Isahluko 12

Isixuku Esikhulu—Ingabe Siyophila Ezulwini? Noma Emhlabeni?

NGOKUPHAMBENE namalungu ezinkolo zeLobukholwa, iningi loFakazi BakaJehova libheke phambili ekuphileni okuphakade, hhayi ezulwini, kodwa emhlabeni. Kungani kunjalo?

Akukhona ukuthi bekulokhu kunjalo. AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayenethemba lokuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ayeyobusa noJesu Kristu njengamakhosi asezulwini. (Math. 11:12; Luka 22:28-30) Nokho, uJesu wayewatshele ukuthi izindlalifa zoMbuso zaziyoba ‘umhlambi omncane kuphela.’ (Luka 12:32) Obani ababeyohlanganiswa kulaba? Babeyoba bangaki? Abazange bayithole lemininingwane kwaze kwaba kamuva.

NgePentekoste lika-33 C.E., abafundi bakaJesu bokuqala abangamaJuda bagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele ukuba babe izindlalifa kanye noKristu. Ngonyaka ka-36 C.E., ukusebenza komoya kaNkulunkulu kwacacisa ukuthi nabeZizwe abangasokiwe babezoba nengxenye kulelofa. (IzE. 15:7-9; Efe. 3:5, 6) Kwadlula eminye iminyaka engu-60 ngaphambi kokuba umphostoli uJohane embulelwe ukuthi abangu-144 000 kuphela ababeyothathwa emhlabeni ukuze bahlanganyele uMbuso wasezulwini noKristu.—IsAm. 7:4-8; 14:1-3.

UCharles Taze Russell nabangane bakhe babenalelothemba, njengoba kwakunjalo ngoFakazi BakaJehova abaningi kuze kube phakathi nawo-1930. Ngenxa yokutadisha kwabo imiBhalo, babazi futhi ukuthi ukugcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele kwakungabonisi kuphela ukuthi abantu basohlwini lokuba esikhathini esizayo bakhonze njengamakhosi nabapristi noKristu ezulwini kodwa kwakubonisa nokuthi babenomsebenzi okhethekile okwakumelwe bawenze besesenyameni. (1 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2:9; IsAm. 20:6) Muphi umsebenzi? Babewazi kahle futhi bevame ukucaphuna u-Isaya 61:1, othi: “Umoya weNkosi uJehova uphezu kwami, ngokuba uJehova ungigcobile ukuba ngishumayele izindaba ezinhle kwabathotshisiweyo.”

Babeshumayela Ngayiphi Injongo?

Nakuba babembalwa, bazama ukulidlulisela kubo bonke abantu iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu nangezinjongo zakhe. Banyathelisa futhi basakaza izincwadi eziningi ezikhuluma ngezindaba ezinhle ngokuqondene nelungiselelo lakhe lensindiso ngoKristu. Kodwa injongo yabo kwakungekhona ukuguqula bonke ababebashumayeza. Khona-ke, kungani babebashumayeza? INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July 1889 yachaza: “Singabameleli bakhe [uJehova] basemhlabeni; ukudunyiswa kwegama lakhe kumelwe kulwelwe ngenkathi izitha zakhe zisekhona naphambi kwabantwana bakhe abadukiswayo; icebo lakhe elikhazimulayo kumelwe limenyezelwe nxazonke ekumelaneni nazo zonke izimiso zezwe abantu abazama nabebelokhu bezama ukuzisungula.”

Ukunakekela okukhethekile kwanikezwa labo ababethi bangabantu beNkosi, abaningi babo ababengamalungu amasonto eLobukholwa. Yayiyini injongo yokushumayeza laba? Njengoba uMfoweth’ uRussell ayevame ukuchaza, isifiso sabaFundi BeBhayibheli bokuqala sasingekhona ukuthatha amalungu amasonto bawayise kwenye inhlangano kodwa sasiwukuwasiza asondele eduze neNkosi njengamalungu ebandla elilodwa leqiniso. Nokho, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babazi ukuthi belalela isAmbulo 18:4, abantu abanjalo kwakumelwe baphume ‘eBabiloni,’ ababeqonda ukuthi liyibandla lokuzisholo, amasonto eLobukholwa kanye nazo zonke izimfundiso zawo ezingasekelwe ngokombhalo kanye nokwehlukana ngokwamahlelo. Kuwo kanye umagazini wokuqala ngqá INqabayokulinda (July 1879 [ngesiNgisi]), uMfoweth’ uRussell wathi: “Siyaqonda ukuthi injongo yokufakaza kwamanje ‘Iwukukhipha abantu begama laKhe’—iBandla—okuyothi lapho uKristu ebuya lihlanganiswe naYe, futhi lamukele igama laKhe. IsAm. iii. 12.”

Babeqaphela ukuthi, ngalesosikhathi, lunye kuphela “ubizo” olwaludluliselwa kuwo wonke amaKristu eqiniso. Lesi kwakuyisimemo sokuba babe amalungu omlobokazi kaKristu, ekugcineni ayeyoba ngu-144 000 kuphela ngenani. (Efe. 4:4; IsAm. 14:1-5) Babefuna ukushukumisela bonke ababethi banokholo emhlatshelweni kaKristu wesihlengo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi laba babengamalungu esonto noma cha, ukuba baqaphele “izithembiso eziyigugu nezikhulukazi” zikaNkulunkulu. (2 Pet. 1:4; Efe. 1:18) Bazama ukubenza bashiseke ekwenzeni ngokuvumelana nokwakuyimfuneko emhlanjini omncane wezindlalifa zoMbuso. Ukuze baqiniswe ngokomoya bonke abanjalo, ababebabheka njengabakha ‘indlu yokukholwa’ (ngoba babethi banokholo esihlengweni), uMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe ngenkuthalo bafuna ukwenza “ukudla” okungokomoya kutholakale “ngesikhathi esifanele” ngezinhlu ze-Nqabayokulinda nangezinye izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini.—Gal. 6:10; Math. 24:45, 46, KJ.

