Isahluko 15

Ukuthuthuka Kwesimo SeNhlangano

INDLELA yokusebenza yenhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova iye yaba nezinguquko ezinkulu kusukela uCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe baqala ukuhlola iBhayibheli ndawonye ngo-1870. Lapho abaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala besembalwa, babenokuncane kakhulu okwakungenza abantu bangaphandle bababheke njengenhlangano. Nokho, namuhla, njengoba abantu bebona amabandla oFakazi BakaJehova, imihlangano yabo, nokushumayela kwabo izindaba ezinhle emazweni angaphezu kwangu-200, bamangazwa indlela iNhlangano eqhuba kahle ngayo. Kuye kwathuthuka kanjani?

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babenesithakazelo esijulile ekubeni bangaqondi nje imfundiso ethile yeBhayibheli kuphela kodwa nendlela inkonzo kaNkulunkulu okwakumelwe yenziwe ngayo, njengoba ivezwa imiBhalo. Baqaphela ukuthi iBhayibheli lalingawusekeli umqondo wokuba khona kwabefundisi ababizwa ngeziqu, abenza labo ababashumayezayo babe sesigabeni esiphansi. UMfoweth’ uRussell wayezimisele ngokuthi kwakungeke kube nesigaba sabefundisi phakathi kwabo.a Ngezinhlu ze-Nqabayokulinda, abafundi bayo babekhunjuzwa njalo ukuthi uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Munye umholi wenu, uKristu,” kodwa, “Nina nonke ningabazalelwane.”—Math. 23:8, 10.

Inhlangano Yokuqala YabaFundi BeBhayibheli

Abafundi be-Nqabayokulinda kanye nezinye izincwadi ezihlobene nayo ngokushesha babona ukuthi ukuze bajabulise uNkulunkulu, kwakumelwe banqamule ubuhlobo nanoma iliphi ibandla elalingathembekile kuNkulunkulu ngokubeka izivumo zokholo namasiko abantu ngaphambi kweZwi lakhe elilotshiwe. (2 Kor. 6:14-18) Kodwa ngemva kokuba bephume emasontweni eLobukholwa, bayaphi?

Esihlokweni esasithi “Ibandla,”b UMfoweth’ uRussell waveza ukuthi ibandla leqiniso, ibandla lobuKristu, aliyona inhlangano enamalungu aye asekela isivumo sokholo esenziwe umuntu futhi abhalisa amagama awo encwadini yesonto. Kunalokho, echaza, lakhiwa abantu abaye “banikela” ngesikhathi sabo, amakhono, nangokuphila kuNkulunkulu, futhi phambi kwabo benethemba lokuhlanganyela eMbusweni wasezulwini noKristu. Laba, esho, bangamaKristu amunye ezibophweni zothando lobuKristu nesithakazelo esifanayo, asabela esiqondisweni somoya kaNkulunkulu, futhi azithoba ebunhlokweni bukaKristu. UMfoweth’ uRussell wayengafuni ukusungula ilungiselelo elithile, futhi wayemelene ngokunamandla nokuhlanganyela nganoma iyiphi indlela ekwakhiweni kwamahlelo okwakwenziwa amaKristu okuzisholo.

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, wayesiqaphela ngokugcwele isidingo sokuba izinceku zeNkosi zihlangane ndawonye, ngokuvumelana neseluleko esikumaHeberu 10:23-25. Waziyela mathupha ukuyovakashela nokwakha abafundi be-Nqabayokulinda futhi abahlanganise nabanye abasendaweni yakubo ababemqondo munye nabo. Ekuqaleni ngo-1881 wacela ukuba labo ababeqhuba imihlangano yasikhathi sonke bazise ihhovisi le-Watch Tower ngendawo eyayiqhutshelwa kuyo. Wakubona ukubaluleleka kokubenza bahlale bexhumana.

Nokho, uMfoweth’ uRussell wagcizelela ukuthi babengazami ukusungula “inhlangano yasemhlabeni.” Wathi, kunalokho “sinamathela kuphela kuleyonhlangano yasezulwini—‘amagama abakuyo alotshwe ezulwini.’ (Heb. 12:23; Luka 10:20.)” Ngenxa yomlando weLobukholwa ongcolile, ukukhuluma ‘ngenhlangano eyisonto’ ngokuvamile kwakukhumbuza umuntu ukumiswa kwamahlelo, ukubusa kwabefundisi, nokuba amalungu ngesisekelo sokunamathela esivumweni sokholo esisungulwe umkhandlu wenkolo. Ngakho, lapho ekhuluma ngabo uqobo, uMfoweth’ uRussell wayenomuzwa wokuthi igama elithi “inhlangano” lalingcono.

Wayekwazi kahle ukuthi abaphostoli bakaKristu babakhe amabandla futhi bamisa abadala ebandleni ngalinye. Kodwa wayekholelwa ukuthi uKristu wayesebuye waba khona, nakuba kwakungokungabonakali, futhi wayekuqondisa mathupha ukuvunwa kokugcina kwalabo ababeyoba izindlalifa kanye naye. Ngenxa yezimo, uMfoweth’ uRussell ekuqaleni waba nomuzwa wokuthi phakathi nesikhathi sokuvuna lalingadingeki ilungiselelo labadala elalikhona emabandleni obuKristu ekhulu lokuqala.

Nokho, njengoba abaFundi BeBhayibheli bekhula ngenani, uMfoweth’ uRussell waqaphela ukuthi iNkosi yayiqondisa izinto ngendlela ehlukile kulokho yena ayekulindele. Kwakudingeka ukulungisa embonweni. Kodwa ngasiphi isisekelo?

Ukuhlangabezana Nezidingo Zokuqala Zenhlangano Ekhulayo

INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-November 15, 1895, cishe yonke yayikhuluma ngesihloko esithi “Ngokufanelekile Nangokuhleleka.” Ngokungagunci, uMfoweth’ uRussell lapho wavuma: “Abaphostoli babenokuningi ababengase bakusho eBandleni lokuqala ngokuqondene nokuhleleka emihlanganweni yabangcwele; futhi ngokusobala siye sangasinaka leseluleko esihlakaniphile, sinomuzwa wokuthi asibalulekile kangako, ngoba iBandla liseduze nesiphetho senkambo yalo futhi ukuvuna kuyisikhathi sokuhlukanisa.” Yini eyabashukumisela ukuba basicabangele kabusha lesoseluleko?

Lesosihloko sakhuluma ngezimo ezine: (1) Kwakusobala ukuthi intuthuko engokomoya yabantu ngabanye yayihlukahluka. Kwakunezilingo, ubunzima, kanye nezingozi okungebona bonke ababekulungele ngokulinganayo ukubhekana nazo. Ngakho, kwakudingeka ababonisi abahlakaniphile nabaqondayo, amadoda anokuhlangenwe nakho nekhono, anesithakazelo esijulile ekunakekeleni inhlala-kahle engokomoya yabo bonke futhi akwaziyo ukubafundisa iqiniso. (2) Kwakubonakele ukuthi umhlambi wawudinga ukuvikelwa ‘ezimpisini ezembathise okwezimvu.’ (Math. 7:15) Kwakudingeka uqiniswe ngokusizwa ukuba uzuze ulwazi olugcwele lweqiniso. (3) Okuhlangenwe nakho kwakubonisile ukuthi uma lingekho ilungiselelo labadala abamisiwe abazolondoloza umhlambi, abanye babezosithatha lesosikhundla futhi babheke umhlambi njengowabo. (4) Ngaphandle kwelungiselelo elihlelekile, abantu abaqotho eqinisweni bangase bathole izinkonzo zabo zingadingeki ngenxa yethonya labambalwa ababengavumelani nabo.

Ngokuvumelana nalombono, INqabayokulinda yathi: “Asinqikazi ukutusa iseluleko sabaPhostoli emaBandlenic kuyo yonke indawo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi mancane noma makhulu, sokuba ebuthweni ngalinye, kukhethwe abadala phakathi kwabo ‘abazokondla’ futhi ‘babe ababonisi’ bomhlambi.” (IzE. 14:21-23; 20:17, 28) Amabandla ezindawo asilalela lesiseluleko esinengqondo esingokomBhalo. Lokhu kwakuyisinyathelo esibalulekile ekwakheni isimo sebandla esivumelana nalokho okwakukhona ezinsukwini zabaphostoli.

Nokho, ngokuvumelana nendlela ababeziqonda ngayo izindaba ngalesosikhathi, ukukhethwa kwabadala, nokwamadiyakoni ayezobasiza, kwakwenziwa ngokuvota kwebandla. Unyaka ngamunye, noma kaningi uma kudingeka, kwakucatshangelwa izimfanelo zalabo ababengase bakhonze, bese kuvotwa. Ngokuyisisekelo kwakuyinqubo yentando yeningi, kodwa eyayilinganiselwe imingcele eyayiklanyelwe ukuba ibe isivikelo. Bonke ebandleni babenxuswa ukuba babukeze ngokucophelela izimfanelo ezingokomBhalo futhi ngevoti, bangavezi umbono wabo siqu, kodwa baveze lokho ababekholwa ukuthi kuyintando yeNkosi. Njengoba kwakuyilabo “abazinikezele ngokugcwele” kuphela ababefanelekela ukuvota, ivoti yabo njengeqembu, lapho beqondiswa iZwi nomoya weNkosi, yayibhekwa njengeveza intando yeNkosi kuleyondaba. Nakuba uMfoweth’ uRussell kungenzeka wayengakuqapheli ngokugcwele, ukutusa kwakhe lelilungiselelo mhlawumbe ngezinga elithile kwakungathonyiwe kuphela ukuzimisela kwakhe ukugwema noma yini efuze eyesigaba esiphakeme sabefundisi kodwa kwakuthonywe nayisizinda sakhe sangesikhathi esemusha eseCongregational Church.

Lapho umqulu we-Millennial Dawn owawunesihloko esithi The New Creation (owakhishwa ngo-1904) ubuye uxoxa ngokuningiliziwe ngendima yabadala kanye nendlela okwakumelwe bakhethwe ngayo, IzEnzo 14:23 zanikezwa ukunakekela okukhethekile. Amakhonkodensi ayehlelwe uJames Strong noRobert Young acashunwa njengamagunya ombono wokuthi inkulumo ethi “babagcobe njengabadala” (KJ) kufanele ihunyushwe ngokuthi “babakhethe njengabadala ngokuphakamisa izandla.”d Ezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli zize zithi abadala ‘bamiswa ngevoti.’ (Literal Translation of the Holy Bible kaYoung; Emphasised Bible kaRotherham) Kodwa obani ababezovota?

Ukwamukela umbono wokuthi ukuvota kwakumelwe kwenziwe ibandla lonke akuzange ngaso sonke isikhathi kube nemiphumela okwakwethenjwa ukuthi kuzoba nayo. Labo ababevota kwakumelwe kube abantu “abazinikezele ngokugcwele,” futhi abanye ababekhethiwe babehlangabezana ngempela nezimfanelo ezingokomBhalo futhi bebakhonza ngokuthobeka abafowabo. Kodwa ukuvota ngokuvamile kwakubonisa ukukhetha komuntu siqu kuneZwi nomoya kaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, eHalle, eJalimane, lapho abathile ababecabanga ukuthi kwakufanele babe abadala bengazitholi izikhundla ababezifuna, babangela ukwahlukana okukhulu. EBarmen, eJalimane, phakathi kwalabo ababezovotelwa ngo-1927 kwakunamadoda ayephikisa umsebenzi weNhlangano, futhi kwaphakanyiswa amazwi phakathi nokuphakamisa izandla ngesikhathi sokhetho. Ngakho kwaba nesidingo sokushintshela ekuvoteni ngasese.

Emuva ngo-1916, eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kwalezenzakalo, uMfoweth’ uRussell, ngokukhathazeka okujulile, wayebhalile: “Kuba nesimo esesabekayo kwamanye amaKilasi lapho kuzokwenziwa ukhetho. Izinceku zeBandla zizama ukuba ababusi, omashiqela—ngezinye izikhathi zize zibe osihlalo bomhlangano ngomgomo obonakala ungowokuqikelela ukuba zona nabangane bazo abakhethekile bakhethwe njengabaDala namaDiyakoni. . . . Abanye bazama buthule ukuzuza ngokungafanele ngeKilasi ngokuba ukhetho lube ngesikhathi esibafanelekela ngokukhethekile bona nabangane babo. Abanye bafuna ukuba emhlanganweni kugcwale abangane babo, beza nabantu abangaziwa uma kuqhathaniswa, abangakucabangi ukuba khona njalo eKilasini, kodwa abeza nje njengabangane abazovotela abangane babo.”

