Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Ezikhathini Zabaphostoli

“Ukukhanya [kuye kwabanekela, NW] olungileyo, ukujabula kuhlwanyelelwe abanhliziyo ziqotho.”—IHUBO 97:11.

 1. OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bawalingisa kanjani amaKristu okuqala?

NJENGAMAKRISTU eqiniso, yeka indlela esiwazisa ngayo amazwi eHubo 97:11! ‘Ukukhanya kuye kwasibanekela’ ngokuphindaphindiwe. Ngempela, abanye bethu sekungamashumi eminyaka bebona ukukhanya kukaJehova okubanekayo. Konke lokhu kusikhumbuza izAga 4:18, ezifundeka kanje: “Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube-semini.” Njengoba sazisa imiBhalo kunesiko, thina esingoFakazi BakaJehova silingisa amaKristu okuqala. Isimo sawo sengqondo singabonwa ngokucacile emabhukwini angokomlando emiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki nasezincwadini zayo, ezabhalwa ngaphansi kokuphefumulelwa kwaphezulu.

 2. Yini eyayiphakathi kokubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala abalandeli bakaJesu abakwamukela?

² Okwakuphakathi kokubaneka kokukhanya kokuqala abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu bokuqala abakwamukela kwakuphathelene noMesiya. U-Andreya watshela umfowabo uSimoni Petru: “Simtholile uMesiya.” (Johane 1:41) Esikhathini esithile kamuva, uBaba osezulwini wenza ukuba umphostoli uPetru afakaze ngokuqondene nalokho lapho ethi kuJesu Kristu: “Unguye uKristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.”—Mathewu 16:16, 17; Johane 6:68, 69.

Ukukhanya Okuphathelene Nokuthunywa Kwabo Kokushumayela

 3, 4. Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, yikuphi ukukhanya uJesu akunika abalandeli bakhe ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wabo wesikhathi esizayo?

³ Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, uJesu Kristu wenza ukukhanya kwabaneka ngokuphathelene nesibopho sabo bonke abalandeli bakhe. Cishe kwakungabafundi abangu-500 ababehlangene eGalile athi kubo: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina zonke izinto enginiyale ngazo. Futhi, bhekani! Nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20; 1 Korinte 15:6) Ngemva kwalokho, bonke abalandeli bakaKristu kwakumelwe babe abashumayeli, futhi ukuthunywa kwabo kokushumayela kwakungamelwe kugcine “ezimvwini ezilahlekile zendlu ka-Israyeli.” (Mathewu 10:6) Futhi kwakungamelwe benze ubhapathizo lukaJohane oluwuphawu lokubonisa ukuphenduka ukuze kube nokuthethelelwa kwezono. Kunalokho, kwakumelwe babhapathize abantu “egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele.”

⁴ Ngaphambi nje kokuba uJesu anyukele ezulwini, abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile abangu-11 babuza: “Nkosi, ingabe ubuyisela umbuso ku-Israyeli ngalesisikhathi?” Kunokuba aphendule lowombuzo, uJesu wanikeza iziyalezo ezengeziwe ngokuphathelene nokuthunywa kwabo kokushumayela, ethi: “Nizokwamukela amandla lapho umoya ongcwele ufika phezu kwenu, futhi nizoba ofakazi bami kokubili eJerusalema nakulo lonke iJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni eziqhele kakhulu zomhlaba.” Kuze kube yilesosikhathi, babengofakazi bakaJehova kuphela, kodwa manje babezoba futhi ofakazi bakaKristu.—IzEnzo 1:6-8.

 5, 6. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya abafundi bakaJesu abakwamukela ngePentekoste?

⁵ Ezinsukwini eziyishumi nje kamuva, yeka ukuthi abalandeli bakaJesu bamukela ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimula kangakanani! Ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E., ngokokuqala ngqá, baqonda incazelo kaJoweli 2:28, 29: ‘[Mina Jehova] ngiyothulula uMoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama; amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ayakuprofetha, abadala benu baphuphe amaphupho, izinsizwa zenu zibone imibono; naphezu kwezinceku nezincekukazi ngalezozinsuku ngiyakuthulula uMoya wami.’ Abafundi bakaJesu babona umoya ongcwele, usesimweni samalangabi, uhlezi emakhanda abo bonke—abesilisa nabesifazane abangaba ngu-120—ababehlangene eJerusalema.—IzEnzo 1:12-15; 2:1-4.

⁶ Futhi ngalolosuku lwePentekoste, abafundi baqonda ngokokuqala ngqá ukuthi amazwi eHubo 16:10 asebenza kuJesu Kristu ovusiwe. Umhubi wayethe: “[Jehova Nkulunkulu] awuyikunikela umphefumulo wami endaweni yabafileyo; awuyikuvuma ukuba ongcwele wakho abone ukubola.” Abafundi babeqaphela ukuthi lawomazwi ayengeke asebenze eNkosini uDavide, ngoba ithuna layo lalisekhona kwaze kwaba yilolosuku. Yingakho abangaba ngu-3 000 balabo abezwa lokhu kukhanya okusha kuchazwa babeqiniseke kakhulu kangangokuthi babhapathizwa ngalo lolosuku!—IzEnzo 2:14-41.

 7. Ikuphi ukukhanya okukhazimulayo umphostoli uPetru akwamukela phakathi nokuvakashela kwakhe isikhulu sebutho lamaRoma uKorneliyu?

