‘Inceku’ Ethembekileyo Futhi Eqondayo

“Ngubani ngempela oyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo emiswe inkosi yayo phezu kwabendlu yayo?”—MATHEWU 24:45.

 1, 2. Kungani kubalulekile ukuba sikuthole njalo ukudla okungokomoya namuhla?

NGOLWESIBILI ntambama, ngoNisani 11, 33 C.E., abafundi bakaJesu babuza umbuzo osho lukhulu kithi namuhla. Bathi: “Siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” Lapho ebaphendula, uJesu washo isiprofetho esiphawulekayo. Wakhuluma ngenkathi eneziyaluyalu ngenxa yezimpi, indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba nezifo. Lezo zinto zaziyobe ‘zisewukuqala kwemihelo yokucindezeleka.’ Kwakuyobe kusazofika okubi nakakhulu. Akuve kwesabisa.—Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8, 15-22; Luka 21:10, 11.

² Eziningi zezici zalesi siprofetho sikaJesu zigcwalisekile kusukela ngo-1914. ‘Imihelo yokucindezeleka’ isisifikele ngokugcwele isintu. Noma kunjalo, amaKristu eqiniso akudingekile esabe. UJesu wathembisa ukuthi wayezowasekela ngokudla okungokomoya okunomsoco. Njengoba manje uJesu esezulwini, usilungiselele kanjani thina lapha emhlabeni ukuba sithole ukudla kwethu okungokomoya?

 3. Imaphi amalungiselelo uJesu awenzile okuba sithole “ukudla . . . ngesikhathi esifanele”?

³ UJesu ngokwakhe wayiveza impendulo yalowo mbuzo. Kuleso siprofetho sakhe esikhulu wabuza: “Ngubani ngempela oyinceku ethembekileyo neqondayo emiswe inkosi yayo phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze ibanike ukudla kwabo ngesikhathi esifanele?” Wabe esethi: “Iyajabula leyo nceku okuyokuthi lapho inkosi yayo ifika iyithole yenza kanjalo. Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, Iyoyimisa phezu kwakho konke okungokwayo.” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Yebo, kwakuzoba khona ‘inceku’ eyabelwe ukwaba ukudla okungokomoya, ‘inceku’ eyayizothembeka futhi ibe ngeqondayo. Ingabe leyo nceku kwakuzoba umuntu oyedwa, uhlu lwabantu abalandelanayo, noma enye into? Njengoba le nceku ethembekileyo yaba ukudla okungokomoya okudingeka kakhulu kangaka, kuzosizuzisa ukuthola izimpendulo.

Umuntu Noma Isigaba?

 4. Sazi kanjani ukuthi akunakwenzeka ukuthi ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ umuntu oyedwa?

⁴ Akunakwenzeka ukuba ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ kube umuntu oyedwa. Ngani? Ngoba le nceku yaqala kudala ngekhulu lokuqala ukwaba ukudla okungokomoya, futhi ngokwalokho uJesu akusho, le nceku yayizobe isakwenza lokhu lapho iNkosi ifika ngo-1914. Lokho kwakungasho ukuthi umuntu oyedwa ukhonza ngokwethembeka iminyaka engaba ngu-1 900. Ngisho noMethusela akaphilanga isikhathi eside kangako!—Genesise 5:27.

 5. Chaza ukuthi kungani igama elithi ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ lingabhekiseli kumKristu ngamunye ogcotshiwe.

⁵ Khona-ke, kungenzeka-ke yini ukuthi leli gama elithi ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ libhekisele kumKristu ngamunye? Kuyiqiniso ukuthi wonke amaKristu kumelwe athembeke futhi abe aqondayo; nokho, kusobala ukuthi uJesu wayesho okungaphezu kwalokho lapho ekhuluma ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Sikwazi kanjani lokho? Ngoba wathi ‘lapho inkosi ifika’ yayizomisa le nceku “phezu kwakho konke okungokwayo.” Kwakungenzeka kanjani ukuba umKristu ngamunye amiswe phezu kwakho konke—phezu kwakho “konke” okungokweNkosi? Akunakwenzeka!

 6. Isizwe sakwa-Israyeli kwakufanele sisebenze kanjani ‘njengenceku’ kaNkulunkulu?

⁶ Khona-ke sinye isiphetho esinengqondo, ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngeqembu lamaKristu elibiza ngokuthi ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Ingaba khona yini inceku eyiqembu? Yebo. Eminyakeni engu-700 ngaphambi kokuba uKristu afike, uJehova wabiza sonke isizwe sakwa-Israyeli ngokuthi ‘ofakazi bami’ nangokuthi “inceku yami engiyikhethile.” (Isaya 43:10) Kusukela ngo-1513 B.C.E., lapho kunikezwa uMthetho KaMose, kuze kube ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., ilungu ngalinye lesizwe sakwa-Israyeli laliyingxenye yalesi sigaba senceku. Iningi lama-Israyeli lalingenangxenye ngokuqondile ekuphatheni izindaba zesizwe noma ekuhleleni isimiso saso sokondliwa ngokomoya. UJehova wayesebenzisa amakhosi, abahluleli, abaprofethi, abapristi namaLevi kuleyo misebenzi. Noma kunjalo, njengesizwe, u-Israyeli kwakufanele amelele ubukhosi bukaJehova futhi amemezele udumo lwakhe ezizweni. UmIsrayeli ngamunye kwakufanele abe ufakazi kaJehova.—Duteronomi 26:19; Isaya 43:21; Malaki 2:7; Roma 3:1, 2.