Ingabe kwakumane kudingeka bafunde indlela yokulusingatha ngokuphumelela ngokwengeziwe ukhetho olwenziwa ngentando yeningi, noma ingabe kwakunokuthile eZwini likaNkulunkulu ababengakakuqondi?

Ukuhlelela Ukuba Izindaba Ezinhle Zishunyayelwe

Ekuqaleni impela, uMfoweth’ uRussell waqaphela ukuthi umsebenzi wokushumayela ivangeli ungomunye wemithwalo yemfanelo ebaluleke kakhulu yelungu ngalinye lebandla lobuKristu. (1 Pet. 2:9) INqabayokulinda yachaza ukuthi ayengasebenzi kuJesu kuphela kodwa nakubo bonke abalandeli bakhe abagcotshwe ngomoya amazwi ka-Isaya 61:1 (NW), athi: “UJehova uye wangigcoba ukuba ngikhulume ngezindaba ezinhle,” noma, njengoba iBhayibheli lesiZulu lihumusha ingcaphuno kaJesu yalendima, “Ingigcobile ukuba ngishumayele ivangeli.”—Luka 4:18.

Emuva ngo-1881, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yaba nesihloko esithi “Kudingeka Abashumayeli Abangu-1 000.” Lokhu kwakuwukunxusa okuya kuwo wonke amalungu ebandla ukuba asebenzise noma isiphi isikhathi anaso (ingxenye yehora, ihora, noma amabili, noma amathathu) ukuba ahlanganyele ekusakazeni iqiniso leBhayibheli. Amadoda nabesifazane ababengenamikhaya eyayithembele kubo futhi ababenganikela ngengxenye yesikhathi sabo noma ngaphezulu emsebenzini weNkosi kuphela bakhuthazwa ukuba baqale umsebenzi wabashumayeli bevangeli abangama-colporteur. Inani lalihluka kakhulu unyaka ngamunye, kodwa ngo-1885 kakade kwase kunabacishe babe ngu-300 ababehlanganyela kulomsebenzi njengama-colporteur. Abanye baba nengxenye ngesilinganiso esilinganiselwe. Ama-colporteur anikezwa ukusikisela kokuthi angawenza kanjani umsebenzi wawo. Kodwa insimu yayinkulu, futhi okungenani ekuqaleni, ayezikhethela insimu yawo siqu futhi ayeshintsha izindawo uma ekubona kungcono. Khona-ke lapho ehlangana emihlanganweni, ayenza ukulungisa okwakudingeka ukuze avumelanise imizamo yawo.

Ngawo lowonyaka inkonzo yama-colporteur eyaqala ngawo, uMfoweth’ uRussell wenza ukuba kunyatheliswe amapheshana (noma izincwajana) amaningi ayezosakazwa ngesihle. Elivelele phakathi kwawo lalithi Food for Thinking Christians, okwasakazwa amakhophi alo angu-1 200 000 ezinyangeni ezine zokuqala. Umsebenzi owawuhilelekile ekuhleleleni lokhu kunyathelisa nokusakaza waholela ekumisweni kwe-Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society ukuze kunakekelwe imininingwane ebalulekile. Ukuze avimbele ukuphazamiseka komsebenzi ngemva kokufa kwakhe, futhi ukuze akwenze kube lula ukusingatha iminikelo okwakumelwe isetshenziswe emsebenzini, uMfoweth’ uRussell wafaka isicelo sokuba iNhlangano ibhaliswe ngokomthetho, futhi lenhlangano yabhaliswa ngokomthetho ngo-December 15, 1884. Lokhu kwenza kwaba nethuluzi elingokomthetho elalidingeka.

Njengoba kwakuphakama isidingo, kwakhiwa amahhovisi egatsha e-Watch Tower Society nakwamanye amazwe. Elokuqala lamiswa eLondon, eNgilandi, ngo-April 23, 1900. Elinye, e-Elberfeld, eJalimane, ngo-1902. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, kwenye ingxenye yomhlaba, kwahlelwa igatsha eMelbourne, e-Australia. Ngesikhathi kubhalwa lencwadi, ayengu-99 amagatsha asemhlabeni wonke.

Nakuba ayethuthukiswa amalungiselelo okuhlela ayedingeka ukuze kulungiselelwe izincwadi eziningi zeBhayibheli, ekuqaleni kwakushiyelwa emabandleni ukuba azenzele amalungiselelo awo okusakaza obala lezozincwadi. Encwadini ka-March 16, 1900, uMfoweth’ uRussell wakhuluma ngendlela ayeyibheka ngayo lendaba. Leyoncwadi, eyayiya ku-“Alexander M. Graham, naseBandleni laseBoston, eMass.,” wathi: “Njengoba nonke nazi, kuyinhloso yami ukuba ngikushiyele eqenjini ngalinye labantu beNkosi ukuphatha izindaba zalo siqu, ngokuvumelana nokwahlulela kwalo siqu, mina nginikeza ukusikisela, hhayi ngoba ngifuna ukuphazamisa, kodwa ngimane ngiyacebisa.” Lokhu kwakungahlanganisi imihlangano yawo kuphela kodwa nendlela ayeyenza ngayo inkonzo yasensimini. Ngakho, ngemva kokunikeza abazalwane iseluleko esiwusizo, waphetha ngalamazwi: “Lokhu kumane nje kuwukusikisela.”

Eminye imisebenzi yayidinga isiqondiso esiqondile esivela eNhlanganweni. Ngokuqondene nokudlalwa kwe-“Photo-Drama of Creation,” kwakushiyelwa ebandleni ngalinye ukuba linqume ukuthi lalithanda futhi likwazi yini ukuqasha inkundla noma enye indawo eyayizodlalwa kuyo kuleyondawo. Nokho, kwakudingeka kuthuthwe imishini isuswe kwelinye idolobha iyiswe kwelinye, futhi kwakumelwe bahlangabezane nezimiso zesikhathi; ngakho kulezizici iNhlangano yanikeza isiqondiso esasivela emthonjeni owodwa. Ibandla ngalinye lakhuthazwa ukuba libe neKomiti Yedrama eyayizonakekela amalungiselelo ebandla. Kodwa umphathi owayethunyelwa iNhlangano wayeyinakekela ngokucophelela imininingwane ukuze aqikelele ukuthi konke kwakuhamba kahle.

Njengoba iminyaka u-1914 kwase kuba oka-1915 yayidlula, lawomaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya akulindela ngokulangazela ukugcwaliseka kwethemba lawo lasezulwini. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, akhuthazwa ukuba ahlale ematasa enkonzweni yeNkosi. Ngisho nakuba ayebheka isikhathi sawo esisele esenyameni njengesasisifushane, kwacaca ukuthi ukuze aqhubeke eshumayela izindaba ezinhle ngendlela ehlelekile, kwakudingeka isiqondiso esengeziwe kunangesikhathi esengamakhulu ambalwa nje. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba uJ. F. Rutherford ebe umongameli wesibili we-Watch Tower Society, lesosiqondiso saba nezici ezintsha. INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-March 1, 1917 yamemezela ukuthi, kusukela ngalesosikhathi, yonke insimu eyayizosetshenzwa ama-colporteur nezisebenzi ezelusayoe emabandleni yayizokwabiwa ihhovisi leNhlangano. Lapho kunezisebenzi zendawo nama-colporteur behlanganyela enkonzweni enjalo yasensimini edolobheni noma esifundeni, babehlukaniselwa insimu yikomiti yesifunda emiswe kuleyondawo. Lelilungiselelo laba nengxenye ekusakazweni okuphawuleka ngempela kwencwadi ethi The Finished Mystery ngezinyanga ezimbalwa nje ngo-1917-18. Laba usizo nasekufinyeleleni ukusakazwa okusheshayo kwamakhophi angu-10 000 000 okudalulwa okunamandla kweLobukholwa epheshaneni elalinesihloko esithi “Ukuwa KweBabiloni.”

Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokhu, amalungu ezisebenzi zeNhlangano eziphethe aboshwa, futhi ngo-June 21, 1918, agwetshwa iminyaka engu-20 ejele. Ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle kwacishe kwama. Ingabe lesi kwakuyisikhathi ekugcineni ayezohlanganiswa ngaso neNkosi enkazimulweni yasezulwini?

Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, impi yaphela. Ngonyaka olandelayo izikhulu zeNhlangano zakhululwa. Zazisesenyameni. Akukhona lokho ezazikulindele, kodwa zaphetha ngokuthi kumelwe ukuba kusenomsebenzi uNkulunkulu ayefuna ziwenze lapha emhlabeni.

Zazisanda kudlula ovivinyweni olukhulu lokholo lwazo. Nokho, ngo-1919, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yaziqinisa ngezifundo ezingokomBhalo ezishukumisayo ezazinesihloko esithi “Babusisiwe Abanesibindi.” Lezifundo zalandelwa isihloko esasithi “Amathuba Enkonzo.” Kodwa abazalwane abazange babe nombono wezinto ezinkulu ezazizokwenzeka ngokwenhlangano emashumini eminyaka ayezolandela.

Isibonelo Esifanele Sokubekelwa Umhlambi

UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayeqaphela ukuthi ukuze umsebenzi uqhubekele phambili ngendlela ehlelekile nenobunye, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isikhathi singaba sifushane kangakanani, isibonelo esifanele sokubekelwa umhlambi sasibalulekile. UJesu wayebize abalandeli bakhe ngezimvu, futhi izimvu zilandela umalusi wazo. Yiqiniso, uJesu ngokwakhe unguMalusi Omuhle, kodwa usebenzisa amadoda amadala, noma abadala, njengabelusi abangaphansi babantu bakhe. (1 Pet. 5:1-3) Labobadala kumelwe babe amadoda ahlanganyela emsebenzini uJesu athi kumelwe wenziwe futhi akhuthaza abanye ukuba bawenze. Kumelwe babe nawo ngempela umoya wobuvangeli. Nokho, ngesikhathi kusakazwa i-Finished Mystery abanye babadala babezindele; abathile babekusho ngokuqondile ukuthi abanye bangahlanganyeli.

Kwathathwa isinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu sokulungisa lesisimo ngo-1919 lapho umagazini i-Golden Age uqala ukunyatheliswa. Lomagazini wawuzoba ithuluzi elinamandla lokusakaza uMbuso kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwekhambi elihlala njalo lezinkinga zesintu. Ibandla ngalinye elalifisa ukuhlanganyela kulomsebenzi lamenywa ukuba licele iNhlangano ukuba ilibhalise ‘njengenhlangano yenkonzo.’ Khona-ke umqondisi, noma umqondisi wenkonzo njengoba aziwa kanjalo, owayengeke akhethwe minyaka yonke, wayemiswa iNhlangano.f Njengommeleli weNhlangano okuleyondawo, kwakumelwe ahlele umsebenzi, abe insimu, futhi akhuthaze ibandla ukuba lihlanganyele enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngakho, kanye nabadala namadiyakoni ayekhethwe ngentando yeningi, olunye uhlobo lwelungiselelo lokuhlela lwaqala ukusebenza, olwaluqaphela igunya lokumiswa elingaphandle kwebandla lendawo nolwalugcizelela ngokwengeziwe ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.g

Phakathi neminyaka eyalandela, umsebenzi wokumemezela ngoMbuso wafakelwa ugqozi olukhulu, njengokungathi ngamandla okungenakumelwana nawo. Izenzakalo zango-1914 nangemva kwalokho zazikwenze kwaba sobala ukuthi sasigcwaliseka isiprofetho esikhulu iNkosi uJesu Kristu eyachaza kuso isiphelo sesimiso esidala. Kucatshangelwa lokhu, ngo-1920, INqabayokulinda yaveza ukuthi njengoba kwakubikezelwe kuMathewu 24:14, lesi kwakuyisikhathi sokumemezela izindaba ezinhle eziphathelene “nokuphela kohlelo oludala lwezinto kanye nokumiswa kombuso kaMesiya.”h (Math. 24:3-14) Ngemva kokuya emhlanganweni wabaFundi BeBhayibheli eCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1922, izihambeli zomhlangano zahamba nesiqubulo esasinkeneneza ezindlebeni zazo: “Memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi nombuso wayo.” Indima yamaKristu eqiniso yaqondakala futhi yagcizelelwa ngokwengeziwe ngo-1931 lapho kwamukelwa igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova.

Kwakusobala ukuthi uJehova wayabele izinceku zakhe umsebenzi ezazingahlanganyela kuwo zonke. Abantu basabela ngentshiseko. Abaningi benza ukulungisa okukhulu ekuphileni kwabo ukuze banikele ngesikhathi sabo sonke kulomsebenzi. Ngisho naphakathi kwalabo ababenikela ngengxenye yesikhathi, abaningi babechitha lonke usuku enkonzweni yasensimini ngezimpelasonto. Besabela esikhuthazweni esasiku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) nakuyi-Informant ngo-1938 no-1939, abaningi boFakazi BakaJehova ngalesosikhathi bazama ngobuqotho ukunikela ngamahora angu-60 inyanga ngayinye enkonzweni yasensimini.