⁷ Emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, ama-Israyeli ayekwazisa lokho uNkulunkulu ayekushilo ngokuphathelene nawo: “Nginazile nina kuphela emindenini yonke yomhlaba.” (Amose 3:2) Ngakho, ngempela kwakuwukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo okwamukelwa umphostoli uPetru nalabo ayehambisana nabo beya endlini yesikhulu sebutho lamaRoma uKorneliyu lapho umoya ongcwele ngokokuqala ngqá wehlela phezu kwamakholwa abeZizwe angasokiwe. Kufanele kuphawuleke ukuthi lesi kwakuwukuphela kwesikhathi umoya ongcwele owanikezwa ngaso ngaphambi kobhapathizo. Kodwa kwakufanele kube njalo. Ngaphandle kwalokho, uPetru wayengeke azi ukuthi lababeZizwe abangasokiwe babelufanelekela ubhapathizo. Ekuqonda ngokugcwele ukubaluleka kwalesisenzakalo, uPetru wabuza: “Ingabe ukhona ongenqaba namanzi ukuze bangabhapathizwa [lababeZizwe] abamukele umoya ongcwele njengoba nje nathi siwamukele?” Yiqiniso, akekho owayekhona owayengenqaba ngokufanele, ngakho lababeZizwe babe sebebhapathizwa.—IzEnzo 10:44-48; qhathanisa nezEnzo 8:14-17.

Akusekho Ukusoka

 8. Kungani amaKristu athile okuqala akuthola kunzima ukulahla ukusoka?

⁸ Okunye ukubaneka kweqiniso okukhazimulayo kwavela ngokuphathelene nendaba yokusoka. Umkhuba wokusoka waqala ngo-1919 B.C.E. lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano no-Abrahama. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wayala u-Abrahama ukuthi yena nabo bonke abanye besilisa bendlu yakhe kumelwe basokwe. (Genesise 17:9-14, 23-27) Ngakho ukusoka kwaba uphawu oluhlukanisayo lwenzalo ka-Abrahama. Futhi yeka ukuthi yayiziqhenya kanjani ngalomkhuba! Ngenxa yalokho, igama elithi “ongasokile” laba igama elibonisa indelelo. (Isaya 52:1; 1 Samuweli 17:26, 27) Kulula ukubona ukuthi kungani amanye amaKristu okuqala angamaJuda ayefuna ukululondoloza loluphawu. Amanye awo aba nengxoxo eshubile noPawulu kanye noBarnaba ngalendaba. Ukuze bayixazulule, uPawulu nabanye baya eJerusalema beyofuna isiqondiso sendikimba ebusayo yamaKristu.—IzEnzo 15:1, 2.

 9. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okwambuleka endikimbeni ebusayo yokuqala, njengoba kulotshwe kuzEnzo isahluko 15?

⁹ Ngalesisikhathi, lawomaKristu okuqala awazange amukele ukukhanyiselwa kokuthi ukusoka kwakungaseyona imfuneko ezincekwini zikaJehova ngesimangaliso esisobala. Kunalokho, amukela lokho kukhanya okwandayo ngokuhlola imiBhalo, ethembele emoyeni ongcwele ukuba uwaqondise, futhi ezwa okuhlangenwe nakho kukaPetru noPawulu ngokuphathelene nokuguqulwa kwabeZizwe abangasokile. (IzEnzo 15:6-21) Isinqumo sakhishwa encwadini eyayifundeka kanje ngokwengxenye: “Umoya ongcwele nathi ngokwethu sikubone kukuhle ukunganezeli omunye umthwalo osindayo kini, ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezidingekile, ukuba niqhubeke nideda ezintweni ezihlatshelwe izithombe nasegazini nasezintweni eziklinyiwe nasebufebeni.” (IzEnzo 15:28, 29) Ngaleyondlela amaKristu okuqala akhululwa emyalweni wokusoka nakwezinye izimfuneko zoMthetho kaMose. Ngakho, uPawulu wayengatshela amaKristu aseGalathiya: “UKristu wasikhululela inkululeko enjalo.”—Galathiya 5:1.

Ukukhanya EmaVangelini

10. Ikuphi okunye ukubaneka kokukhanya okwambulwa eVangelini likaMathewu?

¹⁰ Akungabazeki ukuthi iVangeli likaMathewu, elabhalwa cishe ngo-41 C.E., liqukethe ukubaneka kokukhanya okuningi ukuze lizuzise abalifundayo. Ambalwa ngokuqhathaniswa amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayezizwele ngokwawo uJesu echaza izimfundiso zakhe. Ngokuyinhloko, iVangeli likaMathewu lagcizelela ukuthi isihloko sokushumayela kukaJesu kwakuwuMbuso. Futhi yeka indlela uJesu ayegcizelele ngayo ngokunamandla ukubaluleka kokuba nesisusa esiqondile! Yeka ukubaneka kokukhanya okwakukhona eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, emifanekisweni yakhe (njengaleyo elotshwe esahlukweni 13), nasesiprofethweni sakhe esikhulu ezahlukweni 24 no-25! Konke lokhu kwalethwa ekunakekeleni kwamaKristu okuqala ekulandiseni kweVangeli likaMathewu elabhalwa eminyakeni engaba ngu-8 kuphela ngemva kwePentekoste lika-33 C.E.

11. Yini engashiwo ngokuphathelene nokuqukethwe iVangeli likaLuka nelikaMarku?

¹¹ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-15 kamuva, uLuka wabhala iVangeli lakhe. Nakuba ingxenye enkulu yalo ifana nokulandisa kukaMathewu, amaphesenti angu-59 alo anokunye ukwaziswa. ULuka waloba eziyisithupha zezimangaliso zikaJesu nemifanekiso yaKhe engaphezulu ngokuphindwe kabili kulelonani abanye abalobi bamaVangeli abangazange bakhulume ngakho. Ngokusobala eminyakeni embalwa kamuva, uMarku wabhala iVangeli lakhe, egcizelela ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyindoda yesenzo, umenzi wezimangaliso. Nakuba uMarku alandisa ikakhulukazi izenzakalo ezase zihlanganiswe uMathewu noLuka ngaphambili, kunomfanekiso owodwa awubhala abangazange bawubhale. Kulowomfanekiso, uJesu wafanisa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nembewu ehlumayo, ikhule ibe yinde, futhi ithele isithelo kancane kancane.a—Marku 4:26-29.

