Isahluko 28

Ukuvivinya Nokuhlunga Ngaphakathi

UKUTHUTHUKA nokwanda kwenhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova yosuku lwanamuhla kuye kwaba nezimo eziningi eziye zaluvivinya kakhulu ukholo lwabantu. Njengoba ukubhula nokwela kuhlukanisa ukolweni namakhoba, lezizimo ziye zaveza labo abangamaKristu ngempela. (Qhathanisa noLuka 3:17.) Abantu abahlanganyela nalenhlangano kuye kwadingeka babonise lokho okusezinhliziyweni zabo. Ingabe babekhonza ngenxa nje yenzuzo yomuntu siqu? Ingabe babemane bengabalandeli babantu abathile abangaphelele? Noma ingabe babethobekile, belangazela ukwazi nokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu, bezinikele ngokuphelele kuJehova?—Qhathanisa nezesi-2 IziKronike 16:9.

Abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu bekhulu lokuqala nabo babhekana nokuvivinywa kokholo lwabo. UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi uma bethembeka, babeyohlanganyela naye eMbusweni wakhe. (Math. 5:3, 10; 7:21; 18:3; 19:28) Kodwa akazange abatshele ukuthi babeyowuthola nini lowomklomelo. Lapho bebhekene nokunganaki komphakathi, ngisho nanenzondo, lapho beshumayela, ingabe ngobuqotho babeyoqhubeka benza izithakazelo zalowoMbuso ziza kuqala ekuphileni kwabo? Akubona bonke abakwenza.—2 Thim. 4:10.

Indlela uJesu ngokwakhe afundisa ngayo yaba uvivinyo kwabanye. AbaFarisi bakhubeka lapho ewalahla ngokuqondile amasiko abo. (Math. 15:1-14) Ngisho nabaningi ababethi bangabafundi bakaJesu yayibacasula indlela ayefundisa ngayo. Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho ekhuluma ngokubaluleka kokubonisa ukholo enanini lenyama yakhe negazi okunikelwa njengomhlatshelo, abaningi babafundi bakhe babonisa ukushaqeka ngenxa yolimi olungokomfanekiso alusebenzisa. Bengalindi ukuba achaze ngokwengeziwe, “babuyela emuva, ababe besahamba naye.”—Joh. 6:48-66.

Kodwa akubona bonke abamfulathela. Njengoba uSimoni Petru achaza, “Nkosi, siyakuya kubani na? Amazwi okuphila okuphakade akuwe. Siyakholwa, siyazi ukuthi wena ungoNgcwele kaNkulunkulu.” (Joh. 6:67-69) Babebone futhi bezwa okwanele ukuba baqiniseke ukuthi uJesu kwakunguyena uNkulunkulu ayelibonakalisa ngaye iqiniso eliphathelene naye siqu kanye nenjongo yakhe. (Joh. 1:14; 14:6) Nokho, ukuvivinywa kokholo kwaqhubeka.

Ngemva kokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu, wasebenzisa abaphostoli nabanye njengabelusi bebandla. Babengabantu abangaphelele, futhi ngezinye izikhathi ukungapheleli kwabo kwakubalinga labo ababeseduze nabo. (Qhathanisa nezEnzo 15:36-41; Galathiya 2:11-14.) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, kunabantu abahluleka ukulinganisela ekwaziseni kwabo amaKristu avelele futhi ababethi: “Mina ngingokaPawulu,” kuyilapho abanye bethi: “Mina ngingoka-Apholo.” (1 Kor. 3:4) Bonke kwakudingeka baqaphele ukuba bangalahlekelwa umbono walokho okushiwo ukuba umlandeli kaJesu Kristu.

Umphostoli uPawulu wabikezela ngezinye izinkinga ezingathi sína, echaza ukuthi ngisho nasebandleni lobuKristu ‘kwakuzoba’ namadoda ‘akhuluma okudukisayo, ayezohunga abafundi ukuba bawalandele.’ (IzE. 20:29, 30) Futhi umphostoli uPetru waxwayisa ngokuthi abafundisi bamanga phakathi kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu babezofuna ukuphamba abanye “ngamazwi obuqili.” (2 Pet. 2:1-3) Ngokusobala, kwakusazoba nokuvivinywa okuhlola izinhliziyo kokholo nobuqotho.

Ngakho, ukuvivinywa nokuhlungwa okuyingxenye yomlando woFakazi BakaJehova wosuku lwanamuhla akusona isimanga. Kodwa abaningi baye bamangazwa ukubona abanye bekhutshwa okuthile.

Ingabe Babesazisa Ngempela Isihlengo?

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1870, uMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe bakhula olwazini nasekuqondeni injongo kaNkulunkulu. Kwakuyisikhathi sokuba baqabuleke ngokomoya. Kodwa-ke, ngo-1878, babhekana nokuvivinywa okukhulu kokholo lwabo nobuqotho babo eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Impikiswano yayihilela inani lomhlatshelo wenyama negazi likaJesu—yona kanye imfundiso abaningi babafundi bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala abakhubeka ngayo.

Kwase kuyiminyaka emibili kuphela ngaphambi kwalokhu, ngo-1876, lapho uC. T. Russell asebenzelana khona noN. H. Barbour waseRochester, eNew York. Amaqembu abo atadishayo ayeye ahlangana. URussell wayelungiselele imali yokuvuselela ukunyatheliswa kukamagazini kaBarbour i-Herald of the Morning, uBarbour engumhleli uRussell eyisekela lomhleli. Futhi bahlanganyela ekunyatheliseni incwadi eyayinesihloko esithi Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World.

Kwabe sekwenzeka okuthile okushaqisayo! Kuyi-Herald of the Morning ka-August 1878, uBarbour wabhala isihloko alulaza kuso imibhalo enjengeyoku-1 Petru 3:18 no-Isaya 53:5, 6, namaHeberu 9:22, futhi wathi umqondo wokuthi uKristu wafela ukuhlangula izono zethu wawungamukeleki. URussell kamuva wabhala: “Kuyasimangalisa futhi kuyasidabukisa ukuthi uMnu. Barbour . . . wabhala isihloko se-Herald ephika imfundiso yesihlawulelo—ephika ukuthi ukufa kukaKristu kwakuyinani lesihlengo sika-Adamu nohlanga lwesintu, ethi ukufa kukaKristu kwakungasenzi singafaneleki isijeziso sezono zomuntu njengoba nje ukuhlaba impukane ngokhanjana uyibangele ukuba izwe ubuhlungu futhi ife kungeke kubhekwe umzali wasemhlabeni njengokuthile okuluxazulula ngokufanele udaba lwesenzo esibi sengane yakhe.”a

Lena kwakuyindaba ebucayi. Ingabe uMfoweth’ uRussell wayeyobambelela ngobuqotho kulokho iBhayibheli elalikusho ngokucacile ngokuqondene nelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lokusindiswa kwesintu? Noma ingabe wayeyothonywa ukucabanga kwabantu? Nakuba ngalesosikhathi uRussell ayeneminyaka nje engu-26 ubudala futhi uBarbour eyindoda esikhulile, uRussell ngesibindi wabhala isihloko kumagazini olandelayo we-Herald avikela kuso ngokuqinile inani elihlawulela izono legazi likaKristu, imfundiso ayibiza ngokuthi “ingenye yezimfundiso ezibaluleke kakhulu zezwi likaNkulunkulu.”

Ngokulandelayo, wamema uJ. H. Paton, elinye isekela lomhleli we-Herald, ukuba abhale isihloko esisekela ukholo egazini likaKristu njengesisekelo sokuhlawulela isono. Nangempela uPaton wasibhala lesosihloko, futhi sakhishwa kweka-December. Ngemva kwemizamo ephindaphindiwe engazange iphumelele yokubonisana noBarbour ngemiBhalo ngokuphathelene nalendaba, uRussell wahlukana naye futhi wayeka ukuxhasa lomagazini. Ngo-July 1879, uRussell waqala ukunyathelisa umagazini omusha—i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence—owasisekela ngokukhethekile zisuka nje isihlengo. Kodwa izinkinga azigcinanga lapho.

Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, uPaton, ngalesosikhathi owayekhonza njengommeleli ojikelezayo we-Watch Tower, naye waqala ukuhlehla, ngemva kwalokho wanyathelisa incwadi (eyesibili eyayinesihloko esithi Day Dawn) lapho ayephika khona inkolelo yokuwela kuka-Adamu esonweni futhi ngenxa yalokho waphika ukuthi kwakudingeka umhlengi. Wathi iNkosi ngokwayo yayingumuntu ongaphelele okwathi ngokuphila kwakhe wamane wabonisa abanye indlela yokubulala ukuthambekela kwabo okunesono okujulile okungokwemvelo. Ngo-1881, u-A. D. Jones, omunye wabangane, waqala ukunyathelisa iphephabhuku (i-Zion’s Day Star) elalifana ne-Nqabayokulinda kodwa ekwenza ngomqondo wokuthi lalizokhuluma ngezici ezilula zenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Ekuqaleni konke kwabonakala kuhamba kahle. Nokho, kungakapheli nonyaka, iphephabhuku likaJones laphika umhlatshelo kaKristu ohlawulelayo, ngaphambi kokuphela komunye unyaka, laphika lonke iBhayibheli. Kwakwenzekeni kulawomadoda? Ayevumele imibono yomuntu siqu kanye nokuhlatshwa umxhwele amafilosofi athandwayo abantu ukuba kuwaphambukise eZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa nabaseKolose 2:8.) Iphephabhuku elalinyatheliswa u-A. D. Jones laqhubeka isikhathi esifushane kuphela lase liyanyamalala. UJ. H. Paton wanquma ukunyathelisa umagazini achaza kuwo ivangeli ngendlela ayeliqonda ngayo, kodwa bambalwa ababewuthenga.

UMfoweth’ uRussell wayekhathazeke kakhulu ngomphumela konke lokhu okwakuba nawo kubafundi be-Nqabayokulinda. Waqaphela ukuthi kwakuvivinya ukholo lomuntu ngamunye. Wayazi kahle ukuthi abanye babethatha ngokuthi ukugxeka kwakhe izimfundiso ezingasekelwe ngokombhalo kwakubangelwa umoya wokubanga. Kodwa akukhona ukuthi uMfoweth’ uRussell wayefuna ababezomlandela. Ngokuqondene nokwakwenzeka, wabhala: “Injongo yalokhu kulingwa nokuhlungwa ngokusobala iwukukhetha bonke abazifiso zabo zenhliziyo azinabugovu, abazinikezele eNkosini ngokugcwele nangokungazigodli, abalangazelela ukuba kwenziwe intando yeNkosi, futhi abakuthembela kwabo ekuhlakanipheni kwayo, endleleni naseZwini layo kukhulu kangangokuba bayenqaba ukuphambukiswa eZwini leNkosi, ngokucabanga okudukisayo kwabanye, noma ngamacebo nemiqondo yabo siqu.”

Ingabe UNkulunkulu Wayesebenzisa Umzila Obonakalayo?

