhonyane, kwafiphazwa ilanga nomkhathi. (IsAmbulo 9:2-5) Futhi ku-Eksodusi 10:14, 15, sifunda lokhu ngokuqondene nesikhonyane uJehova ahlupha ngaso iGibhithe: “Zazinzima kakhulu. Ngaphambi kwazo kwakungakaze kuvele ngale ndlela izinkumbi ezinjengazo, futhi azisoze zavela ngale ndlela ezinye emva kwazo. Zamboza indawo ebonakalayo yalo lonke izwe, izwe laba mnyama.” Yebo, ubumnyama! Namuhla, ubumnyama bezwe obungokomoya buye baba sobala kakhulu ngenxa yokubethwa kwecilongo lesihlanu nangenxa yokuthululwa kwesitsha sesihlanu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Isigijimi esintinyelayo esimenyezelwa uswebezane lwesikhonyane sanamuhla sibangela ukukhathazeka nobuhlungu kulabo bantu abakhohlakele abaye “bathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya.”—Johane 3:19.

19. Ngokuvumelana nesAmbulo 16:10, 11, kubangelani ukudalulwa obala kukaSathane njengonkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto?

¹⁹ Njengombusi wezwe, uSathane uye wabangela ukungathokozi nokuhlupheka okukhulu. Indlala, izimpi, ubudlova, ubugebengu, ukusetshenziswa kabi kwemilaliso, ukuziphatha okubi, izifo ezithathelwana ngobulili, ukungathembeki, ubuzenzisi obungokwenkolo—lokhu nokunye okwengeziwe kuyizimpawu zesimiso sezinto sikaSathane. (Qhathanisa nabaseGalathiya 5:19-21.) Noma kunjalo, ukudalulwa kukaSathane njengonkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto kwabangela ubuhlungu nokukhungatheka kulabo abaphila ngezindinganiso zakhe. “Baqala ukuziluma ulimi ngenxa yobuhlungu babo,” ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa. Abaningi kuyabacasula ukuthi iqiniso lidalula indlela yabo yokuphila. Abanye balithola lisongela, bese beshushisa labo abalisakazayo. Bayawenqaba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi bathuka igama likaJehova elingcwele. Isimo sabo esingokwenkolo esigulayo, esinezilonda sibekwe obala, ngalokho bahlambalaza uNkulunkulu wezulu. Cha, ‘abaphenduki emisebenzini yabo.’ Ngakho asinakulindela ukuphenduka kwabantu bonke ngaphambi kokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto.—Isaya 32:6.

UMfula I-Ewufrathe Washa

20. Kokubili ukukhala kwecilongo lesithupha nokuthululwa kwesitsha sesithupha kuwuhilela kanjani umfula i-Ewufrathe?

²⁰ Ukukhala kwecilongo kwesithupha kwamemezela ukukhululwa ‘kwezingelosi ezine eziboshwe emfuleni omkhulu i-Ewufrathe.’ (IsAmbulo 9:14) Ngokomlando, iBhabhiloni lalingumuzi omkhulu owawuphezu komfula i-Ewufrathe. Futhi ngo-1919 ukukhululwa kwezingelosi ezine ezingokomfanekiso kwahambisana nokuwa okuphawulekayo kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo 14:8) Khona-ke, kungokuphawulekayo ukuthi isitsha sesithupha sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu sihilela futhi nomfula i-Ewufrathe: “Neyesithupha yathululela isitsha sayo emfuleni omkhulu i-Ewufrathe, amanzi awo asha, ukuze kulungiselelwe indlela yamakhosi avela empumalanga.” (IsAmbulo 16:12) Nalokhu futhi kuyizindaba ezimbi ngeBhabhiloni Elikhulu!

21, 22. (a) Amanzi avikelayo omfula i-Ewufrathe alishela kanjani iBhabhiloni ngo-539 B.C.E.? (b) Ayini “amanzi” iBhabhiloni Elikhulu elihlezi phezu kwawo, futhi la manzi angokomfanekiso asha kanjani ngisho namanje?

²¹ Ngesikhathi sokuchuma kweBhabhiloni lasendulo, amanzi amaningi e-Ewufrathe ayeyingxenye eyinhloko yesimiso salo sokuzivikela. Ngo-539 B.C.E. lawo manzi asha lapho ephambukiswa endleleni yawo umholi wasePheresiya uKoresi. Kanjalo, indlela yabavulekela oKoresi umPheresiya noDariyu umMede, amakhosi avela “empumalanga,” ukuba bangene eBhabhiloni futhi balinqobe. Ngehora elibucayi, umfula i-Ewufrathe wahluleka ukuvikela lowo muzi omkhulu. (Isaya 44:27–45:7; Jeremiya 51:36) Okuthile okufuze lokho kuzokwenzeka eBhabhiloni lanamuhla, isimiso somhlaba wonke senkolo yamanga.

