Isahluko 28

Ukuvavanywa Nokuhluzwa Ngaphakathi

UKUKHULA nokwanda kwentlangano yanamhlanje yamaNgqina kaYehova kuye kwabandakanya iimeko ezininzi eziye zaluvavanya ngokuqatha ukholo lwabantu ngabanye. Njengoko ukubhula nokwela kusahlula ingqolowa kumququ, ngoko ezi meko ziye zanceda ekufumaniseni abo bangamaKristu okwenene. (Thelekisa uLuka 3:17.) Kuye kwafuneka ukuba abantu abanxulumene nentlangano babonakalise oko kusezintliziyweni zabo. Ngaba babekhonza kuphela ngenxa yeengenelo zobuqu? Ngaba babengabalandeli nje bomntu othile ongafezekanga? Okanye ngaba babethobekile, belangazelela ukwazi nokwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo, bezinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova?—Thelekisa eyesi-2 yeziKronike 16:9.

Ngokufanayo ukholo lwabalandeli bakaYesu Kristu benkulungwane yokuqala lwavavanywa. UYesu waxelela abalandeli bakhe ukuba ukuba babethembekile, babeya kuba nesabelo kunye naye eBukumkanini bakhe. (Mat. 5:3, 10; 7:21; 18:3; 19:28) Kodwa akazange abaxelele ixesha ababeya kuwufumana ngalo loo mvuzo. Phezu kwako nje ukungakhathalelwa ngabantu, kwanokuchaswa kokushumayela kwabo, ngaba babeya kuqhubeka ngokunyaniseka besenza izilangazelelo zobo Bukumkani zibe yinto yokuqala abayixhalabeleyo ebomini babo? Asingabo bonke abenjenjalo.—2 Tim. 4:10.

Indlela uYesu awayefundisa ngayo yayiluvavanyo kwabathile. AbaFarisi bakhubeka xa wazichasa ngokuphandle izithethe zabo. (Mat. 15:1-14) Kwanabaninzi ababesithi bangabafundi bakaYesu bacatshukiswa yindlela awayefundisa ngayo. Ngesinye isihlandlo, xa wayexubusha ngokubaluleka kokuba nokholo kwixabiso lenyama negazi lakhe elanikelwa njengedini, abafundi bakhe abaninzi babonakalisa ukothuka ngentetho efuziselayo awayeyisebenzisa. Bengalindelanga ngcaciso ibhekele phaya, ‘babuya umva, ababa sahamba naye.’—Yoh. 6:48-66.

Kodwa asingabo bonke ababuya umva. Kunjengokuba uSimon Petros wacacisayo, “Nkosi, sosuka siye kubani na? Nguwe onamazwi obomi obungunaphakade. Nathi sikholiwe, sazile, ukuba wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo ophilileyo.” (Yoh. 6:67-69) Babebone baza beva ngokwaneleyo ukuba bakholwe ukuba uYesu wayengulowo uThixo awayazisa ngaye inyaniso engaye nenjongo yakhe. (Yoh. 1:14; 14:6) Sekunjalo, uvavanyo lokholo lwaqhubeka.

Emva kokufa nokuvuka kwakhe, uYesu wasebenzisa abapostile nabanye njengabalusi bebandla. La yayingamadoda angafezekanga, yaye maxa wambi ukungafezeki kwawo kwakuba sisilingo kwabo babewangqongile. (Thelekisa IZenzo 15:36-41; Galati 2:11-14) Kwelinye icala, kwakukho abantu abaphulukana nokulungelelana kwindlela ababewahlonela ngayo amaKristu awayephambili nabathi: “Mna ndingokaPawulos,” ngoxa abanye babesithi: “Mna ndingoka-Apolo.” (1 Kor. 3:4) Bonke kwakufuneka bezilindile ukuze bangaphulukani nembono yabo ngoko kwakuthethwa kukuba ngumlandeli kaYesu Kristu.

Umpostile uPawulos waxela kwangaphambili ezinye iingxaki ezinzulu, ecacisa ukuba kwanaphakathi kwebandla lamaKristu kwakuya “kuvela amadoda athetha izinto ezigwenxa, ukuba abarhole abafundi emva kwawo.” (IZenzo 20:29, 30) Yaye umpostile uPetros walumkisa ukuba abafundisi bobuxoki phakathi kwabakhonzi bakaThixo babeya kufuna ukonakalisa abanye “ngamazwi alalanisayo.” (2 Pet. 2:1-3) Ngokucacileyo, kwakuza kufika uvavanyo lokholo olwaluhlola intliziyo nokunyaniseka.

Ngoko, ukuvavanywa nokuhluzwa okukhoyo kwimbali yanamhlanje yamaNgqina kaYehova akukhange kube yinto emangalisayo. Kodwa baninzi abaye bamangaliswa ngabo baye bakhubeka nayinto ebakhubekisileyo.

Ngaba Babeyixabisa Ngokwenene Intlawulelo?

Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1870, uMzalwan’ uRussell nezinxulumani zakhe bakhula elwazini nasekuxabiseni injongo kaThixo. Kwakulixesha lokuhlaziyeka kokomoya kubo. Kodwa bandula, ngowe-1878, bajamelana novavanyo olukhulu lokholo nokunyaniseka kwabo kwiLizwi likaThixo. Imbambano yayikukuxabiseka kwedini lenyama negazi likaYesu—imfundiso eyakhubekisa abafundi bakaYesu abaninzi benkulungwane yokuqala.

Kwakuyiminyaka nje emibini ngaphambi koku, ngowe-1876, awathi uC. T. Russell waqalisa ukusebenza noN. H. Barbour waseRochester, eNew York. Amaqela abo okufundisisa amanyana. OkaRussell wanikela ngemali yokuphinda kushicilelwe iphephancwadi likaBarbour iHerald of the Morning, uBarbour esebenza njengomhleli walo yaye uRussell njengosekela-mhleli. Kwakhona bavelisa kunye incwadi eyayinomxholo othi Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World.

Kwandula ke kwenzeka into eyothusayo! Kwinkupho yeHerald of the Morning ka-Agasti 1878, uBarbour wabhala inqaku awathi kulo wachaza izibhalo ezinjengeyoku-1 kaPetros 3:18 noIsaya 53:5, 6, kwanamaHebhere 9:22 njengezingabalulekanga, waza wathi ingcamango yokuba uKristu wafa ukuze acamagushele izono zethu ayifanelekanga. Kamva uRussell wabhala oku: “Kusikhwankqise gqitha ukuba, uMnu. Barbour . . . abhale inqaku kwiHerald eyikhanyela imfundiso yokucamagushela—ekhanyela ukuba ukufa kukaKristu kwakulixabiso lentlawulelo ka-Adam nohlanga lwakhe, esithi ukufa kukaKristu kwakungeyontlawulelo yezono zomntu kanye njengokuba ukuhlaba umzimba wempukane ngonotaka uze uyibangele ukuba ithuthunjelwe ize ife kungenakugqalwa ngumzali wasemhlabeni njengento ehlawulela isono somntwana wakhe.”a

Lo yayingumbandela obalulekileyo. Ngaba uMzalwan’ uRussell wayeya kuhlala enyanisekile koko iBhayibhile yayikuthetha ngokucacileyo ngokuphathelele ilungiselelo likaThixo lokusindiswa koluntu? Okanye ngaba wayeya kuphenjelelwa yintanda-bulumko yabantu? Nangona lo kaRussell wayeneminyaka engama-26 kuphela ubudala ngelo xesha yaye uBarbour emdala kakhulu kunaye, ngenkalipho uRussell wabhala inqaku kwinkupho elandelayo yeHerald awathi kulo wakhusela ngamandla ixabiso lokucamagushela izono legazi likaKristu, awabhekisela kulo ngokuthi “enye yezona mfundiso zibalulekileyo zelizwi likaThixo.”

Ngokulandelayo, wamema uJ. H. Paton, owayengomnye usekela-mhleli weHerald, ukuba abhale inqaku elalixhasa ukholo kwigazi likaKristu njengesiseko sokucanyagushelwa kwesono. Lo kaPaton walibhala elo nqaku, yaye lapapashwa kwinkupho kaDisemba. Emva kwemigudu ephindaphindiweyo nengazange iphumelele yokuqiqa ngalo mbandela noBarbour ngokusuka eZibhalweni, uRussell wayeka ukunxulumana naye waza warhoxa ekuxhaseni iphephancwadi lakhe. NgoJulayi 1879, uRussell waqalisa ukupapasha iphephancwadi elitsha—iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence—eyathi zisuka nje yayithethelela ngokukhethekileyo intlawulelo. Kodwa kwakungaphelelanga apho.

Kwiminyaka emibini kamva, uPaton, ngoko owayekhonza njengommeli ohambahambayo weMboniselo, naye waqalisa ukunxaxha, emva koko wabhala incwadi (incwadi yakhe yesibini eyayinomxholo othi Day Dawn) awathi kuyo wayichasa inkolelo yokuwela kuka-Adam esonweni nto leyo eyabangela kwafuneka umhlawuleli. Waqiqa ngelithi iNkosi yayingumntu ongafezekanga owathi ngobomi bakhe wabonisa abanye kuphela indlela yokuhlawulela utyekelo lwabo lwesono. Ngowe-1881, uA. D. Jones, esinye isinxulumani, waqalisa elinye iphepha (iZion’s Day Star) elalifana neMboniselo kodwa ngenjongo yokuba liya kuxubusha iinkalo ezilula ngakumbi zenjongo kaThixo. Ekuqaleni konke kwabonakala kuhamba kakuhle. Kodwa, kungaphelanga nonyaka, iphepha likaJones lalichasa idini lentlawulelo likaKristu, yaye kunyaka olandelayo, layichasa yonke iBhayibhile. Kwakusenzeka ntoni kuloo madoda? Ayevumele iingcamango zobuqu nokuthabatheka ziintanda-bulumko zabantu ukuba kuwatyekise kwiLizwi likaThixo. (Thelekisa amaKolose 2:8.) Iphepha elalipapashwa nguA. D. Jones laqhubeka okwethutyana elifutshane kuphela laza laphelela esithubeni. UJ. H. Paton wagqiba kwelokuba apapashe iphephancwadi awathi kulo wandlala ivangeli ngendlela awayeyibona ngayo, kodwa alizange lisasazwe kakhulu.

UMzalwan’ uRussell wayewuxhalabele ngokunzulu umphumo konke oku okwakunawo kubafundi beMboniselo. Wayeqonda ukuba kwakuvavanya ukholo lomntu ngamnye. Wayesazi kakuhle ukuba abanye babekugqala ukugxeka kwakhe iimfundiso ezingezozazibhalo njengokwakuqhutywa ngumoya wobutshaba. Kodwa uMzalwan’ uRussell wayengazifuneli balandeli. Ngokuphathelele okwakusenzeka, wabhala: “Kuyabonakala ukuba injongo yolu vavanyo noku kuhluzwa kukukhetha bonke abaneminqweno yentliziyo yokungazingci, abazinikele ngokupheleleyo nangokungagogotye lutho eNkosini, abakuxhalabele gqitha ukwenza ukuthanda kweNkosi, nabanentembelo enkulu kubulumko bayo, kwindlela yayo nakwiLizwi layo, kangangokuba abavumi ukutyekiswa kwiLizwi leNkosi, enoba kungeengxoxo ezigwenxa zabanye, okanye ngamacebo neengcamango zabo.”

Ngaba UThixo Wayesebenzisa Ijelo Elibonakalayo?

