1-3. Abantu beBhabhiloni babebachothoza besithini abantu bakaJehova njalo babekwenzelani lokhu?

 AKUZICABANGE ungumJuda ohlala edolobheni leBhabhiloni. Wena labantu bakini selingaba leminyaka engu-50 lithunjiwe. Kungelanga leSabatha futhi njengenhlalayenza uyasuka uyehlangana labanye ukuze likhonze uJehova lindawonye. Udabula phakathi kwedolobho eliphithizelayo, udlule amathempeli amakhulu lezinye izakhiwo ezinengi abantu beBhabhiloni abakhonzela kuzo. Endaweni lezo kugcwele abantu. Bahlabela izingoma futhi benzela uMadukhi labanye onkulunkulu babo imihlatshelo.

² Uthi usudlule endaweni lezo uhlangane lamanye amaJuda, beselisiyadinga indawo ethuleyo elingakhonzela kuyo. a Liyithola eduze lomfula futhi ekhunjini lwawo kulezikepe ezibotshelweyo. Lilapho liyathandaza, lihlabele amahubo njalo licabangisise ngeLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Uzwa ukhululekile ngoba endaweni leyo kuthule, kuzwakala kuphela okungumsindo kwamaplanka ezikepe. Ufisa ukuthi kungabi lomuntu weBhabhiloni othutshayo ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi nxa bangalibona bazaliphambanisa njengenjayelo. Kanti bayabe bekwenzelani lokho?

 ³ Sekulesikhathi eside abantu beBhabhiloni besaziwa ngokunqoba ezimpini. Bathi onkulunkulu babo yibo abenza banqobe futhi bazitshela ukuthi ukutshabalalisa kwabo idolobho leJerusalema kutshengisa ukuthi unkulunkulu wabo uMadukhi ulamandla kuloJehova. Yikho bechothoza uJehova labantu bakhe. Kwezinye izikhathi nxa bebahleka bayabe besithi kubo: “Sihlabeleleni enye yezingoma zaseZiyoni.” (Hubo. 137:3) Phela amaJuda alezingoma ezinengi ezidumisa uJehova ngokuncedisa abantu bakhe ukuthi banqobe izitha zabo. Mhlawumbe abantu beBhabhiloni bathanda ukubachothoza ngezingoma lezo. Kodwa amaJuda alazo ezinye izingoma ezikhuluma ngabaseBhabhiloni. Ngokwesibonelo eyinye ithi: ‘Batshiye iJerusalema ingamanxiwa, bayasihleka futhi bayasihoza.’—Hubo. 79:1, 3, 4.

4, 5. Iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli zanika amaJuda liphi ithemba futhi sizaxoxa ngani esahlukweni lesi? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Khonapho eBhabhiloni kulamaJuda asetshiye ukukhonza uJehova. AmaJuda la ajayele ukulihleka lokuchothoza abaphrofethi. Kodwa ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela ayifunayo kwenza wena lemuli yakho lithokoze. Liyakukholisa ukuhlangana labanye lihlabele futhi lithandaze njalo ukubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kuyalivuselela. (Hubo. 94:19; Rom. 15:4) Kodwa ngelanga leli leSabatha, omunye elikhonza laye ubuye lencwadimgoqwa eqakathekileyo elesiphrofetho sikaHezekheli. Kuyaliduduza ukuzwa isithembiso sikaJehova sokuthi uzabuyisela abantu bakhe elizweni labo. Isiphrofetho lesi sithi sibalwa ugcwale inyembezi zenjabulo emehlweni akho, uzibone ngelihlo lengqondo wena lemuli yakho selibuyele elizweni lakini futhi selivuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso.

⁵ Ibhuku likaHezekheli lileziphrofetho ezinengi ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso. Ake sizihlole iziphrofetho lezo ezanika abantu bakaNkulunkulu ithemba. Sizabona ukuthi zagcwaliseka njani ngesikhathi sabo lokuthi zigcwaliseka njani esikhathini sethu. Sizabona lokuthi ezinye zazo zizagcwaliseka njani esikhathini esizayo.

6. UNkulunkulu waxwayisa abantu bakhe esebenzisa obani?

⁶ UJehova wasebenzisa uHezekheli ukuthi acacisele abantu bakhe ukuthi wayezabajezisa njani njengoba basebemhlamukele. Wathi: “Bazathunjwa bayekuba yizigqili.” (Hez. 12:11) ESahlukweni 6 sifunde ngezinto uHezekheli azenzayo ukuze abantu babone lokho okwakuzabehlela. Kodwa uHezekheli wayengayisuye wokuqala ukuxwayisa abantu bako-Israyeli. Lakudala ngezinsuku zikaMosi, uJehova wayebaxwayisile abantu bakhe ukuthi nxa bangaqhubeka bemhlamukela bazathunjwa. (Dute. 28:36, 37) Umphrofethi u-Isaya loJeremiya kanye labanye abaphrofethi labo babebaxwayisile abantu bakaNkulunkulu.—Isaya. 39:5-7; Jer. 20:3-6.

