Isahluko 7

Luvuselele Uthando Owawunalo Ekuqaleni!

IEFESE

1. Isigidimi sokuqala sikaYesu sibhekiswa kweliphi ibandla, yaye ubakhumbuza ngantoni abaveleli?

ISIGIDIMI sokuqala sikaYesu siya kwibandla lase-Efese, ngelo xesha eyayisisixeko esityebileyo nesasiselunxwemeni eAsia Minor kufuphi nesiqithi sasePatmos. Uyalela uYohane ngale ndlela: “Ingelosi yebandla elise-Efese yibhalele uthi: Utsho lowo ubambe iinkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe esandleni sakhe sasekunene, lowo uhamba phakathi kweziphatho zezibane zegolide ezisixhenxe.” (ISityhilelo 2:1) Njengokuba kunjalo nakwezinye izigidimi ezithandathu, uYesu apha utsalel’ ingqalelo kwinkalo ebonisa isigxina sakhe esinegunya. Ukhumbuza abaveleli base-Efese ukuba bonke abadala baphantsi kweliso lakhe yaye ubonisa nokuba uhlola onke amabandla. Ukuhla ukuza kuthi ga kweli xesha siphila kulo, uye waqhubeka esebenzisa obu buntloko ngothando, ehlola abadala yaye ebalusa ngobubele bonke abanxulumene nebandla. Ngamaxesha athile, uhlengahlengisa amalungiselelo ebandla ukuze ukukhanya kuqaqambe ngakumbi. Ewe, uYesu unguMalusi oyiNtloko womhlambi kaThixo.—Mateyu 11:28-30; 1 Petros 5:2-4.

2. (a) UYesu walincoma ngaziphi izinto ezintle ibandla lase-Efese? (b) Sisiphi isiluleko sompostile uPawulos ekucacayo ukuba abadala base-Efese basithobela?

² UYesu wandula ke amisele umzekelo wendlela ezaziya kudluliselwa ngayo zonke izigidimi zakhe ezisixhenxe ngaphandle kwezibini ngokuvula ngamazwi ancoma ngokufudumeleyo. Kwabase-Efese, udlulisela esi sigidimi: “Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho, nokusebenza nonyamezelo lwakho, nokuba akunako ukubathwala abantu ababi, nokuba wabavavanya abo bathi bangabapostile, kodwa bengengabo, waza wabafumana bengamaxoki. Ubonisa unyamezelo, yaye uye wathwala ubunzima ngenxa yegama lam, akwatyhafa.” (ISityhilelo 2:2, 3) Kwiminyaka engaphambi koku, umpostile uPawulos wayebalumkisile abadala base-Efese ‘ngeengcuka ezicinezelayo,’ abaphazamisi bomhlambi abangabawexuki, ibe wayebaxelele abo badala ukuba ‘baphaphe,’ balandele umzekelo wakhe wokungadinwa. (IZenzo 20:29, 31) Ekubeni ngoku uYesu ebancoma ngokubulaleka, ukunyamezela nokungadinwa kwabo, bamele ukuba basisebenzisa eso siluleko.

3. (a) Kwimihla yethu, ‘abapostile bobuxoki’ baye bakufuna njani ukukhohlisa abathembekileyo? (b) Sisiphi isiluleko malunga nabawexuki esanikelwa nguPetros?

³ Kwakhona, ebudeni bemini yeNkosi, kuye kwavela ‘abapostile bobuxoki’ ‘abathetha izinto ezijijekileyo, batsale abafundi emva kwabo.’ (2 Korinte 11:13; IZenzo 20:30; ISityhilelo 1:10) Bazibona zilungile zonke iinkonzo ezingamahlelo ezixabanayo, bathi uThixo akanayo intlangano, yaye bayayikhanyela into yokuba uYesu wafumana amandla oBukumkani ngowe-1914. Bazalisekisa isiprofeto esikweyesi-2 kaPetros 3:3, 4: “Ngemihla yokugqibela kuya kufika abagculeli nokugculela kwabo, beqhubeka ngokweminqweno yabo baze bathi: ‘Buphi obu bukho bakhe buthenjisiweyo? Kuba ukususela ngomhla ookhokho bethu abalala ngawo ekufeni, zonke izinto zisaqhubeka kanye njengasekuqaleni kwendalo.’”

4. (a) Ikratshi nemvukelo yabagxeki zibonakaliswa njani? (b) AmaKristu namhlanje abonisa ukuba afana namaEfese ngokuthabatha liphi inyathelo nxamnye nabachasi abanganyanisekanga?

⁴ Aba bagxeki bayakuchasa ukuluvakalisa ekuhleni ukholo lwabo. (Roma 10:10) Baye bafuna uncedo kubefundisi beNgqobhoko, kumaphephandaba nakumaziko oomabonwakude ukuze basasaze iingxelo zobuxoki ezingabantu abebekade benxulumene nabo. Abantu abathembekileyo bafumanisa ngokukhawuleza ukuba intetho nehambo yaba bakhohlisi azinabunyaniso. NjengamaEfese, namhlanje amaKristu ‘akanakubathwala abantu ababi,’ ngoko ayabasusa kubudlelane emabandleni awo.a

5. (a) Bubuphi ubuthathaka uYesu awathi amaEfese ayenabo? (b) Ngawaphi amazwi awayemele awakhumbule amaEfese?

⁵ Noko ke, njengokuba esenjenjalo kumabandla amahlanu kwasixhenxe, ngoku uYesu uphuhlisa ingxaki enzulu. Uthi kwabase-Efese: “Noko ke, ndinale nto ngakuwe, yokuba uye walushiya uthando owawunalo kuqala.” (ISityhilelo 2:4) Babengamele ukuba basilele kule nkalo, kuba uPawulos wayebabhalele kwiminyaka engama-35 ngaphambili ethetha ‘ngothando lukaThixo olukhulu, awasithanda ngalo,’ ibe wayebabongozile wathi: “Yibani ngabaxelisa uThixo, njengabantwana abaziintanda, nize niqhubeke nihamba eluthandweni, kanye njengokuba noKristu wanithandayo.” (Efese 2:4; 5:1, 2) Ngaphezu koko, la mazwi kaYesu ayemele ukuba ayebetheleleke ngokungacimekiyo ezintliziyweni zabo: “UYehova uThixo wethu nguYehova mnye, uze umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela nangomphefumlo wakho uphela nangengqondo yakho iphela nangamandla akho ephela.” (Marko 12:29-31) AmaEfese ayephulukene nothando awayenalo ekuqaleni.

6. (a) Enoba singamagqala okanye sisebatsha ebandleni, simele silumkele yiphi ingozi notyekelo? (b) Ukuthanda kwethu uThixo kumele kusishukumisele ukuba senze ntoni?

⁶ Enoba singamagqala okanye sisebatsha ebandleni, simele sikulumkele ukuphulukana nothando esasinalo ekuqaleni ngoYehova. Kunokwenzeka njani oku? Sinokuvumela ukuzinikela ngokugqithisileyo kumsebenzi wethu wempangelo, umnqweno wokuzuza imali eninzi, okanye usukelo lokuzuza uyolo lube yinto enkulu ebomini bethu. Ngaloo ndlela sinokucinga ngezinto zokwenyama kunokucinga ngezokomoya. (Roma 8:5-8; 1 Timoti 4:8; 6:9, 10) Ukuthanda kwethu uYehova kumele kusishukumisele ekubeni silungise naluphi na utyekelo olunjalo size ‘siqhubeke sifuna kuqala ubukumkani bukaThixo nobulungisa bakhe,’ ukuze ‘siziqwebele ubuncwane ezulwini.’—Mateyu 6:19-21, 31-33.

7. (a) Inkonzo yethu esiyinikela kuYehova imele ishukunyiswe yintoni? (b) Yintoni eyathethwa nguYohane ngokubhekisele kuthando?

⁷ Ngalo lonke ixesha inkonzo yethu esiyinikela kuYehova imele ishukunyiswe kukumthanda ngokunzulu. Masibe noxabiso olunzulu ngako konke oko uYehova noKristu basenzele kona. Kunjengokuba uYohane wabhalayo kamva wathi: “Ayisithi esamthandayo uThixo, koko nguye owasithandayo waza wathumela uNyana wakhe njengombingelelo wokucamagushela izono zethu.” UYohane uhlabela mgama esithi: “UThixo uluthando, yaye lowo uhleli eluthandweni umanyene noThixo, noThixo umanyene naye.” Kwanga asingeze siluvumele uthando lwethu ngoYehova, ngeNkosi uYesu Kristu nangeLizwi likaThixo eliphilileyo lufiphale! Olu thando sinokulubonakalisa kungekuphela nje ngenkonzo esiyinikela ngenzondelelo kuThixo kodwa kwanangokuthobela ‘umyalelo asinike wona, wokuba lowo umthandayo uThixo ufanele amthande nomzalwana wakhe.’—1 Yohane 4:10, 16, 21; Hebhere 4:12; bona kwaneyoku-1 kaPetros 4:8; Kolose 3:10-14; Efese 4:15.

‘Yenza Izenzo Zangaphambili’

8. UYesu wathi amaEfese ayemele enze ntoni?

⁸ Loo maEfese amele aluvuselele uthando awayekade enalo ukuba akafuni kutshatyalaliswa. UYesu wathi kuwo: “Khumbula apho uwe usuka khona, uze uguquke wenze izenzo zangaphambili. Ukuba akwenjinjalo, ndiya kuza ndisishenxise isiphatho sezibane sakho endaweni yaso, ngaphandle kokuba uyaguquka.” (ISityhilelo 2:5) AmaKristu ebandla lase-Efese awamkela njani loo mazwi? Asazi. Sinethemba lokuba aguquka aza aphumelela ekuvuseleleni uthando lwawo ngoYehova. Ukuba akazange enjenjalo, ngoko isibane sawo sasiya kucinywa size nesiphatho sesibane sawo sishenxiswe. Ayeya kuphulukana nelungelo lawo lokuvakalisa inyaniso.

9. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi akhuthazayo uYesu awawathetha kumaEfese? (b) Emva komhla kaYohane amabandla asilela njani ukuthobela isiluleko sikaYesu esiya kumaEfese?

⁹ Sekunjalo, uYesu unala mazwi akhuthazayo awabhekisa kumaEfese: “Ukanti, unako oku, kokuba uzithiyile izenzo zehlelo lamaNikolawo, endizithiyileyo nam.” (ISityhilelo 2:6) Ubuncinane ayeluthiyile unqulo lwamahlelo, kanye njengokuba iNkosi uYesu Kristu iluthiyile. Noko ke, njengoko iminyaka yayiqengqeleka, amabandla amaninzi akazange awathobele loo mazwi kaYesu. Ukungathandi uYehova nenyaniso, nokungathandani kwawo kwaphumela ekubeni akhukulisekele kubumnyama bokomoya. Aqhekeka aba ngamahlelo amaninzi axabanayo. Abakhupheli beencwadi “abangamaKristu” nababengamthandi uYehova balishenxisa igama likaThixo kwimibhalo-ngqangi yeBhayibhile ebhalwe ngesiGrike. Kwakhona ukungabi naluthando kwabo kwababangela ukuba bafundise iimfundiso zamaBhabhiloni nezamaGrike, ezinjengesihogo somlilo, intlambululo-miphefumlo noBathathu Emnye, oko bekwenza egameni lobuKristu. Ngenxa yokuba bengenaluthando ngoThixo nangenyaniso, abaninzi kwabo babesithi bangamaKristu bayeka ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo. Baye balawulwa ludidi lwabefundisi abazingcayo abathi bazenzela obabo ubukumkani apha emhlabeni—Thelekisa eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 4:8.

10. Yayinjani imeko yonqulo kwiNgqobhoko ngowe-1918?

¹⁰ Xa umgwebo waqalisa ngendlu kaThixo ngowe-1918, abefundisi bamahlelo eNgqobhoko babeyixhasa ngokuphandle iMfazwe Yehlabathi I, bebongoza amaKatolika namaProtestanti kumacala omabini ukuba abulalane. (1 Petros 4:17) Ngokungafaniyo nebandla lase-Efese elalikuthiyile oko kwakusenziwa lihlelo lamaNikolawo, iinkonzo zeNgqobhoko kudala zidlakazwa ziimfundiso ezingqubanayo nezichas’ uThixo, yaye abefundisi bazo baye bazifaka ngokupheleleyo ehlabathini, uYesu awathi abafundi bakhe bamele bangabi yonxalenye yalo. (Yohane 15:17-19) Amabandla abo, angawaziyo umxholo weBhayibhile, obuBukumkani bukaThixo, ayengezizo iziphatho zezibane ezazikhanyisa inyaniso engokweZibhalo, yaye amalungu awo ayengeyonxalenye yetempile yokomoya kaYehova. Amadoda (nabafazi) bawo abaphambili babengezonkwenkwezi kodwa bangqineka bengamalungu ‘omchasi-mthetho.’—2 Tesalonika 2:3; Malaki 3:1-3.

11. (a) Liliphi iqela lamaKristu ngowe-1918 elasebenzisa amazwi kaYesu aya kumaEfese? (b) Lwenza ntoni udidi lukaYohane ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili?

¹¹ Noko ke, udidi lukaYohane lwatyhubela iintsuku ezinesiphithiphithi zemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala lunothando ngoYehova nangenyaniso, thando olo olwalushukumisela ukuba lumkhonze ngenzondelelo yokwenene. Lwabachasa abo babezama ukungenisa unqulo lwamahlelo bemenza isithixo umongameli wokuqala weWatch Tower Society, uCharles T. Russell, emva kokufa kwakhe ngowe-1916. Ngenxa yokunyamezela kwalo iintshutshiso neenkxwaleko, eli qela lamaKristu lanconywa yiNkosi yalo isithi ‘lenze kakuhle’ yaza yalimema ukuba lingene kuvuyo lwayo. (Mateyu 25:21, 23) Ngenxa yokuphawula kwalo iziganeko zehlabathi, layiqonda inzaliseko yomqondiso wobukho bukaYesu obungabonakaliyo ekumandla oBukumkani. Ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili, lazimisela ngakumbi ukuzalisekisa isiprofeto sikaYesu esibalulekileyo esithi: “Kwaye ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.” (Mateyu 6:9, 10; 24:3-14) Ukuba uthando lwalo ngoYehova lwaluye ngandlel’ ithile lwaphola, lwavuselelwa ngamandla ukususela ngelo xesha ukusa phambili.

12. (a) Kwindibano engenakulibaleka ezimbalini yowe-1922, kwahlatywa liphi ikhwelo? (b) Liliphi igama elamkelwa ngamaKristu okwenyaniso ngowe-1931, yaye aguquka entwenini?

¹² Kwindibano engenakulibaleka ezimbalini, ekweza kuyo i-18 000 lala maKristu, eCedar Point, eOhio, eUnited States, ngoSeptemba 5-13, 1922, kwahlatyw’ ikhwelo kwathiwa: “Buyelani entsimini, nina boonyana boThixo osenyangweni! . . . Ihlabathi lifanele lazi ukuba uYehova unguThixo nokuba uYesu Kristu unguKumkani wookumkani iNkosi yeenkosi. . . . Ngoko ke mbhengezeni, mbhengezeni, mbhengezeni, uKumkani nobukumkani bakhe.” Igama likaYehova elixabisekileyo lalibalaseliswa ngakumbi. Ngowe-1931 la maKristu, ehlanganisene kwindibano eyayiseColumbus, eOhio, eUnited States, avuyiswa kukwamkela nokusebenzisa igama eliboniswe nguThixo kwisiprofeto sikaIsaya—amaNgqina kaYehova. (Isaya 43:10, 12) Kwinkupho kaMatshi 1, 1939, igama lephephancwadi eliphambili lale ntlangano laguqulwa lathi IMboniselo Evakalisa UBukumkani BukaYehova, ngaloo ndlela kunikelwa imbeko ephambili kuMdali wethu nakurhulumente wakhe wasebukhosini. AmaNgqina kaYehova, ngenxa yokuba ehlaziye ukuthanda kwawo uYehova, aye aguquka kuko nakuphi na ukusilela asenokuba ayekwenzile kwithuba elidluleyo ekubekeni nasekuzukiseni igama noBukumkani bakhe obuzukileyo.—INdumiso 106:6, 47, 48.

“Lowo Woyisayo”

13. (a) Yiyiphi intsikelelo eyayiza kufunyanwa ngamaEfese ukuba ‘ayoyisile’? (b) AmaKristu ase-Efese ayeya ‘koyisa’ njani?

¹³ Ekugqibeleni, njengokuba esenjenjalo nakwezinye izigidimi zakhe, uYesu ubonisa ukuba umoya kaThixo usebenzisa yena ukuchaza umvuzo wokuthembeka. Kwabase-Efese uthi: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla: Lowo woyisayo ndiza kumnika ukuba adle kuwo umthi wobomi, okwiparadesi kaThixo.” (ISityhilelo 2:7) Abo baphulaphulayo babeya kukulangazelela ukuthobela eso sigidimi sibalulekileyo, besazi ukuba sasingaveli kuYesu kodwa sasivela kwiNkosi enguMongami uYehova esebenzisa umoya wakhe oyingcwele, okanye amandla akhe asebenzayo. Babeza ‘koyisa’ njani? Ngokulandela ngokupheleleyo emanyathelweni kaYesu, owagcina ingqibelelo kwada kwasekufeni waza wathi: “Yomelelani! mna ndiloyisile ihlabathi.”—Yohane 8:28; 16:33; bona kwaneyoku-1 kaYohane 5:4.

14. ‘Iparadesi kaThixo’ ekhankanywe nguYesu imele ukuba ibhekisela entwenini?

¹⁴ Ekubeni engenalo ithemba lokuphila kwiparadesi esemhlabeni, kwenzeka njani ukuba amaKristu athanjisiweyo, anjengaloo maEfese, avuzwe ngokudla ‘kumthi wobomi okwiparadesi kaThixo’? Le ayinakuba yiParadesi ebuyiselweyo emhlabeni, ekubeni amaKristu athanjisiweyo ali-144 000, kuquka lawo ebandla lase-Efese, ethengwe eluntwini ukuze alawule neMvana, uKristu Yesu, kwiNtaba yeZiyon yasezulwini njengoonyana bomoya. (Efese 1:5-12; ISityhilelo 14:1, 4) Ngenxa yoko, apha kumele ukuba kubhekiselwa kummandla onjengomyezo osezulwini ozuzw’ ilifa ngaba boyisileyo. Kuloo ‘paradesi kaThixo’ aba boyisileyo baya kuqhubeka bephila ngonaphakade, njengoko kufuziselwa kukudla kwabo kumthi wobomi.

15. Kutheni le nto ukhuthazo lukaYesu lokoyisa lubaluleke gqitha kwisihlwele esikhulu namhlanje?

¹⁵ Kuthekani ke ngabantu basemhlabeni ababaxhasa ngokunyanisekileyo abathanjiswa abali-144 000? Isihlwele esikhulu sala maNgqina angamaqabane, naso siyoyisa. Kodwa sona sinethemba lokuphila kwiparadesi yasemhlabeni, apho siya kusela ‘kumlambo wamanzi obomi’ size siphiliswe ‘ngamagqabi emithi’ etyalwe ecaleni kwaloo mlambo. (ISityhilelo 7:4, 9, 17; 22:1, 2) Ukuba ungomnye weli qela, ngamana nawe ungabonakalisa uthando lwakho olufudumeleyo ngoYehova uze uphumelele kuloyiso lokholo. Ngaloo ndlela unokufumana ulonwabo lobomi obungunaphakade kumhlaba oyiParadesi.—Thelekisa eyoku-1 kaYohane 2:13, 14.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 36]

Indumiso Yothando Enikelwa KuYehova NakuNyana Wakhe

Kwiculo elakhutshwa ngabantu bakaYehova ngowe-1905, iingoma ezazidumisa uYesu zazininzi ngokuphindwe kabini kuneengoma ezazidumisa uYehova uThixo. Kwiculo labo lowe-1928, inani leengoma ezazidumisa uYesu lalibulingana nenani leengoma ezazidumisa uYehova. Kodwa kwiculo lakutshanje lowe-1984, uYehova uzukiswa ngeengoma ezininzi ngokuphindwe kane kuneengoma ezizukisa uYesu. Oku kuvisisana namazwi kaYesu: “UBawo mkhulu kunam.” (Yohane 14:28) Ukuthanda uYehova kumele kubalasele, kuphelekwa kukuthanda uYesu ngokunzulu nokuqonda idini lakhe elixabisekileyo nesigxina sakhe njengoMbingeleli Omkhulu noKumkani omiselwe nguThixo.

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 34]

Umzekelo Wendlela Aluleka Ngayo UYesu

(kuboniswa izahluko neendinyana zeSityhilelo)

IEfese 2:1 2:2, 3 2:4 2:5, 6 2:7

ISmirna 2:8 2:9 — 2:10 2:11

IPergamo 2:12 2:13 2:14, 15 2:16 2:17

ITiyatira 2:18 2:19 2:20, 21 2:24, 25 2:26-28

ISardesi 3:1 — 3:1, 2 3:3, 4 3:5

IFiladelfi 3:7 3:8 — 3:8-11 3:12

ILawodike 3:14 — 3:15-17 3:18-20 3:21

Isahluko 8

Ukuzabalazela Ukuba Ngaboyisayo

ISMIRNA

1. (a) Liliphi elinye ibandla elifumana isigidimi esivela kuYesu ozukisiweyo? (b) Ngokuzibiza ngokuba ‘ungowokuQala nowokuGqibela,’ uYesu wawakhumbuza ngantoni amaKristu elo bandla?

NAMHLANJE, iEfese yamandulo ingamabhodlo. Kodwa indawo uYesu awayethumele kuyo isigidimi sakhe sesibini isesisixeko esihle. Malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-56 kumntla we-Efese engamabhodlo kukho isixeko saseTheki, i-Izmir, apho kufumaneka amabandla amane amaNgqina kaYehova asebenza ngenzondelelo nanamhla. Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, kule ndawo kwakukho iSmirna. Khawuphawule, amazwi alandelayo kaYesu: “Ingelosi yebandla eliseSmirna yibhalele uthi: Ezi zizinto azitshoyo, ‘owokuQala nowokuGqibela,’ owafayo waza wabuyela ebomini kwakhona.” (ISityhilelo 2:8) Ngokuchaza oku kuloo maKristu aseSmirna, uYesu uwakhumbuza ukuba wayengumgcini wengqibelelo wokuqala nowokugqibela awathi uYehova ngokungqalileyo wamvusela kubomi bomoya bokungafi. UYesu wayeya kuwavusa ngokwakhe onke amanye amaKristu athanjisiweyo. Ngaloo ndlela ukufanelekele kakuhle ukunikela isiluleko kubazalwana bakhe abanethemba lobomi basezulwini bokungafi kunye naye.

