1, 2. Yisiphi isenzakalo esikhulu kunazo zonke esake senzeka emlandweni, futhi kungani kungamangazi ukuthi asibonakalanga emehlweni abantu?

KUKE kwenzeke yini uzibuze ukuthi kazi kwakuyoba njani ukuphila phakathi nezenzakalo ezinkulu ezashintsha umlando? Abaningi bayazibuza. Kodwa cabanga ngalokhu: Ukube waphila ngalezo zikhathi, wawuyozibona yini wena izenzo eziyinhloko eziholele kulolo shintsho? Mhlawumbe wawungeke. Izenzo ezisuke zibikezela ukuwa kwemibuso emidala futhi zibhalwe ezincwadini zomlando zivame ukwenzeka ngasese. Ngendlela efanayo, izenzakalo ezibalulekile emlandweni zenzeka esithe—ezigodlweni, emahhovisi omkhandlu noma kahulumeni. Noma kunjalo, lolo shintsho luthinta izigidi zabantu.

² Kuthiwani ngesenzakalo esikhulu kunazo zonke ezake zenzeka emlandweni? Sithinte izigidi zabantu. Noma kunjalo, asenzekanga emehlweni abantu. Sikhuluma ngokuzalwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu ezulwini, uhulumeni kaMesiya owawusunesikhathi eside wathenjiswa, ngokushesha ozoqeda sonke lesi simiso sezwe. (Funda uDaniyeli 2:34, 35, 44, 45.) Njengoba abantu bengakubonanga lokho kuzalwa koMbuso okubalulekile, ingabe kufanele siphethe ngokuthi uJehova wabafihlela abantu leso senzakalo? Noma ingabe wabalungiselela abantu bakhe abaqotho ukuzalwa kwalo Mbuso? Ake sizwe.

3-5. (a) Kwakungubani ‘isithunywa sesivumelwano’ okukhulunywa ngaso kuMalaki 3:1? (b) Kwakuyokwenzekani ngaphambi kokuba ‘isithunywa sesivumelwano’ sifike ethempelini?

³ Kusukela mandulo, uJehova wayejonge ukulungiselela abantu bakhe ukuzalwa koMbuso KaMesiya. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngesiprofetho sikaMalaki 3:1: “Bheka! Ngithuma isithunywa sami, futhi siyolungisa indlela phambi kwami. INkosi yeqiniso eniyifunayo iyofika kungazelelwe ethempelini layo, nesithunywa sesivumelwano enijabula ngaso.”

⁴ Ekugcwalisekeni kwaso kwanamuhla, uJehova, “iNkosi yeqiniso,” wafika nini ezohlola labo ababekhonza egcekeni lasemhlabeni lethempeli lakhe elingokomoya? Lesi siprofetho sithi uJehova wayeyofika “nesithunywa sesivumelwano.” Kwakungubani lowo? Akekho omunye ngaphandle kweNkosi EnguMesiya, uJesu Kristu! (Luka 1:68-73) NjengoMbusi osanda kumiswa,  wayeyohlola futhi acwengisise abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni.—1 Pet. 4:17.

⁵ Sasingubani-ke lesi esinye “isithunywa” okukhulunywa ngaso kuqala kuMalaki 3:1? Lesi sithunywa esingokwesiprofetho sasiyoba khona kusasele isikhathi eside ngaphambi kokuba khona kweNkosi EnguMesiya. Eminyakeni eminingi ngaphambi kuka-1914, ingabe ukhona ‘owalungisa indlela’ phambi kweNkosi EnguMesiya?

6. Ubani owaba “Isithunywa” esabikezelwa esafika kuqala sizolungiselela abantu baka Nkulunkulu abathembekile izenzakalo ezaziseza?

⁶ Kuyo yonke le ncwadi, izimpendulo zemibuzo enjalo sizozithola emlandweni ovusa amadlingozi wabantu bakaJehova banamuhla. Lo mlando ubonisa ukuthi engxenyeni yokugcina yekhulu le-19, iqembu elincane elilodwa labantu abathembekile lalivela njengeliwukuphela kweqembu lamaKristu angempela ensimini enkulu yamaKristu mbumbulu. Lelo qembu laziwa ngokuthi abaFundi BeBhayibheli. Labo ababehola kubo—uCharles T. Russell nabangane bakhe abaseduze—ngempela baba yileso “sithunywa” esasibikezelwe, banikeza isiqondiso esingokomoya kubantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi babalungiselela izenzakalo ezaziseza. Ake sifunde ngezindlela ezine lesi “sithunywa” esakwenza ngazo lokhu.

