UKristu Ukhuluma Namabandla
“Yilezi izinto azishoyo lowo ophethe izinkanyezi eziyisikhombisa esandleni sakhe sokunene.”—ISAMBULO 2:1.
1, 2. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo kulokho uKristu akusho emabandleni ayisikhombisa ase-Asia Minor?
INDODANA kaJehova ezelwe yodwa, uJesu Kristu, iyiNhloko yebandla lobuKristu. Ukuze agcine ibandla labalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe lingenasici, uKristu usebenzisa ubunhloko bakhe ngokubancoma nokubalungisa. (Efesu 5:21-27) Kukhona izibonelo zalokhu ezahlukweni 2 no-3 zesAmbulo, lapho sithola khona imiyalezo kaJesu enamandla neyothando eyayiqondiswe emabandleni ayisikhombisa ase-Asia Minor.
2 Ngaphambi kokuba ezwe amazwi kaJesu emabandleni ayisikhombisa, umphostoli uJohane wanikwa umbono ‘wosuku lweNkosi.’ (IsAmbulo 1:10) Lolo ‘suku’ lwaqala lapho kumiswa uMbuso kaMesiya ngo-1914. Ngakho, lokho uKristu akusho emabandleni kubaluleke kakhulu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. Isikhuthazo neseluleko sakhe siyasisiza ekubhekaneni nalezi zikhathi ezibucayi.—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5.
3. Zifanekiselani “izinkanyezi,” “izingelosi,” ‘nezinti zezibani’ ezabonwa umphostoli uJohane?
3 UJohane wabona uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe, “ophethe izinkanyezi eziyisikhombisa esandleni sakhe sokunene” futhi “ohamba phakathi kwezinti zezibani eziyisikhombisa zegolide,” noma amabandla. “Izinkanyezi” ‘yizingelosi zamabandla ayisikhombisa.’ (IsAmbulo 1:20; 2:1) Ngezinye izikhathi izinkanyezi zifanekisela izidalwa zomoya eziyizingelosi, kodwa uKristu wayengeke asebenzise umuntu ukuze abhalele izidalwa zomoya imiyalezo. Ngakho, kunengqondo ukuthi lezi “zinkanyezi” zimelela ababonisi abagcotshwe ngomoya, noma izindikimba zabadala. Igama elithi “izingelosi” libhekisela endimeni yabo njengezithunywa. Ngenxa yokuthi inhlangano kaNkulunkulu iye yanda, “umphathi othembekile” umise namadoda afanelekayo “ezinye izimvu” zikaJesu njengababonisi.—Luka 12:42-44; Johane 10:16.
4. Ukulalela lokho uKristu akusho emabandleni kubazuzisa kanjani abadala?
4 “Izinkanyezi” zisesandleni sikaJesu sokunene—ngaphansi kwamandla, ukulawula, umusa, nesivikelo sakhe. Ngakho, zilandisa kuye. Ngokulalela amazwi akhe ayebhekiswe ebandleni ngalinye kwayisikhombisa, abadala banamuhla bangabona indlela abangasingatha ngayo izimo ezifanayo. Yebo, wonke amaKristu kudingeka ayilalele iNdodana kaNkulunkulu. (Marku 9:7) Yini-ke esingayifunda ngokulalela njengoba uKristu ekhuluma namabandla?
Engelosini Yase-Efesu
5. I-Efesu laliwumuzi onjani?
5 UJesu walincoma futhi walisola ibandla lase-Efesu. (Funda isAmbulo 2:1-7.) Ithempeli elikhulu likankulunkulukazi u-Arthemisi lalikulesi sikhungo esicebile sezentengiselwano nesenkolo ogwini olusentshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Nakuba i-Efesu laligcwele ukuziphatha okubi, inkolo yamanga, nokwenza imilingo, uNkulunkulu wayibusisa inkonzo yomphostoli uPawulu nabanye kulowo muzi.—IzEnzo, isahluko 19.
6. AmaKristu aqotho namuhla afana kanjani nawase-Efesu lasendulo?
6 UKristu walincoma ibandla lase-Efesu, wathi: “Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho, nomshikashika wakho nokukhuthazela kwakho, nokuthi awukwazi ukubekezelela abantu ababi, nokuthi wabavivinya labo abathi bangabaphostoli bengebona, wabathola bengabaqambimanga.” Namuhla, amabandla abalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso anomlando ofanayo wezenzo ezinhle, ukuzikhandla, nokukhuthazela. Awababekezeleli abazalwane-mbumbulu abafuna ukubhekwa njengabaphostoli. (2 Korinte 11:13, 26) Njengabase-Efesu, amaKristu aqotho namuhla ‘awakwazi ukubekezelela abantu ababi.’ Ngakho, ukuze alondoloze ubumsulwa bokukhulekelwa kukaJehova futhi avikele ibandla, awabi nobudlelwane nezihlubuki ezingaphenduki.—Galathiya 2:4, 5; 2 Johane 8-11.