²² IBhabhiloni Elikhulu ‘lihlezi phezu kwamanzi amaningi.’ NgokwesAmbulo 17:1, 15, lawa afanekisela “abantu nezixuku nezizwe nezilimi”—izixuku zabalandeli eliye lazibheka njengesivikelo. Kodwa “amanzi” ayasha! ENtshonalanga Yurophu, lapho lalinethonya elikhulu khona, amakhulu ezigidi aye ayifulathela ingcaca inkolo. Kwamanye amazwe, kwaphela iminyaka eminingi kunomthetho omisiwe wokuzama ukuqeda ithonya lenkolo. Abantu kulawo mazwe abazange balimele. Ngokufanayo, lapho sifika isikhathi sokuba iBhabhiloni Elikhulu libhujiswe, inani elinciphayo labalandeli balo liyobonakala lingesona neze isivikelo. (IsAmbulo 17:16) Nakuba lizisholo ukuthi linamalungu ayizinkulungwane zezigidi, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu liyozithola lingavikelekile ‘emakhosini avela empumalanga.’

23. (a) Ayengobani amakhosi avela “empumalanga” ngo-539 B.C.E.? (b) Angobani “amakhosi avela empumalanga” phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, futhi ayolibhubhisa kanjani iBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

²³ Angobani la makhosi? Ngo-539 B.C.E. ayenguDariyu umMede noKoresi umPheresiya, abasetshenziswa uJehova ukuba banqobe umuzi wasendulo iBhabhiloni. Kulolu suku lweNkosi, isimiso senkolo yamanga seBhabhiloni Elikhulu naso sizobhujiswa futhi ngababusi abangabantu. Kodwa futhi, lesi kuzoba isahlulelo saphezulu. UJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, “amakhosi avela empumalanga,” bayobe befake ezinhliziyweni zababusi abangabantu “umqondo” wokuba baliphendukele iBhabhiloni Elikhulu futhi balibhubhise ngokuphelele. (IsAmbulo 17:16, 17) Ukuthululwa kwesitsha sesithupha kumemezela obala ukuthi lesi sahlulelo sesizokhishwa!

24. (a) Kuye kwamenyezelwa kanjani okusezitsheni eziyisithupha zokuqala zentukuthelo kaJehova, futhi waba yini umphumela? (b) Ngaphambi kokuba sisitshele ngesitsha esisele sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu, isAmbulo sembulani?

²⁴ Lezi zitsha zokuqala eziyisithupha zentukuthelo kaJehova ziphethe isigijimi esiqabulayo. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasemhlabeni, zisekelwa yizingelosi, bezimatasa zimemezela emhlabeni wonke okuqukethwe izitsha. Ngale ndlela, zonke izingxenye zesimiso sezwe sikaSathane ziye zanikezwa isixwayiso esifanele, futhi uJehova uye wanikeza abantu ngabanye ithuba lokuphendukela ekulungeni ukuze baphile. (Hezekeli 33:14-16) Nokho, isitsha esisodwa sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu sisasele. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba sisitshele ngaso, isAmbulo sembula indlela uSathane namanxusa akhe asemhlabeni abazama ngayo ukuvimbela ukumenyezelwa kwezahlulelo zikaJehova.

Ukubuthanela E-Armagedoni

25. (a) UJohane usitshelani ‘ngezinkulumo eziphefumulelwe’ ezingcolile, ezinjengamaxoxo? (b) Ibe khona kanjani inhlupho enyanyekayo ‘yezinkulumo eziphefumulelwe ezingcolile’ ezinjengamaxoxo ngosuku lweNkosi, futhi waba yini umphumela?

²⁵ UJohane uyasitshela: “Ngabona futhi nezinkulumo eziphefumulelwe ezintathu ezingcolile ezazibukeka njengamaxoxo ziphuma emlonyeni kadrako nasemlonyeni wesilo sasendle nasemlonyeni womprofethi wamanga. Eqinisweni, ziyizinkulumo eziphefumulelwe amademoni futhi zenza izibonakaliso, ziphuma ziqonde emakhosini omhlaba wonke owakhiwe, ukuze ziwabuthele ndawonye empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.” (IsAmbulo 16:13, 14) Ngosuku lukaMose, uJehova waletha inhlupho eyenyanyekayo yamaxoxo eGibhithe likaFaro, kangangokuthi “izwe laqala ukunuka.” (Eksodusi 8:5-15) Phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, kuye kwaba khona futhi inhlupho eyenyanyekayo efana namaxoxo, nakuba ivela emthonjeni ohlukile. ‘Iyizinkulumo eziphefumulelwe ezingcolile’ zikaSathane, ngokusobala ezifanekisela inkulumo-ze eklanyelwe ukuba yenze bonke ababusi abangabantu, ‘amakhosi,’ bamelane noJehova uNkulunkulu. Kanjalo uSathane uyaqikelela ukuthi abazanyazanyiswa ukuthululwa kwezitsha zentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu kunalokho bama beqinile ngasohlangothini lukaSathane lapho ‘impi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’ iqala.

