Ukubaneka Kokukhanya—Okukhulu Nokuncane (Ingxenye 1)
“Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube-semini.”—IZAGA 4:18.
1. Kungani iqiniso liye lembulwa kancane kancane?
NGOKUVUMELANA nezAga 4:18, ukuthi ukwembulwa kwamaqiniso angokomoya kuye kwenzeka kancane kancane ngokubaneka kokukhanya kuwubufakazi bokuhlakanipha kwaphezulu. Esihlokweni esandulele, sibone indlela lombhalo owagcwaliseka ngayo ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Ukube lonke iqiniso elingokomBhalo lalembulwe ngesikhathi esisodwa, laliyoba ngeliphandlayo nelididayo—ngendlela ecishe ifane nokuphuma emphandwini omnyama uze ekukhanyeni kwelanga okukhazimulayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, iqiniso elembulwe kancane kancane liqinisa ukholo lwamaKristu ngendlela eqhubekayo. Lenza ithemba lawo liqhubeke likhanya nendlela okumelwe ahambe kuyo iqhubeke icaca.
“Isigqila Esikholekile Nesiqondayo”
2. Ubani uJesu abonisa ukuthi wayeyomsebenzisa ukuze alethe ukukhanya okungokomoya kubalandeli bakhe, futhi obani abakha lelonxusa?
2 Ezikhathini zabaphostoli uJesu Kristu wakubona kufanelekile ukusebenzisa izindlela zamandla angaphezu kwavamile ukuze anikeze abalandeli bakhe ukubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala. Sinezibonelo ezimbili zalokhu: IPentekoste lika-33 C.E. nokuguquka kukaKorneliyu ngo-36 C.E. Ngokulandelayo, uKristu uye wakubona kufanelekile ukusebenzisa inxusa elingumuntu, njengoba nje abikezela: “Ubani ngempela oyisigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo esimiswe inkosi yaso phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze sibanikeze ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele? Siyajabula lesosigqila uma inkosi yaso lapho ifika isithola senza kanjalo! Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, Iyosimisa phezu kwakho konke okungokwayo.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Lesisigqila sasingenakuba umuntu oyedwa nje kuphela ngoba sasizolungiselela ukudla okungokomoya kusukela ibandla lobuKristu laqala ngePentekoste kuze kube yilapho iNkosi, uJesu Kristu, ifika izolungisa izindaba. Amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi lesisigaba sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo sakhiwa yiwo wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe njengeqembu emhlabeni nganoma isiphi isikhathi.
3. Obani ababehlanganisiwe phakathi kwamalungu okuqala esigaba sesigqila?
3 Obani ababehlanganiswe phakathi kwamalungu okuqala esigaba sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo? Omunye kwakungumphostoli uPetru, owalalela umyalo kaJesu othi: “Yondla izimvana zami.” (Johane 21:17) Amanye amalungu okuqala esigaba sesigqila ayehlanganisa uMathewu, owabhala iVangeli elibizwa ngegama lakhe, noPawulu, noJakobe, noJuda, owaloba izincwadi eziphefumulelwe. Umphostoli uJohane, owaloba incwadi yesAmbulo, iVangeli lakhe, nezincwadi zakhe, naye wayeyilungu lesigaba sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo. Lamadoda abhala ngokuvumelana nokuthunywa uJesu.
4. Bangobani “abendlu”?
4 Uma bonke abagcotshiwe njengeqembu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bahlala kuphi emhlabeni, bengamalungu esigaba sesigqila, bangobani “abendlu”? Baseyibo kanye abagcotshiwe kodwa uma bebhekwa ngombono ohlukile—njengabantu ngabanye. Yebo, njengabantu ngabanye baba ‘abesigqila’ noma babe “abendlu,” kuye ngokuthi baba ukudla okungokomoya yini noma bahlanganyela ekukudleni. Ngokwesibonelo: Njengoba kulotshwe kweyesi-2 Petru 3:15, 16, umphostoli uPetru ubhekisela ezincwadini zikaPawulu. Lapho ezifunda, uPetru wayeyoba njengomunye wabendlu abazondla ngokudla okungokomoya okulungiselelwe uPawulu njengommeleli wesigaba sesigqila.