“Inceku” Iyaxoshwa

 7. Kungani isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sasendulo saliwa sangabe sisaba ‘inceku’ kaNkulunkulu?

⁷ Njengoba u-Israyeli ‘ayeyinceku’ kaNkulunkulu emakhulwini eminyaka adlule, ingabe wayeyileyo nceku futhi uJesu ayekhuluma ngayo? Cha, ngoba ngokudabukisayo u-Israyeli wasendulo akazange athembeke noma abe oqondayo. UPawulu usichaza ngamafuphi lesi simo lapho ecaphuna amazwi uJehova awasho kulesi sizwe: “Igama likaNkulunkulu liyahlanjalazwa ngenxa yenu phakathi kwezizwe.” (Roma 2:24) Ngempela, u-Israyeli wafinyelela umvuthwandaba womlando omude wokuvukela lapho enqaba uJesu, okuyilapho-ke uJehova amlahla khona.—Mathewu 21:42, 43.

 8. Yamiswa nini ‘inceku’ eyayizothatha isikhundla sika-Israyeli, futhi kuziphi izimo?

⁸ Lokhu kungathembeki ‘kwenceku’, u-Israyeli, kwakungasho ukuthi abakhulekeli abathembekileyo babengasophinde bakuthole ukudla okungokomoya. NgePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., ngemva kwezinsuku ezingu-50 uJesu evusiwe, umoya ongcwele wathululelwa phezu kwabafundi bakhe abangaba ngu-120 ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwazalwa isizwe esisha. Njengokufanelekile, ukuzalwa kwaso kwamenyezelwa lapho amalungu aso eqala ukutshela izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema ngesibindi ‘ngezinto ezinhle kakhulu zikaNkulunkulu.’ (IzEnzo 2:11) Kanjalo, leso sizwe esisha, isizwe esingokomoya, saba ‘inceku’ eyayizomemezela inkazimulo kaJehova ezizweni futhi yabe ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele. (1 Petru 2:9) Kuyafaneleka ukuthi sabizwa ngokuthi ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.’—Galathiya 6:16.

 9. (a) Obani abakha ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’? (b) Obani ‘abendlu’?

⁹ Lelo nalelo lungu ‘lika-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ lingumKristu ozinikezele, obhapathiziwe, ogcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele futhi onethemba lokuphila ezulwini. Ngakho, inkulumo ethi ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ ibhekisele kuwo wonke amalungu aleso sizwe esigcotshiwe esingokomoya uma sibhekwa njengeqembu emhlabeni noma nini kusukela ngo-33 C.E. kuze kube manje, njengoba nje umIsrayeli ngamunye owayephila nganoma isiphi isikhathi phakathi kuka-1513 B.C.E. kuze kube iPhentekoste lika-33 C.E. ayeyingxenye yesigaba senceku sangaphambi kwenkathi yobuKristu. Nokho, bangobani ‘abendlu’ abondliwa ile nceku ngokomoya? Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., wonke amaKristu ayenethemba lokuyophila ezulwini. Ngakho, abendlu kwakuseyiwo amaKristu agcotshiwe, kodwa manje esebhekwa njengabantu ngabanye, hhayi njengeqembu. Wonke, kuhlanganise nalawo ayenemithwalo yemfanelo ebandleni, ayedinga ukudla okungomoya okuvela encekwini.—1 Korinte 12:12, 19-27; Hebheru 5:11-13; 2 Petru 3:15, 16.

“Ngayinye Wayinika Umsebenzi Wayo”

10, 11. Sazi kanjani ukuthi akuwona wonke amalungu esigaba senceku anesabelo esifanayo?

¹⁰ Nakuba ‘u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu’ eyisigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo esinomsebenzi esabelwe wona, ilungu ngalinye libuye libe nemisebenzi yalo. Amazwi kaJesu akuMarku 13:34 akwenza kucace lokhu. Wathi: “Kunjengomuntu owashiya indlu yakhe waya kude, wanika izinceku zakhe igunya, ngayinye wayinika umsebenzi wayo, wayala umlindisango ukuba ahlale elindile.” Ngakho ilungu ngalinye lesigaba senceku lithole isabelo—ukwandisa impahla kaKristu yasemhlabeni. Lo msebenzi liwenza ngokwamandla nangokwamathuba elinawo.—Mathewu 24:14, 15.

¹¹ Ngaphezu kwalokho, umphostoli uPetru wathi kumaKristu agcotshiwe ngosuku lwakhe: “Ngokwesilinganiso ngamunye amukele ngaso isipho, sisebenziseni ekukhonzaneni njengabaphathi abahle bomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu obonakaliswe ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene.” (1 Petru 4:10) Ngakho, labo abagcotshiwe banomthwalo wemfanelo wokukhonzana besebenzisa izipho uNkulunkulu abaphe zona. Kanti futhi, amazwi kaPetru abonisa ukuthi akuwona wonke amaKristu ayeyoba namakhono, imithwalo yemfanelo, noma amalungelo afanayo. Nokho, ilungu ngalinye lesigaba senceku laliyokwazi ukuba nesandla ngandlela-thile ekukhuleni kwalesi sizwe esingokomoya. Kanjani?

