“Bheka, Ngenza Konke Kube-Kusha”

1-4. (a) Ubungajabulela ukuhlanganyela kuziphi izici ezisemfanekisweni wethu ongaphandle? (b) Yiliphi ithemba elikhazimulayo elibekelwe wena lapha? (c) Yimiphi eminye imibhalo yeBhayibheli esekela lelothemba?

BHEKA abantu abajabulayo emfanekisweni ongaphandle kulencwajana. Ubungathanda yini ukuba ngomunye wabo? ‘Yebo,’ uyasho. Ngoba lokhu ukuthula nokuzwana okufiswa yiso sonke isintu. Abantu bazo zonke izinhlanga—abamnyama, abamhlophe, abaphuzi—bahlangana njengomkhaya owodwa. Yeka injabulo! Yeka ubunye! Ngokusobala labantu abakhathazekile ngenxa yokuqhuma kwenuzi noma ukusongela kobuphekula. Azikho izindiza zempi ezitshuzayo eziphazamisa umkhathi onokuthula ongaphezu kwalelipaki elihle. Awekho amasosha, azikho izinqola zempi, azikho izibhamu. Ngisho nenduku yephoyisa ayidingeki ukuze kube nokuhleleka. Impi nobugebengu akukho. Futhi akukho ukuntuleka kwezindlu, ngoba wonke umuntu unekhaya elihle elithi yena.

² Ake ubheke labobantwana! Kuyajabulisa ukubabukela bedlala. Yeka izilwane abadlala nazo! Imigoqo yensimbi ayidingeki kulelipaki, ngoba zonke izilwane zinokuthula nesintu naphakathi kwazo. Ngisho nebhubesi newundlu sekungabangane. Bheka lezozinyoni ezinemibala emihle njengoba zindizela lapha nalaphaya, futhi lalela umculo wazo omuhle uhlangana nohleko lwabantwana emoyeni. Awekho amakheji? Cha, ngoba kulendawo kukhona inkululeko nenjabulo engenamingcele. Ake uhogele iphunga elimnandi lalezozimbali, lalela ukugeleza komfudlana, yizwa ukufudumala kwelanga okujabulisayo. Wo, yeka ubumnandi bezithelo ezikulowobhasikidi, ngoba zingezingcono kakhulu lomhlaba ongazikhiqiza, zingcono kakhulu, njengakho konke okubonakalayo nokujabulisayo okukulensimu enhle enjengepaki.

³ ‘Kodwa ake ume,’ kusho othile, ‘baphi abantu abagugile? Ingabe bona akumelwe bahlanganyele ekujabuleleni lomphakathi ojabulayo?’ Eqinisweni, abantu abagugile bakhona, kodwa babuyela ebusheni futhi. Akekho umuntu obulawa ukuguga kulelipaki. Abasha manje bakhula babe abantu abavuthiwe bangabe besadlula lapho. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi useneminyaka engama-20 noma engama-200, ngamunye wabantu abayizigidi abaphila kulelipaki ujabulela ubungqabavu bokuphila kobusha, ngempilo ephelele. Uthi izigidi? Yebo, izigidi, ngoba lelipaki lelulelwa kuwo wonke amazwe. Kuyogcwala ukuphila, ukuthula, nobuhle kuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba wethu, kusukela eFuji kuya eAndes, kusukela eHong Kong kuya eMediterranean. Ngoba wonke umhlaba wenziwa ipaki eliyipharadesi. Kuyoba yiPharadesi elibuyiselwe emhlabeni wonke.

⁴ Ingabe uthi, ‘Akukholeki’? Nokho, okokuqala cabangela amaqiniso awubufakazi. Kungenzeka ngawe nomkhaya wakho ukuba nisinde lapho lesimiso sezinto samanje esisenkathazweni sidlula futhi ningene ePharadesi elisemfanekisweni ongaphandle.a

Incwadi Echaza IPharadesi

5. (a) Iyiphi incwadi echaza lezizinto? (b) Kungaziphi izindlela iyincwadi evelele?

⁵ Zonke lezizinto ezinhle, nokuqiniseka kwazo, zichazwe encwadini, incwadi emangalisa kakhulu kunazo zonke esezake zabhalwa. Ibizwa ngokuthi iBhayibheli. Iyincwadi endala kakhulu, izingxenye zayo zalotshwa cishe eminyakeni eyizi-3 500 edlule. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, iyincwadi ekahle kakhulu ekunikezeni iseluleko esinengqondo, esiwusizo ekuphileni kosuku lwanamuhla. Iziprofetho zayo zivusa ithemba elikhanyayo ngekusasa. Ithengwa ngaphezu kwazo zonke izincwadi kuwo wonke umlando, kuye kwasakazwa amaBhayibheli noma izingxenye ezinkulu zalo ezingaphezu kwezi-2 000 000 000 cishe ngezilimi eziyi-1 810.

6. Yini ehlukanisa iBhayibheli kwezinye izincwadi ezicatshangelwa njengezingcwele?

⁶ Ayikho enye incwadi engcwele eye yasakazwa kabanzi kangaka, futhi ezinye eziningi azizindala njengalo. IKoran yamaIslam ineminyaka engaphansi kweyi-1 400. UBuddha noConfucius babephila cishe eminyakeni eyizi-2 500 edlule, futhi izincwadi zabo ziqala ngalesosikhathi. ImiBhalo kaShinto yenziwa yaba sesimweni sayo samanje eminyakeni engaphansi kweyi-1200 edlule. INcwadi kaMormon ineminyaka eyi-160 kuphela. Ayikho kulezincwadi ezingcwele engawulandela ngokuthe ngqó umlando wesintu ize ifike eminyakeni eyizi-6 000, njengoba iBhayibheli lenza. Ngakho-ke ukuze siqonde inkolo yokuqala, kumelwe siye eBhayibhelini. Liwukuphela kwencwadi enesigijimi sendawo yonke saso sonke isintu.

7. Abantu abacabangayo baye bathini ngeBhayibheli?

⁷ Abantu abacabangayo bazo zonke izizwe nabavela kuzo zonke izizinda zokuphila baye bakubabaza ukuhlakanipha nobuhle besigijimi seBhayibheli. Usosayensi odumile nowathola umthetho wokudonsela phansi, uSir Isaac Newton, wathi: “Ayikho isayensi efakazelwa kangcono kuneBhayibheli.” UPatrick Henry, umholi wabagumbuqela umbuso eMelika odume ngamazwi athi “Nginike inkululeko, noma unginike ukufa,” wathi futhi: “IBhayibheli lilingana nazo zonke ezinye izincwadi ezake zabhalwa.” Ngisho nesazi esikhulu esingumHindu uMohandas K. Gandhi wake watshela ummeleli wenkosi yamaNgisi kwelaseNdiya: “Lapho izwe lakho nelami ehlangana ezimfundisweni ezabekwa uKristu eNtshumayelweni yaseNtabeni, siyobe asixazululanga nje izinkinga zamazwe ethu kuphela, kodwa ezomhlaba wonke.” UGandhi wayekhuluma ngoMathewu izahluko 5 kuya ku-7 eBhayibhelini. Zifundele lezizahluko ubone ukuthi isigijimi sazo esinamandla asikuvusi yini amadlingozi.

IBhayibheli—Incwadi YaseMpumalanga

8, 9. (a) Kungani kungalungile ukubiza iBhayibheli ngokuthi incwadi yaseNtshonalanga? (b) Lalotshwa kanjani iBhayibheli, futhi ngesikhathi esingakanani? (c) Kungani iBhayibheli lingabizwa ngokuthi liwumtapo wezincwadi? (d) Bangaki abantu abasetshenziswa ekulobeni iBhayibheli? (e) Yibuphi ubufakazi abanye balabantu ababunikeza ngoMthombo weBhayibheli?

⁸ Ngokuphambene nenkolelo eyandile, iBhayibheli aliwona umkhiqizo wempucuko yaseNtshonalanga, futhi aliyidumisi leyompucuko. Cishe lonke iBhayibheli lalotshwa emazweni aseMpumalanga. Bonke abantu abaliloba phansi babengabaseMpumalanga. Eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaBuddha, ngo-1513 B.C.E., uMose, owayehlala eMpumalanga ePhakathi, waphefumlelwa uNkulunkulu ukuba alobe incwadi yokuqala yeBhayibheli, ebizwa ngokuthi uGenesise. Kusukela kulesiqalo, iBhayibheli lilandela umongo owodwa ovumelanayo kuze kube sencwadini yalo yokugcina yesAmbulo. IBhayibheli laqedwa ngo-98 C.E., cishe eminyakeni engama-600 ngemva kokufa kukaBuddha. Bewazi yini ukuthi iBhayibheli lakhiwe yizincwadi ezihlukene ezingama-66? Yebo, iBhayibheli liwumtapo wezincwadi ngokwalo!

