ISahluko 25

Ukuvusa Ofakazi Ababili

 1. Ingelosi enamandla iyala uJohane ukuba enzeni?

NGAPHAMBI kokuba umaye wesibili ekugcineni adlule, ingelosi enamandla imema uJohane ukuba abe nengxenye komunye umbono ongokwesiprofetho, umbono ophathelene nethempeli. (IsAmbulo 9:12; 10:1) Nakhu uJohane akubikayo: “Nganikwa umhlanga onjengenduku njengoba yayithi: ‘Sukuma ulinganise indlu engcwele kaNkulunkulu yethempeli ne-altare nabakhulekela kuyo.’”—IsAmbulo 11:1.

Indlu Engcwele Yethempeli

 2. (a) Yiliphi ithempeli elaliyohlala kuze kube usuku lwethu? (b) Ubani umPristi Ophakeme wethempeli, futhi iyini iNgcwelengcwele yalo?

² Ithempeli eliphawulwe lapha akunakuba yinoma yiliphi ithempeli elingokoqobo eJerusalema, njengoba elokugcina lawo labhujiswa amaRoma ngo-70 C.E. Nokho, umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ngisho nangaphambi kwalokho kubhujiswa, kwakuvelé elinye ithempeli elaliyohlala kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Leli kwakuyithempeli elikhulu elingokomoya elagcwalisa imifuziselo engokwesiprofetho yetabernakele futhi kamuva amathempeli ayakhiwe eJerusalema. ‘Liyitende leqiniso, elamiswa uJehova, hhayi umuntu,’ futhi umPristi walo Ophakeme nguJesu, uPawulu amchaza ngokuthi “wahlala phansi ngakwesokunene sesihlalo sobukhosi soMkhulu ngokubabazekayo emazulwini.” INgcwelengcwele yalo iyilapho kukhona uJehova ezulwini uqobo.—Hebheru 8:1, 2; 9:11, 24.

 3. Etabernakele, yini eyayifanekiselwa (a) isihenqo esihlukanisa iNgcwelengcwele neNgcwele? (b) iminikelo yezilwane? (c) i-altare lemihlatshelo?

³ Umphostoli uPawulu uyachaza ukuthi isihenqo setabernakele, esihlukanisa iNgcwelengcwele negumbi eliNgcwele, sifanekisela inyama kaJesu. Lapho uJesu enikela ngokuphila kwakhe, lesi sihenqo sadabuka kabili, kubonisa ukuthi inyama kaJesu yayingasamvimbeli ukuba angene phambi kukaJehova ezulwini. Ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu, abapristi bakhe abangaphansi abagcotshiwe abafa bethembekile, ngesikhathi esifanele, nabo babeyongena emazulwini. (Mathewu 27:50, 51; Hebheru 9:3; 10:19, 20) UPawulu uyaveza futhi ukuthi imihlatshelo yezilwane eyayenziwa njalo etabernakele yayikhomba phambili emhlatshelweni kaJesu owodwa wokuphila kwakhe kobuntu okuphelele. I-altare lemihlatshelo egcekeni lalimelele ilungiselelo likaJehova, ngokwentando yakhe, lokwamukela umhlatshelo kaJesu ngenxa ‘yabaningi’—ngenxa yabagcotshiwe, futhi kamuva, ngenxa yezinye izimvu—ababeyobe ‘bemfuna ngobuqotho ukuze basindiswe.’—Hebheru 9:28; 10:9, 10; Johane 10:16.

 4. Yini eyayifanekiselwa (a) iNdawo eNgcwele? (b) igceke elingaphakathi?

⁴ Kulokhu kwaziswa okuphefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu, singaphetha ngokuthi iNdawo eNgcwele etabernakele ifanekisela isimo esingcwele esijatshulelwa okokuqala uKristu bese kuba amalungu agcotshiwe obupristi bobukhosi angu-144 000 lapho esesemhlabeni, ngaphambi kokuba angene adlule ‘esihenqweni.’ (Hebheru 6:19, 20; 1 Petru 2:9) Ifanekisela kahle ukwamukelwa kwawo njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu angokomoya, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu avuma uJesu ukuthi uyiNdodana yakhe ngemva kokubhapathizwa kukaJesu eJordani ngo-29 C.E. (Luka 3:22; Roma 8:15) Futhi kuthiwani ngegceke elingaphakathi, ukuphela kwengxenye yetabernakele eyayibonakala kuma-Israyeli angebona abapristi nendawo okwakwenzelwa kuyo imihlatshelo? Lifanekisela ukuma okuphelele kwendoda uJesu okwayenza yafanelekela ukuba inikele ngokuphila kwayo ngenxa yesintu. Limelela futhi ukuma kokulunga njengabangcwele, okunikezwa ngesisekelo somhlatshelo kaJesu, abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe abakujabulelayo lapho besesemhlabeni.a—Roma 1:7; 5:1.

Ukulinganisa Indlu Engcwele Yethempeli

 5. Eziprofethweni zemiBhalo yesiHebheru, kwakusho ukuthini (a) ukulinganiswa kweJerusalema? (b) ukulinganiswa kwethempeli likaHezekeli lombono?