5. (a) Yini eyenzeka esigqileni phakathi namakhulu eminyaka ngemva kwabaphostoli? (b) Iziphi izenzakalo ezenzeka engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19?
5 Ngokuphathelene nalokhu, incwadi ethi God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached yathi: “Ngokuphathelene nokuthi isigaba ‘sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo’ saba khona futhi sakhonza kanjani emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka alandela ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli beNkosi uJesu Kristu, asinawo umbhalo ocacile ongokomlando. Ngokusobala isizukulwane ngasinye sesigaba ‘sesigqila’ sasondla isizukulwane esilandelayo. (2 Thimothewu 2:2) Kodwa engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19 kwakunabantu abesaba uNkulunkulu ababekuthanda ukudla okungokomoya kweBhayibheli Elingcwele futhi ababenesifiso sokuzondla ngakho . . . Amakilasi okutadisha iBhayibheli . . . amiswa futhi athuthukela ekuqondeni amaqiniso ayisisekelo emiBhalo Engcwele. Abantu abaqotho abangenabugovu phakathi kwalababafundi beBhayibheli babekulangazelela ukuhlanganyela lezizingxenye ezibalulekile zokudla okungokomoya nabanye. Babenomoya wokukholeka ‘wesigqila’ esimiselwe ukunikeza ‘abendlu ukudla’ okungokomoya okudingekayo ‘ngesikhathi esifanele.’ ‘Babeqonda’ ekuboneni ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi esiqondile nesifanele nokuthi kwakuyiziphi izindlela ezingcono zokuphaka lokhukudla. Bazama ukukuphaka.”—Amakhasi 344-5.a
Ukubaneka Kokuqala Kokukhanya Ezikhathini Zanamuhla
6. Iliphi iqiniso elivelele ngokuphawulekayo ngokuphathelene nokwembulwa kancane kancane kweqiniso?
6 Elinye lamaqiniso avelele ngokuphawulekayo ngokuphathelene nalabo uJehova aye wabasebenzisa ukuze alethe lokhukwanda kokukhanya okungokomoya kancane kancane ukuthi abazange bazithathele udumo. Isimo sengqondo sikaC. T. Russell, umongameli wokuqala we-Watch Tower Society, sasiwukuthi iNkosi yayikujabulela ukusebenzisa iziphiwo zabo ezivamile. Ngokuphathelene namagama ajivazayo izitha zakhe ezazithambekele ekuwasebenziseni, uMfoweth’ uRussell wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi yena wayengakaze ahlangane ‘nomlandeli kaRussell’ nokuthi yayingekho into ‘ewubuRussell.’ Lonke udumo lwaluya kuNkulunkulu.
7. Ibuphi ubufakazi uMfoweth’ uRussell nezisebenzi ezazikanye naye ababunikeza bokuthi ngempela babehlangene nesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo?
7 Ngokubheka imiphumela, akungabazeki ukuthi umoya ongcwele kaJehova wawuqondisa imizamo kaMfoweth’ uRussell nalabo ababekanye naye. Banikeza ubufakazi bokuba abahlangene nesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo. Nakuba abefundisi abaningi bangalesosikhathi babezisholo ukuthi bakholelwa ekutheni iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe nokuthi uJesu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, bamukela izimfundiso zamanga zobuBabiloni, ezinjengoZiqu-zintathu, ukungafi komphefumulo womuntu, nokuhlushwa okungunaphakade. Ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sikaJesu, kwakubangelwa umoya ongcwele ngempela ukuba imizamo yokuzithoba kaMfoweth’ uRussell nababekanye naye yenze ukuba iqiniso likhanye ngendlela engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili. (Johane 16:13) LabobaFundi BeBhayibheli abagcotshiwe banikeza ubufakazi bokuthi ngempela babeyingxenye yesigaba sesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo, ukuthunywa kwaso okuwukulungiselela abendlu yeNkosi ukudla okungokomoya. Imizamo yabo yayiwusizo olukhulu ekuqoqweni kwabagcotshiwe.
8. Imaphi amaqiniso ayisisekelo ngokuphathelene noJehova, iBhayibheli, uJesu Kristu, nomoya ongcwele abaFundi BeBhayibheli abawaqonda ngokucacile?
