1. Yintoni injongo kaThixo ngomhlaba?

UTHIXO unenjongo entle gqitha ngalo mhlaba. UYehova ufuna ukuba uzaliswe ngabantu abonwabileyo nabasempilweni. IBhayibhile ithi “uThixo watyala umyezo e-Eden” waza “wantshulisa . . . yonke imithi enqwenelekayo emehlweni nelungele ukudliwa.” Emva kokuba uThixo edale indoda nomfazi bokuqala, uAdam noEva, wababeka kwelo khaya lithandekayo waza wathi kubo: “Qhamani, nande, niwuzalise umhlaba nize niwoyise.” (Genesis 1:28; 2:8, 9, 15) Ngoko injongo kaThixo yayikukuba babe nabantwana, bawandise loo myezo uzalise umhlaba wonke, baze banyamekele nezilwanyana ezikuwo.

2. (a) Sazi njani ukuba injongo kaThixo ngomhlaba iza kuzaliseka? (b) Ithini iBhayibhile ngokuphila kwabantu ngonaphakade?

² Ngaba ucinga ukuba iya kuze izaliseke injongo kaYehova uThixo yokuba abantu baphile ngonaphakade kwiparadesi esemhlabeni? UThixo uthi: ‘Ndikuthethile oko; yaye ndiya kukwenza.’ (Isaya 46:9-11; 55:11) Ewe, injongo kaThixo iza kuzaliseka ngokuqinisekileyo! Uthi ‘akawudalelanga ilize umhlaba, kodwa uwubumbe ngenjongo yokuba umiwe.’ (Isaya 45:18) Luhlobo olunjani lwabantu uThixo awayefuna luphile emhlabeni? Yaye wayefuna baphile ixesha elide kangakanani? IBhayibhile iyaphendula: “Amalungisa aya kuwudla ilifa umhlaba, ahlale kuwo ngonaphakade.”—INdumiso 37:29; ISityhilelo 21:3, 4.

3. Ziziphi iimeko ezilusizi ezikhoyo ngoku emhlabeni, yaye oku kuphakamisa yiphi imibuzo?

³ Ngokucacileyo, oku akukenzeki. Abantu ngoku bayagula baze bafe; yaye bayalwa baze babulalane. Izinto ziye zonakala. Noko ke, ngokuqinisekileyo ibingeyonjongo kaThixo ukuba umhlaba ube nje! Konakele phi? Yintoni ebangele ukuba injongo kaThixo ingazaliseki? Ayikho incwadi yembali enokusinika impendulo, kuba ingxaki iqale ezulwini.

IMVELAPHI YOTSHABA

4, 5. (a) Ngubani kanye kanye owathetha noEva esebenzisa inyoka? (b) Umntu ohloniphekileyo nonyanisekileyo unokuba lilo njani isela?

⁴ Incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibhile isixelela ngokuvela komchasi kaThixo kumyezo wase-Eden. Kuthiwa ‘yinyoka,’ kodwa wayengesosilwanyana. Incwadi yokugqibela yeBhayibhile ithi ubizwa “ngokuba nguMtyholi, uSathana, lowo ulahlekisa umhlaba uphela.” Ukwabizwa nangokuba ‘yinyoka yantlandlolo.’ (Genesis 3:1; ISityhilelo 12:9) Le ngelosi inamandla, nesisidalwa somoya esingabonakaliyo, yasebenzisa inyoka ekuthetheni kwayo noEva, kanye njengokuba umntu onobuchule enokwenza kubonakale ngathi ilizwi lakhe liphuma kunopopi othile. Ngokungathandabuzekiyo le ngelosi yayikho xa uThixo wayelungisa umhlaba ukuze kuhlale abantu kuwo.—Yobhi 38:4, 7.

⁵ Ekubeni yonke indalo kaYehova igqibelele, ngoko ngubani owenze ‘uSathana uMtyholi’? Ngamafutshane singathi, omnye woonyana bakaThixo bomoya abanamandla wazenza uMtyholi. Kwenzeka njani oko? Ukuze ucacelwe, cinga nje ngomntu ohloniphekileyo nonyanisekileyo ojika abe lisela. Oko kwenzeka ngokuthi avumele umnqweno ophosakeleyo ukuba ukhule entliziyweni yakhe. Ngokuqhubeka kwakhe ecinga ngaloo nto iphosakeleyo, uya eyinqwenela ngakumbi nangakumbi. Lithi lakuvela ithuba, enze kanye ngokwaloo mnqweno wakhe uphosakeleyo.—Yakobi 1:13-15.