⁵ UJohane utshelwa ukuba ‘alinganise indlu engcwele kaNkulunkulu yethempeli ne-altare nabakhulekela kuyo.’ Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Eziprofethweni zemiBhalo yesiHebheru, ukulinganisa okunjalo kwakunikeza isiqinisekiso sokuthi ukwahlulela ngokulunga kwakuyokwenziwa ngesisekelo sezindinganiso zikaJehova eziphelele. Ezinsukwini zeNkosi ekhohlakele uManase, ukulinganiswa okungokwesiprofetho kweJerusalema kwafakazela isahlulelo esingenakuguquka sokubhujiswa kwalowo muzi. (2 AmaKhosi 21:13; IsiLilo 2:8) Nokho, kamuva lapho uJeremiya ebona iJerusalema lilinganiswa, kwaqinisekisa ukuthi lo muzi wawuyophinde wakhiwe. (Jeremiya 31:39; bheka futhi uZakariya 2:2-8.) Ngokufanayo, ukulinganiswa okubanzi nokuningiliziwe kwethempeli lombono okwabonwa uHezekeli kwakuyisiqinisekiso kubathunjwa abangamaJuda eBhabhiloni sokuthi ukukhulekela kweqiniso kwakuyobuyiselwa ezweni lakubo. Kwakuyisikhumbuzo futhi sokuthi, ngenxa yamaphutha akhe, kusukela lapho u-Israyeli kwakuyodingeka afinyelele izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu ezingcwele.—Hezekeli 40:3, 4; 43:10.

 6. Kuwuphawu lwani ukutshelwa kukaJohane ukuba alinganise ithempeli nokukhulekela kwabapristi kulo? Chaza.

⁶ Ngakho, lapho uJohane eyalwa ukuba alinganise indlu engcwele yethempeli nalabo bapristi abakhulekela kuyo, kuwuphawu lokuthi akukho okungavimbela ukugcwaliseka kwezinjongo zikaJehova ngokuqondene nokuhlelwa kwethempeli nalabo abahlangene nalo, nokuthi lezo zinjongo zisondela emvuthwandaba wazo. Manje njengoba zonke izinto sezibekwe ngaphansi kwezinyawo zengelosi kaJehova enamandla, sekuyisikhathi sokuba ‘intaba yendlu kaJehova imiswe iqine ibe ngaphezu kwesiqongo sezintaba.’ (Isaya 2:2-4) Ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova okumsulwa kumelwe kuphakanyiswe, ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka yokuhlubuka kweLobukholwa. Sekuyisikhathi futhi ngalabo babafowabo bakaJesu abathembekile abaye bafa ukuba bavuselwe ‘eNgcwelengcwele.’ (Daniyeli 9:24; 1 Thesalonika 4:14-16; IsAmbulo 6:11; 14:4) Futhi abokugcina ababekwe uphawu emhlabeni ‘bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu’ kumelwe balinganiswe ngokwezindinganiso zaphezulu ukuze bafanelekele indawo yabo yaphakade elungiselelweni lethempeli njengamadodana kaNkulunkulu azelwe ngomoya. Isigaba sikaJohane namuhla siziqaphela ngokugcwele lezo zindinganiso ezingcwele futhi sizimisele ukuba sizifinyelele.—IsAmbulo 7:1-3; Mathewu 13:41, 42; Efesu 1:13, 14; qhathanisa nabaseRoma 11:20.

Ukunyathelwa Kwegceke

 7. (a) Kungani uJohane etshelwa ukuba angalilinganisi igceke? (b) Umuzi ongcwele wanyathelwa nini ngezinyawo izinyanga ezingu-42? (c) Abefundisi beLobukholwa bahluleka kanjani ukusekela izindinganiso zikaJehova zokulunga izinyanga ezingu-42?

⁷ Kungani uJohane anqatshelwa ukulinganisa igceke? Uyasitshela ngala mazwi: “Kodwa igceke elingaphandle kwendlu engcwele yethempeli, lona liyeke ngokuphelele, ngoba linikwe izizwe, futhi umuzi ongcwele ziyowunyathela ngezinyawo izinyanga ezingamashumi amane nambili.” (IsAmbulo 11:2) Siphawulile ukuthi igceke elingaphakathi lifanekisela ukuma kokulunga emhlabeni kwamaKristu azelwe ngomoya. Njengoba sizobona, lapha kubhekiselwe ezinyangeni ezingu-42 ezingokoqobo ezisukela ku-December 1914 kuya ku-June 1918, lapho bonke ababethi bangamaKristu babekwa ovivinyweni olunzima. Ingabe babeyozisekela izindinganiso zikaJehova zokulunga phakathi naleyo minyaka yempi? Abaningi abazange. Ngothi lwabo, abefundisi beLobukholwa babeka ubuzwe ngaphambi kokuthobela umthetho waphezulu. Nhlangothi zombili zempi, eyayilwiwa ikakhulukazi kweLobukholwa, abefundisi babeshumayeza izinsizwa ukuba ziye empini. Izigidi zabulawa. Ngesikhathi ukwahlulela kuqala endlini kaNkulunkulu ngo-1918, i-United States nayo yayisingenele kulokhu kuchitha igazi, futhi abefundisi balo lonke eLobukholwa babezibangele icala legazi elisakhalela impindiselo yaphezulu. (1 Petru 4:17) Ukulahlelwa kwabo ngaphandle kuye kwaba okuhlala njalo, okungenakuguquka.—Isaya 59:1-3, 7, 8; Jeremiya 19:3, 4.

 8. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, yini abaningi babaFundi BeBhayibheli ababeyiqaphela, kodwa yini ababengayiqapheli ngokugcwele?