26. (a) Inkulumo-ze yobusathane ivela kumiphi imithombo emithathu? (b) Uyini ‘umprofethi wamanga,’ futhi sazi kanjani?

²⁶ Inkulumo-ze ivela ‘kudrako’ (uSathane) ‘nasesilweni sasendle’ (isimiso sikaSathane sasemhlabeni sezombangazwe), izidalwa esesihlangene nazo kakade kusAmbulo. Nokho, uyini ‘umprofethi wamanga’? Lona musha ngegama kuphela. Ngaphambili, siboniswe isilo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili ezinjengezewundlu esenza izibonakaliso ezinkulu phambi kwesilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa. Lesi sidalwa esidukisayo sasebenza njengomprofethi waleso silo sasendle. Sakhuthaza ukukhulekelwa kwesilo sasendle, saze sabangela ngisho nokuba kwakhiwe umfanekiso waso. (IsAmbulo 13:11-14) Lesi silo sasendle esinezimpondo ezimbili ezinjengezewundlu kumelwe sibe esifanayo ‘nomprofethi wamanga’ ophawulwa lapha. Okuqinisekisa lokhu, kamuva sifunda ukuthi umprofethi wamanga, njengesilo sasendle esingokomfanekiso esinezimpondo ezimbili, “wenza izibonakaliso phambi [kwesilo sasendle esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa] adukisa ngazo labo abamukela uphawu lwesilo sasendle nalabo abakhulekela umfanekiso waso.”—IsAmbulo 19:20.

27. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso esifika ngesikhathi uJesu Kristu ngokwakhe asinikezayo? (b) Yisiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinikeza lapho esemhlabeni? (c) Umphostoli uPawulu wasinanela kanjani isixwayiso sikaJesu?

²⁷ Njengoba kunenkulumo-ze yobusathane eningi kangaka, ngempela amazwi alandelayo uJohane awalobayo afike ngesikhathi: “Bheka! Ngiyeza njengesela. Uyajabula ohlala ephapheme embethe njalo izingubo zakhe zangaphandle, ukuze angahambi nqunu nabantu babone ihlazo lakhe.” (IsAmbulo 16:15) Ubani oza “njengesela”? UJesu ngokwakhe, eza ngesikhathi esingashiwongo njengoMbhubhisi kaJehova. (IsAmbulo 3:3; 2 Petru 3:10) Lapho esesemhlabeni, uJesu futhi wafanisa ukuza kwakhe nokwesela, ethi: “Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile ngoba anazi ukuthi iNkosi yenu iza ngaluphi usuku. Ngenxa yalokhu nani futhi yibani abakulungele, ngoba iNdodana yomuntu iza ngehora eningalicabangi.” (Mathewu 24:42, 44; Luka 12:37, 40) Enanela lesi sixwayiso, umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Usuku lukaJehova luza ngokufana ncamashí nesela ebusuku. Noma nini lapho bethi: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyobafikela ngaso leso sikhathi.” NguSathane obangela ukwenziwa kwanoma yisiphi isimemezelo esifana nalesi esingamanga esithi “Ukuthula nokulondeka!”—1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3.

28. Yisiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinikeza mayelana nokumelana nokucindezela kwezwe, futhi yiluphi “lolo suku” amaKristu angafuni ukuba luwafice “njengogibe”?

²⁸ UJesu futhi waxwayisa ngohlobo lokucindezela leli zwe, eligcwele inkulumo-ze, elaliyocindezela ngakho amaKristu. Wathi: “Qaphelani ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingalokothi zisindwe ukuminza nokuphuza kakhulu nezinkathazo zokuphila, ngokungazelelwe lolo suku lunifice ngaso leso sikhathi, njengogibe. . . . Khona-ke, hlalani niphapheme, ngaso sonke isikhathi ninxusa ukuba niphumelele ekuphunyukeni kuzo zonke lezi zinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka, nasekumeni phambi kweNdodana yomuntu.” (Luka 21:34-36) “Lolo suku” ‘usuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.’ (IsAmbulo 16:14) Njengoba “lolo suku” lokulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova lusondela, kuya kuba nzima kakhulu ukubhekana nezinkathazo zokuphila. AmaKristu adinga ukuqapha futhi alinde, ahlale ephapheme luze lufike lolo suku.