Kambe ke, kukho iintlangano ezininzi zonqulo, nabafundisi abaninzi abayisebenzisayo ngandlel’ ithile iBhayibhile. Ngaba uThixo wayesebenzisa ngokukhethekileyo uCharles Taze Russell? Ukuba kunjalo, ngaba uThixo wayeka ukuba nejelo elibonakalayo xa uMzalwan’ uRussell wafayo? Ezi yaba ziimbambano ezibalulekileyo, ezakhokelela kuvavanyo nokuhluzwa okungakumbi.

Ngokuqinisekileyo kwakungenakulindeleka ukuba uThixo asebenzise uC. T. Russell ukuba wayengabambelelanga ngokunyanisekileyo kwiLizwi likaThixo. (Yer. 23:28; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17) UThixo wayengayi kusebenzisa indoda eyayisithi ngoloyiko irhoxobise ekushumayeleni oko ikubona kubhalwe ngokucacileyo kwiZibhalo. (Hez. 2:6-8) Yaye uThixo wayengayi kusebenzisa umntu owayelusebenzisa kakubi ulwazi lwakhe ngeZibhalo ukuze azizisele uzuko. (Yoh. 5:44) Ngoko, zibonisa ntoni izibakala?

Njengoko amaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje ehlolisisa umsebenzi awayewenza, izinto awayezifundisa, isizathu sokuzifundisa kwakhe nemiphumo yoko, awathandabuzi ukuba uCharles Taze Russell, ngokwenene, wayesetyenziswa nguThixo ngendlela ekhethekileyo yaye ngexesha elibalulekileyo.

Le mbono ayisekelwanga kuphela kwindlela uMzalwan’ uRussell awema ngokuqinileyo ngayo ngokuphathelele intlawulelo. Kwakhona iquka isibakala sokuba wazichasa ngokungenaloyiko izivumo zokholo ezazineenkolelo ezithile ezisisiseko zeNgqobhoko, kuba zazingqubana neZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo. Ezi nkolelo zaziquka imfundiso kaBathathu Emnye (eyayivela kwiBhabhiloni yamandulo neyayingazange yamkelwe ngabo babezibanga bengamaKristu de kwalithuba elide emva kokuba kugqityiwe ukubhalwa kweBhayibhile) nemfundiso yokuba imiphefumlo yabantu ayifi (imfundiso eyamkelwa ngabantu ababesoyikiswa yintanda-bulumko kaPlato neyathi yabashiya bechanabeke kwiingcamango ezifana nokuthuthunjiswa kwemiphefumlo ngonaphakade kwisihogo somlilo). Kwanabaphengululi abaninizi beNgqobhoko, bayazi ukuba ezi mfundiso azifundiswa eBhayibhileni,b kodwa leyo asiyonto abashumayeli babo abayithethayo kwiipulpiti zabo. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, uMzalwan’ uRussell waqalisa iphulo lenyameko lokwabelana nabo bonke abantu ababekulungele ukuva ngoko kanye kanye iBhayibhile ikuthethayo.

Kwakhona enye into ephawulekayo koko uMzalwan’ uRussell wakwenzayo ngezinye iinyaniso ezibaluleke gqitha awazifunda eLizwini likaThixo. Wayeqonda ukuba uKristu wayeya kubuya njengomntu ozukileyo ongumoya, ongabonakaliyo emehlweni abantu. Kwangowe-1876, waqonda ukuba unyaka we-1914 wawuya kuphawula ukuphela kwamaXesha eeNtlanga. (Luka 21:24, KJ) Ngokufanayo abanye abaphengululi beBhayibhile bazibona kusengaphambili ezinye zezi zinto baza bazingqinela. Kodwa uMzalwan’ uRussell wasebenzisa bonke ubuncwane bakhe ukuze azazise ekuhleni kwizizwe ngezizwe ngomlinganiselo ongazange ufikelelwe nguye nawuphi na umntu okanye iqela ngoko.

Wabongoza abanye ukuba bazihlolisise ngenyameko izinto awayezibhala besebenzisa iLizwi likaThixo eliphefumlelweyo ukuze baneliseke ukuba oko babekufunda kwakuvumelana ngokupheleleyo nalo. UMzalwan’ uRussell wamphendula ngolu hlobo omnye owabhala ileta ebuza okuthile: “Ukuba kwakufanelekile ngamaKristu okuqala ukuqinisekisa oko ayekufumene kubapostile, ababephefumlelwe nababevuma ukuba baphefumlelwe, hayi indlela ekubaluleke ngakumbi ngayo ukuba nawe uzanelise ngokupheleleyo enoba ezi mfundiso zihlala zivisisana ngokusondeleyo neemfundiso zabo ezandlaliweyo nezo zeNkosi yethu;—ekubeni umbhali wazo engatsho ukuba uphefumlelwe, kodwa esithi nje ukhokelwa yiNkosi, njengalowo usetyenziswa yiyo ekondleni umhlambi wayo.”

UMzalwan’ uRussell wayengazibangi enamandla angaphezu kwawomntu, engatsho nokuba utyhilelwe izinto nguThixo. Akazange afune ukuzukiswa ngezinto awayezifundisa. Wayengumfundi obalaseleyo weBhayibhile. Kodwa wacacisa ukuba ukuziqonda kwakhe okuphawulekayo iZibhalo kwakungenxa ‘yesibakala esilula sokuba ixesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo lalifikile.’ Wathi: “Ukuba bendingathethanga, yaye akwafunyanwa nomnye umthunywa, kwanamatye la ebeya kuthetha.” Wathi wayengumnwe wokwalatha nje kuphela, owalatha koko kubhalwe eLizwini likaThixo.

UCharles Taze Russell wayengafuni kuzukiswa ngabantu. Ngowe-1896, ukuze alungise ukucinga kwabo nabaphi na ababetyekele ekumhloneleni ngokugqithiseleyo, uMzalwan’ uRussell wabhala: “Njengoko, ngobabalo lukaThixo, siye sasetyenziswa kubulungiseleli bevangeli ukusa kumlinganiselo othile, akusayi kuba yinto engafanelekanga ukuthetha apha oko siye sakuthetha ngokufuthi ngasese, nebesikubhala kule mihlathi,—okukuthi, ngoxa siluxabisa uthando, imfesane, intembelo nobudlelane babakhonzi abakunye nathi nabendlu yonke yokholo, asifuni ukuba kuzukiswe, okanye kunqulwe thina okanye oko sikubhalayo; yaye asifuni kubizwa ngokuthi Mfundisi okanye Rabhi. Yaye asinqweneli nokuba kubekho nabaphi na abantu abaya kubizwa ngamagama ethu.”

Njengoko ukufa kwakhe kwakusondela, akazange abe nembono yokuba kwakungasekho nto ingakumbi eyayimele ifundwe, ukuba kwakungasekho msebenzi wumbi owawufanele wenziwe. Ngokufuthi wayethetha ngokulungiselela umqulu wesixhenxe wencwadi ethi Studies in the Scriptures. Xa wabuzwayo ngawo ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, wathi kuMenta Sturgeon, owayeliqabane lakhe kumsebenzi wokuhambahamba: “Unokubhalwa nangomnye umntu.” Kumyolelo wakhe wavakalisa umnqweno wokuba IMboniselo iqhubeke ipapashwa phantsi kolwalathiso lwekomiti yamadoda azinikele ngokupheleleyo eNkosini. Wathi abo babeya kukhonza ngaloo ndlela babefanele babe ngamadoda “anyaniseke ngokupheleleyo kwiimfundiso zeZibhalo—ngokukodwa kwimfundiso yeNtlawulelo—zokuba ubani akamkeleki kuThixo yaye akanakusindiselwa kubomi obungunaphakade ngaphandle kokuba nokholo kuKristu aze athobele iLizwi Lakhe nomoya walo.”

UMzalwan’ uRussell wayeqonda ukuba kwakusafuneka kwenziwe umsebenzi omkhulu ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo. Kwingxubusho yemibuzo neempendulo eyaqhutyelwa eVancouver, B.C., eKhanada, ngowe-1915, wabuzwa ngexesha abalandeli bakaKristu abathanjiswe ngomoya ababephila ngoko ababenokulindela ukuwufumana ngalo umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. Waphendula ngokuthi: “Andazi, kodwa kukho umsebenzi omkhulu ekufuneka wenziwe. Yaye kuya kufuneka amawaka abazalwana nezigidi zemali ukuze wenziwe. Andazi ukuba oku kuya kuvela phi—iNkosi iyayazi into eyenzayo.” Wandula ke, ngowe-1916, ngaphambilana nje kokuqalisa kwakhe ukhenketho lokuhamba enikel’ iintetho awafela kulo, wabizela eofisini yakhe uA. H. Macmillan, usekela-malathisi. Ngeso sihlandlo wathi: “Andisakwazi kuqhubeka nalo msebenzi, kokwa kusekho umsebenzi omkhulu omele wenziwe.” Kangangeeyure ezintathu wachazela uMzalwan’ uMacmillan umsebenzi omkhulu wokushumayela awayewubona ngaphambili, ngokusekelwe eZibhalweni. Ephendula ukuthingaza kukaMzalwan’ uMacmillan, wathi: “Lo asingomsebenzi womntu.”

Utshintsho Kulwalathiso Luzisa Uvavanyo

Izinxulumani ezininzi zikaMzalwan’ uRussell zazeyiseke ngokuqinileyo ukuba yiNkosi eyayilawula izinto. Kumngcwabo kaMzalwan’ uRussell, uW. E. Van Amburgh wathi: “UThixo uye wasebenzisa abakhonzi abaninzi ngaphambili ibe ngokungathandabuzekiyo Uya kusebenzisa abaninzi nakwixesha elizayo. Asizinikelanga mntwini, okanye ekwenzeni umsebenzi womntu, kodwa sizinikele ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo, njengoko Yena eza kukutyhila kuthi ngeLizwi Lakhe nangokhokelo lobuthixo. UThixo usengumalathisi wethu.” UMzalwan’ uVan Amburgh akazange aguquke kweso sigqibo de kwasekufeni kwakhe.

Noko ke, okubuhlungu kukuba kwakukho abanye ababesithi bayamhlonela uRussell kodwa ababonakalisa umoya owahlukileyo. Ngenxa yoko, iimeko ezaguqukayo emva kokufa kukaRussell zabangela uvavanyo nokuhluzwa. Kwaqhambuka amaqela abawexuki kungekuphela nje eUnited States kodwa naseBelfast, eIreland; eCopenhagen, eDenmark; eVancouver naseVictoria, eBritish Columbia, eKhanada; nakwezinye iindawo. EHelsinki, eFinland, abathile bamkela imbono yokuba emva kokufa kukaRussell kwakungekho jelo lokudlulisela ukukhanya kokomoya okungakumbi. Bephenjelelwa ngabathile abaphambili, abali-164 apho bayishiya intlangano. Ngaba oko wakusikelela uThixo? Okwexeshana bapapasha elabo iphephancwadi baza baziqhubela ezabo iintlanganiso. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha, elo qela laqhekeka, laya linyamalala, laza laphela; ibe okuvuyisayo kukuba abaninzi kubo babuyela kwiintlanganiso zaBafundi beBhayibhile. Noko ke, asingabo bonke ababuyayo.