⁸ Nokho, kuthiwani ngeqembu elincane labaFundi BeBhayibheli? Ingabe kwakumelwe balinganiswe ngokushesha ngo-1914 ngokunamathela kwabo ezindinganisweni zaphezulu? Cha. NjengamaKristu okuzisholo eLobukholwa, nabo futhi kumelwe bavivinywe. ‘Bayekwa ngokuphelele, banikwa izizwe’ ukuba bavivinywe futhi bashushiswe kanzima. Abaningi babo baqaphela ukuthi akufanele bahambe bayobulala umakhelwane wabo, kodwa okwangaleso sikhathi babengakuqondi ngokugcwele ukungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu. (Mika 4:3; Johane 17:14, 16; 1 Johane 3:15) Ngaphansi kokucindezela kwezizwe, abanye bahoxa.

 9. Uyini umuzi ongcwele owanyathelwa ngezinyawo izizwe, futhi emhlabeni, ubani omelela lo muzi?

⁹ Nokho, kukanjani ukuthi umuzi ongcwele wanyathelelwa ngezinyawo yilezo zizwe? Ngokusobala, lokhu akubhekiseli eJerusalema elabhujiswa eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-25 ngaphambi kokuba kubhalwe isAmbulo. Kunalokho, umuzi ongcwele uyiJerusalema Elisha, elichazwa kamuva kusAmbulo, manje elimelelwe emhlabeni amaKristu agcotshiwe asasele egcekeni elingaphakathi lethempeli. Ngesikhathi esifanele, nalaba futhi bazoba ingxenye yomuzi ongcwele. Ngakho ukunyathela bona kufana nokunyathela umuzi ngokwawo.—IsAmbulo 21:2, 9-21.

Ofakazi Ababili

10. Yini ofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile okumelwe bayenze ngesikhathi benyathelwa?

¹⁰ Ngisho nangesikhathi benyathelwa, laba abathembekile abayeki ukuba ofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile. Ngakho, isiprofetho siyaqhubeka: “‘Ngizobangela ofakazi bami ababili ukuba baprofethe izinsuku eziyinkulungwane namakhulu amabili namashumi ayisithupha begqoke indwangu yamasaka.’ Laba bafanekiselwa iminqumo emibili nayizinti zezibani ezimbili futhi bami phambi kweNkosi yomhlaba.”—IsAmbulo 11:3, 4.

11. Kwakusho ukuthini ngamaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile ukuprofetha “egqoke indwangu yamasaka”?

¹¹ La maKristu agcotshiwe athembekile ayedinga imfanelo yokukhuthazela, ngoba kwakudingeka aprofethe “egqoke indwangu yamasaka.” Lokhu kwakusho ukuthini? Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli ngokuvamile indwangu yamasaka yayifanekisela ukulila. Ukuyembatha kwakuwuphawu lokuthi umuntu uthotshiswe usizi noma ukucindezeleka. (Genesise 37:34; Jobe 16:15, 16; Hezekeli 27:31) Indwangu yamasaka yayihlangene nezigijimi ezibuhlungu zokulahlwa noma zosizi abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu okwakumelwe bazimemezele. (Isaya 3:8, 24-26; Jeremiya 48:37; 49:3) Ukwembatha indwangu yamasaka kwakungabonisa ukuzithoba noma ukuphenduka ngenxa yesixwayiso saphezulu. (Jona 3:5) Indwangu yamasaka embethwe ofakazi ababili ibonakala ibonisa ukukhuthazela kwabo ngokuthobeka ekumemezeleni izahlulelo zikaJehova. Babengofakazi abamemezela usuku lwakhe lwempindiselo olwaluzoletha ukulila nasezizweni.—Duteronomi 32:41-43.

12. Kungani inkathi yokunyathelwa ngezinyawo komuzi ongcwele ibonakala ingokoqobo?

¹² Isigaba sikaJohane kwakumelwe sishumayele lesi sigijimi isikhathi esinqunywe ngokuqondile: izinsuku ezingu-1 260, noma izinyanga ezingu-42, isikhathi esilingana nesokunyathelwa ngezinyawo komuzi ongcwele. Le nkathi ibonakala ingokoqobo, njengoba ishiwo ngezindlela ezimbili ezihlukene, okokuqala ngezinyanga bese kuba ngezinsuku. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ekuqaleni kosuku lweNkosi, kwaba nenkathi ephawulekayo yeminyaka emithathu nengxenye lapho okuhlangenwe nakho okunzima kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kwafana nezenzakalo eziprofethwe lapha—kusukela ngo-December 1914 futhi kuqhubeke kuze kube u-June 1918. (IsAmbulo 1:10) Bamemezela isigijimi ‘sendwangu yamasaka’ ngokuqondene nokwahlulela kukaJehova eLobukholwa nezwe.

13. (a) Yini eboniswa iqiniso lokuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe ayefanekiselwa ofakazi ababili? (b) Yisiphi isiprofetho sikaZakariya esisikhunjuzwa ukubiza kukaJohane ofakazi ababili ngokuthi ‘iminqumo emibili nezinti zezibani ezimbili’?