2. Kutheni onke amaKristu ethuthuzelwa kukufumana incwadi evela kuLowo ‘wafayo waza wabuyela ebomini’?

² UYesu waba ngowokuqala ukunyamezela intshutshiso ngenxa yobulungisa, ibe wafumana umvuzo ofanelekileyo. Ukuthembeka kwakhe kude kuse ekufeni nokuvuswa kwakhe kuwanik’ ithemba onke amaKristu. (IZenzo 17:31) Into yokuba uYesu ‘wafa waza wabuyela ebomini’ inikela ubungqina bokuba ukunyamezela nayiphi na into ngenxa yenyaniso akulolize. Ukuvuka kukaYesu kungumthombo wokhuthazo olukhulu kuwo onke amaKristu ngakumbi xa kufuneka eve ubunzima ngenxa yokholo lwawo. Ngaba ukwimeko enjalo? Ngoko nawe unokuba nenkalipho ngenxa yamazwi kaYesu alandelayo aya kwibandla laseSmirna:

3. (a) Luluphi ukhuthazo uYesu awalunika amaKristu aseSmirna? (b) Nangona amaKristu aseSmirna ayengamahlwempu, kutheni le nto uYesu wathi ‘azizityebi’?

³ “Ndiyayazi imbandezelo nobuhlwempu bakho—kodwa usisityebi—nokunyelisa kwabo bathi bona ngokwabo bangamaYuda, ukanti abangawo kodwa bayindlu yesikhungu kaSathana.” (ISityhilelo 2:9) UYesu akabagxeki abazalwana bakhe baseSmirna, koko ubancoma ngokufudumeleyo. Baye bafumana imbandezelo enkulu ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Bangamahlwempu ngokwezinto eziphathekayo, mhlawumbi ngenxa yokuthembeka kwabo. (Hebhere 10:34) Noko ke, into abayixhalabele ngokuyintloko zizinto zokomoya, yaye baziqwebele ubutyebi ezulwini, njengoko uYesu wacebisayo. (Mateyu 6:19, 20) Ngenxa yoko, uMalusi Oyintloko ubajonga ‘njengezityebi.’—Thelekisa uYakobi 2:5.

4. AmaKristu aseSmirna afumana inkcaso enamandla evela koobani, ibe uYesu wabajonga njani abo bachasi?

⁴ UYesu uphawula ngokukhethekileyo ukuba amaKristu aseSmirna aye anyamezela inkcaso enamandla ephuma kumaYuda emvelo. Kwimihla yangaphambili, abaninzi bolu nqulo ngokuzimisela bakuchasa ukusasazwa kobuKristu. (IZenzo 13:44, 45; 14:19) Ngoku, kumashumi nje ambalwa eminyaka emva kokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, loo maYuda aseSmirna asabonisa kwaumoya ofanayo kaSathana. Akumangalisi ukuba uYesu abe uwajonga ‘njengendlu yesikhungu kaSathana’!a

5. Ziziphi iimvavanyo amaKristu aseSmirna awayeza kuzifumana?

⁵ Ejongene nentiyo enjalo, amaKristu aseSmirna ayathuthuzelwa nguYesu: “Musa ukuzoyika izinto osele uza kubandezeleka ngazo. Khangela! UMtyholi uya kuhlala ephosa bambi benu entolongweni ukuze nivavanywe ngokupheleleyo, nokuze nibe nembandezelo imihla elishumi. Zingqine uthembekile kude kuse ekufeni, mna ke ndokunika isithsaba sobomi.” (ISityhilelo 2:10) Apha uYesu usebenzisa igama lesiGrike elikwisininzi, ukubonisa ukuba amazwi akhe aquka ibandla liphela. UYesu akanakuthembisa ukuba iimvavanyo zamaKristu aseSmirna ziza kuphela kungekudala. Wambi awo aza kuqhubeka etshutshiswa aze afakwe entolongweni. Aya kufumana imbandezelo “imihla elishumi.” Ishumi linani elifuzisela ukuphelela kwezinto zasemhlabeni. Kwanabo bagcini bengqibelelo bazizityebi ngokomoya baza kuvavanywa ngokucokisekileyo ngoxa besenyameni.

6. (a) Kutheni le nto amaKristu aseSmirna engamele oyike? (b) UYesu wasiqukumbela njani isigidimi sakhe esiya kwibandla laseSmirna?

⁶ Sekunjalo, amaKristu aseSmirna akamele oyike okanye alalanise. Ukuba ahlala ethembekile kude kuse ekupheleni, abekelwe umvuzo ‘wesithsaba sobomi,’ ubomi bokungafi emazulwini. (1 Korinte 9:25; 2 Timoti 4:6-8) Umpostile uPawulos wawujonga lo mvuzo uxabisekileyo njengalowo wayemele ancame yonk’ into ngenxa yawo, kwanobomi bakhe basemhlabeni. (Filipi 3:8) Kucacile ukuba abo bathembekileyo baseSmirna bavakalelwa ngendlela efanayo. UYesu uqukumbela isigidimi sakhe ngokuthi: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla: Lowo woyisayo akasayi kuze onakaliswe kukufa kwesibini.” (ISityhilelo 2:11) Abantu aboyisayo baqinisekiswa ngobomi bokungafi ezulwini nobungenakuphazanyiswa kukufa.—1 Korinte 15:53, 54.

‘Imbandezelo Imihla Elishumi’

7, 8. Njengebandla laseSmirna, ibandla lamaKristu ‘lavavanywa njani ngokupheleleyo’ ngowe-1918?

⁷ Kanye njengamaKristu aseSmirna, udidi lukaYohane namaqabane alo namhlanje baye ‘bavavanywa ngokupheleleyo’ yaye basaqhubeka bevavanywa. Ukuthembeka kwabo phantsi kovavanyo kubaphawula njengabantu bakaThixo. (Marko 13:9, 10) Emva nje kokuqalisa kwemini yeNkosi, amazwi kaYesu awayewabhekisa kumaKristu aseSmirna alithuthuzela ngokwenene iqela elincinane lezizwe ngezizwe labantu bakaYehova. (ISityhilelo 1:10) Ukususela ngowe-1879, aba bantu bebephanda ubutyebi bokomoya kwiLizwi likaThixo baza babelana nabanye ngabo. Kodwa ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi I, bathiywa baza bachaswa ngokukrakra, ngenxa yokuba bengazange bangenwe ngumoya wemfazwe nangenxa yokuzibhenca kwabo ngokungenaloyiko iziphoso zeNgqobhoko. Intshutshiso abayifumanayo neyaqhwaywa ziinkokeli ezithile zeNgqobhoko yafikelela encotsheni ngowe-1918 ibe yayifana naleyo amaKristu aseSmirna ayifumana kwibutho lamaYuda.

⁸ Intshutshiso yaseUnited States of America yafikelela encotsheni xa umongameli omtsha weWatch Tower Society, uJoseph F. Rutherford namaqabane akhe asixhenxe bafakwa entolongweni ngoJuni 22, 1918, yaye uninzi lwabo lwagwetywa iminyaka engama-20 entolongweni. Bakhululwa ngebheyile emva kweenyanga ezisithoba. NgoMeyi 14, 1919, inkundla yesibheno ekugqibeleni yazichitha izimangalo ababetyholwa ngempazamo ngazo; kwaboniswa ukuba kwakukho iimpazamo ezili-130 ekuchotshelweni kweli tyala. UMgwebi uManton ongumRoma Katolika nolilungu lecandelo likaGregory Ongcwele noMkhulu, owayethe ngowe-1918 akavuma ukuba la maKristu afumane ibheyile, wagwetywa ngowe-1939, ngokuvalelwa iminyaka emibini entolongweni waza wadliwa ama-20 000 eerandi ngezimangalo ezithandathu zokufuna nokwamkela ukunyotywa.

9. AmaNgqina kaYehova kwiJamani yamaNazi aphathwa njani nguHitler, yaye bathini abefundisi?

⁹ Ebudeni bolawulo lwamaNazi eJamani, uHitler wawuvala ngokupheleleyo umsebenzi wokushumayela wamaNgqina kaYehova. Kangangeminyaka eliqela, amawaka amaNgqina ayevalelwe ngenkohlakalo kwiinkampu zoxinaniso nakwiintolongo, apho amaninzi awo afela khona, ngoxa kwabulawa abafana abamalunga nama-200 abangazange bavume ukulwa kumkhosi kaHitler. Into yokuba abefundisi bakuxhasa konke oku ingqinwa ngamazwi omfundisi wamaKatolika, awapapashwa kwiphephandaba iThe German Way kaMeyi 29, 1938. Wathi: “Ngoku kukho ilizwe elinye emhlabeni ekuthintelwe kulo iqela elibizwa ngokuba . . . ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile [amaNgqina kaYehova]. Elo lizwe yiJamani! . . . Xa uAdolph Hitler waqalisa ukulawula, laza neqela looBhishophu bamaKatolika baseJamani laphindaphinda isicelo salo, uHitler wathi: ‘Aba bantu kuthiwa ngaBafundi BeBhayibhile Abanyanisekileyo [amaNgqina kaYehova] bangabaqhwayi benkathazo; . . . bangabahanahanisi; andinakuyinyamezela into yokuba amaKatolika aseJamani anyeliswe ngolu hlobo ngulo Mgwebi waseMerika unguRutherford; ndiyawatshayela [amaNgqina kaYehova] eJamani.’” Lo mfundisi wakuqhwabel’ izandla oku.

10. (a) Njengoko imini yeNkosi ibiqhubeka, yiyiphi intshutshiso amaNgqina kaYehova aye ajongana nayo? (b) Ibidla ngokuba yintoni imiphumo xa amaKristu esilwela inkululeko yonqulo ezinkundleni?

¹⁰ Njengoko imini yeNkosi ibiqhubeka, iNyoka nembewu yayo ayizange iyeke ukulwa namaKristu athanjisiweyo namaqabane awo. Uninzi lwawo luye lwavalelwa ezintolongweni lwaza lwatshutshiswa ngenkohlakalo. (ISityhilelo 12:17) Ezi ntshaba ziye zaqhubeka ‘ziyila inkathazo ngommiselo,’ kodwa abantu bakaYehova ngenkalipho bazingisa besithi: “Simele sithobele uThixo njengomlawuli kunabantu.” (INdumiso 94:20; IZenzo 5:29) Ngowe-1954 iphephancwadi IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) lanikela le ngxelo: “Ngaxa lithile ebudeni beminyaka engamashumi amane edluleyo amazwe angaphezu kwamashumi asixhenxe aye akhupha imimiselo ethintela amangqina kaYehova aza awatshutshisa.” La maKristu ayelwela inkululeko yonqulo ezinkundleni xa ekwazi ukwenjenjalo, ibe aye aba noloyiso oluye lwaduma kumazwe aliqela. KwiNkundla Ephakamileyo yaseUnited States kuphela, amaNgqina kaYehova aphumelele kumatyala angama-50.

11. Sisiphi isiprofeto sikaYesu esingomqondiso wobukho bakhe esiye sazaliseka kumaNgqina kaYehova ebudeni bemini yeNkosi?

¹¹ Akukho qela limbi liye lanyaniseka kangaka ekuthobeleni umyalelo kaYesu wokunikela izinto zikaKesare kuKesare. (Luka 20:25; Roma 13:1, 7) Kanti, akukho qela limbi eliye lanamalungu avalelwa ezintolongweni kumazwe amaninzi kangaka naphantsi kweentlobo ngeentlobo ezingaka zoorhulumente, ibe oku kuyaqhubeka ukuza kuthi ga ngoku kumazwe aseMerika, eYurophu, eAfrika naseAsia. Isiprofeto sikaYesu esibalaseleyo esingomqondiso wobukho bakhe sasiquka la mazwi athi: “Baya kwandula ke abantu baninikele ekubandezelweni, banibulale, nithiywe ziintlanga zonke ngenxa yegama lam.” (Mateyu 24:3, 9) Oku ngokuqinisekileyo kuye kwazaliseka kumaNgqina kaYehova angamaKristu ebudeni bemini yeNkosi.

12. Udidi lukaYohane luye lwabomeleza njani abantu bakaThixo kwintshutshiso?

¹² Ukuze abantu bakaThixo baxhobele imbandezelo, udidi lukaYohane luye lwaqhubeka lubakhumbuza ngentsingiselo yamazwi kaYesu aya kumaKristu aseSmirna. Ngokomzekelo, njengoko kwakuqalisa intshutshiso yamaNazi, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yowe-1933 neyowe-1934 yayinenqaku elithi “Ningaboyiki,” elalixubusha ngoMateyu 10:26-33; elithi “Uvavanyo Oluqatha,” elalisekelwe kuDaniyeli 3:17, 18; nelithi “Imilomo Yeengonyama,” elalisekelwe kuDaniyeli 6:22. Ebudeni beminyaka yee-1980, eyapapashwa ngayo le ncwadi okokuqala, amaNgqina kaYehova ayetshutshiswa ngenkohlakalo kumazwe angaphezu kwama-40, IMboniselo yabaqinisa abantu bakaThixo ngenqaku elithi “Ukuvuya Nangona Sitshutshiswa!” nelithi “AmaKristu Ahlangabezana Nentshutshiso Ngonyamezelo.”b

13. NjengamaKristu aseSmirna, kutheni le nto amaNgqina kaYehova angamaKristu eye akayoyika intshutshiso?

¹³ Ngokwenyaniso, amaNgqina kaYehova angamaKristu afumana intshutshiso engokwasemzimbeni nezinye iimvavanyo kangangeentsuku ezilishumi zokomfuziselo. NjengamaKristu aseSmirna, akakhange oyike; yaye nathi asimele soyike njengoko iinkathazo ziya zisiba mbi ngokuba mbi apha emhlabeni. Sikulungele ukunyamezela ukubandezeleka nokwamkela ngovuyo ‘ukuphangwa kwempahla yethu.’ (Hebhere 10:32-34) Ngokufundisisa iLizwi likaThixo nangokuphila ngalo, siya kuxhotyiselwa ukuma siqinile elukholweni. Qiniseka ukuba uYehova unokukulondoloza kwingqibelelo yakho ibe uya kwenjenjalo. “Liphoseni kuye lonke ixhala lenu, kuba unikhathalele.”—1 Petros 5:6-11.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 39]

Kangangeminyaka emininzi, ababhali-mbali bebenikela ubungqina ngengqibelelo yamaNgqina kaYehova aseJamani ebudeni bolawulo lwamaNazi. Incwadi ethi Mothers in the Fatherland, ebhalwe ngumbhali-mbali uClaudia Koonz, eyapapashwa ngowe-1986, ithi: “Inkitha yamaJamani anemvelaphi engeyoyamaNazi yafumana iindlela zokuphila phantsi kolawulo awayeludelile. . . . Ukanti abanye abantu ababembalwa xa kuthelekiswa naba nababeneengcamango ezahlukileyo yayingamaNgqina kaYehova angama-20 000 awathi, phantse onke, akwala ngokupheleleyo ukumthobela nangayiphi na indlela urhulumente wamaNazi. . . . Elona qela lathi laxhathisa ngamandla lomelezwa lunqulo. Ukususela kwasekuqaleni, amaNgqina kaYehova akazange amthobele kuyo nantoni na urhulumente wamaNazi. Kwanasemva kokuba amaGestapo etshabalalise ikomkhulu lawo lelizwe ngowe-1933 aza alivala umlomo eli hlelo ngowe-1935, akazange avume nokuthi ‘Heil Hitler.’ Malunga nesiqingatha sawo (inkoliso ingamadoda) onke amaNgqina kaYehova sathunyelwa kwiinkampu zoxinaniso, iwaka lawo labulawa, ibe elinye iwaka lafa phakathi kowe-1933 nowe-1945. . . . AmaKatolika namaProtestanti abeva abefundisi bawo bewabongoza ukuba athobele uHitler. Ukuba ayexhathisa, oko akwenza ngokuchasene nemiyalelo evela kwicawa nakurhulumente.”

Isahluko 9

Ukubambelela Ngokuqinileyo Kwigama LikaYesu

IPERGAMO

1. Liliphi ibandla elifumana isigidimi sikaYesu esilandelayo, yaye loo maKristu ayehlala kwisixeko esinjani?

XA SIHAMBA umgama ongama-80 eekhilomitha ukuya kumntla sigudle unxweme ukusuka eSmirna size ke sihambe ama-24 eekhilomitha kummandla ongaphakathi emhlabeni sinqumla intili yoMlambo iCaicus, sifika ePergamo, ngoku ebizwa ngokuba yiBergama. Esi sixeko sasidume ngetempile yaso kaZeyus, okanye uJupiter. Ngeminyaka yee-1800, abembi bezinto zakudala bathwala isibingelelo saloo tempile basisa kwiMyuziyam esePergamo eBerlin, kwelaseJamani, apho sinokubukelwa khona kunye nenyambalala yemifanekiso eqingqiweyo nekroliweyo yoothixo babahedeni. Sisiphi isigidimi iNkosi uYesu eyayinokusithumela kwibandla elaliphakathi kwalo lonke olo nqulo-zithixo?

2. UYesu uzichaza njani, ibe yintoni intsingiselo yokuba ‘nekrele elintlangothi-mbini’ kwakhe?

² Okokuqala, uYesu uyazichaza, esithi: “Ingelosi yebandla elisePergamo yibhalele uthi: Utsho lowo unekrele elide elintlangothi-mbini, elibukhali.” (ISityhilelo 2:12) UYesu apha uphinda indlela achazwe ngayo kwiSityhilelo 1:16. NjengoMgwebi noMtshabalalisi, uya kubatshabalalisa abo batshutshisa abafundi bakhe. Hayi indlela esithuthuzela ngayo eso siqinisekiso! Noko ke, ngokuphathelele umgwebo, nabo basebandleni balunyukiswa ngelokuba uYehova, esebenzisa lo ‘mthunywa womnqophiso’ unguYesu Kristu, ‘uya kuba lingqina elikhawulezayo’ nxamnye nabo bonke abathi bangamaKristu abaqhelisela unqulo-zithixo, ukuziphatha okubi, ukuxoka nokunganyaniseki, nabangabanyamekeliyo abasweleyo. (Malaki 3:1, 5; Hebhere 13:1-3) Isiluleko nesohlwayo sikaThixo esinikelwa nguYesu simele sithotyelwe!

3. Luluphi unqulo lobuxoki olwalukho ePergamo, yaye kunokutshiwo njani ukuba “itrone kaSathana” yayilapho?

³ Ngoku uYesu uxelela ibandla esithi: “Ndiyazi apho uhleli khona, oko kukuthi, apho ikhoyo itrone kaSathana.” (ISityhilelo 2:13a) Ngokwenyaniso, loo maKristu ayengqongwe lunqulo lukaSathana. Ngaphandle kwetempile kaZeyus, kwakukho indawo ekwakunqulelwa kuyo uAesculapius, uthixo wokuphilisa. Kwakhona iPergamo yayisaziwa njengeziko lehlelo elalinqula umlawuli. Igama lesiHebhere eliguqulelwe ngokuthi “Sathana” lithetha “uMxhathisi,” yaye “itrone” yakhe imela ulawulo lwakhe lwehlabathi oluvunyelwe nguThixo okwexesha elithile. (Yobhi 1:6, umbhalo osemazantsi weNW eneembekiselo) Ukwanda kokunqulwa kwezithixo ePergamo kwabonisa ukuba “itrone” kaSathana yayixhaswa ngokupheleleyo kweso sixeko. Hayi indlela amele ukuba uSathana wacaphuka ngayo kuba amaKristu alapho engazange aqubude kuye ngokuzibandakanya kunqulo lolo hlanga!

4. (a) UYesu uwancoma njani amaKristu asePergamo? (b) Ummeli waseRoma uPliny wambhalela esithini uMlawuli uTrajan ngokubhekisele kwindlela awayewaphatha ngayo amaKristu? (c) Phezu kwayo nje ingozi awayejamelene nayo, liliphi ikhondo ahamba ngalo amaKristu asePergamo?

⁴ Ewe, “itrone kaSathana” ilapho kanye ePergamo. UYesu uyaqhubeka esithi: “Ukanti uhlala ulibambe nkqi igama lam, yaye akuzange ulukhanyele ukholo lwakho kum kwanangemihla ka-Antipas, ingqina lam, lowo uthembekileyo, owabulawa ekunye nani, apho ahleli khona uSathana.” (ISityhilelo 2:13b) Hayi indlela achukumisa ngayo la mazwi okuncoma! Alithandabuzeki elokuba ukufela ukholo kuka-Antipas kwabangelwa kukungavumi kwakhe ukuhambisana noqheliselo lobudemon nokunqulwa komlawuli wamaRoma. Kungekudala emva kokuba uYohane efumene esi siprofeto, uPliny Omncinane, owayengummeli osondeleyo woMlawuli uTrajan waseRoma, wabhalela uTrajan waza wamcacisela inkqubo yakhe yokohlwaya abantu abatyholwa ngokuba ngamaKristu—nkqubo leyo umlawuli awayamkelayo. UPliny wathi abo babekukhanyela ukuba ngamaKristu babekhululwa xa “bendilandela ekuthandazeni koothixo, banikele isiqhumiso newayini kumfanekiso wakho [Trajan] . . . baze, ukongezelela, baqalekise uKristu.” Nabaphi na ababefunyaniswa bengamaKristu babebulawa. Nakubeni ayejongene nengozi enjalo, amaKristu asePergamo akazange alukhanyele ukholo lwawo. ‘Abambelela ngokuqinileyo kwigama likaYesu’ kuba aqhubeka ehlonela isigxina sakhe esiphakamileyo njengoMthetheleli noMgwebi omiselwe nguYehova. Ngokunyanisekileyo, alandela emanyathelweni kaYesu njengamangqina oBukumkani.

5. (a) Yintoni namhlanje efanekisela ukunqulwa komlawuli eye yabangela iimvavanyo eziqatha kumaKristu kweli xesha siphila kulo? (b) Luluphi uncedo oluye lwalungiselelwa yiMboniselo kumaKristu?

⁵ Ngezihlandlo ezahlukahlukeneyo, uYesu wathi uSathana ulawula eli hlabathi lingendawo, kodwa ngenxa yengqibelelo kaYesu, uSathana wayengenandlela yakubambelela kuye. (Mateyu 4:8-11; Yohane 14:30) Kweli xesha siphila kulo, iintlanga ezinamandla, ngokuphawulekayo “ukumkani wasemntla” ‘nokumkani wasemzantsi,’ bezilwela ukulawula ihlabathi. (Daniyeli 11:40) Namhlanje kukhuthazwa umoya wokuthand’ izwe, yaye ihlabathi lizaliswe ngumoya wobuhlanga ofanekisela ukunqulwa komlawuli. Amanqaku akhuthaza ukungathabathi cala akwiMboniselo (yesiNgesi) kaNovemba 1, 1939, ekaJuni 1, 1980, nekaSeptemba 1, 1986 aye ayichaza ngokucacileyo imfundiso yeBhayibhile ngale mbambano, enikela ulwalathiso kwabo bangamaKristu abafuna ukuhamba egameni likaYehova baze boyise ihlabathi, njengoko uYesu wenjenjalo ngenkalipho.—Mika 4:1, 3, 5; Yohane 16:33; 17:4, 6, 26; 18:36, 37; IZenzo 5:29.

