Isahluko 10

Ukukhula Olwazini Oluqondile Lweqiniso

OFAKAZI BAKAJEHOVA abazange baphumele ukuqalisa izimfundiso ezintsha, indlela entsha yokukhulekela, inkolo entsha. Kunalokho, umlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla ubonisa umzamo oqotho wokufundisa lokho okutholakala eBhayibhelini, iZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. Babhekisela kulo njengesisekelo sazo zonke izinkolelo zabo nendlela yabo yokuphila. Esikhundleni sokuthuthukisa izinkolelo ezibonisa ukuthambekela kokuyekelela kwezwe lanamuhla, baye bafuna ukuzivumelanisa ngokuseduze ngisho nangokwengeziwe nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli nemikhuba yobuKristu bekhulu lokuqala.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1870, uCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe baqalisa ukulihlola ngenkuthalo iBhayibheli. Kwabacacela ukuthi eLobukholwa laliduke kakhulu ezimfundisweni nasemikhubeni yobuKristu bokuqala. UMfoweth’ uRussell akazange athi nguye owokuqala ukuqonda lokhu, futhi wakudlulisela obala ukubonga kwakhe kwabanye ngosizo abalunikeza phakathi neminyaka yakhe yokuqala yokucwaninga imiBhalo. Wancoma umsebenzi omuhle izinhlangano ezihlukahlukene ezaziwenzile eNkathini Yezinguquko, ngenjongo yokwenza ukukhanya kweqiniso kukhanye ngokwengeziwe. Wagagula ngamagama amadoda ayemadala kuye anjengoJonas Wendell, uGeorge Stetson, uGeorge Storrs, noNelson Barbour, ababa nengxenye ngokuqondile ekuqondeni kwakhe iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene.a

Wathi futhi: “Izimfundiso ezihlukahlukene esiziqondayo nezibonakala zizintsha futhi zihlukile zaziqondwa ngenye indlela esikhathini esidlule: ngokwesibonelo—Ukukhetha, Umusa Wesihle, Ukubuyisela, Ukulungisiswa, Ukungcweliswa, Ukukhazinyuliswa, Uvuko.” Nokho, kwakuvamile ukuba elinye iqembu lenkolo lihluke ngokuliqonda ngokucace kakhudlwana iqiniso elithile leBhayibheli; elinye iqembu, lihluke ngelinye iqiniso elihlukile. Ngokuvamile intuthuko yawo eyengeziwe yayivinjelwa ngoba ayeboshwe izimfundiso nezivumo zokholo ezazihlanganisa izinkolelo ezavela eBabiloni lasendulo naseGibithe noma ezazibolekwe kuzazi zefilosofi zamaGreki.

Kodwa yiliphi iqembu, ngosizo lomoya kaNkulunkulu, kancane kancane elaliyophinde libambelele kuso sonke “isibonelo samazwi aphilayo” leso esasaziswa amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala? (2 Thim. 1:13) Laliyogcwaliseka kobani iqiniso lokuthi indlela yabo ‘yayinjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka kukhanya njalo kuze kube-semini’? (IzAga 4:18) Obani ngempela ababeyokwenza umsebenzi owayalezwa uJesu lapho ethi: “Nibe-ngofakazi bami . . . kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba”? Obani ababengeke bagcine ngokwenza abafundi kodwa futhi ‘ababeyobafundisa ukugcina konke’ uJesu ayekuyalezile? (IzE. 1:8; Math. 28:19, 20) Yebo, ingabe sasiseduze isikhathi sokuba iNkosi yenze kube nomehluko ocacile phakathi kwalawomaKristu eqiniso eyayiwafanise namabele kanye namabele-mbumbulu eyayiwabize ngokuthi ukhula (empeleni, uhlobo lokhula olufana kakhulu namabele kuze kube yilapho esevuthiwe)?b (Math. 13:24-30, 36-43) Obani ababeyozibonakalisa ‘beyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ iNkosi, uJesu Kristu, lapho iba khona emandleni oMbuso, eyayiyobaphathisa umthwalo wemfanelo owengeziwe ngokuqondene nomsebenzi owabikezelelwa isiphelo salesisimiso sezinto?—Math. 24:3, 45-47.

Ukwenza Ukukhanya Kukhanye

UJesu wayaleza abafundi bakhe ukuba bakuhlanganyele nabanye ukukhanya kweqiniso laphezulu ababekuthole kuye. “Nina ningukukhanya kwezwe,” esho. “Makukhanye ukukhanya kwenu phambi kwabantu.” (Math. 5:14-16; IzE. 13:47) UCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe baqaphela ukuthi babenesibopho sokwenza lokho.

Ingabe babekholelwa ukuthi banazo zonke izimpendulo, ukukhanya okuphelele kweqiniso? Ephendula lowombuzo ngokungagunci uMfoweth’ uRussell wathi: “Ngokuqinisekile akunjalo; futhi ngeke sibe nakho kuze kube ‘usuku oluphelele.’” (IzAga 4:18, KJ) Ngokuvamile babebiza izinkolelo zabo ezingokomBhalo ngokuthi “iqiniso lamanje”—bengakusho ngomqondo wokuthi iqiniso ngokwalo liyashintsha kodwa ngomqondo wokuthi ukuliqonda kwabo kwakuqhubeka.

Labafundi beBhayibheli abakhuthele abazange bawubalekele umqondo wokuthi kunento okuthiwa iqiniso ezindabeni zenkolo. Babebheka uJehova ‘njengoNkulunkulu weqiniso’ neBhayibheli njengeZwi lakhe leqiniso. (IHu. 31:5, NW; Josh. 21:45; Joh. 17:17) Baqaphela ukuthi kwakusenokuningi ababengakwazi, kodwa abazange bazindele ekukukhulumeni ngokuqiniseka lokho ababekufunde eBhayibhelini. Futhi, lapho izimfundiso nemikhuba engokwenkolo eyayamukelwa iphikisana nalokho ababekuthole kushiwo ngokucacile eZwini likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe, belingisa uJesu Kristu, babedalula amanga, ngisho nakuba lokhu kwakubangela ukuba bahlekwe usulu futhi bazondwe abefundisi.—Math. 15:3-9.

Ukuze afinyelele futhi ondle abanye ngokomoya, uC. T. Russell, ngo-July 1879, waqala ukunyathelisa umagazini i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.

IBhayibheli—LiyiZwi LikaNkulunkulu Ngempela

Ukuthembela kukaCharles Taze Russell eBhayibhelini kwakungeyona nje indaba yokwamukela umbono owamukelwayo owawuthandwa abaningi ngalesosikhathi. Ngokuphambene, lokho okwakuthandwa ngalesosikhathi kwakuwukucusumbulwa kweBhayibheli. Labo ababekusekela bakubekela inselele ukuba nokwethenjelwa komlando weBhayibheli.

Lapho esemusha, uRussell wayezihlanganise ne-Congregational Church futhi wayekhuthele emsebenzini wayo, kodwa ukungabi nangqondo kwezimfundiso ezingaphikiswa ezazamukelwa kwaholela ekubeni abe umgxeki. Wathola ukuthi lokho ayekufundisiwe kwakungenakusekelwa ngeBhayibheli ngendlela eyanelisayo. Ngakho walahla izimfundiso ezingaphikiswa zezivumo zokholo zesonto, walahla iBhayibheli kanye nazo. Ngokulandelayo, wahlola izinkolo ezinkulu zaseMpumalanga, kodwa nazo azibanga ezanelisayo. Khona-ke waqala ukuzibuza ukuthi akunakwenzeka yini ukuthi iBhayibheli lalimelelwe ngokungeyikho izivumo zokholo zeLobukholwa. Ekhuthazwe yilokho akuzwa ngobunye ubusuku emhlanganweni wama-Adventist, waqalisa ukuhlola imiBhalo eyicubungulisisa. Lokho akubona kwembuleka emehlweni akhe kwakuyiZwi eliphefumlelwe likaNkulunkulu ngempela.

Wahlatshwa umxhwele kakhulu ukuvumelana kweBhayibheli ngokwalo kanye nokuvumelana kwalo nobuntu baLowo obizwa ngokuthi uMlobi walo Waphezulu. Ukuze asize abanye bazuze kulokhu, kamuva wabhala incwadi ethi The Divine Plan of the Ages, ayikhipha ngo-1886. Kuyo wahlanganisa nengxoxo eyinhloko ethi “IBhayibheli Njengesambulo Saphezulu Uma Libhekwa Kucatshangelwa Amaphuzu.” Ngasekupheleni kwalesosahluko, wakhuluma ngokucacile: “Ukujula namandla nokuhlakanipha kanye nobubanzi bobufakazi beBhayibheli kusiqinisekisa ukuthi akuyena umuntu, kodwa uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, ongumlobi wamacebo nezambulo zalo.”

Ukuthembela kulo lonke iBhayibheli njengeliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu kuseyinsika yezinkolelo zoFakazi BakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla. Emhlabeni wonke, banezinsizakufundisa ezibenza bakwazi ukuzihlolela ngokwabo ubufakazi bokuphefumlelwa kwalo. Izici zalendaba ngokuvamile kukhulunywa ngazo komagazini babo. Ngo-1969 banyathelisa incwadi ethi Ingabe iBhayibheli ngempela liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu na? (ngesiNgisi). Eminyakeni engamashumi amabili kamuva incwadi ethi IBhayibheli—Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Noma Elomuntu? yahlola kabusha indaba yobuqiniso beBhayibheli, yadonsela ukunakekela ebufakazini obengeziwe, futhi yafinyelela esiphethweni esifanayo: Ngempela, iBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. Enye yezincwadi zabo, eyanyatheliswa okokuqala (ngesiNgisi) ngo-1963 yayisibukezwa ngo-1990, ithi “Yonke ImiBhalo Iphefumlelwe UNkulunkulu Futhi Inenzuzo.” Imininingwane eyengeziwe itholakala kuyi-encyclopedia yabo yeBhayibheli ethi Insight on the Scriptures, eyakhishwa ngo-1988.

Ngesifundo sabo somuntu siqu nesebandla sokwaziswa okunjalo, bayaqiniseka ukuthi nakuba abantu abangaba ngu-40 enkathini engamakhulu angu-16 eminyaka basetshenziswa ekulobeni lokho okusezincwadini ezingu-66 zeBhayibheli, uNkulunkulu uqobo wakuqondisa ngenkuthalo ukuloba ngomoya wakhe. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Yonke imibhalo iphefumulelwe nguNkulunkulu.” (2 Thim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21) Lokhu kuqiniseka kuyisici esinamandla ekuphileni koFakazi BakaJehova. Likhuluma ngalokhu, iphephandaba laseBrithani laphawula: “Kunoma yini uFakazi ayenzayo kunesizathu esingokomBhalo. Ngempela, imfundiso yabo eyodwa eyisisekelo iwukuqaphela iBhayibheli . . . njengeliyiqiniso.”

Ukwazi UNkulunkulu Weqiniso

Njengoba uMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe babehlola imiBhalo, akubathathanga isikhathi eside ukubona ukuthi uNkulunkulu ovezwe eBhayibhelini akuyena unkulunkulu weLobukholwa. Lokhu kwakuyindaba ebalulekile, ngoba njengoba uJesu Kristu asho, amathemba abantu okuphila okuphakade axhomeke ekwazini kwabo okuwukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso nalowo amthuma, iNxusa lakhe Eliyinhloko lensindiso. (Joh. 17:3; Heb. 2:10) UC. T. Russell kanye neqembu ayehlanganyela nalo ekucwaningeni iBhayibheli baqaphela ukuthi ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu bulinganiswe ngokuphelele nokuhlakanipha kwaphezulu, uthando, namandla, nokuthi lezimfanelo zibonakaliswe kuyo yonke imisebenzi yakhe. Ngesisekelo solwazi ababenalo ngalesosikhathi ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu, bahlela ingxoxo ephathelene nokuthi kungani ububi buvunyelwe futhi bafaka lengxoxo kwenye yezincwadi zabo zokuqala neyasakazwa kabanzi, incwadi enamakhasi angu-162 ethi Food for Thinking Christians, okokuqala eyakhishwa njengohlelo olukhethekile lwe-Zion’s Watch Tower ngo-September 1881.

Ukuhlola kwabo iZwi likaNkulunkulu kwabasiza ukuba baqaphele ukuthi uMdali unegama lakhe siqu nokuthi ukwenza kube nokwenzeka ukuba abantu bamazi futhi bajabulele ubuhlobo obuseduze naye. (1 IziKr. 28:9; Isaya 55:6; Jak. 4:8) INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-October-November 1881 yaphawula: “Igama elithi JEHOVA alisetshenziswa komunye umuntu ngaphandle koMuntu Ophakeme Kunabo Bonke—uBaba wethu, nalowo uJesu ambiza ngokuthi uBaba noNkulunkulu.”—IHu. 83:18; Joh. 20:17.

Ngonyaka olandelayo, kuphendulwa umbuzo othi, “Ingabe nithi iBhayibheli alifundisi ukuthi kunabantu abathathu kuNkulunkulu oyedwa?” kwanikezwa impendulo: “Yebo: Ngokuphambene, lisitshela ukuthi kunoNkulunkulu oyedwa noYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu okukhona ngaye zonke izinto (noma owadala zonke izinto). Khona-ke sikholelwa kuNkulunkulu Oyedwa noBaba, naseNkosini eyodwa uJesu Kristu . . . Kodwa laba bangabantu ababili hhayi oyedwa. Bamunye kuphela ngomqondo wokuba nokuvumelana. Futhi sikholelwa emoyeni kaNkulunkulu . . . Kodwa awuyena umuntu njengoba kunjalo ngomoya kadeveli nomoya weZwe kanye nomoya womPhiku-Kristu.”—Zion’s Watch Tower, June 1882; Joh. 17:20-22.

