Yiba Nokholo Ezwini LikaNkulunkulu Eliyisiprofetho!

“Sinezwi eliyisiprofetho elenziwe laqiniseka ngokwengeziwe.”—2 PETRU 1:19.

1, 2. Yisiphi isiprofetho sokuqala ngqá esalotshwa, futhi yimuphi omunye wemibuzo esawuphakamisa?

ISIPROFETHO sokuqala ngqá esilotshiwe sashiwo nguJehova. Ngemva kokuba u-Adamu no-Eva bonile, uNkulunkulu watshela inyoka: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (Genesise 3:1-7, 14, 15) Kwakusazodlula amakhulu eminyaka ngaphambi kokuba lawo mazwi ayisiprofetho aqondakale ngokugcwele.

² Leso siprofetho sokuqala sanikeza isintu esinesono ithemba langempela. Kamuva imiBhalo yaveza uSathane uDeveli ‘njengoyinyoka yokuqala.’ (IsAmbulo 12:9) Kodwa ubani owayezoba yiNzalo kaNkulunkulu ethenjisiwe?

Ukufuna INzalo

3. U-Abela walubonisa kanjani ukholo esiprofethweni sokuqala?

³ Ngokungafani noyise, u-Abela owayehlonipha uNkulunkulu wabonisa ukholo esiprofethweni sokuqala. Ngokusobala, u-Abela waqaphela ukuthi kwakuyodingeka kuchitheke igazi ukuze kusitshekelwe isono. Ngakho-ke ukholo lwamshukumisela ukuba enze umhlatshelo wesilwane owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu. (Genesise 4:2-4) Nokho, ukuthi iNzalo ethenjisiwe ingubani kwakusalokhu kuyimfihlakalo.

4. Yisiphi isithembiso uNkulunkulu asinika u-Abrahama, futhi sabonisani ngokuphathelene neNzalo ethenjisiwe?

⁴ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-2 000 ngemva kosuku luka-Abela, uJehova wenza lesi sithembiso esiyisiprofetho kuyinzalamizi u-Abrahama: “Ngiyakukubusisa nokukubusisa, ngandise nokwandisa inzalo yakho, ibe ngangezinkanyezi zezulu . . . Nangenzalo yakho ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba.” (Genesise 22:17, 18) La mazwi ahlobanisa u-Abrahama nokugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sokuqala. Abonisa ukuthi iNzalo okwakuyokwenziwa ngayo imisebenzi kaSathane ukuba ibe yize yayiyovela ohlwini lozalo luka-Abrahama. (1 Johane 3:8) “Ngenxa yesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu [u-Abrahama] akazange antengantenge ngokuntula ukholo” futhi kwaba okufanayo nangabanye ofakazi bakaJehova bangaphambi kobuKristu ‘abangakutholanga ukugcwaliswa kwesithembiso.’ (Roma 4:20, 21; Heberu 11:39) Kunalokho, baqhubeka benokholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho.

5. Sagcwaliseka kubani isiprofetho sikaNkulunkulu seNzalo, futhi kungani uphendula kanjalo?

⁵ Umphostoli uPawulu waveza ukuthi ingubani iNzalo kaNkulunkulu ethenjisiwe lapho ebhala: “Izithembiso zakhulunywa ku-Abrahama nasembewini [inzalo] yakhe. Asisho ukuthi: ‘Nasezimbewini,’ njengokungathi kungokuqondene  neziningi ezinjalo, kodwa njengokungathi kungokuqondene neyodwa: ‘Nasembewini yakho,’ enguKristu.” (Galathiya 3:16) INzalo okwakuyobusiswa ngayo izizwe yayingahlanganisi lonke uzalo luka-Abrahama. Izizukulwane zendodana yakhe engu-Ishmayeli nezamadodana awathola kuKetura azisetshenziswanga ekubusiseni isintu. INzalo yesibusiso yafika ngendodana yakhe engu-Isaka nomzukulu wakhe uJakobe. (Genesise 21:12; 25:23, 31-34; 27:18-29, 37; 28:14) UJakobe wabonisa ukuthi ‘izizwe’ zaziyolalela uShilo wesizwana sakwaJuda, kodwa kamuva kwavezwa ukuthi iMbewu yayiyovela ohlwini lozalo lukaDavide. (Genesise 49:10; 2 Samuweli 7:12-16) AmaJuda ekhulu lokuqala ayelindele ukuba kufike umuntu oyedwa onguMesiya, noma uKristu. (Johane 7:41, 42) Futhi isiprofetho sikaNkulunkulu seNzalo sagcwaliseka eNdodaneni yakhe, uJesu Kristu.

