Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nanye

Ukukhulekela Kweqiniso Kwenabela Emhlabeni Wonke

Isaya 60:1-22

 1. U-Isaya isahluko 60 uqukethe siphi isigijimi esikhuthazayo?

ISAHLUKO 60 sika-Isaya silotshwe saba idrama eshukumisayo. Emavesini okuqala, sidonswa isigigaba esithinta inhliziyo. Kube sekulandela ngokushesha uhide lwezigigaba olufinyelela emvuthwandaba oshukumisayo. Lesi sahluko sichaza ngokucacile ukubuyiselwa kokukhulekela kweqiniso eJerusalema lasendulo nokwenabela emhlabeni wonke kokukhulekela kweqiniso namuhla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sibalula izibusiso zaphakade ezilindele bonke abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu abaqotho. Ngamunye wethu angaba nendima ekugcwalisekeni kwale ngxenye ethakazelisayo yesiprofetho sika-Isaya. Ngakho-ke masiyihlolisise.

Ukukhanya Kukhanya Ebumnyameni

 2. Yimuphi umyalo onikezwa owesifazane olele ebumnyameni, futhi kungani kuphuthuma ukuba awulalele?

² Amazwi esethulo alesi sahluko sika-Isaya aqondiswe kowesifazane osesimweni esidabukisayo. Ngokusobala ulele já phansi ebumnyameni. Kungazelelwe, ukukhanya kuhlaba ebumnyameni njengoba uJehova, ngo-Isaya, ememeza: “Vuka, wena wesifazane, khipha ukukhanya, ngoba ukukhanya kwakho kufikile futhi yona kanye inkazimulo kaJehova ikhanyé phezu kwakho.” (Isaya 60:1) Yebo, lona “wesifazane” kufanele asukume abonakalise inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu! Kungani kuphuthuma lokhu? Isiprofetho siyaqhubeka: “Bheka! ubumnyama buyomboza umhlaba, nesigayegaye amaqembu ezizwe; kodwa uJehova uyokhanya phezu kwakho, futhi inkazimulo yakhe iyobonakala phezu kwakho.” (Isaya 60:2) Ukuze kuzuze labo abaseduze kwakhe abadukuza ebumnyameni, lona “wesifazane” kumelwe ‘akhiphe ukukhanya.’ Uyoba yini umphumela? “Ngokuqinisekile izizwe ziyokuza ekukhanyeni kwakho, namakhosi eze ekukhanyeni okukhulu kokukhanya kwakho.” (Isaya 60:3) La mazwi ayisethulo anikeza umongo walokho okuzochazwa ngokuningiliziwe emavesini alandelayo—ukukhulekela kweqiniso kumelwe kwenabele emhlabeni wonke!

 3. (a) Ungubani ‘owesifazane’? (b) ‘Owesifazane’ ubelaleleni ebumnyameni?

³ Yize ekhuluma ngezenzakalo ezisazokwenzeka, uJehova utshela ‘owesifazane’ ukuthi ukukhanya kwakhe “kufikile.” Lokhu kugcizelela ukuthi lesi siprofetho siyogcwaliseka nakanjani. Lona “wesifazane” okukhulunywa ngaye uyiZiyoni, noma iJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yakwaJuda. (Isaya 52:1, 2; 60:14) Umuzi umelela sonke isizwe. Ngesikhathi lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka okokuqala, ‘owesifazane’ utholakala elele ebumnyameni, lapho ebelokhu ekhona selokhu kwabhujiswa iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. Nokho, ngo-537 B.C.E., insali ethembekile yamaJuda athunjiwe iphindela eJerusalema, ibuyisele ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Ekugcineni, uJehova wenza ukukhanya ukuba kukhanye phezu ‘kowesifazane’ wakhe, nabantu bakhe ababuyiselwe baba umthombo wokukhanya phakathi kwezizwe ezisebumnyameni ngokomoya.

Ukugcwaliseka Okukhulu

 4. Namuhla, obani abamelele ‘owesifazane’ emhlabeni, futhi la mazwi esiprofetho asebenza nakobani?

⁴ Isithakazelo sethu kula mazwi esiprofetho asigcini ekugcwalisekeni kwawo eJerusalema lasendulo. Namuhla, ‘owesifazane’ kaJehova wasezulwini umelelwe “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” emhlabeni. (Galathiya 6:16) Kusukela saba khona, kusukela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. kuze kube manje, lesi sizwe esingokomoya siye saba namalungu angu-144 000 agcotshwe ngomoya, ‘athengwe emhlabeni’ enethemba lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 14:1, 3) Ukugcwaliseka kwanamuhla kuka-Isaya isahluko 60 kugxile kulabo babangu-144 000 abaphilayo emhlabeni phakathi ‘nezinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Lesi siprofetho sithinta nabangane bala maKristu agcotshiwe, “isixuku esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu.’—IsAmbulo 7:9; Johane 10:11, 16.