Ukulazisa Okukhulayo Igama LikaNkulunkulu

Kancane kancane labobaFundi BeBhayibheli bayiqaphela ngokwengeziwe indlela imiBhalo ephefumlelwe eliphakamisa ngayo igama likaNkulunkulu siqu. Lelogama laliye lafihlwa ngesiNgisi yizinguqulo zeBhayibheli i-Douay yamaRoma Katolika kanye ne-King James yamaProthestani, njengoba kamuva kwenziwa yizinguqulo eziningi ngezilimi eziningi ekhulwini lama-20. Kodwa izinguqulo ezihlukahlukene kanye nezincwadi zeBhayibheli okubhekiselwa kuzo zakufakazela ukuthi igama elithi Jehova livela izinkulungwane zezikhathi embhalweni wolimi lokuqala—eqinisweni, livela kaningi ukwedlula noma yiliphi elinye igama, futhi livela kaningi ukwedlula izikhathi okuvela ngazo iziqu ezinjengesithi Nkulunkulu nesithi Nkosi sezizonke. ‘Njengabantu begama lakhe,’ ukwazisa ababenakho ngegama laphezulu kwakhula. (IzE. 15:14) Ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-January 1, 1926, banyathelisa lokho ababeqaphela ukuthi kuyimpikiswano umuntu ngamunye okumelwe abhekane nayo, ewukuthi, “Ubani Oyodumisa UJehova?”

Ukugcizelela ababekwenza egameni likaNkulunkulu kwakungeyona nje indaba yolwazi olungokwenkolo. Njengoba kwachazwa encwadini ethi Prophecy (eyakhishwa ngo-1929), impikiswano eyinhloko ebhekene nayo yonke indalo ehlakaniphile ihilela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu nezwi lakhe. OFakazi BakaJehova bagcizelela ukuthi iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi wonke umuntu kumelwe alazi igama likaNkulunkulu futhi aliphathe njengento engcwele. (Math. 6:9; Hez. 39:7) Kumelwe kususwe sonke isihlamba esiye sanqwatshelaniswa kulo, okungenziwanga kuphela yilabo abaye bamdelela obala uJehova kodwa nayilabo abaye bammelela kabi ngezimfundiso nangezenzo zabo. (Hez. 38:23; Roma 2:24) Ngesisekelo semiBhalo, oFakazi bayaqaphela ukuthi inhlala-kahle yendawo yonke neyabakhe kuyo ixhomeke ekungcwelisweni kwegama likaJehova.

Bayaqaphela ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba uJehova athathe isinyathelo sokubhubhisa ababi, kuwumsebenzi nelungelo lofakazi bakhe ukutshela abanye iqiniso ngaye. OFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu benza lokho emhlabeni wonke. Baye baba nentshiseko ekufezeni lowomthwalo wemfanelo kangangokuba, ezweni lonke, noma ubani osebenzisa igama likaJehova ngokukhululekile ubhekwa ngokushesha njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova.

Ukudalula UZiqu-zintathu

NjengoFakazi BakaJehova, uC. T. Russell nabangane bakhe bazizwa benesibopho esinamandla sokudalula izimfundiso ezazimmelela kabi uNkulunkulu, sokusiza abantu abathanda iqiniso baqaphele ukuthi lezimfundiso azisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Babengebona abokuqala ukuqaphela ukuthi uZiqu-zintathu akasekelwe ngokombhalo,c kodwa baqaphela ukuthi ukuze babe izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile, babenomthwalo wemfanelo wokwenza iqiniso laziwe ngakho. Ngesibindi, badalula imisuka yobuqaba yalemfundiso eyinhloko yeLobukholwa ukuze kuzuze bonke abantu abathanda iqiniso.

INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 1882 yathi: “Izazi zefilosofi zamaqaba eziningi lapho zithola ukuthi kuyoba okufanelekile ukujoyina amaqembu enkolo andayo [uhlobo lobuKristu bezihlubuki olwagunyazwa ababusi bamaRoma ekhulwini lesine leminyaka C.E.], zaqala ukucaba indlela elula eya kuyo ngokuzama ukuthola ukuvumelana phakathi kobuKristu nobuQaba, ukuze zixube lezizinto ezimbili. Zaphumelela kahle kakhulu. . . . Njengoba imfundiso yenkolo yakudala yayinonkulunkulu abaningi abayinhloko, nabantu abaningi abangonkulunkulu babesilisa nabesifazane, amaKristu-maqaba (uma singase sibaqambe igama) azimisela ukwakha kabusha uhlu lwemfundiso entsha yenkolo. Ngakho-ke, ngalesikhathi kwasungulwa imfundiso yoNkulunkulu abathathu—uNkulunkulu uYise, uNkulunkulu iNdodana, noNkulunkulu uMoya oNgcwele.”

Abanye babefundisi bazama ukunandisa lemfundiso yabo ngeBhayibheli ngokucaphuna imibhalo enjengeyoku-1 Johane 5:7, kodwa uMfoweth’ uRussell waveza ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi izazi zazikwazi kahle ukuthi ingxenye yalowombhalo yayiyisijobelelo, ukunezelwa kwamagama ngobuqili okwenziwa umbhali othile ukuze asekele imfundiso engatholakali emiBhalweni. Abanye abavikeli bemfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu babhekisela kuJohane 1:1, kodwa INqabayokulinda yahlaziya lowombhalo ngesisekelo salokho okuqukethe kanye nomongo ukuze ibonise ukuthi lombhalo nganoma iyiphi indlela wawungayisekeli inkolelo kaZiqu-zintathu. Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, kumagazini ka-July 1883, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yathi: “Ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngokwengeziwe kunokutadisha izimfundiso zenkolo encwadini yamaculo kwakuyokwenza ukuba lendaba ibacacele kakhudlwana bonke. Imfundiso kaziqu-zintathu iphikisana ngokuphelele nomBhalo.”

UMfoweth’ uRussell wabudalula ngokungagunci ubuwula bokuba umuntu athi ukholelwa eBhayibhelini ebe efundisa imfundiso enjengoZiqu-zintathu, ephikisa lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo. Ngakho wabhala: “Yeka ukuthi labo abathi uJesu noYise banguNkulunkulu oyedwa bazithola besesixakaxakeni esingakanani sokuziphikisa nokudideka! Lokhu bekungahilela nomqondo wokuthi iNkosi yethu uJesu yayingumzenzisi ngesikhathi isemhlabeni futhi yashaya sengathi ikhuluma noNkulunkulu emthandazweni, kuyilapho Yona ngokwaYo iyilowo Nkulunkulu. . . . Futhi, uBaba ngaso sonke isikhathi ubelokhu enokungafi, ngakho ubengeke afe. Khona-ke, uJesu wayengafa kanjani? Bonke abaPhostoli baba ofakazi bamanga uma bekhuluma ngokufa nangokuvuswa kukaJesu uma engazange afe. Nokho, imiBhalo ithi wafa ngempela.”d

Ngakho, ekuqaleni nje komlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova bayenqaba ngokuqinile imfundiso engaphikiswa kaZiqu-zintathu weLobukholwa bamukela imfundiso yeBhayibheli ngokwalo enengqondo nejabulisayo.e Umsebenzi abaye bawenza wokusakaza lamaqiniso nokunikeza abantu yonke indawo ithuba lokuwezwa uye wafinyelela ezingeni elingakaze lifinyelelwe yinoma imuphi umuntu noma iqembu, esikhathini esidlule namanje.

Siyini Isimo Sabafileyo?

Ukuthi ikusasa libaphatheleni abantu abangazange bamukele ilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lensindiso kwakumkhathaza kakhulu uC. T. Russell kusukela ngesikhathi eseyinsizwa. Lapho eseyibhungu nje, wayekukholelwa lokho okwakushiwo abefundisi ngesihogo somlilo; wayecabanga ukuthi babeshumayela iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Wayephuma ebusuku ahambe ayobhala ngeshoki imibhalo yeBhayibheli ezindaweni ezisobala ukuze abantu abasebenzayo ababedlula lapho baxwayiswe futhi basinde esahlulelweni esesabekayo sokuhlushwa phakade.

Kamuva, esezibonele ngokwakhe lokho okuyikhona iBhayibheli elalikufundisa ngempela, wacashunwa omunye wabangane bakhe ethi: “Uma iBhayibheli lifundisa ukuthi ukuhlushwa phakade kuyisiphetho sabo bonke ngaphandle kwabangcwele, kufanele kushunyayelwe ngakho—yebo, kumenyezelwe kuzwe bonke abantu masonto onke, nsuku zonke, nangawo wonke amahora; uma lingakufundisi lokho, iqiniso kufanele lenziwe laziwe, futhi lisuswe ibala elibi elihlambalaza igama likaNkulunkulu elingcwele.”

Zisuka nje ekuhloleni kwakhe iBhayibheli, uC. T. Russell wakubona ngokucacile ukuthi isihogo asiyona indawo yokuhlushwa kwemiphefumulo ngemva kokufa. Cishe kulokhu wasizwa uGeorge Storrs, umhleli we-Bible Examiner, lowo uMfoweth’ uRussell akhuluma ngaye ngokwazisa okufudumele ezincwadini zakhe naye owayebhale okuningi ngalokho ayekuqonda okuseBhayibhelini mayelana nesimo sabafileyo.

Kodwa kuthiwani ngomphefumulo? Ingabe abaFundi BeBhayibheli basekela inkolelo yokuthi uyingxenye yomuntu engumoya, okuthile okuqhubeka kuphila ngemva kokufa komzimba? Ngokuphambene, ngo-1903, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yathi: “Kumelwe siphawule ngokucophelela ukuthi asifundi ukuthi umuntu unomphefumulo, kodwa ukuthi umuntu ungumphefumulo. Ake sifanekise ngemvelo—umoya esiwuphefumulayo: wakhiwe ngomoya-mpilo ne-nitrogen, ngayinye yalama-gas ayiwona umoya; kodwa lapho womabili ehlangana, ngezilinganiso zamakhemikhali ezifanele njengoba enza, umphumela kuba umoya. Kunjalo nangomphefumulo. UNkulunkulu ukhuluma nathi esibheka ngalowombono wokuthi umuntu ngamunye kithi ungumphefumulo. Akakhulumi nemizimba yethu noma nomoya wethu wokuphila, kodwa ukhuluma nathi njengabantu abahlakaniphile, noma imiphefumulo. Lapho ekhipha isijeziso sokwephulwa komthetho wakhe, akazange akhulume nomzimba ka-Adamu ngokukhethekile, kodwa wakhuluma nomuntu, umphefumulo, umuntu ohlakaniphile: ‘Wena!’ ‘Mhla udla kuwo wena uyokufa nokufa.’ ‘Umphefumulo owonayo uyokufa.’—Gen. 2:17; Hez. 18:20.” Lokhu kwakuvumelana nalokho INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) eyayikusho emuva ngo-April 1881.f

Khona-ke, yavela kanjani inkolelo yokuthi umuntu unokungafi ngaphakathi kuye? Wayengubani umsunguli wayo? Ngemva kokuhlolisisa kokubili iBhayibheli nomlando ongokwenkolo, uMfoweth’ uRussell wabhala ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-April 15, 1894: “Ngokusobala ayivelanga eBhayibhelini . . . IBhayibheli likusho ngokucacile ukuthi umuntu uyafa, ukuthi kungenzeka ukuba afe. . . . Lapho sihlola umlando, sithola ukuthi, nakuba imfundiso yokungafi komuntu ingafundiswa nhlobo ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu abaphefumlelwe, iyiso kanye isisekelo sazo zonke izinkolo zobuhedeni. . . . Ngakho-ke, akulona iqiniso ukuthi uSocrates noPlato babengabokuqala ukufundisa lemfundiso: yaba nomfundisi ongaphambi kwabo bobabili, futhi ophumelela ngokwengeziwe. . . . Umlando wokuqala walemfundiso yamanga utholakala emlandweni omdala kakhulu owaziwayo—iBhayibheli. Lomfundisi wamanga kwakunguSathane.”g

Ukuthela Amanzi Esihogweni

Ngokuvumelana nesifiso esikhulu sikaMfoweth’ uRussell sokususa lelibala elibi egameni likaNkulunkulu elabangelwa imfundiso yesihogo somlilo sokuhlushwa phakade, wabhala ipheshana elalinesihloko esithi, “Ingabe ImiBhalo Ifundisa Ukuthi Ukuhlushwa Phakade Kuyinkokhelo Yesono?” (The Old Theology, 1889) Kulona wathi:

“Umbono wokuhlushwa phakade wawunomsuka wobuhedeni, nakuba ngokwenkolelo yalabobahedeni wawungeyona imfundiso enonya owaba yiyo kamuva, lapho kancane kancane uqala ukuzihlanganisa nobuKristu bokuzisholo ngesikhathi uxutshwa namafilosofi obuhedeni ekhulwini lesibili. Wahlala ukulesosimo kwaze kwafika ukuhlubuka okukhulu okwanezela kulefilosofi yobuhedeni imininingwane esabekayo abaningi kangaka abayikholelwayo, kwayiloba ezindongeni zamasonto, njengoba kwenzeka eYurophu, kwayiloba ezivumweni zokholo nasemaculweni alokuhlubuka, futhi kanjalo kwaliphendukezela kakhulu iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze linikeze lokho okubonakala kuwukusekelwa kwaphezulu kwalesihlamba esenyelisa uNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, abantu banamuhla abathatheka bengahlolisisanga bakwemukela njengefa elingaveli eNkosini, noma abaphostoli, noma abaprofethi, kodwa elivela emoyeni wokuhlehla owalahla iqiniso nokuhluzeka kwengqondo, futhi waphendukezela ngokuhlazisayo izimfundiso zobuKristu, ngenxa yokufisa ukuvelela okungengcwele nokulwela amandla nengcebo nabalandeli abaningi. Ukuhlushwa phakade njengesijeziso sesono kwakungaziwa izinzalamizi zenkathi edlule; kwakungaziwa abaprofethi benkathi yamaJuda; futhi kwakungaziwa iNkosi nabaphostoli; kodwa bekulokhu kuyimfundiso eyinhloko yobuKristu Bokuzisholo kusukela ekuhlubukeni okukhulu—inhlupho abantu bezwe abathatheka bengahlolisisanga, abangazi lutho nabakholelwa ezeni abaye benziwa ngayo bathobela ubushiqela njengezigqila. Ukuhlushwa phakade kwathiwa kungokwabo bonke ababemelana noma ababenqaba igunya leSonto laseRoma, futhi isijeziso sako ekuphileni kwanamuhla sasiqala ngenkathi lisabusa.”