12. IVangeli likaJohane lakunikeza ngezinga elingakanani ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe?

¹² Khona-ke kwabe sekuba neVangeli likaJohane, elabhalwa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-30 ngemva kokuba uMarku ebhale ukulandisa kwakhe. Yeka umsebe wokukhanya uJohane awuletha ngokuphathelene nenkonzo kaJesu, ikakhulukazi ngokubhekisela kaningi ekuphileni kwaKhe kwangaphambi kobuntu! UJohane kuphela onikeza ukulandisa kokuvuswa kukaLazaru, futhi uyena kuphela osinikeza amazwi amaningi kaJesu amahle awasho kubaphostoli bakhe abathembekile kanye nomthandazo wakhe othinta inhliziyo ngobusuku bokukhashelwa kwakhe, njengoba kulotshwe ezahlukweni 13 kuya ku-17. Eqinisweni, kuthiwa amaphesenti angu-92 eVangeli likaJohane awatholakali kwamanye amaVangeli.

Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Ezincwadini ZikaPawulu

13. Kungani abanye beye babheka incwadi kaPawulu eya kwabaseRoma njengeyiVangeli?

¹³ Umphostoli uPawulu wasetshenziswa ngokukhethekile ukuba alethe ukubaneka kweqiniso kumaKristu ayephila ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Ngokwesibonelo, kunencwadi kaPawulu eya kwabaseRoma, eyabhalwa ngawo-56 C.E.—cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo uLuka abhala ngaso iVangeli lakhe. Kulencwadi uPawulu uqokomisa iqiniso lokuthi kukhona ukulunga ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe nangokholo kuJesu Kristu. Ukugcizelela kukaPawulu lesisici sezindaba ezinhle kuye kwabangela abanye ukuba babheke incwadi yakhe eya kwabaseRoma njengeyiVangeli lesihlanu.

14-16. (a) Encwadini yakhe yokuqala eya kumaKristu aseKorinte, yikuphi ukukhanya uPawulu akunikeza ngokuphathelene nesidingo sobunye? (b) Ikuphi okunye ukukhanya okuphathelene nokuziphatha okuqukethwe eyokuQala yabaseKorinte?

¹⁴ UPawulu wabhala ngezindaba ezithile ezazikhathaza amaKristu aseKorinte. Incwadi yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte igcwele iseluleko esiphefumulelwe esiye sazuzisa amaKristu kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Okokuqala, kwakumelwe akhanyisele abaseKorinte ngokuqondene nephutha ababelenza lokwakha amaqembu okukhulekela abantu abathile abavelele. Umphostoli wabaqondisa, ngesibindi ebatshela: “Manje ngiyanikhuthaza, bafowethu, ngegama leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ukuba nonke nikhulume ngokuvumelana, nokuba kungabi nakuhlukana phakathi kwenu, kodwa ukuba nihlangane ngokufanele emqondweni ofanayo nasendleleni efanayo yokucabanga.”—1 Korinte 1:10-15.

¹⁵ Ukuziphatha okubi kakhulu kwakubekezelelwa ebandleni lobuKristu laseKorinte. Indoda ethile lapho yayithathe umkayise, ngaleyondlela yenza ‘ubufebe obungazange butholakale ngisho naphakathi kwezizwe.’ Ngokungagunci, uPawulu wabhala: “Susani umuntu omubi phakathi kwenu.” (1 Korinte 5:1, 11-13) Leyo kwakuyinto entsha ebandleni lobuKristu—ukususa ekuhlanganyeleni. Enye indaba ibandla laseKorinte elalidinga ukukhanyiselwa kuyo yayiphathelene neqiniso lokuthi amanye amalungu alo ayemangalela abafowabo abangokomoya ezinkantolo zezwe ukuze axazulule izikhalo. UPawulu wabakhuza ngokuqinile ngokwenza kanjalo.—1 Korinte 6:5-8.

¹⁶ Kanti enye indaba eyayihlupha ibandla laseKorinte yayiphathelene nobuhlobo bobulili. Kweyoku-1 Korinte isahluko 7, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ngenxa yokudlanga kokuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, kwakuyoba kuhle ukuba indoda ngayinye ibe nomkayo siqu nowesifazane ngamunye abe nomyeni wakhe siqu. UPawulu waphinde wabonisa ukuthi nakuba abantu abangashadile bekwazi ukukhonza uJehova ngaphandle kweziphazamiso, akubona bonke ababenesiphiwo sokungashadi. Futhi uma kwakungenzeka ukuba umyeni wowesifazane othile afe, owesifazane wayeyokhululeka ukuba aphinde ashade kodwa “kuphela eNkosini.”—1 Korinte 7:39.

