‘Abantu Kumelwe Babalekele’ Ekukhulekeleni Okunikeza Ukuphila
1, 2. (a) Lapho uJohane ethola umbono ochazwe kusAmbulo 7:9-17, sasiyini isimo sethempeli eJerusalema? (b) Kwakunini futhi kukuphi lapho “isixuku esikhulu” sakhonjwa khona, futhi kwaba yini ukusabela kwababeze emhlanganweni?
LAPHO incwadi yokugcina yeBhayibheli, isAmbulo, ilotshwa umJuda ongumKristu umphostoli uJohane, cishe ngonyaka ka-96 C.E., ithempeli lamaJuda eJerusalema lase libhujisiwe ngamabutho amaRoma ngaphansi kukaJenene Titus. Nokho, umphostoli uJohane uyachaza, kusAmbulo 7:9-17, “isixuku” esingenakubalwa sivela kubo bonke abantu izizwe imindeni nezilimi, futhi laba babonwa benikezela kuNkulunkulu esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi inkonzo engcwele emagcekeni ethempeli lakhe. Ngokusobala-ke, lapho kwakubhekiselwe ethempeleni elingokomoya likaJehova uNkulunkulu.
2 Yaba nkulu injabulo yoFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1935 neyabantu benhliziyo enhle lapho labo be“sixuku esikhulu” esingenakubalwa sezwe lonke bekhonjwa njenge“zimvu” ezichazwe emfanekisweni kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi. (Math. 25:31-46) Yebo, bakhonjwa njengabangezinye izimvu eziphawulwe emfanekisweni kaJesu kaMalusi Omuhle. (Joh. 10:16; bheka incwadi ethi The Harp of God, eyakhishwa ngo-1921, ikhasi 338, isigaba 577; neWatch Tower kaOctober 15, 1923, ikhasi 310, ngaphansi kwesihlokwana esithi, “Izigaba Ezimbili”) Ukukhonjwa kwalabo abenza “isixuku esikhulu” sesAmbulo 7:9-17 kwenzeka emhlanganweni kaMay 30–June 3, 1935, eWashington, D.C., U.S.A., ngencazelo eyenziwa ngesikhathi yomfanekiso kaJesu wezimvu nezimbuzi. Ngosuku (ngoMgqibelo) olwalandela leyongxoxo kwakukhona ubhapathizo lwababeze emhlanganweni ababengama-840 abaholwa ukuqonda kwabo okusha izindaba ngokwencazelo yomfanekiso kaJesu.
3. Kwakunini lapho uMika 4:2 aqala khona ukugcwaliseka, futhi kukuliphi iJerusalema labo abahlanganyela ekumgcwaliseni ababheka kulo?
3 “Ezinye izimvu” ezizinikezele nezibhapathiziwe zihlanganyela nabafowabo abangokomoya beNkosi uJesu Kristu ekushumayeleni “lezindaba ezinhle zombuso” yonke indawo, “kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ngenjongo yobufakazi kuzo zonke izizwe.” (Math. 24:14, NW) Ngalendlela uMika 4:2 waqala ukugcwaliseka: “Izizwe eziningi ziyakuhamba, zithi: Wozani sikhuphukele entabeni kaJehova nasendlini kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe; uyakusifundisa izindlela zakhe, sihambe emikhondweni yakhe, ngokuba umthetho uyakuvela eSiyoni, nezwi likaJehova eJerusalema.” Hayi eJerusalema lasemhlabeni, ngalesosikhathi elaligcwele amabutho amaNgisi, kodwa eJerusalema Elisha eNtabeni yaseSiyoni esezulwini kulapho lapho “ezinye izimvu” ze“sixuku esikhulu” zibheke khona ukuze zithole “umthetho” osekelwe eBhayibhelini ne“zwi likaJehova” ngofakazi bakhe abagcotshiwe, uIsrayeli ongokomoya.