UMfoweth’ uRussell wayekuqaphela ukuthi iningi labantu abanengqondo lalingakholelwa ngempela emfundisweni yesihogo somlilo. Kodwa, njengoba akuveza, ngo-1896, encwajaneni ethi What Say the Scriptures About Hell?, “njengoba becabanga ukuthi iBhayibheli liyayifundisa, njalo lapho bethuthuka ngesinyathelo esithile ekuhlakanipheni kwangempela nasemuseni wobuzalwane . . . ezimweni eziningi kwakuba isinyathelo esiqhelayo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, abalimangalela ngamanga ngokuthi linalemfundiso.”

Ukuze abuyisele abantu abanjalo abacabangayo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, wanikeza kulencwajana wonke amavesi kuyi-King James Version okutholakala kuwo igama elithi isihogo, ukuze abafundi bazibonele lokho lemibhalo eyayikusho, wabe esethi: “Ngenhlanhla, asiyitholi ndawo indawo enjalo yokuhlushwa phakade enjengaleyo efundiswa ngokuyiphutha izivumo zokholo nezincwadi zamaculo, kanye nabefundisi abaningi. Nokho siye sathola ‘isihogo,’ isheoli, nehayidesi, lonke uhlanga lwethu olwalahlelwa kukho ngenxa yesono sika-Adamu, futhi lonke oluhlengwa kukho ngokufa kweNkosi yethu; nokuthi ‘isihogo’ siyithuna—isimo sokufa. Futhi sithola esinye ‘isihogo’ (igehena—ukufa kwesibili—ukubhujiswa ngokuphelele) silethwa ekunakekeleni kwethu njengesijeziso sokugcina esizokuza phezu kwabo bonke okuthé ngemva kokuba behlengiwe futhi benziwa balazi ngokugcwele iqiniso, bakwazi ngokugcwele ukulilalela, bakhetha ukufa ngokukhetha inkambo ephikisana noNkulunkulu nokulunga. Futhi izinhliziyo zethu zithi, Amen. Ziqinisile futhi zilungile izindlela zakho, wena Nkosi yezizwe. Ubani ongekuhloniphe, O Nkosi, futhi akhazimulise igama lakho? Ngokuba wena ungcwele ngokuphelele. Futhi zonke izizwe ziyokuza futhi zikhuleke phambi kwakho, ngoba ziyabonakaliswa izenzo zakho zokulunga.”—IsAm. 15:3, 4.

Lokho ayekufundisa kwabangela abefundisi beLobukholwa ukuba bacasuke futhi babe namahloni. Ngo-1903 wacelwa inselele yokuba abe khona kuyinkulumo-mpikiswano yasobala. Isimo sabafileyo sasingenye yezimpikiswano ochungechungeni lwezinkulumo-mpikiswano ezaba khona phakathi kukaC. T. Russell noDkt. E. L. Eaton, owayengumkhulumeli wenhlangano engagunyaziwe yabefundisi bamaProthestani engxenyeni esentshonalanga yePennsylvania.

Phakathi nalezozinkulumo-mpikiswano uMfoweth’ uRussell walisekela ngokungaguquki iphuzu lokuthi “ukufa kuwukufa, nokuthi abathandekayo bethu, lapho besishiya, bafa ngempela, ukuthi abaphili nezingelosi noma namademoni endaweni ethile yokungabi nathemba.” Ukuze asekele lokhu, wabhekisela emibhalweni enjengomShumayeli 9:5, 10; Roma 5:12; 6:23; noGenesise 2:17. Wathi futhi: “Imibhalo ivumelana ngokugcwele nalokho mina nawe kanye nawo wonke omunye umuntu ohluzekile nocabangayo emhlabeni esingavuma ukuthi kuwubuntu obunengqondo nobufanelekayo bukaNkulunkulu wethu. Yini eshiwoyo ngoBaba wethu wasezulwini? Ukuthi ulungile, ukuthi uhlakaniphile, ukuthi unothando, ukuthi unamandla. Bonke abantu abangamaKristu bangavuma ukuthi umuntu waphezulu unazo lezimfanelo. Uma lokhu kunjalo, ingabe singalithola linengqondo igama elingasenza sicabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulungile nakuba esijezisa kuze kube phakade isidalwa esidalwe nguYe uqobo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi soneni? Angiyena umvikeli wesono; angiphili ngesono mina ngokwami, futhi angilokothi ngikhuthaze isono. . . . Kodwa ngikutshela ukuthi bonke labantu abasizungezile umfowethu [uDkt. Eaton] athi babonisa indelelo ngokuhlambalaza kwabo uNkulunkulu negama elingcwele likaJesu Kristu bonke bangabantu abaye bafundiswa lemfundiso yokuhlushwa phakade. Futhi bonke ababulali, izigebengu kanye nabenzi bobubi abasemajele, bonke babefundiswe lemfundiso. . . . Lezi izimfundiso ezimbi; sekukade zilimaza izwe lonke; aziyona neze ingxenye yemfundiso yeNkosi, futhi intuthu yenkathi yobumnyama ayikasuki namanje emehlweni alomfowethu othandekayo.”

Kubikwa ukuthi ngemva kwalenkulumo-mpikiswano umfundisi othile owayekhona waya kuRussell wathi: “Ngiyajabula ukukubona uthela amanzi esihogweni futhi ucisha umlilo.”

Ukuze alisakaze ngisho nangokwengeziwe iqiniso ngesimo sabafileyo, uMfoweth’ uRussell wakhonza uchungechunge olude lwemihlangano yosuku olulodwa, kusukela ngo-1905 kuya ku-1907, abeka kuyo inkulumo yeningi eyayithi “Ukuya Nokubuya Esihogweni! Obani Abalapho? Ithemba Lokubuya Kwabaningi.” Lesihloko sasivusa ilukuluku, futhi sadonsa ukunakekela kwabaningi. Izilaleli zagcwala swí emahholo omhlangano emadolobheni amakhulu namancane e-United States naseCanada zizothamela lenkulumo.

Phakathi kwalabo abashukunyiswa ngokujulile yilokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngesimo sabafileyo kwakungumfundi waseyunivesithi eCincinnati, e-Ohio, owayezilungiselela ukuba umfundisi waseHabe. Ngo-1913 wathola incwajana ethi Where Are the Dead? ivela kumfowabo ongokwenyama, eyayibhalwe uJohn Edgar, umFundi weBhayibheli owayengudokotela eScotland. Lomfundi owayethole leyoncwajana kwakunguFrederick Franz. Ngemva kokuyifundisisa, washo lokhu ngokuqinile: “Leli yiqiniso.” Ngaphandle kokunqikaza, washintsha imigomo yakhe ekuphileni futhi wangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengomshumayeli wevangeli oyi-colporteur. Ngo-1920 waba ilungu lezisebenzi zasendlunkulu ye-Watch Tower Society. Eminyakeni eminingi kamuva waba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova, futhi kamuva, waba umongameli we-Watch Tower Society.

Umhlatshelo Wesihlengo KaJesu Kristu

Ngo-1872, ngokuqondene nokuhlola kwakhe imiBhalo, uMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe bayicabangela kabusha indaba yokubuyisela, ngombono wesihlengo uJesu Kristu asinikeza. (IzE. 3:21) Wajabula lapho ebona kumaHeberu 2:9 ukuthi ‘uJesu ngomusa kaNkulunkulu wezwa ukufa ngenxa yabo bonke.’ Lokho akumenzanga wakholelwa ekusindisweni kwabantu bendawo yonke, ngoba wayazi ukuthi imiBhalo ithi futhi umuntu kumelwe abonise ukholo kuJesu Kristu ukuze asindiswe. (IzE. 4:12; 16:31) Kodwa waqala ukuqonda—nakuba kungenzekanga ngesikhathi esisodwa—ukuthi umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu Kristu wawunikeza isintu ithuba elihle kangakanani. Wavula indlela yokuba sithole lokho uAdamu akulahla, ithemba lokuphila phakade njengabantu abaphelele. UMfoweth’ uRussell akathanga lapho ethola lendaba wayesezithulela; wayekuqonda ukubaluleka okukhulu kwesihlengo futhi wakuvikela ngentshiseko, ngisho nakuba abangane abaseduze babevumela ukucabanga kwabo konakaliswe imibono yamafilosofi.

Phakathi no-1878, uMfoweth’ uRussell, isikhathi esingaba ngangonyaka nengxenye, wayebe ngumhleli oyisekela kamagazini i-Herald of the Morning, uN. H. Barbour ayengumhleli wawo oyinhloko. Kodwa lapho uBarbour, kumagazini wabo ka-August 1878, elulaza imfundiso engokomBhalo yesihlengo, uRussell wasabela ngokulivikela ngentshiseko leliqiniso elibalulekile leBhayibheli.

Ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Ukubuyisana,” uBarbour wayefanekise indlela ayezizwa ngayo ngalemfundiso, ethi: “Ngithi kumfana wami, noma kwenye yezinceku, lapho uJames eluma udadewabo, bamba impukane, uyihlabe ngokhanjana emzimbeni bese uyibethela odongeni, mina ngizomxolela uJames. Lokhu kufanekisela imfundiso yesihlawulelo.” Nakuba ayethi uyakholelwa esihlengweni, uBarbour wathi umqondo wokuthi uKristu ngokufa kwakhe wakhokha isijeziso sesono senzalo ka-Adamu “awusekelwe ngokombhalo, futhi uyaphikisana nayo yonke imiqondo esinayo yobulungisa.”h

Kumagazini owalandela lowo we-Herald of the Morning (September 1878), uMfoweth’ uRussell wacasulwa kakhulu yilokho okwakubhalwe uBarbour. URussell wahlaziya lokho imiBhalo ekushoyo ngempela kanye nokuvumelana kwayo ‘nokuphelela kobulungisa [bukaNkulunkulu], futhi okokugcina, isihe sakhe nothando lwakhe olukhulu’ njengoba lubonakaliswa yilungiselelo lesihlengo. (1 Kor. 15:3; 2 Kor. 5:18, 19; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 1 Joh. 2:2) Ngentwasahlobo elandelayo, ngemva kwemizamo ephindaphindiwe yokusiza uBarbour ukuba abone izinto ngeso elingokomBhalo, uRussell wahoxa ekuxhaseni i-Herald; futhi kusukela kumagazini ka-June 1879, igama lakhe alibange lisavela njengomhleli oyisekela walowomagazini. Ukuma kwakhe kwesibindi, kokungahlehli ngokuqondene nalemfundiso eyinhloko yeBhayibheli kwaba nemiphumela efinyelela kude.

Kuwo wonke umlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova ngokungaguquki baye bavikela imfundiso engokomBhalo yesihlengo. Wona kanye umagazini wokuqala ngqá we-Zion’s Watch Tower (July 1879) wagcizelela ukuthi “ukwamukeleka kuNkulunkulu kuxhomeke . . . emhlatshelweni ophelele kaKristu.” Ngo-1919, emhlanganweni owawuxhaswe i-International Bible Students Association eCedar Point, e-Ohio, esimisweni esibhaliwe kwakubhalwe ngokugqamile amazwi athi “Niyamukelwa! Nina Nonke Enikholelwa Emhlatshelweni Omkhulu Wesihlengo.” Ingaphakathi lesembozo sangaphambili se-Nqabayokulinda lisaqhubeka lidonsela ukunakekela esihlengweni, lithi ngokuqondene nenjongo yalomagazini: “Ikhuthaza ukukholwa eNkosini kaNkulunkulu ebusa manje, uJesu Kristu, egazi layo elachitheka livula indlela ngesintu ukuba sizuze ukuphila okuphakade.”

Bayathuthuka, Ababoshiwe Izivumo Zokholo

Ukuliqonda ngokucacile iZwi likaNkulunkulu akuzange kwenzeke ngesikhathi esisodwa. Ezimweni eziningi abaFundi BeBhayibheli babeqonda umniningwane owodwa wendlela yeqiniso kodwa bangabi nombono ogcwele ngalesosikhathi. Nokho, babezimisele ukufunda. Babengaboshiwe izivumo zokholo; babethuthuka. Lokho ababekufunda babekuhlanganyela nabanye. Babengazincomi ngezinto ababezifundisa; babefuna ‘ukufundiswa [uJehova].’ (Joh. 6:45) Futhi baqala ukuqaphela ukuthi uJehova wenza kube nokwenzeka ukuqonda imininingwane yenjongo yakhe ngesikhathi sakhe siqu nangendlela yakhe siqu.—Dan. 12:9; qhathanisa noJohane 16:12, 13.

Ukufunda izinto ezintsha kudinga ukulungisa umbono. Ukuze kuvunywe amaphutha futhi kwenziwe izinguquko ezinenzuzo, kudingeka ukuthobeka. Lemfanelo kanye nezithelo zayo iyathandeka kuJehova, futhi inkambo enjalo ibakhanga kakhulu abathandi beqiniso. (Zef. 3:12) Kodwa ihlekwa usulu yilabo abaziqhayisa ngezivumo zokholo eziye zangashintsha emakhulwini amaningi eminyaka, nakuba zaklanywa abantu abangaphelele.

Indlela Yokubuya KweNkosi

Kwakuphakathi nawo-1870 lapho uMfoweth’ uRussell nalabo ababecwaninga imiBhalo ngenkuthalo kanye naye beqaphela ukuthi lapho iNkosi ibuya ngeke ibonakale emehlweni abantu.—Joh. 14:3, 19.

