Yakha Ikusasa Lakho Nenhlangano KaJehova
“Kepha mawube-sekumesabeni uJehova usuku lonke. Ngokuba impela umvuzo ukhona, nethemba lakho aliyikunqunywa.”—IZAGA 23:17, 18.
1, 2. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, yini umphostoli uJohane ayibona ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala C.E.?
UJEHOVA wembula izinto zesikhathi esizayo kubantu bakhe futhi lokhu kubenza bakwazi ukwenza ngokuhlakanipha. (Isaya 42:9) Ngokwesibonelo, ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala C.E., uNkulunkulu wanikeza umphostoli osemdala uJohane imibono yekusasa enikeza ithemba. Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo ngokuthi uJohane wafakazela “konke akubonayo” nokuthi kuye kwabhalwa encwadini yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo!—IsAmbulo 1:1, 2.
2 Phakathi kwezinye izinto, uJohane wabona “izingelosi ezine” zibambe “imimoya” eyayiyobangela “usizi olukhulu.” Izingelosi ziyocindezelwa isikhathi esingakanani ukuba zibambe leyomimoya ebhubhisayo? Enye ingelosi yazitshela: “Ningoni umhlaba, nolwandle, nemithi, size sizibeke uphawu izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu emabunzini azo.”—Isambulo 7:1-3, 14; Mathewu 24:21, 22.
3. Ngaphambi kokuba “imimoya” ededelwe ibhubhise inhlangano kaSathane, yini eyobe seyenzekile futhi ngayiphi indlela?
3 “Imimoya ededelwe iyoletha imbubhiso phezu kwenhlangano yasemhlabeni kaSathane uDeveli, iyichithe ngokuphelele. (Qhathanisa noJeremiya 25:32, 33.) Kodwa ngaphambi kokuba lokho kwenzeke insali yabagcotshiwe abayobusa noJesu Kristu ezulwini kumelwe ibekwe uphawu. Ukubekwa uphawu ‘kwalezizinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu emabunzini azo’ kwenziwa ngomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, noma amandla ayisiphekupheku, amaKristu agcotshiwe anawo njengesibonakaliso sefa lawo lasezulwini. (2 Korinte 1:21, 22; Efesu 1:12-14) Ukushunyayelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu “ezinsukwini ezizayo” kuphelisa ukuqoqwa kwalaba “abakhethiweyo.”—Mika 4:1; Mathewu 24:14, 31.
4. Zingaki “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu” eziyobekwa uphawu phakade, futhi ungayifakazela kanjani impendulo yakho ngokomBhalo?
4 Zingaki “izinceku zikaNkulunkulu wethu” eziyobekwa uphawu phakade? UJohane, owayengomunye wazo, wabika ngokwethembeka: “Ngase ngizwa umumo wababekwa uphawu, izinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amane nane.” Laba bakha “uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu,” uIsrayeli ongokomoya, oqukethe izizwe eziyi-12 zabantu abayizi-12 000 sisinye. (IsAmbulo 7:4-8; Galathiya 6:16) Yeka ukuhleleka! Ngaphansi kweNkosi uJesu Kristu, abayizi-144 000 bayoba “umbuso nabapristi kuNkulunkulu wethu, babuse emhlabeni.”—IsAmbulo 5:10; 14:1-4.
5. (a) Obani manje abahlangene nensali kaIsrayeli ongokomoya? (b) Yini abayakhayo bonke abesaba uJehova, futhi ngokwezAga 23:17, 18, yini abanayo?
