Isahluko 12

Isihlwele Esikhulu Ngaba Siza Kuphila Ezulwini? Okanye Emhlabeni?

NGOKWAHLUKILEYO kumalungu eenkonzo zeNgqobhoko, inkoliso yamaNgqina kaYehova ikhangele phambili kubomi obungenasiphelo, kungekhona ezulwini, kodwa emhlabeni. Kutheni oku kunjalo?

Oku bekungasoloko kunjalo. AmaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala ayelindele ukuba ekuhambeni kwexesha ayeya kulawula noYesu Kristu njengookumkani basezulwini. (Mat. 11:12; Luka 22:​28-30) Phofu ke, uYesu wayewaxelele ukuba iindlalifa zoBukumkani zaziya kuba ‘ngumhlambi omncinane’ kuphela. (Luka 12:32) Ngoobani ababeya kuqukwa? Bangaphi ababeya kuba lapho? Iinkcukacha zoku awazange azazi de kwaba semva kwethuba elithile.

NgePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., abafundi bokuqala bakaYesu abangamaYuda bathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele ukuze babe ziindlalifa kunye noKristu. Ngonyaka wama-36 C.E., ukusebenza komoya kaThixo kwenza kwacaca ukuba nabeeNtlanga abangalukanga babeya kuba nesabelo kwelo lifa. (IZe. 15:7-9; Efe. 3:5, 6) Kwadlula eminye iminyaka engama-60 ngaphambi kokuba umpostile uYohane atyhilelwe ukuba kuphela li-144 000 elaliya kuthatyathwa emhlabeni ukuze libe nesabelo kuBukumkani basezulwini noKristu.—ISityhi. 7:4-8; 14:1-3.

UCharles Taze Russell nezinxulumani zakhe babenelo themba, njengokuba kwakunjalo ngenkoliso yamaNgqina kaYehova de kwaba phakathi kwiminyaka yee-1930. Kwakhona, ngokusuka kufundisiso lwawo lweZibhalo, ayesazi ukuba ukuthanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele kwakungabonisi ukuba kwixesha elizayo abantu babeza kuba ngookumkani nababingeleli kunye noKristu ezulwini kuphela kodwa kwakukwabonisa nokuba babenomsebenzi okhethekileyo abamele bawenze ngoxa besesenyameni. (1 Pet. 1:3, 4; 2:9; ISityhi. 20:6) Nguwuphi loo msebenzi? Ayewazi kakuhle yaye ewacaphula ngokufuthi amazwi kaIsaya 61:1, athi: “UMoya weNkosi uYehova uphezu kwam; ngenxa yokuba uYehova endithambisele ukuba ndishumayeze abalulamileyo iindaba ezilungileyo.”

Ukushumayela Ngayiphi Injongo?

Nangona ayembalwa, ayezabalazela ukudlulisela kubo bonke abantu kangangoko kunokwenzeka inyaniso engoThixo neenjongo zakhe. Ashicilela aza asasaza uncwadi oluninzi oluvakalisa iindaba eziphathelele ilungiselelo lakhe losindiso ngoKristu. Kodwa injongo yawo yayingekokuguqula bonke abo ayeshumayela kubo. Ngoko, kutheni ayebashumayeza? IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaJulayi 1889 yacacisa: “Singabameli bakhe [uYehova] emhlabeni; uzuko lwegama lakhe lumele luthethelelwe phakathi kweentshaba zakhe naphambi kwabantwana bakhe abaninzi abalahlekisiweyo; icebo lakhe elizukileyo limele livakaliswe nxa zonke ngokuchasene nawo onke amacebo obulumko behlabathi abantu abawayilayo nabebesoloko bezama ukuwayila.”

Kwakunikelwa ingqalelo ngokukhethekileyo kwabo babesithi bangabantu beNkosi, inkoliso yabo eyayingamalungu eecawa zeNgqobhoko. Yayiyintoni injongo yokushumayeza aba bantu? Kunjengokuba uMzalwan’ uRussell wayedla ngokucacisa, umnqweno waBafundi beBhayibhile bokuqala yayingekokutsalela amalungu eecawa kwenye intlangano kodwa yayikukuwanceda asondele ngakumbi eNkosini njengamalungu ebandla elinye lokwenyaniso. Noko ke, aBafundi beBhayibhile babesazi ukuthi ukuba bathobela ISityhilelo 18:4, abanjalo bamele baphume ‘kwiBhabhiloni,’ ababeqonda ukuba imela oko kwakufane kubizwe ngokuba libandla, iicawa zeNgqobhoko nazo zonke iimfundiso zazo ezingekho zibhalweni nokwahlukahlukana kwazo ngokwamahlelo. Kwakwinkupho yokuqala (yesiNgesi) yeMboniselo (Julayi 1879), uMzalwan’ uRussell wathi: “Siyaqonda ukuba injongo yobungqina obunikelwayo ngoku ‘kukukhupha abantu begama Lakhe’—iCawa—abantu abaya kuthi ekufikeni kukaKristu bamanyaniswe Naye, baze bamkele igama Lakhe. ISityhi. iii. 12.”

Babeqonda ukuba, ngelo xesha, lwalulunye kuphela “ubizo” olwaludluliselwa kuwo onke amaKristu okwenyaniso. Olu yayisisimemo sokuba ngamalungu omtshakazi kaKristu, ekugqibeleni oya kuba nabantu abali-144 000 kuphela. (Efe. 4:4; ISityhi. 14:1-5) Babefuna ukushukumisela bonke abo babesithi bayakholwa kwidini lentlawulelo likaKristu, enoba aba babengamalungu ecawa okanye babengengawo, ukuba baqonde “amadinga amakhulukazi, anqabileyo” kaThixo. (2 Pet. 1:4; Efe. 1:18) Babezabalazela ukubashukumisela ekubeni babe nenzondelelo ekuzivisisaniseni noko kwakufuneka kumhlambi omncinane weendlalifa zoBukumkani. Ukuze bomelezwe ngokomoya bonke abanjalo, ababebagqala njengababeyila ‘indlu yokholo’ (ngenxa yokuba babesithi bayakholwa kwintlawulelo), ngenkuthalo uMzalwan’ uRus­sell nezinxulumani zakhe bafuna ukunikela ‘ukudla kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo’ ngemihlathi yeMboniselo nezinye iimpapasho ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni.—Gal. 6:10; Mat. 24:45, 46, KJ.

