Isahluko 33

Ukuqhubeka Beqaphile

“NJENGOBA uJesu asho ngokucacile ukuthi akukho muntu olwaziyo ‘lolosuku’ noma ‘ihora’ uBaba ayoyala ngalo indodana yakhe ukuba ‘ize’ izothatha isinyathelo ngokumelene nesimiso sezinto esibi sikaSathane, abanye bangase babuze: ‘Kungani kuphuthuma kangaka ukuba sihlale silindele ukuphela?’ Kuyaphuthuma ngoba cishe ngesikhathi esho lokho, uJesu wanezela: ‘Qaphelani, nilinde, . . . [hlalani niqaphile, NW].’ (Marku 13:32-35)”—INqabayokulinda, December 1, 1984.

Sekungamashumi amaningi eminyaka manje oFakazi BakaJehova beqaphile. Baqapheleni? Ukuza kukaJesu emandleni oMbuso ukuze akhiphe isahlulelo ngokumelene nesimiso sezinto esibi sikaSathane futhi adlulisele izinzuzo ezigcwele zokubusa koMbuso wakhe emhlabeni wonke! (Math. 6:9, 10; 24:30; Luka 21:28; 2 Thes. 1:7-10) Laba abaqaphile bayazi ukuthi “isibonakaliso” sokuba khona kukaJesu siye sabonakala kusukela ngo-1914 nokuthi izinsuku zokugcina zalesisimiso sezinto samanje zaqala ngalowonyaka.—Math. 24:3–25:46.

Kodwa, kuze kube manje, uJesu akakezi njengoMkhiphi Wesahlulelo noMsindisi. Ngakho oFakazi BakaJehova basibheka kanjani isimo abakuso manje?

‘Baqiniseka Ngokugcwele’ Ngabakuqondayo

Njengebandla lomhlaba wonke, ‘baqiniseka ngokugcwele ngabakuqondayo.’ (Kol. 2:2, qhathanisa neNW.) Akukhona ukuthi banomuzwa wokuthi bayiqonda yonke imininingwane yezinjongo zikaJehova. Bayaqhubeka becwaninga imiBhalo ngomqondo ovulekile, futhi bayaqhubeka befunda. Kodwa lokho abakufundayo akuwushintshi umbono wabo oyisisekelo ngokuqondene namaqiniso ayisisekelo eZwi likaNkulunkulu. ‘Baqiniseka ngokugcwele’ ngalamaqiniso ayisisekelo; sekungamashumi eminyaka manje bewaqaphela futhi bewamukela. Nokho, abakufundayo kuyaqhubeka kukuthuthukisa ngempela ukuqonda kwabo indlela imibhalo ethile ehambisana ngayo nalo lonke iqiniso leBhayibheli kanye nendlela abangasisebenzisa ngayo ngokugcwele ngokwengeziwe iseluleko seZwi likaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwabo siqu.

Futhi oFakazi BakaJehova ‘baqiniseka ngokugcwele’ ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Baqiniseka ngokuphelele ukuthi asikho nesisodwa sezithembiso zakhe esiyophutha ngisho nangomniningwane omncane kakhulu nokuthi zonke ziyogcwaliseka ngesikhathi sakhe esimisiwe. Ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho seBhayibheli abaye basibona futhi badlula kuso kubashiya beqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi izwe lamanje ‘lisesikhathini salo sokugcina’ nokuthi isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sezwe elisha lokulunga sizogcwaliseka ngokushesha.—Dan. 12:4, 9; IsAm. 21:1-5.

Khona-ke, yini okufanele bayenze? “Qaphelani, nilinde,” kuyala uJesu, “ngokuba anisazi isikhathi ukuthi siyakuba-nini. Ngakho lindani . . . funa [iNkosi] ifike ngokuzuma, inifumane nilele. Kepha lokhu engikusho kini ngikusho kubo bonke, ngithi: [Hlalani niqaphile, NW].” (Marku 13:33, 35-37) OFakazi BakaJehova bayasiqaphela isidingo sokuhlala beqaphile.