⁹ Ngakho-ke, eminyakeni eyi-1 600 kusukela esikhathini sikaMose kuya phambili, cishe abantu abangama-40 bahlanganyela ekulobeni umbhalo ovumelanayo weBhayibheli. Bayafakaza ukuthi ukuloba kwabo kwaphefumlelwa amandla aphakeme kakhulu kunawomuntu ofayo. Umphostoli uPawulu ongumKristu waloba: “Yonke imibhalo iphefumlelwe nguNkulunkulu ilungele ukufundisa, nokusola, nokuqondisa, nokuyala ekulungeni.”b (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Futhi umphostoli uPetru wachaza: “Kasikho isiprofetho sombhalo esingachasiselwa ngumuntu ngokwakhe; ngokuba akuzange kuvezwe isiprofetho ngentando yomuntu, kepha abantu beqhutshwa nguMoya oNgcwele bakhuluma okukaNkulunkulu.”—2 Petru 1:20, 21; 2 Samuweli 23:2; Luka 1:70.

10. (a) IBhayibheli lafinyelela kanjani osukwini lwethu? (b) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi sisenawo umbhalo wokuqala ophefumlelwe weBhayibheli?

¹⁰ Okuphawuleka kakhulu futhi, yindlela iBhayibheli eliye lafinyelela ngayo kulolusuku. Ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka, kuze kube sekusungulweni kwezindlela zokunyathelisa eminyakeni engaba ama-500 edlule, amakhophi eBhayibheli kwakumelwe abhalwe ngesandla. Ayikho enye incwadi yezikhathi zasendulo eyayikopishwa kaningi futhi ngenkuthalo kangaka. Lalikopishwa ngokuphindaphindiwe, kodwa njalo kwakunokunakekela okukhulu. Ababelikopisha benza amaphutha ambalwa amancane, futhi ukuqhathaniswa kwawo kuye kwaveza umbhalo wokuqala owawuphefumlelwe uNkulunkulu. Isazi esiphambili ngemibhalo yeBhayibheli, uSir Frederic Kenyon, uthi: “Isisekelo sokugcina sanoma yikuphi ukungabaza ngokuthi imiBhalo ifike kithi ngobuqotho njengoba yayilotshiwe manje sesisusiwe.” Namuhla, kusekhona amakhophi eBhayibheli noma izingxenye zalo ezalotshwa ngesandla ezingaba yizi-16 000, ezinye zisukela ngisho nangekhulu lesibili leminyaka ngaphambi kukaKristu. Ngokungaphezulu, liye lahunyushwa ngokucophelela lisuswa olimini lwesiHeberu, isiAramu, nesiGreki, okuyizilimi iBhayibheli elalilotshwe ngazo ekuqaleni layiswa cishe kuzo zonke izilimi zomhlaba.

11. Ikuphi okuye kwatholakala namuhla okuvumelana nombhalo weBhayibheli?

¹¹ Abanye baye bazama ukulilulaza iBhayibheli ngokuba bathi linamaphutha. Nokho, eminyakeni yamuva nje, abavubukuli baye bamba emanxiweni emizi yasendulo emazweni eBhayibheli futhi bathola imibhalo nobunye ubufakazi obufakazela ngokuphelele ukuthi abantu nezindawo okukhulunywe ngazo ngisho nasemibhalweni emidala kakhulu yeBhayibheli kwakukhona ngempela. Baye bavubukula ubufakazi obuningi obukhomba kuzamcolo wembulunga yonke, lowo iBhayibheli elithi waba khona eminyakeni engaphezu kweyizi-4 000 edlule, ngosuku lukaNowa. Kuleliphuzu, uNkosana Mikasa, umvubukuli odumile, wathi: “Ingabe wawukhona ngempela uZamcolo? . . . Iqiniso lokuthi uzamcolo wawukhona ngempela liye lafakazelwa ngokwanelisayo.”c

UNkulunkulu WeBhayibheli

12. (a) Bathini abanye abahleki bosulu ngoNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani iBhayibheli libhekisela kuNkulunkulu njengoBaba? (c) IBhayibheli lithi ngubani igama likaNkulunkulu?

¹² Njengoba nje abanye abantu beye balihleka usulu iBhayibheli, abanye bakuhleka usulu ukuba khona kukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. (2 Petru 3:3-7) Bathi, ‘Ngingakholelwa kanjani kuNkulunkulu, njengoba ngingenakumbona? Bukhona yini ubufakazi bokuthi uMdali ongabonakali, ophakeme kunomuntu, ukhona ngempela? UNkulunkulu akahlali yini yonke indawo?’ Abanye bathi, ‘Akekho uNkulunkulu noma uBuddha.’ Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi njengoba nje sonke sathola ukuphila ngobaba wasemhlabeni, ngokufanayo okhokho bethu bokuqala bathola ukuphila kuBaba wasezulwini, noma uMdali, ogama lakhe siqu linguJehova.—IHubo 83:18; 100:3; Isaya 12:2; 26:4.

13. Kungaziphi izindlela ezimbili uJehova eye wazembula ngazo esintwini?

¹³ UJehova uye wazembula esintwini ngezindlela ezimbili ezivelele. Indlela eyinhloko ingeBhayibheli, elenza iqiniso lakhe nezinjongo zakhe zaphakade zaziwe. (Johane 17:17; 1 Petru 1:24, 25) Enye indlela ingendalo yakhe. Ngokubona izinto ezimangalisayo ezibazungezile, abantu abaningi baye babona ukuthi kumelwe kube noNkulunkulu onguMdali obuntu bakhe obuhle bubonakala emisebenzini yakhe.—IsAmbulo 15:3, 4.

14. Lisitshelani iBhayibheli ngoJehova?

¹⁴ UJehova uNkulunkulu unguMlobi weBhayibheli. UnguMoya Omkhulu, okhona phakade. (Johane 4:24; IHubo 90:1, 2) Igama lakhe elithi “Jehova” lidonsela ukunakekela enjongweni yakhe ngezidalwa zakhe. Kuyinjongo yakhe ukulwela lelogama elikhulu ngokubhubhisa ababi nokukhulula labo abamthandayo ukuze baphile emhlabeni oyipharadesi. (Eksodusi 6:2-8; Isaya 35:1, 2) Njengoba enguNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, unawo amandla okwenza lokhu. NjengoMdali wendawo yonke, uphakeme kakhulu kunezithixo nezithombe ezivamile zezizwe.—Isaya 42:5, 8; IHubo 115:1, 4-8.

15. Ukucubungula kwabantu abahlakaniphile ngendalo kuye kwaholela kuziphi iziphetho?

¹⁵ Emakhulwini amuva eminyaka, ososayensi baye bachitha isikhathi esiningi becubungula imisebenzi yendalo. Baye baphetha ngani? Omunye wabasunguli bakagesi, usosayensi odumile wezemvelo oyiNgisi uLord Kelvin, wathi: “Ngikholelwa ukuthi lapho siyicubungulisisa ngokwengeziwe isayensi kuyilapho isidedisela kude kakhulu nanoma iyiphi into ewukungakholelwa kuNkulunkulu.” Usosayensi owazalelwa eYurophu uAlbert Einstein, nakuba ayedume ngokungakholelwa kuNkulunkulu, wavuma: “Kwanele ngami . . . ukucabanga ngokwakheka okumangalisayo kwendawo yonke, esingakuqonda kalufifi, nokuba ngizame ngokuzithoba ukuqonda ngisho nengxenyana encane yokuhlakanipha okuboniswe emvelweni.” Usosayensi waseMelika nowazuza umklomelo weNobel uArthur Holly Compton wathi: “Indawo yonke embuleka ngokuhlelekile ifakazela iqiniso lamazwi obukhosi ake akhulunywa—‘Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu.’” Wayecaphuna amazwi okuqala eBhayibheli.

16. Indawo yonke ikudumisa kanjani ukuhlakanipha namandla kaNkulunkulu okudala?

¹⁶ Ababusi bezizwe ezinamandla bangaqhosha ngokuhlakanipha kwabo nalokho abakufezile ngokwesayensi ngokufinyelela emkhathini. Kodwa yeka ukuba ubala kwemikhumbi-mkhathi yabo uma iqhathaniswa nenyanga ejikeleza umhlaba, namaplanethi azungeza ilanga! Yeka ukuba ubala kwalokho okufezwe abantu abafayo uma kuqhathaniswa nendalo kaJehova yezinkulungwane zezigidi zemithala yasezulwini, ngamunye unezinkulungwane zezigidi zamalanga afana nelethu, nokuyihlela kwakhe ngamaqembu ayibeke emkhathini isikhathi esingenakulinganiswa! (IHubo 19:1, 2; Jobe 26:7, 14) Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi uJehova ubheka abantu njengezintethe nje, nezizwe ezinamandla “njengento engelutho.”—Isaya 40:13-18, 22.

