Ukukhonza Nomlindi
Ukukhonza Nomlindi
“Nkosi yami, ngimi njalo emini embhoshongweni wami, ngihlezi ngisemlindelweni nasebusuku bonke.”—ISAYA 21:8.
1. Yiziphi izithembiso ezinhle uJehova uqobo angufakazi wazo?
UJEHOVA unguMsunguli Wezinjongo Omkhulu. Ingelosi eyisihlubuki eyaba nguSathane uDeveli ayinakwenza lutho ukuze ibhuntshise injongo yaKhe enhle yokungcwelisa igama laKhe futhi amise uMbuso okhazimulayo phezu komhlaba oyipharadesi. (Mathewu 6:9, 10) Ngaphansi kwalowo Mbuso, isintu siyobusiswa ngempela. UNkulunkulu “uyakugwinya ukufa kuze kube phakade; iNkosi uJehova iyakwesula izinyembezi ebusweni bonke.” Abantu abajabulayo nabanobunye bayojabulela ukuthula nokuchuma phakade. (Isaya 25:8; 65:17-25) UJehova ungufakazi wakhe siqu walezi zithembiso ezinhle!
2. Yibaphi ofakazi abangabantu uJehova aye wabaveza?
2 Nokho, uMdali Omkhulu unabo nofakazi abangabantu. Ezikhathini zangaphambi kobuKristu ‘ifu lofakazi,’ kusukela ku-Abela, lagijima umncintiswano wokukhuthazela, ngokuvamile ezimweni ezingathembisi neze. Izibonelo ezinhle zalab’ ofakazi ziyawakhuthaza amaKristu aqotho namuhla. UKristu Jesu uyisibonelo esivelele sikafakazi onesibindi. (Heberu 11:1–12:2) Ngokwesibonelo, khumbula ubufakazi bakhe bokugcina phambi kukaPontiyu Pilatu. UJesu wathi: “Ngizalelwe lokhu, futhi ngizele lokhu ezweni, ukuba ngifakazele iqiniso.” (Johane 18:37) Kusukela ngo-33 C.E. kuze kube yilo nyaka ka-2000 C.E., amaKristu ashisekayo aye alandela isibonelo sikaJesu futhi aqhubeka efakaza, ememezela ngesibindi ‘izinto ezinhle kakhulu zikaNkulunkulu.’—IzEnzo 2:11.
Ukuhlukana KweBabiloni Ngamahlelo
3. USathane uye wabuphikisa kanjani ubufakazi obunikezwa ngoJehova nentando yakhe?
3 Phakathi nezinkulungwane zeminyaka edlule iSitha esikhulu, uSathane uDeveli, ngobubi siye safuna ukuchitha ubufakazi bofakazi bakaNkulunkulu. Njengoba ‘enguyise wamanga,’ lo “drako omkhulu, inyoka yokuqala,” uye ‘wadukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe.’ Akayekethisi empini ayilwa nalabo “abagcina imiyalo kaNkulunkulu,” ikakhulu kulezi zinsuku zokugcina.—Johane 8:44; IsAmbulo 12:9, 17.
4. Laba khona kanjani iBabiloni Elikhulu?
4 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-4 000 edlule, ngemva kweSikhukhula sosuku lukaNowa, uSathane waphakamisa uNimrode, “iphisi elinamandla eliphikisana noJehova.” (Genesise 10:9, 10, NW) Umuzi kaNimrode omkhulu kunayo yonke, iBabiloni (iBabele), waba yisikhungo senkolo yobudemoni. Lapho uJehova ephambanisa ulimi lwabakhi bombhoshongo waseBabele, abantu bahlakazeka emhlabeni, futhi bahamba nenkolo yabo yamanga. Kanjalo iBabiloni laba umthombo wombuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, obizwa ngokuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu encwadini yesAmbulo. Leyo ncwadi ibikezela ukubhujiswa kwalesi simiso senkolo esesisidala.—IsAmbulo 17:5; 18:21.