7, 8. (a) Eminyakeni yawo 1800, obani abaqala ukudalula imfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo njengengamanga? (b) Yiziphi ezinye izimfundiso uC. T. Russel nabangane bakhe abaseduze abazidalula njengezingamanga?

⁷ Labo baFundi BeBhayibheli batadisha ngosizo lomthandazo; bavumelana ngamaqiniso acacile ezimfundiso, bawaqoqela ndawonye, bawanyathelisa. Kwase kuphele iminyaka eminingi eLobukholwa ligutshuzelwe ubumnyama obungokomoya; izimfundiso zalo eziningi zazinomsuka wobuqaba. Isibonelo esihle salokhu yimfundiso yokungafi komphefumulo. Kepha ngeminyaka yawo-1800, abantu abambalwa ababefunda iBhayibheli ngokuzimisela bayihlolisisa le mfundiso, bathola ukuthi iZwi likaNkulunkulu aliyisekeli. UHenry Grew, uGeorge Stetson noGeorge Storrs badalula la manga kaSathane ngokuwabhala phansi nangokufundisa ngawo. * Umsebenzi wabo waba nomthelela omkhulu kuC. T. Russell nabangane bakhe abaseduze.

⁸ Leli qembu elincane labaFundi BeBhayibheli lathola ukuthi ezinye izimfundiso ezihlobene nokungafi komphefumulo nazo zazidida futhi zingamanga—njengemfundiso ethi bonke abantu abalungile baya ezulwini, noma ethi uNkulunkulu uyihlupha phakade esihogweni somlilo imiphefumulo engafi yabantu ababi. URussell nabangane bakhe abaseduze bawadalula ngesibindi lawo manga ezihlokweni eziningi, ezincwadini, emapheshaneni nasezintshumayelweni ezinyathelisiwe.

9. I-Zion’s Watch Tower yayidalula kanjani imfundiso ka Ziqu-zintathu ukuthi ingamanga?

⁹ Ngokufanayo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli badalula imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu ehlonishwa kakhulu njengengamanga. Ngo-1887, i-Zion’s Watch Tower yathi: “ImiBhalo icace kakhulu mayelana nokuthi uJehova ungubani nokuthi iNkosi uJesu ingubani nokuthi bahlobana kanjani ngempela.” Lesi sihloko sabe sesiveza  indlela okumangalisa ngayo ukuthi “umqondo kaNkulunkulu omthathu emunye—okungukuthi oNkulunkulu abathathu koyedwa, ngesikhathi esifanayo kube uNkulunkulu oyedwa kwabathathu—wachuma kangaka futhi wamukelwa kabanzi. Kodwa iqiniso lokuthi wachuma futhi wamukelwa limane nje libonisa indlela isonto elalilele zwi ngayo ngesikhathi isitha silibopha siliphonsa ebumnyameni.”

10. Ngokwe-Nqabayokulinda, kungani u-1914 uwunyaka ophawulekayo?

¹⁰ Njengoba isihloko sayo sesiNgisi esiphelele sasisho, umagazini i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence wawuzikhathalela kakhulu iziprofetho ezimayelana nokuba khona kukaKristu [Christ’s Presence]. Abalobi abathembekile futhi abagcotshiwe ababhala lo magazini baqaphela ukuthi isiprofetho sikaDaniyeli esikhuluma “ngezikhathi eziyisikhombisa” sasihlobene nesikhathi sokugcwaliseka kwezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu eziqondene noMbuso KaMesiya. Ngeminyaka yawo-1870, bakhomba u-1914 njengonyaka ezaziyophela ngawo izikhathi eziyisikhombisa. (Dan. 4:25; Luka 21:24) Nakuba abafowethu ngaleyo nkathi babengakuqondi kahle-hle ukubaluleka kwalowo nyaka,  ababekwazi bakumemezela kude naseduze, futhi sisayibona imiphumela yako namanje.

11, 12. (a) UMfoweth’ uRussell waliyisa kubani udumo ngalokho ayekufundisa? (b) Wawubaluleke kangakanani umsebenzi owenziwa uRussel nabangane bakhe kusasele amashumi eminyaka kube u-1914?

