ISahluko 16

Abagibeli Bamahhashi Abane Bayagabavula!

Umbono 3—IsAmbulo 6:1-17

Isihloko: Ukugibela kwabagibeli bamahhashi abane, ofakazi abafela ukholo ngaphansi kwe-altare, nosuku olukhulu lolaka

Isikhathi sokugcwaliseka: Kusukela ngo-1914 kuze kube sekubhujisweni kwalesi simiso sezinto

 1. UJehova umembulela kanjani uJohane okuqukethwe yincwadi ehlaba umxhwele uJesu ayivulayo?

KULOLU SUKU lwezinguquko, ingabe asinaso isithakazelo esijulile ‘ezintweni okumelwe zenzeke maduzane’? Ngokuqinisekile sinaso, ngoba thina ngokwethu sihilelekile! Ngakho manje masihambisane noJohane njengoba uJesu evula leyo ncwadi ehlaba umxhwele. Ngokuphawulekayo, akudingeki ukuba uJohane ayifunde. Ngani? Ngoba ekuqukethe kudluliselwa kuye “ngezibonakaliso” ngochungechunge lwezigcawu ezigcwele izenzakalo.—IsAmbulo 1:1, 10.

 2. (a) Yini uJohane ayibonayo nayizwayo, futhi isimo sekherubi sisikiselani? (b) Umyalo wekherubi lokuqala ubhekiswe kubani, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?

² Lalela uJohane njengoba uJesu evula uphawu lokuqala lwencwadi: “Ngabona futhi lapho iWundlu livula olunye lwezimpawu eziyisikhombisa, ngezwa esinye sezidalwa ezine eziphilayo sithi ngezwi elinjengelokuduma kwezulu: ‘Woza!’” (IsAmbulo 6:1) Leli yizwi lekherubi lokuqala. Isimo salo esifana nengonyama sisikisela kuJohane ukuthi inhlangano kaJehova iyokwenza ngesibindi ekukhipheni izahlulelo zaKhe zokulunga. Futhi lowo myalo ubhekiswa kubani? Akunakuba kuJohane, ngoba uJohane useye wamenywa kakade ukuba ahlanganyele kulezi zigcawu ezingokwesiprofetho. (IsAmbulo 4:1) Lelo “zwi elinjengelokuduma” libiza abanye abahlanganyela kwesokuqala ochungechungeni lwezigcawu ezine ezivusa amadlingozi.

Ihhashi Elimhlophe Nomgibeli Walo Ovelele

 3. (a) Yini manje uJohane ayichazayo? (b) Ngokuvumelana nokufanekisa kweBhayibheli, kumelwe ukuba ihhashi elimhlophe lifanekiselani?

³ UJohane, nesigaba sikaJohane esishisekayo kanye naye nabangane banamuhla, unelungelo lokubona idrama esheshayo! UJohane uthi: “Ngabona, bheka! ihhashi elimhlophe; oligibele wayenomnsalo; wanikwa umqhele, waphuma enqoba futhi eyophelelisa ukunqoba kwakhe.” (IsAmbulo 6:2) Yebo, ekuphenduleni lowo “Woza!” onjengokuduma kwezulu kuphuma ihhashi elimhlophe. EBhayibhelini, ngokuvamile ihhashi lifanekisela impi. (IHubo 20:7; IzAga 21:31; Isaya 31:1) Leli hhashi, cishe inkunzi yehhashi enhle, likhazimula ngobumhlophe obubonisa ubungcwele obungenabala. (Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 1:14; 4:4; 7:9; 20:11.) Yeka ukuthi lokhu kufaneleka kanjani, ngoba kufanekisela impi ehlanzekile neyokulunga emehlweni kaJehova angcwele!—Bheka futhi isAmbulo 19:11, 14.

 4. Ubani uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe? Chaza.

⁴ Ubani uMgibeli waleli hhashi? Uphethe umnsalo, isikhali sempi sokuhlasela, kodwa futhi unikezwa umqhele. Okuwukuphela kwabantu abalungileyo ababonakala bethwele imiqhele phakathi nosuku lweNkosi, uJesu kanye nesigaba esimelelwe abadala abangu-24. (Daniyeli 7:13, 14, 27; Luka 1:31-33; IsAmbulo 4:4, 10; 14:14)a Cishe akunakwenzeka ukuba ilungu leqembu labadala abangu-24 libonakale njengelamukela umqhele ngenxa yokufaneleka kwalo siqu. Ngakho, lo mgibeli wehhashi ohamba yedwa kumelwe kube uJesu Kristu hhayi omunye. UJohane umbona ezulwini ngaleso sikhathi esingokomlando ngo-1914 lapho uJehova ememezela, “Mina, yebo mina, ngiyimisile inkosi yami,” futhi emtshela ukuthi lokhu kungenjongo yokuba ‘amnike izizwe zibe yifa lakhe.’ (IHubo 2:6-8)b Ngakho, ekuvuleni uphawu lokuqala uJesu wembula indlela yena ngokwakhe, njengeNkosi esanda kubekwa, aphuma ngayo eya empini ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esimisiwe.

 5. Umhubi umchaza kanjani uMgibeli ngendlela efana neyesAmbulo 6:2?

⁵ Lesi sigcawu sivumelana kahle neHubo 45:4-7, elibhekiswe eNkosini ebekwe uJehova: “Ebukhazikhazini bakho qhubekela empumelelweni; gibela ngenjongo yeqiniso nokuthobeka nokulunga, isandla sakho sokunene siyokufundisa ngezinto ezesabekayo. Imicibisholo yakho ibukhali—ngaphansi kwakho amaqembu ezizwe ayaqhubeka ewa— enhliziyweni yezitha zenkosi. UNkulunkulu uyisihlalo sakho sobukhosi kuze kube nini nanini, yebo kuze kube phakade; intonga yobukhosi bakho iyintonga yobuqotho. Ukuthandile ukulunga futhi uyabuzonda ububi. Yingakho uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho, ekugcobé ngamafutha okwethaba ukudlula abangane bakho.” Ejwayelene nale ncazelo engokwesiprofetho, uJohane wayengaqonda ukuthi ibhekisela emsebenzini kaJesu njengeNkosi.—Qhathanisa namaHebheru 1:1, 2, 8, 9.

