“Ulaka Lwami Olukhulu Luyovuka”

1-3. (a) Iyoba yini imiphumela ‘yolaka lukaJehova olukhulu’? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.) (b) Yini esizofunda ngayo manje?

AMADODA, abesifazane nezingane bamile, bacula ingoma yoMbuso. Umdala uthandaza ngokusuka enhliziyweni uncenga uJehova ukuba abavikele. Amalungu ebandla ayaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzowanakekela, kodwa asayidinga induduzo nesiqinisekiso. Ngaphandle, kuzwakala umsindo omkhulu wempi. I-Armagedoni isifikile!—IsAm. 16:14, 16.

² Phakathi nempi ye-Armagedoni, nakuba uJehova eyobe ‘enolaka olukhulu’ ngeke abulale noma ubani. (Funda uHezekeli 38:18.) Intukuthelo yakhe evuthayo iyobe ingaqondisiwe ebuthweni elilodwa lempi noma esizweni esisodwa, kodwa kubantu abaningi abahlala emhlabeni wonke. Ngalolo suku, ababulewe nguJehova “bayosukela komunye umkhawulo womhlaba kuze kube komunye umkhawulo womhlaba.”—Jer. 25:29, 33.

³ Yini ebangela uJehova, uNkulunkulu wothando, ochazwa ngokuthi ‘unesihe nozwela’ futhi “owephuza ukuthukuthela,” ukuba abe ‘nolaka olukhulu’? (Eks. 34:6; 1 Joh. 4:16) Ake sibone ukuthi impendulo yalowo mbuzo ingasinika kanjani induduzo enkulu, isenze sibe nesibindi futhi isikhuthaze emsebenzini wokushumayela namuhla.

4, 5. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luhluke kanjani kolwabantu abanesono?

⁴ Okokuqala kudingeka sazi ukuthi intukuthelo kaJehova ayifani neyabantu abanesono. Lapho umuntu eya ngokuya ethukuthela agcine esenze okuthile, ngokuvamile imiphumela ayibi mihle. Ngokwesibonelo, uKhayini indodana ka-Adamu yokuqala, “wathukuthela kakhulu” ngenxa yokuthi uJehova akawamukelanga umhlatshelo wakhe kodwa wasamukela isipho sika-Abela. Waba yini umphumela? UKhayini wabulala umfowabo olungile. (Gen. 4:3-8; Heb. 11:4) Cabanga nangoDavide, ochazwa njengomuntu ojabulisa inhliziyo kaJehova. (IzE. 13:22) Ngisho nale ndoda elungile yacishe yenza ububi obukhulu lapho izwa ukuthi indoda ecebile enendawo enkulu, uNabali yayiyithukile, yathuka namadoda ayekanye nayo. Bethukuthele kakhulu, uDavide namasosha akhe “bagaxa izinkemba,” beyobulala hhayi uNabali ongabongi kuphela kodwa nawo wonke umuntu wesilisa endlini yakhe. Kwasiza umkaNabali, u-Abhigayili, owakwazi ukushintsha uDavide namadoda akhe umqondo ukuba bangaziphindiseleli. (1 Sam. 25:9-14, 32, 33) Ngesizathu esihle, uJehova waphefumulela uJakobe ukuba abhale: “Intukuthelo yomuntu ayikulethi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu.”—Jak. 1:20.

⁵ Ngokungafani nentukuthelo yomuntu ngokuvamile evuthela wonke umuntu, uJehova unesizathu sokuthukuthela futhi uyakwazi ukulawula intukuthelo yakhe. Izenzo zikaJehova zihlale zilungile ngisho noma zibangelwa ulaka lwakhe olukhulu. Lapho elwa nesitha akalokothi abulale “olungile kanye nomubi.” (Gen. 18:22-25) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova uhlale enezizathu ezilungile zokuthukuthela. Ake ucabange nganazi izizathu ezimbili nokuthi sifundani kuzo.