5 Ngemva kokuba umphostoli uJohane ebone uIsrayeli ongokomoya, wabona “isixuku esikhulu” futhi wamangala ukuthi sasingobani. Watshelwa: “Laba yibo abaphuma osizini olukhulu, bahlanza izingubo zabo, bazenza zaba-mhlophe egazini leWundlu.” Labo abakha “isixuku esikhulu” bayizikhonzi zasemhlabeni zoMbuso, futhi kwabikezelwa ukuthi “iWundlu,” uJesu Kristu, ‘liyobaholela emthonjeni wamanzi ekuphila’—yebo, ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14, 17; Luka 23:43) Njengamanje lezi “ezinye izimvu” zakha “umhlambi munye” nensali yezindlalifa zoMbuso, futhi bonke abesaba uJehova kanjalo bakha inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasemhlabeni. (Johane 10:16) Ngokuhlala bethembekile kuye, bayoba nekusasa elibusisekile, ngoba siyafunda: “Kepha mawube-sekumesabeni uJehova usuku lonke. Ngokuba impela umvuzo ukhona, nethemba lakho aliyikunqunywa.”—IzAga 23:17, 18.
Lesimiso Esidala Asinalo Ikusasa!
6. Sikuphi manje nesikhathi?
6 Manje singene shí “ezinsukwini zokugcina” zalesimiso esibi sezinto. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Izehlakalo zezwe zihambisana nokubalwa kwezikhathi zeBhayibheli ziqinisekisa iqiniso lokuthi uJesu Kristu waqala ukubusa emazulwini entwasahlobo ka-1914. (IHubo 110:1, 2) Nsuku zonke, imibiko yezindaba ibonisa ukuthi “isibonakaliso” esihlangene “sokuza” kukaJesu nokuphela kwalesimiso sezinto sisobala. (Mathewu, izahluko 24, 25) Kuyiqiniso, “isizukulwane” esasikhona ngesikhathi sokumiswa koMbuso ngo-1914 siyaguga. Kodwa amazwi kaJesu abonisa ukuthi “asiyikudlula” ngapharnbi kokuba “usizi olukhulu” kulethe ukuphela kulelizwe lomphakathi omubi wesintu ‘omi emandleni omubi,’ uSathane uDeveli. Kuyokwenzeka ngokushesha kangakanani lokho? Ngokuqinisekile kungakedluli isikhathi eside, ngoba lona unyaka wama-71 wokubusa koMbuso!—Mathewu 24:21, 34; 1 Johane 5:19.
7. (a) Yini eyokwenzeka phakathi nesigaba sokuqala ‘sosizi olukhulu’? (b) Yini eyokwenzeka ngokushesha nje ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga?
7 “Usizi olukhulu” luyoqala ngokushesha okumangalisayo. (Mathewu 24:36-44) Esigabeni sayo sokuqala, imbubhiso iyokwehlela “iBabiloni Elikhulu” umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. Ukubhujiswa kwalengxenye enkulu yesimiso sikaSathane kuyothinta izimiso zezombangazwe nezentengiselwano. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, umphostoli uJohane wembula ukuthi “amakhosi omhlaba” ayokhala: “Maye, maye kuwe-muzi omkhulu waseBabiloni, muzi onamandla, ngokuba ngehora linye nje kufikile ukwahlulelwa kwakho!” Futhi kuthiwani ngabezentengiselwano? UJohane uyanezela, “nabathengisi bomhlaba bayalikhalela, balililele, ngokuba impahla yabo ayisathengwa-muntu.” (IsAmbulo 18:1-19) Ngokushesha ngemva kokubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga, uJesu Kristu uyosebenzisa impi yakhe yasezulwini ukuchitha yonke ingxenye esele yelesimiso esibi sezinto. Siyopheliswa “ekulweni kosuku lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke” eHarmagedoni olusondela ngokushesha.—IsAmbulo 16:14-16; 19:11-21.
8. Iyiphi inhlangano okuwukuphela kwayo enekusasa elihlala njalo, futhi kungani kunjalo?
8 Lokhu kusho ukuthini ngalabo abanokwesaba okuphilayo ngoJehova? Phela, kusho ukuthi lelizwe elingaphansi kokuqondisa kukaSathane alinalo ikusasa! Isikhathi salo cishe sesiphelile! Khona-ke, inhlangano kaJehova ukuphela kwayo okungakhiwa nayo ikusasa laphakade.