¹³ Iqiniso lokuthi bafanekiselwa ofakazi ababili lisiqinisekisa ukuthi isigijimi sabo sasiqondile futhi sinezisekelo eziqinile. (Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 17:6; Johane 8:17, 18.) UJohane ubabiza ngokuthi ‘bayiminqumo emibili nezinti zezibani ezimbili,’ uthi “bami phambi kweNkosi yomhlaba.” Lokhu kuwukubhekisela okusobala esiprofethweni sikaZakariya, owabona uthi lwesibani olunamagatsha ayisikhombisa nemithi yeminqumo emibili. Imithi yeminqumo kwakuthiwa ifanekisela “abagcotshiweyo ababili,” okungukuthi, uMbusi uZerubhabhele nomPristi Ophakeme uJoshuwa, “abemi eceleni kweNkosi yomhlaba wonke.”—Zakariya 4:1-3, 14.

14. (a) Yini eyaboniswa umbono kaZakariya wemithi emibili yeminqumo? nothi lwesibani? (b) Yini amaKristu agcotshiwe ayezohlangabezana nayo phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala?

¹⁴ UZakariya waphila esikhathini sokwakha kabusha, futhi umbono wakhe wemithi yeminqumo emibili wawusho ukuthi uZerubhabhele noJoshuwa babeyobusiswa ngomoya kaJehova ekuqiniseleni abantu umsebenzi. Umbono wothi lwesibani wakhumbuza uZakariya ukuba ‘angaludeleli usuku lwezinto ezincane’ ngoba izinjongo zikaJehova zaziyofezwa—“‘ngeke kube ngebutho lempi, noma ngamandla, kodwa kuyoba ngomoya wami,’ kusho uJehova wamabutho.” (Zakariya 4:6, 10; 8:9) Iqembu elincane lamaKristu elaliyisa ngokuphikelelayo ukukhanya kweqiniso esintwini phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala laliyosetshenziswa ngendlela efanayo emsebenzini wokwakha kabusha. Nalo futhi laliyoba umthombo wesikhuthazo, futhi nakuba lalilincane, laliyofunda ukuthembela emandleni kaJehova, lingaludeleli usuku lwesiqalo esincane.

15. (a) Iqiniso lokuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe achazwa njengofakazi ababili lisikhumbuzani futhi? Chaza. (b) Luhlobo luni lwezibonakaliso ofakazi ababili abagunyazwa ukuba bazenze?

¹⁵ Iqiniso lokuthi lachazwa njengofakazi ababili lisikhumbuza futhi ngokuguqulwa kwesimo. Kulowo mbono, abathathu babaphostoli bakaJesu bambona esenkazimulweni yoMbuso, ekanye noMose no-Eliya. Lokhu kwafanekisela ukuhlala kukaJesu esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi esikhazimulayo ngo-1914 ukuba afeze umsebenzi owafanekiselwa abaprofethi ababili. (Mathewu 17:1-3) Ngokufanelekayo, ofakazi ababili manje babonakala benza izibonakaliso ezikhumbuza ngalezo zikaMose no-Eliya. Ngokwesibonelo, uJohane uthi ngabo: “Uma noma ubani efuna ukubalimaza, kuphuma umlilo emilonyeni yabo ushwabadele izitha zabo; uma noma ubani engase afune ukubalimaza, kumelwe abulawe ngale ndlela. Laba banegunya lokuvala izulu ukuba imvula ingani phakathi nezinsuku zokuprofetha kwabo.”—IsAmbulo 11:5, 6a.

16. (a) Isibonakaliso esihilela umlilo sisikhumbuza kanjani ngesikhathi lapho igunya likaMose libekelwa inselele kwa-Israyeli? (b) Abefundisi beLobukholwa babadelela kanjani abaFundi BeBhayibheli futhi bashoshozela ukuba bahlushwe phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala, futhi laba balwa kanjani?

¹⁶ Lokhu kusikhumbuza ngesikhathi igunya likaMose libekelwa inselele kwa-Israyeli. Lowo mprofethi wakhuluma amazwi esahlulelo anjengomlilo, futhi uJehova wazibhubhisa izihlubuki, eqothula ezingu-250 zazo ngomlilo ongokoqobo ovela ezulwini. (Numeri 16:1-7, 28-35) Ngokufanayo, abaholi beLobukholwa badelela abaFundi BeBhayibheli, bethi abazange bathole iziqu emakholiji ezifundo zenkolo. Kodwa ofakazi bakaNkulunkulu babenezincwadi ezinkulu ezibafakazela njengezikhonzi: labo bantu abathobekile abalalela isigijimi sabo esingokomBhalo. (2 Korinte 3:2, 3) Ngo-1917 abaFundi BeBhayibheli bakhipha ethi The Finished Mystery, incwadi enamandla ekhulumela isAmbulo noHezekeli. Yalandelwa ukusakazwa kwamakhophi angu-10 000 000 epheshana elinamakhasi amane elithi The Bible Students Monthly elalinesihloko esiqhamile esithi “Ukuwa KweBhabhiloni—Isizathu Esenza ELobukholwa Kudingeke Lihlupheke Manje—Umphumela Wokugcina.” E-United States, abefundisi abathukuthele basebenzisa ukwesaba kwangesikhathi sempi njengebhaxa lokuba le ncwadi yenqatshelwe. Kwamanye amazwe ezinye izingxenye zale ncwadi zasuswa. Nokho, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zaqhubeka zilwa ngamakhophi anjengomlilo epheshana elinamakhasi amane elinesihloko esithi Kingdom News. Njengoba usuku lweNkosi lwaluqhubeka, ezinye izincwadi zazizosenza sicace isimo seLobukholwa esifile ngokomoya.—Qhathanisa noJeremiya 5:14.

