Ingabe Uyothembeka Njengo-Eliya?
“Ngiyakuthuma kini uEliya umprofethi, lungakafiki usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo.”—MALAKI 4:5.
1. Iyiphi inhlekelele eyenzekayo ngemva kokuba u-Israyeli esehlale iminyaka engaba ngu-500 eZweni Lesithembiso?
“IZWE elichichima ubisi nezinyosi.” (Eksodusi 3:7, 8) Yilokho uJehova uNkulunkulu akunika ama-Israyeli ngemva kokuwakhulula ebugqilini baseGibithe ekhulwini le-16 B.C.E. Kodwa bheka! Sekudlule iminyaka engamakhulu amahlanu, futhi manje umbuso wakwa-Israyeli wezizwe eziyishumi uhlaselwe yindlala enzima. Kunzima ukuthola utshani obuluhlaza. Izilwane ziyafa, futhi sekuyiminyaka emithathu nengxenye lomisile. (1 AmaKhosi 18:5; Luka 4:25) Yini ebangela lolu sizi?
2. Iyini imbangela yalesi simo esibucayi esihlasela sonke isizwe sakwa-Israyeli?
2 Imbangela yalenhlekelele ukuhlubuka. Yephula uMthetho kaNkulunkulu, iNkosi u-Ahabi ishade nenkosazana yaseKhanani uJezebeli futhi yayivumela ukuba ingenise ukukhulekelwa kukaBali kwa-Israyeli. Okubi nakakhulu, u-Ahabi wakhele lonkulunkulu wamanga ithempeli eSamariya, inhloko-dolobha. Phela, ama-Israyeli aseyengelwe ekukholelweni ukuthi ukukhulekela uBali kuzowenza avunywe yizilimo! Nokho, njengoba uJehova eye waxwayisa, manje asengozini ‘yokuphela ezweni lawo elihle.’—Duteronomi 7:3, 4; 11:16, 17; 1 AmaKhosi 16:30-33.
Isivivinyo SobuNkulunkulu Esimangalisayo
3. Umprofethi u-Eliya ukudonsela kanjani ukunaka enkingeni yangempela ka-Israyeli?
3 Lapho lendlala iqala, umprofethi othembekile kaNkulunkulu u-Eliya utshela iNkosi u-Ahabi: “Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli engimi phambi kwakhe, akuyikubakho-mazolo namvula kuleminyaka, kuphela ngesiyalezo sezwi lami.” (1 AmaKhosi 17:1) Ngemva kokubhekana nokufezeka okwesabekayo kwalamazwi, inkosi isola u-Eliya, ithi ulethe ukuhlupheka ku-Israyeli. Kodwa u-Eliya uphendula ngokuthi kufanele kusolwe u-Ahabi nendlu yakhe ngenxa yokuhlubuka kwabo, njengabakhulekeli bakaBali. Ukuze kuxazululeke lempikiswano, umprofethi kaJehova unxusa iNkosi u-Ahabi ukuba iqoqele wonke u-Israyeli eNtabeni yaseKarmeli kanye nabaprofethi bakaBali abangu-450 nabesibonda esingcwele (u-Ashera) abangu-400. U-Ahabi nezikhonzi zakhe babuthanela lapho, mhlawumbe benethemba lokuthi lesi senzakalo sizoqeda isomiso. Kodwa u-Eliya udonsela ukunaka endabeni ebaluleke kakhulu. “Koze kube-nini,” ebuza, “nimanqikanqika phakathi kwezinhlangothi ezimbili na? Uma uJehova enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni yena, kepha uma kunguBali, mlandeleni yena.” Ama-Israyeli ayaswela ukuthi azothini.—1 AmaKhosi 18:18-21.
4. Ukuze kuxazululeke impikiswano yobuNkulunkulu, yini u-Eliya ayiphonsayo?
4 Sekuyiminyaka ama-Israyeli ezama ukuxuba ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova nokukaBali. Ukuze kuxazululwe impikiswano yobuNkulunkulu, manje u-Eliya uphonsa inselele. Uzolungisa inkunzi yomhlatshelo, nabaprofethi bakaBali balungise enye. U-Eliya ube esethi: “Libizeni igama likankulunkulu wenu, mina ngibize igama likaJehova; besekuthi uNkulunkulu ophendula ngomlilo abe-nguye onguNkulunkulu.” (1 AmaKhosi 18:23, 24) Cabanga ngomlilo wehla ezulwini uphendula umthandazo!