Ukuphuma Engonqobayo

 6. (a) Kungani uMgibeli kumelwe aphume engonqobayo? (b) Ukugibela kokunqoba kuqhubeka kuze kube kumiphi iminyaka?

⁶ Nokho, kungani iNkosi esanda kubekwa kumelwe iye empini? Kungoba ubukhosi bayo bumiswa phakathi kokuphikisa okunzima okuvela esitheni sikaJehova esiyinhloko, uSathane uDeveli, nalabo abasemhlabeni—bazi noma bengazi—abakhonza izinjongo zikaSathane. Ukuzalwa koMbuso ngokwakho kusho impi enkulu ezulwini. Elwa ngegama elithi Mikayeli (elisho ukuthi “Ubani OnjengoNkulunkulu?”), uJesu uyamnqoba uSathane namademoni akhe futhi ubaphonsa phansi emhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 12:7-12) Ukugibela kukaJesu kokunqoba kuyaqhubeka kuze kube semashumini okuqala osuku lweNkosi njengoba abantu abanjengezimvu beqoqwa. Nakuba izwe lonke ‘lisesemandleni omubi,’ uJesu ngothando uyaqhubeka elusa abafowabo abagcotshiwe nabangane babo, esiza ngamunye ukuba afinyelele ukunqoba kokholo.—1 Johane 5:19.

 7. Yikuphi ukunqoba uJesu aye wakwenza emhlabeni emashumini eminyaka adlule angu-90 nangaphezulu osuku lweNkosi, futhi kufanele sibe yini isinqumo sethu?

⁷ Yikuphi okunye ukunqoba uJesu aye wakwenza phakathi neminyaka edlule engu-90 nangaphezulu yosuku lweNkosi? Embulungeni yonke, ngabanye nanjengebandla, abantu bakaJehova baye babhekana nobunzima obuningi, ukucindezelwa nokushushiswa, okufana nalokho okuchazwa umphostoli uPawulu lapho enikeza ubufakazi benkonzo yakhe. (2 Korinte 11:23-28) OFakazi BakaJehova baye badinga “amandla angaphezu kwavamile,” ikakhulukazi ezinkundleni zempi nobudlova ukuze bakhuthazele. (2 Korinte 4:7) Kodwa ngisho nasezimweni ezilinga kakhulu, oFakazi abathembekile baye bakwazi ukusho njengoba kwasho uPawulu: “INkosi yema eduze kwami futhi yangipha amandla, ukuze ukushumayela kufezwe ngokugcwele ngami.” (2 Thimothewu 4:17) Yebo, uJesu wanqoba ngenxa yabo. Futhi uyoqhubeka engonqobayo ngenxa yethu, uma nje sinqume ngokuqinile ukufeza ukunqoba kwethu kokholo.—1 Johane 5:4.

 8, 9. (a) Liye lahlanganyela kukuphi ukunqoba ibandla lomhlaba wonke loFakazi BakaJehova? (b) Kukuphi lapho ukwanda koFakazi BakaJehova kuye kwaba okuvelele khona?

⁸ Ibandla loFakazi BakaJehova lembulunga yonke liye lahlanganyela ekunqobeni okuningi ngaphansi kokuqondisa kweNkosi yalo enqobayo. Ngendlela evelele, yavikela laba baFundi BeBhayibheli ekubhujisweni okuphelele ngo-1918, lapho bona ngokwabo ‘benqotshwa’ okwesikhashana yinhlangano kaSathane yezombangazwe. Nokho, ngo-1919, yaphula imigoqo yejele ukuze ibakhulule, futhi yabe isibaphilisa ukuze bamemezele izindaba ezinhle “ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.”—IsAmbulo 13:7; IzEnzo 1:8.

⁹ Ngaphambi naphakathi neMpi Yezwe II, imibuso yobushiqela ye-Axis (eyayihola enhlanganweni yemibuso) yazama ukuqeda oFakazi BakaJehova emazweni amaningi lapho abaholi benkolo, ikakhulukazi labo besigungu samaRoma Katolika, babesekela ngokusobala noma buthule omashiqela abacindezelayo. Kodwa oFakazi abangu-71 509 ababeshumayela ngenkathi impi iqala ngo-1939 baba ngu-141 606 ekupheleni kwayo ngo-1945, ngisho noma abafinyelela ku-10 000 babechithe iminyaka eminingi emajele nasemakamu okuhlushwa, futhi abangaba ngu-2 000 bebulewe. Namuhla isibalo soFakazi abakhuthele emhlabeni siye sanda saba ngaphezu kwezigidi eziyisithupha. Ukwanda kuye kwaba okuvelele emazweni obuKatolika nasemazweni lapho ushushiso lwalunzima kakhulu khona—njengaseJalimane, e-Italy, naseJapane, amazwe lapho oFakazi manje bebika ingqikithi yezikhonzi zasensimini ezikhuthele ezingaphezu kuka-600 000.—Isaya 54:17; Jeremiya 1:17-19.

10. INkosi enqobayo iye yababusisa ngakuphi ukunqoba abantu bayo “ekuvikeleni nasekumiseni ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle”?

¹⁰ Futhi iNkosi yethu enqobayo iye yabusisa abantu bayo abashisekayo ngokubaholela ekunqobeni okuningi “ekuvikeleni nasekumiseni ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle” ezinkantolo naphambi kwababusi. (Filipi 1:7; Mathewu 10:18; 24:9) Lokhu kuye kwaba ngezinga lamazwe onke—e-Australia, e-Argentina, eCanada, eGreece, eNdiya, eSwazini, eSwitzerland, eTurkey, nakwamanye amazwe. Phakathi kwamacala angu-50 oFakazi BakaJehova abawanqoba eNkantolo Ephakeme Yase-United States kuye kwaba nalawo anikeza ilungelo lokumemezela izindaba ezinhle “obala nasendlini ngendlu” nokungahlanganyeli ezinkonzweni zobuzwe zokukhonza izithombe. (IzEnzo 5:42; 20:20; 1 Korinte 10:14) Kanjalo, iye yahlala ivulekile indlela yobufakazi obandayo bembulunga yonke.

