ISahluko 21

Izinhlupho ZikaJehova KweLobukholwa

Umbono 5—IsAmbulo 8:1–9:21

Isihloko: Ukushaywa kwamacilongo ayisithupha kwayisikhombisa

Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka: Kusukela ekubekweni kukaKristu Jesu esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914 kuya osizini olukhulu

 1. Yini eyenzekayo lapho iWundlu livula uphawu lwesikhombisa?

“IMIMOYA emine” ibibanjiwe kwaze kwaba yilapho abangu-144 000 baka-Israyeli ongokomoya sebebekwe uphawu nesixuku esikhulu sesamukelwe njengesifanele ukusinda. (IsAmbulo 7:1-4, 9) Nokho, ngaphambi kokuba kusuke leso sivunguvungu esinamandla phezu komhlaba, kumelwe kwaziswe nangezahlulelo zikaJehova ezinzima ezweni likaSathane! Njengoba iWundlu livula uphawu lwesikhombisa nolokugcina, kumelwe ukuba uJohane ubheke ngesithakazelo esikhulu ukuze abone ukuthi yini ezokwembuleka. Manje uhlanganyela nathi okuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe: “Lapho [iWundlu] livula uphawu lwesikhombisa, kwathula kwathi cwaka ezulwini cishe ingxenye yehora. Ngabona izingelosi eziyisikhombisa ezima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, zanikwa amacilongo ayisikhombisa.”—IsAmbulo 8:1, 2.

Isikhathi Somthandazo Wentshiseko

 2. Yini eyenzekayo phakathi nokuthula okungokomfanekiso okuyingxenye yehora ezulwini?

² Lokhu ukuthula okuphawulekayo! Ingxenye yehora ingabonakala iyisikhathi eside uma ulindele ukuba kwenzeke okuthile. Manje, ngisho nengoma yasezulwini yokudumisa ebilokhu ishilo ayisezwakali. (IsAmbulo 4:8) Ngani? UJohane ubona isizathu embonweni: “Enye ingelosi yafika yema e-altare, iphethe isitsha sempepho segolide; yanikwa impepho eningi ukuba iyinikele kanye nemithandazo yabo bonke abangcwele e-altare legolide elaliphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi. Umusi wempepho wanyuka uphuma esandleni sengelosi kanye nemithandazo yabangcwele phambi kukaNkulunkulu.”—IsAmbulo 8:3, 4.

 3. (a) Ukushiswa kwempepho kusikhumbuzani? (b) Iyini injongo yokuthula okuyingxenye yehora ezulwini?

³ Lokhu kusikhumbuza ukuthi ngaphansi kwesimiso sezinto samaJuda, impepho yayishiswa nsuku zonke etabernakele, futhi eminyakeni eyalandela, ethempelini eJerusalema. (Eksodusi 30:1-8) Phakathi nalokho kushiswa kwempepho, ama-Israyeli angebona abapristi ayelinda ngaphandle kwendawo engcwele, ethandaza—ngokungangabazeki buthule ezinhliziyweni zawo—kuLowo umusi wempepho owawunyukela kuye. (Luka 1:10) Manje uJohane ubona okuthile okufanayo kwenzeka ezulwini. Impepho enikelwa ingelosi ihlangene “nemithandazo yabangcwele.” Eqinisweni, embonweni ongaphambili, kuthiwa impepho imelele imithandazo enjalo. (IsAmbulo 5:8; IHubo 141:1, 2) Khona-ke, ngokusobala, ukuthula okungokomfanekiso ezulwini kungokokuba kuvumele imithandazo yabangcwele emhlabeni izwakale.

 4, 5. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezingokomlando ezisisiza ukuba sazi inkathi ehambisana nokuthula okungokomfanekiso okuyingxenye yehora?

⁴ Singakwazi ukuthola ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka nini? Yebo, singakwazi, ngokuhlola umongo wendaba, kanye nezenzakalo ezingokomlando ekuqaleni kosuku lweNkosi. (IsAmbulo 1:10) Phakathi no-1918 no-1919, izenzakalo emhlabeni zavumelana ngokuphawulekayo nombono ochazwe kusAmbulo 8:1-4. Iminyaka engu-40 ngaphambi kuka-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli—njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi—babememezela ngesibindi ukuthi izikhathi zabeZizwe zaziyophela ngalowo nyaka. Izehlakalo eziwusizi zango-1914 zababonakalisa beqinisile. (Luka 21:24, iBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile; Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8) Kodwa abaningi babo babekholelwa futhi ukuthi ngo-1914 babeyothathwa kulo mhlaba bayiswe efeni labo lasezulwini. Lokho akwenzekanga. Kunalokho, phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, babekezelela isikhathi sokushushiswa okunzima. Ngo-October 31, 1916, umongameli wokuqala we-Watch Tower Society, uCharles T. Russell, washona. Kamuva, ngo-July 4, 1918, umongameli omusha, uJoseph F. Rutherford, nabanye abameleli abayisikhombisa beNhlangano bathunyelwa ejele lase-Atlanta, eGeorgia, begwetshwe ngokungeyikho iminyaka eminingi ejele.

⁵ AmaKristu aqotho esigaba sikaJohane adideka. Yini uNkulunkulu ayefuna ayenze manje? Ayothathwa nini ayiswe ezulwini? Indaba eyayinesihloko esithi “Ukuvuna Kuphelile—Yini Ezolandela?” yavela kumagazini INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-May 1, 1919. Yaveza lesi simo sokungaqiniseki futhi yakhuthaza abathembekile ukuba baqhubeke bekhuthazela, yanezela: “Sikholelwa ukuthi manje kuyiqiniso ukuthi ukuvunwa kwesigaba soMbuso sekufeziwe, ukuthi bonke abanjalo babekwe uphawu ngokufanele nokuthi umnyango usuvaliwe.” Phakathi nalesi sikhathi esinzima, imithandazo yentshiseko yesigaba sikaJohane yayenyuka, njengokungathi emusini wempepho eningi. Futhi imithandazo yabo yayizwiwa!

