Isahluko Samashumi Amabili Nesishiyagalombili
Ukukhanya Ezizweni
1, 2. Kungani kubalulekile ukukhanya, futhi hlobo luni lobumnyama olwemboza umhlaba namuhla?
UJEHOVA unguMthombo wokukhanya, “uMniki welanga ukuba likhanyise emini, nowezimiso zenyanga nezinkanyezi ukuba zikhanyise ebusuku.” (Jeremiya 31:35) Ngenxa yalokhu nje kukodwa, kufanele aqashelwe njengowuMthombo wokuphila, ngoba ukukhanya kusho ukuphila. Ukube umhlaba ubungeve uzungezwe ukufudumala nokukhanya kwelanga ngaso sonke isikhathi, ukuphila njengoba sikwazi bekungeke kube khona. Iplanethi yethu ibingeke ibe nezinto eziphilayo.
2 Ngakho, kuyasikhathaza kakhulu ukuthi uJehova, ebheke osukwini lwethu, wabikezela isikhathi sobumnyama, hhayi sokukhanya. Ngaphansi kokuphefumulelwa, u-Isaya wabhala: “Bheka! ubumnyama buyomboza umhlaba, nesigayegaye amaqembu ezizwe.” (Isaya 60:2) Yebo, la mazwi ayephathelene nobumnyama obungokomoya, hhayi obungokwenyama, kodwa akufanele sikuthathe kancane ukubaluleka kwawo. Abangenakho ukukhanya okungokomoya bagcina bengasaphili, njengoba nje kuba njalo nangalabo abangakutholi ukukhanya kwelanga.
3. Kulezi zikhathi ezimnyama, singaphendukelaphi ukuze sithole ukukhanya?
3 Phakathi nalezi zikhathi ezimnyama, asinakukushaya indiva ukukhanya okungokomoya uJehova asilungiselela kona. Kubalulekile ukuba sibheke iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze lisikhanyisele indlela, sifunde iBhayibheli nsuku zonke uma kungenzeka. (IHubo 119:105) Imihlangano yobuKristu isinikeza ithuba lokukhuthazana ukuba sihlale ‘sisendleleni yabalungileyo.’ (IzAga 4:18; Heberu 10:23-25) Amandla esiwathola ngokutadisha iBhayibheli ngenkuthalo nasebudlelwaneni obakhayo namaKristu kusisiza ukuba sigweme ukugwinywa ubumnyama balezi “zinsuku zokugcina,” eziyophelela ‘osukwini [olukhulu] lwentukuthelo kaJehova.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1; Zefaniya 2:3) Lolo suku luza ngokushesha! Luzofika nakanjani njengoba nje lwafikela izakhamuzi zaseJerusalema lasendulo.
UJehova ‘Uphikisana’ Nabantu
4, 5. (a) UJehova umelana ngayiphi indlela neJerusalema? (b) Kungani singase siphethe ngokuthi bambalwa kakhulu abayosinda ekubhujisweni kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E.? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)
4 Emavesini okugcina esiprofetho sika-Isaya esivusa amadlingozi, uJehova uzichaza ngokucacile izenzakalo eziholela osukwini lwentukuthelo yakhe. Siyafunda: “UJehova ngokwakhe uza njengomlilo uqobo, nezinqola zakhe zinjengesivunguvungu, ukuze abuyisele intukuthelo yakhe ngokufutheka okukhulu nokukhuza kwakhe ngamalangabi omlilo. Ngoba njengomlilo uJehova ngokuqinisekile uyophikisana nayo yonke inyama, yebo ngenkemba yakhe; futhi ababuleweyo bakaJehova ngokuqinisekile bayoba baningi.”—Isaya 66:15, 16.