6. NjengoAntipas, amaNgqina kaYehova aye ema ngokuqinileyo njani kumaxesha anamhlanje?

⁶ Isiluleko esinjalo besifuneka ngokungxamisekileyo. Ejongene nomoya ongekho ngqiqweni wokuthand’ izwe, amaNgqina kaYehova, angabathanjiswa namaqabane awo, kuye kwafuneka eme ngokuqinileyo elukholweni. KwelaseUnited States, amakhulu abantwana nabafundisi-ntsapho bagxothwa ezikolweni ngenxa yokuba abazange bayikhahlele indwe yelo lizwe, ngoxa kwelaseJamani amaNgqina ayetshutshiswa ngokukhohlakeleyo ngenxa yokungavumi ukukhahlela indwe. Njengoko sele kuphawuliwe, amaNazi kaHitler abulala amawakawaka abakhonzi bakaYehova abanyanisekileyo kuba bengazange bavume ukuba nesabelo kolo nqulo-zithixo olwalusenziwa sisizwe. Ngeminyaka yee-1930, ebudeni bemihla yokubalasela kokunqulwa komlawuli waseJapan onguShinto, abalungiseleli ababini abangoovulindlela bahlwayela imbewu eninzi yoBukumkani kwiTaiwan eyayiphantsi kweJapan. Abalawuli bomkhosi babaphosa entolongweni, apho omnye wabo wafela khona ngenxa yokuphathwa ngenkohlakalo. Omnye wakhululwa, waza emva koko wadutyulwa emqolo—ngaloo ndlela engqineka enguAntipas wale mihla. Kwamanye amazwe ukunqulwa kwezinto ezimela uhlanga nokuzinikela ngokupheleleyo kuRhulumente kusanyanzeliswa nanamhlanje. AmaNgqina amaninzi aselula aye avalelwa ezintolongweni, ibe amaninzi aye abulawa ngenxa yokungathabathi cala. Ukuba ungoselula ojongene neembambano ezinjalo, fundisisa iLizwi likaThixo mihla le ukuze ‘ube nokholo olugcina umphefumlo uphila,’ ukhangele phambili ekuzuzeni ubomi obungunaphakade.—Hebhere 10:39–11:1; Mateyu 10:28-31.

7. Abantwana baseIndiya bajamelana njani nembambano yokunqula izinto ezimela uhlanga, kwaza oko kwaphumela entwenini?

⁷ Abantwana abasezikolweni baye bajamelana neembambano ezifanayo. Ngowe-1985, kwilizwana laseKerala, eIndiya, abantwana abathathu abaselula abangamaNgqina kaYehova bala ukulalanisa kukholo lwabo olusekelwe eBhayibhileni, bengavumi ukucula umhobe wesizwe. Bema ngentlonelo ngoxa abanye babecula, kodwa sekunjalo bagxothwa esikolweni. Uyise waba bantwana wabhena ngenxa yesi senzo wada waya kufikelela kwiNkundla Ephakamileyo yaseIndiya, apho iijaji ezimbini zabafumanisa bengenatyala, ngenkalipho zisithi: “Isithethe sethu sifundisa unyamezelo; ingcamango yethu isifundisa unyamezelo; umgaqo-siseko wethu uqhelisela unyamezelo; masingalusingeli phantsi olu nyamezelo.” Xa eli tyala lapapashwa kumaphephandaba abemi beli lizwe, ngelo xesha ababesisinye kwisihlanu sabemi bomhlaba, batsho bazi ukuba kukho amaKristu anqula uThixo oyinyaniso onguYehova kwilizwe labo, yaye ayimela ngokunyanisekileyo imigaqo yeBhayibhile.

Iimpembelelo Ezonakalisayo

8. Sisiphi isiluleko uYesu akufumanisa kuyimfuneko ukusinika amaKristu asePergamo?

⁸ Ewe, amaKristu asePergamo ayengabagcini bengqibelelo. UYesu uthi: “Noko ke, ndinezinto ezimbalwa nxamnye nawe.” Yintoni le ayenzileyo ebangela ukuba afanelwe sisiluleko? UYesu uyasixelela esithi: “Unabo abo babambelele nkqi kwimfundiso kaBhileham, owafundisa uBhalaki ukubeka isikhubekiso phambi koonyana bakaSirayeli, ukutya izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo nokuhenyuza.”—ISityhilelo 2:14.

9. Wayengubani uBhileham, yaye icebiso lakhe lasibeka njani “isikhubekiso phambi koonyana bakaSirayeli”?

⁹ Ngomhla kaMoses, uKumkani uBhalaki wakwaMowabhi wayethenge uBhileham, umprofeti ongengomSirayeli owayesazi okuthile ngeendlela zikaYehova, ukuba aqalekise uSirayeli. UYehova wamthintela uBhileham, emnyanzelela ukuba asikelele amaSirayeli aze aqalekise iintshaba zawo. UBhileham wamcenga uBhalaki owayecaphukile ngenxa yoko ngokucebisa ukuba kuhlaselwe ngendlela echulwe ngakumbi, esithi: Abafazi bakwaMowabhi mabalukuhle amadoda akwaSirayeli ukuba aziphathe kakubi ngokugqithiseleyo ngokwesini aze anqule uthixo wobuxoki uBhahali wasePehore! Eli cebo lasebenza. Umsindo kaYehova wobulungisa wavutha, njengoko wathumela isibetho esabulala abangama-24 000 kuloo maSirayeli ahenyuzayo—sibetho eso esathintelwa kuphela xa umbingeleli uFinehasi wathabatha inyathelo elingqalileyo lokushenxisa ubungendawo kwaSirayeli.—Numeri 24:10, 11; 25:1-3, 6-9; 31:16.

10. Yiyiphi imiqobo eye yathwethwela ebandleni lasePergamo, yaye kutheni kusenokuba loo maKristu aye avakalelwa kukuba uThixo akayi kuzinanza izono zawo?

¹⁰ Ngoku, ngomhla kaYohane, ngaba kukho imiqobo efana naleyo yasePergamo? Ewe ikho! Ukuziphatha okubi nokunqula izithixo kuthwethwele ebandleni. Loo maKristu akazithobelanga izilumkiso zikaThixo ezinikelwe ngompostile uPawulos. (1 Korinte 10:6-11) Ekubeni enyamezele intshutshiso, mhlawumbi anoluvo lokuba uYehova uza kungazinanzi izono zawo zokuziphatha okubi ngokwesini. Ngoko uYesu ulenza licace elokuba amele akhwebuke kubungendawo obunjalo.

11. (a) AmaKristu amele alumkele ntoni, yaye yiyiphi ingcinga amele ayiphephe? (b) Ukutyhubela iminyaka, bangaphi abaye basuswa kubudlelane ebandleni lamaKristu, yaye uninzi lwabo lususwe ngenxa yantoni?

¹¹ Ngokufanayo namhlanje, amaKristu amele akulumkele ‘ukubujika ububele obungasifanelanga boThixo wethu bube sisingxengxezo sehambo evakalala.’ (Yude 4) Kunyanzelekile ukuba sikuthiye okubi size ‘siyiqobe imizimba yethu’ ukuze silandele ikhondo elifanele amaKristu. (1 Korinte 9:27; INdumiso 97:10; Roma 8:6) Asimele sicinge ukuba ukuzondelela inkonzo kaThixo nokugcina ingqibelelo phantsi kwentshutshiso kusinika imvume yokubandakanyeka kwihambo yokuziphatha okubi ngokwesini. Ukutyhubela iminyaka, aboni abaye basuswa kubudlelane ebandleni lamaKristu, uninzi lwabo ngenxa yokuziphatha okubi ngokwesini, baye bafikelela kumashumi amawaka. Kweminye iminyaka kuye kwakho abangakumbi kunabo babulawa kuSirayeli wamandulo ngenxa kaBhahali wasePehore. Ngamana singahlala silumkile ukuze singaze sifane nabo!—Roma 11:20; 1 Korinte 10:12.

12. Njengabakhonzi bakaThixo bamaxesha angaphambili, yiyiphi imigaqo esebenzayo kumaKristu namhlanje?

¹² Kwakhona uYesu ululeka amaKristu asePergamo ngenxa yokuba ‘esitya izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo.’ Kwakuya kuquka ntoni oku? Ngenxa yamazwi kaPawulos aya kwabaseKorinte, mhlawumbi abathile babeyisebenzisa kakubi inkululeko yabo yobuKristu yaye beziphazamisa ngabom izazela zabanye. Noko ke, kusenokwenzeka ukuba babenenxaxheba ngandlel’ ithile kwimigidi yokoqobo yokunqulwa kwezithixo. (1 Korinte 8:4-13; 10:25-30) Namhlanje amaKristu athembekileyo amele abonakalise uthando lokungazingci ekusebenziseni kwawo inkululeko yobuKristu, akulumkele ukukhubekisa abanye. Ngokuqinisekileyo, amele aphephe iintlobo zanamhla zokunqulwa kwezithixo, ezinjengokunqula abadlali bodumo abakumabonwakude, kwimifanekiso eshukumayo nakwezemidlalo, okanye ukunqula imali nezisu zabo!—Mateyu 6:24; Filipi 1:9, 10; 3:17-19.

Waphephe Amahlelo!

13. Sisiphi isohlwayo uYesu asinika amaKristu asePergamo, yaye kutheni siwafanele?

¹³ UYesu uwohlwaya ngokubhekele phaya amaKristu asePergamo, esithi: “Ngokunjalo nawe, unabo abo babambelele nkqi kwimfundiso yehlelo lamaNikolawo.” (ISityhilelo 2:15) Ngaphambili, uYesu uwancomile amaEfese ngokuthiya kwawo izenzo zeli hlelo. Kodwa amaKristu asePergamo kwafuneka elulekiwe ngokuvumela imfundiso yamahlelo ebandleni. Kufuneka sibambelele ngokuqinileyo kwimilinganiselo yobuKristu ukuze silondoloze umanyano uYesu awaluthandazelayo kuYohane 17:20-23. Bamele ‘babongozwe ngemfundiso ephilileyo baze bohlwaywe abo baphikisayo.’—Tito 1:9.

14. (a) Ukususela kwimihla yangaphambili, ibandla lamaKristu kwafuneka lilwe noobani ibe umpostile uPawulos wabachaza njani? (b) Ngawaphi amazwi kaYesu amele athotyelwe nguye nabani na oye watyekela ekulandeleni iqela eliqhekekayo?

¹⁴ Ukususela kwimihla yangaphambili, ibandla lamaKristu kwafuneka lilwe nabawexuki abanekratshi, abathi ngamazwi abo alalanisayo nangenkohliso ‘bahlukanise baze bakhubekise ngokuchaseneyo nemfundiso’ elungiselelwe ngejelo likaYehova. (Roma 16:17, 18) Umpostile uPawulos walumkisa ngesi sisongelo phantse kuzo zonke iincwadi zakhe.a Kumaxesha anamhla, ekuthe ebudeni bawo uYesu wabuyisela ibandla lokwenyaniso kubunyulu nakumanyano lobuKristu, ingozi yamahlelo isekho. Ngenxa yoko, nabani na oye watyekela ekulandeleni iqela eliqhekekayo lize liyile ihlelo, umele aphulaphule amazwi alandelayo kaYesu: “Guquka. Ukuba akwenjinjalo, ndiya kuza kuwe ngokukhawuleza, ndilwe imfazwe nabo ngekrele elide lomlomo wam.”—ISityhilelo 2:16.

15. Amahlelo aqalisa njani?

¹⁵ Amahlelo aqalisa njani? Mhlawumbi umntu ozenza umfundisi uhlwayela amathandabuzo, ephikisa inyaniso ethile yeBhayibhile (enjengokuba sikwimihla yokugqibela), lize ke iqela eliqhekekayo limlandele. (2 Timoti 3:1; 2 Petros 3:3, 4) Omnye usenokugxeka indlela uYehova athi mawenziwe ngayo umsebenzi wakhe esithi akukho Zibhalweni yaye akuyomfuneko ukuvakalisa isigidimi soBukumkani kwindlu ngendlu. Ukuba nesabelo kwinkonzo enjalo ngokulandela umzekelo kaYesu nowabapostile bakhe bekuya kubagcina aba bantu bethobekile; kodwa bona bakhetha ukuqhekeka nokungazibhokoxi emsebenzini, mhlawumbi befunda iBhayibhile kuphela ngamathuba athile njengeqela. (Mateyu 10:7, 11-13; IZenzo 5:42; 20:20, 21) Abanjalo baneengcamango zabo ngeSikhumbuzo sokufa kukaYesu, ngomyalelo weZibhalo wokuzinxwema egazini, ngokubhiyozelwa kweeholide nangokusetyenziswa kwecuba. Ngaphezu koko, balisingela phantsi igama likaYehova; kungekudala babuyela kwiindlela zeBhabhiloni Enkulu ezinomoya kavula-zibhuqe. Okude kwakubi ngakumbi kukuba, bambi bashukunyiswa nguSathana ukuba bajikele ‘amakhoboka angamadlelane abo,’ awayekade engabazalwana babo.—Mateyu 24:49; IZenzo 15:29; ISityhilelo 17:5.

16. (a) Kutheni le nto abo baxengaxengayo ngenxa yempembelelo yabawexuki bemele baguquke ngokukhawuleza? (b) Kuya kwenzeka ntoni kwabo bangavumiyo ukuguquka?

¹⁶ Nabani na oxengaxengayo ngenxa yempembelelo yabawexuki umele angaphozisi maseko ekuphulaphuleni ikhwelo elihlatywa nguYesu lokuguquka! Impembelelo yabawexuki imele ichaswe njengetyhefu kanye eyiyo! Isekelwe kumona nakwintiyo, ichasene neenyaniso zobulungisa, ezinyulu nezithandekayo uYesu ondla ngazo ibandla lakhe. (Luka 12:42; Filipi 1:15, 16; 4:8, 9) Abo bangavumiyo ukuguquka, iNkosi uYesu ngenene ‘ilwa imfazwe nabo ngekrele elide lomlomo wayo.’ Ihluza abantu bayo ukuze ilondoloze umanyano eyaluthandazelayo ebudeni bobusuku bokugqibela ikunye nabafundi bayo emhlabeni. (Yohane 17:20-23, 26) Ekubeni abawexuki bengasamkeli isiluleko sothando noncedo olunikelwa ziinkwenkwezi ezikwisandla sakhe sokunene, uYesu uyabagweba aze abohlwaye “ngokona kuqatha kakhulu,” ebaphosa “ebumnyameni ngaphandle.” Bayasuswa kubudlelane ukuze bangabi ligwele phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo.—Mateyu 24:48-51; 25:30; 1 Korinte 5:6, 9, 13; ISityhilelo 1:16.

‘Imana Efihlakeleyo Nengqalutye Emhlophe’

17. Nguwuphi umvuzo oza kufunyanwa ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo ‘oyisayo,’ yaye amaKristu asePergamo ayemele enze ntoni ukuze oyise?

¹⁷ Abo baphulaphula isiluleko sikaYesu esanikelwa ngolwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele kaYehova, baza kufumana umvuzo ozukileyo. Khawuphulaphule! “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla: Lowo woyisayo ndiya kumnika inxalenye yemana efihlakeleyo, ndize ndimnike ingqalutye emhlophe, ekubhalwe kuyo igama elitsha ekungekho bani ulaziyo ngaphandle kwalowo ulamkelayo.” (ISityhilelo 2:17) Ngaloo ndlela, amaKristu asePergamo, njengamaKristu aseSmirna, akhuthazwa ukuba ‘oyise.’ Ukuze aphumelele loo maKristu asePergamo, apho ikhoyo itrone kaSathana, amele akuphephe ukunqula izithixo. Amele ahlukane nokuziphatha okubi, ukwenziwa kwamahlelo nowexuko olwalunxibelelene noBhalaki, uBhileham nehlelo lamaNikolawo. Ngokwenjenjalo, la maKristu athanjisiweyo aya kumenyelwa ukudla ‘imana efihlakeleyo.’ Kuthetha ntoni oku?

18, 19. (a) Yayiyintoni imana uYehova awayilungiselela amaSirayeli? (b) Yiyiphi imana eyayifihlakele? (c) Uyintoni umfuziselo wokudla imana efihlakeleyo?

¹⁸ Ngomhla kaMoses, uYehova walungiselela imana yokulondoloza amaSirayeli ebudeni bokuhamba kwawo entlango. Loo mana yayingafihlakalanga, kuba ntsasa nganye—ngaphandle kwangeSabatha—yayibakho ngokungummangaliso, njengamahlwantsi eqabaka agubungele umhlaba. Eli yayililungiselelo lobuthixo lokugcina amaSirayeli ephila. Njengesikhumbuzo, uYehova wayalela uMoses ukuba agcine esinye sesi ‘sonka’ kwisitya segolide phakathi kwityeya engcwele yomnqophiso ukutyhubela “izizukulwana [zikaSirayeli].”—Eksodus 16:14, 15, 23, 26, 33; Hebhere 9:3, 4.

¹⁹ Onjani wona ukufaneleka umfuziselo! Le mana yayifihlakele kwigumbi lomnquba leYona Ngcwele, apho isibane esingummangaliso esasijinga phezu kwesigqubuthelo seTyeya sasifuzisela ubukho bukaYehova. (Eksodus 26:34) Akukho bani wayevunyelwe ukuba angene kuloo ndawo ingcwele ukuze adle imana efihlakeleyo. Noko ke, uYesu wathi abalandeli bakhe abathanjisiweyo aboyisayo babeya kudla ‘imana efihlakeleyo.’ NjengoKristu ngaphambi kwabo, bangena, “kungekhona kwindawo engcwele eyenziwe ngezandla, engumfanekiso weyokwenene, kodwa ezulwini ngokwalo.” (Hebhere 9:12, 24) Ekuvukeni kwabo, baba nokungonakali nokungafi—ilungiselelo elimangalisayo likaYehova, elifuziselwa kukunikwa kwabo ‘imana efihlakeleyo’ engenakutshabalala. Hayi indlela elinelungelo ngayo elo qela lincinane labantu aboyisileyo!—1 Korinte 15:53-57.

20, 21. (a) Kufuzisela ntoni ukunikwa kwamaKristu athanjisiweyo ingqalutye emhlophe? (b) Ekubeni kukho iingqalutye ezimhlophe ezili-144 000 kuphela, isihlwele esikhulu sinaliphi ithemba?

²⁰ Aba bantu bakwafumana “ingqalutye emhlophe.” Kwiinkundla zamaRoma, ilitye eliyingqalutye lalisetyenziselwa ukudlulisela isigwebo.b Ingqalutye emhlophe yayithetha ukuvakaliswa ungenatyala, ngoxa ingqalutye emnyama yayithetha ukugwetywa, ngokuqhelekileyo ukugwetyelwa ukufa. Ukunika kukaYesu amaKristu asePergamo “ingqalutye emhlophe” kwakuya kubonisa ukuba wayewavakalisa emsulwa, enyulu, yaye ecocekile. Kodwa amazwi kaYesu asenokuba nentsingiselo ebhekele phaya. Kumaxesha amaRoma, la matye engqalutye ayekwasetyenziswa njengamatikiti okungena kwiindawo ezibalulekileyo. Ngoko ingqalutye emhlophe isenokubonisa into ekhetheke kunene kumKristu othanjisiweyo nowoyisileyo—ukungeniswa kwakhe kwindawo ebekekileyo ezulwini kumtshato weMvana. Ngoko kulungiselelwe iingqalutye ezili-144 000 kuphela.—ISityhilelo 14:1; 19:7-9.

²¹ Ngaba oku kuthetha ukuba uphoswe kwesinomhlwa ukuba ungomnye wesihlwele esikhulu sabanquli abangamaqabane? Akunjalo konke konke! Ngoxa ungayifumani ingqalutye emhlophe yokungena ezulwini, ukuba uyanyamezela, usenokuphumela ngaphaya kwembandezelo enkulu ukuze ube nenxaxheba kumsebenzi ovuyisayo wokubuyisela iParadesi emhlabeni. Abaya kuba nesabelo kunye nawe koku iya kuba ngabathembekileyo abavusiweyo abasusela kumaxesha angaphambi kobuKristu nabo bezinye izimvu abaye bafa kutshanje. Ekugqibeleni, bonke abanye abafi abahlawulelweyo baya kubabalwa ngokuvuselwa ebomini kumhlaba oyiparadesi.—INdumiso 45:16; Yohane 10:16; ISityhilelo 7:9, 14.

22, 23. Iyintoni intsingiselo yegama elibhalwe kwingqalutye enikwa amaKristu athanjisiweyo, yaye oku kumele kube naluphi ukhuthazo?

²² Liyintoni igama elitsha elibhalwe kule ngqalutye? Igama yinto yokufanisa umntu nokumahlula kwabanye. La maKristu athanjisiweyo afumana ingqalutye emva kokuba egqibe ikhondo lawo lasemhlabeni njengaboyisi. Ngoko, licacile elokuba igama elibhalwe kule ngqalutye linento yokwenza nelungelo lawo lokumanyana noYesu ezulwini—isigxina esithandeka ngokwenene senkonzo yasebukhosini esiza kuxatyiswa size sivuyelwe ngokupheleleyo kuphela ngabo babudl’ ilifa uBukumkani basezulwini. Ngenxa yoko, ligama okanye sisigxina, ‘ekungekho bani usaziyo ngaphandle kwalowo usamkelayo.’—Thelekisa iSityhilelo 3:12.

²³ Enjani into ukukhuthaza kudidi lukaYohane ukuba luphulaphule “oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla” luze lukusebenzise! Yaye hayi indlela okulukhuthazo ngayo oku kwisihlwele esikhulu, ukuba sikhonze ngokuthembekileyo kunye nalo ngoxa siphila emhlabeni yaye sisabelana nalo ekwaziseni uBukumkani bukaYehova!

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 43]

Ezi zinto zibubungqina bokuxhaphaka konqulo lwabahedeni zibonakaliswe kwiMyuziyam yasePergamo eBerlin

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 45]

Inxalenye yemana yayifihlakele kwityeya yomnqophiso. Ukunikwa imana efihlakeleyo yokomfuziselo kuthetha ukuba abathanjiswa aboyisayo bazuza ukungafi

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 45]

Ingqalutye emhlophe yeyabo bamkelwa kumtshato weMvana

Isahluko 10

Ukucekisa “Izinto Ezinzulu ZikaSathana”

ITIYATIRA

1. ITiyatira yayimi ndawoni ngentelekiso namanye amabandla, ibe yayinjani imeko yayo engokonqulo?

MALUNGA neekhilomitha ezingama-64 ukuya kumzantsi mpuma weBergama (iPergamo) kukho iAkhisar eyidolophu efumileyo yaseTurkey. Kwiminyaka enokuba li-1 900 eyadlulayo, le dolophu yayingummandla ekwakumi kuwo iTiyatira. Umveleli ohambahambayo wayenokuyifikelela lula iTiyatira ngokusebenzisa indlela esemhlabeni ukusuka ePergamo aze ajikeleze esiya kumabandla aseleyo eSityhilelo isahluko 3—iSardesi, iFiladelfi neLawodike. Ngokungafaniyo nePergamo, iTiyatira akubonakali ukuba yayiliziko elibalulekileyo lokunqulwa komlawuli, kodwa yayinezindlu zonqulo neetempile ezazinikezelwe koothixo babahedeni. ITiyatira yayidume njengeziko lezorhwebo.

