ISahluko 27
UMbuso KaNkulunkulu Uzelwe!
Umbono 7—IsAmbulo 12:1-17
Isihloko: Owesifazane wasezulwini uyabeletha, uMikayeli ulwa noSathane futhi umphonsa emhlabeni
Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka: Kusukela ekubekweni kukaKristu Jesu esihlalweni sobukhosi ngo-1914 kuze kube sosizini olukhulu
1. Kuyosisiza kanjani ukuqonda izibonakaliso ezichazwe kusAmbulo izahluko 12 kuya ku-14?
IMFIHLO engcwele kaNkulunkulu yembuliwe. (IsAmbulo 10:7) Manje uMbuso kaJehova ngoMesiya wakhe usungokoqobo ngokunamandla. Uyabusa! Ukuba khona kwawo kusho ukulahlwa kukaSathane nenzalo yakhe nokunqoba okukhazimulayo kweNzalo yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini. Nokho, ingelosi yesikhombisa ayikakaqedi ukushaya icilongo layo, ngoba isenokuningi kokusambulela khona ngomaye wesithathu. (IsAmbulo 11:14) Izibonakaliso ezichazwe kusAmbulo izahluko 12 kuya ku-14 zizosisiza ukuba sikuqonde kangcono konke okuhilelekile kulowo maye nasekupheleliseni imfihlo engcwele kaNkulunkulu.
2. (a) Yisiphi isibonakaliso esikhulu uJohane asibonayo? (b) Yembulwa nini incazelo yesibonakaliso esikhulu?
2 Manje uJohane ubona isibonakaliso esikhulu—esithakazelisa ngokukhethekile kubantu bakaNkulunkulu. Sethula umbono ongokwesiprofetho ovusa amadlingozi, oncazelo yawo yakhishwa okokuqala ku-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-March 1, 1925 endabeni eyayinesihloko esithi “Ukuzalwa Kwesizwe” esakhishwa futhi ngo-1926 encwadini ethi Deliverance. Lo msebe okhanyayo wokuqondwa kweBhayibheli waba yingqophamlando ekuthuthukisweni komsebenzi kaJehova. Ngakho uJohane make achaze idrama njengoba iqala ukwembuleka: “Kwabonakala isibonakaliso esikhulu ezulwini, owesifazane evunule ngelanga, nenyanga ingaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe, nasekhanda lakhe kukhona umqhele wezinkanyezi eziyishumi nambili, futhi wayekhulelwe. Uyakhala ngenxa yezinhlungu zakhe nangemihelo yakhe yokubeletha.”—IsAmbulo 12:1, 2.
3. Ungubani owesifazane obonakala ezulwini?
3 Ngokokuqala, uJohane ubona owesifazane ezulwini. Yebo, akusiye owesifazane ongokoqobo. Kunalokho, uyisibonakaliso, noma uphawu. (IsAmbulo 1:1) Ufanekiselani? Eziprofethweni eziphefumulelwe, ngezinye izikhathi abesifazane bamelela izinhlangano “ezishade” nabantu abavelele. EmiBhalweni yesiHebheru, u-Israyeli wayekhulunyelwa njengomfazi kaJehova uNkulunkulu. (Jeremiya 3:14) EmiBhalweni yesiGreki, ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe likhulunyelwa njengomlobokazi kaKristu. (IsAmbulo 21:9-14) Owesifazane uJohane ambonayo lapha naye ushade nothile, futhi usezobeletha. Ungubani umyeni wakhe? Kamuva umntwana wakhe ‘uyathathwa uyiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.’ (IsAmbulo 12:5) Ngaleyo ndlela uJehova uthi umntwana ungowakhe. Ngakho, kumelwe ukuba owesifazane uJohane ambonayo ungumfazi kaJehova ongokomfanekiso.
4. Angobani amadodana omfazi kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso, futhi umphostoli uPawulu umbiza ngokuthini owesifazane obonwa uJohane?
4 Cishe emakhulwini eminyaka ayisishiyagalombili ngaphambili, uJehova wayekhulume nalo mfazi ongokomfanekiso, ethi: “Bonke abantwana bakho bayoba ngabantu abafundiswé uJehova.” (Isaya 54:5, 13) UJesu wacaphuna lesi siprofetho futhi wabonisa ukuthi laba bantwana babengabalandeli bakhe abathembekile, kamuva abakha ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. (Johane 6:44, 45) Ngakho amalungu aleli bandla, abizwa ngokuthi abantwana bakaNkulunkulu, angabantwana futhi bomfazi kaNkulunkulu ongokomfanekiso. (Roma 8:14) Umphostoli uPawulu unezela ukwaziswa kokugcina uma ethi: “IJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, futhi lingumama wethu.” (Galathiya 4:26) Khona-ke, “owesifazane” obonwa uJohane ‘uyiJerusalema eliphezulu.’