17. Kungani kunengqondo ukukholelwa kuMdali?

¹⁷ Ingabe uhlala endlini? Cishe awuzakhelanga ngokwakho, futhi awumazi owayakha. Nokho, iqiniso lokuthi awumazi owayakha alikuvimbeli ukuba uvume iqiniso lokuthi umuntu othile ohlakaniphile wayakha. Ukucabanga ukuthi lendlu yazakha ngokwayo kungabonakala kuwubuwula obukhulu! Njengoba indawo yonke, nakho konke okukuyo, kwadinga ukuhlakanipha okukhulu ngokungenakulinganiswa ukuze kwakhiwe, akukhona yini okunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi kumelwe kube khona uMdali Ohlakaniphile? Ngempela, isiwula kuphela esingathi enhliziyweni yaso, “Akakho uNkulunkulu.”—IHubo 14:1; Heberu 3:4.

18. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungumuntu, futhi ukufanele ukudunyiswa?

¹⁸ Izimangaliso ezikhazimulayo ezisizungezile—izimbali, izinyoni, izilwane, indalo emangalisayo ebizwa ngokuthi umuntu, izimangaliso zokuphila nezokuzala—zonke lezi zifakazela ukuba khona kweSihlakaniphi esiyiNgcweti esingabonakali esazenza. (Roma 1:20) Lapho kukhona inhlakanipho, kukhona ingqondo. Lapho kukhona ingqondo, kukhona umuntu. Inhlakanipho engaphezu kwayo yonke yileyo yoMuntu oPhakeme, uMdali wazo zonke izinto eziphilayo, wona kanye uMthombo wokuphila. (IHubo 36:9) Ngempela uMdali ulufanele lonke udumo nokukhulekelwa.—IHubo 104:24; IsAmbulo 4:11.

19. (a) Kungani kungekho sizwe namuhla esingathi sinamandla avela kuNkulunkulu okunqoba empini? (b) Kungani uNkulunkulu engenangxenye ezimpini zezizwe?

¹⁹ Kukhona abathile abakukholelwa kwabo kuNkulunkulu kwaphazanyiswa ubunzima beMpi Yezwe II. Ngalesosikhathi izwe ngalinye labiza “uNkulunkulu” walo, kungakhathaliseki noma owezinkolo zamaKatolika noma zamaProthestani noma owezinkolo zaseMpumalanga. Kungashiwo yini ukuthi “uNkulunkulu” wenza ezinye zalezizwe zanqoba futhi wavumela ezinye ukuba zinqotshwe? IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi azikho kulezizwe ezazibiza uNkulunkulu weqiniso. UJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali wezulu nomhlaba, akanacala ngokukhungatheka nezimpi eziphakathi kwezizwe. (1 Korinte 14:33) Imicabango yakhe iphakeme kakhulu kuneyezizwe zalomhlaba zezombangazwe nezezimpi. (Isaya 55:8, 9) Ngokufanayo, inkolo yeqiniso nokukhulekelwa kukaJehova akunangxenye ezimpini zezizwe. UJehova uphakeme kakhulu kunonkulunkulu bezizwe. Ungovelele ngokuba uNkulunkulu wamadoda nabesifazane abathanda ukuthula kuzo zonke izizwe. Njengoba iBhayibheli lisho: “UNkulunkulu akabheki ubuso bamuntu, kodwa ezizweni zonke omesabayo nowenza ukulunga uyamukeleka kuye.” (IzEnzo 10:34, 35) Abantu abathanda ukulunga kuzo zonke izizwe manje bafunda iBhayibheli futhi bamukela ukukhulekelwa ‘kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso onikeza ukuthula,’ uMdali waso sonke isintu.—Roma 16:20, NW; IzEnzo 17:24-27.

20. Yini ebonisa ukuthi eLobukholwa alinabo ubuKristu futhi limelene noNkulunkulu?

²⁰ Abanye abantu bakhomba ukwehlukana nobuzenzisi obusezinkolweni zeLobukholwa, ezithi zilandela iBhayibheli. Bathi futhi, ‘Ngingamkholwa kanjani uNkulunkulu weBhayibheli, uma izizwe ezineBhayibheli ziphakathi kwalabo abanqwabelanisa izikhali zenuzi ngokwethusayo?’ Iqiniso liwukuthi, nakuba iBhayibheli lihlala liyiqiniso njalo, izizwe zeLobukholwa ziye zadediselwa kude nobuKristu beBhayibheli njengoba kunjalo ngeNyakatho neNingizimu. Zingabazenzisi ekuzibizeni ngobuKristu. Zinalo iBhayibheli, kodwa azizilaleli izimfundiso zalo. Umongameli waseMelika owayala ukuba kuphonswe ibhomu yokuqala eHiroshima wake wathi: “Awu, ngoIsaya noma uPawulu oNgcwele!”—ukuba baqondise abantu kulenhlekelele yomhlaba. Ukuba wayevumelana noIsaya weBhayibheli, wayengeke ayiphonse ibhomu yeathomu, ngoba uIsaya wakhuthaza ‘ukukhandwa kwezinkemba zibe ngamakhuba nemikhonto ibe ngocelemba.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakunguPawulu weBhayibheli owathi: “Kasilwi ngokwenyama, ngokuba izikhali zethu zokulwa kasizo ezenyama.” (Isaya 2:4; 2 Korinte 10:3, 4) Nokho, esikhundleni sokulandela iseluleko seBhayibheli esihlakaniphile, izizwe zeLobukholwa ziye zahileleka emncintiswaneni wezikhali zokuzibhubhisa. Ukusho kwazo ukuthi zingamaKristu alalela iBhayibheli kungamanga. Kumelwe zibhekane nesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu ngokwehluleka ukwenza intando yakhe.—Mathewu 7:18-23; Zefaniya 1:17, 18.

Indalo Nezimangaliso ZikaJehova

21. Kungani kunengqondo ukungazingabazi izimangaliso zikaNkulunkulu?

²¹ UJehova uyadala, futhi wenza izimangaliso. Wake wazibuza yini ngokuphenduka kwamanzi abe yigazi, ukwehlukana koLwandle Olubomvu, ukuzalwa kukaJesu yincasakazi, nangezinye izimangaliso ezilotshwe eBhayibhelini? Njengoba umuntu enokuhlakanipha okulinganiselwe, cishe akasoze aqonda ukuthi ezinye zalezimangaliso zenzeka kanjani, njengoba nje engenakusiqonda ngokugcwele isimangaliso sokuphuma nokushona kwelanga usuku ngalunye. Ukudalwa komuntu kwakuyisimangaliso. Umuntu wanamuhla akazange asibone lesosimangaliso, kodwa uyazi ukuthi senzeka, ngoba ukuphila kwakhe namuhla kuwubufakazi baso. Ngempela, konke okuphilayo nendawo yonke kuyisimangaliso esisodwa esingapheli. Ngakho, ingabe kumelwe singabaze uma iZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli, lithi wenza izimangaliso ezithile zezikhathi ezithile, ngisho nakuba singekho isidingo sezimangaliso ezifanayo namuhla?

22. Chaza indalo kaNkulunkulu yokuqala.

²² Yonke indalo kaJehova iyisimangaliso futhi iyababazeka! Nokho, indalo yakhe yokuqala ngqá yayimangalisa ngaphezu kwayo yonke. Lokhu kwakuwukudalwa kweNdodana yomoya, “izibulo” lakhe. (Kolose 1:15) LeNdodana yasezulwini yabizwa ngokuthi “uLizwi.” Ngemva kwesikhathi esingenakubalwa ngemva kokudalwa, yeza kulomhlaba futhi yabizwa ngokuthi “umuntu uKristu Jesu.” (1 Thimothewu 2:5) Khona-ke kwathiwa ngayo: “ULizwi waba-yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu, sabona inkazimulo yakhe, inkazimulo njengeyozelwe yedwa kuYise, egcwele umusa neqiniso.”—Johane 1:14.

23. (a) Bungachazwa kanjani ubuhlobo phakathi kukaNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe? (b) Yini uJehova ayidala ngeNdodana yakhe?

²³ Ubuhlobo bukaJehova neNdodana yakhe bungafaniswa nalobo bomnini weshabhu nendodana yakhe, lapho indodana isiza ekwenzeni izinto eziklanywe uyise. NgeNdodana yakhe eyizibulo neyisisebenzi esikanye naye, uJehova wadala ezinye izidalwa zomoya eziningi, amadodana kaNkulunkulu. Kamuva, lawa ajabula lapho ebona iNdodana kaJehova, iSisebenzi sakhe esiyiNgcweti, iveza amazulu abonakalayo nomhlaba esihlala kuwo. Ingabe uyangabaza ukuthi lezizinto zadalwa? Eminyakeni eyizinkulungwane kamuva, uJehova wabuza indoda ethembekile: “Wawukuphi, lapho ngasekela umhlaba, na? Ngitshele, uma ukwazi ukuqonda. Lapho izinkanyezi zokusa zahlabelela kanyekanye, nawo onke amadodana kaNkulunkulu ajabula, na?”—Jobe 38:4, 7; Johane 1:3.

