Ezinye Izimvu Nesivumelwano Esisha
“Nabezizwe . . . bonke abaligcina isabatha, bangaloni, nababambelela esivumelwaneni sami, yebo, nabo ngiyakubayisa entabeni yami engcwele.”—ISAYA 56:6, 7.
1. (a) Ngokombono uJohane aba nawo, yini efezwayo lapho imimoya yesahlulelo sikaJehova isabanjiwe? (b) Yisiphi isixuku esiphawulekayo uJohane asibona?
EMBONWENI wesine encwadini yesAmbulo, umphostoli uJohane wabona imimoya ebhubhisayo yesahlulelo sikaJehova ibanjiwe lapho kusaqedelwa ukubekwa uphawu kwawo wonke amalungu “ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu.” Laba bangabokuqala ukuba babusiswe ngoJesu, ingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo ka-Abrahama. (Galathiya 6:16; Genesise 22:18; IsAmbulo 7:1-4) Kuwo lowo mbono, uJohane wabona “isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi . . . , simemeza ngezwi elikhulu, sithi: ‘Insindiso yethu ivela kuNkulunkulu wethu, ohlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi, nakulo iWundlu.’” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 10) Ngokuthi, “Insindiso yethu ivela . . . nakulo iWundlu,” isixuku esikhulu sibonisa ukuthi naso sibusiswa ngeNzalo ka-Abrahama.
2. Savela nini isixuku esikhulu, futhi kubonakala kanjani ukuthi singobani?
2 Lesi sixuku esikhulu saqashelwa emuva ngo-1935, futhi namuhla singaphezu kwezigidi ezinhlanu. Njengoba ephawulelwe ukusinda osizini olukhulu, amalungu aso ayohlukaniselwa ukuphila okumi phakade lapho uJesu ehlukanisa “izimvu ezimbuzini.” AmaKristu esixuku esikhulu aphakathi ‘kwezinye izimvu’ emfanekisweni kaJesu wezibaya. Anethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi.—Mathewu 25:31-46; Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
3. AmaKristu agcotshiwe ahluke kanjani kwezinye izimvu ngokuqondene nesivumelwano esisha?
3 Abangu-144 000 bazuza isibusiso sesivumelwano sika-Abrahama ngesivumelwano esisha. Njengabahlanganyeli kulesi sivumelwano, baba “ngaphansi komusa ongafanelwe” ‘nangaphansi komthetho ngakuKristu.’ (Roma 6:15; 1 Korinte 9:21) Ngakho, amalungu angu-144 000 ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu kuphela aye azidla ngokufanelekile izifanekiselo eSikhumbuzweni sokufa kukaJesu, futhi uJesu wasenza nawo kuphela isivumelwano sakhe soMbuso. (Luka 22:19, 20, 29) Amalungu esixuku esikhulu awabona abahlanganyeli esivumelwaneni esisha. Nokho, ahlanganyela no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu futhi ahlala naye ‘ezweni’ lakhe. (Isaya 66:8) Ngakho kunengqondo ukuthi nawo aba ngaphansi komusa kaJehova ongafanelwe futhi angaphansi komthetho ngakuKristu. Nakuba engebona abahlanganyeli esivumelwaneni esisha, ayazuza kuso.
“Abezizwe” ‘No-Israyeli KaNkulunkulu’
4, 5. (a) Ngokuka-Isaya, yiliphi iqembu elaliyokhonza uJehova? (b) U-Isaya 56:6, 7 ugcwaliseka kanjani esixukwini esikhulu?
4 Umprofethi u-Isaya wabhala: “Nabezizwe abazihlanganisa noJehova ukumkhonza uJehova nokulithanda igama likaJehova ukuba babe-yizinceku zakhe bonke abaligcina isabatha, bangaloni, nababambelela esivumelwaneni sami, yebo, nabo ngiyakubayisa entabeni yami engcwele, ngibathokozise endlini yami yokukhuleka; iminikelo yabo yokushiswa nemihlatshelo yabo iyakwamukeleka ealtare lami.” (Isaya 56:6, 7) Kwa-Israyeli, lokhu kwakusho ukuthi “abezizwe,” abangewona ama-Israyeli, babeyokhulekela uJehova—bathande igama lakhe, balalele izimfuneko zesivumelwano soMthetho, bagcine iSabatha futhi banikele imihlatshelo ethempelini, “indlu [kaNkulunkulu] yomthandazo.”—Mathewu 21:13.