17. (a) Yiziphi izehlakalo ezinsukwini zika-Eliya ezazihilela isomiso nomlilo? (b) Umlilo waphuma kanjani emilonyeni yofakazi ababili, futhi yisiphi isomiso esasihilelekile?

¹⁷ Kuthiwani ngo-Eliya? Ezinsukwini zamakhosi akwa-Israyeli, lo mprofethi wamemezela isomiso njengesasibonisa intukuthelo kaJehova kuma-Israyeli akhulekela uBhali. Sathatha iminyaka emithathu nengxenye. (1 AmaKhosi 17:1; 18:41-45; Luka 4:25; Jakobe 5:17) Kamuva, lapho iNkosi engathembekile u-Ahaziya ithumela amabutho ukuba aphoqelele u-Eliya ukuba eze phambi kwayo njengenkosi, umprofethi wabiza umlilo ezulwini ukuba uqothule lawo mabutho. U-Eliya wavuma ukuhambisana nomphathi wamabutho ukuya enkosini kuphela lapho ebonisa inhlonipho efanele ngesikhundla sakhe njengomprofethi. (2 AmaKhosi 1:5-16) Ngokufanayo, phakathi kuka-1914 no-1918, insali egcotshiwe yadonsela ukunakekela ngesibindi ekomiseni okungokomoya kweLobukholwa futhi yaxwayisa ngesahlulelo esinjengomlilo ‘ekuzeni kosuku lukaJehova olukhulu nolwesabekayo.’—Malaki 4:1, 5; Amose 8:11.

18. (a) Yiliphi igunya elinikezwa ofakazi ababili, futhi leli lalifana kanjani nalelo elanikezwa uMose? (b) Ofakazi ababili balidalula kanjani eLobukholwa?

¹⁸ UJohane uyaqhubeka ekhuluma ngofakazi ababili: “Futhi banegunya phezu kwamanzi lokuwaphendula abe yigazi nelokushaya umhlaba ngazo zonke izinhlobo zezinhlupho kaningi ngangokuthanda kwabo.” (IsAmbulo 11:6b) Ukuze abangele uFaro ukuba akhulule ama-Israyeli, uJehova wasebenzisa uMose ekushayeni iGibhithe elicindezelayo ngezinhlupho, kuhlanganise nokuphendula amanzi abe yigazi. Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, izitha zika-Israyeli ezingamaFilisti zazizikhumbula kahle izenzo zikaJehova ngokumelene neGibhithe, ziwabangela ukuba akhale: “Maye kithi! Ubani ozosisindisa esandleni salo Nkulunkulu omkhulu ngokubabazekayo? Lo yilo Nkulunkulu owashaya iGibhithe ngazo zonke izinhlobo zokuceka [“zezinhlupho,” Revised Standard Version] ehlane.” (1 Samuweli 4:8; IHubo 105:29) UMose wafanekisela uJesu, owayenegunya lokumemezela izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu kubaholi benkolo bosuku lwakhe. (Mathewu 23:13; 28:18; IzEnzo 3:22) Futhi phakathi nempi yezwe yokuqala abafowabo bakaKristu, ofakazi ababili, badalula isimo esibulalayo ‘samanzi’ eLobukholwa elaliwanikeza imihlambi yalo.

Ofakazi Ababili Bayabulawa

19. Ngokulandisa kwesAmbulo, yini eyenzekayo lapho ofakazi ababili beqeda ukufakaza kwabo?

¹⁹ Le nhlupho yayinzima kweLobukholwa kangangokuthi ngemva kokuba ofakazi ababili beprofethile izinyanga ezingu-42 begqoke indwangu yamasaka, eLobukholwa lasebenzisa ithonya lalo lezwe ukuba ‘babulawe.’ UJohane uyabhala: “Lapho sebeqede ukufakaza kwabo, isilo sasendle esinyuka siphuma kwalasha siyokulwa nabo sibanqobe futhi sibabulale. Izidumbu zabo ziyoba sendleleni ebanzi yomuzi omkhulu lowo ngomqondo ongokomoya obizwa ngokuthi iSodoma neGibhithe, lapho neNkosi yabo yabethelwa khona. Abanye kubantu nezinhlanga nezilimi nezizwe bayozibuka izidumbu zabo izinsuku ezintathu nengxenye, bangavumi ukuba izidumbu zabo zingcwatshwe. Abahlala emhlabeni bayajabula ngabo futhi bayazijabulisa, bayothumelelana izipho, ngoba laba baprofethi ababili babahlupha labo abahlala emhlabeni.”—IsAmbulo 11:7-10.

20. Siyini “isilo sasendle esinyuka siphuma kwalasha”?

²⁰ Lesi yisikhathi sokuqala kwezingu-37 lapho incwadi yesAmbulo ibhekisela esilweni. Ngesikhathi esifanele sizohlola lesi silo nezinye izilo ngokuningiliziwe. Okwamanje kwanele ukuthi “isilo sasendle esinyuka siphuma kwalasha” siwumklamo kaSathane, isimiso sezinto samanje sezombangazwe.b—Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 13:1; Daniyeli 7:2, 3, 17.