7. UJehova wabajezisa njani abantu bakhe?

⁷ Okudanisayo yikuthi ama-Israyeli amanengi kawazange alalele. UJehova kwamzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu ukuthi abantu bakhe babengathembekanga.  Babemhlamukela bayekhonza izithombe. Lalabo okwakumele ukuthi babeluse babesenza izinto ezinengi ezimbi kakhulu. UJehova wavumela ukuthi kube lendlala elizweni futhi lokho kwakuyangisa kakhulu ngoba ilizwe labo lalisaziwa ngokuthi ‘ligeleza uchago loluju.’ (Hez. 20:6, 7) Njengoba uJehova wayetshilo, wacina evumela ukuthi abantu bakhe bathunjwe. Ngo-607 B.C.E., uNebhukhadinezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni watshabalalisa iJerusalema lethempeli lalo. Wathumba amaJuda ayizinkulungwane wawahambisa eBhabhiloni. AmaJuda athi esekhonale ayehlala echothozwa futhi ehlekwa njengoba sibonile ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi.

8, 9. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa obani ukuthi axwayise amaKhristu?

⁸ Okwenzakala kumaJuda kwenzakala lasebandleni lamaKhristu. Abalandeli bakaKhristu labo baxwayiswa kuseselesikhathi njengamaJuda ensuku zikaHezekheli. UJesu esanda kuqalisa inkonzo yakhe wathi: “Qaphelani abaphrofethi bamanga abeza kini begqoke isikhumba semvu kodwa ngaphakathi bengamaganyana afuna ukulidlithiza.” (Mat. 7:15) Ngokuhamba kweminyaka umphostoli uPhawuli laye waphefumulelwa ukuthi axwayise amaKhristu athi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi nxa sengihambile amaganyana alesihluku azangena phakathi kwenu njalo awasoze awuphathe ngozwelo umhlambi. Laphakathi kwenu kuzavela amadoda azakhuluma izinto ezingaqondanga efuna ukudukisa abafundi ukuze bawalandele.”—Imiseb. 20:29, 30.

⁹ AmaKhristu afundiswa ukuthi ayengababona njani abantu abahlamukayo lokuthi kwakumele enzeni ukuze abaxwaye. Abadala bebandla batshelwa ukuthi basuse ebandleni loba ngubani owayesehlamukile. (1 Thim. 1:19; 2 Thim. 2:16-19; 2 Phet. 2:1-3; 2 Joh. 10) Lanxa kunjalo, amaKhristu amanengi kawazange azilalele izixwayiso lezi njengama-Israyeli labakoJuda. Kwathi kusiyafika umnyaka ka-100 C.E., ebandleni kwasekugcwele abahlamuki. UJohane owayengumphostoli wokucina owayesaphila ngalesosikhathi, wakubona ukuthi izinto zazingasahambi kuhle ebandleni lokuthi abanengi basebehlamukile. Nguye yedwa owayesele elwisana lokuhlamuka lokhu okwasekumemetheka. (2 Thes. 2:6-8; 1 Joh. 2:18) Manje kwenzakalani uJohane esefile?

10, 11. Umzekeliso kaJesu wengqoloyi lokhula wagcwaliseka njani kusukela ngo-100 C.E.?

¹⁰ UJohane wathi esefile, lokho okwakhulunywa nguJesu emzekelisweni wengqoloyi lokhula kwaqalisa ukugcwaliseka. (Bala uMathewu 13:24-30.) Njengoba uJesu wayetshilo, uSathane wahlanyela “ukhula” ebandleni, okutsho amaKhristu amanga. Lokho kwenza ukuthi abahlamuki babe banengi ebandleni. Kumele ukuthi uJehova wezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu ebona okwasekusenzakala ebandleni elalisungulwe yiNdodana yakhe. Abantu basebekhonza izithombe, sebelandela imikhuba lemikhosi lezimfundiso zamahedeni futhi sebekholwa okutshiwo yinkolo yamanga. Manje uJehova wenzani? Wavumela ukuthi abantu bakhe bathunjwe njengalokho okwenzakala  kuma-Israyeli. Kusukela ngo-100 C.E., kwasekunzima ukubona amaKhristu anjengengqoloyi ngoba kwasekugcwele amaKhristu amanga. AmaKhristu la amanga ayevele esengamalunga eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Ngakho ibandla lamaKhristu eqiniso laselithunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu, umbuso wenkolo yamanga. AmaKhristu amanga aqhubeka esiba manengi asebumba amasonto amanga azithi alandela uKhristu.