29, 30. (a) Sisho ukuthini isixwayiso sikaJesu sokuthi labo abatholwa belele bayohlazeka ngokulahlekelwa ‘izingubo zabo zangaphandle’? (b) Izingubo zangaphandle zimveza ukuthi uyini ozigqokile? (c) Umuntu angalahlekelwa kanjani izingubo zakhe zangaphandle ezingokomfanekiso, futhi kube namuphi umphumela?

²⁹ Nokho, yini esikiselwa isixwayiso sokuthi labo abafunyanwa belele bayohlazeka ngokulahlekelwa ‘izingubo zabo zangaphandle’? Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, noma yimuphi umpristi noma umLevi owayesemsebenzini wokuqapha ethempelini wayenomthwalo wemfanelo onzima. Abahlaziyi abangamaJuda basitshela ukuthi noma ubani owayefunyanwa elele esemsebenzini onjalo, wayengahlutshulwa izingubo zakhe futhi zishiswe, ukuze ahlazeke obala.

³⁰ UJesu lapha uxwayisa ngokuthi okufanayo kungenzeka namuhla. Abapristi namaLevi babefanekisela abafowabo bakaJesu abagcotshiwe. (1 Petru 2:9) Kodwa isixwayiso sikaJesu sidlulela nasesixukwini esikhulu. Izingubo zangaphandle okubhekiselwe kuzo lapha zibonakalisa ozembethe njengoFakazi KaJehova ongumKristu. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 3:18; 7:14.) Uma noma obani bevumela ukucindezela kwezwe likaSathane ukuba kubalolozele baze balale noma baphole, basengozini yokulahlekelwa yilezi zingubo zangaphandle—ngamanye amazwi, balahlekelwe ukubonakala kwabo okuhlanzekile njengamaKristu. Isimo esinjalo singaba yihlazo. Singabeka umuntu engozini yokulahlekelwa ngokuphelele.

31. (a) IsAmbulo 16:16 sisigcizelela kanjani isidingo sokuba amaKristu ahlale ephapheme? (b) Yikuphi ukucabangela abanye abaholi benkolo abaye bakwenza ngokuqondene ne-Armagedoni?

³¹ Isidingo sokuba amaKristu ahlale ephapheme siba ngesiphuthuma ngisho nangokwengeziwe njengoba ivesi elilandelayo lesAmbulo lisondela ekugcwalisekeni: “[Izinkulumo eziphefumulelwe amademoni] zawabuthela ndawonye [amakhosi asemhlabeni, noma ababusi] endaweni ngesiHebheru ebizwa ngokuthi iHar–Magedoni.” (IsAmbulo 16:16) Leli gama, ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi i-Armagedoni, livela kanye kuphela eBhayibhelini. Kodwa liye lashukumisa ukucabanga kwesintu. Ababusi bezwe baye baxwayisa nge-Armagedoni yenuzi engase yenzeke. I-Armagedoni iye yahlanganiswa futhi nomuzi wasendulo waseMegido, indawo yezimpi eziningi ezingunqamula-juqu ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, futhi ngenxa yalokho abanye abaholi benkolo baye bacabangela ukuthi impi yokugcina emhlabeni iyolwelwa kuleyo ndawo encane. Kulokhu, bakude kakhulu neqiniso.

32, 33. (a) Kunokuba libe yindawo engokoqobo, igama elithi Har–Magedoni, noma Armagedoni, limeleleni? (b) Yimaphi amanye amagama eBhayibheli afana ‘ne-Armagedoni’ noma ahlangene nalo? (c) Siyoba nini isikhathi sokuba ingelosi yesikhombisa ithulule isitsha sokugcina sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu?

³² Igama elithi Har–Magedoni lisho “iNtaba yaseMegido.” Kodwa kunokuba lisho indawo engokoqobo, limelela isimo sezwe izizwe zonke ezibuthanela kuso ukuze zimelane noJehova uNkulunkulu nalapho ekugcineni eyozibhubhisela khona. Lokhu kuyohlanganisa wonke umhlaba. (Jeremiya 25:31-33; Daniyeli 2:44) Iyefana ‘nesikhamo sewayini esikhulu sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu’ ‘nethafa eliphansi lesinqumo,’ noma ‘ithafa eliphansi likaJehoshafati,’ lapho izizwe zihlanganiselwa khona ukuze zibhujiswe uJehova. (IsAmbulo 14:19; Joweli 3:12, 14) Futhi ihlangene ‘nezwe lakwa-Israyeli’ lapho amabutho obusathane kaGogi wakwaMagogi ebhujiswa khona naleyo ndawo ‘ephakathi nolwandle olukhulu nentaba engcwele yoMhlobiso’ lapho inkosi yasenyakatho iya “ekupheleni kwayo” ezandleni zikaMikayeli isikhulu esikhulu.—Hezekeli 38:16-18, 22, 23; Daniyeli 11:45–12:1.

