Ukuphokophela Ekunqobeni Kokugcina!
“Bheka! ihhashi elimhlophe; futhi lowo ohlezi phezu kwalo wayenomnsalo; futhi wanikwa umqhele, waphuma enqoba futhi eyophelelisa ukunqoba kwakhe.”—ISAMBULO 6:2.
1. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezaziseza uJohane azibona embonweni?
EPHEFUMULELWE ngokwaphezulu, eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 800 ngaphambili, umphostoli uJohane wakwazi ukubona ukubekwa kukaKristu esihlalweni njengeNkosi. UJohane wayedinga ukholo ukuze akukholwe lokho ayekubona embonweni. Namuhla sinobufakazi obucacile bokuthi lokhu kubekwa esihlalweni okwabikezelwa kwenzeka ngo-1914. Ngamehlo okholo, siyambona uJesu Kristu ‘ephuma enqoba futhi eyophelelisa ukunqoba kwakhe.’
2. UDeveli wasabela kanjani ekuzalweni koMbuso, futhi lokhu kuwubufakazi bani?
2 Ngemva kokuzalwa koMbuso, uSathane wakhishwa ezulwini, okwamenza walwa ngolaka olukhulu kunakuqala kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya. (IsAmbulo 12:7-12) Intukuthelo yakhe iye yenza izimo zezwe zaba bucayi nakakhulu. Umphakathi wabantu ubonakala uwohloka. KoFakazi BakaJehova, lokhu kuwubufakazi obucacile bokuthi iNkosi yabo iphokophele phambili ‘ekupheleliseni ukunqoba kwayo.’
Ukwakhiwa Komphakathi Wezwe Elisha
3, 4. (a) Yiziphi izinguquko eziye zenziwa ekuhlelweni kwebandla lobuKristu kusukela ekuzalweni koMbuso, futhi kungani zazidingeka? (b) Ziye zazuzisa ngani lezi zinguquko, njengoba kwabikezela u-Isaya?
3 Lapho uMbuso usuzelwe, kwase kuyisikhathi sokwenza ibandla lobuKristu elibuyiselwe—elase linemithwalo yemfanelo yoMbuso eyengeziwe—livumelane kakhudlwana nesibonelo sebandla lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala. Ngakho, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 1 neka-June 15, 1938, zahlola indlela inhlangano yobuKristu okufanele isebenze ngayo. Kamuva, eka-December 15, 1971, yachaza iNdikimba Ebusayo yanamuhla ngokucace kakhudlwana esihlokweni esithi “INdikimba Ebusayo Nokuhluka Kwayo Enhlanganweni Engokomthetho.” Ngo-1972, kwamiswa izindikimba zabadala ukuze zisize futhi ziqondise emabandleni ezikuwo.
4 Ukubuyiselwa kokwengamela okuyikonakona kwaliqinisa kakhulu ibandla lobuKristu. Okwanezela kulokhu kwaba amalungiselelo enziwa yiNdikimba Ebusayo okufundisa abadala ngemisebenzi yabo, kuhlanganise nokubaqeqeshela izindaba zokwahlulela. Intuthuko eyenzeka kancane kancane ekuhlelweni kwenhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasemhlabeni nemiphumela yayo emihle kwabikezelwa ku-Isaya 60:17: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyakuletha igolide, nasesikhundleni sensimbi ngiyakuletha isiliva; esikhundleni somuthi ithusi, nasesikhundleni samatshe insimbi, ngibeke ukuthula kube ngababonisi bakho, nokulunga kube ngababusi bakho.” Lezi zinguquko ezinhle zabonisa isibusiso saphezulu futhi zaba ubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu wayebamukela labo ababephumele obala bawusekela ngentshiseko uMbuso wakhe.
5. (a) USathane wasabela kanjani lapho uJehova ebusisa abantu baKhe? (b) Ngokuvumelana neyabaseFilipi 1:7, abantu bakaJehova baye basabela kanjani entukuthelweni kaSathane?