Phakathi kwalaboFakazi abashisekayo kwakunezinceku eziningi zikaJehova ezithobekile nezizinikele ezazingabadala emabandleni. Nokho, kwezinye izindawo, phakathi nawo-1920 nasekuqaleni kwawo-1930, kwakusenokuphikiswa okukhulu komqondo wokuba wonke umuntu ahlanganyele enkonzweni yasensimini. Abadala ababekhethwe ngentando yeningi babevamise ukusho ngokuqondile ukuthi abavumelani nalokho INqabayokulinda eyeyayikushilo ngomthwalo wemfanelo wokushumayeza abantu abangaphandle kwebandla. Ukwenqaba ukulalela lokho umoya kaNkulunkulu, ngemiBhalo eNgcwele, owawukusho ebandleni kulendaba kwavimbela ukugeleza komoya kaNkulunkulu kulawomaqembu.—IsAm. 2:5, 7.

Ngo-1932 kwathathwa izinyathelo zokulungisa lesisimo. Okwakukhathalelwa ngokuyinhloko kwakungekhona ukuthi abadala abavelele babengase baphatheke kabi noma ukuthi abanye ababehlanganyela namabandla babengase bahoxe. Kunalokho, isifiso sabazalwane sasiwukujabulisa uJehova nokwenza intando yakhe. Ukuze bafeze lokho, omagazini (besiNgisi) INqabayokulinda ka-August 15 neka-September 1 ngalowonyaka baqokomisa isihloko esithi “INhlangano KaJehova.”

Lezozihloko zabonisa ngokungagunci ukuthi bonke ababeyingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova ngempela, babeyokwenza umsebenzi iZwi lakhe elithi kumelwe wenziwe phakathi nalesikhathi. Lezihloko zasekela umbono wokuthi ukuba ngumdala kobuKristu kwakungesona isikhundla umuntu angase akhethelwe kuso kodwa kwakuyisimo esifinyelelwa ngokukhula ngokomoya. Kwagcizelelwa ngokukhethekile umthandazo kaJesu wokuba abalandeli bakhe “babe-munye”—noNkulunkulu noKristu, futhi ngaleyondlela babe nobunye phakathi kwabo ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 17:21) Wawuyoba yini-ke umphumela? Isihloko sesibili saphendula ngokuthi “bonke abensali kumelwe babe ofakazi begama likaJehova uNkulunkulu nombuso.” Ukuphatha kwakungeke kunikezwe noma yibaphi ababehluleka noma benqaba ukwenza konke ababengakwenza ukuze bahlanganyele ekufakazeni kwasobala.

Ekupheleni kokufundwa kwalezihloko, amabandla amenywa ukuba amukele izwi lesinqumo elalibonisa ukuvumelana kwawo nalokhu. Ngakho ukukhetha kwebandla amadoda ayezoba abadala namadiyakoni okwakwenziwa minyaka yonke kwaphela. EBelfast, eNyakatho Ireland, njengakwezinye izindawo, abanye balabo ‘ababengabadala abakhethiwe’ bayeka ukuhlanganyela; abanye abantu ababenombono onjengowabo bahamba nabo. Lokhu kwabangela ukuncipha kwenani lababehlanganyela kodwa kwaqiniswa yonke inhlangano. Labo abasala babengabantu abazimisele ukuthwala umthwalo wemfanelo wobuKristu wokufakaza. Esikhundleni sokuvotela abadala, amabandla—esasebenzisa izindlela zentando yeningi—ayekhetha ikomiti yenkonzoi eyayakhiwa amadoda avuthiwe ngokomoya ayehlanganyela ngenkuthalo ekufakazeni kwasobala. Futhi amalungu ebandla ayevotela usihlalo owayezophatha emihlanganweni yawo kanye nonobhala nomgcinizimali. Bonke laba babengamadoda ayengoFakazi BakaJehova abakhuthele.

Njengoba ukuphathwa kwebandla manje kwase kunikezwe amadoda ayengakhathaleli isikhundla somuntu siqu kodwa ekhathalela ukwenza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu—ukufakazela igama lakhe noMbuso—futhi ayebeka isibonelo esihle ngokuhlanganyela kwawo siqu kuwo, umsebenzi waqhubekela phambili ngempumelelo. Nakuba ngalesosikhathi ayengazi, kwakusenokuningi okwakumelwe kwenziwe, ubufakazi obuningi ngokwengeziwe kunalobo obase bunikeziwe kakade, ukubuthwa ayengakulindele. (Isaya 55:5) Ngokusobala uJehova wayebalungiselela khona.

Abambalwa ababenethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni babeqala ukuhlanganyela nabo.j Nokho, iBhayibheli lalibikezele ngokubuthwa kwesixuku esikhulu ngenjongo yokuba silondolozwe osizini olukhulu oluzayo. (IsAm. 7:9-14) Ngo-1935 kwacaciswa ukuthi singobani lesixuku esikhulu. Izinguquko ezenziwa ekukhethweni kwababonisi phakathi nawo-1930 zahlomisa inhlangano kangcono ukuba inakekele umsebenzi wokusibutha, ukusifundisa, nokusiqeqesha.

KoFakazi BakaJehova abaningi, lomsebenzi owandisiwe wawuyintuthuko evusa amadlingozi. Inkonzo yabo yasensimini yaba nokubaluleka okusha. Nokho, abanye babengenkamunkamu ekushumayeleni. Bazindela, futhi bazama ukuthethelela ukungahlanganyeli kwabo ngokuveza iphuzu lokuthi isixuku esikhulu sasiyobuthwa ngemva kwe-Armagedoni. Kodwa iningi labona lokhu kungelinye ithuba lokubonisa ubuqotho balo kuJehova nothando lwalo ngomakhelwane balo.

Labo besixuku esikhulu bangena kanjani esimweni senhlangano? Baboniswa indima iZwi likaNkulunkulu elaliyinikeze ‘umhlambi omncane’ wabagcotshwe ngomoya, futhi ngenjabulo basebenza ngokuvumelana nalelolungiselelo. (Luka 12:32-44) Futhi bathola ukuthi, njengabagcotshwe ngomoya, babenomthwalo wemfanelo wokuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabanye. (IsAm. 22:17) Njengoba babefuna ukuba yizikhonzi zasemhlabeni zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lowoMbuso kufanele uze kuqala ekuphileni kwabo, futhi kwakufanele bashiseke ekutsheleni abanye ngawo. Ukuze bafanelane nencazelo yeBhayibheli yalabo abayolondolozwa osizini olukhulu bangene ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu, kwakumelwe babe abantu ‘abamemeza ngezwi elikhulu, bethi: Insindiso ngekaNkulunkulu wethu ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi neyeWundlu.’ (IsAm. 7:10, 14) Ngo-1937, njengoba amanani abo ayeqala ukukhula futhi kubonakala ukushisekela kwabo iNkosi, nabo bamenywa ukuba basize ekuthwaleni umthwalo wemfanelo wokuphathwa kwebandla.

Nokho, bakhunjuzwa ukuthi inhlangano ngekaJehova, akuyona eyanoma yimuphi umuntu. Kwakungamelwe kube nokwahlukana phakathi kwensali yabagcotshwe ngomoya nalabo besixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu. Kwakumelwe basebenze ndawonye njengabazalwane nodade enkonzweni kaJehova. Njengoba uJesu ayeshilo, “Nezinye izimvu nginazo ezingesizo ezalesisibaya; nalezo ngimelwe ukuziletha; ziyakuzwa izwi lami, kube-mhlambi munye nomalusi munye.” (Joh. 10:16) Ukuba kwalokhu ngokoqobo kwase kubonakala.

Kwakwenzeke izenzakalo ezimangalisayo enhlanganweni ngesikhathi esifushane ngokwesilinganiso. Kodwa ingabe kwakusenokwengeziwe okwakudinga ukwenziwa ukuze izindaba zamabandla ziphathwe ngokuvumelana ngokugcwele nezindlela zikaJehova njengoba zivezwe eZwini lakhe eliphefumlelwe?

INhlangano Engokwasezulwini

Inkulumo ethi “UMbuso Ongokwasezulwini” isho “Ukubusa KukaNkulunkulu.” Ingabe yilolohlobo lokubusa olwalubusa amabandla? Ingabe ayengagcini nje ngokukhulekela uJehova kodwa futhi ebheka kuye ukuze aqondise izindaba zawo zebandla? Ingabe ayevumelana ngokugcwele nalokho ayekusho ngalezindaba eZwini lakhe eliphefumlelwe? Isihloko esinezingxenye ezimbili esithi “INhlangano” esakhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 1 no-15, 1938, ngokungagunci sathi: “Inhlangano kaJehova ayiyona neze eqhuba ngentando yeningi. UJehova uphakeme kakhulu, futhi uhulumeni noma inhlangano yakhe ingokwasezulwini ngokungaguquki.” Nokho, emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova ngalesosikhathi, kwakusasetshenziswa izinqubo zentando yeningi ekukhetheni abaningi balabo ababenikezwe ukuphatha imihlangano nenkonzo yasensimini. Izinguquko ezengeziwe zazifanelekile.

Kodwa ingabe izEnzo 14:23 azibonisanga ukuthi abadala emabandleni kwakumelwe bamiswe esikhundleni ‘ngokuphakanyiswa kwesandla,’ njengalapho kuvotwa? Esokuqala kulezozihloko ze-Nqabayokulinda ezazinesihloko esithi “INhlangano” savuma ukuthi lombhalo wawungazange uqondwe kahle esikhathini esidlule. Akukhona ‘ukuphakamisa izandla’ kwawo wonke amalungu ebandla okwakumiswa ngakho abadala phakathi kwamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala. Kunalokho, kwaboniswa ukuthi abaphostoli nalabo ababegunyazwe yibo yibona ‘ababephakamisa izandla.’ Lokhu kwakungenziwa neze ngokuhlanganyela kwebandla ekuvoteni kodwa ngokubeka kwabaphostoli izandla phezu kwabantu ababefaneleka. Lokhu kwakuwuphawu lokuqinisekisa, ukuvumela, noma ukumisa.k Amabandla okuqala obuKristu ngezinye izikhathi ayewatusa amadoda ayefaneleka, kodwa abaphostoli ababenikeza ukukhetha kokugcina noma imvume, okuyibona ababethunywe ngokuqondile uKristu, noma kunikezwe yilabo ababegunyazwe abaphostoli. (IzE. 6:1-6) INqabayokulinda yadonsela ukunakekela eqinisweni lokuthi kusezincwadini ayezibhalele ababonisi abathembekile (uThimothewu noThithu) kuphela lapho umphostoli uPawulu, ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya ongcwele, anikeza khona iziyalezo zokumisa ababonisi. (1 Thim. 3:1-13; 5:22; Thithu 1:5) Ayikho incwadi kweziphefumlelwe ayezibhalele amabandla eyayineziyalezo ezinjalo.

Khona-ke, kwakumelwe kwenziwe kanjani ukumiselwa inkonzo emabandleni? Ukuhlaziya kwe-Nqabayokulinda ukuhlela okungokwasezulwini kwabonisa ngokusekelwe emiBhalweni ukuthi uJehova wamisa uJesu Kristu ukuba abe “inhloko yebandla”; ukuthi lapho uKristu njengeNkosi ebuya, wayeyophathisa “inceku” yakhe “ethembekileyo neqondayo” ukuba inakekele ‘konke anakho’; ukuthi lenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo yayakhiwa yibo bonke abasemhlabeni ababegcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele ukuba babe izindlalifa kanye noKristu futhi ngobunye ababekhonza ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwakhe; nokuthi uKristu wayezosebenzisa isigaba senceku njengethuluzi lakhe lokulungiselela ukuphathwa okudingekayo kwamabandla. (Kol. 1:18; Math. 24:45-47; 28:18) Kwakuyoba umsebenzi wesigaba senceku ukuzisebenzisa ngokomthandazo iziyalezo ezishiwo ngokucacile eZwini likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe, silisebenzise ekunqumeni ukuthi obani ababefanelekela izikhundla zenkonzo.

Njengoba ithuluzi elibonakalayo elalizosetshenziswa uKristu liyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo (futhi amaqiniso omlando wosuku lwanamuhla osucatshangelwe kakade ubonisa ukuthi ‘lenceku’ isebenzisa i-Watch Tower Society njengethuluzi elingokomthetho), INqabayokulinda yachaza ukuthi inqubo engokwasezulwini yayiyokwenza kudingeke ukuba ukumiselwa inkonzo kwenziwe ngalelinxusa. Njengoba nje amabandla ekhulwini lokuqala ayemukela indikimba ebusayo eJerusalema, ngakho namuhla amabandla ngeke achume ngokomoya ngaphandle kokuphatha okuvela emthonjeni owodwa.—IzE. 15:2-30; 16:4, 5.