21. (a) Izitha zenkolo zofakazi ababili zasizakala kanjani ngesimo sempi? (b) Lalibonisani iqiniso lokuthi izidumbu zofakazi ababili zashiywa zingangcwatshiwe? (c) Kumelwe ibhekwe kanjani inkathi yesikhathi yezinsuku ezintathu nengxenye? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

²¹ Kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ku-1918 izizwe zazimatasa empini yezwe yokuqala. Imizwa yobuzwe yadlanga, futhi entwasahlobo ka-1918, izitha eziyinkolo zofakazi ababili zasizakala ngalesi simo. Zasebenzisa abomthetho bakaHulumeni ukuze izikhonzi eziholayo zabaFundi BeBhayibheli ziboshwe ngamacala amanga okuvukela umbuso. Izisebenzi ezithembekile ezazikanye nazo zashaqeka. Umsebenzi woMbuso wacishe wanqamuka. Kwaba sengathi umsebenzi wokushumayela ufile. Ezikhathini zeBhayibheli kwakuwukwedeleleka okukhulu ukungambelwa ethuneni. (IHubo 79:1-3; 1 AmaKhosi 13:21, 22) Ngakho, kwakungaba isihlamba esikhulu ukushiya ofakazi ababili bengambelwe. Esimweni sezulu esishisayo sasePalestina, isidumbu esisemgwaqweni osobala ngempela sasingaqala ukunuka ngemva kwezinsuku ezingokoqobo ezintathu nengxenye.c (Qhathanisa noJohane 11:39.) Kanjalo lo mniningwane esiprofethweni ubonisa ihlazo ofakazi ababili okwadingeka balibekezelele. Labo abaphawulwe ngenhla ababoshwa benqatshelwa ngisho nebheyili lapho amacala abo esadlulisiwe. Babekwa obala isikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba banukele izakhamuzi ‘zomuzi omkhulu.’ Kodwa wawuyini lo “muzi omkhulu”?

22. (a) Uyini umuzi omkhulu? (b) Amaphephandaba omphakathi azihlanganisa kanjani nabefundisi ekujabuleni ngenxa yokuthuliswa kofakazi ababili? (Bheka ibhokisi.)

²² UJohane usinikeza imikhondo ethile. Uthi uJesu wabethelwa khona. Ngakho ngokushesha sicabanga ngeJerusalema. Kodwa futhi uthi umuzi omkhulu ubizwa ngokuthi iSodoma neGibhithe. Nokho, iJerusalema elingokoqobo lake labizwa ngokuthi iSodoma ngenxa yemikhuba yalo engahlanzekile. (Isaya 1:8-10; qhathanisa noHezekeli 16:49, 53-58.) Futhi iGibhithe, umbuso wezwe wokuqala, ngezinye izikhathi uvela njengomfanekiso walesi simiso sezwe sezinto. (Isaya 19:1, 19; Joweli 3:19) Ngakho, lo muzi omkhulu ufanekisela “iJerusalema” elingcolile elizisholo ukuthi likhonza uNkulunkulu kodwa eseliye langcola futhi laba nesono, njengeSodoma, nengxenye yalesi simiso sezwe sezinto sikaSathane, njengeGibhithe. Ufanekisela eLobukholwa, umfuziselo wanamuhla weJerusalema elingathembekile, inhlangano emalungu ayo ayenesizathu esikhulu sokujabula lapho ethulisa ukushumayela okuphazamisayo kofakazi ababili.

Bayavuswa Futhi!

23. (a) Yini eyenzekayo kofakazi ababili ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu nengxenye, futhi zithinteka kanjani izitha zabo? (b) IsAmbulo 11:11, 12 nesiprofetho sikaHezekeli ngoJehova ephefumulela esigodini samathambo omile kwagcwaliseka nini osukwini lwanamuhla?

²³ Amaphephandaba omphakathi azihlanganisa nabefundisi ekunyundeleni abantu bakaNkulunkulu, elinye iphephandaba lathi: “Isiphetho se-The Finished Mystery sikhishiwe.” Nokho, akukho okwakungaba kude neqiniso ukwedlula lokhu! Ofakazi ababili abahlalanga befile. Siyafunda: “Ngemva kwalezo zinsuku ezintathu nengxenye umoya wokuphila ovela kuNkulunkulu wangena kubo, bama ngezinyawo, labo ababebabona, behlelwa ukwesaba okukhulu. Bezwa izwi elikhulu livela ezulwini lithi kubo: ‘Khuphukelani lapha.’ Bakhuphukela ezulwini ngefu, nezitha zabo zababona.” (IsAmbulo 11:11, 12) Kanjalo baba nokuhlangenwe nakho okufana nokwamathambo omile esigodini uHezekeli asihambela esembonweni. UJehova waphefumulela lawo mathambo omile, futhi aphila, enikeza umbono wokuzalwa kabusha kwesizwe sakwa-Israyeli ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 yokuthunjelwa eBhabhiloni. (Hezekeli 37:1-14) Lezi ziprofetho ezimbili, esikuHezekeli nesikusAmbulo, zaba nokugcwaliseka okuphawulekayo kosuku lwanamuhla ngo-1919, lapho uJehova ebuyisela ofakazi bakhe ‘abafile’ ekuphileni kobungqabavu.