Kwakhona, ukufa kukaMzalwan’ uRussell, nezinto ezalandelayo emva kwako, kwaba luvavanyo kuR. E. B. Nicholson, unobhala wesebe laseOstreliya, yaye kwamenza waveza oko kwakusentliziyweni yakhe. Emva kokufa kukaRus­sell uNicholson wabhala oku: “Ngaphezu kwekota yenkulungwane bendimthanda, kungekuphela nje ngenxa yemisebenzi yakhe, kodwa nangenxa yeempawu zakhe ezintle, ndiye ndazinandipha iinyaniso ebezikhupha ‘njengenyama ngexesha elifanelekileyo,’ kwakunye namacebiso akhe, uvelwano, ububele, uthando lwakhe nangona ebenenkalipho nozimiselo lokwenza nantoni na ukuze afeze oko ebekholelwa ukuba kukuthanda kukaThixo okanye ukutyhilwa kweLizwi Lakhe. . . . Umntu uziva elilolo xa ecinga ukuba lo mntu ebesixhasa kangaka akasekho.”

UJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli omtsha weWatch Tower Society, wayengengomntu lo kaNicholson awayecinga ukuba wayefanele abe kwisikhundla sokuvelela uMzalwan’ uRussell awayekuso. UNicholson waqalisa ukuyigxeka ekuhleni indlela engqalileyo umbandela weBhayibhile omtsha owawufundisiswa owawulubhenca ngayo unqulo lobuxoki. Kungekudala wayishiya intlangano, yaye wemka nempahla eninzi yoMbutho (awayeyibhalise ngegama lakhe) nabo babeseMelbourne abathi, nabo, batyekela ekuthembeleni ngaye. Kwakutheni ukuze oku kwenzeke? Kuyabonakala ukuba uNicholson wazivumela ukuba abe ngumlandeli womntu; ngoko, xa loo mntu wayengasekho, ukunyaniseka nenzondelelo kaNicholson yokukhonza iNkosi yaya iphola. Akukho namnye kwabo baqhekekayo ngelo xesha owaphumelelayo ngokomoya. Noko ke, okuphawulekayo kukuba uJane Nicholson, nakuba wayebuthathaka emzimbeni, akazange amthelele umyeni wakhe kukreqo lwakhe. Uzahlulelo lwakhe kuYehova uThixo lwaluyinto ephambili, yaye waqhubeka emkhonza ixesha elizeleyo de kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1951.

Abaninzi baqonda ukuba okwakusenzeka kwiminyaka yasemva kokufa kukaMzalwan’ uRussell kwakuphumeza ukuthanda kweNkosi. Ngokuphathelele oku omnye wabakhonzi bakaYehova eKhanada wabhalela uMzalwan’ uRuth­er­ford, esithi:

“Mzalwana othandekayo, ungandivi kakubi ngoku ndikubhalela kona. Wahluke ngokupheleleyo kuMzalwana wethu othandekayo uRussell njengokwahluka kwemini kubusuku. Baninzi, kwowu, baninzi gqitha abebemthanda uMzalwan’ uRussell ngenxa yobuntu, isimo sakhe, njl.; ibe bambalwa, bambalwa gqitha abebemchasa. Abaninzi bayamkela inyaniso kuba nje yayithethwa nguMzalwan’ uRussell. Baza, abaninzi baqalisa ukumnqula . . . Usakhumbula mhla uMzalwan’ uRussell endibanweni wathetha ngokuphandle ngoku kusilela kwabazalwana abaninzi ababeneenjongo ezintle, intetho yakhe eyisekele kwingxelo engoYohane nesithunywa sezulu. (ISityhilelo 22:8, 9) Ekufeni kwakhe sonke siyakwazi okwenzekileyo.

“Kodwa wena, Mzalwan’ uRutherford, unesimo esingafaniyo kwaphela nesikaMzalwan’ uRussell. Kwanenkangeleko yenu yahlukile. Asilotyala lakho elo. Wakufumana njengesipho ukuzalwa kwakho, yaye wawungenako ukungakwamkeli. . . . Kususela oko uthe wabekwa wangumalathisi wemicimbi yoMBUTHO, ubusisisulu sokugxekwa ngokungekho sikweni nokudliwa izithende ngendlela embi gqitha, konke oku kusenziwa ngabazalwana. Ukanti phezu kwako nje oku ubunyanisekile yaye uzinikele kwiNkosi ethandekayo nakuthumo lwayo njengoko lubhalwe kuIsaya 61:1-3. Ngaba iNkosi ibiyazi into eyenzayo ngokukubeka njengomalathisi wemicimbi? Ngokuqinisekileyo ibiyazi. Kwixa elidluleyo sonke besityekele ekunquleni isidalwa ngaphezu koMdali. INkosi ibikwazi oko. Ngoko iye yabeka isidalwa esahlukileyo ukuba salathise imicimbi, okanye mandithi sijongane nomsebenzi, umsebenzi wokuvuna. Akunqweneli namnye ukuba akunqule. Ndiyazi ukuba, unqwenela ukuba bonke abanokholo oluxabisekileyo olufanayo banandiphe ukukhanya ngoku okukhanyayo kumendo wokusesikweni, njengoko iNkosi ibona kufanelekile ukuba kukhanye. Yaye le yindlela iNkosi efuna kwenziwe ngayo.”

Ukucaciswa Kokufaniswa ‘Komkhonzi Othembekileyo Nolumkileyo’

Abaninzi abahluzwayo ngelo xesha babebambelele kwingcamango yokuba umntu omnye, uCharles Taze Russell, ‘wayengumkhonzi othembekileyo nolumkileyo’ owaxelwa kwangaphambili nguYesu kuMateyu 24:45-47 (KJ), mkhonzi lowo owayeya kudlulisela ukutya kokomoya kwabendlu yokholo. Ngokukhethekileyo emva kokufa kwakhe, IMboniselo nayo yayichaza le mbono kangangeminyaka eliqela. Ngenxa yendima ebalulekileyo uMzalwan’ uRussell awayenayo, oku kwabonakala kunjalo kuBafundi beBhayibhile belo xesha. Yena akazange ayikhuthaze le mbono, kodwa wayevuma ukuba isengqiqweni indlela ababeyichaza ngayo abo babeyixhasa.c Noko ke, kwakhona wayebethelela ukuba nabani na iNkosi eyayinokumsebenzisa kwindima enjalo wayefanele athobeke aze abe nenzondelelo ukuze kuzukiswe iNkosi, nokuba ukuba lowo ukhethwe yiNkosi wayesilela, wayeya kuthatyathelw’ indawo ngomnye.

Noko ke, njengoko ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwakuqhubeka kukhanyisa ngakumbi emva kokufa kukaMzalwan’ uRussell, nanjengokuba ukushumayela uYesu awakuxela kwangaphambili kwakusiya kusanda, kwabonakala ukuba “umkhonzi othembekileyo nolumkileyo” (KJ), okanye ‘umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo,’ akazange anyamalale akuba uMzalwan’ uRussell efile. Ngowe-1881, uMzalwan’ uRussell wayeyivakalisile ingcamango yokuba loo “mkhonzi” wayebunjwa ngawo onke amaKristu athembekileyo athanjiswe ngomoya. Wawubona njengomkhonzi oyintlanganisela, udidi lwabantu ababemanyene ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo. (Thelekisa uIsaya 43:10.) Le ngcamango yaqinisekiswa kwakhona ngaBafundi beBhayibhile ngowe-1927. Namhlanje amaNgqina kaYehova aligqala iphephancwadi IMboniselo neempapasho ezifana nalo njengezo zisetyenziswa ngumkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo ukusasaza ukutya kokomoya. Awatsho ukuba lo mkhonzi akafi, kodwa amgqala njengokuphela kwejelo iNkosi elisebenzisayo ebudeni bemihla yokugqibela yale nkqubo yezinto.

Xa Baphazanyiswa Likratshi

Noko ke, kuye kwakho amaxesha axa amadoda akwizikhundla zembopheleleko eye azigqala njengejelo lokukhanya kokomoya, ngokokude achase noko kwakulungiselelwa yintlangano. Abanye basuka bawela kumnqweno wokuba nempembelelo engakumbi. Babefuna ukuba abanye balandele bona, okanye, njengoko umpostile uPawulos esitsho, ‘ukubarholela emva kwabo abafundi.’ (IZe. 20:29, 30) Kambe ke, oku kwavavanya iintshukumisa nokuzinza ngokomoya kwabo babezabalazela ukubarhintyela. Qwalasela eminye imizekeliso:

ABafundi beBhayibhile baseAllegheny, ePennsylvania, babhalelwa iileta ezikhethekileyo ezazibamemela kwintlanganiso eyayiza kuba ngoAprili 5, 1894. UMzalwana noDade Russell babengamenywanga yaye abazange baye, kodwa kwakukho abanye abamalunga nama-40. Le leta, eyayityobelwe nguE. Bryan, uS. D. Rogers, uJ. B. Adamson no-O. von Zech, yathi le ntlanganiso yayiza kubandakanya izinto ezaziphathelele “eyona micimbi ibalulekileyo” kubo. Oku kwangqineka kungumzamo wolunya wabo bayili beyelenqe wokutyhefa iingqondo zabanye ngokubethelela oko babecinga ukuba bububi kwindlela uMzalwan’ uRussell awayezenza ngayo izinto (nangona izibakala zazichasene noko), bemi ngelokuba uMzalwan’ uRussell wayenegunya elikhulu gqitha (gunya elo ababelifuna), yaye bekhalaza kuba wayexhasa ukusetyenziswa koncwadi neentlanganiso zeeklasi zokufundisa iBhayibhile ukuze kusasazwe ivangeli kunokuba kunikelwe iintetho kuphela (ababesenokuthi kuzo bavakalise iingcamango zobuqu). Ibandla laphazamiseka gqitha koko kwenzekayo, yaye abaninzi bakhubeka. Kodwa abo batyekayo abazange babe ngabantu abathanda izinto zokomoya ngakumbi okanye abanenzondelelo ngakumbi emsebenzini weNkosi.

Kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-20 kamva, ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uMzalwan’ uRussell wavakalisa umnqweno wakhe wokuthumela uPaul S. L. Johnson, owayesisithethi esifanelekayo, eBritani ukuba ayokomeleza aBafundi beBhayibhile apho. Uhlonela umnqweno kaMzalwan’ uRussell, uMbutho wathumela lo kaJohnson eBritani ngoNovemba 1916. Noko ke, wathi nje akuba eseBritani, wagxotha abalathisi ababini boMbutho. Ezibona njengosomaqhuzu, ngeentetho nangezinto awayezibhala wema ngelokuba oko wayekwenza kwafanekiselwa kwangaphambili eZibhalweni nguEzra, uNehemiya noMordekayi. Wayesithi uligosa (okanye, umntu ophathisiweyo) uYesu awabhekisela kulo kumzekeliso wakhe okuMateyu 20:8. Wazama ukuphatha imali yoMbutho, yaye wenza isicelo kwiNkundla Ephakamileyo Yamatyala yaseLondon ukuze aphumeze iinjongo zakhe.

