Isahluko 43

Isixeko Esizukileyo

Umbono 16—ISityhilelo 21:9–22:5

Umbandela: Ukuchazwa kweYerusalem Entsha

Ixesha lokuzaliseka: Emva kwembandezelo enkulu nasemva kokuphoswa kukaSathana enzonzobileni

1, 2. (a) Ingelosi imsa phi uYohane ukuze abone iYerusalem Entsha, yaye nguwuphi umahluko esiwuphawulayo apha? (b) Kutheni oku kuyincopho ezukileyo yeSityhilelo?

INGELOSI yayimthabathile uYohane yamsa entlango ukuze imbonise iBhabhiloni Enkulu. Ngoku enye ingelosi yeqela elifanayo isa uYohane kwintaba ephakamileyo. Onjani wona umahluko awubonayo! Apha akaboni sixeko singacocekanga nesiziphethe kakubi esinjengehenyukazi eliyiBhabhiloni, kodwa ubona iYerusalem Entsha—enyulu, eyeyokomoya nengcwele—yaye ihla ivela ezulwini.—ISityhilelo 17:1, 5.

² KwaneYerusalem yasemhlabeni ayizange ibe nozuko olunjengolu. UYohane uyasixelela esithi: “Kweza enye yeengelosi ezisixhenxe ezazinezitya ezisixhenxe ezazizele zizibetho zokugqibela ezisixhenxe, yathetha nam yathi: ‘Yiza apha, ndiza kukubonisa umtshakazi, umfazi weMvana.’ Ngoko yandithwala ngamandla omoya yandisa kuyo intaba enkulu nephakamileyo, yaza yandibonisa isixeko esingcwele, iYerusalem, sisihla siphuma ezulwini kuThixo sinozuko lukaThixo.” (ISityhilelo 21:9-11a) Ekuloo ntaba iphakamileyo, uYohane uqwalasela esi sixeko sihle ngazo zonke iindlela. Abantu bokholo babekulindele ngolangazelelo ukuza kwaso ukususela ekuweleni koluntu esonweni nasekufeni. Ekugqibeleni sifikile! (Roma 8:19; 1 Korinte 15:22, 23; Hebhere 11:39, 40) Sisixeko sokomoya esimangalisayo, esibunjwa ngabagcini bengqibelelo abanyanisekileyo abali-144 000, ubungcwele baso buzukile yaye bubonakalisa ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova. Yiyo ke leyo incopho ezukileyo yeSityhilelo!

3. UYohane ubuchaza njani ubuhle beYerusalem Entsha?

³ Ubuhle beYerusalem Entsha buyamangalisa: “Ubukhazikhazi baso babunjengelona litye lixabisekileyo, njengelitye leyaspisi elikhanya ngokwekristale. Sasinodonga olukhulu oluphakamileyo, namasango alishumi elinesibini, yaye emasangweni iziingelosi ezilishumi elinesibini, kubhalwe namagama ezizwe ezilishumi elinesibini zoonyana bakaSirayeli. Ngasempuma yayingamasango amathathu, nangasemntla ingamasango amathathu, nangasemzantsi ingamasango amathathu, nangasentshona ingamasango amathathu. Udonga lwesixeko lwalunamatye esiseko alishumi elinesibini, kuwo ingamagama alishumi elinesibini abapostile abalishumi elinesibini beMvana.” (ISityhilelo 21:11b-14) Hayi indlela ekufaneleka ngayo ukuba into yokuqala echukumisayo ebhalwa nguYohane ibe iqaqambe ngokumangalisayo! Iqaqambe okomtshakazi omtsha, iYerusalem Entsha iliqabane elimfaneleyo uKristu. Ibengezela kakuhle, njengoko kufanelekile ngendalo ‘yoYise wezikhanyiso.’—Yakobi 1:17.

4. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba iYerusalem Entsha ayilohlanga lokwemvelo lukaSirayeli?

⁴ Kumasango ayo ali-12, kubhalwe amagama ezizwe zakwaSirayeli ezili-12. Ngoko ke, esi sixeko sokomfuziselo sibunjwa ngabali-144 000, abatywinwa “kuzo zonke izizwe zoonyana bakaSirayeli.” (ISityhilelo 7:4-8) Ngokuvisisana noku, amatye esiseko anamagama abapostile abali-12 beMvana. Ewe, iYerusalem Entsha ayilohlanga lokwemvelo lukaSirayeli olwaluphuma koonyana bakaYakobi abali-12. NguSirayeli wokomoya, ophuma ‘kubapostile nabaprofeti.’—Efese 2:20.

5. Yintoni efuziselwa ‘ludonga olukhulu noluphakamileyo’ lweYerusalem Entsha nesibakala sokuba iingelosi zibekwe kwisango ngalinye?