5. Amalungu ayesaphila ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu azithola nini elele ebumnyameni, futhi ukukhanya kukaJehova kwakhanya nini phezu kwawo?

⁵ Okwesikhashana esithile ekuqaleni kwawo-1900, labo abakha u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu ababesesemhlabeni bazithola belele ebumnyameni, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso. Impi yezwe yokuqala yaphela besesimweni esichazwe ngokomfanekiso encwadini yesAmbulo—izidumbu zabo ‘zisendleleni ebanzi yomuzi omkhulu lowo ngomqondo ongokomoya obizwa ngokuthi iSodoma neGibithe.’ (IsAmbulo 11:8) Kodwa ngo-1919 uJehova wakhanyisa ukukhanya kwakhe phezu kwabo. Basabela ngokuba basukume babonakalise ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu, bamemezela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngokungesabi.—Mathewu 5:14-16; 24:14.

 6. Izwe liye lasabela kanjani ekumenyezelweni kokuba khona kukaJesu kobukhosi, kodwa obani abaye badonselwa ekukhanyeni kukaJehova?

⁶ Sithonywe uSathane, inhloko ‘yababusi bezwe balobu bumnyama,’ isintu siye sangasinaka isimemezelo sokuba khona kukaJesu Kristu kobukhosi, “ukukhanya kwezwe.” (Efesu 6:12; Johane 8:12; 2 Korinte 4:3, 4) Noma kunjalo, izigidi zabantu ziye zadonselwa ekukhanyeni kukaJehova, kuhlanganise “namakhosi” (labo ababa izindlalifa ezigcotshiwe zoMbuso wasezulwini) ‘nezizwe’ (isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu).

Ukwanda Kubanga Intokozo Esuka Enhliziyweni

 7. Yisiphi isenzakalo esithinta inhliziyo esibonwa ‘owesifazane’?

⁷ Ethuthukisa indaba eqalwe ku-Isaya 60:3, uJehova unikeza ‘owesifazane’ omunye umyalo: “Phakamisela amehlo akho nxazonke ubone!” Lapho ‘owesifazane’ ekwenza lokhu, uzithela esenzakalweni esithinta inhliziyo—izingane zakhe zibuyela ekhaya! “Bonke baqoqene ndawonye; beze kuwe. Amadodana akho aqhubeka eza evela kude, namadodakazi akho lawo ayonakekelwa esezinhlangothini.” (Isaya 60:4) Umphumela wokumemezela ngoMbuso emhlabeni wonke okwaqala ngo-1919 waba ukutholakala kwezinkulungwane zamanye ‘amadodana namadodakazi’ azihlanganisa no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Ngale ndlela uJehova wathatha izinyathelo zokuphelelisa inani elalibikezelwe labangu-144 000, abayobusa noKristu.—IsAmbulo 5:9, 10.

 8. Yini eye yajabulisa u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu kusukela ngo-1919?

⁸ Lokhu kwanda kwabangela ukujabula. “Ngaleso sikhathi uyobona futhi ngokuqinisekile uyoqhakaza, inhliziyo yakho empeleni iyovevezela futhi ikhukhumale, ngoba ukuceba kolwandle kuyoziqondisa kuwe; umnotho wezizwe uyoza kuwe.” (Isaya 60:5) Ukubuthwa kwabagcotshiwe phakathi nawo-1920 nawo-1930 kwamjabulisa kakhulu u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa baye baba nesinye isizathu sokuthokoza. Ikakhulukazi kusukela maphakathi nawo-1930, abantu ababeke baba ingxenye ‘yolwandle’ lwesintu esihlukaniswe noNkulunkulu baye baphuma ezizweni zonke bezokhulekela no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 57:20; Hagayi 2:7) Laba bantu abavele nje bazikhonzele uNkulunkulu ngendlela abathanda ngayo. Kunalokho, beza ‘kowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu babe ingxenye yomhlambi kaNkulunkulu onobunye. Umphumela uba ukuthi zonke izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zihlanganyela ekwenabiseni ukukhulekela kweqiniso.

