1, 2. Kuyini okungasilahlekela futhi lokhu kungasiphatha njani?

 UYAKE unanzelele yini ukuthi umntwana wenzani nxa angaqamula loba alahlekelwe yithoyi yakhe? Uyakhala aze azigiqe phansi. Kodwa nxa umzali wakhe angayithola kumbe ayilungise uyathaba. Kungakhanya kuyinto engatsho lutho kumzali ukulungisa ithoyi leyo kodwa umntwana yena kuyammangalisa. Uyambona esethabile ngoba ubecabanga ukuthi ithoyi yakhe ayisoze iphinde itholakale kumbe ilungiseke.

² UBaba wethu uJehova ulamandla okulungisa lokho abantwabakhe abasemhlabeni abangabona angani ngeke kuphinde kulungiseke. Kodwa lapha asikhulumi ngamathoyi. ‘Ensukwini lezi zokucina okunzima ukuphila kuzo’ silahlekelwa yizinto eziqakatheke ukwedlula amathoyi. (2 KuThimothi 3:1-5) Singalahlekelwa ngumsebenzi, yimizi yethu, zimpahla zethu futhi singagula. Okunye okungasidanisa yikubona abantu bengcolisa umhlaba wethu njalo betshabalalisa imihlobo etshiyeneyo yezinyamazana lezihlahla. Kodwa okusizwisa ubuhlungu ukwedlula loba yini yikufelwa ngumuntu esimthandayo. Singaphelelwa ngamandla siswele lokuthi senzeni.—2 USamuyeli 18:33.

3. Yiliphi ithemba eliduduzayo elikumiSebenzi 3:21 futhi uJehova uzakwenza njani okutshiwo yivesi le?

³ Kuyasiduduza kakhulu ukufunda ngokuthi uJehova ulamandla okulungisa zonke inhlupho zethu. Esihlokweni lesi sizafunda ngezinto ezisilahlekeleyo ezizabuyiselwa nguNkulunkulu. IBhayibhili lithi uJehova uhlose ‘ukubuyisela zonke izinto.’ (ImiSebenzi 3:21) Lokhu uzakwenza esebenzisa uMbuso weNdodana yakhe enguMesiya, uJesu Khristu. Okwenzakala ngo-1914 kutshengisa ukuthi uMbuso lo waqalisa ukubusa  ngalowomnyaka. a (UMathewu 24:3-14) Khathesi asixoxeni ngezinye izinto uJehova azazibuyisela. Okunye kwakhona siyakubona khathesi kodwa okunengi kwakhona kuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo.

4, 5. Kuyini okwenzakala ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu ngo-607 B.C.E., njalo uJehova wabathembisani?

⁴ Enye into uJehova aseyibuyisele yikukhonza okuhlanzekileyo. Ukuze sizwisise ukuthi lokhu kutshoni, asihloleni ngamafitshane imbali yombuso wakoJuda. Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okubuyisela obekulahlekile.—KwabaseRoma 15:4.

⁵ Ubona angani amaJuda ayethembekile ezwa njani iJerusalema ibhidlizwa ngo-607 B.C.E? Abona idolobho lawo ayelithanda litshabalaliswa, imiduli yalo idilizelwa phansi. Okubi kakhulu yikuthi lethempeli elalilihle okwamagama elalakhiwe nguSolomoni labhidlizwa. Ithempeli leli kwakuyiyo yodwa indawo emhlabeni okwakukhonzwa khona uJehova ngendlela eqondileyo. (IHubo 79:1) Ababesindile bathunjwa bahanjiswa eBhabhiloni, imizi yabo yasala ihlala inyamazana zeganga. (UJeremiya 9:11) Babengabona angani akulathemba lokuthi bangaphenduka elizweni labo. (IHubo 137:1) Kodwa uJehova wabathembisa ukuthi uzababuyisela elizweni labo ngoba nguye owayevele ekhulume ngokutshabalaliswa lokhu.

6-8. (a) Abaphrofethi abanengi babhala mayelana lani futhi abakubhalayo kwagcwaliseka njani? (b) Iziphrofetho lezo zigcwaliseke njani esikhathini esiphila kuso?