Ukulangazela ngokweqile abaye bakubonisa ngezinye izikhathi ngokuqondene nokugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezithile akubushintshi ubufakazi obebunqwabelana kusukela eMpini Yezwe I bokuthi sisesiphelweni sesimiso sezinto. Ngokuqinisekile, kungcono kakhulu ukukushisekela—ngisho nokukushisekela ngokweqile—ukubona intando kaNkulunkulu ifezeka kunokulala ngokomoya ungakuboni ukugcwaliseka kwezinjongo zakhe!—Qhathanisa noLuka 19:11; IzEnzo 1:6; 1 Thesalonika 5:1, 2, 6.

Kuhilelani ukuhlala uqaphile?

Ukuhlala Uqaphile—Kanjani?

AmaKristu aqaphile awamane nje asonge izandla abese elinda. Kungokuphambene nalokho! Kumelwe ahlale esesimweni esifanele ngokomoya ukuze kuthi lapho uJesu efika njengoMkhiphi Wesahlulelo, akwazi ukuba uMsindisi wawo. (Luka 21:28) “Ziqapheleni nina,” kuxwayisa uJesu, “ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zingasindwa ngukuminza nokudakwa nokunaka okwalokhukuphila, lunizume lolosuku ningazelele. . . . Lindani.” (Luka 21:34-36, qhathanisa neNW.) Ngakho amaKristu aqaphile kumelwe aqale ‘aziqaphele wona,’ eqikelela ukuthi usuku ngalunye aphila ngendlela umKristu afanele ukuphila ngayo. Kumelwe ahlale ephaphemele imithwalo yemfanelo yobuKristu futhi agweme ukuziphatha okungekhona okobuKristu okubonakalisa izimpawu zezwe “elisemandleni omubi.” (1 Joh. 5:19, NW; Roma 13:11-14) Lapho uKristu efika, kumelwe abe esezilungiselele.

Obani abaye bahlala bephapheme ngempela, besesimweni esifanele ngokomoya? Umlando onikezwe ezahlukweni ezingaphambili kulencwadi ukhomba koFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokusobala, bayithatha ngokungathi sína imithwalo yemfanelo ehilela ukuba amaKristu. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi sempi baye bazimisela ukuzifaka engozini yokuboshwa nokufa ngoba bephaphamele isibopho sokungabi ingxenye yezwe nesokubonisa uthando lokuzidela ngomunye nomunye. (Joh. 13:34, 35; 17:14, 16) Abantu abababona emaHholo abo oMbuso, emihlanganweni yabo emikhulu, noma ngisho nasemisebenzini yabo yokuziphilisa bahlatshwa umxhwele ‘inkambo yabo enhle.’ (1 Pet. 2:12) Kulelizwe eliye laba “buthuntu,” banedumela lokuphila ukuphila kokwethembeka nokuhlanzekile ngokokuziphatha.—Efe. 4:19-24; 5:3-5.

Nokho, ukuhlala uqaphile kuhilela okungaphezu ‘kokuziqaphela wena.’ Oqaphile kumelwe azise abanye ngalokho akubonayo. Kulesisikhathi sokuphela, amaKristu aqaphile asibona ngokucacile isibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaKristu kumelwe amemezele kwabanye “ivangeli lombuso” futhi kumelwe abaxwayise ngokuthi ngokushesha uKristu uzoza ezokhipha isahlulelo ngokumelene nalesisimiso esibi sezinto. (Math. 24:14, 30, 44) Ngalendlela basiza abanye ukuba bazifake ohlwini ‘lokusindiswa.’—Luka 21:28.

Obani abaye baba abaqaphile ngokumemezela isixwayiso? OFakazi BakaJehova bayaziwa ezweni lonke ngentshiseko yabo ekumemezeleni igama likaNkulunkulu noMbuso wakhe. Ababheki ukushumayela njengokungokwesigaba esikhethiwe sabefundisi kuphela. Bayaqaphela ukuthi kuwumthwalo wemfanelo wabo bonke abakholwayo. Bakubheka njengengxenye ebalulekile yokukhulekela kwabo. (Roma 10:9, 10; 1 Kor. 9:16) Iye yaba yini imiphumela?