Engaphumelelanga kwimizamo yakhe, wabuyela eNew York. Apho wazama ukurhwebesha abathile ababekhonza kwiqumrhu labalathisi loMbutho ukuba bamxhase. Abo barhwetyeshelwa ukuba bavumelane naye bazabalazela ukufikelela iinjongo zabo ngokuzama ukudlulisela isigqibo sokurhoxisa imithetho yoMbutho eyayigunyazisa ukuba ibe ngumongameli owayefanele aphathe imicimbi yawo. Babefuna ukuba igunya lokwenza zonke izigqibo linikwe bona. UMzalwan’ uRutherford wabhenela ezinkundleni ukuze akhusele izilangazelelo zoMbutho, yaye abo babefuna ukuphazamisa umsebenzi wawo bacelwa ukuba balishiye iKhaya laseBheteli. Kwintlanganiso yonyaka yabo babenezabelo kuMbutho eyayisekuqaleni konyaka olandelayo, xa kwakunyulwa iqumrhu labalathisi namagosa onyaka olandelayo, abo babenempembelelo embi bachaswa ngamxhelomnye. Mhlawumbi abanye babo babecinga ukuba babesenza okufanelekileyo, kodwa uninzi lwabazalwana babo bokomoya lwakwenza kwacaca ukuba lwalungavumelani nabo. Ngaba babeya kusamkela eso sohlwayo?

Emva koko, uP. S. L. Johnson waya kwiintlanganiso zaBafundi beBhayibhile yaye wenza kwabonakala ngathi wayevumelana neenkolelo nemisebenzi yabo. Kodwa emva kokuba ezuze intembelo yabanye, wahlwayela imbewu yamathandabuzo. Ukuba kwakukho nabani na owayecebisa ukwahlukana noMbutho, ngokuhanahanisa wayemdimaza—de ukunyaniseka kwelo qela kwaphela ngokupheleleyo. Ngembalelwano nangokuya ngokobuqu, wazabalazela ukuphembelela abazalwana kungekuphela nje eUnited States kodwa naseKhanada, eJamaica, eYurophu naseOstreliya. Ngaba oku kwaphumelela?

Mhlawumbi kwabonakala kunjalo xa uninzi lwababesebandleni bavotela ukuqhawula amaqhina noMbutho. Kodwa babefana nesebe eligawulwe emthini—elihlala liluhlaza okwethutyana, libune lize life. Xa aba bachasi baqhuba indibano ngowe-1918, kwavela ukungavisisani, baza baqhekeka. Kwalandela ukwahlukana okungakumbi. Abanye baqhubeka okwethutyana njengamahlelo amancinane benenkokeli ababejonge kuyo. Akukho namnye kubo owazinikelayo kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina ekuhleni kwelimiweyo liphela ngokuphathelele uBukumkani bukaThixo, msebenzi lowo uYesu awawabela abalandeli bakhe.

Njengokuba kwakusenzeka ezi zinto, abazalwana bazikhumbuza ngoko kwakubhalwe kweyoku-1 kaPetros 4:12: “Zintanda, musani ukuwuthela nqa umlilo okhoyo phakathi kwenu wokunilinga, ngathi nihlelwa yinto yokuthelwa nqa.”

Abo bakhankanywe ngasentla asingabo bodwa abavumela ikratshi lenza buthathaka ukholo lwabo. Nabanye benjenjalo, kuquka uAlexandre Freytag, owayengumalathisi weofisi yoMbutho eGeneva, eSwitzerland. Wayethanda ukutsalel’ ingqalelo kwisiqu sakhe, esongeza iingcamango zakhe xa eguqulela iimpapasho zoMbutho kwisiFrentshi, yaye ekwasebenzisa nezixhobo zoMbutho ukupapasha olwakhe uncwadi. EKhanada, kwakukho uW. F. Salter, umalathisi wesebe loMbutho owaqalisa ukungavumelani neempapasho zoMbutho, esithi yena wayelindele ukuba ngumongameli olandelayo weWatch Tower Society, ibe, emva kokugxothwa kwakhe, ngobuqhetseba wasebenzisa amaphepha anegama loMbutho ukuze ayalele amabandla eKhanada nakwamanye amazwe ukuba afundisise umbandela awayewubhale ngokwakhe. ENigeria, phakathi kwabanye, kwakukho uG. M. Ukoli, owathi ekuqaleni wabonakalisa inzondelelo ngenyaniso kodwa wandula waqalisa ukuyibona njengendlela yokuzuza izinto eziphathekayo nokubaluleka. Emva koko, xa engazange aphumelele kwiinjongo zakhe, waqalisa ukugxeka abazalwana abathembekileyo kumaphephandaba. Babekho nabanye.

Kwanakwiminyaka yakutshanje, abanye abebekwizikhundla eziphambili zokongamela babonakalise umoya onjalo.

Kakade ke, ngokuqinisekileyo aba bantu babenenkululeko yokukholelwa oko babefuna ukukukholelwa. Kodwa nawuphi na othi ekuhleni okanye ngasese athethelele iingcamango ezitenxileyo koko kubonakala kwiimpapasho zentlangano, aze akwenze oko ngoxa ezibanga emela intlangano, ubangela iiyantlukwano. AmaNgqina kaYehova aye azisingatha njani ezi meko?

Akazange angenele iphulo lokubatshutshisa abantu abanjalo (nangona ngokufuthi abakreqi babethetha kakubi ngabo babesakuba ngabazalwana babo), yaye akazange afune ukubenzakalisa emzimbeni (njengoko kwakusenziwa yiCawa yamaKatolika ngeNkundla Yokuncina Amakholwa). Kunoko, alandela isiluleko esiphefumlelweyo sompostile uPawulos, owabhala esithi: “Balumkeleni abo benza iimbambaniso nezikhubekiso, ezinxamnye nemfundiso enayifundayo nina, niphambuke kubo. Kuba abanjalo abakhonzi yona iNkosi yethu uKristu . . . Ngamazwi anencasa nalalanisayo, balukuhle iintliziyo zabangazani nabubi.”—Roma 16:17, 18.

Njengoko abanye babesondela oko kwakusenzeka, nabo banikwa ithuba lokubonakalisa okwakusezintliziyweni zabo.

Iimfundiso Ekwakufuneka Zihlaziywe

AmaNgqina kaYehova ayivuma ngokuphandle into yokuba indlela ayiqonda ngayo injongo kaThixo iye yaguqulwa kaninzi ukutyhubela iminyaka. Isibakala sokuba ulwazi ngenjongo kaThixo luqhubekela phambili sithetha ukuba kumele kubekho inguqulelo. Oko akuthethi ukuba injongo kaThixo iyaguquguquka, kodwa ukhanyiselo aqhubeka elunika abakhonzi bakhe lufuna kwenziwe iinguqulelo ezithile kwimbono yabo.

Ngokusuka eBhayibhileni amaNgqina ayaqonda ukuba oku kwakunjalo nangabakhonzi abathembekileyo bakaThixo bamandulo. UAbraham wayenolwalamano olusondeleyo noYehova; kodwa xa yashiya iUre, loo ndoda yokholo yayingalazi ilizwe uThixo awayeyikhokelela kulo, yaye kangangeminyaka emininzi yayingaqinisekanga kwaphela ngendlela uThixo awayeya kulizalisekisa ngayo idinga lakhe lokuvelisa ngayo uhlanga olukhulu. (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:3; 17:15-21; Heb. 11:8) UThixo watyhila iinyaniso ezininzi kubaprofeti, kodwa kwakukho ezinye izinto ababengaziqondi ngoko. (Dan. 12:8, 9; 1 Pet. 1:10-12) Ngokufanayo, kuninzi uYesu awakuchazela abapostile bakhe, kodwa kwanasekupheleni kobomi bakhe basemhlabeni wabaxelela ukuba kwakusekho izinto ezininzi ekwakufuneka bazifunde. (Yoh. 16:12) Ezinye zezi zinto, njengenjongo kaThixo yokungenisa iiNtlanga ebandleni, abazange baziqonde de abapostile bakubona oko kanye kwakusenzeka kuzalisekiswa eso siprofeto.—IZe. 11:1-18.

Njengoko kusenokulindelwa, xa iinguqulelo zazifuna ukuba kulahlwe iingcamango ezazixatyisiwe ngaphambili, oko kwaba luvavanyo kwabathile. Ukongezelela, asizizo zonke iinguqulelo kwindlela eziqondwa ngayo izinto ezavela ngokulula, ngaxeshanye. Ngenxa yokungafezeki, maxa wambi kubakho utyekelo lokugabadela ngandlel’ ithile ngaphambi kokuba kuqondwe ukuma okuchanileyo. Oku kusenokuthabatha ixesha. Abanye ababetyekele ekugxekeni baye bakhutyekiswa koku. Khawuqwalasele lo mzekelo:

Kwangowe-1880, iimpapasho zeWatch Tower zaxubusha iinkcukacha ezahlukahlukeneyo ezinxulumene nomnqophiso ka-Abraham, umnqophiso woMthetho nomnqophiso omtsha. INgqobhoko yalilibala idinga likaThixo lokuba zonke izizwe zomhlaba ziya kusikelelwa ngembewu ka-Abraham. (Gen. 22:18) Kodwa uMzalwan’ uRussell wayenomdla onzulu wokuqonda indlela uThixo awayeya kukufeza ngayo oku. Wayecinga ukuba wayebone kwinkcazelo yeBhayibhile yoMhla Wokucamagusha wamaYuda iimbonakaliso ezingendlela oku okwakusenokufezwa ngayo kumnqophiso omtsha. Ngowe-1907, xa kwaphinda kwaxutyushwa ngale minqophiso, kubethelelwa ngokukhethekileyo indima yeendlalifa ezikunye noKristu ekuziseleni uluntu iintsikelelo ezaxelwa kwangaphambili kumnqophiso ka-Abraham, abanye aBafundi beBhayibhile bachasa ngamandla.

Ngelo xesha kwakukho imiqobo ethile eyayibangela ukuba ingaqondwa ngokucacileyo imibandela. ABafundi beBhayibhile babengekasiqondi ngokuchanileyo isikhundla uSirayeli wokwemvelo awayekuso ngoko ngokuphathelele injongo kaThixo. Lo mqobo awuzange usuke endleleni de kwabonakala ngokucacileyo ukuba amaYuda njengesizwe ayengenamdla ekusetyenzisweni nguThixo ekuzalisekiseni ilizwi lakhe lesiprofeto. Omnye umqobo yayikukungakwazi kwaBafundi beBhayibhile ukufanisa ngokuchanileyo “isihlwele esikhulu” seSityhilelo 7:9, 10. Abazange bakwazi ukusifanisa ngokucacileyo de isihlwele esikhulu saqalisa ukuzibonakalisa kuzalisekiswa isiprofeto. Abo babemgxeka ngamandla uMzalwan’ uRussell abazange bayiqonde nabo le mibandela.

Noko ke, bexoka, abathile ababesithi bangabazalwana abangamaKristu bathi IMboniselo iye yakhanyela ukuba uYesu unguMlamleli phakathi koThixo nabantu, yaye iye yayichasa intlawulelo yaza yakukhanyela ukufuneka nenyaniso engokucamagushelwa. Yayibubuxoki bodwa obo. Kodwa abanye ababuthethayo yayingabantu ababephambili, yaye bazitsalela abanye ukuba babe ngabafundi babo. Basenokuba babechanile kwezinye iinkcukacha ababezifundisa ngokuphathelele umnqophiso omtsha, kodwa ngaba iNkosi yakusikelela oko babekwenza? Okwexeshana abanye babo babeqhuba iintlanganiso, kodwa amaqela abo aphela.

Ngokwahlukileyo koko, aBafundi beBhayibhile baqhubeka benesabelo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo, njengoko uYesu wabayalelayo abafundi bakhe. Kwangaxeshanye, baqhubeka befundisisa iLizwi likaThixo yaye bondele iinguqulelo ezaziya kukhanyisa intsingiselo yalo. Ekugqibeleni, ngeminyaka yee-1930, imiqobo ephambili eyayibangela ukungaqondwa ngokucacileyo kweminqophiso yasuswa, yaye IMboniselo nezinye iimpapasho zanikela iingxelo ezilungisiweyo ngalo mbandela.d Hayi indlela abavuya ngayo abo babelinde ngomonde!