24. (a) Iyiphi indalo kaJehova yasemhlabeni evelele, futhi ngaziphi izindlela? (b) Kungani kungenangqondo ukuthi umuntu wavela ezilwaneni?

²⁴ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wadala izinto eziphilayo, ezibonakalayo kulomhlaba, izitshalo, imithi, izimbali, izinhlanzi, izinyoni, nezilwane. (Genesise 1:11-13, 20-25) Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wathi kuleSisebenzi sakhe esiyiNgcweti: “Masenze abantu ngomfanekiso wethu, basifuze, . . . uNkulunkulu wamdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe; wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu; wabadala owesilisa nowesifazane.” (Genesise 1:26, 27) Njengoba ayedalwe ngomfanekiso nangomfuziselo kaNkulunkulu, enezimfanelo zikaNkulunkulu ezinkulu zothando, ukuhlakanipha, ukwahlulela ngokulunga, namandla, umuntu wokuqala wayephakeme kakhulu kunezilwane. Umuntu usesigabeni esihlukile kwesezilwane ngenxa yokuthi uyakwazi ukucabanga, angalihlelela ikusasa, futhi unonembeza wokukhulekela uNkulunkulu. Izilwane azinayo ingqondo yokucabanga, kodwa ziphila ngomzwelo wemvelo. Yeka ukuthi kungokungenangqondo kanjani ukuthi akekho uMdali kodwa ukuthi isidalwa esingumuntu esiphiwe ngokucebile, esihlakaniphile sazivelela ezilwaneni eziphansi ezingahlakaniphile!—IHubo 92:6, 7; 139:14.

25, 26. (a) Yiliphi ithemba elihle elabekwa phambi komuntu? (b) Kungani yayingenakuba khona inkinga yokuchichimisa umhlaba ngabantu?

²⁵ UNkulunkulu wabeka umuntu ‘ensimini yase-Edene ngasempumalanga.’ Kwakuyinsimu yenjabulo, njengensimu esekhasini lethu elingaphandle, nakuba ngalesosikhathi kwakunabantu ababili kuphela, uAdamu nomkakhe. Alisekho leliPharadesi lokuqala, njengoba labhujiswa ngoZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa. Kodwa iyaziwa indawo okungenzeka lalikuyo eMpumalanga ePhakathi, ngoba imifula ethile ephawulwe eBhayibhelini njengeyayigeleza idabule kulo isekhona nanamuhla. (Genesise 2:7-14) Umuntu wayenethuba elihle lokusebenzisa lensimu njengendawo ayengaqala kuyo ukwandisa nokulima wonke umhlaba, awenze ube yipharadesi lembulunga yonke.—Isaya 45:12, 18.

²⁶ Njengoba bobabili uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe beyizisebenzi, ngokufanayo uNkulunkulu wanikeza umuntu umsebenzi okumelwe awenze lapha emhlabeni. (Johane 5:17) Wathi kuAdamu noEva, indoda yokuqala nowesifazane: “Zalani, nande, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwunqobe, nibuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezinyoni zezulu, nezilwanyana ezinwabuzelayo emhlabeni.” (Genesise 1:28) Ingabe lokhu kwakusho ukuthi abantu babezokwanda, bagcwalise umhlaba, baqhubeke banda kuze kube yilapho umhlaba usugcwele uchichima? Cha. Uma othile ekutshela ukuba ugcwalise itiye enkomishini, awuqhubeki uthela kuze kube yilapho itiye selichichima lichithekela phezu kwetafula. Uyayigcwalisa inkomishi bese uma. Ngendlela efanayo, umyalo kaJehova kumuntu wokuthi, “Nigcwalise umhlaba,” wabonisa injongo yakhe yokuba abantu bagcwalise umhlaba ngokulingene, khona-ke ukuzalana kwabantu lapha emhlabeni kwakuyonqamuka. Lokhu kwakungeke kube yinkinga emphakathini wabantu abaphelele. Kukulelizwe lanamuhla lesintu esingaphelele kuphela lapho ukuchichima kwabantu kuyinkinga khona.

Izinto Ezimbi—Kungani UNkulunkulu Ezivumela?

27. Imiphi imibuzo manje efuna impendulo?

²⁷ Uma injongo kaNkulunkulu iwukwakha umhlaba oyipharadesi, kukanjani umhlaba namuhla ugcwele ububi, ukuhlupheka, nosizi? Uma uNkulunkulu enguMninimandla onke, kungani ezivumele isikhathi eside kangaka lezizimo? Ingabe likhona ithemba lokuphela kwazo zonke izinkathazo zethu? Lithini iBhayibheli?

28. Kwangena kanjani ukuhlubuka ensimini eyiPharadesi?

²⁸ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi izinkathazo zesintu zaqala lapho enye yamadodana kaNkulunkulu omoya ihlubuka ebukhosini noma ukubusa kukaJehova. (Roma 1:20; IHubo 103:22, NW Ref. Bi., umbhalo waphansi.) Ngokungangabazeki lengelosi yayiphakathi kwalezo ezakujabulela ukubona ukudalwa komuntu. Kodwa ukuhaha nokuqhosha kwangena enhliziyweni yayo, futhi yayengwa yisifiso sokuba uAdamu noEva bakhulekele yona esikhundleni soMdali wabo, uJehova. Ikhuluma ngokusebenzisa inyoka, njengoba nje nomlozi ekhuluma ngokusebenzisa isithunzi, lengelosi yayenga uEva ukuba angamlaleli uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke. Khona-ke umyeni wakhe uAdamu walandela umkakhe ekungalalelini.—Genesise 2:15-17; 3:1-6; Jakobe 1:14, 15.

29. (a) Yiziphi izimpikiswano ezaphakanyiselwa ukuba zixazululwe? (b) UNkulunkulu uye wahlangabezana kanjani nalenselele? (c) Wena ungahlanganyela kanjani ekunikezeni impendulo ekusoleni kukaSathane?

²⁹ Leyongelosi eyahlubuka yabe seyaziwa ngokuthi “inyoka endala.” (IsAmbulo 12:9; 2 Korinte 11:3) Ibizwa futhi ngokuthi uSathane, okusho “uMphikisi,” nangokuthi uDeveli, okusho “uMnyundeli.” Yangabaza igunya nokulunga kokubusa kukaJehova umhlaba, futhi yabekela uNkulunkulu inselele yokuthi yona, uSathane, ingahlubukisa sonke isintu ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. UNkulunkulu uye wavumela uSathane iminyaka eyizi-6 000 ukuba azame ukufakazela inselele yakhe, ukuze impikiswano yobukhosi bukaJehova ixazululwe phakade. Ukuzibusa komuntu ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu kuye kwehluleka ngokudabukisayo. Kodwa amadoda nabesifazane bokholo, uJesu ayisibonelo esivelele phakathi kwabo, baye bagcina ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu ngaphansi kovivinyo olunzima kakhulu, belwela uJehova futhi bebonakalisa uDeveli njengomqambimanga. (Luka 4:1-13; Jobe 1:7-12; 2:1-6; 27:5) Nawe futhi, ungaba umgcini wobuqotho. (IzAga 27:11) Kodwa uSathane akakuphela kwesitha esisihluphayo. Isiphi esinye isitha esikhona?

Isitha—Ukufa

30. Ithini imiBhalo ngesigwebo somuntu ngenxa yokungalaleli?

³⁰ UNkulunkulu wasikhipha isigwebo sokungalaleli—ukufa. Lapho egweba owesifazane wokuqala, uJehova wathi: “Ngizakukubangela ubuhlungu obukhulu ekukhulelweni kwakho; uyakubeletha abantwana ngobuhlungu. Ukunxanela kwakho kuyakuba-sendodeni yakho; yona iyakukubusa.” Endodeni uAdamu wathi: “Ngesithukuthuku sobuso bakho uyakudla isinkwa sakho, uze ubuyele emhlabathini, lokhu wathathwa kuwo; ngokuba ungumhlabathi, uyakuphenduka umhlabathi.” (Genesise 3:16-19) Labantu ababili abangalaleli baxoshwa ePharadesi lenjabulo baya emhlabeni ongalinyiwe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bafa.—Genesise 5:5.

