“Nethabe Kuze Kube-Phakade”
1. (a) Uyini “umuzi” okumaHeberu 11:10? (b) “Isixuku esikhulu” kumelwe sikulindele kuze kube nini ukwa“mukeliswa izithembiso”?
NGEMPELA, singajabula kakhulu ngokuthi iNkosi yobuMesiya, uKristu Jesu, manje iyabusa e“Jerusalema” lasezulwini. Lona umuzi wa“sezulwini” okukhulunywe ngawo kumaHeberu isahluko 11, futhi lowo uAbrahama, uIsaka noJakobe ‘abawulangazelela.’ Bavuma ukuthi bangabafokazi nezihambi ezweni laseKhanani, ngoba ngobuqotho babefuna “umuzi onezisekelo, omakhi nomenzi wawo nguNkulunkulu.” Kodwa nge“sixuku esikhulu,” leso namuhla esinethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni, ukwa“mukeliswa izithembiso” kulawomadoda amadala kumelwe kume kuze kube yilapho amaKristu agcotshiwe esethole ifa lawo eMbusweni wasezulwini.—Heberu 11:8-16, 39, 40; IsAmbulo 7:9.
“IJerusalema Lasezulwini”
2. (a) AmaHeberu 12:1, 2 abhekisela kanjani ethembeni loMbuso wobuMesiya? (IHubo 110:1, 2) (b) Kwafanekiselwa kanjani ukuza koMbuso eNtabeni iSinayi?
2 AmaHeberu isahluko 12 ayaqhubeka ekhuthaza amaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba azuze ngesibonelo salabofakazi abathembekile bezikhathi zasendulo, nokuba abheke “kuJesu, umqalisi nomphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu,” lowo, ngemva kokukhuthazela, o“wahlala ngakwesokunene sesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu” kuze kuphele “izikhathi zabezizwe.” (Heberu 12:1, 2) Khona-ke, egcizelela ithemba loMbuso lalamaKristu, uPawulu uchaza ukubonakaliswa okwesabekayo kwenkazimulo kaJehova eNtabeni iSinayi ngesikhathi sokuqaliswa kwesivumelwano soMthetho noIsrayeli ongokwenyama. Kwakungaleso sikhathi lapho uJehova atshela uIsrayeli: “Kalokhu uma nilalela nokulalela izwi lami, nigcine isivumelwano sami, . . . nibengumbuso wabapristi kimi, nesizwe esingcwele.”—Eksodusi 19:5, 6.
3. AmaIsrayeli angokomoya aye ‘eza’ kanjani kokuthile okusabisayo?
3 Nokho, uIsrayeli ongokomoya—amaKristu anamuhla agcotshiwe—ase‘sivumelwaneni esisha.’ (Heberu 8:8-11) Futhi manje aye ‘eza’ kokuthile okusabisa kakhulu. Kuyini lokho? UPawulu uyaphendula kumaHeberu 12:22: “Kodwa nize entabeni yaseSiyoni nasemzini kaNkulunkulu ophilayo, iJerusalema lasezulwini.” Lokho kuza kwaqala ngezindlalifa zoMbuso zosuku lukaPawulu, njengoba lezi ‘zakhiwe zabayindlu yokomoya’ esisekelweni, uKristu Jesu, manje oseSiyoni. (1 Petru 2:4-9) Amanye amaKristu agcotshiwe ayoqhubeka nalokhu kuya eJerusalema lasezulwini kuze kube yilapho wonke ayizi-144 000 ahlanganiswe kulo iWundlu, ukuba ame nalo kuleyoNtaba yasezulwini iSiyoni.—IsAmbulo 14:1-5.