UMfoweth’ uRussell kamuva wathi: “Sazizwa sidabuka kakhulu ngephutha lama-Second Adventist, ayelindele ukuba uKristu abuye esenyameni, futhi efundisa ukuthi umhlaba kanye nakho konke okukuwo ngaphandle kwama-Second Adventist kuyoshiswa ngo-1873 noma ngo-1874, lawo ukumisa kwawo izikhathi nokudumazeka kanye nemibono engavuthiwe ngokuvamile ngokuphathelene nenjongo kanye nendlela yokuza kwakhe ngandlela-thile kwaletha isihlamba phezu kwethu nakubo bonke ababelangazelela futhi bememezela uMbuso wayo ozayo. Lemibono eyiphutha abantu abaningi ababeyikholelwa kangaka ngokuqondene nenjongo nendlela yokubuya kweNkosi ingibangele ukuba ngibhale incwajana—‘The Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return.’” Lencwajana yakhishwa ngo-1877. UMfoweth’ uRussell wenza ukuba kunyatheliswe futhi kusakazwe amakhophi acishe abe ngu-50 000 ayo.

Kuleyoncwajana, wabhala: “Sikholelwa ukuthi imibhalo ifundisa ukuthi lapho ifika nasesikhathini esithile ngemva kokufika kwayo, iyohlala ingabonakali; kamuva iziveze noma izibonakalise ngezahlulelo nangezindlela ezihlukahlukene, ukuze ‘wonke amehlo ayibone.’” Ukuze asekele lokhu, wakhulumela imibhalo enjengezEnzo 1:11 (NW) (‘uyobuya ngendlela enimbone ehamba ngayo’—okungukuthi engabonwa izwe) noJohane 14:19 (“kuseyisikhashana izwe lingasangiboni”). UMfoweth’ uRussell wabhekisela naseqinisweni lokuthi i-Emphatic Diaglott, eyayinyatheliswe okokuqala iyonke ngo-1864 enikeza ukuhumusha kwesiNgisi kwezwi nezwi phakathi kwemigqa, yanikeza ubufakazi bokuthi inkulumo yesiGreki ethi pa·rou·siʹa yayisho “ukuba khona.” Ehlaziya indlela iBhayibheli elisebenzisa ngayo lelogama, uRussell wachaza kulencwajana: “Igama lesiGreki elisetshenziswa ngokuvamile lapho kukhulunywa ngokubuya kwesibili—elithi Parousia, ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi ukuza—ngokungaguquki libonisa ukuba khona ngokomuntu siqu, njengosefikile, futhi alilokothi libonise ukuba sendleleni, njengoba silisebenzisa kanjalo igama elithi ukuza.”

Lapho ekhuluma ngenjongo yokuba khona kukaKristu, uRussell wakucacisa ukuthi lokhu kwakungekhona okuthile okwakuzokwenzeka ngomzuzu owodwa oyonyakazisa umhlaba. “Ukuba khona kwesibili, njengokokuqala,” ebhala, “kuhlanganisa inkathi yesikhathi, futhi akusona isenzakalo somzuzu owodwa.” Phakathi nalesosikhathi, ebhala, ‘umhlambi omncane’ uyonikezwa umvuzo wawo kanye neNkosi ukuba ube izindlalifa ezikanye nayo eMbusweni wayo; abanye, mhlawumbe abayizinkulungwane zezigidi, bayonikezwa ithuba lokuphila okuphelele emhlabeni obuyiselwe ebuhleni base-Edene.—Luka 12:32.

Eminyakeni embalwa nje, ngesisekelo sokuyihlola okwengeziwe imiBhalo, uRussell waqaphela ukuthi uKristu wayengeke nje abuye ngokungabonakali kodwa futhi wayezohlala engabonakali, ngisho nalapho esebonakalisa ukuba khona kwakhe ngokwahlulela ababi.

Ngo-1876, lapho uRussell eqala ukufunda ikhophi ye-Herald of the Morning, wathola ukuthi kwakunelinye iqembu ngalesosikhathi elalikholelwa ukuthi ukubuya kukaKristu kwakuyoba okungabonakali futhi elalihlanganisa lokho kubuya nezibusiso ezaziyotholwa yiyo yonke imindeni yomhlaba. NgoMnu. Barbour, umhleli walowomagazini, noRussell washukunyiselwa ukuba akholelwe ukuthi ukuba khona okungabonakali kukaKristu kwakuqale ngo-1874.i Kamuva kwadonselwa ukunakekelwa kulokhu ngesihlokwana esithi “Herald of Christ’s Presence,” esasivela esembozweni se-Zion’s Watch Tower.

Ukuqaphela ukuthi ukuba khona kukaKristu akubonakali kwaba isisekelo esibalulekile okwakuyokwakhelwa kuso ukuqonda iziprofetho eziningi zeBhayibheli. LabobaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala baqaphela ukuthi ukuba khona kweNkosi kufanele kube into ekhathalelwa kakhulu yiwo wonke amaKristu eqiniso. (Marku 13:33-37) Babenesithakazelo esijulile ekubuyeni kweNkosi futhi beliqaphela iqiniso lokuthi babenomthwalo wemfanelo wokwazisa abanye ngakho, kodwa babengakayiqondi ngokucacile yonke imininingwane. Nokho, lokho umoya kaNkulunkulu owabenza bakwazi ukukuqonda emuva ngalesosikhathi kwakuphawuleka ngempela. Elinye lalamaqiniso lalihilela isikhathi esibaluleke kakhulu esiphawulwa isiprofetho seBhayibheli.

Ukuphela KweZikhathi Zabezizwe

Indaba yokubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kweBhayibheli kwase kukade abafundi beBhayibheli benesithakazelo kuyo. Abakhulumeli abathile babeveze imibono ehlukahlukene ngesiprofetho sikaJesu esiphathelene ‘nezikhathi zabezizwe’ nangomlando womprofethi uDaniyeli wephupho likaNebukadinesari eliphathelene nesiqu somuthi esaboshwa “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa.”—Luka 21:24; Dan. 4:10-17.

Emuva ngo-1823, uJohn A. Brown, oncwadi yakhe yakhishwa eLondon, eNgilandi, wathola ukuthi “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zesahluko sesine sikaDaniyeli ziyiminyaka engu-2 520 ubude. Kodwa akazange aqonde ngokucacile ukuthi inkathi yalesikhathi esingokwesiprofetho yayiqale nini futhi yayizophela nini. Nokho, wahlanganisa ‘lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa’ neZikhathi Zabezizwe ezikuLuka 21:24. Ngo-1844, u-E. B. Elliott, umfundisi waseBrithani, wadonsela ukunakekela ku-1914 njengonyaka okwakungenzeka kuphele ngawo “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa” zikaDaniyeli, kodwa wabuye wanikeza omunye umbono ohlukile owawukhomba esikhathini seNguquko YaseFrance. URobert Seeley, waseLondon, ngo-1849, wasingatha lendaba ngendlela efanayo. Okungenani ngo-1870, incwadi eyahlelwa uJoseph Seiss nabangane bakhe futhi yanyatheliswa ePhiladelphia, ePennsylvania, yayinikeza izibalo ezazikhomba ku-1914 njengesikhathi esibalulekile, nakuba izizathu eyazinikeza zazisekelwe ekubalweni kwezikhathi uC. T. Russell akulahla kamuva.

Khona-ke, kuyi-Herald of the Morning ka-August, September, no-October 1875, uN. H. Barbour wasiza ekuvumelaniseni imininingwane eyayivezwe abanye. Esebenzisa ukubala izikhathi zezenzakalo okwakuhlelwe uChristopher Bowen, umfundisi waseNgilandi, futhi kwanyatheliswa u-E. B. Elliott, uBarbour wathi iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaqala lapho iNkosi uSedekiya isuswa ebukhosini njengoba kwakubikezelwe kuHezekeli 21:25, 26, futhi wakhomba ku-1914 njengophawula ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe.

Emuva ngo-1876, uC. T. Russell wathola ikhophi ye-Herald of the Morning. Ngokushesha wabhalela uBarbour wayesechitha isikhathi enaye ePhiladelphia phakathi nehlobo, phakathi kwezinye izinto, babekhuluma ngezinkathi zesikhathi esingokwesiprofetho. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, esihlokweni esasithi “IZikhathi Zabezizwe: Ziphela Nini?”, noRussell wakhuluma ngalendaba ngokusekelwe emiBhalweni futhi wathi ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi “izikhathi eziyisikhombisa ziyophela ngo-A.D. 1914.” Lesihloko sanyatheliswa kuyi-Bible Examiner ka-October 1876.j Incwadi ethi Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World, eyanyatheliswa ngo-1877 nguN. H. Barbour ebambisene noC. T. Russell, yabhekisela esiphethweni esifanayo. Ngakho-ke, omagazini bokuqala (besiNgisi) INqabayokulinda, njengoka-December 1879 noka-July 1880, badonsela ukunakekela ku-1914 C.E. njengowunyaka obaluleke kakhulu ngokombono wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Ngo-1889 sonke isahluko sesine soMqulu II we-Millennial Dawn (kamuva eyabizwa ngokuthi i-Studies in the Scriptures) sasixoxa kuphela ‘ngeZikhathi Zabezizwe.’ Kodwa lokho kuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe kwakuyosho ukuthini?

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babengaqiniseki ngokugcwele ukuthi kwakuzokwenzekani. Babeqiniseka ukuthi kwakungeke kuphumele ekushisweni komhlaba nasekubhujisweni kokuphila kwabantu. Kunalokho, babazi ukuthi kwakuyophawula inkathi ebalulekile ebukhosini baphezulu. Ekuqaleni, bacabanga ukuthi ngalesosikhathi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyobe usubusa ngokugcwele, endaweni yonke. Lapho lokho kungenzeki, ukuthembela kwabo eziprofethweni zeBhayibheli ezaziphawula leyonkathi akuzange kuntengantenge. Kunalokho, baphetha ngokuthi lesikhathi samane saphawula isiqalo sokubusa koMbuso.

Ngokufanayo, baqale bacabanga nokuthi zaziyokwandulela lesosikhathi izinkinga zembulunga yonke ezaziyofinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokuphela kwayo yonke imibuso yezombangazwe (ababecabanga ukuthi kwakuyohlanganiswa nempi ‘yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’). (IsAm. 16:14) Kodwa-ke, eminyakeni eyishumi ngaphambi kuka-1914, INqabayokulinda yasikisela ukuthi inxushunxushu emhlabeni wonke eyayiyophumela ekubhujisweni kwezinhlangano zabantu yayiyoba khona ngokushesha ngemva kokuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe. Babelindele ukuba unyaka ka-1914 uphawule inkathi ebalulekile yenguquko ngeJerusalema, ngoba isiprofetho sasithe ‘iJerusalema laliyonyathelwa phansi’ kuze kugcwaliseke iZikhathi Zabezizwe. Lapho bebona u-1914 esondela nokho bengafanga njengabantu futhi bengazange ‘bahlwithelwe emafwini’ ukuze bahlangabeze iNkosi—ngokuvumelana nalokho ababekulindele—babethemba ngobuqotho ukuthi lolushintsho lwaluyokwenzeka kubo ekupheleni kweZikhathi Zabezizwe.—1 Thes. 4:17.

Njengoba iminyaka idlula futhi beyihlaziya ngokuphindaphindiwe imiBhalo, ukholo lwabo eziprofethweni lwahlala luqinile, futhi abazange bazindele ekukhulumeni ngalokho ababelindele ukuba kwenzeke. Ngamazinga ahlukahlukene empumelelo, bazama ukugwema ukukhuluma ngokuqiniseka ngemininingwane engashiwongo ngokuqondile emiBhalweni.

Ingabe ‘Iwashi’ Lasheshe Lakhala?

Yaba khona ngempela inxushunxushu emhlabeni ngo-1914 ngokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe I, leyo eminyakeni eminingi eyayibizwa nje ngokuthi iMpi Enkulu, kodwa ayizange ngokushesha iholele ekugumbuqelweni kwayo yonke imibuso yabantu eyayikhona. Njengoba kwakwenzeka izenzakalo ezihlobene nePalestine ngo-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bacabanga ukuthi babebona ubufakazi bezinguquko ezinkulu ezenzeka e-Israel. Kodwa kwadlula izinyanga neminyaka, abaFundi BeBhayibheli abazange bawuthole umvuzo wabo wasezulwini njengoba babelindele. Basabela kanjani kulokho?

INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-February 1, 1916, yadonsela ukunakekela ngokukhethekile ku-October 1, 1914, yayisithi: “Lesi kwakuyisikhathi sokugcina ukubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kweBhayibheli okwasibonisa sona ngokuphathelene neBandla. Ingabe iNkosi yayishilo ukuthi sasizoyiswa lapho [ezulwini]? Cha. Yayitheni? IZwi layo kanye nokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho kwabonakala kuveza ngokunembile ukuthi lesikhathi saphawula ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe. Saqagela ngokusekelwe kulokhu ukuthi ‘ukushintsha’ kweBandla kwakuyokwenzeka ngalesosikhathi noma ngaphambi kwaso. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wayengazange asitshele ukuthi kwakuyoba njalo. Wasivumela ukuba senze lokho kuqagela; futhi sikholelwa ukuthi kuye kwaba uvivinyo oludingekayo kwabangcwele bakaNkulunkulu abathandekayo abakuyo yonke indawo.” Kodwa ingabe lezenzakalo zabonisa ukuthi ithemba labo elikhazimulayo lalibe yize? Cha. Zamane zasho ukuthi akukhona konke okwakwenzeka ngokushesha njengoba babelindele.

Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kuka-1914, uRussell wayeye wabhala: “Ukubalwa kwezikhathi zezenzakalo (zonke iziprofetho eziphathelene nezikhathi) ngokusobala kwakungahloselwe ukunikeza abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukwaziswa okunembile okuphathelene nokubalwa kwezikhathi zezenzakalo phakathi nawo wonke amakhulu eminyaka. Ngokusobala kuhloselwe ikakhulukazi ukuba kusebenze njengewashi elikhalayo lokuvusa nelokwenza abantu beNkosi babe nomfutho ngesikhathi esifanele. . . . Ngokwesibonelo, ake sithi lowo-October, 1914, uyadlula kungenzeki ukuwa kombuso wabeZizwe okungathi sína. Yini lokhu okuyoyifakazela noma kuyibonise ingamanga? Kwakungeke kusibonise singamanga noma isiphi isici seCebo Laphezulu Lamandulo. Inani lesihlengo elakhokhwa eGolgotha liyolokhu liyisiqinisekiso sokuthi ekugcineni sizogcwaliseka iSimiso esikhulu saPhezulu sokubuyiselwa kwesintu. ‘Ubizo lwaphezulu’ lweBandla lokuba lihlupheke noMhlengi nokuba likhazinyuliswe naye njengamalungu akhe noma njengoMlobokazi wakhe ngeke lushintshe. . . . Okuwukuphela kwento eyothinteka ngenxa yokubalwa kwezikhathi zezenzakalo kuyoba isikhathi sokugcwaliswa kwalamathemba akhazimulayo eBandla kanye nezwe. . . . Futhi uma lesosikhathi sidlula siyomane sibonise ukuthi ukubala kwethu izikhathi, ‘iwashi’ lethu liye lakhala ngaphambili kancane kwesikhathi. Ingabe besingakubheka njengenhlekelele enkulu uma iwashi lethu belingasivusa emizuzwini embalwa kusengaphambili ekuseni ngosuku oluthile olukhulu lwenjabulo nentokozo? Ngokuqinisekile akunjalo!”

Kodwa akukhona ukuthi ‘lelowashi’ lalisheshe lakhala. Eqinisweni, kwakuyizenzakalo “iwashi” elalibavusele zona ezazingekhona lokho ababekulindele ngempela.

Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, lapho ukukhanya sekwande kakhudlwana, bavuma: “Abaningi babangcwele abathandekayo babecabanga ukuthi wonke umsebenzi wawusufeziwe. . . . Babejabula ngobufakazi obucacile bokuthi izwe lase liphelile, ukuthi umbuso wezulu wawuseduze, nokuthi usuku lokusindiswa kwabo lwalusondela. Kodwa babengazange banake okunye okwakusamelwe kwenziwe. Izindaba ezinhle ababezitholile kwakumelwe zitshelwe abanye; ngoba uJesu wayeyalile: ‘Lelivangeli lombuso liyakushunyayelwa ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke: khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.’ (Mathewu 24:14)”—INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi), May 1, 1925.

Njengoba izenzakalo ezalandela u-1914 zaziqala ukwenzeka, futhi abaFundi BeBhayibheli beziqhathanisa nalokho okwakubikezelwe iNkosi, kancane kancane baqaphela ukuthi babephila ezinsukwini zokugcina zesimiso esidala nokuthi bekulokhu kunjalo kusukela ngo-1914. Baqonda nokuthi kwakungonyaka ka-1914 lapho ukuba khona kukaKristu okungabonakali kwaqala khona nokuthi lokhu kwakungenzekanga ngokubuya kwakhe siqu (ngisho nangokungabonakali) emhlabeni, kodwa kwaqala ngokuphendulela ukunakekela kwakhe emhlabeni njengeNkosi ebusayo. Bawubona futhi bawamukela umthwalo wemfanelo obalulekile ababenawo wokumemezela “lelivangeli lombuso” ukuze kube ubufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe phakathi nalesikhathi esibucayi somlando wesintu.—Math. 24:3-14.

Sasiyini ngempela isigijimi esiphathelene noMbuso okwakumelwe basishumayele? Ingabe sasihlukile esigijimini samaKristu ekhulu lokuqala?

UMbuso KaNkulunkulu, Okuwukuphela Kwethemba Lesintu

Ngenxa yokuhlolisisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu, abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababehlanganyela noMfoweth’ uRussell baqonda ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawunguhulumeni uJehova ayethembise ukuthi uzowumisa ngeNdodana yakhe ukuze kubusiswe isintu. UJesu Kristu, ezulwini, wayeyoba ‘nomhlambi omncane’ okhethwe uNkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu ukuba uhlanganyele naye njengababusi. Baqonda ukuthi lohulumeni wawuyomelelwa amadoda athembekile asendulo ayeyokhonza njengezikhulu emhlabeni wonke. Lamadoda ayebizwa ngokuthi “abafanelekayo basendulo.”—Luka 12:32; Dan. 7:27; IsAm. 20:6; IHu. 45:16.

ELobukholwa kwase kuyisikhathi eside lifundisa ‘ngegunya laphezulu lamakhosi,’ ukuze ligcine abantu bethotshisiwe. Kodwa labaFundi BeBhayibheli babona ngokusuka emiBhalweni ukuthi ikusasa lohulumeni babantu lalingaqinisekisiwe nganoma isiphi isiqinisekiso saphezulu. Ngokuvumelana nalokho ababekufunda, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-December 1881 yathi: “Ukumiswa kwalombuso eqinisweni, kuyohilela ukugumbuqelwa kwayo yonke imibuso yomhlaba, njengoba yonke—ngisho nengcono kakhulu kuyo—isekelwe ekungabini nabulungisa namalungelo angalingani kanye nokucindezelwa kwabaningi nokuthandwa kwabambalwa—njengoba sifunda: ‘Uyochoboza uqede yonke lemibuso, wona uqobo ume phakade.’”—Dan. 2:44.

Ngokuqondene nendlela leyomibuso ecindezelayo eyochotshozwa ngayo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli kwakusadingeka bafunde okuningi. Babengakayiqondi ngokucacile indlela izinzuzo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu eziyodluliselwa ngayo kuso sonke isintu. Kodwa babengahlanganisi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nomuzwa ongachazeki osenhliziyweni yomuntu noma nokubusa kwesigaba esithile esingokwenkolo esasisebenzisa uMbuso wezwe njengenxusa laso.

Ngo-1914, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile zangaphambi kobuKristu zazingazange zivuselwe emhlabeni njengabameleli abayizikhulu zoMbuso WobuMesiya, njengoba ekuqaleni kwakulindelwe ukuba kube njalo, futhi abasele ‘bomhlambi omncane’ babengazange bahlangane noKristu eMbusweni wasezulwini ngalowonyaka. Nokho, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-February 15, 1915, ngokuqiniseka yathi u-1914 wawuyisikhathi esifanele “sokuba iNkosi yethu ithathe amandla aYo amakhulu futhi ibuse,” kanjalo kuphele izinkulungwane zeminyaka yokubusa kwabeZizwe ezingazange ziphazanyiswe. Kumagazini ka-July 1, 1920, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yaphinde yaqinisekisa lowombono futhi yawuhlanganisa nezindaba ezinhle uJesu ayebikezele ukuthi ziyomenyezelwa emhlabeni wonke ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela. (Math. 24:14) Emhlanganweni wabaFundi BeBhayibheli owawuseCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1922, lokhu kuqonda kwabuye kwashiwo ezwini lesinqumo elamukelwa yiwo wonke umuntu, futhi uMfoweth’ uRutherford wanxusa ababeze emhlanganweni: “Memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi nombuso wayo.”

Nokho, ngalesosikhathi abaFundi BeBhayibheli babenomuzwa wokuthi ukuhlelwa koMbuso, ukumiswa kwawo ngokugcwele ezulwini, kwakungeke kwenzeke kuze kube yilapho amalungu okugcina omlobokazi kaKristu esekhazinyulisiwe. Ngakho-ke, kwafinyelelwa ingqopha-mlando yangempela ngo-1925, lapho INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-March 1 ikhipha isihloko esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe.” Yanikeza ukuhlaziya okuhluba udlubu ekhasini ngesAmbulo isahluko 12. Lesihloko saveza ubufakazi bokuthi uMbuso WobuMesiya wawuzelwe—umisiwe—ngo-1914, ukuthi uKristu wayeqale ngalesosikhathi ukubusa esesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi sasezulwini, nokuthi ngemva kwalokho uSathane wayeye wakhishwa ezulwini walahlelwa emhlabeni. Lezi kwakuyizindaba ezinhle okwakumelwe zimenyezelwe, izindaba zokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawusubusa kakade. Yeka indlela lokhu kuqonda okukhanyisiwe okwabashukumisa ngayo labamemezeli boMbuso ukuba bashumayele nasemajukujukwini omhlaba!

Ngazo zonke izindlela ezifanelekayo, abantu bakaJehova banikeza ubufakazi bokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuphela ongaletha impumuzo ehlala njalo futhi uxazulule izinkinga ezigxilile ezihlupha isintu. Ngo-1931 lesigijimi saqokonyiswa emsakazweni nguJ. F. Rutherford esimisweni sokusakaza sezwe lonke esifinyelela kude esizidlula zonke ezake zasakaza. Umongo waleyonkulumo eyasakazwa wabuye wanyatheliswa ngezilimi eziningi encwajaneni ethi Umubuso Itemba Lomhlaba—leyo izigidi zamakhophi ayo zasakazwa ezinyangeni ezimbalwa. Ngaphezu kokusakazwa kabanzi emphakathini, kwenziwa umzamo okhethekile wokwenza lamakhophi afinyelele kwabezombangazwe, osomabhizinisi abavelele, nabefundisi.

Phakathi kwezinye izinto, lencwajana yathi: “Ohulumeni bezwe abangalungile abakhona manje alikho ithemba abangalinikeza abantu. Isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu ngokumelene nabo sithi kumelwe babhujiswe. Ngakho-ke, ithemba lomhlaba, nokuwukuphela kwalo, liwumbuso wokulunga noma uhulumeni kaNkulunkulu noKristu Jesu njengoMbusi wawo ongabonakali.” Baqaphela ukuthi lowoMbuso wawuyoletha ukuthula nokulondeka esintwini. Ngaphansi kokubusa kwawo umhlaba wawuyoba ipharadesi langempela, futhi ukugula nokufa ngeke kube khona.—IsAm. 21:4, 5.

Izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ziyaqhubeka ziyisisekelo sezinkolelo zoFakazi BakaJehova. Kusukela koka-March 1, 1939, umagazini wabo oyinhloko, manje onyatheliswa ngezilimi ezingaphezu kwezingu-110, uye waba nesihloko esithi INqabayokulinda Ememezela UMbuso KaJehova.

Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba ukubusa koMbuso kushintshe lomhlaba ube ipharadesi, isimiso esibi samanje kuyomelwe siphele. Kuyofezwa kanjani lokho?

IMpi Yosuku Olukhulu LukaNkulunkulu UMninimandla Onke

Impi yezwe eyaqala ngo-1914 yazamazamisa isimiso sezinto esasikhona ngendlela eyasongela ukuba khona kwaso. Isikhathi esithile kwabonakala sengathi izenzakalo zazizokwenzeka ngendlela abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababeyilindele.

Emuva ngo-August 1880, uMfoweth’ uRussell wayeye wabhala: “Siyaqonda ukuthi ngaphambi kokuba umkhaya wesintu ubuyiselwe noma uqale ngisho nokubusiswa, imibuso yomhlaba ekhona manje ebophe futhi yacindezela isintu iyogumbuqelwa yonke nokuthi umbuso kaNkulunkulu uyoqala ukulawula nokuthi isibusiso kanye nokubuyiselwa kuzolethwa umbuso omusha.” Kwakuyokwenzeka kanjani lokho ‘kugumbuqelwa kwemibuso’? Ngenxa yezimo ayezibona emhlabeni ngalesosikhathi, uRussell wakholelwa ukuthi phakathi nempi ye-Armagedoni, uNkulunkulu wayeyosebenzisa amaqembu esintu alwayo ukuze agumbuqele izinhlangano ezikhona. Wathi: “Umsebenzi wokubhubhisa umbuso womuntu uyaqala. Amandla azowugumbuqela manje aseyasebenza. Abantu kakade sebehlela amabutho abo ngamagama okuthi amaKhomanisi, abeSimiso Sokusebenzela Uhulumeni, amaNihilist, nokunye.”

Incwadi ethi The Day of Vengeance (kamuva eyabizwa ngokuthi i-Battle of Armageddon), eyanyatheliswa ngo-1897, yaningiliza ngendlela abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngalesosikhathi ababeyiqonda ngayo lendaba, ithi: “INkosi, ngesiqondiso sayo esinamandla, iyolawula lelibutho elinganeliseki—abashisekela izwe, abagqugquzela izinguquko, abasekela isimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni, abakhathalela kakhulu izimiso zokuziphatha, abakhuthaza ukuzibhubhisa, abangazi nabangenathemba—futhi isebenzise amathemba alelibutho, ukwesaba, izenzo zobuwula kanye nobugovu, ngokuvumelana nokuhlakanipha kwayo kwaphezulu, ukuze ifeze izinjongo zayo siqu ezinhle ekugumbuqeleni izinhlangano ezikhona, nasekulungiseleleni umuntu uMbuso Wokulunga.” Ngakho babecabanga ukuthi impi ye-Armagedoni yayihlangene nokuvukela komphakathi kobudlova.

Kodwa ingabe i-Armagedoni yayiyomane ibe impi ephakathi kwamaqembu esintu alwayo, ukuvukela komphakathi okusetshenziswa uNkulunkulu ukuze agumbuqele izinhlangano ezikhona? Njengoba imibhalo ekhuluma ngalendaba yanakekelwa ngokwengeziwe, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July 15, 1925, yadonsela ukunakekela kuZakariya 14:1-3 futhi yathi: “Ngalokhu singaqonda ukuthi zonke izizwe zomhlaba, ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaSathane, ziyobuthwa ukuba zilwe nesigaba seJerusalema, okusho, labo abathatha ukuma kwabo ngasohlangothini lweNkosi . . . IsAmbulo 16:14, 16.”