¹¹ Lanxa amasonto amanga ayesemanengi kakhulu, ayekhona amaKhristu eqiniso, lawo uJesu awabiza ngokuthi ‘yingqoloyi’ emzekelisweni wakhe. AmaKhristu la eqiniso amdinga uNkulunkulu weqiniso njengamaJuda ayethunjiwe okukhulunywa ngawo kuHezekheli 6:9. Amanye awo aba lesibindi sokuveza ukuthi izimfundiso zamasonto zazingezamanga. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi achothozwe futhi ahlukuluzwe. UJehova wayesebakhalele yini abantu bakhe? Kazange abakhalale kodwa wenza lokho ayekwenze kuma-Israyeli endulo. Wawajezisa ngendlela efaneleyo futhi waba leqiniso lokuthi lokho akudluleli ngale kwesikhathi ayesibekile. (Jer. 46:28) UJehova wabanika ithemba abantu bakhe. Khathesi asixoxeni ngamaJuda ayethunjwe eBhabhiloni sibone ukuthi uJehova wawanika njani ithemba lokuthi wayezawakhulula.

12, 13. Kuyini okwakuzakwenza ukuthi ulaka lukaJehova luphele?

¹² UJehova wayebathukuthelele sibili abantu bakhe futhi wabajezisa, kodwa waphinda wabaqinisekisa ukuthi wayengasoze ahlale ebazondele. Ngokwesibonelo wathi kubo: “Ulaka lwami luzaphela futhi angisoze ngiqhubeke ngibathukuthelele, ngizabe sengisuthisekile ngengikwenzileyo. Nxa sengiqedile ukuthululela ulaka lwami phezu kwabo, bazakwazi ukuthi mina Jehova, ngakhuluma labo ngoba ngifuna bazinikele kimi kuphela.” (Hez. 5:13) Kuyini okwakuzakwenza ukuthi ulaka lukaJehova luphele?

¹³ Phakathi kwamaJuda athunjwa ahanjiswa eBhabhiloni, kwakulamanye ayethembekile. Kanti njalo uNkulunkulu wayethume uHezekheli ukuthi aphrofethe ukuthi abanye abantu bakhe babezatshintsha baqalise ukumkhonza sebesekuthunjweni. AmaJuda la ayezazisola abesekhuluma zonke izinto ezinyanyekayo ayezenza lokuthi ayemhlamukele njani uNkulunkulu, abesemncenga ukuthi awathethelele futhi abe lomusa kuwo. (Hez. 6:8-10; 12:16) Abanye ababethembekile abathunjwayo nguHezekheli lomphrofethi uDanyeli kanye labangane bakhe abathathu. UDanyeli yena wayesaphila ngesikhathi amaJuda ekhululwa eBhabhiloni. KuDanyeli isahluko 9  sithola umthandazo wakhe encenga uNkulunkulu ukuthi athethelele ama-Israyeli izono zawo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lokho akukhulumayo yikho kanye okwakusezinhliziyweni zamaJuda amanengi ayethunjiwe. Ayefisa ukuthi uJehova awathethelele futhi awabusise. Ngakho kufanele ukuthi athokoza esizwa iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli ezazitshengisa ukuthi ayezakhululwa ekuthunjweni ayevuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso!

14. Kuyini okwakuzakwenza uJehova abuyisele abantu bakhe elizweni labo?

¹⁴ Kodwa kukhona okwakuqakatheke kakhulu okwenza uJehova wakhulula abantu bakhe. Okwenza wabakhulula yikuthi isikhathi sakhe sokuthi angcwelise ibizo lakhe phambi kwezizwe sasesifikile, hatshi ukuthi basebephendukile kuphela. (Hez. 36:22) Abantu beBhabhiloni babezabona ukuthi onkulunkulu babo abangamadimoni njengoMadukhi babengasilutho nxa beqathaniswa loJehova iNkosi Enkulu. Khathesi asihloleni izithembiso ezinhlanu uJehova athuma uHezekheli ukuthi azitshele amaJuda ayethunjiwe. Sizaqala sibone ukuthi izithembiso lezo zawanceda njani amaJuda ayathembekile besesibona ukuthi zigcwaliseka njani esikhathini sethu.