5. Njengoba umfazi kaJehova ongokomfanekiso enomqhele wezinkanyezi ezingu-12, liyini ngempela iJerusalema eliphezulu?
5 Nokho, liyini ngempela iJerusalema eliphezulu? Njengoba uPawulu akhuluma ngalo ‘njengeliphezulu,’ futhi uJohane elibona lisezulwini, ngokusobala aliwona umuzi wasemhlabeni; futhi alifani ‘neJerusalema Elisha,’ ngoba leyo nhlangano iwumlobokazi kaKristu, hhayi umfazi kaJehova. (IsAmbulo 21:2) Phawula ukuthi unomqhele wezinkanyezi ezingu-12. Isibalo u-12 sihlangene nokuphelela kohlelo olungokwenhlangano.a Ngakho, lezi zinkanyezi ezingu-12 zibonakala zibonisa ukuthi uyilungiselelo lenhlangano yasezulwini, njengoba nje lalinjalo neJerusalema lasendulo emhlabeni. IJerusalema eliphezulu liyinhlangano kaJehova yendawo yonke yezidalwa zomoya esebenza njengomfazi wakhe, kokubili ekumkhonzeni nasekuvezeni inzalo.
6. (a) Yini eboniswa iqiniso lokuthi owesifazane obonwa uJohane umbethe ilanga, kukhona inyanga ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe, futhi unomqhele wezinkanyezi? (b) Ifanekiselani imihelo yowesifazane okhulelwe?
6 UJohane ubona lona wesifazane embethe ilanga futhi kukhona inyanga ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe. Uma senezela umqhele wakhe wezinkanyezi, uzungezwe ngokuphelele ukukhanya kwasezulwini. Umusa kaNkulunkulu ukhanya phezu kwakhe ubusuku nemini. Yeka uphawu olufanelekayo lwenhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini enhle ngokumangalisayo! Futhi ukhulelwe, ubekezelela imihelo. Ukukhalela kwakhe usizo lwaphezulu kubonisa ukuthi sesifikile isikhathi sakhe sokubeletha. EBhayibhelini, ngokuvamile imihelo ifanekisela umsebenzi onzima odingekayo ukuze kuvezwe umphumela obalulekile. (Qhathanisa neHubo 90:2; IzAga 25:23; Isaya 66:7, 8.) Ngokungangabazeki yezwakala imihelo yalolu hlobo lapho inhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini ilungiselela lokhu kubeletha okubalulekile emlandweni.
Udrako Omkhulu Onombala Onjengomlilo
7. Yisiphi esinye isibonakaliso uJohane asibonayo ezulwini?
7 Yini uJohane ayibonayo ngokulandelayo? “Kwabonakala esinye isibonakaliso ezulwini, bheka! udrako omkhulu onombala onjengomlilo, onamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi nasemakhanda akhe kunemiqhele eyisikhombisa; umsila wakhe udonsa ingxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi zezulu, waziphonsa phansi emhlabeni. Udrako waqhubeka emi phambi kowesifazane owayesezobeletha, ukuze kuthi lapho esebelethile, ashwabadele umntanakhe.”—IsAmbulo 12:3, 4.
8. (a) Ungubani udrako omkhulu onombala onjengomlilo? (b) Yini eboniswa ukuba kukadrako namakhanda ayisikhombisa, izimpondo eziyishumi, nomqhele ekhanda ngalinye?
8 Lo drako uSathane, “inyoka yokuqala.” (IsAmbulo 12:9; Genesise 3:15) Ungumbhubhisi ononya—udrako onamakhanda ayisikhombisa, noma umshwabadeli, ongasigwinya sonke isisulu sakhe. Yeka ukuthi ubukeka eyinqaba kanjani! Lawo makhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi kubonisa ukuthi ungumklami wesilo sasendle sezombangazwe esizochazwa masinyane kusAmbulo isahluko 13. Lesi silo futhi sinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi. Njengoba uSathane enomqhele ekhanda ngalinye—ayisikhombisa esewonke—singaqiniseka ukuthi imibuso yezwe emelelwe yileso silo sasendle ibilokhu ingaphansi kobubusi bakhe. (Johane 16:11) Izimpondo eziyishumi ziwuphawu olufanelekayo lokuphelela kwamandla aye wawasebenzisa kuleli zwe.
9. Yini eboniswa iqiniso lokuthi umsila kadrako ‘udonsela ingxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi zezulu’ emhlabeni?
9 Udrako unegunya futhi endaweni yomoya. Ngomsila wakhe, “udonsa ingxenye yesithathu yezinkanyezi zezulu.” Izinkanyezi zingamelela izingelosi. (Jobe 38:7) Ukuphawulwa ‘kwengxenye yesithathu’ kungagcizelela ukuthi inani elikhulu lezingelosi liye ladukiswa uSathane. Lapho lezi ziba ngaphansi kokulawula kwakhe, azibanga nakho ukuphunyula. Zazingenakubuyela enhlanganweni kaNkulunkulu engcwele. Zaba ngamademoni, njengokungathi zidonswa uSathane inkosi yazo, noma umbusi. (Mathewu 12:24) USathane futhi uziphonsa phansi emhlabeni. Ngokungangabazeki lokhu kubhekisela osukwini lukaNowa ngaphambi kukaZamcolo, lapho uSathane enxenxa amadodana kaNkulunkulu angalaleli ukuba ehlele emhlabeni futhi ahlalisane namadodakazi abantu. Njengesijeziso, lezi “zingelosi ezona,” uNkulunkulu uziphonsé esimweni esinjengetilongo esibizwa ngokuthi iThartharusi.—Genesise 6:4; 2 Petru 2:4; Jude 6.