¹¹ URussell nabangane bakhe abathembekile abazange bafune ukudunyiswa ngenxa yokuthola nokuqonda lawo maqiniso angokomoya asemqoka. URussell walunika abanye ababeze ngaphambi kwakhe udumo. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, waluyisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu udumo, okunguyena ofundisa abantu bakhe lokho okudingeka bakwazi ngesikhathi okudingeka bakwazi ngaso. Ngokusobala, uJehova wayibusisa imizamo kaRussell nabangane bakhe yokuhlunga iqiniso emangeni. Njengoba iminyaka ihamba, babonakala ngisho nakakhulu ukuthi bahlukile kweLobukholwa, abafani neze nalo.

¹² Wawumangalisa impela umsebenzi owenziwa yilawo madoda athembekile ekusekeleni izimfundiso eziyiqiniso kusasele amashumi eminyaka ngaphambi kuka-1914! Ikhulumela isikhathi esase sidlulile, i-Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence ka-November 1, 1917, yathi: “Izigidi zabantu namuhla zizithola zikhululekile ekucindezelweni ukwesaba okubangelwa imfundiso yesihogo somlilo nezinye izimfundiso ezingamanga . . . Leli gagasi eliyiQiniso, elaqala ukubonakala eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-40 edlule, lisaqhubeka liphakama kancane kancane, futhi lizoqhubeka liphakama kuze kube yilapho lemboza wonke umhlaba; futhi abaphikisi ngeke bakwazi ukulinqanda.”

13, 14. (a) “Isithunywa” sasiza kanjani ekulungiseni indlela yeNkosi EnguMesiya? (b) Singafundani kubafowethu abaphila eminyakeni engaphezu kwekhulu edlule?

¹³ Awucabange ngalokhu: Ingabe abantu babeyobe bekulungele ukuqala kokuba khona kukaKristu ukube babengakwazi ukuhlukanisa uJesu kuYise, uJehova? Phinde! Babeyobe bengakulungele futhi ukube babecabanga ukuthi ukungafi kuyinto bonke abantu abavele babe nayo, akusona isipho esiyigugu esinikwa abambalwa kuphela kubalandeli bakaKristu; noma ukube babecabanga ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlupha abantu esihogweni somlilo kuze kube phakade bengenalo ithemba lokukhululwa! Akuthandabuzwa, “isithunywa” sayilungisa indlela yeNkosi EnguMesiya!

¹⁴ Kuthiwani ngathi namuhla? Singafundani kubafowethu abaphila eminyakeni engaphezu kwekhulu edlule? Njengabo, nathi kudingeka sibe abafundi abakhuthele beZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 17:3) Njengoba leli zwe elithanda izinto londa ngokomoya, kwangathi thina singaqhubeka sikulambela nakakhulu ukudla okungokomoya!—Funda eyoku-1 Thimothewu 4:15.

15. Yini abaFundi BeBhayibheli abaya beyiqonda? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹⁵ AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bafundisa ukuthi kwakudingeka bahlukane namasonto. Ngo-1879, INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi yakhuluma “ngeBhabhiloni.” Ingabe yayikhuluma ngopapa? NgeSonto LamaRoma Katolika? Kwase kuphele amakhulu eminyaka amasonto amaProthestani ethi iBhabhiloni okukhulunywa ngalo esiprofethweni seBhayibheli limelela iSonto LamaKatolika. Noma kunjalo, abaFundi BeBhayibheli baya beqonda  ukuthi wonke amasonto eLobukholwa akha “iBhabhiloni” lanamuhla. Ngani? Ngoba wonke ayefundisa izimfundiso ezingamanga ezinjengalezo esikhulume ngazo ngenhla. * Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, izincwadi zethu zakumisa ngesihloko lokho okwakufanele kwenziwe amalungu aqotho amasonto eBhabhiloni.

16, 17. (a) UMqulu III we-Millennial Dawn ne-Nqabayokulinda wabanxusa wathini abantu ukuba bahlukane nenkolo yamanga? (b) Yisiphi isici esanciphisa isisindo sezixwayiso zokuba abantu baphume eBhabhiloni Elikhulu? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

¹⁶ Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1891, uMqulu III wencwadi ethi Millennial Dawn wakhuluma ngokulahla kukaNkulunkulu iBhabhiloni lanamuhla, wawusuthi: “Wonke amasonto eLobukholwa alahliwe—wonke ngothi lwawo.” Wabe sewenezela ukuthi bonke labo “abangazithandi izimfundiso ezingamanga nemikhuba yalo bacelwa ukuba bazihlukanise nalo.”