12. Ilungu ngalinye lesigaba senceku, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi elesilisa noma elesifazane, laba kanjani nesandla ekukhuleni kwenceku?

¹² Okokuqala, ilungu ngalinye lalinomthwalo wemfanelo wokuba ufakazi kaJehova, lishumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. (Isaya 43:10-12; Mathewu 24:14) Ngaphambi nje kokuba anyukele ezulwini, uJesu wayala bonke abafundi bakhe abathembekileyo, abesilisa nabesifazane, ukuba babe abafundisi. Wathi: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho. Bhekani! Nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.”—Mathewu 28:19, 20.

13. Iliphi ilungelo ababenalo bonke abagcotshiwe?

¹³ Kwakufanele kuthi lapho kutholakala abafundi abasha, bafundiswe ngokucophelela ukugcina zonke izinto uKristu ayebayale ngazo abafundi bakhe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abasabelayo bafanelekela ukufundisa abanye. Labo ababezoba amalungu esigaba senceku ababevela ezizweni eziningi balungiselelwa ukudla okungokomoya okunomsoco. Wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe, awesilisa nawesifazane, ayehlanganyela emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi. (IzEnzo 2:17, 18) Lo msebenzi kwakumelwe uqhubeke kusukela ngesikhathi inceku iqala umsebenzi wayo kuze kube isiphelo salesi simiso sezinto.

14. Obani ababenamalungelo okufundisa ebandleni, futhi abesifazane abathembekileyo abagcotshiwe babezizwa kanjani ngalokho?

¹⁴ Abagcotshiwe ababesanda kubhapathizwa bába ingxenye yenceku, futhi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ubani owayebafundisile ekuqaleni, nabo bathola imfundo evela emalungwini ebandla ayefaneleka ngokomBhalo ukuba abe amadoda amadala. (1 Thimothewu 3:1-7; Thithu 1:6-9) Ngaleyo ndlela, la madoda amisiwe ayenelungelo lokusisiza ngendlela ekhethekile lesi sizwe ukuba sikhule. Abesifazane abathembekileyo abangamaKristu agcotshiwe akuzange kubacasule ukuthi kwakungamadoda angamaKristu kuphela ayabelwe ukuba afundise ibandla. (1 Korinte 14:34, 35) Kunalokho, babekujabulela ukuzuza emshikashikeni wamalungu ebandla esilisa futhi babebonga ngamalungelo abesifazane ababenawo, kuhlanganise nalelo lokuyisa izindaba ezinhle kwabanye. Odadewethu abagcotshiwe abashisekayo namuhla babonisa isimo esifanayo sokuthobeka, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abadala abamisiwe bagcotshiwe yini noma cha.

15. Kwakuvelaphi ngokukhethekile ukudla okungokomoya ngekhulu lokuqala, futhi ubani owayephambili ekukwabeni?

¹⁵ Ukudla okungokomoya okuyisisekelo okwakwabiwa ekhulwini lokuqala kwakuvela ngokuqondile ezincwadini zabaphostoli nakwabanye abafundi ababehola. Izincwadi abazibhala—ikakhulukazi lezo ezitholakala kwezingu-27 eziphefumulelwe ezakha imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki—zaziyiswa kuwo wonke amabandla futhi akungabazeki ukuthi yizo ababefundisa ngazo abadala emabandleni. Ngale ndlela, abameleli benceku bakwaba ngokwethembeka ukudla okungokomoya okucebile kumaKristu aqotho. Isigaba senceku sangekhulu lokuqala sasithembekile emsebenzini waso.

‘Inceku’ Emakhulwini Angu-19 Kamuva

16, 17. Isigaba senceku sazibonakalisa kanjani sithembekile ekwenzeni umsebenzi waso esikhathini esidlule kwaze kwaba u-1914?

¹⁶ Namuhla? Lapho uJesu eqala ukuba khona ngo-1914, ingabe walithola iqembu lamaKristu agcotshiwe elalaba ukudla ngokwethembeka ngesikhathi sako? Walithola. Lalibonakala ngokucacile leli qembu ngenxa yezithelo zalo ezinhle. (Mathewu 7:20) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi umlando ubonise ukuthi kwakuyiqiniso lokhu.

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi uJesu efika, kwakunabendlu abangaba ngu-5 000 ababematasa besakaza iqiniso leBhayibheli. Izisebenzi zazimbalwa, kodwa inceku yasebenzisa izindlela eziningi zobuhlakani ukuze isakaze izindaba ezinhle. (Mathewu 9:38) Ngokwesibonelo, kwahlelwa ukuba kusakazwe izintshumayelo zeBhayibheli emaphephandabeni angaba ngu-2 000. Ngale ndlela, iqiniso leZwi likaNkulunkulu lafinyelela amashumi ezinkulungwane zabafundi ngasikhathi sinye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwenziwa uhlelo oluthatha amahora angu-8 olwaluhlanganisa ama-slide anombala kanye nezithombe ezinyakazayo. Ngenxa yalolu hlelo olwaluqala ngqa ukuba khona, izibukeli ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-9 emazwekazini amathathu zathola isigijimi seBhayibheli, esisukela ekuqaleni kweNdalo size siyofika ekupheleni kokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Enye indlela eyayisetshenziswa kwakuwukunyathelisa izincwadi. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1914 kwakhishwa amakhophi alo magazini angaba ngu-50 000.