10. Yiziphi izinhlangano eziphikisanayo eziba sobala, futhi kungani udrako efuna ukushwabadela umntwana lapho owesifazane ebeletha?
10 Kanjalo, izinhlangano ezimbili eziphikisanayo ziye zavela obala—inhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini njengoba ifanekiselwa owesifazane nenhlangano kaSathane yobudemoni ebekela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu inselele. Impikiswano enkulu yokubusa kumelwe ixazululwe. Kodwa kanjani? USathane, esadonsa amademoni, ufana nesilo esinonya esigaqele isisulu saso. Ulindele ukuba owesifazane abelethe. Ufuna ukushwabadela lo mntwana ozozalwa ngoba uyazi ukuthi uwusongo olukhulu ekubeni khona kwakhe okuqhubekayo nokwezwe abusa phezu kwalo.—Johane 14:30.
Indodana, Owesilisa
11. UJohane ukuchaza kanjani ukuzalwa komntwana wowesifazane, futhi kungani umntwana ebizwa ngokuthi “indodana, owesilisa”?
11 Isikhathi esimisiwe sokuba izizwe zibuse ngaphandle kokuphazanyiswa nguNkulunkulu saphela ngo-1914. (Luka 21:24) Khona-ke, ngesikhathi esimisiwe, owesifazane ubeletha umntwana wakhe: “Wabeletha indodana, owesilisa, ozokwelusa izizwe zonke ngenduku yensimbi. Umntanakhe wathathwa wayiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi. Owesifazane wabalekela ehlane, lapho enendawo khona ayilungiselelwe uNkulunkulu, ukuba bamondle lapho izinsuku eziyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha.” (IsAmbulo 12:5, 6) Lo mntwana ‘uyindodana, owesilisa.’ Kungani uJohane ephinda kabili into efanayo? Wenzela ukuba abonise ukufaneleka kwalo mntwana, ukuba kwakhe nekhono lokubusa izizwe ngamandla adingekile. Kugcizelela futhi indlela lokhu kuzalwa okubaluleke ngayo nokujabulisa ngayo! Kufeza indima ebalulekile ekupheleliseni imfihlo engcwele kaNkulunkulu. Phela, lo mntwana wesilisa ‘uzokwelusa’ ngisho ‘nezizwe zonke ngenduku yensimbi’!
12. (a) KumaHubo, yini uJehova ayithembisa ngokwesiprofetho ngokuqondene noJesu? (b) Yini efanekiselwa ukubeletha kowesifazane indodana ‘ezakwelusa izizwe zonke ngenduku yensimbi’?
12 Manje, ingabe leyo nkulumo izwakala ijwayelekile? Yebo, uJehova wathembisa ngesiprofetho ngokuqondene noJesu: “Uyozaphula ngentonga yensimbi, uziphahlaze zibe izicucu njengokungathi isitsha sombumbi.” (IHubo 2:9) Kwaprofethwa futhi ngaye: “Induku yezikhwepha zakho uJehova uyoyithumela ivela eZiyoni, ethi: ‘Nqoba phakathi kwezitha zakho.’” (IHubo 110:2) Ngakho, ukuzalwa okubonwa uJohane kumthinta ngokuseduze uJesu Kristu. Cha, akusikho ukuzalwa kukaJesu yincasakazi ngaphambi kwekhulu lokuqala leminyaka leNkathi Evamile; futhi akunakubhekisela ekuvuselweni kukaJesu futhi ekuphileni komoya ngo-33 C.E. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akusikho ukuguqulelwa kwesinye isimo sokuphila. Kunalokho, kuwukuzalwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914 njengongokoqobo, unoJesu—manje osekuyiminyaka ecishe ibe amakhulu angamashumi amabili esezulwini—obekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi njengeNkosi.—IsAmbulo 12:10.
13. Yini eboniswa ‘ukuthathwa’ komntwana wesilisa ‘eyiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi’?
13 UJehova akasoze avumela uSathane ukuba ashwabadele umfazi waKhe noma indodana yaKhe esanda kuzalwa! Ekuzalweni kwakhe, umntwana wesilisa ‘uyathathwa uyiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.’ Kanjalo uba ngaphansi kwesivikelo sikaJehova ngokuphelele, ozonakekela ngokugcwele lo Mbuso osanda kuzalwa, ithuluzi laKhe lokungcwelisa igama laKhe elingcwele. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, owesifazane ubalekela endaweni uNkulunkulu amlungiselele yona ehlane. Imininingwane eyengeziwe ngalokho izolandela! Ngokuqondene noSathane, inkundla isilungele isehlakalo esibalulekile esizokwenza kube okungenakwenzeka ngokuphelele ngaye ukuba aphinde asongele uMbuso ezulwini. Siyini leso sehlakalo?