5 Osukwini lwethu, “abezizwe abazihlanganisa noJehova” yisixuku esikhulu. Laba bakhonza uJehova bekanye no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. (Zakariya 8:23) Banikela imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo efanayo neka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. (Heberu 13:15, 16) Bakhulekela ethempelini likaNkulunkulu elingokomoya, ‘indlu yakhe yomthandazo.’ (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 7:15.) Ingabe bayaligcina iSabatha lamasonto onke? Abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu abayalwanga ukuba benze lokhu. (Kolose 2:16, 17) Nokho, kumaKristu agcotshiwe angamaHeberu, uPawulu wathi: “Abantu bakaNkulunkulu basalelwe ukuphumula kwesabatha. Ngoba umuntu ongene ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu naye ngokwakhe uye waphumula emisebenzini yakhe siqu.” (Heberu 4:9, 10) Lawo maHeberu angena kulokhu “kuphumula kwesabatha” lapho ezithoba ‘ekulungeni kukaNkulunkulu’ futhi ephumula ekuzameni ukuzenza alungile ngemisebenzi yoMthetho. (Roma 10:3, 4) AmaKristu agcotshiwe angabeZizwe ajabulela ukuphumula okufanayo ngokuzithoba ekulungeni kukaJehova. Isixuku esikhulu sizibandakanya nawo kulokho kuphumula.
6. Ezinye izimvu namuhla zizifaka kanjani ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha?
6 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ezinye izimvu zizifaka ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha njengoba nje nabezizwe basendulo bazifaka ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. Kanjani? Hhayi ngokuba abahlanganyeli kuso kodwa ngokuzithoba emithethweni ehlobene naso nokuzuza emalungiselelweni aso. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 31:33, 34.) Njengakubangane bazo abagcotshiwe, umthetho kaJehova ulotshwe ‘ezinhliziyweni zazo’ ezinye izimvu. Ziyithanda ngokujulile futhi ziyayilalela imiyalo nezimiso zikaJehova. (IHubo 37:31; 119:97) NjengamaKristu agcotshiwe, ziyamazi uJehova. (Johane 17:3) Kuthiwani ngokusoka? Eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 500 ngaphambi kokwenziwa kwesivumelwano esisha, uMose wanxusa ama-Israyeli: “Ngalokho sokani ijwabu lezinhliziyo zenu.” (Duteronomi 10:16; Jeremiya 4:4) Nakuba ukusoka okungokwenyama okuphoqelekile kwadlula noMthetho, kokubili abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu kumelwe ‘basoke’ izinhliziyo zabo. (Kolose 2:11) Ekugcineni, uJehova uthethelela iphutha lezinye izimvu ngesisekelo ‘segazi likaJesu lesivumelwano’ elachitheka. (Mathewu 26:28; 1 Johane 1:9; 2:2) UNkulunkulu akazamukeli njengamadodana akhe angokomoya okutholwa, njengoba enza ngabangu-144 000. Kodwa uthi ezinye izimvu zilungile, ngomqondo okwashiwo ngawo ukuthi u-Abrahama ulungile njengomngane kaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 25:46; Roma 4:2, 3; Jakobe 2:23.
7. Yiliphi ithemba elivulekela ezinye izimvu namuhla, lezo ezibizwa ngokuthi zilungile njengoba u-Abrahama abizwa kanjalo?
7 Kwabangu-144 000, ukubizwa ngokuthi balungile kuvula indlela yokuba babe nethemba lokubusa noJesu eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Roma 8:16, 17; Galathiya 2:16) Kwezinye izimvu, ukubizwa ngokuthi zilungile njengabangane bakaNkulunkulu kwenza zamukele ithemba lokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi—kungaba ngokusinda e-Armagedoni njengengxenye yesixuku esikhulu noma ‘ngovuko lwabalungileyo.’ (IzEnzo 24:15) Yeka ilungelo okuyilo ukuba nethemba elinjalo nokuba umngane woMbusi wendawo yonke, ‘uhlale etendeni lakhe’! (IHubo 15:1, 2) Yebo, kokubili abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu babusiswa ngendlela emangalisayo ngoJesu, iNzalo ka-Abrahama.
USuku Lokubuyisana Olukhulu
8. Yini eyayifanekiselwa imihlatshelo yoSuku Lokubuyisana ngaphansi koMthetho?
8 Lapho exoxa ngesivumelwano esisha, uPawulu wakhumbuza abafundi bencwadi yakhe ngoSuku Lokubuyisana ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. Ngalolo lusuku, kwakunikelwa imihlatshelo ehlukene—owesizwe sabapristi samaLevi nowezizwe ezingu-12 ezingezona ezabapristi. Sekuyisikhathi eside lokhu kuchazwa njengokufanekisela umhlatshelo omkhulu kaJesu owawuyozuzisa kokubili abangu-144 000 abanethemba lasezulwini nezigidi ezinethemba lasemhlabeni.a UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ekugcwalisekeni, izinzuzo zomhlatshelo kaJesu zitholakala ngoSuku Lokubuyisana olukhulu lwangaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha. NjengomPristi Ophakeme walolu suku olukhulu, uJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe okuphelele njengomhlatshelo wokubuyisana ukuze atholele isintu “ukukhululwa okumi phakade.”—Heberu 9:11-24.
