1, 2. Kuyini uHezekheli akubonayo lakutshelwayo esikulandiselwa kuHezekheli 47:1-12? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

 EMBONWENI wakhe wethempeli uHezekheli waphinda wabona okunye okwammangalisayo. Wabona umfula ugeleza usuka ethempelini. Akumbone ngelihlo lengqondo ebuka amanzi lawo ahlanzekileyo. (Bala uHezekheli 47:1-12.) Amanzi la aphuma ngaphansi komnyango wethempeli abesegeleza esiya egedini elisempumalanga yethempeli. Ingilosi eyayitshengisa uHezekheli okwakusenzakala embonweni yaphuma laye ethempelini ihamba ilinganisa umango ababewuhamba. Ingilosi le yayisithi ingalinganisa umango othile, itshele uHezekheli ukuthi adabule phakathi kwamanzi. UHezekheli wananzelela ukuthi amanzi ayelokhu esiba manengi, umfula wacina usutshona okokuthi kwasekumele antsheze nxa efuna ukuchapha!

² UHezekheli watshelwa ukuthi umfula lo ugeleza uze uyefika eLwandle Lwesawudo lokuthi nxa uthela elwandle amanzi ayahlambuluka futhi kube lenhlanzi ezinengi kakhulu. Emaceleni womabili omfula kwakulezihlahla ezinengi. Izihlahla lezo zazithela nyanga zonke njalo amahlamvu azo ayengawokwelapha. Kumele ukuthi uHezekheli wathi ebona konke lokhu wezwa esiba lethemba futhi ehlaliseka. Kodwa kwakuzamnceda njani yena lamanye amaJuda ayethunjiwe? Thina kusinceda njani?

3. Kuyini okungabe kwenza amaJuda azwisisa ukuthi uHezekheli wayengatsho ukuthi kwakuzakuba lomfula sibili ogeleza usuka ethempelini?

³ Kumele ukuthi amaJuda athi esizwa ngomfula uHezekheli awubona embonweni azwisisa ukuthi kwakungayisiwo mfula ongokoqobo. Mhlawumbe lokhu kwawakhumbuza esinye isiphrofetho sokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso esasibhalwe ngumphrofethi uJoweli eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 eyayisidlulile. (Bala uJoweli 3:18.) Nxa amaJuda ayebala isiphrofetho sikaJoweli ayengakhangeleli ukuthi ‘iwayini elimnandi ligeleze’ sibili ezintabeni lokuthi “uchago lugeleze emaqaqeni.” Ayengalindelanga lokuthi kube ‘lomthombo ompompozayo endlini kaJehova.’ Yikho kufanele ukuthi lalapho esizwa uHezekheli ekhuluma ngomfula awubona embonweni, awazange acabange ukuthi wayekhuluma ngomfula owawuzakuba khona sibili. a Manje kuyini uJehova ayefuna abantu bakhe bakuzwisise? IMibhalo iyasinceda sizwisise okunengi mayelana lomfula uHezekheli awubonayo. Asixoxeni ngezinto ezintathu eziqinisa ukholo ezafundwa ngamaJuda embonweni lo.

4. (a) Umfula owabonwa nguHezekheli ungabe wenza amaJuda akhangelela ukuthola ziphi izibusiso? (b) Indlela iBhayibhili elisebenzisa ngayo ibala elithi “umfula” lelithi “amanzi” isiqiniseka ngani? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Izibusiso Ezigeleza Njengamanzi Omfula.”)

⁴ Izibusiso zazizageleza njengomfula. Kwezinye izikhathi nxa iBhayibhili likhuluma ngemifula lamanzi liyabe lisitsho izibusiso ezivela kuJehova. Yikho kungenzakala ukuthi umbono kaHezekheli womfula wenza abantu bakaNkulunkulu balindela izibusiso ezazizabaqinisa ukholo. UJehova wayezabanika izibusiso lezo nxa babezaqhubeka bemkhonza ngendlela ayifunayo. Yiziphi izibusiso lezo? Abaphristi babezaqalisa ukubafundisa imithetho kaJehova. Kanti njalo nxa babezanikela imihlatshelo ethempelini, babezakuba leqiniso lokuthi izono zabo ziyahlawulelwa. (Hez. 44:15, 23; 45:17) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi babezaphinda bahlanzeke angathi bageze emfuleni owawugeleza usuka ethempelini.