Impi Ezulwini!
14. (a) Njengoba uJohane elandisa, yisiphi isenzakalo esenza kube okungenakwenzeka ngoSathane ukuba ake aphinde asongele uMbuso? (b) USathane namademoni akhe bavalelwe kuyiphi indawo?
14 UJohane uyasitshela: “Kwagqashuka impi ezulwini: UMikayeli nezingelosi zakhe balwa nodrako, nodrako nezingelosi zakhe balwa kodwa akazange anqobe, nendawo yabo ayibange isatholakala ezulwini. Ngakho waphonswa phansi udrako omkhulu, inyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane, odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe; waphonswa phansi emhlabeni, nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa phansi kanye naye.” (IsAmbulo 12:7-9) Ngakho njengesenzakalo esikhulu ekupheleliseni imfihlo engcwele kaNkulunkulu, uSathane uyakhishwa, axoshwe ezulwini, futhi amademoni akhe aphonswa phansi emhlabeni kanye naye. Lowo oye wadukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe kwaze kwaba sezingeni lokuba abe unkulunkulu wawo ekugcineni uvalelwa kule planethi, lapho kwaqala khona ukuhlubuka kwakhe.—2 Korinte 4:3, 4.
15, 16. (a) Ungubani uMikayeli, futhi sazi kanjani? (b) Kungani kufaneleka ukuba uMikayeli kube nguye ophonsa phansi uSathane?
15 Ubani ofeza lokhu kunqoba okukhulu egameni likaJehova? IBhayibheli lithi uMikayeli nezingelosi zakhe. Kodwa ungubani uMikayeli? Igama elithi “Mikayeli” lisho ukuthi “Ubani OnjengoNkulunkulu?” Ngakho kumelwe ukuba uMikayeli unesithakazelo ekulweleni ubukhosi bukaJehova ngokubonisa ukuthi akekho ongafaniswa naYe. KuJude ivesi 9, ubizwa ngokuthi “uMikayeli ingelosi eyinhloko.” Ngokuthakazelisayo, isiqu esithi “ingelosi eyinhloko” sisetshenzisiwe kwenye indawo eBhayibhelini ngokubhekisele kumuntu oyedwa kuphela: UJesu Kristu.b UPawulu uthi ngaye: “INkosi ngokwayo iyokwehla ezulwini ngezwi elinegunya, ngezwi lengelosi enkulu nangecilongo likaNkulunkulu.” (1 Thesalonika 4:16) Isiqu esithi “ingelosi eyinhloko” noma “ingelosi enkulu” sisho ukuthi “inhloko yezingelosi.” Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi isAmbulo sikhuluma ‘ngoMikayeli nezingelosi zakhe.’ Ezinye izindawo lapho iBhayibheli likhuluma ngezingelosi zingaphansi kwenceku kaNkulunkulu elungile zibhekisela kuJesu. Kanjalo, uPawulu ukhuluma ‘ngokwambulwa kweNkosi uJesu ivela ezulwini ikanye nezingelosi zayo ezinamandla.’—2 Thesalonika 1:7; bheka futhi noMathewu 24:30, 31; 25:31.
16 Lona kanye neminye imibhalo usiholela esiphethweni esingenakugwenywa sokuthi akekho omunye onguMikayeli ngaphandle kweNkosi uJesu Kristu esikhundleni sayo sasezulwini. Manje, ngosuku lweNkosi, akasamane nje athi kuSathane: “Kwangathi uJehova angakukhuza.” Njengoba lesi kuyisikhathi sokwahlulela, uJesu, njengoMikayeli, uphonsa phansi uSathane okhohlakele nezingelosi zakhe ezingamademoni ebakhipha ezulwini. (Jude 9; IsAmbulo 1:10) Kungokufaneleka kakhulu ukuba kube nguYe owenza lokhu, njengoba eyiNkosi esanda kumiswa. UJesu futhi uyiNzalo, eyathenjiswa emuva e-Edene, ekugcineni ezochoboza ikhanda leNyoka, kanjalo iyibhubhisa ingasayikuphinde ibe khona. (Genesise 3:15) Ngokukhipha uSathane ezulwini, uJesu uye wasondela kulokho kuchoboza kokugcina.
“Thokozani Nina Mazulu”
17, 18. (a) Yikuphi ukusabela kwasezulwini uJohane akubikayo ngokuqondene nokuwa kukaSathane ezulwini? (b) Cishe livelaphi izwi elikhulu uJohane alizwayo?
17 UJohane ubika ukusabela kwenjabulo kwasezulwini kulokhu kuwa kukaSathane okukhulu: “Ngezwa izwi elikhulu ezulwini lithi: ‘Manje isikhona insindiso, namandla, nombuso kaNkulunkulu wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe, ngoba ummangaleli wabafowethu uphonswe phansi, lowo obamangalela imini nobusuku phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu! Bamnqoba ngenxa yegazi leWundlu nangenxa yezwi lokufakaza kwabo, bangayithanda imiphefumulo yabo ngisho nalapho bebhekene nokufa. Ngenxa yalokhu, thokozani nina mazulu nani enihlala kuwo!’”—IsAmbulo 12:10-12a.