Izizwe Zibuthanela EJerusalema

9, 10. Obani ababonakala bebuthanela eJerusalema, futhi uJehova ubamukela kanjani?

⁹ Esebenzisa umfanekiso abawujwayele abantu besikhathi sika-Isaya, uJehova uchaza lokhu kwanda. ‘Owesifazane,’ ebuka esendaweni ekahle eNtabeni YaseZiyoni, uqale aqalaze emkhathizwe osempumalanga. Ubonani? “Isikhukhula samakamela siyokusibekela, amathole amakamela angamaduna akwaMidiyani nawase-Efa. Bonke abaseSheba—bayofika. Bayothwala igolide nenhlaka yempepho. Futhi bayokwazisa izindumiso zikaJehova.” (Isaya 60:6) Udwendwe lwamakamela asetshenziswa abathengisi abavela ezizweni ezihlukahlukene luhlabe ujenga emigwaqweni eya eJerusalema. (Genesise 37:25, 28; AbAhluleli 6:1, 5; 1 AmaKhosi 10:1, 2) Amakamela akuyo yonke indawo, kuhle kwesikhukhula simboze izwe! Lezi zindwendwe zilethe izipho eziyigugu, okubonisa ukuthi laba bahwebi beze ngokuthula. Bafuna ukukhulekela uJehova, bamnikeze okungcono kunakho konke abangamnika kona.

¹⁰ Laba bathengisi abahambi bodwa. “Yonke imihlambi yaseKedari—iyoqoqana ndawonye kuwe. Izinqama zaseNebayoti—ziyokukhonza.” Yebo, nezizwe ezifuyayo ziza eJerusalema. Ziphethe izipho eziyimpahla eyigugu kakhulu—imihlambi yezimvu—futhi zizinikele zona ngokwazo ukuba zibe izikhonzi. Uzozamukela kanjani uJehova? Uthi: “Ziyoza phezu kwe-altare lami ngokwamukelwa, futhi ngiyoyenza ibe nhle indlu yami yobuhle.” (Isaya 60:7) UJehova uyazamukela izipho zabo, ezizosetshenziselwa ukukhulekela okumsulwa.—Isaya 56:7; Jeremiya 49:28, 29.

11, 12. (a) ‘Owesifazane’ ubonani lapho egqolozela entshonalanga? (b) Kungani abaningi kangaka bephuthuma eJerusalema?

¹¹ Manje uJehova uthi ‘owesifazane’ makabuke emkhathizwe osentshonalanga, abese ebuza: “Obani laba abeza bendiza njengefu, nanjengamajuba aya emigodini eyizidleke zawo?” UJehova ngokwakhe uyaphendula: “Iziqhingi ziyoqhubeka zithembele kimi, nemikhumbi yaseTharishishi njengasekuqaleni, ukuze ilethe amadodana akho evela kude, ephethe isiliva lawo negolide lawo, egameni likaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho nakoNgcwele ka-Israyeli, ngoba uyobe ekwenze waba muhle.”—Isaya 60:8, 9.

¹² Zicabange umi nalona “wesifazane,” nigqolozele entshonalanga phesheya koLwandle Olukhulu. Nibonani? Ifu elikude lamachashaza amhlophe endiza phezu kwamanzi. Ungathi izinyoni, kodwa njengoba lisondela, niyabona ukuthi yimikhumbi ephephezela oseyili. Ivela “kude.”a (Isaya 49:12) Miningi impela imikhumbi ephikelele eZiyoni ngesivinini esikhulu, ize ifane nehlambi lamajuba alibangise ekhaya. Ijaheni kangaka le mikhumbi? Ijahe ukwehlisa imithwalo yayo engabakhulekeli bakaJehova abavela emathekwini aqhelile. Ngempela, bonke laba bantu abafikayo—ama-Israyeli nabezinye izizwe, bevela empumalanga noma entshonalanga, emazweni aseduze noma aqhelile—baphuthuma eJerusalema ngenjongo yokunikela konke okungokwabo egameni likaJehova, uNkulunkulu wabo.—Isaya 55:5.

13. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, angobani ‘amadodana namadodakazi,’ futhi obani ‘abangumnotho wezizwe’?