³³ Lapho izizwe sezenziwe zaba kulesi simo yinkulumo-ze efana nokukhala kwamaxoxo evela kuSathane nasemanxuseni akhe asemhlabeni, kuyobe sekuyisikhathi sokuba ingelosi yesikhombisa ithulule isitsha sokugcina sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu.

“Sekwenzekile!”

34. Ingelosi yesikhombisa isithululelaphi isitsha sayo, futhi isiphi isimemezelo esiphuma ‘endlini engcwele esivela esihlalweni sobukhosi’?

³⁴ “Neyesikhombisa yathululela isitsha sayo emoyeni. Khona-ke kwaphuma izwi elikhulu endlini engcwele livela esihlalweni sobukhosi, lithi: ‘Sekwenzekile!’”—IsAmbulo 16:17.

35. (a) Uyini ‘umoya’ wesAmbulo 16:17? (b) Ngokuthulula isitsha sayo emoyeni, ingelosi yesikhombisa ibonisani?

³⁵ ‘Umoya’ uyisici sokugcina esisekela ukuphila esihlushwayo. Kodwa lona akuwona umoya ongokoqobo. Akukho lutho olwenza umoya ongokoqobo ufanelwe izahlulelo zikaJehova ezinzima, njengoba nje nomhlaba ongokoqobo, ulwandle, imithombo yamanzi, noma ilanga kungadingi ukwahlulelwa uJehova. Kunalokho, lona ‘umoya’ uPawulu ayexoxa ngawo lapho ebiza uSathane ngokuthi ‘umbusi wegunya lomoya.’ (Efesu 2:2) ‘Umoya’ wobusathane izwe eliwuphefumulayo namuhla, noma ukuthambekela kwengqondo okuvamile, okuyisici esiphawula sonke isimiso sakhe sezinto esikhohlakele, ukucabanga ngendlela yobusathane okugcwele kuzo zonke izingxenye zokuphila okungaphandle kwenhlangano kaJehova. Ngakho ngokuthulula isitsha sayo emoyeni, ingelosi yesikhombisa ibonisa ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngokumelene noSathane, inhlangano yakhe, nakho konke okushukumisela isintu ukuba sisekele uSathane ekudeleleni ubukhosi bukaJehova.

36. (a) Zihlanganisani izinhlupho eziyisikhombisa? (b) Yini eboniswa isimemezelo sikaJehova esithi: “Sekwenzekile”?

³⁶ Lena kanye nezinhlupho eziyisithupha ezidlule zinikeza isamba sezahlulelo zikaJehova ngokumelene noSathane nesimiso sakhe. Ziyisimemezelo sokulahlwa kukaSathane nenzalo yakhe. Lapho lesi sitsha sokugcina sithululwa, uJehova ngokwakhe uyamemezela: “Sekwenzekile.” Akukho okunye okungashiwo. Lapho okusezitsheni zentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu sekumenyezelwe ngendlela eyanelisa uJehova, ngeke kulibale ukukhipha kwakhe izahlulelo ezimenyezelwa yilezi zigijimi.

37. UJohane ukuchaza kanjani okwenzeka ngemva kokuthululwa kwesitsha sesikhombisa sentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu?

³⁷ UJohane uyaqhubeka: “Kwaba nemibani namazwi nokuduma kwezulu, kwaba nokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okwakungakaze kube khona okunjalo kusukela abantu baba khona emhlabeni, ukuzamazama komhlaba okuhlanganisa indawo ebanzi kangako nokukhulu kangako. Umuzi omkhulu waqhekeka waba izingxenye ezintathu, nemizi yezizwe yawa; neBhabhiloni Elikhulu lakhunjulwa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, ukuba alinike indebe yewayini lentukuthelo yolaka lwakhe. Zonke iziqhingi zabaleka, nezintaba azitholakalanga. Kwehlela isichotho esikhulu phezu kwabantu sivela ezulwini itshe ngalinye linesisindo esicishe sibe ngangethalenta, futhi abantu bahlambalaza uNkulunkulu ngenxa yenhlupho yesichotho, ngoba inhlupho yaso yayinkulu ngokungajwayelekile.”—IsAmbulo 16:18-21.

38. Yini efanekiselwa (a) ‘ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu’? (b) iqiniso lokuthi “umuzi omkhulu,” iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, uhlakazeka ube “izingxenye ezintathu”? (c) iqiniso lokuthi “zonke iziqhingi zabaleka, nezintaba azitholakalanga”? (d) ‘inhlupho yesichotho’?