⁵ Esi sixeko sokomfuziselo sinodonga olukhulu. Kumaxesha amandulo, iindonga zesixeko zazisakhelwa ukwenzela ukunqabiseka kwiintshaba. ‘Udonga olukhulu noluphakamileyo’ lweYerusalem Entsha lubonisa ukuba inqabisekile ngokomoya. Alukho utshaba lobulungisa, akukho bani ungacocekanga okanye unganyanisekanga, oya kuze angene apho. (ISityhilelo 21:27) Kodwa kwabo bavunyelweyo ukuba bangene, ukungena kwesi sixeko sihle kunjengokungena eParadesi. (ISityhilelo 2:7) Emva kokugxothwa kuka-Adam, iikerubhi zabekwa phambi kweParadesi yangaphambili ukuze kungangeni abantu abangacocekanga. (Genesis 3:24) Ngokufanayo, iingelosi zibekwe kwisango ngalinye lesixeko esingcwele esiyiYerusalem ukuze kuqinisekiswe ngokunqabiseka kokomoya kwesi sixeko. Ngenene, kuyo yonke imihla yokugqibela, iingelosi bezililondolozile ibandla lamaKristu athanjisiweyo, eliba yiYerusalem Entsha, ekungcolisweni yiBhabhiloni.—Mateyu 13:41.

Ukulinganisa Isixeko

6. (a) UYohane ukuchaza njani ukulinganiswa kwesi sixeko, yaye oku kulinganiswa kubonisa ntoni? (b) Yintoni esenokucacisa ukuba umlinganiselo owasetyenziswayo ‘wawungomntu, ukwangowengelosi’? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi.)

⁶ UYohane uyaqhubeka nengxelo yakhe esithi: “Lowo wayethetha nam wayephethe ingcongolo yegolide yokulinganisa, ukuze alinganise ngayo isixeko namasango aso nodonga lwaso. Isixeko eso sasinamacala amane alinganayo, ubude baso bungangobubanzi baso. Wasilinganisa isixeko ngengcongolo, saba ziitadiya ezilishumi elinesibini lamawaka; ubude nobubanzi nokuphakama kwaso kuyalingana. Walulinganisa nodonga lwaso, lwaba ziikubhite ezilikhulu elinamashumi amane anesine, ngokomlinganiselo womntu, okwangowengelosi.” (ISityhilelo 21:15-17) Xa ingcwele yetempile yalinganiswayo, oku kwaqinisekisa ngokuzaliseka kweenjongo zikaYehova ngokubhekisele kuyo. (ISityhilelo 11:1) Ngoku, ukulinganisa kwengelosi iYerusalem Entsha kubonisa indlela ezingaguqukiyo ngayo iinjongo zikaYehova mayela nesi sixeko sizukileyo.a

7. Yintoni ephawulekayo ngomlinganiselo wesi sixeko?

⁷ Hayi indlela esiphawuleka ngayo esi sixeko! Macala onke siziitadiya ezili-12 000 (malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-2 220) ngokobude bomjikelezo, yaye sibiyelwe ngodonga oluziikubhite ezili-144, okanye iimitha ezingama-64, ukuphakama. Asikho isixeko sokoqobo esinokuze sibe nomlinganiselo ongako. Besiya kugubungela ummandla oliphinda izihlandlo ezimalunga ne-14 ngobukhulu ilizwe lakwaSirayeli lanamhla, yaye ukuphakama kwawo bekuya kufikelela kwiikhilomitha eziphantse zibe ngama-560! ISityhilelo sanikelwa ngemiqondiso. Ngoko, lo mlinganiselo usixelela ntoni ngeYerusalem Entsha yasezulwini?

8. Yintoni efanekiselwa (a) ziindonga zesi sixeko eziphakame kangangeekubhite ezili-144? (b) ngumlinganiselo oziitadiya ezili-12 000 zesi sixeko? (c) ngamacala alingana ngokugqibeleleyo esi sixeko?

⁸ Iindonga eziphakame kangangeekubhite ezili-144 zisikhumbuza ukuba esi sixeko sibunjwe ngoonyana bokomoya abamkelwe nguThixo nabali-144 000. Inani elili-12 elibonakala komnye umlinganiselo wesi sixeko—umlinganiselo wesixeko oziitadiya ezili-12 000—ofanayo ngobude, ngobubanzi nangokuphakama—ngokufuziselayo lisetyenziswa kwizinto ezingokwentlangano kwisiprofeto seBhayibhile. Ngenxa yoko, iYerusalem Entsha lilungiselelo lentlangano eliyilwe ngokubalaseleyo ukuze kufezwe injongo kaThixo engunaphakade. IYerusalem Entsha, kunye noKumkani onguYesu Kristu, yintlangano kaYehova yoBukumkani. Kwandula ke kuchazwe nendlela esimi ngayo esi sixeko: sinamacala alingana ngokugqibeleleyo. Kwitempile kaSolomon, Eyona Ngcwele eyayifuzisela ubukho bukaYehova, yayinamacala alingana ngokugqibeleleyo. (1 Kumkani 6:19, 20) Ngoko, hayi indlela ekufaneleke ngayo ukuba iYerusalem Entsha, ekhanyiswe ngobuqaqawuli bukaYehova ngokwakhe, ibe ibonwa inamacala amakhulu alingana ngokugqibeleleyo! Yonke imilinganiselo yayo ilungelelene ngokugqibeleleyo. Isisixeko esipheleleyo okanye esingenanto sisilela ngayo.—ISityhilelo 21:22.