Isizwe Sofakazi
5. Yisiphi isizwe uJehova asihlela saba ufakazi wakhe, kodwa kungani avumela ukuba sithunjwe?
5 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-500 ngemva kwesikhathi sikaNimrode, uJehova wahlela uzalo luka-Abrahama othembekile lwaba yisizwe sakwa-Israyeli ukuze lube ofakazi baKhe emhlabeni. (Isaya 43:10, 12) Abantu abaningi kuleso sizwe babemkhonza ngokwethembeka uJehova. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwamakhulu eminyaka izinkolelo zamanga zezizwe ezingomakhelwane zamonakalisa u-Israyeli, futhi abantu besivumelwano sikaJehova bamfulathela bakhulekela onkulunkulu bamanga. Ngakho, ngo-607 B.C.E., amabutho aseBabiloni, eholwa yiNkosi uNebukadinesari, abhubhisa iJerusalema nethempeli lalo futhi athatha amaJuda amaningi awadingisela eBabiloni.
6. Yiziphi izindaba ezinhle umlindi kaJehova ongokwesiprofetho azimemezela, futhi zagcwaliseka nini?
6 Yeka ukuthi yayinqobe kangakanani inkolo yamanga! Nokho, ukubusa kweBabiloni kwaba okwesikhashana. Eminyakeni engu-200 ngaphambi kwaleso senzakalo, uJehova wayeyalile: “Hamba umise umlindi ozakubika akubonayo.” Yiziphi izindaba ezamenyezelwa yilo mlindi? “Liwile, liwile iBabele, nazo zonke izithombe ezibaziweyo zawonkulunkulu balo zidilizwe phansi.” (Isaya 21:6, 9) Njengoba nje kwakushiwo, ngo-539 B.C.E., lesi simemezelo esiyisiprofetho safezeka. IBabiloni elalinamandla lawa, futhi ngokushesha abantu besivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu bakwazi ukuphindela ezweni lakubo.
7. (a) Yini amaJuda ayifunda ekuyalweni nguJehova? (b) Yiziphi izingibe amaJuda ayebuya ekudingisweni awela kuzo, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
7 AmaJuda ayebuyela ezweni lawo ayebone lukhulu kangangokuthi akuyeka ukukhulekela izithombe nenkolo yemimoya. Nokho, ngokuhamba kweminyaka, abanjwa ezinye izingibe. Amanye abanjwa ugibe lwefilosofi yamaGreki. Amanye aqala ukugcizelela amasiko abantu ngaphezu kweZwi likaNkulunkulu. Amanye ayengwa ubuzwe. (Marku 7:13; IzEnzo 5:37) Ngesikhathi kuzalwa uJesu, isizwe sase siphinde sakufulathela ukukhulekela okumsulwa. Nakuba amaJuda ngamanye asabela ezindabeni ezinhle ezazimenyezelwa nguJesu, isizwe sisonke samenqaba futhi sabe sesenqatshwa nguNkulunkulu. (Johane 1:9-12; IzEnzo 2:36) U-Israyeli wayengaseyena ufakazi kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngonyaka ka-70 C.E., iJerusalema nethempeli lalo kwaphinde kwabhujiswa, kulokhu sekuyibutho lamaRoma.—Mathewu 21:43.
8. Ubani owaba ngufakazi kaJehova, futhi kungani sasifike ngesikhathi isixwayiso uPawulu asinika lo fakazi?
8 Phakathi naleso sikhathi, kwakuzalwe “u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu” ongamaKristu, futhi kwabe sekuba nguye ongufakazi kaNkulunkulu ezizweni. (Galathiya 6:16) Ngokushesha okukhulu, uSathane waceba ukusonakalisa lesi sizwe esisha esingokomoya. Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala, kwase kubonakala amathonya amahlelo emabandleni. (IsAmbulo 2:6, 14, 20) Isixwayiso sikaPawulu safika ngesikhathi: “Xwayani: mhlawumbe kungase kube khona othile oyomuka nani njengezisulu zakhe ngefilosofi nenkohliso eyize ngokwesiko labantu, ngokwezinto zokucathula zezwe futhi hhayi ngokukaKristu.”—Kolose 2:8.