4. Maqondana noMbuso wobuMesiya, yikuphi okunye amaKristu agcotshiwe aye ‘eza’ kukho?
4 Lapha kumaHeberu 12:22-24, uPawulu uchaza okunye amaKristu ‘eza’ kukho, futhi okuphathelene noMbuso wobuMesiya nenjongo yawo. Ukhuluma ngokuba khona kwe“zigidigidi zezingelosi,” lezo kokubili kuDaniyeli 7:9-14 noMathewu 25:31 kuboniswa ukuthi zikhona uma Lowo “onjengendodana yomuntu” ethola uMbuso. UPawulu ubhekisela futhi “ebandleni lamazibulo” elithola uMbuso. Udumisa uNkulunkulu njengo“Mahluleli wabo bonke,” omemezela lama‘dodana angamazibulo’ njengalungile noma anokwahlulela ngokulunga, ukuze ayiswe esivumelwaneni esisha leso uJesu aba umlamuleli waso ngegazi lakhe eliyigugu. (Heberu 9:13-15; Roma 5:1, 9) Futhi uPawulu ukhuluma ngo‘kuphila okungokomoya kwalabo abalungileyo,’ izindlalifa zoMbuso, manje ezihamba “ekuphileni okusha.”—Roma 6:4; 8:16.
5. (a) AmaHeberu 12:28, 29 akufanekisela kanjani ukuthi “iJerusalema lasezulwini” linguMbuso wobuMesiya? (b) AmaHeberu 13:14, 15 abhekisela kanjani kulo“muzi” njengosazokubakhona?
5 Ukuthi “iJerusalema lasezulwini” elikumaHeberu 12:22 libhekisela eMbusweni wobuMesiya lowo amaKristu agcotshiwe ‘eza’ kuwo kuvezwa futhi amavesi alandelayo, u-Heb 12:28 no-29, lapho uPawulu ekhuthaza laba, ethi: “Ngakho-ke lokhu samukeliswa umbuso ongenakunyakaziswa, masibonge ngesingamkhonza ngakho uNkulunkulu ngokumthokozisa, nangokumhlonipha, nangokuthuthumela, ngokuba uNkulunkulu wethu ungumlilo oqothulayo.” Ukuyala okunjalo ngentshiseko eku‘zeni’ eJerusalema lasezulwini, noma uMbuso kaMesiya, kuyaqhubeka kuze kube sekuphetheni kwencwadi kaPawulu, njengoba sifunda esahlukweni sokugcina, okungukuthi amaHeberu 13:14: “Ngokuba lapha asinamuzi omiyo, kepha siyawufuna ozayo.” Manje lowoMbuso usufikile—ngonyaka onqunyiwe ka-1914! Yeka ubuqotho abagcotshiwe abasele emhlabeni okufanele babe nabo ngoku‘funa kuqala umbuso’ nangokunikela ngaso sonke isikhathi kuJehova “umhlatshelo wokubonga, okungukuthi isithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe”!—Mathewu 6:33; Heberu 13:15.
“IJerusalema Elisha”
6. (a) Liyini “iJerusalema elisha” njengoba lichazwe kusAmbulo? (b) Kungani “isixuku esikhulu” kumelwe sibe nesithakazelo esijulile kuleli“Jerusalema”?
6 Khona-ke, kuthiwani nge“Jerusalema elisha,” eliphawulwe ngokokuqala kusAmbulo 3:12? Lapha uJesu okhazinyulisiwe uthi ‘ngokunqobayo’: “Ngiyakumenza abeyinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wami, . . . ngiyakuloba negama likaNkulunkulu wami phezu kwakhe, negama lomuzi kaNkulunkulu wami, iJerusalema elisha elehla ezulwini kuNkulunkulu wami.” Kamuva, kusAmbulo 21:1, 2 no-10, uJohane uthola labanqobi ‘ezulwini elisha’ futhi uchaza iqembu labo eliyingxubevange njengo“muzi ongcwele, iJerusalema elisha, wehla uvela ezulwini kuNkulunkulu, ulungisiwe njengomlobokazi ohlotshiselwe umyeni wakhe,” uKristu engumyeni. LeliJerusalema Elisha lisetshenziswa uNkulunkulu ekubangeleni ukuba “amanzi okuphila” agelezele kubantu abalalelayo, njengoba besindiswa futhi belethwa ekupheleleni kokuphila lapha emhlabeni. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu uMsunguli walelilungiselelo elihle, uzosula ngendlela engokoqobo “izinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo; ukufa akusayikubakhona; nokudabuka, nokukhala, nobuhlungu akusayikubakhona.” Yeka ukuthi “isixuku esikhulu,” abangane bensali yesigaba so“mlobokazi,” bajabula kanjani ngalelothemba!—IsAmbulo 22:1, 2; 21:4.