Izinto Zokwakha Ezixabisekileyo

9. UYohane uzichaza njani izinto zokwakha zesi sixeko?

⁹ UYohane uyaqhubeka nengcaciso yakhe esithi: “Isakhiwo sodonga lwaso sasiyiyaspisi, isixeko sona sasiyigolide esulungekileyo njengeglasi ekhanyayo. Iziseko zodonga lwesixeko zazihonjiswe ngalo lonke uhlobo lwelitye elixabisekileyo: isiseko sokuqala sasiyiyaspisi, esesibini iyisafire, esesithathu iyikalkedoni, esesine iyiemeraldi, esesihlanu iyisardoniksi, esesithandathu iyisardiyo, esesixhenxe iyikrizolite, esesibhozo iyibherilo, esesithoba iyitopazi, eseshumi iyikrizoprazi, eseshumi elinanye iyihakinto, eseshumi elinesibini iyiamethiste. Kanjalo, amasango alishumi elinesibini ayeziiperile ezilishumi elinesibini; ngalinye lamasango lalenziwe ngeperile enye. Nendlela ephangaleleyo yesixeko yayiyigolide esulungekileyo, njengeglasi ekhanyayo.”—ISityhilelo 21:18-21.

10. Yintoni efanekiselwa sisibakala sokuba esi sixeko sakhiwe ngeyaspisi, ngegolide nalo “lonke uhlobo lwelitye elixabisekileyo”?

¹⁰ Indlela esakhiwe ngayo esi sixeko ngokwenyaniso izukile. Endaweni yokuba kusetyenziswe izinto zokwakha zasemhlabeni ezinjengodongwe okanye ilitye, sifunda ngeyaspisi, ngegolide engcwengekileyo nalo “lonke uhlobo lwelitye elixabisekileyo.” Hayi indlela ezi zinto ezizichaza ngokufanelekileyo ngayo izinto zokwakha zasezulwini! Ayikho enye into enokuba nobuqaqawuli obungakumbi. Ityeya yamandulo yomnqophiso yayigqunywe ngegolide esulungekileyo, yaye eBhayibhileni igolide idla ngokufuzisela izinto ezintle nezixabisekileyo. (Eksodus 25:11; IMizekeliso 25:11; Isaya 60:6, 17) Kodwa iyonke iYerusalem Entsha, kwanendlela yayo ebanzi, yakhiwe ‘ngegolide esulungekileyo njengeglasi ekhanyayo,’ nto leyo ebonisa ubuhle nokuxabiseka okungathethekiyo okungenakuthelekelelwa.

11. Yintoni eqinisekisa ukuba abo babumba iYerusalem Entsha baya kubengezela bubungangamsha obubobona buphakamileyo bobunyulu bokomoya?

¹¹ Akakho umntu ongumnyibilikisi wamatye axabisekileyo owayenokuvelisa igolide esulungeke ngolo hlobo. Kodwa uYehova unguMnyibilikisi Obalaseleyo. Uhlala “njengomsulungekisi nomcoci wesilivere,” yaye usulungekisa mntu ngamnye, olilungu elithembekileyo loSirayeli wokomoya “njengegolide nanjengesilivere,” eshenxisa kuwo konke ukungcola. Kuphela ngabantu abaye basulungekiswa baza bacocwa ngokwenyaniso abaya kuthi ekugqibeleni babumbe iYerusalem Entsha, yaye ngale ndlela uYehova wakha isixeko ngezinto zokwakha eziphilileyo eziqaqambe ngobungangamsha obubobona buphakamileyo bobunyulu bokomoya.—Malaki 3:3, 4.

12. Yintoni efanekiselwa sisibakala sokuba (a) iziseko zesi sixeko zihonjiswe ngamatye anqabileyo ali-12? (b) amasango esi sixeko engaweeperile?

¹² Kwaneziseko zesi sixeko zihle, zihonjiswe ngamatye anqabileyo ali-12. Oku kusikhumbuza ngombingeleli omkhulu wamandulo kwaYuda, owayesithi ngemihla yemithendeleko anxibe iefodi eyayinamatye anqabileyo awahlukeneyo nali-12 abufana nachazwe apha. (Eksodus 28:15-21) Ngokuqinisekileyo oku asikokungqamana nje kwezinto! Kunoko, kubethelela umsebenzi wababingeleli kwiYerusalem Entsha, uYesu, uMbingeleli Omkhulu, ‘asisibane’ kuyo. (ISityhilelo 20:6; 21:23; Hebhere 8:1) Kwakhona, kungeYerusalem Entsha ezithi iingenelo zobulungiseleli bukaYesu bokuba ngumbingeleli ophakamileyo zidluliselwe kuluntu. (ISityhilelo 22:1, 2) Amasango esi sixeko ali-12, ngalinye lineperile entle ngokugqithiseleyo, asikhumbuza ngomzekeliso kaYesu owafanisa uBukumkani neperile exabiseke gqitha. Bonke abangena ngaloo masango baya kube bebonakalise uxabiso lokwenyaniso ngemilinganiselo yokomoya.—Mateyu 13:45, 46; thelekisa uYobhi 28:12, 17, 18.

Isixeko Sokhanyo

13. Yintoni ethethwa nguYohane ngokulandelayo mayela neYerusalem Entsha, yaye kutheni le nto kwesi sixeko kungafuneki tempile yokoqobo?