³⁸ UJehova uyaphinda futhi wenza ngokungaphazami esintwini, lokhu kuboniswa ‘imibani namazwi nokuduma.’ (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 4:5; 8:5.) Isintu siyozanyazanyiswa ngendlela engakaze yenzeke ngaphambili, njengokungathi ngokuzamazama komhlaba okucekela phansi. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 13:13; Joweli 3:16.) Lokho kuzamazama okunamandla kuyophihliza “umuzi omkhulu,” iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, uhlakazeke ube “izingxenye ezintathu”—okufanekisela ukuchitheka kwawo okungenakuvuselelwa. Futhi, “nemizi yezizwe” iyokuwa. “Zonke iziqhingi” “nezintaba”—izinhlangano ezibonakala zimi phakade kulesi simiso—ziyonyamalala. “Isichotho esikhulu,” esikhulu kakhulu kunaleso esashaya iGibhithe ngenhlupho yesikhombisa, itshe ngalinye laso lisinda ngangethalenta, siyotuba isintu kabuhlungu.d (Eksodusi 9:22-26) Le mvula yeqhwa ejezisayo cishe ifanekisela ukuboniswa kwezahlulelo zikaJehova ngamazwi asinda ngokungavamile, okubonisa ukuthi ekugcineni ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto sekufikile! UJehova angasisebenzisa futhi nesichotho esingokoqobo emsebenzini wakhe wokubhubhisa.—Jobe 38:22, 23.

39. Naphezu kokuthululwa kwezinhlupho eziyisikhombisa, iyiphi inkambo iningi lesintu eliyoyithatha?

³⁹ Ngaleyo ndlela, izwe likaSathane liyobhekana nesahlulelo sikaJehova sokulunga. Kuze kube sekugcineni, iningi lesintu lizoqhubeka lidelela futhi lihlambalaza uNkulunkulu. NjengoFaro wasendulo, izinhliziyo zabo ngeke zithanjiswe izinhlupho eziphindwaphindwayo noma umvuthwandaba obulalayo walezo zinhlupho. (Eksodusi 11:9, 10) Akuyikuba khona ukuguquka kwenhliziyo okukhulu, kwangomzuzu wokugcina. Ngomoya wabo wokugcina, bayothuka uNkulunkulu omemezelayo: “Ziyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.” (Hezekeli 38:23) Nokho, ubukhosi bukaJehova uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke buyobe bulwelwe.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 221]

“Emhlabeni”

Isigaba sikaJohane siye samemezela ulaka lukaJehova ngokumelene ‘nomhlaba’ ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi ezilandelayo:

“Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka yomzamo, amaqembu ezombangazwe aye azibonakalisa ukuthi awakwazi ukubhekana nezimo zanamuhla nokuxazulula izinkinga ezicindezelayo. Izazi zezomnotho neziphathimandla zohulumeni, lapho zihlolisisa le nkinga ngenkuthalo, zithola ukuthi azikwazi kwenza lutho.”—Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, ikhasi 61.

“Akukho hulumeni emhlabeni namuhla owanelisa noma iyiphi ingxenye yomhlaba enkulu ngokwanele. Izizwe eziningi zibuswa omashiqela. Umhlaba wonke umpofu.”—A Desirable Government, 1924, ikhasi 5.

“Ukuletha ukuphela kulesi simiso sezinto . . . kuwukuphela kwendlela yokususa ububi emhlabeni nokuvula indawo yokuba ukuthula nokulunga kuchume.”—“This Good News of the Kingdom,” 1954, ikhasi 25.

“Ilungiselelo lezwe lamanje liye lazihlukanisa ngokwalo ngesono esiqhubekayo, ukungalungi nokuhlubuka kuNkulunkulu nasentandweni yakhe. . . . Alinakulungiseka. Ngakho-ke, kumelwe lisuswe!”—INqabayokulinda, July 1, 1982, ikhasi 6.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 223]

“Olwandle”

Okulandelayo yizinkulumo ezimbalwa nje ezasakazwa eminyakeni edlule isigaba sikaJohane ezimemezela intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu “olwandle” oluyaluzayo, oluhlubukayo, lwesintu esingamesabi uNkulunkulu esidediselwe kude noJehova:

“Umlando wazo zonke izizwe ubonisa ukuthi bekuyimpi phakathi kwezigaba zabantu. Abambalwa bemelene nabaningi. . . . Lezi zimpi ziye zaphumela ekuvukeleni okuningi, ekuhluphekeni okukhulu, nasekuchithweni kwegazi okukhulu.”—Government, 1928, ikhasi 244.