6. Unyana kaThixo womoya nonamandla waba nguye njani uSathana uMtyholi?

⁶ Yiloo nto kanye eyenzekayo kuSathana uMtyholi. Usenokuba wamva uThixo eyalela uAdam noEva ukuba babe nabantwana baze bazalise umhlaba ngenzala yabo. (Genesis 1:27, 28) Ngoko kusenokwenzeka ukuba waqiqa ngelithi, ‘Bonke aba bantu bebenokunqula mna kunokunqula uThixo!’ Ngoko kwakhula umnqweno ophosakeleyo entliziyweni yakhe. Ekugqibeleni, wenza ngokwaloo mnqweno uphosakeleyo ngokuthi akhohlise uEva emxelela ubuxoki ngoThixo. (Genesis 3:1-5) Ngaloo ndlela waba “nguMtyholi,” gama elo elithetha “uMhlebi.” Kwangaxeshanye waba “nguSathana,” gama elo elithetha “uMchasi.”

7. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze uAdam noEva bafe? (b) Kutheni yonke inzala ka-Adam isaluphala ize ife?

⁷ Ngokusebenzisa ubuxoki namaqhinga, uSathana uMtyholi wenza ukuba uAdam noEva bangamthobeli uThixo. (Genesis 2:17; 3:6) Ngoko bafa, kanye njengokuba uThixo wayethe babeza kufa xa bengathobeli. (Genesis 3:17-19) Ekubeni uAdam waba ngumntu ongafezekanga emva kokuba onile, ngoko wosulela yonke inzala yakhe ngesono. (Roma 5:12) Oku singakuzekelisa ngepani yokubhaka isonka. Ukuba ipani inesifotho, kwenzeka ntoni kwisonka ngasinye esibhakwa kuyo? Naso siba nesifotho. Ngokufanayo ke, bonke abantu baye bafumana “isifotho” esikukungafezeki kuAdam. Yiyo loo nto besaluphala baze bafe.—Roma 3:23.

8, 9. (a) Wanyelisa njani uSathana? (b) Kutheni uThixo engazange abatshabalalise ngoko nangoko abo bavukeli?

⁸ Xa uSathana wenza ukuba uAdam noEva bone uThixo, eneneni wayekhokela imvukelo. Wayechasa indlela uYehova alawula ngayo. Ngamany’ amazwi wayesithi: ‘UThixo ulawula kakubi. Uyabaxokisa aze abavimbe ulonwabo abantu abalawulayo. Ulawulo lukaThixo aluyomfuneko ebantwini. Banokuzigqibela ngokwabo ukuba yintoni na elungileyo okanye embi. Yaye mna ndingabalawula bhetele.’ UThixo wayeza kusabela njani kwezi zinyeliso zingaka? Abanye bathi kwakufanele ukuba uThixo uye wababulala ngoko nangoko abo bavukeli. Kodwa ngaba oko kwakuya kuziphendula izinyeliso zikaSathana? Ngaba kwakuya kungqina ukuba uThixo ulawula ngendlela echanileyo?

⁹ Ekubeni uYehova esesikweni ngokugqibeleleyo, ebengenakusuka nje ababulale ngoko nangoko abo bavukeli. Wagqiba kwelokuba ayeke kugqithe ixesha elithile ukuze zingqineke zibubuxoki izinyeliso zikaSathana uMtyholi. Ngoko uThixo wabavumela abantu ukuba bakhe bazilawule ngaphantsi kwempembelelo kaSathana. Isizathu sokuba uYehova enze oko nesizathu sokuba avumele kudlule ixesha elide kangaka ngaphambi kokuba aphelise le mbambano sichaziwe kwiSahluko 11 sale ncwadi. Noko ke, okwangoku kuhle ukuba sikhe sicingisise ngemibuzo ethi: Ngaba kwakufanelekile ukuba uAdam noEva bakholelwe uSathana, ongazange abenzele nanye into elungileyo? Ngaba kwakufanelekile ukuba bakholelwe ukuba uYehova wayelixoki elikhohlakeleyo, nakubeni inguye owayebanike yonk’ into ababenayo? Ngewawenze ntoni wena?

10. Unokumxhasa njani uYehova ekuphenduleni kwakhe izinyeliso zikaSathana?

¹⁰ Kuhle ukucingisisa ngale mibuzo kuba ngamnye wethu ujamelene nembambano efanayo namhlanje. Nawe unethuba lokuba uxhase uYehova ekuphenduleni kwakhe izinyeliso zikaSathana. Oko ungakwenza ngokuthi wamkele uYehova njengoMlawuli wakho, ngaloo ndlela ubonisa ukuba uSathana ulixoki. (INdumiso 73:28; IMizekeliso 27:11) Ngelishwa ke noko, kumawaka ezigidi zabantu ezikhoyo emhlabeni, bambalwa nje kuphela abaye benza ukhetho olunjalo. Oku kwenza ukuba kuphakame umbuzo obalulekileyo othi, Ngaba ngokwenene iBhayibhile ifundisa ukuba nguSathana olawula eli hlabathi?

NGUBANI OLAWULA ELI HLABATHI?

11, 12. (a) Ukulingwa kukaYesu kubonisa njani ukuba uSathana ungumlawuli weli hlabathi? (b) Yintoni enye engqina ukuba uSathana ungumlawuli weli hlabathi?