18 Yizwi elikhulu likabani leli uJohane alizwayo? IBhayibheli alisho. Kodwa ukumemeza okufanayo okubikwe kusAmbulo 11:17 kwakuvela kubadala abavusiwe abangu-24 abasezikhundleni zabo zasezulwini, lapho manje bengamelela khona abangcwele abangu-144 000. (IsAmbulo 11:18) Futhi njengoba izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezigcotshiwe ezishushiswayo ezisesemhlabeni zikhulunyelwa lapha ‘njengabafowethu,’ ngokufanelekayo le nkulumo ivela endaweni efanayo. Ngokungangabazeki laba abathembekile bangahlanganyela ngamazwi abo, njengoba ukuvuswa kwabo kwakuzolandela ngokushesha ngemva kokuba uSathane noquqaba lwakhe lwamademoni bexoshiwe ezulwini.
19. (a) Ukupheleliswa kwemfihlo engcwele kaNkulunkulu kuvula indlela ngoJesu ukuba enzeni? (b) Yini eboniswa ukubizwa kukaSathane ngokuthi “ummangaleli wabafowethu”?
19 Ukupheleliswa kwemfihlo engcwele kaNkulunkulu kudinga ukuba uJesu athathe igunya eMbusweni kaJehova. Kanjalo indlela ivulekile ngoNkulunkulu ukuba afeze injongo yakhe enkulu yokukhulula isintu esithembekile. UJesu akalethi insindiso kuphela kubafundi bakhe abesaba uNkulunkulu manje abasemhlabeni kodwa futhi nasezigidini ezingenakubalwa zabafileyo abasenkumbulweni kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 21:27, 28) Ukubizwa kukaSathane ngokuthi “ummangaleli wabafowethu” kubonisa ukuthi, nakuba ukumangalela kwakhe uJobe kwabonakaliswa kungamanga, waqhubeka ebekela inselele ubuqotho bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasemhlabeni. Ngokusobala, wakuphinda izikhathi eziningi ukumangala kokuthi umuntu uyonika konke anakho esikhundleni sokuphila kwakhe. Yeka indlela ehlazisayo uSathane ahluleke ngayo!—Jobe 1:9-11; 2:4, 5.
20. AmaKristu athembekile aye amnqoba kanjani uSathane?
20 AmaKristu agcotshiwe, abhekwa njengalungile “ngenxa yegazi leWundlu,” ayaqhubeka efakaza ngoNkulunkulu nangoJesu Kristu naphezu kokushushiswa. Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-120, lesi sigaba sikaJohane besikhomba ezimpikiswaneni ezinkulu ezihlangene nokuphela kweZikhathi ZabeZizwe ngo-1914. (Luka 21:24, iBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) Futhi isixuku esikhulu manje sikhonza ngokwethembeka eduze kwaso. Abekho kulaba ‘abesaba labo ababulala umzimba kodwa bengenakuwubulala umphefumulo,’ njengoba okuhlangenwe nakho kokuphila okungokoqobo koFakazi BakaJehova kuye kwabonisa ngokuphindaphindiwe phakathi nesikhathi sethu. Ngezwi nangokuziphatha okufanele kobuKristu, baye bamnqoba uSathane, njalo bemveza ukuthi ungumqambimanga. (Mathewu 10:28; IzAga 27:11; IsAmbulo 7:9) Lapho evuselwa ezulwini, yeka ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe kumelwe ukuba ajabula kanjani, njengoba uSathane engasekho lapho ukuba amangalele abafowabo! Ngempela, yisikhathi sokuba sonke isixuku sezingelosi sisabele ngenjabulo esimemweni: “Thokozani nina mazulu nani enihlala kuwo!”
Umaye Ophikisayo!
21. USathane uwulethe kanjani umaye emhlabeni nasolwandle?
21 Ethukuthele ngenxa kamaye wesithathu, uSathane manje uzimisele ukuhlupha isintu ngohlobo lwakhe olukhethekile lukamaye. Yilona: “Mayé ngomhlaba nangolwandle, ngoba uDeveli wehlele kini, ethukuthele kakhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.” (IsAmbulo 12:12b) Ukuxoshwa kukaSathane ezulwini ngempela kusho umaye emhlabeni ongokoqobo, ochithwa abantu abanobugovu abalawulwa nguye. (Duteronomi 32:5) Ngisho nangaphezu kwalokho, isimiso sikaSathane sokuthi ‘busa noma uchithe’ siletha umaye emhlabeni ongokomfanekiso, umphakathi wesintu uwonke, ngisho nasolwandle olungokomfanekiso, isintu esiyaluzayo. Phakathi nezimpi zezwe ezimbili, ulaka lukaSathane lwabonakala olakeni lwezizwe ezingaphansi kwakhe, futhi ukuqhuma okufanayo kolaka lobudemoni kuyaqhubeka kuze kube yilolu suku—nakuba sekungokwesikhashana! (Marku 13:7, 8) Kodwa noma amacebo kaDeveli engaba ngasabeka kangakanani, awasoze afana nomphumela owesabekayo umaye wesithathu—isinyathelo esiyothathwa uMbuso kaNkulunkulu—oyoba nawo enhlanganweni kaSathane ebonakalayo!