Ezweni elisha, “‘ulwandle’ olungokomfanekiso lwabantu abayaluzayo, abahlubukayo, abangamesabi uNkulunkulu labo isilo sasendle esenyuka siphuma kubo kudala ukuze sisetshenziswe nguDeveli luyobe lungasekho.”—INqabayokulinda, March 15, 1968, ikhasi 139.

“Umphakathi wesintu wanamuhla uyagula ngokomoya futhi unesifo. Akekho kithina ongawusindisa, ngoba iZwi likaNkulunkulu libonisa ukuthi ukugula kwawo kuholela ekufeni kwawo.”—Ukuthula Kweqiniso Nokulondeka—Kuvela Kumuphi Umthombo?, 1976, ikhasi 131.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 224]

“Emifuleni Nasemithonjeni Yamanzi”

Inhlupho yesithathu iye yadalula ‘imifula nemithombo yamanzi’ ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi ezilandelayo:

“Abefundisi, abathi bangabafundisi bezimfundiso [zikaKristu], baye bangcwelisa impi futhi bayenza yaba into engcwele. Baye bakujabulela ukuba izithombe nemifanekiso yabo ebaziwe ibekwe eceleni kweyamaqhawe agcwele igazi.”—INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-September 15, 1924, ikhasi 275.

“Inkolelo yemimoya isekelwe emangeni aluhlaza, amanga okuphila ngemva kokufa nawokungafi komphefumulo womuntu.”—What Do the Scriptures Say About “Survival After Death”?, 1955, ikhasi 51.

“Amafilosofi abantu, izazi zezombangazwe, abahleli bezenhlalo, abeluleki bezomnotho nabameleli bamasiko enkolo abazange babe isiqabuli sangempela esinika ukuphila . . . Amanzi anjalo aye aholela ngisho nabaphuzi bawo ukuba bephule umthetho woMdali ngokuqondene nobungcwele begazi nokuba bahileleke ekushushiseni kwenkolo.”—Izwi lesinqumo elamukelwa eMhlanganweni Wezizwe Zonke “Wezindaba Ezinhle Zaphakade,” 1963.

“Into okumelwe ilindelwe kumuntu ngokwakhe akukhona ukusindiswa okungokwesayensi, kodwa ukubhujiswa kohlanga lwesintu. . . . Asinakuthembela kunoma yiziphi izazi zokusebenza kwengqondo nezezifo zengqondo ukuba ziguqule indlela yesintu yokucabanga . . . Asinakuthembela ekwakhiweni kwanoma yimuphi umbutho wamaphoyisa wezizwe zonke . . . futhi senze lo mhlaba ube yindawo elondekile yokuhlala kuyo.”—Saving the Human Race—In the King­dom Way, 1970, ikhasi 5.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 225]

“Elangeni”

Njengoba “ilanga” lobubusi bomuntu liye ‘lahangula’ isintu phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, isigaba sikaJohane, ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi ezilandelayo, siye sadonsela ukunakekela kulokho okwenzekayo:

“Namuhla uHitler noMussolini, omashiqela abayizidlova, basongela ukuthula komhlaba wonke, futhi abeFundisi BamaRoma Katolika babasekela ngokugcwele ekubhubhiseni kwabo inkululeko.”—Fascism or Freedom, 1939, ikhasi 12.

“Kuwo wonke umlando isimiso esilandelwa omashiqela abangabantu siye saba ngukuthi, Busa noma ubhubhise! Kodwa isimiso manje iNkosi kaNkulunkulu emisiwe, uJesu Kristu ezosisebenzisa kuwo wonke umhlaba, singukuthi, Buswa noma ubhujiswe.”—When All Nations Unite Under God’s Kingdom, 1961, ikhasi 23.

“Kusukela ngo-1945 abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-25 baye babulawa ezimpini ezingu-150 eziye zalwiwa embulungeni yonke.”—INqabayokulinda, July 15, 1980, ikhasi 7.

“Izizwe emhlabeni wonke . . . azinandaba nezinye izizwe noma imithetho yokuziphatha. Ukuze zifinyelele imigomo yazo, ezinye izizwe zizizwa zinelungelo eliphelele lokusebenzisa noma iyiphi indlela eziyibona idingekile—ukuceka, ukubulawa kwezikhulu zombangazwe, ukuthumba, ukudubula ngamabhomu, nokunye . . . Izizwe ziyobekezelelana isikhathi eside kangakanani kulokhu kuziphatha okungenangqondo nokokungakhathalelani?”—INqabayokulinda, February 15, 1985, ikhasi 4.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 227]

“Esihlalweni Sobukhosi Sesilo Sasendle”

OFakazi BakaJehova baye badalula isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle futhi bamemezela ukusilahla kukaJehova ngezinkulumo ezinjengalezi:

“Ababusi nabaholi bezizwe bezombangazwe bathonywa amandla amabi angaphezu kwawomuntu abaqhuba ngokungenakuvinjelwa ohambweni lokuzibulala oluya empini engunqamula-juqu ye-Armagedoni.”—After Armageddon—God’s New World, 1953, ikhasi 8.