9. Njengoba ayesesivumelwaneni esisha, yini amaKristu agcotshiwe angamaHeberu ayengayamukela?
9 AmaKristu amaningi angamaHeberu ekhulu lokuqala ‘ayesashisekela uMthetho’ kaMose. (IzEnzo 21:20) Khona-ke, uPawulu wawakhumbuza kufanelekile: “[UJesu ungumlamuleli] wesivumelwano esisha, ukuze kuthi, ngenxa yokuthi kuye kwaba nokufa ngenjongo yokukhululwa kwabo ngesihlengo ekweqeni umthetho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sangaphambili, labo ababiziwe bamukele isithembiso sefa elimi phakade.” (Heberu 9:15) Isivumelwano esisha sakhulula amaKristu angamaHeberu esivumelwaneni esidala, esadalula ukuba kwawo nesono. Ngenxa yesivumelwano esisha, ayesekwazi ukwamukela “isithembiso sefa elimi phakade” lasezulwini.
10. Yini abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu abambonga ngenxa yayo uNkulunkulu?
10 “Wonke umuntu” “obonisa ukholo eNdodaneni” uyozuza emhlatshelweni wesihlengo. (Johane 3:16, 36) UPawulu wathi: “[UKristu] wanikelwa kanye kwaba kuphela ukuze athwale izono zabaningi; futhi lapho ebonakala okwesibili kuyobe kungaphandle kwesono futhi kube kulabo abamfuna ngobuqotho ngenjongo yokusindiswa kwabo.” (Heberu 9:28) Namuhla, labo abafuna uJesu ngobuqotho bahlanganisa namaKristu agcotshiwe ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu nezigidi ezakha isixuku esikhulu, nazo ezinefa elimi phakade. Zombili lezi zigaba zibonga uNkulunkulu ngesivumelwano esisha nangezibusiso ezinika ukuphila ezihambisana naso, kuhlanganise noSuku Lokubuyisana olukhulu nenkonzo yomPristi Ophakeme, uJesu, eNgcwelengcwele yasezulwini.
Bamatasa Enkonzweni Engcwele
11. Njengoba benonembeza abahlanzwe ngomhlatshelo kaJesu, yini kokubili abagcotshiwe nezinye izimvu abayenza ngenjabulo?
11 Encwadini yakhe kumaHeberu, uPawulu wagcizelela inani eliphakeme lomhlatshelo kaJesu esivumelwaneni esisha uma kuqhathaniswa neminikelo yesono ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala. (Heberu 9:13-15) Umhlatshelo kaJesu ongcono uyakwazi ‘ukuhlanza onembeza bethu emisebenzini efile ukuze sinikele inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ KumaKristu angamaHeberu, ‘imisebenzi efile,’ yayihlanganisa ‘nokweqa umthetho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sangaphambili.’ KumaKristu namuhla, ihlanganisa izono ezenziwa esikhathini esidlule lezo aseye aphenduka ngempela kuzo futhi uNkulunkulu wazithethelela. (1 Korinte 6:9-11) Njengoba onembeza bawo sebehlanziwe, amaKristu agcotshiwe anikela ‘inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ Senza kanjalo nesixuku esikhulu. Njengoba siye sahlanza onembeza baso ‘ngegazi leWundlu,’ sisethempelini likaNkulunkulu elikhulu elingokomoya, ‘sinikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku.’—IsAmbulo 7:14, 15.
12. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘sinesiqinisekiso esigcwele sokholo’?
12 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wathi: “Masisondeleni ngezinhliziyo eziqotho ngesiqinisekiso esigcwele sokholo, izinhliziyo zethu zifafaziwe kunembeza omubi nemizimba yethu igeziwe ngamanzi ahlanzekile.” (Heberu 10:22) Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘sinesiqinisekiso esigcwele sokholo’? UPawulu wanxusa amaKristu angamaHeberu: “Masikubambeni ngokuqinile ukulivuma kwasobala ithemba lethu [lasezulwini] ngaphandle kokuntengantenga, ngoba ukholekile lowo owathembisa. Futhi masicabangelaneni ukuze sivuselelane othandweni nasemisebenzini emihle, singakuyeki ukubuthana kwethu ndawonye, njengoba abanye benaleyonkambiso, kodwa sikhuthazane, futhi ikakhulu njengoba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Heberu 10:23-25) Uma ukholo lwethu luphila, nathi ngeke ‘sikuyeke ukubuthana kwethu ndawonye.’ Siyokujabulela ukuvuselela abafowethu nokuvuselelwa yibo othandweni nasemisebenzini emihle nokuqiniselwa umsebenzi obalulekile wokumemezela obala ithemba lethu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi elasemhlabeni noma elasezulwini.—Johane 13:35.