22, 23. (a) Yini uJohane athi iyenzeka ngemva kokuba udrako ephonswe phansi emhlabeni? (b) Kwenzeka kanjani ngodrako ukuba ashushise “owesifazane owabeletha umntwana wesilisa”?
22 Kusukela ekuxoshweni kukaSathane okuyinhlekelele, abafowabo bakaKristu abasesemhlabeni baye babekezelela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo. UJohane uyabika: “Manje lapho udrako ebona ukuthi uphonswe phansi emhlabeni, washushisa owesifazane owabeletha umntwana wesilisa. Kodwa owesifazane wanikwa amaphiko amabili okhozi olukhulu, ukuze andizele ehlane endaweni yakhe; yilapho ondliwa khona isikhathi nezikhathi nengxenye yesikhathi kude nenyoka.”—IsAmbulo 12:13, 14.
23 Lapha umbono uqhubeka nomqondo oqalwe evesini 6, ositshela ukuthi ngemva kokuzalwa komntwana wakhe, owesifazane ubalekela ehlane, kude nodrako. Singase simangale ukuthi udrako angamshushisa kanjani owesifazane, njengoba esezulwini futhi manje udrako esephonswé phansi emhlabeni. Nokho, khumbula ukuthi owesifazane unabantwana lapha emhlabeni, inzalo yakhe. Kamuva kulo mbono, sitshelwa ukuthi uSathane uthukuthelela owesifazane ngokushushisa inzalo yakhe. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Lokho okwenzeka enzalweni yowesifazane lapha emhlabeni kungabhekwa njengokwenzeka kowesifazane ngokwakhe. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 25:40.) Futhi nenani elandayo labangane benzalo lapha emhlabeni lalizobhekana nalokhu kushushiswa.
Isizwe Esisha
24. Yikuphi okuhlangenwe nakho abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababa nakho okwakufana nokukhululwa kwama-Israyeli eGibhithe?
24 Lapho kulwiwa impi yezwe yokuqala, abafowabo bakaJesu baqhubeka ngokwethembeka nokufakaza kwabo ngokusemandleni abo. Lokhu kwakwenziwa phakathi nokuphikiswa okunamandla okuvela kuSathane nasezincekwini zakhe ezinonya. Ekugcineni, ukufakaza kwasobala kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli kwamiswa. (IsAmbulo 11:7-10) Lokho kwakungesikhathi beba nokuhlangenwe nakho okufanayo nalokho kwama-Israyeli eGibhithe nawo abekezela ngaphansi kokucindezelwa okukhulu. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho uJehova awathatha ngokushesha, njengokungathi ngamaphiko ezinkozi, wawayisa endaweni elondekile ogwadule lwaseSinayi. (Eksodusi 19:1-4) Ngokufanayo, ngemva koshushiso olunzima luka-1918-19, uJehova waletha ofakazi bakhe, njengoba bemelela owesifazane wakhe, esimweni esingokomoya esasilondekile kubo njengehlane lama-Israyeli. Lokhu kwaba yimpendulo emithandazweni yabo.—Qhathanisa neHubo 55:6-9.
25. (a) Yini uJehova ayizala ngo-1919, njengoba nje azala ama-Israyeli njengesizwe ehlane? (b) Obani abakha lesi sizwe, futhi yini abaye balethwa kuyo?
25 Ehlane, uJehova wazala ama-Israyeli njengesizwe, ewondla ngokomoya nangokwenyama. Ngokufanayo, kusukela ngo-1919, uJehova wazala inzalo yowesifazane njengesizwe esingokomoya. Lokhu akumelwe kudidaniswe noMbuso kaMesiya obubusa ezulwini kusukela ngo-1914. Kunalokho, lesi sizwe esisha sakhiwa insali yofakazi abagcotshiwe abasemhlabeni, abalethwa ezweni elingokomoya elikhazimulayo ngo-1919. Njengoba manje babondliwa ‘ngesilinganiso sabo sokudla ngesikhathi esifanele,’ baqiniselwa umsebenzi ongaphambili.—Luka 12:42; Isaya 66:8.
26. (a) Yinde kangakanani inkathi yesikhathi eshiwo kusAmbulo 12:6, 14? (b) Yayiyini injongo yenkathi eyizikhathi ezintathu nengxenye, yaqala nini, futhi yaphela nini?
26 Laba lide kangakanani leli khefu lenzalo yowesifazane kaNkulunkulu? IsAmbulo 12:6 sithi liyizinsuku ezingu-1 260. IsAmbulo 12:14 sibiza le nkathi ngokuthi isikhathi, nezikhathi, nengxenye yesikhathi; ngamanye amazwi, izikhathi ezintathu nengxenye. Eqinisweni zombili lezi zinkulumo zimelele iminyaka emithathu nengxenye, esukela entwasahlobo ka-1919 kuya ekwindla ka-1922 eNyakatho Nenkabazwe. Lena kwakuyinkathi yokululama okuqabulayo nokuhlela kabusha ngesigaba sikaJohane esibuyiselwe.