Yiqiniso, kunezinhlangano zenkolo eziningi, futhi abafundisi abaningi bayalisebenzisa iBhayibheli ngandlela-thile. Ingabe uNkulunkulu wayesebenzisa uCharles Taze Russell ngokukhethekile? Uma kunjalo, ingabe uNkulunkulu wayeka ukuba nomzila obonakalayo lapho uMfoweth’ uRussell eshona? Lezi kwaba izimpikiswano ezingathi sína, ezaholela kokunye ukuvivinywa nokuhlungwa.

Ngokuqinisekile kwakungenakulindeleka ukuba uNkulunkulu asebenzise uC. T. Russell ukuba wayengabambelele ngobuqotho eZwini likaNkulunkulu. (Jer. 23:28; 2 Thim. 3:16, 17) UNkulunkulu wayengeke asebenzise umuntu owayekugwema ngokwesaba ukushumayela lokho ayekubone kubhalwe ngokucacile emiBhalweni. (Hez. 2:6-8) Futhi uNkulunkulu wayengeke amsebenzise umuntu owayelusebenzisa kabi ulwazi lwakhe lwemiBhalo ukuze alethe udumo kuye ngokwakhe. (Joh. 5:44) Ngakho, amaqiniso abonisani?

Njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bebukeza umsebenzi awenza, izinto azifundisa, isizathu sokuzifundisa kwakhe, nomphumela, abakungabazi ukuthi, empeleni, uCharles Taze Russell wayesetshenziswa uNkulunkulu ngendlela ekhethekile nangesikhathi esibalulekile.

Lombono awusekelwe kuphela ekumeni okuqinile uMfoweth’ uRussell akuthatha ngokuqondene nesihlengo. Ucabangela neqiniso lokuthi wazilahla ngesibindi izivumo zokholo ezinye zazo ezazisekelwe ezinkolelweni zeLobukholwa, ngoba lezizinkolelo zaziphikisana nemiBhalo ephefumlelwe. Lezizinkolelo zazihlanganisa imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu (eyayithathwe eBabiloni lasendulo futhi eyayingazange yamukelwe yilabo ababethi bangamaKristu kwaze kwaba sesikhathini eside ngemva kokuba ukulotshwa kweBhayibheli sekuphelile) kanye nemfundiso yokuthi imiphefumulo yabantu inokungafi okuzuzwe njengefa (eye yamukelwa abantu abathuswa ifilosofi kaPlato futhi eyabashiya bekholelwa imibono enjengokuhlushwa phakade kwemiphefumulo esihogweni somlilo). Futhi, izazi eziningi zeLobukholwa ziyazi ukuthi lezizimfundiso azifundiswa eBhayibhelini,b kodwa akukhona lokho okuvame ukushiwo abashumayeli bazo emapulpiti. Ngokuphambene, uMfoweth’ uRussell waqalisa umkhankaso omkhulu wokuhlanganyela lokho iBhayibheli elikushoyo ngempela nawo wonke umuntu owayezimisele ukulalela.

Okuphawulekayo futhi yilokho uMfoweth’ uRussell akwenza ngamaqiniso abalulekile futhi ayewathole eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Waqonda ukuthi uKristu wayezobuya njengomuntu okhazimulayo womoya, ongabonakali emehlweni abantu. Emuva ngo-1876, waqaphela ukuthi unyaka ka-1914 wawuzophawula ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe. (Luka 21:24) Ezinye izazi zeBhayibheli nazo zazizibonile ezinye zalezizinto futhi zazisekela. Kodwa uMfoweth’ uRussell wasebenzisa konke ayenakho ukuze azisakaze emhlabeni wonke ngezinga ngalesosikhathi elalingenakuqhathaniswa nelanoma yimuphi omunye umuntu noma iqembu.

Wanxusa abanye ukuba baqhathanise izincwadi zakhe ngokucophelela neZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumlelwe ukuze baneliseke ngokuthi lokho ababekufunda kwakuvumelana ngokugcwele nalo. Ephendula othile owayebhale incwadi ebuza, uMfoweth’ uRussell wathi: “Uma kwakufaneleka ukuba amaKristu okuqala ahlole ukuthi zazinjalo yini izinto ayezithole kubaphostoli, ababephefumlelwe futhi besho ukuthi baphefumlelwe, yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kakhulu kangakanani ukuba wena uzanelise ngokugcwele ngokuthi lezizimfundiso ziyahambisana yini nezimfundiso zabo ezihleliwe kanye nezeNkosi yethu;—kwazise umlobi wazo akasho ukuthi uphefumlelwe, kodwa umane nje uthi uqondiswa iNkosi, usetshenziswa yiyo ekondleni umhlambi wayo.”

UMfoweth’ uRussell akazange athi unamandla angaphezu kwavamile, nezambulo zaphezulu. Akazange azibonge ngalokho ayekufundisa. Wayengumfundi weBhayibheli ovelele. Kodwa wachaza ukuthi ukuqonda kwakhe imiBhalo okuphawulekayo kwakubangelwa ‘iqiniso elisobala lokuthi kwakufike isikhathi esifanele sikaNkulunkulu.’ Wathi: “Ukuba angizange ngikhulume, futhi langatholakala elinye inxusa, amatshe ayezomemeza.” Wazibheka njengonkomba, okhomba lokho okushiwo eZwini likaNkulunkulu.

UCharles Taze Russell wayengakufuni ukudunyiswa abantu. Ukuze alungise ukucabanga kwanoma yibaphi ababethambekele ekumaziseni ngokweqile, uMfoweth’ uRussell, ngo-1896, wabhala: “Njengoba ngezinga elithile, ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, siye sasetshenziswa enkonzweni yevangeli, kungase kufaneleke ukuba lapha sisho lokho esiye sakusho ngasese, nakulezizinhlu ngaphambili,—okungukuthi, nakuba silwazisa uthando, isihawu, ukuqiniseka nobudlelwane bezinceku esikanye nazo nobendlu yonke yokholo, asifuni ukuba kudunyiswe, noma kuhlonishwe thina noma izincwadi zethu; futhi asifisi ukubizwa ngokuthi Mfundisi noma Rabbi. Futhi asifisi kube neqembu eliqanjwe ngathi.”

Njengoba kwase kusondela ukuba afe, akazange abe nombono wokuthi akusekho okunye okwakusazofundwa, ukuthi awukho umsebenzi owawusazokwenziwa. Wayevame ukukhuluma ngokulungiselela umqulu wesikhombisa we-Studies in the Scriptures. Lapho ebuzwa ngawo ngaphambi kokuba afe, wathi kuMenta Sturgeon, umngane wakhe ayejikeleza naye: “Noma ubani angawubhala.” Encwadini yakhe yefa wazwakalisa isifiso sokuba INqabayokulinda iqhubeke inyatheliswa ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwekomiti yamadoda ayezinikele ngokugcwele eNkosini. Wathi labo okwakumelwe bakhonze kuyo kwakumelwe kube amadoda “aqotho ngokuphelele ezimfundisweni zemiBhalo—ikakhulukazi emfundisweni yeSihlengo—zokuthi ayikho indlela yokwamukeleka kuNkulunkulu nokusindiselwa ekuphileni okuphakade ngaphandle kokuba nokholo kuKristu nokulalela iZwi laKhe nomoya walo.”

UMfoweth’ uRussell waqaphela ukuthi kwakusenomsebenzi omkhulu okwakusamelwe wenziwe ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle. Esimisweni semibuzo nezimpendulo eVancouver, B.C., eCanada, ngo-1915, wabuzwa ukuthi abalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya ababephila ngalesosikhathi babengakulindela nini ukuthola umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. Waphendula: “Angazi, mkhulu umsebenzi okusamelwe wenziwe. Futhi kuyodinga izinkulungwane zabazalwane nemali eningi kakhulu ukuze wenziwe. Ukuthi lokhu kuzovelaphi angazi—iNkosi iyazazi izindaba zayo.” Khona-ke, ngo-1916, ngaphambidlana nje kokuba aqalise uhambo lokubeka izinkulumo ashona ekulo, wabizela u-A. H. Macmillan ehhovisi lakhe, owayesiza ekuphatheni. Ngalesosikhathi wathi: “Angisakwazi ukuqhubeka nomsebenzi, kanti usemkhulu umsebenzi okumelwe wenziwe.” Wathatha amahora amathathu echazela uMfoweth’ uMacmillan ngomsebenzi omkhulu wokushumayela ayewubona ngaphambili, ngesisekelo semiBhalo. Lapho uMfoweth’ uMacmillan emphikisa, waphendula: “Lomsebenzi akuwona owomuntu.”

Ushintsho Ekuphatheni Lubangela Ukuvivinywa

Abaningi babangane bakaMfoweth’ uRussell babeqiniseka ngempela ukuthi iNkosi yayiqondisa izinto. Emngcwabeni kaMfoweth’ uRussell, uW. E. Van Amburgh wathi: “UNkulunkulu uye wasebenzisa izinceku eziningi esikhathini esidlule futhi ngokungangabazeki uyosebenzisa eziningi esikhathini esizayo. Asizinikezelanga kumuntu, noma emsebenzini womuntu, kodwa sizinikezele ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu, njengoba ezosambulela yona ngeZwi laKhe nangokuhola kwaphezulu. UNkulunkulu usahola.” UMfoweth’ uVan Amburgh akazange antengantenge ekukholelweni kulokho kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe.

Nokho, ngokudabukisayo kwakunabanye ababethi bayamthanda uRussell kodwa ababebonisa umoya ohlukile. Ngenxa yalokho, ukushintsha kwezimo ngemva kokufa kukaRussell kwabangela ukuvivinywa nokuhlungwa. Kwaba namaqembu ezihlubuki hhayi e-United States kuphela kodwa naseBelfast, e-Ireland; eCopenhagen, eDenmark; eVancouver naseVictoria, eBritish Columbia, eCanada; nakwezinye izindawo. EHelsinki, eFinland, abanye bamukela umqondo wokuthi ngemva kokufa kukaRussell wawungasekho umzila wokunye ukukhanya okungokomoya. Ngokunxusa kwabathile abavelele, abangu-164 bayishiya inhlangano. Ingabe lokho kwaba nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu? Isikhathi esithile banyathelisa owabo umagazini futhi baziqhubela eyabo imihlangano. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi leliqembu lahlukana phakathi, lantengantenga, lase liyafa; futhi abaningi babo ngenjabulo baphindela emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli. Nokho akubona bonke ababuya.

Ukufa kukaMfoweth’ uRussell, kanye nezenzakalo ezalandela, kwamvivinya noR. E. B. Nicholson, unobhala wegatsha lase-Australia, futhi kwamenza wabonakalisa okwakusenhliziyweni yakhe. Ngemva kokufa kukaRussell uNicholson wabhala: “Ngiye ngamthanda isikhathi esingaphezu kwengxenye yesine yekhulu leminyaka, hhayi nje ngenxa yemisebenzi yakhe, kodwa nangenxa yobuntu bakhe obuhle, ngiye ngawajabulela amaqiniso aye wawalungiselela ‘njengenyama ngesikhathi esifanele,’ futhi eselulekweni sakhe, ngazisa isimo sokuba nesihawu, umusa, uthando, esixubene kakhulu namandla kanye nokuzimisela okukhulu ukwenza nokuzama noma yini ukuze afeze lokho ayekholelwa ukuthi kuyintando yaPhezulu noma ukwembuleka kweZwi laKhe. . . . Kuba nesizungu lapho umuntu eqaphela ukuthi lensika enamandla ayisekho.”