Manje bakha ibandla elikhulayo lezigidi zamalungu akhuthele emazweni angaphezu kwangu-220 emhlabeni wonke. (Isaya 60:22; qhathanisa nezEnzo 2:47; 6:7; 16:5.) Abanye bohulumeni abanamandla kakhulu emlandweni wesintu baye bavimbela umsebenzi wabo, behambe bebabutha nokubabutha bese bebagquma ejele. Kodwa oFakazi BakaJehova baye baqhubeka bememezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu! Ukuzimisela kwabo kunjengokwabaphostoli, okwathi lapho betshelwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, bathi: “Asinakuyeka ukukhuluma ngalokho esikubonileyo nesikuzwileyo.” “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu.”—IzE. 4:18-20; 5:27-29.

“Wulindele”

Isimo soFakazi BakaJehova namuhla sifana nesamaKristu aseJudiya ekhulu lokuqala. UJesu wayewanikeze isibonakaliso ayeyokwazi ngaso ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi sokubaleka eJerusalema ukuze aphephe lapho libhujiswa. “Nxa nibona iJerusalema lihaqiwe yizimpi . . . [nibaleke],” kusho uJesu. (Luka 21:20-23) Eminyakeni ecishe ibe ngaphezu kwengu-30 kamuva, ngo-66 C.E., iJerusalema lahaqwa amabutho amaRoma. Lapho amabutho amaRoma ngokungazelele ehoxa ngaphandle kwesizathu, amaKristu aseJudiya alalela iziyalezo zikaJesu abaleka—hhayi eJerusalema kuphela kodwa kulo lonke izwe laseJudiya—aya ezweni lasePhereya okwakuthiwa iPella.

Elapho, ephephile, alinda. Unyaka ka-67 C.E. wafika wadlula. Oka-68 walandelwa oka-69. Nokho, iJerusalema lahlala likhululekile. Ingabe kwakufanele aphindele? Kakade, uJesu wayengazange asho ukuthi kwakuyomelwe alinde isikhathi esingakanani. Kodwa uma ekhona aphindela, azisola, ngoba ngo-70 C.E. amabutho amaRoma abuya emaningi kangangokuba ukugadla kwawo kwaba njengokwesikhukhula esingenakuvinjelwa, futhi kulokhu awazange ahoxe. Kunalokho, achitha umuzi futhi abulala abantu abangaphezu kwesigidi. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuthi lawomaKristu aseJudiya ayesePella ajabula kanjani ngokuthi ayeye ahlala alindela isikhathi sikaJehova esimisiwe sokukhipha isahlulelo!

Kungokufanayo nangalabo abahlala beqaphile namuhla. Bakuqaphela ngokugcwele ukuthi njengoba singena sijula esikhathini sokuphela, kuzoba inselele ngokwengeziwe ukuqhubeka belindele ukuza kukaJesu. Kodwa abakakuyeki ukukholelwa emazwini kaJesu: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini: Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke lokhu.” (Math. 24:34) Isabizwana esithi “lokhu” sibhekisela ezicini ezihlukahlukene ‘zesibonakaliso’ esihlanganisa izici eziningi. Lesisibonakaliso siye sabonakala ngo-1914 futhi siyofinyelela umvuthwandaba ‘osizini olukhulu.’ (Math. 24:21) ‘Isizukulwane’ esasiphila ngo-1914 sincipha ngokushesha. Ukuphela akunakuba ukuthi kusekude kakhulu.