7, 8. Iyiphi inkinga enkulu eyayikhona ebandleni lase-Efesu, futhi singasisingatha kanjani isimo esifanayo?
7 Nokho, amaKristu ase-Efesu ayenenkinga enkulu. “Nginalokhu ngawe,” kusho uJesu, “ukuthi awusenalo uthando owawunalo ekuqaleni.” Amalungu alelo bandla kwakudingeka avuselele uthando ayenalo ngoJehova ekuqaleni. (Marku 12:28-30; Efesu 2:4; 5:1, 2) Nathi sonke kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singaphelelwa uthando esasinalo ekuqaleni ngoNkulunkulu. (3 Johane 3) Kodwa kuthiwani uma izinto ezinjengesifiso sengcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo noma ukuphishekela injabulo ziqala ukubusa ukuphila kwethu? (1 Thimothewu 4:8; 6:9, 10) Kufanele sithandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu ngobuqotho ukuze, esikhundleni salokho kuthambekela, sibe nothando olujulile ngoJehova nokwazisa ngakho konke yena neNdodana yakhe abasenzele kona.—1 Johane 4:10, 16.
8 UKristu wanxusa abase-Efesu: “Khumbula lapho uwe khona, uphenduke, wenze izenzo zangaphambili.” Kuthiwani uma babengakwenzi lokhu? “Uma ungenzi kanjalo,” kusho uJesu, “ngiyeza kuwe, futhi ngiyosusa uthi lwakho lwesibani endaweni yalo.” Uma zonke izimvu zazingase ziphelelwe uthando ezazinalo ekuqaleni, ‘uthi lwesibani,’ noma ibandla, lwaluzoyeka ukuba khona. Kwangathi-ke njengamaKristu ashisekayo singazikhandla ukuze sigcine ibandla likhanya ngokomoya.—Mathewu 5:14-16.
9. Kufanele kubhekwe kanjani ukwakha amahlelo?
9 Abase-Efesu bayancomeka ngokuthi babezizonda “izenzo zehlelo likaNikolawu.” Ngaphandle kwalokho okushiwo kusAmbulo, akukho lutho oluqinisekile olwaziwayo ngomsuka, izimfundiso, nemikhuba yaleli hlelo. Nokho, njengoba uJesu akulahla ukulandela abantu, kudingeka siqhubeke sikuzonda ukwakha amahlelo, njengoba kwenza amaKristu ase-Efesu.—Mathewu 23:10.
10. Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abalalela lokho umoya okushoyo?
10 “Onendlebe makezwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni,” kusho uKristu. Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wakhuluma ethonywe umoya kaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 61:1; Luka 4:16-21) Ngakho kufanele sikunake lokho uNkulunkulu akushoyo manje ngaye esebenzisa umoya ongcwele. Eqondiswa umoya, uJesu wathembisa: “Lowo onqobayo ngiyomnika ukuba adle emthini wokuphila, osepharadesi likaNkulunkulu.” Kwabagcotshiwe, abalalela lokho umoya okushoyo, lokhu kusho ukungafi “epharadesi likaNkulunkulu” elisezulwini, noma lapho uJehova ekhona. “Isixuku esikhulu,” naso esilalela lokho umoya okushoyo, siyojabulela ipharadesi lasemhlabeni lapho siyophuza khona ‘emfuleni wamanzi okuphila’ selashwe ‘amaqabunga emithi’ ewugudlile.—IsAmbulo 7:9; 22:1, 2; Luka 23:43.
11. Singakwazi kanjani ukuthuthukisa uthando ngoJehova?
11 Abase-Efesu babephelelwe uthando ababenalo ekuqaleni, kodwa kuthiwani uma kuvela isimo esifanayo ebandleni namuhla? Masizimisele ngabanye ukuthuthukisa uthando ngoJehova ngokukhuluma ngezindlela zakhe zothando. Singazwakalisa ukwazisa kwethu ngothando uNkulunkulu alubonisa ngokulungiselela isihlengo ngeNdodana yakhe ethandekayo. (Johane 3:16; Roma 5:8) Lapho kufaneleka, singakhuluma ngothando lukaNkulunkulu ezimpendulweni zethu nasezinkulumweni esizinikeza emihlanganweni yebandla. Singabonisa uthando lwethu ngoJehova ngokudumisa igama lakhe enkonzweni yobuKristu. (IHubo 145:10-13) Yebo, amazwi nezenzo zethu kungenza lukhulu ekuvuseleleni noma ekuqiniseni uthando ibandla elalinalo ekuqaleni.