4. Kuphakathi kobani uMika 4:3, no-4 aqala ukugcwaliseka kubo?
4 Akukhona phakathi kwezizwe zezwe ezazakha izikhali zeMpi Yezwe II kodwa phakathi kwabanjengezimvu be“sixuku esikhulu” lapho kwaqala ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi kaMika 4:3, 4: “[UJehova] uyakwahlulela phakathi kwezizwe eziningi, anqume phakathi kwezizwe ezinamandla ezikude; ziyakukhanda izinkemba zazo zibe-ngamakhuba, imikhonto yazo ibe-ngocelemba; isizwe asiyikuphakamisela isizwe inkemba, zingabe zisafunda ukulwa. Bayakuhlala, kube-yilowo nalowo phansi komvini wakhe naphansi komkhiwane wakhe; akakho oyakubesabisa, ngokuba umlomo kaJehova-Sebawoti ukhulumile.”
5. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, isiphi isikhundla abasithatha, futhi uma kukhulunywa ngokomfanekiso, baye bahlala kanjani?
5 Ngaphandle kokwesaba, ngaphandle kokuvumela noma ubani walelizwe ukuba abesabise, ngisho nangemva kokuba iMpi Yezwe II iqalile ngoSeptember 1, 1939, oFakazi bamemezela obala futhi basakaza ukungathathi kwabo uhlangothi kuzo zonke izizwe ezazihlanganyela ekulweni ngonya. (Bheka iWatch Tower kaNovember 1, 1939, equkethe isihloko esiyinhloko esithi “Ukungathathi-Hlangothi.”) Baye banamathela kulesisimo sokungathi-hlangothi kusukela lapho. Ezimweni eziningi lokhu kuye kwasho ukuboshwa emakamu okuhlushwa, noma emajele, noma ngisho nokubulawa njengabangalishisekeli izwe. Bayakwenqaba ukuba yingxenye yalelizwe, njengoba nje uJesu Kristu akwenqaba ukwenza kanjalo. Ngokufanelekileyo-ke, oFakazi kumelwe balindelwe ukuba bagcine ukuthula phakathi kwamabandla abo, abahlala ndawonye njengabazalwane. (AmaH. 133) Uma kukhulunywa ngokomfanekiso, bahlala, yilowo nalowo “ngaphansi komvini wakhe nangaphansi komkhiwane wakhe,” ngokulondeka, njengamaIsrayeli phakathi neminyaka engamashumi amane yokubusa kweNkosi uSolomoni, indodana kaDavide. (1 AmaKh. 4:25) Phakathi nale“siphelo sesimiso sezinto,” bashumayela ngokuthula “izindaba ezinhle zombuso . . . kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe.”—Math. 24:3, 14.
ABASINDA EHAR-MAGEDONI BAQHUBA UKUKHULEKELA KWEQINISO
6, 7. IWatch Tower kaDecember 15, 1928, yathini maqondana noMika 5:6-9, ngendlela lokhu okuyogcwaliseka ngayo?
6 Ngakho-ke phakathi kwabo bonke abantu oFakazi bayiqembu eliletha ukuqabuleka. Kunjengoba nje kwabikezelwa kuMika 5:6-9: “UJehova uyakuchitha izwe laseAsiriya [umbuso wezwe waseAsiriya] ngenkemba, nezwe lakwaNimrodi ezintubeni zalo, asophule kumAsiriya lapho engena ezweni lakithi, nalapho enyathela emikhawulweni yethu. Insali yakwaJakobe iyakuba-phakathi kwabantu abaningi njengamazolo avela kuJehova, njengezihlambi otshanini ezingahlaleli-muntu, zingahlaleli abantwana babantu. Insali yakwaJakobe iyakuba-phakathi kwezizwe, phakathi kwabantu abaningi, njengengonyama phakathi kwezilwane zasehlathini, njengebhongo lengonyama phakathi kwemihlambi yezimvu, elithi lapho lidabula, linyathele, lidwengule, kungekho owophulayo. Masiphakanyiswe isandla sakho phezu kwezitha zakho, zinqunywe zonke izitha zakho.”