Phakathi nalesosikhathi, oFakazi BakaJehova bazimisele ngokuphelele ukuhlala beqaphile, bekukholelwa ngokugcwele ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyozifeza zonke izithembiso zakhe ngesikhathi sakhe esifanele! Balalela amazwi uJehova awasho kumprofethi uHabakuki. Ngokuqondene nalokho okwakubonakala kuwukubekezelela kukaJehova ububi embusweni wakwaJuda phakathi nengxenye yokugcina yekhulu lesikhombisa B.C.E., uJehova watshela lomprofethi: “Wulobe umbono [ophathelene nokuphela kwezimo ezicindezelayo], uwuqophe ezibhebheni ukuba ufundwe kalula. Ngokuba umbono usengowesikhathi esimisiweyo; uphuthuma ekupheleni, awuyikukhohlisa; noma [ubonakala] ulibala, wulindele, ngokuba uyakufika nokufika, awuyikwephuza.” (Hab. 1:2, 3; 2:2, 3) Ngokufanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova bayaqiniseka ngokulunga nangobulungisa bukaJehova, futhi lokhu kuyabasiza ukuba bahlale beqinile futhi belindele ‘isikhathi esimisiwe’ sikaJehova.

UF. W. Franz, owabhapathizwa ngo-1913, wayiveza kahle indlela oFakazi BakaJehova abazizwa ngayo. Ngo-1991, engumongameli we-Watch Tower Society, wathi:

“Ithemba lethu liqinisekile, futhi lizogcwaliseka ngokuphelele kuwo wonke amalungu angu-144 000 omhlambi omncane ngezinga elingaphezu kwalokho esiye sakucabanga nokukucabanga. Thina bensali esasikhona ngonyaka ka-1914, lapho sasilindele ukuba sonke siye ezulwini, asikakuyeki ukuba nomuzwa wokubaluleka kwalelothemba. Kodwa simi siqinile kulo njenganini ngaphambili, futhi njengoba kudingeka sililindele isikhathi eside ngokwengeziwe siya silazisa ngokwengeziwe. Liyinto ekufanele ukulindelwa, ngisho nakuba kungadingeka kube iminyaka eyisigidi. Ithemba lethu ngilibheka njengeliyigugu ngokwengeziwe kunanini ngaphambili, futhi angifuni neze ukuyeka ukulazisa. Ithemba lomhlambi omncane linikeza nesiqinisekiso sokuthi ithemba lesixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu, ngaphandle kwanoma yiliphi ithuba lokuba liphuthe, liyogcwaliseka ngendlela edlula noma yikuphi esikucabangayo okuhle kakhulu. Kungakho nje sisabambelele ngokuqinile kuze kube manje, futhi sisazobambelela ngokuqinile kuze kube yilapho uNkulunkulu esezibonakalisile ukuthi uneqiniso ‘ezithembisweni zakhe eziyigugu nezinkulu kakhulu.’”—2 Pet. 1:4; Num. 23:19; Roma 5:5.

Isikhathi sisondela ngokushesha lapho ukuba khona kukaKristu emandleni oMbuso kuyobonakaliswa khona ngokucacile kuso sonke isintu. Khona-ke, abaqaphileyo ‘bayokwamukela [ukugcwaliseka, NW] kwesithembiso.’ (Heb. 10:36) Ngempela, abakulindele kuyogcwaliseka ngaphezu ‘kwalokho abaye bakucabanga.’ Yeka indlela abayojabula nabayobonga ngayo ngokuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesisimiso sezinto esibi, babengabantu abaqhubeka beqaphile, abaye bawumemezela ngentshiseko uMbuso kaNkulunkulu!

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 713]

Ukuqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi izwe lamanje ‘lisesikhathini salo sokugcina’

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 714]

Ukuqikelela ukuthi usuku ngalunye aphila ngendlela umKristu afanele ukuphila ngayo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 715]

Obani abaye baba abaqaphile ngokumemezela isixwayiso?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 716]

“Ithemba lethu ngilibheka njengeliyigugu ngokwengeziwe kunanini ngaphambili, futhi angifuni neze ukuyeka ukulazisa”—F. W. Franz

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 717]