 6. Yini uJehova ayenzayo lapho igama lakhe lingcoliswa?

⁶ Isizathu: Igama likaJehova liyangcoliswa. Labo abathi bamelela uJehova bebe benza izinto ezimbi balimaza idumela lakhe, bamenza athukuthele kube kufanele. (Hez. 36:23) Njengoba sixoxile ezahlukweni ezingaphambili zale ncwadi, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli salihlambalaza kakhulu igama likaJehova. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi indlela lesi sizwe esasicabanga futhi senze ngayo yamthukuthelisa uJehova. Akazange ahluleke ukulawula ulaka lwakhe—wajezisa abantu bakhe ngezinga elifanele, kwangedlulela ngale. (Jer. 30:11) Lapho intukuthelo kaJehova isiyifezile injongo yayo, akabange esathukuthela.—IHu. 103:9.

7, 8. Yiziphi izifundo esingazifunda endleleni uJehova asebenzelana ngayo no-Israyeli?

⁷ Izifundo: Ukusebenzelana kukaJehova nama-Israyeli kusinika isixwayiso esiphaphamisayo. Njengama-Israyeli asendulo, sinelungelo lokubizwa ngegama likaJehova. SingoFakazi BakaJehova. (Isaya 43:10) Esikushoyo nesikwenzayo kuyayithinta indlela abantu abacabanga ngayo ngoJehova. Asifuni nanini ukwenza izinto ezimbi ngamabomu sihlambalaze igama likaJehova. Indlela enjalo yokuphila yokuzenzisa iyovusela uJehova intukuthelo, ngokushesha uyothatha isinyathelo sokuvikela idumela lakhe.—Heb. 3:13, 15; 2 Pet. 2:1, 2.

⁸ Ingabe isixwayiso esithi uJehova uyakwazi ukuba ‘nolaka olukhulu’ kufanele sisivimbele singasondeli kuye? Cha. Siyazi ukuthi uJehova uyabekezela futhi uyathethelela. (Isaya 55:7; Roma 2:4) Kodwa siyazi nokuthi uyabayala abantu uma kudingeka. Empeleni, siyalihlonipha igunya likaJehova ngoba siyazi ukuthi uyabathukuthelela labo abenza izinto ezimbi ngamabomu, ngeke avumele noma ubani owenza kanjalo ukuba azihlanganise nabantu bakhe. (1 Kor. 5:11-13) UJehova usitshele ngokucacile ukuthi yini emenza athukuthele. Yithina okumelwe sigweme indlela yokucabanga nezenzo ezimthukuthelisayo.—Joh. 3:36; Roma 1:26-32; Jak. 4:8.

9, 10. UJehova wenzenjani lapho abantu bakhe abathembekile besongelwa? Nikeza izibonelo.

⁹ Isizathu: Abantu bakaJehova abathembekile bayasongelwa. UJehova uyathukuthela lapho izitha zisongela labo abaphephela kuye ngobuqotho. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho ama-Israyeli esehambile eGibhithe, uFaro nebutho lakhe elinamandla bafika bezohlasela laba bantu ababebonakala bengavikelekile ababesogwini loLwandle Olubomvu. Kodwa lapho lelo butho elinamandla lijaha ama-Israyeli ayewela ulwandle esihlabathini esomile, uJehova wakhipha amasondo ezinqola zempi waphonsa abaseGibhithe olwandle. “Akukho ngisho noyedwa phakathi kwabo owasinda.” (Eks. 14:25-28) Ngenxa ‘yothando lwakhe oluqotho,’ ulaka lwakhe lwavuthela abaseGibhithe.—Funda u-Eksodusi 15:9-13.

¹⁰ Ngokufanayo, uthando uJehova analo ngabantu lwamenza wathatha isinyathelo osukwini lweNkosi uHezekiya. Abase-Asiriya, ibutho elinamandla kakhulu futhi elinonya langalolo suku, babefikile bezohlasela idolobha laseJerusalema. Izinceku zikaJehova eziqotho zasongelwa ngokuvinjezelwa okwakuyobangela ukuba zife kabuhlungu kancane kancane. (2 AmaKh. 18:27) Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wathumela ingelosi ukuba ibulale amasosha esitha angu-185 000 ngobusuku obubodwa! (2 AmaKh. 19:34, 35) Cabanga nje ukuthi isimo sasinjani ngakusasa ekuseni ekamu labase-Asiriya. Imikhonto, amahawu nezinkemba kusele kanjalo kungazange kusebenze. Akukho macilongo avusa amadoda. Akukho muntu oqoqela amabutho ukuze ayolwa. Kuthule du ematendeni, kunezidumbu eziginqika yonke indawo.