Engelosini YaseSmirna
12. Umlando wembulani ngeSmirna nemikhuba yenkolo yakhona?
12 Ibandla laseSmirna walincoma uKristu, “‘owokuQala nowokuGcina,’ owafa wabuye waphila” ngovuko. (Funda isAmbulo 2:8-11.) ISmirna (manje eyi-Izmir, eTurkey) yayakhiwe ogwini olusentshonalanga lwe-Asia Minor. Kwakuhlala amaGreki kulo muzi, kodwa abaseLidiya bawubhubhisa cishe ngo-580 B.C.E. Abalandela u-Alexander Omkhulu bayakha kabusha iSmirna endaweni entsha. Yaba ingxenye yesifundazwe sase-Asiya samaRoma futhi yaba isikhungo esichumayo sezentengiselwano esasaziwa ngezakhiwo ezinhle zomphakathi. Ithempeli layo likaTiberiyu Khesari layenza isikhungo sokukhulekelwa kombusi. Abakhulekeli kwakudingeka bashise ingcosana yempepho bathi “UKhesari uyiNkosi.” AmaKristu ayengenakukwenza lokho ngoba ‘nguJesu oyiNkosi’ kuwona. Ngakho, abhekana nosizi.—Roma 10:9.
13. Nakuba empofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, amaKristu aseSmirna ayecebe ngamuphi umqondo?
13 Ngaphandle kosizi, amaKristu aseSmirna ayempofu, mhlawumbe enswinyiwe kwezomnotho ngoba engavumi ukukhulekela umbusi. Izinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla azigomekile ekulingweni okufanayo. (IsAmbulo 13:16, 17) Nakuba bempofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, labo abanjengamaKristu aseSmirna bacebile ngokomoya, futhi yilokho okubaluleke ngempela!—IzAga 10:22; 3 Johane 2.
14, 15. Iyiphi induduzo abagcotshiwe abangayithola kusAmbulo 2:10?
14 Iningi lamaJuda eSmirna ‘laliyisinagoge likaSathane’ ngoba lalinamathele emasikweni angqubuzana nemiBhalo, lenqaba iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, futhi lihlambalaza abalandeli bakhe abagcotshwe ngomoya. (Roma 2:28, 29) Kodwa yeka induduzo abagcotshiwe abangayithola emazwini alandelayo kaKristu! Uthi: “Ungazesabi izinto osazohlupheka ngazo. Bheka! UDeveli uzoqhubeka ephonsa abanye kini etilongweni ukuze nivivinywe ngokugcwele, ukuze futhi nibe nosizi izinsuku eziyishumi. Zibonakalise uthembekile kuze kube ngisho nasekufeni, khona-ke ngiyokunika umqhele wokuphila.”—IsAmbulo 2:10.
15 UJesu wayengakwesabi ukufela ukusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova. (Filipi 2:5-8) Nakuba uSathane manje elwa nensali egcotshiwe, ayizesabi izinto okumelwe ibhekane nazo njengeqembu—usizi, ukuboshwa, noma ukufa ngobudlova. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Iyolinqoba izwe. Futhi esikhundleni somqhele wezimbali obunayo owawufakwa abanqobi emidlalweni yamaqaba, uKristu uthembisa abagcotshiwe abavusiwe “umqhele wokuphila” njengezidalwa ezingafi ezulwini. Saze sasikhulu isipho!
16. Uma sisebandleni elinjengelaseSmirna yasendulo, iyiphi impikiswano okumelwe sigxile kuyo?
16 Kuthiwani uma nathi sisebandleni elinjengelaseSmirna yasendulo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lasezulwini noma lasemhlabeni? Masisize esikholwa nabo bagxile esizathwini esiyinhloko sokuvumela kukaNkulunkulu ushushiso—impikiswano yobukhosi bendawo yonke. UFakazi kaJehova ngamunye ogcina ubuqotho ubonisa ukuthi uSathane ungumqambimanga nokuthi ngisho nomuntu oshushiswayo angaba umsekeli oqinile welungelo likaNkulunkulu lokubusa njengoMbusi Wendawo Yonke. (IzAga 27:11) Masikhuthaze amanye amaKristu ukuba akubekezelele ukushushiswa abese ethola “ilungelo [eliqhubekayo] lokunikela [kuJehova] inkonzo engcwele ngesibindi ngokwethembeka nokulunga phambi kwakhe zonke izinsuku zethu”—ngisho naphakade.—Luka 1:68, 69, 74, 75.