Ngonyaka olandelayo, encwadini ethi Deliverance, kwagxiliswa ukunakekela enjongweni yangempela yalempi, ngokuthi: “Manje uJehova, ngokuvumelana neZwi lakhe, uyobonisa amandla akhe ngokucacile nangokuqondile ukuze abantu babone ukuthi inkambo yabo ingeyokungamesabi uNkulunkulu futhi baqonde ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu. Leso kwakuyisizathu esenza uNkulunkulu waletha uzamcolo omkhulu, wadiliza uMbhoshongo WaseBabele, wabhubhisa ibutho likaSaneheribi inkosi yase-Asiriya, futhi washwabadela abaseGibithe; futhi kuyisizathu sokuthi kungani ezoletha enye inhlupho enkulu phezu komhlaba. Izinhlekelele zangaphambili zazimane ziyizandulela zaleyo esongelayo manje. Lokhu kuwukubuthelwa osukwini olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. ‘Luwusuku olukhulu nolwesabekayo lweNkosi’ (Joweli 2:31), uNkulunkulu ayozenzela ngalo igama. Kulempi enkulu neyokugcina abantu bazo zonke izizwe, imindeni nezilimi bayokwazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu onawo wonke amandla, nakho konke ukuhlakanipha futhi olungile.” Kodwa izinceku zikaJehova emhlabeni zaxwayiswa: “Phakathi nalempi enkulu akekho umKristu oyogadla. Isizathu sokuba bangenzi kanjalo siwukuthi uJehova uthe: ‘Ngokuba impi ayisiyo eyenu, kodwa ekaNkulunkulu.’” Impi okwakukhulunywa ngayo lapha ngokuqinisekile kwakungeyona eyayilwiwa phakathi kwezizwe, kusukela ngo-1914. Yayisazofika.

Kwakusenezinye izinkinga ezazidinga ukuxazululwa ngesisekelo semiBhalo. Enye yalezinkinga yayihilela ukuchaza iJerusalema okwakumelwe linyathelwe kuze kuphele iZikhathi Zabezizwe, njengoba kushiwo kuLuka 21:24; futhi okuhlobene nalokhu kwakuwukubona ukuthi ungubani u-Israyeli okukhulunywa ngaye eziprofethweni eziningi kangaka zokubuyiselwa.

Ingabe UNkulunkulu Wayezobuyisela AmaJuda EPalestine?

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babezazi kahle iziprofetho eziningi zokubuyiselwa ezadluliselwa abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu ku-Israyeli wasendulo. (Jer. 30:18; 31:8-10; Amose 9:14, 15; Roma 11:25, 26) Kuze kube ngo-1932, babecabanga ukuthi leziziprofetho zazisebenza ngokukhethekile kumaJuda emvelo. Ngakho, babekholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezophinde abonise u-Israyeli umusa, kancane kancane abuyisele amaJuda ePalestine, awabonise iqiniso ngoJesu njengoMhlengi neNkosi enguMesiya, futhi awasebenzise njengamanxusa okudlulisela izibusiso kuzo zonke izizwe. Enalokhu kuqonda, uMfoweth’ uRussell wakhuluma nezihlwele zezilaleli ezingamaJuda eNew York naseYurophu ngesihloko esithi “UbuZiyoni Esiprofethweni,” futhi uMfoweth’ uRutherford, ngo-1925, wabhala incwadi ethi Comfort for the Jews.

Kodwa kancane kancane kwaba sobala ukuthi okwakwenzeka ePalestine ngokuqondene namaJuda kwakungekhona ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zikaJehova ezinhle zokubuyiselwa. Ukuchithwa kwafikela iJerusalema lekhulu lokuqala ngoba amaJuda ayenqabe iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uMesiya, eyayithunywe egameni likaJehova. (Dan. 9:25-27; Math. 23:38, 39) Kwakuba sobala ngokuqhubekayo ukuthi njengabantu ayengasishintshile isimo sawo sengqondo. Ayengaphendukile esenzweni esingalungile esenziwa okhokho bawo. Ukubuyela kwamanye ePalestine kwakungashukunyiselwa neze uthando ngoNkulunkulu noma isifiso sokuba igama lakhe likhuliswe ngokugcwaliseka kweZwi lakhe. Lokhu kwachazwa ngokucacile emqulwini wesibili we-Vindication, eyakhishwa i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ngo-1932.k Ukunemba kwalombono kwaqinisekiswa ngo-1949, lapho uMbuso Wase-Israel, owawusanda kumiswa njengezwe nanjengekhaya lamaJuda, uba ilungu leZizwe Ezihlangene, kanjalo ubonisa ukuthi wawungathembele kuJehova kodwa ezizweni zezombangazwe zezwe.

Lokho okwakwenzeka lapho kugcwaliseka lezoziprofetho zokubuyiselwa kwabonisa okuthile okuhlukile. Izinceku zikaJehova zaqaphela ukuthi kwakungu-Israyeli ongokomoya, “uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu,” owakhiwa amaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya, lawo, ekugcwalisekeni kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu, ayejabulela ukuthula noNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu. (Gal. 6:16) Manje amehlo azo ayevulekile ukuze, ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayesebenzelana ngayo namaKristu anjalo eqiniso, zibone ukugcwaliseka okumangalisayo okungokomoya kwezithembiso zokubuyiselwa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi zaqaphela futhi ukuthi iJerusalema elaphakanyiswa ngasekupheleni kweZikhathi Zabezizwe lalingewona nje umuzi wasemhlabeni, noma ngisho nabantu abasemhlabeni ababemelelwa yilowomuzi, kodwa, kunalokho, “iJerusalema lasezulwini,” lapho uJehova amisa khona iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, inegunya lokubusa ngo-1914.—Heb. 12:22.

Njengoba lezizindaba zase zikhanya, oFakazi BakaJehova base besethubeni elingcono lokusifeza ngokungakhethi kunoma yiliphi iqembu isabelo sokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso “ezweni lonke, kube-ngubufakazi ezizweni zonke.”—Math. 24:14.

Ngubani okufanele anikezwe udumo ngazo zonke lezincazelo zeBhayibheli eziye zavela ezincwadini ze-Watch Tower?

Izindlela Izinceku ZikaJehova Ezifundiswa Ngayo

UJesu Kristu wabikezela ukuthi ngemva kokubuyela kwakhe ezulwini, wayezothumelela abafundi bakhe umoya ongcwele. Lomoya wawuzoba umsizi, owayezobaqondisa “kulo lonke iqiniso.” (Joh. 14:26; 16:7, 13) UJesu wabuye wathi futhi njengeNkosi noma uMphathi wamaKristu eqiniso, wayezoba ‘nenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,’ “umphathi othembekileyo,” owayezonikeza abendlu, izisebenzi zendlu yokholo, “ukudla” okungokomoya “ngesikhathi sakho.” (Math. 24:45-47; Luka 12:42) Ingubani lenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo?

INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yokuqala ngqá yabhekisela kuMathewu 24:45-47 lapho ithi injongo yabanyathelisi balowomagazini yayiwukuqaphela izenzakalo eziphathelene nokuba khona kukaKristu nokunikeza abendlu yokholo “inyama” engokomoya “ngesikhathi esifanele.” Kodwa umhleli walomagazini wayengasho neze ukuthi uyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, noma “inceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile” (ngokwendlela i-King James Version ehumusha ngayo).

Ngakho, kumagazini (wesiNgisi) ka-October-November 1881, uC. T. Russell wathi: “Sikholelwa ukuthi wonke amalungu alomzimba kaKristu ahilelekile emsebenzini obusisekile, ngokuqondile noma ngokungaqondile, wokunikeza abendlu yokholo inyama ngesikhathi esifanele. ‘Ingubani-ke leyonceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile iNkosi yayo eyenze yaba umbusi phezu kwabendlu yayo,’ ukuze ibanikeze inyama ngesikhathi esifanele? Ingabe akuwona yini ‘lowomhlambi omncane’ wezinceku ezigcotshiwe ezifeza ngokwethembeka izifungo zazo zokuzinikezela—indikimba kaKristu—futhi ingabe yonke lendikimba njengabantu ngabanye nanjengeqembu, ayibanikezi abendlu yokholo—iqembu elikhulu labakholwayo—inyama ngesikhathi esifanele? Ibusisiwe leyonceku (yonke indikimba kaKristu) okuyothi lapho iNkosi yayo isifikile (ngesiGre. elthon) iyithole yenza njalo. ‘Ngiqinisile, ngithi kini, iyoyenza umbusi phezu kwayo yonke impahla yayo.’”

Nokho, eminyakeni eyishumi kamuva umkaMfoweth’ uRussell wazwakalisa obala umqondo wokuthi uRussell ngokwakhe owayeyinceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile.l Umbono ayewuzwakalisile ngokuqondene nokuthi ingubani ‘inceku ethembekileyo’ wamukelwa abaFundi BeBhayibheli abaningi iminyaka engaba ngu-30. UMfoweth’ uRussell akazange awenqabe lombono wabo, kodwa wakugwema ukuwusebenzisa ngaleyondlela lowombhalo, egcizelela ukumelana kwakhe nombono wokuthi yisigaba sabefundisi esithunywe ukuba sifundise ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu kuyilapho isigaba sabantu abavamile singenakho lokho kuthunywa. Ukuqonda okwavezwa uMfoweth’ uRussell ngo-1881 kokuthi inceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile empeleni yayiyinceku eyakhiwa abantu abaningi, ehlanganisa wonke amalungu endikimba kaKristu egcotshwe ngomoya emhlabeni, kwaqinisekiswa ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-February 15, 1927.—Qhathanisa no-Isaya 43:10.

UMfoweth’ uRussell wayeyibheka kanjani indima yakhe siqu? Ingabe wathi wayethole isambulo esithile esikhethekile esivela kuNkulunkulu? Ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July 15, 1906 (ikhasi 229), uRussell ngokuthobeka waphendula: “Cha, bafowethu abathandekayo, angisho ukuthi ngiphakeme, noma nginamandla angaphezu kwawemvelo, isithunzi noma igunya; futhi angifuni ukuziphakamisa emehlweni abafowethu bendlu yokholo, ngikwenza ngomqondo wokuthi iNkosi yanxusa, ithi, ‘Ofuna ukuba [mkhulu] phakathi kwenu makabe-inceku yenu.’ (Math. 20:27.) . . . Amaqiniso engiwavezayo, njengomlomo kaNkulunkulu, awazange embulwe ngemibono noma ngamaphupho, noma ngezwi likaNkulunkulu elizwakalayo, noma kanye kanye, kodwa kancane kancane . . . Futhi lokhu kwambuleka okucacile kweqiniso akubangelwa ukuhlakanipha noma ukukhalipha kwengqondo yomuntu, kodwa kubangelwa iqiniso elisobala lokuthi kufike isikhathi esifanele sikaNkulunkulu; futhi ukuba angizange ngikhulume, futhi langatholakala elinye inxusa, amatshe ayezomemeza.”

Abafundi be-Nqabayokulinda bakhuthazwa ukuba babheke kuJehova njengoMfundisi wabo oMkhulu, njengoba kwenza bonke oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla. (Isaya 30:20, NW) Lokhu kwagcizelelwa ngokuqinile ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-November 1, 1931, esihlokweni esithi “Abafundisiweyo BakaNkulunkulu,” esathi: ‘INqabayokulinda ibheka iqiniso njengelikaJehova, hhayi elanoma yisiphi esinye isidalwa. INqabayokulinda ayilona ithuluzi lanoma imuphi umuntu noma iqembu labantu, futhi ayinyatheliswa ngenxa yokuthatheka kwabantu. . . . UJehova uNkulunkulu unguMfundisi omkhulu wabantwana bakhe. Eqinisweni, ukusakazwa kwalamaqiniso kwenziwa abantu abangaphelele, futhi ngenxa yalesizathu awekho esimweni esiphelele ngempela; kodwa abekwa ngendlela ebonisa iqiniso likaNkulunkulu alifundisa abantwana bakhe.”

Ekhulwini lokuqala, lapho kuphakama imibuzo ngokuphathelene nemfundiso noma inqubo ethile, yayiqondiswa endikimbeni ebusayo eyinhloko eyayakhiwa amadoda amadala ngokomoya. Izinqumo zazenziwa ngemva kokucabangela lokho okwakushiwo imiBhalo ephefumlelwe kanye nobufakazi bomsebenzi owawuvumelana naleyomiBhalo futhi owawuchuma ngenxa yokusebenza komoya ongcwele. Izinqumo zazidluliselwa emabandleni zibhaliwe. (IzE. 15:1–16:5) Leyonqubo efanayo iyasebenza phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova namuhla.

Imfundo engokomoya inikezwa ngezihloko zomagazini, izincwadi, izimiso zomhlangano, nezinhlaka zezinkulumo zebandla—zonke ezilungiselelwa ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo yenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo. Ezikuqukethe kubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi lokho uJesu akubikezela kuyenzeka namuhla—ukuthi unaso ngempela, isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo esikufundisa ngokwethembeka ‘konke ayala ngakho’; ukuthi lelinxusa ‘liqaphile,’ liphaphamele izenzakalo ezigcwalisa isiprofetho seBhayibheli futhi ikakhulukazi esiphathelene nokuba khona kukaKristu; ukuthi lisiza abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu ukuba baqonde lokho okuhilelekile ‘ekugcineni’ izinto uJesu ayala ngazo futhi kanjalo kubonise ukuthi bangabafundi bakhe ngempela.—Math. 24:42; 28:20; Joh. 8:31, 32.