Nokho, ukuze kuvezwe ukuhlobana kwalokhu kwavezwa ukuthi lapho INqabayokulinda ikhuluma ‘ngeNhlangano,’ lokhu kwakungasho nje ithuluzi elingokomthetho, kodwa kwakusho indikimba yamaKristu agcotshiwe ayakha leyonhlangano engokomthetho futhi eyisebenzisa. Ngakho lelogama lalisho inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo kanye neNdikimba yayo eBusayo.

Ngisho nangaphambi kokuba kukhishwe izihloko ze-Nqabayokulinda ezazinesihloko esithi “INhlangano” ngo-1938, lapho amabandla aseLondon, eNew York, eChicago, naseLos Angeles esekhule afinyelela ezingeni lokuba kutuswe ukuba ahlukaniswe abe amaqembu amancane, ayecele iNhlangano ukuba imise zonke izinceku zawo. INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 15, 1938 manje yamema wonke amanye amabandla ukuba athathe isinyathelo esifanayo. Ukuze kufinyelelwe lokho, kwasikiselwa izwi lesinqumo elilandelayo:

“Thina, esiyiqembu labantu bakaNkulunkulu abathathelwe igama lakhe, futhi manje aba- . . . . . . . . . . . . , siyaqaphela ukuthi uhulumeni kaNkulunkulu uwumbuso ongokwasezulwini omsulwa nokuthi uKristu Jesu usethempelini, uyiphethe futhi uyilawula ngokugcwele inhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo, nengabonakali, nokuthi ‘INHLANGANO’ iwummeleli obonakalayo weNkosi emhlabeni, futhi ngalokho sicela ukuba ‘INhlangano’ ihlelele leliqembu inkonzo futhi imise izinceku ezihlukahlukene ezizoyenza, ukuze sonke sisebenze ndawonye ngokuthula, ukulunga, ukuzwana nobunye obuphelele. Lapha sifaka uhlu lwamagama abantu abakuleliqembu esibabona bevuthwe ngokuphelele futhi ngenxa yalokho ababonakala bekufanelekela kangcono ukwamukela izikhundla ezihlukene ezihlelelwe inkonzo.”l

Cishe wonke amabandla oFakazi BakaJehova avumelana kalula nalokhu. Labo abambalwa ababezindela, ngokushesha bayeka ukuhlanganyela ekumemezeleni uMbuso futhi ngalokho bayeka ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova.

Izinzuzo Zokuqondisa Okungokwasezulwini

Kusobala ukuthi uma izimfundiso, izindinganiso zokuziphatha, nezinqubo zokuhlela noma zokufakaza bezingase zinqunywe endaweni ngayinye, inhlangano ibingeke ibonakale futhi ibingeke ibe nobunye. Abazalwane kalula babeyohlukaniswa ukungefani kwesimo sezenhlalo, isizinda sempucuko, nobuzwe. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukuqondisa okungokwasezulwini kwakuyoqinisekisa ukuthi izinzuzo ezibangelwa ukuthuthuka ngokomoya ziyafinyelela kuwo wonke amabandla ngokungenakuvinjelwa. Ngakho kwakuyoba nobunye bangempela uJesu athandazela ukuba bube khona phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe beqiniso, futhi umsebenzi wobuvangeli ayala ukuba wenziwe wawuyofezwa ngokugcwele.—Joh. 17:20-22.

Nokho, abanye baye bathi ngokusekela kwakhe lolushintsho ekuhleleni, uJ. F. Rutherford wayemane ezama ukulawula oFakazi ngokwengeziwe nokuthi wasebenzisa lendlela ukuze aphoqelele igunya lakhe siqu. Ingabe kwakunjalo ngempela? Akungabazeki ukuthi uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayengumuntu owayeqiniseka ngayekukholelwa. Wayekhuluma ngamandla futhi engahlehli kulokho ayekholelwa ukuthi kuyiqiniso. Wayengakhuluma ngendlela ehlabayo lapho esingethe izimo ezazibonisa ukuthi abantu bazikhathalela bona kakhulu kunomsebenzi weNkosi. Kodwa uMfoweth’ uRutherford wayethobeke ngempela phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Njengoba uKarl Klein, owaba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo ngo-1974, kamuva abhala: “Imithandazo kaMfoweth’ uRutherford ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni . . . yangenza ngamthanda. Nakuba ayenezwi elikhulu, lapho ekhuluma noNkulunkulu wayezwakala njengomfanyana ekhuluma noyise. Yeka ukuthi lokho kwakubonisa ukuba nobuhlobo obuhle kanjani noJehova!” UMfoweth’ uRutherford wayeqiniseka ngokugcwele ngenhlangano kaJehova ebonakalayo, futhi wazama ukuqikelela ukuba kungabi namuntu noma iqembu lamadoda elaliyovimbela abazalwane ezindaweni abakuzo ukuba bazuze ngokugcwele ekudleni okungokomoya nasekuqondiseni uJehova ayekulungiselela izinceku zaKhe.

Nakuba uMfoweth’ uRutherford akhonza iminyaka angu-25 njengomongameli we-Watch Tower Society futhi wanikela ngawo wonke amandla akhe ekuqhubekiseleni phambili umsebenzi wenhlangano, wayengeyena umholi woFakazi BakaJehova, futhi wayengafuni ukuba nguye. Emhlanganweni eSt. Louis, eMissouri, ngo-1941, ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe, wakhuluma ngendaba yobuholi, ethi: “Ngifuna ukwazisa noma yiziphi izivakashi ezilapha ukuthi nicabangani ngokuba umuntu abe ngumholi wenu, ukuze zingakhohlwa. Ngaso sonke isikhathi uma okuthile kuqala bese kuyakhula, bathi kunomuntu ongumholi onabalandeli abaningi. Uma kukhona noma ubani ezilalelini ocabanga ukuthi mina, ndoda emi lapha, ngingumholi woFakazi BakaJehova, makathi Yebo.” Ukusabela kwaba ukuthula okuvusa amadlingozi, okwaphazanyiswa u“Cha” ogcizelelwe owawuvela kwabaningi ababesezilalelini. Isikhulumi saqhubeka: “Uma nina enilapha nikholelwa ukuthi ngimane nje ngingomunye wezinceku zeNkosi, futhi sisebenza ndawonye ngobunye, sikhonza uNkulunkulu futhi sikhonza uKristu, thanini Yebo.” Ngazwi linye ababesemhlanganweni bamemeza ngokunganqikazi bathi “Yebo!” Ngenyanga elandelayo izilaleli ezaziseNgilandi zasabela ngendlela efana nsé.

Kwezinye izindawo izinzuzo zokuhlela okungokwasezulwini zezwakala ngokushesha. Kwezinye izindawo, kwathatha isikhathi; labo ababengavuthiwe, bengezona izinceku ezithembekile ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bagudluzwa, futhi kwamiswa abanye.

Nokho, njengoba izinqubo ezingokwasezulwini zazimiswa ngokugcwele ngokwengeziwe, oFakazi BakaJehova bajabula ngokubona lokho okwabikezelwa ku-Isaya 60:17. Esebenzisa amagama angokomfanekiso ukuze abonise izimo ezithuthukisiwe ezaziyoba khona phakathi kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu, uJehova lapho uthi: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyakuletha igolide, nasesikhundleni sensimbi ngiyakuletha isiliva; esikhundleni somuthi ithusi, nasesikhundleni samatshe insimbi, ngibeke ukuthula kube-ngababonisi bakho, nokulunga kube-ngababusi bakho.” Lokhu akuchazi lokho okwakuyokwenziwa abantu, kodwa kunalokho, lokho uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ayeyokwenza kanye nezinzuzo izinceku ezaziyozithola njengoba zizithoba kukho. Ukuthula kumelwe kube khona phakathi kwazo. Ukuthanda ukulunga kumelwe kube amandla azishukumisela ukuba zikhonze.

EseBrazil, uMaud Yuille, umkambonisi wegatsha, wabhalela uMfoweth’ uRutherford: “Isihloko esithi ‘INhlangano’ [esiku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi)] ka-June 1 no-15 [1938] singibangela ukuba ngamazwi ambalwa, kuwe muntu uJehova asebenzisa inkonzo yakhe yokwethembeka, ngidlulisele ukubonga kwami kuJehova ngelungiselelo elimangalisayo alenzele inhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo, njengoba livezwe kulabomagazini ababili be-Nqabayokulinda. . . . Yeka impumuzo okuyiyo ukubona ukuphela kokuzibusa kwamaqembu, kuhlanganise ‘namalungelo abesifazane’, kanye nezinye izinqubo ezingasekelwe ngokomBhalo eziye zenza imiphefumulo ethile yathobela imibono yendawo kanye nokwahlulela komuntu, esikhundleni [sokuthobela uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu], ngaleyondlela ilethe isihlamba egameni likaJehova. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ‘akukudala iNhlangano iye yaqala ukubiza bonke abasenhlanganweni ngokuthi “izinceku”’, nokho ngiphawula ukuthi iminyaka eminingi ngaphambi kwalesosikhathi ezincwadini zakho owawuzibhalela abafowenu wena wawuzibiza ngokuthi ‘umfowenu nenceku ngomusa waKhe’.”

Ngokuqondene nalokhu kulungisa ekuhleleni, igatsha laseBritish Isles labika: “Umphumela omuhle walokhu wawumangalisa ngempela. Incazelo esankondlo nengokwesiprofetho yalencwadi ka-Isaya isahluko samashumi ayisithupha yinhle kakhulu kodwa ayigcizelelwe ngokweqile. Bonke abantu abaseqinisweni babekhuluma ngayo. Yayiyisihloko sengxoxo esiyinhloko. Kwaba nomuzwa ovamile wentshiseko—ukuzimisela ukuphikelela empini enenjongo enhle. Njengoba ukushuba kwesimo ezweni kukhula, injabulo ekubuseni okungokwasezulwini yanda.”

Ababonisi Abajikelezayo Baqinisa Amabandla

Izibopho zenhlangano zaqiniswa ngokwengeziwe inkonzo yababonisi abajikelezayo. Ekhulwini lokuqala, umphostoli uPawulu wayenengxenye evelele emsebenzini onjalo. Ngezinye izikhathi, amadoda anjengoBarnaba, uThimothewu, noThithu nawo ayehlanganyela kuwo. (IzE. 15:36; Fil. 2:19, 20; Thithu 1:4, 5) Bonke babengabashumayeli bevangeli abashisekayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bakhuthaza amabandla ngezinkulumo zabo. Lapho kuphakama izimpikiswano ezazingathinta ubunye bamabandla, zaziyiswa endikimbeni ebusayo eyinhloko. Khona-ke, ‘njengoba babedabula imizi,’ labo ababephathiswe lowomthwalo wemfanelo ‘babenika ababelapho izinqumo ezanqunywa ngabaphostoli namalunga aseJerusalema ukuba bazigcine.’ Waba yini umphumela? “Amabandla aqiniswa ekukholweni, anda ngobuningi imihla ngemihla.”—IzE. 15:1–16:5; 2 Kor. 11:28.

Ngawo-1870, uMfoweth’ uRussell wayesewahambela kakade amaqembu abaFundi BeBhayibheli—amaqembu ayenabantu ababili noma abathathu kanye namakhudlwana—ukuze awakhe ngokomoya. Nabanye abazalwane abambalwa babehlanganyela kulokhu ngawo-1880. Khona-ke, ngo-1894, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba iNhlangano yenze ukuba izikhulumi ezifanelekayo zijikeleze izikhathi eziningana ukuze zisize abaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuba bakhule olwazini nasekwaziseni iqiniso futhi zibahlanganise ndawonye.

Uma kwenzeka, isikhulumi sasichitha usuku noma mhlawumbe izinsuku ezimbalwa neqembu, sibeke inkulumo yeningi eyodwa noma ezimbili, bese kuthi uma kwenzeka, sihambele amaqembu amancane kakhulu nabantu ngabanye ukuze baxoxe ngezinye zezinto ezithé ukujula zeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Kwenziwa umzamo wokuba iqembu ngalinye e-United States naseCanada lihanjelwe kabili ngonyaka, nakuba ngokuvamile kwakuba umzalwane ohlukile. Ekukhetheni lezikhulumi ezijikelezayo, kwakugcizelelwa ubumnene, ukuthobeka, nokuliqonda ngokucacile iqiniso kanye nokunamathela kulo ngobuqotho kanye nekhono lokufundisa ngalo ngokucacile. Inkonzo yabo yayingakhokhelwa nhlobo. Babemane banikezwe ukudla kanye nendawo yokuhlala ngabazalwane abakuleyondawo, futhi ngezinga okudingeka ngalo, iNhlangano yayibasiza ngezindleko zokuhamba. Baziwa ngokuthi ama-pilgrim.