5 Lawo mazwi kufanele asize abantu abaphila no-Isaya babone ukungathi sína kwesimo abakuso. Siyeza isikhathi lapho abaseBabiloni, njengabakhiphi besahlulelo sikaJehova, beyohlasela iJerusalema, izinqola zabo zithunqise uthuli njengesivunguvungu. Yeka umbukwane owethusayo okuyoba yiwo! UJehova uyosebenzisa laba bahlaseli ukuba akhiphe izahlulelo zakhe ezivuthayo phezu kwayo yonke “inyama” engamaJuda angathembekile. Kuyoba sengathi uJehova ngokwakhe ulwa nabantu bakhe. ‘Ukufutheka kwakhe okukhulu’ ngeke kubuyele emuva. AmaJuda amaningi ayoba ‘ngababuleweyo bakaJehova.’ Lesi siprofetho sigcwaliseka ngo-607 B.C.E.a
6. Yimiphi imikhuba esolekayo eyenziwa kwaJuda?
6 Ingabe uJehova unaso isizathu ‘sokuphikisana’ nabantu bakhe? Ngokuqinisekile! Izikhathi eziningi ekuxoxeni kwethu ngencwadi ka-Isaya, sibonile ukuthi amaJuda, nakuba kuthiwa azinikele kuJehova, abelokhu ecwile ekukhulekeleni kwamanga—futhi uJehova ubezibona izenzo zawo. Siyakubona futhi lokhu kula mazwi alandelayo esiprofetho: “‘Labo abazingcwelisayo nabazihlanzayo ngenxa yamasimu angemva kwaleyo emaphakathi, abadla inyama yengulube nento enyanyekayo, ngisho nempuku egxumayo, bonke bayofinyelela ekupheleni kwabo,’ kusho uJehova.” (Isaya 66:17) Ingabe lawo maJuda ‘ayazingcwelisa futhi azihlanze’ ukuze azilungiselele ukukhulekela okumsulwa? Lutho neze. Kunalokho, enza imikhuba yamaqaba yokuzihlanza emasimini akhethekile. Uma eseqedile, azitike ngenyama yengulube nezinye izilwane ezibhekwa njengezingcolile ngaphansi koMthetho KaMose.—Levitikusi 11:7, 21-23.
7. ELobukholwa lifana kanjani noJuda okhonza izithombe?
7 Yeka isimo esinyanyekayo ngesizwe esisesivumelwaneni noNkulunkulu weqiniso okuwukuphela kwakhe! Kodwa cabanga: Isimo esinyanyeka ngokufanayo sikhona nanamuhla ezinkolweni zeLobukholwa. Nazo zithi zikhonza uNkulunkulu ngendlela efanayo, futhi abaholi bazo abaningi bazishaya abangcwele. Kodwa bazingcolisa ngezimfundiso namasiko amaqaba, bazibonakalisa besebumnyameni ngokomoya. Abuve bubukhulu lobo bumnyama!—Mathewu 6:23; Johane 3:19, 20.
‘Kuyodingeka Ziyibone Inkazimulo Yami’
8. (a) Yini eyokwehlela uJuda neLobukholwa? (b) Izizwe ‘ziyoyibona’ ngamuphi umqondo “inkazimulo kaJehova”?
8 UJehova uyazibona yini izenzo ezisolekayo nezimfundiso zamanga zeLobukholwa? Funda amazwi kaJehova alandelayo, njengoba alotshwa u-Isaya futhi ubone ukuthi uzophetha ngokuthini: “Ngokuqondene nemisebenzi yabo nemicabango yabo, ngiyeza ukuze ngiqoqele ndawonye zonke izizwe nezilimi; kuyodingeka zize futhi ziyibone inkazimulo yami.” (Isaya 66:18) UJehova uyayibona imisebenzi nemicabango yalabo abathi bayizinceku zakhe futhi uzimisele ukuyahlulela. UJuda uthi uyakholelwa kuJehova, kodwa imisebenzi yakhe yokukhonza izithombe nemikhuba yobuqaba iyakuphikisa lokho. Akusizi lutho ukuba izakhamuzi zakhona ‘zizihlanze’ ngokwemikhuba yamaqaba. Lesi sizwe sizoqothulwa, futhi uma sesiqothulwa, omakhelwane baso abakhulekela izithombe bayobe bebukela. ‘Bayobona inkazimulo kaJehova’ ngomqondo wokuthi bayozibona izenzakalo futhi baphoqeleke ukuba bavume ukuthi kuyagcwaliseka lokho uJehova akushilo. Kusebenza kanjani kweLobukholwa konke lokhu? Lapho lifika esiphelweni salo, abangane balo abaningi bangaphambili nozakwabo kwezamabhizinisi bayophoqeleka ukuba bame babukele lapho izwi likaJehova ligcwaliseka, ingekho into abangayenza.—Jeremiya 25:31-33; IsAmbulo 17:15-18; 18:9-19.
9. Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle uJehova azimemezelayo?
9 Ingabe ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. kusho ukuthi uJehova ngeke esaba nofakazi emhlabeni? Cha. Abagcini bobuqotho abaqhamile, njengoDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu, bayoqhubeka bekhonza uJehova ngisho sebeyizithunjwa eBabiloni. (Daniyeli 1:6, 7) Yebo, uchungechunge lofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile bayohlala beqinile, futhi ekupheleni kweminyaka engu-70, amadoda nabesifazane abathembekile bayolishiya iJerusalema baphindele kwaJuda beyomisa kabusha ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Yilokho uJehova abhekisela kukho ngokulandelayo: “Ngiyomisa phakathi kwabo isibonakaliso, futhi ngiyothumela abanye kulabo abaphunyukile ezizweni, eTharishishi, ePhuli, naseLudi, labo abansala umnsalo, eThubali naseJavani, iziqhingi ezikude impela, ezingezwanga mbiko ngami noma zibone inkazimulo yami; futhi ngokuqinisekile bayolandisa ngenkazimulo yami phakathi kwezizwe.”—Isaya 66:19.
10. (a) Kungamuphi umqondo amaJuda athembekile akhululwe eBabiloni eyoba isibonakaliso? (b) Obani abayisibonakaliso namuhla?
10 Isixuku samadoda nabesifazane abathembekile abaphindela eJerusalema ngo-537 B.C.E. siyoba isibonakaliso esethusayo, uphawu lokuthi uJehova ubakhululile abantu bakhe. Ubani owayengacabanga ukuthi amaJuda athunjiwe ngelinye ilanga ayokhululeka ukuba aqhube ukukhulekela okumsulwa ethempelini likaJehova? Ngendlela efanayo ngekhulu lokuqala, labo ababekhonza “njengezibonakaliso nanjengezimangaliso” kwakungamaKristu agcotshiwe, ababethuthelekela kuwo abantu abanobuvi ababefuna ukukhonza uJehova. (Isaya 8:18; Heberu 2:13) AmaKristu agcotshiwe namuhla, njengoba echuma ezweni lawo elibuyiselwe, ayisibonakaliso esethusayo emhlabeni. (Isaya 66:8) Awubufakazi obuphilayo bamandla omoya kaJehova, baheha abantu abanobuvi abashukunyiswa izinhliziyo zabo ukuba bakhonze uJehova.
11. (a) Ngemva kokubuyiselwa, kuyokwenzeka kanjani ukuba abezizwe bazi ngoJehova? (b) Wagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala uZakariya 8:23?
11 Ngemva kokubuyiselwa ngo-537 B.C.E., abantu bezizwe abangezwanga ngoJehova bayomazi kanjani? Akuwona wonke amaJuda athembekile ayobuyela eJerusalema lapho kuphela isikhathi sokuthunjelwa eBabiloni. Abanye, njengoDaniyeli, bayosala eBabiloni. Abanye bayosakazekela emagumbini omane omhlaba. Ngekhulu lesihlanu B.C.E., kwakunamaJuda ayehlala kuwo wonke uMbuso WasePheresiya. (Esteri 1:1; 3:8) Akungabazeki ukuthi amanye abaxoxela omakhelwane bawo abangamaqaba ngoJehova, ngoba abaningi kulezo zizwe baba amaproselithe angamaJuda. Cishe kwakunjalo ngomthenwa waseTopiya owashunyayezwa umfundi ongumKristu uFiliphu ngekhulu lokuqala. (IzEnzo 8:26-40) Konke lokhu kwaba ukugcwaliseka kokuqala kwamazwi omprofethi uZakariya: “Kuyothi ngalezo zinsuku amadoda ayishumi avela kuzo zonke izilimi zezizwe abambe, yebo, impela abambe umphetho wendoda engumJuda, athi: ‘Sizohamba nani, ngoba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.’” (Zakariya 8:23) Ngempela, uJehova wathumela ukukhanya ezizweni!—IHubo 43:3.