18. UJesu wayimisa nini inceku phezu kwakho konke okungokwakhe, futhi kungani?

¹⁸ Yebo, lapho iNkosi ifika, yathola inceku yayo ethembekile ibondla ngobuqotho abendlu futhi ishumayela izindaba ezinhle. Manje, leyo nceku yayisilindelwe imithwalo ethe xaxa. UJesu wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, Iyoyimisa phezu kwakho konke okungokwayo.” (Mathewu 24:47) UJesu wakwenza lokhu ngo-1919, ngemva kokuba inceku idlule enkathini yokuvivinywa. Kodwa kungani ‘inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo’ yathola imithwalo ethe xaxa? Kungoba yayisiyandile impahla yeNkosi. UJesu wanikwa ubukhosi ngo-1914.

19. Chaza indlela eziye zanakekelwa ngayo izidingo ezingokomoya ‘zesixuku esikhulu.’

¹⁹ Ziyini lezi zinto le Nkosi esanda kumiswa eyabeka phezu kwazo inceku yayo ethembekileyo? Yizo zonke izinto zayo ezingokomoya ezila emhlabeni. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kweminyaka engamashumi amabili uKristu ebekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914, kwaziwa ukuthi singobani “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:16) Laba babengewona amalungu agcotshiwe ‘ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu,’ kodwa kwakungabesilisa nabesifazane abaqotho abathanda uJehova abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni futhi ababefuna ukumkhonza njengoba nje kwenza abagcotshiwe. Kwakufana nokuthi bathi ‘encekwini ethembekileyo neqondayo’: “Sizohamba nani, ngoba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.” (Zakariya 8:23) La maKristu ayesanda kubhapathizwa ayedla ukudla okucebile okungokomoya okwakudliwa abendlu abagcotshiwe, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi zombili lezi zigaba bezidla etafuleni elilodwa elingokomoya. Akuve kube yisibusiso lokhu emalungwini ‘esixuku esikhulu.’

20. “Isixuku esikhulu” sibe nayiphi ingxenye ekwandiseni impahla yeNkosi?

²⁰ Amalungu ‘esixuku esikhulu’ ahlanganyela ngenjabulo nesigaba senceku egcotshiwe ekubeni abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle. Njengoba ayeshumayela, yanda impahla yeNkosi yasemhlabeni, kwanezela emithwalweni yemfanelo ‘yenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Njengoba sasanda isibalo sabafuna iqiniso, kwadingeka izindawo zokunyathelisa ezandisiwe ukuze kutholakale izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezanele. Kwamiswa amahhovisi egatsha oFakazi BakaJehova emazweni ngamazwe. Kwathunyelwa izithunywa zevangeli ‘ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.’ (IzEnzo 1:8) Amanani abadumisi bakaNkulunkulu aye akhula esuka kwabagcotshiwe ababecishe babe izinkulungwane ezinhlanu ngo-1914 afinyelela kwabangaphezu kwezigidi eziyisithupha namuhla, iningi labo ‘okungabesixuku esikhulu.’ Ngempela, impahla yeNkosi yande ngokuphindwe kaningi kusukela ekumisweni kwayo ngo-1914!

21. Imiphi imifanekiso emibili esizoxoxa ngayo esifundweni esilandelayo?

²¹ Konke lokhu kubonisa ukuthi inceku ‘ibithembekile’ futhi ‘ingeqondayo.’ Ngemva nje kokukhuluma ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,’ uJesu washo imifanekiso emibili eyayiqokomisa lezo zimfanelo: umfanekiso wezintombi ezihlakaniphile neziyiziwula nomfanekiso wamathalenta. (Mathewu 25:1-30) Sifuna ukwazi! Isho ukuthini kithi namuhla leyo mifanekiso? Sizoxoxa ngawo lo mbuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.

‘Inceku Ethembekileyo’ Iyaphumelela Esivivinyweni!

“Yisikhathi esimisiwe sokuba ukwahlulela kuqale endlini kaNkulunkulu.”—1 PETRU 4:17.

 1. UJesu watholani lapho ehlola ‘inceku’?

NGEPHENTEKOSTE lika-33 C.E., uJesu wamisa ‘inceku’ eyayizonika ‘abendlu’ yakhe ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele. Ngo-1914 uJesu wamiswa njengeNkosi, ngokushesha kwafika isikhathi sokuba leyo ‘nceku’ ihlolwe. Wathola ukuthi iningi kule ‘nceku’ lalizibonakalise ‘lithembekile futhi lingeliqondayo.’ Ngakho, wayimisa “phezu kwakho konke [okungokwakhe].” (Mathewu 24:45-47) Nokho, kwakukhona nenceku embi, eyayingathembekile futhi ingeyona eqondayo.