15. AmaJuda ayezamkhonza njani uNkulunkulu esebuyele elizweni lawo?

¹⁵ ISITHEMBISO SOKUQALA. Akusoze kube lomuntu okhonza izithombe lowenza ezinye izinto ezenyanyekayo zenkolo yamanga. (Bala uHezekheli 11:18; 12:24.) ESahlukweni 5 sebhuku leli sixoxe ngokuthi iJerusalema kanye lethempeli kwasekungcoliswe yimikhuba yenkolo yamanga enjengokukhonza izithombe. Abantu basebehlamukele uJehova, sebesenza izinto ezimbi. UJehova watshela umphrofethi uHezekheli ukuthi atshele amaJuda ayethunjiwe ukuthi ayezaphinda amkhonze ngendlela ehlanzekileyo. Ukuvuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso yikho okwakuzakwenza aphinde athole zonke izibusiso ayezithenjisiwe.

16. Kuyini okunye uJehova akuthembisa abantu bakhe?

¹⁶ ISITHEMBISO SESIBILI. Babezabuyela elizweni labo. UJehova watshela abantu bakhe ababethunjiwe wathi: ‘Ngizalinika ilizwe lako-Israyeli.’ (Hez. 11:17) Isithembiso lesi sasibaduduza sibili ngoba abaseBhabhiloni  babebachothoza futhi bekwenza kucace ukuthi abasoze babavumele ukuthi babuyele elizweni labo. (Isaya. 14:4, 17) Okunye abakuthenjiswayo yikuthi ilizwe labo lalizahlala livundile futhi lithela nxa bangaqhubeka bethembekile. Babezakukholisa ukulima amasimu abo futhi babezayitshaya inala. Babengasoze baphinde bayangeke ngenxa yokuswela ukudla.—Bala uHezekheli 36:30.

17. AmaJuda ayezayenzela ngaphi imihlatshelo?

¹⁷ ISITHEMBISO SESITHATHU. Babezaqalisa ukunikela e-alithareni likaJehova. Njengoba safunda eSahlukweni 2, ngesikhathi uMthetho kaMosi usasebenza, ukwenza imihlatshelo leminikelo kwakuqakatheke kakhulu ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Nxa amaJuda ayengahlala emlalela uJehova futhi ekhonza ngendlela ehlanzekileyo, uJehova wayezayamukela iminikelo yawo. Lokho kwakuzakwenza ukuthi izono zawo zithethelelwe futhi ahlale eseduze loNkulunkulu. UJehova wathembisa wathi: ‘Bonke abako-Israyeli abaselizweni bazangikhonza entabeni yami engcwele. Lapho yikho engizabamukela khona. Ngizafuna ukuthi bangenzele iminikelo futhi banikele langezithelo zokuqala langakho konke abalakho okungcwele.’ (Hez. 20:40) Ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa sibili, abantu bakaNkulunkulu besebethola izibusiso.

18. UJehova wayezabelusa njani abantu bakhe?

¹⁸ ISITHEMBISO SESINE. Abelusi abenza okubi babezakhitshwa. Isizatho esikhulu esenza abantu bakaNkulunkulu baphambuka yikuthi babekhokhelwa ngamadoda ayexhwalile. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi wayezabakhipha abelusi laba. Wathi: ‘Ngizabaxotsha emsebenzini wokwelusa izimvu zami, ngizakhipha izimvu zami emilonyeni yabo.’ Waphinda watshela abantu abathembekileyo ukuthi ‘uzazinakekela izimvu zakhe.’ (Hez. 34:10, 12) Wayezakwenza njani lokho? Wayezakhetha amadoda athembekileyo futhi aqotho ukuthi eluse abantu bakhe.

19. UJehova wathembisa ukuthi abantu bakhe babezahlalisana njani?

¹⁹ ISITHEMBISO SESIHLANU. Abantu bakaJehova babezamanyana. Phela ngesikhathi bethunjwa kwakungasela kuthula phakathi  kwabo. Kumele ukuthi lokho kwakuwakhathaza kakhulu amaJuda ayethembekile. Abaphrofethi bamanga labelusi ababexhwalile benza ukuthi abantu bahlamukele abaphrofethi bakaJehova. Labantu ngokwabo basebedabukene, sekulamaqembu aphikisanayo. Ngakho kumele ukuthi amaJuda ayethembekile athokoza esizwa isithembiso sikaJehova esithi: “Ngizabenza babe nhliziyonye futhi ngizatshintsha indlela abacabanga ngayo.” (Hez. 11:19) Nxa amaJuda ayengahlala emanyene esebuyele elizweni lawo futhi akhonze uJehova nganhliziyonye, akulasitha esasizawanqoba. Ayezaphinda adumise uJehova eyisizwe esimanyeneyo kulokuthi angcolise ibizo lakhe.

20, 21. Izithembiso zikaJehova zagcwaliseka njani amaJuda esebuyele elizweni lawo?