Abaningi balabameleli beNhlangano abajikelezayo babethandwa kakhulu yilabo ababebakhonza. U-A. H. Macmillan, waseCanada, ukhunjulwa njengomzalwane oliZwi likaNkulunkulu ‘lalinjengomlilo oshisayo’ kuye. (Jer. 20:9) Kwakumelwe nakanjani akhulume ngalo, futhi wayekwenza, engakhulumi nezilaleli eziseCanada kuphela kodwa nasezingxenyeni eziningi ze-United States nakwamanye amazwe. UWilliam Hersee, enye i-pilgrim, ukhunjulwa kakhulu ngokunakekela okukhethekile ayekunikeza intsha. Nemithandazo yakhe yayihlala ikhunjulwa ngoba yayibonisa ukujula kwengokomoya okwakuthinta izinhliziyo zabasha nabadala.

Ukuhamba kwakungelula kuma-pilgrim ezinsukwini zakuqala. Ngokwesibonelo, ukuze akhonze iqembu elalingaseKlamath Falls, e-Oregon, u-Edward Brenisen waqale wahamba ngesitimela, kwase kuba inqola yamahhashi ehamba ubusuku bonke, futhi ekugcineni kwaba ingqukumbane enamasondo amane egudla izintaba eya epulazini ababezohlangana kulo. Ekuseni ngovivi, ngosuku lwangemva komhlangano, umzalwane othile wamnika ihhashi ayezohamba ngalo amakhilomitha ayikhulu eya esiteshini sikaloliwe okuyisona esasiseduze ukuze aye esabelweni sakhe esilandelayo. Kwakuwukuphila okukhandlayo, kodwa imizamo yama-pilgrim yaba nemiphumela emihle. Abantu bakaJehova baqiniswa, baba munye ekuqondeni kwabo iZwi likaNkulunkulu, futhi bahlanganiswa ndawonye ngisho nakuba babesakazeke ezweni lonke.

Ngo-1926, uMfoweth’ Rutherford waqala ukusebenzisa amalungiselelo ashintsha umsebenzi wama-pilgrim ekubeni owezikhulumi nje ezijikelezayo waba owabaqondisi abajikelezayo nabathuthukisi benkonzo yasensimini eyenziwa amabandla. Ukuze kugcizelelwe imithwalo yabo yemfanelo emisha, ngo-1928 babizwa ngokuthi abaqondisi benkonzo bezifunda. Basebenza nabazalwane bezindawo, bebafundisa bona mathupha enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngalesikhathi kwakwenzeka ukuba bafinyelele ibandla ngalinye e-United States nakwamanye amazwe cishe kanye ngonyaka, kuyilapho behlala bexhumana nabantu ngabanye namaqembu amancane ayengakahlelelwa inkonzo.

Phakathi neminyaka eyalandela, umsebenzi wababonisi abajikelezayo washintshashintsha.a Waqiniswa kakhulu ngo-1938 lapho zonke izinceku emabandleni zimiswa ngokwasezulwini. Ukuhanjelwa kwamabandla kwasikhathi sonke phakathi neminyaka embalwa eyalandela kwavula ithuba lokuba bayinikeze ukuqeqesha komuntu siqu inceku ngayinye emisiwe futhi banikeze bonke abantu usizo olwengeziwe enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngo-1942, ngaphambi kokuba ababonisi abajikelezayo baphinde bathunyelwe emabandleni, banikezwa imfundo ehlanganisa izici eziningi; ngenxa yalokho, umsebenzi wabo wenziwa ngokuvumelana okukhulu. Ukuhambela kwabo kwakuba kufushane (usuku olulodwa kuya kwezintathu, kuye ngobukhulu bebandla). Phakathi nalesosikhathi babehlola imibhalo egciniwe yebandla, bahlangane nazo zonke izinceku ukuze banikeze noma yisiphi iseluleko esidingekayo, babeke inkulumo eyodwa noma ngaphezulu ebandleni, futhi bahole enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngo-1946 ukuhambela kwanwetshwa kwathatha isonto elilodwa ebandleni ngalinye.

Kusukela ngo-1938 kuze kube u-1941, izinceku zezifunda, zinendima entsha, ngokuvamile zazikhonza imihlangano yezindawo, lapho oFakazi bendawo ethile (isifunda) babehlangana ukuze bathamele isimiso esikhethekile. Lapho lomsebenzi uvuselelwa ngo-1946, lababonisi abajikelezayo baziwa ngokuthi izinceku zesigodi; manje, ababonisi besigodi.

Lelilungiselelo lokuhanjelwa kwamabandla landiswa ngo-1938 ngenkonzo yenceku yesifunda inendima entsha. Yayihlanganisa indawo enkulu, ngezikhathi ezithile ichitha isonto nabazalwane ngabanye kwababejikeleza esifundeni bevakashela amabandla. Phakathi nokuhambela kwayo yayikhonza esimisweni somhlangano esasithanyelwa yiwo wonke amabandla akulesosifunda.b Lelilungiselelo laliyisikhuthazo esikhulu kubazalwane futhi livula ithuba lasikhathi sonke lokubhapathizwa kwabafundi abasha.

“Umuntu Othanda Inkonzo”

Phakathi kwalabo ababehlanganyela kulenkonzo kusukela ngo-1936 kwakunoJohn Booth, owaba ilungu leNdikima Ebusayo ngo-1974. Lapho kuxoxwa naye njengowayezoba umqondisi ojikelezayo, watshelwa: “Akuzona izikhulumi eziqephuzayo ezidingekayo, kodwa nje umuntu othanda inkonzo nozohola kuyo futhi ozokhuluma ngenkonzo emihlanganweni.” UMfoweth’ uBooth wayenalolothando ngenkonzo kaJehova, njengoba kuboniswa yinkonzo yakhe yentshiseko yokuphayona kusukela ngo-1928, futhi wenza abanye baba nomoya wokushisekela ukushumayela ivangeli ngesibonelo sakhe nangamazwi esikhuthazo.

Ibandla lokuqala alihambela, ngo-March 1936, lalise-Easton, ePennsylvania. Kamuva wabhala: “Ngokuvamile ngangifika endaweni ethile ngesikhathi senkonzo yasensimini ekuseni, sibe nomhlangano nezinceku zeqembu lapho kusanda kuhlwa bese kuthi kamuva sibe nomunye nalo lonke iqembu. Ngokuvamile ngangichitha izinsuku ezimbili nje neqembu futhi kube usuku olulodwa uma kuyiqembu elincane, ngezinye izikhathi ngihambele amaqembu anjalo ayisithupha ngesonto. Ngangihlala ngisendleleni.”

Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, ngo-1938, njengenceku yesifunda, wabelwa ukuba anakekele umhlangano wesifunda masonto onke. Lemihlangano yasiza ekuqiniseni abazalwane phakathi nesikhathi sokudlanga koshushiso ezindaweni ezithile. Ekhumbula lezozinsuku uMfoweth’ uBooth wathi: “Ngalelosonto [engangingufakazi ngalo ecaleni elalihilela oFakazi abangu-60 e-Indianapolis, e-Indiana] ngangiwummangalelwa kwelinye icala eJoliet, e-Illinois, ngingummeli womzalwane othile kwelinye eMadison, e-Indiana, futhi, ngaphezu kwalokho, ngangiqondisa umhlangano wesifunda impelasonto ngayinye.”

Eminyakeni emibili ngemva kokuba lemihlangano yesifunda ivuselelwe ngo-1946, uCarey Barber wayephakathi kwalabo ababekhonza njengezinceku zesigodi. Kakade wayesebe ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel eBrooklyn, eNew York, iminyaka engu-25. Isigodi sokuqala asebenza kuso sasihlanganisa yonke ingxenye esentshonalanga ye-United States. Ekuqaleni, wayehamba amakhilomitha angu-1 600 isonto ngalinye esuka komunye umhlangano eya komunye. Njengoba inani lamabandla nobukhulu kwakukhula, lawomabanga ancipha, futhi imihlangano yesifunda eminingi ngokuvamile yayiqhutshelwa endaweni eyodwa eyidolobha. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-29 yokuhlangenwe nakho njengombonisi ojikelezayo, uMfoweth’ uBarber wamenywa ukuba aphindele endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke ngo-1977 ezoba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo.

Phakathi nezikhathi zempi nezoshushiso olunzima, ababonisi abajikelezayo ngokuvamile babefaka engozini inkululeko yabo kanye nokuphila kwabo ukuze banakekele inhlala-kahle engokomoya yabafowabo. Phakathi nesikhathi sokulawula kobuNazi eBelgium, u-André Wozniak waqhubeka ehambela amabandla futhi esiza ekuwanikezeni izincwadi. AmaGestapo ayehlala esezithendeni zakhe kodwa awazange aphumelele ukumbamba.

ERhodesia (manje eyaziwa ngokuthi iZimbabwe) ekupheleni kwawo-1970, abantu babehlala ngokwesaba, futhi kwakungahanjwa nhlobo phakathi nenkathi yempi yangaphakathi ezweni. Kodwa ababonisi abajikelezayo boFakazi BakaJehova, njengabelusi nababonisi abanothando, baba “indawo yokucashela umoya” kubafowabo. (Isaya 32:2) Abanye babehamba izinsuku eziningi emahlathini, behla benyuka ezintabeni, bewela imifula eyingozi, belala endle ebusuku—konke bekwenzela ukufinyelela amabandla nabamemezeli abangabodwa, ukuze babakhuthaze ukuba bahlale beqinile okholweni. Phakathi kwalaba kwakuno-Isaiah Makore, owasinda ngokulambisa lapho izinhlamvu zidlula ekhanda lakhe phakathi nempi eyayiphakathi kwamasosha kahulumeni “nabalweli benkululeko.”

Abanye ababonisi abajikelezayo baye bakhonza inhlangano iminyaka eminingi ngokuhambela wonke amazwe. Abongameli be-Watch Tower Society baye bahambela amanye amazwe bephindelela ukuze banakekele izidingo zokuhlela futhi babeke izinkulumo emihlanganweni emikhulu. Ukuhambela okunjalo kuye kwenza lukhulu ekugcineni oFakazi BakaJehova yonke indawo bebuqaphela kakhulu ubuzalwane babo bezizwe zonke. UMfoweth’ uKnorr wawuphishekela ngokukhethekile lomsebenzi njalo, ehambela igatsha ngalinye nekhaya ngalinye lezithunywa zevangeli. Njengoba inhlangano ikhula, umhlaba wahlukaniswa waba izifunda eziyishumi zomhlaba wonke, futhi kusukela ngo-January 1, 1956, abazalwane abafanelekayo, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukamongameli, baqala ukusiza kulenkonzo ukuze inakekelwe njalo. Lokho kuhambela izifunda, manje okwenziwa ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweKomiti Yenkonzo yeNdikimba Ebusayo, kuyaqhubeka kuba nengxenye ebunyeni bembulunga yonke nasekuqhubekeleni phambili kwenhlangano iyonke.

Kusenezinye izenzakalo ezibalulekile eziye zaba nengxenye esimweni samanje senhlangano.

Okunye Ukulungisa Okungokwasezulwini

Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, uJoseph F. Rutherford wafa, ngo-January 8, 1942, uNathan H. Knorr wayeseba umongameli wesithathu we-Watch Tower Society. Inhlangano yacindezeleka kakhulu ngenxa yokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wayo emazweni amaningi, ubudlova besixuku obenziwa ngaphansi kwesigubezelo sokushisekela izwe, kanye nokuboshwa koFakazi uma besakaza izincwadi zeBhayibheli enkonzweni yabo yasobala. Ingabe ushintsho ekuphatheni lwaluzonciphisa umfutho emsebenzini ngalesosikhathi esibucayi? Abazalwane ababenakekela izindaba zokuphatha babebheka kuJehova ukuze bathole isiqondiso nesibusiso sakhe. Benza ngokuvumelana nesifiso sabo sesiqondiso saphezulu, bahlola kabusha isimo senhlangano ngokwaso ukuze babone ukuthi zikhona yini izindawo ezazingavunyelaniswa ngokuseduze kakhulu nezindlela zikaJehova.