7. “IJerusalema elisha” lihluka kanjani “eJerusalema lasezulwini”?
7 Nokho, kunomehluko omncane phakathi kwe“Jerusalema elisha” elichazwe kusAmbulo ne“Jerusalema lasezulwini” lencwadi yamaHeberu ngoba i“Jerusalema elisha” lenziwe ngabayizi-144 000 abendiswe kumyeni, kanti i“Jerusalema lasezulwini” lakhiwa izi-144 000, lona “oyedwa” engumyeni iNkosi. Ngakho izincwadi zeBhayibheli amaHeberu nesAmbulo zibonisa ukufana okuseduze phakathi kwe“Jerusalema lasezulwini” ne“Jerusalema elisha.”
“IJerusalema Eliphezulu”
8, 9. (a) Lingubani noma liyini “iJerusalema eliphezulu”? (b) Ecaphuna kuIsaya 54, uPawulu uwuchaza kanjani umsebenzi walo wobufazi?
8 KwabaseGalathiya 4:26 sifunda ngelinye futhi “iJerusalema.” Yi“Jerusalema eliphezulu.” Futhi liyini? UMphostoli uPawulu uthi ngalo: “Kepha iJerusalema eliphezulu likhululekile, lona lingumame wethu.”—Qhathanisa uIsaya 54:13.
9 Leli“Jerusalema eliphezulu” yinhlangano kaJehova efana nowesifazane ezulwini. Lenziwa yisixuku sezingelosi ezithembekile, manje kuhlanganise nengelosi enkulu ekhazinyulisiwe uJesu Kristu. (IsAmbulo 12:7) Lezi zikhonza esikhundleni so“mfazi” kuMbusi iNkosi yazo. Maqondana nalo‘mfazi’ uPawulu uyaqhubeka ethi: “Ngokuba kulotshiwe [okungukuthi kuIsaya 54:1] ukuthi: Thokoza wenanyumba ongazaliyo; mpompoloza wena ongenamihelo; ngokuba abantwana boyisikhwebu baningi kunabakhe onendoda.”—Galathiya 4:27.
10. “IJerusalema eliphezulu” la“mpompoloza” kanjani ngenjabulo?
10 Ekugcwalisekeni kwalesiprofetho, ‘umfazi’ kaJehova, inhlangano yakhe enkulu yasezulwini yezidalwa zomoya, kumelwe ukuba yajabula kakhulu ukubona uKristu Jesu elethwa njenge“nzalo” eyinhloko ekubhapathizweni kwakhe ngo-29 C.E. Leyonjabulo kumelwe ukuba yachichima lapho uJesu ogcina ubuqotho evuswa kwabafileyo ngo-33 C.E. futhi ephakanyiselwa ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu ezulwini. Khona-ke, yeka injabulo ukubona “inzalo” yanda nje ngoba abafundi bakaJesu Kristu babelethwa ngokufanayo, ukuba babe abantwana bakhe abangokomoya! Konke lokhu kwakuwukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu kuAbrahama sokuthi wayezo‘kwandisa inzalo yakhe’ ukuze kubusiswe zonke izizwe zomhlaba.—Genesise 22:15-18; Galathiya 3:29.
11. Ezikhathini zanamuhla, “iJerusalema eliphezulu” liye lajatshuliswa kanjani?
11 Ngo-1914 C.E., amazulu ajabula futhi ukubona ‘umfazi’ kaNkulunkulu ebeletha “umntwana wesilisa,” uMbuso kaKristu. Futhi lapho uKristu iNkosi (obizwa futhi ngokuthi uMikayeli, okusho ukuthi “ubani ofana noNkulunkulu”?) ephendula inselele kaSathane ngokuphonsa phansi uDeveli nezingelosi zakhe ebakhipha endaweni yasezulwini, elamemezela: “Ngalokho thokozani ninamazulu nabahlala kuwo!” Zajabula. futhi, kusukela ngo-1919 kuya phambili, ukubona ama“dodana” asele emhlabeni e“Jerusalema eliphezulu” ehlukaniswa ngokuphelele nenkolo yeBabiloni. (IsAmbulo 12:1-12; 18:4, 5) Futhi manje, njengoba laba abahlengiwe benza ukuza kwabo kokugcina e“Jerusalema lasezulwini,” uMbuso kaMesiya, yeka injabulo okumelwe ibe khona phakathi koquqaba lwezingelosi ezithembekile ze“Jerusalema eliphezulu”!—Isaya 62:11; IsAmbulo 19:7.