“‘Isilo sasendle’ esinguhulumeni wabantu ongenakho ukuqondiswa okungokwasezulwini sathola amandla aso, igunya nesihlalo sobukhosi kuDrako. Ngakho kumelwe sinamathele ezimisweni zikaDrako.”—After Armageddon—God’s New World, 1953, ikhasi 15.

“Izizwe zabeZizwe zingazibeka kuphela . . . ohlangothini lweSitha Esikhulu sikaNkulunkulu, uSathane uDeveli.”—Izwi lesi-nqumo elamukelwa eMhlanganweni Wezizwe Zonke “Wokunqoba Kwaphezulu,” 1973.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 229]

“Amanzi Awo Asha”

Ngisho namanje, ukusekelwa kwenkolo yobuBhabhiloni kuyancipha ezindaweni eziningi, okubonisa lokho okuyokwenzeka lapho “amakhosi avela empumalanga” ehlasela.

“Ukuhlolwa kwesizwe sonke kwathola ukuthi abangamaphesenti angu-75 alabo abahlala ezindaweni zikamasipala [zaseThailand] abayi nhlobo emathempelini obuBuddha ukuyolalela izintshumayelo, kuyilapho inani labaya emathempelini emaphandleni liqhubeka lincipha liya emaphesentini angamashumi amahlanu.”—Bangkok Post, September 7, 1987, ikhasi 4.

“Umlingo awusekho enkolweni yobuTao ezweni [laseChina] lapho yasungulwa khona eminyakeni engaba izinkulungwane ezimbili edlule. . . . Njengoba esephuciwe izinto zokwenza imilingo wona nabanduleli bawo ayethola ngazo abalandeli abaningi, amalungu abapristi azithola engenabalandeli, ebhekene nokunyamalala kobuTao njengenkolo ehleliwe ezweni.”—The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, September 12, 1982, ikhasi 36-A.

“IJapane . . . inenani elikhulu kunawo wonke emhlabeni labavangeli bakwamanye amazwe, cishe bangu-5 200 kanti . . . abangamaKristu bangaphansi kwephesenti elilodwa lenani labantu. . . . Umpristi wehlelo likaFrancis owasebenza lapha kusukela ngawo-1950 . . . ukholelwa ukuthi ‘isikhathi sabavangeli bakwamanye amazwe eJapane sesiphelile.’”—The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 1986, ikhasi 1.

ENgilandi phakathi namashumi amathathu eminyaka edlule, “amasonto aseSheshi acishe abe ngu-2 000 kwangu-16 000 aye avalwa ngenxa yokungasetshenziswa. Inani lababakhona liye lehla laba phakathi kwamanani aphansi kakhulu emazweni azibiza ngokuthi angawobuKristu. . . . [UmBhishobhi waseDurham] wathi, ‘Manje iNgilandi ayiselona izwe lobuKristu.’”—The New York Times, May 11, 1987, ikhasi A4.

“Ngemva kwamahora amaningi enkulumo-mpikiswano eshubile, namuhla iPhalamende [laseGrisi] livumele ukushaya umthetho, ovumela uHulumeni obusa ngeSimiso Sokusebenzela Uhulumeni ukuba uthathe izindawo ezinkulu ebekungezeSonto LamaGreki LobuOrthodox . . . Ngaphezu kwalokho, umthetho unikeza abangesibo abefundisi igunya lokulawula imikhandlu yesonto namakomiti aphathelene nokuqondiswa kwempahla yesonto eyigugu ehlanganisa amahhotela, izinkwali zemabula nezakhiwo zamahhovisi.”—The New York Times, April 4, 1987, ikhasi 3.

[Izithombe ekhasini 222]

Izitsha ezine zokuqala zentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ziletha izinhlupho ezifana nalezo eziwumphumela wokukhala kwamacilongo amane okuqala

[Isithombe ekhasini 226]

Isitsha sesihlanu sidalula isihlalo sobukhosi sesilo sasendle njengesiyigunya uSathane alinike isilo sasendle

[Izithombe ekhasini 231]

Inkulumo-ze yobudemoni ibuthela ababusi bomhlaba esimweni esisaziko, eHar–Magedoni, lapho izahlulelo zikaJehova ziyothululelwa khona phezu kwabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 233]

Labo abashukunyiswa ‘umoya’ kaSathane ongcolile kumelwe bezwe ubuhlungu bokukhishwa kwezahlulelo zikaJehova zokulunga