Khona-ke, ngo-1944, kwaba nomhlangano wenkonzo ePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, owawuphathelene nomhlangano waminyaka yonke we-Watch Tower Society. Ngo-September 30, ngaphambi kwalowomhlangano waminyaka yonke, kwabekwa uchungechunge lwezinkulumo ezibaluleke kakhulu ezaziphathelene nalokho okushiwo imiBhalo ngenhlangano yezinceku zikaJehova.c Ukunakekela kwagxiliswa eNdikimbeni Ebusayo. Kulesosenzakalo kwagcizelelwa ukuthi isimiso esingokwasezulwini kumelwe sisetshenziswe kuzo zonke izinhlangano ezisetshenziswa isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo. Kwachazwa ukuthi enhlanganweni engokomthetho akubona bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu “abazinikezele” abangamalungu. Yayimane ibamelela, ibakhonza njengenxusa elingokomthetho. Nokho, njengoba nje iNhlangano yayiyinxusa lokusakaza elalisetshenziselwa ukulungiselela oFakazi BakaJehova izincwadi ezazikhanyisela ngokomoya, iNdikimba Ebusayo ngokunengqondo nanjengoba kufanele yayihlangene eduze nezikhulu nabaqondisi baleyoNhlangano engokomthetho. Ingabe izimiso ezingokwasezulwini zazisetshenziswa ngokugcwele ezindabeni zayo?

Umthetho-sisekelo weNhlangano wawuhlele ilungiselelo lamasheya lapho isamba somnikelo ka-$10 (U.S.) sasenza ukuba onikelile akwazi ukuvotela ukukhethwa kwamalungu ebhodi yabaqondisi nezikhulu zeNhlangano. Mhlawumbe kwakubonakala sengathi iminikelo enjalo yayinikeza ubufakazi bokuba nesithakazelo esiqotho emsebenzini wenhlangano. Nokho, lelilungiselelo lalinezinkinga. UMfoweth’ uKnorr, umongameli weNhlangano, wachaza: “Ngokwamalungiselelo omthetho-sisekelo weNhlangano, kubonakala sengathi ukuba yingxenye yendikimba ebusayo kuxhomeke eminikelweni eyenziwa eNhlanganweni engokomthetho. Kodwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu lokhu akunakuba njalo phakathi kwabantu bakhe abakhethiwe beqiniso.”

Kwakuyiqiniso ukuthi uCharles Taze Russell, owayengovelele iminyaka engu-32 yokuqala yeNhlangano endikimbeni ebusayo, wayenikela kakhulu ukwedlula bonke ngemali, amandla, nangengqondo eNhlanganweni. Kodwa akukhona ukunikela ngemali okwakunquma ukuthi iNkosi imsebenzisa kanjani. Kwakuwukuzinikezela kwakhe okuphelele, intshiseko engapheli, ukuwumelela kwakhe ngokungahlehli uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, nobuqotho bakhe obungenakwephulwa nokwethembeka okwamenza wafanelekela inkonzo phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngokuqondene nenhlangano engokwasezulwini, kusebenza lesimiso: “UNkulunkulu umisile izitho zonke, yileso naleso emzimbeni ngokuthanda kwakhe.” (1 Kor. 12:18) “Nokho,” kuchaza uMfoweth’ uKnorr, “njengoba nje umthetho-sisekelo weNhlangano uye wenza ilungiselelo lokuba labo abanikele ngemali emsebenzini weNhlangano banikezwe amasheya okuvota, kuye kwathambekela ekufiphazeni noma ekweqeni lesimiso esingokwaseZulwini ngokuqondene nendikimba ebusayo; futhi kuye kwathambekela ekuyifakeni engozini noma ekuyidaleleni izithiyo.”

Ngakho, emhlanganweni webhizinisi wabo bonke abavoti abanamasheya beNhlangano ngo-October 2, 1944, kwavotwa ngazwilinye ukuba umthetho-sisekelo weNhlangano ubukezwe futhi uvunyelaniswe ngokuseduze kakhulu nezimiso ezingokwasezulwini. Amalungu ayengeke esaba angalinganiselwe ngenani kodwa ayezoba phakathi kuka-300 no-500, wonke ayezoba amadoda akhethwe ibhodi yabaqondisi, hhayi ngesisekelo seminikelo engokwezimali, kodwa ngoba engoFakazi BakaJehova abavuthiwe, abakhuthele, abathembekile ababekhonza isikhathi esigcwele emsebenzini wenhlangano noma ababeyizikhonzi ezikhuthele emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova. Lamalungu ayezovotela ibhodi yabaqondisi, bese ibhodi yabaqondisi ikhetha izikhulu zayo. Lamalungiselelo amasha aqala ukusebenza ngonyaka olandelayo, ngo-October 1, 1945. Yeka isivikelo lokhu okube yiso enkathini lapho amaqembu anobutha ngokuvamile eye asebenzisa khona izindaba zebhizinisi ukuze alawule izinhlangano futhi azihlele kabusha ukuze zifanelane nezinhloso zawo!

Isibusiso sikaJehova kulamagxathu entuthuko ekwenzeni ngokuvumelana nezimiso ezingokwasezulwini siye sabonakala. Naphezu kwakho konke ukucindezela okwalethwa enhlanganweni phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, inani labamemezeli boMbuso laqhubeka likhula. Ngokungadangali, baqhubeka ngomfutho befakaza ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngo-1939 kuya ku-1946, kwaba nokwanda okumangalisayo kwamaphesenti angu-157 ezinhlwini zoFakazi BakaJehova, futhi bafinyelela kwamanye amazwe ayisithupha nezindaba ezinhle. Phakathi neminyaka engu-25 eyalandela, inani loFakazi abakhuthele landa cishe ngamanye amaphesenti angu-800, futhi babika umsebenzi wasikhathi sonke emazweni angu-86 engeziwe.

Ukuqeqeshwa Okukhethekile Kwababonisi

Izingqapheli zangaphandle zakubheka njengokungenakugwenywa ukuba lapho inhlangano ikhula, nezindinganiso zayo zixege. Kodwa, ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi kwakuyoba nokulunga nokuthula phakathi kwezinceku zikaJehova. (Isaya 60:17) Lokho kwakuyodinga ukufundiswa ngokucophelela nangokuqhubekayo kwababonisi abanokwethenjelwa ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu, ukuqondwa okucacile kwezindinganiso zokwahlulela, kanye nokusetshenziswa okungaguquki kwalezozindinganiso. Imfundo enjalo iye yanikezwa. Ukuhlolisiswa kwezimfuneko zokulunga zikaNkulunkulu kuye kwalungiselelwa ngokuqhubekayo ku-Nqabayokulinda, futhi lokhu kwaziswa kuye kwafundwa ngesikhathi esisodwa amabandla oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Kodwa, ngaphezu kwalokho, ababonisi bomhlambi baye banikezwa imfundo eyengeziwe.

Ababonisi abavelele bamagatsha eNhlangano baye bahlanganiselwa ukuqeqeshwa okukhethekile ngezikhathi zemihlangano yezizwe zonke. Kusukela ngo-1961 kuya ku-1965, banikezwa izifundo zasesikoleni ezihlelwe ngokukhethekile, ezaziyizinyanga eziyisishiyagalombili kuya kweziyishumi, eNew York. Kusukela ngo-1977 kuya ku-1980, kwaba nolunye uchungechunge lwezifundo ezikhethekile zamasonto amahlanu abaluhlelelwa. Ukuqeqeshwa kwabo kwakuhlanganisa ukuhlolwa kwevesi ngalinye lazo zonke izincwadi zeBhayibheli nokucatshangelwa kwemininingwane ephathelene nokuhlela nezindlela zokuthuthukisa ukushumayela kwabo izindaba ezinhle. Akukho ukwehlukana ngokobuzwe phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bahlalaphi, babambelela ezindinganisweni ezifanayo eziphakeme zeBhayibheli futhi bakholelwa futhi bafundisa izinto ezifanayo.

Ababonisi besifunda nabesigodi nabo baye banikezwa ukunakekela okukhethekile. Abaningi babo baye baya e-Watchtower Bible School of Gilead noma kwesinye seZikole zaso eziwuPhiko. Ngezikhathi ezithile, bahlanganiselwa emahhovisi egatsha eNhlangano, noma bahlangane kwezinye izindawo ezibalungele, ukuze bathole izifundo izinsuku ezimbalwa noma isonto.

Ngo-1959 elinye ilungiselelo elivelele laqala ukusebenza. Leli kwakuyiSikole Senkonzo SoMbuso, okwakuya kuso ababonisi besifunda nabesigodi kanye nababonisi bamabandla. Saqala siyizifundo ezithatha inyanga yonke. Ngemva kokusetshenziswa kwaso unyaka owodwa e-United States, ukwaziswa okukulezifundo kwahunyushelwa kwezinye izilimi futhi kwasetshenziswa ngokuqhubekayo embulungeni yonke. Njengoba kwakungenakwenzeka ukuba bonke ababonisi bahlele ukungayi emsebenzini wabo wokuziphilisa inyanga yonke, kwasetshenziswa isimiso sezifundo ezithatha amasonto amabili kusukela ngo-1966.

Lesikole sasingesona isikole sobufundisi lapho kuqeqeshwa khona amadoda alungiselelwa ukugcotshwa. Labo ababeba khona base beyizikhonzi ezigcotshiwe kakade. Abaningi babo base bebe ababonisi nabelusi bomhlambi amashumi eminyaka. Izifundo zabo zaziyithuba lokuba baxoxe ngokuningiliziwe ngeziyalezo ezivela eZwini likaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nomsebenzi wabo. Kwakugcizelelwa kakhulu ukubaluleka kwenkonzo yasensimini nokuthi ingenziwa kanjani ngokuphumelelayo. Ngenxa yezindinganiso eziguqukayo zokuziphatha ezweni, kwanikelwa ngesikhathi esiningi kuxoxwa ngokusekela izindinganiso zeBhayibheli zokuziphatha. Ezikhathini zamuva lezifundo ziye zalandelwa yizifundo eziba khona njalo ngemva kweminyaka emibili noma emithathu, nemihlangano ewusizo ababonisi abajikelezayo ababa nayo nabadala bamabandla izikhathi eziningana unyaka ngamunye. Lemihlangano inikeza ithuba lokuzinakekela ngokukhethekile izidingo zangalesosikhathi. Iyisivikelo ekuphambukeni ezindinganisweni zeBhayibheli, futhi inengxenye ekusingathweni ngendlela efanayo kwezimo kuwo wonke amabandla.

OFakazi BakaJehova balalela isiyalo esikweyoku-1 Korinte 1:10: “Ngiyanincenga, bazalwane, ngegama leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ukuba nikhulume-zwilinye nonke, kungabikho ukwahlukana phakathi kwenu, kodwa nipheleliswe emqondweni munye nasekuboneni kunye.” Lokhu akukhona ukuzivumelanisa okuphoqelelwe; kubangelwa ukufunda izindlela zikaNkulunkulu njengoba zilotshwe eBhayibhelini. OFakazi BakaJehova bayazijabulela izindlela zikaNkulunkulu nenjongo yakhe. Uma abanye bengasakujabuleli ukuphila ngokuvumelana nezindinganiso zeBhayibheli, banenkululeko yokuyishiya inhlangano. Kodwa uma abanye beqala ukushumayela ezinye izinkolelo noma bengazinaki izimiso zeBhayibheli zokuziphatha, ababonisi bathatha isinyathelo sokuvikela umhlambi. Inhlangano isebenzisa iseluleko seBhayibheli: “Niqaphele ababanga ukwahlukana nokukhubekisa, bephambene nesifundiso enafundiswa sona nina, nahlukane nabo.”—Roma 16:17; 1 Kor. 5:9-13.

IBhayibheli labikezela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyobangela isimo esinjalo phakathi kwezinceku zakhe, lapho kwakuyovama khona ukulunga futhi kube nesithelo sokuthula. (Isaya 32:1, 2, 17, 18) Lezozimo zibakhanga kakhulu abantu abathanda okulungile.

Bangaki abathandi bokulunga abanjalo abazoqoqwa ngaphambi kokuphela kwalesimiso esidala? OFakazi BakaJehova abazi. Kodwa uJehova uyazi ukuthi umsebenzi wakhe uyodingani, futhi ngesikhathi sakhe siqu nangendlela yakhe siqu uqikelela ukuba inhlangano yakhe ikuhlomele ukuwunakekela.

Ukulungiselela Ukwanda Okusheshayo

Lapho kwenziwa ukuhlola ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo lapho kulungiselelwa incwadi ethi Aid to Bible Understanding, kwabuye kwabhekiselwa ukunakekela endleleni ibandla lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala elalihlelwe ngayo. Kwahlolisiswa amagama aseBhayibhelini anjengathi “indoda endala,” “umbonisi,” nelithi “isikhonzi.” Ingabe inhlangano yosuku lwanamuhla yoFakazi BakaJehova yayingenza ngokuvumelana ngokwengeziwe nendlela eye yalondolozwa emiBhalweni njengesiqondiso?