5 USathane wakuphawula ukunakekela kothando nesiqondiso uNkulunkulu asinika abantu bakhe ngemva kokuzalwa koMbuso. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1931 leli qembu elincane lamaKristu lamemezela obala ukuthi lalingebona nje abaFundi BeBhayibheli kuphela. Ngokuvumelana no-Isaya 43:10, lalingoFakazi BakaJehova! Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwaziqondanela noma cha, emhlabeni wonke uDeveli wabangela igagasi lokushushiswa okwakungakaze kube khona. Ngisho nasemazweni ngokuvamile aziwa ngokuba nenkululeko engokwenkolo, njenge-United States, iCanada neJalimane, oFakazi baphoqeleka ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuba balwe izimpi ezingokomthetho ukuze balondoloze inkululeko yabo yokukhulekela. Ngo-1988, iNkantolo Ephakeme yase-United States yayisibukeze amacala angu-71 ahilela oFakazi BakaJehova, abawina izingxenye ezimbili kwezintathu zawo. Namuhla, kuwo wonke umhlaba, izimpi ezingokomthetho ziyaqhubeka ukuze ‘kuvikelwe futhi kumiswe ngokomthetho izindaba ezinhle,’ njengasekhulwini lokuqala.—Filipi 1:7.
6. Ingabe ukuvinjelwa kwabantu bakaJehova nokubekelwa kwabo imingcele kwabavimba ekuphokopheleni phambili? Bonisa.
6 Ngawo-1930, lapho sekuzoqala iMpi Yezwe II, ohulumeni bomashiqela bavimbela umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova noma bawubekela imingcele eJalimane, eSpain naseJapane, uma sibala amazwe amathathu nje. Kodwa ngonyaka ka-2000, la mazwe amathathu ewodwa ayesenabamemezeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu abashumayelayo abacela ku-500 000. Lelo nani lalicishe liliphinde kayishumi eloFakazi ababekhona emhlabeni wonke ngo-1936! Ngokusobala, ukuvinjelwa nokubekelwa imingcele akunakubavimba abantu bakaJehova ekuphokopheleni phambili ngaphansi koMholi wabo onqobayo, uJesu Kristu.
7. Yisiphi isenzakalo esiphawulekayo esenzeka ngo-1958, futhi yiluphi ushintsho olukhulu oluye lwenzeka kusukela ngaleso sikhathi?
7 Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuphokophela phambili kwabonakala kangakanani lapho ngo-1958, eNew York City, kuba nomhlangano omkhulu kunayo yonke oFakazi BakaJehova ababeke baba nayo, uMhlangano Wezizwe Wentando Yaphezulu, kwaba nenani eliphakeme labangu-253 922. Ngo-1970, umsebenzi wabo wawusuvuliwe emazweni amathathu ashiwo ngenhla, ngaphandle kwezwe elalaziwa njengeMpumalanga Jalimane ngaleso sikhathi. Kodwa oFakazi babesavinjelwe eSoviet Union enkulukazi nasemazweni akanye nayo kuyiWarsaw Pact. Namuhla, kula mazwe ayengawobuKhomanisi, kunoFakazi abashisekayo abangaphezu kwengxenye yesigidi.
8. Uye waba yini umphumela wesibusiso sikaJehova kubantu bakhe, futhi INqabayokulinda ka-1950 yathini ngalokhu?
8 OFakazi BakaJehova baye babusiswa ngokwanda ngoba baye baqhubeka ‘befuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu.’ (Mathewu 6:33) Kakade isiprofetho sika-Isaya sesigcwalisekile ngomqondo ongokoqobo: “Omncane uyakuba yinkulungwane, ophansi abe yisizwe esinamandla; mina nginguJehova, ngiyakukusheshisa ngesikhathi sakho.” (Isaya 60:22) Futhi akukapheli. Phakathi neshumi leminyaka elidlule nje, inani labasekeli bokubusa koMbuso abashumayelayo liye landa ngabantu abangaphezu kuka-1 750 000. Ngokuzithandela, laba baye baba yingxenye yeqembu INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-1950 eyathi ngabo: “Manje uNkulunkulu ulungisa umphakathi wezwe elisha. . . . Laba abayingxenye ebalulekile bayodlula e-Armagedoni, . . . babe ngabokuqala ‘emhlabeni omusha‘ . . . , abahlelwe ngokwasezulwini, futhi abazi izinqubo zenhlangano.” Lesi sihloko saphetha ngokuthi: “Khona-ke, masiqhubekele phambili ngokungahlehli, ngobunye, njengomphakathi wezwe elisha!”