Nokho, babona ukuthi akubona bonke ababethi ‘bazinikezele’ (noma, ‘ababezinikele ngokugcwele eNkosini,’ njengoba babecabanga ukuthi kusho lokho) ngemva kwalokho abaqhubeka bephishekela ukuphila kokuzidela, bekhathalela inkonzo yeNkosi kuqala ekuphileni kwabo. Nokho, njengoba bachaza, amaKristu azinikezele ayevume ngokuzithandela ukudela ukuphila okuvamile kobuntu, ebheke efeni lasezulwini; kwakungekho ukuphinda emuva; uma engakutholi ukuphila endaweni yomoya, ayelindelwe ukufa kwesibili. (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29) Kodwa amaKristu amaningi ayebonakala ezinikezele ayethatha izinto kalula, ehluleka ukubonakalisa intshiseko yeqiniso ngenjongo yeNkosi futhi ekugwema ukuzidela. Nokho, ngokusobala ayengasenqabi isihlengo futhi ngezinga elithile ayephila ukuphila okuhlanzekile. Kwakuyokwenzekani ngabantu abanjalo?

Eminyakeni eminingi abaFundi BeBhayibheli babecabanga ukuthi leli kwakuyiqembu elichazwe kusAmbulo 7:9, 14, esikhuluma ‘ngesixuku esikhulu’ esiphuma osizini olukhulu futhi esimi “phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi” sikaNkulunkulu naphambi kweWundlu, uJesu Kristu. Bacabanga ukuthi nakuba laba babegweme ukuphila kokuzidela, babeyobhekana novivinyo lokholo olwaluyophetha ngokuba bafe phakathi nesikhathi sosizi ngemva kokukhazinyuliswa kwabokugcina bomlobokazi kaKristu. Babekholelwa ukuthi uma laba okwakuthiwa bangabesixuku esikhulu babethembekile ngalesosikhathi, babeyovuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini—hhayi ukuba babuse njengamakhosi kodwa ukuba babe phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi. Kwakuthiwa babeyonikezwa lezikhundla ezingaphansi ngokubaluleka ngoba uthando lwabo ngeNkosi lwalungelukhulu ngokwanele, ngoba babengazange babonise intshiseko eyanele. Kwakuthiwa laba babengabantu ababezelwe ngomoya kaNkulunkulu kodwa abaye bangakunaka ukulalela uNkulunkulu, cishe beqhubeka bebambelele emasontweni eLobukholwa.

Babecabanga nokuthi mhlawumbe—mhlawumbe—“abafanelekayo basendulo” ababeyoba yizikhulu emhlabeni phakathi nenkathi yeminyaka eyinkulungwane, kwakuyothi ekupheleni kwalesosikhathi, ngandlela-thile banikezwe ukuphila kwasezulwini. (IHu. 45:16) Babecabanga ukuthi ithemba elifanayo lalingase lilindele noma yibaphi ‘ababezinikezele’ ngemva kokuba izindlalifa zoMbuso ezingu-144 000 sezikhethwe zonke kodwa ngaphambi kokuba kuqale isikhathi sokubuyiselwa emhlabeni. Ngezinga elithile, lokhu kwakungokuthile okwakuthathwe embonweni weLobukholwa wokuthi bonke abalungileyo baya ezulwini. Kodwa kwakunenkolelo abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababeyikholelwa esekelwe emiBhalweni eyayibenza bahluke kubo bonke abeLobukholwa. Iyiphi?

Ukuphila Phakade Ngokuphelela Emhlabeni

Bakuqaphela ukuthi nakuba inani elilinganiselwe elithathwe phakathi kwesintu laliyonikezwa ukuphila kwasezulwini, kwakuyoba nabaningi abengeziwe ababeyonikezwa ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni, ngaphansi kwezimo ezinjengalezo ezazisePharadesi lase-Edene. UJesu wayefundise abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze: “Mawufike umbuso wakho; mayenziwe intando yakho emhlabeni njengasezulwini.” Wathi futhi: “Babusisiwe abamnene, ngokuba bayakudla ifa lomhlaba.”—Math. 5:5; 6:10.

Ngokuvumelana nalokho, ishadia elakhishwa njengesithasiselo se-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July-August 1881 labonisa ukuthi baningi esintwini ababeyothola umusa kaNkulunkulu phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane futhi ababeyokwakha “izwe lesintu elilethwe ekupheleleni kobuntu nasekuphileni.” Lelishadi lasetshenziswa iminyaka eminingi njengesisekelo sezinkulumo emaqenjini amancane namakhulu.

Babeyophila ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo labantu ababesemhlabeni phakathi naleyonkathi yeminyaka eyinkulungwane? INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-July 1, 1912, yachaza: “Ngaphambi kokuba isono singene emhlabeni, ilungiselelo laPhezulu elalenzelwe abazali bethu bokuqala kwakuyiNsimu yase-Edene. Njengoba sicabanga ngalokhu, izingqondo zethu maziphendukele esikhathini esizayo, ziqondiswa iZwi likaNkulunkulu; futhi ngamehlo engqondo sibona iPharadesi elibuyiselwe—hhayi nje insimu, kodwa wonke umhlaba owenziwe waba muhle, okhiqizayo, ongenasono, nojabulisayo. Khona-ke sikhumbula isithembiso esiphefumlelwe esisijwayele kakhulu—‘Futhi uNkulunkulu uyosula izinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo; ukufa akusayikuba-khona; nokudabuka, nokukhala, nobuhlungu akusayikuba-khona,’ ngoba izinto zokuqala zesono nokufa ziyobe sezidlulile, futhi zonke izinto ziyobe sezenziwe zaba zintsha!—IsAm. 21:4, 5.”