5. Budaluleka kanjani ubuze bokukhulekelwa kukaBali?
5 U-Eliya ucela abaprofethi bakaBali ukuba baqale. Balungisa inkunzi yomhlatshelo futhi bayibeke phezu kwe-altare. Babe sebezungeza i-altare begxumagxuma, bethandaza: “Bali, siphenduleni.” Lokhu kuqhubeka kusukela ‘ekuseni kuze kube semini.’ “Memezani ngezwi elikhulu,” kusho u-Eliya ebagcona. Kumelwe ukuba uBali usasingatha udaba oluphuthumayo, noma ‘mhlawumbe ulele udinga ukuvuswa.’ Ngokushesha abaprofethi bakaBali bavukwa amadlingozi. Bheka! Bazihhebhula ngemimese, futhi amanxeba abo agxaza igazi. Futhi yeka umsindo oba khona njengoba bonke laba abangu-450 behewula ngamazwi abo wonke! Kodwa akukho mpendulo.—1 AmaKhosi 18:26-29.
6. U-Eliya wenza maphi amalungiselelo esivivinyo sobuNkulunkulu?
6 Manje sekuyithuba lika-Eliya. Wakha i-altare likaJehova kabusha, ambe umsele olizungezayo, abese elungisa umhlatshelo. Ube esethi makuthelwe amanzi phezu kwezinkuni nomhlatshelo. Kuthelwa izimbiza zamanzi eziyishumi nambili ezinkulu phezu kwe-altare kuze kugcwale nomsele uqobo. Cabanga ngokushuba kwesimo lapho u-Eliya ethandaza: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Abrahama nokaIsaka nokaIsrayeli, makwazeke namuhla ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu kwaIsrayeli, nokuthi mina ngiyinceku yakho, nokuthi ngenzile konke lokhu ngezwi lakho. Ngiphendule, Jehova, ngiphendule ukuba lababantu bazi ukuthi wena-Jehova unguNkulunkulu nokuthi uphendukisela kuwe izinhliziyo.”—1 AmaKhosi 18:30-37.
7, 8. (a) UJehova uwuphendula kanjani umthandazo ka-Eliya? (b) Zifezani izenzakalo zaseNtabeni iKarmeli?
7 Ekuphendulweni komthandazo ka-Eliya, ‘kwehla umlilo kaJehova, uqede umnikelo wokushiswa, nezinkuni, namatshe, nothuli, ukhothe namanzi asemseleni.’ Abantu bawa ngobuso bathi: “UJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu.” (1 AmaKhosi 18:38, 39) Manje u-Eliya uthatha isinyathelo esiwujuqu. Uyayala: “Bambani abaprofethi bakaBali, kungabaleki noyedwa kubo.” Ngemva kokuba bebulawelwe esigodini saseKishoni, amafu amnyama asibekela isibhakabhaka. Ekugcineni, imvula enkulu iqeda isomiso!—1 AmaKhosi 18:40-45; qhathanisa noDuteronomi 13:1-5.
8 Yeka usuku olukhulu! UJehova uyanqoba kulesi sivivinyo esiphawulekayo sobuNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lezi zenzakalo ziguqula izinhliziyo zama-Israyeli zibuyele kuNkulunkulu. Ngalendlela nangezinye, u-Eliya uzibonakalisa ethembekile njengomprofethi, futhi yena siqu ufeza indima engokwesiprofetho.
Ingabe “U-Eliya Umprofethi” Useza?
9. Yini eyaprofethwa kuMalaki 4:5, 6?
9 Kamuva, ngoMalaki, uNkulunkulu wabikezela: “Bhekani, ngiyakuthuma kini uEliya umprofethi, lungakafiki usuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo. Uyakuphendulela izinhliziyo zawoyise kubantwana nezinhliziyo zabantwana koyise, funa ngifike, ngishaye izwe ngesiqalekiso.” (Malaki 4:5, 6) U-Eliya waphila eminyakeni engaba ngu-500 ngaphambi kokuba kushiwo lawo mazwi. Njengoba lesi kwakuyisiprofetho, amaJuda ekhulu lokuqala C.E. ayelindele ukuza kuka-Eliya ukuze sigcwaliseke.—Mathewu 17:10.