⁶ Banengi abaphrofethi ababhala ngesithembiso sikaJehova  sokubuyisela abantu bakhe elizweni labo. b UJehova wathi abako-Israyeli bazaphinda bakhe elizweni labo babe banengi, batshaye inala futhi bahlale bechelesile kungelanyamazana loba izitha ezibahlaselayo. Wathi ilizwe labo lalizakuba lihle angathi lipharadayisi! (U-Isaya 65:25; UHezekheli 34:25; 36:35) Kodwa okuhle kakhulu yikuthi babezaphinda bakhonze uJehova ngendlela eqondileyo. (UMikha 4:1-5) Iziphrofetho lezi zenza amaJuda ayethunjiwe aba lethemba futhi zawanceda ukuthi abekezele okweminyaka engu-70 ethunjiwe eBhabhiloni.

⁷ Safika isikhathi sokuthi uJehova abuyisele ama-Israyeli elizweni lawo. AmaJuda akhululwa eBhabhiloni asebuyela eJerusalema ayakwakha kutsha ithempeli likaJehova. (U-Ezra 1:1, 2) UJehova wayebabusisa abantu bakhe nxa bemkhonza ngendlela eqondileyo. Kwakusithi nxa bangalima bayitshaye inala njalo konke kwakubahambela kuhle. Wayebavikela ezitheni zabo lasezinyamazaneni zeganga ezasezigcwele elizweni labo njengoba laselihlale iminyaka engu-70 lingamanxiwa. Kufanele ukuthi kwabajabulisa kakhulu ukubona uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe ukuze ababuyisele elizweni labo. Kodwa lokhu kwakuyikugcwaliseka kokuqala kwezithembiso zikaJehova. Izithembiso lezi zazizaphinda zigcwaliseke ‘ensukwini zokucina’ sekubusa uJesu, indlalifa yeNkosi uDavida. Insuku lezo zokucina yizo esiphila kuzo khathesi.—U-Isaya 2:2-4; 9:6, 7.

⁸ UJesu wathi esanda kuqalisa ukubusa ezulwini ngo-1914, waqalisa ukuncedisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni ukuthi bakhonze uNkulunkulu ngendlela ayamukelayo. Njengoba nje inkosi yePhesiya uKhoresi wakhulula amaJuda eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., uJesu laye wakhulula abalandeli bakhe enkolweni yamanga ebizwa ngokuthi ‘yiBhabhiloni Enkulu.’ (ISambulo 18:1-5; KwabaseRoma 2:29) Kusukela ngo-1919 amaKhristu eqiniso aqalisa ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela eqondileyo. (UMalakhi 3:1-5) Amkhonza esethempelini lakhe elihlanjululiweyo elimela ukukhonza okuhlanzekileyo. Kungani ukukhonza lokhu kuqakathekile kithi?

9. Kwenzakalani abaphostoli sebefile, kodwa uJehova wenzeni esikhathini sethu?

⁹ AmaKhristu okuqala ayekhonza uJehova ngendlela eqondileyo. Kodwa uJesu labaphostoli bakhe bakhuluma ngokuthi abantu babezatshiya ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo. (UMathewu 13:24-30; ImiSebenzi 20:29, 30) Kwathi abaphostoli sebefile amaKhristu amanga aqalisa ukwanda. Abakhokheli bamasonto babefundisa izimfundiso zamanga futhi belandela imikhuba yabantu abangayisiwo maKhristu. Kulokuthi bancedise abantu ukuthi basondele kuNkulunkulu bona babafundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu mthathu emunye futhi kazwisiseki. Baphinda babafundisa ukuthi bavume izono zabo kubaphristi ukuze bathethelelwe lokuthi bakhuleke kuMariya lakulabo abababiza ngokuthi ngabangcwele kulokuthi bakhuleke kuJehova. Sekuleminyaka eminengi lokhu kusenzakala. Lalamuhla abantu bafundiswa amanga futhi sekulabantu abanengi abenza izinto ezimbi ukwedlula kudala. Lanxa kunjalo uJehova usebenzise amandla akhe amakhulu ukuthi abuyisele ukukhonza kweqiniso.

10, 11. (a) Ipharadayisi esiphakathi kwalo lamuhla lilaziphi izingxenye ezimbili eziqakathekileyo njalo kumele wenzeni nxa ufuna ukungena epharadayisi leli? (b) UJehova uqoqe abantu abanjani ukuthi babe sepharadayisi leli futhi bazathola ziphi izibusiso?