27. (a) Ngokombiko kaJohane, yini udrako ayenza ngemva kuka-1922? (b) Yayiyini injongo kaSathane ekukhafuleni isikhukhula soshushiso koFakazi?
27 Udrako akazange ayeke! “Inyoka yakhipha amanzi anjengomfula emlonyeni wayo ngemva kowesifazane, ukuze aminziswe yilo mfula.” (IsAmbulo 12:15) Kushiwo ukuthini ‘ngamanzi anjengomfula,’ noma “isikhukhula samanzi”? (The New English Bible) INkosi yasendulo uDavide yakhuluma ngabantu ababi ababemelene nayo ngokuthi “izikhukhula ezinkulu ezisheshayo zabantu abangelusizo lwalutho” [“imifula yabangelutho,” Young]. (IHubo 18:4, 5, 16, 17) Ngokufanayo lokho uSathane akudedelayo manje kuwushushiso oluvela kubantu abangelutho noma “abangelusizo lwalutho.” Ngemva kuka-1922 uSathane wakhafula isikhukhula soshushiso koFakazi. (Mathewu 24:9-13) Lokhu kwahlanganisa ukuphathwa ngobudlova, ‘ukubiyela inkathazo ngesinqumo somthetho,’ ukuboshwa, ngisho nokubulawa ngokulengiswa, ngokudutshulwa, nangokunqunywa. (IHubo 94:20) USathane owehlisiwe, engasenakufinyelela ngokuqondile kowesifazane kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, waqalisa ngolaka ukuhlasela inzalo yakhe esele emhlabeni futhi ayibhubhise, ngokuqondile noma ngokubangela ukuba ilahlekelwe umusa kaNkulunkulu ngokwephula ubuqotho bayo. Kodwa isinqumo sabo sabonakala sifana nesikaJobe: “Ngeke ngiziphuce ubuqotho bami ngize ngiphangalale!”—Jobe 27:5.
28. Isikhukhula soshushiso safinyelela kanjani iqophelo eliphakeme phakathi neMpi Yezwe II?
28 Lesi sikhukhula esinamandla soshushiso safinyelela iqophelo eliphezulu phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. EYurophu oFakazi abangaba ngu-12 000 bavalelwa emakamu okuhlushwa nasemajele amaNazi, futhi abangaba ngu-2 000 bafa. Ngaphansi kweziphathimandla zempi ezazibusa e-Italy, eJapane, eKorea, naseTaiwan, oFakazi abathembekile baphathwa ngonya ngendlela efanayo. Ngisho nasemazweni okuthiwa abusa ngentando yeningi, oFakazi babehlaselwa amaqembu eCatholic Action, bathelwe ngetiyela bese benanyathiselwa izinsiba, futhi baxoshwe emadolobheni. Imihlangano yamaKristu yayihlakazwa futhi abantwana abangoFakazi babexoshwa esikoleni.
29. (a) UJohane ukuchaza kanjani ukukhululeka okuvela endaweni engalindelekile? (b) Kukanjani ukuthi “umhlaba wamsiza owesifazane”? (c) Yini udrako aye waqhubeka eyenza?
29 Ukukhululwa kwavela emthonjeni ongalindelekile: “Kodwa umhlaba wamsiza owesifazane, futhi umhlaba wavula umlomo wawo wagwinya umfula udrako ayewukhiphe emlonyeni wakhe. Udrako wagcwala ulaka ngowesifazane, wahamba wayokulwa nabaseleyo benzalo yakhe, abagcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu futhi benomsebenzi wokufakaza ngoJesu.” (IsAmbulo 12:16, 17) “Umhlaba”—izingxenye ezisesimisweni sezinto sikaSathane—waqala ukugwinya “umfula,” noma ‘isikhukhula.’ Phakathi nawo-1940 oFakazi bathola uchungechunge lwezinqumo ezibavunayo eNkantolo Ephakeme Yase-United States, nasemibusweni ephethe kwamanye amazwe, ezazisekela inkululeko yokukhulekela. Ekugcineni, iziZwe Ezazilwa NeJalimane zalugwinya unya lwamaNazi namaFascist, kwaba ukukhululeka koFakazi ababehlupheka ngaphansi kobushiqela obunonya. Ukushushiswa akuzange kuphele ngokuphelele, ngoba ulaka lukadrako lusaqhubeka kuze kube namuhla, futhi uqhubekisela phambili ukulwa nalabo ‘abanomsebenzi wokufakaza ngoJesu.’ Emazweni amaningi, oFakazi abathembekile basesejele, futhi abanye basafa ngenxa yobuqotho babo. Kodwa kwamanye ala mazwe, iziphathimandla zilokhu zikuxegisa ukucindezela kwazo, futhi oFakazi bajabulela inkululeko enkudlwana.c Kanjalo, ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho, umhlaba uyaqhubeka ugwinya umfula woshushiso.