Ukuvela KukaMesiya!

6. (a) Kufanele sisiqonde kanjani isiprofetho samasonto angu-70? (b) UJesu ‘wazikhawula’ nini futhi kanjani “izono”?

⁶ Umprofethi uDaniyeli waloba isiprofetho esibalulekile sikaMesiya. Ngonyaka wokuqala kaDariyu umMede, waqaphela ukuthi yayisizophela iminyaka engu-70 yokuhlala kweJerusalema liyincithakalo. (Jeremiya 29:10; Daniyeli 9:1-4) Lapho uDaniyeli esathandaza, kwafika ingelosi uGabriyeli yembula ukuthi ‘kwakunqunywe amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa okukhawula izono.’ UMesiya wayezonqunywa phakathi nesonto lama-70. “Amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa eminyaka” aqala ngo-455 B.C.E., lapho inkosi yasePheresiya u-Aritahishashita I ‘ekhipha izwi lokwakha kabusha iJerusalema.’ (Daniyeli 9:20-27; Moffat; Nehemiya 2:1-8) UMesiya wayezofika ngemva kwamasonto angu-7 nangu-62 ngaphezulu. Le minyaka engu-483 yaqala ngo-455 B.C.E. yaphela ngo-29 C.E., lapho uJesu ebhapathizwa futhi uNkulunkulu emgcoba njengoMesiya, noma uKristu. (Luka 3:21, 22) UJesu ‘wakhawula izono’ ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe njengesihlengo ngo-33 C.E. (Marku 10:45) Yeka izizathu ezinengqondo zokuba nokholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho! *

7. Ngokusebenzisa imiBhalo, bonisa indlela uJesu azigcwalisa ngayo iziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya.

⁷ Ukholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho lwenza sikwazi ukubona ukuthi ngubani onguMesiya. Abalobi bemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki bazisebenzisa kuJesu ngokuqondile ezinye zeziprofetho eziningi eziphathelene noMesiya ezisemiBhalweni YesiHeberu. Ngokwesibonelo: UJesu wazalwa yincasakazi eBetlehema. (Isaya 7:14; Mika 5:2; Mathewu 1:18-23; Luka 2:4-11) Wabizwa ukuba aphume eGibithe, futhi kwabulawa abantwana ngemva kokuzalwa kwakhe. (Jeremiya 31:15; Hoseya 11:1; Mathewu 2:13-18) UJesu wathwala izifo zethu. (Isaya 53:4; Mathewu 8:16, 17) Njengoba kwakubikezelwe, wangena eJerusalema egibele ithole lembongolo. (Zakariya 9:9; Johane 12:12-15) Amazwi omhubi agcwaliseka ngemva kokubethelwa kukaJesu lapho amasosha abelana ngezingubo zakhe futhi enza inkatho ngesambatho sakhe sangaphakathi. (IHubo 22:18; Johane 19:23, 24) Ukuthi amathambo kaJesu awazange ephulwe nokuthi wagwazwa nakho kwagcwalisa iziprofetho. (IHubo 34:20; Zakariya 12:10; Johane 19:33-37) Lezi yizibonelo ezimbalwa nje zeziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya abalobi beBhayibheli abaphefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu abazisebenzisa kuJesu. *

Dumisa INkosi EnguMesiya!

8. Ungubani oMdala Wezinsuku, futhi sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho esikuDaniyeli 7:9-14?

⁸ Ngonyaka wokuqala wenkosi yaseBabiloni uBelishasari, uJehova wehlisela umprofethi wakhe uDaniyeli iphupho nemibono emangalisayo. Lo mprofethi waqale wabona izilo ezine ezinkulu. Ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yathi “zingamakhosi amane,” ngaleyo ndlela ibonisa ukuthi zazimelele imibuso yezwe elandelanayo. (Daniyeli 7:1-8, 17) UDaniyeli wabe esebona uJehova, “oMdala Wezinsuku,” ehlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi ekhazimula.  Njengoba enikeza izilo isahlulelo sokulahlwa, wazephuca ukubusa wayesebhubhisa isilo sesine. ‘Onjengendodana yomuntu’ wabe esenikwa ukubusa okungapheli phezu ‘kwabantu, izizwe nezilimi.’ (Daniyeli 7:9-14) Yeka isiprofetho esihle ngokumangalisayo esiphathelene nokubekwa ‘kweNdodana yomuntu,’ uJesu Kristu, esihlalweni sobukhosi emazulwini ngonyaka ka-1914!—Mathewu 16:13.