Noko ke, babebona ukuba asingabo bonke ababesithi “bazinikezele” (okanye, ‘bazinikele ngokupheleleyo eNkosini,’ njengokuba babecinga ukuba oku kuthetha oko) ababesithi emva koko baqhubeke besukela ubomi bokulungela ukuzincama, besenza inkonzo yeNkosi eyona nto iphambili ebomini babo. Ukanti, njengokuba babechaza, amaKristu azinikezeleyo ayevumile ukuncama ubomi bawo njengabantu ngokuzithandela, ejonge kwilifa lasezulwini; kwakungekho kubuya ngamva; ukuba babengabufumani ubomi kummandla womoya, babelindelwe kukufa kwesibini. (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29) Kodwa amaKristu amaninzi awayebonakala ezinikele ayeyekelel’ umxakatho, engabonakalisi inzondelelo yokwenyaniso ngendlela yeNkosi yaye ekuphepha ukuzincama. Sekunjalo, kubonakala ukuba ayengayigatyanga intlawulelo ibe ngokusengqiqweni ayephila ubomi obucocekileyo. Kwakuza kuqhubeka ntoni ngabantu abanjalo?

Kangangeminyaka emininzi aBafundi beBhayibhile babecinga ukuba eli yayiliqela elichazwe kwiSityhilelo 7:9, 14 (KJ), esibhekisela ‘kwindimbane enkulu’ ephuma embandezelweni enkulu nemi “phambi kwetrone” kaThixo naphambi kweMvana, uYesu Kristu. Babeqiqa ngelokuba nangona aba babebuphepha ubomi bokuzincama, babeza kujamelana neemvavanyo zokholo ezaziya kuphumela ukufeni ebudeni bexesha lembandezelo emva kokuzukiswa kwabokugqibela bomtshakazi kaKristu. Babekholelwa kwelokuba ukuba aba kwakusithiwa ngabesihlwele esikhulu babethembekile ngelo xesha, babeya kuvuselwa kubomi basezulwini—kungekhona ukuze balawule njengookumkani kodwa ukuze bamiswe phambi kwetrone. Kwakuqiqwa ngelokuba babeya kunikwa izikhundla ezinganeno ngenxa yokuba uthando lwabo ngeNkosi belungeshushu ngokwaneleyo, ngenxa yokuba bengabonakalisanga nzondelelo yaneleyo. Kwakucingwa ukuba aba yayingabantu ababezelwe ngomoya kaThixo kodwa babonakalisa ukungakunanzi ukumthobela uThixo, mhlawumbi beqhubeka bebambelele kwiicawa zeNgqobhoko.

Babekwacinga nokuba mhlawumbi “abantu ababalaseleyo bamandulo” ababeya kukhonza njengabathetheli emhlabeni ebudeni bexesha lewaka leminyaka, babeya kuthi ekupheleni kwelo xesha, ngandlel’ ithile banikwe ubomi basezulwini. (INdu. 45:16) Babeqiqa ngelithi nabaphi na ababeya ‘kuzinikezela’ emva kokuba ekugqibeleni zikhethwe zonke iindlalifa zoBukumkani ezili-144 000 kodwa ngaphambi kokuba ixesha lokubuyiswa emhlabeni liqalise nabo basenokuba balindwe lithemba elinjalo. Ngendlela elinganiselweyo, le yayiyimbono esuka kwiNgqobhoko yokuba bonke abantu abalunge ngokwaneleyo baya ezulwini. Kodwa kwakukho inkolelo aBafundi beBhayibhile ababenayo ngokusuka eZibhalweni eyayibahlula kuyo yonke iNgqobhoko. Yayiyiyiphi loo nkolelo?

Ukuphila Ngonaphakade Kwimfezeko Emhlabeni

Babeqonda ukuba ngoxa inani elilinganiselweyo elithatyathwe eluntwini laliya kunikwa ubomi basezulwini, kwakuya kubakho abaninzi ngakumbi ababeya kubabalwa ngobomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni, ngaphantsi kweemeko ezifana nezo zazikho kwiParadisi yase-Eden. UYesu wayefundise abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze bathi: “Makwenziwe ukuthanda kwakho nasemhlabeni, njengokuba kusenziwa emazulwini.” Kwakhona wayethe: “Banoyolo abanobulali; ngokuba baya kuwudla ilifa umhlaba bona.”—Mat. 5:5; 6:10.

Ngokuvisisana noko, isicangcaa esapapashwa njengesihlomelo seMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaJulayi-Agasti 1881 sabonisa ukuba kwakuya kubakho abaninzi phakathi kwabantu ababeya kufumana inkoliseko kaThixo ebudeni boLawulo lukaKristu Lwewaka Leminyaka nababeya kubumba “ihlabathi loluntu elenziwe lafikelela kubuntu nakubomi obufezekileyo.” Esi sicangca sasetyenziswa kangangeminyaka emininzi njengesiseko seentetho kumaqela amancinane nama­khulu.