“Leyo Nceku Embi”

 2, 3. Yavelaphi “leyo nceku embi,” futhi yaba khona kanjani?

² UJesu wakhuluma ngale nceku embi ngemva nje kokukhuluma ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Wathi: “Uma kungenzeka leyo nceku embi ithi enhliziyweni yayo, ‘Inkosi yami ilibele,’ bese iqala ukushaya izinceku ezikanye nayo futhi idle iphuze nezidakwa, inkosi yaleyo nceku iyofika ngosuku engalulindele nangehora engalazi, iyijezise kanzima kakhulu, iyabele kanye nabazenzisi. Lapho yilapho iyokhala khona futhi iququde amazinyo.” (Mathewu 24:48-51) Inkulumo ethi “leyo nceku embi” ibuyisela izingqondo zethu emazwini uJesu awasho ngaphambili ngenceku ethembekile futhi eqondayo. Yebo, ‘inceku embi’ yavela phakathi kwenceku ethembekile.a Kanjani?

³ Ngaphambi kuka-1914, iningi lamalungu esigaba senceku ethembekile lalinethemba elikhulu lokuhlangana noMyeni ezulwini ngalowo nyaka, kodwa akwenzekanga lokho. Ngenxa yalokhu kanye nokunye okwenzeka, abaningi badumala futhi bathukuthela. Abanye babo baqala “ukushaya” ngamazwi labo ababekade bengabafowabo futhi badlelana “nezidakwa,” amaqembu enkolo eLobukholwa.—Isaya 28:1-3; 32:6.

 4. UJesu wenzani ‘ngenceku embi’ nangabo bonke abaye babonisa umoya ofanayo?

⁴ Ekugcineni laba ababekade bengamaKristu babonakala ukuthi ‘bayinceku embi,’ futhi uJesu wabajezisa ‘kanzima kakhulu.’ Kanjani? Wabala, balahlekelwa ithemba lokuyophila ezulwini. Nokho, ababhujiswanga ngaleso sikhathi. Kwadingeka ukuba baqale badlule enkathini yokukhala nokugedla amazinyo “ebumnyameni obungaphandle” kwebandla lobuKristu. (Mathewu 8:12) Kusukela ngalezo zinsuku zasekuqaleni, kubé khona abanye abambalwa abagcotshiwe abaye babonisa umoya ofanayo omubi, bazihlanganisa ‘nenceku embi.’ Abanye ‘kwezinye izimvu’ baye bakulingisa ukungathembeki kwabo. (Johane 10:16) Zonke izitha zikaKristu ezinjalo zigcina zikulobo ‘bumnyama’ obungokomoya “obungaphandle.”

 5. Inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo yasabela kanjani, ngokungafani ‘nenceku embi’?

⁵ Noma kunjalo, inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo yathola izivivinyo ezifanayo ‘naleyo nceku embi.’ Nokho, esikhundleni sokuthukuthela yona yalungiswa. (2 Korinte 13:11) Uthando lwayo ngoJehova nangabafowabo lwaqina. Ngenxa yalokho iye yaba “insika nozime lweqiniso” kulezi ‘zinsuku zokugcina’ ezineziyaluyalu.—1 Thimothewu 3:15; 2 Thimothewu 3:1.

Izintombi Ezihlakaniphile Neziyiziwula

 6. (a) UJesu wakufanekisa kanjani ukuqonda kwesigaba senceku yakhe ethembekile? (b) Ngaphambi kuka-1914, isiphi isigijimi amaKristu agcotshiwe ayesimemezela?

⁶ Ngemva kokukhuluma ‘ngaleyo nceku embi,’ uJesu washo imifanekiso emibili ebonisa isizathu esasiyokwenza ukuba amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe abe athembekile futhi aqondayo kodwa amanye angabi njalo.b Efanekisa ukuba ngoqondayo, wathi: “Umbuso wamazulu uyoba njengezintombi eziyishumi ezathatha izibani zazo zaphuma ziyohlangabeza umkhwenyana. Ezinhlanu kuzo zaziyiziwula, futhi ezinhlanu zazihlakaniphile. Ngoba eziyiziwula zathatha izibani zazo kodwa zangawaphatha amafutha, kanti ezihlakaniphile zawaphatha amafutha ezitsheni zazo kanye nezibani zazo.” (Mathewu 25:1-4) Izintombi eziyishumi zisikhumbuza amaKristu agcotshiwe ngaphambi kuka-1914. La maKristu ayebalile athola ukuthi umyeni, uJesu Kristu, wayesezofika. Ngakho ‘aphuma’ eyomhlangabeza, eshumayela ngesibindi ukuthi “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe” zazizophela ngo-1914.—Luka 21:24.