UJoseph F. Rutherford, umongameli omusha we-Watch Tower Society, wayengelona uhlobo lomuntu uNicholson ayecabanga ukuthi kufanele luthathe isikhundla sokuphatha uMfoweth’ uRussell ayekuso. UNicholson wayeyigxeka obala indlela engagunci izincwadi ezintsha zokutadisha iBhayibheli ezaziyilahla ngayo inkolo yamanga. Ngokushesha wayishiya inhlangano, futhi wathatha izinto eziningi zeNhlangano (ayezibhalise ngegama lakhe) kanye nalabo ababeseMelbourne, nabo ababethambekele ekubhekeni kuye. Kungani kwaba njalo? Ngokusobala uNicholson wazivumela ukuba abe umlandeli womuntu; ngakho, lapho lowomuntu engasekho, ukuthembeka nokushiseka kukaNicholson ekukhonzeni iNkosi kwancipha. Abekho kulabo abazahlukanisa ngalesosikhathi abachuma. Nokho, kuyaphawuleka ukuthi uJane Nicholson, nakuba ayebuthakathaka emzimbeni, akazange ahlanganyele nomyeni wakhe ephutheni lakhe. Okuwuyena muntu ayezinikele kuye kwakuwuJehova uNkulunkulu, futhi waqhubeka emkhonza isikhathi esigcwele kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1951.

Abaningi baqonda ukuthi okwakwenzeka eminyakeni engemva kokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRussell kwakufeza intando yeNkosi. Enye yezinceku zikaJehova eCanada yabhalela uMfoweth’ uRutherford ngokuqondene nalokhu, ithi:

“Mfowethu Othandekayo, ungangiqondi kabi lapho ngibhala lokhu engikubhalayo. Isimo sakho nesikaMfowethu othandekayo uRussell asifani nakancane. Abaningi, yebo, abaningi kakhulu, babemthanda uMfoweth’ uRussell ngenxa yobuntu bakhe, isimo sakhe, nokunye; futhi bambalwa kakhulu ababemphikisa. Abaningi babemukela iqiniso ngoba nje kwakusho uMfoweth’ uRussell. Khona-ke, abaningi bakhulekela umuntu . . . Uyasikhumbula isikhathi uMfoweth’ uRussell emhlanganweni akhuluma ngaso ngokungagunci ngaleliphutha labazalwane abaningi abanezinhloso ezinhle, esekela inkulumo yakhe endabeni kaJohane nengelosi. (IsAmbulo 22:8, 9) Lapho eshona sonke siyakwazi okwenzeka.

“Kodwa wena, Mfoweth’ uRutherford, unesimo esingafani nesikaMfoweth’ uRussell. Ngisho nangokubukeka anifani. Akulona iphutha lakho. Yilokho owakuphiwa ngamhla uzalwa, futhi wawungenakukwenqaba. . . . Selokhu wabekwa ekuphatheni izindaba ZENHLANGANO, uye waba isisulu sokugxekwa ngokungafanele nokunyundelwa okubi kakhulu, konke lokhu kuvela kubazalwane. Nokho naphezu kwakho konke lokhu uye waba qotho futhi wazinikela eNkosini ethandekayo nasemsebenzini wayo njengoba ulotshwe ku-Isaya 61:1-3. Ingabe iNkosi yayikwazi eyayikwenza lapho ikuphathisa lezizindaba? Ngokuqinisekile kunjalo. Esikhathini esidlule sonke sasithambekele ekukhulekeleni isidalwa ngaphezu koMdali. INkosi yayikwazi lokho. Ngakho yabeka isidalwa esinesimo esihlukile ukuba siphathe izindaba, noma kufanele ngithi ukuba siphathe umsebenzi, umsebenzi wokuvuna. Awufisi ukukhulekelwa umuntu. Ngiyakwazi lokho, kodwa uyafisa ukuba bonke abanokholo olufanayo oluyigugu bajabulele ukukhanya okukhanyisa indlela yabalungileyo manje, njengoba iNkosi ikubona kufanele ukuba ikhanye. Futhi yilokho iNkosi efuna kwenziwe.”

Ukuyiveza Ngokucacile “Inceku Ethembekileyo Nehlakaniphile”

Abaningi abahlungwa ngalesosikhathi babebambelele embonweni wokuthi umuntu oyedwa, uCharles Taze Russell, ‘wayeyinceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile’ uJesu abikezela ngayo kuMathewu 24:45-47 (KJ), okuyinceku eyayiyokwabela abendlu yokholo ukudla okungokomoya. Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngemva kokufa kwakhe, INqabayokulinda ngokwayo yaveza lombono iminyaka eminingi. Ngenxa yendima evelele uMfoweth’ uRussell ayebe nayo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bangalesosikhathi babona sengathi lokhu kwakunjalo. Akuyena owakhuthaza lowomqondo, kodwa wawavumela amaphuzu ayebonakala enengqondo alabo ababekuthanda lokho.c Nokho, wabuye wagcizelela ukuthi noma ubani iNkosi engase imsebenzise endimeni enjalo kumelwe athobeke futhi ashisekele ukuyisa udumo eNkosini, nokuthi uma lowo okhethwe iNkosi ehluleka, kwakuyofakwa omunye esikhundleni sakhe.

Nokho, njengoba ukukhanya kweqiniso kwakuqhubeka kukhanya ngisho nangaphezulu ngemva kokufa kukaMfoweth’ uRussell, nanjengoba ukushumayela uJesu abikezela ngakho kwakuba kukhulu ngokwengeziwe, kwaba sobala ukuthi “inceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile” (KJ), noma “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” yayingazange inyamalale lapho kufa uMfoweth’ uRussell. Ngo-1881, uMfoweth’ uRussell ngokwakhe wayeveze umbono wokuthi ‘leyonceku’ yayakhiwa yiyo yonke indikimba yamaKristu athembekile agcotshwe ngomoya. Wayibheka njengenceku eyakhiwa amalungu amaningi, isigaba sabantu ababemunye ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 43:10.) Lokhu kuqonda kwaphinde kwaqinisekiswa abaFundi BeBhayibheli ngo-1927. OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla babheka umagazini INqabayokulinda nezincwadi ezifana nayo njengezisetshenziswa inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo ekwabeni ukudla okungokomoya. Abasho ukuthi lesisigaba senceku asilenzi iphutha, kodwa basibheka njengomzila owodwa iNkosi ewusebenzisayo phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina zalesisimiso sezinto.

Lapho Ukuqhosha Kuba Isithiyo

Nokho, kuye kwaba nezikhathi lapho abantu abathile abasezikhundleni zomthwalo wemfanelo beye bazibheka khona njengomzila wokukhanya okungokomoya, kangangokuba baze benqaba lokho okulungiselelwa inhlangano. Abanye bazivumela ukuba banqotshwe isifiso sokusebenzisa ithonya elengeziwe lomuntu siqu. Bafuna ukwenza abanye babalandele, noma, njengoba umphostoli uPawulu akubeka, ‘ukuhunga abafundi ukuba babalandele.’ (IzE. 20:29, 30) Yebo, lokhu kwavivinya izisusa nokuzinza ngokomoya kwalabo ababezama ukubaheha. Cabangela izibonelo ezithile:

Izincwadi ezikhethekile zamemela abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababese-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, emhlanganweni owawungo-April 5, 1894. UMfowethu noDade Russell abazange bamenywe ngakho abazange baye, kodwa kwakukhona abacishe babe ngu-40. Incwadi, eyayisayinwe u-E. Bryan, uS. D. Rogers, uJ. B. Adamson, no-O. von Zech, yayithi umhlangano wawuphathelene ‘nenhlala-kahle yabo ebaluleke kakhulu.’ Kwacaca ukuthi kwakuwumzamo wobuqili owenziwa yilababophi bozungu wokonakalisa izingqondo zabanye ngokuveza lokho ababecabanga ukuthi kuwububi bukaMfoweth’ uRussell ezindabeni zebhizinisi (nakuba amaqiniso ayebonisa okuphambene nalokho), ngokuveza iphuzu lokuthi uMfoweth’ uRussell wayenegunya elikhulu ngokweqile (ababezifunela lona), nangokukhononda ngokuthi wayethanda ukusebenzisa ukwaziswa okunyathelisiwe ekusakazeni ivangeli kanye nemihlangano yamakilasi eBhayibheli esikhundleni sokubeka izinkulumo kuphela (ababengayiveza kalula kuzo imibono yabo yomuntu siqu). Lokho okwenzeka kwaliphazamisa kakhulu ibandla, futhi abaningi bakhubeka. Kodwa labo abashiya inhlangano abazange babe abantu abangokomoya ngokwengeziwe noma bashiseke ngokwengeziwe emsebenzini weNkosi.

Eminyakeni engu-20 kamuva, ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uMfoweth’ uRussell wayezwakalise inhloso yakhe yokuthumela uPaul S. L. Johnson, isikhulumi esasifaneleka kakhulu, eBrithani ukuba ayoqinisa abaFundi BeBhayibheli lapho. Ihlonipha isifiso sikaMfoweth’ uRussell, iNhlangano yathumela uJohnson eBrithani ngo-November 1916. Nokho, lapho eseBrithani, waxosha abaphathi ababili beNhlangano. Ezibona engumuntu obalulekile, ezinkulumweni nasezincwadini zakhe wathi ayekwenza kwakufanekiselwe emiBhalweni u-Ezra, uNehemiya, noMoridekayi. Wathi uyinduna (noma, ophathisiwe) uJesu akhuluma ngayo emfanekisweni wakhe okuMathewu 20:8. Wazama ukulawula ukusetshenziswa kwemali yeNhlangano, futhi wavula icala eNkantolo Ephakeme yaseLondon ukuze afeze izinjongo zakhe.

Lapho imizamo yakhe ibhuntsha, waphindela eNew York. Lapho wafuna ukuthola ukusekelwa abathile ababekhonza ebhodini yabaqondisi beNhlangano. Labo abayengelwa ekubeni bavumelane naye bazama ukufeza izinjongo zabo ngokuzama ukudlulisa izwi lesinqumo lokuba kumelwane nemithetho yeNhlangano eyayigunyaza umongameli ukuba aphathe izindaba zayo. Babefuna ukuba negunya lokuba zonke izinqumo zivele kubo. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wathatha isinyathelo esingokomthetho sokulondoloza izithakazelo zeNhlangano, futhi labo ababefuna ukuphazamisa umsebenzi wayo baxoshwa eKhaya LaseBethel. Emhlanganweni waminyaka yonke wabanamasheya eNhlanganweni ekuqaleni konyaka olandelayo, lapho ibhodi yabaqondisi nezikhulu zayo benza ukhetho lonyaka owawuzolandela, labo baphehli benxushunxushu benqatshwa ngokuphelele. Mhlawumbe abanye babo babengaziboni benephutha, kodwa iningi labafowabo abangokomoya lakwenza kwacaca ukuthi lalingavumelani nabo. Ingabe babeyokwamukela ukusolwa?