9, 10. (a) Zazibhekiselaphi izitho ezihlukahlukene zesithombe sephupho? (b) Ungakuchaza kanjani ukugcwaliseka kukaDaniyeli 2:44?

⁹ UDaniyeli wayazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu “uyasusa amakhosi, abeke amakhosi.” (Daniyeli 2:21) Enokholo kuJehova, “owambula izimfihlakalo,” lo mprofethi wadalula incazelo yephupho lesizemazema sesithombe lenkosi yaseBabiloni uNebukadinesari. Izitho zaso ezihlukahlukene zazibhekisela ekudlondlobaleni nasekuweni kwemibuso yezwe enjengeBabiloni, iMediya nePheresiya, iGrisi neRoma. Futhi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa uDaniyeli ukuze aveze izenzakalo zezwe ezaziyofinyelela esikhathini sethu zize zidlulele ngale kwaso.—Daniyeli 2:24-30.

¹⁰ Isiprofetho sathi: “Ezinsukwini zalawo makhosi uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uyakumisa umbuso ongasoze wachithwa nobukhosi bawo bungayikushiyelwa kwabanye abantu, kepha uyakuchoboza, uqede yonke le mibuso, wona uqobo ume phakade.” (Daniyeli 2:44) Lapho kuphela “izikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe” ngo-1914, uNkulunkulu wamisa uMbuso wasezulwini ngaphansi kukaKristu. (Luka 21:24; IsAmbulo 12:1-5) Ngamandla aphezulu “itshe” eliwuMbuso kaMesiya labe seliqheshulwa ‘entabeni’ ewubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu bendawo yonke. E-Armagedoni lelo tshe liyoshaya isithombe lisicole sibe yimpuqumpuqu. Njengentaba ewuhulumeni ethinta “umhlaba wonke,” uMbuso kaMesiya uyokuma phakade.—Daniyeli 2:35, 45; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16. *

11. Ukuguqulwa kukaJesu isimo kwawumbono wani, futhi lowo mbono waba naliphi ithonya kuPetru?

¹¹ Ecabanga ngokubusa koMbuso wakhe, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Kukhona abanye kulabo abemi lapha abangeke bakunambithe nhlobo ukufa kuze kube yilapho bebona iNdodana yomuntu kuqala iza embusweni wayo.” (Mathewu 16:28) Ngemva kwezinsuku eziyisithupha, uJesu wayisa uPetru, uJakobe noJohane entabeni ephakeme lapho aguqulwa khona isimo phambi kwabo. Lapho laba baphostoli besitshekelwa yifu elikhanyayo, uNkulunkulu wathi: “Lena iNdodana yami, ethandekayo, engiyamukele; yilaleleni.” (Mathewu 17:1-9; Marku 9:1-9) Yeka umbono omangalisayo wenkazimulo kaKristu yaseMbusweni! Yingakho uPetru abhekisela kulowo mbono okhexisayo wayesethi: “Ngenxa yalokho sinezwi eliyisiprofetho elenziwe laqiniseka ngokwengeziwe.”—2 Petru 1:16-19. *

12. Kungani lesi kuyiso ngokukhethekile isikhathi sokubonisa ukholo lwethu ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho?

¹² Ngokusobala ‘izwi eliyisiprofetho’ alihlanganisi kuphela iziprofetho zemiBhalo YesiHeberu eziphathelene noMesiya kodwa lihlanganisa namazwi kaJesu athi wayeyokuza ‘enamandla nenkazimulo enkulu.’ (Mathewu 24:30) Ukuguqulwa kwakhe isimo kwaqinisekisa izwi eliyisiprofetho eliphathelene nokuza kukaKristu enenkazimulo emandleni oMbuso. Ngokushesha, ukwambulwa kwakhe enenkazimulo kuzosho imbubhiso kwabangenalukholo nezibusiso kwababonisa ukholo. (2 Thesalonika 1:6-10) Ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli kufakazela ukuthi lezi ‘yizinsuku zokugcina.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, 16, 17; Mathewu 24:3-14) NjengoMbhubhisi kaJehova Oyinhloko, uMikayeli, okunguJesu Kristu, umi ngomumo elungele ukuqeda lesi simiso sezinto esibi ‘osizini olukhulu.’ (Mathewu 24:21; Daniyeli 12:1) Khona-ke, lesi yiso impela isikhathi sokubonisa ukuthi sinokholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho.