7 Lapho sibhekisela kulokhu, isihloko esithi “Umbusi Ovela EBetlehema,” kuWatch Tower kaDecember 15, 1928, sathi:
Lokhu kungathathwa njengesibonakaliso sokuthi abanye bensali bayobe besemhlabeni ngisho nangemva kwempi yeArmagedoni futhi bayoba nomsebenzi owengeziwe wokuwenza egameni leNkosi nasekuletheni ukubonga nodumo. Abantu, ngemva kokwedlula enkathazweni enkulu eyesabekayo, abasenakubheka kubantu ukuze bathole usizo noma babheke amadodana abantu ukuze abasize futhi abaduduze kodwa bayophendukela eNkosini futhi balalele iZwi layo ngenjabulo. Nezinye izidalwa ziyoba nelungelo, njengamanxusa eNkosi nezithunywa, zokuyisa isigijimi sokuthula kubantu.
Insali yeNkosi, ngokwalesiprofetho, iyonqoba ngamandla kaJehova. Ingonyama iyinkosi phakathi kwezilwane zasendle, futhi azikho ezingama phambi kwayo. Umhlambi wezimvu awunamandla okumelena nebhongo lengonyama eliphakathi kwawo. Ngakho-ke insali ethembekile kaNkulunkulu ichazwa umprofethi. Laba bayoba phakathi kwezizwe zabantu abaningi abanamandla egameni leNkosi ukuze basize labo abafuna usizo futhi bakhombe indlela kaNkulunkulu yokubhubhisa labo abamelanayo.—Ikhasi 376, izigaba 35, 36.
8. Uma iqhubeka nalendaba, iWatch Tower kaMarch 15, 1929, yaqhubeka yathini?
8 Lapho iqhuba lendaba, iWatch Tower kaMarch 15, 1929, ikhasi 88, isigaba 41, yaqhubeka yasho okulandelayo:
“Ngisho nesigaba sesixuku esikhulu kumelwe siyiswe emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila. (IsAm. 7:17) INkosi ingase isebenzise insali ekubasizeni kanjalo. Kuyoba nabaningi abanye abayothotshiswa yiArmagedoni, futhi bayobe belungele ukuzwa. Ngemva kweArmagedoni abanye bensali bayosetshenziswa yiNkosi ukuba banikeze ubufakazi futhi basize abanye abadinga ukufundiswa, futhi lokhu bangase bakwenze ngaphambi eqinisweni kokuyiswa emagcekeni enkazimulo yaphakade. Kuqinisekile ukuthi umsebenzi wensali manje uwukumemezela izindaba ezinhle njengofakazi abamisiwe bakaNkulunkulu.
9. Nokho, ingabe insali kumelwe ilinde kuze kube ngemva kokuba uJehova enqobile eHar-magedoni ngaphambi kokuba ibe “njengamazolo” nanjenge“bhongo lengonyama” maqondana nabantu bezizwe?
9 Nokho, insali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya kwakungamelwe ilinde kuze kube ngemva ‘kwempi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’ eArmagedoni ukuze ibe “njengamazolo” okuqabuleka kubantu abafuna ukukhulekela “uNkulunkulu kaJakobe” ethempelini lakhe elingokomoya. (IsAm. 16:14, 16) Cha, insali kwakungamelwe ilinde kuze kube ngemva kokuba uJehova ethole ukunqoba emvuthwandaba wempi yokugcina ngaphambi kokuba ibe njenge“bhongo lengonyama” phakathi kwezizwe. Njengomprofethi uIsaya lapho ethola umbono kaJehova esethempelini laKhe, iye yasabela embuzweni kaJehova, “Ngubani oyakusiyela na?” Ngokushesha ngemva kokuphela kweMpi Yezwe I, ngo-1918, yathi: “Bheka, nangu mina; ngithume mina.” (Isaya 6:8) Ngokulalela umyalo waphezulu, “Hamba,” iye yaya kubantu bazo zonke izizwe.