Ukuletha ‘Isipho KuJehova’
12, 13. “Abafowenu” bayolethwa ngayiphi indlela eJerusalema kusukela ngo-537 B.C.E.?
12 Lapho iJerusalema selakhiwe kabusha, amaJuda asakazekele kude nezwe lakubo ayobheka lo muzi kanye nobupristi bawo obubuyiselwe njengesikhungo sokukhulekela okumsulwa. Amaningi ayohamba amabanga amade eya emikhosini yaminyaka yonke khona. Engaphansi kokuphefumulelwa, u-Isaya uyabhala: “‘Empeleni bayobaletha bonke abafowenu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe njengesipho kuJehova, begibele amahhashi nezinqola, nezinqola ezimboziwe neminyuzi namakamela ezinsikazi asheshayo, babakhuphulele entabeni yami engcwele, iJerusalema,’ kusho uJehova, ‘njengalapho nje amadodana ka-Israyeli eletha isipho endlini kaJehova ngesitsha esihlanzekile. Nakubo futhi ngiyothatha abanye abayoba ngababapristi, bamaLevi’.”—Isaya 66:20, 21.
13 Abanye balabo “bafowenu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe” babekhona ngosuku lwePhentekoste ngesikhathi umoya ongcwele uthululwa phezu kwabafundi bakaJesu. Ukulandisa kuthi: “EJerusalema kwakuhlala amaJuda, amadoda anenhlonipho, evela kuzo zonke izizwe kulezo ezingaphansi kwezulu.” (IzEnzo 2:5) Babeze eJerusalema bezokhulekela ngokwesiko lobuJuda, kodwa lapho bezwa izindaba ezinhle ngoJesu Kristu, abaningi babonisa ukholo kuye futhi babhapathizwa.
14, 15. (a) AmaKristu agcotshiwe ababutha kanjani ‘abafowabo’ abengeziwe abangokomoya ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, futhi balethwa kanjani kuJehova ‘njengesipho esitsheni esihlanzekile’? (b) Kungayiphi indlela uJehova ‘athatha ngayo abanye abayoba ngababapristi’? (c) Angobani amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe ahlanganyela ekubutheni abafowabo abangokomoya? (Bheka ibhokisi elikuleli khasi.)
14 Ingabe lesi siprofetho sinakho ukugcwaliseka kwanamuhla? Yebo impela. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe zaqonda ngokufunda imiBhalo ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wawusumisiwe ezulwini ngo-1914. Ngokutadisha iBhayibheli ngokucophelela, zathola ukuthi kwakuzoqoqwa ezinye izindlalifa zoMbuso, noma ‘abafowabo.’ Izikhonzi ezingesabi lutho zaya “ezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba,” zisebenzisa zonke izinhlobo zezinto zokuhamba, zifuna ababezoba amalungu ensali egcotshiwe, abaningi babo abavela emasontweni eLobukholwa. Lapho sebetholakele, balethwa njengesipho sikaJehova.—IzEnzo 1:8.