²⁰ Izithembizo lezi ezinhlanu zagcwaliseka yini amaJuda esebuyele elizweni lawo? Ye zagcwaliseka. UJehova uyazigcwalisa zonke izithembiso zakhe. UJoshuwa indoda yakudala eyayithembekile wathi: “Akukho lokukodwa uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu alithembisa khona okungazange kugcwaliseke. Konke kwenzakala, akula ngitsho lokukodwa akukhulumayo okungenzakalanga.” (Josh. 23:14) Ngakho uJehova wayezazigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe nxa amaJuda esebuyele elizweni lawo.

 ²¹ AmaJuda atshiya ukukhonza izithombe lezinye izinto ezenyanyekayo ezazisenza ukuthi uJehova angawamukeli. Abuyela elizweni lawo lanxa kwakukhanya angani lokho kwakungeke kwenzakale. Afika aqalisa ukulima futhi aziphilela impilo emnandi. Okunye okwenziwa ngamaJuda esanda kufika yikuvuselela i-alithare likaJehova elaliseJerusalema, aseqalisa ukwenza iminikelo kulo. (Ezra. 3:2-6) UJehova wanika abantu bakhe abelusi abathembekileyo. Ngokwesibonelo kwakulo-Ezra owayengumbhali futhi engumphristi othembekileyo, lababusi uNehemiya loZerubhabheli, loMphristi Omkhulu uJoshuwa, labaphrofethi ababelesibindi uHagayi loZakhariya loMalakhi. Nxa abantu babezaqhubeka bemlalela uJehova futhi besenza lokho akufunayo babezahlala bemanyene, kungelangxabangxoza njengakuqala.—Isaya. 61:1-4; bala uJeremiya 3:15.

22. Sikwazi njani ukuthi ukugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso kwakuyinzwisa yalokho okuzayo?

²² Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kwawakhuthaza kakhulu amaJuda ukubona izithembiso zikaJehova zigcwaliseka. Kodwa lokho kwakuyinzwisa nje yalokho okuzayo. Sikwazi njani? UJehova wayezagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe lezi kusiya ngokuthi amaJuda ayezahlala ethembekile yini futhi emlalela. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi  amaJuda ayekela ukulalela uJehova acina emhlamukela. Kodwa njengoba uJoshuwa wayetshilo, ilizwi likaJehova liyagcwaliseka loba sekutheni. Yikho izithembiso lezi zazizagcwaliseka ngokuhamba kwesikhathi futhi izibusiso uJehova ayezazinika abantu bakhe zazizahlala kuze kube nini lanini. Kasixoxeni ngokuthi lokhu kwenzakala njani.

23, 24. ‘Isikhathi sokubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke’ saqalisa nini futhi njani?

²³ Ukuhlolisisa iBhayibhili kusincede sazwisisa ukuthi izinsuku zokucina zomumo lo wezinto zaqalisa ngo-1914. Kodwa thina akusidanisi ukuthi sisensukwini zokucina ngoba iBhayibhili liveza ukuthi ngo-1914 kwaqalisa ‘isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu sokubuyisela zonke izinto.’ (Imiseb. 3:21) Kungani sisithi isikhathi leso saqalisa ngo-1914? Ngomnyaka lowo uJesu Khristu wabekwa ukuthi abe yiNkosi ezulwini. Manje uJehova wayebuyiselani ngalesosikhathi? Khumbula ukuthi uJehova wayethembise iNkosi uDavida ukuthi ubukhosi babungasoze busuke emulini yayo kuze kube nini lanini. (1 Imilan. 17:11-14) Kodwa abemuli kaDavida bathathelwa ubukhosi ngo-607 B.C.E., ngesikhathi abeBhabiloni betshabalalisa iJerusalema.

²⁴ UJesu wayezalwa emulini kaDavida yikho wayelelungelo lokuthatha ubukhosi bukaDavida. IBhayibhili lithi ‘uyiNdodana yomuntu.’ (Mat. 1:1; 16:13-16; Luk. 1:32, 33) Ngo-1914 uJehova wabuyisela ubukhosi bukaDavida ngokubeka uJesu ukuthi abe yiNkosi ezulwini. Ngakho ‘isikhathi sokubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke’ sasesiqalisile. UJehova waphathisa iNkosi le engelasono umsebenzi wokubuyisela kumbe wokuvuselela zonke izinto.

25, 26. (a) AmaKhristu eqiniso akhululwa nini eBhabhiloni Enkulu njalo sikwazi njani lokho? (Khangela lebhokisi elithi, “Kungani Sisithi Bakhululwa Ngo-1919?”) (b) Yiziphi izithembiso ezaqalisa ukugcwaliseka ngo-1919 kusiya phambili?

