ISahluko 9
Ukulibamba Ngokuqinile Igama LikaJesu
IPHERGAMU
1. Yiliphi ibandla elamukela isigijimi sikaJesu esilandelayo, futhi luhlobo luni lomuzi lawo maKristu ayehlala kuwo?
SIHAMBA amakhilomitha angu-80 ukuya enyakatho senyusa umgwaqo osogwini ukusuka eSmirna namakhilomitha angu-24 phakathi nezwe sinqamula esigodini soMfula iCaicus, sifika ePhergamu, manje ebizwa ngokuthi iBergama. Leli dolobha lalidume ngethempeli lalo likaZeus, noma uJupiter. Ngawo-1800, abavubukuli bathumela i-altare lalelo thempeli eJalimane, lapho lisengabukwa khona, kanye nezithombe nemifanekiso eminingi yonkulunkulu bamaqaba, ePergamon Museum eBerlin. Yisiphi isigijimi iNkosi uJesu eyayingasithumela ebandleni eliphila phakathi kwakho konke lokho kukhulekelwa kwezithombe?
2. UJesu uzichaza kanjani, futhi kusho ukuthini ukuba kwakhe ‘nenkemba esika nhlangothi zombili’?
2 Okokuqala, uJesu uyazichaza, ethi: “Ingelosi yebandla lasePhergamu yilobele lokhu: Yilezi izinto azishoyo lowo onenkemba ende ebukhali, esika nhlangothi zombili.” (IsAmbulo 2:12) Lapha uJesu uphinda incazelo enikeziwe ngaye kusAmbulo 1:16. NjengoMahluleli noMbhubhisi, uzobhubhisa labo abashushisa abafundi bakhe. Yeka ukuthi kududuza kanjani lokho kuqinisekiswa! Nokho, ngokuqondene nokwahlulela, labo abaphakathi ebandleni nabo mabathathe isixwayiso sokuthi uJehova, esebenza ngalesi “sithunywa sesivumelwano,” uJesu Kristu, uyoba “ngufakazi osheshayo” kuwo wonke amaKristu okuzisholo akhulekela izithombe, aziphethe kabi, aqamba amanga, nangathembekile nahlulekayo ukunakekela abasweleyo. (Malaki 3:1, 5; Hebheru 13:1-3) Iseluleko nokusola uNkulunkulu abangela uJesu ukuba akunikeze kumelwe kulalelwe!
3. Yikuphi ukukhulekela kwamanga okwakwenziwa ePhergamu, futhi kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi “isihlalo sobukhosi sikaSathane” sasilapho?
3 UJesu manje utshela ibandla: “Ngiyazi lapho uhlala khona, okungukuthi, lapho isihlalo sobukhosi sikaSathane sikhona.” (IsAmbulo 2:13a) Ngempela, lawo maKristu ayezungezwe ukukhulekela kobusathane. Ngaphandle kwethempeli likaZeus, kwakukhona indlu engcwele ka-Aesculapius, unkulunkulu wokwelapha. IPhergamu yayidume futhi njengesikhungo senkolo sokukhulekelwa kombusi. Igama lesiHebheru elihunyushwe ngokuthi “Sathane” lisho “uMphikisi,” futhi ‘isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi’ simelela ububusi bakhe bezwe njengobuvunyelwe phezulu okwesikhathi esithile. (Jobe 1:6, New World Translation Reference Bible, umbhalo waphansi) Ukuchuma kokukhulekelwa kwezithombe ePhergamu kwabonisa ukuthi “isihlalo sobukhosi” sikaSathane sasimiswe ngokuqinile kulowo muzi. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba uSathane wazizwa ethukuthele kanjani ngokuthi amaKristu lapho awazange amkhothamele ekukhulekelweni kobuzwe!
4. (a) Yikuphi ukutusa uJesu akwenzayo ngamaKristu asePhergamu? (b) Yini uPliny isithunywa saseRoma ayibhalela uMbusi uTrajan ngokuqondene nokuphathwa kwamaKristu? (c) Naphezu kwengozi, iyiphi inkambo amaKristu asePhergamu ayithatha?