30. (a) Umhlaba uye wanikeza ukukhululeka okwanele ukuba kwenzekeni? (b) Uba yini umphumela wobuqotho babantu bakaNkulunkulu?
30 Ngale ndlela, umhlaba uye wanikeza inkululeko eyanele ukuze umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wandele emazweni angaba ngu-235 futhi ukhiqize abashumayeli abathembekile bezindaba ezinhle abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyisithupha. Kanye nabasele benzalo yowesifazane, isixuku esikhulu samakholwa amasha esivela kuzo zonke izizwe sigcina umyalo kaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nokuhlukana nezwe, ukuziphatha okuhlanzekile, nothando ngabazalwane, futhi bafakazela uMbuso kaMesiya. Ubuqotho babo buphendula inselele kaSathane yokuhlambalaza, ukuze kushaywe insimbi yokufa kukaSathane nesimiso sakhe sezinto.—IzAga 27:11.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Qhathanisa izizwe ezingu-12 zika-Israyeli ongokwenyama, abaphostoli abangu-12, izizwe ezingu-12 zika-Israyeli ongokomoya, namasango angu-12, izingelosi ezingu-12, namatshe angu-12 ayisisekelo seJerusalema Elisha.—IsAmbulo 21:12-14.
b Nokho, phawula ukuthi isAmbulo 12:9 sikhuluma ‘ngodrako omkhulu, nezingelosi zakhe.’ Ngakho uDeveli akazami nje kuphela ukuzenza unkulunkulu mbumbulu kodwa futhi uzama ukuba yingelosi eyinhloko, nakuba iBhayibheli lingamniki leso siqu.
c Izinkantolo eziphakeme emazweni amaningi ziye zanikeza oFakazi BakaJehova inkululeko; ezinye zalezi zinqumo ziphawuliwe ebhokisini elisekhasini 92.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 185]
“Umhlaba Wavula Umlomo Wawo”
Isikhukhula sikaSathane soshushiso siye sadedelwa emazweni amaningi kumaKristu agcotshiwe nakubangane bawo. Nokho, ngokuvamile izenzakalo esimisweni sezinto sikaSathane uqobo ziye zabangela ukuba kugwinywe leso sikhukhula.
Isikhukhula sokuhlasela kwezixuku nokuboshwa e-United States kwagwinywa ikakhulukazi izinqumo ezivunayo zeNkantolo Ephakeme phakathi nawo-1940.
Ngo-1945: Ukushushisa okunamandla emazweni alawulwa iJalimane neJapane kwamiswa ukunqoba kweZizwe Ezazilwa neJalimane eMpini Yezwe II.
Lapho bevinjelwa oFakazi BakaJehova eDominican Republic, oFakazi babeboshwa, beshaywa ngezimvubu, futhi beshaywa ngezidunu zezibhamu. Ngo-1960 ingxabano phakathi kukamashiqela uRafael Trujillo neSonto LamaRoma Katolika yaholela ekuqedweni kokuvinjelwa koFakazi BakaJehova.
Ukudutshulwa, ukushiswa, ukudlwengulwa, ukushaywa, ukuhlushwa, nokubulawa koFakazi phakathi nempi yombango eNigeria kwanqamuka ngo-1970 lapho amabutho kahulumeni enqoba isifundazwe esihlubukayo lapho lezi zinto zazenzeka khona.
ESpain imizi yayihlaselwa futhi amaKristu ehlawuliswa futhi eboshelwa “ubugebengu” bokukhuluma ngoNkulunkulu nokuqhuba imihlangano yobuKristu. Ekugcineni lolu shushiso lwaphela ngo-1970 lapho, ngenxa yokushintsha kukahulumeni imithetho ezinkolweni ezingezona ezobuKatolika, oFakazi BakaJehova bevunyelwa ukuba babhalise ngokomthetho.
EPortugal amakhulu amaningi emizi ayepheqululwa ngaphandle kwemvume. OFakazi babelinyazwa futhi beboshwa, futhi amaBhayibheli abo ayethathwa. Lobu buphekula ‘bagwinywa’ lapho, ngo-1974, umphumela wokuvukela kwamasosha uba uguquko kuhulumeni futhi kwakhishwa umthetho onikeza inkululeko yokubuthana.
E-Argentina, ngaphansi kukahulumeni wamasosha, abantwana boFakazi BakaJehova baxoshwa ezikoleni, futhi oFakazi kulelo zwe babeboshelwa ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Ekugcineni lolu shushiso lwaphela ngo-1984 lapho uhulumeni owawubusa ngaleso sikhathi uyiqaphela ngokomthetho iNhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova.
[Ishadi ekhasini 183]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
1914 Ukuzalwa koMbuso
1919 Ukuzalwa kwesizwe esisha
1919-1922 Inkathi yokululama
1922- Isikhukhula soshushiso
[Izithombe ekhasini 182]
Umaye emhlabeni