8 Kuyamangalisa ukubona indlela uJehova, ngomoya ongcwele, asiza ngayo kakhulu lababaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala ngokubaneka kokukhanya. Okokuqala, bakufakazela ngokuqinile ukuthi uMdali ukhona nokuthi unegama eliyingqayizivele elithi Jehova. (IHubo 83:18; Roma 1:20) Baqonda ukuthi uJehova unezimfanelo ezine eziyinhloko—amandla, ubulungisa, ukuhlakanipha, nothando. (Genesise 17:1; Duteronomi 32:4, NW; Roma 11:33; 1 Johane 4:8) LamaKristu agcotshiwe akufakazela ngokucacile ukuthi iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe futhi liyiqiniso. (Johane 17:17; 2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) Ngaphezu kwalokho, aqonda ukuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, yadalwa nokuthi yanikela ukuphila kwayo kwaba isihlengo saso sonke isintu. (Mathewu 20:28; Kolose 1:15) Aqonda ukuthi umoya ongcwele ungamandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo futhi awuyena neze umuntu wesithathu kaZiqu-zintathu.—IzEnzo 2:17.
9. (a) Imaphi amaqiniso abaFundi BeBhayibheli abawaqonda ngokucacile ngokuphathelene nesimo somuntu esingokwemvelo namathemba aseBhayibhelini ezindawo amiselwe ukuphila kuzo? (b) Imaphi amanye amaqiniso izinceku zikaJehova ezawaqonda ngokucacile?
9 AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda ngokucacile ukuthi umuntu akanawo umphefumulo ongafi kodwa ungumphefumulo ofayo. Baqaphela ukuthi “inkokhelo isono esiyikhokhayo iwukufa,” hhayi ukuhlushwa okungunaphakade, njengoba ingekho indawo okuthiwa isihogo esivuthayo. (Roma 5:12; 6:23; Genesise 2:7; Hezekeli 18:4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, baqonda ngokucacile ukuthi inkolelo-mbono yokuziphendukela kwemvelo akukhona nje ukuthi ayiyona engokombhalo kodwa ayisekelwe ngokuphelele emaqinisweni. (Genesise, izahluko 1 no-2) Baqonda futhi ukuthi iBhayibheli linikeza amathemba ezindawo ezimbili abantu abamiselwe ukuphila kuzo—indawo yasezulwini yabalandeli bezinyathelo zikaKristu abagcotshiwe abangu-144 000 nomhlaba oyipharadesi ‘wesixuku esikhulu’ esingenakubalwa ‘sezinye izimvu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9; 14:1; Johane 10:16) LabobaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala baqaphela ukuthi umhlaba uhlala kuze kube phakade futhi awunakushiswa, njengoba izinkolo eziningi zifundisa kanjalo. (UmShumayeli 1:4; Luka 23:43) Baqonda futhi ukuthi ukubuya kukaKristu kwakungeke kubonakale emehlweni nokuthi uyobe esekhipha isahlulelo ezizweni futhi angenise ipharadesi lasemhlabeni.—IzEnzo 10:42; Roma 8:19-21; 1 Petru 3:18.
10. Imaphi amaqiniso abaFundi BeBhayibheli abawaqonda ngokuphathelene nobhapathizo, ukuhlukaniswa kwabefundisi kubantu abavamile, neSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu?
10 AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda ukuthi ubhapathizo olungokomBhalo aluyona indaba yokufafaza izinsana kodwa ukuthi ngokuvumelana nomyalo kaJesu okuMathewu 28:19, 20, luwukucwiliswa kwamakholwa aye afundiswa. Baqonda ukuthi akunasisekelo esingokomBhalo sokuhlukaniswa kwabefundisi kubantu abavamile. (Mathewu 23:8-10) Ngokuphambene, wonke amaKristu kumelwe abe abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle. (IzEnzo 1:8) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda ukuthi iSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu kufanele sigujwe kanye nje kuphela unyaka ngamunye, ngoNisan 14. Ngaphezu kwalokho, baqonda ukuthi ama-Easter ayeyiholide lobuqaba. Ngaphandle kwalokho, labobagcotshwa babeqiniseka kakhulu ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayewusekela umsebenzi wabo kangangokuba abazange baziqoqe izinkongozelo. (Mathewu 10:8) Kusukela ekuqaleni, baqonda ukuthi amaKristu kumelwe aphile ngezimiso zeBhayibheli, okuhlanganisa ukuhlakulela izithelo zomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.—Galathiya 5:22, 23.
Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Okwandayo
11. Ikuphi ukukhanya okwakhanya ngokuphathelene nokuthunywa komKristu nangokuphathelene nomfanekiso kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi?
11 Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1919 izinceku zikaJehova ziye zabusiswa ngokubaneka kokukhanya okwandayo. Yeka ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo okwakhanya emhlanganweni waseCedar Point wango-1922 njengoba uJ. F. Rutherford, umongameli wesibili we-Watch Tower Society, egcizelela ngokunamandla iphuzu lokuthi isibopho esiyinhloko sezinceku zikaJehova siwukuba ‘zimemezele, zimemezele, zimemezele, iNkosi nombuso wayo’! Ngawo kanye unyaka olandelayo, ukukhanya okukhazimulayo kwakhanya ngokuphathelene nomfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi. Kwaqondakala ukuthi lesisiprofetho sasizogcwaliseka osukwini lweNkosi lwanamuhla, hhayi esikhathini esizayo phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, njengoba kwakucatshangwa kanjalo ngaphambili. Phakathi neMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, abafowabo bakaKristu ngeke bagule, noma baboshwe. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ekupheleni kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane, uJehova uNkulunkulu, hhayi uJesu Kristu, oyokwahlulela.—Mathewu 25:31-46.
12. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okwenzeka ngokuphathelene ne-Armagedoni?
12 Ngo-1926 okunye ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo kwembula ukuthi impi ye-Armagedoni yayingenakuba inguquko yezenhlalo, njengoba abaFundi BeBhayibheli babeke bacabanga kanjalo. Kunalokho, iyoba impi uJehova ayobonakalisa kuyo amandla akhe ngokucace kangangokuba bonke abantu bayoqiniseka ukuthi unguNkulunkulu.—IsAmbulo 16:14-16; 19:17-21.
UKhisimusi—Iholide Lobuqaba
13. (a) Ikuphi ukukhanya okwavela ngokuphathelene nemikhosi kaKhisimusi? (b) Kungani izinsuku zokuzalwa zazingasagujwa? (Hlanganisa nombhalo waphansi.)
13 Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, ukubaneka kokukhanya kwabangela ukuba abaFundi BeBhayibheli bayeke ukugubha uKhisimusi. Ngaphambi kwalesosikhathi abaFundi BeBhayibheli babelokhu bewugubha uKhisimusi emhlabeni wonke, futhi ukugujwa kwawo endlunkulu yaseBrooklyn kwakuyisikhathi sedili langempela. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi kwaqondwa ukuthi ukugujwa kuka-December 25 eqinisweni kwakungokobuqaba futhi kwakukhethwe eLobukholwa eliyisihlubuki ukuze lenze kube lula ukuguqula amaqaba. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwatholakala ukuthi uJesu wayengenakuzalwa ebusika, njengoba ngesikhathi sokuzalwa kwakhe, abelusi babeklabise imihlambi yabo emadlelweni—okuyinto ababengenakuyenza ebusuku ngasekupheleni kuka-December. (Luka 2:8) Kunalokho, imiBhalo ibonisa ukuthi uJesu wazalwa cishe ngo-October 1. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqonda futhi ukuthi labo okuthiwa izazi abavakashela uJesu eminyakeni eyayingaba mibili ngemva kokuzalwa kwakhe kwakungabenzi bemilingo bobuqaba.b
Igama Elisha
14. Kungani igama elithi abaFundi BeBhayibheli lalingabameleli kahle ngokwanele abantu bakaJehova?
14 Ngo-1931 ukubaneka okukhazimulayo kweqiniso kwembulela labobaFundi BeBhayibheli igama elingokomBhalo elifanelekayo. Abantu bakaJehova babeye baqonda ukuthi babengenakwamukela noma iliphi lamagama ayizifekethiso okugcona abanye ababeye babetha wona, anjengokuthi abalandeli bakaRussell, amaMillennial Dawnist, ‘nosihogo kasikho.’c Kodwa futhi baqala ukuqonda ukuthi igama bona ngokwabo ababelikhethile—AbaFundi BeBhayibheli Bezizwe Zonke—lalingabameleli kahle ngokwanele. Babengaphezulu kakhulu kunokuba nje abafundi beBhayibheli. Ngaphandle kwalokho, kwakunabanye abaningi kakhulu ababengabafundi beBhayibheli kodwa ababengafani nhlobo nabaFundi BeBhayibheli.