Ngokuqhubekayo, eminyakeni edlule, kuye kwayekwa imikhuba okwakungenzeka iholele ekudonseleni ukunakekela okungadingekile kubantu abathile ngokuqondene nokulungiselelwa kokudla okungokomoya. Kwehle kuze kube sekufeni kukaC. T. Russell, igama lakhe njengomhleli lalibhalwa cishe kubo bonke omagazini be-Nqabayokulinda. Amagama noma izinhlamvu eziyiziqalo zamagama abanye ababenengxenye ekwazisweni ngokuvamile kwakuvela ekupheleni kwezihloko ababezilungiselelile. Khona-ke, kusukela kumagazini ka-December 1, 1916, esikhundleni sokuveza igama lomuntu oyedwa njengomhleli, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yabhala amagama ekomiti yabahleli. Kumagazini (wesiNgisi) ka-October 15, 1931, ngisho naloluhlu lwasuswa, futhi lwathathelwa indawo u-Isaya 54:13. Njengoba ecashunwa kuyi-American Standard Version, ufundeka kanje: “Futhi bonke abantwana bakho bayoba abafundisiweyo bakaJehova; futhi ukuthula kwabantwana bakho kuyoba kukhulu.” Kusukela ngo-1942 bekulokhu kungumthetho owamukelwayo ukuba izincwadi ezinyatheliswa i-Watch Tower Society zingadonseli ukunakekela kunoma imuphi umuntu njengomlobi.a Ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNdikimba Ebusayo, amaKristu azinikezele eNyakatho naseNingizimu Melika, eYurophu, e-Afrika, e-Asia, naseziqhingini zolwandle aye aba nengxenye ekulungiselelweni kokwaziswa okunjalo ukuze kusetshenziswe emabandleni oFakazi BakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Kodwa lonke udumo lunikezwa uJehova uNkulunkulu.

Ukukhanya Kukhanya Nangokwengeziwe

Njengoba umlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla ubonisa, okuhlangenwe nakho koFakazi BakaJehova kunjengalokho okuchazwe kuzAga 4:18: “Umkhondo wabalungileyo unjengokukhanya kokusa okuqhubeka ngokukhanya njalo kuze kube-semini.” Ukukhanya kwalokukhanya kuye kwaba okuqhubekayo, njengoba nje ukukhanya kwasentathakusa kulandelwa ukuphuma kwelanga nokukhanya okuphelele kosuku olusha. Njengoba babebheka izindaba ngokukhanya okwakukhona, ngezinye izikhathi baye baba nemibono engaphelele, nenganembile. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi babengazama kangakanani, babevele bahluleke ukuqonda iziprofetho ezithile kuze kube yilapho ziqala ukugcwaliseka. Njengoba uJehova eye wanikeza ukukhanya okwengeziwe eZwini lakhe ngomoya wakhe, izinceku zakhe bezilokhu zizimisele ngokuzithoba ukwenza ukulungisa okudingekile.

Ukuqonda okunjalo okuqhubekayo akugcinanga enkathini esekuqaleni yomlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla. Kuyaqhubeka kuze kube manje. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1962 kwenziwa ukulungisa ekuqondeni ngokuphathelene ‘namagunya aphakeme’ akwabaseRoma 13:1-7.—NW.

Iminyaka eminingi abaFundi BeBhayibheli babefundise ukuthi “amandla aphakeme” (KJ) ayenguJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. Ngani? Ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 1 no-June 15, 1929, kwakhulunywa ngemithetho yezwe ehlukahlukene, futhi kwaboniswa ukuthi okwakuvunyelwe kwelinye izwe kwakwenqatshelwe kwelinye. Kwadonselwa nokunakekela emithethweni yezwe eyayifuna ukuba abantu benze lokho uNkulunkulu ayekwenqabela noma evimbela lokho uNkulunkulu ayeyale izinceku zakhe ukuba zikwenze. Ngenxa yesifiso sabo esiqotho sokubonisa inhlonipho ngegunya eliphakeme likaNkulunkulu, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babona sengathi “amandla aphakeme” kumelwe ukuba anguJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. Babesayihlonipha imithetho yezwe, kodwa kwakugcizelelwa kakhulu ukulalela uNkulunkulu kuqala. Leso kwakuyisifundo esibalulekile, esabaqinisa phakathi neminyaka eyalandela yenxushunxushu emhlabeni. Kodwa babengakuqondi ngokucacile lokho okwakushiwo abaseRoma 13:1-7.

Eminyakeni ethile kamuva, lombhalo wahlaziywa kabusha ngokucophelela, kanye nomongo nencazelo yawo uma kucatshangelwa lonke iBhayibheli. Ngenxa yalokho, ngo-1962 kwavunywa ukuthi “amagunya aphakeme” angababusi bezwe, kodwa ngosizo lwe-New World Translation, isimiso sokuzithoba okulinganiselwe saqondwa ngokucacile.b Lokhu akuzange kudinge ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova benze ushintsho olukhulu ezimweni zabo zengqondo ngokuqondene nohulumeni bezwe, kodwa kwalungisa ukuqonda kwabo ingxenye ebalulekile yemiBhalo. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, oFakazi ngabanye baba nethuba lokucabangela ngokucophelela ukuthi babephila yini ngokuvumelana nemithwalo yabo yemfanelo ngokuqondene noNkulunkulu kanye namagunya ezwe. Lokhu kuwaqonda ngokucacile ‘amagunya aphakeme’ kuye kwaba isivikelo koFakazi BakaJehova, ikakhulukazi kulawomazwe amagagasi obuzwe kanye nokuxokozelela inkululeko eyengeziwe kuye kwaphumela ekugqashukeni kobudlova nasekumiseni ohulumeni abasha.

Ngonyaka olandelayo, ngo-1963, kwachazwa enye indlela ekhulisiwe ‘iBabiloni Elikhulu elisebenza ngayo.’c (IsAm. 17:5) Ukubukezwa komlando wezwe nongokwenkolo kwakhomba esiphethweni sokuthi ithonya leBabiloni lasendulo alizange lingene kweLobukholwa kuphela kodwa nakuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. Ngakho iBabiloni Elikhulu labonakala liyiwo wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Ukuqaphela lokhu kuye kwenza oFakazi BakaJehova bakwazi ukusiza abantu abaningi abengeziwe, abanezizinda ezihlukahlukene, ukuba basabele emyalweni weBhayibheli: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami.”—IsAm. 18:4.

Ngempela, ukwambuleka kwezenzakalo ezabikezelwa kuyo yonke incwadi yesAmbulo kunikeze ukukhanya okukhulu okungokomoya. Ngo-1917 kwanyatheliswa ukuhlaziywa kwencwadi yesAmbulo encwadini ethi The Finished Mystery. Kodwa ‘usuku lweNkosi,’ okukhulunywa ngalo kusAmbulo 1:10, lwalusanda kuqala nje ngalesosikhathi; okuningi kwalokho okwabikezelwa kwakungakenzeki futhi kwakungaqondwa neze ngokucacile. Nokho, izenzakalo zaphakathi neminyaka eyalandela zanikeza ukukhanya okukhudlwana encazelweni yaleyongxenye yeBhayibheli, futhi lezizenzakalo zaba nomphumela omkhulu kukho kanye ukuhlaziywa okukhanyisela kakhulu kwesAmbulo okwanyatheliswa ngo-1930 emiqulwini emibili enesihloko esithi Light. Phakathi nawo-1960 okunye ukwaziswa okuthuthukisiwe kwaba sezincwadini ezithi “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules! nethi “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God.” Emashumini amabili eminyaka kamuva kwenziwa okunye ukuhlolwa okujulile kwaleyongxenye yeBhayibheli. Ulimi olungokomfanekiso lwesAmbulo lwahlaziywa ngokucophelela kucatshangelwa izinkulumo ezifanayo ezikwezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli. (1 Kor. 2:10-13) Kwabukezwa izenzakalo zekhulu lamashumi amabili njengoba zigcwalisa iziprofetho. Imiphumela yakhishwa ngo-1988 encwadini evusa amadlingozi ethi IsAmbulo—Umvuthwandaba Waso Omkhulu Useduze!

Phakathi neminyaka yokuqala yomlando wabo wosuku lwanamuhla kwabekwa izisekelo. Kwalungiselelwa ukudla okuningi okungokomoya okuwusizo kakhulu. Eminyakeni yamuva kuye kwalungiselelwa ukwaziswa okuhlukahlukene kokutadisha iBhayibheli ukuze kwaneliswe izidingo zamaKristu avuthiwe kanye nabafundi abasanda kuhlanganyela abavela ezizindeni eziningi. Ukuhlolwa okuqhubekayo kwemiBhalo, kanye nokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho saphezulu, ezimweni eziningi kuye kwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukuba izimfundiso zeBhayibheli zivezwe ngokucace ngokwengeziwe. Ngenxa yokuthi ukuhlola kwabo iZwi likaNkulunkulu kuyaqhubeka, oFakazi BakaJehova banokudla okuningi okungokomoya, njengoba nje imiBhalo yabikezela ukuthi kuyoba njalo ngezinceku zikaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 65:13, 14) Ukulungisa imibono akwenziwa ngenjongo yokwamukeleka ngokwengeziwe ezweni ngokwamukela izimiso zalo eziwohlokayo zokuziphatha. Ngokuphambene, umlando woFakazi BakaJehova ubonisa ukuthi izinguquko zenziwa ngenjongo yokunamathela ngokuseduze ngokwengeziwe eBhayibhelini, ukuze bafane kakhulu namaKristu athembekile ekhulu lokuqala, futhi ngaleyondlela bamukeleke kuNkulunkulu.

Ngakho, okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kuyavumelana nomthandazo womphostoli uPawulu, owabhalela amaKristu ayekanye nawo: ‘Asiyeki ukunikhulekela nokuninxusela ukuba nigcwaliswe ngokwazi intando yakhe ngokuhlakanipha konke nokuqonda okungokomoya, nihambe ngokufanele iNkosi, niyithokozise ngakho konke, nithela izithelo emisebenzini yonke elungileyo, nikhula [olwazini oluqondile, NW] ngoNkulunkulu.’—Kol. 1:9, 10.

Lokho kukhula olwazini oluqondile ngoNkulunkulu nakho kwakuhlobene negama labo—oFakazi BakaJehova.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 120]

UC. T. Russell wakudlulisela obala ukubonga ngosizo olwaluvela kwabanye phakathi neminyaka yakhe yokuqala yokucwaninga iBhayibheli

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 122]

Baye bazihlolela ngokwabo ubufakazi bokuthi iBhayibheli ngempela liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 123]

AbaFundi BeBhayibheli baqaphela ukuthi ubulungisa bukaNkulunkulu babulinganiswe ngokuphelele nokuhlakanipha kwakhe, amandla nothando

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 127]

URussell wakubona ngokucacile ukuthi isihogo asiyona indawo yokuhlushwa ngemva kokufa

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 129]

Abantu abaningi abanengqondo babengayikholelwa imfundiso yesihogo somlilo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 132]

Ukuma kukaRussell okuqinile ngesihlengo kwaba nemiphumela efinyelela kude

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 134]

Babona ukuthi u-1914 wawuphawulwe ngokucacile isiprofetho seBhayibheli

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 136]

Akukhona konke okwenzeka ngokushesha njengoba babelindele

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 139]

Izindaba ezinhle okwakumelwe zimenyezelwe: UMbuso kaNkulunkulu usuyabusa kakade!

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 140]

Ingabe i-Armagedoni yayiyomane ibe ukuvukela komphakathi?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 141]

Ekugcineni, ngo-1932, kwachazwa “uIsrayeli [wangempela] kaNkulunkulu”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 143]

‘Inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’—umuntu noma isigaba?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 146]

Ngokuqhubekayo, kuye kwayekwa imikhuba eyayingase idonsele ukunakekela okungadingekile kubantu abathile

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 148]

Izinguquko ezenziwayo zenziwa ngenjongo yokunamathela ngokuseduze ngokwengeziwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 124]

Ukwenza Igama LikaNkulunkulu Laziwe

◆ Kusukela ngo-1931, igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova belilokhu lisetshenziselwa ukuphawula labo abakhulekela nabakhonza uJehova njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso.

◆ Kusukela ngo-October 15, 1931 igama likaNkulunkulu uqobo, elithi Jehova, liye lavela esembozweni esingaphambili sikamagazini ngamunye we“Nqabayokulinda.”

◆ Ngesikhathi igama likaNkulunkulu likhishwa ezinguqulweni eziningi zeBhayibheli zanamuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova, ngo-1950, baqala ukunyathelisa i-“New World Translation,” eyabuyisela igama laphezulu endaweni yalo efanele.

◆ Ngaphezu kweBhayibheli ngokwalo, kunezinye izincwadi eziningi eziye zanyatheliswa i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ukuze zigxilise ukunakekela okukhethekile egameni laphezulu—ngokwesibonelo, incwadi ethi “Jehovah” (1934), “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” (1961), nethi “‘The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah’—How?” (1971), kanye nencwajana engangomagazini ethi “IGama LaPhezulu Eliyohlala Phakade” (1984).

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 126]

‘Ingabe Sizophikisa UKristu UQobo?’