4 Yebo, “isihlalo sobukhosi sikaSathane” sikhona kanye ePhergamu. “Kodwa nokho,” uJesu uyaqhubeka, “uyaqhubeka ulibambé ngokuqinile igama lami, awuzange uluphike ukholo lwakho kimi ngisho nasezinsukwini zika-Antipase, ufakazi wami othembekileyo, owabulawa eceleni kwenu, lapho uSathane ehlala khona.” (IsAmbulo 2:13b) Yeka ukutusa okushukumisa inhliziyo! Ngokungangabazeki ukufela ukholo kuka-Antipase kwabangelwa ukwenqaba kwakhe ukuhambisana nemikhuba yobudemoni nokukhulekelwa kombusi waseRoma. Ngokushesha ngemva kokuba uJohane amukele lesi siprofetho, uPliny Omncane, isithunywa soMbusi uTrajan waseRoma, wabhalela uTrajan futhi wamchazela ngenqubo yakhe yokuphatha abantu abamangalelwe ngokuba amaKristu—inqubo umbusi ayivumela. Labo abakuphika ukuba ngamaKristu bakhululwa, lapho, njengoba uPliny asho, “beye baphinda ngemva kwami ukunxusa ezithixweni, banikela ngempepho newayini emfanekisweni wakho [kaTrajan] . . . futhi, ngaphezu kwalokho, baqalekisa uKristu.” Bonke ababefunyanwa bengamaKristu babebulawa. Ngisho noma ayebhekene nengozi enjalo, amaKristu asePhergamu awazange aluphike ukholo lwawo. ‘Alibamba ngokuqinile igama likaJesu’ ngokuthi aqhubeka edumisa isikhundla sakhe esiphakeme njengoMlweli kaJehova noMahluleli omisiwe. Ngokwethembeka, alandela ezinyathelweni zikaJesu njengofakazi boMbuso.
5. (a) Yimuphi umfuziselo wosuku lwanamuhla wenkolo yokukhulekela umbusi oye wabangela uvivinyo olunzima kumaKristu esikhathini sethu? (b) Yiluphi usizo INqabayokulinda eye yalunikeza amaKristu?
5 Ezikhathini ezihlukahlukene, uJesu wayekwenze kwaziwa ukuthi uSathane ubusa leli zwe lamanje elikhohlakele, kodwa ngenxa yobuqotho bukaJesu, uSathane wayengenalutho kuye. (Mathewu 4:8-11; Johane 14:30) Esikhathini sethu, izizwe ezinamandla, ikakhulukazi “inkosi yasenyakatho” ‘nenkosi yaseningizimu,’ ziye zalwela ukubusa umhlaba. (Daniyeli 11:40) Kuye kwakhuthazwa ukushisekela izwe, futhi inkolo yokukhulekela umbusi inomfuziselo wosuku lwanamuhla oyigagasi lobuzwe eliye lakhukhula umhlaba. Izihloko ezikhuluma ngokungathathi hlangothi komagazini INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-November 1, 1939, kanye ne-Nqabayokulinda ka-June 1, 1980 neka-September 1, 1986, ziye zayibeka ngokucacile imfundiso yeBhayibheli ngale ndaba, zinikeza ukuqondisa ngalawo maKristu afuna ukuhamba egameni likaJehova anqobe izwe, njengoba uJesu enza kanjalo ngesibindi.—Mika 4:1, 3, 5; Johane 16:33; 17:4, 6, 26; 18:36, 37; IzEnzo 5:29.