¹⁰ Lalamuhla uJehova ufake amaKhristu eqiniso epharadayisi ngokuwapha konke okungawanceda ukuthi amkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. Ipharadayisi leli liqhubeka lisiba lihle futhi lilengxenye ezimbili eziqakathekileyo. Eyokuqala yikukhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso ngendlela ehlanzekileyo. UJehova usifundise iqiniso ukuze singakhohliswa ngamanga afundiswa emasontweni. Uyasinceda ukuthi sifunde okunengi ngaye, simthokozise njalo sisondele kuye. Lokhu kusinceda ukuthi sifunde ngoBaba wethu osezulwini ukuze simthokozise futhi sisondele kuye. (UJohane 4:24) Ingxenye yesibili yikuthula okusebantwini bakaNkulunkulu. U-Isaya waphrofetha ukuthi “ngezinsuku  zokucina” uJehova uzafundisa abantu bakhe ukuhlalisana ngokuthula. UJehova usifundise ukuthi akumelanga silwe izimpi njalo wasinceda ukuthi sigqoke ‘ubuntu obutsha’ lanxa silesono. Usipha lomoya wakhe ongcwele osenza sibe lezithelo zomoya. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:22-24; KwabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23) Nxa ufuna ukungena epharadayisi leli kumele uvume ukuqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu.

¹¹ UJehova uqoqe abantu abathandayo wabafaka epharadayisi leli. Abantu laba ngabamthandayo, abathanda ukuthula njalo “abakunanzelelayo ukuthi bayamdinga uNkulunkulu.” (UMathewu 5:3) Bazazibonela ngawabo izibusiso ezimangalisayo uJehova azazinika abantu emhlabeni omutsha.

12, 13. (a) Sazi njani ukuthi uJehova uzaphinda azigcwalise ngenye indlela izithembiso zakhe? (b) UJehova uhloseni ngomhlaba njalo kungani lokhu kusinika ithemba?

¹² Sesibonile ukuthi uJehova wathembisa ukuthi uzabuyisela ukukhonza kweqiniso. Kodwa uJehova uzaphinda azigcwalise ngenye indlela izithembiso zakhe. U-Isaya wabhala ukuthi abagulayo, labaqhulayo, labayiziphofu lezacuthe bazasiliswa kanye lokuthi ukufa kuzaqedwa. (U-Isaya 25:8; 35:1-7) Lokhu akuzange kwenzakale ko-Israyeli. Esikhathini sethu uJehova uvule amehlo eziphofu ngokusifundisa ukuthi singamkhonza njani ngendlela eqondileyo. Kodwa izithembiso lezi kusamele zigcwaliseke ngokoqobo emhlabeni wonke. Sikwazi njani lokhu?

¹³ Ensimini yase-Edeni uJehova wacacisa ukuthi wayehloseni ngomhlaba. Wayefuna emhlabeni kuhlale abantu abathokozayo, abalempilakahle njalo abamanyeneyo. Kwakumele abantu banakekele umhlaba lezidalwa zonke ezikuwo, benze umhlaba wonke ube lipharadayisi. (UGenesisi 1:28) Kodwa lokhu ayisikho okwenzakalayo khathesi. Lanxa kunjalo, akulalutho olungenza uJehova ehluleke ukugcwalisa akuhlosileyo. (U-Isaya 55:10, 11) UJehova uzasebenzisa uJesu ukuthi atshintshe umhlaba wonke ube lipharadayisi.—ULukha 23:43.

14, 15. (a) Kuyini uJehova azakwenza ukuze “izinto zonke zibe zintsha”? (b) Izabe injani impilo ePharadayisi njalo kuyini olindele ukukubona kusenzakala?