Ukuphonsa Umlilo Emhlabeni

 6. Yini eyenzekayo ngemva kokuthula ezulwini, futhi lokhu kuwukusabela kukuphi?

⁶ UJohane uyasitshela: “Kodwa ngaso leso sikhathi ingelosi yathatha isitsha sempepho, yasigcwalisa ngomunye womlilo wase-altare yawuphonsa emhlabeni. Kwaduma izulu kwaba khona amazwi nemibani nokuzamazama komhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 8:5) Ngemva kokuthula, kuba khona ukunyakaza okukhulu okungalindelekile! Ngokusobala lokhu kungenxa yemikhuleko yabangcwele, njengoba kubangelwa umlilo othathwe e-altare lempepho. Emuva ngo-1513 B.C.E., eNtabeni iSinayi, ukuduma nemibani, umsindo omkhulu, umlilo, nokuzamazama kwentaba kwakubonisa ukuphendulela kukaJehova ukunakekela kwakhe kubantu bakhe. (Eksodusi 19:16-20) Ngokufanayo izibonakaliso ezifanayo ezibikwa uJohane zibonisa ukunaka kukaJehova izinceku zakhe emhlabeni. Kodwa lokho uJohane akubonayo kuvezwa ngezibonakaliso. (IsAmbulo 1:1) Ngakho kumelwe uchazwe kanjani namuhla umlilo, ukuduma, amazwi, imibani, nokuzamazama komhlaba okungokomfanekiso?

 7. (a) Yimuphi umlilo ongokomfanekiso uJesu awokhela emhlabeni phakathi nenkonzo yakhe? (b) Abafowabo bakaJesu abangokomoya bawokhela kanjani umlilo kweLobukholwa?

⁷ Ngesinye isikhathi, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Ngizé ukuzokokhela umlilo emhlabeni.” (Luka 12:49) Ngempela, wawokhela umlilo. Ngokushumayela kwakhe ngentshiseko, uJesu wenza uMbuso kaNkulunkulu waba yindaba ebalulekile phambi kwamaJuda, futhi lokhu kwasusa impikiswano eshubile kuso sonke leso sizwe. (Mathewu 4:17, 25; 10:5-7, 17, 18) Ngo-1919 abafowabo bakaJesu abangokomoya emhlabeni, iqembu elincane lamaKristu agcotshiwe elalisinde ezinsukwini ezinzima zeMpi Yezwe I, bokhela umlilo ofanayo kweLobukholwa. Ngo-September wangalowo nyaka, umoya kaJehova wawubonakala ngokuphawulekayo njengoba oFakazi bakhe abathembekile babehlangene eCedar Point, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A. bevela yonke indawo. UJoseph F. Rutherford, owayesanda kukhululwa ejele futhi wonke amacala akhe ngokushesha ezosulwa, wakhuluma kulowo mhlangano ngesibindi, ethi: “Ngokulalela umyalo weNkosi yethu, futhi siqaphela ilungelo lethu nomthwalo wethu wokulwa nezikhungo zamanga ebezibambe abantu ebugqilini isikhathi eside kangaka, ubizo lwethu lwaluwukumemezela futhi luseyikho ukumemezela umbuso kaMesiya okhazimulayo ozayo.” Leyo impikiswano eyinhloko—uMbuso kaNkulunkulu!

 8, 9. (a) UJ. F. Rutherford wasichaza kanjani isimo sengqondo nesifiso sabantu bakaNkulunkulu phakathi neminyaka yempi enzima? (b) Umlilo waphonswa kanjani emhlabeni? (c) Ukuduma, namazwi, nemibani nokuzamazama komhlaba kuye kwaba khona kanjani?

⁸ Sibhekisela ebunzimeni abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababesanda kubhekana nabo, isikhulumi sathi: “Ukuhlasela kwesitha kwakunonya kangangokuthi abaningi bomhlambi weNkosi othandekayo bashaqeka futhi bama bemangele, bethandaza futhi belinde ukuba iNkosi ibonise intando yayo. . . . Kodwa naphezu kokudangala kwesikhashana, kwakukhona isifiso esivuthayo sokumemezela isigijimi sombuso.”—Bheka INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-September 15, 1919, ikhasi 280.

⁹ Ngo-1919 leso sifiso saneliswa. Leli qembu lamaKristu elincane kodwa elikhuthele lokhelwa, ngendlela engokomoya, ukuba liqale umkhankaso wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke. (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:19.) Umlilo waphonswa emhlabeni ngokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu waba yimpikiswano evuthayo, futhi uyaqhubeka unjalo! Amazwi anamandla athatha indawo yokuthula, ememezela isigijimi soMbuso ngokucacile. Izixwayiso ezivela eBhayibhelini ezifana nokuduma zaqeqebuka. Njengokubaneka kombani, imisebe ekhanyayo yeqiniso yakhazimula eZwini likaJehova lesiprofetho, futhi inkolo yazanyazanyiswa ezisekelweni zayo njengokungathi ukuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu. Isigaba sikaJohane sabona ukuthi kwakunomsebenzi okumelwe wenziwe. Futhi kuze kube namuhla, lowo msebenzi uyaqhubeka wanda ngokukhazimulayo kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe!—Roma 10:18.

Ukulungiselela Ukukhala Kwamacilongo

10. Yini izingelosi eziyisikhombisa ezilungela ukuyenza, futhi ngani?

¹⁰ UJohane uyaqhubeka athi: “Izingelosi eziyisikhombisa eziphethe amacilongo ayisikhombisa zalungiselela ukuwashaya.” (IsAmbulo 8:6) Kusho ukuthini ukushaya lawo macilongo? Ezinsukwini zika-Israyeli, ukukhala kwecilongo kwakusetshenziselwa ukubonisa izinsuku ezibalulekile noma izehlakalo ezivelele. (Levitikusi 23:24; 2 AmaKhosi 11:14) Ngokufanayo, ukukhala kwamacilongo uJohane azokuzwa kuzodonsela ukunakekela ezindabeni ezibaluleke kakhulu.