¹¹ UYesu akazange ayithandabuze into yokuba uSathana ungumlawuli weli hlabathi. Ngendlela engummangaliso, uSathana wakha wabonisa uYesu “zonke izikumkani zehlabathi nozuko lwazo.” Wandula ke uSathana wamthembisa oku uYesu: “Zonke ezi zinto ndokunika ukuba uthe wawa phantsi wanqula kum.” (Mateyu 4:8, 9; Luka 4:5, 6) Khawucinge nje ngako oko. Ngaba oko ngekwaba sisilingo kuYesu ukuba uSathana ebengenguye umlawuli wezikumkani? UYesu akazange ayiphikise into yokuba bonke oorhulumente behlabathi ngabakaSathana. Ngokuqinisekileyo uYesu ngewayekwenzile oko ukuba bebengalawulwa nguSathana.

¹² Enyanisweni uYehova unguThixo usomandla, yaye nguye uMdali wazo zonke izinto. (ISityhilelo 4:11) Kodwa akukho apho iBhayibhile ithi khona uYehova uThixo okanye uYesu Kristu ungumlawuli weli hlabathi. Eneneni uYesu watsho ngokungqalileyo ukuba uSathana ‘ungumlawuli weli hlabathi.’ (Yohane 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) IBhayibhile ide ithi uSathana uMtyholi ‘unguthixo wale nkqubo yezinto.’ (2 Korinte 4:3, 4) Umpostile uYohane ongumKristu wabhala wathi ngalo mchasi unguSathana: “Ihlabathi liphela lisemandleni ongendawo.”—1 Yohane 5:19.

INDLELA ELIZA KUPHELISWA NGAYO IHLABATHI LIKASATHANA

13. Kutheni lifuneka nje ihlabathi elitsha?

¹³ Nyaka ngamnye ihlabathi liya lisiba yingozi ngakumbi nangakumbi. Lizaliswe yimikhosi elwayo, abezopolitiko abanganyanisekanga, iinkokeli zonqulo ezihanahanisayo, nezaphuli-mthetho ezikhohlakeleyo. Le meko likuyo eli hlabathi ayinakukwazi ukulungiswa. Noko ke, iBhayibhile ithi kungekudala uThixo uza kulitshabalalisa eli hlabathi lingendawo ngemfazwe yakhe yeArmagedon. Emva koko kuya kubakho ihlabathi elitsha lobulungisa.—ISityhilelo 16:14-16.

14. Ngubani uThixo ammisele njengoMlawuli woBukumkani Bakhe, yaye wakuchaza njani oku kwangaphambili?

¹⁴ UYehova uThixo umisele uYesu Kristu njengoMlawuli woBukumkani okanye urhulumente Wakhe wasezulwini. Kwakude kudala ngaphambili iBhayibhile yathi: “Sizalelwe umntwana, sinikwe unyana; yaye ukuphatha njengenkosana kuya kuba segxalabeni lakhe. Igama lakhe liya kubizwa [ngokuthi] . . . iNkosana yoXolo. Akayi kuyeka ukuphatha njengenkosana, noxolo aluyi kuphela.” (Isaya 9:6, 7) UYesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bamthandazele lo rhulumente bathi: “Mabufike ubukumkani bakho. Makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho nasemhlabeni, njengasezulwini.” (Mateyu 6:10) Njengoko siza kubona kamva kule ncwadi, kungekudala uBukumkani bukaThixo buza kubashenxisa bonke oorhulumente abasehlabathini, kuze kulawule bona bodwa. (Daniyeli 2:44) Buya kwandula ke uBukumkani bukaThixo buzise iparadesi emhlabeni.

IHLABATHI ELITSHA LIKUFUPHI!

15. Uyintoni ‘umhlaba omtsha’?

¹⁵ IBhayibhile isiqinisekisa ngokuthi: “Thina ke silindele amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha, ngokwesithembiso [sikaThixo], apho kumi ubulungisa.” (2 Petros 3:13; Isaya 65:17) Maxa wambi xa iBhayibhile ithetha ‘ngomhlaba,’ ibhekisela kubantu abaphila kuwo. (Genesis 11:1) Ngoko ‘umhlaba omtsha’ onobulungisa libutho labantu uThixo akholiswayo ngabo.

16. Sisiphi isipho esixabisekileyo uThixo asigcinele abo akholiswayo ngabo, yaye simele senze ntoni ukuze sisifumane?

¹⁶ UYesu wathembisa ukuba kwihlabathi elitsha elizayo, abo uThixo akholiswayo ngabo baza kufumana isipho ‘sobomi obungunaphakade.’ (Marko 10:30) Khawutyhile kuYohane 3:16 nakwisahluko 17:3, uze ufunde ngoko uYesu wathi simele sikwenze ukuze sifumane ubomi obungunaphakade. Ngoku makhe sihlolisise eBhayibhileni iintsikelelo eziya kunanditshwa ngabo bakufanelekelayo ukufumana eso sipho simangalisayo sikaThixo kwiParadesi yasemhlabeni ezayo.