¹³ Ngexesha likaSolomon, iYerusalem yayilawula itempile eyayakhiwe kweyona ndawo iphakamileyo yesixeko kwiNtaba yaseMoriya ngasentla. Kodwa kuthekani ngeYerusalem Entsha? UYohane uthi: “Andibonanga tempile kuso, kuba uYehova uThixo uSomandla uyitempile yaso, kwaneMvana iyiyo. Yaye akukho mfuneko yalanga nanyanga yokukhanyisa kweso sixeko, kuba ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo busikhanyisile, yaye iMvana isisibane saso.” (ISityhilelo 21:22, 23) Enyanisweni, ayikho imfuneko yokwakha itempile yokoqobo apha. Itempile yamandulo yamaYuda yayingumzekelo nje, yaye into yokwenene eyayiboniswa nguloo mzekelo, itempile yokomoya enkulu, ibikho ukususela ekuthambiseni kukaYehova uYesu njengoMbingeleli Omkhulu ngowama-29 C.E. (Mateyu 3:16, 17; Hebhere 9:11, 12, 23, 24) Kwakhona itempile isenza sicinge kwangaphambili ngodidi lwababingeleli olunikela amadini kuYehova ngenxa yabantu. Kodwa bonke abo bayinxalenye yeYerusalem Entsha bangababingeleli. (ISityhilelo 20:6) Yaye idini elikhulu, ubomi bobuntu obufezekileyo bukaYesu, bunikelwe ngonaphakade. (Hebhere 9:27, 28) Ngaphezu koko, uYehova unokumfikelela ngokobuqu nabani na ohlala kwesi sixeko.

14. (a) Kutheni le nto kwiYerusalem Entsha kungekho mfuneko yelanga nenyanga ukuze zikhanyise kuyo? (b) Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili sisiprofeto sikaIsaya ngentlangano kaYehova yendalo iphela, yaye iYerusalem Entsha ibandakanyeke njani koku?

¹⁴ Xa ubuqaqawuli bukaYehova badlula ngakuMoses kwiNtaba yaseSinayi, babangela ubuso bukaMoses bakhanya ngokuqaqambileyo kangangokuba kwafuneka abugqume bungabonwa ngamaSirayeli angoowabo. (Eksodus 34:4-7, 29, 30, 33) Ngoko, unokukuthelekelela na ukuqaqamba kwesixeko esihlala sikhanyiswe ngobuqaqawuli bukaYehova? Isixeko esinjalo asinakuba nalo ixesha langokuhlwa. Akuyi kuba yimfuneko ukuba sibe nelanga nenyanga yokoqobo. Besiya kukhupha ukukhanya ngonaphakade. (Thelekisa eyoku-1 kuTimoti 6:16.) IYerusalem Entsha iqaqambe ngendlela ebalasele ngolo hlobo. Ngenene, lo mtshakazi noMyeni wakhe onguKumkani baba ngabaphambili kwintlangano kaYehova yendalo iphela—‘umfazi’ wakhe, “iYerusalem ephezulu”—awaprofeta ngayo uIsaya wenjenje: “Ilanga aliyi kuba saba lukhanyiso kuwe emini, nokuqaqamba kwenyanga akusayi kuba sakukhanyisela. Yaye uYehova umele abe lukhanyiso lwakho oluhlala ngokungenammiselo, noThixo wakho abe bubuhle bakho. Ilanga lakho aliyi kuba satshona, nenyanga yakho ingafi; kuba uYehova uya kuba lukhanyiso oluhlala ngokungenammiselo kuwe, nemihla yokuzila kwakho iya kube ifikelele esiphelweni.”—Isaya 60:1, 19, 20; Galati 4:26.

Ukukhanya Kweentlanga

15. Ngawaphi amazwi eSityhilelo angeYerusalem Entsha afanayo nesiprofeto sikaIsaya?

¹⁵ Kwaesi siprofeto sakwaxela kwangaphambili sathi: “Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo iintlanga ziya kuya ekukhanyeni kwakho, nookumkani ekuqaqambeni kokukhanyisa kwakho.” (Isaya 60:3) ISityhilelo sibonisa ukuba la mazwi ayeya kuquka iYerusalem Entsha: “Iintlanga ziya kuhamba ekukhanyeni kwaso, nookumkani bomhlaba baya kuzisa kuso uzuko lwabo. Amasango aso akayi kuvalwa konke konke emini, kuba ubusuku abuyi kubakho apho. Yaye baya kuzisa uzuko nembeko yeentlanga kuso.”—ISityhilelo 21:24-26.

16. Zingoobani ‘iintlanga’ eziya kuhamba ekukhanyeni kweYerusalem Entsha?

¹⁶ Zingoobani ezi ‘ntlanga’ zihamba ekukhanyeni kweYerusalem Entsha? Zingabantu ababekade beyinxalenye yeentlanga zeli hlabathi lingendawo, abasabelayo ekukhanyeni okukhutshwa ngesi sixeko sasezulwini sizukileyo. Abaphambili kuzo sisihlwele esikhulu, esele siphuma “kuzo zonke iintlanga nezizwe nezizwana neelwimi” nesinqula uThixo imini nobusuku kunye nodidi lukaYohane. (ISityhilelo 7:9, 15) Emva kokuba iYerusalem Entsha isihla iphuma ezulwini aze uYesu asebenzise izitshixo zokufa nezeHadesi ukuvusa abafileyo, siya kuthelelwa zizigidi ezingakumbi, ezazifudula ‘zingabeentlanga,’ ezithi zimthande uYehova noNyana wakhe, uMyeni weYerusalem Entsha onjengeMvana.—ISityhilelo 1:18.