5. Umfula owawusembonweni wakutshengisa njani ukuthi kwakuzakuba lezibusiso ezenela bonke abantu?

⁵ Izibusiso ababezaziphiwa nguJehova zazizabenela yini bonke? Umbono kaHezekheli watshengisa ukuthi izibusiso zazizakuba zinengi kakhulu ngoba umfula wawulokhu usiba mkhulu. Waqalisa ulamanzi amalutshwana kodwa kwathi kusiyafika amakhilomitha amabili wawungasachapheki. (Hez. 47:3-5) Lanxa amaJuda ayezaqhubeka elokhu esanda esiba manengi elizweni lawo, uJehova laye wayezaqhubeka elokhu ewathululela izibusiso ezinengi. Umfula wawutshengisa ukuthi kwakuzakuba lezibusiso ezinengi kakhulu ezazizabenela bonke.

6. (a) Umbono kaHezekheli wawaqinisekisa ngani amaJuda? (b) Yisiphi isixwayiso esisembonweni lo? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

⁶ Amanzi enza izinto ziphile. UHezekheli wabona umfula ugeleza usiyathela eLwandle Lwesawudo, uvuselela amanzi olwandle. Lokhu kwenza ukuthi elwandle kube lenhlanzi ezinengi futhi eziyimihlobo etshiyeneyo angathi ngezoLwandle Olukhulu loba uLwandle lweMedithera. Ekhunjini loLwandle Lwesawudo kwasekulebhizimusi enkulu yabantu ababegola inhlanzi. Indawo ababegola kuyo yayiphakathi laphakathi kwamadolobho amabili futhi kukhanya yayinkulu ngoba amadolobho la ayeqhelelene. Ingilosi yathi: “Loba ngaphi lapho amanzi azagelezela khona, izinto ezilapho zizaphila.” Lokhu sekusitsho yini ukuthi amanzi ayephuma endlini kaJehova ayezageleza afike kuyo yonke indawo  eseLwandle Lwesawudo? Hatshi. Ingilosi yathi kwakuzakuba lezinye izindawo amanzi ayengasoze afike kuzo. Izindawo lezo zazingamaxhaphozi futhi ‘zazizahlala zinjalo zilesawudo.’ b (Hez. 47:8-11) Ngakho isiphrofetho lesi sawaqinisekisa amaJuda ayethunjiwe ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzawavuselela kuwenze athokoze. Kodwa saphinda sakwenza kwacaca ukuthi amanye ayengasoze azamukele izibusiso ayezaziphiwa nguJehova. Ayengasoze asiliswe.

7. Izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli emaceleni omfula zazizawanceda njani amaJuda?

⁷ Izihlahla ezidliwayo futhi ezelaphayo. Izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli zona zazizabanceda njani abantu? Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi zazisenza indawo eyabonwa nguHezekheli ibenhle kodwa kukhona okunye ezazizawanceda ngakho amaJuda ayethunjiwe. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uHezekheli labanye bakhe babethokoza nxa becabanga ngezithelo ezimnandi ababezazithola ezihlahleni lezo. Phela izihlahla lezo zaziyabe zithela inyanga ngayinye. Lokhu kwaphinda kwabaqinisekisa ukuthi uJehova wayezabanika ukudla okwakuzaqinisa ukholo lwabo. Kuyini okunye ababezakuthola ezihlahleni lezo? UHezekheli watshelwa ukuthi amahlamvu azo ‘ayengawokwelapha.’ (Hez. 47:12) UJehova wayekwazi ukuthi nxa amaJuda angaphenduka elizweni lawo kwakuzamele awelaphe ukuze aqine ekukhonzeni. Yikho wawathembisa ukuthi wayezawelapha. Indlela akwenza ngayo lokhu saxoxa ngayo kwezinye iziphrofetho zokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso esafunda ngazo eSahlukweni 9 sebhuku leli.

8. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi umbono kaHezekheli wawuzaphinda ugcwaliseke?

⁸ ESahlukweni 9 sabona ukuthi okunye okuseziphrofethweni lezi akuzange kugcwaliseke ngesikhathi sama-Israyeli. Lokho abantu ababekwenza yikho okwabangela ukuthi uJehova acine engasakwenzanga konke ayebathembise khona. UJehova wayengasoze ababusise ngoba izikhathi ezinengi babengamlaleli, bemhlamukela futhi bengelandaba lokukhonza kweqiniso. AmaJuda ayethembekile ayesizwa ubuhlungu nxa ebona okwakusenziwa ngabanye bawo. Kodwa ayekwazi ukuthi izithembiso zikaJehova ziyagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. (Bala uJoshuwa 23:14.) Yikho ayekwazi ukuthi ngelinye ilanga umbono kaHezekheli wawuzagcwaliseka wonke. Kodwa wawuzagcwaliseka nini?

9. Umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli wawuzaphinda ugcwaliseke nini?

⁹ ESahlukweni 14 sebhuku leli sabona ukuthi umbono kaHezekheli wethempeli wawuzaphinda ugcwaliseke “ngezinsuku zokucina.” Ngalesosikhathi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzaphakanyiswa ngendlela engakaze ibonakale. (Isaya. 2:2) Njengoba sesisensukwini zokucina, umbono womfula owabonwa nguHezekheli ugcwaliseka njani?

10, 11. (a) Yiziphi izibusiso esizitholayo lamuhla ezigeleza njengamanzi omfula? (b) Kuyini okwenziwe yinhlanganiso kaJehova ukuze bonke abathanda uJehova bathole ukudla okuqinisa ukholo?

¹⁰ Izibusiso ezigeleza njengomfula. Amanzi ayegeleza esuka endlini kaJehova asikhumbuza ziphi izibusiso esizitholayo lamuhla? Asikhumbuza zonke izinto uJehova asinike zona ukuze sibe lokholo oluqinileyo. Isibusiso esiqakatheke kulazo zonke esisitholileyo ngumhlatshelo owenziwa nguJesu Khristu ngoba wenza sithethelelwe izono. Iqiniso eliseLizwini likaNkulunkulu liphinda lifaniswe lamanzi ahlanzekileyo  anika impilo futhi asihlambululayo ekuziphatheni lasekukhonzeni. (Efe. 5:25-27) Izibusiso lezi zigeleza njani zisiza kithi?

¹¹ Lanxa ngo-1919 abantu bakaJehova babezinkulungwane ezilutshwane nje, babethokoza ngoba babekuthola ukudla okuqinisa ukholo futhi baqhubeka besanda. Khathesi abantu bakaNkulunkulu sebesedlula 8 miliyoni. Manje njengoba sesibanengi kangaka, ukudla okuqinisa ukholo kuyasenela yini sonke? Kunengi kakhulu esikuthola enhlanganisweni kaJehova okusinceda ukuthi sihlale siqinile ekukhonzeni. Eminyakeni engu-100 edlulileyo kudindwe amabhiliyoni amaBhayibhili, amabhuku, omagazini, amabhukwana kanye lamaphetshana. Njengoba nje umfula owabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni wawuqhubeka usiba mkhulu, lokudla okuqinisa ukholo bekuqhubeka kusiba kunengi kugelezela ebantwini abomele iqiniso emhlabeni wonke. Sesileminyaka eminengi sisebenzisa amabhuku aphrintiweyo kodwa khathesi amabhuku ethu asetholakala lakwezempucuko kuwebhusayithi yethu i-jw.org ngezindimi ezedlula 1 000! Konke lokhu kubanceda njani abantu abafuna ukufunda ngoNkulunkulu?

12. (a) Iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini libancede njani abantu? (b) Kuyini okunye esikufunda embonweni lo? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹² Amanzi enza izinto ziphile. Ingilosi yatshela uHezekheli yathi: “Loba ngaphi lapho amanzi azagelezela khona, izinto ezilapho zizaphila.” Iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini liqhubeke ligeleza lisiya kubo bonke abafuna ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayamukelayo. Lithinte inhliziyo zabantu abanengi kakhulu futhi labanceda ukuthi babe lokholo kuJehova. Kube angathi libavuselele, labenza baphila njalo baqina ekukhonzeni. Kodwa kulokunye esikufunda embonweni lo: Ayisibo bonke abantu abazaqhubeka belithanda iqiniso. Kulabanye abanjengezindawo ezingamaxhaphozi ezabonwa nguHezekheli eLwandle Lwesawudo. Abantu labo bacina bengasalithandi iqiniso futhi bengasafuni ukwenza lokho abakufundiswayo. c Thina asifuni ukuba njengabo!—Bala uDutheronomi 10:16-18.

13. Izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni zisikhumbuzani?

¹³ Izihlahla ezidliwayo futhi ezelaphayo. Izihlahla uHezekheli azibona eceleni komfula zisifundisani? Khumbula ukuthi izihlahla lezo zazithela izithelo ezimnandi inyanga ngayinye njalo amahlamvu azo ayengawokwelapha. (Hez. 47:12) Zisikhumbuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo uyaphana kakhulu yikho ehlala esifundisa futhi esincedisa ukuthi siqine ekukhonzeni. Khathesi emasontweni amanengi abantu bayalamba ngoba kabafundiswa iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu. Kodwa cabanga ngalokho uJehova akunika abantu bakhe. Izikhathi ezinengi nxa siqeda ukubala isihloko esikumagazini wethu, loba nxa sihlabela ingoma yokuphetha emhlanganweni kumbe siqeda ukubukela ividiyo loba uhlelo lwe-Broadcasting, sizwa sithokoza njalo sivuselelekile. Lokhu kusenza sibabaze indlela enhle uJehova asifundisa ngayo. Siyasutha sibili enhlanganisweni kaJehova. (Isaya. 65:13, 14) Esikufundiswayo kuyasinceda yini ukuthi sithokoze empilweni njalo sijabulise uJehova? Ye kuyasinceda ngoba kwenza senelise ukulwisana lezinto ezingasiphambanisa ekukhonzeni ezinjengokuziphatha okubi, ubuhwaba  lokungabi lokholo. Ebandleni uJehova ubeke abadala ukuze basincedise siphinde siqine ekukhonzeni nxa kuyikuthi senze isono esikhulu. (Bala uJakhobe 5:14.) Izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni zenza kucace sibili ukuthi uJehova uyasibusisa.

14, 15. (a) Kuyini esikufunda embonweni wezindawo ezingamaxhaphozi ezasala zingahlanjululwanga? (b) Umbono kaHezekheli womfula usikhuthaza ukuthi senzeni?

¹⁴ Kukhona yini esikufunda embonweni wezindawo ezingamaxhaphozi ezingazange zihlanjululwe ngamanzi ayegeleza evela ethempelini? Sifunda ukuthi kumele samukele imfundo esiyiphiwa nguJehova futhi siyisebenzise ezimpilweni zethu. Akumelanga senze njengabantu bomhlaba lo abangafuni ukuhlanjululwa liqiniso elivela kuJehova. Lokho kuyingozi kakhulu ngoba kungenza uJehova angasamukeli. (Mat. 13:15) Kumele zisithokozise izibusiso ezigelezela kithi zivela kuJehova. Umfula owabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni usinceda sibone ukuthi kumele sikukhuthalele ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngoba linjengamanzi asihlambululayo. Kufanele sivume nxa uJehova esilaya, esiduduza futhi esincedisa esebenzisa abadala abafundiswe yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo. Kanti njalo kumele sikhuthale emsebenzini wokutshumayela, sitshele abanye iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi thina kanye lalabo esibafundisayo sivuselelwe njalo sihlanjululwe liqiniso.

¹⁵ Umbono lo uzagcwaliseka njani esikhathini esizayo? Ezindimeni ezilandelayo sizabona ukuthi umfula lo uzageleza njani ePharadayisi.

16, 17. (a) Kutshoni ukuthi amanzi okuphila azaqhubeka esiba manengi ePharadayisi? (b) Yiziphi ezinye izibusiso esizazithola ePharadayisi?

¹⁶ Uyake uzicabange yini usePharadayisi, ukholisa labangane bakho labangakini? Ukuhlola lokho okutshiwo ngumbono kaHezekheli womfula kungakunceda ukuthi uyibone ngelihlo lengqondo impilo esizayiphila ePharadayisi. Asiphindeni sixoxe ngezifundo ezintathu esizithola embonweni lo eziveza ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda.

¹⁷ Izibusiso ezigeleza njengomfula. Umfula wezibusiso ezivela kuJehova uzaqhela ube mkhulu kakhulu ePharadayisi. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova kasoze asinike izibusiso ezizasiqinisa ekukhonzeni kuphela kodwa uzaphinda aselaphe sibe lempilakahle. Nxa uJesu esebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, uzakwenza ukuthi abantu abathembekileyo bathole zonke izibusiso okumele bazithole ngenxa yenhlawulo yakhe. Isono sizakhitshwa kancane kancane ebantwini babe lempilakahle. Imikhuhlane iyabe ingasekho, yikho kuyabe kungasadingakali izibhedlela labodokotela labonesi. Amanzi okuphila azageleza afike kumamiliyoni abantu abayabe besinde empini ye-Amagedoni. Abantu labo yibo “ixuku elikhulu” elizaphuma “ekuhluphekeni okukhulu.” (Isam. 7:9, 14) Izibusiso ezizatholwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngemva kwe-Amagedoni zizabe zizinhle futhi zimangalisa. Kodwa ziyabe zilutshwane kakhulu nxa ziqathaniswa lalokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu oyabe usazokwenza emhlabeni. Phela embonweni wakhe uHezekheli wabona amanzi omfula elokhu esiba manengi. Njengamanzi omfula owabonwa nguHezekheli ayeqhubeka esiba manengi, izibusiso ezilethwa  nguMbuso kaNkulunkulu lazo zizaqhubeka zisiba zinengi ukuze zenele bonke abantu abazakuba khona ePharadayisi.

18. “Umfula wamanzi okuphila” uzakuba mkhulu kangakanani ngesikhathi uJesu esebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane?