11. Izibonelo ezisemiBhalweni zalokho uJehova akwenzayo lapho abantu bakhe besongelwa zisiduduza futhi zisiqinise kanjani?

¹¹ Izifundo: Lezo zibonelo zalokho uJehova akwenzayo lapho abantu bakhe besongelwa zinikeza izitha zethu izixwayiso ezinamandla: “Kuyinto esabekayo ukuwela ezandleni zikaNkulunkulu ophilayo” lapho ethukuthele. (Heb. 10:31) Lezo zibonelo ziyasiduduza zisinikeze nesibindi. Kuyasiduduza ukwazi ukuthi isitha sethu, uSathane, ngeke siphumelele. Maduze ‘isikhathi sakhe esifushane’ sokubusa sizophela! (IsAm. 12:12) Kuze kube yileso sikhathi singakhonza uJehova ngesibindi, siqiniseka ukuthi akukho muntu, akukho nhlangano noma uhulumeni ongasivimba ukuba senze intando kaNkulunkulu. (Funda iHubo 118:6-9.) Umphostoli uPawulu waveza ukuqiniseka esinakho ngala mazwi aphefumulelwe: “Uma uNkulunkulu engakithi, ubani oyomelana nathi?”—Roma 8:31.

12. Phakathi nosizi olukhulu yini eyokwenza uJehova abe nolaka?

¹² Phakathi nosizi olukhulu, uJehova uyosivikela njengoba nje avikela ama-Israyeli ayevalelwe abaseGibhithe, namaJuda eJerusalema ayevinjezelwe abase-Asiriya. Lapho izitha zethu zizama ukuqeda ngathi, uthando uJehova analo ngathi luzomenza abe nolaka olukhulu. Labo abayokwenza ubuwula bokusihlasela, empeleni, bayobe bethinta inhlamvu yeso likaJehova. Ngokungangabazeki uyothatha isinyathelo ngokushesha. (Zak. 2:8, 9) Kuyofa abantu abaningi ngendlela engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili. Kodwa izitha zikaNkulunkulu ngeke zibe nesizathu sokumangala lapho uJehova ededela ulaka lwakhe. Kungani?

13. Yiziphi izixwayiso uJehova azikhiphile?

¹³ UJehova ‘uyephuza ukuthukuthela’ futhi ukhiphe izixwayiso eziningi zokuthi uzobabhubhisa labo abamphikisayo nabasongela abantu bakhe. (Eks. 34:6, 7) UJehova wasebenzisa abaprofethi abanjengoJeremiya, uHezekeli, uDaniyeli, uJesu Kristu nabaphostoli uPetru, uPawulu noJohane ukuze axwayise ngempi enkulu ezayo.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “UJehova Uxwayisa Ngempi Enkulu Ezayo.”

14, 15. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJehova awenzile futhi kungani?

¹⁴ UJehova wenza ukuba lezi zixwayiso zibhalwe eZwini lakhe. Waqinisekisa nokuthi iBhayibheli liba incwadi ehunyushwa netholakala kakhulu kunazo zonke ezinye emlandweni. Emhlabeni wonke uziqoqele ibutho lamavolontiya elisiza abanye ukuba babe nobuhlobo obuhle naye, nelibaxwayisa ‘ngosuku lukaJehova olukhulu’ oluzayo. (Zef. 1:14; IHu. 2:10-12; 110:3) Uye wakhuthaza abantu bakhe ukuba bahumushe izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi ezingamakhulu amaningi nokuba bachithe amahora ayizigidi unyaka ngamunye bexoxa ngezithembiso nangezixwayiso ezitholakala eZwini lakhe.