 7. AmaKristu agcotshiwe ‘alala’ nini ngokomfanekiso futhi ngasiphi isizathu?

⁷ Ayeshaye khona. Nangempela izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe zaphela ngo-1914, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ophethwe uKristu Jesu waqala ukubusa. Kodwa lokho kwakwenzeka emazulwini angabonakali. Emhlabeni, isintu saqala ukuhlushwa ‘umaye’ owayebikezelwe. (IsAmbulo 12:10, 12) Kwalandela isikhathi sokuvivinywa. Ngenxa yokungaziqondi kahle izinto, amaKristu agcotshiwe acabanga ukuthi ‘umkhwenyana ulibele.’ Edidekile futhi ebhekene nenzondo yezwe, iningi lawo lanciphisa ijubane futhi lacishe lawuyeka umsebenzi ohlelekile wokushumayela obala. Njengezintombi zomfanekiso, ‘angquphazela alala’ ngokomoya, njengoba abangathembekile ababethi bangamaKristu benza ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli bakaJesu.—Mathewu 25:5; IsAmbulo 11:7, 8; 12:17.

 8. Yini eyabangela isimemezelo esithi: “Nangu umkhwenyana!” futhi kwakuyisikhathi sokuba amaKristu agcotshiwe enzeni?

⁸ Ngo-1919 kwenzeka into engalindelekile. Sifunda lokhu: “Phakathi kobusuku kwezwakala ukumemeza, ‘Nangu umkhwenyana! Phumani niyomhlangabeza.’ Khona-ke zonke lezo zintombi zavuka futhi zahlela izibani zazo.” (Mathewu 25:6, 7) Kwathi lapho nje izinto zibonakala zilusica impela, kwaphuma isimemezelo sokuba kunyakazwe! Ngo-1918, uJesu, ‘isithunywa sesivumelwano,’ wayesefikile ethempelini likaJehova elingokomoya ukuzohlola nokuzohlanza ibandla likaNkulunkulu. (Malaki 3:1) Manje amaKristu agcotshiwe kwase kudingeka aphume ayomhlangabeza emagcekeni asemhlabeni alelo thempeli. Kwase kuyisikhathi sokuba ‘akhiphe ukukhanya.’—Isaya 60:1; Filipi 2:14, 15.

 9, 10. Ngo-1919, kungani amanye amaKristu ‘ayengaqondayo’ amanye ‘eyiziwula’?

⁹ Yima kancane! Emfanekisweni, ezinye zezintombi zazinenkinga. UJesu waqhubeka: “Eziyiziwula zathi kwezihlakaniphile, ‘Sipheni emafutheni enu, ngoba izibani zethu sezizocima.’” (Mathewu 25:8) Ngaphandle kwamafutha, izibani zazingeke zikhanye. Ngakho amafutha esibani asikhumbuza iZwi likaNkulunkulu eliyiqiniso kanye nomoya wakhe ongcwele, okunika abakhulekeli beqiniso amandla okuba abaphathi bokukhanya. (IHubo 119:130; Daniyeli 5:14) Ngaphambi kuka-1919, amaKristu agcotshiwe aqondayo ayefune ngenkuthalo ukuthola ukuthi iyini intando kaNkulunkulu ngawo, naphezu kwesimo sawo sesikhashana esasibuthaka. Ngakho, lapho kuphuma isimemezelo sokuba akhiphe ukukhanya, ayemi ngomumo.—2 Thimothewu 4:2; Hebheru 10:24, 25.

¹⁰ Nokho, abanye abagcotshiwe babengakulungele ukuzidela noma ukuzikhandla—nakuba babefisa ngenhliziyo yonke ukuba kanye noMkhwenyana. Ngakho, lapho kufika isikhathi sokuba kusetshenzwe kushunyayelwe izindaba ezinhle, babengakulungele. (Mathewu 24:14) Baze bazama ngisho nokubadonsela emuva ozakwabo abashisekayo, kunjengokungathi babacela amafutha abo. Emfanekisweni kaJesu, izintombi ezihlakaniphile zaphendula zathini? Zathi: “Angase angasaneli kahle thina kanye nani. Kunalokho, yanini kwabawathengisayo nizithengele.” (Mathewu 25:9) Ngendlela efanayo, ngo-1919 amaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile enqaba ukwenza noma ngabe yini eyayizonciphisa amandla awo okukhipha ukukhanya. Ngakho, aphumelela ekuhlolweni.

11. Kwenzekani ezintombini eziyiziwula?

¹¹ UJesu uphetha kanje: “[Lapho izintombi eziyiziwula] zisaye kothenga, umkhwenyana wafika, futhi izintombi ezazikulungele zangena naye edilini lomshado; umnyango wavalwa. Kamuva zonke ezinye izintombi zafika nazo, zithi, ‘Mnumzane, mnumzane, sivulele!’ Ephendula wathi, ‘Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, anginazi.’” (Mathewu 25:10-12) Yebo, abanye babengakulungele ukufika koMkhwenyana. Ngakho sabehlula isivivinyo futhi balahlekelwa ithuba lokuba sedilini lomshado lasezulwini. Kwaze kwakubi!

Umfanekiso Wamathalenta

12. (a) UJesu wakufanekisa kanjani ukwethembeka? (b) Ubani lo muntu ‘owahamba waya kude’?