“Izulu Elisha Nomhlaba Omusha”
12. (a) Yiliphi “iJerusalema” okubhekiselwe kulo kuIsaya 65:17, 18? (b) “IJerusalema elisha” lihlobene kanjani ne“zulu elisha” futhi iyiphi inkonzo eliyenzayo?
12 “IJerusalema eliphezulu,” inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ewumfazi, iyajabula ngakho konke uMbusi wayo iNkosi, uJehova, akufezayo. Nokho, manje ake sihlole uIsaya 55:17-19. Lapha isiprofetho sibhekisela ekudaleni kukaJehova okuthile okusha. Ngakho-ke, leli“Jerusalema” kumelwe kube “iJerusalema Elisha” manje elilethwa njenge“ndodakazi yaseSiyoni,” eyendiswe kuMyeni oyiNkosi uJesu Kristu. (Isaya 62:11) UJehova uthi ngalo“mlobokazi”: “Ngilidala iJerusalema libe yimbangela yokwethaba, nabantu balo babe yimbangela yenjabulo.” Inkulu injabulo yalo“mlobokazi” wasezulwini ngokuba alethelwe amalungu aphelele ayizi-144 000, nangokubona uNkulunkulu edala “umhlaba omusha”—umphakathi ohlangene wasezulwini phakathi kwesintu.—IsAmbulo 21:1-5.
13, 14. (a) Kungani isimemo so“kujabula” siphuma? (b) Yimuphi umfanekiso okhazimulayo onikeziwe kusAmbulo 21:9-27? (c) Yisiphi isizathu esinaso sokubheka “iJerusalema elisha” njenge“mbangela yenjabulo”?
13 Isimemo siya kubo bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu: “Kepha jabulani, nethabe kuze kubephakade ngengikudalayo.” Kunesizathu esanele sokwethaba! Ngoba, masinyane, uJehova uzolwela igama lakhe eliphakeme ngokuchitha bonke abaphikisi. (AmaHubo 83:17, 18) Khona-ke, “izulu elisha” lizobusa ngokuphelele! Futhi yeka umfanekiso okhazimulayo isAmbulo 21:9-27 esiwunikezayo ngo“muzi ongcwele waseJerusalema [“umlobokazi” weWundlu, uJesu] wehla ezulwini kuNkulunkulu, unenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu!” Likhazimula, ngokomfanekiso, ngazo zonke izinhlobo zamatshe ayigugu, futhi likhanyiswa inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ngokwakhe, leliJerusalema elisha likhonza ngokumangalisayo esikhundleni salo sokwabela “izizwe” zesintu “amanzi okuphila” lawo ageleza “evela esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu nese Wundlu.”—IsAmbulo 22:1, 2, 17.
14 Ngakho-ke, ngokunengqondo, kungokuqondene no“mlobokazi, umkaWundlu,” owalethwa noKristu, umyeni wakhe, ‘ezulwini elisha’ eliwuhulumeni ukuthi uJehova uthi: “Ngokuba, bheka ngilidala iJerusalema libengukwethaba, nabantu balo babeyinjabulo.” (Isaya 65:18) Kodwa “umhlaba omusha” ungena kanjani kulokhukwethaba?