10. Kwakungubani u-Eliya owayebikezelwe, futhi sazi kanjani?
10 Wayengubani-ke lo-Eliya owayeza? Ukuthi wayengubani kwambuleka lapho uJesu Kristu ethi: “Kusukela ezinsukwini zikaJohane uMbhapathizi kuze kube manje umbuso wamazulu uwumgomo abantu abaphikelele kuwo, futhi labo abaphikelela phambili bayawuqhwaga. Ngoba konke, abaProfethi noMthetho, kwaprofetha kwaze kwafika uJohane; futhi uma nifuna ukukwamukela, Yena ngokwakhe unguye ‘u-Eliya omiselwe ukuza.’” Yebo, uJohane uMbhapathizi wayengumfuziselo ka-Eliya owawubikezelwe. (Mathewu 11:12-14; Marku 9:11-13) Ingelosi yayitshele uyise kaJohane, uZakariya, ukuthi uJohane wayeyokuba ‘nomoya namandla ka-Eliya’ futhi ‘wayeyolungisela uJehova isizwe esilungisiwe.’ (Luka 1:17) Ubhapathizo olwalwenziwa nguJohane lwaluwuphawu lwasobala lokuphenduka komuntu ezonweni zakhe zokuphula uMthetho, okwakufanele uholele amaJuda kuKristu. (Luka 3:3-6; Galathiya 3:24) Ngaleyo ndlela umsebenzi kaJohane ‘walungiselela uJehova isizwe esilungisiwe.’
11. NgePhentekoste, wathini uPetru ‘ngosuku lukaJehova,’ futhi lwafika nini?
11 Umsebenzi kaJohane uMbhapathizi ‘njengo-Eliya’ wabonisa ukuthi “usuku lukaJehova” lwaluseduze. Ukuba seduze kwalolo lusuku lapho uNkulunkulu ayezothathela izitha zakhe isinyathelo futhi alondoloze abantu bakhe kwaboniswa nangumphostoli uPetru. Waphawula ukuthi izenzakalo eziyisimangaliso ezenzeka ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. zaziwukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJoweli mayelana nokuthululwa komoya kaNkulunkulu. UPetru wabonisa ukuthi lokhu kwakumelwe kwenzeke ngaphambi “kokuba usuku lukaJehova olukhulu noluqhamile lufike.” (IzEnzo 2:16-21; Joweli 2:28-32) Kwakungo-70 C.E. lapho uJehova egcwalisa iZwi lakhe ngokubangela ukuba amabutho amaRoma akhiphe isahlulelo saphezulu esizweni esenqaba iNdodana yakhe.—Daniyeli 9:24-27; Johane 19:15.
12. (a) UPawulu noPetru bathini ‘ngosuku lukaJehova’ oluzayo? (b) Kungani okuthile okwakumelelwa umsebenzi ka-Eliya kwakuzokwenzeka nakanjani?
12 Nokho, kwakuseza okwengeziwe ngemva kuka-70 C.E. Umphostoli uPawulu wahlobanisa “usuku lukaJehova” oluzayo nokuba khona kukaJesu Kristu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umphostoli uPetru wakhuluma ngalolo lusuku waluhlanganisa ‘namazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha’ okusengokwesikhathi esizayo. (2 Thesalonika 2:1, 2; 2 Petru 3:10-13) Khumbula ukuthi uJohane uMbhapathizi wenza umsebenzi onjengoka-Eliya ngaphambi kokuba “usuku lukaJehova” lufike ngo-70 C.E. Kukonke lokhu kwabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi kwakusazokwenzeka okuthile okwengeziwe okumelelwa umsebenzi owawenziwe ngu-Eliya. Kuyini lokho?
Banomoya Ka-Eliya
13, 14. (a) Kunakuphi ukufana phakathi kwemisebenzi ka-Eliya neyamaKristu agcotshiwe osuku lwanamuhla? (b) Ziye zenzani izihlubuki zeLobukholwa?