¹⁷ Ngo-January 1900, INqabayokulinda yeluleka abantu ababesabhalise emasontweni eLobukholwa futhi bebeka izaba zalokho, bethi, “Mina ngiyalithanda iqiniso futhi kuyaqabukela ngiye esontweni.” Lesi sihloko sabuza: “Kodwa kulungile yini lokho—ukuba olunye unyawo lube ngaphandle kweBhabhiloni olunye lube ngaphakathi? Ingabe yilokho uNkulunkulu akufunayo . . . kuyamthokozisa yini futhi ingabe uyakwamukela? Akunjalo neze. Lowo muntu [osontayo] wangena esivumelwaneni nesonto mhla elijoyina, kufanele ayifeze ngokwethembeka yonke imibandela yaleso sivumelwano kuze kube . . . yilapho azisa isonto ukuthi uyesula kulo noma uyakunqamula ukuba yilungu lalo.” Njengoba iminyaka idlula, lowo myalezo waya uba namandla. * Izinceku zikaJehova kumelwe zinqamule zonke izibopho nenkolo yamanga.

18. Kungani kwakudingekile ukuba abantu baphume eBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

¹⁸ Ukube izixwayiso ezinjalo zokuba abantu baphume eBhabhiloni Elikhulu zazingamenyezelwa njalo, ingabe uKristu, njengeNkosi eyayisanda kumiswa, wayeyoyithola indikimba yezinceku ezigcotshiwe ezilungele ukuba khona kwakhe emhlabeni? Lutho neze ngoba ngamaKristu akhululiwe emandleni eBhabhiloni kuphela angakhulekela uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso.” (Joh. 4:24) Ingabe nathi namuhla sizimisele ukuzigcina singahlangene nenkolo yamanga? Masiqhubeke silalela lo myalo: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami”!—Funda isAmbulo 18:4.

19, 20. INqabayokulinda yabakhuthaza kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bahlangane ngenjongo yokukhulekela?

¹⁹ AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bafundisa ukuthi abakholwa nabo kufanele bahlangane ndawonye ngenjongo yokukhulekela, uma kungenzeka. Akwanele ukuba amaKristu eqiniso aphume enkolweni yamanga. Kusemqoka nokuba nengxenye ekukhulekeleni okuhlanzekile. Kusukela ekuqaleni INqabayokulinda iye yakhuthaza abafundi bayo ukuba bahlangane ndawonye ukuze bakhulekele. Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-July 1880, uMfoweth’ uRussell wabika ngohambo lokunikeza izinkulumo ayeluthathile, waphawula indlela eyayimkhuthaze ngayo leyo mihlangano eminingi. Wabe esekhuthaza abafundi ukuba bathumele amakhadi abonisa intuthuko yabo—amanye  awo ayezonyatheliswa kuwo lo magazini. Ngayiphi injongo? “Saziseni sonke . . . ukuthi iNkosi inibusisa kanjani; ukuthi niyaqhubeka yini nihlanganyela nabantu abanokholo oluyigugu olufana nolwenu.”

²⁰ Ngo-1882, kwaphuma isihloko esithi “Ukuhlangana Ndawonye” kuyi-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi. Lesi sihloko sakhuthaza amaKristu ukuba abe nemihlangano “ngenjongo yokufundisana, ukukhuthazana nokuqinisana.” Yathi: “Akunandaba ukuthi kukhona oyisifundiswa noma oneziphiwo ezithile phakathi kwenu. Ngamunye wenu makeze neBhayibheli lakhe, iphepha nepensela, azitholele usizo emagameni esesiwaqoqile. Khetha isihloko osithandayo; cela uMoya ukuqondise ukuze usiqonde; ngemva kwalokho funda, ucabange, uqhathanise umBhalo nomBhalo, uma wenza kanjalo, nakanjani uyoholelwa eqinisweni.”

21. Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa yibandla lase-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, mayelana nemihlangano nokwalusa?