6. Njengo-Antipase, oFakazi BakaJehova baye bama kanjani beqinile ezikhathini zanamuhla?
6 Iseluleko esinjalo besidingeka ngokuphuthumayo. Bebhekene nokushisekelwa kwezwe okungenangqondo, oFakazi BakaJehova, kokubili abagcotshiwe nabangane babo, kuye kwadingeka bame beqinile okholweni. E-United States, amakhulu abantwana nothisha baxoshwa ezikoleni ngoba bengalikhulekeli ifulege lesizwe, kulapho eJalimane oFakazi bashushiswa ngonya ngenxa yokwenqaba ukukhulekela i-swastika. Njengoba sekuphawuliwe kakade, amaNazi kaHitler abulala izinkulungwane zezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile ngoba zenqaba ukuhlanganyela kokunjalo ukukhulekela izithombe kobuzwe. Ngawo-1930, ngesikhathi sokudlondlobala kweJapane ekukhulekeleni umbusi wobuShinto, izikhonzi ezimbili ezingamaphayona zatshala imbewu eningi yoMbuso eTaiwan ebuswa ngamaJapane. Ababusi abangamasosha bazifaka ejele, lapho esinye sazo safela khona ngenxa yokuphathwa ngonya. Esinye kamuva sakhululwa, kodwa sadutshulwa emhlane—u-Antipase wosuku lwanamuhla. Kuze kube namuhla, kukhona amazwe lapho kuphoqelelwa khona ukukhulekelwa kwezimpawu zobuzwe nokuzinikela okukhethekile eMbusweni. Intsha eningi engoFakazi iye yaboshwa, futhi enye eningi yabulawa, ngenxa yokuma kwayo kwesibindi njengamaKristu angathathi hlangothi. Uma ungomusha obhekene nezinselele ezinjalo, tadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke ukuze ube “nokholo kube ukulondwa komphefumulo,” unombono wokuphila okuphakade.—Hebheru 10:39–11:1; Mathewu 10:28-31.
7. Intsha eNdiya yabhekana kanjani nenselele yokukhulekela isizwe, futhi waba yini umphumela?
7 Intsha efundayo iye yabhekana nezinselele ezifanayo. Ngo-1985, esifundazweni saseKerala, eNdiya, abantwana abathathu abancane boFakazi BakaJehova abavumanga ukulahla ukholo lwabo olusekelwe eBhayibhelini, benqaba ukuhlabelela iculo lesizwe. Basukuma ngenhlonipho lapho abanye becula, kodwa naphezu kwalokho baxoshwa esikoleni. Uyise wamangala waze wafika eNkantolo Ephakeme yaseNdiya ngalesi senzo, lapho abahluleli ababili benza isinqumo esivuna abantwana, ngesibindi bethi: “Isiko lethu lifundisa ukubekezela; ifilosofi yethu ifundisa ukubekezela; umthetho-sisekelo wethu uyabekezela; masingakoni.” Amaphephandaba nezinhlelo zabahleli ezinokukhulumela okuhle ngaleli cala zazisa sonke isizwe, ngaleso sikhathi esasinabantu abacishe babe yingxenye eyodwa kweziyisihlanu zenani labantu abakhona emhlabeni, ukuthi kukhona amaKristu kulelo zwe akhulekela uNkulunkulu weqiniso uJehova nokuthi amela izimiso zeBhayibheli ngokwethembeka.
Amathonya Onakalisayo
8. Yikuphi ukusola uJesu abona kudingekile ukuba akunike amaKristu asePhergamu?
8 Yebo, amaKristu asePhergamu angabagcini bobuqotho. “Noma kunjalo,” kusho uJesu, “nginezinto ezimbalwa ngawe.” Yini abayenzile ukuze bafanelwe ukusolwa? UJesu uyasitshela: “Ukuthi unabo lapho labo ababambelele ngokuqinile emfundisweni kaBhalami, owaqala ukufundisa uBhalaki ukubeka isikhubekiso phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ukuba badle izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe nokuba bafebe.”—IsAmbulo 2:14.
9. Kwakungubani uBhalami, futhi iseluleko sakhe sasibeka kanjani “isikhubekiso phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli”?
9 Ngosuku lukaMose, iNkosi uBhalaki yakwaMowabi yayiqashe uBhalami, umprofethi ongesiye umIsrayeli owayazi okuthile ngezindlela zikaJehova, ukuba aqalekise u-Israyeli. UJehova wamvimba uBhalami, emphoqelela ukuba amemezele izibusiso kuma-Israyeli nomaye ezitheni zawo. UBhalami wehlisa intukuthelo kaBhalaki ngokusikisela ukuhlasela kobuqili ngokwengeziwe: Abesifazane bakwaMowabi mabayengele amadoda akwa-Israyeli ekuziphatheni okubi kakhulu ngokobulili nasekukhulekeleni unkulunkulu wamanga uBhali wasePheyori! Leli su lasebenza. Intukuthelo kaJehova yokulunga yavutha, njengoba athumela isifo esabulala lawo ma-Israyeli ayizifebe angu-24 000—isifo esaphela kuphela lapho umpristi uFinehasi ethatha isinyathelo esiqondile sokususa ububi kwa-Israyeli.—Numeri 24:10, 11; 25:1-3, 6-9; 31:16.