11. (a) UMgibeli ‘ukuphelelisa kanjani ukunqoba kwakhe’? (b) Kufanele kube naliphi ithonya kithi ukuvulwa kophawu lwesibili, lwesithathu, nolwesine?

¹¹ UJesu ‘ukuphelelisa kanjani ukunqoba kwakhe’?c Lokhu ukwenza, njengoba sizobona, ngokulahla inkolo yamanga abe esephonsa yonke ingxenye esele yenhlangano kaSathane ebonakalayo “echibini lomlilo” elingokomfanekiso lokubhujiswa, elwela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ngokuqiniseka, manje sibheka phambili kulolo suku e-Armagedoni lapho owethu ‘uMbusi wababusi’ eyoyinqoba okokugcina inhlangano kaSathane yezombangazwe ecindezelayo! (IsAmbulo 16:16; 17:14; 19:2, 14-21; Hezekeli 25:17) Okwamanje, uMnqobi ongenakwehlulwa osehhashini elimhlophe uyaqhubeka egibele njengoba uJehova eqhubeka enezela abanhliziyo ziqotho esizweni saKhe esilungile emhlabeni. (Isaya 26:2; 60:22) Ingabe uyahlanganyela nesigaba sikaJohane esigcotshiwe kulokho kwanda koMbuso okujabulisayo? Uma kunjalo, lokho umphostoli uJohane akubonayo lapho kuvulwa izimpawu ezintathu ezilandelayo ngokungangabazeki kuzokushukumisela ukuba ube nengxenye eyengeziwe emsebenzini kaJehova walolu suku.

Bheka, Ihhashi Elinombala Onjengomlilo!

12. Yini uJesu athi yayiyophawula ukuba khona kwakhe okungabonakali njengeNkosi?

¹² Ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo kaJesu emhlabeni, abafundi bakhe bambuza ngasese: “Siyoba yini isibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakho nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?” Ephendula, wabikezela ngezinhlekelele ezaziyokuba “ukuqala kwemihelo yokucindezeleka.” UJesu wathi: “Isizwe siyovukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso; futhi kuyoba khona ukuzamazama okukhulu komhlaba, futhi ezindaweni ngezindawo kube khona izifo eziwumshayabhuqe nokusweleka kokudla; kuyoba khona imibono eyesabekayo, nasezulwini kube khona izibonakaliso ezinkulu.” (Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8; Luka 21:10, 11) Izinto uJohane azibonayo lapho kuvulwa izimpawu ezisele zencwadi zinokufana okuphawulekayo naleso siprofetho. Bheka manje njengoba uJesu okhazinyulisiwe evula uphawu lwesibili!

13. Yikuphi ukungafani osekuzobonakala kuJohane?

¹³ “Lapho livula uphawu lwesibili, ngezwa isidalwa esiphilayo sesibili sithi: ‘Woza!’” (IsAmbulo 6:3) Yikherubi lesibili, elifana nenkunzi, elikhipha lowo myalo. Lapha imfanelo efanekiselwayo amandla, kodwa amandla asetshenziswa ngokulunga. Nokho, ngokuphambene, uJohane manje uzobona ukubonakaliswa kwamandla okwethusayo, okubulalayo.

14. Yiliphi ihhashi nomgibeli uJohane akubonayo ngokulandelayo, futhi lo mbono ufanekiselani?

¹⁴ Khona-ke, uphendulwa kanjani lo “Woza!” wesibili? Ngale ndlela: “Kwaphuma elinye ihhashi, elinombala onjengomlilo; oligibele wanikwa ukususa ukuthula emhlabeni ukuze babulalane; wanikwa nenkemba enkulu.” (IsAmbulo 6:4) Umbono osabeka ngempela! Futhi akukho kungabaza ngokuthi ufanekiselani: impi! Hhayi impi yokulunga, enqobayo, yeNkosi kaJehova enqobayo kodwa impi enonya, yezizwe zonke, eyenziwe abantu, enokuchithwa kwegazi okungadingekile nobuhlungu. Yeka ukuthi kufaneleke kanjani ukuthi lo mgibeli ugibele ihhashi elibomvu njengomlilo!

15. Kungani kungafanele sifune ukuhlanganyela ekugibeleni komgibeli wehhashi wesibili?

¹⁵ Ngokuqinisekile, uJohane akanakufuna ukuhlanganyela nalo mgibeli wehhashi nokugibela kwakhe kokuphulukundlela, ngoba kwakuprofethiwe ngokuqondene nabantu bakaNkulunkulu: ‘Ngeke besayifunda impi.’ (Isaya 2:4) Nakuba ‘besesezweni,’ uJohane kanye nesigaba sikaJohane nesixuku esikhulu namuhla ‘abayona ingxenye’ yalesi simiso esinindwe igazi. Izikhali zethu zingokomoya futhi “ngoNkulunkulu zinamandla” okumemezela iqiniso ngenkuthalo, ngaphandle kwempi engokwenyama.—Johane 17:11, 14; 2 Korinte 10:3, 4.

16. Umgibeli wehhashi elibomvu wayinikezwa nini futhi kanjani ‘inkemba enkulu’?

¹⁶ Kwakuye kwaba nezimpi eziningi ngaphambi kuka-1914, unyaka uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe amukela ngawo umqhele wakhe. Kodwa manje umgibeli wehhashi elibomvu unikwa ‘inkemba enkulu.’ Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Ngokugqashuka kweMpi Yezwe I, izimpi zesintu ziba ngezichitha igazi ngokwedlulele, ezibhubhisa kakhulu kunanini ngaphambili. Ngokuceka kuka-1914-18, izinqola zempi, amagesi anobuthi, izindiza, imikhumbi-ngwenya, izinganono ezinkulu, nezikhali ezizishintshayo zasetshenziswa okokuqala noma ngezinga elingazange libonwe ngaphambili. Ezizweni ezingaba ngu-28, bonke abantu, hhayi nje kuphela amasosha afundele impi, baphoqeleka ukuba bahileleke emizamweni yempi. Abalimala empini babesabeka. Amasosha angaphezu kwezigidi eziyisishiyagalolunye abulawa, futhi abalimala empini babebaningi ngokwesabekayo. Ngisho nasekupheleni kwempi, akuzange kubuyelwe ekuthuleni kwangempela emhlabeni. Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-50 ngemva kwaleyo mpi, isiphathimandla sikahulumeni waseJalimane uKonrad Adenauer sathi: “Ukulondeka nokuthula kuye kwanyamalala ekuphileni kwabantu kusukela ngo-1914.” Ngempela, umgibeli wehhashi elinombala onjengomlilo wanikezwa ukususa ukuthula emhlabeni!