11. Yimuphi umsebenzi wokulungiselela emhlabeni isigaba sikaJohane esasimatasa siwenza kusukela ngo-1919 kuya ku-1922?

¹¹ Njengoba izingelosi zilungela ukushaya lawo macilongo, ngokungangabazeki zazinikeza futhi nesiqondiso emsebenzini wokulungiselela emhlabeni. Kusukela ngo-1919 kuya ku-1922, isigaba sikaJohane esivuselelwe sasimatasa sihlela kabusha inkonzo yasobala futhi sakha izinto zokusakaza. Ngo-1919 umagazini i-Golden Age, namuhla owaziwa ngokuthi i-Phaphama!, wawukhishwe ‘njengoMagazini Weqiniso, Ithemba, Nokuqiniseka’—ithuluzi elinjengecilongo elalizofeza indima eyinhloko ekudaluleni ukuhileleka kwenkolo yamanga kwezombangazwe.

12. Ukukhala ngakunye kwecilongo kumemezelani, kusikhumbuzani ngosuku lukaMose?

¹² Njengoba manje sizobona, ukukhala ngakunye kwecilongo kumemezela umbono lapho izinhlupho ezisabekayo zithinta izingxenye zomhlaba. Ezinye zalezi zisikhumbuza izinhlupho uJehova azithumela ukuze ajezise abaseGibhithe osukwini lukaMose. (Eksodusi 7:19–12:32) Lezi zinhlupho zaziwukuboniswa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova kuleso sizwe, futhi zavula indlela yokuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhululeke ebugqilini. Izinhlupho ezibonwa uJohane zifeza okufanayo. Nokho, azizona izinhlupho ezingokoqobo. Ziyizibonakaliso ezifanekisela izahlulelo zikaJehova zokulunga.—IsAmbulo 1:1.

Ukuchaza “Ingxenye Yesithathu”

13. Kwenzekani lapho kushaywa amacilongo okuqala amane, futhi lokhu kuphakamisa muphi umbuzo?

¹³ Njengoba sizobona, lapho kushaywa amacilongo amane okuqala, kulethwa izinhlupho ‘engxenyeni yesithathu’ yomhlaba, yolwandle, yemifula nemithombo yamanzi, neyemithombo yomhlaba yokukhanya. (IsAmbulo 8:7-12) Ingxenye yesithathu iyingxenye ephawulekayo yokuthile kodwa hhayi konke. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 19:24; Hezekeli 5:2; Zakariya 13:8, 9.) Ngakho iyiphi “ingxenye yesithathu” engaba efanelwe kakhulu yilezi zinhlupho? Iningi lesintu liye laphuphuthekiswa futhi lonakaliswa uSathane nenzalo yakhe. (Genesise 3:15; 2 Korinte 4:4) Isimo sinjengoba sichazwa uDavide: “Bonke baphambukile, bonke bonakele ngokufanayo; akekho owenza okuhle, ngisho noyedwa.” (IHubo 14:3) Yebo, sonke isintu sisengozini yokwamukela isahlulelo esinzima. Kodwa yingxenye eyodwa yaso enecala ngokukhethekile. Ingxenye eyodwa—“ingxenye yesithathu”—bekufanele ngabe yazi kangcono! Iyini le “ngxenye yesithathu”?

14. Iyini ingxenye yesithathu engokomfanekiso eyamukela izigijimi ezihluphayo ezivela kuJehova?

¹⁴ ELobukholwa! Ngawo-1920, lalimboza cishe ingxenye yesithathu yesintu. Inkolo yalo iyisithelo sokuhlubuka okukhulu ebuKristwini beqiniso—ukuhlubuka uJesu nabafundi bakhe abakubikezela. (Mathewu 13:24-30; IzEnzo 20:29, 30; 2 Thesalonika 2:3; 2 Petru 2:1-3) Abefundisi beLobukholwa bazisholo ukuthi basethempelini likaNkulunkulu futhi baye bazibiza ngabefundisi bobuKristu. Kodwa izimfundiso zabo zikude kakhulu neqiniso leBhayibheli, futhi bayaqhubeka behlazisa igama likaNkulunkulu. Limelelwe kahle ingxenye yesithathu engokomfanekiso, eLobukholwa lamukela izigijimi ezinamandla, ezikhathazayo ezivela kuJehova. Le ngxenye yesithathu yesintu ayifanelwe yinoma yimuphi umusa waphezulu!

15. (a) Ingabe ukukhala ngakunye kwamacilongo kwenzeka ngonyaka owodwa okhethekile? Chaza. (b) Yizwi lobani eliye lanezelwa kwelesi sigaba sikaJohane ekumemezeleni izahluleko zikaJehova?

¹⁵ Ngokuvumelana nokulandelana kokukhala kwamacilongo, kwaqokonyiswa izinqumo ezikhethekile emihlanganweni eyisikhombisa kusukela ngo-1922 kuya ku-1928. Kodwa ukukhala kwamacilongo akugcinanga kuleyo minyaka. Ukudalulwa okunamandla kwezindlela zeLobukholwa ezonakele bekuqhubeka, kuya phambili, njengoba usuku lweNkosi luqhubeka. Izahlulelo zikaJehova kumelwe zimenyezelwe emhlabeni wonke, kuzo zonke izizwe, naphezu kwenzondo noshushiso lwezizwe. Kungalesi sikhathi kuphela lapho kufika khona isiphelo sesimiso sikaSathane. (Marku 13:10, 13) Ngokujabulisayo, manje isixuku esikhulu siye sanezela izwi laso kwelesigaba sikaJohane ekwenzeni lezo zimemezelo ezidumayo zibe ezibalulekile emhlabeni wonke.