²¹ AbaFundi BeBhayibheli babenendlunkulu e-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A. Babeka isibonelo esihle sokuhlangana ndawonye belalela iseluleko esiphefumulelwe esikweyamaHebheru 10:24, 25. (Yifunde.) Ngemva kwesikhathi eside, umzalwane  owayesekhulile ogama lakhe linguCharles Capen, wakhumbula eya kuleyo mihlangano esewumfana. Wabhala: “Ngisawukhumbula omunye wemiBhalo owawusodongeni lwehholo lomhlangano. ‘Munye ongumfundisi wenu, kanti nonke nina ningabafowabo bomunye nomunye.’ Angikaze ngiwulibale lowo mBhalo—akukho kuhlukaniswa kwabefundisi nebandla kubantu bakaJehova.” (Math. 23:8) UMfoweth’ uCapen wakhumbula nemihlangano eshukumisayo, isikhuthazo esimnandi nenkuthalo kaMfoweth’ uRussell yokuzalusela yena ngokwakhe wonke amalungu ebandla.

22. Abantu abathembekile basabela kanjani esikhuthazweni sokuba babe khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu, futhi yisiphi isifundo esingasifunda kubo?

²² Abantu abathembekile basabela kahle kulesi sibonelo nasemfundweni ababeyithola. Kwamiswa amabandla nakwezinye izifunda, njengase-Ohio naseMichigan, kamuva amiswa nakulo lonke elaseNyakatho Melika nakwezinye izindawo. Awucabange: Ingabe abantu abathembekile babeyobe bekulungele ngempela ukuba khona kukaKristu ukube babengaqeqeshiwe ukuba balalele iseluleko esiphefumulelwe sokuhlangana ndawonye ngenjongo yokukhulekela? Cha, babeyobe bengakulungele! Kuthiwani ngathi namuhla? Kudingeka sizimisele ngendlela efanayo ukuya njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu, sibambe wonke amathuba okukhulekela ndawonye nawokwakhana ngokomoya.

23. INqabayokulinda yacacisa kanjani ukuthi bonke abagcotshiwe kumelwe babe abashumayeli beqiniso?

²³ AbaFundi BeBhayibheli bafundisa ukuthi bonke abagcotshiwe kumelwe babe abashumayeli beqiniso. Ngo-1885, INqabayokulinda yathi: “Akufanele sikhohlwe ukuthi  ilungu ngalinye eligcotshiwe ligcotshelwe ukushumayela (Isaya 61:1), libizelwe inkonzo.” INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi yango-1888 yakhuthaza: “Umsebenzi wethu ucacile . . . Uma singawunaki futhi sibeka izaba, ngokuqinisekile siyobe siyizinceku ezingovila voco, sizibonakalisa singasifanelekele isikhundla esiphakeme esibizelwe kuso.”

24, 25. (a) Kungayiphi indlela uRussel nabangane bakhe abaseduze abenza ngayo okungaphezu kokukhuthaza abantu ukuba bashumayele? (b) Elinye i-colporteur lawuchaza kanjani umsebenzi walo ngesikhathi “zingakabi khona izimoto”?

²⁴ UMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe abaseduze benza okungaphezu kokukhuthaza abantu ukuba bashumayele. Baqala nokunyathelisa amapheshana abizwa ngokuthi Bible Students’ Tracts, kamuva aziwa ngokuthi Old Theology Quarterly. Abafundi be-Nqabayokulinda banikwa la mapheshana ukuze bawasakaze emphakathini ngesihle.

²⁵ Labo ababezinikele enkonzweni isikhathi esigcwele babebizwa ngokuthi ama-colporteur. UCharles Capen, okukhulunywe ngaye ngaphambili, wayephakathi kwawo. Kamuva wakhumbula: “Ngangisebenzisa amabalazwe eGovernment Geological Survey yase-United States ukuze angiqondise lapho ngisebenza insimu yasePennsylvania. Ayetshengisa yonke imigwaqo, okwakwenza ngikwazi ukufinyelela zonke izindawo zesifunda ngezinyawo. Ngezinye izikhathi ngemva kohambo lwezinsuku ezintathu sinqamula izwe sithatha ama-oda ezincwadi ezithi Studies in the Scriptures, ngangiqasha ihhashi nenqola ngihambise ngako ama-oda. Ngangiye ngingenise kubalimi. Zazingakabi khona izimoto ngaleso sikhathi.”

26. (a) Kungani kwakudingeka ukuba abantu bakaNkulunkulu benze umsebenzi wokushumayela ukuze balungele ukubusa kukaKristu? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo okuhle ukuba sizibuze yona?