2, 3. (a) Yintoni eyabhalwayo ngaphambilana ngomntu waseTiyatira owaba ngumKristu? (b) Ibaluleke ngantoni kumaKristu aseTiyatira into yokuba uYesu ‘enguNyana kaThixo’ nokuba ‘amehlo akhe enjengedangatye lomlilo’?

² Xa uPawulos wayeshumayela eMakedoni, wadibana nomfazi waseTiyatira ogama linguLidiya, umthengisi weengubo ezibomvu. ULidiya nendlu yakhe yonke basamkela ngovuyo isigidimi esasishunyayelwa nguPawulos baza babonakalisa umoya omangalisayo wokubuk’ iindwendwe. (IZenzo 16:14, 15) Waba ngumntu wokuqala waseTiyatira obhalwe kwiingxelo owamkela ubuKristu. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, kwesi sixeko kwabakho ibandla lamaKristu. UYesu usithumela apho esona sigidimi sakhe side: “Nengelosi yebandla eliseTiyatira yibhalele uthi: Utsho uNyana kaThixo, lowo umehlo akhe anjengedangatye lomlilo, neenyawo zakhe zinjengobhedu olusulungekileyo.”—ISityhilelo 2:18.

³ Esi kuphela kwesihlandlo apho kubonakala khona ibinzana elithi “uNyana kaThixo” kwiSityhilelo, nangona kwezinye iindawo uYesu ebhekisela kuYehova ngokuthi ‘uBawo.’ (ISityhilelo 2:27; 3:5, 21) Ukusetyenziswa kwesi sibizo apha kusenokwenzeka ukuba kukhumbuza amaKristu aseTiyatira ngobuhlobo uYesu anabo noYehova. Lo Nyana ‘unamehlo anjengedangatye lomlilo’—nto leyo esisilumkiso kumaKristu aseTiyatira sokuba umgwebo wakhe uya kuvutha nxamnye nantoni na ayibona ingcolisa ibandla. Ngokubhekisela kwiinyawo zakhe ezifana nobhedu olubengezelayo okwesihlandlo sesibini, ubalaselisa umzekelo wakhe oqaqambileyo ongokuthembeka ngoxa wayephila kulo mhlaba. Alithandabuzeki elokuba amaKristu aseTiyatira asamkela isiluleko sakhe, yaye nathi simele senjenjalo namhlanje!—1 Petros 2:21.

4, 5. (a) Kutheni le nto uYesu wawancomayo amaKristu aseTiyatira? (b) Ibandla laseTiyatira lifana njani namabandla amaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje?

⁴ Okuvuyisayo kukuba, uYesu uyawancoma lawo aseTiyatira. Uthi: “Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho, nothando nokholo nobulungiseleli nonyamezelo lwakho, nokuba izenzo zakho zamva zingaphezulu kwezo zangaphambili.” (ISityhilelo 2:19) Ngokungafaniyo namaEfese, amaKristu athanjisiweyo apho akaphulukananga nothando lwawo lokuqala ngoYehova. Ukholo lwawo lomelele. Ngokungakumbi, izenzo zawo zingaphezu kwezokuqala, yaye njengamabandla amathathu awandulelayo, amaKristu aseTiyatira ayanyamezela. Hayi indlela afana ngayo namabandla amaNgqina kaYehova amalunga ne-100 000 akuwo wonke umhlaba namhlanje! Ukuthanda uYehova kuyinto eqaqambileyo, njengoko umoya wenzondelelo kubulungiseleli uzalisa yonke intlangano, uvuselela abaselula nabakhulileyo. Abaninzi bazibhokoxa njengoovulindlela, ngaloo ndlela belisebenzisa ngobulumko ixesha elisaseleyo lokuvakalisa ithemba eliqaqambileyo loBukumkani bukaThixo obuzayo!—Mateyu 24:14; Marko 13:10.

⁵ Kangangamashumi eminyaka, abaninzi abathembekileyo, intsalela ethanjisiweyo nesihlwele esikhulu, bebebonakalisa unyamezelo olungumzekelo kwinkonzo kaThixo, ngoxa ihlabathi elibangqongileyo beliya lingena ngakumbi nangakumbi kubumnyama obunganiki themba. Kodwa masikhaliphe ngokwenene! ISityhilelo siqinisekisa ubungqina babaprofeti bakaThixo bangaphambili. “Imini enkulu kaYehova ikufuphi. Ikufuphi, yaye ikhawuleza kakhulu.”—Zefaniya 1:14; Yoweli 2:1; Habhakuki 2:3; ISityhilelo 7:9; 22:12, 13.

“Laa Mfazi UIzebhele”

6. (a) Phezu kwazo nje iimpawu ezincomekayo kwibandla laseTiyatira, yiyiphi ingxaki ekhankanywa nguYesu kulo ekufuneka kunikelwe ingqalelo ekhawulezileyo kuyo? (b) Wayengubani uIzebhele, yaye ngaba ngokwenene wayengumprofetikazi?

⁶ Amehlo kaYesu anjengedangatye lomlilo abone okungakumbi. Uphawula into efuna ingqalelo ekhawulezileyo. Uxelela amaKristu aseTiyatira oku: “Noko ke, ndinoku nxamnye nawe, kokuba umnyamezela laa mfazi uIzebhele, ozibiza ngokuthi ungumprofetikazi, efundisa aze alahlekise amakhoboka am ukuba ahenyuze, atye izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo.” (ISityhilelo 2:20) Ngenkulungwane yeshumi ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uKumkanikazi uIzebhele, owayenqula uBhahali nowayengumfazi kaKumkani uAhabhi wakwaSirayeli, waduma ngokubulala, ukukrexeza nokulawula. UYehu, njengomthanjiswa kaYehova, wayalela ukuba abulawe. (1 Kumkani 16:31; 18:4; 21:1-16; 2 Kumkani 9:1-7, 22, 30, 33) UIzebhele owayenqula izithixo wayengenguye umprofetikazi. Wayengafani noMiriyam noDebhora, abakhonza njengabaprofetikazi abathembekileyo kwaSirayeli. (Eksodus 15:20, 21; ABagwebi 4:4; 5:1-31) Yaye umoya kaYehova awuzange umshukumisele ukuba aprofete njengoko wawushukumise uAna owalupheleyo neentombi ezine zikaFilipu owayengumshumayeli weendaba ezilungileyo.—Luka 2:36-38; IZenzo 21:9.

7. (a) Ngokuthi “loo mfazi uIzebhele,” ngokucacileyo uYesu ubhekisela kweyiphi impembelelo? (b) Abanye abafazi ababenxulumana nebandla kusenokuba balithethelela njani ikhondo labo lokuba neenkani?

⁷ Ngoko, licacile elokuba, “loo mfazi uIzebhele” ozibanga engumprofetikazi eTiyatira ngowenkohliso. Akaxhaswa ngumoya kaThixo. Ungubani? Kunokwenzeka ukuba, ungumfazi okanye iqela labafazi elinempembelelo eyonakalisa ngokungenalusizi ebandleni. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba bambi abafazi abanxulumana nebandla babefaka amalungu alo ekuziphatheni okubi, ngoxa babethethelela ngokuphandle ikhondo labo lokuba neenkani ngokuzisebenzisa ngokuphosakeleyo izibhalo. Ngenene babengabaprofetikazi bobuxoki! Babeza kuphembelela abanye ukuba bawele kwiindlela zabo ‘zohenyuzo, ukungahlambuluki, inkanuko yesini, umnqweno owenzakalisayo, nokubawa, okulunqulo-zithixo.’ (Kolose 3:5) Babeya kwenza abo basebandleni bazifice ngokugqith’ emgceni ekuziphatheni okubi nokwanelisa iziqu zabo nto leyo ngoku eyamkelwayo, okanye ebethwa ngoyaba kwiinkonzo ezininzi zeNgqobhoko.

8. (a) Siyintoni isigwebo esivakaliswa nguYesu ‘kuIzebhele’ eTiyatira? (b) Impembelelo engafanelekanga yamabhinqa iye yabonakala njani namhlanje?

⁸ UYesu uhlabela mgama exelela abadala baseTiyatira oku: “Yaye ndamnika ixesha lokuba aguquke, kodwa akavumi kuguquka kuhenyuzo lwakhe. Khangela! Sele ndiza kumphosa elukhukweni lokufa, nabo bahenyuza kunye naye ndibaphose kwimbandezelo enkulu, ngaphandle kokuba bayaguquka kwizenzo zakhe.” (ISityhilelo 2:21, 22) Kanye njengokuba uIzebhele wangaphambili kubonakala ukuba wayelawula uAhabhi waza ke wamjongela phantsi umgwebi owayemiselwe nguThixo, uYehu, ngokunjalo la mabhinqa kusenokuba ayezama ukulawula amadoda nabadala. Kubonakala ukuba, abadala baseTiyatira bayinyamezela impembelelo kaIzebhele eyayibonakalisa ukungathozami. Apha uYesu wayevakalisa isilumkiso esinamandla kubo, nakumabandla abantu bakaYehova asemhlabeni wonke namhlanje. Bambi abafazi abanempembelelo enamandla ngolo hlobo baye balukuhla amadoda abo ukuba abe ngabawexuki yaye bade babangela ukuba inkundla ithabathe inyathelo nxamnye nabakhonzi bakaYehova abathembekileyo.—Thelekisa uYude 5-8.

9. (a) Kutheni le nto amazwi kaYesu angoIzebhele engabonisi ukuba asingawo onke amabhinqa angalunganga ebandleni? (b) Kuphela kunini apho kuvela khona impembelelo kaIzebhele?

⁹ Oku akubonisi nangayiphi na indlela ukuba amabhinqa athembekileyo akwibandla lamaKristu akalunganga. Kule mihla, inxalenye enkulu yomsebenzi wokunikelwa kobungqina ifezwa ngoodade abathembekileyo; ngezifundo zeBhayibhile zamakhaya abaziqhubayo, bezisa inginginya yabantu abatsha ebandleni. UThixo uyalisikelela eli lungiselelo, njengoko kuboniswe yiNdumiso 68:11: “NguYehova onikela eli lizwi; abafazi abavakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo bangumkhosi omkhulu.” Amadoda anokuphenjelelwa kakuhle yihambo yobulali nentlonelo yabafazi bawo, nto leyo ‘exabiseke kakhulu emehlweni kaThixo.’ (1 Petros 3:1-4) Umfazi ofanelekileyo nokhutheleyo uyadunyiswa nguKumkani uLemuweli. (IMizekeliso 31:10-31) Impembelelo kaIzebhele ivela kuphela xa abafazi bephambuka endleleni ngokulukuhla amadoda okanye ngokutyeshela ubuntloko bawo.—Efese 5:22, 23; 1 Korinte 11:3.

10. (a) Kutheni le nto uIzebhele nabantwana bakhe begwetywa? (b) Abo baba ngabantwana bakaIzebhele bakweyiphi imeko eyingozi, ibe yintoni abamele bayenze?

¹⁰ Ebhekisela ‘kumfazi onguIzebhele,’ uYesu uyaqhubeka esithi: “Yaye abantwana bakhe ndiza kubabulala ngesibetho esibulalayo, khon’ ukuze onke amabandla azi ukuba ndingulowo uphengulula izintso neentliziyo, ndinike elowo ngokwezenzo zenu.” (ISityhilelo 2:23) UYesu unike uIzebhele nabantwana bakhe ixesha lokuguquka, kodwa bayaqhubeka behamba ngeendlela zabo zokuziphatha okubi ibe ngenxa yoko bamele bagwetywe. Apha kukho isigidimi esinamandla kumaKristu namhlanje. Abo baxelisa uIzebhele, enoba bangamadoda okanye bangabafazi, baze ngaloo ndlela babe ngabantwana bakhe ngokuthi batyeshele imigaqo yeBhayibhile engobuntloko nokuziphatha okuhle okanye ngokuthi babe neenkani kangangokuba batyeshele ulungelelwaniso lolawulo lobuthixo, bagula ngokuyingozi ngokomoya. Enyanisweni, ukuba ubani onjalo ucela abadala bebandla ukuba bamthandazele, “umthandazo wokholo uya kumphilisa lowo ungaphilanga, uYehova amvuse”—ukuba ngokuzithoba wenza ngokuvisisana naloo mithandazo. Kodwa makungabikho namnye ucinga ukuba unokumkhohlisa uThixo okanye uKristu ngokuzama ukufihla izenzo zokuziphatha okubi okanye azibonakalise ngaphandle ezondelela inkonzo.—Yakobi 5:14, 15.

11. Amabandla namhlanje ancedwa njani ukuba aphaphele ukungenelela kwempembelelo engafanelekanga yamabhinqa?

¹¹ Okuvuyisayo kukuba, inkoliso yamabandla amaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje iyiphaphele le ngozi. Abadala baluphaphele utyekelo lokungathotyelwa kolawulo lobuthixo nezenzo eziphosakeleyo. Bazama ukunceda amadoda namabhinqa akwindlela esa engozini ukuze akhiwe ngokomoya aze ancedwe ngaphambi kokuba ashiywe lixesha. (Galati 5:16; 6:1) Ngothando nangokuqinileyo, aba baveleli bangamaKristu bathintela nayiphi na imigudu yamabhinqa yokuyila amaqela akhuthaza izinto ezifana nenkululeko yabafazi. Ngaphezu koko, isiluleko esifika ngexesha elifanelekileyo siyanikelwa ngamathuba athile kwiimpapasho zamaNgqina kaYehova.a

12. Udidi lukaYohane namhlanje luyibonisa ngayiphi indlela inzondelelo efana naleyo kaYehu?

¹² Noko ke, xa kukho ukuziphatha okubi ngokunzulu, ingakumbi xa kude kwaba luqheliselo, aboni abangaguqukiyo bamele basuswe ebudlelaneni. Sikhumbula inzondelelo kaYehu ekushenxiseni yonke impembelelo kaIzebhele kwaSirayeli. Ngokukwanjalo, namhlanje udidi lukaYohane luthabatha inyathelo eliqinileyo, lumisela umzekelo omele ulandelwe ngamaqabane alo ‘angamaYehonadabhi’ yaye luzibonakalisa lwahluke ngokupheleleyo kubalungiseleli beNgqobhoko abangoovula zibhuqe.—2 Kumkani 9:22, 30-37; 10:12-17.

13. Kuya kwenzeka ntoni kwabo bayivumelayo impembelelo ephosakeleyo yamabhinqa?

¹³ NjengoMthunywa noMgwebi omiselwe nguYehova, uNyana kaThixo wenza ngokufanelekileyo ekubhenceni uIzebhele wanamhla ogula ngokunganyangekiyo ngokomoya. (Malaki 3:1, 5) Abo baziyekeleyo ukuba baphenjelelwe ngokuphosakeleyo leli bhinqa nabo baya kufumana imbandezelo enkulu—intlungu yokususwa kubudlelane, basikwe kwibandla lamaKristu ngokungathi bafile. Ngaphandle kokuba bayaguquka, babuye, baze bamkelwe kwakhona ebandleni, nabo baza kufa “ngesibetho esibulalayo”—kamva, kwimbandezelo enkulu. Okwangoku, banokubuyiselwa kuphela ukuba baguquka ngokupheleleyo kwizenzo zabo eziphosakeleyo.—Mateyu 24:21, 22; 2 Korinte 7:10.

14. (a) UYesu ubasebenzisa njani abadala ekusingatheni iingxaki ezithile, ezinjengayo nayiphi na impembelelo kaIzebhele? (b) Ibandla limele libaxhase njani abadala abasingatha iingxaki ezinjalo?

¹⁴ “Onke amabandla” amele azi ukuba uYesu uphengulula “izintso,” ezona mvakalelo zinzulu, ‘nentliziyo,’ umntu ongaphakathi, kuquka neentshukumisa ezifihlakeleyo. Oku ukwenza ngokuthi asebenzise iinkwenkwezi okanye abadala abanokuthenjwa, ekusingatheni iingxaki ezithile, ezinjengayo nayiphi na impembelelo kaIzebhele abayibonayo. (ISityhilelo 1:20) Emva kokuba aba badala bewuhlolisise ngokupheleleyo umbandela ololu hlobo kuze kuwiswe nesigwebo, abanye abantu abafanelanga bafune izizathu zokuba kuwiswe eso sigwebo. Bonke bamele bayamkele ngokuzithoba indlela abadala abawubona ngayo umcimbi lowo baze baqhubeke bezixhasa ezi nkwenkwezi zebandla. Baya kuvuzwa ngokunyaniseka kwabo kuYehova nakumalungiselelo entlangano yakhe. (INdumiso 37:27-29; Hebhere 13:7, 17) Ngamana wena ngokobuqu ungasikelelwa xa uYesu enika elowo ngokwemisebenzi yakhe.—Galati 5:19-24; 6:7-9.

“Kubambeni Nkqi Oko Ninako”

15. (a) UYesu wathini kwabo babengazange bonakaliswe nguIzebhele? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba asingabo bonke ababesithi bangamaKristu emva ngowe-1918 abathi bonakaliswa yiNgqobhoko ewexukileyo?

¹⁵ Amazwi alandelayo kaYesu ayathuthuzela: “Noko ke, ndithi kwabanye benu abaseTiyatira, bonke abo bangenayo le mfundiso, abo kanye bangazazanga ‘izinto ezinzulu zikaSathana,’ ngokutsho kwabo: Andibeki phezu kwenu naluphi na olunye uxanduva. Ngokunjalo ke, kubambeni nkqi oko ninako ndide ndifike.” (ISityhilelo 2:24, 25) ETiyatira kukho abantu abathembekileyo abangaphenjelelwanga nguIzebhele. Ngokufanayo, kangangeminyaka engama-40 ngaphambi kowe-1918 yaye ukususela ngoko, asingabo bonke abathi bangamaKristu abaye bakunyamezela ukuziphatha okubi nokonakala okuxhaphakileyo kwiNgqobhoko. Ibathwana laBafundi BeBhayibhile, ngoku abaziwa njengamaNgqina kaYehova, elazama ukunceda amalungu ecawa abone ukuba iimfundiso ezininzi zeNgqobhoko azisekelwanga kubuKristu, liye lazahlukanisa nazo zonke iinkolelo nezinto eziluqheliselo lwaseBhabhiloni ezifumaneka kwiNgqobhoko ewexukileyo. Oku kuquka imfundiso kavula- zibhuqe ‘yaloo mfazi unguIzebhele.’

16. Nangona uYesu nequmrhu elilawulayo lamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala bengazange bongezelele naluphi na uxanduva, ziziphi izinto ezimele ziphetshwe?

¹⁶ Namhlanje udidi lukaYohane nalo lukhuthaze amaqabane alo, isihlwele esikhulu, ukuba silumkele iimpembelelo zokuziphatha okubi, ezinjengezo zokuzonwabisa okukwihlabathi elonakeleyo. Ayikho imfuneko yokuba uthi ngenxa yokufun’ ukwazi ubukele ukungcola okanye ufune ukuba namava ngako ukuze wazi indlela yokukuphepha. Kulikhondo lobulumko ukuziphepha ngokupheleleyo “izinto ezinzulu zikaSathana.” Kunjengokuba uYesu esithi: ‘Andiyi kongezelela uxanduva olubhekele phaya kuni.’ Oku kusikhumbuza ngommiselo owakhutshwa liqumrhu elilawulayo lamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala: “Kukholekile kumoya oyingcwele nakuthi ngokwethu ukungongezeleli uxanduva olubhekele phaya kuni, ngaphandle kwezi zinto ziyimfuneko, ukuba nikhwebuke kwizinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo nasegazini nakwizinto ezikrwitshiweyo nakuhenyuzo. Ukuba niyazikhwebula kwezi zinto, niya kuphumelela.” (IZenzo 15:28, 29) Ukuze uphumelele ngokomoya, luphephe unqulo lobuxoki, ukusebenzisa kakubi igazi (njengokutofela igazi) nokuziphatha okubi! Yaye kusenokwenzeka ukuba impilo yakho engokwasemzimbeni nayo iya kukhuseleka.

17. (a) USathana ubalinge njani abantu namhlanje ‘ngezinto ezinzulu’? (b) Simele sibe yintoni isimo sethu sengqondo ‘ngezinto ezinzulu’ zehlabathi likaSathana?

¹⁷ USathana unezinye “izinto ezinzulu” namhlanje, ezinjengeengcamango eziphosakeleyo nezilahlekisa ingqondo. Ukongezelela kwingcinga kavula-zibhuqe neyokuziphatha okubi, ezi zinto ziquka ukukhafula nengcamango yendaleko. UMdali olumke ngokupheleleyo uzijonga njani ezi ‘zinto zinzulu’? Umpostile uPawulos umcaphula njengothi: “Ndiza kubutshitshisa ubulumko babantu abazizilumko.” Ngokwahlukileyo koko, ‘izinto ezinzulu zikaThixo’ zicacile, ziyaqondakala yaye ziyahlaziya. AmaKristu alumkileyo ayaziphepha “izinto ezinzulu” zehlabathi likaSathana. Khumbula ukuba, “ihlabathi liyadlula nenkanuko yalo, kodwa lowo wenza ukuthanda kukaThixo uhleli ngonaphakade.”—1 Korinte 1:19; 2:10; 1 Yohane 2:17.

18. Ziziphi iintsikelelo uYesu awazithembisa amaKristu athanjisiweyo ahlala ethembekile ukusa ekupheleni, yaye liliphi ilungelo aya kuba nalo eArmagedon?

¹⁸ Kuloo maKristu aseTiyatira, uYesu ngoku uthetha amazwi afudumez’ intliziyo. Akwakhuthaza namaKristu athanjisiweyo namhlanje: “Yaye lowo woyisayo nogcina izenzo zam kude kuse ekupheleni ndiya kumnika igunya phezu kweentlanga, yaye uya kubalusa abantu ngentonga yentsimbi, abaqhekeze njengezitya zodongwe, njengoko nam ndilifumene kuBawo elo gunya.” (ISityhilelo 2:26, 27) Ngenene eli lilungelo elimangalisayo! Eli gunya elithi lifunyanwe ngaboyisi abathanjisiweyo ekuvusweni kwabo likukwabelana noYesu ekusebenziseni ‘intonga yentsimbi’ yentshabalalo kwiintlanga ezivukelayo eArmagedon. Kwanokuba ezo ntlanga zinokudubula ngezixhobo zazo zenyukliya, ziya kufana nje neziqhushumbisi zokudlala xa uKristu ezityumza ngokupheleleyo iintshaba zakhe.—INdumiso 2:8, 9; ISityhilelo 16:14, 16; 19:11-13, 15.