9. (a) Ngokucabangela lokho okungaphambili, yimiphi imibuzo engase ibuzwe ngokufanelekile? (b) Yisiphi iseluleko esingesikhathi esitholakala ku-1 Thimothewu 6:17-19?
9 Ngokucabangela lokho okungaphambili, kungabonisa ukholo yini noma ngisho ingqondo enhle, ukuzama ukwakha ikusasa elilondekile ezingxenyeni ezithile zalesimiso esibhubhayo? Ngokwesibonelo, iyiphi inhlangano yezwe noma imboni, ongakha nayo ngokulondekile ikusasa elihlala njalo? Ayikho neyodwa! Ngakho ingabe akukhona yini ukuhlakanipha ukwaneliswa ukudla nokokwembatha kuyilapho sibeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala ekuphileni? (Mathewu 6:33; 1 Thimothewu 6:7-12; 2 Thimothewu 2:4) Okufika ngesikhathi ngokukhethekile manje iseluleko somphostoli uPawulu: “Yala abacebileyo kulelizwe lamanje ngokuthi bangakhukhumali, bangathembeli engcebeni engemiyo, kepha mabathembele kuNkulunkulu osicebisa ngakho konke, sithokoze ngakho, benze okuhle, bacebe ngemisebenzi emihle, baphane, babelane, bezibekelela isisekelo esihle sesikhathi esizayo, ukuze babambe ukuphila okuyikho.”—1 Thimothewu 6:17-19.
Yakha Ikusasa Lakho Ngokuhlakanipha
10. Njengoba ‘usizi olukhulu’ seluseduze kangaka, yini okufanele siyikhathalele ngokuyinhloko?
10 Yikuphi ukulinganisela okungokomoya okubonakala kulamazwi omphostoli! Kuwona abantu bakaJehova babona isihluthulelo sokusinda. Siyilokhu: Gcina izinto ezibonakalayo endaweni yazo efanelekile, uqaphela ukuthi akufanele kugcizelelwe “engcebeni engemiyo” kodwa ‘ekucebeni ngemisebenzi emihle.’ Lokho ngokuqinisekile kuyohlanganisa ukuhlanganyela ngentshiseko nangaso sonke isikhathi enkonzweni yobuKristu. Njengoba amafu amnyama ‘osizi olukhulu’ kakade eseqoqana esibhakabhakeni, lesi akusona isikhathi sokulungiselela ikusasa lokuchuma ezimbonini ezithile zezwe zamabhizinisi noma ukuqala ukuthuthuka kwezezimboni. Isikhathi sokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, esokuxwayisa abanganakile ngengozi esondelayo. Ngokungaphezulu, uJesu Kristu uye wasithuma ukuba sishumayele futhi senze abafundi. Khona-ke, lokho kufanele kube esikukhathalela ngokuyinhloko njengoFakazi BakaJehova.—Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20; Isaya 43:10-12.
11. Ziyoba yini ezinye zezinzuzo ezihlala njalo zenkonzo yobuKristu?
11 Imisebenzi eminingi manje elandelwa abantu abaningi bezwe iyophela phakade ‘ngosizi olukhulu.’ Kuyiqiniso, ezinye izinhlobo zomsebenzi ziyovusolelwa esimisweni esisha sezinto esathenjiswa uNkulunkulu. Kodwa ukhona umsebenzi owaziyo namuhla onezinzuzo eziningi njengenkonzo yobuKristu? Ukukhula ngokomoya nokuthuthuka okuza ngalomsebenzi onikezwe uNkulunkulu kuyoba okuyinzuzo kakhulu oHlelweni Olusha. Ubuhlobo obuqinile noJehova lobo obuhlakulelwa enkonzweni buyofinyelela kulesosimiso sezinto. Futhi amakhono athuthukisiwe okufundisa angase abe usizo ekufundiseni izigidi eziyobe zivusiwe ngalesosikhathi.—Isaya 54:13; Johane 5:28, 29; IsAmbulo 20:12.