²⁵ Okunye okwenziwa nguKhristu esanda kuba yiNkosi yikuncedisa uYise ukuhlola indlela abantu ababemkhonza ngayo lapha emhlabeni. (Mal. 3:1-5) Emzekelisweni wakhe wengqoloyi lokhula, uJesu watshengisa ukuthi kwakuzakuba nzima ukwehlukanisa ingqoloyi  lokhula. Yikho kwadlula isikhathi eside kungalula ukwehlukanisa amaKhristu eqiniso lamaKhristu amanga. b Kodwa ngo-1914 umehluko wawusucacile ngoba isikhathi sokuvuna sasesifikile. Kungakafiki u-1914 kwasekuleminyaka aBafundi beBhayibhili beveza egcekeni ukuthi amasonto ayelahlekile futhi basebeqalisile ukuzehlukanisa lawo. Kwasekuyisikhathi sikaJehova sokuthi abuyisele abantu bakhe ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Ngemva kweminyaka emilutshwana ‘isikhathi sokuvuna’ siqalisile, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhululwa eBhabhiloni Enkulu. (Mat. 13:30) Lokhu kwenzakala ekuqaliseni kuka-1919.

²⁶ Iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa zaseziqalisile ukugcwaliseka ngendlela enkulu ukwedlula lokho okwakwenzakale ngesikhathi samaJuda. Khathesi asiboneni ukuthi izithembiso ezinhlanu esixoxe ngazo zigcwaliseke njani esikhathini sethu.

27. Kuyini okwenziwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuze batshiye ukukhonza izithombe?

²⁷ ISITHEMBISO SOKUQALA. Babezayekela ukukhonza izithombe lokwenza imikhuba eyenyanyekayo yenkolo yamanga. Ekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-1800 lasekuqaliseni kweminyaka yabo-1900, amaKhristu athembekileyo aqalisa ukuhlangana ndawonye lokulahla imikhuba yenkolo yamanga. Alahla lemfundiso zenkolo yamanga ezingasekelwanga eMibhalweni, njengemfundiso yobuthathu bukaNkulunkulu lemfundiso yokuthi umphefumulo kawufi leyokuthi uNkulunkulu utshisa abantu esihogweni. AmaKhristu la akwenza kwacaca ukuthi uNkulunkulu kafuni ukuthi sisebenzise izithombe nxa simkhonza. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bananzelela lokuthi ukusebenzisa isiphambano yikukhonza izithombe.—Hez. 14:6.

28. Kutshoni ukuthi abantu bakaJehova babuyiselwa elizweni labo?

²⁸ ISITHEMBISO SESIBILI. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu babezabuyela elizweni labo. AmaKhristu athembekileyo athi esephumile eBhabhiloni Enkulu kwaba angathi asebuyiselwe elizweni lawo, lapho ayengasoze alambe ngoba uJehova wayesewabusisa ngokuwanika ukudla okunengi okuqinisa ukholo. (Bala uHezekheli 34:13, 14.)  ESahlukweni 19 sebhuku leli sizabona ukuthi uJehova ubabusise kakhulu abantu bakhe ngokubanika ukudla okunengi okubaqinisa ukholo.—Hez. 11:17.

29. Kuyini abantu bakaNkulunkulu abakhuthazwa ukuthi bakwenze ngo-1919?

²⁹ ISITHEMBISO SESITHATHU. Babezaqalisa ukunikela e-alithareni likaJehova. Ngesikhathi sabaphostoli, amaKhristu afundiswa ukuthi lawo kumele anikele imihlatshelo kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa imihlatshelo le yayingayisiyo yezifuyo. Kwakumele anikele ngokudumisa uJehova langokutshela abantu ngaye futhi iminikelo le yayiqakatheke kakhulu kuleyezifuyo. (Heb. 13:15) Ngesikhathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bethunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu kwakungelanhlanganiso eyayingabancedisa ukuthi banikele imihlatshelo le ngendlela ehlelekileyo. Kwathi kusiyafika isikhathi sokuthi bakhululwe basebevele beqalisile ukwenza imihlatshelo yokudumisa uNkulunkulu.  Babekhuthele emsebenzini wokutshumayela futhi bekukholisa ukudumisa uNkulunkulu emihlanganweni yabo. Kusukela ngo-1919 “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo” yaqalisa ukukhuthaza wonke amaKhristu ukuthi atshumayele futhi yawuhlela kuhle umsebenzi lo. (Mat. 24:45-47) Iminikelo eyayisenziwa e-alithareni likaJehova yayisiminengi ngenxa yokuthi abantu ababedumisa ibizo lakhe elingcwele babeqhubeka besanda.