19. (a) Lingubani “ikhwezi lokusa,” ibe baya kulinikwa njani abo boyisayo? (b) Luluphi ukhuthazo olunikwa isihlwele esikhulu?

¹⁹ UYesu wongezelela la mazwi: “Yaye ndiya kumnika ikhwezi lokusa.” (ISityhilelo 2:28) Kamva uYesu ucacisa ukuba liyintoni na eli “khwezi,” esithi: “Mna ndiyingcambu nenzala kaDavide, nekhwezi eliqaqambileyo lokusa.” (ISityhilelo 22:16) Ewe, nguYesu ozalisekisa isiprofeto uYehova awanyanzelisa ukuba sithethwe nguBhileham owayengavumi ukusivakalisa: “Kuya kuphuma inkwenkwezi kwaYakobi, kusuke intonga yobukhosi ivela kwaSirayeli.” (Numeri 24:17) UYesu uya kubanika njani “ikhwezi lokusa” abo boyisayo? Licacile elokuba, uya kwenjenjalo ngokuzinikela kwakhe kubo, ngokubangenisa kolona lwalamano lusondeleyo nolusenyongweni kunye naye. (Yohane 14:2, 3) Ngenene, ukhuthazo olunamandla lubanceda ukuba banyamezele! Kwakhona, kulukhuthazo kwisihlwele esikhulu ukwazi ukuba ‘ikhwezi eliqaqambileyo lokusa’ kungekudala liza kusebenzisa igunya lalo loBukumkani ekubuyiseleni iParadesi apha emhlabeni!

Londoloza Ingqibelelo

20. Ziziphi iziganeko ezenzeke kwiNgqobhoko ezisikhumbuza ngobunye ubuthathaka bebandla laseTiyatira?

²⁰ Esi sigidimi simele ukuba sawakhuthaza kakhulu amaKristu aseTiyatira. Khawufan’ ucinge nje—uNyana kaThixo ozukisiweyo ezulwini wayethethe ngokobuqu namaKristu aseTiyatira ngezinye zeengxaki zawo! Ngokuqinisekileyo, ubuncinane bambi abasebandleni basabela koko kwalusa kunothando. Esi sigidimi sisesona side kwezisixhenxe kwakhona siyasinceda ukuba sibone ibandla lamaKristu okwenyaniso namhlanje. Ngowe-1918 xa uYesu weza kwitempile kaYehova ukuza kugweba, iintlangano ezininzi ezazisithi zezamaKristu zazingcoliswe kukunqula izithixo nokuziphatha okubi ngokomoya. (Yakobi 4:4) Zimbi zazisekele iinkolelo zazo kwiimfundiso zabafazi abanempembelelo enamandla benkulungwane ye-19, abanjengoEllen White wecawa yamaSabatha noMary Baker Eddy weChristian Scientists, ibe kutshanje abafazi abaninzi bebeshumayela besepulpitini. (Thelekisa eyoku-1 kuTimoti 2:11, 12.) Phakathi kweentlobo ezahlukeneyo zobuKatolika, uMariya udla ngokuzukiswa ngaphezu koThixo noKristu. UYesu akazange amzukise ngolu hlobo. (Yohane 2:4; 19:26) Ngaba ngenene iintlangano eziyamkelayo impembelelo engafanelekanga yamabhinqa ziyamkeleka njengezamaKristu?

21. Ziziphi izifundo ezinokufundwa ngumntu ngamnye kwisigidimi sikaYesu esiya eTiyatira?

²¹ AmaKristu, enoba ngawodidi lukaYohane okanye ngawezinye izimvu, enza kakuhle ukuqwalasela esi sigidimi. (Yohane 10:16) Wambi asenokufuna ukulandela ikhondo elibonakala lilula, njengokuba abafundi bakaIzebhele waseTiyatira benjenjalo. Kwakhona kukho nesilingo sokulalanisa. Namhlanje, kumele kujonganwe neembambano ezinjengokudla izinto eziveliswe ngegazi okanye ukwamkela utofelo-gazi. Wambi asenokuba noluvo lokuba ukuzondelela inkonzo yasentsimini okanye ukunikela iintetho kuwanika ilungelo lokubukela imifanekiso-bhanyabhanya neeteyiphu zevidiyo ezibonisa ugonyamelo nokuziphatha okubi, okanye ukuzinkcinkca ngokugqith’ emgceni ngotywala. Isilumkiso sikaYesu esiya kumaKristu aseTiyatira sisixelela ukuba asimele sizibeke emngciphekweni onjalo. UYehova ufuna ukuba sicoceke, sizinikele ngomphefumlo opheleleyo, singabi mbaxa, njengokuba ayenjalo amaKristu amaninzi eTiyatira.

22. UYesu ukubethelela njani ukubaluleka kokuba nendlebe evayo?

²² Ekugqibeleni, uYesu uvakalisa oku: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla.” (ISityhilelo 2:29) Apha uYesu uphinda amazwi okuqukumbela avuselelayo okwesihlandlo sesine, yaye kuya kuqukunjelwa ngawo zonke izigidimi ezithathu ezisezayo. Ngaba unayo indlebe ephulaphulayo? Ngoko hlala uphulaphula ngenyameko njengoko uThixo, ngomoya wakhe, eqhubeka elungiselela isiluleko ngejelo lakhe.

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[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 51]

Namhlanje, inxalenye enkulu yomsebenzi wokunikelwa kobungqina ifezwa ngoodade abathembekileyo njengoko ngokuthozamileyo bexhasa igunya lolawulo lobuthixo

Isahluko 11

Ngaba Igama Lakho Likwincwadi Yobomi?

ISARDESI

1. Injani imeko engokomoya yebandla laseSardesi, yaye uYesu usiqalisa njani isigidimi sakhe?

KWIIKHILOMITHA ezinokuba ngama-48 ukuya kumzantsi weAkhisar (iTiyatira) yanamhla kukho ummandla onebandla elilandelayo elafumana isigidimi esivela kuYesu ozukisiweyo: iSardesi. Kwinkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, esi sixeko sasilikomkhulu eliphakamileyo lobukumkani bamandulo baseLydia nendawo ekwakuhlala kuyo uKumkani uCroesus owayesisityebi. Ngomhla kaYohane, siye sathwaxeka gqitha, yaye ukuzuka kwaso kwangaphambili ngethuba likaCroesus kuyimbali nje. Ngokufanayo, ibandla lamaKristu apho liye labulawa yindlala yokomoya. Okwesihlandlo sokuqala, uYesu akasiqalisi ngokuncoma isigidimi sakhe. Kunoko, uthi: “Nengelosi yebandla eliseSardesi yibhalele uthi: Utsho lowo unoomoya abasixhenxe bakaThixo neenkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe, ukuthi, ‘Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho, ukuba unegama lokuba uphilile, kodwa ufile.’”—ISityhilelo 3:1.

2. (a) Ibaluleke ngantoni kumaKristu aseSardesi into yokuba uYesu abe “unoomoya abasixhenxe”? (b) Lalidume ngantoni ibandla laseSardesi, kodwa zaziyintoni izibakala?

² Kutheni le nto uYesu ezichaza njengalowo “unoomoya abasixhenxe”? Kungenxa yokuba aba moya bamela umoya oyingcwele kaYehova othululwa ngokupheleleyo. Kamva, uYohane ubachaza ‘kwananjengamehlo asixhenxe,’ nto leyo ebonisa ukuba umoya oyingcwele kaThixo wenza uYesu akwazi ukubona yonk’ into. (ISityhilelo 5:6) Ngaloo ndlela, uyakwazi ukutyhila nokusingatha nayiphi na imeko esenokubakho. (Mateyu 10:26; 1 Korinte 4:5) Ibandla laseSardesi lidume ngokuba liphilile yaye likhuthele. Kodwa uYesu uyabona ukuba lifile ngokomoya. Ngokucacileyo, amalungu alo amaninzi abuyele kwisimo sengqondo sokungakhathali esifana neso ayenaso ngaphambi kokuba abe ngamaKristu.—Thelekisa eyabase-Efese 2:1-3; Hebhere 5:11-14.

3. (a) Kungani ‘ingelosi yebandla laseSardesi’ imele iyiqondisise into yokuba uYesu ‘uneenkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe’? (b) Sisiphi isiluleko esinamandla uYesu asinikela kweli bandla laseSardesi?

³ Kwakhona uYesu ukhumbuza ‘ingelosi yebandla laseSardesi,’ ukuba yena ungulowo ‘uneenkwenkwezi ezisixhenxe.’ Abo badala bebandla ubabambe ngesandla sakhe sokunene, enegunya lokubalathisa kumsebenzi wabo wokwalusa. Bamele bamilisele iintliziyo zabo ‘ekuyazini imbonakalo yomhlambi.’ (IMizekeliso 27:23) Ngenxa yoko, kwakulunge ngakumbi ukuba bawaphulaphule ngenyameko amazwi alandelayo kaYesu: “Linda, uzomeleze izinto eziseleyo, ebeziza kufa, kuba akukho namnye umsebenzi wakho endiwufumene wenziwe ngokupheleleyo phambi koThixo wam. Ngoko ke, qhubeka ukhumbula indlela owamkele ngayo nendlela ove ngayo, uze uqhubeke uyigcina, uguquke. Ukuba akuvuki, ngokuqinisekileyo ndiya kukufikela njengesela, yaye akusayi kulazi konke konke ilixa endokufikela ngalo.”—ISityhilelo 3:2, 3.

4. Amazwi kaPetros ayeya kulinceda njani ibandla laseSardesi ukuba ‘lomeleze izinto eziseleyo’?

⁴ Abadala baseSardesi kufuneka bekhumbule uvuyo ababenalo ekuqaleni xa bafunda inyaniso neentsikelelo abazifumanayo ngoko. Kodwa ngoku bafile kumsebenzi wokomoya. Isibane sabo sebandla siyaloziza ngenxa yokungabikho kwemisebenzi yokholo. Kwiminyaka engaphambi koku, umpostile uPetros wabhalela amabandla aseAsia (mhlawumbi kuquka nelaseSardesi) ukuba abe noxabiso ngeendaba ezilungileyo ezizukileyo ezazamkelwe ngamaKristu nezazivakaliswe “ngomoya oyingcwele owathunyelwa usuka ezulwini”—njengoko wawumelwa yimimoya esixhenxe yombono kaYohane. Kwakhona uPetros wakhumbuza loo maKristu aseAsia ukuba ‘asisizwe esinyuliweyo, ububingeleli basebukhosini, uhlanga olungcwele, isizwana esisesakhe ngokukhethekileyo, ukuze avakalise ngokubanzi iimbalasane zalowo wawabizayo ukuba aphume ebumnyameni angene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okungummangaliso.’ (1 Petros 1:12, 25; 2:9) Ukucamngca ngeenyaniso zokomoya ezilolo hlobo kuya kunceda ibandla laseSardesi ukuba liguquke lize ‘lizizimase izinto eziseleyo.’—Thelekisa eyesi-2 kaPetros 3:9.

5. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kuxabiso lwamaKristu aseSardesi? (b) Yintoni eya kwenzeka ukuba amaKristu aseSardesi akenzi nto ngesiluleko sikaYesu?

⁵ Okwangoku, uxabiso lwabo nokuthanda kwabo inyaniso kufana nomlilo ophantse ube ucimile. Ngamalahle ambalwa nje kuphela asavuthayo. UYesu uyabakhuthaza ukuba bavuselele lo mlilo, baguquke ezonweni abazenze ngenxa yokungakhathali kwabo, baze babe libandla eliphilileyo kwakhona ngokomoya. (Thelekisa eyesi-2 kuTimoti 1:6, 7.) Kungenjalo, xa uYesu efika ngokungalindelekanga—“njengesela”—ukuza kugweba, ibandla laseSardesi liya kuba lingakulungiselelanga oku.—Mateyu 24:43, 44.

Uza “Njengesela”

6. UYesu weza njani “njengesela” ngowe-1918, ibe wabafumana bekweyiphi imeko abo babezibabaza bengabalandeli bakhe?

⁶ Isilumkiso sikaYesu sokuba wayeza kuza “njengesela” sifikelela kwixesha lanamhla. Sasibhekisela ngokukhethekileyo kumaKristu aphila ngemini yeNkosi. Emva nje kowe-1914, isiprofeto sikaMalaki sazaliseka: “‘Iya kuza ngequbuliso etempileni Yayo, iNkosi yokwenyaniso, leyo niyifunayo, engumthunywa womnqophiso eniyoliswayo nguye. Khangela! Ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuza,’ utsho uYehova wemikhosi.” (Malaki 3:1; ISityhilelo 1:10) ‘Njengomthunywa womnqophiso,’ uYesu weza kuhlola nokugweba abo babesithi bangabalandeli bakhe. (1 Petros 4:17) Ngelo xesha, ngowe-1918, iNgqobhoko yayibandakanyeke ekuphalazeni igazi kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi I ibe yayife ngokupheleleyo ngokomoya. KwanamaKristu okwenyaniso, awayethe ngaphambi kwemfazwe ashumayela ngenzondelelo egqithiseleyo, ozela ngokomoya ngelo xesha. Bambi babadala ababalaseleyo bafakwa entolongweni, yaye umsebenzi wokushumayela waphantse wema. Xa umoya kaYehova wavuselela la maKristu ngonyaka olandelayo, asingawo onke ayekulungiselele oko. Wambi, njengeentombi eziziziyatha zomzekeliso kaYesu, ayengalilungelanga ngokomoya ilungelo lokukhonza uYehova. Noko ke, okuvuyisayo kukuba amaninzi, njengeentombi eziziingqondi, asithobela isilumkiso sikaYesu esithi: “Ngoko ke, hlalani nilindile, ngenxa yokuba ningayazi imini okanye ilixa.”—Mateyu 25:1-13.

7. Kutheni le nto amaKristu namhlanje kufuneka ahlale ephaphile?

⁷ Imfuneko yokuba umKristu aphaphe ayizange iphele ekuqaleni kwemini yeNkosi. Kwisiprofeto sakhe esikhulu ‘esingomqondiso waxa zonke ezo zinto ziza kufikelela esiphelweni,’ uYesu wanikela esi silumkiso sinamandla: “Akukho bani uwaziyo loo mhla okanye elo lixa . . . Hlalani nikhangele, hlalani niphaphile, kuba anazi ukuba ixesha elimisiweyo linini na. Kodwa oko ndikutsho kuni ndikutsho kubo bonke, Hlalani nilindile.” (Marko 13:4, 32, 33, 37) Ewe, ukuza kutsho kweli lixa, ngamnye wethu, enoba ungowabathanjiswa okanye ungowesihlwele esikhulu, kufuneka ahlale ephaphile aze alwe nxamnye nokuchwechwelwa bubuthongo bokomoya. Xa imini kaYehova ifika “njengesela ebusuku,” ngamana singafunyanwa siphaphe ngokupheleleyo ukuze sisindiswe.—1 Tesalonika 5:2, 3; Luka 21:34-36; ISityhilelo 7:9.

8. Udidi lukaYohane namhlanje lubakhuthaze njani abantu ukuba bahlale bephilile ngokomoya?

⁸ Namhlanje udidi lukaYohane luyiphaphele imfuneko yokukhuthaza abantu bakaThixo ukuba bahlale bephilile ngokomoya. Ngokuvisisana noku, kuwo wonke umhlaba kulungiselelwa iindibano ezikhethekileyo izihlandlo eziliqela nyaka ngamnye. Kutshanje abantu abeza kwiindibano zesithili ezingama-2 981 baba zizi-10 953 744, kwaza kwabhaptizwa amakholwa amatsha ali-122 701. Kwiminyaka engaphezu kwekhulu, udidi lukaYohane belusebenzisa iphephancwadi IMboniselo ekuvakaliseni igama nenjongo kaYehova. Ukuze kuhlangatyezwane neentshutshiso ezikrakra ebudeni beemfazwe zehlabathi ezimbini, IMboniselo yakhuthaza amaNgqina kaYehova ukuba avuselele inzondelelo yawo ngokupapasha amanqaku (esiNgesi) anjengelithi “Basikelelwe Abangoyikiyo” (1919), “Ubizo Lokwenza Umsebenzi” (1925) nelithi “Ukoyiswa Kwentshutshiso” (1942).

9. (a) Yintoni amele azibuze yona onke amaKristu? (b) Luluphi ukhuthazo olunikelwe yiMboniselo?

⁹ NjengaseSardesi, emabandleni namhlanje kubalulekile ukuba onke amaKristu aqhubeke ezihlola. Thina sonke simele sihlale sizibuza oku: Ngaba ‘imisebenzi yethu siyenza ngokupheleleyo’ phambi koThixo wethu? Ngaphandle kokugweba abanye, ngaba ngokobuqu siyawuhlakulela umoya wokuzincama size sizabalazele ukunikela inkonzo yomphefumlo uphela kuThixo? Ngokunxibelelene noku, iphephancwadi IMboniselo liye lanikela ukhuthazo ngokuxubusha umxholo othi “Hlalani Nizicikida Oko Nikuko Nina Ngokwenu” nothi “Asisaziphileli.”a Njengoko sinoncedo lweZibhalo olunjalo, masizihlolisise ngomthandazo, sizame ukuhamba ngokuthobekileyo ekugcineni ingqibelelo phambi koYehova.—INdumiso 26:1-3; 139:23, 24.

“Amagama Ambalwa”

10. Yiyiphi inkalo ekhuthazayo eyakhankanywa nguYesu kwibandla laseSardesi, yaye oku kumele kusichaphazele njani?

¹⁰ Amazwi alandelayo kaYesu aya kwibandla laseSardesi akhuthaza gqitha. Uthi: “Noko ke, unawo amagama ambalwa eSardesi abo bangazenzanga nqambi izambatho zabo zangaphezulu, bona baza kuhamba nam ngezimhlophe, ngenxa yokuba befanelekile. Ngaloo ndlela uya kuthi lowo woyisayo avathiswe izambatho zangaphezulu ezimhlophe; yaye andisayi kuze ndilicime igama lakhe kwincwadi yobomi, kodwa ndiya kulivuma igama lakhe phambi koBawo naphambi kweengelosi zakhe.” (ISityhilelo 3:4, 5) Ngaba la mazwi akasikhuthazi ukuba sihlale sithembekile? Ngenxa yokungakhathali kwequmrhu labadala, ibandla liphela lisenokozela ngokomoya. Kanti amanye amaKristu akulo asenokuzabalaza ngenkalipho ukuzigcina enyulu yaye engenabala, aze ngaloo ndlela aqhubeke enegama elihle phambi koYehova.—IMizekeliso 22:1.

11, 12. (a) Kwanasebudeni bowexuko olukhulu, abanye bamele ukuba babefana njani naloo ‘magama ambalwa’ athembekileyo aseSardesi? (b) Yiyiphi inkululeko eyafunyanwa ngamaKristu afana nengqolowa ebudeni bemini yeNkosi?

¹¹ Ewe, ezo ‘zambatho zangaphezulu’ zibhekisela ekunikweni komKristu uphawu lokuba lilungisa. (Thelekisa iSityhilelo 16:15; 19:8.) Kumele ukuba kufudumez’ intliziyo kuYesu ukubona ukuba, phezu kwako nje ukungakhathali kwabantu abaninzi, “amagama ambalwa,” amaKristu ambalwa athanjisiweyo aseSardesi, asakwazi ukuzibonakalisa engamalungisa. Ngokukwanjalo, xa abantu abathi bangamaKristu bangena kwiBhabhiloni Enkulu, ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki ebudeni beenkulungwane ezininzi zowexuko olukhulu, kumele ukuba kwakusoloko kukho abambalwa abathi, phezu kwako nje ukuchaswa ngokukrakra, bazama ukwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova. Aba babengamalungisa afana nengqolowa efihlwe phakathi kokhula oluninzi olungamahlelo.—ISityhilelo 17:3-6; Mateyu 13:24-29.

¹² UYesu wathembisa ukuba wayeya kuba nala maKristu afana nengqolowa “yonke imihla de kube sekuphelisweni kwenkqubo yezinto.” Uyawazi ukuba angoobani na negama elihle azenzele lona. (Mateyu 28:20; INtshumayeli 7:1) Khawuthelekelele nje uvuyo lwabo ‘bambalwa’ bathembekileyo abebesaphila ekuqaleni kwemini yeNkosi! Ekugqibeleni bahlulwa kwiNgqobhoko efileyo ngokomoya baza bahlanganiselwa kwibandla lamalungisa elifana nebandla laseSmirna.—Mateyu 13:40-43.

13. Ziziphi iintsikelelo ezigcinelwe amaKristu athanjisiweyo ‘angazenzanga nqambi izambatho zawo zangaphezulu’?

¹³ Aba baseSardesi bathembekileyo ukusa ekupheleni nabangakungcolisiyo ukuma kwabo kobuKristu bazuza inzaliseko yethemba elimangalisayo. Emva kokumiselwa koBukumkani bukaYesu obungoMesiya ngowe-1914, bavuselwa kubomi bomoya yaye njengaboyisi banxityiswa izambatho zangaphezulu ezimhlophe ezifuzisela ubulungisa babo obungenasiphako. Ekubeni behambe kwindlela emxinwa esa ebomini, baya kunandipha umvuzo ongunaphakade.—Mateyu 7:14; bona kwaneSityhilelo 6:9-11.

Ngonaphakade Encwadini Yobomi!

14. Iyintoni ‘incwadi yobomi,’ yaye ngamagama oobani abhalwe kuyo?

¹⁴ Iyintoni ‘incwadi yobomi,’ yaye ngamagama oobani aya kubhalwa apho? Incwadi, okanye umsongo, wobomi ubhekisela kwingxelo yabakhonzi bakaYehova abaza kufumana umvuzo wobomi obungunaphakade. (Malaki 3:16) Apha kwiSityhilelo kubhekiselwe ngokukhethekileyo emagameni amaKristu athanjisiweyo. Kodwa amagama abo baza kufumana ubomi obungunaphakade emhlabeni nawo abhaliwe apho. Ngaphezu koko, amagama ‘anokucinywa’ kuloo ncwadi. (Eksodus 32:32, 33) Sekunjalo, abo bodidi lukaYohane abanamagama asencwadini yobomi de kube sekufeni kwabo bafumana ubomi bokungafi ezulwini. (ISityhilelo 2:10) La ngamagama uYesu awavuma ngokukhethekileyo phambi kukaYise naphambi kweengelosi zakhe. Hayi indlela omangalisa ngayo lo mvuzo!