10. Yiziphi izikhubekiso esezingene ebandleni lasePhergamu, futhi kungani kungenzeka ukuthi lawo maKristu ayenomuzwa wokuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke akunake ukona kwawo?
10 Manje, osukwini lukaJohane, ingabe zikhona izikhubekiso ezifanayo nezasePhergamu? Zikhona! Ukuziphatha okubi nokukhulekela izithombe kuye kwangena ngokunyenya ebandleni. Lawo maKristu awazange azilalele izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu ezanikezwa ngomphostoli uPawulu. (1 Korinte 10:6-11) Njengoba eye abekezelela ukushushiswa, mhlawumbe anomuzwa wokuthi uJehova ngeke azinake izono zawo zobulili. Ngakho uJesu ukwenza kucace ukuthi kumelwe axwaye ukukhohlakala okunjalo.
11. (a) Yini amaKristu okumelwe ayiqaphele, futhi yimuphi umqondo okumelwe awugweme? (b) Eminyakeni edlule, bangaki abaye basuswa ebandleni lobuKristu, futhi ikakhulukazi ngasiphi isizathu?
11 Ngokufanayo namuhla, amaKristu kumelwe aqaphele ‘ukuphendula umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu wethu awenze izaba zokuziphatha okubi.’ (Jude 4) Sinesibopho sokuba sizonde okubi futhi ‘sitube imizimba yethu’ ukuze sihambe endleleni yobumsulwa bobuKristu. (1 Korinte 9:27; IHubo 97:10; Roma 8:6) Akufanele neze sicabange ukuthi intshiseko enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu nobuqotho ngaphansi kokushushiswa kusinika imvume yokuhileleka ekuziphatheni okubi ngokobulili. Phakathi neminyaka, izoni ezasuswa ekuhlanganyeleni nebandla lobuKristu lomhlaba wonke, ikakhulukazi ngezizathu zokuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, ziye zabalelwa emashumini ezinkulungwane. Ngeminye iminyaka kuye kwaba ngisho nabangaphezu kwalabo abafa kwa-Israyeli wasendulo ngenxa kaBhali wasePheyori. Sengathi singahlala siqaphile ukuze singaweli kuleso sigaba!—Roma 11:20; 1 Korinte 10:12.
12. Njengasezincekwini zikaNkulunkulu ezikhathini zakuqala, yiziphi izimiso ezisebenzayo kumaKristu namuhla?
12 UJesu futhi usola amaKristu asePhergamu ‘ngokudla izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe.’ Lokhu kwakungahlanganisani? Ngokubheka amazwi kaPawulu kwabaseKorinte, mhlawumbe abanye babesebenzisa kabi inkululeko yabo yobuKristu futhi belimaza ngamabomu onembeza babanye. Nokho, cishe babeba nengxenye ngandlela-thile emikhosini engokoqobo yezithombe. (1 Korinte 8:4-13; 10:25-30) AmaKristu athembekile namuhla kumelwe abonise uthando olungenabugovu ekusebenziseni kwawo inkululeko yobuKristu, eqaphela ukuba angabakhubekisi abanye. Ngokuqinisekile, kumelwe agweme izindlela zanamuhla zokukhulekela izithombe, njengokukhulekela izilomo ze-TV, zamabhayisikobho, nezemidlalo, noma ukwenza imali, ngisho nesisu sabo kube unkulunkulu!—Mathewu 6:24; Filipi 1:9, 10; 3:17-19.
Gwema Amahlelo!
13. Yimaphi amazwi okusola uJesu ngokulandelayo awanikeza amaKristu asePhergamu, futhi kungani ibandla laliwadinga?
13 UJesu uyaphinda usola amaKristu asePhergamu, ethi: “Kanjalo, nawe ngokufanayo, unabo ababambelele ngokuqinile emfundisweni yehlelo likaNikolawu.” (IsAmbulo 2:15) Ngaphambili, uJesu utuse abase-Efesu ngenzondo yabo ngezenzo zaleli hlelo. Kodwa amaKristu asePhergamu adinga iseluleko ngokugcina ibandla lingenawo amahlelo. Kudingeka ukuqina okwengeziwe ekusekeleni izindinganiso zobuKristu ukuze ubunye uJesu abuthandazela kuJohane 17:20-23 bulondolozwe. Kudingekile “ukukhuthaza ngemfundiso ephilayo nokusola abaphikisayo.”—Thithu 1:9.