Ngemva kwalokho, uP. S. L. Johnson waba khona emihlanganweni yabaFundi BeBhayibheli wenza sengathi wayevumelana nezinkolelo zabo kanye nomsebenzi wabo. Kodwa lapho esenze abanye bamethemba, wahlwanyela imbewu yokungabaza. Lapho noma ubani esikisela ukuthi uzohlukana neNhlangano, ngokuzenzisa wayengakutusi lokhu—kwaze kwaba yilapho ubuqotho beqembu sebenziwe baba buthaka ngokuphelele. Ngokubabhalela izincwadi nangokuziyela kubo mathupha, wazama ukuthonya abazalwane hhayi e-United States kuphela kodwa naseCanada, eJamaica, eYurophu, nase-Australia. Ingabe lokhu kwaphumelela?

Mhlawumbe kwabonakala kunjalo lapho iningi ebandleni livotela ukunqamula ubuhlobo balo neNhlangano. Kodwa babenjengegatsha elinqunywe emthini—eliba luhlaza okwesikhashana, bese liyabuna futhi life. Lapho abaphikisi beba nomhlangano ngo-1918, kwavela ukungavumelani, kwase kuba nokuhlukana. Kwalandela okunye ukuhlukana. Abanye basebenza okwesikhashana njengamahlelo amancane ayenomholi othile abamthandayo. Abekho kubo ababezinikele emsebenzini wokunikeza ubufakazi obala emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe obuphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu, okuwumsebenzi uJesu awabela abalandeli bakhe.

Njengoba lezizinto zazenzeka, abazalwane bazikhumbuza lokho okwalotshwa kweyoku-1 Petru 4:12: “Bathandekayo, ningamangali ngomlilo ophakathi kwenu enifikelwa yiwo ukuba nilingwe ngokungathi nehlelwe yinto engaziwayo.”

Labo osekukhulunywe ngabo akubona bodwa abavumela ukuqhosha kwalwenza lwaba buthaka ukholo lwabo. Nabanye bakwenza lokho, kuhlanganise no-Alexandre Freytag, umphathi wehhovisi leNhlangano eGeneva, eSwitzerland. Wayekuthanda ukwenza abanye bamqaphele, wayenezela imibono yakhe lapho ehumushela izincwadi zeNhlangano olimini lwesiFulentshi, futhi esebenzisa ngisho nemishini yeNhlangano ekunyatheliseni izincwadi zakhe siqu. ECanada, kwakunoW. F. Salter, umphathi wegatsha weNhlangano owaqala ukuphikisa izincwadi zeNhlangano, owatshela abanye ukuthi wayelindele ukuba abe umongameli olandelayo we-Watch Tower Society, futhi, ngemva kokuba exoshiwe, ngokungathembeki wasebenzisa amaphepha okubhala anegama leNhlangano ekuyaleni amabandla aseCanada naphesheya ukuba afunde izincwadi ezazibhalwe nguye. ENigeria, phakathi kwabanye, kwakunoG. M. Ukoli, ekuqaleni owabonisa ukulishisekela iqiniso kodwa-ke waqala ukulibheka njengendlela yokuthola inzuzo yezinto ezibonakalayo nokuvelela komuntu siqu. Ngemva kwalokho, lapho izinjongo zakhe zibhuntsha, waphendukela ekugxekeni abazalwane emaphephandabeni omphakathi. Babekhona-ke nabanye.

Ngisho naseminyakeni yamuva, abantu abathile abaye baba sezikhundleni ezivelele zokuphatha baye babonisa umoya ofanayo.

Yiqiniso, labantu ngokuqinisekile babenenkululeko yokukholelwa yilokho ababezikhethele khona. Kodwa noma ubani okuthi obala noma ngasese asekele imibono engafani naleyo esezincwadini zenhlangano, futhi owenza lokho kuyilapho ethi umelela leyonhlangano, ubangela ukwahlukana. OFakazi BakaJehova bazisingatha kanjani lezizimo?

Abazange baqalise umkhankaso wokubashushisa abantu abanjalo (nakuba labo abaphambukayo babebaxhaphaza labo ababengabafowabo abangokomoya), futhi abazange bafune ukubalimaza ngokomzimba (njengoba kwakwenziwa iSonto lamaKatolika ngokuQulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki). Kunalokho, balandela iseluleko esiphefumlelwe sikamphostoli uPawulu, owabhala: “Niqaphele ababanga ukwahlukana nokukhubekisa, bephambene nesifundiso enafundiswa sona nina, nahlukane nabo; ngokuba abanjalo abayikhonzi iNkosi yethu uKristu . . . Ngamazwi amahle namnandi bakhohlisa izinhliziyo zabangenacala.”—Roma 16:17, 18.

Njengoba abanye babebukela okwakwenzeka, nabo banikezwa ithuba lokuveza okwakusezinhliziyweni zabo.

Imibono Ehilela Izimfundiso Idinga Ukucolisiswa

OFakazi BakaJehova bakuvuma ngokukhululeka ukuthi ukuqonda kwabo injongo kaNkulunkulu kuye kwalungiswa kaningi phakathi neminyaka edlule. Iqiniso lokuthi ulwazi oluphathelene nenjongo kaNkulunkulu luyaqhubeka lwanda lisho ukuthi kumelwe kube noshintsho. Akukhona ukuthi injongo kaNkulunkulu iyashintsha, kodwa ukukhanyiselwa aqhubeka ekunikeza izinceku zakhe kwenza kudingeke ukuba zilungise imibono yazo.

Besebenzisa iBhayibheli oFakazi babonisa ukuthi lokhu kwakunjalo nangezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo ezithembekile. U-Abrahama wayenobuhlobo obuseduze noJehova; kodwa lapho ithutha e-Uri, leyondoda yokholo yayingalazi izwe uNkulunkulu ayeyiholela kulo, futhi iminyaka eminingi yayingaqiniseki nakancane ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyosifeza kanjani isithembiso sakhe sokuyenza ibe isizwe esikhulu. (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:3; 17:15-21; Heb. 11:8) UNkulunkulu wembulela abaprofethi amaqiniso amaningi, kodwa kwakunezinye izinto abangazange baziqonde ngalesosikhathi. (Dan. 12:8, 9; 1 Pet. 1:10-12) Ngokufanayo, uJesu wachazela abaphostoli bakhe izinto eziningi, kodwa ngisho nasekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni wabatshela ukuthi kwakusenezinto eziningi okwakusamelwe bazifunde. (Joh. 16:12) Ezinye zalezizinto, njengenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokuletha abeZizwe ebandleni, azizange ziqondwe kwaze kwaba yilapho abaphostoli bezibona zenzeka ngempela ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho.—IzE. 11:1-18.

Njengoba kulindelekile, lapho izinguquko zikwenza kudingeke ukuba kuyekwe imibono eyayithandwa, lokho kwabavivinya abanye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akukhona konke ukulungisa ekuqondeni okuye kwaba lula, futhi kwenzeka ngesikhathi esisodwa. Ngenxa yokungapheleli, ngezinye izikhathi kuba nokuthambekela kokweqisa ngandlela-thile ngaphambi kokuba kuqondwe isimo esifanele. Lokhu kungase kuthathe isikhathi. Abanye abathanda ukugxeka baye bakhubeka ngenxa yalokhu. Cabangela nalesisibonelo:

Emuva ngo-1880, izincwadi ze-Watch Tower zazikhuluma ngemininingwane ehlukahlukene ehlobene nesivumelwano sika-Abrahama, isivumelwano soMthetho, nesivumelwano esisha. ELobukholwa lalisikhohliwe isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuthi ngembewu ka-Abrahama imindeni yomhlaba yayiyobusiswa nakanjani. (Gen. 22:18) Kodwa uMfoweth’ uRussell wayenesithakazelo esijulile ekuqondeni indlela uNkulunkulu ayeyokufeza ngayo lokhu. Wacabanga ukuthi encazelweni yeBhayibheli yoSuku LwamaJuda LokuBuyisana wayebone indlela lokhu okwakungase kufezwe ngayo ngokuqondene nesivumelwano esisha. Ngo-1907, lapho kuphinde kuxoxwa ngalezizivumelwano, kugcizelelwa ngokukhethekile indima yezindlalifa ezikanye noKristu ekuletheleni isintu izibusiso ezabikezelwa esivumelwaneni sika-Abrahama, abanye babaFundi BeBhayibheli baphikisa kakhulu.

Ngalesosikhathi kwakunezithiyo ezithile ekuqondeni izindaba ngokucacile. AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babengakayiboni ngokucacile indawo ka-Israyeli wemvelo ngokuqondene nenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Lesisithiyo asizange sisuswe kwaze kwaba yilapho sekusobala ukuthi amaJuda njengabantu ayengenasithakazelo ekusetshenzisweni uNkulunkulu ekugcwaliseni izwi lakhe lesiprofetho. Esinye isithiyo sasiwukuhluleka kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli ukuchaza ngokunembile “isixuku esikhulu” sesAmbulo 7:9, 10. Lokhu akuzange kucace kwaze kwaba yilapho isixuku esikhulu siqala ukuzibonakalisa ekugcwalisekeni kwesiprofetho. Labo ababemgxeka kakhulu uMfoweth’ uRussell nabo babengakuqondi lokhu.

Nokho, beqamba amanga abanye ababethi bangabazalwane abangamaKristu bamangalela INqabayokulinda ngokuthi yayikuphikile ukuthi uJesu unguMlamuleli phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu, ukuthi yayisiphikile isihlengo futhi yenqaba ukuba yisidingo nokuba yiqiniso kwesihlawulelo. Akukho kulokhu okwakuyiqiniso. Kodwa abanye abakusho kwakungabantu abavelele, futhi bayenga abanye ukuba babe abafundi babo. Kungenzeka babenemba kweminye imininingwane ababeyifundisa ngokuqondene nesivumelwano esisha, kodwa ingabe iNkosi yakubusisa ababekwenza? Isikhathi esithile abanye babo baqhuba imihlangano, kodwa-ke amaqembu abo ahlukana.

Ngokuphambene, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baqhubeka behlanganyela ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle, njengoba uJesu ayeyale abafundi bakhe. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, baqhubeka behlola iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi bebheka izenzakalo ezaziyokhanyisa lokho elikushoyo. Ekugcineni, ngawo-1930, kwasuswa izithiyo eziyinhloko ekuziqondeni ngokucacile izivumelwano, futhi izinkulumo ezifanele ngalendaba zakhishwa ku-Nqabayokulinda nezincwadi ezihlobene nayo.d Yeka injabulo lokhu okwayilethela labo abalinda ngokubekezela!

Ingabe Ababekulindele Kwakufanele?