Ngaba Ulindelo Lwabo Lwaluchanile?

Maxa wambi aBafundi beBhayibhile bebenamathemba nolindelo oluye lwahlekwa ngabagxeki. Ukanti, onke loo mathemba nolindelo ebesekelwe kumnqweno onyanisekileyo wokubona ukuzalisekiswa koko la maKristu anenzondelelo ebekugqala kungamadinga kaThixo angenakusilela.

Kufundisiso lwabo lweZibhalo, babesazi ukuba uYehova wayethembise ukuzisikelela zonke iintlanga zomhlaba ngembewu ka-Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:15-18) Babona kwiLizwi likaThixo idinga lokuba uNyana womntu uya kulawula njengoKumkani wasezulwini phezu kwawo wonke umhlaba, ukuba umhlambi omncinane wabathembekileyo uya kuthatyathwa emhlabeni ukuze ube nesabelo naye kuBukumkani bakhe, nokuba aba baya kulawula njengookumkani iminyaka eliwaka. (Dan. 7:13, 14; Luka 12:32; ISityhi. 5:9, 10; 14:1-5; 20:6) Babelazi idinga likaYesu lokuba wayeya kubuya aze athabathe kunye naye abo wayebalungiselele indawo ezulwini. (Yoh. 14:1-3) Babeqhelene nedinga lokuba kwakhona uMesiya wayeya kukhetha abanye bookhokho bakhe abathembekileyo ukuba babe ngabathetheli emhlabeni wonke. (INdu. 45:16) Babeqonda ukuba iZibhalo zasixela kwangaphambili isiphelo sale nkqubo yezinto ingendawo yaye babeqonda ukuba oku kwakunxulumene nemfazwe yaloo mini inkulu kaThixo uSomandla eArmagedon. (Mat. 24:3; ISityhi. 16:14, 16) Babechukumiseke gqitha zizibhalo ezibonisa ukuba umhlaba wawudalelwe ukumiwa ngonaphakade, ukuba abo baphila kuwo babefanele babe noxolo lokwenyaniso, nokuba bonke abaya kuba nokholo kwidini lomzimba ofezekileyo kaYesu babenokunandipha ubomi obungunaphakade eParadisi.—Isa. 2:4; 45:18; Luka 23:42, 43; Yoh. 3:16.

Kufanele kulindelwe ukuba bazibuza ngexesha nendlela ezi zinto ezaziya kwenzeka ngayo. Ngaba iZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo zanikela nantoni na eyayinokukhokelela ekwazini?

Besebenzisa ubalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile olwacaciswa okokuqala nguChristopher Bowen waseNgilani, babecinga ukuba iminyaka engama-6 000 yembali yomntu yaphela ngowe-1873, ukuba emva koko babekwithuba lewaka lesixhenxe leminyaka yembali yomntu, nokuba ngokuqinisekileyo babesondele kwiMinyaka Eliwaka eyaxelwa kwangaphambili. Ungcelele lweencwadi ezaziwa njengeMillennial Dawn (yaye kamva ezabizwa ngokuthi Studies in the Scriptures), ezabhalwa nguC. T. Russell, lwatsalel’ ingqalelo koko kwakuthethwa koku ngokuvisisana noko aBafundi beBhayibhile babekuqonda ngokusuka kwiZibhalo.

Enye into eyabonwa njengeyayisenokuba ichaza ixesha yayibandakanya ilungiselelo elasungulwa nguThixo kuSirayeli wamandulo leNtlokoma, unyaka wokukhululwa, rhoqo emva konyaka wama-50. Oku kwakusenzeka emva kongcelele lwamathuba asixhenxe eminyaka esixhenxe, thuba ngalinye elaliphela ngonyaka wesabatha. Ebudeni bonyaka weNtlokoma, amakhoboka amaHebhere ayekhululwa ize imihlaba ezuzw’ ilifa eyayithengisiwe ibuyiselwe. (Lev. 25:8-10) Ubalo olwalusekelwe kulo mjikelo weminyaka lwakhokelela kwisigqibo sokuba mhlawumbi iNtlokoma enkulu yomhlaba wonke yayiqalise ngekwindla lowe-1874, yaye kubonakala ukuba iNkosi yabuya ngaloo nyaka yaye yayikho ngokungabonakaliyo, nokuba “amaxesha okubuyiswa kweento zonke” ayefikile.—IZe. 3:19-21.

Ngokusekelwe kwisibakala sokuba iziganeko zenkulungwane yokuqala zisenokufanekisela iziganeko ezihlobene nazo kamva, kwakhona bagqiba kwelokuba ukuba ukubhaptizwa nokuthanjiswa kukaYesu ngekwindla lowama-29 C.E. kwakufanekisela isiqalo sobukho obungabonakaliyo ngowe-1874, ngoko ukungena kwakhe eYerusalem ekhwele iesile njengoKumkani ngentwasahlobo yowama-33 C.E. kwakuya kwalatha kwintwasahlobo yowe-1878 njengexesha aya kufumana igunya lakhe njengoKumkani wasezulwini ngalo.e Kwakhona babecinga ukuba babeya kufumana umvuzo wabo wasezulwini ngelo xesha. Xa oko kungazange kwenzeke, bagqiba kwelokuba ekubeni abalandeli bakaYesu abathanjisiweyo babefanele babe nesabelo kunye naye eBukumkanini, ukuvukela kubomi bokomoya kwabo babesele belele ukufa kwaqalisa ngelo xesha. Kwakhona babeqiqa ngelokuba ukuphela kwenkoliseko kaThixo kuSirayeli wemvelo ukuya kuthi ga kowama-36 C.E. kwakusenokwalatha kowe-1881 njengexesha elaliya kuphela ngalo ithuba elikhethekileyo lokuba yinxalenye yoSirayeli wokomoya.f

Kwintetho eyayinomxholo othi “Izigidi Eziphilayo Ngoku Azisayi Kuze Zife,” eyanikelwa nguJ. F. Rutherford ngoMatshi 21, 1920, eHippodrome kwisiXeko saseNew York, kwanikelwa ingqalelo kunyaka we-1925. Kwakutheni ukuze kucingwe ukuba ubalulekile? Kwincwadana eyapapashwa kwangaloo nyaka, owe-1920, kwalathwa kwisibakala sokuba ukuba iminyaka ezeleyo yeeNtlokoma ezingama-70 yayibalwa ukususela kumhla owawuqondwa njengawangena ngawo amaSirayeli kwiLizwe Ledinga (kunokuba kuqaliswe emva konyaka wokugqibela weNtlokoma yokomfuziselo ngaphambi kokuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni kuze kuqhutyekwe kubalwa ukusa ekuqaliseni komnyaka weNtlokoma ekupheleni komjikelo wama-50), oku kwakunokwalatha kunyaka we-1925. Ngokusekelwe koko kwathethwa apho, abaninzi baba nethemba lokuba mhlawumbi abaseleyo bomhlambi omncinane babeya kuzuza umvuzo wabo wasezulwini ngowe-1925. Kwakhona lo nyaka wanxulunyaniswa nolindelo lokuvuswa kwabakhonzi bakaThixo ababethembekile bangaphambi kwexesha lobuKristu ngenjongo yokuba bakhonze emhlabeni njengabathetheli abangabameli boBukumkani bamazulu. Ukuba oko kwakunokwenzeka ngokwenene, kwakuya kuthetha ukuba uluntu lwalungene kwixesha laxa ukufa kwakungasayi kuphinda kulawule, yaye izigidi ezaziphila ngelo xesha zaziya kuba nethemba lokungaze zife emhlabeni. Elinjani lona ukuvuyisa ithemba! Nangona lalingachananga, ngolangazelelo babelana nabanye ngalo.

Kamva, ebudeni beminyaka esusela kowe-1935 ukusa kowe-1944, impinda yalo lonke ubalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile yatyhila ukuba ukuguqulelwa ngokungachananga kweZenzo 13:19, 20 kwiKing James Version,g nabanye oothunywashe, baye banikela ubalo-maxesha olungachananga ngaphezu kwenkulungwane.h Kamva oku kwakhokelela kwingcamango—maxa wambi eyayichazwa njengento enokwenzeka, maxa wambi njengento eqiniseke ngakumbi—yokuba ekubeni iwaka lesixhenxe leminyaka yembali yomntu laliya kuqalisa ngowe-1975, iziganeko ezinxulumene nokuqalisa koLawulo LukaKristu Lweminyaka Eliwaka zazisenokuqalisa ukwenzeka ngoko.

Ngaba iinkolelo zamaNgqina kaYehova kule mibandela zangqineka zichanile? Ngokuqinisekileyo awazange enze mpazamo ngokukholelwa ukuba uThixo wayengayi kusilela ukwenza oko akuthembisileyo. Kodwa olunye ubalo nolindelo lwawo olungexesha awalunxulumanisa nezi zinto lwabangela udano olukhulu.

Emva kowe-1925, lehla kakhulu inani labantu ababesiza kwiintlanganiso kwamanye amabandla aseFransi naseSwitzerland. Kwakhona, ngowe-1975, abanye badana xa ulindelo ngokuphathelele ukuqalisa kweMinyaka Eliwaka lungazange luzaliseke. Ngenxa yoko, bambi barhoxa entlanganweni. Abanye, ngenxa yokuba babefuna ukuphelisa ukholo lwezinxulumani, basuswa kubudlelwane. Alithandabuzeki elokuba omnye woonobangela wawukukudana ngenxa yomhla owawubekiwe, kodwa kwezinye iimeko unobangela wawunzulu ngakumbi. Kwakhona bambi baphikisana nemfuneko yokuba nenxaxheba kubulungiseleli bendlu ngendlu. Abanye abazange banele nje kukuzihambela ngabayibonayo; bayichasa ngokukrakra intlangano ababenxulumene nayo, yaye bavakalisa iimbono zabo kumaphephandaba nakumabonwakude. Sekunjalo, ngokwentelekiso inani elakreqayo lalilincinane.

Nakuba oku kuvavanywa kwaphumela ekuhluzweni yaye abanye bavuthuluka njengomququ xa kuseliwa ingqolowa, abanye bahlala bomelele. Kwakutheni? Ngokuphathelele amava akhe nawabanye ngowe-1925, uJules Feller wachaza: “Abo babenentembelo kuYehova bahlala bomelele baza baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela.” Baqonda ukuba kwenziwa impazamo kodwa oko kwakungathethi ngayo nayiphi na indlela ukuba iLizwi likaThixo lalisilele, yaye ngenxa yoko kwakungekho sizathu sokuvumela ithemba labo libe luzizi okanye bayekelele emsebenzini wokwalathisela abantu kuBukumkani bukaThixo njengobukuphela kwethemba loluntu.

Ezinye izinto ababezilindele azizange zizalisekiswe, kodwa oko kwakungathethi ukuba ubalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile lwalungabalulekanga. Isiprofeto esabhalwa nguDaniyeli ngokuphathelele ukubonakala kukaMesiya kwiiveki ezingama-69 zeminyaka emva ‘kokuphuma kwelizwi lokuba ibuyiswe yakhiwe iYerusalem’ sazaliseka kanye ngexesha, ngowama-29 C.E.i (Dan. 9:24-27) Nonyaka we-1914 wawubonakalisiwe sisiprofeto seBhayibhile.