Ingxenye Yesithathu Yomhlaba Iyasha

16. Yini elandelayo lapho ingelosi yokuqala ishaya icilongo layo?

¹⁶ Ebika ngezingelosi, uJohane uyabhala: “Eyokuqala yashaya icilongo layo. Kwaba khona isichotho nomlilo, kuxubene negazi, kwaphonswa emhlabeni; ingxenye yesithathu yomhlaba yasha, nengxenye yesithathu yemithi yasha, nazo zonke izimila eziluhlaza zasha.” (IsAmbulo 8:7) Lokhu kuyafana nenhlupho yesikhombisa yaseGibhithe, kodwa kusho ukuthini ngosuku lwethu?—Eksodusi 9:24.

17. (a) Yini emelelwe yigama elithi ‘umhlaba’ kusAmbulo 8:7? (b) Ingxenye yesithathu yomhlaba yeLobukholwa isha kanjani?

¹⁷ EBhayibhelini, igama elithi “umhlaba” ngokuvamile libhekisela esintwini. (Genesise 11:1; IHubo 96:1) Njengoba inhlupho yesibili isolwandle, nalo oluphathelene nesintu, kumelwe ukuba “umhlaba” ubhekisele emphakathini wesintu obonakala uqinile lowo uSathane aye wawakha futhi ozobhujiswa. (2 Petru 3:7; IsAmbulo 21:1) Umbono wezinhlupho wembula ukuthi ingxenye yesithathu yomhlaba yeLobukholwa ishiswa ukushisa okuhangulayo kokulahlwa uJehova. Abavelele balo—abami njengemithi phakathi kwalo—bashiswa ukumenyezelwa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova esinzima. Wonke amalungu alo esonto angamakhulu ezigidi, uma eqhubeka esekela inkolo yeLobukholwa, aba njengemicu yotshani ehangukile, ebunile ngokomoya emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa neHubo 37:1, 2.a

18. Samenyezelwa kanjani isigijimi sesahlulelo sikaJehova emhlanganweni ka-1922 eCedar Point?

¹⁸ Silethwa kanjani lesi sigijimi sesahlulelo? Ngokuvamile, asilethwa ngezindlela zezwe zokusakaza izindaba, eziyingxenye yezwe futhi ngokuvamile ezigxeka “inceku” kaNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45) Samenyezelwa ngendlela ephawulekayo embuthanweni wesibili oqopha umlando wabantu bakaNkulunkulu eCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-September 10, 1922. Ngobunye nangentshiseko bamukela izwi lesinqumo elalinesihloko esithi “Inselele Kubaholi Bezwe” (A Challenge to World Leaders). Ngendlela engagunciyo, saqaphelisa umhlaba wanamuhla ongokomfanekiso, kanje: “Ngakho simema izizwe zomhlaba, ababusi nabaholi bazo, nabo bonke abefundisi bawo wonke amasonto omhlaba angamahlelo ahlukahlukene, abalandeli babo nezitha zabo, amabhizinisi amakhulu nabezombangazwe, ukuba balethe ubufakazi babo obusekela ukusho kwabo ukuthi bangakwakha ukuthula nokuchuma emhlabeni futhi balethe injabulo kubantu; futhi uma behluleka kulokhu, sibacela ukuba balalele ubufakazi esibunikezayo njengofakazi beNkosi, bese besho ukuthi ubufakazi bethu buyiqiniso yini noma cha.”

19. Yibuphi ubufakazi abantu bakaNkulunkulu ababuyisa kweLobukholwa ngokuqondene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Yibuphi ubufakazi obanikezwa yila maKristu? Yilobu: “Sikholelwa futhi simemezela ukuthi umbuso kaMesiya uyikhambi eliphelele lazo zonke izinkathazo zesintu futhi uyoletha ukuthula emhlabeni nobuhle kubantu, isifiso sazo zonke izizwe; ukuthi labo abazinikela ngokuzithandela ekubuseni kwakhe kokulunga manje osekuqalile bayobusiswa ngokuthula okuhlala njalo, ukuphila, inkululeko nenjabulo engapheli.” Kulezi zikhathi ezonakele, lapho ohulumeni abenziwe abantu, ikakhulukazi abakweLobukholwa, behluleka ngokuphelele ukuxazulula izinkinga zezwe, lokhu kukhala kwecilongo kuzwakala ngokucace nangaphezu kwango-1922. Yeka ukuthi kuyiqiniso kangakanani ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ezandleni zikaKristu wakhe onqobayo uwukuphela kwethemba lesintu!

20. (a) Ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe liye lazimemezela ngaziphi izindlela izigijimi zesahlulelo ngo-1922 nangemva kwalokho? (b) Ukukhala kwecilongo lokuqala kwaba namuphi umphumela kweLobukholwa?

²⁰ Ngezinqumo, amapheshana, izincwajana, izincwadi, omagazini, nangezinkulumo, lesi simemezelo nezinye ezalandela zamenyezelwa ngebandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. Ukukhala kwecilongo lokuqala kwaphumela ekushayweni kweLobukholwa njengokungathi lishaywe yisichotho. Icala lalo legazi, ngenxa yokuhlanganyela kwalo ezimpini zekhulu leminyaka lama-20, liye labekwa obala, futhi liye lavezwa njengelikufanele ukubonakaliswa kwentukuthelo kaJehova okufana nomlilo. Isigaba sikaJohane, kamuva sisekelwa isixuku esikhulu, siye saqhubeka sinanela ukukhala kokuqala kwecilongo, sidonsela ukunakekela embonweni kaJehova ngeLobukholwa, njengelifanelwe ukubhujiswa.—IsAmbulo 7:9, 15.

Njengentaba Evuthayo

21. Yini eyenzekayo lapho ingelosi yesibili ishaya icilongo layo?

²¹ “Ingelosi yesibili yashaya icilongo layo. Okuthile okunjengentaba enkulu evutha umlilo kwaphonswa olwandle. Ingxenye yesithathu yolwandle yaba yigazi; ingxenye yesithathu yezidalwa zasolwandle ezinemiphefumulo yafa, nengxenye yesithathu yemikhumbi yaphihlizeka.” (IsAmbulo 8:8, 9) Ufanekiselani lo mbono owesabisayo?