¹² Ngemva kokufanekisa ukuba oqondayo, uJesu wabe esefanekisa ukwethembeka. Wathi: “Kunjengalapho nje umuntu othile, okwathi esezohamba aye kude, wabiza izinceku zakhe waziphathisa impahla yakhe. Enye wayinika amathalenta amahlanu, enye amabili, kanti enye elilodwa, ngayinye ngokwamandla ayo, wahamba waya kude.” (Mathewu 25:14, 15) Lo muntu osemfanekisweni nguJesu ngokwakhe, ‘owahamba waya kude’ lapho enyukela ezulwini ngonyaka ka-33 C.E. Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba enyuke, uJesu waphathisa abafundi bakhe abathembekile “impahla yakhe.” Kanjani?

13. UJesu wayilungisa kanjani insimu enkulu eyayizosetshenzwa futhi wazinika kanjani “izinceku” zakhe igunya lokuba zihwebe?

¹³ Ngesikhathi uJesu enza inkonzo yakhe emhlabeni, waqala ukulungisa insimu enkulu eyayizosetshenzwa ngokuba ashumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kulo lonke elakwa-Israyeli. (Mathewu 9:35-38) Ngaphambi kokuba ‘aye kude,’ wayiphathisa abafundi bakhe abathembekile leyo nsimu, ethi: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho.” (Mathewu 28:18-20) Ngala mazwi, uJesu wayenikeza “izinceku” zakhe igunya lokuba zihwebe aze abuye, “ngayinye ngokwamandla ayo.”

14. Kungani kwakungalindelekile ukuba wonke umuntu ahwebe ngezinga elifanayo?

¹⁴ Leyo nkulumo ibonisa ukuthi amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala izimo zawo zazingafani nokuthi amathuba awo ayengafani. Amanye, njengoPawulu noThimothewu, ayekhululekile ukuba ahlanganyele ngokugcwele emsebenzini wokushumayela nokufundisa. Kungenzeka ukuthi izimo zamanye zaziwanikeza inkululeko encane kakhulu yokusebenza. Ngokwesibonelo, amanye amaKristu ayeyizigqila, amanye ayexhwalile, esekhulile, noma enemithwalo yemfanelo yasekhaya. Futhi-ke amanye amalungelo asebandleni ayengenakutholwa yibo bonke abafundi. Abesifazane abagcotshiwe namanye amadoda agcotshiwe babengafundisi ebandleni. (1 Korinte 14:34; 1 Thimothewu 3:1; Jakobe 3:1) Noma kunjalo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zazinjani izimo zomuntu ngamunye, bonke abafundi bakaKristu abagcotshiwe—abesilisa nabesifazane—babenikezwe isabelo sokuhweba, ukuba bawasebenzise kahle amathuba nezimo zabo enkonzweni yobuKristu. Abafundi bakaKristu banamuhla benza okufanayo.

Isikhathi Sokuhlolwa Siyaqala!

15, 16. (a) Safika nini isikhathi sokulungisa izindaba? (b) Abathembekile banikwa maphi amathuba amasha ‘okuhweba’?

¹⁵ Umfanekiso uyaqhubeka: “Ngemva kwesikhathi eside inkosi yalezo zinceku yafika yalungisa izindaba nazo.” (Mathewu 25:19) Ngo-1914—isikhathi eside ngempela kusukela ngemva kuka-33 C.E.—uKristu Jesu waqala ukuba khona njengenkosi. Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu nengxenye, ngo-1918, wafika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu elingokomoya wagcwalisa amazwi kaPetru: “Yisikhathi esimisiwe sokuba ukwahlulela kuqale endlini kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Petru 4:17; Malaki 3:1) Kwase kuyisikhathi sokulungisa izindaba.

¹⁶ Izinceku, abafowabo bakaJesu abagcotshiwe, zazenzeni ‘ngamathalenta’ eNkosi? Kusukela ngo-33 C.E. kuqhubeke, nangeminyaka yangaphambi nje kuka-1914, eziningi zazizikhandla emsebenzini kaJesu ‘wokuhweba.’ (Mathewu 25:16) Ngisho nangempi yezwe yokuqala, zazibonise isifiso esikhulu sokukhonza iNkosi. Manje kwakufaneleka ukuba abathembekile banikezwe amathuba amasha ‘okuhweba.’ Sase sifikile isikhathi sesiphelo salesi simiso sezinto. Izindaba ezinhle kwakufanele zishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke. Kwase kufanele sivunwe “isivuno somhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 14:6, 7, 14-16) Kwakufanele kutholakale amalungu okugcina esigaba sikakolweni futhi kubuthwe “isixuku esikhulu” sezinye izimvu.—IsAmbulo 7:9; Mathewu 13:24-30.

17. AmaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile ‘ángena’ kanjani ‘enjabulweni yenkosi yawo’?

¹⁷ Isikhathi sokuvuna yisikhathi esijabulisayo. (IHubo 126:6) Khona-ke, kuyafaneleka ukuba lapho ephathisa abafowabo abagcotshiwe abathembekile umsebenzi othe xaxa ngo-1919, uJesu athi: “Wathembeka ezintweni ezimbalwa. Ngizokumisa phezu kwezinto eziningi. Ngena enjabulweni yenkosi yakho.” (Mathewu 25:21, 23) Ngaphezu kwalokho, asikwazi nokuyicabanga injabulo yeNkosi lapho isanda kuba iNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (IHubo 45:1, 2, 6, 7) Isigaba senceku ethembekile sijabula kanye neNkosi ngokuyimelela nangokwandisa impahla yayo emhlabeni. (2 Korinte 5:20) Injabulo yaso ibonakala emazwini esiprofetho aku-Isaya 61:10: “Nakanjani ngiyokwethaba ngoJehova. Umphefumulo wami uyojabula ngoNkulunkulu wami. Ngoba ungembathisé izingubo zensindiso.”

