1-2. Kutheni onke amaKristu efanele abe nomdla wobomi bamaKristu aza kuvuka aye ezulwini?

ABANTU abaninzi abakhonza uYehova banethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade emhlabeni. Liqela elincinci lamaKristu athanjisiweyo elinethemba lokuphila ezulwini. La maKristu athanjisiweyo, anomdla wokwazi ukuba buza kuba njani ubomi ezulwini. Kodwa nala aza kuphila emhlabeni anomdla wokuyazi le nto. Kutheni? Siza kubona ukuba ukuvuselwa ezulwini kweli qela, kuza kuzisa iintsikelelo kumaKristu aza kuphila emhlabeni. Ngoko nokuba sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini okanye emhlabeni, simele sibe nomdla kwinto eza kwenzeka kwabo baza kuvuswa baye ezulwini.

² UThixo waphefumlela abanye babafundi bakaYesu ababephila ngexesha labapostile ukuba babhale ngethemba lokuphila ezulwini. Umpostile uYohane wathi: “Singabantwana bakaThixo, kodwa ayikabonakaliswa indlela esiza kuba yiyo. Siyazi ukuba xa ebonakaliswa siza kufana naye.” (1 Yoh. 3:2) Ngoko amaKristu athanjisiweyo awazi ukuba kuza kuba njani xa esezulwini enemizimba yomoya. Kodwa aza kumbona ngamehlo uYehova xa efumana umvuzo wawo. IBhayibhile ayisixeleli yonke into ngovuko lwasezulwini, kodwa umpostile uPawulos wasithela thsuphe ngalo. AmaKristu athanjisiweyo aza kuba kunye noKristu xa ‘etshabalalisa bonke oorhulumente namagunya.’ ‘Utshaba lokugqibela abaza kuluphelisa, kukufa.’ Ekugqibeleni, uYesu kunye nabo aza kulawula nabo, baza kunikela yonke into phantsi kwegunya likaYehova, baze nabo babe phantsi kwegunya  Lakhe. (1 Kor. 15:24-28) Kuza kuba mnandi nyhani ngelo xesha! *

3. Ama-1 Korinte 15:30-32, athi ukholo awayenalo uPawulos lwamnceda wenza ntoni?

³ Indlela uPawulos awayekholelwa ngayo kuvuko yamenza wakwazi ukunyamezela izilingo ezininzi. (Funda ama-1 Korinte 15:30-32.) Wathi kumaKristu aseKorinte: ‘Yonke imihla ndihlala ndijongene nokufa. Ndiye ndalwa nezilwanyana zasendle e-Efese.’ Mhlawumbi wayethetha ngexesha awayesilwa nezilwanyana kwibala lemidlalo e-Efese. (2 Kor. 1:8; 4:10; 11:23) Okanye mhlawumbi amaYuda kunye nabanye abantu ababemchasa kabuhlungu wayebafanisa ‘nezilwanyana zasendle.’ (IZe. 19:26-34; 1 Kor. 16:9) Nokuba wayethetha ngantoni, wadibana neengozi ezininzi. Loo nto ayizange iliphelise ithemba awayenalo lokuba useza kuphila kamnandi kwixesha elizayo.​—2 Kor. 4:16-18.

4. Ithemba lovuko luwaqinisa njani amaKristu namhlanje? (Jonga umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

⁴ Siphila kumaxesha ayingozi. Abanye abazalwana noodadewethu baye bahlaselwa ziindlobongela. Abanye baziva bengakhuselekanga kuba bahlala kumazwe adlakazwe yimfazwe. Kwamanye amazwe abantu bakaYehova abakwazi ukushumayela ngokukhululekileyo, kodwa abayeki ukushumayela ngoxa besenokuvalelwa okanye babulawe. Bonke aba bazalwana noodade abayeki ukukhonza uYehova kwaye sifunda into eninzi kubo. Aboyiki, kuba bayazi ukuba nokuba bangafa ngoku, uYehova ubathembisa ukuba baza kuphila kamnandi kakhulu kwixesha elizayo.