“Umhlaba Omusha” Uyajabula
15. Izisekelo zo“mhlaba omusha” ziye zabekwa kanjani?
15 Akukhona kuphela ezulwini kodwa nakuwo lomhlaba lapho uJehova eye waletha “imbangela yokujabula.” Ngoba uye wabeka izisekelo zo“mhlaba omusha,” umphakathi osaba uNkulunkulu phakathi kwabantu ozokwanda kuze kuthi, ngesikhathi esifanele, ugcwalise yonke imbulunga, kube udumo kuJehova. (Isaya 11:9) Kwakungonyaka ka-1919 lapho uJehova abangela umfazi wakhe “iJerusalema eliphezulu” ukuba lilethe “umhlaba”—isimo sokuchuma okukhulu—leso angenisa kuso uIsrayeli wakhe ongokomoya oseleyo emhlabeni. (Isaya 66:8, 10, 22) Lo“mhlaba” uye wabonakala uyipharadesi elingokomoya futhi kulapha lapho abantu bakaJehova beye bahlanganiselwa khona, njengesisekelo so“mhlaba omusha.” Akuzange kube khona isidingo sokulinda kuze kube ngemva kosizi olukhulu ukuba kungenwe kulelopharadesi elingokomoya. Selilapha kakade!
16. Yikuphi ukugcwaliseka okukhazimulayo okukhona kukaIsaya 62:1, 6, 7?
16 Manje njengoba abantu bakaJehova sebeye balethwa kulo“mhlaba” othelayo, isiprofetho esikhulu sikaIsaya isahluko 62, esihlobene neSiyoni, “iJerusalema eliphezulu,” siye sagcwaliseka. ‘Ukulunga kwalo kuphuma njengokukhanya,’ futhi kubonakaliswa kuzo zonke izizwe zesintu ngabantu balo, labo uisaya abachaza ngalamazwi: “Ngimisile abalindi phezu kwezingange zakho, Jerusalema; abayikuthula nakanye imini nobusuku; nina eningabakhumbuzi ngoJehova maningaphumuli, . . . aze akhe iJerusalema, alibeke libeyindumiso emhlabeni.” Ngempela, inhlangano kaJehova yasezulwini iye yaba “yindumiso emhlabeni” njengoba oFakazi beshumayela kuyo yonke imbulunga. Futhi ingxenye enkulu yalendumiso manje yenziwa abangane ba“balindi” abagcotshiwe—leso“sixuku esikhulu . . . sivela kuzo zonke izizwe,” esimi phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu, “simkhonza imini nobusuku.”—Isaya 62:1, 6, 7; IsAmbulo 7:9, 14, 15.
17. (a) Inkonzo yase“mini nobusuku” iye yaba kanjani isici soFakazi BakaJehova? (b) Yisiphi isizathu esivelele senjabulo esasikhona phakathi no-1982? (c) Kungasiphi isikhathi lenjabulo echichima ngaso, futhi kungani lokhu kungokufanelekile?
17 Lenkonzo yase“mini nobusuku” ya“balindi” neyabangane babo “isixuku esikhulu” iqhubekela phambili ngoku shesha! Inkonzo enjalo yomphefumulo wonke ngaso sonke isikhathi iye yaba ekhathalelwa ababonisi abajikelezayo abathembekile nomkabo, izithunywa zevangeli, amaphayona avamile namaphayona akhethekile nezisebenzi zaseBethel. Kulezikhathi zamuva izinkulungwane zoFakazi abashisekayo, abancane nabadala, ziye zazidela ukuze zihlanganyele enkonzweni yamaphayona asizayo inyanga noma ngaphezulu, zichitha isilinganiso okungenani samahora amabili endlini ngendlu nomunye umsebenzi wensimu usuku ngalunye. Phakathi no-1982 lomsebenzi womhlaba wonke wafinyelela inani eliphakeme kunawo wonke, ngengqikithi yamaphayona ayizi-305 778 ngenjabulo ebika inkonzo—ngentshiseko esekelwa ngabanye ofakazi boMbuso abathembekile abayizi-2 000 000 nangaphezulu. Ngempela, uJehova uye wa“dala iJerusalema libengukwethaba, nabantu balo babeyinjabulo”—injabulo futhi echichimayo unyaka ngamunye ngesikhathi sokugujwa kweSikhumbuzo esashiwo iNkosi uJesu.—1 Korinte 11:23-26.