30. UJesu wenzani ukuze abantu bakhe beluswe ngendlela efaneleyo?

³⁰ ISITHEMBISO SESINE. Abelusi ababesenza okubi babezakhitshwa. UKhristu wakhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu kubakhokheli bamanga abagangileyo futhi abangelandaba labantu. Abelusi ababexhwalile ababesebandleni likaKhristu labo bakhitshwa. (Hez. 20:38) UJesu uMelusi Omuhle waba leqiniso lokuthi izimvu zakhe zinakekelwa kuhle. Ngo-1919 wakhetha amadoda ayengamaKhristu agcotshiweyo, wawabeka ukuthi abe yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo. Amadoda la yiwo aphiwa umsebenzi wokunakekela abantu bakaNkulunkulu yikho kwakumele abafundise ukuze bahlale belokholo oluqinileyo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi abadala bamabandla labo baqeqetshwa ukuthi bangawunakekela njani “umhlambi kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Phet. 5:1, 2) Amazwi akuHezekheli 34:15, 16 ajayele ukusetshenziswa nxa kukhunjuzwa abadala bamabandla ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu loJesu Khristu bafuna bawuphathe njani umhlambi.

31. UJehova wasigcwalisa njani isiphrofetho esikuHezekheli 11:19?

³¹ ISITHEMBISO SESIHLANU. Abantu bakaNkulunkulu babezamanyana. Amasonto azithi ngawesiKhristu abelokhu edabukana phakathi. Lokhu yikho okwenza ukuthi kube lamasonto amanengi kakhulu. Amasonto la kawamanyananga futhi ayaphikisana kodwa uJehova yena ufundise abantu bakhe ukuthi bamanyane. Ukugcwalise ngendlela emangalisayo lokho akuthembisa abantu bakhe esebenzisa uHezekheli. Wathi: “Ngizabenza babe nhliziyonye.” (Hez. 11:19) UKhristu ulabalandeli abanengi kakhulu emhlabeni wonke abayimihlobo etshiyeneyo, abalamasiko atshiyeneyo futhi ababengena amasonto ehlukeneyo. Abanye babo banothile futhi abanye bangabayanga. Lanxa kunjalo bonke bafundiswa izinto ezifananayo futhi benza umsebenzi wokutshumayela bemanyene. Ngobusuku bakhe bokucina engakabulawa, uJesu wathandazela ukuthi abafundi bakhe bamanyane. (Bala uJohane 17:11, 20-23.) Indlela abantu bakaJehova abamanyane ngayo itshengisa ukuthi uJehova wawuphendula umthandazo kaJesu.

32. Uzwa njani nxa ubona ukugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso? (Khangela lebhokisi elithi, “Iziphrofetho Ezimayelana Lokuthunjwa Lokuvuselelwa.”)

³² Kuyakuthokozisa yini ukuphila ngesikhathi sokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso? Kusegcekeni sibili ukuthi iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli ziyagcwaliseka ebantwini abakhonza uNkulunkulu lamuhla. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza nxa ebona indlela abantu bakhe abamkhonza ngayo. Phela watshela uHezekheli wathi: “Ngizalamukela.” (Hez. 20:41) Uyakunanzelela yini ukuthi akulasibusiso esedlula ukubaphakathi kwenhlanganiso kaJehova elabantu  abamanyeneyo, abafundiswa kuhle kakhulu futhi abazimiseleyo ukumdumisa? Siyathokoza lokuthi sakhululwa enkolweni yamanga lanxa yayisithumbile okweminyaka eminengi. Kodwa ezinye iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli ezimayelana lokuvuselelwa kokukhonza kweqiniso zizagcwaliseka esikhathini esizayo.

33-35. (a) Isiphrofetho esikuHezekheli 36:35 sawaqinisekisa ngani amaJuda ayethunjiwe? (b) Isiphrofetho lesi sigcwaliseka njani ebantwini bakaJehova lamuhla? (Khangela lebhokisi elithi, “‘Isikhathi Sokubuyiselwa Kwezinto Zonke.’”)

³³ Njengoba sibonile, ‘isikhathi sokubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke’ saqalisa ngokuvuselelwa kobukhosi bendlu kaDavida ngesikhathi uJesu ebekwa ukuthi abe yinkosi ngo-1914. (Hez. 37:24) Ngemva kwalokho uJehova wanika uKhristu amandla okuvuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso lokuthi akhulule abantu bakhe abasebelesikhathi eside bethunjwe yinkolo yamanga. Kodwa sesingathi umsebenzi kaKhristu wokuvuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso wahle waphelela khonapho yini? Hatshi, kulokunye okuhle azakwenza ngesikhathi esizayo. Iziphrofetho zikaHezekheli ziyakuveza lokho.

