Ihora Lokwahlulela KukaNkulunkulu Selifikile
“Mesabeni uNkulunkulu, nimnike inkazimulo, ngokuba ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe selifikile.”—ISAMBULO 14:7.
1. Zihlanganisani izahluko zokuqala zesAmbulo?
INCWADI yesAmbulo iqukethe iziprofetho ezivusa amadlingozi ezigcwaliseka osukwini lwethu. Isihloko esandulele sikhulumele ezinye zazo, kuhlanganise nokuvulwa kwezimpawu eziyisithupha ezingokomfanekiso. Lezimpawu ezivuliwe zembule ukugibela okubhubhisayo kwabagibeli bamahhashi abane besAmbulo ‘kulezinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1; IsAmbulo 6:1-8) Zikhulumé futhi ngalabo abayobusa noKristu ezulwini nalabo abayosinda “osizini olukhulu” ukuze baphile emhlabeni phakade. Izimpawu eziyisithupha zibonisa ukuthi “isikhathi” sikaNkulunkulu sokukhipha isahlulelo “siseduze.”—IsAmbulo 1:3; 7:4, 9-17.
2. Ayosetshenziswa kanjani amacilongo ayisikhombisa angokomfanekiso esAmbulo isahluko 8?
2 Kodwa kusekhona olunye uphawu, olwesikhombisa. IsAmbulo 8:2 siyasitshela ukuthi yini eyembulekayo lapho luvulwa: “Ngase ngibona izingelosi eziyisikhombisa zimi phambi kukaNkulunkulu, zanikwa amacilongo ayisikhombisa.” Ivesi 6 lithi: “Izingelosi eziyisikhombisa ezazinamacilongo ayisikhombisa zazilungiselela ukubetha.” Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, amacilongo ayesetshenziselwa ukunikeza uphawu lwezenzakalo ezibalulekile. Ngendlela efanayo, lokhu kukhala kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa kuqondisa ukunakekela ezindabeni ezibaluleke kakhulu esikhathini sethu. Futhi ngesikhathi izingelosi zishaya amacilongo, oFakazi abangabantu emhlabeni balandela ngokusakaza izindaba ezibalulekile ezibikezelwa ukukhala ngakunye kwecilongo.
Lokho Okushiwo Ukukhala Kwamacilongo
3. Kusho ukuthini ukukhala kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa?
3 Lokhu kukhala kwamacilongo kusikhumbuza izinhlupho uJehova azithululela eGibithe lasendulo. Lezozinhlupho zaziwukubonakaliswa kwesahlulelo sikaJehova kulowombuso wezwe wokuqala nenkolo yawo yamanga, kodwa zavula nendlela yokusinda kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngokufanayo, ukukhala kwamacilongo esAmbulo kuyizinhlupho zosuku lwanamuhla, manje kulo lonke izwe likaSathane nenkolo yalo yamanga. Nokho, akuzona izinhlupho ezingokoqobo kodwa izigijimi ezihluphayo zezahlulelo zikaJehova. Zibonisa futhi indlela yokukhululeka ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu.
4. Ukukhala kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa kugcwaliseke kanjani esikhathini sethu?
4 Ngokuvumelana nalokhu kukhala kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa, kusukela ngo-1922 kuya ku-1928, emihlanganweni ekhethekile eyisikhombisa yaminyaka yonke yabantu bakaJehova kwaqokonyiswa amazwi esinqumo ashaya kanzima ezweni likaSathane. Kwasakazwa amakhulu ezigidi zamakhophi ezinqumo. Nokho, ukukhala okunjengokwecilongo kwalezozigijimi ezihangulayo akugcinanga ngaleyominyaka, kodwa bekuqhubeka kuzo zonke izinsuku zokugcina. Futhi namuhla ukumenyezelwa kwazo kwenziwa ngamandla kunanini ngaphambili, njengoba izigidi ‘zesixuku esikhulu’ ziye zanezela amazwi azo eqenjini elincane labagcotshiwe elaqala ukushumayela ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Unyaka ngamunye manje, ngamandla nangamanani andayo, lezigidi zimemezela ukuthi izwe likaSathane lilahlwe ngokuphelele.