10. Kusekumemezeleni siphi isigijimi sikaJehova insali eye yafana kukho nengonyama phakathi kwezizwe?
10 Ngakho iye yashumayela isigijimi sombuso omisiwe oyobusisa isigaba se“zimvu” futhi oyobhubhisa isigaba “sezimbuzi.” (Math. 25:31-46) Ekumemezeleni “usuku lokuphindisela lukaNkulunkulu wethu” baye bafana nengonyama ngesibindi, bexwayisa izitha zombuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe ukuthi ziyobhujiswa eHar-magedoni iNkosi kaJehova eyiQhawe, uJesu Kristu, “iNgonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda.”—Isaya 61:1-3; IsAm. 5:5.
11. Kungani “isandla” sensali egcotshiwe siye saphakama phezu kwezitha zayo, futhi uye waba yini umphumela walokhu emagatsheni eNhlangano nenani le“zimvu” ezibuthiwe?
11 Ngaleyondlela “isandla” sabo sokusebenzisa ngenkuthalo iZwi likaNkulunkulu siye ‘saphakanyiswa’ ekunqobeni zonke izitha ezilwela ukucindezela isigijimi soMbuso. Lezozitha ziye zanikezwa isixwayiso maqondana nokunqotshwa kwazo okuzayo nokubhujiswa eHar-magedoni, lapho ziyo‘nqunywa’ phakade. (Mika 5:9) Ngakolunye uhlangothi lwendaba, labo bamemezeli abagcotshiwe bombuso kaNkulunkulu baye bafana ‘namazolo’ aqabulayo kubantu abanjengezimvu abaye bazizwa benjenge‘zilimo’ ezomile nezishile. Ngenxa yokuphakanyiswa kwesandla sabo nguJehova, siye saphakanyiswa phezu kwezitha zabo yonke leminyaka kusukela ekukhishweni kwezihloko eziphawulwe ngenhla kuWatch Tower ka-1928 no-1929. Ukufakazela lokhu, amagatsha akwamanye amazwe eWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society aye anda afinyelela ku-97, onke ngenxa yenkonzo ye“nsali” egcotshiwe. Futhi, “isixuku esikhulu” se“zinye izimvu” zikaMalusi Omuhle, uJesu Kristu, siye saqhubeka sanda kuze kube manje. Ukuthi ekugcineni siyoba ngakanani isAmbulo 7:9-17 asisho.
12. Umsebenzi wensali egcotshiwe kanye nabangani bayo abanjengezimvu uyoqhubeka kuze kudedelweni, futhi ngani?
12 Izinkonzo zensali egcotshiwe kanye nabangani bayo abanjengezimvu kumelwe ziqhubeke kuze kube yilapho “izingelosi ezine” ezimi emagumbini omane omhlaba ziyalwa ukuba zidedele imimoya yomine eyoveza “usizi olukhulu.” Phakathi nalolosizi labo abaqhubeka benqaba isigijimi sombuso ‘bayonqunywa’ babhujiswe. Ngalesosikhathi inani lokugcina elidingekayo lokuphelelisa izindlalifa kanye noKristu eziyi-144 000 liyobe ‘seliphawuliwe’ emabunzini alo. (IsAm. 7:1-8, 14) Abangani balo abanjengezimvu abaye bavela kuzo zonke izizwe ukuze bathole “indlu” kaJehova engokomoya futhi abazinikezele ngokwabo ‘ukuhamba ezindleleni zakhe’ bayolondolozwa phakathi no“sizi olukhulu.” (Mika 4:1-4) Ngakho-ke bayosindela emhlabeni ekubuseni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane kukaJesu Kristu kanye nezindlalifa ezikhazinyulisiwe kanye naye.