Obani Ababeyophila Phakade Emhlabeni?

UMfoweth’ uRussell akazange abe nomcabango wokuthi uNkulunkulu wayenikeza isintu ukuzikhethela—ukuphila kwasezulwini kulabo ababekufuna kanye nokuphila epharadesi lasemhlabeni kulabo ababecabanga ukuthi bangathanda lokho. INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-September 15, 1905, yaveza lokhu: “Imizwa yethu noma izifiso akulona ubizo. Uma bekunjalo bekuyosho ukuthi sizenzela thina ubizo. Ekhuluma ngobupristi bethu, uMphostoli uthi, ‘Akukho-muntu ozithathela lesosikhundla, kuphela obizelwa kuso nguNkulunkulu,’ (Heb. 5:4), futhi indawo esingaqiniseka kuyo ukuthi luyini ubizo oluvela kuNkulunkulu akukhona emizweni yethu siqu kodwa kuseZwini lesambulo likaNkulunkulu uqobo.”

Ngokuqondene nethuba lokuphila epharadesi lasemhlabeni elibuyiselwe, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babekholelwa ukuthi lokhu kwakuyonikezwa abantu kuphela ngemva kokuba wonke umhlambi omncane sewamukele umvuzo wawo futhi inkathi yeminyaka eyinkulungwane isilethwe ngokuphelele. Babecabanga ukuthi, leso kwakuyoba isikhathi ‘sokubuyiselwa kwakho konke,’ njengoba kushiwo kuzEnzo 3:21. Ngisho nabafileyo ngalesosikhathi babeyovuswa ukuze bonke babe nengxenye kulelolungiselelo lothando. Abazalwane babebheka sonke isintu (ngaphandle kwalabo ababebizelwe ukuphila kwasezulwini) njengesinikezwe ithuba ngalesosikhathi lokuba sikhethe ukuphila. Ngendlela ababeqonda ngayo, leso kwakuyoba isikhathi lapho uKristu, esesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, eyohlukanisa khona abanye abantu kwabanye, njengoba umalusi ehlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi. (Math. 25:31-46) Abantu abalalelayo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bazelwe bengamaJuda noma abeZizwe, babeyoba “ezinye izimvu” zeNkosi.—Joh. 10:16.b

Ngemva kokuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe, bacabanga ukuthi isikhathi sokubuyiselwa sasiseduze kakhulu; ngakho kusukela ngo-1918 kuze kube ngu-1925, bamemezela: “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa.” Yebo, babecabanga ukuthi abantu ababephila ngalesosikhathi—isintu sisonke—babenethuba lokusindela esikhathini sokubuyiselwa nokuthi ngalesosikhathi bayofundiswa izimfuneko ezibekwe uJehova ukuze baphile. Uma belalela, kancane kancane babeyofinyelela ukuphelela kobuntu. Uma behlubuka, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, babeyobhujiswa phakade.

Phakathi naleyominyaka yokuqala, abazalwane babengenamqondo wokuthi isigijimi soMbuso sasiyomenyezelwa kabanzi kangaka neminyaka eminingi njengoba kuye kwenzeka. Kodwa baqhubeka behlola imiBhalo futhi bazama ukusabela kulokho lemibhalo eyayibonisa ukuthi kuwumsebenzi uNkulunkulu ayefuna bawenze.

“Izimvu” Ngakwesokudla SikaKristu

Isinyathelo esibaluleke ngempela ekuqondeni injongo kaJehova sasigxile emfanekisweni kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi, kuMathewu 25:31-46. Kulowomfanekiso uJesu wathi: “Kepha nxa iNdodana yomuntu iza ngenkazimulo yayo nezingelosi zonke ezingcwele kanye nayo, khona izakuhlala esihlalweni sayo senkazimulo; kuzakubuthelwa phambi kwayo izizwe zonke, ibahlukanise abanye kwabanye, njengomalusi ahlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi, imise izimvu ngakwesokunene sayo kepha izimbuzi ngakwesokhohlo.” Njengoba lomfanekiso ubonisa, “izimvu” ziyilabo abasiza ‘abafowabo’ bakaKristu, befuna ngisho nokubanikeza impumuzo lapho beshushiswa futhi beboshiwe.

Kwase kuyisikhathi eside kucatshangwa ukuthi lomfanekiso wawuphathelene nenkathi yeminyaka eyinkulungwane, isikhathi sokubuyisela, nokuthi ukwahlulela kokugcina okukhulunywa ngakho emfanekisweni yilokho okuyokwenzeka ekupheleni kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane. Kodwa ngo-1923, izizathu zomunye umbono ngalendaba zavezwa uJ. F. Rutherford, umongameli we-Watch Tower Society, enkulumweni eyayifundisa eLos Angeles, eCalifornia. Kamuva kulowonyaka lenkulumo yanyatheliswa kumagazini ka-October 15 INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi).