15. Iliphi igama abaFundi BeBhayibheli abalamukela ngo-1931, futhi kungani lifaneleka?
15 Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba abaFundi BeBhayibheli babe negama elisha? Eminyakeni eminingi i-Watch Tower ibilokhu yenza ukuba igama likaJehova livelele. Ngakho-ke, kwakufaneleka kakhulu ukuba abaFundi BeBhayibheli bamukele igama elitholakala ku-Isaya 43:10: “Ningofakazi bami, usho uJehova, nenceku yami engiyikhethileyo ukuba nazi, ningethembe, niqonde ukuthi nginguye; ngaphambi kwami akwenziwanga uNkulunkulu, nangasemva kwami akayikuba-khona.”
Ukulwelwa ‘Nesixuku Esikhulu’
16. Kungani iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa zingenakusebenza ekubuyeleni kwamaJuda angokwemvelo ePalestina, kodwa zisebenza kobani?
16 Emqulwini wesibili wethi Vindication, eya-khishwa yi-Watch Tower Society ngo-1932, ukubaneka kokukhanya kwembula ukuthi iziprofetho zokubuyiselwa ezalotshwa u-Isaya, uJeremiya, uHezekeli, nabanye abaprofethi azizange zisebenze (njengoba kwakuke kwacatshangwa) kumaJuda angokwenyama, ayebuyela ePalestina engenalukholo futhi enezisusa ezingokombangazwe. Kunalokho, leziziprofetho zokubuyiselwa, ezaba nokugcwaliseka okuncane lapho amaJuda ebuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., zaba nokugcwaliseka kwazo okukhulu ekukhululweni kuka-Israyeli ongokomoya nokubuyiselwa okwaqala ngo-1919 nasekuchumeni okwaba umphumela epharadesi elingokomoya elijatshulelwa izinceku zikaJehova zeqiniso namuhla.
17, 18. (a) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, yini eyabonakaliswa iyinjongo kaJehova eyinhloko ngokubaneka kokukhanya? (b) Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya ngokuphathelene nesAmbulo 7:9-17 okwenzeka ngo-1935?
17 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ukubaneka kokukhanya kwembula ukuthi injongo kaJehova eyinhloko, yayingekhona ukusindiswa kwezidalwa, kodwa ukulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe. Kwaqondwa ukuthi isihloko seBhayibheli esibaluleke kunazo zonke sasingesona isihlengo, kodwa uMbuso, ngoba uyolwela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Yeka ukuthi kwakuwukubaneka kokukhanya okungakanani! AmaKristu azinikezele ayengasakhathazekile ngokuyinhloko ngokuya kwawo ezulwini.
18 Ngo-1935, ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo kwembula ukuthi isixuku esikhulu okukhulunywe ngaso kusAmbulo 7:9-17 sasingesona isigaba sesibili sabazophila ezulwini. Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi abantu okukhulunywe ngabo kulawomavesi babengabanye babagcotshiwe ababengakholekile ngokuphelele futhi ngaleyondlela babemi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi esikhundleni sokuba bahlale ezihlalweni zobukhosi babuse njengamakhosi nabapristi noJesu Kristu. Kodwa ayikho into okuthiwa ukukholeka ngokwengxenye. Umuntu uba okholekile noma ongakholekile. Ngakho kwaqondwa ukuthi lesisiprofetho sasibhekisela esixukwini esikhulu esingenakubalwa esivela kuzo zonke izizwe manje esiqoqwayo futhi esinamathemba okuphila emhlabeni. ‘Siyizimvu’ zikaMathewu 25:31-46 “nezinye izimvu” zikaJohane 10:16.
Isiphambano —Asilona Uphawu LobuKristu
19, 20. Kungani isiphambano singenakuba uphawu lobuKristu beqiniso?