¹³ Yeka umfanekiso ocacile u-Isaya 60:4-9 awakhayo wokwanda okwenzekile emhlabeni wonke kusukela ‘owesifazane’ kaJehova aqala ukuletha ukukhanya kuleli zwe elimnyama! Kwaqale kwafika ‘amadodana namadodakazi’ eZiyoni lasezulwini, labo ababa amaKristu agcotshiwe. Ngo-1931 bazisho obala ukuthi bangoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngemva kwalokho ifu labathobekileyo, “umnotho wezizwe” ‘nomcebo wolwandle,’ laphuthuma lazihlanganisa nabaseleyo babafowabo bakaKristu.b Namuhla zonke lezi zinceku zikaJehova ezivela emagunjini omane omhlaba nasezizindeni ezihlukahlukene, zizihlanganisa no-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu zidumise kanye naye iNkosi yazo enguMbusi, uJehova, futhi ziphakamise igama lakhe njengelikhulu kunawo wonke ezulwini nasemhlabeni.

14. Laba abasanda kufika ‘beza’ kanjani “phezu kwe-altare [likaNkulunkulu]”?

¹⁴ Kusho ukuthini kodwa ukuthi laba abasanda kufika bevela ezizweni ‘beza phezu kwe-altare [likaNkulunkulu]’? Phezu kwe-altare kubekwa umhlatshelo. Umphostoli uPawulu washo inkulumo ethinta umhlatshelo lapho ebhala: “Ngiyanincenga . . . ukuba nethule imizimba yenu ingumhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu, uyinkonzo engcwele ngamandla enu okucabanga.” (Roma 12:1) AmaKristu angempela azimisele ukuzidela. (Luka 9:23, 24) Anikela ngesikhathi sawo, amandla namakhono awo ekuthuthukiseni ukukhulekela okumsulwa. (Roma 6:13) Ngokwenza kanjalo, anikela ngemihlatshelo yokudumisa uNkulunkulu eyamukelekayo. (Heberu 13:15) Ave kujabulisa ukuthi izigidi zabakhulekeli bakaJehova namuhla, abancane nabadala, baye babeka izifiso zabo siqu ngemva kwezithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu! Babonisa umoya wokuzidela kwangempela.—Mathewu 6:33; 2 Korinte 5:15.

Abasanda Kufika Nabo Bayanweba

15. (a) Endulo, uJehova wasibonisa kanjani isihe kwabezinye izizwe? (b) Namuhla, “abezinye izizwe” bahlanganyele kanjani ekwakheni ukukhulekela kweqiniso?

¹⁵ Laba abasanda kufika basekela ‘owesifazane’ kaJehova ngokunikela ngempahla yabo nangezinkonzo zabo. “Abezinye izizwe empeleni bayokwakha izindonga zakho, namakhosi abo ayokukhonza; ngoba ngiyobe ngikushayile ekuthukutheleni kwami, kodwa ngenxa yokukuthakazelela kwami ngokuqinisekile ngiyoba nesihe kuwe.” (Isaya 60:10) Isihe sikaJehova sabonakala ngekhulu lesithupha B.C.E. ngesikhathi abantu bezinye izizwe besiza emsebenzini wokwakha eJerusalema. (Ezra 3:7; Nehemiya 3:26) Ekugcwalisekeni kwanamuhla okukhulu, “abezinye izizwe,” isixuku esikhulu, basekela insali egcotshiwe ekwakheni ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Basiza ekwakheni izimfanelo zobuKristu kubantu ababafundela iBhayibheli, futhi ngokwenza kanjalo bakha amabandla amaKristu, baqinise “izindonga” zenhlangano kaJehova ezinjengomuzi. (1 Korinte 3:10-15) Bayakha nangendlela engokoqobo, bezikhandla bakha amaHholo OMbuso, amaHholo Omhlangano nezakhiwo zaseBethel. Ngaleyo ndlela basiza abafowabo abagcotshiwe ekunakekeleni izidingo zenhlangano kaJehova eyandayo.—Isaya 61:5.

16, 17. (a) “Amasango” enhlangano kaNkulunkulu agcinwe kanjani evulekile? (b) “Amakhosi” alikhonze kanjani iZiyoni? (c) Kuyokwenzekani kulabo abazama ukuvala “amasango” uJehova afisa ahlale evuliwe?