5. Ubani ‘ongokwesithathu’ kwezwe owahlulelwa kuqala kabuhlungu, futhi ngani?
5 KusAmbulo 8:6-12, kukhala amacilongo amane okuqala. Kuthululwa isichotho, umlilo, negazi, okuphumela ekubhujisweni ‘kokwesithathu’ komhlaba. Kungani ‘okwesithathu’ kuphawulwe njengengxenye yomhlaba enecala eyamukela kuqala isahlulelo esibuhlungu? Kungoba nakuba sonke isimiso sikaSathane sinecala kuNkulunkulu, kunengxenye eyodwa enecala ngokwengeziwe. Iyiphi leyongxenye? Ingxenye eyazithathela igama likaKristu—eLobukholwa. Futhi lapho izigijimi zesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu ziza kuwo ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, umbuso weLobukholwa ngalesosikhathi wawumboza cishe ingxenye yesithathu yesintu.
6. Kungani uJehova elahlele eLobukholwa ekubhujisweni?
6 Inkolo yeLobukholwa iyisithelo sokuhlubuka ebuKristwini beqiniso okuneminyaka eyi-1 900 ubudala okwabikezelwa uJesu nabafundi bakhe. (Mathewu 13:24-30; IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Abefundisi beLobukholwa bazibiza ngokuthi bangabafundisa ubuKristu, kodwa izimfundiso zabo zikude kakhulu neqiniso leBhayibheli, futhi izenzo zabo ezonakele ziqhubeka zihlazisa igama likaNkulunkulu. Icala labo legazi ngenxa yokusekela izimpi zalelikhulu leminyaka lama-20 liye lavezwa obala. ELobukholwa lilonke liyingxenye yesimiso sezinto sikaSathane. Kanjalo, lamukela izigijimi ezinamandla, ezihluphayo ezivela kuJehova ezibonisa ukuthi alifanelwe nhlobo umusa waphezulu. UJehova uye wayilahlela ekubhujisweni indlu yeLobukholwa ngokuqiniseke njengoba enza ngendlu yakwaJuda yekhulu lokuqala!—Mathewu 23:38.
Ukuvuselwa Ukushumayela Embulungeni Yonke
7, 8. (a) KusAmbulo isahluko 9, ukukhala kwecilongo lesihlanu kwembulani? (b) Isikhonyane sifanekisela bani?
7 KusAmbulo 9:1 ingelosi yesihlanu ishaya icilongo layo, futhi umbono wembula inkanyezi yehlela emhlabeni. Lenkanyezi iphethe isihluthulelo esandleni sayo. Ngaso ivula umgodi obekuvalelwe kuwo uswebezane lwesikhonyane. Lenkanyezi iyiNkosi kaJehova yasezulwini esanda kumiswa, uJesu Kristu. Isikhonyane siyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ezazishushiswa futhi okwaba sengathi zisusiwe endleleni lapho abaphathi bazo abaholayo beboshwa ngo-1918. Kodwa uKristu, manje osemandleni oMbuso ezulwini, uyazikhulula ukuze ziqalise futhi ukushumayela kwazo kwasobala embulungeni yonke, okubadumaza kakhulu abefundisi, ababecebe ukuqeda umsebenzi wazo.—Mathewu 24:14.
8 Isikhonyane sichazwa ngalendlela kusAmbulo 9:7: “Nesimo sesikhonyane sasifana namahashi alungiselwe ukulwa, nasemakhanda aso kukhona okunjengemiqhele efana negolide, nobuso bunjengobuso babantu.” Ivesi 10 liyanezela: “Sasinemisila efana neyawofezela inezindosi.” Lesikhonyane siyifanekisela kahle insali evuselelwe yezindlalifa zoMbuso ephindela empini engokomoya kusukela ngo-1919 kuya phambili. Inamandla avuselelwe, yamemezela izigijimi zikaNkulunkulu zesahlulelo ezitinyelayo, ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa elonakele.