15 Abagcotshiwe ababuthwa eminyakeni yokuqala babengalindele ukuba uJehova abamukele njengoba babenjalo bengakalazi iqiniso leBhayibheli. Bathatha izinyathelo zokuzihlanza ekungcoleni okungokomoya nokokuziphatha ukuze balethwe ‘njengesipho ngesitsha esihlanzekile,’ noma njengoba kwasho umphostoli uPawulu, “njengentombi emsulwa.” (2 Korinte 11:2) Ngaphandle kokulahla izimfundiso ezingamaphutha, abagcotshiwe kwadingeka bafunde indlela yokuhlala bengathathi hlangothi ngokuphelele ezindabeni zezombusazwe zalo mhlaba. Ngo-1931, lapho izinceku zakhe sezihlanzwe ngezinga elifanele, ngomusa uJehova wazinika ilungelo lokuphatha igama lakhe njengoFakazi BakaJehova. (Isaya 43:10-12) Kungayiphi-ke kodwa indlela uJehova ‘athatha ngayo abanye abayoba ngababapristi’? Njengeqembu, laba abagcotshiwe baba ingxenye ‘yobupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele,’ banikela kuNkulunkulu iminikelo yokudumisa.—1 Petru 2:9; Isaya 54:1; Heberu 13:15.
Ukubutha Kuyaqhubeka
16, 17. Obani ababizwa ngokuthi “inzalo yenu” ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I?
16 Inani eliphelele labakha lobu ‘bupristi bobukhosi’ lingu-144 000, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kwaphela ukubuthwa kwabo. (IsAmbulo 7:1-8; 14:1) Ingabe waphelela lapho umsebenzi wokubutha? Cha. Isiprofetho sika-Isaya siyaqhubeka: “‘Njengoba nje amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha engikwenzayo kumile phambi kwami,’ kusho uJehova, ‘kanjalo inzalo yenu negama lenu kuyoqhubeka kumile.’” (Isaya 66:22) Ekugcwalisekeni kokuqala kwalawo mazwi, amaJuda abuya ekuthunjweni eBabiloni ayoqala ukuthola izingane. Ngakho, insali yamaJuda ebuyiselwe, ‘umhlaba omusha,’ ngaphansi kwabaphathi abasha abangamaJuda “amazulu amasha,” iyoma iqine. Nokho, lesi siprofetho siye sagcwaliseka ngokuphawuleka kakhulu osukwini lwethu.
17 “Inzalo” evezwa isizwe sabafowethu abangokomoya ‘yisixuku esikhulu’ esinethemba lokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni. Sivela “kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi,” futhi simi “phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi naphambi kweWundlu.” Siye ‘sahlanza izingubo zaso sazenza zaba-mhlophe egazini leWundlu.’ (IsAmbulo 7:9-14; 22:17) Namuhla “isixuku esikhulu” sishiya ubumnyama obungokomoya siye ekukhanyeni okunikezwa nguJehova. Sibonisa ukholo kuJesu Kristu, futhi njengabafowabo nodadewabo abagcotshiwe, silwela ukuhlala sihlanzekile ngokomoya nangokuziphatha. Njengeqembu siyaqhubeka sikhonza ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaKristu futhi ‘siyoqhubeka simile’ kuze kube phakade!—IHubo 37:11, 29.
18. (a) Amalungu esixuku esikhulu abalingise kanjani abafowabo abagcotshiwe? (b) Abagcotshiwe nabangane babo bamkhulekela kanjani uJehova “kusukela ekwethwaseni kwenyanga kuya kokunye ukwethwasa kwenyanga, kusukela esabatheni kuya kwelinye isabatha”?