9. Izinto oFakazi BakaJehova abaye bazifunda kuyo yonke le minyaka ziye zaba usizo kanjani?
9 Phakathi nakho konke lokhu, lo mphakathi wezwe elisha owanda njalo uye wafunda izindlela zokwenza izinto ngokushelelayo nangokuphumelelayo, okuye kwaba usizo namuhla futhi mhlawumbe okuyoba yilo naphakathi nomsebenzi wokuvuselela umhlaba ngemva kwe-Armagedoni. Ngokwesibonelo, oFakazi baye bafunda ukuhlela imihlangano emikhulu, ukunikeza usizo ngokushesha ezinhlekeleleni nokwakha izakhiwo ngokushesha. Lezi zinto ziye zenza abaningi ukuba bababuke babahloniphe oFakazi BakaJehova.
Ukulungisa Imibono Eyiphutha
10, 11. Bonisa indlela eye yalungiswa ngayo imibono eyiphutha ngoFakazi BakaJehova.
10 Nokho, kunabantu abagxeka oFakazi BakaJehova bethi abahambisani nomphakathi wabantu. Ngokuyinhloko lokhu kungenxa yokuma koFakazi okusekelwe eBhayibhelini ezindabeni ezinjengokumpontshelwa kwegazi, ukungathathi hlangothi, ukubhema nokuziphatha. Kodwa umphakathi uya uvuma ngezinga elikhulayo ukuthi imibono yoFakazi iyakudinga ukucatshangisiswa. Ngokwesibonelo, udokotela wasePoland washayela ucingo ihhovisi labaqondisi loFakazi BakaJehova wathi yena nawozakwabo basesibhedlela base benamahora amaningi bephikisana ngendaba yokumpompela igazi. Ingxoxo yabo yayibangelwe yisihloko esasivele ngalolo suku ephephandabeni lesiPolishi lansuku zonke i-Dziennik Zachodni. “Mina ngokwami kuyangidabukisa ukuthi igazi lisetshenziswa ngokweqile kwezokwelapha,” kuvuma lo dokotela. “Lokhu kumelwe kushintshwe, futhi ngiyajabula ngokuthi kukhona umuntu oseyiphakamisile le ndaba. Ngingathanda ukuthola ukwaziswa okwengeziwe.”
11 Engqungqutheleni yanyakenye, iziphathimandla zezokwelapha zaseCanada, e-Israel, e-United States naseYurophu zaxoxa ngokwaziswa okuklanyelwe ukusiza odokotela belaphe iziguli ngaphandle kokusebenzisa igazi. Kwavezwa kulo mhlangano owawuseSwitzerland, ukuthi ngokuphambene nalokho okucatshangwayo ngokuvamile, inani leziguli ezifayo ngemva kokumpontshelwa igazi empeleni lingaphezu kweleziguli ezingalifaki. Iziguli ezingoFakazi ngokuvamile zisheshe zidedelwe esibhedlela kunalezo ezelashwe ngegazi, okuvame ukunciphisa izindleko zokwelapha.
12. Nikeza isibonelo sendlela abantu abavelele abaye bakuncoma ngayo ukuma koFakazi BakaJehova kokungathathi hlangothi kwezombangazwe.
12 Kuye kwakhulunywa kahle kaningi nangokuma kokungathathi hlangothi koFakazi BakaJehova ngaphambi naphakathi kweMpi Yezwe II, lapho babekhuthazelela ukuhlaselwa amaNazi. I-video ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses Stand Firm Against Nazi Assault, eyenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova futhi yethulwa ngokufanelekayo ekamu lokuhlushwa laseRavensbrück eJalimane ngo-November 6, 1996, iye yabangela izinkulumo eziningi ezinhle. Lapho kuqalwa umhlangano othi awufane nalona ekamu lokuhlushwa laseBergen-Belsen elinedumela elibi, umqondisi weSikhungo Semfundo Yezombangazwe eLower Saxony, uDkt. Wolfgang Scheel, wavuma: “Elinye lamaqiniso omlando abangela amahloni ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova balahla iSimiso Sikazwelonke Sokusebenzela Uhulumeni ngokuzimisela okukhulu kakhulu kunamasonto obuKristu. . . . Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sizizwa kanjani ngezimfundiso nentshiseko engokwenkolo yoFakazi BakaJehova, ukuma kwabo begxilile phakathi nokubusa kwamaNazi kudinga ukuhlonishwa.”
