1, 2. Yisiphi isenzakalo esikhulu ukwedlula zonke ezake zenzakala emlandweni wabantu, njalo kungani kungamangalisi ukuthi akulamuntu owasibona ngamehlo?

UYAKE uzibuze yini ukuthi kwakungaba njani ukuphila ngesikhathi kulezehlakalo ezithile ezinkulu ezantshintsha ukuphila kwabantu? Abanengi bayake bazibuze. Kodwa aluba waphila ngalesosikhathi wawuzakubona yini lokho okwabangela ukuthi kube lezehlakalo lezo? Mhlawumbe wawungasoze ukubone. Izinto ezinengi ezicina zibhidlize imibuso ezibhalwe emabhukwini embali azandisanga ukwenzakala emehlweni abantu. Ngamanye amazwi okunengi okubangela untshintsho olukhulu kwenzakala ezigodlweni, emawofisini abohulumende lasemihlanganweni yeziphathimandla, abantu abanengi bengazi. Lanxa kunjalo, lokhu kucina kuntshintshe ukuphila kwabantu abanengi kakhulu.

² Kulesenzakalo esikhulu ukwedlula zonke ezake zenzakala emlandweni wabantu. Santshintsha ukuphila kwamamiliyoni abantu. Kodwa akulamuntu owasibona ngamehlo. Isenzakalo lesi esenzakala ezulwini yikusungulwa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uhulumende kaMesiya owawusulesikhathi eside uthenjisiwe. Akusensuku zatshwala ungathanyelanga bonke ohulumende abakhona lapha emhlabeni. (Bala uDanyeli 2:34, 35, 44, 45.) Njengoba kungelamuntu owabona uMbuso lo usungulwa, sekusitsho yini ukuthi uJehova wayesifihlela isenzakalo lesi esiqakathekileyo? Nxa wayengasifihleli, kukhona yini akwenzayo ukuze izikhonzi zakhe ezithembekileyo zilungele uMbuso kuseselesikhathi? Ake sibone.

3-5. (a) Sasingubani “isigijimi sesivumelwano” esiqanjwe kuMalaki 3:1? (b) Kuyini okwakuzakwenzakala “isigijimi sesivumelwano” singakafiki ethempelini?

³ UJehova wayehlose ukusiza izikhonzi zakhe ukuthi zikulungele ukusungulwa koMbuso kaMesiya kusukela endulo. Ngokwesibonelo, isiphrofetho esikuMalaki 3:1 sithi: “Khangelani, ngizathuma isigijimi sami esizangilungisela indlela. Kuzakuthi masinyane uJehova elimdingayo uzakuza ethempelini lakhe; isigijimi sesivumelwano, elisilangazelelayo sizakuza.”

⁴ Ezinsukwini zalamuhla, “uJehova” wabuya nini ukuzohlola labo ababekhonza egumeni elisemhlabeni lethempelini lakhe?  Esiphrofethweni lesi kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova wayezakuza ‘lesigijimi sesivumelwano.’ Sasingubani isigijimi lesi? Sasiyiyo kanye iNkosi enguMesiya, uJesu Khristu! (Luk. 1:68-73) UMbusi lo owayesanda kubekwa wayezahlola futhi acenge izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezisemhlabeni.​—1 Phet. 4:17.

⁵ Pho-ke singubani “isigijimi” esiqanjwe ekuqaliseni kukaMalaki 3:1? Isigijimi lesi okwakuphrofethwe ngaso sasizafika kusasele isikhathi eside ukuthi iNkosi enguMesiya ibe khona. Ukhona yini ‘owalungisela’ iNkosi enguMesiya “indlela” kusasele iminyaka eminengi ukuthi umnyaka ka-1914 ufike?

6. Ngubani ‘owayeyisigijimi’ esaqala ukuza, esancedisa izikhonzi ezithembekileyo ukuthi zilungele izehlakalo ezazizakwenzakala?

⁶ Imbali yezikhonzi zikaJehova esizayihlola ebhukwini leli izasinceda ukuthi sithole izimpendulo zemibuzo le. Nxa sihlola imbali yazo sithola ukuthi kwavela iqembu elilodwa elincane lamaKhristu athembekileyo sekuzafika iminyaka yabo-1900, elalingafanani lemihlobohlobo yamaKhristu amanga ayegcwele ngalesosikhathi. Labizwa ngokuthi ngaBafundi beBhayibhili. UCharles T. Russell labanye bakhe ababekhokhela iqembu leli babeyiso kanye “isigijimi” okwakuphrofethwe ngaso, ngoba babefundisa iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu njalo bencedisa izikhonzi zakhe ukuthi zilungele izehlakalo ezazizakwenzakala. Ake sibone izindlela ezine “isigijimi” lesi esakwenza ngayo lokhu.