“Kabasayikukhala”
18. Kungakhathaliseki ubunzima, yisiphi isithembiso esiye sagcwaliswa nge“sixuku esikhulu,” futhi kanjani?
18 Nakuba kuyoba khona ubunzima noshushiso uma nje uSathane esavunyelwe ukuba alethe omaye emhlabeni, “isixuku esikhulu” sezikhonzi ezizinikezele azisa“hlatshwa ilanga” lokungathandwa uNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokuwucela futhi bawunikezwa “unembeza omuhle,” labamemezeli abazinikezele, ababhapathiziwe bezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso bakhonza ngenjabulo, njengoba iWundlu, uKristu Jesu, ebaholela “emithonjeni yamanzi okuphila.” Kakade isithembiso sesigcwalisekile kubo ngepharadesi elingokomoya: “NoNkulunkulu uyakwesula izinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo.”—1 Petru 3:21; IsAmbulo 7:16, 17.
19. (a) Kungani kungekho “izwi lokukhala” elizwakalayo e“Jerusalema”? (b) UIsaya 65:21-25 ubonisani maqondana nencazelo yegama elithi “iJerusalema”?
19 Okufana kakhulu nalombhalo wokugcina yilokho okushiwo uJehova ngokwakhe kuIsaya 65:19: “Ngiyakwethaba ngeJerusalema, ngijabule ngabantu bami, kungabe kusezwakala izwi lokulila nezwi lokukhala.” Abaseleyo emhlabeni abasazovuselwa e“Jerusalema elisha” baye baba nokuhlangenwe nakho kwalenjabulo, futhi manje uJehova uthululela izibusiso ezifanayo ‘esixukwini esikhulu,’ se“zinye izimvu.” (Johane 10:16) Yeka ukuthi ajabulisa kanjani amazwi alandelayo akuIsaya 65:21-25 achaza isimo esingokwepharadesi sa“bantu” bakaNkulunkulu abaye bahlanganiswa njengesisekelo so“mhlaba omusha”! Ngempela, nasi “Isisekelo Sokuthula Okukabili,”—ukuthula manje phakathi kwezikhonzi zikaJehova futhi kuqhubekele ePharadesi loqobo, lapho intando kaNkulunkulu izokwenziwa khona emhlabeni wonke.—IsAmbulo 21:3-5; Mathewu 6:10.
20. Ngokufanelekileyo, yimiphi imibuzo esingazibuza yona?
20 Ingabe uyafuna ukudumisa uJehova phakade ePharadesi emhlabeni ngezinto ezinhle azifeza nge “Jerusalema eliphezulu,” inhlangano yakhe ewumfazi ozinikezele? Ingabe uyafuna ukubona “iJerusalema lasezulwini” noKristu ‘iNkosi yalo, uDavide Omkhulu,’ enqoba bonke ububi? Ingabe uyafuna ukubona umlobokazi “iJerusalema elisha” landisa ithonya lalo kusukela kuNkulunkulu noKristu wakhe ezulwini, ukuze lisule zonke izinyembezi zesintu?
21. Singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa ngakho konke lokho iJerusalema elithembekile elikufanekiselayo?
21 Uma lokho kuyisifiso sakho, khona-ke ngokuthembeka qhuba “inkonzo engcwele” ngokusekela konke lokho okwafanekiselwa iJerusalema lakudala elithembekile, lowomuzi we“Nkosi enkulu,” uMbusi iNkosi uJehova. (IsAmbulo 7:15) Khona-ke ungase uhlanganyele emculweni wethempeli ojabulisayo wamaHubo 87:3, njengoba uhlabelela ngenjabulo: “Okudumisekayo kukhulunywa ngawe muzi kaNkulunkulu.”
“Abantu abaningi bayakuhamba, bathi: Wozani sikhuphukele entabeni kaJehova endlini kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe; uyakusifundisa izindlela zakhe, sihambe emikhondweni yakhe, ngokuba umthetho uyakuvela eSiyoni, nezwi UkaJehova eJerusalema.”—Isaya 2:3.
Ngemva kokutadisha lesisihloko, yini oyiqondayo ngokulandelayo:
□ “IJerusalema lasezulwini”—Heberu 12:22
□ “IJerusalema Elisha”—IsAmbulo 21:2
□ “IJerusalema eliphezulu”—Galathiya 4:26
□ “Izulu elisha nomhlaba omusha”—Isaya 65:17, 18
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
IJerusalema—“imbangela yokujabula”