17. Bangoobani ‘ookumkani bomhlaba abazisa uzuko lwabo’ kwiYerusalem Entsha?

¹⁷ Ngoko, bangoobani aba ‘kumkani bomhlaba bazisa uzuko lwabo kuyo’? Abangabo ookumkani bokoqobo bomhlaba, kuba bona batshatyalaliswa eArmagedon xa besilwa noBukumkani bukaThixo. (ISityhilelo 16:14, 16; 19:17, 18) Ngaba aba kumkani banokuba ngabantu abathile abaphezulu beentlanga ababa yinxalenye yesihlwele esikhulu, okanye ngaba bangookumkani abavusiweyo abazithoba kuBukumkani bukaThixo kwihlabathi elitsha? (Mateyu 12:42) Kungangenkankulu ukuba kube njalo, kuba ubukhulu becala, uzuko lookumkani abanjalo lwalulolwehlabathi yaye kudala lwaphelayo. Ngoko, ‘ookumkani bomhlaba,’ abazisa uzuko lwabo kwiYerusalem Entsha bamele ukuba ngabali-144 000 ‘abathengwa kuzo zonke izizwe neelwimi nabantu neentlanga’ ukuze balawule njengookumkani neMvana, uYesu Kristu. (ISityhilelo 5:9, 10; 22:5) Bazisa uzuko lwabo abalunikwe nguThixo kwesi sixeko ukuze bongezelele ekuqaqambeni kwaso.

18. (a) Ngoobani abangayi kungena kwiYerusalem Entsha? (b) Ngoobani kuphela abaya kuvunyelwa ukuba bangene kwesi sixeko?

¹⁸ UYohane uyaqhubeka esithi: “Akukho nanye into engengcwele okanye umntu owenza into elizothe nolixoki oya kungena kuso; kuphela ngabo babhaliweyo kumsongo wobomi weMvana abaya kungena.” (ISityhilelo 21:27) Ayikho into engcoliswe yinkqubo yezinto kaSathana enokuba yinxalenye yeYerusalem Entsha. Nakubeni amasango ayo evulwe ngokusisigxina, akukho bani ‘owenza into elizothe nolixoki’ oya kuvunyelwa ukuba angene. Akuyi kubakho bawexuki kweso sixeko, kungasayi kubakho nawaphi na amalungu eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Yaye ukuba nabaphi na bazama ukungcolisa esi sixeko ngokonakalisa abaza kuba ngamalungu aso ngoxa besesemhlabeni, imigudu yabo iya kutshitshiswa. (Mateyu 13:41-43) Kuphela ‘ngabo babhalwe kumsongo wobomi weMvana,’ i-144 000, abaya kuthi ekugqibeleni bangene kwiYerusalem Entsha.b—ISityhilelo 13:8; Daniyeli 12:3.

Umlambo Wamanzi Obomi

19. (a) UYohane uyichaza njani iYerusalem Entsha njengezisa iintsikelelo kuluntu? (b) “Umlambo wamanzi obomi” uqukuqela nini, yaye sazi njani?

¹⁹ IYerusalem Entsha ezukileyo iya kuzisa iintsikelelo ezizukileyo kuluntu emhlabeni. Oku koko uYohane akubonayo ngokulandelayo: “Yandibonisa umlambo wamanzi obomi, ungcwengeke njengekristale, uqukuqela uphuma kwitrone kaThixo neyeMvana usihla embindini wendlela yaso ephangaleleyo.” (ISityhilelo 22:1, 2a) Uqukuqela nini lo ‘mlambo’? Ekubeni uqukuqela “uphuma kwitrone kaThixo neyeMvana,” oku kwakunokwenzeka kuphela emva kokuqalisa kwemini yeNkosi ngowe-1914. Elo yayilixesha lokwenzeka kwesiganeko esavakaliswa ngokuvuthelwa kwexilongo lesixhenxe nesaziso esizukileyo esithi: “Ngoku lufikile usindiso namandla nobukumkani boThixo wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe.” (ISityhilelo 11:15; 12:10) Ebudeni bexesha lesiphelo, umoya nomtshakazi bebemema abaneentliziyo ezinyanisekileyo ukuba bathabathe amanzi obomi ngesisa. Abanjalo baya kuqhubeka bewafumana amanzi alo mlambo kude kuse esiphelweni sale nkqubo yezinto, yaye emva koko, kwihlabathi elitsha, xa iYerusalem Entsha ‘isihla iphuma ezulwini kuThixo.’—ISityhilelo 21:2.

20. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba umlinganiselo othile wamanzi obomi sele ufumaneka?

²⁰ Esi ayisosihlandlo sokuqala ukuba amanzi anik’ ubomi anikelwe kuluntu. Xa wayesemhlabeni, uYesu wathetha ngamanzi awayenikela ubomi obungunaphakade. (Yohane 4:10-14; 7:37, 38) Ngokungakumbi, uYohane sele eza kuva isimemo esithandekayo esithi: “Umoya nomtshakazi bathi: ‘Yiza!’ Lowo uvayo makathi: ‘Yiza!’ Lowo unxaniweyo makeze; lowo uthandayo makawathabathe amanzi obomi ngesisa.” (ISityhilelo 22:17) Esi simemo sivakaliswa kwanangoku, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba umlinganiselo othile wamanzi obomi sele ufumaneka. Kodwa kwihlabathi elitsha, loo manzi aya kumpompoza evela kwitrone kaThixo yaye etyhubela iYerusalem Entsha njengomlambo wokwenene.