22, 23. (a) Yisiphi isinqumo ngokungangabazeki esenziwa njengomphumela wokushaywa kwecilongo lesibili? (b) Yini emelelwe “ingxenye yesithathu yolwandle”?

²² Singawuqonda kangcono kakhulu sinombono womhlangano wabantu bakaJehova owawuseLos Angeles, eCalifornia, e-U.S.A., ngo-August 18-26, 1923. Inkulumo eyaqokonyiswa yangoMgqibelo ntambama eyanikezwa uJ. F. Rutherford yayinesihloko esithi “Izimvu Nezimbuzi.” “Izimvu” zachazwa ngokucacile njengalabo bantu abathambekele ekulungeni abayodla ifa lendawo yasemhlabeni yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Izwi lesinqumo elalandela ladonsela ukunakekela ekuzenziseni “kwabefundisi abayizihlubuki ‘nabavelele emihlanjini yabo,’ abangamadoda ezwe anethonya elinamandla kwezomnotho nakwezombangazwe.” Lanxusa “isixuku sabantu abathanda ukuthula nokuhleleka abasemahlelweni amasonto . . . ukuba bazikhiphe ezimisweni zamasonto ezingalungile iNkosi ezibiza ngokuthi ‘iBhabhiloni’” nokuba bazilungiselele “ukwamukela izibusiso zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.”

²³ Ngokungangabazeki, leli zwi lesinqumo lenziwa njengomphumela wokukhala kwecilongo lesibili. Labo okwakuyothi ngemva kwesikhathi basabele kuleso sigijimi babeyozehlukanisa nalabo u-Isaya abachaza ngala mazwi: “Kodwa ababi banjengolwandle olunyakaziswayo, lapho lungakwazi ukuzola, amanzi alo aqhubeka ejikijela phezulu izimila zasolwandle nodaka.” (Isaya 57:20; 17:12, 13) Kanjalo, ‘ulwandle’ lusifanekisela kahle isintu esingakhululekile nesingahlalisekile, esihlubukayo, esiphehla isiyaluyalu nokuvukela. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 13:1.) Sizofika isikhathi lapho lolo “lwandle” lungasayikuba khona. (IsAmbulo 21:1) Okwamanje, njengoba kukhala icilongo lesibili, uJehova ukhipha isahlulelo engxenyeni yesithathu yalo—ingxenye eyisidlwangudlwangu ekweLobukholwa ngokwalo.

24. Yini efanekiselwa okunjengentaba evuthayo eyaphonswa olwandle?

²⁴ Okunjengentaba okuvutha umlilo kuphonswa kulolu “lwandle.” EBhayibhelini, izintaba ngokuvamile zifanekisela ohulumeni. Ngokwesibonelo, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ufaniswa nentaba. (Daniyeli 2:35, 44) IBhabhiloni elibhubhisayo laba “yintaba eshile.” (Jeremiya 51:25) Kodwa lokho okungangentaba uJohane akubonayo kusavutha. Ukuphonswa kwako olwandle kuyimelela kahle indlela uhulumeni owaba ngayo yimpikiswano evuthayo phakathi kwesintu, ikakhulukazi emazweni eLobukholwa phakathi nangemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala. ENtaliyane, uMussolini wangenisa ubuFascist. IJalimane lamukela ubuNazi bukaHitler, ngesikhathi amanye amazwe ezama izinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zokubusa ngesimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni. Kwenzeka ushintsho olukhulu eRussia, lapho ukuvukela kwamaBolshevik kuveza umbuso wokuqala wobuKhomanisi, kangangokuthi abaholi benkolo beLobukholwa balahlekelwa amandla nethonya kulokho okwakungesinye sezikhungo zabo.

25. Uhulumeni waqhubeka kanjani uyimpikiswano evuthayo ngemva kweMpi Yezwe II?

²⁵ Imizamo yobuFascist neyobuNazi yashatshalaliswa yimpi yezwe yesibili, kodwa uhulumeni waqhubeka uyimpikiswano evuthayo, futhi ulwandle olungabantu lwaqhubeka lugubha futhi luveza ohulumeni abasha abavukelayo. Emashumini eminyaka alandela u-1945, labo hulumeni bamiswa ezindaweni eziningi, njengaseChina, eVietnam, eCuba, naseNicaragua. EGreece wahluleka umzamo wokubusa kobushiqela kwamasosha. EKampuchea (Cambodia), umphumela wokuzanywa kobuKhomanisi obumelene nezinguquko waba ukufa kwabayizigidi ezimbili nangaphezulu okwabikwa.

26. ‘Intaba evutha umlilo’ iye yaqhubeka kanjani ivusa amadlambi olwandle oluyisintu?

²⁶ Leyo “ntaba . . . evutha umlilo” yaqhubeka ivusa amadlambi olwandle oluyisintu. Ukulwela uhulumeni kuye kwabikwa e-Afrika, eNingizimu naseNyakatho Melika, e-Asia, naseziqhingini zasePacific. Okuningi kwalokhu kulwa kuye kwenzeka emazweni eLobukholwa noma lapho izithunywa zevangeli zeLobukholwa ziye zaba abashisekeli bezombangazwe khona. Abapristi bamaRoma Katolika baze bazihlanganisa namaqembu amaKhomanisi alwa emahlathini. Ngesikhathi esifanayo amaqembu abashumayeli bamaProthestani asebenza eMelika Ephakathi elwisana nalokho akubiza ngokuthi “ukomela amandla okunonya” kwamaKhomanisi. Kodwa asikho kulezi ziyaluyalu olwandle lwesintu esiye saletha ukuthula nokulondeka.—Qhathanisa no-Isaya 25:10-12; 1 Thesalonika 5:3.

27. (a) “Ingxenye yesithathu yolwandle” iye yaba kanjani njengegazi? (b) Iye yafa kanjani “ingxenye yesithathu yezidalwa zasolwandle” futhi kuyokwenzekani ‘engxenyeni yesithathu yemikhumbi’?