Imibiko Yokufakaza Embulungeni Yonke

Unyaka Amazwe

1920 ....... 46

1925 ....... 83

1930 ....... 87

1935 ...... 115

1940 ...... 112

1945 ...... 107

1950 ...... 147

1955 ...... 164

1960 ...... 187

1965 ...... 201

1970 ...... 208

1975 ...... 212

1980 ...... 217

1985 ...... 222

1992 ...... 229

Ingqikithi Yamazwe

Inani lamazwe libalwa ngokwendlela umhlaba owawuhlukaniswe ngayo ekuqaleni kwawo-1990, hhayi ngokuhlukaniswa kwemibuso yangalesosikhathi, ngokwesibonelo, lapho imibuso emikhulu yayibusa indawo ethile manje esihlukaniselwe amazwe amaningi azimele.

Unyaka Amab.

1940 ...... 5,130

1945 ...... 7,218

1950 ..... 13,238

1955 ..... 16,044

1960 ..... 21,008

1965 ..... 24,158

1970 ..... 26,524

1975 ..... 38,256

1980 ..... 43,181

1985 ..... 49,716

1992 ..... 69,558

Ingqikithi Yamabandla

Ngaphambi kuka-1938 awukho umbiko wasikhathi sonke owawugcinwa wengqikithi yamabandla ezweni lonke.

Unyaka Abame.

1935 ..... 56,153

1940 ...... 96,418

1945 ..... 156,299

1950 ..... 373,430

1955 ..... 642,929

1960 ..... 916,332

1965 ... 1,109,806

1970 ... 1,483,430

1975 ... 2,179,256

1980 ... 2,272,278

1985 ... 3,024,131

1992 ... 4,472,787

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli BoMbuso

Indlela yokubala abamemezeli yashintshashintsha phakathi nawo-1920 nawo-1930. Imibiko yamabandla yayithunyelwa eNhlanganweni masonto onke, kunokuba kube kanye ngenyanga. (Imibiko yanyanga zonke yaze yaqala ukusebenza ngo-October 1932.) Ukuze umuntu abalwe njengesisebenzi sasekilasini (ummemezeli webandla), okungenani kwakumelwe anikele ngamahora amathathu ngesonto (noma angu-12 ngenyanga) enkonzweni yasensimini, ngokwe-“Bulletin” ka-January 1, 1929. Ama-“sharpshooter” (abamemezeli abangabodwa) kwakumelwe banikele okungenani ngamahora amabili isonto ngalinye ekufakazeni.

Unyaka Amaphayona

1920 ......... 480

1925 ....... 1,435

1930 ....... 2,897

1935 ....... 4,655

1940 ....... 5,251

1945 ....... 6,721

1950 ...... 14,093

1955 ...... 17,011

1960 ...... 30,584

1965 ...... 47,853

1970 ...... 88,871

1975 ..... 130,225

1980 ..... 137,861

1985 ..... 322,821

1992 ..... 605,610

Amaphayona

Emananini anikezwe lapha kubalwe amaphayona avamile, amaphayona asizayo, amaphayona akhethekile, izithunywa zevangeli, ababonisi bezifunda, nababonisi bezigodi. Ngaphambili amaphayona ayaziwa ngokuthi ama-“colporteur,” futhi amaphayona asizayo aziwa ngokuthi ama-“colporteur” asizayo. Eminyakeni eminingi amanani amelela izilinganiso zanyanga zonke.

Unyaka Izifu. ZeBhay.

1945 ....... 104,814

1950 ....... 234,952

1955 ....... 337,456

1960 ....... 646,108

1965 ....... 770,595

1970 ..... 1,146,378

1975 ..... 1,411,256

1980 ..... 1,371,584

1985 ..... 2,379,146

1992 ..... 4,278,127

Izifundo ZeBhayibheli Zasekhaya

Phakathi nawo-1930, ezinye izifundo zaziqhutshelwa abantu ngabanye, kodwa kwakugcizelelwa ukufundisa abantu indlela abangaziqhuba ngayo nabo izifundo, nokuhlela izifundo okwakungaba khona kuzo abanye abantu abathakazelayo abakuleyondawo. Kamuva, lapho abantu bebonisa isithakazelo esiqotho, babeqhutshelwa izifundo baze babhapathizwe. Kamuva, kwabuye kwanikezwa isikhuthazo sokuba isifundo siqhubeke kuze kube yilapho umuntu esenikezwe usizo aludingayo ukuze abe umKristu ovuthiwe.