19 Eminyakeni eminingi abaFundi BeBhayibheli benza isiphambano saba esivelele njengophawu lobuKristu. Baze baba ngisho nanesiqhano ‘sesiphambano nomqhele.’ NgokweBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile, uJesu wacela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathathe “isiphambano” sabo, futhi abaningi baye bakholelwa ukuthi wabulawelwa esiphambanweni. (Mathewu 16:24; 27:32) Emashumini amaningi eminyaka loluphawu lwavela futhi esembozweni somagazini i-Watch Tower.
20 Incwadi ethi Riches, eyakhishwa iNhlangano ngo-1936, yakwenza kwacaca ukuthi uJesu Kristu akabulawelwanga esiphambanweni, kodwa ogodweni oluqondile, noma esigxotsheni. Ngokomunye umthombo, igama lesiGreki (stau·rosʹ) elihunyushwe ngokuthi “isiphambano” eBhayibhelini lesiZulu elivamile “ngokuyinhloko, libonisa ugodo oluqondile noma isigxobo. [Kufanele] luhlukaniswe ohlotsheni lwesiphambano sasemasontweni esakhiwe ngemishayo emibili. . . . Lesi esigcine ngaso sinomsuka waso eKhalediya lasendulo, futhi sasisetshenziswa njengophawu lukankulunkulu uTamuzi.” Ngokuphambene kakhulu nokulikhulekela, ithuluzi uJesu abethelwa kulo kufanele libhekwe ngokwenyanywa okukhulu.
21. Yini ezocatshangelwa esihlokweni esilandelayo?
21 Kunezibonelo ezengeziwe zokubaneka okukhulu kokukhanya nezalokho okungase kubhekwe njengokuncane. Ukuze uthole ingxoxo ephathelene nalezizibonelo, siza ubheke isihloko esilandelayo.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Yakhishwa i-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
b Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaqondakala ukuthi uma ukuzalwa okubaluleke kakhulu okwake kwenzeka kungenakugujwa, akufanele sigubhe noma iluphi usuku lokuzalwa. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ama-Israyeli noma amaKristu okuqala awazange azigubhe izinsuku zokuzalwa. IBhayibheli likhuluma ngezinsuku zokuzalwa ezimbili kuphela, olunye olukaFaro kanti olunye olukaHerode Antipase. Ngamunye walemikhosi wonakaliswa ngokubulawa komuntu. OFakazi BakaJehova abazigubhi izinsuku zokuzalwa ngoba lemikhosi inemisuka yobuqaba futhi ithambekele ekuphakamiseni labo abenzelwa lowomcimbi wosuku lokuzalwa.—Genesise 40:20-22; Marku 6:21-28.
c Leli iphutha elenziwa izinkolo eziningi zeLobukholwa. Elithi umLuthela igama eliyisifekethiso lokugcona, izitha zikaMartin Luther ezaletha abalandeli bakhe, ababe sebelamukela. Ngokufanayo, amaBaptist amukela igama eliyisifekethiso lokugcona, abantu bangaphandle ababewethe lona ngenxa yokuthi ayefundisa ubhapathizo lokucwiliswa. Okunye okucishe kufane, amaWeseli (Methodists) amukela igama alethwa omunye umuntu wangaphandle. Ngokuphathelene nendlela i-Society of Friends eyabizwa ngayo ngokuthi ama-Quaker, i-World Book Encyclopedia ithi: “Igama elithi Quaker ekuqaleni lalihloselwe ukucunula uFox [umsunguli], owatshela umahluleli oyiNgisi ukuba ‘aqhaqhazelele iZwi leNkosi.’ Lomahluleli wabiza uFox ngokuthi ‘i-quaker’ [umqhaqhazeli].”
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Ubani “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” futhi bangobani “abendlu”?
◻ Kwakuyikuphi okunye kokubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala ezikhathini zanamuhla?
◻ Kungani igama elisha, elithi oFakazi BakaJehova, lalifaneleka?
◻ Imaphi amaqiniso aphawulekayo embulwa ngo-1935?
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
UC. T. Russell nababekanye naye basakaza ukukhanya okungokomoya, kodwa lonke udumo lwaya kuJehova