14. (a) Kusukela ezinsukwini zokuqala, ibandla lobuKristu kuye kwadingeka lilwe nobani, futhi umphostoli uPawulu wabachaza kanjani? (b) Yimaphi amazwi kaJesu okufanele alalelwe yinoma ubani okungenzeka uye wathambekela ekulandeleni iqembu elihlubukayo?
14 Kusukela ezinsukwini zokuqala, ibandla lobuKristu kuye kwadingeka lilwe nezihlubuki eziqhoshayo, okuthi ngenkulumo emnandi, ekhohlisayo ‘zibangele ukuhlukana nezimo ezingabangela ukukhubeka ngokuphambene nemfundiso’ esiyinikezwa ngomzila kaJehova. (Roma 16:17, 18) Umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa ngale ngozi cishe kuzo zonke izincwadi zakhe.a Ezikhathini zanamuhla, lapho uJesu eye wabuyisela ibandla leqiniso ebumsulweni nasebunyeni bobuKristu, ingozi yamahlelo isekhona. Ngakho, noma yibaphi okungenzeka baye bathambekela ekulandeleni iqembu elihlubukayo, kanjalo bakha ihlelo, kufanele balalele amazwi kaJesu alandelayo: “Ngakho-ke phenduka. Uma ungaphenduki, ngiyeza kuwe masinyane, futhi ngizokulwa nabo ngenkemba ende yomlomo wami.”—IsAmbulo 2:16.
15. Amahlelo aqala kanjani?
15 Aqala kanjani amahlelo? Mhlawumbe umfundisi mbumbulu utshala ukungabaza, ephikisa iqiniso leBhayibheli elithile (njengokuthi sisezinsukwini zokugcina), kanjalo iqembu elihlubukayo liyaqembuka limlandele. (2 Thimothewu 3:1; 2 Petru 3:3, 4) Noma othile ugxeka indlela uJehova afeza ngayo umsebenzi wakhe futhi athuthukise umoya wokuzigodla ngokuba athi akukho ngokomBhalo futhi akudingekile ukungena endlini ngendlu nesigijimi soMbuso. Ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni enjalo ngokulandela isibonelo sikaJesu nabaphostoli bakhe bekungagcina laba bethobekile; kodwa, bakhetha ukuzehlukanisa futhi bazitamasele, mhlawumbe bamane bafunde iBhayibheli ngezikhathi ezithile njengeqembu langasese. (Mathewu 10:7, 11-13; IzEnzo 5:42; 20:20, 21) Abanjalo baziqambela eyabo imibono ngeSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaJesu, ngomyalo ongokomBhalo wokuyeka igazi, ngokugubha amaholide, nangokusetshenziswa kukagwayi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, balulaza igama likaJehova; ngokushesha babuyela khona kanye ezindleleni zokuyekelela zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Okubi nangaphezulu, abanye bashukunyiswa uSathane ukuba baphendukele futhi ‘bashaye izinceku ezikanye nabo,’ labo ababengabafowabo.—Mathewu 24:49; IzEnzo 15:29; IsAmbulo 17:5.
16. (a) Kungani labo abantengantengayo ngenxa yethonya lezihlubuki kufanele basheshe ukuphenduka? (b) Yini eyokwenzeka kulabo abenqabayo ukuphenduka?
16 Noma yibaphi abantengantengayo ngenxa yethonya lezihlubuki kufanele basheshe ukulalela ubizo lukaJesu lokuba baphenduke! Inkulumo-ze yezihlubuki kumelwe inqatshwe njengobuthi lobo eyibo kakade! Isisekelo sayo siwumhawu nenzondo, ngokuphambene namaqiniso alungile, amsulwa, nathandekayo uJesu ondla ngawo ibandla lakhe. (Luka 12:42; Filipi 1:15, 16; 4:8, 9) Ngokuqondene nalabo abenqabayo ukuphenduka, ngempela iNkosi uJesu ‘ilwa nabo ngenkemba ende yomlomo wayo.’ Ihlunga abantu bayo ukuze ilondoloze ubunye eyabuthandazela ngobusuku bayo bokugcina inabafundi bayo emhlabeni. (Johane 17:20-23, 26) Njengoba abahlubukayo besenqaba iseluleko sothando nosizo olunikezwa yizinkanyezi ezisesandleni sakhe sokunene, uJesu uyobahlulela futhi abajezise “kanzima kakhulu,” ebathumela “ebumnyameni ngaphandle.” Bayosuswa ekuhlanganyeleni, ukuze bangaphinde basebenze njengemvubelo phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 24:48-51; 25:30; 1 Korinte 5:6, 9, 13; IsAmbulo 1:16.