31. Siyini isono, futhi uye waba yini umphumela waso esintwini?

³¹ Kwakungemva kokuba sebegeje uphawu lokuphelela kuphela lapho uAdamu noEva baqala khona ukuzala abantwana. Namuhla bonke abantu bayinzalo yabo engaphelele, ngakho bonke bayafa. Omunye umlobi weBhayibheli ukuchaza ngalamazwi: “Isono sangena ezweni ngamuntu munye, nangesono kwangena ukufa, ngokunjalo ukufa kwafikela abantu bonke, lokhu bonke bonile.” Siyini ‘lesisono’? Siwukugeja uphawu lokuphelela. Akukho lutho olungaphelele uJehova uNkulunkulu aluvumelayo noma alugcina luphila. Njengoba bonke abantu beye bazuza isono nokungapheleli kumuntu wokuqala uAdamu, ukufa ‘kuyababusa.’ (Roma 5:12, 14) Umuntu ongaphelele uyafa, ngendlela efanayo nokufa ngayo izilwane.—UmShumayeli 3:19-21.

32. IBhayibheli likuchaza kanjani ukufa esikuzuze njengefa?

³² Kuyini lokhu “kufa”? Ukufa kungokuphambene nokuphila. UNkulunkulu wayebeke phambi komuntu ithemba lokuphila okungapheli emhlabeni ukuba walalela. Nokho, akalalelanga, futhi isigwebo sasiwukufa, ukungaphili, ukungabibikho. UNkulunkulu akashongo lutho ngokugudlulela ukuphila komuntu endaweni yomoya noma “esihogweni” somlilo uma engalaleli futhi efa. Wayexwayise umuntu wathi: “Uyakufa nokufa.” KwakunguDeveli ongumbulali wabantu owaqamba amanga wathi: “Aniyikufa nokufa.” (Genesise 2:17; 3:4; Johane 8:44) Lokho bonke abantu abakuzuza njengefa kuAdamu kwakuwukufa okunjengothuli.—UmShumayeli 9:5, 10; IHubo 115:17; 146:4.

33. (a) Yiliphi ikusasa elikhazimulayo elilindele isintu nalomhlaba? (b) Yiziphi izinto ezintathu ezibalulekile uJehova azifezayo ngeNdodana yakhe?

³³ Ingabe-ke, alikho ikusasa ngomuntu ofayo? Kunekusasa elimangalisayo! IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi injongo kaNkulunkulu yomhlaba oyipharadesi ngaso sonke isintu, kuhlanganise nalabo manje abafile, ayisoze yahluleka. UJehova uthi: “Izulu liyisihlalo sami sobukhosi, umhlaba uyisenabelo sezinyawo zami.” “Ngiyikhazimulise indawo yezinyawo zami.” (Isaya 66:1; 60:13) Ngenxa yobukhulu bothando lwakhe, uJehova wathumela iNdodana yakhe, uLizwi, kulomhlaba, ukuze izwe lesintu lizuze ukuphila ngaye. (Johane 3:16; 1 Johane 4:9) Kunezinto ezintathu ezibalulekile okumelwe sixoxe ngazo manje nalezo uJehova azifezayo ngeNdodana yakhe, okungukuthi, (1) ukunikeza inkululeko emandleni okufa; (2) ukubuyisela ngokoqobo abafileyo ekuphileni; kanye (3) nokumisa uhulumeni ophelele phezu kwaso sonke isintu.

Ukukhululeka Ekufeni

34, 35. (a) Iyiphi okuwukuphela kwendlela umuntu angahlengwa ngayo ekufeni? (b) Siyini isihlengo?

³⁴ Kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo, abaprofethi bakaNkulunkulu abazange babonise ukuqiniseka kwabo ekungafini komuntu, kodwa ethembeni lokuthi uNkulunkulu “uyakubahlenga” ekufeni. (Hoseya 13:14) Kodwa umuntu angakhululwa kanjani ezibophweni zokufa? Ukwahlulela ngokulunga okuphelele kukaJehova kwakudinga “ukuphila ngokuphila, iso ngeso, izinyo ngezinyo.” (Duteronomi 19:21) Ngakho-ke, njengoba uAdamu alethela sonke isintu ukufa okuzuzwe njengefa ngokuba angamlaleli ngamabomu uNkulunkulu futhi kanjalo alahlekelwe ukuphelela kokuphila kobuntu, omunye umuntu ophelele kwakumelwe athathe indawo ka-Adamu ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe okuphelele, ukuze abuyise lokho okwakulahlwe uAdamu.

³⁵ Isimiso esihle sokukhokha ‘okufanayo ngokufanayo’ siye semukelwa kabanzi kuwo wonke umlando. Amazwi avame ukusetshenziswa yilawo athi “ukukhokha isihlengo noma inhlawulo.” Yini isihlengo? “Siyinani elikhokhwa ukuze kubuyiswe umuntu noma into kothile othumbe lowomuntu noma leyonto. Ngakho iziboshwa zempi noma izigqila kuthiwa ziyahlengwa lapho zikhululwa ngokukhokha okuthile okuyigugu. . . . Noma yini ethatha indawo noma eshintshana nothile iyisihlengo sakhe.”d Kusukela esonweni sika-Adamu, sonke isintu siye saba njengeziboshwa zempi noma izigqila, eziboshwe ukungapheleli nokufa. Kwadingeka isihlengo ukuze sikhululeke. Ukuze kugwenywe noma iyiphi impikiswano manje noma kamuva ngokuqondene nokufaneleka kwenani lesihlengo, kwaba okudingekile ukunikela ukuphila komuntu okukodwa okuphelele, okungukuthi, okuthile okulingana nsé noAdamu.

36. UJehova wakulungiselela kanjani ukuphila kobuntu okuphelele njengesihlengo?

³⁶ Nokho, kwakungatholakalaphi okunjalo ukuphila komuntu okuphelele? Bonke abantu, njengenzalo ka-Adamu ongaphelele, bazalwa bengaphelele. “Umuntu angemhlenge umfowabo, angemnike uNkulunkulu ihlawulo ngaye.” (IHubo 49:7) Ekuhlangabezaneni nalesosidingo, uJehova, eshukunyiswa uthando lwakhe olujulile ngesintu, eqinisweni wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe eyigugu ‘eyizibulo’ ukuba ibe umhlatshelo odingekile. Wagudlulela ukuphila okuphelele kwaleNdodana yomoya, uLizwi, esizalweni sencasakazi engumJuda, uMariya. Lentombi yakhulelwa, futhi ngesikhathi esifanele yabeletha indodana, eyabizwa ngokuthi “uJesu.” (Mathewu 1:18-25) Ngokusobala uMdali wokuphila wayeyokwazi ukwenza lesosimangaliso esibabazekayo.

37. UJehova walubonisa kanjani uthando lwakhe ngabo bonke abantu abafuna ukuphila?

³⁷ UJesu wakhulela ebudodeni, wazinikezela kuJehova, futhi wabhapathizwa. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wamthuma ukuba enze intando yaKhe. (Mathewu 3:13, 16, 17) Njengoba ukuphila kukaJesu kwasemhlabeni kwakuvela ezulwini futhi wayephelele, wayenganikela ngalokho kuphila okuphelele kobuntu, ekusebenzisela ukukhulula isintu ekufeni. (Roma 6:23; 5:18, 19) Njengoba asho: “Ngizé ukuba babe-nokuphila, babe-nakho kuchichime.” “Akakho onothando olukhulu kunalolo lokuba adele ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yabahlobo bakhe.” (Johane 10:10; 15:13) Lapho uSathane enza ukuba uJesu abulawe esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa, uJesu wazithoba kulokhu kufa konya, azi ukuthi abantu abakholwayo babeyozuza ukuphila ngalelilungiselelo lesihlengo.—Mathewu 20:28; 1 Thimothewu 2:5, 6.

Ukubuyiselwa Ekupheleleni

38. INdodana kaNkulunkulu yabuyiselwa kanjani ekuphileni, futhi yini efakazela lokhu?

³⁸ Ngisho nakuba izitha zayo zayibulala, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ayizange ilahlekelwe yilungelo layo lokuphila okuphelele kobuntu, ngoba yabugcina ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa, njengoba ayefile ethuneni, uJesu wayengayisebenzisa kanjani lento eyigugu, ilungelo lokuphila kobuntu, ukuze kuzuze isintu? Kulapha lapho, uJehova enza esinye isimangaliso, esasingafani nezinye. Ngosuku lwesithathu uJesu esethuneni, uJehova wamvusa kwabafileyo eyisidalwa somoya, engenakufa. (Roma 6:9; 1 Petru 3:18) Ukuze abangele ukukholelwa ovukweni, uJesu wembatha umzimba wobuntu izikhathi ezihlukahlukene futhi wabonakala kubafundi bakhe, ngesinye isikhathi wabonakala kwabangama-500 nangaphezulu. Akekho kulaba, ngisho nomphostoli uPawulu okwathi kamuva ukubonakala kukaJesu okhazinyulisiwe kwamvala amehlo, owayenesizathu sokungabaza isimangaliso sovuko lwakhe.—1 Korinte 15:3-8; IzEnzo 9:1-9.