Izinceku zikaJehova zazizimisele ukuqhubeka zizithoba esiqondisweni saphezulu. Ochungechungeni lwemihlangano eyaqhutshwa ngo-1971, ukunakekela kwabhekiselwa emalungiselelweni okuphatha ibandla lobuKristu lokuqala. Kwavezwa ukuthi inkulumo ethi pre·sbyʹte·ros (indoda endala, umdala), njengoba isetshenziswe eBhayibheli, yayingasebenzi kubantu asebekhulile kuphela, futhi yayingasebenzi kubo bonke abasebandleni abavuthiwe ngokomoya. Yayisetshenziswa ngokukhethekile ngomqondo ongokomthetho kubhekiselwa kubabonisi bamabandla. (IzE. 11:30; 1 Thim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-3) Laba babethola izikhundla abakuzo ngokumiswa, ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko ezaba ingxenye yemiBhalo ephefumlelwe. (IzE. 14:23, NW; 1 Thim. 3:1-7; Thithu 1:5-9) Lapho kutholakala khona amadoda afanelekayo anele, kwakuba nabadala abangaphezu koyedwa ebandleni. (IzE. 20:17; Fil. 1:1) Laba babakha “indikimba yamadoda amadala,” wonke ayenesikhundla esilinganayo esingokomthetho, futhi akekho kuwo owayeyilungu elivelele noma elinamandla ebandleni. (1 Thim. 4:14, NW) Ukuze kusizwe abadala, njengoba kwachazwa, kwamiswa ‘nezinceku ezikhonzayo,’ ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko ezibekwe umphostoli uPawulu.—1 Thim. 3:8-10, 12, 13.

Lamalungiselelo asetshenziswa ngokushesha ukuze inhlangano ivunyelaniswe ngokuseduze kakhulu nesibonelo esiseBhayibhelini. Lamalungiselelo aqala ukusebenza eNdikimbeni Ebusayo uqobo. Amalungu ayo andiswa kusuka kwayisikhombisa, njengamalungu ebhodi yabaqondisi be-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, ayekhonza njengendikimba ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Akuzange kumiswe inani elithile lababezoba amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo. Ngo-1971, ayengu-11; kwadlula iminyaka embalwa, engu-18; ngo-1992, ayengu-12. Wonke angamadoda agcotshwe uNkulunkulu njengezindlalifa ezikanye noJesu Kristu. Abangu-12 ababekhonza njengeNdikimba Ebusayo ngo-1992 ngalesosikhathi babenomlando weminyaka engu-728 isiyonke yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengezikhonzi zikaJehova uNkulunkulu.

Ngo-September 6, 1971, kwanqunywa ukuthi ukuba ngusihlalo emihlanganweni yeNdikimba Ebusayo kufanele kujikeleze minyaka yonke ngokulandelana kwezinhlamvu zezibongo zamalungu ayo. Lokhu empeleni kwaqala ukusebenza ngo-October 1. Amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo, masonto onke, nawo ayeshintshana ekuphatheni ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni naseSifundweni se-Nqabayokulinda samalungu ezisebenzi zasendlunkulu.d Lelilungiselelo laqala ukusetshenziswa ngo-September 13, 1971, lapho uFrederick W. Franz ehola esimisweni sokukhulekela sasekuseni endlunkulu yeNhlangano eBrooklyn, eNew York.

Phakathi nonyaka olandelayo, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okushintshwa kokuphathwa kwamabandla. Kwakungeke kusaba nenceku eyodwa yebandla eyayisizwa inani elithile lezinye izinceku. Amadoda ayefaneleka ngokomBhalo ayezomiswa ukuba akhonze njengabadala. Abanye, ababehlangabezana nezimfuneko zeBhayibheli, babezomiswa ukuba babe izinceku ezikhonzayo. Lokhu kwavula indlela yokuba abaningi bahlanganyele emithwalweni yemfanelo yebandla futhi bazuze okuhlanganwe nakho okuyigugu. Akekho koFakazi BakaJehova owayecabanga ukuthi inani lamabandla laliyokwanda ngamaphesenti angu-156 phakathi neminyaka engu-21 eyayizolandela, lifinyelele ingqikithi yangu-69-558 ngo-1992. Kodwa iNhloko yebandla, iNkosi uJesu Kristu, ngokusobala yayilungiselela okwakuza.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, kwacatshangelwa ngokucophelela okunye ukuhlela kabusha eNdikimbeni Ebusayo. Kusukela i-Watch Tower Society yasungulwa ngo-1884, ukukhishwa kwezincwadi, ukuqondiswa komsebenzi wembulunga yonke wokushumayela ivangeli, namalungiselelo ezikole nemihlangano kwakunakekelwa ngaphansi kokuqondisa kokuphatha kukamongameli we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Kodwa ngemva kokuhlaziya ngokucophelela imininingwane nokuxoxa ngayo izinyanga eziningi, kwamukelwa ngazwilinye ilungiselelo elisha ngo-December 4, 1975. Kwakhiwa amakomiti ayisithupha eNdikimba Ebusayo.

I-Komiti Kasihlalo (eyakhiwa usihlalo wangalesosikhathi weNdikimba Ebusayo, usihlalo owandulela lowo, kanye nozolandela ekubeni usihlalo) yamukela imibiko ephathelene nezimo eziphuthuma kakhulu, izinhlekelele, nemikhankaso yoshushiso, futhi iqikelela ukuba lokhu kusingathwe ngokushesha iNdikimba Ebusayo. I-Komiti Yokubhala iqondisa ukubhalwa kokudla okungokomoya, kuqoshwe emakhasethini, nakuma-video ukuze kusetshenziswe oFakazi BakaJehova futhi kusakazwe emphakathini, futhi iqondisa umsebenzi wokuhumushela ezilimini eziningi. Umthwalo wemfanelo we-Komiti Yokufundisa uwukuqondisa izikole nemihlangano emincane, kanye nemihlangano yesigodi neyezizwe zonke, yabantu bakaJehova, kanye nokufundiswa komkhaya waseBethel nokuhlela ukwaziswa okuzosetshenziselwa izinjongo ezinjalo. I-Komiti YeNkonzo iqondisa zonke izindawo zomsebenzi wokushumayela ivangeli, kuhlanganise nomsebenzi wamabandla nababonisi abajikelezayo. Ukunyatheliswa, ukukhishwa, nokuthunyelwa kwezincwadi kanye nokusebenza kwamafektri nokusingathwa kwezindaba ezingokomthetho nezebhizinisi konke kuqondiswa i-Komiti Yokunyathelisa. Futhi i-Komiti Yezisebenzi yenza amalungiselelo okunikeza usizo lomuntu siqu nolungokomoya emalungwini emikhaya yaseBethel futhi iyona enakekela ukumenywa kwamalungu amasha ukuba akhonze emikhayeni yaseBethel emhlabeni wonke.

Kunamakomiti engeziwe awusizo abelwe ukuba aqondise emafektri, emakhaya aseBethel, nasemapulazini ahlangene nendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke. Kulamakomiti iNdikimba Ebusayo iwasebenzisa kakhulu amakhono amalungu ‘esixuku esikhulu.’—IsAm. 7:9, 15.

Kwenziwa ukulungisa nasekuphathweni kwamagatsha eNhlangano. Kusukela ngo-February 1, 1976, igatsha ngalinye beliqondiswa ikomiti yamalungu amathathu noma ngaphezulu, kuye ngokwezidingo nangobukhulu begatsha. Lamalungu asebenza ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo ekunakekeleni umsebenzi woMbuso endaweni akuyo.

Ngo-1992, iNdikimba Ebusayo yanikezwa usizo olwengeziwe lapho iningi labasizi, ikakhulukazi abangabesixuku esikhulu, labelwa ukuba lihlanganyele emihlanganweni nasemisebenzini yeKomiti Yokubhala, Yokufundisa, YeNkonzo, Yokunyathelisa, neYezisebenzi.e

Lokhu kucaza imithwalo yemfanelo kuye kwaba inzuzo kakhulu. Kukanye nokulungisa okwase kwenziwe kakade emabandleni, kuye kwasiza ekususeni noma isiphi isithiyo esasingase siphambukise abantu ekuqapheleni ukuthi uKristu uyiNhloko yebandla. Kuye kwaba usizo kakhulu ukuba nabazalwane abaningi ababonisana ndawonye ezindabeni eziphathelene nomsebenzi woMbuso. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lokhu kuhlela kabusha kuye kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukunikeza ukuqondisa okudingekayo ezindaweni eziningi lapho kuye kwadingeka khona ngokuphuthumayo phakathi nenkathi eye yaba nokwanda ngezilinganiso ezinkulu ngempela enhlanganweni. Esikhathini eside esidlule, uJehova wabikezela lokhu ngomprofethi u-Isaya: “Omncane uyakuba-yinkulungwane, ophansi abe-yisizwe esinamandla; mina nginguJehova, ngiyakukusheshisa ngesikhathi sakho.” (Isaya 60:22) Akazange agcine ngokukusheshisa kodwa uye walungiselela nesiqondiso esidingekayo ukuze inhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo ikwazi ukukunakekela.

Okuyikhona oFakazi BakaJehova abanesithakazelo kukho umsebenzi uNkulunkulu abanike ukuba bawenze phakathi nalezinsuku zokugcina zezwe elibi, futhi bahleleke kahle ukuze bawufeze. OFakazi BakaJehova babona ubufakazi obucacile bokuthi lenhlangano ayiyona eyabantu kodwa ekaNkulunkulu nokuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu uqobo, uJesu Kristu, iyawuqondisa. NjengeNkosi ebusayo, uJesu uyovikela izikhonzi zakhe ezithembekile phakathi nosizi olukhulu oluzayo futhi aqikelele ukuthi zihleleka ngokuphumelelayo ukuze zifeze intando kaNkulunkulu phakathi neNkulungwane Yeminyaka ezayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 204]

Isigaba sabefundisi sasingenandawo phakathi kwabo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 205]

Ukungazami ukusungula “inhlangano yasemhlabeni”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 206]

Babekhethwa kanjani?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 212]

Umqondisi owayemiswe iNhlangano

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 213]

Abanye abadala babengafuni ukushumayela ngaphandle kwebandla

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 214]

Ukunciphisa abantu kodwa kuqiniswa inhlangano

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 218]

Ukumisa abadala kwakumelwe kwenziwe kanjani?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 220]

Ingabe uRutherford wayemane ezama ukulawula ngokwengeziwe?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 222]

Ukuxhumana namaqembu ayenabantu ababili noma abathathu kanye namakhudlwana

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 223]

Imithwalo yemfanelo emisha yababonisi abajikelezayo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 234]

INdikimba Ebusayo eyandisiwe nelungiselelo lokushintshana kosihlalo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 235]

Ukuqondisa okudingekayo phakathi nenkathi yokwanda okusheshayo

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 207]

Kungani Kwaba Noshintsho?

Lapho ebuzwa ngokushintsha kombono wakhe ngokukhethwa kwabadala emaqenjini ahlukahlukene abantu beNkosi, uC. T. Russell waphendula:

“Okokuqala nje angisheshe nginiqinisekise ukuthi angikaze ngithi angilenzi iphutha. . . . Asikuphiki ukukhula olwazini, nokuthi manje sesiyibona ngomqondo othé ukuhluka intando yeNkosi ngokuqondene nabaDala noma abaholi emaqenjaneni ahlukahlukene abantu bayo. Iphutha lethu ekwahluleleni lalisekulindeleni okukhulu kakhulu kubafowethu abathandekayo, abathi besanda kufika eQinisweni, base beba abaholi balamaqembu amancane. Umbono owubuwula esasinawo ngabo, wawuwukuthi ulwazi lweQiniso lwaluyobenza bathobeke kakhulu, okwakuyobabangela ukuba baqaphele ukungabaluleki kwabo siqu, nokuthi noma yini ababeyazi futhi bekwazi ukuyidlulisela kwabanye babeyoba njengabakhulumeli bakaNkulunkulu futhi ngoba besetshenziswa nguye. Sasethemba ukuthi laba, ngawo wonke umqondo, babeyoba izibonelo zomhlambi; nokuthi uma ukuqondisa kwaphezulu kweNkosi kuletha ebandleni elincane oyedwa noma abengeziwe abakufanelekela ngendlela efanayo, noma abakufanelekela ngokwengeziwe, ukudlulisela iQiniso, umoya wothando wawuyobaholela ekubeni bahloniphane, futhi kanjalo basizane futhi banxusane ukuba bahlanganyele enkonzweni yeBandla, umzimba kaKristu.