¹⁶ Unyaka nonyaka, ngenxa yesimiso sokwakha esingokomoya, amakhulu ezinkulungwane ‘zabezinye izizwe’ aye aqale ukuzihlanganisa nenhlangano kaJehova, futhi isekhona indawo yabanye abengeziwe. UJehova uthi: “Empeleni amasango akho ayohlala evulekile njalo; ngeke avalwe ngisho nasemini noma ebusuku, ukuze alethe kuwe umnotho wezizwe, futhi amakhosi azo ayobe ehola.” (Isaya 60:11) Angobani-ke la “makhosi” aholayo ekuletheni umnotho wezizwe eZiyoni? Endulo uJehova washukumisa izinhliziyo zababusi abathile ukuba ‘bakhonze’ iZiyoni. Ngokwesibonelo, uKoresi wathatha isinyathelo sokuphindisela amaJuda eJerusalema ayokwakha kabusha ithempeli. Kamuva, u-Aritahishashita wanikela ngengcebo futhi wahambisa uNehemiya ukuba ayokwakha kabusha izindonga zaseJerusalema. (Ezra 1:2, 3; Nehemiya 2:1-8) Ngempela “inhliziyo yenkosi injengemifudlana yamanzi esandleni sikaJehova.” (IzAga 21:1) UNkulunkulu wethu angashukumisa ngisho nababusi abanamandla ukuba benze ngokuvumelana nentando yakhe.

¹⁷ “Amakhosi,” noma iziphathimandla eziningi namuhla zizamile ukuvala “amasango” enhlangano kaJehova. Kodwa abanye baye bakhonza iZiyoni ngokwenza izinqumo ezasiza ekugcineni lawo “masango” evulekile. (Roma 13:4) Ngo-1919 iziphathimandla zadedela uJoseph F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe njengoba babeboshwe kungafanele. (IsAmbulo 11:13) Ohulumeni babantu ‘bagwinya’ isikhukhula soshushiso olwaludedelwe uSathane ngemva kokwehla kwakhe ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 12:16) Abanye ohulumeni baye bagqugquzela ukuba izinkolo zibekezelelwe, ngezinye izikhathi benzela oFakazi BakaJehova ngokukhethekile. Lolu hlobo lokukhonza lwenze kwaba lula ngezixuku zabathobekileyo ukuba zidabule ‘emasangweni’ avulekile zingene enhlanganweni kaJehova. Kuthiwani ngabaphikisi abazama ukuvala lawo “masango”? Abasoze baphumelela. UJehova uthi ngabo: “Noma yisiphi isizwe nanoma yimuphi umbuso ongeke ukukhonze uyoshabalala; nezizwe ziyobhuqwa nakanjani.” (Isaya 60:12) Bonke abalwa ‘nowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu—kungaba abantu ngabanye noma izinhlangano—bayobhubha empini ezayo ye-Armagedoni uma bengafanga ngaphambi kwayo.—IsAmbulo 16:14, 16.

18. (a) Sisho ukuthini isithembiso sokuthi imithi iyothela kwa-Israyeli? (b) Iyini ‘indawo yezinyawo zikaJehova’ namuhla?

¹⁸ Ngemva kwalesi sixwayiso sokwahlulelwa, isiprofetho sibuyela ezithembisweni zokwethaba nokuchuma. Ekhuluma nalona “wesifazane,” uJehova uthi: “Inkazimulo yeLebanoni iyoza kuwe, umjunipha, umthidari nomsayipuresi ngasikhathi sinye, ukuze kuyenze ibe nhle indawo yendlu yami engcwele; futhi ngiyoyikhazimulisa indawo yezinyawo zami.” (Isaya 60:13) Le mithi ifanekisela ubuhle nokukhiqiza. (Isaya 41:19; 55:13) Inkulumo ethi “indlu engcwele” nethi “indawo yezinyawo zami” kuleli vesi ibhekisela ethempelini laseJerusalema. (1 IziKronike 28:2; IHubo 99:5) Nokho, umphostoli uPawulu wachaza ukuthi ithempeli laseJerusalema laliwumfuziselo wethempeli elingokomoya elikhulu kunaleli, ilungiselelo lokukhulekela uJehova ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaKristu. (Heberu 8:1-5; 9:2-10, 23) Namuhla uJehova uyayikhazimulisa ‘indawo yezinyawo zakhe,’ amagceke asemhlabeni ethempeli lakhe elikhulu elingokomoya. Aba mahle kangangokuba aheha abantu bazo zonke izizwe ukuba bazohlanganyela ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso khona.—Isaya 2:1-4; Hagayi 2:7.