Iminyaka Amahora

1930-35 ....... 42 205 307

1936-40 ....... 63 026 188

1941-45 ...... 149 043 097

1946-50 ...... 240 385 017

1951-55 ...... 370 550 156

1956-60 ...... 555 859 540

1961-65 ...... 760 049 417

1966-70 .... 1 070 677 035

1971-75 .... 1 637 744 774

1976-80 .... 1 646 356 541

1981-85 .... 2 276 287 442

1986-92 .... 5 912 814 412

Ingqikithi Yamahora

Ngokuvamile isikhathi sasingabikwa neze kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kwawo-1920. Indlela yokubala amahora yashintshashintsha: Ekuqaleni kwawo-1930, yisikhathi esasinikelwe ekufakazeni endlini ngendlu kuphela esasibalwa—hhayi esasichithwa ezimpindelweni. Nakuba lombiko ongenhla uhlaba umxhwele ngempela, empeleni umane uwukulinganiselwa kwesikhathi oFakazi BakaJehova abanikela ngaso emsebenzini wokumemezela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Iminyaka Izincw. Ezisak.

1920-25 ....... 38 757 639

1926-30 ....... 64 878 399

1931-35 ...... 144 073 004

1936-40 ...... 164 788 909

1941-45 ...... 178 265 670

1946-50 ...... 160 027 404

1951-55 ...... 237 151 701

1956-60 ...... 493 202 895

1961-65 ...... 681 903 850

1966-70 ...... 935 106 627

1971-75 .... 1 407 578 681

1976-80 .... 1 380 850 717

1981-85 .... 1 504 980 839

1986-92 .... 2 715 998 934

Izincwadi Ezisakaziwe

Ngaphandle kwambalwa, amanani eminyaka engaphambi kuka-1940 awahlanganisi omagazini ababehanjisiwe, nakuba kunezigidi ezasakazwa. Kusukela ngo-1940 amanani ahlanganisa izincwadi, izincwajana, izincwajana ezingangomagazini, kanye nomagazini, kodwa awahlanganisi amakhulu ezigidi amapheshana nawo aye asetshenziswa ekwenzeni abantu babe nesithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso. Ingqikithi yezincwadi ezingu-10 107 565 269 ezasakazwa kusukela ngo-1920 kuya ku-1992 ngezilimi ezingaphezu kwezingu-290 iwubufakazi bokunikezwa kobufakazi obungavamile embulungeni yonke.

1935 ...... 63 146 ... 52 465

1940 ...... 96 989 ... 27 711

1945 ..... 186 247 ... 22 328

1950 ..... 511 203 ... 22 723

1955 ..... 878 303 ... 16 815

1960 ... 1 519 821 ... 13 911

1965 ... 1 933 089 ... 11 550

1970 ... 3 226 168 ... 10 526

1975 ... 4 925 643 ... 10 550

1980 ... 5 726 656 .... 9 564

1985 ... 7 792 109 .... 9 051

1992 .. 11 431 171 .... 8 683

Ababa Khona ESikhumbuzweni Nabadlayo

Ngaphambi kuka-1932, ngokuvamile amanani atholakalayo ababa khona eSikhumbuzweni awaphelele. Ngezinye izikhathi, amaqembu abangu-15, 20, 30, noma ngaphezulu kuphela ayehlanganiswa ezingqikithini ezazikhishwa. Ngokuthakazelisayo, iminyaka eminingi okutholakala amanani ayo ibonisa ukuthi okungenani abanye kwababeba khona babengebona abadlayo. Ngo-1933 umehluko phakathi kwabo kwakungabangu-3 000.