17, 18. Sinokuqiniseka njani ukuba kuya kubakho uxolo nonqabiseko kuyo yonke indawo emhlabeni?

¹⁷ Ubungendawo, iimfazwe, ulwaphulo-mthetho, nogonyamelo ziya kube zingekho. ‘Abayi kubakho abangendawo. Kodwa abalulamileyo baya kuwudla ilifa umhlaba.’ (INdumiso 37:10, 11) Kuya kubakho uxolo kuba ‘uThixo uya kuziphelisa iimfazwe kuse eziphelweni zomhlaba.’ (INdumiso 46:9; Isaya 2:4) Ngelo xesha “uya kuhluma olilungisa, nobuninzi boxolo ide ingabi sabakho inyanga”—oko kukuthi ngonaphakade!—INdumiso 72:7.

¹⁸ Abanquli bakaYehova baza kuhlala benqabisekile. Logama amaSirayeli ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile ayemthobela uThixo, ayehlala enqabisekile. (Levitikus 25:18, 19) Kuya kuba mnandi ngokwenene ukunandipha unqabiseko olunjalo eParadesi!—Isaya 32:18; Mika 4:4.

19. Sazi njani ukuba kuza kubakho intabalala yokutya kwihlabathi elitsha likaThixo?

¹⁹ Ukunqongophala kokutya kuza kuphela. Umdumisi wacula wathi: “Kuya kubakho ukudla okuziinkozo okuninzi emhlabeni; encotsheni yeentaba kuya kubakho ukuphuphuma.” (INdumiso 72:16) UYehova uThixo uza kuwasikelela amalungisa, yaye “umhlaba uya kunika imveliso yawo.”—INdumiso 67:6.

20. Sinokuqiniseka njani ukuba umhlaba wonke uza kuba yiparadesi?

²⁰ Umhlaba wonke uza kuba yiparadesi. Lo mhlaba owonakaliswe ngabantu abanesono uza kuyokozela imiyezo emihle namakhaya amatsha. (Isaya 65:21-24; ISityhilelo 11:18) Ngokuthe ngcembe, iinxalenye zomhlaba ekuza kube kuhlala abantu kuzo ziza kuya zisanda ngokwanda de wonke umhlaba uchume ube mhle njengomyezo wase-Eden. Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo uThixo uza ‘kusivula isandla sakhe aze anelise umnqweno wayo yonke into ephilayo.’—INdumiso 145:16.

21. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba kuza kubakho uxolo phakathi kwabantu nezilwanyana?

²¹ Kuza kubakho uxolo phakathi kwabantu nezilwanyana. Izilwanyana zasendle nezasekhaya ziza kudla ndawonye. Kwanomntwana omncinane akayi kuzoyika izilwanyana ezinobungozi ngoku.—Isaya 11:6-9; 65:25.

22. Kuza kwenzeka ntoni ngokugula?

²² Ukugula kuza kuphela. NjengoMlawuli woBukumkani bukaThixo basezulwini, uYesu uza kuphilisa kakhulu ngakumbi kunokuba wenzayo xa wayesemhlabeni. (Mateyu 9:35; Marko 1:40-42; Yohane 5:5-9) Ngoko “akakho ummi wakhona oya kuthi: ‘Ndiyagula.’”—Isaya 33:24; 35:5, 6.

23. Kutheni uvuko luza kuzivuyisa iintliziyo zethu?

²³ Abantu esibathandayo abafileyo baza kuvuswa baze bangaphinde bafe kwakhona. Bonke abalele ekufeni abakwinkumbulo kaThixo baza kuvuswa. “Kuza kubakho uvuko lwamalungisa nabangengomalungisa.”—IZenzo 24:15; Yohane 5:28, 29.

24. Uvakalelwa njani ngokuphila eParadesi emhlabeni?

²⁴ Liyamangalisa ngokwenene ikamva abanalo abo bakhetha ukufunda ngoMdali wethu Ozukileyo, uYehova uThixo, baze bamkhonze! UYesu wayebhekisela kule Paradesi yasemhlabeni izayo xa wathembisa umenzi-bubi owafela ecaleni kwakhe, esithi: “Uya kuba nam eParadesi.” (Luka 23:43) Kubalulekile ukuba sifunde ngakumbi ngoYesu Kristu, ekubeni ziza kufumaneka ngenxa yakhe zonke ezi ntsikelelo.

1. Nguwuphi umthandazo odumileyo esiza kuwuhlolisisa?

IZIGIDI zabantu ehlabathini lonke ziqhelene nomthandazo obizwa ngabaninzi ngokuba nguBawo Wethu Osezulwini, okanye uMthandazo weNkosi. Omabini la mabinzana abhekisela kumthandazo odumileyo nongumzekelo owenziwa nguYesu Kristu. Ubaluleke gqitha lo mthandazo, yaye njengoko siza kuhlolisisa izibongozo zawo ezithathu zokuqala, oko kuza kukunceda wazi ngakumbi ngoko kufundiswa yiBhayibhile.