²⁶ Leyo mizamo enjalo yasekuqaleni impela yayidinga isibindi nentshiseko. Ingabe amaKristu eqiniso ayeyobe ekulungele ukubusa kukaKristu ukube ayengafundiswanga ukubaluleka komsebenzi wokushumayela? Lutho neze! Phela lowo msebenzi wawuyoba isici esivelele sokuba khona kukaKristu. (Math. 24:14) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakudingeka balungele ukwenza lowo msebenzi osindisa ukuphila ube umgogodla wokuphila kwabo. Nathi namuhla kuhle sizibuze: ‘Ingabe umsebenzi wokushumayela uwumgogodla wokuphila kwami? Kukhona yini engikudelayo ukuze ngihlanganyele ngokugcwele kulo msebenzi?’

27, 28. Wabonani umphostoli uJohane embonweni, futhi wasabela kanjani uSathane namademoni akhe ekuzalweni koMbuso?

²⁷ Ekugcineni, wafika unyaka ongaliyo—u-1914! Njengoba sixoxile ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko, abekho abantu ababona lezi zenzakalo ezikhazimulayo ezulwini. Noma kunjalo, umphostoli uJohane wanikezwa umbono owawuchaza izinto ngamagama angokomfanekiso. Ubone ngeso lengqondo: UJohane ubona “isibonakaliso esikhulu” ezulwini. “Owesifazane” kaNkulunkulu—inhlangano yakhe eyakhiwa izidalwa zomoya ezulwini—ukhulelwe futhi uzala indodana. Sitshelwa ukuthi maduze lo mntwana ongokomfanekiso ‘uzokwelusa izizwe zonke ngenduku yensimbi.’ Nokho, lapho ezalwa ‘uyathathwa uyiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.’ Izwi elikhulu ezulwini  lithi: “Manje isikhona insindiso, namandla, nombuso kaNkulunkulu wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe.”—IsAm. 12:1, 5, 10.

²⁸ Ngaphandle kokuthandabuza, uJohane wayebona umbono wokuzalwa koMbuso KaMesiya. Ngokuqinisekile leso senzakalo sasikhazimula, kodwa asijabulisanga bonke abantu. USathane namademoni akhe balwa nezingelosi ezithembekile ezaziholwa uMikayeli, noma uKristu. Kwase kwenzekani? Siyafunda: “Ngakho waphonswa phansi udrako omkhulu, inyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane, odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe; waphonswa phansi emhlabeni, nezingelosi zakhe zaphonswa phansi kanye naye.”—IsAm. 12:7, 9.

29, 30. Ngemva kokuzalwa koMbuso kaMesiya, zashintsha kanjani izimo (a) emhlabeni (b) ezulwini?

²⁹ Kusasele isikhathi eside kube u-1914, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bathi isikhathi sezinkathazo sasiyoqala ngalawo nyaka ophawulekayo. Kodwa kwabona babengacabanganga ukuthi kwakunembe kangakanani lokho. Njengoba umbono kaJohane wawembulile, ngaleso sikhathi uSathane wayeyoba nethonya elikhulu ngisho nakakhulu kubantu: “Mayé ngomhlaba nangolwandle, ngoba uDeveli wehlele kini, ethukuthele kakhulu, azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane.” (IsAm. 12:12) Ngo-1914, kwagqashuka impi yezwe yokuqala futhi isibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaKristu emandleni ombuso saqala ukugcwaliseka embulungeni yonke. Zase ziqalile “izinsuku zokugcina” zalesi simiso sezinto.—2 Thim. 3:1.

³⁰ Kepha kwakuthokozwa ezulwini. USathane namademoni akhe base bexoshwe phakade. Ukulandisa kukaJohane kuthi: “Ngenxa yalokhu, thokozani nina mazulu nani enihlala kuwo!” (IsAm. 12:12) Njengoba amazulu ayesehlanziwe noJesu esebekwe njengeNkosi, uMbuso KaMesiya wawusukulungele manje ukuthatha isinyathelo ngenxa yabantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Yisiphi leso sinyathelo? Njengoba sibonile ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko, uKristu ‘njengesithunywa sesivumelwano’ wayeyoqale athathe isinyathelo sokucwengisisa izinceku zikaNkulunkulu lapha emhlabeni. Kwakuyosho ukuthini lokho?