17. Ikuphi ukukhanya uPawulu akunikeza ngokuphathelene nemfundiso yovuko?

¹⁷ Yeka ukubaneka kokukhanya iNkosi eyasebenzisa uPawulu ukuba akunikeze ngokuphathelene novuko! AmaKristu agcotshiwe ayovuswa enaluhlobo luni lomzimba? “Kuhlwanyelwa kuwumzimba ongokwenyama, kuvuswa kuwumzimba ongokomoya,” kubhala uPawulu. Ayikho imizimba yenyama eyoyiswa ezulwini, ngoba “inyama negazi akukwazi ukuwuzuza njengefa umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” UPawulu wanezela ukuthi akubona bonke abagcotshiwe abayolala ekufeni kodwa phakathi nokuba khona kukaJesu abanye bayovuselwa ekuphileni kokungafi ngokuphazima kweso lapho befa.—1 Korinte 15:43-53.

18. Ikuphi ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nekusasa okuqukethwe incwadi kaPawulu yokuqala eya kwabaseThesalonika?

¹⁸ Encwadini yakhe eya kumaKristu aseThesalonika, uPawulu wasetshenziswa ukuba anikeze ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nekusasa. Usuku lukaJehova lwaluyoza njengesela ebusuku. UPawulu wabuye wachaza: “Noma nini lapho bethi khona: ‘Ukuthula nokulondeka!’ khona-ke imbubhiso engazelelwe iyofika ngaso lesosikhathi phezu kwabo njengomhelo wokucindezeleka phezu kowesifazane okhulelweyo; futhi abasoze baphunyuka nganoma iyiphi indlela.”—1 Thesalonika 5:2, 3.

19, 20. Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya amaKristu aseJerusalema naseJudiya akwamukela encwadini kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu?

¹⁹ Ngokubhalela amaHeberu incwadi, uPawulu wadlulisela ukubaneka kokukhanya kumaKristu okuqala eJerusalema naseJudiya. Yeka indlela enamandla abonisa ngayo ukuphakama kwesimiso sokukhulekela samaKristu ngaphezu kwesimiso sokukhulekela sikaMose! Kunokuba alandele uMthetho owadluliselwa ngezingelosi, amaKristu anokholo ensindisweni iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ephakeme kakhulu kunalezozithunywa eziyizingelosi eyaba ngeyokuqala ukukhuluma ngayo. (Heberu 2:2-4) UMose wayeyisikhonzi nje endlini kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, uJesu Kristu wengamele yonke lendlu. UKristu ungumpristi ophakeme ngokuvumelana nohlelo lukaMelkisedeki, enesikhundla esiphakeme kakhulu kunesobupristi buka-Aroni. UPawulu waveza nokuthi ama-Israyeli awakwazanga ukungena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuntula ukholo nokungalaleli, kodwa amaKristu ayangena kukho ngenxa yokwethembeka kwawo nokulalela.—Heberu 3:1–4:11.

²⁰ Futhi isivumelwano esisha siphakeme kakhulu kunesivumelwano soMthetho. Njengoba kwakuprofethiwe eminyakeni engu-600 ngaphambili kuJeremiya 31:31-34, labo abasesivumelwaneni esisha banomthetho kaNkulunkulu olotshwe ezinhliziyweni zabo futhi bajabulela ukuthethelelwa kwezono kwangempela. Kunokuba abe nompristi omkhulu okumelwe anikele imihlatshelo minyaka yonke ngenxa yezono zakhe nezabantu, amaKristu anoJesu Kristu njengomPristi wawo Omkhulu, ongenasono futhi owanikela umhlatshelo wezono kanye kwaba kuphela. Kunokuba angene endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla ukuze alethe umnikelo wakhe, wangena ezulwini ngokwalo, ukuze abonakale phambi kobuso bukaJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imihlatshelo yezono ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho kaMose yayingenakuzisusa ngokuphelele izono, uma kungenjalo yayingenakunikelwa minyaka yonke. Kodwa umhlatshelo kaKristu, owanikelwa kanye kwaba kuphela, uyazisusa izono. Konke lokhu kunikeza ukukhanya ethempelini elikhulu elingokomoya, insali egcotshiwe “nezinye izimvu” abakhonza emagcekeni alo namuhla.—Johane 10:16; Heberu 9:24-28.

21. Yini eye yaboniswa yilengxoxo ngokuphathelene nokugcwaliseka kweHubo 97:11 nezAga 4:18 ezikhathini zabaphostoli?

²¹ Asinayo indawo eyanele yokunikeza izibonelo ezengeziwe, njengokubaneka kokukhanya okutholakala ezincwadini zomphostoli uPetru nezabafundi oJakobe noJuda. Kodwa lokhu esesixoxe ngakho kwanele ukubonisa ukuthi iHubo 97:11 nezAga 4:18 zaba nokugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Iqiniso laqala ukuthuthuka lisuka emifuziselweni nasezithunzini zalokho okwakuzokwenzeka liya ekugcwalisekeni nasezintweni ezingokoqobo.—Galathiya 3:23-25; 4:21-26.

22. Yini eyenzeka ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli, futhi isihloko esilandelayo siyobonisani?

²² Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu nokuqala kokuhlubuka okwabikezelwa, ukukhanya kweqiniso kwakulokoza. (2 Thesalonika 2:1-11) Nokho, ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sikaJesu, ngemva kwamakhulu amaningi eminyaka iNkosi yabuya futhi yathola “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo” sinika “abendlu” ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele. Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu Kristu wamisa lesosigqila ‘phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Ikuphi ukubaneka kokukhanya okwalandela? Lokhu kuzoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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]

UKubaneka Kokukhanya—Okukhulu Nokuncane (Ingxenye 2)

“Ekukhanyeni kwakho siyakubona ukukhanya.”—IHUBO 36:9.