39. (a) UJesu ulisebenzisa kanjani inani lomhlatshelo wakhe, futhi ngenxa yobani kuqala? (b) Isiphi esinye isimangaliso esikhulu uJesu akhuluma ngaso?

³⁹ Ngemva kwezinsuku ezingama-40 uJesu ovusiwe wenyukela kuNkulunkulu ezulwini, ukuba alethe inani lomhlatshelo wakhe ophelele wobuntu owakhulula isintu. “Kepha yena, esenikele ngomhlatshelo waba-munye ngenxa yezono, wahlala phakade ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, usalindele izitha zakhe zize zenziwe isenabelo sezinyawo zakhe.” (Heberu 10:12, 13) Abokuqala abayokhululwa ngalesihlengo ‘umhlambi omncane’ wamaKristu athembekile ‘angabakaKristu.’ (Luka 12:32; 1 Korinte 15:22, 23) Laba “bathengwa ebantwini,” ngakho-ke ekuvukeni baba abangane bakaKristu bomoya ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 14:1-5) Nokho, kuthiwani ngabantu abaningi abafile abasemathuneni? Ngesikhathi ekulomhlaba, uJesu wathi uYise wayemnike igunya lokwahlulela nokunikeza ukuphila. Wanezela: “Ningamangali ngalokho, ngokuba isikhathi siyeza, lapho bonke abasemathuneni [“okukhunjulwa,” NW] beyakulizwa izwi layo, . . . baphumele ekuvukeni.” (Johane 5:26-29) Laba uyobabuyisela ekuphileni emhlabeni oyiPharadesi.

40, 41. (a) Chaza ngokuthe ngqó ukuthi “uvuko” lusho ukuthini? (b) Kungani singaba nokholo esithembisweni sikaNkulunkulu sovuko?

⁴⁰ Phawula amazwi kaJesu, “Ningamangali ngalokho.” Noma kunjalo, umuntu osenesikhathi eside afa angakhululwa kanjani ekufeni abuyiselwe ekuphileni? Umzimba wakhe awubuyelanga yini othulini? Ezinye zezinhlayiya ezazakha lowomzimba kungenzeka zamuncwa ezinye izinto eziphilayo, njengezitshalo, nezilwane. Nokho, uvuko alusho ukuphinde kuhlanganiswe izakhi ezifanayo. Lusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu udala kabusha yena lowomuntu, enobuntu obufanayo. Uveza umzimba omusha ezakhini zomhlaba, futhi kulowomzimba ufaka izici ezifanayo, izimfanelo ezifanayo ezihlukanisayo, inkumbulo efanayo, indlela efanayo yokuphila umuntu ayeyiqhuba ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe.

⁴¹ Kungenzeka wake washelwa yindlu owawuyithanda kakhulu. Nokho, kalula nje wawusenokwakha yona leyondlu efanayo, ngoba usayikhumbula kahle imininingwane ethandekayo yokuma kwayo. Ngokuqinisekile-ke, uNkulunkulu onguMsunguli wenkumbulo angabadala kabusha abantu abagcine enkumbulweni yakhe ngoba wayebathanda. (Isaya 64:8) Kungakho iNew World Translation isebenzisa amazwi athi “amathuna okukhunjulwa.” Uma sekuyisikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele sokuvusa abafileyo, uyosenza lesosimangaliso, njengoba nje enza isimangaliso ekudaleni umuntu wokuqala, ukuthi nje manje uyosenza ngokuphindaphindiwe.—Genesise 2:7; IzEnzo 24:15.

42. Kungani ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni kungenzeka futhi kuqinisekile?

⁴² UNkulunkulu uyobuyisela isintu ekuphileni, sinamathemba okungaphinde sife. Kodwa kungenzeka kanjani ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni? Kungenzeka futhi kuqinisekile ngoba kuyintando nenjongo yaphezulu. (Johane 6:37-40; Mathewu 6:10) Okuwukuphela kwesizathu esenza umuntu afe emhlabeni namuhla siwukuthi ukufa wakuzuza njengefa kuAdamu. Nokho, uma sicabangela ukwehlukahlukana okukhulu kwezinto ezimangalisayo ezisemhlabeni okwakuhloswe ukuba umuntu azijabulele, isikhathi sokuphila esifushane esingaphansi kweminyaka eyikhulu sincane kakhulu! Lapho enika abantwana babantu lomhlaba, uNkulunkulu wayehlose ukuba umuntu aqhubeke ephila ukuze ubuhle bendalo yaKhe angabujabuleli nje iminyaka eyikhulu, noma ngisho neminyaka eyinkulungwane, kodwa phakade!—IHubo 115:16; 133:3.

UHulumeni Wokuthula Ophelele

43. (a) Isiphi isidingo esikhona sikahulumeni ophelele? (b) Yini uJehova ayihlosile ngokuqondene nalokhu?

⁴³ Ngenxa yokuthi abazali bethu bokuqala benqaba umthetho kaNkulunkulu, uhulumeni wabantu waba ngaphansi kokulawula kukaSathane. IBhayibheli limbiza ngokufanelekile uSathane ngokuthi “unkulunkulu walelizwe.” (2 Korinte 4:4) Izimpi, unya, ukonakala, nokuntengantenga kohulumeni babantu kufakazela lokho. INhlangano Yezizwe neZizwe Ezihlangene kuye kwehluleka ukuletha ukuthula ekukhungathekeni. Isintu sikhalela uhulumeni wokuthula. Akukhona yini okunengqondo ukuthi uMdali, ohlose ukubuyisela iPharadesi kulomhlaba, angalungiselela futhi uhulumeni ophelele waleloPharadesi? Yilokho kanye uJehova ahlose ukukwenza. INkosi emelela Yena kulohulumeni “iNkosi yokuthula,” uKristu Jesu, futhi “umbuso uyakuba-mkhulu, ukuthula kungabi-nakuphela.”—Isaya 9:6, 7.

44. (a) Uyoba kuphi lohulumeni? (b) Uyokwakhiwa kanjani?

⁴⁴ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uhulumeni ophelele uyoba sezulwini. Ikulendawo efanelekile, iNkosi uJesu Kristu iyobusa ngokuphumelelayo wonke umhlaba ngokulunga. Ngaphezu kwalokho, iyoba nababusi abakanye nayo kulowohulumeni ongabonakali, wasezulwini. Laba bakhethwa phakathi kwabantu abathembekile, abalandeli bakaJesu abanamathela kuye ekuvivinyweni nalabo athi kubo: “Nanjengokuba uBaba engimisele umbuso, nami nginimisela wona.” (Luka 22:28, 29) Ngabambalwa kuphela esintwini abayiswa ezulwini ukuba babuse noKristu Jesu. Kuyefana nezizwe namuhla, lapho kungabambalwa kuphela abakhethelwa ukubusa ephalamende. IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyoba nababusi abakanye naye abayizi-144 000 kuphela. Ngakho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, noma uhulumeni wasezulwini, wakhiwa uKristu Jesu kanye nabantu abayizi-144 000 abathathwa emhlabeni bayiswa ezulwini. (IsAmbulo 14:1-4; 5:9, 10) Kuthiwani ngomhlaba? IHubo 45:16 liphawula ukuthi iNkosi iyomisa “izikhulu emhlabeni wonke.” “Izikhulu” ezingabantu, noma ababonisi balohulumeni, ukumiswa kwabo kuyovela ezulwini ngenxa yokuzinikela kwabo okujulile ezimisweni zokulunga.—Qhathanisa noIsaya 32:1.

45, 46. (a) Sasiyini isihloko esiyinhloko sokushumayela kukaJesu emhlabeni? (b) Kungani ungamiswanga ngokushesha uhulumeni ophelele? (c) U-1914 C.E. waba kanjani unyaka ovelele esiprofethweni nasezenzakalweni zezwe?

⁴⁵ Umiswa nini futhi kanjani lohulumeni ophelele? Lapho uJesu esemhlabeni loMbuso wawuyisihloko esiyinhloko sokushumayela kwakhe. (Mathewu 4:17; Luka 8:1) Nokho, akazange awumise uMbuso ngalesosikhathi, ngisho nasekuvukeni kwakhe. (IzEnzo 1:6-8) Ngisho nalapho enyukela emazulwini, kwakusamelwe alindele isikhathi sikaJehova esimisiwe. (IHubo 110:1, 2; Heberu 1:13) Isiprofetho seBhayibheli sibonisa ukuthi lesosikhathi esimisiwe safika ngo-1914 C.E. Nokho, omunye uzobuza, ‘U-1914 akaphawulanga yini ukuqala komaye bomhlaba abengeziwe kunohulumeni ophelele?’ Yilelo kanye iphuzu! Kukhona ukuhlangana okuseduze phakathi kokufika koMbuso kaNkulunkulu nezenzakalo ezihlasimulisayo zeminyaka yamuva, njengoba sizobona manje.