31. Yini uMalaki ayibikezela ngenkathi yokucwengisisa, futhi saqala nini ukugcwaliseka leso siprofetho? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

³¹ UMalaki wabikezela ukuthi inqubo yokucwengisisa yayiyoba nzima. Wabhala: “Ngubani oyolumela usuku lokufika kwayo, futhi ngubani oyokuma lapho ibonakala? Ngoba iyoba njengomlilo womcwengi nanjengensipho yabahlanzi bezingubo.” (Mal. 3:2) Yeka indlela lawo mazwi aba iqiniso ngayo! Kusukela ngo-1914, abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni babhekana novivinyo nobunzima obukhulu bulandelana. Njengoba iMpi Yezwe I iviva, abaFundi BeBhayibheli abaningi bashushiswa ngonya bavalelwa nasemajele. *

32. Iziphi iziyaluyalu ezathinta abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngemva kuka-1916?

³² Nangaphakathi enhlanganweni kwaba neziyaluyalu. Ngo-1916, uMfoweth’ uRussell washona eneminyaka engu-64 kuphela, okwashiya abantu bakaNkulunkulu abaningi beshaqekile.  Ukushona kwakhe kwembula ukuthi abathile babebheke kakhulu umuntu oyedwa njengesibonelo. Nakuba uMfoweth’ uRussell ayengakufuni ukuhlonishwa okunjalo, baningi ababemdumisa. Abaningi babecabanga ukuthi ukwembulwa kweqiniso kwaphela lapho eshona, futhi abanye baphikisana kabi kabi nemizamo yokuqhubekela phambili. Leyo ndlela yokucabanga yaba nesandla ekuqubukeni kokuhlubuka okwadala uqhekeko enhlanganweni.

33. Amathemba engagcwalisekanga abavivinya kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

³³ Amathemba angagcwalisekanga aba olunye uvivinyo. Nakuba INqabayokulinda yayikhombe u-1914 njengonyaka okwakuyophela ngawo iZikhathi Zabezizwe, abafowethu babengakaqondi ukuthi yini eyayiyokwenzeka ngalowo nyaka. (Luka 21:24) Babecabanga ukuthi ngo-1914 uKristu wayeyothatha isigaba esigcotshiwe somlobokazi wakhe asiyise ezulwini ayobusa naso. Akwenzekanga lokho. Ekupheleni kuka-1917, INqabayokulinda yamemezela ukuthi inkathi yokuvuna eyayiyothatha iminyaka engu-40 yayiyophela entwasahlobo ka-1918. Kodwa umsebenzi wokushumayela awuzange uphele. Waqhubeka uchuma ngisho nangemva kwalowo nyaka. Lo magazini wasikisela ukuthi ukuvuna kwase kuphele ngempela kodwa inkathi yokukhothoza yona yayisaqhubeka. Noma kunjalo, abaningi bayeka ukhonza uJehova ngenxa yokudumazeka.

34. Yiluphi uvivinyo olwadangalisa abazalwane ngo-1918, futhi kungani eLobukholwa lacabanga ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu base ‘befile’

³⁴ Ngo-1918 kwavela uvivinyo olwadangalisa abazalwane. UJ. F. Rutherford, owahola abantu bakaNkulunkulu ngemva kukaC. T. Russell, waboshwa kanye nabazalwane abangu-7 abanemithwalo yemfanelo. Bagwetshwa ngokungemthetho isikhathi eside bebhadla ejele lase-Atlanta, eGeorgia, e-U.S.A. Umsebenzi wabantu bakaNkulunkulu kungenzeka wabonakala sengathi uphazamisekile okwesikhashana. Abefundisi abaningi beLobukholwa kwabathokozisa lokho. Ngenxa yokuthi “abaholi” babeboshiwe, indlunkulu yaseBrooklyn ivaliwe, nomsebenzi wokushumayela uhlaselwa eMelika naseYurophu, abefundisi bacabanga ukuthi labo baFundi BeBhayibheli base ‘befile’—baqedile ngabo. (IsAm. 11:3, 7-10) Babeshaye phansi kwashunq’ uthuli!

35. Kungani uJesu avumela ubunzima bucindezele abalandeli bakhe, futhi wenzani ukuze abasize?

³⁵ Ukube nje izitha zeqiniso zazazi ukuthi uJesu wayevumela ubunzima bucindezele abantu bakhe ngoba uJehova ngaleso sikhathi wayehleli “njengomcwengi nanjengomhlanzi wesiliva”! (Mal. 3:3) UJehova neNdodana yakhe babeqiniseka ukuthi abathembekile babeyophuma kulolo vivinyo olunjengomlilo becwengekile, bemsulwa futhi bekufanelekela kahle kunanini ngaphambili ukwenza inkonzo yeNkosi. Kusukela ekuqaleni kuka-1919, kwaba sobala ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu wawenze lokho izitha zabantu bakhe ezazicabanga ukuthi akunakwenzeka. Abathembekile bavuselelwa! (IsAm. 11:11) Ngaleso sikhathi, kusobala ukuthi uKristu wagcwalisa isici esiyinhloko sesibonakaliso sezinsuku zokugcina. Wamisa “inceku ethembekileyo  neqondayo,” iqembu elincane lamadoda agcotshiwe elaliyohola phakathi kwabantu bakhe ngokwaba ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele.—Math. 24:45-47.