²⁷ Ukukhala kwecilongo lesibili kwembula ukuthi labo besintu abaye bahileleka ekuvukeleni kokubanga uhulumeni kunokuzithoba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu banecala legazi. Ikakhulukazi “ingxenye yesithathu yolwandle” yeLobukholwa iye yafana negazi. Konke okuphilayo okukukho kufile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Ayikho ezinhlanganweni zezenhlalo ezintanta njengezikebhe kuleyo ngxenye yesithathu yolwandle engakugwema ukuphukelwa umkhumbi ekugcineni. Yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani ngokuthi izigidi zabantu abanjengezimvu manje ziye zalalela isimemo esifana nokukhala kwecilongo sokuba zizehlukanise nalabo abasabhuquza obandlululweni lobuzwe nasecaleni legazi lalolo lwandle!

Inkanyezi Iwa Ezulwini

28. Yini eyenzekayo lapho ingelosi yesithathu ishaya icilongo layo?

²⁸ “Ingelosi yesithathu yashaya icilongo layo. Inkanyezi enkulu evutha njengesibani yawa isuka ezulwini, yawela engxenyeni yesithathu yemifula nasemithonjeni yamanzi. Igama lale nkanyezi kuthiwa uMhlonyane. Ingxenye yesithathu yamanzi yaphenduka umhlonyane, futhi abaningi kubantu bafa ngenxa yala manzi, ngoba ayenziwe ababa.” (IsAmbulo 8:10, 11) Nalapha futhi ezinye izingxenye zeBhayibheli ziyasisiza ukuba sibone indlela lo mbhalo osebenza ngayo osukwini lweNkosi.

29. Yini efanekiselwa “inkanyezi enkulu evutha njengesibani,” futhi ngani?

²⁹ Sesikubonile kakade ukufanekisela kwenkanyezi ezigijimini zikaJesu emabandleni ayisikhombisa, lapho izinkanyezi eziyisikhombisa zifanekisela abadala emabandleni.b (IsAmbulo 1:20) “Izinkanyezi” ezigcotshiwe, kanye nabo bonke abanye babagcotshiwe, bahlala ezindaweni zasezulwini ngomqondo ongokomoya kusukela lapho bebekwa uphawu ngomoya ongcwele njengophawu lwefa labo lasezulwini. (Efesu 2:6, 7) Nokho, umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa ngokuthi phakathi kwabanjalo abanjengezinkanyezi kwakuyovela izihlubuki, abathanda ukwahlukana, ababeyodukisa umhlambi. (IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Ukungathembeki okunjalo kwakuyophumela ekuhlubukeni okukhulu, futhi labo badala abawile babeyokwakha isigaba esihlangene somuntu ongenamthetho owayeyoziphakamisela esikhundleni sobunkulunkulu phakathi kwesintu. (2 Thesalonika 2:3, 4) Izixwayiso zikaPawulu zagcwaliseka lapho abefundisi beLobukholwa bevela enkundleni yomhlaba. Leli qembu limelelwe kahle uphawu ‘lwenkanyezi enkulu evutha njengesibani.’

30. (a) Lapho kukhulunywa ngenkosi yaseBhabhiloni njengewe ezulwini, kwakushiwo ukuthini? (b) Kungabhekiselaphi ukuwa ezulwini?

³⁰ UJohane ubona le nkanyezi ethile iwa ezulwini. Kanjani? Okuhlangenwe nakho kwenkosi yasendulo kuyasisiza ukuba siqonde. Ekhuluma nenkosi yaseBhabhiloni, u-Isaya wathi: “O yeka indlela owé ngayo ezulwini, wena okhanyayo, ndodana yokuntwela kokusa! Yeka indlela ogawulelwé ngayo phansi emhlabeni, wena owawukhubaza izizwe!” (Isaya 14:12) Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka lapho iBhabhiloni liketulwa amabutho kaKoresi, futhi inkosi yalo yehla ngokushesha ebukhosini bomhlaba yehlela ekwehlulweni okudumazayo. Kanjalo, ukuwa ezulwini kungabhekisela ekulahlekelweni isikhundla esiphakeme nasekuweleni ehlazweni.

31. (a) Abefundisi beLobukholwa bawa nini esikhundleni ‘sasezulwini’? (b) Amanzi anikezwa ngabefundisi aye aphenduka kanjani aba “umhlonyane,” futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela kwabaningi?

³¹ Lapho abefundisi beLobukholwa behlubuka ebuKristwini beqiniso, bawa esikhundleni esiphakeme ‘sasezulwini’ esichazwa uPawulu kwabase-Efesu 2:6, 7. Esikhundleni sokunikeza amanzi aqabulayo eqiniso, banikeza “umhlonyane,” amanga ababayo anjengomlilo wesihogo, isihlanzo, uZiqu-zintathu, nokudalelwa; futhi, baholela izizwe empini, behluleka ukuzakha ukuba zibe yizinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziziphethe kahle. Waba yini umphumela? Ukudliswa ubuthi okungokomoya kwalabo abakholelwa yilawo manga. Isimo sabo sasifana nesama-Israyeli angathembekile osuku lukaJeremiya, uJehova athi kuwo: “Bheka ngibenza ukuba badle umhlonyane, futhi ngizobanika amanzi anobuthi ukuba bawaphuze. Ngoba kubaprofethi baseJerusalema kuphumé ukuhlubuka kwaya kulo lonke izwe.”—Jeremiya 9:15; 23:15.

32. Kwabonakala nini ukuwa kweLobukholwa emazulwini angokomoya, futhi kwenziwa kanjani kwagqama?

³² Lokhu kuwa emazulwini angokomoya kwabonakala ngonyaka ka-1919, lapho insali encane yamaKristu agcotshiwe ibekwa phezu kwezithakazelo zoMbuso kunokuba kube abefundisi beLobukholwa. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Futhi kusukela ngo-1922 lokho kuwa kwenziwa kwabonakala lapho leli qembu lamaKristu livuselela umkhankaso walo wokudalula ngokungagunciyo ukwehluleka kwabefundisi beLobukholwa.