18. Kungani abanye bengaphumelelanga ekuhlolweni, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁸ Kuyadabukisa ukuthi abanye abazange baphumelele ekuhlolweni. Siyafunda: “Leyo eyayamukele ithalenta elilodwa yasondela yathi, ‘Nkosi, bengikwazi ukuthi ungumuntu olukhuni, uvuna lapho ungahlwanyelanga khona futhi ubutha lapho ungazange wele khona. Ngakho ngesaba, ngahamba ngayolifihla emhlabathini ithalenta lakho. Mina, thatha okungokwakho.’” (Mathewu 25:24, 25) Ngokufanayo, amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe ayengazange ‘ahwebe.’ Ngaphambi kuka-1914 ayengazange abazise abanye ngentshiseko ngethemba lawo, futhi awafunanga ukuqala ukwenza kanjalo ngo-1919. UJesu wenze njani kulokhu kwedelelwa? Wawaphuca wonke amalungelo awo. ‘Akhishelwa ebumnyameni ngaphandle, lapho ayeyokhala khona aququde amazinyo.’—Mathewu 25:28, 30.

Ukuhlolwa Kuyaqhubeka

19. Ukuhlolwa kuqhubeka ngayiphi indlela, futhi yini wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe azimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁹ Yiqiniso, abaningi balabo ababezoba izinceku zikaKristu ezigcotshiwe ngesikhathi sesiphelo babengakamkhonzi uJehova ngesikhathi uJesu eqala ukuhlola kwakhe ngo-1918. Ingabe bona abahlolwanga? Bahlolwa. Ukuhlola kwakuqala ngo-1918/19 lapho inceku ethembekile futhi eqondayo iphumelela esivivinyweni njengesigaba. UmKristu ngamunye ogcotshiwe uyaqhubeka ehlolwa kuze kube yilapho esebekwe uphawu unomphela. (IsAmbulo 7:1-3) Njengoba bekuqaphela lokhu, abafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe bazimisele ukuqhubeka ‘behweba’ ngokwethembeka. Bazimisele ukuba ngabaqondayo, bagcine amafutha emaningi ukuze ukukhanya kukhanye ngokugqamile. Bayazi ukuthi lapho ngamunye wabo efika ekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni ethembekile, uJesu uyomamukela endaweni yokuhlala yasezulwini.—Mathewu 24:13; Johane 14:2-4; 1 Korinte 15:50, 51.

20. (a) Yini ezinye izimvu namuhla ezizimisele ukuyenza? (b) Yini amaKristu agcotshiwe ayiqaphelayo?

²⁰ Isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu siye sabalingisa abafowabo abagcotshiwe. Siyaqaphela ukuthi ulwazi esinalo ngezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu lusenza sibe nomthwalo omkhulu wemfanelo. (Hezekeli 3:17-21) Ngakho, ngosizo lweZwi likaJehova nomoya wakhe ongcwele, naso sigcina amafutha aso emaningi ngokutadisha nangokuhlangana ndawonye. Futhi senza ukukhanya kwaso kukhanye ngokuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela nokufundisa, ngaleyo ndlela ‘sihweba’ kanye nabafowabo abagcotshiwe. Nokho, amaKristu agcotshiwe akuqaphela kahle ukuthi amathalenta aphathiswe wona. Kumelwe alandise ngendlela impahla yeNkosi yasemhlabeni ephathwa ngayo. Ngisho noma embalwa, awakwazi ukuyekelela umsebenzi wawo ukuba wenziwe isixuku esikhulu. Ikhumbula lokhu, inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo iyaqhubeka ihola ekunakekeleni izindaba zeNkosi, ikwazisa ukusekela kwamalungu esixuku esikhulu azinikele. Isixuku esikhulu siyawuqaphela umthwalo wemfanelo wabafowabo abagcotshiwe futhi sikubheka njengelungelo ukwenganyelwa yibo kulo msebenzi.

21. Isiphi isiyalo esisebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu kusukela ngaphambi kuka-1919 kuze kube namuhla?

²¹ Ngakho, nakuba le mifanekiso emibili isikhanyisela ngezenzakalo ezenzeka cishe ngawo-1919, izimiso zayo zisebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu eqiniso kuzo zonke izinsuku zokugcina. Ngale ndlela, nakuba isiyalo uJesu asinikeza ekupheleni komfanekiso wezintombi eziyishumi sisebenza okokuqala kumaKristu agcotshiwe ngaphambi kuka-1919, izimiso zaso zisasebenza kuwo wonke amaKristu. Khona-ke, kwangathi sonke singawalalela amazwi kaJesu: “Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile, ngoba anilwazi usuku noma ihora.”—Mathewu 25:13.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]