‘Isivumelwano Esimi Phakade’
13, 14. Isivumelwano esisha simi phakade ngaziphi izindlela?
13 Kwenzekani lapho kufezeka ithemba lasezulwini labokugcina babangu-144 000? Ingabe isivumelwano esisha siyoyeka ukusebenza? Ngaleso sikhathi, kuyobe kungasekho malungu ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu asele emhlabeni. Bonke abahlanganyeli besivumelwano bayobe benoJesu “embusweni [kaYise].” (Mathewu 26:29) Kodwa sikhumbula amazwi kaPawulu encwadini yakhe kumaHeberu: “UNkulunkulu wokuthula, [wanyusa] kwabafileyo umalusi omkhulu wezimvu ngegazi lesivumelwano esimi phakade.” (Heberu 13:20; Isaya 55:3) Isivumelwano esisha simi phakade ngamuphi umqondo?
14 Okokuqala, ngokungafani nesivumelwano soMthetho, akusoze kufakwe esinye esikhundleni saso. Okwesibili, imiphumela yokusebenza kwaso ihlala phakade, njengoba bunjalo nobukhosi bukaJesu. (Qhathanisa uLuka 1:33 neyoku-1 Korinte 15:27, 28.) UMbuso wasezulwini unendima yaphakade ezinjongweni zikaJehova. (IsAmbulo 22:5) Futhi okwesithathu, ezinye izimvu ziyoqhubeka zizuza elungiselelweni lesivumelwano esisha. Phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, abantu abakholekile bayoqhubeka ‘benikela kuJehova inkonzo engcwele imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe’ njengoba nje benza manje. UJehova ngeke abuye avuse izono zabo ezidlule ezathethelelwa ngesisekelo ‘segazi likaJesu lesivumelwano.’ Bayoqhubeka bejabulela ukuma okulungileyo njengabangane bakaJehova, futhi umthetho wakhe uyobe usalotshiwe ezinhliziyweni zabo.
15. Chaza ubuhlobo bukaJehova nabakhulekeli bakhe basemhlabeni ezweni elisha.
15 Ingabe ngaleso sikhathi uJehova, ngalezi zinceku ezingabantu, uyokwazi ukuthi: ‘NginguNkulunkulu wabo, futhi bangabantu bami’? Yebo. ‘Uyohlala nabo, futhi bayoba abantu bakhe. Futhi uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe uyoba nabo.’ (IsAmbulo 21:3) Bayoba “ikamu labangcwele,” abameleli basemhlabeni ‘bomuzi othandekayo,’ umlobokazi wasezulwini kaJesu Kristu. (IsAmbulo 14:1; 20:9; 21:2) Konke lokhu kuyokwenzeka ngenxa yokholo lwabo ‘egazini likaJesu lesivumelwano’ elachitheka nokuzithoba kwabo emakhosini asezulwini angabapristi, ayengu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu lapho esesemhlabeni.—IsAmbulo 5:10.
16. (a) Yini okungenzeka ilindele labo abayovuselwa emhlabeni? (b) Yiziphi izibusiso eziyotholakala ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane?
16 Kuthiwani ngabafileyo abavuselwa emhlabeni? (Johane 5:28, 29) Nabo bayomenywa ukuba ‘bazibusise’ ngoJesu, iNzalo ka-Abrahama. (Genesise 22:18, NW) Nabo kuyodingeka bathande igama likaJehova, bamkhonze, banikele imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo, futhi banikele inkonzo engcwele endlini yakhe yomthandazo. Labo abenza kanjalo bayongena ekuphumuleni kukaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 56:6, 7) Ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane, bonke abakholekileyo bayobe sebelethwe ekupheleleni kobuntu ngenkonzo kaJesu Kristu nabapristi akanye nabo abangu-144 000. Bayoba abalungileyo, hhayi nje okuthiwa balungile njengabangane bakaNkulunkulu. ‘Bayophila,’ bengenaso nhlobo isono nokufa okwazuzwa njengefa ku-Adamu. (IsAmbulo 20:5; 22:2) Yeka isibusiso lokho okuyoba yiso! Ngokombono wethu namuhla, kubonakala sengathi umsebenzi wobupristi kaJesu nabangu-144 000 uyobe usufeziwe ngaleso sikhathi. Izibusiso zoSuku Lokubuyisana olukhulu ziyobe sezifezwe ngokugcwele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu ‘uyonikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu noYise.’ (1 Korinte 15:24) Kuyoba novivinyo lokugcina lwesintu, uSathane namademoni akhe bayobe sebebhujiswa phakade.—IsAmbulo 20:7, 10.