Lapho sixoxa ngesikhathi lomfanekiso ongokwesiprofetho oyogcwaliseka ngaso, lesihloko sabonisa ukuthi uJesu wawuhlanganisa empendulweni yakhe esicelweni ‘sesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe nesokuphela kwezwe.’ (Math. 24:3) Lesihloko sachaza ukuthi kungani ‘abafowabo’ okukhulunywe ngabo emfanekisweni kungenakuba amaJuda enkathi yeVangeli noma abantu ababonisa ukholo phakathi nenkathi yeminyaka eyinkulungwane yokuvivinya nokwahlulela kodwa kumelwe kube yilabo abayizindlalifa zoMbuso wasezulwini noKristu, okwenza ukuba ukugcwaliseka komfanekiso kube sesikhathini lapho abanye bezindlalifa ezikanye noKristu besesenyameni.—Qhathanisa namaHeberu 2:10, 11.

Izinto labobafowabo bakaKristu abagcotshiwe ababebhekana nazo lapho bezama ukufakaza kubefundisi nakubantu abavamile ababezihlanganise namasonto eLobukholwa zabonisa nokuthi lesiprofetho esisemfanekisweni kaJesu sase sigcwaliseka kakade. Kanjani? Ukusabela kwabaningi babefundisi kanye namalungu avelele amasonto abo kwakunenzondo—kungeyona indebe yamanzi eqabulayo, ngokoqobo noma ngokomfanekiso; kunalokho, abanye balaba bagqugquzela izixuku ukuba zidabule izingubo zokugqoka zabazalwane futhi zibashaye, noma bafune ngenkani ukuba iziphathimandla zibabophe. (Math. 25:41-43) Ngokuphambene, amalungu amaningi esonto athobekile asamukela ngenjabulo isigijimi soMbuso, anikeza ukuqabuleka kulabo ababesiletha, futhi enza konke ayengakwenza ukuze abasize ngisho nalapho abagcotshiwe beboshelwe izindaba ezinhle.—Math. 25:34-36.

Ngendlela abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababebona ngayo, labo uJesu ayekhulume ngabo njengabayizimvu babesesemasontweni eLobukholwa. Ngokucabanga kwabo, laba abantu ababengasho neze ukuthi bazinikezele eNkosini kodwa benenhlonipho enkulu ngoJesu Kristu nangabantu bakhe. Nokho, ingabe babezohlala emasontweni?

Ukukumelela Ngokuqinile Ukukhulekela Okumsulwa

Ukuhlolisiswa kwencwadi yeBhayibheli engokwesiprofetho kaHezekeli kwakukhanyisa lokhu. Ngo-1931 kwakhishwa owokuqala wemiqulu emithathu enesihloko esithi Vindication eyayikhulumela lencwadi. Wachaza ukubaluleka kwalokho uHezekeli akubhala ngolaka lukaJehova phezu kukaJuda ohlubukayo neJerusalema lasendulo. Nakuba abantu bakwaJuda babethi bakhonza uNkulunkulu ophilayo noweqiniso, bamukela imikhuba yenkolo yezizwe ezizungezile, benikela ngempepho ezithombeni ezingaphili, futhi ngokuziphatha kabi bebeka ithemba labo ezivumelwaneni zezombangazwe, esikhundleni sokubonisa ukholo kuJehova. (Hez. 8:5-18; 16:26, 28, 29; 20:32) Kukho konke lokhu, babefana nsé neLobukholwa; ngakho, ngokufanayo, uJehova uzokhipha isahlulelo phezu kweLobukholwa njengoba enza kuJuda ongathembekile kanye neJerusalema. Kodwa isahluko 9 sikaHezekeli sibonisa ukuthi ngaphambi kokukhishwa kwesahlulelo saphezulu, abanye bayobe bephawulelwe ukusindiswa. Bangobani laba?

Isiprofetho sithi labo abaphawuliwe kuyoba ‘ababubula bekhala ngazo zonke izinengiso ezenziwa’ phakathi kweLobukholwa, noma iJerusalema elingokomfanekiso. (Hez. 9:4) Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile babengahlanganyeli ngamabomu kulezozinto ezinengekayo. Ngakho-ke umqulu wokuqala we-Vindication wachaza labo abanophawu ngokuthi abantu abenqabayo ukuba ingxenye yezinhlangano zamasonto zeLobukholwa futhi ngandlela-thile abamelela uhlangothi lweNkosi.

Lokhu kwaziswa ngo-1932 kwalandelwa ingxoxo yomlando weBhayibheli ephathelene noJehu noJonadaba kanye nezincazelo zawo ezingokwesiprofetho. UJehu wayethunywe uJehova ukuba abe inkosi phezu kombuso wezizwe eziyishumi zakwa-Israyeli futhi akhiphe isahlulelo sikaJehova endlini embi ka-Ahabi no-Izebeli (Jezebeli). Lapho uJehu esendleleni eya eSamariya eyophelisa ukukhulekelwa kukaBali, uJehonadaba (uJonadaba), indodana kaRekabi, waphuma eyomhlangabeza. UJehu wabuza uJehonadaba: “Ingabe inhliziyo yakho ilungelene nenhliziyo yami?” futhi uJehonadaba waphendula: “E.” “Nginike isandla sakho,” kusho uJehu emmema, wayesegibelisa uJehonadaba enqoleni yakhe. UJehu wayeseyanxusa: “Hamba nami, ubone ukushisekela kwami uJehova.” (2 AmaKh. 10:15-28) UJehonadaba, nakuba ayengeyena umIsrayeli, wavumelana nalokho uJehu ayekwenza; wayazi ukuthi uJehova, onguNkulunkulu weqiniso, kufanele anikezwe ukuzinikela okukhethekile. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, inzalo kaJehonadaba yayisalokhu ibonisa umoya owawuvunyelwa uJehova, ngakho wathembisa: “UJonadaba indodana kaRekabi akayikunqunyelwa-muntu wokuma phambi kwami kuze kube-phakade.” (Jer. 35:19) Ngakho kwaphakama umbuzo, Ingabe bakhona abantu emhlabeni namuhla abangewona ama-Israyeli angokomoya azokudla ifa lasezulwini kodwa abafana noJehonadaba?

INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-August 1, 1932, yachaza: “UJehonadaba wayemelela noma efanekisela lesosigaba sabantu manje abasemhlabeni . . . [labo] abangahambisani nenhlangano kaSathane, abamelela uhlangothi lokulunga, futhi yilabo iNkosi eyobalondoloza phakathi nesikhathi se-Armagedoni, eyobadlulisa kuleyonkinga, futhi ibanikeze ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. Laba bakha isigaba ‘sezimvu’ ezithanda abantu bakaNkulunkulu abagcotshiwe, ngoba bayazi ukuthi abagcotshiwe beNkosi benza umsebenzi weNkosi.” Labo ababonisa umoya onjalo bamenywa ukuba babe nengxenye ekuyiseni isigijimi soMbuso kwabanye njengoba nje kwakwenza abagcotshiweyo.—IsAm. 22:17.

Kwakunabanye (nakuba ngalesosikhathi babembalwa ngokuqhathaniswa) ababehlanganyela noFakazi BakaJehova ababeqaphela ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu wawungabenzanga baba nethemba lokuphila kwasezulwini. Baziwa ngokuthi bangamaJonadaba, ngoba, njengoJonadaba (uJehonadaba) wasendulo, bakubheka njengelungelo ukuhlanganiswa nezinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe, futhi babekujabulela ukuhlanganyela emalungelweni iZwi likaNkulunkulu elalibanika wona. Ingabe abantu abanjalo ababenethemba lokuthi ngeke bafe babezoba baningi ngaphambi kwe-Armagedoni? Ingabe kwakungenzeka, njengoba kwakuye kwashiwo, ukuba babe izigidi?

“Isixuku Esikhulu”—Singobani?

Lapho kwenziwa isimemezelo ngamalungiselelo oFakazi BakaJehova okuba nomhlangano eWashington, D.C., kusukela ngo-May 30 kuya ku-June 3, 1935, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yathi: “Kuze kube manje awamaningi amaJonadaba aye aba nelungelo lokuba khona emhlanganweni, futhi umhlangano waseWashington ungase ube induduzo nenzuzo yangempela kuwo.” Ngokuqinisekile lokho kwaba njalo.

Kulowomhlangano kwanikezwa ukunakekela okukhethekile encwadini yesAmbulo 7:9, 10, efundeka kanje: “Emva kwalokho ngabona, bheka-ke, isixuku esikhulu ebesingenakubalwa-muntu, sivela kuzo zonke izizwe, nemindeni, nabantu, nezilimi, simi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu, sembethe izingubo ezinde ezimhlophe, siphethe amahlamvu esundu ngezandla zaso, samemeza ngezwi elikhulu, sithi: Insindiso ngekaNkulunkulu wethu ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi neyeWundlu.” Obani abakha lesixuku esikhulu?

Eminyakeni eminingi, kwaze kwaba ngisho nango-1935, kwakucatshangwa ukuthi bayizimvu zomfanekiso kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi. Njengoba sekuphawuliwe kakade, kwakucatshangwa ukuthi babeyisigaba sesibili sasezulwini—singesesibili ngoba sasingakunaki ukulalela uNkulunkulu.

Nokho, lowombono wawuphakamisa imibuzo ebeleselayo. Eminye yayo kwakhulunywa ngayo ekuqaleni kuka-1935 ngesikhathi sokudla kwasemini endlunkulu ye-Watch Tower Society. Abanye phakathi kwalabo abaveza ababekucabanga ngalesosikhathi basikisela ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sasiyisigaba sasemhlabeni. UGrant Suiter, kamuva owaba ilungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, wakhumbula: “Kwesinye isifundo saseBethel, esasiqhutshwa uMfoweth’ uT. J. Sullivan, ngabuza: ‘Njengoba isixuku esikhulu sizuza ukuphila okuphakade, ingabe labo abakha leloqembu bayabugcina ubuqotho?’ Kuningi okwashiwo kodwa okwakungezona izimpendulo eziqondile.” Nokho, ngoLwesihlanu ngo-May 31, 1935, emhlanganweni owawuseWashington, D.C., kwanikezwa impendulo egculisayo. UMfoweth’ uSuiter wayehlezi kuvulandi ebuka izixuku ziphansi, futhi yeka indlela ayejabule ngayo njengoba inkulumo yayicaciswa!

Ngokushesha ngemva komhlangano, INqabayokulinda, komagazini (besiNgisi) baka-August 1 no-15, 1935, yanyathelisa lokho okwakushiwo kuleyonkulumo. Yaveza ukuthi isici esibalulekile ekuziqondeni ngokufanele izindaba siwukuqaphela iqiniso lokuthi injongo eyinhloko kaJehova akukhona ukusindiswa kwabantu kodwa ukulwelwa kwegama lakhe siqu (noma, ngendlela esikhuluma ngayo manje, ukulwelwa kobukhosi bakhe). Ngakho umusa kaJehova uphezu kwalabo abalondoloza ubuqotho kuye; akabavuzi labo abavuma ukwenza intando yakhe kodwa kuthi kamuva balethe isihlamba egameni lakhe ngokuvumelana nenhlangano kaDeveli. Lemfuneko yokwethembeka isebenza kubo bonke abayothola umusa kaNkulunkulu.

Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, le-Nqabayokulinda yathi: “IsAmbulo 7:15 empeleni siyisihluthulelo sokubona ukuthi singobani isixuku esikhulu. . . . Lencazelo ekusAmbulo yesixuku esikhulu ithi ‘baphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu, futhi bayamkhonza’ . . . Bayawabona futhi bayawaqonda futhi bayawalalela amazwi kaJesu, iWundlu likaNkulunkulu, awasho kubo: ‘Wokhuleka eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakho, umkhonze yena yedwa’; okungamazwi asebenza kuzo zonke izidalwa uJehova azamukelayo.” (Math. 4:10) Ngakho, lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngesixuku esikhulu, akunakuchazwa ngokufanelekile ngokuthi yinetha lokuphephisa abantu ababethi bayamthanda uNkulunkulu kodwa bengakunaki ukwenza intando yakhe.

Khona-ke, ingabe isixuku esikhulu siyisigaba sasezulwini? Le-Nqabayokulinda yabonisa ukuthi amazwi akulombhalo ayengakhombi esiphethweni esinjalo. Ngokuqondene nokuba kwaso ‘phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi,’ yabonisa ukuthi uMathewu 25:31, 32 ulandisa ngokuthi zonke izizwe zibuthelwa phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaKristu, kodwa lezizwe zisemhlabeni. Nokho, isixuku esikhulu “simi” phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi ngoba samukelwa yiLowo ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi.—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 35:19.

Kodwa leloqembu lalingatholakalaphi—abantu ‘abavela kuzo zonke izizwe,’ abantu ababengeyona ingxenye ka-Israyeli ongokomoya (ochazwe ngaphambili, kusAmbulo 7:4-8), abantu ababebonisa ukholo esihlengweni (ngokomfanekiso beye bahlanza izingubo zabo egazini leWundlu), abantu ababehalalisela uKristu njengeNkosi (amahlamvu esundu esezandleni zabo, njengesixuku esahlangabeza uJesu njengeNkosi lapho engena eJerusalema), abantu ababeziletha ngempela phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaJehova ukuba bamkhonze? Ingabe lalikhona iqembu elinjalo lapha emhlabeni?

Ngokugcwalisa izwi lakhe siqu lesiprofetho, uJehova ngokwakhe wanikeza impendulo. UWebster Roe, owayekhona emhlanganweni eWashington, wakhumbula ukuthi emvuthwandaba wenkulumo yakhe, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wathi: “Ngicela ukuba bonke abanethemba lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni basukume.” NgokukaMfoweth’ uRoe, “kwasukuma abangaphezu kwengxenye yezilaleli.” Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-August 15, 1935, yathi: “Manje sibona iqembu elifanelana kahle nencazelo enikezwe encwadini yesAmbulo isahluko sesikhombisa ngokuqondene nesixuku esikhulu. Phakathi neminyaka embalwa edlule, naphakathi nesikhathi sokuba ‘ivangeli lombuso lishunyayelwe kube ubufakazi’, kuye kweza amanani amakhulu (futhi namanje aseza) avumayo ukuthi iNkosi uJesu inguMsindisi wawo nokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu wawo, amkhulekela ngomoya nangeqiniso futhi amkhonza ngenjabulo. Laba ngenye indlela babizwa ngokuthi ‘amaJonadaba.’ Laba bayabhapathizwa njengesibonakaliso, kanjalo befakazela ukuthi . . . baye bamelela uhlangothi lukaJehova nokuthi bakhonza yena neNkosi yakhe.”

Ngalesosikhathi kwabonakala ukuthi isixuku esikhulu sesAmbulo 7:9, 10 sihlanganisiwe phakathi ‘kwezinye izimvu’ uJesu akhuluma ngazo (Joh. 10:16); siyilabo abasiza ‘abafowabo’ bakaKristu (Math. 25:33-40); singabantu abaphawulelwe ukusinda ngoba bashaqiswa yizinto ezinengekayo ezenziwa kweLobukholwa futhi bayazigwema (Hez. 9:4); sinjengoJehonadaba, owazihlanganisa ngokukhululekile nenceku kaJehova egcotshiwe ekufezeni lokho kuthunywa kwalowomuntu okuvela kuNkulunkulu (2 AmaKh. 10:15, 16). OFakazi BakaJehova bayaqonda ukuthi lesixuku siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziyosinda e-Armagedoni zinethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni obuyiselwe esimweni sePharadesi.

Umsebenzi Ophuthumayo Okumelwe Wenziwe

Ukuqonda kwazo lemibhalo kwaba nomphumela omkhulu emsebenzini wezinceku zikaJehova. Zaqaphela ukuthi akuzona ezazizokhetha futhi zibuthe amalungu esixuku esikhulu; kwakungekhona okwazo ukutshela abantu ukuthi ithemba labo kufanele libe elasezulwini noma elasemhlabeni. INkosi yayizoqondisa izindaba ngokuvumelana nentando yayo. Kodwa njengoFakazi BakaJehova, zazinomthwalo wemfanelo ongathi sína. Kwakumelwe zibe abamemezeli beZwi likaNkulunkulu, ziwahlanganyele nabanye amaqiniso ayezenze zawaqonda, ukuze abantu bazi ngamalungiselelo kaJehova futhi babe nethuba lokusabela kuwo benokwazisa.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, zaqaphela ukuthi kwakuphuthuma kakhulu ukuba zenze umsebenzi wazo. Ochungechungeni lwezihloko olwaluthi “Ukubutha Isixuku,” olwakhishwa ngo-1936, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yachaza: “ImiBhalo isisekela ngokuqinile isiphetho sokuthi e-Armagedoni uJehova uyobhubhisa abantu abasemhlabeni, asindise kuphela labo abalalela imiyalo yakhe yokusekela inhlangano yakhe. Ezikhathini ezidlule izigidigidi zabantu ziye zaya ethuneni zingazange zizwe ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu, futhi ngesikhathi esifanele kumelwe zivuswe ekufeni zinikezwe ulwazi lweqiniso, ukuze zikwazi ukuzikhethela. Nokho, isimo sihlukile ngokuqondene nabasemhlabeni manje. . . . Labo abangabesixuku esikhulu kumelwe bathole isigijimi sevangeli ngaphambi kosuku lwempi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, i-Armagedoni. Uma isixuku esikhulu singasinikezwa manje isigijimi seqiniso, kuyobe sekwephuze kakhulu lapho kuqala umsebenzi wokubulala.”—Bheka awesi-2 AmaKhosi 10:25; Hezekeli 9:5-10; Zefaniya 2:1-3; Mathewu 24:21; 25:46.