Abantu ababeza kuphila emhlabeni babeya kuhlala ngaphantsi kweemeko ezinjani ebudeni beminyaka eliwaka? IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaJulayi 1, 1912, yacacisa: “Ngaphambi kokuba isono singene ehlabathini, ilungiselelo likaThixo kubazali bethu bokuqala yayinguMyezo wase-Eden. Njengokuba sicinga ngoku, makhe sibhekise iingqondo zethu kwixesha elizayo, sikhokelwa liLizwi likaThixo; yaye ngamehlo engqondo sibona iParadisi ebuyiselweyo—kungekuphela nje umyezo, kodwa umhlaba uphela wenziwe wamhle, wanemveliso, awabi nasono, yaye wanolonwabo. Makhe sikhumbule idinga eliphefumlelweyo esiliqhelileyo—‘Azisule uThixo zonke iinyembezi emehlweni abo, kungabi sabakho kufa, kungabi sabakho nasijwili, nakukhala, nantlungu,’ kuba izinto zokuqala zesono nokufa ziya kuba zigqithile, yaye zonke izinto ziya kuba zenziwe ntsha!—ISityhi. 21:4, 5.”

Ngoobani Abaya Kuphila Emhlabeni Ngonaphakade?

UMzalwan’ uRussell wayengacingi ukuba uThixo wayelukhethisa uluntu—ubomi basezulwini kwabo babebufuna nobomi kwiparadisi esemhlabeni kwabo babecinga ukuba bakhetha oko. IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaSeptemba 15, 1905, yathi: “Iimvakalelo okanye usukelo lwethu asilulo ubizo. Kungenjalo bekuya kuthetha ukuba ubizo luphuma kuthi. Ethetha ngobubingeleli bethu, uMpostile uthi, ‘Akukho mntu uzithabathela ngokwakhe imbeko leyo; oyithabathayo ngobizwe nguThixo,’ (Heb. 5:4), yaye asinakuqinisekisa kwezethu iimvakalelo ukuba luyintoni na ubizo lukaThixo kodwa sinokuqinisekisa kwiLizwi likaThixo lesityhilelo.”

Ngokubhekisele kwithuba lokuphila kwiparadisi esemhlabeni ebuyiselweyo, aBafundi beBhayibhile babekholelwa ukuba eli laliya kuvulelwa abantu emva kokuba wonke umhlambi omncinane uwufumene umvuzo wawo yaye newaka leminyaka seliqalise ngokupheleleyo. Babecinga ukuba elo iya kuba lixesha ‘lokubuyiswa kweento zonke,’ ekubhekiselwe kulo kwiZenzo 3:21. (KJ) Ngelo xesha nabafileyo babeya kuvuswa ukuze bonke babe nesabelo kwelo lungiselelo lothando. Abazalwana babecinga ukuba ngelo xesha bonke abantu (ngaphandle kwabo babizelwe kubomi basezulwini) babeya kuba benikwe ithuba lokuba bakhethe ubomi. Ngendlela ababekuqonda ngayo oku, elo yayiya kuba lixesha uKristu, ekwitrone yakhe yasezulwini, awayeya kubahlula ngalo abantu, njengokuba umalusi ezahlula izimvu ezibhokhweni. (Mat. 25:31-46) Abathobelayo, enoba bazelwe njengamaYuda okanye njengabeeNtlanga babeya kungqineka ‘bezezinye izimvu’ zeNkosi.—Yoh. 10:16.b

Emva kokuphela kwamaXesha eeNtlanga, babecinga ukuba ixesha lokubuyiswa lalisondele kakhulu; ngoko ukususela ngowe-1918 ukusa kowe-1925, babevakalisa oku: “Izigidi eziphilayo ngoku azisayi kuze zife.” Ewe, babecinga ukuba abantu ababephila ngoko—uluntu xa lulonke—babenethuba lokusindela kwixesha lokubuyiswa bandule ke ngelo xesha bafundiswe oko uYehova wayekufuna ukuze bafumane ubomi. Ukuba babethobela, ngokuthe ngcembe babeya kufikelela ekubeni ngabantu abafezekileyo. Ukuba babenemvukelo, ekuhambeni kwexesha, babeya kutshatyalaliswa ngonaphakade.

Ebudeni baloo minyaka yokuqala, abazalwana babengaqondi ukuba isigidimi soBukumkani sasiya kuvakaliswa ngokubanzi yaye kangangeminyaka emininzi njengokuba kuye kwanjalo. Kodwa baqhubeka bezihlolisisa iZibhalo yaye bezabalazela ukusabela koko zazikubonisa mayela nomsebenzi uThixo awayefuna bawenze.

“Izimvu” Ezikwesokunene SikaKristu

Inyathelo elibaluleke ngokwenene ekuqondeni injongo kaYehova lalisekelwe ekuqondeni umzekeliso kaYesu wezimvu neebhokhwe okuMateyu 25:31-46. Kuloo mzekeliso uYesu wathi: “Xa ke athe wafika uNyana woMntu esebuqaqawulini bakhe, enazo zonke izithunywa ezingcwele, ngelo xa uya kuhlala phezu kwetrone yobuqaqawuli bakhe; zihlanganiswe phambi kwakhe zonke iintlanga, abahlule abanye kwabanye, njengokuba umalusi ezahlula izimvu ezibhokhweni; athi zona izimvu azimise ngasekunene kwakhe, athi kodwa zona iibhokhwe azimise ngasekhohlo.” Njengokuba lo mzekeliso uhlabela mgama ubonisa, “izimvu” ngabo banceda ‘abazalwana’ bakaKristu, bade bafune nokubakhulula xa betshutshiswa naxa besentolongweni.

Kwakusele kukudala kucingwa ukuba lo mzekeliso wawusebenza ngexesha lewaka leminyaka, kwixesha lokubuyiswa yaye umgwebo wokugqibela ekuthethwa ngawo kulo mzekeliso ngulowo wawuya kuqhubeka ekupheleni kweWaka Leminyaka. Kodwa ngowe-1923, uJ. F. Rutherford, umongameli weWatch Tower Society, wabonisa izizathu zokuguqula imbono yabo ngalo mbandela kwintetho eyakhanyisa izibakala eLos Angeles, eKhalifoniya. Kamva ngaloo nyaka le ntetho yapapashwa kwinkupho (yesiNgesi) kaOktobha 15 yeMboniselo.