Engelosini YasePhergamu
17, 18. IPhergamu yayiyisikhungo sokukhulekela okunjani, futhi wawungaba yini umphumela wokwenqaba ukuhlanganyela kulokho kukhonza izithombe?
17 Ibandla lasePhergamu lanconywa futhi lalungiswa. (Funda isAmbulo 2:12-17.) IPhergamu eyayingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-80 enyakatho yeSmirna, yayicwile enkolweni yobuqaba. Kubonakala sengathi izinhloli (ababhula ngezinkanyezi) abangamaKhaledi babalekela khona besuka eBhabhiloni. Abantu abagulayo babethuthelekela ethempelini elidumile lasePhergamu lika-Asclepius, unkulunkulu wamanga wokwelapha. IPhergamu, eyayinethempeli lokukhulekela uKhesari Awugustu, iye yabizwa ngokuthi “isikhungo esiyinhloko sehlelo lombusi embusweni wakudala.”—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1959, UMqulu 17, ikhasi 507.
18 EPhergamu kwakune-altare elalinikezelwe kuZeus. Lo muzi futhi wawuyisikhungo sokukhulekelwa kwabantu okwakuphefumulelwe uDeveli. Shono ibandla lakhona kwakuthiwa lihlezi “lapho isihlalo sobukhosi sikaSathane” sasikhona! Ukwenqaba ukukhulekela umbusi kwakungaphumela ekufeni komsekeli wobukhosi bukaJehova. Izwe lisesemandleni kaDeveli, futhi izimpawu zamazwe sezenziwa izithixo. (1 Johane 5:19) Kusukela ekhulwini lokuqala kuze kube namuhla, amaKristu amaningi athembekile aye abulawelwa ukholo, njengalowo uKristu ambiza ngokuthi ‘u-Antipase, ufakazi wami othembekileyo, owabulawa eceleni kwenu.’ UJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu bayazikhumbula impela izinceku ezinjalo eziqotho.—1 Johane 5:21.
19. Wenzani uBhalami, futhi yini okumelwe wonke amaKristu ayiqaphele?
19 UKristu wakhuluma ‘nangemfundiso kaBhalami.’ Ehahela inzuzo yezinto ezibonakalayo, umprofethi wamanga uBhalami wazama ukuqalekisa u-Israyeli. Lapho uNkulunkulu ephendula isiqalekiso sakhe siba isibusiso, uBhalami wasebenzisana nenkosi yakwaMowabi uBhalaki bayengela ama-Israyeli amaningi ekukhonzeni izithombe nasekuziphatheni okubi kobulili. Abadala abangamaKristu kudingeka baqine ekulweleni ukulunga njengoFinehasi, owayithathela isinyathelo imisebenzi kaBhalami. (Numeri 22:1–25:15; 2 Petru 2:15, 16; Jude 11) Eqinisweni, wonke amaKristu kumelwe akuqaphele ukukhonza izithombe nokungena kokuziphatha okubi kobulili ngesinyenyela ebandleni.—Jude 3, 4.
20. Uma kukhona umKristu oseqala ukuba nemibono yezihlubuki, kufanele enzeni?
20 Ibandla lasePhergamu lalisengozini enkulu ngoba lalibavumela “ababambelele ngokuqinile emfundisweni yehlelo likaNikolawu” ukuba baqhubeke bekulo. UKristu wathi kuleli bandla: “Phenduka. Uma ungaphenduki, ngiyeza kuwe masinyane, futhi ngizokulwa nabo ngenkemba ende yomlomo wami.” Abakhi bamahlelo bafuna ukulimaza amaKristu ngokomoya, kanti labo abaphikelela ekubangeleni ukuhlukana nasekwakheni amahlelo ngeke balithole ifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Roma 16:17, 18; 1 Korinte 1:10; Galathiya 5:19-21) Uma kukhona umKristu oseqala ukuba nemibono yezihlubuki futhi afune ukuyisakaza, makalalele isixwayiso sikaKristu! Ukuze azisindise enhlekeleleni, kufanele aphenduke, afune usizo olungokomoya lwabadala ebandleni. (Jakobe 5:13-18) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuthatha isinyathelo ngokushesha, ngoba uJesu uza masinyane ezokhipha isahlulelo.