17. Kuye kwaqhubeka kanjani ukusetshenziswa ‘kwenkemba enkulu,’ emva kweMpi Yezwe I?

¹⁷ Khona-ke njengoba kwase kuvuswe ukomela kwakhe igazi, umgibeli wehhashi elibomvu wangena eMpini Yezwe II. Izikhali zokubulala zaba zimbi ngokwedlulele, futhi izibalo zabalimala zanyuka zaphindwa kane kunalezo zangeMpi Yezwe I. Ngo-1945 amabhomu amabili e-athomu aqhunyiselwa phezu kweJapane, ngalinye labhubhisa—ngokuphazima kweso—amashumi ezinkulungwane zezisulu. Phakathi nempi yezwe yesibili, umgibeli wehhashi elibomvu wavuna isivuno esikhulu sokuphila okungaba izigidi ezingu-55, noma kunjalo wayengakaneliswa. Imibiko ethembekile ithi okungenani imiphefumulo engaphezulu kakhulu kwezigidi ezingu-20 iye yaba izisulu ‘zenkemba enkulu’ kusukela ngeMpi Yezwe II.

18, 19. (a) Kunokuba kube ukunqoba kobuchwepheshe bezempi, kuye kwafakazela liphi iqiniso ukubulala kusukela eMpini Yezwe II? (b) Iyiphi ingozi ebhekene nesintu, kodwa yini uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe ayoyenza ukuze ayinqobe?

¹⁸ Ingabe lokhu singakubiza ngokuthi ukunqoba kobuchwepheshe bezempi? Kunalokho, kuwubufakazi bokuthi ihhashi elibomvu elinonya liyagabavula. Futhi kuyophelelaphi lokho kugabavula? Abanye ososayensi bathi impi yenuzi ingase igqashuke ngengozi—kungasakhulunywa ngokhukhulela-ngoqo wenuzi ocetshiwe! Kodwa ngokujabulisayo uMgibeli onqobayo wehhashi elimhlophe uceba okunye ngalokhu.

¹⁹ Uma nje umphakathi usasekelwe ekuqhosheni kobuzwe nenzondo, isintu kumelwe siqhubeke sihlezi engozini yenuzi. Ngisho noma izizwe zingasusa wonke amandla enuzi ngenxa yokuphelelwa yithemba, ziyohlala zinolwazi lwayo. Ngokushesha, zingaphinda zakhe izikhali zazo zenuzi ezibulalayo; ngakho noma iyiphi impi elwiwa ngezikhali zakudala ngokushesha ingaphenduka ibe eqothulayo. Ukuqhosha nenzondo okusibekele izizwe namuhla kumelwe kuholele ekuzibhubhiseni kwesintu, ngaphandle kokuba—ah, yebo, ngaphandle kokuba uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe avimbe ukugabavula kobuhlanya kwehhashi elinombala onjengomlilo. Masiqiniseke ukuthi uKristu iNkosi uzogibela, kokubili ukuba aqede ukunqoba kwakhe ezweni elilawulwa uSathane nokuba amise umphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni osekelwe othandweni—uthando ngoNkulunkulu nomakhelwane—imbangela yokuthula ezedlula kude kakhulu izikhali zenuzi ezingaqinisekile zokuvimba izitha, izikhali zezikhathi zethu ezihlanyayo.—IHubo 37:9-11; Marku 12:29-31; IsAmbulo 21:1-5.

Ihhashi Elimnyama Liyaphuma

20. Yikuphi ukuqiniseka esinakho kokuthi uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe uyokwazi ukubhekana nanoma yisiphi isimo esiwusizi?

²⁰ Manje uJesu uvula uphawu lwesithathu! Johane, yini oyibonayo? “Lapho livula uphawu lwesithathu, ngezwa isidalwa esiphilayo sesithathu sithi: ‘Woza!’” (IsAmbulo 6:5a) Ngokujabulisayo, leli kherubi lesithathu ‘linobuso obunjengobomuntu,’ okubonisa imfanelo yothando. Uthando olunezimiso luyovama emhlabeni kaNkulunkulu omusha, njengoba nje leyo mfanelo enhle igcwele enhlanganweni kaJehova namuhla. (IsAmbulo 4:7; 1 Johane 4:16) Singaqiniseka ukuthi uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe, ‘okumelwe abuse njengenkosi kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu esebeke zonke izitha ngaphansi kwezinyawo zakhe,’ ngothando uyosusa isimo esiwusizi esilethwa ekunakekeleni kukaJohane.—1 Korinte 15:25.

21. (a) Yini efanekiselwa yihhashi elimnyama nomgibeli walo? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi ihhashi elimnyama lisagijima?