Londoloza Ukholo Ezwini LikaNkulunkulu Eliyisiprofetho

13. Yini engasisiza silondoloze uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu futhi sigcine ukholo lwethu ezwini lakhe luphila?

¹³ Ngokuqinisekile sajabula kakhulu lapho siqala ukwazi ngokugcwaliseka kwezwi likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho. Kodwa ingabe ukholo lwethu  seluye lwancipha, nothando lwethu lwaphola ukusukela ngaleso sikhathi? Kwangathi singelokothe sibe njengamaKristu ase-Efesu ‘ashiya uthando ayenalo ekuqaleni.’ (IsAmbulo 2:1-4) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sesinesikhathi esingakanani sikhonza uJehova, kungenzeka silahlekelwe ngale ndlela uma ‘singaqhubeki sifuna kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe’ ukuze sizibekelele ingcebo ezulwini. (Mathewu 6:19-21, 31-33) Ukutadisha iBhayibheli ngenkuthalo, ukuhlanganyela njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu nokushumayela ngoMbuso ngentshiseko kuyosisiza silondoloze uthando lwethu ngoJehova, ngeNdodana yakhe nangemiBhalo. (IHubo 119:105; Marku 13:10; Heberu 10:24, 25) Lokhu kuyobe sekugcina ukholo lwethu ezwini likaNkulunkulu luphila.—IHubo 106:12.

14. AmaKristu agcotshiwe avuzwa kanjani ngenxa yokuba kwawo nokholo ezwini likaJehova eliyisiprofetho?

¹⁴ Njengoba nje izwi likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho lagcwaliseka esikhathini esidlule, singaba nokholo kulokho elikubikezelayo ngekusasa. Ngokwesibonelo, uKristu ukhona manje emandleni oMbuso, futhi amaKristu agcotshiwe aye athembeka kwaze kwaba sekufeni aye ezwa ukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso esingokwesiprofetho: “Lowo onqobayo ngiyomnika ukuba adle emthini wokuphila, osepharadesi likaNkulunkulu.” (IsAmbulo 2:7, 10; 1 Thesalonika 4:14-17) UJesu unika laba abanqobile ilungelo ‘lokudla emthini wokuphila’ ‘epharadesi likaNkulunkulu’ lasezulwini. Lapho bevuswa, futhi ngenxa kaJesu Kristu, banikwa ukungafi nokungonakali nguJehova, ‘iNkosi engunaphakade, engenakonakala, engabonakali, uNkulunkulu owukuphela kwakhe.’ (1 Thimothewu 1:17; 1 Korinte 15:50-54; 2 Thimothewu 1:10) Yeka umvuzo omkhulu wokuthanda kwabo uNkulunkulu ngokunganqamuki nokuba nokholo olungantengantengi ezwini lakhe eliyisiprofetho!

15. Isisekelo ‘somhlaba omusha’ sabekwa kobani, futhi obani abahlobo babo?

¹⁵ Ngemva nje kokuba abagcotshiwe abathembekile ababefile bevuselwe “epharadesi likaNkulunkulu” ezulwini, insali ka-Israyeli ongokomoya emhlabeni yakhululwa ‘eBabiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 14:8; Galathiya 6:16) Kwabekwa kuyo isisekelo ‘somhlaba omusha.’ (IsAmbulo 21:1) Kanjalo kwazalwa “izwe,” futhi lakhiwa laba yipharadesi elingokomoya elichumayo emhlabeni wonke namuhla. (Isaya 66:8) Izixuku zabahlobo baka-Israyeli ongokomoya abanjengezimvu zithuthelekela kulo khona manje, “engxenyeni yokugcina yezinsuku.”—Isaya 2:2-4, NW; Zakariya 8:23; Johane 10:16; IsAmbulo 7:9.

 Ikusasa Lesintu Labikezelwa Ezwini LikaNkulunkulu Eliyisiprofetho

16. Ayini amathemba abasekeli abaqotho babagcotshiwe?

¹⁶ Ayini amathemba abasekeli abaqotho babagcotshiwe? Nabo banokholo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho, futhi banethemba lokungena ePharadesi lasemhlabeni. (Luka 23:39-43) Kulo, bayophuza ‘emfuleni wamanzi okuphila’ ophilisayo futhi bayothola ukuphulukiswa ‘emaqabungeni emithi’ etshalwe yagudla lo mfula. (IsAmbulo 22:1, 2) Uma unethemba elinjalo elimangalisayo, kwangathi ungaqhubeka ubonisa uthando olujulile ngoJehova nokholo ezwini lakhe eliyisiprofetho. Kwangathi ungaba phakathi kwalabo abathola injabulo engenamingcele, yokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi.

17. Ukuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni kuyohlanganisa ziphi izibusiso?

¹⁷ Abantu abangaphelele bayehluleka ukukuchaza ngokugcwele ukuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni elizayo, kodwa izwi likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho lisenza siqonde izibusiso eziyobe zigcinelwe isintu esilalelayo. Lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ubusa ngaphandle kokuphikiswa futhi intando yakhe yenziwa emhlabeni njengasezulwini, akukho bantu abanonya—cha, ngisho nezilwane—‘eziyokwenza okubi, zichithe.’ (Isaya 11:9; Mathewu 6:9, 10) Abathobekileyo bayohlala emhlabeni, “bathokoze ngokuthula okukhulu.” (IHubo 37:11) Ngeke zisaba khona izinqwaba zabantu abalambayo, ngoba “kuyakuba khona inala kakolweni ezweni esiqongweni sezintaba.” (IHubo 72:16) Ngeke kusakhalwa izinyembezi zosizi. Ukugula kuyobe kungasekho, ngisho nokufa ngeke kusaba khona. (Isaya 33:24; IsAmbulo 21:4) Cabanga nje—bengasekho odokotela, ingasekho imithi, zingasekho izibhedlela noma izindawo zabagula ngengqondo, kungasekho mingcwabo. Yeka amathemba amangalisayo!

18. (a) Yini uDaniyeli aqinisekiswa ngayo? (b) Siyoba yini ‘isabelo’ sikaDaniyeli?

¹⁸ Ngisho nethuna lesintu elivamile liyogeqwa njengoba kuyoba novuko esikhundleni sokufa. Indoda elungile enguJobe yayinethemba elinjalo. (Jobe 14:14, 15) Nomprofethi uDaniyeli wayenalelo themba, ngoba ingelosi kaJehova yamnika lesi siqinisekiso esiduduzayo: “Kepha hamba wena kuze kube sekupheleni; usuphumulile uyakuma esabelweni sakho ngasekupheleni kwezinsuku.” (Daniyeli 12:13) UDaniyeli wakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe. Manje uphumule ekufeni, kodwa “uyakuma” “ovukweni lwabalungileyo” phakathi nokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. (Luka 14:14) Siyoba yini ‘isabelo’ sikaDaniyeli? Ekugcwalisekeni kwaso kwePharadesi, isiprofetho sikaHezekeli sisikisela ukuthi bonke abantu bakaJehova bayoba nendawo, ngisho nokuthi umhlaba uyokwabiwa ngendlela engakhethi nehlelekile. (Hezekeli 47:13–48:35) Ngakho uDaniyeli uyoba nendawo ePharadesi, kodwa isabelo sakhe kulo siyohlanganisa okungaphezu komhlaba. Siyohlanganisa nendawo yakhe enjongweni kaJehova.

19. Kudingekani ukuze umuntu athole ukuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni?

¹⁹ Kuthiwani ngawe nesabelo sakho? Uma unokholo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli, cishe uyakulangazelela ukuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni. Ungase uze uzicabange ukulo, ujabulela izibusiso zalo eziningi, unakekela umhlaba, futhi wamukela ngenjabulo abebefile. Kakade, iPharadesi yiyona ndawo yesintu. UNkulunkulu wadala umbhangqwana wokuqala ongabantu ukuba uphile endaweni enjalo. (Genesise 2:7-9) Futhi ufuna ukuba abantu abalalelayo baphile phakade ePharadesi. Ingabe uyokwenza ngokuvumelana nemiBhalo ukuze ube phakathi kwezinkulungwane zezigidi eziyophila emhlabeni oyiPharadesi ekugcineni? Ungaba phakathi kwazo uma unothando lwangempela ngoBaba wethu osezulwini, uJehova, nokholo oluhlala njalo ezwini likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Yisiphi isiprofetho sokuqala, futhi kwakungubani iNzalo ethenjisiwe?

• Yiziphi ezinye zeziprofetho eziphathelene noMesiya ezagcwaliseka kuJesu?

• Uyogcwaliseka kanjani uDaniyeli 2:44, 45?

• Izwi likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho libhekisela kuliphi ikusasa eliyojatshulelwa yisintu esilalelayo?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Ingabe unethemba lokuphila ePharadesi lasemhlabeni?