17. Ngenxa yenjabulo esiyilindele, yini ngamunye wethu okufanele azimisele ukuyenza?
17 Iyiphi indima, uma ikhona, ‘isivumelwano esimi phakade’ esiyifezayo esikhathini esijabulisayo esiyobe sesiqala? Akukhona okwethu ukusho lokho. Lokho uJehova akwambulile kuze kube manje kwanele okwamanje. Kusishiya sikhexe imilomo. Cabanga nje—ukuphila okumi phakade njengengxenye ‘yamazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha’! (2 Petru 3:13) Kwangathi kungebe nalutho oluyokwenza buthaka isifiso sethu sokuzuza leso sithembiso. Ukuma siqinile kungase kungabi lula. UPawulu wathi: “Ninesidingo sokukhuthazela, ukuze kuthi, ngemva kokuba seniyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu, namukele ukugcwaliswa kwesithembiso.” (Heberu 10:36) Nokho, khumbula ukuthi noma iyiphi inkinga edinga ukunqotshwa, noma yikuphi ukuphikiswa okudinga ukunqotshwa, kuphenduka ize uma kuqhathaniswa nenjabulo esiyilindele. (2 Korinte 4:17) Ngakho, kwangathi angebe bikho kithi ‘owuhlobo oluhlehlela emuva ekubhujisweni.’ Kunalokho, kwangathi singaba “uhlobo olunokholo kube ukulondolozwa komphefumulo uphila.” (Heberu 10:39) Kwangathi sonke singathembela ngokugcwele kuJehova, uNkulunkulu wezivumelwano, kube ukubusiswa phakade komunye nomunye wethu.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka ethi Ukusindela Emhlabeni Omusha, isahluko 13, enyatheliswa i-Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
Uye Waqonda?
◻ Ngaphandle kwamaKristu agcotshiwe, obani ababusiswa ngeNzalo ka-Abrahama?
◻ Ngokubusiswa kwazo ngesivumelwano esisha, ezinye izimvu zifana kanjani namaproselithe ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala?
◻ Ezinye izimvu zibusiswa kanjani ngelungiselelo loSuku Lokubuyisana olukhulu?
◻ Kungani uPawulu abiza isivumelwano esisha ngokuthi ‘isivumelwano esimi phakade’?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 21]
Inkonzo Engcwele Ethempelini
Isixuku esikhulu sikhulekela kanye namaKristu agcotshiwe egcekeni lasemhlabeni lethempeli likaJehova elikhulu elingokomoya. (IsAmbulo 7:14, 15; 11:2) Akukho sizathu sokuphetha ngokuthi siseGcekeni LabeZizwe elihlukile. Lapho uJesu esemhlabeni, kwakuneGceke LabeZizwe ethempelini. Nokho, emapulanini aphefumulelwe phezulu ethempeli likaSolomoni nelikaHezekeli, kwakungekho lungiselelo leGceke LabeZizwe. Ethempelini likaSolomoni, kwakunegceke langaphandle lapho ama-Israyeli namaproselithe, amadoda nabesifazane, babekhulekela khona ndawonye. Lokhu ukuma okungokwesiprofetho kwegceke lasemhlabeni lethempeli elingokomoya, lapho uJohane abona khona isixuku esikhulu sinikela inkonzo engcwele.
Nokho, abapristi namaLevi kuphela ababengangena egcekeni elingaphakathi, lapho i-altare elikhulu lalikhona; futhi abapristi kuphela ababengangena eNgcwele; bese kuba umpristi ophakeme kuphela owayengangena eNgcwelengcwele. Igceke langaphakathi kanye neNgcwele kuqondwa njengokufanekisela isimo esingokomoya esiyingqayizivele samaKristu agcotshiwe emhlabeni. Futhi iNgcwelengcwele ifanekisela izulu uqobo, lapho amaKristu agcotshiwe amukela khona ukuphila okungenakufa kanye nomPristi Ophakeme wawo wasezulwini.—Heberu 10:19, 20.
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Ngenxa yenjabulo esiyilindele, masibe “nokholo kube ukulondolozwa komphefumulo uphila”