9. Njengoba nje uPawulu ayexwayisile, yiziphi izenzakalo ezaholela ekubeni khona kweLobukholwa?
9 Ekugcineni, ifilosofi yamaGreki, imibono engokwenkolo yaseBabiloni, futhi kamuva “ukuhlakanipha” kwabantu okunjengenkolelo-mbono yokuziphendukela kwemvelo nokucusumbula imiBhalo kwangcolisa inkolo yabaningi ababethi bangamaKristu. Kwakunjengoba uPawulu ayebikezele: “Ngiyazi ukuthi ngemva kokuhamba kwami kuzongena izimpisi ezicindezelayo phakathi kwenu futhi ngeke ziwuphathe ngesisa umhlambi, futhi phakathi kwenu ngokwenu kuzovela amadoda futhi akhulume izinto ezisontekile ukuze amonyule abafundi ukuba bawalandele.” (IzEnzo 20:29, 30) Ngenxa yalokhu kuhlubuka, kwavela eLobukholwa.
10. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezakwenza kwaba sobala ukuthi kwakungewona wonke umuntu owayezinikele ekukhulekeleni okonakele okwenziwa kweLobukholwa?
10 Labo ababezinikele ngempela ekukhulekeleni okumsulwa kwakudingeka ‘balulwele kanzima ukholo olwanikelwa kwabangcwele kanye kwaba kuphela.’ (Jude 3) Ingabe ukufakazelwa kokukhulekela okumsulwa noJehova kwase kuzophela emhlabeni? Cha. Njengoba sasisondela isikhathi sokubhujiswa kwesihlubuki esinguSathane nayo yonke imisebenzi yaso, kwacaca ukuthi akuwona wonke umuntu owayezinikele ekukhulekeleni kwezihlubuki okuqhutshwa kweLobukholwa. Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu le-19, ePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A., kwahlelwa iqembu labafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho laba yingxenye ebalulekile yesigaba sikaNkulunkulu sofakazi banamuhla. La maKristu aqokomisa ubufakazi obungokomBhalo bokuthi ukuphela kwalesi simiso sezwe kwase kuseduze. Ngokuvumelana neziprofetho zeBhayibheli, “ukuphela” kwaleli zwe kwaqala ngo-1914 futhi kwaphawulwa ukugqashuka kwempi yezwe yokuqala. (Mathewu 24:3, 7) Kunobufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uSathane noquqaba lwamademoni akhe baxoshwa ezulwini ngemva kwalowo nyaka. Ikhulu lama-20 eligcwele izinkathazo liye laba ubufakazi obucacile bokuba matasa kukaSathane nobokugcwaliseka okumangalisayo kwesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu ebukhosini eMbusweni wasezulwini.—Mathewu, izahluko 24 no-25; Marku, isahluko 13; Luka, isahluko 21; IsAmbulo 12:10, 12.
11. Yini uSathane azama ukuyenza, kodwa imizamo yakhe yahluleka kanjani?
11 Ngo-June 1918, uSathane wazama ngokuxhamazela ukuqothula labo bafundi beBhayibheli, ngaleso sikhathi abase beshumayela emazweni amaningi. Wazama nokuqeda inhlangano yabo engokomthetho, i-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Izikhulu zeNhlangano zaboshwa, zimangalelwe ngamanga ngokuvukela umbuso njengoJesu ngekhulu lokuqala. (Luka 23:2) Kodwa ngo-1919, lezi zikhulu zadedelwa, zakwazi ukuqhubeka nenkonzo yazo. Kamuva, amacala ezazibekwe wona asulwa ngokuphelele.