Ngezinye izikhathi abaFundi BeBhayibheli baye baba namathemba futhi balindela okuthile okuye kwahlekwa usulu abagxeki. Nokho, wonke lawomathemba kanye nalokho ababekulindele kwakusekelwe esifisweni esijulile sokukubona kugcwaliseka lokho amaKristu ashisekayo ayekubheka njengezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ezingahluleki.

Ngenxa yokuthi babecwaninga imiBhalo ephefumlelwe, babazi ukuthi uJehova wayethembise ukuthi zonke izizwe zomhlaba zaziyobusiswa ngembewu ka-Abrahama. (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:15-18) EZwini likaNkulunkulu babona isithembiso sokuthi iNdodana yomuntu yayizobusa njengeNkosi yasezulwini phezu kwawo wonke umhlaba, ukuthi umhlambi omncane wabathembekileyo wawuyothathwa emhlabeni ukuze uyohlanganyela nayo eMbusweni wayo, nokuthi lomhlambi wawuyobusa njengamakhosi iminyaka eyinkulungwane. (Dan. 7:13, 14; Luke 12:32; IsAm. 5:9, 10; 14:1-5; 20:6) Babesazi isithembiso sikaJesu sokuthi wayezobuya ezolanda ayebalungisele indawo ezulwini. (Joh. 14:1-3) Babejwayelene nesithembiso sokuthi uMesiya wayeyokhetha abanye bokhokho bakhe abathembekile ukuba babe amakhosana emhlabeni wonke. (IHu. 45:16, qhathanisa neNW.) Baqaphela ukuthi imiBhalo yabikezela ngokuphela kwesimiso sezinto esidala esibi futhi baqaphela ukuthi lokhu kwakuhlobene nempi yosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke e-Armagedoni. (Math. 24:3; IsAm. 16:14, 16) Babehlatshwe umxhwele kakhulu imibhalo ebonisa ukuthi umhlaba wawudalelwe ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo phakade, ukuthi labo ababehlala kuwo kwakumelwe babe nokuthula kweqiniso, nokuthi bonke ababeyobonisa ukholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu wobuntu obuphelele babengajabulela ukuphila okuphakade ePharadesi.—Isaya 2:4; 45:18; Luka 23:42, 43; Joh. 3:16.

Kwakufanele bazibuze ukuthi lezizinto zaziyokwenzeka nini nokuthi kanjani. Ingabe imiBhalo ephefumlelwe yayilunikezile uphawu oluthile?

Besebenzisa ukubala kweBhayibheli izikhathi zezenzakalo okwaqale kwachazwa uChristopher Bowen waseNgilandi, bacabanga ukuthi iminyaka engu-6 000 yomlando wesintu yayiphele ngo-1873, ukuthi ngemva kwalokho base besenkathini yonyaka wenkulungwane yesikhombisa womlando wesintu, nokuthi ngokuqinisekile base besondele ekuqaleni kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane eyayibikezelwe. Uchungechunge lwezincwadi ezaziwa ngokuthi i-Millennial Dawn (futhi kamuva olwabizwa ngokuthi i-Studies in the Scriptures), olwabhalwa uC. T. Russell, lwaludonsela ukunakekela kulokho okwakusikiselwa yilokhu ngokuvumelana nalokho abaFundi BeBhayibheli ababekuqonda emiBhalweni.

Okunye futhi okwabhekwa njengokungase kube uphawu lwesikhathi kwakuyilungiselelo uNkulunkulu ayelimise kwa-Israyeli wasendulo leJubili, unyaka woyekelo, njalo ngonyaka wama-50. LeliJubili laliba ngemva kochungechunge lwezinkathi eziyisikhombisa zeminyaka eyisikhombisa, inkathi ngayinye eyayiphela ngonyaka wesabatha. Phakathi nonyaka weJubili, izigqila ezingamaHeberu zazikhululwa futhi izindawo ezingamafa ezazithengisiwe zazibuyiselwa. (Lev. 25:8-10) Ukubala okusekelwe kulesisiyingi seminyaka kwaholela esiphethweni sokuthi mhlawumbe iJubili elikhulu kakhulu lomhlaba wonke laliqale ekwindla ka-1874, ukuthi ngokusobala iNkosi yayibuye ngalowonyaka futhi yayikhona ngokungabonakali, nokuthi zase zifikile “izikhathi zokubuyiselwa kwakho konke.”—IzE. 3:19-21.

Ngokusekelwe ekucabangeleni kokuthi izenzakalo zekhulu lokuqala zazingase zihlobane nezenzakalo zakamuva, baphetha nangokuthi uma ukubhapathizwa nokugcotshwa kukaJesu ekwindla ka-29 C.E. kwakufanekisela ukuqala kokuba khona okungabonakali ngo-1874, khona-ke ukungena kwakhe eJerusalema njengeNkosi entwasahlobo ka-33 C.E. egibele imbongolo kwakuyokhomba entwasahlobo ka-1878 njengesikhathi ayeyoqala ngaso ukubusa njengeNkosi yasezulwini.e Bacabanga nokuthi babezonikezwa umvuzo wabo wasezulwini ngalesosikhathi. Lapho lokho kungenzeki, baphetha ngokuthi njengoba abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe babezohlanganyela naye eMbusweni, ukuvuselwa ekuphileni komoya kwalabo kakade abase belele ekufeni kwaqala ngalesosikhathi. Kwacatshangwa nokuthi ukuyeka kukaNkulunkulu ukubonisa umusa okhethekile ku-Israyeli wemvelo kuze kube u-36 C.E. kwakungase kukhombe ku-1881 njengesikhathi okwakuyonqamuka ngaso ithuba elikhethekile lokuba yingxenye ka-Israyeli ongokomoya.f

Enkulumweni ethi “Izigidi Eziphilayo Manje Azisoze Zafa,” eyabekwa uJ. F. Rutherford ngo-March 21, 1920, eHippodrome eDolobheni laseNew York, kwadonselwa ukunakekela onyakeni ka-1925. Kungani kwakucatshangwa ukuthi wawubalulekile? Encwajaneni eyakhishwa ngawo lowonyaka, ngo-1920, kwavezwa ukuthi uma amaJubili angu-70 agcwele engase abalwe kusukela esikhathini okwacakutshangwa ukuthi u-Israyeli wangena ngaso eZweni Lesithembiso (esikhundleni sokuqala ngemva kweJubili lokugcina elingokomfanekiso ngaphambi kokuthunjwa kwaseBabiloni bese bebala kusukela ekuqaleni konyaka weJubili ekupheleni kwesiyingi sama-50), lokhu kwakuyokhomba onyakeni ka-1925. Ngesisekelo salokho okwashiwo lapho, abaningi babethemba ukuthi mhlawumbe abasele bomhlambi omncane babeyothola umvuzo wabo wasezulwini ngo-1925. Lonyaka wabuye wahlanganiswa nokulindela ukuvuswa kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile zangaphambi kobuKristu ukuze zikhonze emhlabeni njengabameleli abangamakhosana boMbuso wasezulwini. Ukuba lokho kwenzeka ngempela, kwakuyosho ukuthi isintu sasingene enkathini lapho ukufa kwakungeke kusabusa khona, futhi izigidi ezaziphila ngalesosikhathi zazingaba nethemba lokuthi zazingasoze zife emhlabeni. Yeka ithemba elijabulisayo! Nakuba lalinephutha, balihlanganyela nabanye ngentshiseko.

Kamuva, phakathi neminyaka esukela ku-1935 kuya ku-1944, ukubukezwa kwakho konke ukubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kweBhayibheli kwembula ukuthi ukungahunyushwa kahle kwezEnzo 13:19, 20 kuyi-King James Version,g kanye nezinye izici ezithile, kwakwenze ukubalwa kwezikhathi zezenzakalo kwasilela ngesikhathi esingaphezu kweminyaka eyikhulu.h Lokhu kamuva kwaholela embonweni—ngezinye izikhathi owawushiwo njengento eyayingase yenzeke, ngezinye izikhathi ushiwo ngokuqiniseka—wokuthi njengoba inkulungwane yesikhombisa yeminyaka yomlando womuntu yayizoqala ngo-1975, izenzakalo ezihlobene noKubusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane zazizoqala ukwenzeka.

Ingabe izinkolelo zoFakazi BakaJehova kulezizindaba zazinembile? Ngokuqinisekile babengenzanga iphutha ngokukholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokufeza nakanjani akuthembisile. Kodwa okunye kokubala kwabo izikhathi kanye nalokho ababekulindele ababekuhlobanise nalezizikhathi kwabangela ukudumala okungathi sína.

Ngemva kuka-1925, inani lababeba khona emhlanganweni lehla ngokuphawulekayo kwamanye amabandla aseFrance naseSwitzerland. Futhi, ngo-1975, kwaba nendumalo lapho kungenzeki okwakulindelwe ngokuqondene nokuqala kweMinyaka Eyinkulungwane. Ngenxa yalokho, abanye bayishiya inhlangano. Abanye, ngenxa yokuthi babefuna ukonakalisa ukholo lwabazalwane, basuswa ekuhlanganyeleni. Ngokungangabazeki, imbangela kwakuyindumalo eyabangelwa isikhathi, kodwa kwezinye izimo kwakunokungaphezu kwalokho. Abanye abantu baphikisana nephuzu lokuthi kwakudingeka kuhlanganyelwe enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu. Abathile abazange baneliswe nje ukushiya inhlangano; bayiphikisa ngamandla inhlangano ababehlanganyela nayo, futhi basebenzisa amaphephandaba omphakathi nethelevishini ukuze bazwakalise imibono yabo. Nokho, inani labaphambuka lalilincane uma kuqhathaniswa.

Nakuba lokhu kuvivinywa kwaphumela ekuhlungweni nasekuphephethweni kwabanye njengamakhoba lapho kweliwa ukolweni, abanye bahlala beqinile. Ngani? Ekhuluma ngokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe siqu nokwabanye ngo-1925, uJules Feller wachaza: “Labo ababethembele kuJehova bahlala beqinile futhi baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela.” Baqaphela ukuthi kwakwenziwe iphutha kodwa lokho kwakungasho ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu lihlulekile, futhi ngenxa yalokho kwakungenasizathu sokuba ithemba labo lifiphale noma banciphise intshiseko emsebenzini wokuqondisa abantu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwethemba lesintu.

Okwakulindelwe akuzange kugcwaliseke, kodwa lokho kwakungasho neze ukuthi ukubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kweBhayibheli kwakungabalulekile. Isiprofetho esalotshwa uDaniyeli esiphathelene nokuvela kukaMesiya emasontweni angu-69 eminyaka ngemva ‘kokuphuma kwezwi lokubuyisa nokwakha iJerusalema’ sagcwaliseka ngesikhathi esifanele, ngo-29 C.E.i (Dan. 9:24-27) Nonyaka ka-1914 wawuphawuliwe isiprofetho seBhayibheli.