9, 10. (a) Ukukhala kwecilongo lesithupha kwembulani? (b) Obani abahlanganisiwe ezinkulungwaneni ezingamashumi zamahhashi anamandla?
9 Ngokulandelayo, ingelosi yesithupha ishaya icilongo layo. (IsAmbulo 9:13) Lokhu kwembula ukudedelwa kwezimpi zabakhwele amahhashi. Ivesi 16 lithi isibalo sabo ‘singukuphindwa kabili kwezinkulungwane eziyishumi ziphindwe kazinkulungwane eziyishumi,’ okuyizigidi ezingama-200! Futhi zichazwe kanje emavesini 17 no-19: “Namakhanda amahashi ayenjengamakhanda ezingonyama, nasemilonyeni yawo kuphuma umlilo, nomusi, nesibabule. . . . Imisila yawo ifana nezinyoka.” Lamabutho agabavula ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNkosi uKristu Jesu. Futhi yeka umbukwane osabisayo ayiwo!
10 Ameleleni lamahhashi anamandla? Njengoba isibalo sawo sifinyelela ezigidini, awanakuba nje insali egcotshiwe, osekusele cishe izi-8 800 kuphela zayo emhlabeni. Lezinkulungwane ezingamashumi zamahhashi kumelwe zihlanganise ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ sesAmbulo isahluko 7, labo abanethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. EBhayibhelini, amazwi athi “izinkulungwane eziyishumi” ngokuvamile abhekisela esibalweni esikhulu, esinganqunyiwe. Kanjalo, lamahhashi angokomfanekiso awahlanganisi nje kuphela inani elinciphayo labagcotshiweyo kodwa futhi nezigidi ezandayo ‘zesixuku esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu’ ezinezwi elinamandla eziqhuba umsebenzi wasobala owaqalwa insali egcotshiwe enjengesikhonyane.—Johane 10:16.
11. Kungani kuthiwa “amandla amahashi asemilonyeni yawo,” futhi ‘ona’ kanjani ‘ngemisila yawo’?
11 IsAmbulo 9:19 sithi: “Amandla amahashi asemilonyeni yawo,” ‘[nangemisila] yawo ayona.’ Amandla awo asemilonyeni yawo ngayiphi indlela? Ngokuthi emashumini eminyaka, ngeSikole SeNkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini neminye imihlangano, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziye zafundiswa indlela yokushumayela izigijimi zakhe zokwahlulela ngegunya ngezwi lomlomo. Futhi zona kanjani ngemisila yazo? Ngokuthi ziye zasakaza emhlabeni wonke izigidi zezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, kanjalo zishiya ngemuva izigijimi ezintinyelayo ezweni likaSathane. Kubaphikisi bazo, lezizimpi zabakhwele amahhashi ngempela zibonakala zingamashumi ezinkulungwane aphindaphindiwe.
12. Yini isikhonyane esingokomfanekiso namahhashi okumelwe kuqhubeke kuyenza, futhi kube namuphi umphumela?
12 Kanjalo, isikhonyane esingokomfanekiso namahhashi kumelwe kumemezele izigijimi zikaNkulunkulu zokwahlulela ngokucace nangokuzwakala ngokwengeziwe njengoba usuku lwakhe lwempindiselo lusondela. Kulabo abanhliziyo-ziqotho, lezozigijimi ziyizindaba ezingcono kunazo zonke emhlabeni. Kodwa kulabo abakhetha izwe likaSathane, ziyizindaba ezimbi, ngoba zisho ukuthi izwe labo ngokushesha lizobhujiswa.