Ngenxa yalokhu kuqondwa kwemiBhalo, oFakazi BakaJehova bathola intshiseko evuselelwe yokwenza umsebenzi wokufakaza. ULeo Kallio, kamuva owaba umbonisi ojikelezayo eFinland, wathi: “Angikhumbuli ngiphinde ngiba naleyonjabulo nentshiseko, futhi angizikhumbuli ngigibela ibhayisikili lami ngokushesha njengoba ngangenza ngalezozinsuku, lapho ngiphuthuma ngiyotshela abantu abathakazelayo izindaba zokuthi ngenxa yomusa kaJehova ongasifanele, kuye kwathiwa bazonikwa ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni.”

Phakathi neminyaka emihlanu eyalandela, njengoba inani loFakazi BakaJehova likhula, labo abahlanganyela ezifanekiselweni eSikhumbuzweni saminyaka yonke sokufa kukaKristu kancane kancane bancipha ngenani. Nokho, ukungena kwesixuku esikhulu kwakungasheshi ngendlela uMfoweth’ uRutherford ayeyilindele. Ngesinye isikhathi waze wathi kuFred Franz, owaba umongameli wesine weNhlangano: “Kubonakala sengathi ‘isixuku esikhulu’ ngeke sibe sikhulu nakangako.” Kodwa kusukela ngalesosikhathi, inani loFakazi BakaJehova liye landa laba izigidi, kuyilapho inani labalindele ukudla ifa lasezulwini, ngokuyinhloko, liye laqhubeka lincipha.

Umhlambi Owodwa Ngaphansi KukaMalusi Oyedwa

Akukho mbango phakathi kwesigaba sabagcotshiwe nesixuku esikhulu. Labo abanethemba lasezulwini abababukeli phansi labo abamagange ngokuthola ukuphila okuphakade epharadesi lasemhlabeni. Ngamunye wamukela ngokubonga amalungelo awanikezwa uNkulunkulu, engacabangi ukuthi ngandlela-thile isikhundla sakhe simenza abe umuntu ongcono noma ngandlela-thile abe ngaphansi komunye umuntu. (Math. 11:11; 1 Kor. 4:7) Njengoba uJesu abikezela, lamaqembu amabili aye aba “mhlambi munye” ngempela ekhonza ngaphansi kwakhe ‘njengomalusi’ wawo ‘oyedwa.’—Joh. 10:16.

Indlela abafowabo bakaKristu abazizwa ngayo ngabangane babo besixuku esikhulu ivezwe kahle encwadini ethi Ukulondeka Komhlaba Wonke Ngaphansi ‘KweNkosi Yokuthula’: “Kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II, ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJesu ‘sesiphelo sesimiso sezinto’ kuxhomeke ikakhulukazi engxenyeni efezwa ‘isixuku esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu.’ Ukukhanya okuvela ezibanini ezikhanyayo zensali kuye kwakhanyisa amehlo ezinhliziyo zaso, futhi siye sasizwa ukuba sikhanyisele abanye abasesebumnyameni balelizwe. . . . Siye saba abangane abakhulu bensali yesigaba somlobokazi. . . . Ngakho-ke, siyabonga kakhulu ‘esixukwini esikhulu’ sezizwe zonke, nesinezilimi eziningi ngengxenye enkulu esiye sayifeza ekugcwaliseni isiprofetho soMyeni esikuMathewu 24:14!”

Nokho, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova, kuhlanganise nesixuku esikhulu, beye bahlanganyela ngobunye ekumemezeleni izindaba ezikhazimulayo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, umphakathi uye wabaqaphela ngokunye ngaphandle kokufakaza kwabo ngentshiseko.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 159]

Iningi loFakazi BakaJehova libheke phambili ekuphileni okuphakade emhlabeni

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 161]

Inkolelo eyabenza bahluka kubo bonke abeLobukholwa

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 164]

Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka komfanekiso wezimvu nezimbuzi

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 165]

Baziwa ngokuthi amaJonadaba

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 166]

Ngo-May 31, 1935, “isixuku esikhulu” sachazwa ngokucacile

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 170]

Ukuthi unethemba lasezulwini noma elasemhlabeni—ubani onqumayo?