19. Abaphikisi bayophoqeleka ukuba bavume ukuthini, futhi uma beyokwenza sekwephuze kakhulu, kuyobe kunini?

¹⁹ Njengoba manje esephinda ekhuluma ngabaphikisi, uJehova uthi: “Amadodana alabo abakuhluphayo ayoza kuwe, ekhothama; nabo bonke abakuphatha ngendelelo bayoguqa phansi ematheni ezinyawo zakho, kuyodingeka bakubize ngokuthi ungumuzi kaJehova, iZiyoni loNgcwele ka-Israyeli.” (Isaya 60:14) Yebo, ukubona ukwanda okukhulu nendlela engcono kakhulu yokuphila ebangelwa isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu kubantu bakhe kuyophoqa abanye abaphikisi ukuba bakhothame babize ‘owesifazane.’ Okusho ukuthi bayophoqeleka ukuba bavume—uma sekwephuze kakhulu kuyoba nge-Armagedoni—ukuthi insali egcotshiwe nabangane bayo ngempela bamelela inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini, “umuzi kaJehova, iZiyoni loNgcwele ka-Israyeli.”

Ukusebenzisa Ingcebo Etholakalayo

20. Yikuphi ukushintsha kwezimo okwenzeka ‘kowesifazane’?

²⁰ Yeka ushintsho olukhulu lwezimo olwenzeka ‘kowesifazane’ kaJehova! UJehova uthi: “Esikhundleni sokuba ube ngoshiywe ngokuphelele nozondwayo, kungekho muntu odabula kuwe, ngiyokumisa njengento yokuziqhenya kuze kube phakade, ukwethaba ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane. Ngokuqinisekile uyoncela ubisi lwezizwe, uyoncela ibele lamakhosi; uyokwazi ngokuqinisekile ukuthi, mina, Jehova, nginguMsindisi wakho, futhi Onamandla kaJakobe nguye okuThenga kabusha.”—Isaya 60:15, 16.

21. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba iJerusalema lasendulo libe ‘into yokuziqhenya’? (b) Yiziphi izibusiso ezitholwe izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe kusukela ngo-1919, futhi ziluncele kanjani “ubisi lwezizwe”?

²¹ Iminyaka engu-70 kuba sengathi iJerusalema alikho, ‘akukho muntu odabula kulo.’ Kodwa kusukela ngo-537 B.C.E., uJehova wenza lo muzi uphinde ube nabantu, awenze ube ‘into yokuziqhenya.’ Ngokufanayo, ngasekupheleni kwempi yezwe yokuqala, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu wabhekana nenkathi yencithakalo lapho azizwa ‘eshiywe khona ngokuphelele.’ Kodwa ngo-1919, uJehova wazithenga kabusha izinceku zakhe ezigcotshiwe ebugqilini, futhi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi uye wazibusisa ngokwanda nokuchuma ngokomoya okungakaze kube khona. Abantu bakhe bancele “ubisi lwezizwe,” basebenzisa ingcebo yezizwe ngenjongo yokuthuthukisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, ukusebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha izinto zobuchwepheshe zanamuhla kwenze kwenzeka ukuhumusha nokunyathelisa amaBhayibheli nezincwadi ezisekelwe kuwo ngezilimi eziningi kakhulu. Umphumela uwukuthi unyaka nonyaka amakhulu ezinkulungwane atadisha iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova abese eqonda ukuthi uJehova, ngoKristu, unguMsindisi wabo futhi nguye obaThenga kabusha.—IzEnzo 5:31; 1 Johane 4:14.

Intuthuko Endleleni Okwakuhlelwa Ngayo Izinto

22. UJehova uthembisa luhlobo luni lwentuthuko?

²² Ukwanda kwenani labantu bakaJehova kuhambisana nentuthuko endleleni okuhlelwa ngayo izinto. UJehova uthi: “Esikhundleni sethusi ngiyoletha igolide, esikhundleni sensimbi ngiyoletha isiliva, esikhundleni sokhuni, ithusi, futhi esikhundleni samatshe, insimbi; ngiyomisa ukuthula kube ababonisi bakho nokulunga kube ngababi bemisebenzi yakho.” (Isaya 60:17) Kuyintuthuko ukufaka igolide esikhundleni sethusi, futhi kunjalo nangezinye izinto ezibalwe lapha. Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, abantu bakaJehova baye babona izinto zihlelwa kangcono ezinsukwini zokugcina.

23, 24. Yimaphi amalungiselelo athuthukisiwe abantu bakaJehova abawabonile kusukela ngo-1919?