24. Lapho ofakazi ababili bevuka, kwabathinta kanjani abashushisi babo benkolo?

²⁴ Yeka ukushaqeka kulabo bashushisi! Ngokungazelele izidumbu zofakazi ababili zase ziphila futhi zikhuthele. Kwakuyinto enzima kulabo befundisi ukuyamukela, ikakhulukazi njengoba izikhonzi ezingamaKristu ababecebe ukuzifaka ejele zase zikhululekile futhi, kamuva amacala azo ezosulwa ngokuphelele. Kumelwe ukuba ukushaqeka kwaba kukhulu kakhulu lapho, ngo-September 1919, abaFundi BeBhayibheli beba nomhlangano eCedar Point, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A. Lapha uJ. F. Rutherford, owayesanda kukhululwa ejele, washukumisa ababeze emhlanganweni ngenkulumo yakhe ethi “Ukumemezela UMbuso,” eyayisekelwe kusAmbulo 15:2 naku-Isaya 52:7. Labo besigaba sikaJohane baqala futhi “ukuprofetha,” noma ukushumayela obala. Amandla abo aya ekhula, bedalula ngesibindi ubuzenzisi beLobukholwa.

25. (a) Kwashiwo nini kofakazi ababili ukuthi, “Khuphukelani lapha,” futhi lokho kwenzeka kanjani? (b) Yimuphi umphumela oshaqisayo ukubuyiselwa kofakazi ababili okwaba nawo emzini omkhulu?

²⁵ ELobukholwa lazama ngokuphindaphindiwe ukuphinda ukunqoba kwalo kwango-1918. Laphendukela ekuhlaseleni ngamaviyo ezichwensi, ekusebenziseni abomthetho, ekuvaleleni emajele, ngisho nasekubulaleni—konke okwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya! Ngemva kuka-1919 lase lingasenakuyifinyelela indawo engokomoya yofakazi ababili. Ngalowo nyaka uJehova wayethe kubo: “Khuphukelani lapha,” futhi base benyukele esimweni esiphakeme esingokomoya lapho izitha zabo zazingababona khona kodwa zingenakubathinta. UJohane uchaza ukwethuka ukubuyiselwa kwabo okwakubangela emzini omkhulu: “Ngalelo hora kwaba nokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu, ingxenye yeshumi yomuzi yawa; abantu abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa babulawa ukuzamazama komhlaba, bonke abanye bethuka bakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu wezulu.” (IsAmbulo 11:13) Kwaba khona isiphithiphithi esikhulu ngempela enkolweni. Kwaba sengathi umhlabathi uyanyakaza ngaphansi kwabaholi bamasonto amakhulu njengoba le ndikimba yamaKristu avuselelwe iqala umsebenzi. Ingxenye yeshumi yomuzi wabo, abantu abangu-7 000 ngokomfanekiso, yathinteka kakhulu kangangokuthi kukhulunywa ngayo njengeyabulawa.

26. Obani abamelelwe “ingxenye yeshumi yomuzi” kanye ‘nabayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa’ zesAmbulo 11:13? Chaza.

²⁶ Inkulumo ethi “ingxenye yeshumi yomuzi” isikhumbuza ukuthi u-Isaya waprofetha ngokuqondene neJerusalema lasendulo ukuthi ingxenye yeshumi yayiyosinda ekubhujisweni komuzi njengenzalo engcwele. (Isaya 6:13) Ngokufanayo, inani elingu-7 000 lisikhumbuza ukuthi lapho u-Eliya enomuzwa wokuthi nguye yedwa owayesele ethembekile kwa-Israyeli, uJehova wamtshela ukuthi eqinisweni, kwakusenabangu-7 000 ababengaguqanga kuBhali. (1 AmaKhosi 19:14, 18) Ekhulwini lokuqala, umphostoli uPawulu wathi laba abangu-7 000 bafanekisela insali yamaJuda eyayisabelile ezindabeni ezinhle ngoKristu. (Roma 11:1-5) Le mibhalo isisiza ukuba siqonde ukuthi “izinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa” ‘nengxenye yeshumi yomuzi’ kusAmbulo 11:13 yilabo abasabelayo kofakazi ababili ababuyiselwe futhi abashiya umuzi omkhulu onesono. Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, bayafa ngokuqondene neLobukholwa. Amagama abo ayasulwa emabhukwini alo. Abasaphili ngokuqondene nalo.d

27, 28. (a) ‘Bonke abanye bamkhazimulisa’ kanjani “uNkulunkulu wezulu”? (b) Yini abefundisi beLobukholwa abaphoqeleka ukuba bayivume?

²⁷ Kodwa ‘bonke abanye [beLobukholwa] bamkhazimulisa’ kanjani ‘uNkulunkulu wezulu’? Ngokuqinisekile abakwenzi ngokushiya inkolo yabo eyisihlubuki futhi babe yizinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, kunjengoba kuchazwe kwethi Word Studies in the New Testament kaVincent, lapho ixoxa ngenkulumo ethi “bakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu wezulu.” Lapho kuthiwa: “La mazwi awabonisi ukuguquka, noma ukuphenduka, noma ukubonga, kodwa ukuqaphela, okuwumqondo wawo ovamile embhalweni. Qhathanisa noJosh. vii. 19 (Sept.). Joh. ix. 24; IzE. xii. 23; Roma iv. 20.” Okwalidumaza kakhulu eLobukholwa ukuthi kwadingeka livume ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabaFundi BeBhayibheli wayenze isenzo esikhulu ngokubabuyisela emsebenzini wobuKristu.