³⁴ Ngokwesibonelo, uHezekheli wabhala wathi: “Abantu bazakuthi: ‘Ilizwe ebeliyinkangala selinjengensimu yase-Edeni.’” (Hez. 36:35) Kuyini okungabe kwacatshangwa nguHezekheli lamanye amaJuda ayethunjiwe ngesikhathi besizwa isiphrofetho lesi? Kabazange bacabange ukuthi ilizwe labo lalizatshintsha libe lipharadayisi njengensimu yase-Edeni eyayenziwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. (Gen. 2:8) Kodwa kufanele ukuthi bazwisisa ukuthi uJehova wayebaqinisekisa ukuthi ilizwe labo lalizavuselelwa libe lihle futhi lithele.

³⁵ Isithembiso lesi sigcwaliseka njani lamuhla? Khathesi umhlaba kawukabi lipharadayisi ngoba ubuswa nguSathane uDeveli. Lanxa kunjalo, amazwi esiphrofetho sikaHezekheli ayagcwaliseka ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu lamuhla. Siyakukholisa kakhulu ukukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu sindawonye futhi silokuthula. Into esiyiqakathekisa kakhulu empilweni yikumenzela inkonzo engcwele. Intokozo esiyitholayo inkulu kakhulu, ungaphose uthi sesisePharadayisi. Kodwa isithembiso lesi sizagcwaliseka njani esikhathini esizayo?

36, 37. Yiziphi izithembiso ezizagcwaliseka ePharadayisi?

³⁶ Ngemva kwempi ye-Amagedoni, uJesu uzaqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe wokuvuselela aguqule lomhlaba ngokwawo. Nxa uJesu esebusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane, uzanika abantu umsebenzi wokwenza umhlaba ube lipharadayisi njengensimu yase-Edeni. Lokhu yikho uJehova ayevele ekuhlosile. (Luk. 23:43) Abantu bazahlalisana ngokuthula futhi bakholise ukuphila emhlabeni. Kuyabe kungaselanto engasilimaza loba engaba yingozi kithi. Akucabange ukuthi impilo izabe isinjani sekugcwaliseka isithembiso lesi esithi: ‘Ngizakwenza isivumelwano sokuthula lezimvu zami njalo ngizaqeda zonke inyamazana zeganga eziyingozi elizweni ukuze izimvu zami zihlale zivikelekile enkangala futhi zilale eguswini.’—Hez. 34:25.

 ³⁷ Akukubone ngelihlo lengqondo ukuthi kuyabe sekunjani emhlabeni. Uyabe ususenelisa ukuyafika loba ngaphi komhlaba ungesabi lutho. Akulanyamazana ezakuhlasela futhi akulangozi ezakwehlela. Uzabe ususenelisa ukudabula amagusu uwedwa ubuka ubuhle bawo. Uzalala egangeni ubuthongo behle ungesabi lutho, usazi ukuthi akulanto ezakuhlasela.

38. Uzwa njani nxa ucabanga ngokugcwaliseka kwesithembiso esikuHezekheli 28:26?

³⁸ Esinye isithembiso esizasibona sigcwaliseka yilesi esithi: “Bazahlala kulo bevikelekile futhi bazakwakha izindlu balime lamasimu amagilebisi. Bazahlala bevikelekile nxa sengisahlulela bonke omakhelwane babo ababachothozayo. Lapho-ke bazakwazi ukuthi mina nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wabo.” (Hez. 28:26) Nxa izitha zonke zikaJehova sezitshabalalisiwe, sizakholisa ukuhlala emhlabeni sekulokuthula njalo sivikelekile. Sizakwenelisa ukunakekela izimuli zethu, sakhe izindlu ezinhle futhi silime amasimu siyitshaye inala.

39. Kuyini okwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi izithembiso ezabhalwa nguHezekheli ezimayelana lePharadayisi zizagcwaliseka?

³⁹ Ubona angathi izithembiso zonke lezi zizagcwaliseka kumbe zingamaphupho nje kuphela? Khumbula ukuthi yiziphi izinto osuzibone zigcwaliseka ‘ngesikhathi lesi sokubuyiselwa kwezinto zonke.’ Lanxa siphila esikhathini esinzima futhi uSathane ezama ukutshabalalisa ukukhonza kweqiniso, uJesu Khristu wenelisile ukuncedisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi bamkhonze ngendlela ayamukelayo. Lokhu kwenza singathandabuzi ukuthi zonke izithembiso uNkulunkulu azitshela uHezekheli zizagcwaliseka sibili.