13. Uhilelani “umaye wesithathu” ohlangene nokukhala kwecilongo lesikhombisa, futhi ‘ungumaye’ kanjani?
13 Isikhonyane esihluphayo nezimpi zabakhwele amahhashi kuchazwa ngokuthi ‘umaye’ wokuqala nowesibili kwabathathu abamiswe ngokwaphezulu. (IsAmbulo 9:12; 11:14) Uyini “umaye wesithathu”? KusAmbulo 10:7 siyatshelwa: “Ngezinsuku zezwi lengelosi yesikhombisa, . . . imfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu isiyakube ifeziwe, njengalokho azazisa izinceku zakhe abaprofethi ngezindaba ezijabulisayo.” Lemfihlakalo engcwele ihilela ‘inzalo’ eyathenjiswa okokuqala eEdene. (Genesise 3:15) Ngokuyinhloko ‘leyonzalo’ inguJesu kodwa futhi ihlanganisa nabangane bakhe abagcotshiwe abayobusa kanye naye ezulwini. Ngakho imfihlakalo engcwele iphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. LoMbuso uyoletha ‘umaye’ wesithathu ohloswe ngokwaphezulu, ngoba uyokhipha izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu okokugcina ezweni likaSathane.
UMbuso Uyamiswa
14. Kwamemezelani ukukhala kwecilongo lesikhombisa kwesAmbulo 11:15?
14 Khona-ke kuyenzeka! IsAmbulo 11:15 sithi: “Ingelosi yesikhombisa yayisibetha; kwase kuba-khona amazwi amakhulu ezulwini athi: Umbuso wezwe usungoweNkosi yethu [uJehova] nokaKristu wayo; iyakubusa kuze kube-phakade naphakade.” Yebo, kumenyezelwa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngoKristu wamiswa ezulwini ngonyaka ka-1914. Futhi lapho insali ivuselelwa ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, yenza lezindaba zavelela.
15. Ngo-1922, yisiphi isenzakalo esabonisa igagasi elisha ekushumayeleni ngoMbuso?
15 Emhlanganweni omkhulu ka-1922 wezinceku zikaJehova eCedar Point, eOhio, eU.S.A., izinkulungwane ezazikhona zezwa isimemezelo esivusa amadlingozi: “Lolu usuku olubaluleke kunazo zonke. Bhekani, iNkosi iyabusa! Nina ningamanxusa ayo okumemezela. Ngakho memezelani, memezelani, memezelani, iNkosi noMbuso wayo.” Lokho kwaqalisa igagasi elikhulu lokushumayela obala ngoMbuso eliye lahlanganisa izahlulelo ezabikezelwa abashayi bamacilongo abayizingelosi eziyisikhombisa. Namuhla, izinceku zikaJehova ezingaba izigidi ezintathu nengxenye emabandleni angaphezu kwezi-57 000 emhlabeni wonke zihileleké kulokhu kushumayela ngoMbuso embulungeni yonke. Izinkulungwane ezingamashumi ngempela!
16. KusAmbulo isahluko 12, isiphi esinye isenzakalo esihilela izulu nomhlaba esembulwa ukukhala kwecilongo lesikhombisa?
16 Kodwa ingelosi yesikhombisa inokwengeziwe ezokwembula. IsAmbulo 12:7 sithi “kwase kuba-khona ukulwa ezulwini.” Ivesi 9 lisinikeza lomphumela wesenzo sikaKristu iNkosi: “Wayesephonswa phansi udrako omkhulu, inyoka endala ethiwa uMhlebi noSathane, odukisa izwe lonke, waphonswa phansi emhlabeni, nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa kanye naye.” Ivesi 12 liyanezela: “Ngalokho thokozani nina-mazulu nabahlala kuwo.” Yebo, ithonya likaSathane lasuswa emazulwini, okuyimbangela yokujabula okukhulu ezingelosini ezithembekile. Kodwa kusho ukuthini ngesintu? Ivesi elifanayo liyaphendula: “Maye kuwe-mhlaba nakuwe-lulwandle, ngokuba uSathane wehlele kini enolaka olukhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane!”