13, 14. (a) Yimaphi amazwi abonisa ukuqonda ashiwo ngumuntu ongalindelekile esekela amaKristu okuqala? (b) Nikeza izibonelo zezinkulumo ezinhle eziye zashiwo mayelana nabantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla.
13 Lapho abantu abavelele noma izinqumo zezinkantolo zisekela oFakazi BakaJehova obala ezindabeni eziyimpikiswano, kungase kunciphise imibono eyiphutha, kwenze oFakazi babhekwe kangcono. Ngokuvamile lokhu kubavulela indlela yokukhuluma nabantu ababengazimisele ukulalela ngaphambili. Ngakho-ke, izenzo ezinjalo ziyamukeleka, futhi oFakazi BakaJehova bayazazisa ngempela. Lokhu kusikhumbuza lokho okwenzeka ekhulwini lokuqala eJerusalema. Lapho iSanhedrini, inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda, ifuna ukubulala amaKristu ngenxa yokushumayela kwawo ngentshiseko, uGamaliyeli, “umfundisi woMthetho ohlonishwa kakhulu yibo bonke abantu,” waxwayisa wathi: “Madoda akwa-Israyeli, zinakeni ngokuqondene nalokho enihlose ukukwenza ngokuqondene nalababantu. . . . Ningabaphazamisi lababantu, kodwa bayekeni; (ngoba, uma leliqhinga noma lomsebenzi uvela kubantu, uyogumbuqelwa; kodwa uma uvela kuNkulunkulu, ngeke nikwazi ukubagumbuqela;) uma kungenjalo, mhlawumbe, ningatholakala empeleni ningabantu abalwa noNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 5:33-39.
14 NjengoGamaliyeli, muva nje abantu abavelele baye bakhuluma obala besekela inkululeko engokwenkolo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, owayekade engusihlalo we-International Academy for Freedom of Religion and Belief wathi: “Inkolo ethile akufanele yenqatshelwe amalungelo ayo angokwenkolo ngoba nje umphakathi ubheka izinkolelo zayo njengezingamukeleki noma ezingahambisani nezivamile.” Futhi uprofesa wezifundo zenkolo ezingokwesayensi eyunivesithi yaseLeipzig waphakamisa umbuzo obalulekile ngokuqondene nekhomishane likahulumeni waseJalimane elalakhelwe ukuphenya ngalokho okuthiwa amahlelo enkolo, wathi: “Kungani kufanele kucutshungulwe amaqembu enkolo amancane kuphela, hhayi amasonto amabili amakhulu [iSonto LamaRoma Katolika nelaseLuthela]?” Impendulo isobala emazwini owayekade eyisikhulu saseJalimane, owabhala: “Akungabazeki ukuthi ngasese, abashisekeli besonto babelawula inkambo okufanele ithathwe yikhomishane likahulumeni.”
Siyilindele Kubani Impumuzo?
15, 16. (a) Kungani isinyathelo sikaGamaliyeli saphumelela ngezinga elilinganiselwe kuphela? (b) Abanye abantu abathathu abanethonya babelinganiselwe kanjani kulokho ababengakwenzela uJesu?