“Umlindi” Oqaphile
12. Obani namuhla abakha isigaba somlindi kaJehova, futhi baye baba nasiphi isimo sengqondo?
12 Ngakho-ke, lapho kuqala “isikhathi sokuphela” uJehova wayesephindé waba nomlindi, owayexwayisa abantu ngezenzakalo ezihlangene nokugcwaliseka kwezinjongo zaKhe. (Daniyeli 12:4; 2 Thimothewu 3:1) Kuze kube namuhla, lesi sigaba somlindi—amaKristu agcotshiwe, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu—siye senza ngokuvumelana nencazelo ka-Isaya yomlindi ongokwesiprofetho: “Uyakuqaphela nokuqaphela ngesineke esikhulu. Obonayo wayesememeza, wathi: ‘Nkosi yami, ngimi njalo emini embhoshongweni wami, ngihlezi ngisemlindelweni nasebusuku bonke.’” (Isaya 21:7, 8) Lona ngumlindi oqotho emsebenzini wakhe!
13. (a) Yisiphi isigijimi esiye samenyezelwa umlindi kaJehova? (b) Kungashiwo kanjani ukuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu liwile?
13 Ubonani lo mlindi? Nalapha, umlindi kaJehova, isigaba sakhe sofakazi, samemezela: “Liwile, liwile iBabele, nazo zonke izithombe ezibaziweyo zawonkulunkulu balo zidilizwe phansi [nguJehova].” (Isaya 21:9) Kulokhu, ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, okuwiswa egunyeni okuqhwakele kulo yiBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (Jeremiya 50:1-3; IsAmbulo 14:8) Kufanele vele! Ingani iMpi Enkulu, njengoba yayibizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, yaqala kweLobukholwa, lapho abefundisi ezinhlangothini zombili babekhwezela impi ngokushumayeza ikhethelo lezinsizwa ukuba liyokulwa. Yeka ihlazo! Ngo-1919, iBabiloni Elikhulu alikwazanga ukuvimbela abaFundi BeBhayibheli, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova babebizwa kanjalo ngaleso sikhathi, ukuba baphume esimweni sokungenzi lutho futhi baqale umkhankaso wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke osaqhubeka namanje. (Mathewu 24:14) Lokho kwaba uphawu lokuwa kweBabiloni Elikhulu, njengoba nje ukukhululwa kwama-Israyeli ngekhulu lesithupha B.C.E. kwaphawula ukuwa kweBabiloni lasendulo.
14. Yimuphi umagazini oye wasetshenziswa kakhulu yisigaba somlindi kaJehova, futhi uJehova uye wakubusisa kanjani ukusetshenziswa kwawo?
14 Isigaba somlindi besilokhu senza umsebenzi waso ngentshiseko futhi sinesifiso esinamandla sokwenza okulungile. Ngo-July 1879, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baqala ukunyathelisa lo magazini, ngaleso sikhathi okwakuthiwa i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Umagazini ngamunye kusukela ngo-1879 kuya ku-December 15, 1938, ngaphandle wawunamazwi athi: “‘Mlindi, yisikhathi sini sobusuku na?’—Isaya 21:11.” * Sekuyiminyaka engu-120 INqabayokulinda ithembekile ekuqapheleni izenzakalo zomhlaba nokuthi zisho ukuthini ngokwesiprofetho. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, 13) Isigaba somlindi kaNkulunkulu nabangane baso ‘bezinye izimvu’ siye sasebenzisa lo magazini ekumemezeleni ngentshiseko esintwini ukuthi ukulwelwa kobukhosi bukaJehova ngoMbuso kaKristu kuseduze. (Johane 10:17) Ingabe uJehova uye wabubusisa lobu bufakazi? Kusukela kumagazini wokuqala owawunamakhophi angu-6 000 ngo-1879, amakhophi e-Nqabayokulinda anyatheliswayo emhlabeni wonke aye anda afinyelela ku-22 000 000 ngezilimi ezingu-132—ezingu-121 zalezi zinyatheliswa kanyekanye. Yeka indlela okufaneleka ngayo ukuthi umagazini wenkolo osakazwa kakhulu kunabo bonke emhlabeni kube yilowo odumisa igama likaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova!