Owe-1914—Ulindelo Noko Kwenzekayo

Ngowe-1876, uC. T. Russell wabhala inqaku lokuqala kwamaninzi awalatha kuwo kunyaka we-1914 njengophawula ukuphela kwamaXesha Eentlanga uYesu Kristu awabhekisela kuwo. (Luka 21:24) Kumqulu wesibini weMillennial Dawn, owapapashwa ngowe-1889, uMzalwan’ uRussell wandlala ngendlela esengqiqweni iinkcukacha ezaziya kwenza abafundi babone isiseko esingokweZibhalo soko kwathethwayo nokuba bazihlolele ngokwabo. Ngaphezu kwexesha elinokuba yiminyaka engamashumi amane ngaphambi kowe-1914, aBafundi beBhayibhile basasaza izigidi zemibhalo yeempapasho ezazalathisela ingqalelo kwisiphelo samaXesha Eentlanga. Ezinye iimpapasho zonqulo ezimbalwa zaluphawula ubalo-maxesha lweBhayibhile olwalusalatha kunyaka we-1914, kodwa liliphi iqela ngaphandle kwaBafundi beBhayibhile elakwazisa ngokuqhubekayo ehlabathini lonke oku nelaliphila ngendlela eyayibonisa ukuba lalikholelwa ukuba amaXesha Eentlanga ayeya kuphela ngaloo nyaka?

Njengoko owe-1914 wawusondela, ulindelo lwakhula. Wayeya kuthetha ntoni? KwiThe Bible Students Monthly (uMqulu VI, No. 1, eyapapashwa ekuqaleni kowe-1914), uMzalwan’ uRussell wabhala: “Ukuba sinomhla nobalo-maxesha oluchanileyo, amaXesha Eentlanga aza kuphela kulo nyaka—owe-1914. Kubaluleke ngantoni oko? Asazi ngokuqinisekileyo. Silindele ukuba ulawulo lukaMesiya luya kuqalisa malunga nexesha lokuphela kwethuba lokulawula kweeNtlanga. Ulindelo lwethu, enoba luyinyaniso okanye lububuxoki, lukukuba kuya kubakho iimbonakaliso ezimangalisayo zemigwebo kaThixo nxamnye nokungalungisi, nokuba oku kuya kuthetha ukutshabalala kweenkqubo ezininzi zeli xesha, ukuba aziyi kutshabalala zonke.” Wagxininisa kwelokuba wayengalindelanga “isiphelo sehlabathi” ngowe-1914 nokuba ihlabathi liya kuhlala ngonaphakade, kodwa inkqubo ekhoyo yezinto, elawulwa nguSathana, iya kudlula.

Kwinkupho kaOktobha 15, 1913, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yayithe: “Ngokolona balo-maxesha esikwaziyo ukulwenza, kumalunga nelo xesha—enoba kungo-Oktobha, 1914, okanye kamva. Ngaphandle kokuzingomb’ isifuba, sikhangele phambili kwiziganeko ezithile: (1) Ukupheliswa kwamaXesha Eentlanga—ukongama kweeNtlanga ehlabathini—kunye (2) Nokumiselwa koBukumkani bukaMesiya ehlabathini.”

Kwakuya kwenzeka njani oku? KuBafundi beBhayibhile kwakubonakala kusengqiqweni ngoko ukuba kwakuya kuquka ukuzukiswa kwabo nabaphi na ababesesemhlabeni abaye banyulwa nguThixo ukuba babe nesabelo kunye noKristu kuBukumkani basezulwini. Kodwa bavakalelwa njani xa oko kungazange kwenzeke ngowe-1914? IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) ka-Aprili 15, 1916, yathi: “Sikholelwa ukuba loo mihla iye yangqineka ichane ngokupheleleyo. Sikholelwa ukuba amaXesha Eentlanga aphelile.” Noko ke, ngokuphandle yongezelela yathi: “INkosi ayizange ithi iCawa iya kuzukiswa yonke ngowe-1914. Sasuka nje sakuthelekelela oko yaye, ngokucacileyo, senza impazamo.”

Koku babefana nabapostile bakaYesu ngandlel’ ithile. Abapostile babezazi yaye becinga ukuba babezikholelwa iziprofeto eziphathelele uBukumkani bukaThixo. Kodwa ngamaxesha awahlukahlukeneyo babenolindelo oluphosakeleyo ngokuphethelele indlela nexesha ezi ziprofeto ezaziya kuzaliseka ngalo. Oku kwakhokelela ekubeni badane abanye.—Luka 19:11; 24:19-24; IZe. 1:6.

Xa uOktobha 1914 wadlulayo ingakhange yenzeke inguqulelo eyayilindelwe yokuthatyathelwa kubomi basezulwini, uMzalwan’ uRussell wayesazi ukuba kwakuya kubakho ukuhlolwa okunzulu kwentliziyo. KwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaNovemba 1, 1914, wabhala oku: “Masikhumbule ukuba sikwixesha lokuvavanywa. AbaPostile babekwixesha elifana neli ebudeni bexesha eliphakathi kokufa kweNkosi yethu nePentekoste. Emva kokuvuswa kweNkosi yethu, Yavela kubafundi Bayo izihlandlo ezimbalwa, bandula ke abayibona iintsuku ezininzi. Batyhafa baza bathi: ‘Akuncedi nganto ukulinda’; omnye wathi: ‘Ndiyokuloba.’ Abanye ababini bathi, ‘Siza kuhamba nawe.’ Babelungele ukuya kumsebenzi wokubambisa iintlanzi baze bawushiye umsebenzi wokubambisa abantu. Eli yayilixesha lokuvavanywa kwabafundi. Ngokukwanjalo ke likho nanamhlanje. Ukuba kukho nasiphi na isizathu esinokukhokelela abanye ukuba bayilahle iNkosi neNyaniso Yayo baze bayeke ukuzincama ngenxa yeeNjongo zeNkosi, makube ke asilothando oluphum’ entliziyweni ngoThixo obelushukumise umdla eNkosini, kodwa yenye into; mhlawumbi ukucinga ukuba ixesha lifutshane; ukuzahlulela bekukokwexeshana elithile kuphela.”

Kubonakala ukuba oko kwakunjalo ngabanye. Iingcinga neminqweno yabo yayijoliswe ngokusisiseko kwithemba lokuguqulelwa kubomi basezulwini. Xa oku kungazange kwenzeke ngexesha ekwakulindelwe ngalo, abazange bafune ukucinga ngokubaluleka kwezinto ezimangalisayo ezenzeka ngowe-1914. Bazilibala zonke iinyaniso ezixabisekileyo ababezifunde kwiLizwi likaThixo, yaye baqalisa ukuhlekisa ngabantu ababebancedile ukuba bazifunde.

Ngokuthobekileyo, aBafundi beBhayibhile bahlolisisa iZibhalo kwakhona, ukuze bavumele iLizwi likaThixo lilungise ulindelo lwabo. Ulweyiseko lwabo lokuba amaXesha Eentlanga ayephelile ngowe-1914 aluzange luguquke. Ngokuthe ngcembe bayibona ngokucace ngakumbi indlela uBukumkani obungoMesiya obabuqalise ngayo—ukuba babumiselwe ezulwini xa uYehova wathi jize uYesu Kristu, uNyana wakhe, ngegunya; kwakhona, ukuba oku kwakungayi kulinda de iindlalifa ezimanyene noYesu zivuselwe kubomi basezulwini kodwa zaziya kuzukiswa kunye naye kamva. Ukongezelela, babona ukuba ukusasazeka kwempembelelo yoBukumkani kwakungafuni ukuba kuqale kuvuswe abaprofeti bakudala ababethembekile, kodwa babona ukuba uKumkani wayeya kusebenzisa amaKristu anyanisekileyo aphilayo ngoku njengabameli bakhe bokuvulela abantu bazo zonke iintlanga ithuba lokuphila ngonaphakade njengabalawulwa basemhlabeni boBukumkani.

Njengoko lo mbono uzukileyo wawucaca emehlweni abo, kwabakho ukuvavanywa nokuhluzwa okungakumbi. Kodwa abo babemthanda ngokwenene uYehova nababekuvuyela ukumkhonza babenombulelo kakhulu ngamalungelo enkonzo awayebavulekele.—ISityhi. 3:7, 8.

Omnye waba yayinguA. H. Macmillan. Kamva wabhala: “Nakuba ulindelo lwethu lokuthatyathelwa emazulwini lungazange luzalisekiswe ngowe-1914, lowo yaba ngunyaka wokuphela kwamaXesha Eentlanga . . . Asizange siphazanyiswe kukuba kungazange kwenzeke yonke into esasilindele ukuba yenzeke, kuba sasixakeke kakhulu ngumsebenzi wePhoto-Drama naziingxaki ezabangelwa yimfazwe.” Waqhubeka exakekile kwinkonzo kaYehova ibe wavuyiswa kukubona inani labavakalisi boBukumkani lisanda ukuya kwabangaphezulu kuhle kwesigidi ebudeni bokudla kwakhe ubomi.

Ekhangela emva kumava akhe ebudeni beminyaka engama-66 esentlanganweni, wathi: “Ndibone izilingo eziqatha ezininzi zifikela intlangano novavanyo lokholo lwabo bakuyo. Ngoncedo lomoya kaThixo iye yaphumelela yaza yaqhubeka iphumelela.” Ngokuphathelele ukulungiswa kwendlela ekuqondwa ngayo izinto njengoko ixesha lihamba, wongezelela oku: “Iinyaniso ezisisiseko esazifunda kwiZibhalo azizange ziguquke. Ngoko ndafunda ukuba sifanele sizivume iimpazamo zethu size siqhubeke sihlolisisa iLizwi likaThixo ukuze sifumane ukukhanyiselwa okungakumbi. Zingakathaliseki iinguqulelo ekuya kufuneka sizenze ngamaxesha athile kwiimbono zethu, oko akuyi kuliguqula ilungiselelo lobabalo lentlawulelo nedinga likaThixo lobomi obungunaphakade.”

Ebudeni bobomi bakhe, uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wabona ukuba, phakathi kweembambano ezabangela ukuvavanywa kokholo, ukulungela ukunikela ubungqina nokuba noxabiso ngentlangano yobuthixo zizinto ezimbini ezadandalazisa oko ngokwenene kwakusezintliziyweni zabantu. Njani?

Inkonzo Yasentsimini Nentlangano Zaba Yimbambano

Ukususela kwinkupho yayo yokuqala, yaza yakubethelela ngakumbi emva koko, iZion’s Watch Tower yabongoza umKristu ngamnye ukuba abelane nabanye ngenyaniso. Emva koko, abafundi beMboniselo ngokufuthi bakhuthazwa ukuba balixabise ilungelo nembopheleleko yabo yokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kwabanye. Abaninzi babesiba nesabelo esingephi, kodwa babembalwa ngokwentelekiso ababephambili kulo msebenzi, besiya kwindlu ngendlu ukuze banike bonke abantu ithuba lokuva isigidimi soBukumkani.

Noko ke, ukususela ngonyaka we-1919, ukuba nesabelo kumsebenzi wasentsimini kwaba yinto ephambili ngamandla. UMzalwan’ uRutherford wakubethelela ngamandla oku kwintetho awayinikela eCedar Point, eOhio, ngaloo nyaka. Kwibandla ngalinye elacela uMbutho ukuba ulenze lilungele inkonzo, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba kubekho umalathisi wenkonzo, onyulwe nguMbutho, ukuze anyamekele umsebenzi. Wayefanele akhokele aze aqinisekise ukuba ibandla linezixa ezifunekayo zoncwadi.