 1. Imuphi umzamo wokuqala owenziwa ukuze kuqondwe ukusetshenziswa kwezimpawu encwadini yesAmbulo?

INCWADI yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo iye yavusa isithakazelo samaKristu kusukela ezikhathini zakuqala. Inikeza isibonelo esihle sendlela ukukhanya kweqiniso okuqhubeka ngayo kukhanya. Ngo-1917, abantu bakaJehova banyathelisa incazelo yesAmbulo encwadini ethi The Finished Mystery. Yadalula abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa nabezombangazwe ngokungesabi, kodwa eziningi zezincazelo zayo zazithathwe emithonjeni ehlukahlukene. Nakuba kunjalo, i-Finished Mystery yasiza ekuhloleni ukuthembela kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli emzileni obonakalayo uJehova ayewusebenzisa.

 2. Isihloko esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe” sanikeza kuphi ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nencwadi yesAmbulo?

² Ukubaneka kokukhanya okuphawulekayo kwanyazima ngokuphathelene nencwadi yesAmbulo lapho kukhishwa isihloko esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe” ku-Watch Tower ka-March 1, 1925. Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi isAmbulo isahluko 12 sasichaza impi phakathi kweRoma lobuqaba neRoma lobupapa, umntwana wesilisa emelela ubupapa. Kodwa lesosihloko sabonisa ukuthi isAmbulo 11:15-18 sasihlobene nencazelo yesahluko 12, sibonisa ukuthi iphathelene nokuzalwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

 3. Iziphi izincwadi ezanikeza ukukhanya okwandisiwe ngokuphathelene nesAmbulo?

³ Konke lokhu kwaholela encazelweni ecace kakhudlwana yesAmbulo eyavela lapho kukhishwa incwadi ethi Light, eyayiyimiqulu emibili, ngo-1930. Okunye futhi ukulungisa okuthuthukisiwe kwavela kwethi “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules! (1963) nethi “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God” (1969). Nokho, kwakusenokuningi okwakumelwe kufundwe ngokuphathelene nencwadi yesAmbulo engokwesiprofetho. Yebo, ukukhanya okukhazimula ngokwengeziwe kwakhanya ngokuphathelene nayo ngo-1988, ngencwadi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze! Kungase kushiwo ukuthi isihluthulelo salokhu kukhanyiselwa okuqhubekayo siyiqiniso lokuthi isiprofetho sesAmbulo sisebenza “osukwini lweNkosi,” olwaqala ngo-1914. (IsAmbulo 1:10) Ngakho-ke incwadi yesAmbulo yayizoqondwa ngokucace kakhudlwana njengoba lolosuku luqhubeka.

“Amandla Aphakeme” Ayacaciswa

 4, 5. (a) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babeyibheka kanjani eyabaseRoma 13:1? (b) Yini kamuva eyaqondwa njengombono ongokomBhalo ngokuphathelene ‘namandla aphakeme’?

⁴ Ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimulayo kwabonakala ngo-1962 ngokuphathelene neyabaseRoma 13:1, ethi: “Yonke imiphefumulo mayizithobe phansi kwamandla aphakeme [‘amagunya aphakeme,’ INguqulo Yezwe Elisha].” (King James Version) AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala babeqonda ukuthi “amandla aphakeme” okukhulunywa ngawo lapho ayebhekisela kuziphathimandla zezwe. Babeqonda lombhalo njengosho ukuthi uma umKristu ayebuthwe ngesikhathi sempi, wayeyophoqeleleka ukuba agqoke inyufomu, agaxe isibhamu, futhi angene ezinhlwini zempi, ezindaweni zokukanisa. Babenomuzwa wokuthi njengoba umKristu engenakumbulala umakhelwane wakhe, wayeyophoqeleleka ukuba adubule emoyeni uma kuvela isimo esibi kakhulu.a

⁵ INqabayokulinda ka-May 15 neka-June 1, 1963 (ngesiNgisi, November 15 no-December 1, 1962), yanikeza ukukhanya okucacile ngokuphathelene nalendaba lapho ikhulumela amazwi kaJesu akuMathewu 22:21: “Buyiselani izinto zikaKesari kuKesari, kodwa izinto zikaNkulunkulu kuNkulunkulu.” Amazwi abaphostoli atholakala kuzEnzo 5:29 ayefaneleka: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.” AmaKristu ayazithoba kuKesari—“amandla aphakeme”—uma nje lokhu kungadingi ukuba umKristu enze ngokuphambene nomthetho kaNkulunkulu. Kwaqondwa ukuthi ukuzithoba kuKesari kulinganiselwe, akuphelele. AmaKristu abuyisela kuKesari lokho kuphela okungangqubuzani nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuthi kwakwenelisa kanjani ukuthola ukuqonda okucacile kulendaba!

Ukubaneka Kokukhanya Ngokuphathelene Nezindaba Ezingokwenhlangano

 6. (a) Ukuze kugwenywe isigaba esibusayo sabefundisi esivamile kweLobukholwa, isiphi isimiso esamukelwa? (b) Yini ekugcineni eyaqondwa njengendlela efanele yokukhethwa kwalabo abaqondisayo ebandleni?

⁶ Kwakunombuzo wokuthi obani okufanele bakhonze njengabadala namadiyakoni emabandleni. Ukuze kugwenywe isigaba esibusayo sabefundisi esivamile kweLobukholwa, kwaphethwa ngokuthi laba kumelwe bakhethwe ngokwentando yeningi ngevoti yamalungu ebandla ngalinye. Kodwa ukukhanya okwandayo okwakuku-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-September 1 neka-October 15, 1932, kwabonisa ukuthi imiBhalo ayilisekeli ilungiselelo labadala abakhethiwe. Ngakho laba bathathelwa indawo ikomiti yenkonzo, futhi umqondisi wenkonzo wayekhethwa iNhlangano.