²³ Kuze kube ngo-1919, amabandla ayelokhu enabadala namadiyakoni ayekhethwa ngentando yeningi. Kusukela ngalowo nyaka, umqondisi wenkonzo wakhethwa ngokwasezulwini ukuba aqondise imisebenzi yenkonzo yasensimini ebandleni, kodwa kwakuye kwenzeke ukuba abadala abathile abakhethiwe bangamfuni umqondisi wenkonzo. Ngo-1932, izinto zashintsha. Ngomagazini INqabayokulinda, amabandla ayalwa ukuba ayeke ukukhetha abadala namadiyakoni. Kunalokho, kwakufanele akhethe ikomiti yenkonzo eyayizosizana nomqondisi wenkonzo. Kwaba intuthuko enkulu leyo.

²⁴ Ngo-1938, kwalethwa “igolide” elengeziwe lapho kunqunywa ukuba zonke izinceku ebandleni zimiswe ngokwasezulwini. Ibandla labe seliqondiswa i-company servant (kamuva, inceku yebandla) nezinye izinceku ezaziyelekelela, zonke ezazimiswa ngaphansi kokwengamela ‘kwesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.’c (Mathewu 24:45-47) Nokho, ngo-1972 kwabonakala ukuthi indlela engokomBhalo yokwengamela ibandla iwukuba lenganyelwe indikimba yabadala, kunokuba kube umuntu oyedwa. (Filipi 1:1) Kwenziwa nezinye izinguquko emabandleni naseNdikimbeni Ebusayo. Isibonelo salokhu kwamuva sabonakala ngo-October 7, 2000, ngesikhathi kumenyezelwa ukuthi amalungu eNdikimba Ebusayo ayengabaqondisi be-Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania nezinhlangano ezingaphansi kwayo aziyeke ngokuzithandela izikhundla zawo. Ngokwenza kanjalo, iNdikimba Ebusayo, emelela isigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo, iyakwazi ukugxila ekwengameleni ngokomoya “ibandla likaNkulunkulu” nabangane bayo, ezinye izimvu. (IzEnzo 20:28) Wonke la malungiselelo abe yintuthuko. Ayiqinisile inhlangano kaJehova futhi abusisa abakhulekeli bakhe.

25. Ubani obangele ukuthuthuka kwenhlangano yabantu bakaJehova, futhi bathole ziphi izinzuzo?

²⁵ Ubani obangele le ntuthuko? Ingabe ibangelwe ikhono lokuhlela noma ukukhalipha kwabantu abathile? Cha, ngoba uJehova wathi: “Ngizoletha igolide.” Yonke le ntuthuko ibangelwe isiqondiso saphezulu. Lapho abantu bakaJehova bezithoba esiqondisweni sakhe futhi benze ukulungisa, bayazuza. Ukuthula kuyanda phakathi kwabo, futhi ukuthanda kwabo ukulunga kubaqhubezela ekumkhonzeni.

26. Yiluphi uphawu lwamaKristu eqiniso olubonwa ngisho nangabaphikisi?

²⁶ Ukuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu kuyaguqula. UJehova uyathembisa: “Ngeke kuphinde kuzwakale ubudlova ezweni lakho, ukuphanga noma ukubhidliza phakathi kwemingcele yakho. Ngokuqinisekile uyobiza izindonga zakho ngokuthi iNsindiso namasango akho ngokuthi iNdumiso.” (Isaya 60:18) Akuve kuyiqiniso! Ngisho nabaphikisi bayavuma ukuthi ukuthula kuwuphawu oluvelele lwamaKristu eqiniso. (Mika 4:3) Lokhu kuthula noNkulunkulu naphakathi koFakazi BakaJehova ngokwabo kwenza ngayinye indawo yamaKristu yokuhlangana ibe umthombo wokuqabuleka ezweni elinobudlova. (1 Petru 2:17) Kuwukunambitha ukuthula okukhulu okuyoba khona ngesikhathi bonke abantu emhlabeni ‘sebengabantu abafundiswa uJehova.’—Isaya 11:9; 54:13.