18 La madoda nabesifazane abazikhandlayo futhi abanethemba lasemhlabeni bayazi ukuthi nakuba kusemqoka ukuhlala behlanzekile ngokomoya nangokuziphatha, ukujabulisa uJehova kuhilela okwengeziwe. Umsebenzi wokubutha uqhubeka ngamandla, futhi bafuna ukuhlanganyela kuwo. Incwadi yesAmbulo iyaprofetha ngabo: ‘Baphambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu; banikela inkonzo engcwele kuye imini nobusuku ethempelini lakhe.’ (IsAmbulo 7:15) Lawo mazwi asikhumbuza ivesi elandulela elokugcina lesiprofetho sika-Isaya: “‘Ngokuqinisekile kusukela ekwethwaseni kwenyanga kuya kokunye ukwethwasa kwenyanga, kusukela esabatheni kuya kwelinye isabatha yonke inyama iyoza ikhothame phambi kwami,’ kusho uJehova.” (Isaya 66:23) Kuyenzeka lokhu namuhla. “Kusukela ekwethwaseni kwenyanga kuya kokunye ukwethwasa kwenyanga, kusukela esabatheni kuya kwelinye isabatha”—okusho ukuthi, njalo, isonto ngalinye lenyanga ngayinye—amaKristu agcotshiwe nabangane bawo, isixuku esikhulu, bayahlangana bezokhulekela uJehova. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, lokhu bakwenza ngokuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu nangokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasobala. Ingabe ungomunye walabo ‘abeza bazokhothama phambi kukaJehova’? Abantu bakaJehova bakuthokozela kakhulu ukwenza lokhu, futhi abesixuku esikhulu babheke phambili esikhathini “yonke inyama”—bonke abantu abaphilayo—eyokhonza ngaso uJehova “kusukela ekwethwaseni kwenyanga kuya kokunye ukwethwasa kwenyanga, kusukela esabatheni kuya kwelinye isabatha” kuze kube phakade.
Isiphetho Sezitha ZikaNkulunkulu
19, 20. IGehena lalifeza yiphi injongo ezikhathini zeBhayibheli, futhi lifanekiselani?
19 Sekusele ivesi elilodwa esifundweni sethu sesiprofetho sika-Isaya. Le ncwadi iphetha ngala mazwi: “Empeleni bayophuma babuke izidumbu zabantu ababeqa umthetho wami; ngoba izibungu eziphezu kwabo ngeke zife nomlilo wabo ngeke ucimeke, bayoba okuthile okunyantisayo kuyo yonke inyama.” (Isaya 66:24) Cishe uJesu Kristu wayenalesi siprofetho engqondweni lapho ekhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba benze lula ukuphila kwabo futhi babeke izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala. Wathi: “Uma iso lakho likukhubekisa, lilahle; kungcono kakhulu ukuba ungene embusweni kaNkulunkulu uneso elilodwa kunokuba uphonswe eGehena unamehlo womabili, lapho impethu yabo ingafi khona nalapho umlilo ungacinywa khona.”—Marku 9:47, 48; Mathewu 5:29, 30; 6:33.
20 Iyini le ndawo ebizwa ngokuthi iGehena? Emakhulwini eminyaka edlule, isazi esingumJuda uDavid Kimhi sabhala: “Iyindawo . . . encikene neJerusalema, futhi iyindawo enyanyekayo, baphonsa kuyo izinto ezingcolile nezidumbu. Kwakukhona nomlilo wokushisa lezi zinto ezingcolile namathambo ezidumbu owawuhlala uvutha. Ngakho, ukwahlulelwa kwababi kubizwa ngokomfanekiso ngokuthi i-Gehinnom.” Uma, njengoba kusikisela lesi sazi esingumJuda, iGehena kwakulahlwa kulo udoti nezidumbu zalabo ababengakufanelekeli ukungcwatshwa, umlilo wawuyindlela ekahle yokuqeda lowo doti. Okwakusinde emlilweni, kwakuqedelwa izibungu. Yeka umfanekiso ofanelekayo wesiphetho sazo zonke izitha zikaNkulunkulu!b
21. Incwadi ka-Isaya iphetha ngamazwi ajabulisayo kobani, futhi ngani?
21 Njengoba kukhulunywa ngezidumbu, umlilo nezibungu, akulona yini iqiniso ukuthi isiprofetho sika-Isaya esivusa amadlingozi siphetha ngamazwi ashaqisayo? Izitha zikaNkulunkulu zingacabanga kanjalo ngempela. Kodwa kubangane bakaNkulunkulu, incazelo ka-Isaya yokubhujiswa phakade kwababi ijabulisa kakhulu. Abantu bakaJehova bayadinga ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi izitha zabo ngeke ziphinde zibabuse. Lezo zitha, eziye zabangela abakhulekeli bakaNkulunkulu ukuhlupheka okungaka futhi zathela igama lakhe ngesihlamba esingaka, ziyobhujiswa phakade. Khona-ke, “usizi ngeke luvuke ngokwesibili.”—Nahume 1:9.