 7. Ukubaneka kokukhanya kwaphumela kuyiphi intuthuko ngokuphathelene nendlela yokumiswa kwezinceku ebandleni?

⁷ INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-June 1 neka-June 15, 1938, yayiqukethe ukubaneka kokukhanya okubonisa ukuthi izinceku ebandleni kwakungamelwe zikhethwe, kodwa kwakumelwe zimiswe, okungukuthi, zimiswe ngendlela engokwasezulwini. Ngo-1971 okunye ukubaneka kokukhanya kwabonisa ukuthi ibandla ngalinye kwakungamelwe liqondiswe inceku eyodwa nje yebandla. Kunalokho, ngalinye kufanele libe nendikimba yabadala, noma ababonisi, ababelwe iNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngakho ngokukhanya okwandayo eminyakeni engaba ngu-40, kwaba sobala ukuthi abadala kanye namadiyakoni, manje aziwa ngokuthi izinceku ezikhonzayo, kufanele bamiswe “isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,” ngeNdikimba yaso Ebusayo. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Lokhu kwakuvumelana nalokho okwenzeka ezikhathini zabaphostoli. Amadoda anjengoThimothewu noThithu amiswa njengababonisi indikimba ebusayo yekhulu lokuqala. (1 Thimothewu 3:1-7; 5:22; Thithu 1:5-9) Konke lokhu kuwukugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kuka-Isaya 60:17: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyakuletha igolide, nasesikhundleni sensimbi ngiyakuletha isiliva; esikhundleni somuthi ithusi, nasesikhundleni samatshe insimbi, ngibeke ukuthula kube-ngababonisi bakho, nokulunga kube-ngababusi bakho.”

 8. (a) Iyiphi intuthuko iqiniso elandayo elayiletha ngokuphathelene nendlela iNhlangano eyayisebenza ngayo? (b) Imaphi amakomiti eNdikimba Ebusayo, futhi ziyini izindima zawo ezihlukahlukene zemisebenzi noma ukuqondisa?

⁸ Enye indaba yayiphathelene nokusebenza kwe-Watch Tower Society. Eminyakeni eminingi iNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova yayifana nebhodi labaqondisi be-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, futhi izindaba zazisingathwa ngokuyinhloko umongameli wayo. Njengoba kubonisiwe ku-Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1977 (amakhasi 258-9), ngo-1976 iNdikimba Ebusayo yaqala ukusebenza namakomiti ayisithupha, ngayinye yabelwe ukunakekela izici ezithile zomsebenzi womhlaba wonke. IKomiti Yezisebenzi inakekela izindaba zezisebenzi, kuhlanganise nezithakazelo zabo bonke abakhonza emkhayeni waseBethel emhlabeni wonke. IKomiti Yokunyathelisa isingatha zonke izindaba ezingaphathelene nezinto ezingokomoya nezindaba ezingokomthetho, ezinjengezakhiwo nokunyathelisa. IKomiti Yenkonzo igxila emsebenzini wokufakaza futhi iqondisa ababonisi abajikelezayo, amaphayona, nemisebenzi yabamemezeli bebandla. IKomiti Yokufundisa inakekela imihlangano yebandla, imihlangano ekhethekile yosuku olulodwa, imihlangano yesifunda, nemihlangano yesigodi neyezizwe kanye nezikole ezihlukahlukene zemfundo engokomoya yabantu bakaNkulunkulu. IKomiti Yokubhala iqondisa ukulungiselelwa nokuhunyushwa kwezincwadi ngazo zonke izindlela, iqikelela ukuthi konke kuyavumelana nemiBhalo. IKomiti Kasihlalo inakekela izingozi nezinye izindaba eziphuthumayo.b Futhi ngawo-1970, amahhovisi egatsha e-Watch Tower Society aqala ukuqondiswa ikomiti esikhundleni sombonisi.

Ukukhanya Okuphathelene Nokuziphatha KobuKristu

 9. Ukukhanya kweqiniso kwabuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo bamaKristu kohulumeni bezwe?

⁹ Ukubaneka okuningi kokukhanya kuye kwaba okuphathelene nokuziphatha kobuKristu. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela indaba yokungathathi-hlangothi. Ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhazimula ngokuphawulekayo kwanyazima ngokuphathelene nalendaba esihlokweni esithi “Ukungathathi-hlangothi” esavela ku-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-November 1, 1939. Yeka ukuthi sasifike ngesikhathi kanjani, sifika ngemva nje kokuqala kweMpi Yezwe II! Lesisihloko sachaza ukungathathi-hlangothi futhi sabonisa ukuthi amaKristu akumelwe ahileleke ezindabeni zezombangazwe noma ezimpini eziphakathi kwezizwe. (Mika 4:3, 5; Johane 17:14, 16) Lesi isici esiyimbangela yokuzondwa kwawo izizwe zonke. (Mathewu 24:9) Izimpi zika-Israyeli wasendulo azisona isandulela salokho okwakuzokwenziwa amaKristu, njengoba uJesu ekwenza kucace kuMathewu 26:52. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akukho nesisodwa isizwe sezombangazwe namuhla esiwumbuso ongokwasezulwini, esibuswa uNkulunkulu, njengoba kwakunjalo ku-Israyeli wasendulo.