⁴⁶ Cishe eminyakeni engama-35 ngaphambi kuka-1914, INqabayokulinda (manje ewumagazini wenkolo osakazwa ngaphezu kwabo bonke emhlabeni) ibilokhu idonsela ukunakekela ku-1914 njengonyaka ophawulwe esiprofethweni seBhayibheli. Leziprofetho zaqala ukugcwaliseka ngokuphawulekayo ngo-1914. Esinye sazo kwakuyisiprofetho sikaJesu ngokwakhe, asisho eminyakeni eyi-1900 edlule, ngokuqondene ‘nesibonakaliso’ esasiyovela ekupheleni kwalesimiso sezinto nesasiyobonisa ukuba khona kwakhe okungabonakali emandleni obukhosi. Ephendula umbuzo wabafundi bakhe ‘ngalesibonakaliso,’ wathi: “Isizwe siyakuvukela isizwe, nombuso uvukele umbuso, kube-khona indlala nokuzamazama komhlaba izindawo ngezindawo. Kepha konke lokho kungukuqala kwemihelo.” (Mathewu 24:3, 7, 8) Ekugcwalisekeni okumangalisayo, eyokuqala ezimpini zezwe yaqala ngo-1914, yaletha umonakalo omkhulu ngokuphindwe kasikhombisa kunazo zonke izimpi ezingama-900 zeminyaka eyizi-2 500 engaphambili! Kusukela lapho imihelo iye yaqhubeka. Wake wabhekana nomonakalo wempi, ukuntuleka kokudla, noma okunye kokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu okuye kwashaya umhlaba kusukela ngo-1914? Uma kunjalo, uye waba ufakazi wokuzibonela ‘wezibonakaliso’ ‘zesikhathi sokuphela’ kwalesimiso sezinto.—Daniyeli 12:4.

47. Izenzakalo ezigcwalisa “isibonakaliso” ziye zadlondlobala kanjani eminyakeni yamuva?

⁴⁷ “Imihelo” iye yadlondlobala ngeMpi Yezwe II, eyayonakalisa ngokuphindwe kane kuneMpi Yezwe I, futhi yaqhubeka kwaze kwaba senkathini yenuzi, igcwalisa esinye isiprofetho sikaJesu: “Emhlabeni usizi luyakwehlela izizwe, zixakeke, . . . abantu baphele amandla ngokwesaba nangokubheka okuvelela umhlaba.” (Luka 21:25, 26) Ukwanda kobugebengu nobubi, kokungalaleli nokwedelela kwabantwana, kanye nokukhula kokungakholwa nokuziphatha okubi—lezenzakalo ezithusayo nazo zabikezelwa njengeziphawula “izinsuku zokugcina” zalesimiso esibi.—2 Thimothewu 3:1-5; Mathewu 24:12.

48. Ubani onecala ngomaye abasemhlabeni, futhi kungani beye banda kusukela ngo-1914?

⁴⁸ Nokho, uma uhulumeni wasezulwini wamiswa ngo-1914, kungani kunosizi olungaka emhlabeni? USathane uDeveli onecala ngalokhu. Lapho uKristu amukela amandla oMbuso, isenzo sakhe sokuqala kwakuwukulwa noSathane emazulwini angabonakali. Ngenxa yalokho, uSathane, “odukisa izwe lonke,” yena nezingelosi zakhe baphonswa emhlabeni. Njengoba azi ukuthi ukubhujiswa kwakhe kuyasondela, ubangela inkathazo enkulu emhlabeni. ‘Kungumaye kuwe-mhlaba nakuwe-lulwandle, ngokuba uSathane wehlele kini enolaka olukhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.’—IsAmbulo 12:7-9, 12.

49. (a) Kuyokwenzekani kulabo “ababhubhisa umhlaba”? (b) UJehova uyosehlisa kanjani “isahlulelo” sakhe ezizweni?

⁴⁹ Ingabe bayophela labomaye? Yebo!—lapho uhulumeni wasezulwini ngokwawo, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke, uthatha isinyathelo ‘sokubhubhisa ababhubhisa umhlaba.’ (IsAmbulo 11:18; Daniyeli 2:44) UNkulunkulu akasoze ayivumela imibuso yezombangazwe, amaKristu amanga, nanoma ubani omunye ukuba bonakalise umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, umhlaba, ngezikhali zabo zenuzi. Kunalokho, uthi: “Kuyisinqumo sami ukubutha izizwe ukuba ngiqoqe imibuso, ukuze ngithulule phezu kwabo intukuthelo yami, lonke ulaka lwami oluvuthayo.” (Zefaniya 3:8) UJehova, ngoKristu wakhe, uyosebenzisa amandla amakhulu anawo endaweni yonke ekubhubhiseni bonke abalandela uSathane emhlabeni. Lokhu kuyoba ngesilinganiso sembulunga yonke, okufanayo ngobukhulu noZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa.—Jeremiya 25:31-34; 2 Petru 3:5-7, 10.

50. (a) Iyini “iArmagedoni”? (b) Obani kuphela abayosinda eArmagedoni?

⁵⁰ Lokhu kubhujiswa kwezizwe ezimbi eBhayibhelini kubizwa ngokuthi impi kaNkulunkulu yeArmagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:14-16) Abantu abathobekileyo kuphela, abafuna uJehova nokulunga, abangasinda eArmagedoni bangene esimisweni esisha sikaNkulunkulu sokuthula. (Zefaniya 2:3; Isaya 26:20, 21) Ngokuqondene nalaba iBhayibheli lithi: “Kepha abathobekileyo bazakulidla ifa lomhlaba, bathokoze ngokuthula okukhulu.” (IHubo 37:11) Khona-ke kuyoqala umsebenzi omkhulu wokubuyisela iPharadesi kulomhlaba!

Imfundo Yokungena EPharadesi

51. Kungani kudingekile ukuba uthathe isinyathelo manje?

⁵¹ Ubungathanda yini ukuphila ePharadesi? Uma uphendula ngokuthi ‘Yebo,’ kuyokuvusa amadlingozi ukwazi ukuthi lapho uJesu ekhuluma ngesimiso sanamuhla esinezinkathazo ‘nangesibonakaliso’ sokubhujiswa kwaso okusondelayo, wanezela, “Lesisizukulwane asiyikudlula kungakenzeki konke lokhu.” Okungenani, abathile besizukulwane esabona “ukuqala kwemihelo” ngo-1914 bayophila baze babone iPharadesi libuyiselwa emhlabeni. (Mathewu 24:3-8, 34) Nokho, kuyadabukisa ukuthi abantu abaningi namuhla basendleleni ebanzi eyisa ekubhujisweni. (Mathewu 7:13, 14) Basalelwe isikhathi esincane sokuba bashintshe. Yeka indlela ongabonga ngayo ngokuthi uJehova uye waletha isixwayiso kusenesikhathi! Ngenxa yokuthi uJehova ufuna ukuba uphile, uzokusiza ukuba uthathe izinyathelo eziqondile.—2 Petru 3:9; Hezekeli 18:23.

52. Yini oyidingayo ukuze wenze ukukhetha okuhlakaniphile ngokuqondene nenkolo?

⁵² Into oyidinga ngokuphuthumayo manje ulwazi oluqondile. (1 Thimothewu 2:4; Johane 17:3) Ungalutholaphi? Lungatholakala yini kunoma iyiphi inkolo? Abanye abantu bathi zonke izinkolo ziholela emgomweni ofanayo, njengoba nje zonke izindlela ezisentabeni ziholela esiqongweni. Yeka indlela abanephutha ngayo! Ukuze bathole indlela eqondile, abagibeli bezintaba basebenzisa amabalazwe, baqashe nabaqondisi. Ngokufanayo, kunenkolo eyodwa kuphela yeqiniso eyoholela ekuphileni okuphakade, futhi kudingeka isiqondiso ukuze uyithole.—IzEnzo 8:26-31.

53. (a) Yini okumelwe uqhubeke uyenza ukuze uzuze ukuphila okuphakade? (b) Iziphi izilingo ezivela kuSathane ongase udinge ukuzinqoba?