13. Bangaki abensali egcotshiwe abayosinda eHar-magedoni, futhi bayoqhubeka benjengani phakathi kwabayosinda kanye nabo?
13 Ukuthi bangaki abensali egcotshiwe yezindlalifa kanye noKristu abayosinda nabo ‘empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’ eHar-magedoni asazi, futhi asazi ukuthi bayohlala isikhathi esingakanani ngemva kwalokho. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuyoba isikhathi esingakanani, bayoqhubeka ‘njengamazolo’ aqabulayo ‘esixukwini esikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu.’ Lezi azinakuba inkinga ensalini, ngoba kakade “ezinye izimvu” ziye zenziwa ‘umhlambi owodwa’ nensali ‘ekulesisibaya’ lapho “umhlambi omncane” uye wafakwa khona uMalusi Omuhle. (Joh. 10:16; Luka 12:32) Ngakho-ke akukhona phakathi kwe“sixuku esikhulu” esiyosinda lapho insali kumelwe yenze njengengonyama enolaka phakathi kwezimvu ezingenakuzivikela.
14. Ngalesosikhathi, iSiyoni lasezulwini liyoba njengasiphi isilwane esinyathelayo, futhi “uphondo” luyoqina kangakanani ngasezitheni?
14 Insali ayinakulwa ‘empini yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke’ eHar-magedoni. NjengamaIsrayeli ezinsukwini zeNkosi uJehoshafati, iyomane nje ime futhi ibukele ukusindisa kukaJehova nge“ngonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda,” uJesu Kristu. (2 IziKr. 20:17) Ngalesosikhathi uJehova uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke uyokwenza “uphondo” lweSiyoni lasezulwini lube njengensimbi nanjengenkunzi, uyonyathela izitha zikaNkulunkulu ezisendaweni yokubhula. Ngempela “uyakuchoboza abantu abaningi” ababhubhise. (Mika 4:13) Noma yini eyosala ngemva kokubhujiswa kwabo iyosetshenziswa abayosinda eHar-magedoni.
YINI EDINGEKAYO MANJE PHAKATHI KWEZWE ELONAKELE
15. Ingabe ukuhlangabezana komuntu nemfuneko kaNkulunkulu njengoba ibekwe kuMika 6:8 kuyomvumela ukuba ahlale ekweLobukholwa noma cha? Futhi ngani?
15 Kumaqondana neLobukholwa, owanamuhla uIsrayeli ongathembekile, ukuthi uMika 7:2, 6 uthi: “Abathembekileyo babhubhile emhlabeni, akakho oqotho phakathi kwabantu. . . . Nezitha zomuntu ngamadoda endlu yakhe.” Ngisho namaKristu okuzisholo aphakathi kweLobukholwa lanamuhla ukuze asinde izimo ezibhubhisayo, yini okudingeka ayenze? Adele izinto ezibonakalayo kodwa eqhubeka eyingxenye yenhlangano engokwenkolo eyonakele? Cha! Kunalokho, kumelwe enze ngokuvumelana nalokho okuphawulwe kuMika 6:8: “Ukutshelile, muntu, okuhle; uJehova ufunani kuwe, kungabi ngukwenza ukulunga kuphela nokuthanda umusa, uhambe noNkulunkulu wakho ngokuthobeka na?” Ukuze agcine lemfuneko yaphezulu umuntu kudingeka aphume kweLobukholwa, njengoba nokuzisholo kwalo ukuthi liwubuKristu kungamanga. Ukuziphatha kwalo okungokwenkolo nokonakala kufakazela lokhu. Ukuhlala komuntu kulo nokuzama ukulilungisa akunakuphumelela neze. Lihlalelwe ukubhujiswa uNkulunkulu elithi liyamkhonza.
16, 17. (a) Ibaphi abantu umuntu adinga ukuhlanganyela nabo namuhla, futhi ikuphi ukukhetha maqondana nobunkulunkulu okudingeka akwenze? (b) Ekuhlabeleleni igama likaMose neleWundlu, yimuphi unkulunkulu umuntu onjalo amdumisayo?