Xa lalixubusha ngexesha owawuya kuzaliseka ngalo lo mzekeliso obuprofeti, eli nqaku labonisa ukuba uYesu waliquka njengenxalenye yempendulo yakhe xa kwacelwa ukuba anikele ‘umqondiso wokufika kwakhe nowokupheliswa kwephakade eli.’ (Mat. 24:3) Eli nqaku lacacisa isizathu sokuba ‘abazalwana’ ekuthethwa ngabo kuloo mzekeliso ingenakuba ngamaYuda exesha leVangeli okanye abantu ababonisa ukholo ebudeni bexesha lewaka leminyaka kodwa kumele ibe ngabo baziindlalifa noKristu kuBukumkani basezulwini, kungenxa yoko lo mzekeliso ufanele uzaliseke ngoxa abanye beendlalifa ezikunye noKristu besesenyameni.—Thelekisa amaHebhere 2:10, 11.

Okwakusenzeka kwabo bazalwana bakaKristu bathanjisiweyo xa babezama ukunikela ubungqina kubefundisi nakubantu abaqhelekileyo abanxulumene neecawa zeNgqobhoko kwakukwabonisa ukuba esi siprofeto sikulo mzekeliso kaYesu sasisele sizaliseka. Njani? Abefundisi abaninzi namalungu aphambili eecawa zabo babesabela ngendlela erhabaxa—benganikeli amanzi ahlaziyayo, ngokoqobo nangokomfuziselo; kunoko, abanye baba baphembelela amahlokondiba ukuba akrazule iimpahla zabazalwana aze ababethe, okanye bafuna ukuba abasemagunyeni babavalele entolongweni. (Mat. 25:41-43) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, amalungu amaninzi eecawa athobekileyo asamkela ngovuyo isigidimi soBukumkani, abahlaziya abo babesiza naso, yaye enza unako nako wokubanceda kwanaxa abathanjiswa babevalelwa ezintolongweni ngenxa yeendaba ezilungileyo.—Mat. 25:34-36.

Ngokokubona kwaBafundi beBhayibhile, abo uYesu wathetha ngabo njengezimvu babesesezicaweni zeNgqobhoko. Babeqiqa ngelokuba aba bantu babengathi bazinikezele eNkosini kodwa babemhlonela ngokwenene uYesu Kristu nabantu bakhe. Kodwa, ngaba babenokuhlala ezicaweni?

Ukulumela Ngokuqinileyo Unqulo Olunyulu

Ukufundisisa incwadi yeBhayibhile ebuprofeti kaHezekile kwakukhanyisa oku. Owokuqala wemiqulu emithathu yencwadi ethi Vindication wapapashwa ngowe-1931. Wacacisa intsingiselo yoko uHezekile wakubhalayo ngomsindo kaYehova nxamnye noYuda neYerusalem yamandulo ewexukileyo. Nangona abantu bakwaYuda babesithi bakhonza uThixo ophilileyo noyinyaniso, balandela izithethe zonqulo zeentlanga ezazibangqongile, baqhumisela kwizithixo ezingaphiliyo, baza bahenyuza ngokukholosa ngezivumelwano zobupolitika, kunokubonisa ukholo kuYehova. (Hez. 8:5-18; 16:26, 28, 29; 20:32) Kuko konke oku, babefana nqwa neNgqobhoko; ngoko, ngokufanayo, uYehova wayeya kuyigweba iNgqobhoko kanye njengokuba wenzayo kuYuda nakwiYerusalem engathembekanga. Kodwa isahluko se-9 sikaHezekile sibonisa ukuba ngaphambi kokuphunyezwa komgwebo kaThixo, abanye babeya kuphawulelwa ukusinda. Ngoobani aba?

Esi siprofeto sithi abo banophawu babeya kuba ‘begcuma yaye bencwina ngenxa yamasikizi enzekayo’ phakathi kwiNgqobhoko, okanye koko kwakufuziselwa yiYerusalem. (Hez. 9:4) Ngoko ke, ngokuqinisekileyo babengenakuba nanxaxheba ngabom kuloo masikizi. Ngeso sizathu umqulu wokuqala wencwadi ethi Vindication wachaza abo banophawu ngokuthi ngabantu abangavumiyo ukuba yinxalenye yeentlangano zeecawa zeNgqobhoko nabathi ngandlel’ ithile bame ngakwicala leNkosi.

Lo mbandela walandelwa ngowe-1932 yingxubusho yengxelo yeBhayibhile engoYehu noYonadabhi nentsingiselo yayo ebuprofeti. UYehu wayethunywe nguYehova ukuba abe ngukumkani kubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi zakwaSirayeli nokuba aphumeze umgwebo kaYehova kwindlu engendawo ka-Ahabhi noIzebhele. Xa uYehu wayesendleleni eya kwaSamari ukuya kutshayela unqulo lukaBhahali, uYehonadabhi (Yonadabhi), unyana kaRekabhi, waphuma ukuya kumkhawulela. UYehu wambuza oku uYehonadabhi: “Ithe tye na intliziyo yakho?” waza uYehonadabhi waphendula wathi: “Injalo.” UYehu wammema uYehonadabhi esithi, “Ethe isandla sakho,” waza wamkhwelisa kwinqwelo yakhe. Wandula ke uYehu wambongoza: “Hamba nam, ubone ikhwele lam ngenxa kaYehova.” (2 Kum. 10:15-28) Nangona uYehonadabhi wayengengomSirayeli, wayevumelana noko uYehu wayekwenza; wayesazi ukuba uYehova, uThixo oyinyaniso, ufanelwe luzinikelo olupheleleyo. (Eks. 20:4, 5) Kwiinkulungwane kamva, inzala kaYehonadabhi yayisabonisa umoya uYehova akholiswayo nguwo, ngoko wayithembisa: “UYonadabhi, unyana kaRekabhi, akayi kunqunyukelwa ndoda yakuma phambi kwam yonke imihla.” (Yer. 35:19) Ngaloo ndlela kwaphakama umbuzo, Ngaba emhlabeni namhlanje bakho abantu abangengomaSirayeli okomoya anobizo lwasezulwini kodwa abanjengoYehonadabhi?

IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) ka-Agasti 1, 1932, yacacisa: “UYehonadabhi wayemela okanye wayefuzisela olo didi lwabantu olusemhlabeni ngoku . . . olungavisisaniyo nentlangano kaSathana, olumela ubulungisa, yaye lulo iNkosi eya kululondoloza ngexesha leArmagedon, ilusindise kuloo nkathazo, ize ilunike ubomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni. Aba babumba udidi ‘lwezimvu’ oluthanda abantu bakaThixo abathanjisiweyo, ngenxa yokuba besazi ukuba abathanjiswa beNkosi benza umsebenzi weNkosi.” Aba babebonakalisa umoya onjalo bamenywa ukuba babe nesabelo ekuthwaleni isigidimi soBukumkani basise kwabanye kanye njengokuba abathanjiswa babesenza.—ISityhi. 22:17.

Kwakukho abathile (nangona babembalwa ngelo xesha) ababenxulumana namaNgqina kaYehova ababeqonda ukuba umoya kaThixo wawungabanikanga ithemba lobomi ezulwini. Bandula ke baziwa ngokuba ngamaYonadabhi, kuba, njengoYonadabhi (uYehonadabhi) wamandulo, babekugqala kulilungelo ukufaniswa nabakhonzi bakaYehova abathanjisiweyo, yaye babekuvuyela ukuba nesabelo kumalungelo iLizwi likaThixo elalibalathisa kuwo. Ngaba abantu abanjalo ababenethemba lokungafi babeya kuba baninzi ngaphambi kweArmagedon? Ngaba kwakunokwenzeka, njengokuba kwakutshiwo, ukuba babe zizigidi?

“Isihlwele Esikhulu”—Singoobani?

Xa kwaziswa ukuba enziwe amalungiselelo okuba amaNgqina kaYehova abe nendibano eWashington, D.C., ukususela ngoMeyi 30 kuse kuJuni 3, 1935, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yathi: “Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku ambalwa amaYonadabhi aye aba nelungelo lokubakho kwindibano, yaye indibano eza kuba seWashington isenokuwathuthuzela yaye ibe yingenelo ngokwenene kuwo.” Oko kwangqineka kuyinyaniso ngokwenene.

Kuloo ndibano kwanikelwa ingqalelo ngokukhethekileyo kwiSityhilelo 7:9, 10, esifundeka ngolu hlobo: “Emva koko ndabona, naso isihlwele esikhulu, ebekungekho namnye unako ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, nabantu, neelwimi, simi phambi kwetrone naphambi kweMvana, bethiwe wambu ngeengubo ezinde ezimhlophe, benamasundu ezandleni zabo, bedanduluka ngezwi elikhulu, besithi: Usindiso kuye uThixo wethu, lowo uhleli phezu kwetrone, nakuyo iMvana.” Sibunjwa ngoobani esi sihlwele sikhulu, okanye “indimbane enkulu”?—KJ.

Kangangeminyaka, de kwaba ngowe-1935, kwakungaqondwa ukuba bakwazizimvu ezikumzekeliso kaYesu wezimvu neebhokhwe. Njengokuba sekuphawuliwe, kwakucingwa ukuba baludidi lwesibini lwasezulwini—lulolwesibini ngenxa yokuba babengakunanzanga ukumthobela uThixo.

Noko ke, loo mbono yabangela imibuzo engaphendulekiyo. Eminye yayo yaxutyushwa ekuqaleni kowe-1935 kwisidlo sasemini kwikomkhulu leWatch Tower Society. Bambi babo bavakalisa izimvo zabo ngelo xesha bathi isihlwele esikhulu sasiludidi lwasemhlabeni. UGrant Suiter, kamva owaba lilungu leQumrhu Elilawulayo, wakhumbula oku: “Kwesinye isifundo saseBheteli, esasiqhutywa nguMzalwan’ uT. J. Sullivan, ndabuza: ‘Ekubeni isihlwele esikhulu sifumana ubomi obungunaphakade, ngaba abo bayila eli qela bagcina ingqibelelo?’ Kwagqatyazwa kanobom kodwa akuzange kubekho mpendulo ingqalileyo.” NgoLwesihlanu, ngoMeyi 31, 1935, kwindibano eyayiseWashington, D.C., kwanikelwa impendulo eyanelisayo. UMzalwan’ uSuiter wayehleli kwiveranda ephezulu ejonge ezantsi kwizihlwele, yaye hayi indlela awachwayita ngayo njengokuba intetho yayityhileka!

Kungekudala emva kwendibano, IMboniselo, kwinkupho yayo (yesiNgesi) ka-Agasti 1 neka-15, 1935, yapapasha oko kwakuthethwe kuloo ntetho. Yabonisa ukuba into ebalulekileyo ekuqondeni kakuhle imicimbi kukuqonda isibakala sokuba injongo kaYehova ephambili asikokusindiswa kwabantu kodwa kukuthethelelwa kwegama lakhe (okanye, njengokuba ngoku sinokutsho, ukuthethelelwa kolongamo lwakhe). Ngaloo ndlela uYehova ukholiswa ngabo bagcina ingqibelelo kuye; akabaniki mvuzo abo bavumayo ukwenza ukuthanda kwakhe baze ke baligculele igama lakhe ngokuhanahanisa nentlangano kaMtyholi. Le mfuneko yokuthembeka isebenza kubo bonke abafumana inkoliseko kaThixo.