12. Njengezinceku zikaJehova, yimaphi amathemba amangalisayo esinawo, kodwa yini esidinga ukuyenza?
12 Uma ukukhathalela kwethu okukhulu manje kuyilokho kokujabulisa uNkulunkulu nokwenza intando yakhe, sinamathemba amangalisa ngempela. (IHubo 40:8; Roma 12:1, 2) Ngempela, uma ‘sesaba uJehova, sinalo ikusasa futhi ithemba lethu aliyikunqanyulwa.’ (IzAga 23:17, 18) Ukuphila okuphakade kuyoba isabelo sethu uma siqhubeka sihamba ‘endleleni yokuphila’ ngokwesaba uNkulunkulu. (IHubo 16:11) Nokho, njengoba siqhubeka sidinga ukubeka futhi sifinyelele imigomo engokwasezulwini enengqondo.
Imigomo Ethile Enengqondo
13. (a) NgokomBhalo, kungani singathi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova kuye kwaqhubeka kuphakanyiswa? (b) Ngomqondo othile, yimiphi eminye yemigomo amakhulu ezinkulungwane aye ayifinyelela?
13 Abanye basanda kuqala nje kulokho esingathi ukugibela kwabo “intaba yendlu kaJehova.” Kusukela ngeminyaka yempi ka-1914-18 ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova, othempeli lakhe noma “indlu” eyake yama esiqongweni sentaba yaseJerusalema, kuye kwaqhubeka kuphakanyiswa. Kuye ‘kwaqiniswa esiqongweni sezintaba’ lezo amathempeli onkulunkulu bamanga aye akhiwa khona. Khona-ke ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova ‘kuye kwaphakanyiswa kunamagquma.’ Izixuku zigelezela ekukhulekelweni kukaJehova okuphakanyisiwe. (Mika 4:1-4; Isaya 2:2-4) Ngemva kokungenisa ulwazi oluqondile lwemiBhalo, bayaphenduka, baguquke, bazinikezele kuJehova ngomthandazo futhi bakubonakalise lokhu ngokucwiliswa emanzini. (Johane 17:3; IzEnzo 2:38; 3:19) Ngengqondo ethile, lena imigomo efinyelelwa amakhulu ezinkulungwane abantu bazo zonke izizwe, okuthi ngemva kwalokho bakhonze uJehova ngokwethembeka njengengxenye yenhlangano yakhe yasemhlabeni. Yeka indlela abajabula ngayo ngokuhlanganyela ekukhulekeleni okuphakeme kukaNkulunkulu oyedwa weqiniso! Kodwa kuthiwani ngawe? Ingabe usuye wazithatha lezizinyathelo?
14. Ngisho nangemva kokuba sesiqale ukukhulekela uJehova, kumelwe siqhubekele kukuphi, futhi kungenziwa kanjani lokhu?
14 Ngisho nangemva kokuba sesiye saqala ukukhonza uJehova nabantu bakhe, sidinga ukuthuthukisa futhi silondoloze isimo sokulangazelela ukudla okungokomoya. Njengoba siye safunda “isifundiso sokuqala ngoKristu,” sifanele ‘siqhubekele kokupheleleyo’ ngokuzenza sitholakalele wonke amalungiselelo angokomoya uJehova awenzayo ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ (Heberu 6:1-3; Mathewu 24:45-47) Ngakho ungase uzibuze: Ingabe ngiyalifunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu njalo? Ingabe ngingumfundi omuhle wezincwadi ezilungiselelwa ngesigaba ‘senceku.’—Heberu 5:11-14.
15. (a) Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza kumaHeberu 10:24, 25, kodwa yini abanye ebebeyenza? (b) Uma kukhona isidingo sokuthuthuka komuntu siqu ngokuba khona emihlanganweni noma enkonzweni yobuKristu, yini esikiselwayo?