U-1914—Okwakulindelwe Kanye Nokungokoqobo

Ngo-1876, uC. T. Russell wabhala esokuqala sezihloko eziningi akhomba kuzo onyakeni ka-1914 okwakuzophela ngawo iZikhathi Zabezizwe uJesu Kristu akhuluma ngazo. (Luka 21:24) Emqulwini wesibili we-Millennial Dawn, owanyatheliswa ngo-1889, uMfoweth’ uRussell ngendlela ecatshangelwe kahle wanikeza imininingwane eyayiyokwenza abafundi babone isisekelo esingokomBhalo salokho okwashiwo ukuze bazihlolele bona. Enkathini ecishe ibe iminyaka engamashumi amane ngaphambi kuka-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli basakaza izigidi zamakhophi ezincwadi ezazigxilisa ukunakekela ekupheleni kweZikhathi Zabezizwe. Namanye amaphephabhuku ambalwa enkolo akuphawula ukubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kweBhayibheli okwakukhomba onyakeni ka-1914, kodwa yiliphi elinye iqembu ngaphandle kwabaFundi BeBhayibheli elasakaza lokho ngokuqhubekayo emhlabeni wonke futhi laphila ngendlela eyayibonisa ukuthi lalikholelwa ukuthi iZikhathi Zabezizwe zazizophela ngalowonyaka?

Njengoba u-1914 ayesondela, amathemba akhula. Kwakuyosho ukuthini? Kuyi-Bible Students Monthly (Umqulu VI, No. 1, owanyatheliswa ekuqaleni kuka-1914), uMfoweth’ uRussell wabhala: “Uma unyaka nokubala izikhathi zezenzakalo kunembile, iZikhathi Zabezizwe zizophela kulonyaka—u-1914. Kubaluleke ngani? Asiqiniseki ngalokho. Silindele ukuba ukubusa ngokuqondile kukaMesiya kuqale ngalesisikhathi sokuphela kokunikezelwa kwemibuso kwabeZizwe. Esikulindele, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kunjalo noma akunjalo, ukuba kube nokubonakaliswa okumangalisayo kwezahlulelo zaPhezulu ngokumelene nakho konke ukungalungi, nokuthi lokhu kuyosho ukuhlakazeka kwezinhlangano eziningi zesikhathi samanje, uma kungeke kube yizo zonke.” Wagcizelela ukuthi wayengalindele “ukuphela kwezwe” ngo-1914 nokuthi umhlaba uyohlale ukhona kuze kube phakade, kodwa wathi uhlelo lwezinto olukhona manje, uSathane angumbusi walo, luzodlula.

Kweka-October 15, 1913, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yayithe: “Ngokokubalwa okungcono kwezikhathi zezenzakalo esikuqondayo, cishe kuzokwenzeka ngalesosikhathi—ngo-October, 1914, noma kamuva. Nakuba singagomeli, sibheke ezenzakalweni ezithile: (1) Ukuphela kweZikhathi Zabezizwe—ukubusa kwabeZizwe emhlabeni—(2) Nokumiswa koMbuso wobuMesiya emhlabeni.”

Kwakuzokwenzeka kanjani lokhu? AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bakubona kunengqondo ukuba lokho kuhlanganise ukukhazinyuliswa kwanoma yibaphi ababesesemhlabeni ababekhethwe uNkulunkulu ukuba bahlanganyele noKristu eMbusweni wasezulwini. Kodwa bazizwa kanjani lapho lokho kungenzeki ngo-1914? INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-April 15, 1916, yathi: “Sikholelwa ukuthi isikhathi besinembile. Siyakholelwa ukuthi iZikhathi Zabezizwe ziye zaphela.” Nokho, ngokungagunci yanezela: “INkosi ayizange isho ukuthi iBandla laliyokhazinyuliswa ngo-1914. Samane saqagela, futhi ngokusobala, senza iphutha.”

Kulokhu babecishe bafane nabaphostoli bakaJesu. Abaphostoli babazi futhi becabanga ukuthi babekholelwa eziprofethweni eziphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa ngezikhathi ezihlukahlukene babelindele okungafanele ngokuqondene nokuthi leziziprofetho zaziyokwenzeka nini. Lokhu kwaholela ekubeni abanye badumale.—Luka 19:11; 24:19-24; IzE. 1:6.

Lapho u-October 1914 edlula kungenzeki ukuba bashintshelwe ekuphileni kwasezulwini okwakulindelwe, uMfoweth’ uRussell wazi ukuthi abantu babezoqala ukungabaza ngokungathi sína. Ku-Nqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-November 1, 1914, wabhala: “Masikhumbule ukuthi sisenkathini yokuvivinywa. AbaPhostoli babhekana nenkathi efanayo phakathi nesikhathi sokufa kweNkosi yethu nePentekoste. Ngemva kokuvuswa kweNkosi yethu, yabonakala kubafundi baYo izikhathi ezimbalwa, futhi ababange besayibona izinsuku eziningi. Khona-ke badumala futhi bathi, ‘Akusizi ukulinda’; ‘Ngisaya kodoba,’ kusho omunye. Abanye ababili bathi, ‘Sizohamba nawe.’ Base bezoya emsebenzini wokudoba futhi bashiye umsebenzi wokudoba abantu. Lesisikhathi kwakuyisikhathi sokuvivinywa kwabafundi. Nathi sibhekene nesikhathi esifanayo manje. Uma kukhona noma isiphi isizathu esingabangela noma ubani ukuba ashiye iNkosi neQiniso laYo futhi ayeke ukuzidela ngenxa yeNjongo yeNkosi, khona-ke akulona nje uthando ngoNkulunkulu olusenhliziyweni olubangele ukuba abe nesithakazelo eNkosini, kodwa okunye; cishe ukwethemba ukuthi isikhathi sifushane; ukuthi ukuzinikela kwakungokwesikhathi esithile kuphela.”

Cishe lokho kwakunjalo kwabanye. Imicabango yabo nezifiso kwakugxile ngokuyinhloko ethembeni lokushintshelwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini. Lapho lokhu kungenzeki ngesikhathi okwakulindelwe ngaso, benqaba ukwamukela lokho okwakushiwo izinto ezimangalisayo ezenzeka ngo-1914. Abawaqaphelanga wonke amaqiniso ayigugu ababewafunde eZwini likaNkulunkulu, futhi baqala ukubahleka usulu abantu ababebasize ukuba bafunde lamaqiniso.

Ngokuzithoba, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baphinde bahlolisisa imiBhalo, ukuze bavumele iZwi likaNkulunkulu lilungise umbono wabo. Ukuqiniseka kwabo ngokuthi iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaziphele ngo-1914 akuzange kushintshe. Kancane kancane babona ngokucace ngokwengeziwe indlela uMbuso wobuMesiya owawuqale ngayo—ukuthi wamiswa ezulwini lapho uJehova emnikeza igunya uJesu Kristu, iNdodana yakhe; nokuthi, lokhu kwakungadingi ukuba kulinde kuze kube yilapho izindlalifa ezikanye noJesu zivuselwe ekuphileni kwasezulwini kodwa zaziyokhazinyuliswa naye kamuva. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babona ukuthi ukusakazeka kwethonya loMbuso kwakungadingi ukuba kuqale kuvuswe abaprofethi abathembekile basendulo, kodwa ukuthi iNkosi yayizosebenzisa amaKristu aqotho aphila manje njengabameleli bayo ekunikezeni abantu bazo zonke izizwe ithuba lokuphila phakade njengezikhonzi zasemhlabeni zoMbuso.

Njengoba lomfanekiso omuhle wawembuleka phambi kwamehlo abo, kwaba nokunye ukuvivinywa nokuhlungwa. Kodwa labo ababemthanda ngempela uJehova futhi bekujabulela ukumkhonza babebonga kakhulu ngamalungelo enkonzo ayebavulekela.—IsAm. 3:7, 8.

Omunye walaba kwakungu-A. H. Macmillan. Kamuva wabhala: “Nakuba amathemba ethu ngokuqondene nokuyiswa ezulwini engazange agcwaliseke ngo-1914, ngalowonyaka zaphela ngempela iZikhathi Zabezizwe . . . Sasingadumele kakhulu ngokuthi akukhona konke okwenzeka ngendlela esasikulindele ngayo, ngoba sasimatasa ngomsebenzi we-Photo-Drama kanye nezinkinga ezazibangelwe impi.” Waqhubeka ematasa enkonzweni kaJehova futhi wajabula lapho ebona inani labamemezeli boMbuso likhula liba ngaphezu kwesigidi phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwakhe.

Lapho ebheka emuva kokuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe phakathi neminyaka engu-66 esenhlanganweni, wathi: “Ngiye ngabona ukulingwa okukhulu kufikela inhlangano nokuvivinywa kokholo lwalabo abakuyo. Ngosizo lomoya kaNkulunkulu yamelana nakho futhi yaqhubeka ichuma.” Ngokuqondene nokulungisa ekuqondeni okwakwenzeka, wanezela: “Amaqiniso ayisisekelo esawafunda emiBhalweni awazange ashintshe. Ngakho ngafunda ukuthi kufanele siwavume amaphutha ethu futhi siqhubeke sihlola iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze sithole ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yikuphi ukulungisa okuyodingeka sikwenze ngezikhathi ezithile emibonweni yethu, lokho akunakulishintsha ilungiselelo lomusa lesihlengo nesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuphila okuphakade.”

Phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwakhe, uMfoweth’ uMacmillan wabona ukuthi, phakathi kwezimpikiswano ezaziphumela ekuvivinyweni kokholo, eyokuzimisela ukufakaza neyokwazisa inhlangano engokwasezulwini yizona zombili ezazikuveza obala lokho okwakusezinhliziyweni zabantu ngempela. Kanjani?

Inkonzo Yasensimini Nenhlangano Kuba Izimpikiswano

Kusukela kumagazini wayo wokuqala ngqá, nangokugcizelela ngokwengeziwe ngemva kwalokho, i-Zion’s Watch Tower yanxusa wonke amaKristu eqiniso ukuba ahlanganyele iqiniso nabanye. Ngemva kwalokho, abafundi be-Nqabayokulinda bakhuthazwa njalo ukuba bazise ilungelo ababenalo nomthwalo wemfanelo wabo wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle kwabanye. Abaningi babengahlanganyeli ngokugcwele, kodwa uma kuqhathaniswa babembalwa ababehola kulomsebenzi, beya endlini ngendlu ukuze banikeze wonke umuntu ithuba lokuzwa isigijimi soMbuso.

Nokho, kusukela ngonyaka ka-1919, ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini kwaba ngokuvelele ngokwengeziwe. UMfoweth’ uRutherford wakugcizelela ngamandla enkulumweni ayibeka eCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngalowonyaka. Ebandleni ngalinye elacela iNhlangano ukuba ilihlelele inkonzo, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okuba umsebenzi unakekelwe umqondisi wenkonzo, owayemiswe iNhlangano. Yena uqobo kwakumelwe ahole futhi aqikelele ukuthi ibandla linezincwadi elizidingayo.