2. Ziziphi izinto ezintathu uYesu awafundisa abafundi bakhe ukuba bazithandazele?

² Ekuqaleni kwalo mthandazo ungumzekelo, uYesu wayalela abo babephulaphule wathi: “Ngoko ke, nina nize nithandaze ngale ndlela: ‘Bawo wethu osemazulwini, malingcwaliswe igama lakho. Mabufike ubukumkani bakho. Makwenzeke ukuthanda kwakho nasemhlabeni, njengasezulwini.’” (Mateyu 6:9-13) Zibaluleke ngantoni ezi zinto zintathu?

3. Yintoni esifanele siyazi ngoBukumkani bukaThixo?

³ Sele sifunde okuninzi ngegama likaThixo, elinguYehova. Yaye siye saxubusha kancinane ngokuthanda kukaThixo—oko sele ekwenzile naseza kukwenzela uluntu. Kodwa wayebhekisela entwenini uYesu xa wathi masithandaze sithi: “Mabufike ubukumkani bakho”? Buyintoni uBukumkani bukaThixo? Ukufika kwabo kuza kulingcwalisa njani igama likaThixo? Yaye ukufika koBukumkani kuhlobene njani nokwenziwa kokuthanda kukaThixo?

OKO BUKUKO UBUKUMKANI BUKATHIXO

4. Buyintoni uBukumkani bukaThixo, yaye ngubani uKumkani wabo?

⁴ UBukumkani bukaThixo ngurhulumente omiselwe nguYehova uThixo, yaye uKumkani wabo ukhethwe nguThixo uqobo. Ngubani lo Kumkani woBukumkani bukaThixo? NguYesu Kristu. Lo Kumkani unguYesu mkhulu kunabo bonke abalawuli abangabantu yaye ubizwa ngokuba “nguKumkani wookumkani neNkosi yeenkosi.” (1 Timoti 6:15) Unamandla okwenza okuhle ngaphezu kwakhe nawuphi na umlawuli ongumntu, enoba ubalasele kangakanani na.

5. Buphi uBukumkani bukaThixo, yaye buza kulawula phi?

⁵ Buza kulawula buphi uBukumkani bukaThixo? Phofu, uphi yena uYesu? Khumbula ukuba besikhe seva ukuba wabulawa kwisibonda sentuthumbo, kodwa waphinda wavuswa. Ngokukhawuleza emva koko wanyukela ezulwini. (IZenzo 2:33) Ngoko bulapho noBukumkani bukaThixo—ezulwini. Kungenxa yoko le nto iBhayibhile isithi ‘bubukumkani basezulwini.’ (2 Timoti 4:18) Nangona uBukumkani bukaThixo busezulwini, buza kulawula emhlabeni.—ISityhilelo 11:15.

6, 7. Yintoni eyenza uYesu abe nguKumkani obalaseleyo?

⁶ Yintoni eyenza uYesu abe nguKumkani obalaseleyo? Okokuqala nje, kukuba akasayi kuze afe. Xa ithelekisa uYesu kunye nookumkani abangabantu, iBhayibhile ithi ‘nguye kuphela onokungafi, ohlala ekukhanyeni okungenakufikeleleka.’ (1 Timoti 6:16) Oku kuthetha ukuba konke okuhle okuza kufezwa nguYesu kuza kuhlala kuhleli. Yaye siqinisekile ukuba kuninzi okuhle aza kukufeza.

⁷ Khawukhe uhlolisise esi siprofeto seBhayibhile sibhekisela kuYesu: “Umoya kaYehova umele uhlale phezu [kwakhe], umoya wobulumko nowokuqonda, umoya wecebo nowamandla, umoya wokwazi nowokoyika uYehova; yaye uya kuyoliswa kukoyika uYehova. Akayi kugweba ngayo nayiphi na imbonakalo nje esemehlweni akhe, engayi kohlwaya ngokwento nje eviwe ziindlebe zakhe. Uya kuzigweba izisweli ngobulungisa, abohlwaye ngokuthe tye abo balulamileyo bomhlaba.” (Isaya 11:2-4) Loo mazwi abonisa ukuba uYesu uza kuba nguKumkani onobulungisa novelwano kubantu abasemhlabeni. Ngaba ungathanda ukuba nomlawuli ololo hlobo?

8. Ngoobani abaza kulawula noYesu?

⁸ Enye into ebalulekileyo ngoBukumkani bukaThixo kukuba, uYesu akazi kulawula yedwa. Kukho abanye abaza kulawula naye. Ngokomzekelo, umpostile uPawulos wathi kuTimoti: “Ukuba siyaqhubeka sinyamezela, siya kulawula ndawonye njengookumkani.” (2 Timoti 2:12) Ewe, uPawulos, uTimoti, nabanye abathembekileyo abakhethwe nguThixo, baza kulawula noYesu kuBukumkani basezulwini. Bangaphi abaza kufumana elo lungelo?