¹⁸ Amanzi enza izinto ziphile. Ngesikhathi uJesu ebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, “umfula wamanzi okuphila” uzakuba mkhulu kakhulu. (Isam. 22:1) Enye indlela uJehova azabusisa ngayo abantu ngesikhathi sekubusa uMbuso wakhe yikuvusa abantu abafa kudaladala. (Isaya. 26:19) Kuzavuswa abantu abanengi kakhulu, baphiwe ithuba lokuphila kuze kube nini lanini ePharadayisi. Kodwa yibo bonke abazavuswa abazaphila kuze kube nini lanini yini?

19. (a) Sazi njani ukuthi kulezinye izinto ezintsha esizazifunda ePharadayisi? (b) Ngabantu abanjani abazakuba njengamaxhaphozi ‘azahlala elesawudo’?

¹⁹ Sonke sizakhetha ukuthi siyafuna yini ukumlalela uNkulunkulu loba hatshi. Ngalesosikhathi kuzakuba lezincwadimgoqwa ezintsha. Lokhu kutsho ukuthi sizafundiswa elinye iqiniso elitsha siphiwe lezinye iziqondiso okuzamele sizilandele. Awuthokozi yini nxa ucabanga ngalokhu? Amanzi omfula kaJehova azabe egeleza sibili esiza kithi. Okudanisayo yikuthi abanye abasoze basamukele isibusiso lesi ngoba bazakhetha ukungamlaleli uJehova. Ngesikhathi uKhristu ebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, kungenzakala kube labanye abazahlamukela uJehova kodwa abasoze bavunyelwe ukuthi baphambanise ukuthula okuyabe kusePharadayisi. (Isaya. 65:20) Lokhu kusikhumbuza indawo ezingamaxhaphozi ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni ezingazange  zihlanjululwe kodwa ‘ezahlala zinjalo zilesawudo.’ Bonke abazakwala ukunatha amanzi aligugu ePharadayisi bayabe beyiziphukuphuku sibili! Ngemva kweminyaka eyinkulungwane kuzaba labanye abazahlamukela uJehova basekele uSathane. Bonke abayabe bengafuni ukubuswa nguJehova bazabhujiswa.—Isam. 20:7-12.

20. Kuyini okuzakwenzakala phakathi kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaKhristu okusikhumbuza izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni?

²⁰ Izihlahla ezidliwayo futhi ezelaphayo. UJehova ufuna ukuthi wonke umuntu athole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Izihlahla ezabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni zitshengisa ukuthi emhlabeni omutsha uJehova uzakwenza kube lohlelo oluzakwenza bonke abamlalelayo bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo. Izibusiso esizaziphiwa nguJehova ePharadayisi zizakwenza ukuthi sibe lokholo oluqinileyo njalo sibe lempilakahle. UJesu Khristu labangu-144 000 bazabusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane besezulwini. Ngalesosikhathi abangu-144 000 bayabe bengabaphristi, yikho bazakhipha isono ebantwini besebenzisa inhlawulo kaJesu Khristu. (Isam. 20:6) Konke lokhu esizakwenzelwa ePharadayisi kusikhumbuza izihlahla uHezekheli azibona emaceleni omfula ezazilezithelo ezimnandi lamahlamvu okwelapha. Umbono kaHezekheli uhambelana lombono owabonwa ngumphostoli uJohane. (Bala iSambulo 22:1, 2.) Amahlamvu ezihlahla ezabonwa nguJohane “ayengawokwelapha izizwe.” Umsebenzi ozakwenziwa ngabaphristi abangu-144 000 uzanceda abantu abanengi abayabe besemhlabeni ngalesosikhathi.

21. Ukucabanga ngombono kaHezekheli womfula kwenza uzwe njani, futhi sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “Amanzi Agelezayo Acina Esengumfula!”)

²¹ Ukucabanga ngombono kaHezekheli womfula akukwenzi ube lethemba yini futhi uhlaliseke? Impilo izakuba mnandi sibili emhlabeni omutsha. UJehova usinike iziphrofetho ezabhalwa kudala ezisisiza sibone ukuthi ukuphila ePharadayisi kuzabe kunjani. Akufisayo yikuthi sonke sibe khona sizibone zonke iziphrofetho lezi zigcwaliseka. Wena uzabe ukhona yini ngalesosikhathi? Mhlawumbe ungabe uzibuza ukuthi uzakuba leyakho yini indawo ePharadayisi. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokunye okwabonwa nguHezekheli embonweni, sibone ukuthi kutshengisa njani ukuthi lawe uzakuba leyakho indawo ePharadayisi.