 ¹⁴ Ake ucabange ukuthi uzakuzwa njani nxa umhlaba wonke usulipharadayisi! UJehova uthi ngesikhathi leso ‘uzakwenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha.’ (ISambulo 21:5) UJehova uzakwenza njani lokhu? Uzabhubhisa abantu abenza okubi besekusala ‘amazulu amatsha lomhlaba omutsha.’ Amazulu amatsha nguhulumende omutsha ozabe ubusa usezulwini. Umhlaba omutsha ngabantu abathanda uJehova njalo abenza intando yakhe abazabe belapha emhlabeni. (2 UPhetro 3:13) USathane lamadimoni akhe bayabe bengaselamandla okudukisa abantu. (ISambulo 20:3) Abantu bayabe sebekhululekile ezitheni lezi ezibangele ukuthi kube lokuzondana okweminyaka leminyaka lapha emhlabeni. Lokhu kuzasithokozisa kakhulu.

¹⁵ Siyabe sesisenelisa ukunakekela umhlaba lo omuhle ngendlela uJehova ayevele efuna siwunakekele ngayo. Umhlaba udalwe ngendlela emangalisayo. Ulwandle lemifula kuyenelisa ukuzihlambulula nxa abantu bangayekela ukuphosela ingcekeza. Nxa izimpi zingaphela, izindawo ezilomonakalo obangelwe yizimpi zingaphinda zibe zinhle. Sizajabula kakhulu sesisebenza ndawonye ukuthi senze umhlaba uphinde ube lipharadayisi elilezinyamazana lezihlahla kanye lamaluba ayimihlobo etshiyeneyo! Abantu abasoze batshabalalise izinyamazana kumbe baphongugamula nje izihlahla. Kuzaba lokuthula phakathi kwabantu lezidalwa zonke ezikhona emhlabeni. Abantwana bayabe bengasazesabi inyamazana zeganga.—U-Isaya 9:6, 7; 11:1-9.

16. Kuyini uJehova azakwenzela khona ePharadayisi?

¹⁶ Zikhona ezinye izinto uJehova azazenzela umuntu munye ngamunye. I-Amagedoni isiphelile, abayabe besindile bazasiliswa. UJesu uzakwenza lokho ayekwenza elapha emhlabeni. Uzasilisa abagulayo, enze iziphofu zibone, izacuthe zizwe, labagogekileyo bahambe. (UMathewu 15:30) Abagugileyo bazakuba batsha baqine saka. (UJobe 33:25) Ijwabu labo lizakuba butshelezi futhi ngeke besakhathazwa zinyawo lamadolo. Bonke abantu  bazabona impumela yesono iphela kancane kancane ebantwini baze bacine bengaselasono. Sizambonga kakhulu uJehova uNkulunkulu ngokusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi enze zonke izinto zibe zintsha! Khathesi sizaxoxa ngesithembiso esithinta inhliziyo esizagcwaliseka nxa uJehova esesenza zonke izinto zibe zintsha.

17, 18. (a) Kungani uJesu wakhuza abaSadusi? (b) Landisa ukuthi kwahamba njani indodana yomfelokazi waseZarefathi ize ife.

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, abanye abakhokheli benkolo okuthiwa ngabaSadusi babengakholwa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. UJesu wabakhuza wathi: “Lilahlekile ngoba aliyazi iMibhalo futhi aliwazi amandla kaNkulunkulu.” (UMathewu 22:29) Ngakho iMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo. Asixoxeni ngabanye abavuswayo.

¹⁸ Owokuqala yindodana yomfelokazi waseZarefathi. Umphrofethi u-Elija wayeselesikhathi evakatshele umfelokazi lo futhi wayeke wanceda indodana yakhe ukuthi ingabulawa yindlala. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Elija wayesemthanda umfana lo. Kodwa ngelinye ilanga wafa futhi unina wezwa ubuhlungu kakhulu ngoba nguye yedwa ayesesele laye ngemva kokufa komkakhe. Mhlawumbe wayelethemba lokuthi indodana yakhe izamgcina nxa esegugile. Kumele ukuthi u-Elija wethuka ebona umfelokazi lo ephethe umntanakhe owayesefile. Umfelokazi lo wadana waze wacabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayemjezisa ngenxa yesono ayeke wasenza. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu u-Elija. Yikho wathatha isidumbu somfana waqansa laso waya endlini ephezulu ayehlala kuyo, wasecela uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuthi amvuse.—1 AmaKhosi 17:8-21.

19, 20. (a) U-Abrahama watshengisa njani ukuthi uyakholwa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvusa abafileyo futhi kuyini okwamenza waba lokholo olunjalo? (b) UJehova wambusisa njani u-Elija?