¹⁵ UJehova ubangele ukuba wonke lo msebenzi wenziwe “ngoba akafisi ukuba kubhubhe ngisho noyedwa, kodwa ufisa ukuba bonke baphenduke.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Akuve kuyilungelo ukumelela uNkulunkulu wethu onothando nobekezelayo nokuba nengxenye encane ekusakazeni umyalezo wakhe! Nokho, maduze, isikhathi sizobaphelela labo abangazinaki izixwayiso zakhe.

16, 17. Ingabe uJehova uselubekile usuku lwempi yokugcina? Chaza.

¹⁶ UJehova uselubekile usuku lwempi yokugcina. Useyazi ukuthi abantu bakhe bayohlaselwa nini. (Math. 24:36) UJehova wazi kanjani ukuthi izitha zakhe zizohlasela nini?

¹⁷ Njengoba sibonile esahlukweni esidlule sale ncwadi, uJehova utshela uGogi: ‘Ngizofaka amahhuku emihlathini yakho.’ Uyoholela izizwe ukuba ziye empini. (Hez. 38:4) Lokhu akusho ukuthi nguJehova oyohlasela kuqala kule mpi, akusho nokuthi uyobaphoqa ukuba balwe empini labo abamphikisayo, kunalokho uJehova ubona inhliziyo futhi uyazi ukuthi izitha zakhe ziyokwenzenjani uma zibhekene nezimo ezithile.—IHu. 94:11; Isaya 46:9, 10; Jer. 17:10.

18. Yini ezokwenza abantu balwe noMninimandla Onke?

¹⁸ Uma kungeyena uJehova ohlasela kuqala futhi engabaphoqi abaphikisi bakhe ukuba balwe empini, pho yini engenza abantu balwe noMninimandla Onke uqobo lwakhe? Esinye isizathu siwukuthi cishe ngaleso sikhathi abantu bayozitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho noma ngeke angenele ezindabeni zesintu. Mhlawumbe into eyobenza bacabange kanjalo ukuthi bayobe sebezibhubhise zonke izinhlangano zenkolo yamanga emhlabeni. Ngakho, bangase baphethe ngokuthi ukube uNkulunkulu ubekhona, ubeyozivikela lezo zinhlangano ezithi zimelela yena. Bayobe bengazi ukuthi empeleni nguNkulunkulu okufake ezinhliziyweni zabo ukuba baqede izinkolo ebezimmelela kabi kakhulu.—IsAm. 17:16, 17.

19. Yini engase yenzeke ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga?

¹⁹ Esikhathini esithile ngemva kokuba inkolo ibhujisiwe, uJehova angase enze abantu bakhe bamemezele umyalezo obuhlungu, lowo incwadi yesAmbulo ewufanisa nesichotho esinamatshe amakhulu, itshe ngalinye linesisindo esingaba amakhilogremu angu-20. (IsAm. 16:21, umbhalo waphansi) Lo myalezo, okungenzeka uyisimemezelo sokuthi ezepolitiki nezentengiselwano sekuzophela, uyobakhathaza kakhulu abawuzwayo kangangokuthi bayohlambalaza uNkulunkulu. Cishe yiwo lo myalezo oyokwenza izizwe zihlasele abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuze zisithulise unomphela. Ziyocabanga ukuthi asivikelekile nokuthi kulula ukuba zisiqothule. Ziyobe zishaye phansi kwashunqa uthuli!

20, 21. Ungubani uGogi, futhi kuyokwenzekani kuye?

²⁰ Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 17 sale ncwadi, uHezekeli usebenzisa isiqu esiyisiprofetho esithi, ‘uGogi wezwe lakwaMagogi,’ lapho ekhuluma ngezizwe eziyohlangana ukuze zisihlasele. (Hez. 38:2) Kodwa amalungu alezo zizwe ayobe engabumbene kahle. Nakuba kuyobonakala sengathi zibambisene, empeleni ziyobe zisenomoya wokuqhosha, wokuncintisana nowokulwela amazwe azo. Kuyoba lula ngoJehova ukuba enze inkemba yomuntu ngamunye ‘imelane nomfowabo.’ (Hez. 38:21) Kodwa ukubhujiswa kwalezo zizwe kuyobe kungabangelwanga umuntu.