9. Bangaphi abaza kulawula noYesu, yaye uThixo waqala nini ukubakhetha?

⁹ Njengoko kuchaziwe kwiSahluko 7 sale ncwadi, umpostile uYohane waboniswa embonweni “iMvana [uYesu Kristu] imi phezu kweNtaba yeZiyon [isigxina sayo sobukhosi ezulwini], kumi nayo ikhulu elinamashumi amane anesine lamawaka linalo igama layo negama loYise libhaliwe emabunzini alo.” Ngoobani abo bali-144 000? UYohane usixelela oku: “Aba ngabo bahlala beyilandela iMvana kungakhathaliseki apho iya khona. Aba bathengwa phakathi koluntu njengeentlahlela kuThixo nakuyo iMvana.” (ISityhilelo 14:1, 4) Bangabalandeli abathembekileyo bakaYesu Kristu abakhethelwe ngokukhethekileyo ukulawula naye ezulwini. Xa besifa baze bavuselwe kubomi basezulwini, ‘balawula njengookumkani phezu komhlaba’ kunye noYesu. (ISityhilelo 5:10) Ukususela kwimihla yabapostile, uThixo ebekhetha amaKristu athembekileyo ukuze liphelele inani labali-144 000.

10. Kutheni ililungiselelo lothando eli lokuba uluntu lulawulwe nguYesu kunye nabantu abali-144 000?

¹⁰ Lilungiselelo lothando ngenene eli lokuba uluntu lulawulwe nguYesu kunye nabantu abali-144 000. Kaloku, uYesu uyazi ukuba kunjani ukuba ngumntu nokubandezeleka. UPawulos wathi uYesu “uyavelana nobuthathaka bethu, kuba naye wavavanywa ngandlela zonke njengathi, kodwa engenasono.” (Hebhere 4:15; 5:8) Abo balawula kunye naye nabo baye babandezeleka njengabantu. Ngaphezu koko, baye banyamezela ukungafezeki nazo zonke iintlobo zezifo. Ngokuqinisekileyo, baya kuziqonda iingxaki olujamelene nazo uluntu!

YINTONI EZA KUFEZWA BUBUKUMKANI BUKATHIXO?

11. Yintoni uYesu awathi abafundi bakhe bafanele bayithandazele ngokuphathelele ukuthanda kukaThixo?

¹¹ Xa uYesu wathi abafundi bakhe bafanele bathandazele ukufika koBukumkani bukaThixo, wakhankanya nokuba bafanele bathandazele ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kwenzeke “emhlabeni, njengasezulwini.” UThixo usezulwini, yaye ukuthanda kwakhe bekusoloko kusenziwa apho ziingelosi ezithembekileyo. Noko ke, kwiSahluko 3 sale ncwadi siye safunda ukuba enye ingelosi engendawo yayeka ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo yaza yabangela ukuba uAdam noEva bone. KwiSahluko 10 siza kuva okungakumbi ngoko iBhayibhile ikufundisayo ngaloo ngelosi ingendawo, ebizwa ngokuba nguSathana uMtyholi. USathana kunye neengelosi ezakhetha ukumlandela—ezibizwa ngokuba ziidemon—bavunyelwa ukuba bahlale ezulwini okwethutyana. Ngoko asinguye wonk’ ubani ezulwini owayesenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. Kodwa oko kwatshintsha ekuqaliseni koBukumkani bukaThixo ukulawula. Akuba emiselwe njengoKumkani, uYesu Kristu walwa noSathana.—ISityhilelo 12:7-9.

12. Ziziphi iziganeko ezibini ezibalulekileyo ezichazwe kwiSityhilelo 12:10?

¹² Isiprofeto sikuchaza ngale ndlela oko kwenzekayo: “Ndeva ilizwi elikhulu ezulwini lisithi: ‘Ngoku lufikile usindiso namandla nobukumkani boThixo wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe, ngenxa yokuba uye waphoswa phantsi ummangaleli wabazalwana bethu [uSathana], obamangalela imini nobusuku phambi koThixo wethu!’” (ISityhilelo 12:10) Ngaba uziphawulile iziganeko ezibini ezibaluleke gqitha ezikhankanywe kule ndinyana yeBhayibhile? Okokuqala, uBukumkani bukaThixo obunomlawuli onguYesu Kristu buqalisa ukulawula. Okwesibini, uSathana uyagxothwa ezulwini aphoswe emhlabeni.

13. Ube yintoni umphumo wokugxothwa kukaSathana ezulwini?

¹³ Ube yintoni umphumo wezo ziganeko zibini? Kuchazwa ngale ndlela oko kuye kwenzeka ezulwini: “Chulumancani, nina mazulu nani nihlala kuwo!” (ISityhilelo 12:12) Ewe, iingelosi ezithembekileyo ezulwini ziyavuya kuba uSathana needemon zakhe bengasekho apho, yaye wonk’ ubani osezulwini uthembekile kuYehova uThixo. Kukho uxolo nemvisiswano epheleleyo ezulwini. Ukuthanda kukaThixo kuyenziwa apho.