21, 22. Obani abadla ‘imana elifihliweyo,’ futhi kufanekiselani?
21 AmaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile nabangane bawo abaqotho akudingeki basesabe isahlulelo esizayo. Bonke abasilalelayo iseluleko sikaJesu esinikezwa ngesiqondiso somoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu balindelwe izibusiso. Ngokwesibonelo, abagcotshiwe abanqoba izwe bayomenywa ukuba badle “okwemana elifihliweyo,” banikwe ‘netshana elimhlophe’ ‘elinegama elisha.’
22 UNkulunkulu walungiselela imana ukuze ondle ama-Israyeli ohambweni lwawo lweminyaka engu-40 ehlane. Esinye saleso “sinkwa” sasigcinwa embizeni yegolide esemphongolweni wesivumelwano ekusithekeni kweNgcwelengcwele yetabernakele, lapho kwakukhona khona ukukhanya okuyisimangaliso okwakufanekisela ukuba khona kukaJehova. (Eksodusi 16:14, 15, 23, 26, 33; 26:34; Hebheru 9:3, 4) Kwakungavunyelwe muntu ukuba adle lelo mana elifihliweyo. Nokho, lapho bevuswa, abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe bagqoka ukungafi, okufanekiselwa ukudla ‘imana elifihliweyo.’—1 Korinte 15:53-57.
23. Lishoni “itshana elimhlophe” ‘negama elisha’?
23 Itshana elimnyama lalisho ukulahlwa yicala ezinkantolo zaseRoma, kanti elimhlophe lalisho ukuthethwa yicala. Ukunika kukaJesu amaKristu agcotshiwe anqobile “itshana elimhlophe” kubonisa ukuthi uwabheka njengangenacala, amsulwa, nahlanzekile. Njengoba amaRoma ayewasebenzisela nokungena emikhosini ebalulekile la matshana, “itshana elimhlophe” lingase lisho ukuvunyelwa kogcotshiwe ukuba athole indawo ezulwini emshadweni weWundlu. (IsAmbulo 19:7-9) “Igama elisha” ngokusobala libonisa ilungelo lokuhlanganiswa noJesu njengezindlalifa ezikanye naye eMbusweni wasezulwini. Konke lokhu akuve kubakhuthaza abagcotshiwe kanye nabangane babo abakhonza uJehova, abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni oyipharadesi!
24. Kufanele sibe nasiphi isimo ngokuqondene nokuhlubuka?
24 Kuwukuhlakanipha ukukhumbula ukuthi ibandla lasePhergamu lalisengozini ngenxa yezihlubuki. Uma isimo esifanayo sisongela inhlalakahle engokomoya yebandla esikulo, masikwenqabe ngokuphelele ukuhlubuka, siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni. (Johane 8:32, 44; 3 Johane 4) Njengoba abafundisi bamanga noma abantu abathambekele ekuhlubukeni bengonakalisa lonke ibandla, kumelwe simelane ngokuqinile nokuhlubuka, singakuvumeli nakancane ukuthonywa okubi kusiphazamise ekulaleleni iqiniso.—Galathiya 5:7-12; 2 Johane 8-11.
25. Esihlokweni esilandelayo kuzoxoxwa ngemiyalezo kaKristu kumaphi amabandla?
25 Yeka indlela asenza sicabange ngayo la mazwi okuncoma nokweluleka ashiwo uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe emabandleni amathathu esiwahlolile kwayisikhombisa ase-Asia Minor! Nokho, njengoba eqondiswa umoya ongcwele, unokuningi akushoyo nasemabandleni amane asasele. Le miyalezo, ebhekiswe eThiyathira, eSardesi, eFiladelfiya, naseLawodikeya, kuzoxoxwa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Kungani kufanele sikunake lokho uKristu akusho emabandleni?
• Singasiza kanjani ekuvuseleleni uthando ibandla elalinalo ekuqaleni?
• Kungani kungase kuthiwe amaKristu ayempofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo eSmirna yasendulo, empeleni ayecebile?
• Uma sicabanga ngesimo ebandleni lasePhergamu, kufanele sikubheke kanjani ukucabanga kwezihlubuki?
[Ibalazwe ekhasini 10]
(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)
IGRISI
I-ASIA MINOR
I-Efesu
ISmirna
IPhergamu
IThiyathira
ISardesi
IFiladelfiya
ILawodikeya
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
“Isixuku esikhulu” siyojabulela ipharadesi lasemhlabeni
[Izithombe ekhasini 13]
AmaKristu ashushiswayo angabanqobi bezwe