15 Lokho okwashiwo nguGamaliyeli kumane kugcizelela ukuthi umsebenzi osekelwa ngokwaphezulu awunakufekela neze. Ngokungangabazeki amaKristu okuqala azuza ngenxa yamazwi awasho kuyiSanhedrini, kodwa awakhohlwanga ukuthi amazwi kaJesu mayelana nokushushiswa kwabalandeli bakhe nawo ayeyiqiniso. Isinyathelo sikaGamaliyeli sawavimba amacebo abaholi benkolo okubulala abalandeli bakaJesu, kodwa lokho akuluqedanga ngokuphelele ushushiso, ngoba siyafunda: “Khona-ke bamlalela, futhi babiza abaphostoli, bababhambabula, futhi babayala ukuba bayeke ukukhuluma ngesisekelo segama likaJesu, babadedela.”—IzEnzo 5:40.
16 Lapho kuqulwa icala likaJesu, uPontiyu Pilatu wazama ukukhulula uJesu ngoba engatholi phutha kuye. Kodwa wehluleka. (Johane 18:38, 39; 19:4, 6, 12-16) Ngisho namalungu amabili eSanhedrini ayenomusa kuJesu, uNikodemu noJosefa wase-Arimatheya, ayelinganiselwe kulokho ayengakwenza ukuze avimbele inkantolo ekuthatheleni uJesu isinyathelo. (Luka 23:50-52; Johane 7:45-52; 19:38-40) Impumuzo abantu abayinikezayo lapho bevikela abantu bakaJehova ilinganiselwe—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyini isizathu. Izwe lizoqhubeka lizonda abalandeli bakaKristu beqiniso, njengoba nje lamzonda naye. Impumuzo egcwele iyovela kuJehova kuphela.—IzEnzo 2:24.
17. Yimuphi umbono obhekana namaqiniso oFakazi abanawo, kodwa kungani besazimisele kakhulu ukuqhubeka beshumayela izindaba ezinhle?
17 Uma kubhekwana namaqiniso, oFakazi BakaJehova balindele ukuba ushushiso luqhubeke. Ukuphikiswa kuyonqamuka kuphela lapho isimiso sikaSathane singasekho, sesinqotshiwe ekugcineni. Nokho, nakuba lolu shushiso lungemnandi, alubenzi oFakazi bayeke ukufeza umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Lungabayekiselani, kwazise basekelwa ngokwaphezulu? Babheka uMholi wabo onesibindi, uJesu Kristu, njengesibonelo esifanele.—IzEnzo 5:17-21, 27-32.
18. Yibuphi ubunzima obuseza kubantu bakaJehova, kodwa yini abaqinisekayo ukuthi iyoba umphumela?
18 Kusukela ekuqaleni kwayo, inkolo yeqiniso iye yaphikiswa kakhulu. Maduze nje, izohlaselwa nguGogi, uSathane esesimweni sakhe esiphansi kusukela akhishwa ezulwini. Kodwa inkolo yeqiniso izoqhubeka ikhona. (Hezekeli 38:14-16) ‘Amakhosi omhlaba wonke owakhiwe’ aqondiswa nguSathane, “ayokulwa neWundlu, kodwa, ngenxa yokuthi liyiNkosi yamakhosi noMbusi wababusi, iWundlu liyowanqoba.” (IsAmbulo 16:14; 17:14) Yebo, iNkosi yethu iphokophele ekunqobeni kokugcina futhi maduze nje ‘izophelelisa ukunqoba kwayo.’ Yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo kangakanani ukuhamba kanye nayo, sazi ukuthi ngokushesha akekho ozophinde aphikise abakhulekeli bakaJehova lapho bethi: “UNkulunkulu ungakithi”!—Roma 8:31; Filipi 1:27, 28.
Ungachaza?
• Yini uJehova aye wayenza ukuze aqinise ibandla lobuKristu selokhu kwazalwa uMbuso?
• Yini uSathane aye wayenza ukuze azame ukuvimba uKristu ekupheleliseni ukunqoba kwakhe, futhi kwaba namiphi imiphumela?
• Yimuphi umbono olinganiselayo okufanele sibe nawo ngezinyathelo ezinhle ezithathwa abangebona oFakazi?
• Yini uSathane azoyenza maduze nje, futhi kube namuphi umphumela?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Imihlangano emikhulu ibonakalisa ukuphokophela phambili kwabantu bakaJehova
[Izithombe ekhasini 20]
Ukungathathi hlangothi koFakazi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II kusaletha udumo kuJehova