14. Yintoni eye yaba ngumphumo wokuphoswa kukaSathana emhlabeni?

¹⁴ Kodwa, kuthekani ngomhlaba? IBhayibhile ithi: “Yeha kuwo umhlaba nakulo ulwandle, ngenxa yokuba uhlile weza kuni uMtyholi, enomsindo omkhulu, esazi ukuba ixesha analo lifutshane.” (ISityhilelo 12:12) USathana unomsindo kuba egxothiwe ezulwini yaye enexesha nje elifutshane eliseleyo. Ngomsindo ubangela iinkathazo ‘noyeha’ emhlabeni. Siza kufunda ngakumbi ngalo “yeha” kwisahluko esilandelayo. Kodwa ekubeni imeko imbi ngolu hlobo, sisenokuzibuza ukuba, UBukumkani bunokukwazi njani ukubangela ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kwenziwe emhlabeni?

15. Kuyintoni ukuthanda kukaThixo ngomhlaba?

¹⁵ Kaloku, khumbula ukuba kuyintoni na ukuthanda kukaThixo ngomhlaba. Ufundile ngako kwiSahluko 3. E-Eden uThixo wabonisa ukuba ukuthanda kwakhe kukuba lo mhlaba ube yiparadesi ezaliswe ngabantu abangamalungisa nabangafiyo. USathana wabangela ukuba uAdam noEva bone, yaye oko kwakuchaphazela ukuthanda kukaThixo ngomhlaba kodwa akuzange kukutshintshe. UYehova usenenjongo yokuba ‘amalungisa awudle ilifa umhlaba, ahlale kuwo ngonaphakade.’ (INdumiso 37:29) Yaye uBukumkani bukaThixo buza kukufeza oko. Njani?

16, 17. Usixelela ntoni uDaniyeli 2:44 ngoBukumkani bukaThixo?

¹⁶ Khawuqwalasele isiprofeto esikuDaniyeli 2:44. Sona sifundeka ngokuthi: “Ngemihla yabo kumkani uThixo wezulu uya kumisa ubukumkani obungenakuze bonakaliswe. Yaye obo bukumkani abuyi kudluliselwa kubo nabaphi na abanye abantu. Buya kuzityumza buziphelise zonke ezi zikumkani, buze bona bume ukusa kwixesha elingenammiselo.” Kusixelela ntoni oku ngoBukumkani bukaThixo?

¹⁷ Okokuqala, kusixelela ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo babuza kumiselwa “ngemihla yabo kumkani,” okanye ngoxa kukho ezinye izikumkani. Okwesibini, kusixelela ukuba uBukumkani buza kuhlala ngonaphakade. Abuyi koyiswa buze buthatyathelw’ indawo ngomnye urhulumente. Okwesithathu, kubonakala ukuba kuza kubakho imfazwe phakathi koBukumkani bukaThixo kunye nezikumkani zeli hlabathi. UBukumkani bukaThixo buza koyisa. Ekugqibeleni, bubo kuphela obuya kuba ngurhulumente olawula uluntu. Ngoko abantu baya kulawulwa ngeyona ndlela ibalaseleyo.

18. Ibizwa ngokuthini imfazwe yokugqibela ephakathi koBukumkani bukaThixo kunye noorhulumente beli hlabathi?

¹⁸ IBhayibhile isixelela okuninzi ngaloo mfazwe yokugqibela, phakathi koBukumkani bukaThixo kunye noorhulumente beli hlabathi. Ngokomzekelo, ifundisa ukuba njengoko isiphelo sisondela, oomoya abangendawo baza kusasaza ubuxoki ngenjongo yokukhohlisa “ookumkani bomhlaba omiweyo uphela.” Ngayiphi injongo? Ngenjongo ‘yokubahlanganisela ndawonye kwimfazwe yemini enkulu kaThixo uSomandla.’ Aba kumkani bomhlaba baza kuhlanganiselwa ndawonye “kwindawo ebizwa ngesiHebhere ngokuba yiHar–Magedon.” (ISityhilelo 16:14, 16) Ngenxa yoko kuchazwe kwezo ndinyana zimbini, imfazwe yokugqibela ephakathi koorhulumente babantu kunye noBukumkani bukaThixo ibizwa ngokuba yimfazwe yeHar–Magedon, okanye iArmagedon.

19, 20. Yintoni ebangela ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kungenzeki emhlabeni namhlanje?