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 160]

Isikhathi Sokuqonda

Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-250 edlule, uSir Isaac Newton wabhala okuthile okuthakazelisayo ngokuqonda isiprofetho, kuhlanganise naleso esiphathelene ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ esikusAmbulo 7:9, 10. Kweyakhe ethi “Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John,” eyakhishwa ngo-1733, wathi: “LeziProfetho esikaDaniyeli nesikaJohane akufanele ziqondakale kuze kube sesikhathini sokuphela: kodwa-ke abanye kufanele baprofethe ngazo besesimweni sokucindezeleka nesokudabuka isikhathi eside, nakuba zingakacaci kahle, ukuze kuguqulwe abambalwa. . . . Khona-ke, njengoba kwasho uDaniyeli, abaningi bayakwehla benyuka, futhi ulwazi luyoba luningi. Ngoba iVangeli kumelwe lishunyayelwe kuzo zonke izizwe ngaphambi kosizi olukhulu, nokuphela kwezwe. Isixuku esiphethe amasundu, esiphuma kulolusizi olukhulu, ngeke sibe esingenakubalwa esivela kuzo zonke izizwe, ngaphandle kokuba senziwe sibe njalo ngokushunyayelwa kweVangeli ngaphambi kokuba lufike.”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 168]

Umhlaba, Ikhaya Lomuntu Laphakade

Yayiyini injongo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala ngesintu?

“UNkulunkulu wababusisa; uNkulunkulu wathi kubo: Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe, nibuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni.”—Gen. 1:28.

Ingabe injongo kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba iye yashintsha?

“Izwi lami . . . aliyikubuyela-ze kimi, lingakafezi lokhu engikufunayo, liphumelele kulokhu engilithumele kukho.”—Isaya 55:11.

“Usho kanje uJehova, owalidala izulu, onguNkulunkulu, owawubumba umhlaba, wawenza, wawumisa, engawudalelanga ize, wawubumba ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo, uthi: NginguJehova, akakho omunye.”—Isaya 45:18.

“Ngakho-ke anokhuleka kanje, nithi: Baba wethu osezulwini, malingcweliswe igama lakho; mawufike umbuso wakho; mayenziwe intando yakho emhlabeni njengasezulwini.”—Math. 6:9, 10.

“Ababi bazakuchithwa, kepha abalindela uJehova bazakudla ifa lomhlaba. Abalungileyo bazakudla ifa lomhlaba, bahlale kuwo njalonjalo.”—IHu. 37:9, 29.

Yiziphi izimo eziyoba khona emhlabeni ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu?

“Siyalindela ngesithembiso sakhe amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha okukhona kuwo ukulunga.”—2 Pet. 3:13.

“Isizwe asiyikuphakamisela isizwe inkemba, zingabe zisafunda ukulwa. Bayakuhlala, kube-yilowo nalowo phansi komvini wakhe; akakho oyakubesabisa, ngokuba umlomo kaJehova-Sebawoti ukhulumile.”—Mika 4:3, 4.

“Bayakwakha izindlu, bahlale kuzo; bayakutshala izivini, badle izithelo zazo. Abayikwakha, kuhlale omunye; abayikutshala, kudle omunye, ngokuba izinsuku zabantu bami ziyakuba-njengezinsuku zomuthi, nomsebenzi wezandla zabakhethiweyo bami uyakugugela kubo.”—Isaya 65:21, 22.

Abakhé khona abayikusho ukuthi: Ngiyagula.”—Isaya 33:24.

“Yena uNkulunkulu abe-nabo, azesule izinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo; ukufa akusayikuba-khona; nokudabuka, nokukhala, nobuhlungu akusayikuba-khona; ngokuba okokuqala kudlulile.”—IsAm. 21:3, 4; bheka noJohane 3:16.

“Ngubani ongayikwesaba, Nkosi, adumise igama lakho, na? Ngokuba wena wedwa ungcwele, nezizwe zonke ziyakuza zikhuleke phambi kwakho, ngokuba izenzo zakho zokulunga zibonakalisiwe.”—IsAm. 15:4.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 169]

Labo Abaya Ezulwini

Bangaki abantu abazoya ezulwini?

“Ungesabi, mhlambi omncane; ngokuba kwathandeka kuYihlo ukuninika umbuso.”—Luka 12:32.

“Ngase ngibona; bheka, iWundlu [uJesu Kristu] limi entabeni yaseSiyoni [yasezulwini], kumi kanye nalo abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane, benegama lalo negama likaYise lilotshwé emabunzini abo. Bahlabelela igama elisha phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi, naphambi kwezidalwa ezine, namalunga; kepha akubangakho onamandla okufunda lelogama, kuphela abayizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane abathengiweyo emhlabeni.”—IsAm. 14:1, 3.

Ingabe abangu-144 000 bangamaJuda bonke?

“Akakho umJuda nomGreki, akakho oboshiweyo nokhululekileyo, akakho owesilisa nowesifazane, ngokuba nina nonke nimunye kuKristu Jesu. Kepha uma ningabakaKristu, seniyinzalo ka-Abrahama, niyizindlalifa ngokwesithembiso.”—Gal. 3:28, 29.

“UmJuda kakusiye onguye ngokubonwayo, nokusoka akusikho okubonwa enyameni; kodwa umJuda yilowo onguye ngaphakathi, nokusoka kungokwenhliziyo, ngomoya kungengegama.”—Rom. 2:28, 29.

Kungani uNkulunkulu eyisa abanye ezulwini?

“Bayakuba-ngabapristi bakaNkulunkulu nabakaKristu, babuse kanye naye iminyaka eyinkulungwane.”—IsAm. 20:6.

[Ibhokisi/Igrafu ekhasini 171]

Umbiko WeSikhumbuzo

Eminyakeni engu-25, inani lababekhona eSikhumbuzweni laledlula inani labadlayo izikhathi eziphindwe ngekhulu

[Igrafu]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Inani Lababedla

Inani Lababekhona

1 500 000

1 250 000

1 000 000

750 000

500 000

250 000

1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960

[Izithombe ekhasini 167]

Emhlanganweni waseWashington, D.C., kwabhapathizwa abangu-840