7, 8. (a) Eminyakeni yabo-1800, ngobani abaveza ukuthi imfundiso yokuthi umphefumulo kawufi ingamanga? (b) Yiziphi ezinye izimfundiso uC. T. Russell labanye bakhe abaziveza sobala ukuthi zingamanga?

⁷ LabaBafundi beBhayibhili babekhulekela isiqondiso sikaJehova lapho behlola iMibhalo; babevumelana, beqoqa njalo beloba izimfundiso ezicacileyo eziliqiniso ababezithola. Kwasekuleminyaka eminengi amasonto ayezenza awesiKhristu efundisa amanga ngoNkulunkulu njalo okunengi ayekufundisa kwakuvela ezinkolweni zobuhedeni. Ngokwesibonelo, ayefundisa ukuthi umphefumulo kawufi. Kodwa eminyakeni yabo-1800 kwaba labanye ababekukhuthalele ukufunda iBhayibhili, abahlolisisa imfundiso le bathola ukuthi yayingekho eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. UHenry Grew loGeorge Stetson kanye loGeorge Storrs baloba baphinda bafundisa iqiniso ngomdlandla, beveza ukuthi imfundiso yokuthi umphefumulo kawufi yayingamanga aluhlaza tshoko. * Umsebenzi wabo wasiza uC. T. Russell labanye bakhe ukuthi bayizwisise ngcono iMibhalo.

⁸ Iqembu elincane laBafundi beBhayibhili lathola ukuthi ezinye izimfundiso ezihambelana lokuthi umphefumulo kawufi lazo zazingamanga aluhlaza, njalo zazingazwisiseki. Ezinye zakhona zazisithi bonke abalungileyo bazakuya ezulwini kanye lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzatshisa imiphefumulo yababi esihogweni kuze kube nini lanini. URussell labanye bakhe baba lesibindi sokutshela abantu ukuthi izimfundiso lezo zazingamanga, besebenzisa amaphetshana, amabhuku kanye lezinkulumo zabo ezazibhalwa emaphephandabeni.

9. I-Zion’s Watch Tower yakuveza njani ukuthi imfundiso yoButhathu bukaNkulunkulu ingamanga?

⁹ ABafundi beBhayibhili baphinda baveza ukuthi imfundiso yoButhathu bukaNkulunkulu eyayiqakathekiswa kakhulu  ingamanga. Ngo-1887 iNqabayokulinda eyayisabizwa ngokuthi yi-Zion’s Watch Tower, yathi: “IMibhalo icacile ukuthi uJehova leNkosi yethu uJesu bangabantu ababili abehlukeneyo lokuthi omunye wabo nguBaba, omunye yiNdodana.” Yaphinda yaveza ukuthi kwakumangalisa ukuthi “imfundiso yobuthathu bukaNkulunkulu yena emunye yayisidumile futhi yamukelwa nguwonkewonke. Kodwa ukwamukeleka kwayo kutshengisa nje ukuthi amasonto ayelele nya ngapha izinto zisonakala.”

10. Abalobi be-Watch Tower babona njani ukuthi umnyaka ka-1914 wawuzakuba ngumnyaka oqakathekileyo?

¹⁰ Ibizo elithi Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence lalikwenza kucace ukuthi imagazini le yayihlose ukuhlola iziphrofetho eziphathelane lokuba khona kukaKhristu. Abalobi bayo ababegcotshiwe njalo bethembekile babona ukuthi isiphrofetho sikaDanyeli ‘seminyaka eyisikhombisa’ sasimayelana lesikhathi lapho okwakuzagcwaliseka khona lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuhlosile ngoMbuso kaMesiya. Abalobi laba bahle bakutsho ngeminyaka yabo-1870 ukuthi iminyaka eyisikhombisa yayizaphela ngo-1914. (Dan. 4:25; Luk. 21:24) Lanxa ngalesosikhathi kwakuseselokunye ababengakakuzwisisi ngokuqakatheka komnyaka lo, abafowethu bamemezela lokho ababekwazi ezindaweni ezinengi futhi lokhu kusasinceda lathi lamuhla.

11, 12. (a) UMfowethu uRussell wathi lokho ayekufundisa kwakuvela kubani? (b) Umsebenzi owenziwa nguRussell labanye bakhe kungakafiki u-1914 wabanceda njani abantu?