‘Imana Elifihliweyo Netshana Elimhlophe’
17. Yimuphi umvuzo olindele amaKristu agcotshiwe ‘anqobayo,’ futhi yini amaKristu asePhergamu okwakudingeka ayinqobe?
17 Umvuzo omuhle ulindele bonke abalalela iseluleko sikaJesu, esinikezwa ngokuqondisa komoya ongcwele kaJehova. Lalela! “Onendlebe makezwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni: Onqobayo ngiyomnika okwemana elifihliweyo, futhi ngiyomnika itshana elimhlophe, naphezu kwaleli tshana igama elisha elilotshiwe elingaziwa muntu ngaphandle kwalowo olamukelayo.” (IsAmbulo 2:17) Kanjalo, amaKristu asePhergamu, njengamaKristu aseSmirna, akhuthazwa ukuba ‘anqobe.’ Uma bezophumelela, labo basePhergamu, lapho kukhona isihlalo sobukhosi sikaSathane, kumelwe baxwaye ukukhulekela izithombe. Kumelwe benqabe ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, amahlelo, nokuhlubuka okuhlangene noBhalaki, noBhalami, kanye nehlelo likaNikolawu. Uma enza kanjalo, lawo maKristu agcotshiwe ayomenyelwa ukudla ‘imana elifihliweyo.’ Kusho ukuthini lokhu?
18, 19. (a) Laliyini imana uJehova alilungiselela ama-Israyeli? (b) Yiliphi imana elalifihliwe? (c) Yini efanekiselwa ukudla imana elifihliweyo?
18 Ngosuku lukaMose, uJehova wayelungiselele imana ukuba londle ama-Israyeli phakathi nohambo lwawo lwasehlane. Lelo mana lalingafihliwe, ngoba njalo ekuseni—ngaphandle kwangeSabatha—lalivela ngokuyisimangaliso, njengamakhekheba kangqoqwane ambozé umhlaba. Kwakuyilungiselelo laphezulu lokugcina ama-Israyeli ephila. Njengesikhumbuzo, uJehova wayala uMose ukuba agcine esinye salesi “sinkwa” esitsheni segolide phakathi emphongolweni ongcwele wesivumelwano “kuzo zonke izizukulwane [zika-Israyeli].”—Eksodusi 16:14, 15, 23, 26, 33; Hebheru 9:3, 4.
19 Yeka umfuziselo ofanelekayo! Leli mana lalifihlwe eNgcwelengcwele yetabernakele, lapho ukukhanya okuyisimangaliso okwakuphezu kwesembozo soMphongolo kwakufanekisela khona kanye ukuba khona kukaJehova. (Eksodusi 26:34) Akekho owayevunyelwe ukungena kuleyo ndawo engcwele ukuze adle imana elifihliwe. Nokho, uJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe abanqobayo babeyokudla ‘imana elifihliweyo.’ NjengoKristu ngaphambi kwabo, ‘abangeni endaweni engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso wokungokoqobo, kodwa bangena ezulwini ngokwalo.’ (Hebheru 9:12, 24) Ekuvukeni kwabo, bambatha ukungaboli nokungafi—ilungiselelo likaJehova eliyisimangaliso, elifanekiselwa ukunikezwa kwabo ‘imana elifihliweyo’ elingonakali. Yeka ukuthi linelungelo kanjani lelo qembu elincane labanqobi!—1 Korinte 15:53-57.
20, 21. (a) Yini efanekiselwa ukunikeza amaKristu agcotshiwe itshana elimhlophe? (b) Njengoba kunamatshana amhlophe angu-144 000 kuphela, yiliphi ithemba isixuku esikhulu esilijabulelayo?