Ukukhanya Okukhazimulayo Okubonisa Ukwamukelwa Phezulu

27. Yikuphi ukukhanya okungapheli okukhanya phezu ‘kowesifazane’ kaJehova?

²⁷ Amandla okukhanya, okukhanya phezu kweJerusalema achazwa nguJehova lapho ethi: “Ilanga ngeke lisaba ukukhanya kuwe emini, nenyanga ngeke isakunika ukukhanya ukuze kube khona ukukhanya okukhulu. UJehova uyoba ukukhanya kwaphakade kuwe, uNkulunkulu wakho abe ubuhle bakho. Ilanga lakho ngeke lisashona, nenyanga yakho ngeke isafa; ngoba uJehova uyoba ukukhanya kwaphakade kuwe, futhi izinsuku zokulila kwakho ziyobe zifinyelele ekupheleni.” (Isaya 60:19, 20) UJehova uyoqhubeka ‘engukukhanya kwaphakade’ ‘kowesifazane’ wakhe. Akasoze ‘ashone’ njengelanga noma ‘afe’ njengenyanga.d AmaKristu agcotshiwe, abameleli abangabantu ‘bowesifazane’ kaNkulunkulu, akhanyiswa ukukhanya kwakhe okungapheli okubonisa ukuthi uyawamukela. Wona kanye nesixuku esikhulu ajabulela ilangabi lokukhanya okungokomoya elingeke licinywe ubumnyama obukwezombusazwe noma kwezentengiselwano zezwe. Futhi bayalethemba ikusasa eliqhakazile uJehova ababekele lona.—Roma 2:7; IsAmbulo 21:3-5.

28. (a) Izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema ezibuyayo zithenjiswani? (b) Atholani amaKristu agcotshiwe ngo-1919? (c) Abalungileyo bayodla ifa lomhlaba kuze kube nini?

²⁸ UJehova uyaqhubeka ethi ngezakhamuzi zaseJerusalema: “Abantu bakho bona, bonke bayoba abalungile; bayoligcina izwe lingelabo kuze kube phakade, ihlumela elitshalwe yimi, umsebenzi wezandla zami, ukuba ngenziwe muhle.” (Isaya 60:21) Ngesikhathi u-Israyeli wemvelo efika evela eBabiloni, ‘wagcina izwe lingelakhe.’ Kodwa endabeni yakhe, inkulumo ethi “kuze kube phakade” yagcina ngekhulu lokuqala C.E. ngesikhathi amabutho amaRoma ebhubhisa iJerusalema nombuso wamaJuda. Ngo-1919 insali yamaKristu agcotshiwe yaphuma ekuthunjweni ngokomoya futhi yagcina izwe elingokomoya lingelayo. (Isaya 66:8) Leli zwe, noma indawo, linokuchuma okungokomoya okunjengepharadesi okungeke kuphele. Ngokungafani no-Israyeli wasendulo, u-Israyeli ongokomoya njengendikimba ngeke angathembeki. Ngale kwalokho, isiprofetho sika-Isaya siyogcwaliseka nangokoqobo lapho umhlaba uba ipharadesi langempela ‘elinokuthula okukhulu.’ Khona-ke abalungileyo abanethemba lasemhlabeni bayodla ifa lomhlaba kuze kube phakade.—IHubo 37:11, 29.

29, 30. Kwenzeke kanjani ukuba “omncane” abe “inkulungwane”?

²⁹ Ekuphetheni kuka-Isaya isahluko 60 kunesithembiso esinqala, uJehova asiqinisekisa ngegama lakhe. Uthi: “Omncane uyoba inkulungwane, umuntukazana abe isizwe esinamandla. Mina, Jehova, ngiyokusheshisa ngesikhathi sako.” (Isaya 60:22) Lapho abagcotshiwe ababehlakaziwe bebuyiselwa emsebenzini ngo-1919, ‘babengomncane.’e Kodwa inani labo laphindaphindeka njengoba kwakuqoqwa ama-Israyeli angokomoya ayesasele. Futhi lokhu kwanda kwaba kukhulu lapho sekuqalwe ukubuthwa kwesixuku esikhulu.

³⁰ Kungakabiphi, ukuthula nokulunga okuphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kwaheha abaningi abanhliziyo ziqotho kangangokuba “umuntukazana” ngempela wakhula waba “yisizwe esinamandla.” Manje sinabantu abaningi ukwedlula imibuso eminingi yomhlaba ezimele. Kusobala ukuthi uJehova, ngoJesu Kristu, uye wawuqondisa umsebenzi woMbuso futhi wawusheshisa. Yeka indlela okuvusa amadlingozi ngayo ukubona ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwenabela emhlabeni wonke nokuba nengxenye kuko! Yebo, kuyathokozisa ukwazi ukuthi lokhu kwanda kuyisa udumo kuJehova, owaprofetha kudala ngalezi zinto.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 305]

‘Owesifazane’ kuthiwa ‘akavuke’

[Isithombe ekhasini 312, 313]

“Imikhumbi yaseTharishishi” ithwele imithwalo engabakhulekeli bakaJehova