“Sicabangela lokhu saphetha ngokuthi izinyathelo ezithé xaxa zomusa neqiniso okufanele zithathwe manje nezaziswa abantu beNkosi abazinikele ziyokwenza kungadingeki ukuba balandele inkambo eyayihlelwe abaphostoli eBandleni lokuqala. Iphutha lethu lalisekwehlulekeni ukuqaphela ukuthi amalungiselelo ayehlelwe abaphostoli ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwaphezulu aphakeme ngaphezu kwanoma yini abanye abangayisungula, nokuthi iBandla lilonke liyodinga ukuba nemithetho emiswe abaphostoli kuze kube yilapho, ngokushintsha kwethu ovukweni, sipheleliswa futhi sihlanganiswa ngokuqondile neNkosi.

“Kancane kancane salibona iphutha lethu njengoba sasibona abafowethu benomoya wokubanga ngezinga elithile, futhi sibona abaningi benesifiso sokuhola emihlanganweni ukuze babe nesikhundla kunokuba kube inkonzo, futhi bekhiphela ngaphandle futhi bevimbela abanye abazalwane abanekhono elifanayo futhi abanolwazi olulinganayo lweQiniso futhi abaphumelelayo ekusebenziseni inkemba yoMoya ukuba bathuthukele ekubeni abaholi.”—“Zion’s Watch Tower,” March 15, 1906, k. 90.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 208, 209]

Izakhiwo Ezazisetshenziswa INhlangano Eminyakeni Eyikhulu Edlule Endaweni YasePittsburgh

IBible House, eboniswe lapha, yaba indlunkulu iminyaka engu-19, kusukela ngo-1890 kuya ku-1909f

UMfoweth’ uRussell wayetadishela lapha

Amalungu omkhaya waseBible House ayekhonza lapha ngo-1902

Lesisakhiwo sasihlanganisa nalomnyango wokunyathelisa nokulungiswa kokwaziswa (phezulu kwesokudla), umnyango wokuthumela izincwadi (ezansi kwesokudla), indawo yokugcina izincwadi, izindawo zokuhlala zezisebenzi, kanye nendlu yokukhulekela (ihholo lomhlangano) elalihlalisa abantu abacishe babe ngu-300

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 211]

Umsebenzi Kabani?

Ngasekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe, uCharles Taze Russell wabhala: “Ngokuvamile abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayakhohlwa ukuthi iNkosi ngokwaYo iyahola emsebenzini waYo. Ukucabanga okuvamile kuwukuthi, Sizokwenza umsebenzi bese senza uNkulunkulu asebenze nathi emsebenzini wethu. Masibe nombono oqondile ngalendaba, futhi sibone ukuthi uNkulunkulu uye wahlosa futhi ufeza umsebenzi omkhulu; nokuthi uzophumelela, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sikhona thina nokuthi iyini imizamo yethu; nokuthi kuyilungelo elikhulu elinikezwe abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba babe izisebenzi ezikanye noMenzi wabo ekuphumeleliseni amacebo aKhe, amasu aKhe, amalungiselelo aKhe, ngendlela yaKhe. Njengoba sibheka indaba ngalombono, ukuthandaza kwethu nokuqapha kwethu kufanele sikwenze ngenjongo yokwazi nokwenza intando yeNkosi, saneliseke nganoma imuphi umsebenzi esiwunikezwayo, njengoba kunguNkulunkulu osiholayo. Lolu uhlelo i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society eye yafuna ukululandela.”—“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi) ka-May 1, 1915.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 215]

Imibuzo Ye-V.D.M.

Izinhlamvu ezithi V.D.M. zimelele amagama esiLatini athi “Verbi Dei Minister,” noma iSikhonzi SeZwi Laphezulu.

Ngo-1916 iNhlangano yalungiselela uhlu lwemibuzo esekelwe ezindabeni ezingokomBhalo. Labo ababezomelela iNhlangano njengezikhulumi babecelwa ukuba baphendule ngamunye walemibuzo ngokubhala phansi. Lokhu kwakwenza iNhlangano yazi imicabango, imizwa, nokuqonda kwalabazalwane ngokuqondene namaqiniso eBhayibheli ayisisekelo. Izimpendulo ezibhalwe phansi zazihlolisiswa ibhodi ehlolayo esemahhovisi eNhlangano. Labo ababebhekwa njengezikhulumi ezifanelekayo kwakumelwe bathole amamaki enza amaphesenti angu-85 noma ngaphezulu.

Kamuva, abaningi babadala, namadiyakoni, kanye nabaFundi BeBhayibheli bacela ukuba babe naloluhlu lwemibuzo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwathiwa kwakuyoba nenzuzo ukuba amakilasi akhethe kuphela abantu ababekufanelekela ukuba ama-V.D.M. ababezoba abameleli bawo.

Lapho iNhlangano inikeza iziqu zokuba iSikhonzi SeZwi Laphezulu, lokhu kwakungasho neze ukuthi umuntu wayegcotshwa. Kwakumane kusho ukuthi ibhodi ehlolayo esemahhovisi eNhlangano iye yabukeza intuthuko yomuntu ephathelene nezimfundiso, futhi kwathi ngezinga elithile yahlola nedumela lakhe, futhi yaphetha ngokuthi uyakufanelekela ukubizwa ngokuthi iSikhonzi SeZwi Laphezulu.

Imibuzo ye-V.D.M. yayithi:

(1) Yisiphi isenzo sokuqala sikaNkulunkulu sokudala?

(2) Lisho ukuthini igama elithi “Logos,” uma lihlobaniswa neNdodana kaNkulunkulu? futhi yini eboniswa amagama athi uYise nelithi iNdodana?

(3) Sangena nini futhi kanjani isono ezweni?

(4) Siyini isijeziso saPhezulu sesono esitholwa izoni? futhi zingobani izoni?

(5) Kungani kwadingeka ukuba u“Logos” enziwe inyama? futhi ingabe “waphindukuzalwa”?

(6) Wayeluhlobo luni loMuntu uKristu Jesu kusukela ebuntwaneni kuya ekufeni?

(7) Ukusiphi isimo uJesu kusukela avuswa; futhi buyini ubuhlobo baKhe obungokomthetho noJehova?

(8) Uyini umsebenzi kaJesu phakathi naleNkathi yeVangeli—kusukela ngePentekoste kuze kube manje?

(9) UJehova uNkulunkulu uye walenzelani izwe lesintu kuze kube manje? futhi yini eye yenziwa uJesu?

(10) Iyini injongo yaPhezulu ngokuqondene neBandla uma seliphelelisiwe?

(11) Iyini injongo yaPhezulu ngokuqondene nezwe lesintu?

(12) Siyoba yini isiphetho samahlongandlebe?

(13) Yimuphi umvuzo noma izibusiso eziyotholwa izwe lesintu ngokuzithoba eMbusweni wobuMesiya?

(14) Kungaziphi izinyathelo isoni singaba nobuhlobo obubalulekile noKristu kanye noBaba waseZulwini?

(15) Ngemva kokuba umKristu esezelwe ngoMoya oNgcwele, iba yini inkambo yakhe, njengoba iboniswe eZwini likaNkulunkulu?

(16) Ingabe usuphendukile esonweni ukuze ukhonze uNkulunkulu ophilayo?

(17) Ingabe ukunikezele ngokuphelele ukuphila kwakho nawo wonke amandla akho namakhono akho eNkosini nasenkonzweni yaYo?

(18) Ingabe usukubonakalisile lokhu kuzinikezela ngokucwiliswa emanzini?

(19) Ingabe ususenzile isiFungo se-I. B. S. A. [International Bible Students Association] sobungcwele bokuphila?

(20) Ingabe usuyifunde yonke ngokucophelela imiqulu ethi STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES?

(21) Ingabe uthole ukukhanyiselwa okukhulu nenzuzo kuyo?

(22) Ingabe uyakholelwa ukuthi unolwazi olugcwele noluhlala njalo lweBhayibheli oluyokwenza uphumelele ngokwengeziwe njengenceku yeNkosi ekuphileni osazokuphila?

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 216, 217]

Izakhiwo Ezazisetshenziswa Kudala EBrooklyn

IKhaya LaseBethel

122-124 Columbia Heights

Igumbi lokudlela eKhaya LaseBethel

ITabernacle

Amahhovisi, indawo yokugcina izincwadi, umnyango wokuthumela omagazini, imishini yokuhlela amagama ngemigqa, nehholo okungahlala kulo abangu-800 kwakulapha, ku-17 Hicks Street (kwasetshenziswa kusukela ngo-1909 kuya ku-1918)

Ihholo

Amafektri Akudala

Amalungu omkhaya waseBethel ayesebenza efektri eyayikuMyrtle Avenue ngo-1920 (ngakwesokudla)

35 Myrtle Avenue (1920-22)

18 Concord Street (1922-27)

117 Adams Street (1927- )

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 224, 225]

Ababonisi Abajikelezayo Abambalwa Kwabayizinkulungwane Abaye Bakhonza

ECanada, 1905-33

ENgilandi, 1920-32

EFinland, 1921-26, 1947-70

E-United States, 1907-15

Ukuhambela amabandla—

EGreenland

EVenezuela

ELesotho

EMexico

EPeru

ESierra Leone

Izindawo zokuhlala ezihambayo eNamibia

Ukuhlanganyela noFakazi bendawo enkonzweni yasensimini eJapane

Ukuhlangana nabadala bebandla eJalimane

Ukunikeza amaphayona iseluleko esiwusizo eHawaii

Ukufundisa ibandla eFrance

[Isithombe/Ibhokisi esisekhasini 229]

IziNhlangano Ezingokomthetho Zokuqala

I-Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. Yasungulwa okokuqala ngo-1881 yase imiswa ngokomthetho ezweni lasePennsylvania ngo-December 15, 1884. Ngo-1896 yashintshwa igama kwathiwa i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Kusukela ngo-1955 iye yaziwa ngokuthi i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

I-Peoples Pulpit Association. Yasungulwa ngo-1909 ngokuqondene nokuthuthela kweNhlangano amahhovisi ayo amakhulu eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ngo-1939 yashintshwa igama kwathiwa i-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. Kusukela ngo-1956 iye yaziwa ngokuthi i-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

I-International Bible Students Association. Yamiswa eLondon, eNgilandi, ngo-June 30, 1914.

Ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezimfuneko ezingokomthetho, ezinye izinhlangano ziye zasungulwa oFakazi BakaJehova emiphakathini nasemazweni amaningi. Nokho, oFakazi BakaJehova abahlukanisiwe neze baba izinhlangano zezizwe noma zezifunda. Bawubuzalwane obunobunye bembulunga yonke.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 234]

‘Njengomphakathi WamaKristu Wokuqala’

Incwadi yenkolo ethi “Interpretation” ngo-July 1956 yathi: “Enhlanganweni yabo nasemsebenzini wokufakaza, [oFakazi BakaJehova] basondela kakhulu, ukwedlula noma yiliphi elinye iqembu, emphakathini wamaKristu wokuqala. . . . Ambalwa amanye amaqembu ayisebenzisa kakhulu imiBhalo ezigijimini zawo, ezishiwo ngomlomo nezilotshwayo, njengoba bona benza.”

[Isithombe ekhasini 210]

Ukuze umsebenzi uqondiswe ngokuseduze ngokwengeziwe, kwamiswa amahhovisi egatsha. Elokuqala laliseLondon, eNgilandi, kulesisakhiwo

[Isithombe ekhasini 221]

UJ. F. Rutherford ngo-1941. OFakazi babazi ukuthi wayengeyena umholi wabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 226]

UJohn Booth, owaba umbonisi ojikelezayo e-U.S.A. kusukela ngo-1936 kuya ku-1941

[Isithombe ekhasini 227]

UCarey Barber, osigodi ayesikhonza sasihlanganisa ingxenye enkulu ye-United States

[Isithombe ekhasini 228]

UMfoweth’ uKnorr wayelihambela njalo igatsha ngalinye kanye nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli

[Isithombe ekhasini 230]

Ababonisi abavelele emagatsheni eNhlangano baye bahlanganiselwa ukuqeqeshwa okukhethekile (eNew York, 1958)

[Izithombe ekhasini 231]

ISikole Senkonzo SoMbuso siye sanikeza imfundo ewusizo kubabonisi embulungeni yonke

ISikole Senkonzo SoMbuso ekamu lababaleki eThailand, ngo-1978; ePhilippines, ngo-1966 (phezulu kwesobunxele)

[Isithombe ekhasini 232]

Iziyalezo zokuhlela ziye zakhishwa ngokuqhubekayo (ngesiNgisi kuqala, bese kuba ngezinye izilimi) ukuze kuqondiswe umsebenzi woFakazi futhi kwaziswe bonke ngamalungiselelo enziwe okubasiza enkonzweni