15. Amalungu esihlwele esikhulu aya kwenza njani ukuba amagama awo abhalwe ngokungacimekiyo encwadini yobomi?

¹⁵ Isihlwele esikhulu, esinamagama abhalwe encwadini yobomi, siya kuphuma siphilile embandezelweni enkulu. Ngokubonakalisa ukholo ebudeni balo lonke uLawulo lukaYesu lweMinyaka Eliwaka nasebudeni bovavanyo lokugqibela oluya kulandela emva koko, siya kuvuzwa ngobomi obungunaphakade kwiParadesi esemhlabeni. (Daniyeli 12:1; ISityhilelo 7:9, 14; 20:15; 21:4) Ngoko amagama aso aya kubhalwa ngokungacimekiyo encwadini yobomi. Ekubeni ukwazi okuchazwe apha ngokusebenza komoya oyingcwele, ngaba akusabeli ngehlombe kwisibongozo sikaYesu esiphindaphindiweyo esithi: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla”?—ISityhilelo 3:6.

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Ngamana igama lakho lingahlala libhaliwe encwadini yobomi

Isahluko 12

“Qhubeka Ukubambe Nkqi Oko Unako”

IFILADELFI

1. Isigidimi sesithandathu sikaYesu sanikelwa kwibandla elikwesiphi isixeko, yaye lithetha ntoni igama leso sixeko?

UTHANDO LOBUZALWANA—olunjani lona uphawu ukunqweneleka! Akuthandabuzeki ukuba uYesu ucinga ngalo xa enikela isigidimi sakhe sesithandathu kwibandla laseFiladelfi, kuba elo gama lithetha “Uthando Lobuzalwana.” UYohane owalupheleyo usakukhumbula okwenzeka ngaphezu kweminyaka engama-60 ngaphambili, xa uPetros watsho izihlandlo ezithathu kuYesu ukuba wayeyithanda ngokwenene iNkosi yakhe. (Yohane 21:15-17) Ngaba ke wona amaKristu aseFiladelfi analo uthando lobuzalwana? Kuyabonakala ukuba analo!

2. IFiladelfi yayisisixeko esinjani, lalinjani lona ibandla elalilapho, yaye uthini uYesu kwingelosi yeli bandla?

² IFiladelfi yomhla kaYohane imi kumgama omalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-48 ukuya kumzantsi mpuma weSardesi (kwindawo ekukho kuyo ngoku isixeko saseTurkey iAlasehir), yaye isisixeko esisemgangathweni. Noko ke, into ephawuleka ngakumbi ngaso kukuphumelela kwebandla lamaKristu apho. Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba amamkela ngovuyo ngayo umlungiseleli owayewatyelele, ekunokwenzeka ukuba wayehambe ngendlela evela eSardesi! Isigidimi awaphathele sona sinesiluleko esilukhuthazo kuwo. Kodwa kuqala sibhekisela kwigunya loMntu ozukileyo osithumeleyo. Uthi: “Nengelosi yebandla eliseFiladelfi yibhalele uthi: Utsho lowo ungcwele, lowo uyinyaniso, lowo unaso isitshixo sikaDavide, lowo uvulayo kungabikho uvalayo, aze avale kungabikho uvulayo.”—ISityhilelo 3:7.

3. Kutheni kufanelekile ukuba uYesu abizwe ngokuthi ‘ungcwele,’ yaye kutshiwo njani ukuba ‘ungoyinyaniso’?

³ UYohane wayemvile uPetros esithi kuYesu Kristu: “Nguwe onamazwi obomi obungunaphakade; yaye sikholiwe saza safikelela ekwazini ukuba wena unguLowo Ungcwele kaThixo.” (Yohane 6:68, 69) Ekubeni uYehova uThixo inguye isiseko sobungcwele, uNyana wakhe okuphela kwamzeleyo umele ukuba naye ‘ungcwele.’ (ISityhilelo 4:8) UYesu ‘ukwayinyaniso.’ Igama lesiGrike elisetyenziswe apha (a·le·thi·nosʹ) lithetha ukuba ngowokwenene. Ngokwale ngqiqo, uYesu ukukukhanya kokwenyaniso nesonka sokwenyaniso esehla siphuma ezulwini. (Yohane 1:9; 6:32) Ungumdiliya wokwenyaniso. (Yohane 15:1) UYesu ukwayinyaniso ngengqiqo yokuba unokuthenjwa. Usoloko ethetha inyaniso. (Bona uYohane 8:14, 17, 26.) Lo Nyana kaThixo ngenene ukufanele ukuba nguKumkani noMgwebi.—ISityhilelo 19:11, 16.

“Isitshixo SikaDavide”

4, 5. “Isitshixo sikaDavide” sasinxibelelene nawuphi umnqophiso?

⁴ UYesu ‘unesitshixo sikaDavide.’ Ngaso ‘uyavula kungabikho uvalayo, avale kungabikho uvulayo.’ Siyintoni esi ‘sitshixo sikaDavide’?

⁵ UYehova wenza umnqophiso wobukumkani obungunaphakade noKumkani uDavide wakwaSirayeli. (INdumiso 89:1-4, 34-37) Indlu kaDavide yayilawula kwitrone kaYehova eYerusalem ukususela ngowe-1070 ukusa kowama-607 B.C.E., kodwa ke umgwebo kaThixo waphunyezwa phezu kobo bukumkani kuba baba bobungendawo. Ngaloo ndlela uYehova waqalisa ukuzalisekisa isiprofeto sakhe esikuHezekile 21:27: “Ndiya kukonakalisa, ndikonakalise, ndikonakalise [Yerusalem yasemhlabeni]. Nako oku ke [intonga yobukumkani kumnombo kaDavide], ngokuqinisekileyo akuyi kuba kokukabani ade afike lowo unelungelo elisemthethweni, yaye ndimele ndikunike yena.”

6, 7. Lowo “unelungelo elisemthethweni” wayeza kubonakala nini yaye njani?

⁶ Lowo “unelungelo elisemthethweni” wayeya kubonakala nini yaye njani? Intonga yobukumkani bukaDavide wayeya kuyinikwa njani?

⁷ Kwiminyaka emalunga nama-600 kamva, inzala yoKumkani uDavide, intombi engumYuda uMariya, yamitha ngomoya oyingcwele. UThixo wathumela ingelosi enguGabriyeli ukuba yazise uMariya ukuba wayeya kuba nonyana, aze amthiye igama elinguYesu. UGabriyeli wongezelela la mazwi: “Yena uya kuba mkhulu, abizwe ngokuba nguNyana wOyena Uphakamileyo; yaye uYehova uThixo uya kumnika itrone kaDavide uyise, kwaye uya kulawula njengokumkani phezu kwendlu kaYakobi ngonaphakade, yaye ubukumkani bakhe abuyi kuba nasiphelo.”—Luka 1:31-33.

8. UYesu wazingqina njani ekufanelekele ukubudl’ ilifa ubukumkani bukaDavide?

⁸ Ngowama-29 C.E., xa uYesu wabhaptizwa kuMlambo iYordan waza wathanjiswa ngomoya oyingcwele, waba nguKumkani Otyunjiweyo kumnombo kaDavide. Wamisela umzekelo wokuba nenzondelelo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani waza wathuma abafundi bakhe ukuba nabo bashumayele. (Mateyu 4:23; 10:7, 11) UYesu wazithoba, kwada kwaba sekufeni kwakhe kumthi wentuthumbo, ngaloo ndlela ezingqina ekufanelekele ngokupheleleyo ukubudl’ ilifa ubukumkani bukaDavide. UYehova wamvusa uYesu njengomoya ongenakufa waza wamphakamisela kwisandla Sakhe sokunene emazulwini. Apho wafumana ilifa lawo onke amalungelo obukumkani bukaDavide. Ngexesha elifanelekileyo uYesu wayeya kusebenzisa ilungelo lakhe ‘lokoyisa phakathi kweentshaba zakhe.’—INdumiso 110:1, 2; Filipi 2:8, 9; Hebhere 10:13, 14.

9. UYesu usisebenzisa njani isitshixo sikaDavide ukuvula nokuvala?

⁹ Okwelo thuba uYesu wayeya kusebenzisa isitshixo sikaDavide, evula amathuba namalungelo ahlobene noBukumkani bukaThixo. Ngokusebenzisa uYesu, ngoku uYehova wayeza kukhulula amaKristu athanjisiweyo asemhlabeni “kwigunya lobumnyama,” ewafudusela “kubukumkani boNyana wothando lwakhe.” (Kolose 1:13, 14) Kwakhona isitshixo sasiza kusetyenziselwa ukuthintela amalungelo anjalo kuye nabani na owayenokungqineka engathembekanga. (2 Timoti 2:12, 13) Ekubeni le ndlalifa isisigxina yobukumkani bukaDavide ixhaswa nguYehova, asikho isidalwa esinokuyithintela ekuphumezeni oko.—Thelekisa uMateyu 28:18-20.

10. Luluphi ukhuthazo uYesu alunika ibandla laseFiladelfi?

¹⁰ Ekubeni ephuma kumthombo onegunya ngolo hlobo, amazwi kaYesu aya kumaKristu aseFiladelfi amele abe ngathuthuzela ngokukhethekileyo! Uyawancoma esithi: “Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho. Khangela! Ndibeke phambi kwakho umnyango ovulekileyo, ekungekho bani unako ukuwuvala—kuba uthe, unamandla amancinane, waligcina ilizwi lam, akwalikhanyela igama lam.” (ISityhilelo 3:8) Eli bandla belikhuthele, yaye livulelwe umnyango—ngokungathandabuzekiyo umnyango wokufumana ithuba lokunikela inkonzo yobulungiseleli. (Thelekisa eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 16:9; 2 Korinte 2:12.) Ngoko ke, uYesu ukhuthaza eli bandla ukuba lilisebenzise kakuhle ithuba lokushumayela. Liye lanyamezela laza labonakalisa ukuba, ngokuncedwa ngumoya kaThixo, linamandla awaneleyo okuqhubeka ‘nezenzo’ ezingakumbi zokukhonza uYehova. (2 Korinte 12:10; Zekariya 4:6) Liye lathobela imiyalelo kaYesu laza alamkhanyela ngelizwi okanye ngezenzo.

“Baya Kuqubuda Kuwe”

11. Yiyiphi intsikelelo uYesu ayithembisa amaKristu, yaye oku kwazaliseka njani?

¹¹ Ngenxa yoko, uYesu ubathembisa ngalo mphumo: “Khangela! Naku endiya kukwenza kwabo bendlu yesikhungu kaSathana abathi bangamaYuda, ukanti bengengawo kodwa bexoka—khangela! ndiya kubenza beze baze baqubude phambi kweenyawo zakho yaye ndibenze bazi ukuba ndikuthandile.” (ISityhilelo 3:9) Mhlawumbi, njengaseSmirna, eli bandla libe neengxaki namaYuda asekuhlaleni. UYesu uwabiza ngokuthi ‘sisikhungu sikaSathana.’ Sekunjalo, ubuncinane wambi aloo maYuda sele eza kuqonda ukuba oko bekushunyayelwa ngamaKristu ngoYesu kuyinyaniso. Mhlawumbi ‘ukuqubuda’ kwawo kuya kwenzeka ngendlela echazwe nguPawulos kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 14:24, 25, ukuze aguquke aze abe ngamaKristu, eluqonda ngokupheleleyo uthando olunzulu lukaYesu lokuncama ubomi bakhe ngenxa yabafundi bakhe.—Yohane 15:12, 13.

12. Kutheni le nto amalungu endlu yesikhungu yamaYuda eFiladelfi kusenokwenzeka ukuba ayeya kothuka akuva ukuba amanye awo ayeya “kuqubuda” kumaKristu asekuhlaleni?

¹² Amalungu endlu yesikhungu yamaYuda eFiladelfi mhlawumbi ayeya kothuka akuva ukuba amanye awo ayemele ‘aqubude’ kumaKristu asekuhlaleni. Ngenxa yokuba ngokungathandabuzekiyo kwakukho abantu abaninzi abangengomaYuda kwelo bandla, ayeya kulindela ukuba kwenzeke into eyahlukileyo ngokupheleleyo kuleyo. Ngoba? Kuba uIsaya waxela kwangaphambili wathi: “Ookumkani [abangengomaYuda] bamele babe ngabanyamekeli bakho [Sirayeli], amakhosazana abo abe ziimpelesi zakho. Baya kuqubuda kuwe ubuso bubheke emhlabeni.” (Isaya 49:23; 45:14; 60:14) Ngendlela efanayo, uZekariya waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale oku: “Ngezo mini ke amadoda alishumi [angengomaYuda] aphuma kuzo zonke iilwimi zeentlanga aya kubamba, ewe, okunene aya kubamba isondo lendoda engumYuda, esithi: ‘Siza kuhamba nani, kuba sivile ukuba uThixo unani.’” (Zekariya 8:23) Ewe, abantu abangengomaYuda babemele baqubude kumaYuda, ingabi ngawo aqubuda kubo!

13. Ayengoobani amaYuda ayeya kubona inzaliseko yeziprofeto ezazibhekiswa kuSirayeli wamandulo?

¹³ Ezo ziprofeto zazibhekiswe kuhlanga olwalunyulwe nguThixo. Ngexesha ezazivakaliswa ngalo, uSirayeli wokwenyama wayekweso sigxina sibekekileyo. Kodwa xa uhlanga lwamaYuda lwamchasayo uMesiya, uYehova walulahla. (Mateyu 15:3-9; 21:42, 43; Luka 12:32; Yohane 1:10, 11) NgePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., endaweni yawo wakhetha uSirayeli wokwenyaniso kaThixo, ibandla lamaKristu. Amalungu alo angamaYuda okomoya afumene ulwaluko lokwenene lwentliziyo. (IZenzo 2:1-4, 41, 42; Roma 2:28, 29; Galati 6:16) Emva koko, ekuphela kwendlela awayenokuthi elowo nalowo umYuda wokwenyama amkholise ngayo uYehova kwakuya kuba ngokubonakalisa ukholo lwakhe kuYesu njengoMesiya. (Mateyu 23:37-39) Kucacile ukuba oku kwakusele kuza kwenzeka kubantu abathile baseFiladelfi.a

14. UIsaya 49:23 noZekariya 8:23 baye bazaliseka njani ngokuphawulekayo kumaxesha anamhla?

¹⁴ Namhlanje iziprofeto ezinjengoIsaya 49:23 noZekariya 8:23 ziye zazaliseka ngokuphawulekayo. Ngenxa yokushumayela kodidi lukaYohane, inkitha yabantu iye yangena kumnyango ovulekileyo osa kwinkonzo yoBukumkani.b Uninzi lwabo luye lwaphuma kwiNgqobhoko, eneenkonzo ezithi xa zixoka zinguSirayeli wokomoya. (Thelekisa eyabaseRoma 9:6.) Aba bantu, abasisihlwele esikhulu, bahlamba imiwunduzo yabo bayenze mhlophe ngokubonakalisa ukholo kwigazi ledini likaYesu. (ISityhilelo 7:9, 10, 14) Ngokuthobela ulawulo lukaKristu loBukumkani, banethemba lokuzidl’ ilifa iintsikelelo zalo apha emhlabeni. Beza kubazalwana bakaYesu abathanjisiweyo baze ngokomoya ‘baqubude’ kubo, kuba ‘bavile ukuba uThixo unabo.’ Balungiselela aba bathanjiswa, abaye bamanyana kunye nabo ehlabathini lonke.—Mateyu 25:34-40; 1 Petros 5:9.

‘Ilixa Lovavanyo’

15. (a) UYesu wawathembisa ntoni amaKristu aseFiladelfi, yaye akhuthazwa ukuba enze ntoni? (b) Sisiphi “isithsaba” amaKristu ayekhangele phambili ekusifumaneni?

¹⁵ UYesu uhlabela mgama esithi: “Ngenxa yokuba uligcinile ilizwi elingonyamezelo lwam, nam ndiya kukugcina ngelixa lovavanyo, eliza kuwufikela umhlaba omiweyo uphela, ukuvavanya abo bahleliyo emhlabeni. Ndiyeza ngokukhawuleza. Qhubeka ukubambe nkqi oko unako, ukuze kungabikho nabani na onokusithabatha isithsaba sakho.” (ISityhilelo 3:10, 11) Nangona amaKristu omhla kaYohane ayengayi kuqhubeka ephila de kufike imini yeNkosi (eyaqalisa ngowe-1914), intembelo yawo yokuba uYesu wayesiza yayiza kuwanika amandla okuqhubeka eshumayela. (ISityhilelo 1:10; 2 Timoti 4:2) Ayebekelwe “isithsaba,” okanye umvuzo wobomi obungunaphakade ezulwini. (Yakobi 1:12; ISityhilelo 11:18) Ukuba ayethembekile kwada kwasekufeni, akukho mntu wayenokuwabandeza loo mvuzo.—ISityhilelo 2:10.

16, 17. (a) Liyintoni ‘ilixa lovavanyo eliza kufikela umhlaba omiweyo uphela’? (b) Yayinjani imeko yabathanjiswa ekuqaleni ‘kwelixa lovavanyo’?

¹⁶ Noko ke, liyintoni ‘ilixa lovavanyo’? Akuthandabuzeki ukuba, loo maKristu aseAsia kwakufuneka ehlangabezene nentshutshiso eyoyikekayo eyayivela kubukhosi beRoma.c Sekunjalo, inzaliseko enkulu lilixa lokuhluzwa nokugwetywa elaqalisa ebudeni bemini yeNkosi, lifikelela encotsheni ukususela ngowe-1918 ukusa phambili. Uvavanyo belulolokuba ubani uxhasa uBukumkani obumiselwe nguThixo okanye uxhasa ihlabathi likaSathana kusini na. ‘Lilixa’ elifutshane, kodwa alikapheli. De libe liphelile, asimele silibale ukuba siphila ‘kwilixa lovavanyo.’—Luka 21:34-36.

¹⁷ Ngowe-1918 udidi lukaYohane lwamaKristu athanjisiweyo—njengelo bandla liqinileyo laseFiladelfi—kwafuneka lujongene nenkcaso evela ‘kwisikhungu sikaSathana’ sanamhlanje. Iinkokeli zonqulo lweNgqobhoko, ezazisithi zingamaYuda okomoya, ngobuqhetseba zalukuhla abalawuli ukuba bacinezele amaKristu okwenyaniso. Sekunjalo, azama ngamandla ‘ukugcina ilizwi elingonyamezelo lukaYesu’; ngenxa yoko, ngoncedo lokomoya, ‘amandla amancinane’ aphawulekayo, asinda aza avuselwa ukungeniswa kumnyango awuvulelweyo. Kwenzeka njani oku?

“Umnyango Ovulekileyo”

18. Ngoobani abamiselwa nguYesu ngowe-1919, yaye bafana njani negosa elithembekileyo likaHezekiya?

¹⁸ Ngowe-1919 uYesu wazalisekisa isithembiso sakhe waza wamkela ibathwana lamaKristu okwenyaniso athanjisiweyo ‘njengekhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi.’ (Mateyu 24:45-47) Lafumana ilungelo elifana nelo lananditshwa ligosa elithembekileyo uEliyakim ngexesha lokulawula kukaKumkani uHezekiya.d UYehova wathi ngoEliyakim: ‘Isitshixo sendlu kaDavide ndiya kusibeka egxalabeni lakhe, avule kungabikho uvalayo, avale kungabikho uvulayo.’ UEliyakim wayethwele iimbopheleleko ezinzima zikaHezekiya, unyana wasebukhosini kaDavide. Ngokufanayo namhlanje, udidi lukaYohane oluthanjisiweyo luphethe ‘isitshixo sendlu kaDavide’ kuba luthwaliswe izilangazelelo zasemhlabeni zoBukumkani bukaMesiya. UYehova uyabomeleza abakhonzi bakhe ukuze bakwazi ukuphumeza oku, ebanika amandla okusingatha umsebenzi omkhulu wokunikela ubungqina emhlabeni wonke.—Isaya 22:20, 22; 40:29.

19. Udidi lukaYohane lwazisingatha njani iimbopheleleko uYesu awaluphathisa zona ngowe-1919, yaye waba yintoni umphumo?

¹⁹ Ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili intsalela ethanjisiweyo, elandela umzekelo kaYesu, yenza iphulo elikhulu lokuvakalisa ngokubanzi iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani. (Mateyu 4:17; Roma 10:18) Ngenxa yoko, bambi besikhungu sikaSathana sanamhla, iNgqobhoko, beza kule ntsalela ithanjisiweyo baza ‘baqubuda,’ bevuma igunya leli khoboka. Bamanyana nala malungu akhulileyo odidi lukaYohane ekukhonzeni uYehova. Oku kwaqhubeka de kwahlanganiswa inani elipheleleyo labazalwana bakaYesu abathanjisiweyo. Emva koku, ‘isihlwele esikhulu, esiphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga’ siye seza ‘kuqubuda’ kumkhonzi othanjisiweyo. (ISityhilelo 7:3, 4, 9) Umkhonzi kunye nesi sihlwele sikhulu bakhonza njengomhlambi omnye wamaNgqina kaYehova.

20. Kutheni le nto amaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje emele omelele ngokukhethekileyo elukholweni aze akhuthale nasenkonzweni kaThixo?

²⁰ Emanyene njengamaKristu aseFiladelfi kuthando lokwenyaniso lobuzalwana, namhlanje amaNgqina kaYehova ayaqonda ukuba umsebenzi wawo wokushumayela umele wenziwe ngokungxamisekileyo. Kungekudala, imbandezelo enkulu iza kuliphelisa ihlabathi likaSathana elingendawo. Ngelo xesha, ngamana ngamnye wethu angafunyanwa omelele elukholweni yaye ekhuthele kwinkonzo kaThixo, ukuze amagama ethu angacinywa kwincwadi yobomi kaYehova. (ISityhilelo 7:14) Masisixabise isiluleko sikaYesu esiya kwibandla laseFiladelfi ukuze sibambelele ngokuqinileyo kumalungelo ethu enkonzo size sifumane umvuzo wobomi obungunaphakade.

Iintsikelelo Ezifunyanwa Ngaboyisileyo

21. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo namhlanje aye ‘aligcina njani ilizwi elingonyamezelo lukaYesu,’ ibe yintoni aza kuyifumana?

²¹ Namhlanje udidi lukaYohane ‘luligcinile ilizwi elingonyamezelo lukaYesu,’ oko kukuthi, lulandele umzekelo wakhe lwaza lwanyamezela. (Hebhere 12:2, 3; 1 Petros 2:21) Ngaloo ndlela luye lwakhuthazwa kakhulu ngamazwi kaYesu abhekele phaya aya kwibandla laseFiladelfi: “Lowo woyisayo—ndiya kumenza intsika kwitempile yoThixo wam, yaye akasayi kuze aphume kuyo kwakhona.”—ISityhilelo 3:12a.

22. (a) Iyintoni itempile yoThixo kaYesu? (b) AmaKristu athanjisiweyo oyisayo aya kuba zizo njani iintsika kule tempile?