Ngemva kokudalula ukungabi ngesekelwe ngokombhalo nokungabi nangqondo kwemfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu, uC. T. Russell wabonisa intukuthelo efanele lapho ebuza: “Ingabe-ke kufanele siphikise abaPhostoli nabaProfethi kanye noJesu uQobo, futhi singakunaki ukuhluzeka kwengqondo nokusebenza kwengqondo, ukuze sibambelele emfundisweni engaphikiswa esasiyinikezwa yiSonto lezihlubuki isuka esikhathini esidlule sobumnyama nokukholelwa ezeni? Lutho! ‘EMthethweni nasebufakazini! Uma bengakhulumi ngokuvumelana naleliZwi, kungenxa yokuba bengenakho ukukhanya.’”—“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi), August 15, 1915.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 133]

Iqiniso Elithuthukayo

Ngo-1882, uC. T. Russell wabhala: “IBhayibheli liwukuphela kwendinganiso yethu, futhi izimfundiso zalo ziwukuphela kwesivumo sethu sokholo, futhi njengoba siqaphela ukuqhubeka kokwambuleka kwamaqiniso angokomBhalo, sikulungele futhi sizimisele ukwenezela noma ukulungisa isivumo sethu sokholo (ukholo—inkolelo) njengoba sithola ukwanda kokukhanya kuvela eNdinganisweni yethu.”—“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi), April 1882, k. 7.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 144, 145]

Izinkolelo ZoFakazi BakaJehova

◆ IBhayibheli liyiZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. (2 Thim. 3:16, 17)

Elikuqukethe akuwona nje umlando noma umbono womuntu kodwa yizwi likaNkulunkulu, elilotshelwe ukuzuzisa thina. (2 Pet. 1:21; Roma 15:4; 1 Kor. 10:11)

◆ UJehova ungowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso. (IHu. 83:18; Dut. 4:39)

UJehova unguMdali wezinto zonke, futhi uma kunjalo, nguyena kuphela ofanelwe ukukhulekelwa. (IsAm. 4:11; Luka 4:8)

UJehova unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke, esimkweleta ukumlalela ngokugcwele. (IzE. 4:24; Dan. 4:17; IzE. 5:29)

◆ UJesu Kristu uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe yodwa, ungowukuphela komuntu owadalwa ngokuqondile uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. (1 Joh. 4:9; Kol. 1:13-16)

UJesu wayengukuqala kwendalo kaNkulunkulu; ngakho, ngaphambi kokuba akhulelwe ngunina futhi azalwe njengomuntu, uJesu wayephila ezulwini. (IsAm. 3:14; Joh. 8:23, 58)

UJesu ukhulekela uYise njengowukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso; uJesu akakaze athi uyalingana noNkulunkulu. (Joh. 17:3; 20:17; 14:28)

UJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe kobuntu okuphelele njengesihlengo sesintu. Umhlatshelo wakhe wenza ukuphila okuphakade kube nokwenzeka kubo bonke ababonisa ukholo kuwo. (Marku 10:45; Joh. 3:16, 36)

UJesu wavuswa kwabafileyo njengomuntu womoya onokungafi. (1 Pet. 3:18; Roma 6:9)

UJesu usebuyile (njengoba ephendulele ukunakekela kwakhe njengeNkosi emhlabeni) futhi ukhona njengamanje njengomoya okhazimulayo. (Math. 24:3, 23-27; 25:31-33; Joh. 14:19)

◆ USathane ‘ungumbusi [ongabonakali] walelizwe.’ (Joh. 12:31; 1 Joh. 5:19)

Ekuqaleni wayeyindodana kaNkulunkulu ephelele, kodwa wavumela ukuba imizwa yokubaluleka ikhule enhliziyweni yakhe, wanxanela ukukhulekelwa okwakungokukaJehova kuphela, futhi wayengela u-Adamu no-Eva ukuba balalele yena kunoNkulunkulu. Kanjalo wazenza waba uSathane, okusho “uMphikisi.” (Joh. 8:44; Gen. 3:1-5; qhathanisa noDuteronomi 32:4, 5; Jakobe 1:14, 15; Luka 4:5-7.)

USathane ‘udukisa izwe lonke’; yena namademoni akhe banecala ngokucindezeleka okudlangile emhlabeni kulesikhathi sokuphela. (IsAm. 12:7-9, 12)

Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esimisiwe, uSathane namademoni akhe bayobhujiswa phakade. (IsAm. 20:10; 21:8)

◆ UMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngaphansi kukaKristu uyothatha indawo yabo bonke ohulumeni babantu futhi uyoba uhulumeni owodwa phezu kwaso sonke isintu. (Dan. 7:13, 14)

Isimiso esibi samanje siyobhujiswa ngokuphelele. (Dan. 2:44; IsAm. 16:14, 16; Isaya 34:2)

UMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyobusa ngokulunga futhi uyolethela izikhonzi zawo ukuthula kwangempela. (Isaya 9:6, 7; 11:1-5; 32:17; IHu. 85:10-12)

Ababi bayonqunywa phakade, futhi abakhulekeli bakaJehova bayojabulela ukulondeka okuhlala njalo. (IzAga 2:21, 22; IHu. 37:9-11; Math. 25:41-46; 2 Thes. 1:6-9; Mika 4:3-5)

◆ Kusukela ngo-1914,d manje siphila ‘esikhathini sokuphela’ kwalelizwe elibi. (Math. 24:3-14; 2 Thim. 3:1-5; Dan. 12:4)

Phakathi nalesikhathi, kunikezwa ubufakazi ezizweni zonke; ngemva kwalokho ukuphela kuyofika, hhayi okwembulunga, kodwa okwesimiso esibi nokwabantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu. (Math. 24:3, 14; 2 Pet. 3:7; UmSh. 1:4)

◆ Yinye kuphela indlela eyisa ekuphileni; akuzona zonke izinkolo noma imikhuba engokwenkolo uNkulunkulu ayivumelayo. (Math. 7:13, 14; Joh. 4:23, 24; Efe. 4:4, 5)

Ukukhulekela kweqiniso akugcizeleli ukubukisa kwangaphandle ngemikhuba enemicikilisho kodwa kugcizelela uthando oluqotho ngoNkulunkulu, oluboniswa ngokulalela imiyalo yakhe nangothando ngomakhelwane. (Math. 15:8, 9; 1 Joh. 5:3; 3:10-18; 4:21; Joh. 13:34, 35)

Abantu bazo zonke izizwe, izinhlanga, kanye nezilimi bangamkhonza uJehova futhi bamukeleke kuye. (IzE. 10:34, 35; IsAm. 7:9-17)

Umthandazo kumelwe uqondiswe kuJehova kuphela ngoJesu; izithombe akumelwe zisetshenziswe njengezinto zokuzinikela noma ezisiza ekukhulekeleni. (Math. 6:9; Joh. 14:6, 13, 14; 1 Joh. 5:21; 2 Kor. 5:7; 6:16; Isaya 42:8)

Imikhuba yokusebenzisa imimoya kumelwe igwenywe. (Gal. 5:19-21; Dut. 18:10-12; IsAm. 21:8)

Phakathi kwamaKristu eqiniso akukho ukuhlukaniswa ngesigaba sabefundisi nabantu abavamile. (Math. 20:25-27; 23:8-12)

UbuKristu beqiniso abuhlanganisi ukugcina isabatha lamasonto onke noma ukuzivumelanisa nezinye izimfuneko zoMthetho kaMose ukuze kuzuzwe insindiso; ukwenza kanjalo bekuyoba ukunqaba uKristu, owagcwalisa uMthetho. (Gal. 5:4; Roma 10:4; Kol. 2:13-17)

Labo abaqhuba ukukhulekela kweqiniso abahlanganyeli ekuxubeni izinkolo. (2 Kor. 6:14-17; IsAm. 18:4)

Bonke abangabafundi bakaJesu ngempela bayabhapathizwa ngokucwiliswa ngokuphelele. (Math. 28:19, 20; Marku 1:9, 10; IzE. 8:36-38)

Bonke abalandela isibonelo sikaJesu futhi balalele imiyalo yakhe banikeza ubufakazi kwabanye ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 4:43; 8:1; Math. 10:7; 24:14)

◆ Ukufa kuwumphumela wokuzuza njengefa isono ku-Adamu. (Roma 5:12; 6:23)

Ekufeni, umphefumulo ngokwawo ofayo. (Hez. 18:4)

Abafileyo abazi lutho. (IHu. 146:4; UmSh. 9:5, 10)

Isihogo (iSheoli, iHayidese) siyithuna lesintu elivamile. (Jobe 14:13, “Dy”; IsAm. 20:13, 14, “KJ,” umbhalo oseceleni)

‘Ichibi lomlilo’ abantu ababi ngokungaphenduki abayiswa kulo, njengoba neBhayibheli ngokwalo lisho, lifanekisela “ukufa kwesibili,” ukufa phakade. (IsAm. 21:8)

Uvuko luyithemba ngabafileyo nakulabo abalahlekelwe abathandekayo ngokufa. (1 Kor. 15:20-22; Joh. 5:28, 29; qhathanisa noJohane 11:25, 26, 38-44; Marku 5:35-42.)

Ukufa ngenxa yesono sika-Adamu ngeke kusaba khona. (1 Kor. 15:26; Isaya 25:8; IsAm. 21:4)

◆ ‘Umhlambi omncane,’ wabangu-144 000 kuphela, oya ezulwini. (Luka 12:32; IsAm. 14:1, 3)

Laba yibo ‘abazelwe ngokusha’ njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu angokomoya. (Joh. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:3, 4)

UNkulunkulu ukhetha laba phakathi kwabo bonke abantu nezizwe ukuze babuse njengamakhosi noKristu eMbusweni. (IsAm. 5:9, 10; 20:6)

◆ Abanye uNkulunkulu abamukelayo bayophila phakade emhlabeni. (IHu. 37:29; Math. 5:5; 2 Pet. 3:13)

Umhlaba awusoze wabhujiswa noma wenziwe ungahlalwa bantu. (IHu. 104:5; Isaya 45:18)

Ngokuvumelana nenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala, wonke umhlaba uyoba ipharadesi. (Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:8, 9; Luka 23:42, 43)

Ukuze wonke umuntu ajabule kuyoba namakhaya afanelekayo kanye nenala yokudla. (Isaya 65:21-23; IHu. 72:16)

Ukugula, zonke izinhlobo zokukhubazeka, kanye nokufa imbala kuyoba izinto zesikhathi esedlule. (IsAm. 21:3, 4; Isa. 35:5, 6)

◆ Iziphathimandla zezwe kumelwe ziphathwe ngenhlonipho efanele. (Roma 13:1-7; Thithu 3:1, 2)

AmaKristu eqiniso awahlanganyeli ekuvukeleni igunya likahulumeni. (IzAga 24:21, 22; Roma 13:1)

Alalela yonke imithetho engaphikisani nomthetho kaNkulunkulu, kodwa ukulalela uNkulunkulu kuza kuqala. (IzE. 5:29)

Alingisa uJesu ngokuhlala engathathi-hlangothi ezindabeni zezwe zezombangazwe. (Math. 22:15-21; Joh. 6:15)

◆ AmaKristu kumelwe enze ngokuvumelana nezindinganiso zeBhayibheli ngokuqondene negazi kanye nokuziphatha ngokobulili. (IzE. 15:28, 29)

Ukufaka igazi emzimbeni ngomlomo noma ngemithambo kwephula umthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Gen. 9:3-6; IzE. 15:19, 20)

AmaKristu kumelwe ahlanzeke ngokokuziphatha; ukuphinga, ubufebe, nobungqingili akumelwe kube khona ekuphileni kwawo, nokudakwa noma ukusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa. (1 Kor. 6:9-11; 2 Kor. 7:1)

◆ Kubalulekile ukuba amaKristu athembeke ngokomuntu siqu ekunakekeleni imithwalo yemfanelo yasemshadweni neyomkhaya. (1 Thim. 5:8; Kol. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4)

Ukungathembeki enkulumweni, noma ebhizinisini, nangokuzenzisa, akuvumelani nokuba ngumKristu. (IzAga 6:16-19; Efe. 4:25; Math. 6:5; IHu. 26:4)

◆ Ukukhulekelwa okwamukelekayo kukaJehova kufuna ukuba simthande ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye. (Luka 10:27; Dut. 5:9)

Ukwenza intando kaJehova, kanjalo siletha udumo egameni lakhe, kuyinto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni komKristu weqiniso. (Joh. 4:34; Kol. 3:23; 1 Pet. 2:12)

Njengoba enza okuhle kubo bonke abantu ngangokunokwenzeka, amaKristu ayasiqaphela isibopho esikhethekile anaso ngokuqondene nezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezikanye nawo; ngakho usizo lwawo ngezikhathi zokugula nezenhlekelele luqondiswa kulezinceku ngokuyinhloko. (Gal. 6:10; 1 Joh. 3:16-18)

Uthando ngoNkulunkulu lufuna ukuba amaKristu eqiniso angagcini ngokulalela umyalo wakhe wokuthanda omakhelwane bawo kuphela kodwa nokuba angathandi indlela yezwe yokuphila yokuziphatha okubi neyokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. AmaKristu eqiniso awayona ingxenye yezwe ngakho ayakugwema ukuhlanganyela emisebenzini eyowenza abonakale enomoya walo. (Roma 13:8, 9; 1 Joh. 2:15-17; Joh. 15:19; Jak. 4:4)

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 121]

UC. T. Russell waqala ukunyathelisa i-“Zion’s Watch Tower” ngo-1879, lapho eneminyaka engu-27 ubudala

[Isithombe ekhasini 125]

USir Isaac Newton noHenry Grew babephakathi kwalabo abayinqaba kuqala imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu njengengasekelwe ngokombhalo

[Izithombe ekhasini 128]

Enkulumweni-mpikiswano yasobala, uRussell waveza amaphuzu okuthi abafileyo bafe ngempela, abaphili nezingelosi noma namademoni endaweni ethile yokungabi nathemba

ICarnegie Hall, e-Allegheny, ePennsylvania—lapho inkulumo-mpikiswano yayikhona

[Isithombe ekhasini 130]

URussell wahambela amadolobha amakhulu namancane ukuze akhulume lokho okuyiqiniso ngesihogo

[Isithombe ekhasini 131]

Lapho uFrederick Franz, owayengumfu-ndi waseyunivesithi, ethola iqiniso ngesimo sabafileyo, wayishintsha ngokuphelele imigomo yakhe ekuphileni

[Isithombe ekhasini 135]

Ukuthi u-1914 uwukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe kwasakazwa kabanzi abaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengakulelipheshana le-I.B.S.A. elasakazwa phakathi no-1914

[Isithombe ekhasini 137]

Ngo-1931, esebenzisa isimiso sokusakaza esizidlula zonke ezake zasakaza, uJ. F. Rutherford wabonisa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwona kuphela ongalethela isintu impumuzo ehlala njalo

Inkulumo ethi “UMbuso, Ithemba Lomhlaba,” yasakazwa eziteshini ezingu-163 ngesikhathi esisodwa futhi yaphindwa kwezinye iziteshi ezingu-340 kamuva

[Isithombe ekhasini 142]

U-A. H. Macmillan wathunyelwa ePalestine ngomkhumbi ngo-1925 ngenxa yesithakazelo esikhethekile endimeni yamaJuda ngokuqondene nesiprofetho seBhayibheli