Ngokuvisisana noku, IMboniselo yathi: “Eneneni ISityhilelo 7:15 singundoqo ekuqondeni ukufaniswa kwesihlwele esikhulu. . . . Le ngcaciso ikwiSityhilelo yesihlwele esikhulu ithi ‘baphambi kwetrone kaThixo, yaye bayamkhonza’ . . . Bayawabona yaye bayawaqonda baze bawathobele amazwi kaYesu, iMvana kaThixo, athi kubo: ‘YiNkosi uThixo wakho oya kuqubuda kuyo, ukhonze yona yodwa’; mazwi lawo asebenza kuzo zonke izidalwa uYehova akholiswayo zizo.” (Mat. 4:10) Ngoko, oko iBhayibhile ikuthethayo ngesihlwele esikhulu, kwakungenakuchazwa ngokufanelekileyo njengelungiselelo lokusindisa abantu abathi bayamthanda uThixo kodwa abangakukhathalelanga ukwenza ukuthanda kwakhe.

Ngoko, ngaba isihlwele esikhulu ludidi lwasezulwini? IMboniselo yabonisa ukuba intetho esetyenziswa ezibhalweni yayingalathi kweso sigqibo. Ngokuphathelele indawo abakuyo “phambi kwetrone,” yabonisa ukuba uMateyu 25:31, 32 uthetha ngazo zonke iintlanga zihlanganiswa phambi kwetrone kaKristu, kodwa ezo ntlanga zisemhlabeni. Noko ke, isihlwele esikhulu “simi” phambi kwetrone ngenxa yokuba sinenkoliseko yaLowo usetroneni.—Thelekisa uYeremiya 35:19.

Kodwa lalinokufunyanwa phi elo qela—abantu ‘abaphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga,’ abantu ababengeyonxalenye yoSirayeli wokomoya (ochazwe ngaphambilana kwiSityhilelo 7:4-8), abantu ababebonakalisa ukholo kwintlawulelo (ngokomfuziselo bezihlambile iingubo zabo egazini leMvana), abantu ababemothulel’ umnqwazi uKristu njengoKumkani (benamasundu ezandleni zabo, njengesihlwele esamkela uYesu njengoKumkani xa wangena eYerusalem), abantu ngokwenene ababezimisa ngaphambi kwetrone kaYehova ukuze bamkhonze? Ngaba lalikho iqela labantu elinjalo emhlabeni?

Ngokuzalisekisa ilizwi lakhe lesiprofeto, uYehova wanikela impendulo. UWebster Roe, owayekho kwindibano yaseWashington, wakhumbula ukuba xa kanye wayefikelela incopho yentetho yakhe, uMzalwan’ uRutherford wacela oku: “Ngaba bonke abo banethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade emhlabeni bangakhe baphakame.” Ngokutsho kukaMzalwan’ uRoe, “ngaphezu kwesiqingatha sababekho baphakama.” Ngokuvumelana noku, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) ka-Agasti 15, 1935, yathi: “Ngoku sibona iqela labantu eliyifanelekela ngokwenene inkcazelo ekwisahluko sesixhenxe seSityhilelo ethetha ngesihlwele esikhulu. Kwiminyaka embalwa edluleyo, nangexesha ‘lokushunyayelwa kwale vangeli yobukumkani njengobungqina’, kuye kwavela abaninzi (yaye basavela) abathi iNkosi uYesu inguMsindisi wabo yaye uYehova unguThixo wabo, abamnqula ngomoya nangenyaniso nabamkhonza ngovuyo. Ngamanye amazwi aba babizwa ngokuba ‘ngamaYonadabhi’. Aba bayabhaptizwa njengomqondiso woku, ngaloo ndlela benikela ubungqina bokuba . . . bami ngakwicala likaYehova yaye bakhonza yena noKumkani wakhe.”

Ngelo xesha kwabonwa ukuba isihlwele esikhulu seSityhilelo 7:9, 10 siqukiwe ‘kwezinye izimvu’ uYesu awabhekisela kuzo (Yoh. l0:16); singabo banceda ‘abazalwana’ bakaKristu (Mat. 25:33-40); singabo bantu baphawulelwe ukusinda ngenxa yokuba bayothuswa ngamasikizi awenziwa kwiNgqobhoko yaye bayawaphepha (Hez. 9:4); bafana noYehonadabhi, owazimisa ngokungafihlisiyo ngakwicala lomkhonzi kaYehova othanjisiweyo ekuphumezeni uthumo lwalowo oluvela kuThixo (2 Kum. 10:15, 16). AmaNgqina kaYehova ayaqonda ukuba aba ngabakhonzi bakaThixo abanyanisekileyo abaya kusinda kwiArmagedon benethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade kumhlaba obuyiselwe kwimeko yeParadisi.

Umsebenzi Ongxamisekileyo Omele Wenziwe

Ukuziqonda kwabo ezi zibhalo kwawuchaphazela ngokwenene umsebenzi wabakhonzi bakaYehova. Baqonda ukuba yayingengabo ababeza kukhetha baze bahlanganise isihlwele esikhulu; yayingengabo ababeza kuxelela abantu enoba ithemba labo lelasezulwini okanye lelasemhlabeni kusini na. INkosi yayiza kuyalathisa imicimbi ngokuvisisana nokuthanda kwayo. Kodwa njengamaNgqina kaYehova, babenembopheleleko enzulu. Babemele babe ngabavakalisi beLizwi likaThixo, babelane nabanye ngeenyaniso awayebavumele ukuba baziqonde, ukuze abantu bazi ngamalungiselelo kaYehova baze babe nethuba lokusabela ngoxabiso kuwo.

Ngaphezu koko, baqonda ukuba umsebenzi wabo wawungxamiseke gqitha. Kungcelele lwamanqaku olwalunomxholo othi “Ukuhlanganisa Isihlwele,” olwapapashwa ngowe-1936, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yacacisa: “IZibhalo zisixhasa ngamandla isigqibo sokuba eArmagedon uYehova uya kutshabalalisa abantu bomhlaba, asindise kuphela abo bathobela imithetho yakhe yokuba bamele intlangano yakhe. Kumaxesha adluleyo izigidi ngezigidi zabantu ziye zehlela emangcwabeni zingazange zive ngoThixo noKristu, yaye ngexesha elifanelekileyo aba bamele bavuswe ekufeni baze baziswe ngenyaniso, ukuze bazikhethele. Noko ke, imeko yahlukile kubantu abasemhlabeni ngoku. . . . Abo besihlwele esikhulu bamele basifumane esi sigidimi sevangeli ngaphambi kwemini yemfazwe yaloo mini inkulu kaThixo uSomandla, eyiArmagedon. Ukuba isigidimi senyaniso asidluliselwa ngoku kwisihlwele esikhulu, siya kube sesishiywe lixesha xa umsebenzi wokutshabalalisa uqalisa.”—Bona eyesi-2 yooKumkani 10:25; Hezekile 9:5-10; Zefaniya 2:1-3; Mateyu 24:21; 25:46.