21. Yintoni efanekiselwa ‘ngumlambo wamanzi obomi,’ yaye umbono kaHezekile walo mlambo usinceda njani ukuba sazi?

²¹ Uyintoni lo ‘mlambo wamanzi obomi’? Amanzi okoqobo ayinto ebalulekileyo ebomini. Ngaphandle kokudla umntu unokuphila kangangeeveki eziliqela, kodwa ngaphandle kwamanzi uya kufa kwisithuba esimalunga neveki. Amanzi akwayinto ecocayo nebalulekileyo empilweni. Ngaloo ndlela, amanzi obomi amele afuzisele into ebalulekileyo ebomini nakwimpilo yoluntu. Umprofeti uHezekile wakwanikwa umbono walo ‘mlambo wamanzi obomi,’ yaye embonweni wakhe, lo mlambo wawumpompoza uvela etempileni yaye usehlela kuLwandle Olufileyo. Ngoko, ummangaliso wemimangaliso! Loo manzi angenazinto ziphilileyo nanemichiza enziwa aba ngamanzi ahlaziyayo anyakazela ziintlanzi! (Hezekile 47:1-12) Ewe, umlambo osembonweni ubuyisela ebomini into eyayifile ngaphambili, uqinisekisa ukuba umlambo wamanzi obomi ufanekisela ilungiselelo likaThixo elingoYesu Kristu lokubuyisela ubomi bobuntu obufezekileyo kwisizwe sabantu ‘esifileyo.’ Lo mlambo “ungcwengeke njengekristale,” nto leyo ebonisa ubunyulu nobungcwele bamalungiselelo kaThixo. Awufani ‘namanzi’ eNgqobhoko anegazi nabulalayo.—ISityhilelo 8:10, 11.

22. (a) Uvela phi lo mlambo, yaye kutheni kufanelekile nje oku? (b) Yintoni ebandakanyekileyo kumanzi obomi, yaye lo mlambo wokomfuziselo uquka ntoni?

²² Lo mlambo uphuma “kwitrone kaThixo neyeMvana.” Oku kufanelekile, ekubeni isizinzi samalungiselelo kaYehova anikel’ ubomi silidini lentlawulelo, yaye lalungiselelwa kuba uYehova “walithanda kakhulu ihlabathi kangangokuba wanikela ngoNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo, ukuze wonk’ ubani obonisa ukholo kuye angatshabalali kodwa abe nobomi obungunaphakade.” (Yohane 3:16) Amanzi obomi akwaquka iLizwi likaThixo, ekuthethwa ngalo njengamanzi eBhayibhileni. (Efese 5:26) Noko ke, umlambo wamanzi obomi uquka kungekuphela nje inyaniso kodwa kwanalo lonke elinye ilungiselelo likaYehova, elisekelwe kwidini likaYesu, lokuhlangula abantu abathobelayo esonweni nasekufeni nokunikwa kwabo ubomi obungunaphakade.—Yohane 1:29; 1 Yohane 2:1, 2.

23. (a) Kutheni kufanelekile nje ukuba umlambo wamanzi obomi ube umpompoza phakathi kwindlela ebanzi yeYerusalem Entsha? (b) Sisiphi isithembiso sobuthixo esasisiya kuAbraham esiya kuzaliseka xa amanzi obomi empompoza kakhulu?

²³ Ebudeni boLawulo Lweminyaka Eliwaka, iingenelo zentlawulelo ziya kusetyenziswa ngokupheleleyo ngesigxina sobubingeleli bukaYesu nababingeleli abangaphantsi kuye abali-144 000. Ngoko, ngokufanelekileyo, umlambo wamanzi obomi umpompoza phakathi kwindlela ebanzi yeYerusalem Entsha. Yona ibunjwa nguSirayeli wokomoya, othi xa enoYesu abumbe imbewu yokwenyaniso ka-Abraham. (Galati 3:16, 29) Ngoko ke, xa amanzi obomi empompoza kakhulu phakathi kwindlela ebanzi yesixeko sokomfuziselo, “zonke iintlanga zomhlaba” ziya kuba nethuba elipheleleyo lokuzisikelela ngembewu ka-Abraham. Isithembiso sikaYehova kuAbraham siya kuzaliseka ngokupheleleyo.—Genesis 22:17, 18.

Imithi Yobomi

24. Ziziphi izinto ezibonwa nguYohane ngoku kumacala omabini omlambo wamanzi obomi, yaye zifanekisela ntoni?

²⁴ Kumbono kaHezekile, umlambo wade waba ngumsinga, yaye lo mprofeti emacaleni awo wabona kukhula zonke iintlobo zemithi ethwala iziqhamo. (Hezekile 47:12) Kodwa yintoni ebonwa nguYohane? Nantsi: “Macala omabini alo mlambo kwakukho imithi yobomi eneentlobo zeziqhamo ezilishumi elinesibini, ivelisa iziqhamo zayo nyanga nganye. Yaye amagqabi emithi ayengawokuphilisa iintlanga.” (ISityhilelo 22:2) Le ‘mithi yobomi’ ikwamele ifanekisele inxalenye yelungiselelo likaYehova lokunikela ubomi obungunaphakade kuluntu oluthobelayo.