5. Yeyiphi indlela eyingozi esinokucinga ngayo enokusenza singaqiniseki ngovuko?

⁵ UPawulos walumkisa abazalwana ukuba bayeke ukucinga ngale ndlela izokubafaka engozini: “Ukuba abantu abafileyo abazukuvuswa, ‘masityeni, sisele, kuba ngomso siza kufa.’” Babecinga njalo nabanye abantu ababephila ngaphambi kwexesha likaPawulos. Usenokuba wayecaphula amazwi akuIsaya 22:13, athetha ngendlela awayecinga ngayo amaSirayeli. Kunokuba asebenzele ukumthanda kakhulu uThixo, eyona nto yayiphambili kuwo yayilulonwabo. Ayephila ngokungathi athi, “masonwabe kakhulu namhlanje kuba asiyazi into eza kwenzeka ngomso.” Baphila obo bomi nabantu banamhlanje. IBhayibhile isixelela ngezinto ezimbi ezenzeka kumaSirayeli ngenxa yale ndlela ayecinga ngayo.​—2 Kron. 36:15-20.

6. Ithemba esinalo lovuko limele lisenze silumkele ukuchitha ixesha nabantu abanjani?

⁶ Kucacile ukuba ulwazi esinalo lokuba uYehova uza kubavusa abantu abaswelekileyo lumele lusenze sibakhethe abahlobo. Abazalwana noodade baseKorinte kwakufuneka balumkele ukuchitha ixesha nabantu ababekholelwa ukuba alukho uvuko. Sifunda ntoni kuloo nto? Ukuba sichitha ixesha nabantu abangayikhathalelanga into eza kwenzeka kubo ngomso, abaphilela unamhlanje, sisenokuzibona sesifana nabo. Sisenokuyeka ukucinga nokwenza ngendlela yamaKristu. Sinokude siphile ngendlela uThixo angayifuniyo. Yiloo nto uPawulos wasilumkisa esithi: “Buyelani ezingqondweni, nenze ubulungisa, ningenzi isono.”​—1 Kor. 15:33, 34.

7. Ama-1 Korinte 15:35-38 athi yintoni abantu abanokuyibuza ngovuko?

⁷ FUNDA ama-1 Korinte 15:35-38. Umntu ofuna abanye bathandabuze ukuba kuza kubakho uvuko usenokubuza:  “Baza kuvuswa njani abantu abafileyo?” Into enokusinceda kukucinga ngendlela uPawulos awuphendula ngayo lo mbuzo. Kaloku zininzi izinto abazikholelwayo abantu ngento eyenzekayo emva kokuba umntu eswelekile. Kodwa yona iBhayibhile isifundisa ntoni?

8. Khawuchaze umzekeliso osenza siqonde into eza kwenzeka kubantu abaza kuvuselwa ezulwini?

⁸ Xa umntu eswelekile, umzimba wakhe uyabola. Kodwa Lowo waqala phantsi ukudala izinto ezazingekho unokumvusa loo mntu, amenze abe nomzimba ofanelekileyo. (Gen. 1:1; 2:7) UPawulos wenza umzekeliso obonisa ukuba akuzukufuneka uThixo avuse la mzimba ubolileyo. Khawucinge ‘ngembewu’ yesityalo. Xa le mbewu ityalwe emhlabeni, iqalisa ukukhula ize ibe sisityalo. Eso sityalo asiphumi sifana nembewu encinci ebityaliwe. Ngalo mzekeliso, uPawulos wayebonisa ukuba uMdali unokuwenza umzimba womntu “ngendlela athanda ngayo.”