Ngenxa yokuziqonda ngolu hlobo iZibhalo, amaNgqina kaYehova aba nenzondelelo ehlaziyiweyo ngomsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina. ULeo Kallio, kamva owaba ngumveleli ohambahambayo eFinland, wathi: “Andikhumbuli ndisiba novuyo nenzondelelo enjengaleyo, kwaye andikhumbuli ndiyiqhuba ngesantya esiphezulu njengokuba ndandisenza ngezoo mini ibhayisekile yam, xa ndandikungxamele ukuphathela abanomdla iindaba zokuba ngenxa yobabalo lukaYehova, babenikwe ithuba lokufumana ubomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni.”

Ebudeni beminyaka emihlanu elandelayo, njengokuba amaNgqina kaYehova ayesanda, abo babethabatha kwimifuziselo kwiSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaKristu saminyaka le baya bencipha. Sekunjalo, ukuthontelana kwesihlwele esikhulu kwakungakhawulezi ngokwendlela uMzalwan’ uRutherford awayeyilindele. Ngaxa lithile wada wathi kuFred Franz, owaba ngumongameli wesine woMbutho: “Kubonakala ngathi ‘isihlwele esikhulu’ asisayi kuba sikhulu kangako noko.” Kodwa ukususela ngoko, inani lamaNgqina kaYehova liye lantinga laya kutsho kwizigidi, ngoxa inani labo balindele ilifa lasezulwini, ngokubanzi, beliqhubeka lincipha.

Akukho butshaba phakathi kodidi lwabathanjiswa nesihlwele esikhulu. Abo banethemba lasezulwini ababajongeli phantsi abo ngolangazelelo balindele ukufumana ubomi obungunaphakade kwiparadisi esemhlabeni. Ngamnye uwamkela ngombulelo amalungelo uThixo amnika wona, engaqiqi ngelokuba isikhundla sakhe ngandlel’ ithile simenza umntu olunge ngakumbi okanye ongaphantsi ngandlel’ ithile komnye. (Mat. 11:11; 1 Kor. 4:7) Njengokuba uYesu waxela kwangaphambili, la maqela mabini ngokwenene aye aba ‘ngumhlambi omnye’ okhonza ngaphantsi kwakhe ‘njengomalusi wawo omnye.’—Yoh. 10:16.

Indlela abazalwana bakaKristu abathanjisiweyo abavakalelwa ngayo ngamaqabane abo esihlwele esikhulu ichazwa kakuhle kwincwadi ethi Ukunqabiseka Kwehlabathi Lonke Phantsi ‘KoMthetheli Woxolo’: “Ukususela ngeMfazwe Yehlabathi II, ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaYesu ‘sokupheliswa kwephakade eli’ ikakhulu kubangelwa yindima ephunyezwa seso ‘sihlwele sikhulu’ ‘sezinye izimvu.’ Ukukhanya okubangelwa zizibane ezikhanyisayo zentsalela kuqaqambise amehlo eentliziyo zaso, ibe sincediwe ukubonakalisa oku kukhanya kwabanye abasahleli ebumnyameni beli hlabathi. . . . Siye saba ngamaqabane angenakwahlulwa entsalela yodidi lomtshakazi. . . . Ngoko ke, kuthiwa maz’ enethole ‘kwisihlwele esikhulu’ sezizwe ngezizwe nesithetha iilwimi ezininzi ngenxa yendima enkulu esiye sayiphumeza ekuzalisekiseni isiprofeto soMyeni esikuMateyu 24:14!”

Noko ke, njengokuba amaNgqina kaYehova, kuquka nesihlwele esikhulu, ebenesabelo ngokumanyeneyo ekuvakaliseni iindaba ezizukileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo, abantu ngokubanzi bawazi nangenye into ukongezelela ekunikeleni kwawo ubungqina ngenzondelelo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 159]

Inkoliso yamaNgqina kaYehova ikhangele phambili kubomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 161]

Inkolelo eyayiwahlula kuyo yonke iNgqobhoko

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 164]

Ixesha lokuzaliseka komzekeliso wezimvu neebhokhwe

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 165]

Baziwa njengama-Yonadabhi

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 166]

NgoMeyi 31, 1935, “indimbane enkulu” yafaniswa ngokucacileyo

[Amagama acatshulweyo akwiphepha 170]

Ithemba lasezulwini okanye lasemhlabeni—ngubani olimiselayo?

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 160]

Ixesha Lokuqonda

Ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-250 eyadlulayo, uMhlekazi Isaac Newton wabhala amazwi abangel’ umdla ngokuqonda iziprofeto, kuquka eso sithetha ‘ngesihlwele esikhulu’ seSityhilelo 7:9, 10. Kwincwadi yakhe ethi “Observations Upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John,” eyapapashwa ngowe-1733, wathi: “Ezi ziprofeto zikaDaniyeli noYohane azifanele ziqondwe de kube lixesha lesiphelo: kodwa ke abathile bafanele baprofete kuzo bekwimeko exhwalekileyo neyokugcuma kangangexesha elide, noko bekwenza ngendlela engacacanga, ukuze baguqule imbinana kuphela. . . . Wandula ke uDaniyeli athi, abaninzi baya kunyuka besihla, kwandiswe ukwazi. Kuba iVangeli imele ishunyayelwe kuzo zonke iintlanga ngaphambi kwembandezelo enkulu, nesiphelo sehlabathi. Isihlwele esiphethe amasundu, esiphuma kule mbandezelo inkulu, asinakuba ngabantu abaninzi abaphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga, ngaphandle kokuba senziwe sibe njalo ngokushunyayelwa kweVangeli ngaphambi kokuba ifike.”