25. Liliphi ilungiselelo eliyintabalala uYehova alenzela abantu abathobelayo kwiParadesi esemhlabeni wonke?

²⁵ Elinjani lona ukuba yintabalala ilungiselelo uYehova alenzela abantu abathobelayo! Abaseli nje kuphela loo manzi ahlaziyayo kodwa basenokuzithabathela kuloo mithi iziqhamo eziphilisayo eziziintlobo-ntlobo nezihlala zikho. Ewe, akwaba abazali bethu bokuqala babanelisiwe lilungiselelo elifanayo ‘elinqwenelekayo’ elalikho kwiParadesi yase-Eden! (Genesis 2:9) Kodwa ngoku kuza kubakho iParadesi esemhlabeni wonke, yaye uYehova ude enze nelungiselelo ngamagqabi ale mithi yokomfuziselo ukuze ‘kuphiliswe iintlanga.’c Ekubeni egqwesa naliphi na iyeza, elenziwe ngeengcambu okanye nangayiphi na enye indlela, ukusetyenziswa kakuhle kwaloo magqabi okomfuziselo kuya kubuyisela uluntu oluthobelayo kwimfezeko yokomoya nengokwasemzimbeni.

26. Isenokuquka ntoni imithi yobomi, yaye ngoba?

²⁶ Loo mithi, enkcenkceshelwa kakuhle ngumlambo, isenokuquka amalungu ali-144 000 omfazi weMvana. Ngoxa esemhlabeni nawo ayasela kwilungiselelo likaThixo lobomi elenziwe ngoYesu Kristu. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, ngokwesiprofeto aba bazalwana bakaYesu bazelwe ngomoya babizwa ngokuba “yimithi emikhulu yobulungisa.” (Isaya 61:1-3; ISityhilelo 21:6) Sele bevelise iziqhamo ezininzi zokomoya ukuze kudunyiswe uYehova. (Mateyu 21:43) Yaye ebudeni boLawulo Lweminyaka Eliwaka, baya kuba nenxaxheba ekusasazeni amalungiselelo entlawulelo aya ‘kuphilisa iintlanga’ kwisono nasekufeni.—Thelekisa eyoku-1 kaYohane 1:7.

Akusekho Busuku

27. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezingakumbi uYohane azikhankanyayo kwabo banelungelo lokungena kwiYerusalem Entsha, yaye kutheni kusithiwa “akusayi kuba sabakho siqalekiso”?

²⁷ Ukungena kwiYerusalem Entsha—ngokuqinisekileyo, alikho elinye ilungiselelo elinokumangalisa ngakumbi kunelo! Khawufan’ ucinge—abo bantu babekade bedelekile yaye bengafezekanga baya kulandela uYesu ukuya ezulwini ukuze babe yinxalenye yelungiselelo elizuke ngolo hlobo! (Yohane 14:2) UYohane usichazela ngokufutshane ngeentsikelelo eziza kunanditshwa ngabo, esithi: “Akusayi kuba sabakho siqalekiso. Kodwa itrone kaThixo neyeMvana ziya kuba kweso sixeko, namakhoboka akhe aya kunikela inkonzo engcwele kuye; yaye aya kububona ubuso bakhe, negama lakhe liya kuba semabunzini awo.” (ISityhilelo 22:3, 4) Xa ababingeleli bakwaSirayeli bathi bonakala, baqalekiswa nguYehova. (Malaki 2:2) UYesu wavakalisa ukuba wayeyishiyile “indlu” engathembekanga yaseYerusalem. (Mateyu 23:37-39) Kodwa kwiYerusalem Entsha, “akusayi kuba sabakho siqalekiso.” (Thelekisa uZekariya 14:11.) Bonke abemi bayo baye bavavanywa kumlilo weemvavanyo apha emhlabeni, yaye ekubeni bezuze uloyiso, baya kuba ‘bambethe ukungonakali nokungafi.’ Kwimeko yabo, uYehova uyazi, kanye njengokuba wayesazi ngoYesu, ukuba abanakuze bakreqe. (1 Korinte 15:53, 57) Ngokungakumbi, “itrone kaThixo neyeMvana” iya kuba lapho, ibangela ukuba indawo enesi sixeko inqabiseke ukusa kuwo onke amaphakade.

28. Kutheni le nto amalungu eYerusalem Entsha ebhalwe igama likaThixo emabunzini awo, yaye liliphi ithemba elichulumancisayo elingaphambi kwawo?

²⁸ NjengoYohane, bonke abaza kuba ngamalungu esi sixeko sasezulwini ‘bangamakhoboka’ kaThixo. Ngenxa yoko, emabunzini abo kubhalwe igama likaThixo, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba unguMnini wabo. (ISityhilelo 1:1; 3:12) Baya kukujonga kulilungelo elingenakuthelekiswa nanto ukunikela kuye inkonzo engcwele njengenxalenye yeYerusalem Entsha. Ngoxa uYesu wayesemhlabeni, wavakalisa isithembiso esichulumancisayo kubantu abanjalo abaza kuba ngabalawuli, esithi: “Banoyolo abasulungekileyo entliziyweni, kuba baya kumbona uThixo.” (Mateyu 5:8) Hayi indlela aya konwaba ngayo la makhoboka kukumbona ngokwenene uYehova nokumnqula!