16 Indlu yeLobukholwa yokukhulekela iyobhujiswa njengoba nje ithempeli eJerusalema ezinsukwini zikaMika labhujiswa ngo-607 B.C.E. Ngakho-ke, ukuze “ahambe noNkulunkulu wakhe ngokuthobeka,” umuntu okweLobukholwa, nabo bonke abantu abasembusweni wezwe wenkolo yamanga, kumelwe bahlanganyele nabantu bazo zonke izizwe manje ababalekele ‘entabeni kaJehova nasendlini kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe.’ Umuntu kumelwe amukele imfundiso kaJehova evela eSiyoni lasezulwini futhi kumelwe ahambe ngendlela ayibekile manje. Lokhu akusho ukuba umJuda ophendukile noma umJuda ongumProselithe. Kusho ukuba umfundi weNdodana kaJehova ezelwe yodwa nokuba uhlobo lukafakazi eyayiyilo. Ngokuba yini? Ngokuba uFakazi kaJehova ozinikezele nobhapathizizwe? Yebo! Kusho ukwenza komuntu ukukhetha okubekwe kuMika 4:5: “Bonke abantu bayakuhamba kube-yilowo nalowo ngegama likaNkulunkulu wakhe, kepha thina siyakuhamba ngegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube-phakade naphakade.” Umuntu kumelwe ahlanganyele ekuhlabeleleni “igama likaMose inceku kaNkulunkulu negama leWundlu,” athi:
17 “Mikhulu, iyamangalisa imisebenzi yakho, Nkosi Nkulunkulu, Mninimandla onke; zilungile, ziqinisile izindlela zakho wena-Nkosi yezizwe; ngubani ongayikwesaba, Nkosi, adumise igama lakho, na? Ngokuba wena wedwa ungcwele, nezizwe zonke ziyakuza zikhuleke phambi kwakho, ngokuba izenzo zakho zokulunga zibonakalisiwe.”—IsAm. 15:3, 4.
18. Kungani umbuzo wokuphetha nempendulo kaMika kufanelekile maqondana noJehova?
18 Ngokwethembeka, uJehova uyogcina zonke izithembiso zakhe kithi, njengalezo azenza kunzalamizi uAbrahama nakumzukulu wakhe, uJakobe, noma uIsrayeli, ngisho nasezingeni lokubusisa yonke imikhaya nezizwe zomhlaba ngeNdodana yaKhe uJesu Kristu. Ngokwenza kanjalo, uJehova ngokwakhe uyosebenza njengoAbrahama ongokomfanekiso, njengoAbrahama Omkhulu. Ngenxa yokulunga kwakhe okungaguquki kithi kuze kube manje singasho amazwi okuphetha kaMika sithi:
“Ngubani onguNkulunkulu onjengawe othethelela insali yefa lakho ububi bayo, uyiyekele isiphambeko sayo, na? Akabambeleli entukuthelweni yakhe kuze kube-phakade, ngokuba wenamela umusa. Uyakubuye asibekezelele, anyathele phansi ububi bethu; yebo, uyakuphonsa zonke izono zabo ekujuleni kolwandle. Uyakunika uJakobe ukuthembeka noAbrahama umusa owawufungela obaba kwasezinsukwini zasendulo.”—Mika 7:18-20.
19. Ubani uNkulunkulu ongenakuqhathaniswa, futhi ukukhulekela ubani okuyophakanyiswa ngokusobala phakathi ‘nengxenye yokugcina yezinsuku?’
19 Akekho uNkulunkulu onjengeNkosi enkulu uJehova, uNkulunkulu noBaba weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu. Ngakho-ke masiphakamise ukukhulekelwa kwakhe okumsulwa, kokubili manje ‘nasengxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku,’ ngisho naphakade.
[Isithombe ekhasini 22]
‘Abantu kumelwe babalekele’ ekukhulekeleni okunikeza ukuphila