13 Umsebenzi ka-Eliya awugcinanga nje ngokuba nomfuziselo emisebenzini kaJohane uMbhapathizi kodwa waba nawo nasemisebenzini yamaKristu agcotshiwe kulenkathi ebucayi eholela ‘osukwini lukaJehova’ oluzayo. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Njengoba enomoya namandla ka-Eliya, angabasekeli abaqotho bokukhulekela kweqiniso. Futhi yeka indlela okuye kwadingeka ngayo lokhu! Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaKristu, kwaba khona ukuhlubuka ebuKristwini beqiniso, njengoba nje ukukhulekelwa kukaBali kwachuma kwa-Israyeli osukwini luka-Eliya. (2 Petru 2:1) Ababethi bangamaKristu baqala ukuxubanisa ubuKristu nezimfundiso nemikhuba yenkolo engamanga. Ngokwesibonelo, bamukela imfundiso yobuqaba nengasekelwe emiBhalweni yokuthi umuntu unomphefumulo ongafi. (UmShumayeli 9:5, 10; Hezekeli 18:4) Izihlubuki zeLobukholwa ziye zayeka ukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu oyedwa weqiniso, uJehova. Kunalokho, zikhulekela uZiqu-zintathu. Ziye zamukela nomkhuba ofana nokaBali wokukhothamela izithombe zikaJesu nonina, uMariya. (Roma 1:23; 1 Johane 5:21) Kodwa akugcinanga lapho.
14 Kusukela ekhulwini le-19 kuqhubeke, abaholi bamasonto eLobukholwa baqala ukuzwakalisa ukungabaza ngezingxenye eziningi zeBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, benqaba umlando wendalo kaGenesise futhi batusa inkolelo-mbono yokuziphendukela kwemvelo, bethi “isekelwe kuyisayensi.” Lokhu kwangqubuzana ngokuqondile nezimfundiso zikaJesu Kristu nabaphostoli bakhe. (Mathewu 19:4, 5; 1 Korinte 15:47) Nokho, njengoJesu nabalandeli bakhe bokuqala, amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya namuhla asekela umlando weBhayibheli wendalo.—Genesise 1:27.
15, 16. Ngokungafani neLobukholwa, obani abaye bajabulela ukondliwa njalo ngokudla okungokomoya, futhi ngayiphi indlela?
15 Njengoba izwe lalingena “esikhathini sokugcina,” indlala engokomoya yagunya kweLobukholwa. (Daniyeli 12:4; Amose 8:11, 12) Kodwa iqembu elincane lamaKristu agcotshiwe lajabulela ukondliwa okuqhubekayo ngokudla okungokomoya okuvela kuNkulunkulu “ngesikhathi esifanele,” njengoba nje uJehova aqikelela ukuthi u-Eliya uyondliwa phakathi nendlala yosuku lwakhe. (Mathewu 24:45; 1 AmaKhosi 17:6, 13-16) Lezi zinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile, ezake zaziwa ngelithi International Bible Students, kamuva zamukela igama elingokomBhalo elithi oFakazi BakaJehova.—Isaya 43:10.
16 U-Eliya waphila ngokuvumelana negama lakhe, elisho ukuthi “UNkulunkulu Wami NguJehova.” Umagazini ongokomthetho wezinceku zikaJehova zasemhlabeni, INqabayokulinda, uye walisebenzisa ngokungaguquguquki igama likaNkulunkulu. Eqinisweni, umagazini wesibili (ka-August 1879) wazwakalisa ukuqiniseka ngokuthi lomagazini wawusekelwa nguJehova. Lomagazini nezinye izincwadi ze-Watch Tower Society udalula izimfundiso ezingasekelwe emiBhalweni zeLobukholwa nalo lonke iBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, kuyilapho usekela ukuba yiqiniso kweZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli.—2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17; IsAmbulo 18:1-5.
Ukwethembeka Ngaphansi Kovivinyo
17, 18. UJezebeli wasabela kanjani ekubulaweni kwabaprofethi bakaBali, kodwa u-Eliya wasizwa kanjani?