²⁸ Kungenzeka ukuthi abefundisi bavuma lokhu ngezingqondo kuphela, noma kubo siqu. Ngokuqinisekile, akukho noyedwa wabo owaziwa njengomvuma obala uNkulunkulu wofakazi ababili. Kodwa isiprofetho sikaJehova ngoJohane sisisiza ukuba siqonde lokho okwakusezinhliziyweni zabo futhi sibone ukushaqeka okudumazayo ababhekana nakho ngo-1919. Kusukela ngalowo nyaka kuqhubeke, njengoba “abayizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa” babeshiya eLobukholwa naphezu kwemizamo yalo yokuzimisela yokubambelela ezimvwini zalo, abefundisi baphoqeleka ukuba baqaphele ukuthi uNkulunkulu wesigaba sikaJohane wayenamandla kunonkulunkulu wabo. Eminyakeni eyayizolandela babezokubona lokhu ngisho nangokucace ngokwengeziwe, njengoba abaningi ngokwengeziwe bomhlambi wabo babezoshiya, benanela amazwi abantu lapho u-Eliya enqoba abakhulekeli bakaBhali eNtabeni iKarmeli: “UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso! UJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso!”—1 AmaKhosi 18:39.

29. Yini uJohane athi iyeza masinyane, futhi yikuphi okunye ukuzanyazanyiswa okulindele eLobukholwa?

²⁹ Kodwa lalela! UJohane uyasitshela: “Umaye wesibili udlulile. Bheka! Umaye wesithathu uyeza masinyane.” (IsAmbulo 11:14) Uma eLobukholwa lizanyazanyiswa yilokho osekwenzekile kuze kube manje, liyokwenzenjani lapho umaye wesithathu emenyezelwa, ingelosi yesikhombisa ishaya icilongo layo, futhi ekugcineni imfihlo kaNkulunkulu engcwele ipheleliswa?—IsAmbulo 10:7.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 168]

Ukujabula KwesAmbulo 11:10

Encwadini yakhe ethi Preachers Present Arms, eyakhishwa ngo-1933, uRay H. Abrams ubhekisela ekuphikiseni okunzima kwabefundisi incwadi yabaFundi BeBhayibheli ethi The Finished Mystery. Ubukeza imizamo yabefundisi yokuqeda abaFundi BeBhayibheli ‘nokubelesela kwabo okubulalayo.’ Lokhu kwaholela ecaleni lasenkantolo elaphumela ekugwetshweni kukaJ. F. Rutherford nabangane bakhe abayisikhombisa iminyaka eminingi ejele. UDkt. Abrams uyanezela: “Ukuhlolwa kwalo lonke icala kuholela esiphethweni sokuthi ekuqaleni amasonto nabefundisi babesekela umkhankaso wokuqeda amaRussellite. ECanada, ngo-February 1918, abefundisi baqala umkhankaso ohleliwe ngokumelene nawo nezincwadi zawo, ikakhulukazi ethi The Finished Mystery. Ngokwe-Tribune yaseWinnipeg, . . . kwakukholelwa ukuthi ukuvinjelwa kwencwadi yawo kwabangelwa ngokuqondile ‘izinkulumo zabefundisi.’”

UDkt. Abrams uyaqhubeka: “Lapho izindaba zezigwebo zeminyaka engamashumi amabili zifinyelela ezindlebeni zabahleli bamaphephandaba enkolo, wonke la maphephandaba, amakhulu namancane, ajabula ngalesi sehlakalo. Ngihlulekile ukuthola noma yimaphi amazwi ozwela kunoma yimuphi womagazini benkolo abamukelekayo. ‘Akukho kungabaza,’ kuphetha u-Upton Sinclair, ngokuthi ‘ushushiso . . . lwabangwa ngokwengxenye iqiniso lokuthi babezizuzele inzondo yezindikimba zezinkolo “ezamukelekayo.”’ Lokho imizamo ebumbene yamasonto eyayihlulekile ukukwenza manje uhulumeni wabonakala uphumelela ukubenzela khona.” Ngemva kokucaphuna amazwi okunyundela ezincwadi eziningana zenkolo, umlobi wabhekisela ekuhoxisweni kwesinqumo eNkantolo Yokudluliswa Kwamacala futhi wathi: “Ngokuqondene nalesi sinqumo inkukhu yanqunywa umlomo emasontweni.”

[Isithombe ekhasini 163]

UJohane ulinganisa ithempeli elingokomoya—izindinganiso kumelwe zifinyelelwe abobupristi abagcotshiwe

[Izithombe ekhasini 165]

Umsebenzi kaZerubhabhele noJoshuwa wokwakha kabusha wabonisa ukuthi osukwini lweNkosi isiqalo esincane sasiyolandelwa ukwanda okukhulu phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova. Izakhiwo ezinjengalezi eziboniswe ngenhla eziseBrooklyn, eNew York, kuye kwadingeka zandiswe kakhulu ukuze zibasize bahlangabezane nezidingo zabo

[Izithombe ekhasini 166]

Izimemezelo zesahlulelo ezinjengomlilo ezamenyezelwa ofakazi ababili zafanekiselwa umsebenzi kaMose no-Eliya ongokwesiprofetho

[Izithombe ekhasini 169]

Njengamathambo omile kaHezekeli isahluko 37, ofakazi ababili bayavuselelwa ngenjongo yomsebenzi wokushumayela wosuku lwanamuhla