9. Ama-1 Korinte 15:39-41 athi yahluke njani imizimba?

⁹ Funda ama-1 Korinte 15:39-41. UPawulos uthi uThixo akazange ayidale ngendlela efanayo imizimba. Ngokomzekelo, imizimba yezinto ezisemhlabeni ayifani. Umzimba wenkomo awufani nowentaka; nowentaka awufani nowentlanzi. Ilanga elisesibhakabhakeni alifani nenyanga. UPawulos waphinda wathi “inkwenkwezi ayifani nenye ngozuko.” Oososayensi banyanisile xa besithi kukho iintlobo ezahlukahlukeneyo zeenkwenkwezi. Kodwa thina asikwazi ukuyibona ngamehlo ethu indlela ezahlukene ngayo. Bathi kukho ezinkulu, ezincinci, ezibomvu, ezimhlophe neziyelo njengelanga. NoPawulos wathi: “Kukho imizimba yasezulwini neyasemhlabeni.” Wayethetha ukuthini? Kaloku thina balapha emhlabeni sinemizimba yenyama, kodwa ezulwini kukho imizimba yomoya efana neyeengelosi.

10. Baza kuvuswa benemizimba enjani abantu abaza kuphila ezulwini?

 ¹⁰ Khawuve into aphinde ayithethe uPawulos. Uthi: “Kunjalo nokuvuswa kwabantu ekufeni. Umntu utyalwa enomzimba obolayo, kodwa avuswe enomzimba ongaboliyo.” Siyazi ukuba xa umntu eswelekile, umzimba uyabola uze ube luthuli. (Gen. 3:19) Ngoko yenzeka njani into yokuba umntu “avuswe enomzimba ongaboliyo”? Apha uPawulos wayengathethi ngabantu abavuselwa ukuphila emhlabeni, njengabantu abavuswa nguEliya, uElisha noYesu. Wayethetha ngabantu abaza kuphila ezulwini, ‘benemizimba yomoya.’​—1 Kor. 15:42-44.

11-12. Kwenzeka ntoni kumzimba kaYesu xa wayevuselwa ezulwini? Yintoni eyenzekayo kweyabathanjiswa?

¹¹ Xa uYesu wayelapha emhlabeni, wayenomzimba wenyama, kodwa ukuvuswa kwakhe, “waba ngumoya onika ubomi,” wabuyela ezulwini. NamaKristu athanjisiweyo, avuswa enomzimba womoya ukuze akwazi ukuphila ezulwini. UPawulos wathi: “Kanye njengokuba siye safana nalo wenziwe ngothuli, siza kufana nalo ungowasezulwini.”​—1 Kor. 15:45-49.

¹² Masingalibali ukuba uYesu zange avuswe enomzimba wenyama. Kwivesi engasekupheleni kwamaKorinte isahluko 15, uPawulos wasichaza isizathu. Wathi: “Inyama negazi azizukungena ebukumkanini bukaThixo” obusezulwini. (1 Kor. 15:50) Abapostile nabanye abathanjiswa babengazukuvuselwa ezulwini benemizimba eyonakalayo yenyama negazi. Babeza kuvuswa nini? UPawulos wathi babengazukukhawuleza bavuswe emva kokuba beswelekile, babeza kukhe balinde emangcwabeni. Xa uPawulos wayebhala incwadi yama-1 Korinte, abanye abafundi abafana nompostile uYakobi babesele ‘befile.’ (IZe. 12:1, 2) Kodwa abanye abapostile nabanye abathanjiswa ‘babengekafi.’​—1 Kor. 15:6.

13. Yintoni eyayiza kwenzeka ngexesha lokubakho kukaYesu?

¹³ UYesu noPawulos baprofeta ngexesha elibalulekileyo elizayo, ixesha lokubakho kukaKristu. Ukufika kwelo xesha kwakuza kubonakala ngokubakho kweemfazwe, iinyikima, izifo nezinye izinto ezimbi ezaziza kwenzeka emhlabeni. Sisibonile esi siprofeto sisenzeka ukuqala ngo-1914. Kukho nenye into ebalulekileyo okwakuza kubonakala ngayo ukubakho kukaKristu. UYesu wathi iindaba ezilungileyo zokuba uBukumkani bukaThixo buyalawula, zaziza kushunyayelwa “emhlabeni wonke, ziviwe zizo zonke iintlanga, emva koko sifike isiphelo.” (Mat. 24:3, 7-14) UPawulos wathi abathanjiswa ‘abalele ukufa’ babeza kuvuselwa ezulwini “ngexesha lobukho beNkosi.”​—1 Tes. 4:14-16; 1 Kor. 15:23.