Ukuhlanzwa Okuqhubekayo
15. Yikuphi ukuhlanzwa okuqhubekayo okwaqala ngaphambi kuka-1914?
15 Phakathi neminyaka engaba ngu-40 eyaphela lapho kuqala ukubusa kukaKristu kwasezulwini ngo-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babengenazo izimfundiso eziningi zeLobukholwa ezingasekelwe eBhayibhelini, njengokubhapathizwa kwezinsana, ukungafi komphefumulo womuntu, isihlanzo, ukuhlushwa esihogweni somlilo, kanye noNkulunkulu onguZiqu-zintathu. Kodwa kwathatha isikhathi esengeziwe ukususa yonke imiqondo engafanele. Ngokwesibonelo, ngawo-1920 abaFundi BeBhayibheli abaningi babegqoka isipeletu esinesiphambano esinomqhele, futhi babegubha uKhisimusi namanye amaholide amaqaba. Nokho, ukuze ukukhulekela kube okumsulwa, yonke iminonjana yokukhulekelwa kwezithombe kumelwe isuswe. IZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli Elingcwele, kumelwe libe ukuphela kwesisekelo sokholo lomKristu nendlela yakhe yokuphila. (Isaya 8:19, 20; Roma 15:4) Akulungile ukunezela eZwini likaNkulunkulu noma ukhiphe okuthile kulo.—Duteronomi 4:2; IsAmbulo 22:18, 19.
16, 17. (a) Yimuphi umbono oyiphutha isigaba somlindi esasinawo amashumi athile eminyaka? (b) Iyiphi incazelo enembile ‘ye-altare nensika yaseGibithe’?
16 Isibonelo esisodwa sizogcizelela indlela esibaluleke ngayo lesi simiso. Ngo-1886 lapho uC. T. Russell enyathelisa incwadi eyabizwa ngokuthi i-Divine Plan of the Ages, lo mqulu wawuneshadi elalihlobanisa isikhathi sokuba khona kwesintu noMbhoshongo Omkhulu (Great Pyramid) waseGibithe. Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi lesi sikhumbuzo sikaFaro Khufu sasiyiyona nsika okukhulunywa ngayo ku-Isaya 19:19, 20 othi: “Ngalolo suku kuyakuba khona i-altare kuJehova phakathi kwezwe laseGibithe, nensika kuJehova emkhawulweni walo. Liyakuba yisibonakaliso nobufakazi kuJehova Sebawoti ezweni laseGibithe.” Lo mbhoshongo ocijile wawungahlobana kanjani neBhayibheli? Ngokwesibonelo, ubude bamaphasishi athile kulo Mbhoshongo Omkhulu kwakuthiwa bubonisa isikhathi sokuqala ‘kosizi olukhulu’ lukaMathewu 24:21, ngendlela olwaluqondwa ngayo ngaleso sikhathi. Abanye abaFundi BeBhayibheli bagxila ekulinganiseni izici ezihlukahlukene zalo mbhoshongo ukuze bathole izinto ezinjengosuku ababezokuya ngalo ezulwini!
17 Leli Bhayibheli Eliyitshe, njengoba lalibizwa kanjalo, lahlonishwa amashumi athile eminyaka, kwaze kwaba yilapho INqabayokulinda ka-November 15 neka-December 1, 1928, zikwenza kucaca ukuthi uJehova wayengadingi sikhumbuzo samatshe esasakhiwe ofaro abangamaqaba nesinezimpawu zobudemoni zokufundwa kwezinkanyezi ukuze aqinisekise ubufakazi obunikezwe eBhayibhelini. Kunalokho, isiprofetho sika-Isaya sabhekwa njengesisebenza ngomqondo ongokomoya. NjengakusAmbulo 11:8, ‘iGibithe’ limelela izwe likaSathane. “I-altare kuJehova” lisikhumbuza imihlatshelo eyamukelekayo eyenziwa amaKristu agcotshiwe lapho eseyizakhamuzi zesikhashana kuleli zwe. (Roma 12:1; Heberu 13:15, 16) Insika ‘esemkhawulweni weGibithe’ ibhekisela ebandleni lamaKristu agcotshiwe, ‘eyinsika nozime lweqiniso’ futhi ewubufakazi ‘eGibithe,’ izwe la maKristu asezolishiya.—1 Thimothewu 3:15.