Ngowe-1922, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yapapasha inqaku elalinomxholo othi “Inkonzo Ibalulekile.” Labonisa imfuneko enkulu yokuba abantu bazive iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani, lalathisel’ ingqalelo kumyalelo kaYesu obuprofeti okuMateyu 24:14, laza lathi kubadala bamabandla: “Makungabikho namnye kuni ocinga ukuba kuba engumdala weklasi yonke inkonzo yakhe ifanele iquke ukushumayela ngelizwi lomlomo. Ukuba amathuba ayamvumela ukuba aye phakathi kwabantu aze adlulisele kubo isigidimi esishicilelweyo, kulilungelo elikhulu oko yaye ushumayela ivangeli, ngokufuthi kuyaphumelela kunayo nayiphi na enye indlela yokuyishumayela.” Eli nqaku landula labuza oku: “Ngaba nabani na ozinikele ngokwenene eNkosini unokuzithethelela ngokusong’ izandla ngeli xesha?”

Abanye barhoxobisa. Babik’ imbiba, babik’ ibuzi. Babengakuboni kufanelekile “ukuthengisa iincwadi,” nakuba umsebenzi lowo wawungenzelwa ukufumana ingeniso yaye nangona babefunde inyaniso engoBukumkani bukaThixo kwangezi mpapasho. Xa kwakhuthazwa ukuba kunikelwe ubungqina kwindlu ngendlu ngeencwadi ngeCawa, ukususela ngowe-1926, abanye baphikisana noko, nangona iCawa ngokuqhelekileyo yayilusuku abantu abaninzi ababelubekela ecaleni ukwenzela unqulo. Ingxaki eyintloko yayikukuba babevakalelwa kukuba kwakubathob’ isidima ukushumayela kwindlu ngendlu. Ukanti, ngokucacileyo iBhayibhile ithi uYesu wathuma abafundi bakhe ukuba baye kushumayela emakhayeni abantu, yaye umpostile uPawulos washumayela “ekuhleni nakwizindlu ngezindlu.”—IZe. 20:20; Mat. 10:5-14.

Njengoko kwakuya kugxininiswa ngakumbi kwinkonzo yasentsimini, abo iintliziyo zabo zingazange zibashukumisele ukuba baxelise uYesu nabapostile bakhe njengamangqina ngokuthe ngcembe barhoxa. IBandla laseSkive eDenmark, ndawonye namanye, lancipha ukuya kufikelela malunga nesiqingatha. Kubantu abasenokuba likhulu okanye ngaphezulu ababenxulumene neBandla laseDublin eIreland, kwasala abane kuphela. Kwabakho ukuvavanywa nokuhluzwa okunjalo eUnited States, eKhanada, eNorway nakwamanye amazwe. Oku kwakhokelela ekucocweni kwamabandla.

Abo babefuna ukuxelisa uNyana kaThixo ngokwenene basabela kakuhle kukhuthazo lweZibhalo. Noko ke, ukukulungela kwabo oku akuzange kwenze kube lula ngabo ukuqalisa ukuya kwindlu ngendlu. Abanye bafumana ubunzima ekuqaliseni. Kodwa amalungiselelo okunikela ubungqina ngokwamaqela neendibano ezikhethekileyo zenkonzo zazilukhuthazo. Oodade ababini kumntla Jutland, eDenmark, bahlala belukhumbula ithuba elide usuku abaqalisa ngalo kwinkonzo yasentsimini. Bahlangana neqela, bayiva imiyalelo, baqalisa ukuya kwintsimi yabo, kodwa baqalisa ukulila. Abazalwana ababini bakubona okwakusenzeka baza babamema abo dade ukuba basebenze nabo. Kungekudala baphinda batyhileka kwakhona. Emva kokunandipha inkonzo yasentsimini okokuqala, inkoliso yabo yazaliswa luvuyo ibe yaba nehlombe lokwenza okungakumbi.

Kwandula ke, ngowe-1932, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yaba nenqaku elinamacandelo amabini elinomxholo othi “Intlangano KaYehova.” (Inkupho ka-Agasti 15 nekaSeptemba 1) Yabonisa ukuba ukunyula abadala emabandleni kwakungekho ngokweZibhalo. Amabandla abongozwa ukuba asebenzise kwizikhundla zembopheleleko kuphela amadoda awayekhuthele kwinkonzo yasentsimini, amadoda awayephila ngokwembopheleleko eyayihambisana negama elithi amaNgqina kaYehova. La ayefanele asebenze njengekomiti yenkonzo. Omnye olilungu lawo, owakhethwa libandla, wayemiselwa nguMbutho ukuba abe ngumalathisi wenkonzo. EBelfast, eIreland, oku kwahluza abangakumbi babo babenomnqweno wokuzibalula kunokunikela inkonzo yokuthobeka.

Ekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1930, abaninzi kwabo eJamani babezama ukuphelisa inkonzo yasentsimini baberhoxile emabandleni. Abanye ngoloyiko barhoxa xa ngowe-1933 umsebenzi wavalwayo kumazwana amaninzi kwelaseJamani. Kodwa amawaka azinyamezela ezi mvavanyo zokholo aza azibonakalisa ekulungele ukushumayela zingakhathaliseki iingozi ezazibandakanyekile.

Emhlabeni wonke ukuvakalisa uBukumkani kwaqhubela phambili. Inkonzo yasentsimini yaba yinxalenye ebalulekileyo yobomi bawo onke amaNgqina kaYehova. Ngokomzekelo, ibandla laseOslo, eNorway, laliqesha ooduladula ngeempela-veki bokuthutha abavakalisi bebasa kwizixeko ezikufutshane. Babehlanganisana ekuseni, babe sele besentsimini yabo ngentsimbi yethoba okanye ngeyeshumi, babezibhokoxa kwinkonzo yasentsimini kangangeeyure ezisixhenxe okanye ezisibhozo, bandule ke bagoduke neqela elalihamba ngoduladula. Abanye babesiya emaphandleni ngeebhayisekile, bethwele iingxowa zeencwadi neebhokisi ezinezixa ezongezelelekileyo. AmaNgqina kaYehova ayonwabile, enenzondelelo yaye emanyene ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo.

Ngowe-1938, xa kwaphindwa kwanikelwa ingqalelo ekumiselweni kwamadoda afanelekayo emabandleni,j ukupheliswa konyulo lwasekuhlaleni lwezicaka kwamkelwa ngokubanzi. Ngovuyo amabandla ayedlulisela izigqibo ezazibonisa uxabiso ngokulungelelaniswa ngokobuthixo yaye ecela “uMbutho” (awayeqonda ukuba wawuthetha intsalela ethanjisiweyo, okanye umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo) ukuba ulungelelanisele amabandla inkonzo uze unyule zonke izicaka. Emva koko, iQumrhu Elilawulayo elibonakalayo laqhubeka limisela njengoko kwakuyimfuneko yaye lilungelelanisa amabandla ukwenzela umsebenzi omanyeneyo nonemveliso. Yaba ngamaqela ambalwa kuphela awarhoxobisayo aza ayishiya intlangano ngeli xesha.

Ukuzinikela Ngokukhethekileyo Ekusasazeni Isigidimi SoBukumkani

Ukuze intlangano iqhubeke inenkoliseko kaYehova, ifanele izinikele ngokupheleleyo kumsebenzi iLizwi lakhe eliyalela ukuba wenziwe kumhla wethu. Loo msebenzi kukushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo. (Mat. 24:14) Noko ke, kuye kwakho amathuba ambalwa abathi abathile abazibhokoxayo ekusebenzisaneni nentlangano kwakhona bazabalazela ukuyisebenzisela ukukhuthaza izinto ezithile ezityekele ekuphambukiseleni izinxulumani zabo kweminye imisebenzi. Xa besohlwaywa, oku kwaba luvavanyo kubo, ngokukodwa xa babevakalelwa kukuba babeneentshukumisa ezibalaseleyo.

Oku kwenzeka eFinland ebudeni bowe-1915, xa abazalwana abathile baseka umbutho osebenzisanayo owawubizwa ngokuba yiArarat baza basebenzisa uhlelo lwesiFinnish lweMboniselo ukuze babongoze abafundi bayo ukuba bathelele lo mbutho woshishino. Lowo waqalisa lo msebenzi eFinland wasabela ngokuthobekileyo xa uMzalwan’ uRussell wambonisa ukuba yena nezinxulumani zakhe babezivumela ukuba ‘baphazanyiswe kumsebenzi obalulekileyo weVangeli.’ Noko ke, ikratshi lamthintela omnye umzalwana, owayekhuthele enkonzweni kaYehova ngaphezu kweshumi leminyaka eNorway, ukuba asamkele eso siluleko.

Ebudeni beminyaka yee-1930, eUnited States, kwavela ingxaki ephantse ifane naleyo. Amabandla aliqela ayepapasha awawo amaphepha emiyalelo yenkonzo awayephuma ngenyanga, awayequka izikhumbuzo ezazivela kwiBulletin yoMbutho namava nocwangciso lwawo lwasekuhlaleni lwamalungiselelo enkonzo. Elinye lawo, elalipapashwa eBaltimore, eMaryland, laliwuxhasa ngehlombe umsebenzi wokushumayela kodwa kwakhona lalisetyenziselwa ukuhambisela phambili imizamo ethile yezoshishino. Ekuqaleni uMzalwan’ uRutherford wabonakala ewamkela amanye ala. Kodwa xa kwathi kwaqondwa oko kwakusenokubangelwa kukubandakanyeka kwimizamo enjalo, IMboniselo yathi uMbutho awuzange uwaxhase. Oku kwaba luvavanyo lobuqu oluqatha kuAnton Koerber, kuba ngezi ndlela wayefuna ukuba luncedo kubazalwana bakhe. Noko ke, ekuhambeni kwexesha, waphinda wawasebenzisa ngokupheleleyo amandla akhe ukuze ahambisele phambili umsebenzi wokushumayela owawusenziwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova.

Kwavela ingxaki efanayo eOstreliya ukususela ngowe-1938 yaza yanda ebudeni bokuvalwa komsebenzi woMbutho (ngoJanuwari 1941 ukusa kuJuni 1943). Ukuze inyamekele oko kwakubonakala kuyintswelo yokwenene ngelo xesha, iofisi yesebe yoMbutho yabandakanyeka ngokungqalileyo kwimisebenzi eyahlukahlukeneyo yezorhwebo. Ngaloo ndlela, kusenziwa impazamo enkulu. Babenemizi-mveliso yamaplanga, ii-“fama zoBukumkani” ezingaphezu kwama-20, inkampani yoononjineli, umzi wokubhaka izonka namanye amashishini. Imizi-mveliso yokushicilela yabezorhwebo emibini eyayilungiselelwe ukuze kuqhutyekwe kuveliswa iimpapasho zoMbutho ngokufihlakeleyo ebudeni bokuvalwa komsebenzi. Kodwa eminye imisebenzi yabo yezoshishino yenza ukuba babandakanyeke ekutyesheleni ubundilele bobuKristu, umsebenzi kusithiwa wenziwa ngenjongo yokulungiselela imali nokuze kuxhaswe oovulindlela ebudeni bokuvalwa komsebenzi. Noko ke, izazela zabanye zaphazamiseka gqitha. Nangona abaninzi bahlalayo entlanganweni, kwabakho ukudodobala kumsebenzi wokuvakalisa uBukumkani. Yintoni eyayibambe intsikelelo kaYehova?