33. Yikuphi ukudalulwa kwabefundisi beLobukholwa okwenziwa emhlanganweni ka-1924 eColumbus, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A.?

³³ Okwakuvelele kulokhu kwakuyisimemezelo esenziwa kulokho umagazini i-Golden Age owakuchaza ngokuthi “umhlangano wabaFundi BeBhayibheli omkhulu kunayo yonke eqhutshwa kulezi zikhathi.” Lo mhlangano wawuseColumbus, e-Ohio, ngo-July 20-27, 1924. Ngokungangabazeki ngokuqondisa kwengelosi eyayishaya icilongo lesithathu, kwamukelwa lapho izwi lesinqumo elinamandla futhi kamuva amakhophi alo ayizigidi ezingu-50 asakazwa njengamapheshana. Lasakazwa ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi Abefundisi Bamangalelwe (Ecclesiastics Indicted). Isihlokwana sabeka impikiswano: “Inzalo Yesithembiso Imelene Nenzalo Yenyoka.” UkuMangalelwa ngokwakho kwabadalula ngokucacile abefundisi beLobukholwa ezindabeni ezinjengokuzithathela kwabo iziqu eziphakeme zenkolo, ukwenza kwabo izicebi zezentengiselwano nezazi zezombangazwe zibe abavelele emihlambini yabo, ukufisa kwabo ukugqama phambi kwabantu, nokwenqaba kwabo ukushumayela kubantu isigijimi soMbuso kaMesiya. Lagcizelela ukuthi noma yimuphi umKristu ozinikezele uthunywe uNkulunkulu ukuba amemezele ‘usuku lwempindiselo kaNkulunkulu wethu; ukuba aduduze bonke abalilayo.’—Isaya 61:2.

34, 35. (a) Yini eye yenzeka emandleni nasethonyeni labefundisi kusukela ingelosi yesithathu yaqala ukushaya icilongo layo? (b) Ikusasa libaphatheleni abefundisi beLobukholwa?

³⁴ Kusukela ingelosi yesithathu yaqala ukushaya icilongo layo, isikhundla sabefundisi sokubusa phakathi kwesintu besincipha kwaze kwaba yilapho, kulolu suku nenkathi, kungabambalwa kakhulu babo abasenamandla obunkulunkulu ababewajabulela emakhulwini eminyaka adlule. Ngenxa yokushumayela koFakazi BakaJehova, amanani amakhulu abantu aye aqaphela ukuthi izimfundiso eziningi ezifundiswa abefundisi ziwubuthi obungokomoya—“umhlonyane.” Ngaphezu kwalokho amandla abefundisi enyakatho Yurophu cishe aphelile, kanti kwamanye amazwe uhulumeni ulinciphisa ngokuqinile ithonya labo. Ezingxenyeni zobuKatolika zeYoruphu nasemazweni aseMelika, ukuziphatha kwabefundisi okuyihlazo ezindabeni zezimali, ezombangazwe, nezokuziphatha kungcolise idumela labo. Kusukela manje kuqhubeke, isimo sabo sizomane sibe sibi kakhulu, njengoba ngokushesha bazobhekana nenhlekelele efanayo njengabo bonke abanye benkolo yamanga.—IsAmbulo 18:21; 19:2.

³⁵ Ukuhlupha kukaJehova eLobukholwa akukakapheli. Cabangela okwenzekayo ngemva kokukhala kwecilongo lesine.

Ubumnyama!

36. Yini eyenzekayo ngemva kokuba ingelosi yesine ishaye icilongo layo?

³⁶ “Ingelosi yesine yashaya icilongo layo. Ingxenye yesithathu yelanga yashaywa nengxenye yesithathu yenyanga nengxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi, ukuze ingxenye yesithathu yazo yenziwe ibe mnyama futhi ingxenye yesithathu yosuku ingakhanyi, nobusuku ngokufanayo.” (IsAmbulo 8:12) Inhlupho yesishiyagalolunye eGibhithe kwakuyinhlupho yobumnyama obungokoqobo. (Eksodusi 10:21-29) Kodwa buyini lobu bumnyama obungokomfanekiso obuzohlupha abantu?

37. Abaphostoli uPetru noPawulu basichaza kanjani isimo esingokomoya salabo abangaphandle kwebandla lobuKristu?

³⁷ Umphostoli uPetru watshela ayekholwa nabo ukuthi babesebumnyameni, ngendlela engokomoya, ngaphambi kokuba babe amaKristu. (1 Petru 2:9) NoPawulu futhi wasebenzisa igama elithi “ubumnyama” ukuze achaze isimo esingokomoya salabo abangaphandle kwebandla lobuKristu. (Efesu 5:8; 6:12; Kolose 1:13; 1 Thesalonika 5:4, 5) Kodwa kuthiwani ngalabo abakweLobukholwa abazisholo ukuthi bakholelwa kuNkulunkulu nabathi bamukela uJesu njengoMsindisi wabo?

38. Ingelosi yesine imemezela ngecilongo liphi iqiniso ngokuqondene ‘nokukhanya’ kweLobukholwa?

³⁸ UJesu wathi amaKristu eqiniso ayeyobonakala ngezithelo zawo nokuthi abaningi abazisholo ukuthi bangabalandeli bakhe babeyobe ‘bengabenza okungemthetho.’ (Mathewu 7:15-23) Akukho muntu obona izithelo zengxenye yesithathu yezwe elenganyelwe eLobukholwa ongaphika ukuthi lidwanguza ebumnyameni obukhulu obungokomoya. (2 Korinte 4:4) Likufanele kakhulu ukusolwa, ngoba lizisholo ukuthi lingelobuKristu. Ngakho, kufanelekile ukuba ingelosi yesine imemezele ngecilongo iqiniso lokuthi “ukukhanya” kweLobukholwa, eqinisweni, kuwubumnyama, nemithombo yalo ‘yokukhanya’ ingeyobuBhabhiloni—ayibona ubuKristu.—Marku 13:22, 23; 2 Thimothewu 4:3, 4.