⁵³ Lencwajana ilungiselelwe oFakazi BakaJehova ukuba ikusize. Isikusizile kakade ukuba uqonde amaqiniso athile eBhayibheli ayisisekelo, akunjalo? Akungabazeki ukuthi wena ngokwakho ungufakazi wokuthi iphuzu ngalinye lisekelwe eZwini likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe. Manje, ukuze uqhubekele emgomweni wakho, kumelwe uqhubeke ufunda. Njengoba nje imfundo enhle engokwezwe idingekile ukuze umuntu afaneleke endaweni ethile emphakathini wansuku zonke, ngokufanayo imfundo yeBhayibheli efanele idingekile ukuze ihlomisele umuntu ukuba angene emphakathini oyosinda ukuze uphile emhlabeni oyiPharadesi. (2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) USathane angase azame ukukuphazamisa ngokwenza abangane bakho abaseduze bakuphikise noma ngokukulingela ezindleleni zobugovu zokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo noma zokuziphatha okubi. Unganqotshwa uSathane. Ukulondeka kwakho kanye nalo lonke ikusasa lakho nelomkhaya wakho kuxhomeke ekuqhubekeni kwakho utadisha iBhayibheli.—Mathewu 10:36; 1 Johane 2:15-17.

54. Iliphi elinye ilungiselelo lemfundo uJehova aye walenza endaweni yakini?

⁵⁴ Ngaphandle kokuqhubeka kwakho nesifundo seBhayibheli samanje, kunenye indlela ongafunda ngayo. Abantu bendawo yakini abanesithakazelo emfundweni yeBhayibheli baba khona njalo emihlanganweni yaseHholo LoMbuso eliseduze. Bonke ababa khona bamukela imfundo evela eBhayibhelini futhi bazama ngobuqotho ukuba abantu abangcono. Abasha babamukela ngokushesha, bethi, “Wozani sikhuphukele entabeni kaJehova [indawo yakhe yokukhulekela] . . . uyakusifundisa izindlela zakhe, sihambe emikhondweni yakhe.” (Isaya 2:3) Izizathu ezinhle zokuba khona emihlanganweni yeBhayibheli zichazwe kumaHeberu 10:24, 25, afundeka kanje: “Masiqaphelane, ukuze kuvuswe uthando nemisebenzi emihle, singakuyeki ukuhlangana kwethu njengomkhuba wabanye, kepha masivuselelane, ikakhulu njengokuba nibona usuku lusondela.”

55. (a) Kungaziphi izindlela inhlangano kaJehova ehluke ngazo kwezinye? (b) Kukanjani oFakazi BakaJehova benobunye ngokungafani nabanye abantu?

⁵⁵ Njengoba uzihlanganisa nenhlangano kaJehova, uyothola umoya uhluke kakhulu kulowo wamathempeli namasonto. Akukho nkongozelo, akukho ukuhlebana noma ukuxabana, futhi akukho ukubandlululana ngenxa yesizinda somkhaya noma ukuma ngokwezimali. Imfanelo evelele kakhulu phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova uthando. Okokuqala, bathanda uJehova, futhi okwesibili, bathanda abanye abantu. Lezi izimpawu zamaKristu eqiniso. (Mathewu 22:37-39; Johane 13:35) Kumelwe ube khona emihlanganweni yabo uzibonele ngokwakho lokhu. Akungabazeki ukuthi ubunye babo buyokuhlaba umxhwele. KunoFakazi abangaphezu kwezigidi ezintathu emhlabeni wonke emazweni angaphezu kwama-200. Nokho, kuwo wonke umhlaba oFakazi balandela izimiso ezifanayo emihlanganweni yabo. Futhi ngenxa yokunyathelisa izincwadi kanye kanye ngezilimi eziningi, emhlabeni wonke oFakazi BakaJehova abaningi batadisha izindaba ezifanayo ezingokomBhalo ngamahora abo ambalwa emihlanganweni yabo yamasonto onke. Ubunye benhlangano kaJehova buyisimangaliso sosuku lwanamuhla kulelizwe elihlukene.

56. (a) Iziphi izinzuzo ongase uzithole ngokuhlanganyela nenhlangano kaJehova? (b) Kumelwe usabele kanjani lapho kuphakama izinkinga? (c) Kungani kubalulekile ngawe ukuba unikezele ukuphila kwakho kuJehova?

⁵⁶ Njengoba uhlanganyela njalo nabantu bakaJehova, kuyodingeka ukuba wembathe “ubuntu obusha,” futhi uhlakulele izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu—“uthando, nokujabula, nokuthula, nokubekezela, nobubele, nobuvi, nokukholeka, nobumnene, nokuzithiba.” (Kolose 3:10, 12-14 qhathanisa neNW; Galathiya 5:22, 23) Lokhu kuyokunikeza ukwaneliseka okujulile. Ngezikhathi ezithile ungase ube nezinkinga okumelwe uzinqobe ngenxa yokuthi uhlala ezweni elonakele nangenxa yokungapheleli kwakho siqu. Kodwa uJehova uyokusiza. IZwi lakhe liyabaqinisekisa labo abazama ngobuqotho ukumthokozisa: “Ningakhathazeki ngalutho, kepha kukho konke izicelo zenu mazaziwe nguNkulunkulu ngokukhuleka nokunxusa kanye nokubonga. Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqonda konke kuyakulondoloza izinhliziyo zenu nemicabango yenu kuKristu Jesu.” (Filipi 4:6, 7) Uthando lukaJehova luyokudonsa ukuze ufune ukumkhonza. OFakazi BakaJehova bayojabulela ukukubonisa indlela onganikezela ngayo ukuphila kwakho kuloNkulunkulu onothando futhi ube omunye wofakazi bakhe ababusisiwe. (IHubo 104:33; Luka 9:23) Yebo, kuyilungelo. Ake ucabange! Njengomkhulekeli kaJehova, ungalwela ukufinyelela umgomo wokuphila okuphakade epharadesi lapha emhlabeni.—Zefaniya 2:3; Isaya 25:6, 8.

57. (a) Esimisweni esisha, yibuphi ubuhlobo obuseduze obuyoba khona phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nesintu? (b) Yiziphi ezinye zezibusiso ongazijabulela ngalesosikhathi?

⁵⁷ Khona-ke, qhubeka utadisha futhi ukhula othandweni nasekumaziseni uJehova uNkulunkulu, iNdodana yakhe, kanye nohulumeni wokulunga wasezulwini. Ekuchazeni uhulumeni kaNkulunkulu nezibusiso oyozehlisela isintu, isiprofetho seBhayibheli sithi: “Bheka, itabernakele likaNkulunkulu likubantu; uyakuhlala nabo, babe-ngabantu bakhe, yena uNkulunkulu abe-nabo.” “Yena uNkulunkulu,” ophakeme kakhulu kunokubusa komuntu kwanamuhla kobugovu, okonakele, uyoba seduze kakhulu njengoBaba onomusa wabo bonke abamthandayo nabamkhulekelayo kulesosimiso esisha. Ngempela, kuyoba nenkolo eyodwa kuphela, ukukhulekelwa kweqiniso kukaJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi abakhulekeli bakhe bayojabulela ubuhlobo obuseduze babantwana kuYise. Yeka ukuthi uyozibonakalisa enguBaba onothando kanjani! “Azesule izinyembezi zonke emehlweni abo; ukufa akusayikuba-khona; nokudabuka, nokukhala, nobuhlungu akusayikuba-khona; ngokuba okokuqala kudlulile.”—IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.

58. Kungani ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova ‘uyokwenza konke kube kusha’?

⁵⁸ Kanjalo siyobe sesifeziwe isimangaliso esikhulu sokumisa umhlaba oyipharadesi ngaphansi kukahulumeni wasezulwini ophelele. Lokhu kuqiniseke njengeqiniso lokuthi ilanga lizophuma libuye lishone kusasa. Ngoba izithembiso zikaJehova uNkulunkulu, uMdali wezulu nomhlaba, zihlala ‘zithembekile futhi ziyiqiniso.’ Nguye omemeza esesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi ezulwini: “Bheka, ngenza konke kube-kusha.”—IsAmbulo 21:5.

Ekubukezeni lencwajana, ubungayiphendula kanjani imibuzo elandelayo?

Livelele ngaziphi izindlela iBhayibheli?

Yini oyifundile ngoNkulunkulu?

Ungubani uKristu Jesu?

Ungubani uSathane uDeveli?

Kungani uNkulunkulu eye wavumela ububi?

Kungani umuntu efa?

Siyini isimo sabafileyo?

Siyini isihlengo?

Lwenzeka kuphi futhi kanjani uvuko?

Uyini uMbuso, futhi uyofezani?

Siyini “isibonakaliso” “sokuphela kwesimiso sezinto”?

Ungakulungiselela kanjani ukuphila okuphakade ePharadesi?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Izithombe ekhasini 13]

Njengendalo, umuntu uphakeme kakhulu kunezilwane

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

UJesu wayelingana nomuntu ophelele uAdamu