Ngo-1922, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yakhipha isihloko esasithi “Inkonzo Ibalulekile.” Sabhekisela esidingweni esikhulu sokuba abantu bezwe izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso, sadonsela ukunakekela emyalweni kaJesu ongokwesiprofetho okuMathewu 24:14, futhi yathi kubadala emabandleni: “Makungabikho muntu ocabanga ukuthi ngoba engumdala wekilasi yonke inkonzo yakhe kufanele ihlanganise ukushumayela ngomlomo. Uma ethola amathuba okuya phakathi kwabantu futhi abahambisele isigijimi esilotshiwe, lelo yilungelo elikhulu futhi kuwukushumayela ivangeli, ngokuvamile okuyindlela yokulishumayela ephumelela kakhulu kunanoma iyiphi enye.” Lesisihloko sabe sesibuza: “Ingabe ukhona umuntu ozinikezele ngempela eNkosini ongazithethelela uma evilapha kulesisikhathi?”

Abanye bazindela. Baphikisa ngazo zonke izindlela. Babengakuboni kufanelekile “ukuthengisa izincwadi,” nakuba lomsebenzi wawungenziwa neze ngenjongo yokuzuza imali futhi nakuba bona uqobo balifunda ngazo lezizincwadi iqiniso eliphathelene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lapho kukhuthazwa abantu ukuba bafakaze endlini ngendlu ngezincwadi ngeSonto, kusukela ngo-1926, abanye baphikisana nalokho, nakuba usuku lwangeSonto kwakuwusuku abantu abaningi ababevame ukulubekela eceleni ngenjongo yokukhulekela. Inkinga eyisisekelo yayiwukuthi babenomuzwa wokuthi kwakubehlisa ukushumayela endlini ngendlu. Nokho, iBhayibheli likusho ngokucacile ukuthi uJesu wathumela abafundi bakhe emizini yabantu ukuba bashumayele, futhi umphostoli uPawulu washumayela “phambi kwabantu nakuzo izindlu ngezindlu.”—IzE. 20:20; Math. 10:5-14.

Njengoba inkonzo yasensimini yayigcizelelwa ngokwengeziwe, labo abazinhliziyo zabo zazingabashukumiseli ukuba balingise uJesu nabaphostoli bakhe njengofakazi kancane kancane bayishiya inhlangano. IBandla laseSkive eDenmark, kanye namanye, lancipha laba ingxenye yalokho elaliyikho. Kusukela kwabacishe babe ikhulu ababehlanganyela neBandla laseDublin e-Ireland, kwasala abane kuphela. Kwaba nokuvivinywa nokuhlungwa okufanayo e-United States, eCanada, eNorway, nakwamanye amazwe. Lokhu kwaphumela ekuhlanzweni kwamabandla.

Labo ababekufuna ngempela ukuba abalingisi beNdodana kaNkulunkulu basabela kahle esikhuthazweni esivela emiBhalweni. Nokho, ukuzimisela kwabo akuzange ngempela kukwenze kube lula ukuba baqale ukuya endlini ngendlu. Kwabanye kwaba nzima ukuqala. Kodwa aba isikhuthazo amalungiselelo okufakaza njengeqembu nemihlangano emikhulu ekhethekile yenkonzo. Odade ababili enyakatho yeJutland, eDenmark, babelukhumbula nangemva kwesikhathi eside usuku abaqala ngalo enkonzweni yasensimini. Bahlangana neqembu, balalela iziyalezo, baqala ukuya ensimini yabo, kodwa base beqala ukukhala. Abazalwane ababili bakubona okwakwenzeka base bebabiza ukuba basebenze nabo. Ngokushesha baphinde bajabula. Ngemva kokunambitha inkonzo yasensimini, abaningi bagcwala injabulo futhi baba nentshiseko yokwenza okwengeziwe.

Khona-ke, ngo-1932, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) yaba nesihloko esasiyizingxenye ezimbili esasithi “INhlangano KaJehova.” (Kweka-August 15 neka-September 1) Lesisihloko sabonisa ukuthi ukukhethelwa kwabadala ezikhundleni okwakwenziwa emabandleni kwakungasekelwe ngokombhalo. Amabandla anxuswa ukuba ezikhundleni zomthwalo wemfanelo asebenzise kuphela amadoda ayekhuthele enkonzweni yasensimini, amadoda ayephila ngokuvumelana nomthwalo wawo wemfanelo owawusikiselwa igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova. Lamadoda kwakumelwe akhonze njengekomiti yenkonzo. Omunye kuwo, owayekhethwa ibandla, wayemiswa iNhlangano njengomqondisi wenkonzo. EBelfast, e-Ireland, lokhu kwahlunga abengeziwe kulabo ababefisa ukuvelela esikhundleni sokukhonza ngokuthobeka.

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1930, iningi lalabo ababeseJalimane ababezama ukululaza inkonzo yasensimini lalilishiyile ibandla. Abanye ngokwesaba bahoxa lapho umsebenzi uvinjelwa kwamaningi amazwe aseJalimane ngo-1933. Kodwa izinkulungwane zalukhuthazelela loluvivinyo lokholo futhi zabonisa ukuthi zizimisele ukushumayela kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kunayiphi ingozi.

Emhlabeni wonke ukumenyezelwa koMbuso kwaba nomfutho. Inkonzo yasensimini yaba ingxenye ebalulekile yokuphila kwabo bonke oFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, ibandla lase-Oslo, eNorway, laliqasha amabhasi ngezimpelasonto ayise abamemezeli emadolobheni aseduze. Babehlangana ekuseni kakhulu, babeba sensimini ngehora lesishiyagalolunye noma ngeleshumi, babesebenza ngokuzikhandla enkonzweni yasensimini amahora ayisikhombisa noma ayisishiyagalombili, bese beya eqenjini elihamba ngebhasi sebeqonde ekhaya. Abanye babeya ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni ngamabhayisikili, bethwele izikhwama zezincwadi namabhokisi ayenezincwadi ezengeziwe. OFakazi BakaJehova babejabula, beshiseka, futhi benobunye ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu.

Ngo-1938, lapho ukunakekela kuphinde kudonselwa ekumisweni kwamadoda anokwethenjelwa emabandleni,j ukuyekwa kwakho konke ukukhethwa kwezinceku emabandleni kwamukelwa abaningi. Amabandla awamukela ngenjabulo amazwi esinqumo ayezwakalisa ukwazisa ngenhlangano engokwasezulwini futhi ecela “iNhlangano” (ababazi ukuthi iyinsali yabagcotshiwe, noma inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo) ukuba ihlelele amabandla inkonzo futhi imise zonke izinceku. Ngemva kwalokho, iNdikimba Ebusayo ebonakalayo yenza ukumisa okudingekayo futhi yahlela ukuba amabandla enze umsebenzi ngobunye futhi akhiqize. Ambalwa kuphela amaqembu azindela futhi ashiya inhlangano ngalesosikhathi.

Ukuzinikela Ngokuphelele Ekusakazeni Isigijimi SoMbuso

Ukuze inhlangano iqhubeke ivunyelwa uJehova, kumelwe izinikele ngokuphelele ekwenzeni umsebenzi iZwi lakhe eliyala ukuba wenziwe osukwini lwethu. Lowomsebenzi uwukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Math. 24:14) Nokho, kuye kwaba nezimo ezimbalwa lapho abantu ababesebenze ngokuzikhandla futhi bebambisene nenhlangano babuye bazama khona ukuyisebenzisela ukuqala imisebenzi eyayithambekele ekuphambukiseni ababehlanganyela nabo ukuba benze eminye imisebenzi. Lapho besolwa, lokhu kwaba uvivinyo kubo, ikakhulukazi lapho benomuzwa wokuthi izisusa zabo zazizinhle.

Lokhu kwenzeka eFinland phakathi no-1915, lapho abanye abazalwane besungula inhlangano yobambiswano eyayibizwa ngokuthi i-Ararat futhi besebenzisa INqabayokulinda yesiFinnish ekunxuseni abafundi bayo ukuba bajoyine lenhlangano yebhizinisi. Owayeqalise lomsebenzi eFinland wasabela ngokuthobeka lapho uMfoweth’ uRussell eveza ukuthi yena nabangane bakhe babezivumela ukuba “baphazanyiswe emsebenzini obalulekile weVangeli.” Nokho, ukuqhosha kwavimbela omunye umzalwane, owayekhuthele enkonzweni kaJehova iminyaka engaphezu kweshumi eNorway, ukuba amukela iseluleko esifanayo.

Phakathi nawo-1930, e-United States, kwaphakama inkinga ethi ayifane. Amabandla amaningi ayezinyathelisela awawo amaphepha eziyalezo zenkonzo anyanga zonke, ayehlanganisa izikhumbuzo ezazikuyi-Bulletin yeNhlangano kanye nokuhlangenwe nakho nezimiso zalelobandla zamalungiselelo enkonzo. Elinye lalamaphepha, elakhishwa eBaltimore, eMaryland, lenza ukuba umsebenzi wokushumayela usekelwe ngentshiseko kodwa abuye asetshenziselwa ukukhuthaza imisebenzi ethile yebhizinisi. Ekuqaleni uMfoweth’ uRutherford akazange amelane neminye yalemisebenzi nakuba engazange akusho lokho. Kodwa lapho kuqashelwa ukuthi yini eyayingase ibangelwe ukuhileleka emisebenzini enjalo, INqabayokulinda yathi iNhlangano yayingayivumeli lemisebenzi. Lokhu kwamvivinya ngokuqondile u-Anton Koerber, ngoba wayehlose ukusiza abafowabo ngalendlela. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wabuye wawasebenzisa ngokugcwele amakhono akhe ekuqhubekiseleni phambili umsebenzi wokushumayela owawenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova.

Kwaphakama inkinga ehlobene nalena e-Australia kusukela ngo-1938 futhi yakhula phakathi nokuvinjelwa kweNhlangano (ngo-January 1941 kuya ku-June 1943). Ukuze kunakekelwe lokho ngalesosikhathi okwakubonakala kuyizidingo ezifanele, ihhovisi legatsha leNhlangano lahileleka ngokuqondile emisebenzini ehlukahlukene yezentengiselwano. Ngakho, kwenziwa iphutha elikhulu. Babenezindawo zokusaha izingodo, ama-“Kingdom farm” angaphezu kwangu-20, inkampani yobunjiniyela, ibhikawozi, kanye namanye amabhizinisi. Izinkampani zokunyathelisa ezimbili zangaphandle zavuma ukuqhubeka zinyathelisa izincwadi zeNhlangano ngomshoshaphansi phakathi nokuvinjelwa. Kodwa eminye yemisebenzi yebhizinisi yalezizinkampani yabenza bahileleka ekweqeni isimiso sokungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu, umsebenzi owawenziwa ngezaba zokuthi kwakulungiselelwa imali futhi kusekelwa amaphayona phakathi nokuvinjelwa. Nokho, onembeza babanye baphazamiseka kakhulu. Nakuba iningi lahlala enhlanganweni, umsebenzi wokumemezela ngoMbuso wama nsé. Yini eyayivimbela isibusiso sikaJehova?