36. Yini eyabonisa ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babevuselelwa ngokomoya?

³⁶ UMfoweth’ uRutherford nabangane bakhe badedelwa ejele ngo-March 26, 1919. Kwahlelwa ukuba kube nomhlangano ngalowo September. Kwahlelwa nokuba kunyatheliswe umagazini wesibili, owawuzobizwa ngokuthi i-Golden Age. Wawuzohambisana ne-Nqabayokulinda, uklanyelwe ukusetshenziswa ensimini. * Ngawo lowo nyaka kwanyatheliswa i-Bulletin yokuqala, manje ebizwa ngokuthi INcwajana YoMhlangano Wokuphila KobuKristu Nenkonzo Yethu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi ibilokhu ikhuthaza inkonzo yasensimini. Ngokungangabazeki, kusukela ngo-1919 kuqhubeke, kwabe sekugcizelelwa kakhulu ukuba umuntu enze inkonzo yendlu ngendlu.

37. Eminyakeni eyalandela u-1919, abanye bazibonakalisa kanjani bengathembekile?

³⁷ Umsebenzi wokushumayela waqhubeka ucwengisisa izinceku zikaKristu ngoba abaqhoshayo nabazidlayo phakathi kwazo babengafuni ukwenza lo msebenzi ophansi. Ababengazimisele ukwenza lo msebenzi bazihlukanisa nabathembekileyo. Eminyakeni eyalandela u-1919, abanye kwabangathembekile  babengagculisekile futhi baqala ukunyundela nokuhlambalaza, baze ngisho bachema nabashushisi bezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile.

38. Isinikezani impumelelo nokunqoba kwabalandeli bakaKristu emhlabeni?

³⁸ Naphezu kwalokho kuhlasela, abalandeli bakaKristu emhlabeni baqhubeka bechuma ngokomoya. Yonke impumelelo yabo, konke ukunqoba kwabo kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, kusinikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyabusa! Ukusekela kukaNkulunkulu nesibusiso sakhe kuphela—asinika sona ngeNdodana yakhe nangoMbuso KaMesiya—okungenza iqembu labantu abangaphelele limnqobe limnqobile uSathane nalesi simiso sezinto esonakele!—Funda u-Isaya 54:17.

39, 40. (a) Yiziphi ezinye zezici zale ncwadi? (b) Kuzokusiza ngani ukufunda le ncwadi?

³⁹ Ezihlokweni ezilandelayo, sizohlola lokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu osukwenzile lapha emhlabeni phakathi nekhulu leminyaka kusukela wazalwa ezulwini. Ingxenye ngayinye yale ncwadi izokhuluma ngesici esithile somsebenzi woMbuso lapha emhlabeni. Esahlukweni ngasinye, ibhokisi lokubukeza lizosiza ngamunye wethu athole ukuthi ungokoqobo kangakanani uMbuso kuye. Ezahlukweni zokuphetha, sizoxoxa ngalokho esingakulindela lapho uMbuso ufika maduzane uzobhubhisa ababi, ulethe nepharadesi emhlabeni. Kuzokusiza kanjani ukufunda le ncwadi?

⁴⁰ USathane ufuna ukuqeda ukholo lwakho eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJehova ufuna ukuluqinisa ukholo lwakho ukuze lukuvikele futhi lukwenze uqine. (Efe. 6:16) Ngakho-ke, sikukhuthaza ukuba uyitadishe ngosizo lomthandazo le ncwadi. Qhubeka uzibuza, ‘Ingabe ungokoqobo uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kimi?’ Uma ungokoqobo kuwe manje, makhulu amathuba okuthi uyoba khona kulowo Mbuso, uwusekela ngokwethembeka nangenkuthalo. Ngaleso sikhathi wonke umuntu ophilayo uyobona ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ungokoqobo nokuthi uyabusa!