20 Laba futhi bamukela “itshana elimhlophe.” Ezinkantolo zaseRoma, amatshe ayesetshenziswa ekukhipheni isahlulelo.b Itshe elimhlophe lalisho ukuthethwa yicala, kanti itshe elimnyama lalisho ukulahlwa, ngokuvamile ukulahlelwa ekufeni. Ukunikeza kukaJesu amaKristu asePhergamu “itshana elimhlophe” kwakuyobonisa ukuthi uwabheka njengangenacala, amsulwa, nahlanzekile. Kodwa amazwi kaJesu angase abe nenye incazelo. Ezikhathini zaseRoma, amatshe ayesetshenziswa futhi njengamathikithi okungena emicimbini ebalulekile. Ngakho itshana elimhlophe lingase libonise okuthile okukhetheke kakhulu ngomKristu ogcotshiwe onqobayo—ukwamukelwa kwakhe endaweni ehloniphekile ezulwini emshadweni weWundlu. Angu-144 000 kuphela amatshana anjalo alungiselelwe.—IsAmbulo 14:1; 19:7-9.
21 Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi awucatshangelwa uma ungomunye wesixuku esikhulu sabakhulekeli abangabangane? Lutho neze! Nakuba ungalitholi itshana elimhlophe lokungeniswa ezulwini, ungase, uma ukhuthazela, uphume osizini olukhulu ukuze ube nengxenye emsebenzini ojabulisayo wokubuyisela iPharadesi emhlabeni. Abayohlanganyela nawe kulokhu kuyoba abathembekile abavusiwe bezikhathi zangaphambi kobuKristu nalabo bezinye izimvu okungenzeka basanda kufa. Ekugcineni, bonke abanye abafileyo abahlengiwe bayoboniswa umusa ngokuvuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni oyipharadesi.—IHubo 45:16; Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 7:9, 14.
22, 23. Lisho ukuthini igama elibhalwe etshaneni elinikezwa amaKristu agcotshiwe, futhi yisiphi isikhuthazo lokhu okumelwe kusinikeze?
22 Lithini igama elisha elibhalwe etshaneni? Igama liyindlela yokuchaza umuntu nokumehlukanisa kwabanye. La maKristu agcotshiwe amukela itshana emva kokuba eqede inkambo yawo yasemhlabeni njengabanqobi. Khona-ke, ngokusobala igama elisetshaneni lihlangene nelungelo labo lokuba munye noJesu ezulwini—isikhundla esinobuhlobo obuseduze kakhulu senkonzo yasebukhosini esiyokwaziswa ngokugcwele futhi sijatshulelwe yilabo kuphela abadla ifa loMbuso wasezulwini. Ngakho, kuyisikhundla noma igama “elingaziwa muntu ngaphandle kwalowo olamukelayo.”—Qhathanisa nesAmbulo 3:12.
23 Yeka isikhuthazo ngesigaba sikaJohane ukuba ‘sizwe lokho umoya okushoyo emabandleni’ futhi sikwenze! Futhi yeka indlela lokhu okubakhuthaza ngayo abangane baso, isixuku esikhulu, ukuba bakhonze kanye naso ngokwethembeka lapho besenokujabulela ubungane naso lapha emhlabeni futhi bahlanganyele naso ekwenzeni uMbuso kaJehova waziwe!
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Bheka futhi eyoku-1 Korinte 3:3, 4, 18, 19; 2 Korinte 11:13; Galathiya 4:9; Efesu 4:14, 15; Filipi 3:18, 19; Kolose 2:8; 1 Thesalonika 3:5; 2 Thesalonika 2:1-3; 1 Thimothewu 6:3-5; 2 Thimothewu 2:17; 4:3, 4; Thithu 1:13, 14; 3:10; Hebheru 10:26, 27.
b Bheka izEnzo 26:10 nombhalo waphansi, New World Translation Reference Bible.
[Izithombe ekhasini 43]
Lobu bufakazi bokukhulekela kobuqaba okwande kakhulu buyaboniswa ePergamon Museum eBerlin
[Isithombe ekhasini 45]
Ingxenye yemana yayifihlwe emphongolweni wesivumelwano. Ukunikezwa imana elifihliwe elingokomfanekiso kusho ukuthi abagcotshiwe abanqobayo bamukela ukungafi
[Isithombe ekhasini 45]
Itshana elimhlophe lingelalabo abangeniswa emshadweni weWundlu