17. Kungani kufanelekile ukufanekisa uhulumeni wezwe ‘ngesilo’ kusAmbulo isahluko 13?
17 IsAmbulo 12:3 sichaza uSathane ‘njengodrako omkhulu obomvu, onamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi,’ umbhubhisi osabekayo onjengesilo. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi ungumklami wesilo sasemhlabeni sezombangazwe esichazwe esahlukweni 13, amavesi 1 no-2. Nalesosilo sinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi, njengoSathane. Ivesi 2 lithi: “Udrako [uSathane] wasinika amandla akhe, nesihlalo sakhe sobukhosi, nokubusa okukhulu.” Ukuchaza ohulumeni bezombangazwe ngesilo ngokuqinisekile kufanelekile, ngoba kulelikhulu leminyaka lama-20 lodwa, abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu baye babulawa ezimpini zezizwe.
18. Siyini isilo esinezimpondo ezimbili sesAmbulo 13:11, futhi izenzo zaso zisiza kanjani ekusiboneni?
18 Isigcawu esilandelayo kusAmbulo 13 sembula, njengoba ivesi 11 lisho, “esinye isilo siphuma emhlabeni, sinezimpondo ezimbili ezifana nezeWundlu, kepha sikhuluma njengodrako.” Lesisilo esinezimpondo ezimbili siyinhlanganisela yezombangazwe yamaNgisi namaMelika. Sinjengewundlu ngokuthi sishaya sengathi asinalo uchuku, uhlobo lukahulumeni olukhanyiselwe kakhulu. Kodwa sikhuluma njengodrako, njengoSathane, futhi sibizwa ngokuthi “esinye isilo” ngoba izenzo zaso zokubusa ziwubulwane. Sicindezela futhi sisongele size ngisho sisebenzise nobudlova nomaphi lapho uhlobo lwaso lokubusa lungamukelwa khona. Asikhuthazi ukuzithoba eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu, kodwa kunalokho, ukuzithoba ezweni likaSathane. Yingakho ivesi 14 lithi: ‘Sidukisa abakhileyo emhlabeni.’
19, 20. (a) Bubonisani ubuqotho bezinceku zikaJehova? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi ngokuqinisekile insali egcotshiwe iyolinqoba izwe likaSathane?
19 Lelizwe ngaphansi kokubusa kukaSathane liyindawo okunzima ukuphila kuyo kulabo abangeyona ingxenye yalo, ngokuvumelana nomyalo kaJesu kumaKristu eqiniso. (Johane 17:16) Kanjalo, kuwukubonakaliswa okuvelele kwamandla kaJehova nesibusiso sakhe ukuthi izinceku zakhe emhlabeni wonke namuhla zigcina ubuqotho futhi ngobunye ziqhubeka zidumisa uJehova nezindlela zakhe zokulunga. Lokhu zikwenza naphezu kokuphikiswa okunzima, ukushushiswa, ngisho nokufa.
20 Ikakhulukazi insali egcotshiwe iye yaba izisulu zikaSathane ngoba iyoba ababusi kanye noKristu. Kodwa isAmbulo isahluko 14 sibonisa ukuthi inani labo eliphelele, izi-144 000, ngokunqoba lihlanganiswa noKristu emandleni oMbuso. lye yanamathela ngokwethembeka eNkosini yayo, ngoba njengoba ivesi 4 lisho: “Labo yibo abalandela iWundlu noma liyaphi”—lokhu bakwenza naphezu kokushushiswa konya uSathane aye wakuletha kubo.