²¹ Khona-ke, yini uJohane ayibonayo, njengoba ‘uWoza!’ wesithathu ephendulwa? “Ngabona, bheka! ihhashi elimnyama; lowo ohlezi phezu kwalo wayephethe isikali esandleni sakhe.” (IsAmbulo 6:5b) Indlala enkulu! Leso isigijimi esisabekayo salesi sigcawu esingokwesiprofetho. Sikhomba phambili ezimweni zasekuqaleni osukwini lweNkosi lapho ukudla kumelwe kwabiwe ngezikali. Kusukela ngo-1914 indlala iye yaba inkinga eqhubekayo yomhlaba wonke. Impi yanamuhla ilandelwa yindlala, ngoba umcebo osetshenziselwa ukondla abalambile ngokuvamile uchithelwa ekutholeni izikhali zempi. Izisebenzi zasemapulazini zibuthelwa empini, futhi amasimu onakaliswe yimpi nemithetho yomhlaba onesomiso kunciphisa ukukhiqizwa kokudla. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kwakuyiqiniso kanjani ngempi yezwe yokuqala, lapho izigidi zalamba futhi zafa! Ngaphezu kwalokho, umgibeli wehhashi elimnyama lendlala akazange ayekethise ngokuphela kwempi. Ngawo-1930, izigidi ezinhlanu zafa ngendlala eyodwa kuphela e-Ukraine. Impi yezwe yesibili yalandelwa ukuntuleka kokudla okwengeziwe nendlala. Njengoba ihhashi elimnyama liqhubeka nokugabavula kwalo, uMkhandlu Womhlaba Wezokudla wabika phakathi no-1987 ukuthi abantu abayizigidi ezingu-512 babelamba nokuthi abantwana abangu-40 000 babulawa izimbangela ezihlobene nendlala nsuku zonke.

22. (a) Yini eshiwo yizwi, libonisa siphi isidingo? (b) Yini eboniswa yintengo yelitha likakolweni namalitha amathathu ebhali?

²² UJohane unokwengeziwe kokusitshela khona: “Ngezwa izwi njengokungathi liphakathi kwezidalwa ezine eziphilayo lithi: ‘Ilitha likakolweni ngodenariyu, namalitha amathathu ebhali ngodenariyu; ungawoni amafutha omnqumo newayini.’” (IsAmbulo 6:6) Womane amakherubi amunye ekuboniseni isidingo sokuqapha ukudla ngokunakekela—njengoba nje abantu kwakudingeka “badle isinkwa ngesilinganiso nangexhala” ngaphambi kokubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. (Hezekeli 4:16) Ngesikhathi sikaJohane, ilitha likakolweni lalibhekwa njengesabelo sesosha sansuku zonke. Sasingabiza malini isabelo esingako? Udenariyu owodwa—wonke umholo wosuku! (Mathewu 20:2)d Kwakuthiwani uma indoda inomkhaya? Esikhundleni salokho yayingathenga amalitha amathathu ebhali elingacolisiwe. Ngisho nalokho kwakungondla umkhaya omncane kuphela. Futhi ibhali lalingabhekwa neze njengokudla okuhle njengokolweni.

23. Isho ukuthini inkulumo ethi, “Ungawoni amafutha omnqumo newayini”?

²³ Isho ukuthini inkulumo ethi, “Ungawoni amafutha omnqumo newayini”? Abanye baye bayibheka njengesho ukuthi lapho abaningi beyobe beswele ukudla futhi belamba, ukunethezeka kwabacebile ngeke koniwe. Kodwa eMpumalanga Ephakathi, amafutha newayini awakona ngempela ukunethezeka. Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, isinkwa, amafutha, newayini kwakubhekwa njengokudla okuvamile. (Qhathanisa noGenesise 14:18; IHubo 104:14, 15.) Amanzi ayengemahle ngaso sonke isikhathi, ngakho iwayini lalisetshenziswa kakhulu ngenjongo yokuphuza futhi ngezinye izikhathi ngezinjongo zokwelapha. (1 Thimothewu 5:23) Ngokuqondene namafutha, osukwini luka-Eliya, umfelokazi waseZarefati, empofu enjalo, wayesenawo amafutha ayesasele okupheka ufulawa wakhe owawusasele. (1 AmaKhosi 17:12) Ngakho, umyalo wokuthi “ungawoni amafutha omnqumo newayini” ubonakala uyiseluleko sokuba lezi zinto eziyisidingo zingasetshenziswa ngokushesha zize ziphele kodwa zisetshenziswe ngokonga. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ‘zaziyokoniwa,’ okungukuthi, zaziyophela ngaphambi kokuba indlala iphele.

24. Kungani ihhashi elimnyama lingeke liqhubeke ligabavula isikhathi eside?

²⁴ Yeka ukuthi singajabula kanjani ngokuthi uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe ngokushesha uyomisa lelo hhashi elimnyama eligabavulayo! Ngoba ngokuqondene namalungiselelo aKhe othando omhlaba omusha kulotshiwe: “Ezinsukwini [zakhe] olungile uyohluma, kanye nokuchichima kokuthula ize ingabe isaba khona inyanga. . . . Kuyoba khona inala yokusanhlamvu emhlabeni; kuyoba khona ukuchichima esiqongweni sezintaba.”—IHubo 72:7, 16; bheka futhi u-Isaya 25:6-8.

Ihhashi Eliphaphathekile Nomgibeli Walo

25. Lapho uJesu evula uphawu lwesine, uJohane uzwa izwi likabani, futhi lokhu kubonisani?

²⁵ Indaba ayikaxoxwa yonke. UJesu uvula uphawu lwesine, futhi uJohane usitshela umphumela: “Lapho livula uphawu lwesine, ngezwa izwi lesidalwa esiphilayo sesine lithi: ‘Woza!’” (IsAmbulo 6:7) Leli yizwi lekherubi elifana nokhozi olundizayo. Kuboniswa ukuhlakanipha okukhulu, futhi ngempela uJohane, isigaba sikaJohane, nazo zonke ezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasemhlabeni baye badinga ukuqaphela nokwenza ngokuhlakanipha ngokucabangela lokho okufanekiselwa lapha. Ngokwenza kanjalo, singathola isilinganiso sesivikelo ezinsizini ezihlupha isizukulwane sanamuhla esihlakaniphe ngokwezwe, esiqhoshayo, nesiziphethe kabi.—1 Korinte 1:20, 21.

26. (a) Ubani umgibeli wehhashi wesine, futhi kungani umbala wehhashi lakhe ufaneleka? (b) Ubani olandela umgibeli wehhashi wesine, futhi kwenzekani ezisulwini zakhe?