17 Ukusabela kwabefundisi ekudalulweni kwafana nokukaJezebeli lapho ezwa ukuthi u-Eliya ubulele abaprofethi bakaBali. Wathumelela umprofethi kaJehova othembekile isigijimi, egomela ukuthi uzombulala. Lokhu kwakungekhona ukusongela okuyize, ngoba kakade uJezebeli wayesebulele abaprofethi abaningi bakaNkulunkulu. Esaba, u-Eliya wabalekela eningizimu-ntshonalanga waya eBeri-Sheba. Eshiya isikhonzi sakhe lapho, waqhubekela phambili ehlane, ethandazela ukufa. Kodwa uJehova wayengamshiyile umprofethi wakhe. Kwabonakala ingelosi ku-Eliya izomlungiselela uhambo olude lokuya eNtabeni yaseHorebe. Kanjalo wathola ukudla kohambo lwezinsuku ezingu-40 olungamakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-300. EHorebe, uNkulunkulu wakhuluma naye ngemva kokubonakaliswa okwesabekayo kwamandla ngesivunguvungu, ukuzamazama komhlaba nomlilo. UJehova wayengekho kulokhu kubonakaliswa kwamandla. Kwakuyimisebenzi yomoya wakhe ongcwele, noma amandla asebenzayo. UJehova wabe esekhuluma nomprofethi wakhe. Cabanga indlela lesi senzakalo esamqinisa ngayo u-Eliya. (1 AmaKhosi 19:1-12) Kuthiwani uma, njengo-Eliya, sesaba lapho sisongelwa yizitha zokukhulekela kweqiniso? Okwenzeka kuye kufanele kusisize siqaphele ukuthi uJehova akabashiyi abantu bakhe.—1 Samuweli 12:22.
18 UNkulunkulu wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi u-Eliya wayesahlalelwe umsebenzi njengomprofethi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, nakuba u-Eliya ayecabanga ukuthi wayewukuphela komkhulekeli kaNkulunkulu weqiniso kwa-Israyeli, uJehova wambonisa ukuthi abangu-7 000 babengamkhothamelanga uBali. UNkulunkulu wabe esethumela u-Eliya emuva esabelweni sakhe. (1 AmaKhosi 19:13-18) Njengo-Eliya, singase sixoshwe yizitha zokukhulekela kweqiniso. Singase sibe yizisulu zokushushiswa kanzima, njengoba uJesu abikezela. (Johane 15:17-20) Ngezinye izikhathi, singase sesabe. Nokho, singaba njengo-Eliya, owathola iziqinisekiso zaphezulu wabe esekhuthazela ngokwethembeka enkonzweni kaJehova.
19. AmaKristu agcotshiwe abhekana nani phakathi nenkathi yeMpi Yezwe I?
19 Ngenxa yokushushiswa kanzima phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe anqotshwa ukwesaba, ayeka ukushumayela. Enza iphutha ngokucabanga ukuthi umsebenzi wawo emhlabeni wawusuphelile. Kodwa uNkulunkulu akawalahlanga. Kunalokho, wawasekela ngesihe, njengoba nje ondla u-Eliya ngokudla. Njengo-Eliya, abagcotshiwe abathembekile bamukela ukulungiswa kwaphezulu futhi basimama esimweni sokungasebenzi. Amehlo abo avuleka ukuze babone ilungelo elimangalisayo lokushumayela isigijimi soMbuso.
20. Namuhla, yiliphi ilungelo elinikezwa labo abathembekile njengo-Eliya?
20 Esiprofethweni sakhe mayelana nokuba khona kwakhe, uJesu waphawula umsebenzi ohlanganisa imbulunga yonke owawuyofezwa ngaphambi kokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto esibi. (Mathewu 24:14) Namuhla, lomsebenzi wenziwa amaKristu agcotshiwe nezigidi zabangane bawo ababheke phambili ekuphileni emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Ukwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso uze uphothulwe kuyilungelo elinikezwa kuphela labo abathembekile njengo-Eliya.
Thembeka Njengo-Eliya
21, 22. (a) Yimuphi umsebenzi amaKristu agcotshiwe ahola kuwo namuhla? (b) Umsebenzi wokushumayela ufezwa ngaluphi usizo, futhi kungani ludingeka?