²¹ Ngaphambi kokuba zibhujiswe, izitha zethu ziyobona isibonakaliso seNdodana yomuntu, cishe esiyoba ukubonakaliswa kwamandla kaJehova noJesu ngendlela engaphezu kwevamile. Abaphikisi bayobona izinto eziyobenza bakhathazeke kakhulu. Njengoba uJesu abikezela, “abantu bayoquleka ngenxa yokwesaba nokulindela izinto ezehlela umhlaba.” (Luka 21:25-27) Bayoshaqeka lapho bebona ukuthi benze iphutha ngokuhlasela abantu bakaJehova. Bayophoqeleka ukuba bamazi uMdali njengomqondisi webutho, uJehova wamabutho. (IHu. 46:6-11; Hez. 38:23) Ngokungangabazeki uJehova uyosebenzisa amabutho asezulwini namandla akhe emvelo ukuze avikele izinceku zakhe eziqotho kodwa aqothule izitha zakhe.—Funda eye-2 Petru 2:9.

22, 23. Obani abayovikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, futhi bayozizwa kanjani ngomsebenzi wabo?

²² Cabanga indlela uJesu ayobe ekulangazelela ngayo ukuhola ekuhlaseleni izitha zikaNkulunkulu nasekuvikeleni labo abathanda futhi bakhonze uYise. Cabanga nangendlela abagcotshiwe abayobe bezizwa ngayo. Esikhathini esithile ngaphambi kokuba i-Armagedoni iqale, abokugcina kubo abayobe besele emhlabeni bayoyiswa ezulwini ukuze bonke abangu-144 000 bakwazi ukuhamba noJesu bayolwa empini. (IsAm. 17:12-14) Abaningi abagcotshiwe bayobe bebe nobungane obuseduze namalungu ezinye izimvu njengoba bebesebenza ndawonye phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina. Manje abagcotshiwe bayobe benegunya namandla okuvikela labo ababebasekele ngobuqotho kangaka phakathi nokuvivinywa kwabo.—Math. 25:31-40.

²³ Izingelosi ziyobe ziyingxenye yebutho likaJesu lasezulwini. (2 Thes. 1:7; IsAm. 19:14) Sezimsizile kakade ekususeni uSathane namademoni ezulwini. (IsAm. 12:7-9) Ziye zasiza nasekuqoqeni abantu abafuna ukukhonza uJehova. (IsAm. 14:6, 7) Kuyafaneleka ngempela ukuba uJehova avumele izingelosi ukuba zivikele labo bantu abaqotho! Okubaluleke kakhulu ukuthi bonke abasebuthweni likaJehova, bayozizwa benelungelo lokungcwelisa igama lakhe noma idumela lakhe ngokusiza ekubhubhiseni izitha zakhe.—Math. 6:9, 10.

24. Siyokwenzani isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu?

²⁴ Njengoba isixuku esikhulu sezinye izimvu sinebutho elinamandla elizimisele ukusivikela, ngeke sibe nesizathu sokwesaba. Empeleni, ‘siyoma siqonde siphakamise amakhanda aso, ngoba ukukhululwa kwaso kuyobe sekusondele.’ (Luka 21:28) Akuve kubalulekile ukuba ngaphambi kokufika kosuku lukaJehova, sisize abantu abaningi kakhulu ukuba bazi futhi bathande uBaba wethu onesihe novikelayo!—Funda uZefaniya 2:2, 3.

25. Sizoxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁵ Umphumela wezimpi zabantu uba isiphithiphithi nosizi. Kodwa umphumela we-Armagedoni uyoba ukuhleleka nenjabulo. Kuyoba njani lapho ulaka lukaJehova seluphelile, amaqhawe akhe esebeke izinkemba zawo nalapho umsindo wempi enkulu uphela kancane kancane? Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngalesi sikhathi esizayo esijabulisayo.