Ukuthola Izahlulelo ZikaNkulunkulu Kuqala
21, 22. (a) Yiziphi izimemezelo izingelosi ezizenzayo kusAmbulo 14:7, 8? (b) Kungani ingelosi imemezela ukuwa kweBabiloni elingokwenkolo kuyilapho lisekhona?
21 KusAmbulo 14:7 ingelosi iyamemeza: “Mesabeni uNkulunkulu, nimnike inkazimulo, ngokuba ihora lokwahlulela kwakhe selifikile; nikhulele kuye owenza izulu nomhlaba nolwandle nemithombo yamanzi.” Ubani osamukela kuqala isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esibuhlungu? Ivesi 8 liyaphendula: “Yayisilandela enye ingelosi, ithi: Liwile, liwile iBabiloni elikhulu, eliphuzise izizwe zonke iwayini lolaka lobufebe balo.” Lapha, ngokokuqala, kodwa hhayi okokugcina, isAmbulo sikhuluma ‘ngeBabiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wembulunga yonke wenkolo yamanga.
22 Njengoba inkolo isenethonya ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene zomhlaba, kungani ingelosi imemezela ukuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu seliwile kakade? Nokho, waba yini umphumela ngo-539 B.C.E. lapho iBabiloni lasendulo liwa kodwa lingakabhujiswa ngokuphelele? Phela, eminyakeni emibili kamuva izinceku zikaJehova ezingabathunjwa zabuyela ezweni lakubo futhi zabuyisela ukukhulekela kweqiniso! Ngendlela efanayo, ukubuyiselwa kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu emsebenzini ovuselelwe nasekuchumeni okungokomoya okwaqala ngo-1919 kuwubufakazi obusobala bokuthi ngalesosikhathi, ngo-1919, iBabiloni Elikhulu lawa ngokubheka kukaJehova. Lapho walilahlela ekubhujisweni kwesikhathi esizayo.
23. (a) Icatshwa kanjani indlela yokubhujiswa kweBabiloni Elikhulu? (b) Yiziphi ezinye iziprofetho ezizocatshangelwa kuNqabayokulinda elandelayo?
23 Njengesandulela sokubhujiswa kwalo okusondelayo, iBabiloni lanamuhla kakade selingene ezinkingeni ezinkulu. Ukonakala kwalo, ukuziphatha okubi ngokwedlulele, ukungathembeki, nokugxambukela kwezombangazwe kuye kwadalulwa yonke indawo. Engxenyeni enkulu yeYurophu, bambalwa abantu abasaya emasontweni. Emazweni amaningi abusa ngesimiso sokusebenzela uhulumeni, inkolo ibhekwa ‘njengesidakamizwa sabantu.’ Futhi, iBabiloni lanamuhla lihlazekile emehlweni abo bonke abathandi beZwi likaNkulunkulu leqiniso. Ngakho manje kunjengokungathi liklele emgqeni wabayobulawa lilinde ukubhujiswa kwalo okulifanele. Yebo, ‘siseduze isikhathi’ sezenzakalo ezithusa izwe! KuNqabayokulinda elandelayo, ezinye izihloko ezifundwayo ziyoxoxa ngeziprofetho ezikusAmbulo eziphathelene nokubhujiswa okusondelayo ‘kwesifebe’ esingokwenkolo, kanye nokwaso sonke isimiso sezinto sikaSathane.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ukukhala kwamacilongo ayisikhombisa okuqala kusAmbulo isahluko 8 kusho uthini ngosuku lwethu?
◻ Kungani eLobukholwa lisamukela kuqala isahlulelo esibuhlungu?
◻ Uchazwa kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela wensali egcotshiwe kanye ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ kusAmbulo isahluko 9?
◻ Isimemezelo esikusAmbulo isahluko 15 sasisho ukuthini ngezulu nomhlaba?
◻ Njengoba kuchazwe kusAmbulo 14:8, iBabiloni elingokwenkolo lawa kanjani ngo-1919, futhi lokhu kusho ukuthini ngalo?