¹⁹ U-Elija wayengasuye wokuqala ukukholwa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. U-Abrahama waphila kusasele iminyaka eminengi ukuthi u-Elija azalwe futhi wayekholwa ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo. Kuyini okwakumenza  akukholwe lokho? Wayebone isimangaliso uJehova ayesenzele yena lomkakhe uSara. Lanxa u-Abrahama wayeseleminyaka engu-100 uSara elengu-90, uJehova wenza uSara wenelisa ukuzithwala futhi wabeletha indodana okuthiwa ngu-Isaka. (UGenesisi 17:17; 21:2, 3) Kwathi indodana yabo isikhulile, uJehova wacela u-Abrahama ukuthi anikele ngayo. U-Abrahama watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo futhi wathemba ukuthi uJehova uzayivusa indodana yakhe. (KumaHebheru 11:17-19) Yikho engakakhweli entabeni ukuthi ayenikela ngendodana yakhe, watshela izisebenzi zakhe ukuthi yena lo-Isaka babezaphenduka bonke.—UGenesisi 22:5.

²⁰ UJehova wathi u-Abrahama angasambulali u-Isaka, ngakho kwakungelasidingo sokuthi amvuse. Kodwa endabeni ka-Elija, indodana yomfelokazi yayivele isifile. UJehova wayivusa indodana yomfelokazi ngenxa yokuthi u-Elija wayelokholo. Ngemva kwalokho u-Elija waqhubela umfelokazi indodana yakhe, wasesithi: “Khangela indodana yakho iyaphila.”—1 AmaKhosi 17:22-24.

21, 22. (a) Kungani iBhayibhili lisitshela ngezindaba zokuvuswa kwabantu abafileyo? (b) EPharadayisi kuzavuswa abantu abanengi kangakanani njalo lokhu kuzakwenziwa ngubani?

²¹ Indaba le ngeyokuqala eBhayibhilini lapho esibona khona uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe okuvusa abafileyo. UJehova wanika u-Elisha, loJesu, loPhawuli, loPhetro amandla okuvusa abafileyo. Kodwa bonke abavuswayo baphinda bafa. Lanxa kunjalo, izindaba lezo zisitshengisa khona kanye okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo.

²² UJesu wathi: “Ngiyikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila.” (UJohane 11:25) Ngakho ePharadayisi uzavusa izigidi lezigidi zabantu abafileyo abanike ithuba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. (UJohane 5:28, 29) Ake ucabange ukuthi sizajabula njani sesibona izihlobo labangane bethu abafayo! Sizagonana kube yintokozo yodwa! Bonke abantu bazadumisa uJehova ngenxa yamandla akhe okubuyisela.

23. Yiphi indlela eyedlula zonke uJehova atshengisa ngayo ukuthi ulamandla futhi lokhu kuliqinisa njani ithemba lethu ngekusasa?

 ²³ UJehova usinika ubufakazi obenza singathandabuzi ngitsho lakancane ukuthi uyenelisa ukuvusa abantu abafileyo. Wavusa iNdodana yakhe uJesu iyingilosi elamandla futhi wayinika isikhundla esilandela esakhe. Le yindlela eyedlula zonke uJehova atshengisa ngayo amandla akhe. UJesu esevusiwe wabonwa ngabantu abanengi kakhulu. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:5, 6) Kambe ukhona yini ongathandabuza ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo?

24. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzabavusa abantu abafileyo futhi yiliphi ithemba esilalo?

²⁴ UJehova ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo futhi uyafisa ukukwenza lokho. UJobe wathi uJehova uyafisa ukuvusa abantu abafileyo. (UJobe 14:15) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi okwenza uJehova asebenzise amandla akhe okubuyisela yikuthi uyasithanda. Wena awufisi yini ukusondela kuNkulunkulu osithanda kangaka? Njengoba sibonile, kulezindlela ezinengi uJehova asebenzisa ngazo amandla akhe okubuyisela futhi ukuvuswa kwabantu abafileyo ngenye yazo. Yikho qhubeka usondela kuJehova, uliqakathekise ithemba lokuyaphila ePharadayisi lapho ozazibonela khona ngawakho uJehova esenza “izinto zonke zibe zintsha!”—ISambulo 21:5.