29. Kutheni le nto uYohane esithi ngeYerusalem Entsha esezulwini “akusayi kubakho busuku khona”?

²⁹ UYohane uyaqhubeka esithi: “Akusayi kubakho busuku khona, kungasayi kubakho mfuneko yokukhanya kwesibane nokukhanya kwelanga, kuba uYehova uThixo uya kuwakhanyisela.” (ISityhilelo 22:5a) IYerusalem yamandulo, njengaso nasiphi na esinye isixeko sasemhlabeni, yayikholose ngelanga ukuze ifumane ukukhanya emini yaye ikholose ngokukhanya kwenyanga nangokukhanya okungekokwamvelo ebusuku. Kodwa kwiYerusalem Entsha yasezulwini, ukukhanya okunjalo akuyi kuba yimfuneko. Esi sixeko siya kukhanyiswa nguYehova ngokwakhe. ‘Ubusuku’ bukwanokusetyenziswa ngendlela efuziselayo, ukubhekisela ekubandezelekeni okanye ekwahlukanisweni noYehova. (Mika 3:6; Yohane 9:4; Roma 13:11, 12) Akunakubakho olo hlobo lobusuku kwindawo eqaqambileyo nenobuqaqawuli enoThixo ongusomandla.

30. UYohane uwuqukumbela njani lo mbono uzukileyo, yaye iSityhilelo sisiqinisekisa ngantoni?

³⁰ UYohane uqukumbela lo mbono ubalaseleyo ngokuthi ngala makhoboka kaThixo: “Yaye aya kulawula njengookumkani ngonaphakade kanaphakade.” (ISityhilelo 22:5b) Ngokwenyaniso, ekupheleni kweminyaka eliwaka, iingenelo zentlawulelo ziya kuba zisetyenziswe ngokupheleleyo, yaye uYesu uya kunikela isizwe sabantu esifezekileyo kuYise. (1 Korinte 15:25-28) Ukuba uYehova ucinga ntoni na ngoYesu nange-144 000 emva koko, asazi. Kodwa iSityhilelo siyasiqinisekisa ukuba inkonzo yabo engcwele elilungelo nabayinikela kuYehova iya kuqhubeka ukusa kuwo onke amaphakade.

Incopho YeSityhilelo Eyonwabisayo

31. (a) Yiyiphi incopho ephawulwa ngumbono weYerusalem Entsha? (b) Yintoni efezwa yiYerusalem Entsha ngenxa yolunye uluntu oluthembekileyo?

³¹ Ukuzaliseka kwalo mbono weYerusalem Entsha, umtshakazi weMvana, kuyincopho eyonwabisayo iSityhilelo esalatha kuyo ngokufanelekileyo. Onke amaKristu awayekunye noYohane kwinkulungwane yokuqala, awayebhalelwe le ncwadi ekuqaleni, akhangela phambili ekungeneni kweso sixeko njengabalawuli bomoya abangenakufa nabakunye noYesu Kristu. Intsalela yamaKristu athanjisiweyo asesemhlabeni namhlanje ikwanethemba elifanayo. Ngaloo ndlela iSityhilelo sihambela phambili ukusa kwincopho yaso ezukileyo, njengoko umtshakazi opheleleyo emanyaniswa neMvana. Ngokulandelayo, ngokusetyenziswa kweYerusalem Entsha, iingenelo zedini lentlawulelo likaYesu ziya kusetyenziswa kuluntu, ukuze ekugqibeleni bonke abathembekileyo bafumane ubomi obungunaphakade. Ngale ndlela umtshakazi, iYerusalem Entsha, njengomncedi onyanisekileyo woMyeni wakhe onguKumkani, uya kuba nesabelo ekwakheni umhlaba omtsha wobulungisa ukusa emaphakadeni—konke oku kusenzelwa ukuze kuzukiswe iNkosi yethu enguMongami uYehova.—Mateyu 20:28; Yohane 10:10, 16; Roma 16:27.

32, 33. Yintoni esiyifundileyo kwiSityhilelo, yaye simele sisabele njani ngokusuka ezintliziyweni zethu?

³² Ngoko, olunjani lona uvuyo esilufumanayo, njengoko sisiya kumagqibela kankqoyi okuxubusha kwethu le ncwadi yeSityhilelo! Siyibonile imigudu yokugqibela kaSathana neyembewu yakhe iphanziswa ngokupheleleyo nemigwebo kaYehova yobulungisa iphunyezwa ngokupheleleyo. IBhabhiloni Enkulu imele itshatyalaliswe ngonaphakade, ize ilandelwe ngawo onke amanye amalungu ehlabathi likaSathana awonakele ngendlela enganiki themba. USathana needemon zakhe baya kuphoswa enzonzobileni baze kamva batshatyalaliswe. IYerusalem Entsha iza kulawula noKristu isemazulwini njengoko kuqhubeka uvuko nomgwebo, yaye uluntu olufezekileyo ekugqibeleni luya kunandipha ubomi obungunaphakade kumhlaba oyiParadesi. Hayi indlela iSityhilelo esizichaza ngokucacileyo ngayo zonke ezi zinto! Hayi indlela esilomeleza ngayo uzimiselo lwethu ‘lokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingunaphakade njengesigidimi esichulumancisayo kuzo zonke iintlanga nezizwe neelwimi nabantu’ abasemhlabeni namhlanje! (ISityhilelo 14:6, 7) Ngaba uzibhokoxa ngokupheleleyo kulo msebenzi mkhulu?

³³ Njengoko iintliziyo zethu zizele ngumbulelo, masinikel’ ingqalelo kumazwi okuqukumbela eSityhilelo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]