22, 23. (a) Chaza ezinye zezindlela ozuze ngazo ekutadisheni incwadi ka-Isaya. (b) Njengoba usuyitadishile incwadi ka-Isaya, uzimisele ukwenzani, futhi unaliphi ithemba?
22 Njengoba siphetha isifundo sethu sencwadi ka-Isaya, siyaqonda ngempela ukuthi le ncwadi yeBhayibheli ayiwona umlando ofile. Kunalokho, isiphathele umyalezo. Uma sicabanga ngezikhathi ezimnyama ayephila kuzo u-Isaya, siyakubona ukufana kwaleyo nkathi nosuku lwethu. Udlame kwezombusazwe, ubuzenzisi kwezenkolo nokukhohlakala kwezomthetho, kanye nokucindezelwa kwabathembekile nabampofu kwakuyizimpawu zesikhathi sika-Isaya, njengoba kunjalo nakwesethu. Kumelwe ukuba amaJuda athembekile ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E. ayejabula ngesiprofetho sika-Isaya, nathi futhi siyaduduzeka lapho sisifunda.
23 Kulezi zikhathi ezibucayi lapho ubumnyama busibekele umhlaba nobumnyama obukhulu busibekele amaqembu ezizwe, sonke siyajabula ngokuthi uJehova ngo-Isaya unikeze isintu sonke ukukhanya! Lokho kukhanya okungokomoya empeleni kusho ukuphila okuphakade ngabo bonke abakwamukela ngenhliziyo yonke, kungakhathaliseki ubuzwe babo noma isizinda sabo. (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Kwangathi-ke singaqhubeka sihamba ekukhanyeni kweZwi likaNkulunkulu, silifunde zonke izinsuku, sizindle ngalo futhi sisibheke njengesiyigugu isigijimi salo. Ukwenza kanjalo kuyosilethela isibusiso saphakade futhi kube udumo egameni likaJehova elingcwele!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Ngokuphathelene nesimo ngemva kokunqotshwa kweJerusalema abaseBabiloni, uJeremiya 52:15 ukhuluma ‘ngabanye kubantu abaphansi kanye nabo bonke abanye abantu ababeshiyiwe emzini.’ Ikhulumela lokhu, i-Insight on the Scriptures, Umqulu 1, ikhasi 415, ithi: “Inkulumo ethi ‘ababeshiyiwe emzini’ ibonisa ukuthi cishe baningi kakhulu ababebulawe indlala, izifo noma umlilo, noma uma kungenjalo babulawa empini.”
b Njengoba kuyizidumbu ezishiswa eGehena, hhayi abantu abaphilayo, le ndawo ayifanekiseli ukuhlushwa kwaphakade.
Izipho ZikaJehova Ezigcotshiwe Ezivela Kuzo Zonke Izizwe
Ngo-1920, uJuan Muñiz wasuka e-United States waya eSpain wabe eselibangisa e-Argentina, lapho ahlela khona amabandla abagcotshiwe. Kusukela ngo-1923 kuqhubeke, ukukhanya kweqiniso kwakhanya kwabanhliziyo ziqotho eNtshonalanga Afrika lapho isithunywa sevangeli uWilliam R. Brown (owayevame ukubizwa ngokuthi uBible Brown) eyoshumayela isigijimi soMbuso ezindaweni ezinjengeSierra Leone, iGhana, iLiberia, iGambia neNigeria. Ngawo lowo nyaka uGeorge Young waseCanada wehlela eBrazil wabe eseya e-Argentina, eCosta Rica, ePanama, eVenezuela naseSoviet Union. Cishe ngaso leso sikhathi, u-Edwin Skinner wahamba ngomkhumbi esuka eNgilandi eya kwelaseNdiya, lapho azikhandla khona iminyaka eminingi emsebenzini wokuvuna.
[Isithombe ekhasini 411]
AmaJuda athile ngePhentekoste aba ‘abafowenu abalethwa bevela kuzo zonke izizwe’
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 413]