15 Khona-ke, kumelwe futhi silalele iseluleko sikaPawulu: “Masikhathalelane, ukuze sivuse uthando nemisebenzi emihle. Ningayiyeki imihlangano yebandla, njengokuba abanye benza, kodwa khuthazanani ukuba niye; ikakhulu njengoba nibona uSuku lusondela.” (Heberu 10:24, 25, The Jerusalem Bible) Ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu kuyingxenye ‘yenkonzo [yethu] engcwele.’ Kodwa abanye bayela nje kuphela inkulumo yeningi isonto ngalinye futhi bavamé ukuphuma eHholo LoMbuso ngaphambi kokuba kuqale isifundo seNqabayokulinda. Abanye ngokuvamile balahlekelwa uMhlangano WeNkonzo. Ingabe uye waba ongabalulekile kangako kubo ngenxa yokuba bengakhuthele emsebenzini wokufakaza endlini ngendlu nakwezinye izici zenkonzo yobuKristu? Uma uthola ukuthi kunesidingo sokuthuthuka komuntu siqu kunoma yisiphi salezici, kungani ungathandazi kuJehova ngezindaba ezinjalo, umcele ukuba akusize ukhuthale futhi ube isibonelo kuzo zonke izici ‘zenkonzo engcwele’?—Heberu 12:25-29, NW.
16. (a) Yimiphi imigomo engokwasezulwini eshiwo lapha? (b) Ngisho noma izibopho ezingokomBhalo zimvimbela umuntu ukuba afinyelele imigomo enjalo, yini esenokwenzeka?
16 Yimiphi eminye imigomo engokwasezulwini enengqondo? Nokho, kunenani elanda njalo manje labantu abangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona avamile noma asizayo. Ungayandisa yini inkonzo yakho ngezindlela ezinjalo? Yebo, ngisho noma izibopho zakho ezingokomBhalo zikuvimbela ukuba ufinyelele imigomo enjalo, ungabasekela abashumayeli besikhathi esigcwele kuyilapho wena ngokwakho wenza okuningi ngangokunokwenzeka enkonzweni kaJehova ngokuvunyelwa izimo zakho. Ngokukhulekela kanye nenkonzo yokwethembeka ekudumiseni uJehova, sonke singabonisa ukuthi ‘asethembele engcebeni engemiyo, kodwa sethembele kuNkulunkulu.’ Futhi ngalabo abangahlanganyela enkonzweni yobuphayona, lokhu ngokuqinisekile kungenye yezindlela ezinhle kakhulu ‘zokubamba ukuphila okuyikho.’—1 Thimothewu 6:17-19.
17. (a) Iliphi ilungelo lenkonzo ikakhulukazi abantu abasha abangalicabangela? (b) Yikuphi ukwaneliseka amalungu omkhaya waseBethel anakho?
17 Ukukhonza kwelinye lamakhaya aseBethel emhlabeni wonke kungelinye lamalungelo amahle kakhulu, lelo ikakhulukazi abantu abasebasha abangalicabangela ngokufanelekile ngomthandazo. Inkonzo yaseBethel inikeza ukuqeqeshwa okuhle kokusebenzelana nabantu, ngoba izisebenzi zaseBethel zisebenzelana eduze ukuze kuthuthukiswe izithakazelo zoMbuso. Amakhono athile atholakala eBethel angase abe usizo emsebenzini omkhulu wokufundisa oyokwenziwa oHlelweni Olusha. Kuyiqiniso, njengoba abaningi bengenela inkonzo yaseBethel besebasha, abanazo izinto eziningi ezibonakalayo. Kodwa baneliswa ukudla nokokwembatha futhi banokwaneliseka okujulile kokwazi ukuthi umsebenzi wabo uzuzisa abaningi ngokomoya.—UmShumayeli 3:12, 13.
18. Ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele kungamfundisani umuntu, futhi lokhu kusekelwa kanjani imiBhalo?
18 Ukuhlanganyela ezindimeni ezihlukahlukene zenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele kungafundisa umuntu ukwencika ngokwengeziwe kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Abantu bezwe abathembela “engcebeni engemiyo” ngokuvamile bathatha umbono wokuthi umuntu kumelwe aziphandele. Kodwa ngokukhethekile isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele singase sifunde ukuthi uJehova wenza amalungiselelo anele ngalabo ‘abafuna kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe.’ (Mathewu 6:25-34) Izinkulungwane zalabo abaye bakhonza njengamaphayona iminyaka eminingi ziyolifakazela iqiniso lokuthi azizange zizintule izidingo zokuphila. Xoxa nabo futhi uyothola ukuthi bavumelana ngenhliziyo yonke nomhubi uDavide, owathi: “Kade ngimusha, manje sengimdala; angizange ngibone olungileyo eshiyiwe nenzalo yakhe iphanza ukudla.”—IHubo 37:25.
Yakha Ikusasa Elilondekile
19, 20. (a) Njengoba isikhathi sisincane kakhulu ngalesimiso sezinto, yini okumelwe ngabe siyayenza? (b) Ngakho singenza kanjani ngokuhlakanipha ngokuphathelene nesikhathi esizayo?
19 Uma singofakazi abathembekile bakaJehova, siyaqaphela ukuthi isikhathi salesimiso sifushane kakhulu. Ngakho yini okumelwe ngabe siyayenza? Kumelwe ngabe senza ngokuhlakanipha ngokuvumelana namazwi omphostoli uPetru: “Njengokuba konke kuyakubhidlika kanjalo, kumelwe ukuba nibe-ngabantu abanjani ekuhambeni okungcwele nasekumesabeni uNkulunkulu, nibheka nilangazelela ukufika kosuku lukaNkulunkulu ayakubhidlika ngalo amazulu, ashe, konke kushe, kuncibilike, na?”—2 Petru 3:11, 12.
20 Umphostoli uJohane ngokufanayo, wakwenza kwaba sobala ukuthi lelizwe liyadlula. (1 Johane 2:15-17) Ngokushesha, lesimiso esidala sizobhujiswa. Ngakho, bonke abesaba uNkulunkulu kufanele manje babe matasa ‘ekuhambeni okungcwele nasekumesabeni uNkulunkulu bebheka belangazelela ukufika kosuku lukaNkulunkulu.’ Ungalingi ukhohlwe ukuthi inhlangano kaNkulunkulu kuphela ezosinda esiphelweni salesimiso esifayo. Ngakho-ke yenza ngokuhlakanipha, yenza amalungiselelo okuphila okuphakade ngokwakha ikusasa lakho nenhlangano kaJehova.
Ukubukeza
◻ Yini abayakhayo bonke abesaba uJehova, futhi IzAga 23:17, 18 zibanika siphi isiqinisekiso?
◻ Yiyiphi kuphela inhlangano enekusasa, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?
◻ Njengoba “usizi olukhulu” luseduze, yini okumelwe bayikhathalele ngokuyinhloko oFakazi BakaJehova?
◻ Yimiphi eminye yemigomo engokwasezulwini abaningi abangase bayifinyelele?
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 29]
Namuhla, bonke abesaba uNkulunkulu ngobuqotho banoJesu njengoMalusi wabo futhi bakhonza ndawonye ngobunye njengenhlangano kaJehova yasemhlabeni
[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 31]
Ingabe wakha ikusasa lakho nenhlangano kaJehova? Umsebenzi wobuphayona nenkonzo yaseBethel kungeminye yemigomo emihle abaningi abaye bayifinyelela
[Isithombe ekhasini 30]
Ngenxa yesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso, izixuku zigobhozela ekukhulekeleni uJehova okuphakeme