39. (a) Izwi lesinqumo elamukelwa emhlanganweni ngo-1925 lakuchaza kanjani ukukhanya kwamanga kweLobukholwa? (b) Yikuphi okunye ukudalulwa okwenziwa ngo-1955?

³⁹ Ngokuvumelana naleso simemezelo sasezulwini, isixuku esikhulu sabantu bakaNkulunkulu sasihlangene emhlanganweni e-Indianapolis, e-Indiana, e-U.S.A., ngo-August 29, 1925, futhi samukela izwi lesinqumo eliqondile elalizosakazwa elalinesihloko esithi “Isigijimi Sethemba” (Message of Hope). Nalapha futhi, kwasakazwa amakhophi angaba yizigidi ezingu-50 ngezilimi eziningi. Lachaza ukukhanya kwamanga okuphethwe yinhlanganisela yabezentengiselwano abafuna inzuzo enkulu ngokweqile, abaholi bezombangazwe, nabefundisi benkolo, okuthe ngenxa yalokho “abantu bawela ebumnyameni.” Futhi lakhomba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu njengethemba langempela lokwamukela “izibusiso zokuthula, ukuchuma, impilo, ukuphila, inkululeko nenjabulo yaphakade.” Kwadinga isibindi ngeqembu elincane lamaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba limemezele izigijimi ezinjalo ngokumelene nenhlangano enkulu yeLobukholwa. Kodwa ngokungaguquki, kusukela ekuqaleni kwawo-1920 kuze kube manje, baye benza kanjalo. Ezikhathini zamuva, ngo-1955, kwenziwa ukudalulwa okuqhubekayo kwesigaba sabefundisi ngokusakaza emhlabeni wonke ngezilimi eziningi incwajana enesihloko esithi ELobukholwa noma UbuKrestu—IKuphi oku “UkuKhanya KweZwe”? Namuhla, ubuzenzisi beLobukholwa buye baba sobala kangangokuthi abaningi ezweni bazibonela ngokwabo. Kodwa abantu bakaJehova abazange bakuyeke ukulidalula lokho eliyikho: umbuso wobumnyama.

Ukhozi Olundizayo

40. Ukukhala kwamacilongo amane kwalibonisa liyini eLobukholwa?

⁴⁰ Ngempela lokhu kukhala kwamacilongo amane okuqala kuphumelé ekwambuleni isimo seLobukholwa esiyihlane nesibulalayo. Ingxenye yalo “yomhlaba” yadalulwa njengefanelwe isahlulelo sikaJehova. Ohulumeni bokuvukela abamiswa emazweni alo nakwezinye izindawo babonakaliswa bemelene nokuphila okungokomoya. Isimo esibi sabefundisi balo sabekwa obala, futhi ubumnyama obuvamile besimo salo esingokomoya badalulwa ukuze bubonwe yibo bonke. ELobukholwa ngempela liyingxenye esoleka kakhulu yesimiso sikaSathane sezinto.

41. Phakathi nekhefu ochungechungeni lokukhala kwamacilongo, yini uJohane ayibonayo nayizwayo?

⁴¹ Yikuphi okwengeziwe okudinga ukwembulwa? Ngaphambi kokuba sithole impendulo kulo mbuzo, kunekhefu elifushane ochungechungeni lokukhala kwamacilongo. UJohane uchaza lokho akubonayo ngokulandelayo: “Ngabona, futhi ngezwa ukhozi lundiza emkhathini luthi ngezwi elikhulu: ‘Mayé, mayé, mayé kulabo abahlala emhlabeni ngenxa yakho konke okunye ukukhala kwamacilongo ezingelosi ezintathu esezizoshaya amacilongo azo!’”—IsAmbulo 8:13.

42. Yini engase ifanekiselwe ukhozi olundizayo, futhi siyini isigijimi salo?

⁴² Ukhozi lundizela phezulu esibhakabhakeni, ukuze abantu abasendaweni ebanzi balubone. Luneso elibukhali ngokukhethekile futhi lungabona kude kakhulu. (Jobe 39:29) Esinye sezidalwa ezine ezifana namakherubi ezizungeze isihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu safanekiswa njengokhozi olundizayo. (IsAmbulo 4:6, 7) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yileli kherubi noma enye inceku kaNkulunkulu enamehlo abukhali, imemezela isigijimi esinamandla: “Mayé, mayé, mayé”! Abakhileyo emhlabeni mabaqaphele, njengoba kuzwakala ukukhala kwamacilongo amathathu asele, ngakunye kuhlangene noyedwa walabo mayé.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ishadi ekhasini 139]

Amanzi ELobukholwa Abonakaliswa Engumhlonyane

[Isithombe ekhasini 132]

Ukuvulwa kwezimpawu eziyisikhombisa kuholela ekushayweni kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa

[Isithombe ekhasini 140]

“Inselele Kubaholi Bezwe” (1922)

Leli zwi lesinqumo lasiza ekumemezeleni inhlupho kaJehova “emhlabeni”

[Isithombe ekhasini 140]

“Isixwayiso Kuwo Wonke AmaKristu” (1923)

Isahluleko sikaJehova esibuhlungu ‘engxenyeni yesithathu yolwandle’ samenyezelwa yonke indawo ngaleli zwi lesinqumo

[Isithombe ekhasini 141]

“Abefundisi Bamangalelwe” (1924)

Ukusakazwa okukhulu kwaleli pheshana kwasiza ekwaziseni abantu ukuthi “inkanyezi” yabefundisi beLobukholwa yayiwile

[Isithombe ekhasini 141]

“Isigijimi Sethemba” (1925)

Leli zwi lesinqumo elingagunciyo lasetshenziselwa ukudalula okwakuthiwa imithombo yokukhanya yeLobukholwa njengaleyo eqinisweni eyimithombo yobumnyama