²² Elinjani lona ilungelo ekulilo ukuba yintsika kwitempile kaYehova! KwiYerusalem yamandulo, itempile yokoqobo yayisisazulu sonqulo lukaYehova. Etempileni, umbingeleli omkhulu wayenikela igazi lezilwanyana zamadini, usuku olunye enyakeni, phambi kokukhanya okungummangaliso okwakumela ubukho bukaYehova ‘kweYona Ngcwele.’ (Hebhere 9:1-7) Ekubhaptizweni kukaYesu, kwabakho enye itempile, ilungiselelo elikhulu lokomoya elifana neletempile lokunqula uYehova. Ingcwele yeengcwele yale tempile isezulwini, apho uYesu wabonakala ngokufanelekileyo “phambi kukaThixo.” (Hebhere 9:24) UYesu unguMbingeleli Omkhulu, ibe linye kuphela idini elinikelwayo ukuze zigutyungelwe ngokupheleleyo izono: igazi elaphalalayo lendoda efezekileyo enguYesu. (Hebhere 7:26, 27; 9:25-28; 10:1-5, 12-14) Logama nje ehlala ethembekile, amaKristu athanjisiweyo asemhlabeni akhonza njengababingeleli abangaphantsi kwiintendelezo zasemhlabeni zale tempile. (1 Petros 2:9) Kodwa akuba oyisile, nawo angena kwingcwele yeengcwele ezulwini aze abe ngabaxhasi abangenakugungqiswa, njengeentsika zelungiselelo lokunqula elifana neletempile. (Hebhere 10:19; ISityhilelo 20:6) Ayikho ingozi yokuba aya ‘kuphuma kuyo kwakhona.’

23. (a) Sisiphi esinye isithembiso esenziwa nguYesu kumaKristu athanjisiweyo athi oyise? (b) Uyintoni umphumo wokubhalwa kwegama likaYehova negama leYerusalem entsha kuboyisi abangamaKristu?

²³ UYesu uhlabela mgama, esithi: “Ndize ndilibhale kuye igama loThixo wam negama lesixeko soThixo wam, iYerusalem entsha ehla iphuma ezulwini kuThixo wam, nelo gama litsha lilelam.” (ISityhilelo 3:12b) Ewe, kwaba bantu boyisileyo kubhalwe igama likaYehova—uThixo wabo noThixo kaYesu. Oku ngokucacileyo kubonisa ukuba uYehova noYesu bangabantu ababini abahlukeneyo ingezizo iinxalenye ezimbini zoThixo onguBathathu Emnye. (Yohane 14:28; 20:17) Yonke indalo imele ibone ukuba aba bathanjiswa ngabakaYehova. Bangamangqina akhe. Kubo kukwabhalwe igama leYerusalem entsha, isixeko sasezulwini esiphuma ezulwini ngengqiqo yokuba silawula ngendlela eyingenelo kulo lonke uluntu oluthembekileyo. (ISityhilelo 21:9-14) Ngaloo ndlela zonke izimvu zasemhlabeni ezingamaKristu ziya kwazi ukuba aba boyisi bathanjisiweyo bangabemi boBukumkani, iYerusalem yasezulwini.—INdumiso 87:5, 6; Mateyu 25:33, 34; Filipi 3:20; Hebhere 12:22.

24. Limela ntoni igama likaYesu elitsha, yaye libhalwa njani kumaKristu athanjisiweyo nathembekileyo?

²⁴ Ekugqibeleni, kwaba boyisi bathanjisiweyo kubhalwa igama elitsha likaYesu. Oku kubhekisela kwisigxina esitsha sikaYesu namalungelo akhethekileyo awanikwa nguYehova. (Filipi 2:9-11; ISityhilelo 19:12) Akukho bani ungomnye ulaziyo elo gama, ngengqiqo yokuba akukho bani ungomnye unaloo mava okanye uphathiswe loo malungelo. Noko ke, xa uYesu ebhala igama lakhe kubazalwana bakhe abathembekileyo, bafumana ulwalamano olusenyongweni naye kuloo mmandla wasezulwini baze bade bafumane namalungelo akhe. (Luka 22:29, 30) Akumangalisi ukuba uYesu abe uqukumbela isigidimi sakhe esiya kwabo bathanjisiweyo ngokuphinda esi siluleko sithi: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla.”—ISityhilelo 3:13.

25. Namhlanje umKristu ngamnye unokuwusebenzisa njani umgaqo uYesu awayesekele kuwo isiluleko awasibhekisa kwibandla laseFiladelfi?

²⁵ Olunjani lona ukuzuka ukhuthazo ekumele ukuba saba lulo eso sigidimi kumaKristu athembekileyo aseFiladelfi! Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo sinesifundo esinamandla kudidi lukaYohane ngoku, ebudeni bemini yeNkosi. Kodwa imigaqo ekuso ibalulekile kumKristu ngamnye, enoba ungomnye wabathanjiswa okanye wezinye izimvu. (Yohane 10:16) Ngamnye wethu ubeya kuba wenza kakuhle ukuqhubeka evelisa iziqhamo zoBukumkani njengoko enzayo loo maKristu aseFiladelfi. Sonke sinikwe amandla amancinane okwenza okuthile enkonzweni kaYehova. Masiwasebenzise la mandla! Ngokubhekisele kumalungelo awongezelelekileyo oBukumkani, masiphaphele ukungena kuwo nawuphi na umnyango ovulekayo. Sinokude sithandazele ukuba uYehova asivulele umnyango. (Kolose 4:2, 3) Njengoko silandela umzekelo kaYesu wonyamezelo size sizingqine singabalifaneleyo igama lakhe, siya kubonisa ukuba nathi, sinendlebe yokuva okuthethwa ngumoya oyingcwele kaThixo kuwo amabandla.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 63]

Ukunceda Abaninzi Ukuba Baqubude

Kwi-144 000 labathanjiswa eliza kudl’ ilifa uBukumkani basezulwini, kubonakala ukuba intsalela, udidi lukaYohane, olungaphantsi kwama-9 000 kusafuneka lugqibe ikhondo lalo lasemhlabeni. Kwangaxeshanye, isihlwele esikhulu siye sanda saba yinginginya yabantu abangaphezu kwezi-6 600 000. (ISityhilelo 7:4, 9) Yintoni encedileyo ekuzisweni kwale nginginya yabantu? Izikolo ezahlukahlukeneyo ezisetyenziswa ngamaNgqina kaYehova ziye zaba negalelo elikhulu. Ngokwahluke mpela kwizikolo zonqulo zeNgqobhoko ezifundisa iingcamango zehlabathi zize ziyisingele phantsi iBhayibhile, ezi zikolo zamaNgqina zakha ukholo olunzulu kwiLizwi likaThixo. Zibonisa indlela eliluncedo ngayo ngokuphathelele ukucoceka, ukuziphatha okuhle nenkonzo yokuzahlulela kuThixo. Ehlabathini lonke ukususela ngowe-1943, bandla ngalinye lamaNgqina kaYehova kwiHolo yalo yoBukumkani liqhuba Isikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo sasekuhlaleni. Izigidi ziya kwesi sikolo veki nganye, zilandela ucwangciso olwenziwa ngokumanyeneyo lokufundwa kweBhayibhile.

Ukususela ngowe-1959 amaNgqina kaYehova kwakhona aqhube Izikolo Zobulungiseleli ZoBukumkani ukuze kuqeqeshwe abadala nezicaka zolungiselelo zamabandla. Ibe ukususela ngowe-1977, Izikolo Zenkonzo Yobuvulindlela ziqeqeshe abazalwana noodade abangamakhulu amawaka, abathe, benomoya wokwenyaniso wabaseFiladelfi, bakhonza uYehova ixesha elizeleyo kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngowe-1987 Isikolo Sokuqeqesha Abalungiseleli saqaliswa ukuze kuqeqeshwe amaNgqina angamadoda ukuba alungele izabelo ezikhethekileyo kwintsimi elihlabathi.

Esibalaseleyo phakathi kwezikolo eziqhutywa ngamaNgqina kaYehova ibisiSikolo SeBhayibhile SeWatchtower SaseGiliyadi. Ukususela ngowe-1943 kwesi sikolo sabavangeli basemazweni esiseNew York, kuphumelele amaqela amabini abafundi phantse nyaka ngamnye. Siqeqeshe abalungiseleli bakaYehova abangaphezu kwama-7 000 ukuba balungele inkonzo yobuvangeli basemazweni. Abantu abaphumelele kwesi sikolo baye bakhonza kumazwe angaphezu kwekhulu, yaye kumazwe amaninzi babe luncedo ekuvulweni komsebenzi woBukumkani. Emva kweminyaka emalunga nama-60, abanye babavangeli basemazweni bokuqala basabambelele kulo msebenzi, besabelana nabavangeli basemazweni abatsha ekuhambiseleni phambili umsebenzi owandiswe ehlabathini lonke wentlangano kaYehova. Hayi indlela oluye lwamangalisa ngayo olu lwando!

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 64]

Ngowe-1919 uKumkani olawulayo uYesu wavula umnyango ukuze amaKristu abe nethuba lenkonzo. AmaKristu azinikeleyo alinani elandayo aye alisebenzisa kakuhle elo thuba.

1918 14 3 868 591

1928 32 23 988 1 883

1938 52 47 143 4 112

1948 96 230 532 8 994

1958 175 717 088 23 772

1968 200 1 155 826 63 871

1978 205 2 086 698 115 389

1988 212 3 430 926 455 561

1998 233 5 544 059 698 781

2005 235 6 390 022 843 234

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Isicangca esikwiphepha 65]

Umsebenzi owenziwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova awuphumeza ngentliziyo epheleleyo. Ngokomzekelo, khawuqwalasele iiyure azichithele ekushumayeleni nasekufundiseni kwanenani elikhulu lezifundo zeBhayibhile aziqhube ngesisa emakhayeni abantu.

1918 19 116 Akubhalwanga Ngxelo

1928 2 866 164 Akubhalwanga Ngxelo

1938 10 572 086 Akubhalwanga Ngxelo

1948 49 832 205 130 281

1958 110 390 944 508 320

1968 208 666 762 977 503

1978 307 272 262 1 257 084

1988 785 521 697 3 237 160

1998 1 186 666 708 4 302 852

2005 1 278 235 504 6 061 534

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 59]

Isitshixo saseRoma senkulungwane yokuqala

Isahluko 13

Thenga Igolide Esulungekiswe Ngomlilo

ILAWODIKE

1, 2. Limi ndawoni ibandla lokugqibela kwasixhenxe afumana isigidimi esivela kuYesu ozukisiweyo, yaye ziziphi ezinye izinto esi sixeko esiphawuleka ngazo?

ILAWODIKE libandla lokugqibela kwasixhenxe afumene isigidimi esivela kuYesu ovusiweyo. Enjani yona ukuvul’ amehlo nokuchukumisa inkcazelo esiyidluliselayo!

² Namhlanje, unokufumana amabhodlo aseLawodike kufuphi naseDenizli, malunga neekhilomitha ezingama-88 ukuya kumzantsi-mpuma weAlasehir. Ngenkulungwane yokuqala, iLawodike yayisisixeko esihle. Ekubeni yayimi ekudibaneni kweendlela ezinkulu, yayisisazulu esiphambili ekwakugcinwa kuso imali nekwakurhwetywa kuso. Ukuthengiswa kwamafutha adumileyo okunyanga amehlo kwabangela ukuba sityebe ngakumbi, yaye sasidume nangeengubo zaso ezikumgangatho ophakamileyo ezaziveliswa apho ngoboya obuhle obumnyama. Ngenxa yokungabikho kwamanzi okwakuyingxaki enkulu kwesi sixeko, kwenziwa umjelo wamanzi ovela kumthombo otsitsa amanzi ashushu kude kufuphi nalapho. Ngaloo ndlela, amanzi ayenokufika sele edikidiki kweso sixeko.

3. UYesu usiqalisa njani isigidimi sakhe esiya kwibandla laseLawodike?

³ ILawodike yayikufutshane neKolose. Xa ebhalela amaKolose, umpostile uPawulos ukhankanya incwadi awayeyithumele eLawodike. (Kolose 4:15, 16) Asiyazi into eyabhalwa nguPawulos kuloo ncwadi, kodwa isigidimi esidluliselwa nguYesu ngoku kwabaseLawodike sibonisa ukuba bakwimeko elusizi ngokomoya. Noko ke, njengokuba esenjenjalo ngokuqhelekileyo, uYesu uqala ngokuchaza iimfaneleko zakhe, esithi: “Nengelosi yebandla eliseLawodike yibhalele uthi: Utsho uAmen ingqina elithembekileyo neliyinyaniso, isiqalo sendalo kaThixo.”—ISityhilelo 3:14.

4. UYesu unguye njani “uAmen”?

⁴ Kutheni le nto uYesu ezibiza ngokuba ungu-“Amen”? Esi sibizo sibangela ukuba sibe namandla ngakumbi isigidimi sakhe njengomgwebi. “UAmen” ligama lesiHebhere elibhalwe ngoonobumba bolunye ulwimi elithetha ukuthi “ngokuqinisekileyo,” “makube njalo,” ibe lisetyenziswa ekupheleni kwemithandazo ukuqinisekisa amazwi avakaliswe kuyo. (1 Korinte 14:16) UYesu ungu-“Amen” ngenxa yokuba ingqibelelo yakhe engenakusoleka nokufa okulidini zaqinisekisa ukuzaliseka kwazo zonke izithembiso zikaYehova ezixabisekileyo. (2 Korinte 1:20) Ukususela ngelo xesha, yonke imithandazo ngokufanelekileyo ibhekiswa kuYehova ngoYesu.—Yohane 15:16; 16:23, 24.

5. UYesu ulilo ngayiphi indlela “ingqina elithembekileyo neliyinyaniso”?

⁵ Kwakhona uYesu ‘ulingqina elithembekileyo neliyinyaniso.’ Kwisiprofeto usoloko enxulunyaniswa nokuthembeka, nenyaniso nobulungisa, kuba uthembeke ngokupheleleyo njengomkhonzi kaYehova uThixo. (INdumiso 45:4; Isaya 11:4, 5; ISityhilelo 1:5; 19:11) Ulelona Ngqina likaYehova liphakamileyo. Enyanisweni, ‘njengesiqalo sendalo kaThixo,’ uYesu ubevakalisa uzuko lukaThixo kwasekuqaleni. (IMizekeliso 8:22-30) Njengomntu owayesemhlabeni, wayingqinela inyaniso. (Yohane 18:36, 37; 1 Timoti 6:13) Emva kokuvuswa kwakhe, wathembisa abafundi bakhe ngomoya oyingcwele waza wabaxelela wathi: “Niya kuba ngamangqina am eYerusalem nakulo lonke elakwaYuda naseSamariya kude kuse nakwezona nxalenye zikude zomhlaba.” Ukususela ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E. ukusa phambili, uYesu walathisa la maKristu athanjisiweyo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo “kwindalo yonke ephantsi kwezulu.” (IZenzo 1:6-8; Kolose 1:23) Ngokwenyaniso, uYesu ukufanele ukubizwa ngokuba lingqina elithembekileyo neliyinyaniso. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo aseLawodike ebeya kungenelwa ngokuphulaphula amazwi akhe.

6. (a) UYesu uyichaza njani imeko yokomoya yebandla laseLawodike? (b) Nguwuphi umzekelo omhle kaYesu athe amaKristu aseLawodike asilela ukuwulandela?

⁶ Sisiphi isigidimi uYesu afuna ukusidlulisela kumaKristu aseLawodike? Akawancomi. Ngokuphandle uwaxelela oku: “Ndiyazazi izenzo zakho, ukuba akubandi yaye ungeshushu. Akwaba ububanda okanye ushushu. Ngoko, ngenxa yokuba udikidiki, ungeshushu ungabandi, ndiza kukuhlanza uphume emlonyeni wam.” (ISityhilelo 3:15, 16) Ubuya kusabela njani kwisigidimi esinjalo esivela kwiNkosi uYesu Kristu? Ngaba ubungayi kuvuka uze uzihlolisise? Ngokuqinisekileyo, abo bantu baseLawodike kufuneka babhinqele phezulu, kuba baye bangamavila ngokomoya, kuyabonakala ukuba bazithabatha lula gqitha izinto. (Thelekisa eyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte 6:1.) UYesu, lowo bona njengamaKristu bekumele ukuba bamxelisile, usoloko ebonakalisa inzondelelo enamandla ngoYehova nenkonzo yakhe. (Yohane 2:17) Ngokubhekele phaya, abalulamileyo bamfumanise engosoloko enobunono nobulali, engohlaziyayo njengendebe yamanzi abandayo kwimini egqats’ ubhobhoyi. (Mateyu 11:28, 29) Kodwa amaKristu aseLawodike akashushu yaye akabandi. Njengamanzi aqukuqelayo esiya kwisixeko sawo, aye aba dikidiki. Afanele achaswe ngokupheleleyo nguYesu, ‘awahlanze aphume emlonyeni wakhe’! Ngamana thina singasoloko sikuzabalazela ngenzondelelo ukubahlaziya ngokomoya abanye, njengoko uYesu wenzayo.—Mateyu 9:35-38.

“Uthi: ‘Ndisisityebi’”

7. (a) UYesu uwuchaza njani oyena nobangela wengxaki yamaKristu aseLawodike? (b) Kutheni uYesu esithi amaKristu aseLawodike ‘azimfama yaye ahamba ze’?

⁷ Kanye kanye uyintoni unobangela wengxaki yabantu baseLawodike? Sifumana ingcamango entle kumazwi kaYesu alandelayo: “Ngenxa yokuba uthi: ‘Ndisisityebi, ndizuze ubutyebi, andiswele nto,’ kodwa akwazi ukuba uludwayi nosizana nehlwempu nemfama kwaye uhamba ze.” (ISityhilelo 3:17; thelekisa uLuka 12:16-21.) Ekubeni behlala kwisixeko esityebileyo, baziva benentembelo ngenxa yokuba bezizityebi. Mhlawumbi, indlela abaphila ngayo yayiphenjelelwe zizinto ezazisenziwa kumabala emidlalo, ziiholo zokuzonwabisa nakwiindawo zokwenza umthambo, kangangokuba baye baba ‘ngabathandi beziyolo kunokuba bathande uThixo.’a (2 Timoti 3:4) Kodwa abantu baseLawodike abazizityebi ngokwezinto eziphathekayo bangamahlwempu ngokomoya. Abungako ‘ubuncwane abaziqwebele bona ezulwini,’ ukuba banabo kwaukuba nabo. (Mateyu 6:19-21) Abaligcinanga lingenakumbi iliso labo, bebeka uBukumkani bukaThixo kwindawo yokuqala kubomi babo. Ngenene basebumnyameni, baziimfama, ababoni ngokomoya. (Mateyu 6:22, 23, 33) Ngaphezu koko, phezu kwazo nje iingubo ezintle ezisenokuba zibabangele bazizityebi ngokwezinto eziphathekayo, emehlweni kaYesu bahamba ze. Abanazo iingubo zokomoya ezibafanisa njengamaKristu.—Thelekisa iSityhilelo 16:15.

8. (a) Imeko efana naleyo yaseLawodike inokubakho njani namhlanje? (b) Amanye amaKristu azikhohlise njani kweli hlabathi libawayo?

⁸ Hayi indlela ekhwankqisa ngayo le meko! Kodwa ngaba asidli ngakubona imeko efanayo kule mihla? Uyintoni unobangela osisiseko woku? Sisimo sengqondo sokuzithemba esibangelwa kukukholosa ngezinto eziphathekayo nangobuncwane babantu. Njengabahambi becawa beNgqobhoko, bambi abantu bakaYehova baye bazikhohlisa, becinga ukuba banokumkholisa uThixo ngokuya nje ezintlanganisweni ngamathub’ athile. ‘Bangabenzi belizwi’ nje ngegama. (Yakobi 1:22) Phezu kwazo nje izilumkiso eziphindaphindiweyo ezivela kudidi lukaYohane, bavumela iintliziyo zabo zithi ti yimpahla, iinqwelo-mafutha nezindlu ezisexesheni, yaye bathanda iziyolo. (1 Timoti 6:9, 10; 1 Yohane 2:15-17) Konke oku kuphumela ekubeni ingqiqo engokomoya idodobale. (Hebhere 5:11, 12) Endaweni yokuba babe dikidiki, kufuneka bavuselele “umlilo womoya” baze bakulangazelele ‘ukushumayela ilizwi.’—1 Tesalonika 5:19; 2 Timoti 4:2, 5.

9. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi kaYesu amele ashukumise amaKristu adikidiki, yaye ngoba? (b) ‘Izimvu’ ezibhadulayo zinokuncedwa njani libandla?

⁹ UYesu uwajonga njani amaKristu adikidiki? Amazwi akhe acacileyo amele awashukumise: “Akwazi ukuba uludwayi nosizana nehlwempu nemfama kwaye uhamba ze.” Izazela zawo zindindisholo kangangokuba akayiqondi kwaukuyiqonda imeko yawo enxunguphalisayo. (Thelekisa iMizekeliso 16:2; 21:2.) Le meko imbi ngokunzulu ikweli bandla ayinakubethwa nje ngoyaba. Ngokumisela umzekelo omhle wenzondelelo nangokwalusa ngothando, abadala nabanye ababelwe ngabo basenokuzivuselela ezi ‘zimvu’ zibhadulayo ukuze zifumane uvuyo ezazinalo ngaphambili lokukhonza ngentliziyo epheleleyo.—Luka 15:3-7.

Isiluleko ‘Esingokuba Zizityebi’

10. Iyintoni “igolide” uYesu axelela amaKristu aseLawodike ukuba ayithenge kuye?

¹⁰ Ngaba sikho isicombululo ngemeko elusizi yaseLawodike? Ewe sikho, ukuba loo maKristu aza kusilandela isiluleko sikaYesu esithi: “Ndikucebisa ukuba uthenge kum igolide esulungekiswe ngomlilo ukuze ube sisityebi.” (ISityhilelo 3:18a) “Igolide” yokwenyaniso yamaKristu, evuthiswe ngomlilo nesuswe lonke ukhokho olukuyo, yiyo eya kuwenza abe ‘zizityebi kuThixo.’ (Luka 12:21) Anokuyithenga phi igolide enjalo? Akanakuyithenga kubarhwebi beendawo zokugcina imali zasekuhlaleni kodwa anokuyithenga kuYesu! Umpostile uPawulos wacacisa oko loo golide ikuko xa waxelela uTimoti ukuba ayale amaKristu azizityebi ‘enze okulungileyo, atyebe emisebenzini emihle, angagogotyi lutho, alungele ukwabelana, aziqwebele isiseko esihle nesikhuselekileyo sekamva.’ Kuphela kungokuzibhokoxa ngale ndlela awayenokuthi afumane ‘ubomi benene.’ (1 Timoti 6:17-19) Abantu baseLawodike abatyebileyo ngokwezinto eziphathekayo bebefanele ukuba balandele icebiso likaPawulos baze ngaloo ndlela batyebe ngokomoya.—Bona kwaneMizekeliso 3:13-18.