²⁶ Khona-ke, yiziphi izinto ezintsha ezisabekayo ezidedelwayo njengoba umgibeli wehhashi wesine esabela? UJohane uyasitshela: “Ngabona, bheka! ihhashi eliphaphathekile; oligibele wayenegama elithi, ukuFa. IHayidesi lalimlandela eduze.” (IsAmbulo 6:8a) Umgibeli wehhashi lokugcina unegama: UkuFa. Nguye yedwa kubagibeli bamahhashi abane besAmbulo ozichaza ngokuqonde kangaka. Ngokufanelekayo, ukuFa kugibele ihhashi eliphaphathekile, njengoba igama elithi okuphaphathekile (ngesiGreki, khlo·rosʹ) lisetshenziswa ezincwadini zesiGreki ukuchaza ubuso obuphashile, njengokungathi ngenxa yesifo. Futhi ngokufanelekayo, ukuFa kulandelwa eduze iHayidesi (ithuna), ngendlela ethile engachaziwe njengoba iHayidesi lamukela inani elikhulu lalabo ababa yizisulu zokonakalisa komgibeli wehhashi wesine. Ngokujabulisayo, ngalaba kuyoba khona uvuko, lapho ‘ukufa neHayidesi kukhipha abafileyo abakukho.’ (IsAmbulo 20:13) Kodwa ukuFa kuzithola kanjani lezo zisulu?

27. (a) Umgibeli ukuFa uzithola kanjani izisulu zakhe? (b) Kushiwoni ‘ngengxenye yesine yomhlaba’ ukuFa okunegunya kuyo?

²⁷ Umbono ubala ezinye zezindlela: “Banikwa igunya phezu kwengxenye yesine yomhlaba, ukuba babulale ngenkemba ende nangokusweleka kokudla, nangesifo esibulalayo nangezilo zasendle zomhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 6:8b) Akuyona ngempela ingxenye yesine engokoqobo yabantu basemhlabeni kodwa ingxenye enkulu yomhlaba, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi inabantu abaningi noma abambalwa, iyothintwa yilokhu kugibela. Lo mgibeli wehhashi uvuna izisulu zenkemba enkulu yomgibeli wehhashi wesibili nendlala nokuntuleka kokudla kowesithathu. Uvuna isivuno sakhe futhi, nasesifweni esibulalayo nesivuno sokuzamazama komhlaba, njengoba kuchazwe kuLuka 21:10, 11.

28. (a) Siye sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esiphathelene ‘nesifo esibulalayo’? (b) Abantu bakaJehova baye bavikeleka kanjani ezifweni eziningi namuhla?

²⁸ Okubalulekile esikhathini samanje lapha ‘isifo esibulalayo.’ Ngemva komonakalo weMpi Yezwe I, umkhuhlane waseSpain wadlula nabantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-20 ngezinyanga ezimbalwa nje zika-1918-19. Okuwukuphela kwendawo emhlabeni eyaphunyula kulolo sizi kwakuyisiqhingi esincane saseSt. Helena. Ezindaweni lapho abantu babefa ngamanani amakhulu, kwakokhelwa izinkuni zokushisa izidumbu ukuze kushiswe izinqwaba zezidumbu. Futhi namuhla kukhona ukwanda okwesabekayo kwesifo senhliziyo nomdlavuza, okuningi kwakho okubangelwa ukungcolisa kukagwayi. Kulokho okwachazwa ‘njengekhulu leminyaka elibi’ lawo-1980, indlela yokuphila engenamthetho ngokwezindinganiso zeBhayibheli yanezela usizi lwengculaza (AIDS) ‘esifweni esibulalayo.’ Ngonyaka ka-2000, kwabikwa ukuthi udokotela omkhulu ohlinzayo wase-United States wabiza ingculaza ngokuthi “cishe isifo esiwubhubhane ngaphezu kwezake zaba khona.” Wathi abantu abayizigidi ezingu-52 emhlabeni base bengenwe igciwane lesandulela ngculaza nengculaza, futhi abayizigidi ezingu-20 kubo base befile. Yeka ukuthi abantu bakaJehova babonga kangakanani ngokuthi iseluleko esihlakaniphile seZwi lakhe sibagcina bekude nobufebe nokusebenzisa kabi igazi, indlela izifo eziningi kangaka ezithathelwana ngayo namuhla!—IzEnzo 15:28, 29; qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 6:9-11.

29, 30. (a) Zingabhekiselaphi namuhla ‘izenzo ezine ezilimazayo’ zikaHezekeli 14:21? (b) Yini esingayiqonda “ngezilo zasendle” zesAmbulo 6:8? (c) Yini ebonakala iyiphuzu eliyinhloko lesigcawu esingokwesiprofetho?

²⁹ Umbono kaJohane uphawula izilo zasendle njengembangela yesine yokufa ngaphambi kwesikhathi. Ngempela, izinto ezine ezivezwa ukuvulwa kophawu lwesine—impi, indlala, isifo, nezilo zasendle—ngezikhathi zasendulo zazibhekwa njengezimbangela ezivelele zokufa ngaphambi kwesikhathi. Ngakho, zifanekisela zonke izimbangela zokufa ngaphambi kwesikhathi namuhla. Kunjengoba nje uJehova axwayisa u-Israyeli: “Kuyoba njalo futhi lapho kuba khona izenzo zami ezine zokwahlulela ezilimazayo—inkemba nendlala nesilo sasendle esilimazayo nesifo esiwumshayabhuqe—empeleni engizozithumela phezu kweJerusalema ukuze nginqume kulo umuntu wasemhlabeni nesilwane esifuywayo.”—Hezekeli 14:21.