¹⁹ Yintoni eza kufezwa buBukumkani bukaThixo ngemfazwe yeArmagedon? Kwakhona, khumbula ukuba kuyintoni na ukuthanda kukaThixo ngomhlaba. Injongo kaYehova uThixo yayikukuba umhlaba ube yiParadesi ezaliswe ngabakhonzi bakhe abangamalungisa nabafezekileyo. Yintoni ebangela ukuba kungenzeki oko namhlanje? Okokuqala, sinesono yaye siyagula size sife. Kodwa sifundile kwiSahluko 5 ukuba uYesu wasifela ukuze sibe nako ukuphila ngonaphakade. Mhlawumbi uyawakhumbula amazwi abhalwe kwincwadi yeVangeli kaYohane athi: “UThixo walithanda kakhulu ihlabathi kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze wonk’ ubani obonisa ukholo kuye angatshabalali kodwa abe nobomi obungunaphakade.”—Yohane 3:16.

²⁰ Enye ingxaki kukuba abantu abaninzi benza izinto ezingendawo. Bayaxoka, bayaqhatha, yaye baziphatha kakubi. Abafuni ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. Abantu abenza izinto ezingendawo baza kutshatyalaliswa ebudeni bemfazwe kaThixo yeArmagedon. (INdumiso 37:10) Esinye isizathu sokuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kungenziwa emhlabeni sikukuba oorhulumente ababakhuthazi abantu ukuba bakwenze. Oorhulumente abaninzi bayasilela, bakhohlakele, abanye banobuqhetseba. IBhayibhile yayikuchazile oku yathi: “Ngexesha athi umntu alawule umntu iba kukwenzakala kwakhe.”—INtshumayeli 8:9.

21. UBukumkani buza kubangela njani ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kwenzeke emhlabeni?

²¹ Emva kweArmagedon, uluntu luza kulawulwa ngurhulumente omnye kuphela, uBukumkani bukaThixo. Obo Bukumkani buza kwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo buze buzise iintsikelelo ezimangalisayo. Ngokomzekelo, buza kushenxisa uSathana needemon zakhe. (ISityhilelo 20:1-3) Ngenxa yokusebenza kwamandla edini likaYesu, abantu abayi kugula baze bafe. Kodwa ngaphantsi kolawulo loBukumkani baya kuphila ngonaphakade. (ISityhilelo 22:1-3) Umhlaba uza kwenziwa ube yiparadesi. Ngoko uBukumkani buza kubangela ukuba ukuthanda kukaThixo kwenziwe emhlabeni, yaye buza kungcwalisa igama likaThixo. Kuthetha ukuthini oku? Kuthetha ukuba ekugqibeleni ngaphantsi koBukumkani bukaThixo wonk’ ubani ophilayo uza kuzukisa igama likaYehova.

BUZA KUKWENZA NINI OKU UBUKUMKANI BUKATHIXO?

22. Sazi njani ukuba uBukumkani bukaThixo abuzange bufike xa uYesu wayesemhlabeni okanye ngokukhawuleza emva kokuvuswa kwakhe?

²² Xa uYesu waxelela abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze bathi “Mabufike ubukumkani bakho,” kwakucacile ukuba uBukumkani babungekafiki ngelo xesha. Ngaba bafika emva kokuba uYesu enyukele ezulwini? Akunjalo, kuba emva kokuba uYesu evusiwe uPetros noPawulos bathi sasibhekisela kuye isiprofeto esikwiNdumiso 110:1 esithi: “Utsho uYehova eNkosini yam ukuthi: ‘Hlala ngasekunene kwam ndide ndizibeke iintshaba zakho njengesitulo seenyawo zakho.’” (IZenzo 2:32-35; Hebhere 10:12, 13) Ngoko kwakuza kufuneka alinde.

23. (a) Buqalise nini ukulawula uBukumkani bukaThixo? (b) Yintoni eza kuxutyushwa kwisahluko esilandelayo?

²³ Wayeza kulinda ithuba elide kangakanani? Ebudeni benkulungwane ye-19 neyama-20, abafundi beBhayibhile abanyanisekileyo baqonda ukuba wayeza kulinda de kube sekupheleni kowe-1914. (Ngokuphathelele lo nyaka, bona iSihlomelo, kwiphepha 215-18.) Iziganeko zehlabathi ezaqalisa ngowe-1914 zingqina ukuba aba bafundi beBhayibhile banyanisekileyo babechanile. Ukuzaliseka kweziprofeto zeBhayibhile kubonisa ukuba ngowe-1914 uKristu waba nguKumkani, yaye uBukumkani bukaThixo basezulwini baqalisa ngaloo nyaka ukulawula. Ngoko siphila ebudeni ‘bexesha elifutshane’ analo uSathana. (ISityhilelo 12:12; INdumiso 110:2) Kwakhona sinokuqiniseka ukuba kungekudala uBukumkani bukaThixo buza kubangela ukuba ukuthanda kwakhe kwenzeke emhlabeni. Zimnandi ngokwenene ezo ndaba, akunjalo? Kodwa ngaba uyazikholelwa? Isahluko esilandelayo siza kukunceda ubone ukuba ngokwenene oku koko kanye kufundiswa yiBhayibhile.