11. Yiyiphi imizekelo yanamhla esinayo ngabo bathenga “igolide esulungekiswe ngomlilo”?

¹¹ Ngaba ikho imizekelo yanamhla yabo bathenga “igolide esulungekiswe ngomlilo”? Ewe, ikho! Kwanangethuba laxa imini yeNkosi yayisondela, ibathwana labafundi beBhayibhile laliqalisa ukuqonda ubuxoki beemfundiso ezininzi zeNgqobhoko ezifana nezaseBhabhiloni, ezinjengoBathathu Emnye, ukungafi komphefumlo, intuthumbo kumlilo wesihogo, ukubhaptizwa kweentsana nokunqulwa kwemifanekiso eqingqiweyo (kuquka umnqamlezo naleyo kaMariya). Ngenxa yokuthethelela inyaniso yeBhayibhile, la maKristu avakalisa uBukumkani bukaYehova njengobukuphela kwethemba loluntu nedini likaYesu lentlawulelo njengendlela yokufumana usindiso. Kwiminyaka ephantse ibe ngama-40 ngaphambi kowe-1914, alatha kuloo nyaka njengophawulwe kwisiprofeto seBhayibhile ungowokuphela kwamaxesha eeNtlanga, alandelwa ziziganeko ezothusayo emhlabeni.—ISityhilelo 1:10.

12. Ngubani omnye wabo babekhokela phakathi kwamaKristu avukileyo, ibe wawumisela njani umzekelo obalaseleyo ekuziqwebeleni ubuncwane ezulwini?

¹² Owayekhokela la maKristu avukileyo yayinguCharles Taze Russell, owathi ekuqaleni kweminyaka yee-1870, waseka iqela elalifundisisa iBhayibhile eAllegheny (ngoku eyinxalenye yePittsburgh), ePennsylvania, eUnited States. Ekuqaleni kwakhe ukuphanda inyaniso, uRussell wayekunye noyise ibe wayesel’ eza kuba ngusozigidi. Kodwa wathengisa iivenkile zakhe ezininzi waza wachitha ubutyebi bakhe ekuxhaseni ngokwemali ukuvakaliswa koBukumkani bukaThixo emhlabeni wonke. Ngowe-1884 uRussell waba ngumongameli wokuqala wombutho ngoku owaziwa njengeWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Ngowe-1916 wafa kuloliwe kufuphi nasePampa, eTexas, esendleleni eya eNew York, edinwe eyimfe luhambo lwakhe lokugqibela lokushumayela kwintshona yeUnited States. Wamisela umzekelo obalaseleyo wokuziqwebela ubuncwane bokomoya ezulwini, mzekelo lowo namhlanje olandelwa ngamakhulu amawaka abalungiseleli abangoovulindlela abazincamayo.—Hebhere 13:7; Luka 12:33, 34; thelekisa eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 9:16; 11:1.

Ukusebenzisa Intambiso Yamehlo Yokomoya

13. (a) Intambiso yamehlo yokomoya iya kuyiphucula njani imeko yabantu baseLawodike? (b) Luhlobo luni lwezambatho olunconyelwa nguYesu, yaye ngoba?

¹³ Kwakhona uYesu ubaluleka ngokuqatha abo bantu baseLawodike: ‘Thenga izambatho zangaphezulu ezimhlophe ukuze wambathe, lingabonakali ihlazo lobuze bakho, nentambiso yamehlo uthambise amehlo akho ukuze ubone.’ (ISityhilelo 3:18b) Bamele bafune unyango ngenxa yobumfama babo bokomoya ngokuthenga amafutha okunyanga amehlo, kungekhona lawo abaphilisi basekuhlaleni, kodwa lawo ohlobo olunokulungiselelwa nguYesu kuphela. Oku kwakuya kubanceda ukuba babe nengqiqo yokomoya, kubancede bahambe ‘kumendo wamalungisa’ amehlo abo abona kakuhle etsoliswe ekwenzeni ukuthanda kukaThixo. (IMizekeliso 4:18, 25-27) Ngaloo ndlela, basenokunxiba, kungekhona iingubo zexabiso zoboya obumnyama ezenziwa eLawodike, kodwa banxibe ‘izambatho zangaphezulu ezimhlophe’ ezintle ezibonisa ilungelo abanalo njengabalandeli bakaYesu Kristu.—Thelekisa eyoku-1 kuTimoti 2:9, 10; 1 Petros 3:3-5.

14. (a) Yiyiphi intambiso yamehlo yokomoya ebifumaneka ukususela ngowe-1879? (b) Ubuyintoni umthombo osisiseko wenkxaso engokwemali wamaNgqina kaYehova? (c) Ekusebenziseni iminikelo, amaNgqina kaYehova ahluke njani kwabanye?

¹⁴ Ngaba intambiso yamehlo yokomoya iyafumaneka namhlanje? Ngokuqinisekileyo iyafumaneka! Ngowe-1879 uPastor Russell, njengoko wayebizwa ngaloo ndlela ngenxa yokuthandwa, ngeenjongo zokukhusela inyaniso waqalisa ukupapasha iphephancwadi elaziwa ehlabathini lonke namhlanje ngokuthi IMboniselo Evakalisa UBukumkani BukaYehova. Kwinkupho yalo yesibini, wavakalisa oku: “Sikholelwa kwelokuba, [eli phephancwadi], lixhaswa nguYEHOVA, ibe ngoxa kunjalo alinakuze licele lize libongoze ukuxhaswa ngabantu. Xa Lowo uthi: ‘Yonke igolide nesilivere yeentaba yeyam,’ engayilungiseleli imali efunekayo, siya kuqonda ukuba kulixesha lokuyeka ukulipapasha.” Bambi abashumayeli abavela koomabonwakude baye bafumba intywenka yemali baza bahlala kubunewunewu ababufumene ngokungenazintloni (yaye maxa wambi ngenxa yokuziphatha okubi). (ISityhilelo 18:3.) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, aBafundi BeBhayibhile, namhlanje abaziwa njengamaNgqina kaYehova, baye basebenzisa yonke iminikelo yokuzithandela abayifumanayo ukuze balungelelanise baze bahambisele phambili ukushunyayelwa koBukumkani bukaYehova obuzayo ehlabathini lonke. Ukuza kuthi ga namhlanje udidi lukaYohane lwalathisa ukupapashwa kwephephancwadi IMboniselo noVukani!, yaye ngowama-2006 kuye kwasasazwa amaphephancwadi angaphezu kwezigidi ezingama-59. IMboniselo ifumaneka ngeelwimi ezimalunga ne-150. Ingulindixesha osemthethweni webandla lamaKristu angaphezu kwezigidi ezithandathu aye asebenzisa loo ntambiso yamehlo yokomoya ukuze amehlo awo avuleke abone unqulo lobuxoki nokungxamiseka kokushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo kuzo zonke iintlanga.—Marko 13:10.

Ukungenelwa Kwisohlwayo Nakuqeqesho

15. Kutheni le nto uYesu enikela isiluleko esinamandla kumaKristu aseLawodike, yaye limele lisabele njani eli bandla kuso?

¹⁵ Masibuyele kubantu baseLawodike. Baza kusabela njani kwisiluleko esiqatha esivela kuYesu? Ngaba bamele bazive bedimazekile yaye babe noluvo lokuba uYesu akasabafuni njengabalandeli bakhe? Hayi, akumele kube njalo konke konke. Esi sigidimi sihlabela mgama sisithi: “Bonke abo ndinomsa ngabo ndiyabohlwaya ndize ndibaqeqeshe. Ngoko ke yiba nenzondelelo uze uguquke.” (ISityhilelo 3:19) Njengoqeqesho oluvela kuYehova, uqeqesho lukaYesu lungumqondiso wothando lwakhe. (Hebhere 12:4-7) Ibandla laseLawodike limele liyisebenzise kakuhle inkxalabo yakhe enothando lize lisisebenzise isiluleko sakhe. Limele liguquke, liqonda ukuba ukuba dikidiki kwalo kusisono. (Hebhere 3:12, 13; Yakobi 4:17) Abadala balo mabangazithandi izinto eziphathekayo yaye bamele ‘basikhwezele njengomlilo’ isipho abasifumene kuThixo. Ngenxa yokusebenza kwentambiso yamehlo yokomoya, mabahlaziyeke bonke abasebandleni ngokungathi bafumana impepho epholileyo yamanzi abandayo aphuma emthonjeni.—2 Timoti 1:6; IMizekeliso 3:5-8; Luka 21:34.

16. (a) Uthando lukaYesu lubonakaliswa njani namhlanje? (b) Ukuba sifumana isiluleko esinamandla, simele sisabele njani?

¹⁶ Kuthekani ngathi namhlanje? UYesu uyaqhubeka ‘ebathanda abakhe abasehlabathini.’ Oku uya kukwenza “yonke imihla de kube sekuphelisweni kwenkqubo yezinto.” (Yohane 13:1; Mateyu 28:20) Uthando lwakhe lubonakaliswa ngodidi lukaYohane lwanamhla nangeenkwenkwezi, okanye abadala, abasebandleni lamaKristu. (ISityhilelo 1:20) Kula maxesha ovavanyo olugqithiseleyo, abadala banomdla wokwenene ekuncedeni thina sonke, abakhulu nabancinane, ukuba sihlale ngaphakathi kobuhlanti bolawulo lobuthixo, sixhathise umoya wokuzilawula, ukubawela izinto eziphathekayo nokungcola kokuziphatha okubi kweli hlabathi. Ukuba ngamaxesha athile sifumana isiluleko esinamandla okanye uqeqesho, masikhumbule ukuba “izohlwayo zengqeqesho ziyindlela yobomi.” (IMizekeliso 6:23) Thina sonke asifezekanga yaye simele sikuzondelele ukuguquka kangangoko kufuneka ukuze silungiswe size sihlale sithandwa nguThixo.—2 Korinte 13:11.

17. Ubutyebi bunokuba yingozi njani ngokomoya kuthi?

¹⁷ Asimele sivumele ukuthanda izinto eziphathekayo okanye ubutyebi busenze sibe dikidiki. Ubutyebi bunokunceda ekubeni kuvuleke iinkalo ezintsha zenkonzo, kodwa kwakhona bunokuba yingozi. (Mateyu 19:24) Umntu omi kakuhle usenokuba noluvo lokuba akuyomfuneko ukuba abe nenzondelelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela njengabanye, logama nje esenza iminikelo emikhulu ngamaxesha athile. Okanye usenokuba noluvo lokuba ukuba sisityebi kumenza afanelekele amalungelo. Ukongezelela, maninzi amathuba oyolo nawokuzonwabisa avulekele umntu osisityebi angenakufunyanwa ngabanye. Kodwa ezo zinto zidla ixesha yaye zisenokumtyekisa umntu ongaphaphanga kubulungiseleli bamaKristu, ngaloo ndlela zimenza abe dikidiki. Ngamana singayiphepha yonke imigibe enjalo size sihlale ‘sisebenza nzima size sizibhokoxe’ ngentliziyo epheleleyo, sikhangele ekuzuzeni ubomi obungunaphakade.—1 Timoti 4:8-10; 6:9-12.

‘Ukuthabatha Isidlo Sangokuhlwa’

18. Liliphi ithuba uYesu alivulele amaKristu aseLawodike?

¹⁸ UYesu uhlabela mgama esithi: “Khangela! Ndimi emnyango ndiyankqonkqoza. Ukuba nabani na uva ilizwi lam aze avule ucango, ndiza kungena endlwini yakhe ndize ndithabathe isidlo sangokuhlwa kunye naye.” (ISityhilelo 3:20) Ukuba amaKristu aseLawodike anokuthi amamkele uYesu ebandleni lawo, uya kuwanceda ayeke ukuba dikidiki!—Mateyu 18:20.

19. Uthetha ukuthini uYesu xa ethembisa ukuba nesidlo sangokuhlwa nebandla laseLawodike?

¹⁹ Alithandabuzeki elokuba ukukhankanya kukaYesu isidlo sangokuhlwa kukhumbuza abantu baseLawodike ngamaxesha axa wayenandipha izidlo nabafundi bakhe. (Yohane 12:1-8) Izihlandlo ezinjalo zazisoloko zisizisa iintsikelelo zokomoya kwabo babelapho. Ngokukwanjalo, kwakukho izihlandlo eziphawulekayo emva kokuvuka kukaYesu xa wayekunye nabafundi bakhe esidlweni, zihlandlo ezo ezathi zabomeleza gqitha. (Luka 24:28-32; Yohane 21:9-19) Ngenxa yoko, isithembiso sakhe sokuza kwibandla laseLawodike aze athabathe isidlo sangokuhlwa kunye nalo sisithembiso sokulizisela iingenelo zokomoya ezityebileyo ukuba linokuthi limamkele.

20. (a) Ekuqaleni kwemini yeNkosi, yintoni ebe ngumphumo wokuba dikidiki kweNgqobhoko? (b) Isigwebo sikaYesu siyichaphazela njani iNgqobhoko?

²⁰ Isiluleko sikaYesu esinothando esiya kubantu baseLawodike sibaluleke gqitha kumaKristu athanjisiweyo aseleyo namhlanje. Wambi awo ayakhumbula ukuba, ekuqaliseni kwemini yeNkosi, abantu beenkonzo zeNgqobhoko baphola ngendlela eyothusayo. Kunokuba bamkele iNkosi yethu ebuyileyo ngowe-1914, abefundisi bayo bazibandakanya ekubulaleni abantu kwiMfazwe Yehlabathi I, awathi amazwe angama-24 kwangama-28 awayesilwa azibanga engawobuKristu. Hayi indlela elilikhulu ngayo ityala labo legazi! Ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II, nayo eyayisiliwa ubukhulu becala yiNgqobhoko, izono zabantu bonqulo lobuxoki kwakhona “zafumba zada zafikelela ezulwini.” (ISityhilelo 18:5) Ngokubhekele phaya, abefundisi baye babunikela umva uBukumkani bukaYehova obuzayo ngokuxhasa uManyano Lwezizwe, iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, nemibutho yobuhlanga nevukelayo, ekungekho namnye kuyo onokuzicombulula iingxaki zoluntu. Kudala uYesu wabachasayo abefundisi, ebagweba ngokuqatha aze abaphosele kude, kanye njengokuba umlobi elahla intlanzi engafunekiyo ebanjiswe ngumnatha wakhe. Imeko elusizi yeecawa zeNgqobhoko namhlanje ingqinela ukuba igwetyiwe. Ngamana ukubhangiswa kwayo kokugqibela kungaba sisilumkiso kuthi!—Mateyu 13:47-50.

21. Ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili, amaKristu kwibandla lokwenyaniso asabele njani kumazwi kaYesu aya kumaKristu aseLawodike?

²¹ Kwanaphakathi kwibandla lokwenyaniso, bekukho abantu abathile abadikidiki abafana nesiselo esingeshushu ngokufudumezayo nesingabandi ngendlel’ ehlaziyayo. Kodwa uYesu usalithanda ngokufudumeleyo ibandla lakhe. Uzenza afumaneke kumaKristu asabela ngobubele, ibe amaninzi aye amamkela, ngokungathi amamkelela kwisidlo sangokuhlwa. Ngenxa yoko, ukususela ngowe-1919 ukusa phambili amehlo awo aye avulwa ukuze abone intsingiselo yeziprofeto zeBhayibhile. Anandiphe ithuba lokhanyo olukhulu.—INdumiso 97:11; 2 Petros 1:19.

22. Sisiphi esinye isidlo sangokuhlwa esiseza kubakho ekusenokwenzeka ukuba uYesu wayecinga ngaso, yaye ngoobani abaya kuba nesabelo kuso?

²² Xa uYesu wayethetha nabaseLawodike, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayecinga ngesinye isidlo sangokuhlwa. Kamva kwiSityhilelo sifunda oku: “Banoyolo abo bamenyelwe kwisidlo sangokuhlwa somtshato weMvana.” Esi sisidlo esizukileyo soloyiso nesokudumisa uYehova emva kokuba egwebe unqulo lobuxoki—isidlo sikaKristu nomtshakazi wakhe olinani elipheleleyo elili-144 000 ezulwini. (ISityhilelo 19:1-9) Amalungu asabelayo elo bandla laseLawodike lamandulo—nabazalwana abathembekileyo bakaKristu Yesu namhlanje, abanxibe izambatho ezicocekileyo ukuze bafaniswe njengamaKristu okwenyaniso athanjisiweyo—bonke baya kudla kunye noMyeni wabo kweso sidlo sangokuhlwa. (Mateyu 22:2-13) Olunjani lona ukhuthazo ukuba namandla olwenzelwe ukuba babe nenzondelelo baze baguquke!

Itrone Yaboyisileyo

23, 24. (a) UYesu uthetha ngawuphi umvuzo ongakumbi? (b) UYesu wahlala nini kwitrone yakhe njengoMesiya, ibe waqalisa nini ukugweba abantu abathi bangamaKristu? (c) Sisiphi isithembiso esimangalisayo esenziwa nguYesu kubafundi bakhe xa wasungula iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe?

²³ UYesu uthetha ngomvuzo ongakumbi, esithi: “Lowo woyisayo ndiza kumnika ukuba ahlale nam phantsi kwitrone yam, kwanjengoko nam ndoyisayo ndaza ndahlala phantsi noBawo kwitrone yakhe.” (ISityhilelo 3:21) Ukuze kuzaliseke amazwi kaDavide akwiNdumiso 110:1, 2, uYesu ongumgcini wengqibelelo, akuba eloyisile ihlabathi, wavuswa ngowama-33 C.E. waza waphakanyiswa ukuze ahlale noYise kwitrone Yakhe yasezulwini. (IZenzo 2:32, 33) Ngomnye unyaka obalulekileyo, ngowe-1914, uYesu wafika ukuze ahlale kwitrone yakhe njengoMesiya noKumkani noMgwebi. Ngokucacileyo umgwebo waqalisa ngowe-1918 kubantu ababesithi bangamaKristu. Aboyisi abathanjisiweyo ababefe ngaphambi kwelo xesha babeya kuvuswa baze babe kunye noYesu eBukumkanini bakhe. (1 Petros 4:17) Wayebathembise oku xa wayesungula iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe, esithi kubafundi bakhe: “Ndenza umnqophiso nani, kanye njengoko uBawo enze umnqophiso nam, wobukumkani, ukuze nidle, nisele etafileni yam ebukumkanini bam, nize nihlale ezitroneni ukuze nigwebe izizwe ezilishumi elinesibini zakwaSirayeli.”—Luka 22:28-30.

²⁴ Esinjani sona ukumangalisa isabelo—ukuhlala noKumkani olawulayo ebudeni ‘bokudalwa okutsha’ uze wabelane naye, ngenxa yedini lakhe eligqibeleleyo, ekwenzeni ihlabathi loluntu oluthobelayo lifumane imfezeko yase-Eden! (Mateyu 19:28; 20:28) Njengokuba uYohane esazisa, uYesu wenza abo boyisileyo babe ‘ngookumkani nababingeleli kuThixo wakhe noYise,’ ukuze bahlale ezitroneni ezingqonge itrone kaYehova ezukileyo yasezulwini. (ISityhilelo 1:6; 4:4) Thina sonke—enoba singabathanjiswa okanye singabebutho lomhlaba omtsha elinethemba lokuba nesabelo ekubuyiseleni iParadesi—masiwafake entliziyweni amazwi kaYesu aya kubantu baseLawodike!—2 Petros 3:13; IZenzo 3:19-21.

25. (a) Njengokuba ebesenjenjalo nakwizigidimi ezingaphambilana, uYesu usiqukumbela njani isigidimi sakhe esiya eLawodike? (b) AmaKristu namhlanje amele asabele njani kumazwi kaYesu aya kwibandla laseLawodike?

²⁵ Njengokuba ebesenjenjalo nakwizigidimi ezingaphambilana, uYesu uqukumbela esi ngamazwi esiluleko athi: “Lowo unendlebe makakuve oko ukutshoyo umoya kuwo amabandla.” (ISityhilelo 3:22) Siphila kwixesha lesiphelo. Budandalazile ubungqina bokuba iNgqobhoko ayinaluthando. Ngokwahlukileyo koku, ngamana thina njengamaKristu okwenyaniso singasabela ngenzondelelo kwisigidimi sikaYesu esiya kwibandla laseLawodike, ewe, sisabele kuzo zonke izigidimi ezisixhenxe zeNkosi yethu eziya emabandleni. Oku sinokukwenza ngokuba nesabelo ngamandla ekuzalisekiseni isiprofeto sikaYesu esikhulu esingomhla wethu, esithi: “Kwaye ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.”—Mateyu 24:12-14.

26. Uphinda athethe nini uYesu ngokungqalileyo noYohane, kodwa yiyiphi into aba nenxaxheba kuyo?

²⁶ Isiluleko sikaYesu esiya kumabandla asixhenxe siphelile. Akaphindi athethe noYohane kwiSityhilelo de kube kwisahluko sokugqibela; kodwa uba nenxaxheba kwimibono emininzi, ngokomzekelo, ekuphumezeni imigwebo kaYehova. Ngoku masithelele udidi lukaYohane ekuhlolisiseni umbono wesibini ophawulekayo otyhilwa yiNkosi uYesu Kristu.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 73]

Ukuthanda Izinto Eziphathekayo Akubobulumko

Ngowe-1956 umbhali wemihlathi yamaphephandaba wabhala wathi: “Kuqikelelwa ukuba kwinkulungwane edluleyo umntu nje oqhelekileyo wayenezinto ezingama-72 azifunayo, kodwa kuzo zazili-16 kuphela ezaziyimfuneko ngokwenene. Namhlanje kuqikelelwa ukuba umntu oqhelekileyo unezinto ezingama-474 azifunayo, kodwa zingama-94 kuphela eziyimfuneko ngokwenene. Kwinkulungwane edluleyo, zazingama-200 kuphela izinto ezazibhengezwa ngabarhwebi—kodwa namhlanje zingama-32 000 izinto ezibhengezwayo kwezorhwebo. Izinto eziyimfuneko ngokwenene emntwini zimbalwa—izinto ezingabalulekanga azifunayo, azinasiphelo.” Namhlanje, abantu bahlohlwa ngengcamango yokuba ukuba sisityebi yeyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini. Ngaloo ndlela, abaninzi bayalityeshela icebiso lobulumko leNtshumayeli 7:12 elithi: “Ubulumko buyakhusela njengokuba nemali ikhusela; kodwa ingenelo yolwazi kukuba ubulumko bubagcina bephila abo banabo.”

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 67]

Amanzi awayefika eLawodike ayenokuba dikidiki ngendlela engathandekiyo. AmaKristu aseLawodike ayenomoya odikidiki ngendlela enganelisiyo