³⁰ Ukubulawa yizilo zasendle akuzange kube yizehlakalo ezingundab’ uzekwayo ezikhathini zanamuhla, nakuba emazweni angasenkabazwe izilwane zasendle ziye zababulala abantu. Esikhathini esizayo, zingase zibulale abengeziwe uma amazwe eba yincithakalo ngenxa yempi noma ngenxa yendlala abantu bezaca kakhulu ukuba bangalwa nezilwane ezilambile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunabantu abaningi namuhla, njengezilwane ezingenangqondo, ababonakalisa isimo sobulwane esihluke ngokuphelele kuleso esichazwe ku-Isaya 11:6-9. Laba bantu bayimbangela enkulu yokwanda kwembulunga yonke kobudlova obuhlobene nobulili, ukubulala, ubuphekula, nokuqhumisa amabhomu ezweni lanamuhla. (Qhathanisa noHezekeli 21:31; Roma 1:28-31; 2 Petru 2:12.) Umgibeli wehhashi wesine uvuna izisulu zabo futhi. Ngempela, iphuzu eliyinhloko lalesi sigcawu esingokwesiprofetho libonakala liwukuthi umgibeli wehhashi elimpofu uvuna ukufa kwesintu kwangaphambi kwesikhathi ngezindlela eziningi.

31. Naphezu komonakalo obangelwa abagibeli bamahhashi elibomvu, elimnyama, neliphaphathekile, kungani singakhuthazeka?

³¹ Ukwaziswa okwembulwa ngokuvulwa kwezimpawu ezine zokuqala kuyasiqinisekisa ngoba kusifundisa ukuba singapheli amandla ngenxa yempi, indlala, izifo, nezinye izimbangela zokufa ngaphambi kwesikhathi ezande kangaka namuhla; futhi akufanele siphelelwe yithemba ngenxa yokuthi abaholi abangabantu baye bahluleka ukuxazulula izinkinga zamanje. Uma izimo zezwe zikwenza kucace ukuthi abagibeli bamahhashi elibomvu, elimnyama, neliphaphathekile bakuyo yonke indawo, ungakhohlwa ukuthi uMgibeli wehhashi elimhlophe wagibela kuqala. UJesu uyiNkosi, futhi useye wanqoba kakade kwaze kwaba sezingeni lokuxosha uSathane emazulwini. Ukunqoba kwakhe okuqhubekayo kuye kwahlanganisa ukuqoqa kwakhe abasele bamadodana ka-Israyeli ongokomoya nesixuku esikhulu sazo zonke izizwe, esifinyelela ezigidini, ukuba sisinde osizini olukhulu. (IsAmbulo 7:4, 9, 14) Ukugibela kwakhe kumelwe kuqhubeke aze afeze ukunqoba kwakhe.

32. Yini eyisici sokuvulwa kophawu ngalunye lwezimpawu ezine?

³² Ukuvulwa kophawu ngalunye kwezine zokuqala kuye kwalandelwa ukubiza kokuthi: “Woza!” Isikhathi ngasinye, bekuphuma ihhashi nomgibeli walo. Kusukela ophawini lwesihlanu, asisakuzwa ukubiza okunjalo. Kodwa labo bagibeli bamahhashi basagibele, futhi bayoqhubeka begabavula phakathi naso sonke isiphelo salesi simiso sezinto. (Qhathanisa noMathewu 28:20.) Yiziphi ezinye izehlakalo ezibalulekile uJesu azembulayo njengoba evula izimpawu ezintathu ezisele? Ezinye zezenzakalo azibonakali emehlweni abantu. Ezinye, nakuba zibonakala, zisengezesikhathi esizayo. Nokho, ukugcwaliseka kwazo kuqinisekile. Ake sibone ukuthi ziyini.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 92]

INkosi Igibela Ngokunqoba

Phakathi nawo-1930 nawo-1940, izitha ezizimisele zazama ukwenza kubonakale sengathi inkonzo yoFakazi BakaJehova yayingekho emthethweni, ingeyobugebengu, noma iyimizamo yokuketula umbuso. (IHubo 94:20) Ngonyaka ka-1936 kuphela, kwaba nokuboshwa okungu-1 149 okwabhaliswa e-United States. OFakazi baqula amacala amaningi kwaze kwayofika eNkantolo Ephakeme Yase-United States, futhi okulandelayo okunye kokunqoba kwabo okuvelele.

Ngo-May 3, 1943, ecaleni lika-Murdock v. Pennsylvania iNkantolo Ephakeme yanquma ukuthi oFakazi babengayidingi imvume ukuze bahambise izincwadi ngemali. Ngalo lolo suku, isinqumo ecaleni lika-Martin v. City of Struthers sathi kwakungekhona okungemthetho ukungqongqoza eminyango lapho kusakazwa amapheshana nokunye kokumemezela endlini ngendlu.

Ngo-June 14, 1943, ecaleni lika-Taylor v. Mississippi iNkantolo Ephakeme yanquma ukuthi oFakazi babengakhuthazi ukungathembeki embusweni ngokushumayela kwabo. Ngalo lolo suku, ecaleni le-West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, iNkantolo yathi umkhandlu wesikole wawungenalo ilungelo lokuxosha esikoleni abantwana boFakazi BakaJehova ababenqaba ukukhulekela ifulegi. Ngosuku olulandelayo, iNkantolo Ephakeme eyayigcwele yase-Australia yakususa ukuvimbela kwalelo zwe oFakazi BakaJehova, lokhu kwathiwa ‘akulandeli mthetho, akuqinile futhi kuyacindezela.’

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 94]

“Wanikwa Ukususa Ukuthula Emhlabeni”

Ulwazi lobuchwepheshe luholelaphi? I-Globe and Mail, yaseToronto, eCanada, yango-January 22, 1987, yabika okulandelayo enkulumweni ka-Ivan L. Head, umongameli weSikhungo Sokucwaninga Ngentuthuko Yamazwe Onke:

“Kulinganiselwa ngokuthembekile ukuthi kubo bonke ososayensi nochwepheshe abane abahileleke ekucwaningeni nasekuthuthukeni oyedwa usebenza ngezikhali. . . . Ngokwezilinganiso zika-1986, izindleko zingaphezu kuka-[R3-million] ngomzuzu. . . . Ingabe silondeke ngokwengeziwe ngenxa yalolu hlobo lokugcizelelwa kobuchwepheshe? Izindawo zokugcina izikhali zenuzi zemibuso emikhulu ziqukethe amandla okuqhuma azo zonke izikhali ezasetshenziswa yiwo wonke amabutho eMpi Yezwe Yesibili—ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingu-6 000. IziMpi Zezwe Zesibili eziyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha. Kusukela ngo-1945, kuye kwaba namasonto angaphansi kwayisikhombisa lapho umhlaba wawukhululekile empini. Kuye kwaba nezimpi zamazwe noma zomphakathi ezingaphezu kuka-150, okulinganiselwa ukuthi ziye zabulala ukuphila okuyizigidi ezingu-19,3, eziningi zazo ngenxa yobuchwepheshe obusha obuye bavela kule nkathi yeZizwe Ezihlangene.”