14. Yintoni eyenzekayo kumaKristu athanjisiweyo asweleka ngexesha lokubakho kukaKristu?

¹⁴ AmaKristu athanjisiweyo aswelekayo ngoku avuswa ngoko nangoko aye ezulwini. NoPawulos wayithetha loo nto kuma-1 Korinte 15:51, 52 xa wathi: “Asizukulala ekufeni sonke, kodwa sonke siza kutshintshwa, ngokukhawuleza, ngokuqhwanyaza kwelihlo, xa kukhala ixilongo lokugqibela.” Loo nto iyenzeka ngoku! Aba bazalwana bakaKristu baza kuvuya kakhulu xa bevuswa kuba ‘baza kuhlala bekunye neNkosi.’​—1 Tes. 4:17.

15. Ngowuphi umsebenzi oza kwenziwa ngabo baza kutshintsha “ngokuqhwanyaza kwelihlo”?

¹⁵ IBhayibhile iyasixelela umsebenzi abaza kuwenza ezulwini abo baza kutshintsha “ngokuqhwanyaza kwelihlo.” UYesu uthi kubo: “Umntu owoyisayo nozilandelayo izinto endizenzayo kude kuse ekupheleni, ndiza kumnika igunya lokulawula  iintlanga, yaye uza kubalawula abantu ngentonga yentsimbi, ukuze baqhekezwe babe ziingceba okwezitya zodongwe, kanye njengoko nam ndilinikwe nguTata elo gunya.” (ISityhi. 2:26, 27) Baza kulandela uYesu, baluse iintlanga ngentonga yentsimbi.​—ISityhi. 19:11-15.

16. Izihlwele zabantu ziza kukoyisa njani ukufa?

¹⁶ Ngokuqinisekileyo, abathanjiswa baza kukoyisa ukufa. (1 Kor. 15:54-57) Ukuvuswa kwabo kuza kwenza bakwazi ukuncedisa xa kususwa zonke izinto ezimbi kwimfazwe ezayo yeArmagedon. Izihlwele zamanye amaKristu, amadoda nabafazi, ziza ‘kuphuma kwixesha lentlungu engathethekiyo,’ ziphile kwihlabathi elitsha. (ISityhi. 7:14) Ezo zihlwele ziza kuzibonela ngawazo enye indlela okuza koyiswa ngayo ukufa, xa kuvuswa iibhiliyoni zabantu abaswelekileyo. Khawube nombono wendlela esiza kuvuya ngayo xa loo nto isenzeka! (IZe. 24:15) Bonke abantu abaye abagungqa ekukhonzeni uYehova, baza kukoyisa nokufa esakushiyelwa nguAdam, baze baphile ngonaphakade.

17. Ama-1 Korinte 15:58 asikhuthaza ukuba senze ntoni ngoku?

¹⁷ Onke amaKristu aphilayo ngoku amele ambulele uYehova ngamazwi athuthuzelayo athetha ngovuko, uPawulos awawabhalela amaKristu aseKorinte. Sinezizathu zokuyenza into esiyicetyiswa nguPawulos yokuba siwenze ngamandla ethu onke ‘umsebenzi weNkosi.’ (Funda ama-1 Korinte 15:58.) Ukuba sihlala siwenza ngeentliziyo zethu zonke lo msebenzi, sinokujonga phambili kwixesha elizayo ekuza kube kumnandi nyhani ngalo. Ngelo xesha, siza konwaba ngendlela esingazange sayicinga. Siza kubona ukuba umsebenzi wethu khange ube lilize eNkosini.