10. Yini eyembulwa ukubaneka kokukhanya ngokuphathelene nendlela amaKristu okufanele abheke ngayo igazi?

¹⁰ Ukukhanya kwanyazima futhi ngokuphathelene nobungcwele begazi. Abanye abaFundi BeBhayibheli babecabanga ukuthi ukwenqatshelwa kokudla igazi, kuzEnzo 15:28, 29, kwakulinganiselwe kumaKristu angamaJuda. Nokho, izEnzo 21:25 zibonisa ukuthi ezikhathini zabaphostoli lomyalo wawusetshenziswa futhi nakulabo bezizwe ababa amakholwa. Ngakho ubungcwele begazi busebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu, njengoba kwaboniswa ku-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-July 1, 1945. Lokho akusho nje ukwenqaba ukudla igazi lezilwane, njengakumasoseji enziwe ngegazi, kodwa nokudeda egazini labantu, njengasendabeni yokumpontshelwa igazi.

11. Yini eyaqondwa ngokuphathelene nombono womKristu ngokusetshenziswa kukagwayi?

¹¹ Ngenxa yokukhanya okwandisiwe, imikhuba ekuqaleni eyayimane nje ingemukelwa kamuva yasingathwa ngesisindo esifanele. Isibonelo salokhu sasiphathelene nokusetshenziswa kukagwayi. Kuyi-Zion’s Watch Tower ka-August 1, 1895, uMfoweth’ uRussell waqondisa ukunakekela kweyoku-1 Korinte 10:31 neyesi-2 Korinte 7:1 wayesebhala: “Angiboni ukuthi ukusebenzisa ugwayi kwanoma imuphi umKristu kungamkhazimulisa kanjani uNkulunkulu, noma kumzuzise kanjani umKristu ngokwakhe.” Kusukela ngo-1973 kwaqondwa ngokucacile ukuthi akekho umuntu osebenzisa ugwayi ongaba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngo-1976 kwacaciswa ukuthi akekho uFakazi ongase aqashwe emsebenzini wokugembula futhi aqhubeke esebandleni.

Okunye Ukulungisa

12. (a) Yini eyembulwa ukubaneka kokukhanya ngokuphathelene nenani lezihluthulelo zoMbuso ezanikezwa uPetru? (b) Zaziyini izimo lapho uPetru esebenzisa isihluthulelo ngasinye?

¹² Kuye futhi kwaba nokukhanya okwandisiwe enanini lezihluthulelo ezingokomfanekiso uJesu azinikeza uPetru. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babenombono wokuthi uPetru wamukela izihluthulelo ezimbili ezavulela abantu indlela yokuba izindlalifa zoMbuso—esinye singesamaJuda, esasetshenziswa ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., kanti esinye singesabeZizwe, esasetshenziswa okokuqala ngo-36 C.E. lapho uPetru eshumayeza uKorneliyu. (IzEnzo 2:14-41; 10:34-48) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaqondwa ukuthi kwakuneqembu lesithathu elihilelekile—amaSamariya. UPetru wasebenzisa isihluthulelo sesibili lapho ewavulela ithuba loMbuso. (IzEnzo 8:14-17) Ngakho, isihluthulelo sesithathu sasetshenziswa lapho uPetru eshumayeza uKorneliyu.—INqabayokulinda ka-April 1, 1980, amakhasi 15-21, 25 (ngesiNgisi, October 1, 1979, amakhasi 16-22, 26).

13. Yini eyembulwa ukubaneka kokukhanya ngokuphathelene nezibaya zezimvu okukhulunywe ngazo kuJohane isahluko 10?

¹³ Komunye umsebe wokukhanya, kwaqondwa ukuthi uJesu akazange nje abhekisele ezibayeni ezimbili zezimvu kodwa kwezintathu. (Johane, isahluko 10) Lezi (1) kwakuyisibaya sezimvu samaJuda uJohane uMbhapathizi ayengumlindimnyango kuso, (2) isibaya sezindlalifa zoMbuso ezigcotshiwe, (3) nesibaya ‘sezinye izimvu,’ ezinethemba lasemhlabeni.—Johane 10:2, 3, 15, 16; INqabayokulinda ka-August 1, 1984, amakhasi 10-20 (ngesiNgisi, February 15, 1984, amakhasi 10-20).

14. Ukukhanya okwandisiwe kwazicacisa kanjani izindaba ngokuphathelene nokuqala kweJubili elingokomfanekiso?

¹⁴ Ukuqondwa kweJubili elingokomfanekiso nakho kwathola ukucaciswa okuthile. Ngaphansi koMthetho, yonke iminyaka yama-50 yayiyiJubili elikhulu, izinto ezazibuyiselwa ngayo kubaninizo bangaphambili. (Levitikusi 25:10) Kwase kuyisikhathi eside kuqondwa ukuthi lokhu kwakufanekisela ukuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Nokho, ezikhathini zamuva nje kwaqondwa ukuthi eqinisweni iJubili elingokomfanekiso laqala ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., lapho labo abamukela umoya ongcwele owathululwa bekhululwa ebugqileni besivumelwano soMthetho kaMose.—INqabayokulinda ka-January 1, 1987, amakhasi 18-28.

Ukukhanya Okwandisiwe Ekusetshenzisweni Kwamagama

15. Kwanikezwa kuphi ukukhanya ngokuphathelene nokusetshenziswa kwegama elithi “icebo”?

¹⁵ “UMshumayeli wafuna ukuthola amazwi enamisayo afanele ukulotshwa, amazwi eqiniso.” (UmShumayeli 12:10) Lamazwi angase asetshenziswe kahle kulendaba esixoxa ngayo, ngoba ukukhanya akuzange nje kukhanye ezindabeni ezibalulekile kuphela njengemfundiso nokuziphatha kodwa futhi nasekusetshenzisweni kwamagama obuKristu nezincazelo zawo ezinembile. Ngokwesibonelo, phakathi kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli, enye yezincwadi ezazithandwa kakhulu kwakuwumqulu wokuqala we-Studies in the Scriptures, owawunesihloko esithi The Divine Plan of the Ages. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaqashelwa ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu likhuluma ngabantu kuphela njengabenza amacebo. (IzAga 19:21) ImiBhalo ayikhulumi neze ngoJehova njengowenza icebo. Akudingeki enze icebo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini ayijongayo uyaqiniseka ukuthi izophumelela ngenxa yokuhlakanipha kwakhe namandla okungenasiphelo, njengoba nje sifunda kweyabase-Efesu 1:9, 10: “Kungokuvumelana nesihle sakhe asijonga kuye ngokwakhe ukuba kube nesimiso sokuqondisa lapho kugcwala isilinganiso sezikhathi ezimisiwe.” Ngakho kancane kancane kwaqondwa ukuthi igama elithi “injongo” liyigama elifaneleke kakhulu lapho kubhekiselwa kuJehova.