[Box/Picture on page 168]

Umhlaba, Ikhaya Lomntu Ngonaphakade

Yayiyintoni injongo kaThixo yantlandlolo ngoluntu?

“Wabasikelela uThixo, wathi kubo uThixo, Qhamani, nande, niwuzalise umhlaba niweyise; nibe nobukhosi ezintlanzini zolwandle, nasezintakeni zezulu, nasezintweni zonke eziphilileyo ezinambuzelayo emhlabeni.”—Gen. 1:28.

Ngaba injongo kaThixo ngomhlaba iguqukile?

“Ilizwi lam . . . aliyi kubuyela kum lilambatha, lingakwenzanga endikuthandayo, lingakuphumelelisanga oko ndilithumela kuko.”—Isa. 55:11.

“Utsho uYehova, uMdali wezulu (nguye uThixo), uMenzi wehlabathi, uMseki walo, yena walizinzisayo (akalidalelanga ukuba kube senyanyeni, walibumba ukuba limiwe), ukuthi, NdinguYehova, akukho wumbi.”—Isa. 45:18.

“Thandazani ngoko nina nenjenje: Bawo wethu osemazulwini, malingcwaliswe igama lakho. Mabufike ubukumkani bakho. Makwenziwe ukuthanda kwakho nasemhlabeni, njengokuba kusenziwa emazulwini.”—Mat. 6:9, 10.

“Abenzi bobubi baya kunqunyulwa; ke bona abamthembayo uYehova, baya kulidla ilifa ilizwe. Amalungisa aya kulidla ilifa ilizwe, ahlale kulo ngonaphakade.”—INdu. 37:9, 29.

Ziziphi iimeko eziya kubakho emhlabeni ngaphantsi koBukumkani bukaThixo?

“Ngokwedinga lakhe silinde elitsha izulu, nomtsha umhlaba, apho kumi ubulungisa.”—2 Pet. 3:13.

“Uhlanga aluyi kuphakamisela kuhlanga ikrele lalo, bangabi safunda ukulwa. Baya kuhlala elowo phantsi komdiliya wakhe, naphantsi komkhiwane wakhe, kungabikho uboyikisayo; kuba umlomo kaYehova wemikhosi uthethile.”—Mika 4:3, 4.

“Baya kwakha izindlu, bazihlale; batyale izidiliya, badle iziqhamo zazo. Abayi kwakha, kuhlale bambi; abayi kutyala, kudle bambi; kuba iya kuba njengemihla yomthi imihla yabantu bam, badle into esetyenzwe zizandla zabo abanyulwa bam.”—Isa. 65:21, 22.

“Akayi kuthi ummi wakhona, Ndiyafa.”—Isa. 33:24.

“UThixo abe nabo, enguThixo wabo; azisule uThixo zonke iinyembezi emehlweni abo, kungabi sabakho kufa, kungabi sabakho nasijwili, nakukhala, nantlungu; ngokuba izinto zokuqala zigqithile.”—ISityhi. 21:3, 4; bona kwanoYohane 3:16.

“Ngubani na ongekhe akoyike wena, Nkosi, angalizukisi igama lakho? Ngokuba inguwe wedwa ongcwele; ngokuba zonke iintlanga ziya kuza ziqubude phambi kwakho, ngokuba imisebenzi yakho yobulungisa ibonakalalisiwe.”—ISityhi. 15:4.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 169]

Abo Baya Ezulwini

Bangaphi Abaya Kuya Ezulwini?

“Musani ukoyika, mhlambi mncinane; ngokuba kukholekile kuYihlo ukuninika ubukumkani.”—Luka 12:32.

“Ndabona, nantso iMvana [uYesu Kristu] imi phezu kwentaba yeZiyon [yasezulwini], kumi nayo ikhulu elinamanci mane anesine lamawaka, benalo igama loYise libhaliwe emabunzini abo. Bevuma ingoma engathi intsha, phambi kwetrone, naphambi kwezinto eziphilileyo zone, namadoda amakhulu; kwaye kungekho namnye unako ukuyifunda ingoma leyo, lingelilo ikhulu elinamanci mane anesine lamawaka, ababethengiwe emhlabeni.”—ISityhi. 14:1, 3.

Ngaba bonke abali-144 000 ngamaYuda?

“Akusekho mYuda namGrike; akusekho khoboka nakhululekileyo; akusekho ndoda nankazana; kuba nina nonke nimntu mnye, nikuKristu Yesu. Ukuba ke nina ningabakaKristu, niyimbewu ka-Abraham ngoko, neendlalifa ngokwedinga.”—Gal. 3:28, 29.

“Kuba umYuda asingulowo unguye ngokwangaphandle, nolwaluko asilulo olo lwangaphandle enyameni; umYuda ngulowo wasemfihlekweni, nolwaluko lolwentliziyo ngomoya, kungengantetho.”—Roma 2:28, 29.

Kutheni UThixo ethabathela abanye ezulwini?

“Baya kusuka babe ngababingeleli bakaThixo nabakaKristu, babe ngookumkani kunye naye iminyaka eliwaka.”—ISityhi. 20:6.

[Ibhokisi/Igrafu ekwiphepha 171]

Ingxelo YeSikhumbuzo

Ngeminyaka nje engama-25, ababakho eSikhumbuzweni babaphinda ngezihlandlo ezingaphezu kwezili-100 abo bathabathayo

[Igrafu]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

Abathabathayo

Ababekho

1 500 000

1 250 000

1 000 000

750 000

500 000

250 000

1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 167]

Kwindibano eyayiseWashington, D.C. kwabhaptizwa abantu abangama-840