Xa kwarhoxiswa ukuvalwa komsebenzi ngoJuni 1943, abazalwana ababekwiofisi yesebe ngoko baqonda ukuba la mashishini ayefanele ayekwe, ukuze kunikelwe ingqalelo kowona msebenzi ubalulekileyo wokushumayela ngoBukumkani. Oku kwafezwa kwithuba leminyaka emithathu, yaza intsapho yaseBheteli yancitshiselwa kwinani eliqhelekileyo. Kodwa kwakusafuneka kulungiswe izinto ezithile kuze ngaloo ndlela kubuyiselwe intembelo epheleleyo entlanganweni.

UNathan H. Knorr, umongameli woMbutho, nonobhala wakhe uM. G. Henschel batyelela eOstreliya ngokukhethekileyo ukuze balungise le meko ngowe-1947. Ithetha ngalo mbandela, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaJuni 1, 1947, yathi ngomsebenzi worhwebo owawuqhutywa: “Kwakungabandakanyekanga umsebenzi wengqesho wemihla ngemihla abazalwana ababeziphilisa ngawo, kodwa yayisisibakala sokuba iofisi yeSebe yoMbutho yayifumene iindidi ezahlukahlukeneyo zemizi-mveliso yaza yabiza abavakalisi kuyo yonke imimandla yelo lizwe, ngokukodwa oovulindlela, ukuba basebenze kule mizi-mveliso kunokuba bashumayele ivangeli.” Oku kwade kwakhokelela nasekubandakanyekeni ngokungangqalanga emfazweni. Kwiindibano ezazikwikomkhulu lephondo ngalinye, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wathetha ngokuphandle nabazalwana ngale meko. Kwindibano nganye kwamkelwa isigqibo abathi kuso abazalwana baseOstreliya bayiqonda impazamo yabo baza bacela inceba kaYehova nokuxolelwa ngoYesu Kristu. Ngaloo ndlela, kwakufuneka inkalipho ibe kwahlangatyezwana novavanyo ukuze intlangano iqhubeke izinikele ngokupheleleyo ekusasazeni isigidimi soBukumkani bukaThixo.

Xa amaNgqina kaYehova ekhangela emva kwimbali yawo yanamhlanje, abona ubungqina bokuba ngokwenene uYehova ebebasulungekisa abantu bakhe. (Mal. 3:1-3) Izimo zengqondo, iinkolelo nezenzo eziphosakeleyo ziye zashenxiswa ngokuthe ngcembe, yaye nabaphi na abaye bakhetha ukunamathela kuzo baye bashenxiswa nazo. Abo baseleyo asingobantu abakulungeleyo ukulalanisa kwinyaniso yeBhayibhile ukuze bamkele intanda-bulumko yabantu. Abangobalandeli babantu kodwa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova uThixo abazahluleleyo. Basabela ngovuyo kulwalathiso lwentlangano kuba babona ubungqina obungenakuphazanyiswa nanto bokuba yekaYehova. Bayakuvuyela ukukhanya kwenyaniso okuhambela phambili. (IMize. 4:18) Bonke ngabanye bakugqala kulilungelo elizukileyo ukuba ngamaNgqina kaYehova akhutheleyo, abavakalisi boBukumkani bukaThixo.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 619]

Ukuvavanywa nokuhluzwa akukhange kube yinto emangalisayo

[Blurb on page 621]

“Abavumi ukutyekiswa kwiLizwi leNkosi”

[Blurb on page 623]

“Asifuni ukuba kuzukiswe, okanye kunqulwe thina okanye oko sikubhalayo”

[Blurb on page 624]

“UThixo usengumalathisi wethu”

[Blurb on page 626]

“Umkhonzi othembekileyo nolumkileyo” akazange anyamalale akuba uMzalwan’ uRussell efile

[Blurb on page 627]

Umzamo wolunya wokutyhefa iingqondo zabanye

[Blurb on page 628]

Bambi bavumela ikratshi lenza buthathaka ukholo lwabo

[Blurb on page 629]

“Balumkeleni abo benza iimbambaniso . . . niphambuke kubo”

[Blurb on page 630]

Bexoka abathile bathi “IMboniselo” iye yayichasa intlawulelo

[Blurb on page 635]

“Sasuka nje sakuthelekelela oko yaye, ngokucacileyo, senza impazamo”

[Blurb on page 636]

Abo babemthanda ngokwenene uYehova babenombulelo ngamalungelo enkonzo awayebavulekele

[Blurb on page 638]

“Ngaba nabani na ozinikele ngokwenene eNkosini unokuzithethelela ngokusong’ izandla ngeli xesha?”

[Blurb on page 641]

Izimo zengqondo, iinkolelo nezenzo eziphosakeleyo ziye zashenxiswa ngokuthe ngcembe

[Box/Picture on page 622]

UW. E. Van Amburgh

Ngowe-1916, uW. E. Van Amburgh wathi: “Lo msebenzi mkhulu wehlabathi lonke asingomsebenzi womntu omnye. . . . Ngumsebenzi kaThixo.” Nangona wabona abanye betyeka, wahlala omelele kweso sigqibo de kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1947, eneminyaka engama-83 ubudala.

[Box/Picture on page 633]

UJules Feller

Xa wayeselityendyana lomfana, uJules Feller wabona uvavanyo oluqatha lokholo. Amanye amabandla aseSwitzerland ancipha ada aba sisiqingatha okanye ngaphantsi kubukhulu bawo bangaphambili. Kodwa kamva wabhala: “Abo babenentembelo kuYehova bahlala bomelele baza baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela.” NoMzalwan’ uFeller wayezimisele ukwenjenjalo, yaye ngenxa yoko, ukuya kuthi ga kowe-1992 uye wanandipha iminyaka engama-68 kwinkonzo yaseBheteli.

[Box/Picture on page 634]

UC. J. Woodworth

Ebhalela lowo wayishiyayo inkonzo kaYehova kuba abalandeli bakaYesu Kristu abathanjisiweyo bengazange bathatyathelwe ezulwini ngowe-1914, uC. J. Woodworth wathi:

“Kwiminyaka engamashumi amabini eyadlulayo mna nawe sasikholelwa kubhaptizo lweentsana; kwilungelo elivela kuThixo labefundisi lokuqhuba olo bhaptizo; ukuba ubhaptizo lwaluyimfuneko ekuphepheni intuthumbo kanaphakade; ukuba uThixo uluthando; ukuba uThixo wadala yaye usaqhubeka edala amawaka ezigidi zabantu ngokomfuziselo Wakhe abaya kuchitha iminyaka engunaphakade kumadangatye angcungcuthekisayo esalfure evuthayo, batsho bancame becela ukufumana ithontsi lamanzi ukuze bathomalalise ukuthuthunjelwa kwabo . . .

“Sasikholelwa ukuba xa umntu esifa, uyaphila; sasikholelwa ukuba uYesu Kristu akazange afe; ukuba Yena wayengenakufa; ukuba akuzange kubekho okanye akusayi kuze kubekho Ntlawulelo; ukuba uYehova uThixo noKristu Yesu uNyana Wakhe bangumntu omnye; ukuba uKristu wayekwanguYise Wakhe siqu; ukuba uYesu wayekwanguNyana Wakhe siqu; ukuba uMoya oyiNgcwele ungumntu; ukuba xa udibanisa into enye kunye nenye, kunye nenye, zenza into enye; ukuba xa uYesu wayexhonywe emnqamlezweni waza wathi, ‘Thixo Wam, Thixo Wam, Undishiyelani na,’ Wayebhekisela kuye Siqu; . . . ukuba izikumkani ezikhoyo ziyinxalenye yoBukumkani bukaKristu; ukuba uMtyholi wayekwisiHogo esingaziwayo, kunokuba abe uphethe izikumkani zalo mhlaba . . .

“Ndiyamzukisa uThixo ngenxa yomhla awazisa ngayo iNyaniso Ekhoyo endlwini yam. Yayiphile ngokwenene, yayihlaziya ingqondo nentliziyo, kangangokuba ndabushiya ubuxoki neemfundiso ezililize zangaphambili ndaza ndasetyenziswa nguThixo ukuba ndivule nawakho amehlo awayemfanyekisiwe. Sobabini sayivuyela iNyaniso, sasebenzisana kangangeminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu. INkosi yakubabala kakhulu njengesithethi; kwakungekho namnye owayenokubhenca ubudenge beBhabhiloni njengawe. Kwileta yakho uye wabuza oku, ‘Yintoni elandelayo?’ Kwowu, naku kuvela eyona nto ibuhlungu! Into elandelayo kukuba ngoku uvumela intliziyo yakho ukuba imqumbele lowo uthe ngomsebenzi wakhe wothando nangentsikelelo yakhe evela Phezulu wazisa iNyaniso ezintliziyweni zethu sobabini. Uphumile, yaye umke nezimvu ezininzi. . . .

“Mhlawumbi ndiyintlekisa kuwe kuba ndingakhange ndiye eZulwini, ngo-Oktobha 1, 1914, kodwa mna andikujongi njengentlekisa—nakanye!

“Njengokuba amazwe alishumi kwawona makhulu emhlabeni ngoku esentlungwini yokufa, kum kubonakala kungelilo kwaphela ixesha elifanelekileyo lokuhlekisa ngendoda, nekuphela kwendoda, eyathi kangangamashumi amane eminyaka yafundisa ukuba amaXesha eeNtlanga ayeya kuphela ngowe-1914.”

Ukholo lukaMzalwan’ uWoodworth aluzange luzanyazanyiswe xa iziganeko zowe-1914 zingazange zenzeke ngendlela ababeyilindele. Wasuka nje waqonda ukuba kwakufuneka kufundwe okungakumbi. Ngenxa yentembelo awayenayo kwinjongo kaThixo, wachitha iinyanga ezisithoba entolongweni ngowe-1918-19. Kamva wakhonza njengomhleli wephephancwadi i-“The Golden Age” ne-“Consolation.” Wahlala omelele elukholweni yaye enyanisekile kwintlangano kaYehova de kwasekufeni kwakhe ngowe-1951, kubudala beminyaka engama-81.

[Box/Picture on page 637]

UA. H. Macmillan

“Ndibubonile ubulumko bokulindela ngomonde kuYehova ukuba acacise indlela esiziqonda ngayo izinto eziseZibhalweni kunokucatshukiswa yingcamango entsha. Maxa wambi ukulindela kwethu umhla othile kwakungaphaya koko iZibhalo zazikuthembisa. Xa olo lindelo lungazange luzalisekiswe, oko akuzange kuziguqule iinjongo zikaThixo.”

[Pictures on page 620]

Uvavanyo olukhulu lokholo lwalubandakanya ukwamkelwa kwexabiso lokucamagushela izono ledini likaYesu

[Pictures on page 625]

Bambi ababemthanda uRussell bafumanisa ukuba indlela abasabela ngayo kwisimo sikaRutherford yatyhila lowo babemkhonza ngokwenene

[Pictures on page 639]

Xa kwagxininiswa ngakumbi kwinkonzo yasentsimini, abaninzi barhoxa; abanye babonakalisa inzondelelo engakumbi

“IMboniselo,” (yesiNgesi) Agasti 15, 1922

“IMboniselo,” (yesiNgesi) Aprili 1, 1928

“IMboniselo,” (yesiNgesi) Juni 15, 1927

[Pictures on page 640]

Xa kwaqalisa ulungelelwaniso lobuthixo, abo babefuna ukuzibalula bahluzwa