18. (a) UJehova uye wabambulela kanjani izinto ngokuqhubekayo abafundi beBhayibheli abaqotho? (b) Uma umKristu ekuthola kunzima ukuqonda incazelo yomBhalo, yisiphi isimo sengqondo okuwukuhlakanipha ukuba naso?
18 Njengoba iminyaka idlula, uJehova uyaqhubeka esicacisela kakhudlwana iqiniso, futhi esenza siliqonde kangconywana izwi lakhe lesiprofetho. (IzAga 4:18) Eminyakeni yamuva, siye sakhuthazwa ukuba siphinde sibheke ngokuqonda okujule kakhudlwana isizukulwane esingeke sidlule ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela, umzekeliso wezimvu nezimbuzi, isinengiso nokuthi siyoma nini endaweni engcwele, isivumelwano esisha, ukuguqulwa kukaJesu isimo nombono wethempeli wencwadi kaHezekeli, nezinye izinto. Ngezinye izikhathi kungase kube nzima ukuqonda izincazelo ezinjalo ezithuthukisiwe, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ziye zicace izizathu zazo. Uma umKristu engayiqondi ngokugcwele incazelo entsha yombhalo othile, wenza kahle lapho enanela amazwi omprofethi uMika: “Ngiyakulindela uNkulunkulu wokusindiswa kwami.”—Mika 7:7.
19. Insali egcotshiwe nezinye izimvu basibonisé kanjani isibindi esinjengesebhubesi kulezi zinsuku zokugcina?
19 Khumbula ukuthi umlindi “[wamemeza njengebhubesi, NW] wathi: ‘Nkosi yami, ngimi njalo emini embhoshongweni wami, ngihlezi ngisemlindelweni nasebusuku bonke.’” (Isaya 21:8) Insali egcotshiwe iye yabonisa isibindi esinjengesebhubesi ekudaluleni inkolo yamanga nasekuboniseni abantu indlela eya enkululekweni. (IsAmbulo 18:2-5) ‘Njengesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo,’ iye yalungiselela amaBhayibheli, omagazini nezinye izincwadi ngenqwaba yezilimi—“ukudla ngesikhathi esifanele.” (Mathewu 24:45) Iye yahola ekubutheni “isixuku esikhulu . . . [esiphuma] kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.” Naso sihlanzwa ngegazi elihlengayo likaJesu futhi sizibonakalisa sinesibindi esinjengesebhubesi ekunikeleni “inkonzo engcwele” kuNkulunkulu “imini nobusuku.” (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14, 15) Ziye zaba yini izithelo kulo nyaka odlule zeqembu elincane elisasele loFakazi BakaJehova abagcotshiwe nabangane babo, isixuku esikhulu? Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngako.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
^ par. 14 Kusukela ngo-January 1, 1939, la mazwi ashintshwa athi “‘Bazi ukuthi nginguJehova.’—Hezekeli 35:15.”
Uyakhumbula?
• Yibaphi ofakazi uJehova aye wabaveza eminyakeni edlule?
• Lavelaphi iBabiloni Elikhulu?
• Kungani uJehova avumela iJerusalema, inhloko-dolobha yesizwe sofakazi bakhe, ukuba libhujiswe ngo-607 B.C.E.? ngo-70 C.E.?
• Yimuphi umoya oye waboniswa yisigaba somlindi kaJehova nabangane baso?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Isithombe ekhasini 7]
“Nkosi yami, ngimi njalo emini embhoshongweni wami”
[Izithombe ekhasini 10]
Isigaba somlindi kaJehova siwenza ngobuqotho umsebenzi waso