Ngo-2005 izimpi zase zibulale abantu abangaphezulu kakhulu kwezigidi ezingu-20.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 98, 99]

Isimo Sencwadi YesAmbulo

Njengoba sesiqhubeke kangaka engxoxweni yethu ngencwadi yesAmbulo, siqala ukusibona ngokukhanya ngokwengeziwe isimo sale ncwadi. Ngemva kwesingeniso sayo esivusa amadlingozi (IsAmbulo 1:1-9), isAmbulo singabhekwa njengesihlukaniswe saba imibono engu-16 kanje:

UMBONO WOKU-1 (1:10–3:22): Ngokuphefumulelwa, uJohane ubona uJesu okhazinyulisiwe, othumela izigijimi ezifudumele zeseluleko emabandleni ayisikhombisa.

UMBONO WESI-2 (4:1–5:14): Umbono omuhle wesihlalo sobukhosi sasezulwini sikaJehova uNkulunkulu. Lona unikeza iWundlu umqulu.

UMBONO WESI-3 (6:1-17): Livula izimpawu zokuqala eziyisithupha zomqulu, ngokuqhubekayo iWundlu lembula umbono ohlangene wezenzakalo ezizokwenzeka ngosuku lweNkosi. Abagibeli abane bamahhashi besAmbulo bayagijima, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezabulawelwa ukholo zemukela izingubo ezimhlophe, futhi kuchazwa usuku olukhulu lolaka.

UMBONO WESI-4 (7:1-17): Izingelosi zibamba imimoya yembubhiso kuze kube yilapho abangu-144 000 baka-Israyeli ongokomoya bebekwe uphawu. Isixuku esikhulu esivela kuzo zonke izizwe sibonga uNkulunkulu noKristu ngensindiso futhi siqoqelwa ukusinda osizini olukhulu.

UMBONO WESI-5 (8:1–9:21): Ekuvulweni kophawu lwesikhombisa, kukhona ukukhala kwecilongo okuyisikhombisa, okuyisithupha kokuqala kwakho kwakha umbono wesihlanu. Lokhu kukhala kwecilongo okuyisithupha kumemezela ukubonakaliswa kokwahlulela kukaJehova isintu. Icilongo lesihlanu nelesithupha futhi lethula umaye wokuqala nowesibili.

UMBONO WESI-6 (10:1–11:19): Ingelosi enamandla inikeza uJohane umqulu omncane, kulinganiswa ithempeli, futhi sizwa okuhlangenwe nakho kofakazi ababili. Ufinyelela umvuthwandaba ngokushaywa kwecilongo lesikhombisa, elimemezela umaye wesithathu ezitheni zikaNkulunkulu—uMbuso ongenayo kaJehova nokaKristu wakhe.

UMBONO WESI-7 (12:1-17): Lona uchaza ukuzalwa koMbuso, okuphumela ekuphonseni kukaMikayeli inyoka, uSathane, phansi emhlabeni.

UMBONO WESI-8 (13:1-18): Isilo sasendle esinamandla siphuma olwandle, futhi isilo esifana newundlu, esinezimpondo ezimbili, sikhuthaza isintu ukuba sisikhulekele.

UMBONO WESI-9 (14:1-20): Umbono omuhle wabangu-144 000 eNtabeni iZiyoni. Kuzwakala izigijimi zezingelosi emhlabeni wonke, umvini womhlaba uyavunwa, bese kukhishwa ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngesikhamo sewayini.

UMBONO WE-10 (15:1–16:21): Omunye umbono omfushane wamagceke asezulwini, olandelwa ukuthululwa kwezitsha eziyisikhombisa zolaka lukaJehova emhlabeni. Nale ngxenye futhi, iphetha ngencazelo engokwesiprofetho yokuphela kwesimiso sikaSathane.

UMBONO WE-11 (17:1-18): Isifebe esikhulu, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, sigibele isilo sasendle esibomvu, esiya kwalasha isikhashana kodwa sibuye siphume sisibhubhise.

UMBONO WE-12 (18:1–19:10): Kumenyezelwa ukuwa nokubhujiswa kokugcina kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Ngemva kokubhujiswa kwalo, abanye bayalikhalela, abanye badumisa uJehova; kumenyezelwa umshado weWundlu.

UMBONO WE-13 (19:11-21): UJesu uhola amabutho asezulwini ukuba akhiphe isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu solaka esimisweni sikaSathane sezombangazwe, emabuthweni aso, nakubasekeli baso; izinyoni zezulu zidla izidumbu zabo.

UMBONO WE-14 (20:1-10): Ukuphonswa kukaSathane uDeveli kwalasha, ukuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane namakhosi akanye naye, ukuvivinywa kokugcina kwesintu, nokubhujiswa kukaSathane namademoni akhe.

UMBONO WE-15 (20:11–21:8): Uvuko lweningi noSuku olukhulu Lokwahlulela; kuvela izulu elisha nomhlaba omusha, nezibusiso zaphakade kubantu abalungileyo.

UMBONO WE-16 (21:9–22:5): IsAmbulo silethwa emvuthwandaba ngombono weJerusalema Elisha, umkaWundlu. Ilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lokuphulukisa nokuphila kwesintu ligeleza lisuka kulowo muzi.

IsAmbulo siphetha ngamazwi afudumele okubingelela neseluleko esivela kuJehova, kuJesu, engelosini, nakuJohane ngokwakhe. Isimemo kuwo wonke umuntu siwukuthi “Woza!”—IsAmbulo 22:6-21.