21 Ngentshiseko enjengeka-Eliya, insali encane yamaKristu agcotshiwe angempela iye yathwala umthwalo wayo wokunakekela izithakazelo zasemhlabeni zeNkosi emisiwe, uJesu Kristu. (Mathewu 24:47) Futhi sekuyiminyaka engaphezu kuka-60 manje uNkulunkulu esebenzisa laba abagcotshiwe ukuze bahole emsebenzini wokwenza abantu abafundi, abantu uNkulunkulu abanikezé ithemba elimangalisayo lokuphila okungunaphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Yeka indlela lezi zigidi ezibonga ngayo ngokuthi abagcotshiwe abambalwa abasele, uma kuqhathaniswa, bayinakekela ngentshiseko nangokwethembeka imithwalo yabo!
22 Lomsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso uye wafezwa abantu abangaphelele, bewenza kuphela ngamandla uJehova awanikeza labo abathembela kuye ngomthandazo. “U-Eliya wayengumuntu onemizwa efana neyethu,” kusho umfundi uJakobe lapho ebhekisela esibonelweni salomprofethi sokuthandaza ukuze abonise amandla omthandazo womuntu olungileyo. (Jakobe 5:16-18) U-Eliya wayengaprofethi noma enze izimangaliso njalo nje. Wayenemizwa nobuthakathaka bobuntu obufanayo nalobo esinabo, kodwa wakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka. Njengoba nathi sinosizo lukaNkulunkulu futhi esiqinisa, singathembeka njengo-Eliya.
23. Kungani sinesizathu esihle sokwethembeka nokuba nombono wekusasa eliqhakazile?
23 Sinesizathu esihle sokwethembeka nokuba nombono wekusasa eliqhakazile. Khumbula ukuthi uJohane uMbhapathizi wenza umsebenzi ofana noka-Eliya ngaphambi kokuba “usuku lukaJehova” lugadle ngo-70 C.E. Njengoba enomoya namandla ka-Eliya, amaKristu agcotshiwe aye enza umsebenzi ofanayo awunikwe nguNkulunkulu kuwo wonke umhlaba. Lokhu kukufakazela ngokucacile ukuthi “usuku lukaJehova” olukhulu luseduze.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ UbuNkulunkulu bukaJehova bafakazelwa kanjani eNtabeni iKarmeli?
◻ Wayengubani ‘u-Eliya ozayo,’ futhi yini ayenza?
◻ AmaKristu agcotshiwe osuku lwanamuhla aye abonisa kanjani ukuthi anomoya ka-Eliya?
◻ Kungani kungenzeka ukuba sithembeke njengo-Eliya?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 15]
Yimaphi Amazulu U-eliya Akhuphukela Kuwo?
“KWATHI [u-Eliya no-Elisha] beselokhu behamba bekhuluma, bheka, nanso inqola yomlilo namahashi omlilo, kwabahlukanisa bobabili; uEliya wakhuphukela ezulwini ngesivunguvungu.”—2 AmaKhosi 2:11.
Lisho ukuthini igama elithi “amazulu” kulendaba? Ngezinye izikhathi leli gama libhekisela endaweni yokuhlala engokomoya kaNkulunkulu namadodana akhe ayizingelosi. (Mathewu 6:9; 18:10) “Amazulu” angase futhi asho indawo yonke engokoqobo. (Duteronomi 4:19) Futhi iBhayibheli lisebenzisa leli gama lapho libhekisela emkhathini oseduze womhlaba, lapho kundiza khona izinyoni kuvunguze nomoya.—IHubo 78:26; Mathewu 6:26.
Yimaphi amazulu umprofethi u-Eliya akhuphukela kuwo kulawa? Ngokusobala, wadatshuliswa emkhathini futhi wathuthelwa kwenye ingxenye yembulunga. U-Eliya wayesesemhlabeni eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, ngoba wabhalela inkosi yakwaJuda uJehoramu incwadi. (2 IziKronike 21:1, 12-15) Ukuthi u-Eliya akazange akhuphukele endaweni yokuhlala engokomoya kaJehova uNkulunkulu kwaqinisekiswa kamuva nguJesu Kristu, owathi: “Akekho umuntu oye wanyukela ezulwini ngaphandle kwalowo owehla evela ezulwini, iNdodana yomuntu,” okunguJesu uqobo lwakhe. (Johane 3:13) Indlela eya ekuphileni kwasezulwini yavulelwa abantu abangaphelele ngokokuqala ngemva kokufa, ukuvuswa, nokukhuphukela kukaJesu Kristu ezulwini.—Johane 14:2, 3; Heberu 9:24; 10:19, 20.