Lapho ukuvinjelwa komsebenzi kususwa ngo-June 1943, abazalwane ngalesosikhathi ababesehhovisi legatsha baqaphela ukuthi lemisebenzi kwakufanele iyekwe, ukuze kugxilwe emsebenzini obaluleke kakhulu wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Lokhu kwafezwa enkathini eyiminyaka emithathu, futhi umkhaya waseBethel wancishiswa waba yinani elivamile. Kodwa kwakusadingeka kususwe izithiyo, futhi kanjalo kwenziwe abantu babuye bathembele enhlanganweni.

UNathan H. Knorr, umongameli weNhlangano, nonobhala wakhe uM. G. Henschel baya e-Australia ngokuyinhloko ukuze basingathe lesisimo ngo-1947. Lapho ibika ngalendaba, INqabayokulinda (yesiNgisi) ka-June 1, 1947, yasho lokhu ngomsebenzi wezentengiselwano owawenziwe: “Akukhona ukuthi abazalwane babenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa wansuku zonke, kodwa ihhovisi leGatsha leNhlangano lalivule izinhlobonhlobo zezimboni lase libiza abamemezeli abavela kuzo zonke izingxenye zezwe, ikakhulukazi amaphayona, ukuba bazosebenza kulezizimboni kunokuba bashumayele ivangeli.” Lokhu kwakuholele ngisho nasekuhilelekeni ngendlela engaqondile empini. Emihlanganweni emikhulu eyayisenhloko-dolobha ngayinye kulezizifundazwe, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wakhuluma nabazalwane ngokungagunci ngalesisimo. Emhlanganweni ngamunye kwamukelwa izwi lesinqumo abazalwane base-Australia abavuma kulo iphutha labo futhi bacela isihe nentethelelo kaJehova ngoJesu Kristu. Ngakho, kuye kwadingeka ukuqapha futhi baye babhekana novivinyo ukuze inhlangano iqhubeke izinikele ngokuphelele ekusakazeni isigijimi soMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova bebheka emuva emlandweni wabo wosuku lwanamuhla, babona ubufakazi bokuthi uJehova ubebacwengisisa ngempela abantu bakhe. (Mal. 3:1-3) Kancane kancane kuye kwalungiswa izimo zengqondo, izinkolelo, nemikhuba engafanele, futhi noma yibaphi abantu abaye bakhetha ukunamathela kulokhu baye basuswa. Labo abasalayo akubona abantu abazimisele ukulahla iqiniso leBhayibheli ukuze bamukele ukucabanga kwabantu. Ababona abalandeli babantu kodwa bayizinceku zikaJehova uNkulunkulu ezizinikele. Basabela ngenjabulo ekuqondiseni kwenhlangano ngoba babona ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi ingekaJehova. Bajabulela ukukhanya okuqhubekayo kweqiniso. (IzAga 4:18) Njengabantu ngabanye bakubheka njengelungelo elikhulu ukuba oFakazi BakaJehova abakhuthele, abamemezeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 619]

Ukuvivinywa nokuhlungwa akusona isimanga

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 621]

“Bayenqaba ukuphambukiswa eZwini leNkosi”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 623]

“Asifuni ukuba kudunyiswe, noma kuhlonishwe thina noma izincwadi zethu”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 624]

“UNkulunkulu usahola”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 626]

“Inceku ethembekileyo nehlakaniphile” yayingazange inyamalale lapho kufa uMfoweth’ uRussell

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 627]

Umzamo wobuqili wokonakalisa izingqondo zabanye

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 628]

Abanye bavumela ukuqhosha kwalwenza lwaba buthaka ukholo lwabo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 629]

“Niqaphele ababanga ukwahlukana . . . nahlukane nabo”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 630]

Abanye bamangalela “INqabayokulinda” ngamanga ngokuthi yayisiphikile isihlengo

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 635]

“Samane saqagela, futhi ngokusobala, senza iphutha”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 636]

Labo ababemthanda ngempela uJehova babebonga ngamalungelo enkonzo ayebavulekela

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 638]

“Ingabe ukhona umuntu ozinikezele ngempela eNkosini ongazithethelela uma evilapha kulesisikhathi?”

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 641]

Kancane kancane kuye kwalungiswa izimo zengqondo, izinkolelo, nemikhuba engafanele

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 622]

UW. E. Van Amburgh

Ngo-1916, uW. E. Van Amburgh wathi: “Lomsebenzi omkhulu womhlaba wonke akuwona owomuntu oyedwa. . . . Ungumsebenzi kaNkulunkulu.” Nakuba abona abanye beyishiya inhlangano, wahlala eqinile ekukholelweni kulokho kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1947, eneminyaka engu-83 ubudala.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 633]

UJules Feller

Lapho eseyinsizwa, uJules Feller wabona ukuvivinywa okukhulu kokholo. Amanye amabandla eSwitzerland ancipha aba yingxenye yobukhulu bawo bangaphambili noma aba ngaphansi kwalokho. Kodwa kamuva wabhala: “Labo ababethembele kuJehova bahlala beqinile futhi baqhubeka nomsebenzi wabo wokushumayela.” UMfoweth’ uFeller naye wanquma ukwenza lokho, futhi ngenxa yalokho, kuze kube ngu-1992 uye wajabulela iminyaka engu-68 yenkonzo yaseBethel.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 634]

UC. J. Woodworth

Ebhalela othile owayeka inkonzo kaJehova ngoba abalandeli bakaJesu Kristu abagcotshiwe bengazange bayiswe ezulwini ngo-1914, uC. J. Woodworth washo lokhu okulandelayo:

“Eminyakeni engamashumi amabili edlule mina nawe sasikholelwa ekubhapathizweni kwezinsana; ukuthi abefundisi banegunya laPhezulu lokwenza lolobhapathizo; ukuthi ubhapathizo lwaludingeka ukuze umuntu asinde ekuhlushweni phakade; ukuthi uNkulunkulu uluthando; ukuthi uNkulunkulu wadala futhi uyaqhubeka edala izigidigidi zabantu abafana naYe abayochitha iminyaka engenakubalwa yobuphakade entuthwini ehilayo yesibabule esivuthayo, benxusa ukuba banikwe iconsi lamanzi ukuze bakhululeke osizini lwabo kodwa kube nhlanga zimuka nomoya . . .

“Sasikholelwa ukuthi ngemva kokuba umuntu efile, uyaphila; sasikholelwa ukuthi uJesu Kristu akakaze afe; ukuthi wayengenakufa; ukuthi asikho iSihlengo esake sakhokhwa noma esiyoke sikhokhwe; ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu noKristu Jesu iNdodana yaKhe bangumuntu oyedwa; ukuthi uKristu wayenguYise wakhe siqu; ukuthi uJesu wayeyiNdodana yakhe siqu; ukuthi uMoya oNgcwele ungumuntu; ukuthi uma uhlanganisa okukodwa nokukodwa, nokunye okukodwa, impendulo iba okukodwa; ukuthi lapho uJesu ngesikhathi elenga esiphambanweni futhi ethi, ‘Nkulunkulu Wami, Nkulunkulu Wami, Ungishiyeleni,’ wayemane ekhuluma Yedwa; . . . ukuthi imibuso ekhona iyingxenye yoMbuso kaKristu; ukuthi uDeveli wayekude endaweni ethile eyiSihogo esingaziwa, esikhundleni sokubusa imibuso yalomhlaba . . .

“Ngidumisa uNkulunkulu ngosuku okwafika ngalo iQiniso Lamanje emzini wami. Lalinempilo, liqabula ingqondo nenhliziyo, kangangokuba ngokushesha ngashiya konke okokukhohlisa nombhedo wesikhathi esidlule futhi ngasetshenziswa uNkulunkulu ukuba ngivule nawakho amehlo ayevalekile. Salijabulela sobabili iQiniso, sisebenza ngobunye iminyaka eyishumi nanhlanu. INkosi yakunika ilungelo elikhulu lokuba ube umkhulekeli wayo; angikaze ngimbone omunye umuntu owayenza kahle njengawe ekudaluleni ubuwula beBabiloni. Encwadini yakho ubuze ukuthi, ‘Yini ezolandela?’ Yiyona lengxenye edabukisayo! Okulandelayo ukuthi uvumela inhliziyo yakho ithukuthelele umuntu omisebenzi yakhe yothando futhi osibusiso sakhe esivela Phezulu kwaletha iQiniso ezinhliziyweni zethu sobabili. Uphumile, futhi wahamba nezimvu eziningi. . . .

“Mhlawumbe ngibukeka ngiyinhlekisa kuwena ngokuthi angizange ngiye eZulwini, ngo-October 1, 1914, kodwa wena awuyona inhlekisa kimi—nakancane!

“Njengoba eziyishumi zezizwe ezinkulu zomhlaba zikhandleka osizini lwazo lokufa, ngokuyinhloko ngikubona kungesona isikhathi esifanele sokufuna ukuhleka umuntu, futhi okuwukuphela kwakhe, okwathi iminyaka engamashumi amane wafundisa ukuthi iZikhathi Zabezizwe zaziyophela ngo-1914.”

Ukholo lukaMfoweth’ uWoodworth aluzange luzanyazanyiswe lapho izenzakalo zika-1914 zingabi ngendlela okwakulindelwe ngayo. Wamane wabona ukuthi kwakusenokuningi okwakumelwe kufundwe. Ngenxa yokuqiniseka kwakhe ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu, wachitha izinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye ejele ngo-1918-19. Kamuva wakhonza njengomhleli kamagazini i-“Golden Age” ne-“Consolation.” Wahlala eqinile okholweni futhi eqotho enhlanganweni kaJehova kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe ngo-1951, eneminyaka engu-81 ubudala.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe esisekhasini 637]

U-A. H. Macmillan

“Ngiye ngakubona ukuhlakanipha kokulindela uJehova ngokubekezela ukuba acacise ukuqonda kwethu izinto ezingokomBhalo esikhundleni sokucasukela umqondo omusha. Ngezinye izikhathi lokho esasikulindele ngezikhathi ezithile kwakungagunyaziwe neze imiBhalo. Lapho lokho esikulindele kungagcwaliseki, lokho akuzange kuzishintshe izinjongo zikaNkulunkulu.”

[Izithombe ekhasini 620]

Ukuvivinywa okukhulu kokholo kwakuhilela ukuqaphela ukubaluleka kwenani elihlawulela izono lomhlatshelo kaJesu

[Izithombe ekhasini 625]

Abanye ababazisa uRussell bathola ukuthi ukusabela kwabo esimweni sikaRutherford kwaveza ukuthi ubani ngempela ababemkhonza

[Izithombe ekhasini 639]

Lapho inkonzo yasensimini igcizelelwa ngokwengeziwe, abaningi bayeka ukuhlanganyela; abanye babonisa intshiseko eyengeziwe

“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi), August 15, 1922

“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi), April 1, 1928

“INqabayokulinda” (yesiNgisi), June 15, 1927

[Izithombe ekhasini 640]

Njengoba inhlangano engokwasezulwini yayibonakala, labo ababefuna ukuvelela bahlungwa