16. Yini kancane kancane okwaqondwa ukuthi yayiyincazelo enembile kaLuka 2:14?

¹⁶ Kwase kuba indaba yokuqonda ngokucace kakhudlwana uLuka 2:14. Ngokwe-King James Version, ufundeka kanje: “Inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu ezindaweni eziphakeme ukuzedlula zonke, nokuthula emhlabeni, nokuthakazelelwa kwabantu.” Kwaqondwa ukuthi lokhu kwakungavezi umqondo onembile, ngoba ukuthakazelelwa uNkulunkulu akuboniswa kwababi. Ngakho-ke oFakazi babheka lokhu njengendaba yokuthula kubantu ababethakazelelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho baqhubeka bebhekisela kulabo ababenesithakazelo eBhayibhelini njengabantu abathakazelelwayo. Kodwa ngalesosikhathi kwaqondwa ukuthi lokho okwakuhilelekile kwakungekhona ukuthakazelelwa kwabantu, kodwa ukuthakazelelwa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, umbhalo waphansi we-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References kuLuka 2:14 ukhuluma ‘ngabantu abamukelwa nguye [uNkulunkulu].’ Wonke amaKristu aphila ngokuvumelana nesithembiso sawo esifungelwe sokuzinikezela athakazelelwa uNkulunkulu.

17, 18. Yini uJehova ayoyilwela, futhi yini ayoyingcwelisa?

¹⁷ Ngokufanayo, sekuyisikhathi eside oFakazi bekhuluma ngokulwelwa kwegama likaJehova. Kodwa ingabe uSathane wangabaza igama likaJehova? Ngokuphathelene naleyondaba, ingabe noma iliphi lamanxusa kaSathane liye lenza kanjalo, njengokungathi uJehova lalingamfanele lelogama? Cha, akunjalo neze. Kwakungelona igama likaJehova elabekelwa inselele nelalidinga ukulwelwa. Yingakho izincwadi zamuva ze-Watch Tower Society zingakhulumi ngokulwelwa kwegama lakhe. Zikhuluma ngokulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova nangokungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova. Lokhu kuvumelana nalokho uJesu asitshela ukuba sikuthandazele: “Malingcweliswe igama lakho.” (Mathewu 6:9) Ngokuphindaphindiwe, uJehova wathi wayezolingcwelisa igama lakhe, ama-Israyeli ayengazange alibekele inselele kodwa ayelingcolisile.—Hezekeli 20:9, 14, 22; 36:23.

¹⁸ Ngokuthakazelisayo, ngo-1971, incwadi ethi “The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How? yenza lomehluko: “UJesu Kristu ulwela . . . ukulwelwa kobuKhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke nokukhazimuliswa kwegama likaJehova.” (Amakhasi 364-5) Ngo-1973, ethi God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached yathi: “‘Usizi olukhulu’ oluzayo luyisikhathi sokuba uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke uJehova alwele ubukhosi bakhe bendawo yonke futhi angcwelise igama lakhe elifanele.” (Ikhasi 409) Khona-ke, ngo-1975, ethi Man’s Salvation Out Of World Distress at Hand! yathi: “Isenzakalo esikhulu ukuzedlula zonke emlandweni wendawo yonke siyobe-ke sesifeziwe, ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova bendawo yonke nokungcweliswa kwegama lakhe elingcwele.”—Ikhasi 281.

19, 20. Singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa kwethu ngokubaneka kokukhanya okungokomoya?

¹⁹ Yeka ukuthi abantu bakaJehova babusiswe kanjani ngokuthamela konke lokhu kukhanya okungokomoya! Ngokuphambene ngokuphelele, okubonisa ubumnyama obungokomoya abaholi beLobukholwa abazithola bekukho yilamazwi ashiwo umfundisi othile: “Kungani kunesono? Kungani kunokuhlupheka? Kungani kunodeveli? Lena imibuzo engifuna ukuyibuza iNkosi lapho ngifika ezulwini.” Kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova bangamtshela ukuthi kungani: Ngenxa yempikiswano yokufaneleka kobukhosi bukaJehova nempikiswano yokuthi izidalwa ezingabantu zingakwazi yini ukulondoloza ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu naphezu kokuphikisa kukaDeveli.

²⁰ Eminyakeni eminingi edlule, ukubaneka kokukhanya okukhulu nokuncane bekulokhu kukhanyisa indlela yezinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele. Lokhu bekugcwalisa imibhalo enjengeHubo 97:11 nezAga 4:18. Kodwa masingalokothi sikhohlwe ukuthi ukuhamba ekukhanyeni kusho ukuba nokwazisa ngokukhanya okwandisiwe nokuphila ngokuvumelana nakho. Njengoba sesibonile, lokhukukhanya okwandisiwe kuhilela kokubili ukuziphatha kwethu nokuthunywa kwethu kokushumayela.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]