 ¹¹ URussell labanye bakhe ababethembekile kabazange bazitshaye izifuba besithi yibo abaqala ukuvumbulula lokuzwisisa kuhle iqiniso eliseMibhalweni. URussell wavuma ukuthi kwakulabanye ababecande indlela. Lanxa kunjalo wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu nguye ofundisa abantu bakhe lokho okufanele bakwazi ngesikhathi okufanele bakwazi ngaso. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uJehova wayibusisa imizamo kaRussell labanye bakhe yokwehlukanisa iqiniso lamanga. Umehluko omkhulu phakathi kwabo lamaKhristu amanga wawuqhubeka ukhanya ngokudlula kweminyaka.

¹² Kusasele iminyaka eminengi ukuthi u-1914 afike, uRussell labanye bakhe benza umsebenzi omkhulu okwamagama belwela ukuthi iqiniso litholakale. I-The Watch Tower kaNovember 1, 1917 yathi: ‘Izigidi zabantu lamuhla kazisahlaleli evalweni ngenxa yokuthi sezilazi iqiniso ngesihogo langezinye izimfundiso ezingamanga. IQiniso elaqalisa ukutholakala eminyakeni engaba ngu-40 eyadlulayo lilokhu lisakazeka kancane kancane njalo lizaqhubeka lisakazeka lize lizwakale emhlabeni wonke.’ Yathi labo ababezama ukulivimbela babengeke baphumelele.

13, 14. (a) “Isigijimi” sayilungisa njani indlela yeNkosi enguMesiya? (b) Kuyini esingakufunda kubafowethu abaphila eminyakeni engabangu-100 eyadlulayo?

¹³ Aluba abantu babengawazi umehluko phakathi kukaJesu loYise uJehova, ucabanga ukuthi babezabe bekulungele yini ukuqala kokuba khona kukaKhristu? Ngitsho sibili! Futhi babengasoze bakulungele ngabe babelokhu becabanga ukuthi abantu bonke bazathola isipho esiligugu sokungafi okumele sitholwe ngabalandeli bakaKhristu abalutshwana. Kanti njalo kwakuzakubanzima nxa babecabanga lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzatshisa abantu esihogweni kuze kube nini lanini. Kuyazikhanyela-ke ukuthi “isigijimi” sayilungisa indlela yeNkosi enguMesiya!

¹⁴ Pho-ke thina singafundani kubafowethu abaphila eminyakeni engaba ngu-100 eyadlulayo? Sifunda ukuthi lathi kumele silifunde ngentshiseko iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 17:3) Abantu abanengi emhlabeni bayaluswela ulwazi oluqondileyo ngoNkulunkulu, kodwa thina kumele sikukhuthalele ukufunda ngaye!​—Bala u-1 Thimothi 4:15.

15. Kuyini aBafundi beBhayibhili abakunanzelela kancane kancane? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁵ ABafundi beBhayibhili babefundisa ukuthi kwakuqakathekile ukuthi abantu baphume baphele emasontweni amanga. Ngo-1879 i-The Watch Tower yakhuluma “ngesonto yeBhabhiloni.” Yayikhuluma ngamandla abopapa yini, kumbe ngesonto yamaRoma Katolika? Kwasekulesikhathi eside amasonto ayehlamukele iRoma Katolika esitsho njalo. Kodwa aBafundi beBhayibhili bakubona kancane kancane ukuthi ‘iBhabhiloni’ yalamuhla yayisitsho wonke amasonto amanga ayecabanga ukuthi alandela uKhristu. Okwenza batsho njalo yikuthi amasonto la ayefundisa amanga anjengalawo okuke kwakhulunywa  ngawo phezulu. * Ngokuya kwesikhathi, amabhuku ethu ayengasakukhekhelezi ukuthi labo ababelidinga ngabomvu iqiniso kodwa besesemasontweni eBhabhiloni kwakumele benzeni.

16, 17. (a) I-Millennial Dawn yesithathu le-Watch Tower kwabakhuthaza njani abantu ukuthi baphume emasontweni amanga? (b) Kuyini okwenza abanye bangaziqakathekisi izixwayiso ababeziphiwe? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

¹⁶ Ngokwesibonelo, ngo-1891 ibhuku lesithathu kulawo ayebizwa ngokuthi ngama-Millennial Dawn lathi uNkulunkulu uyayilahla yonke iBhabhiloni yalamuhla kanye lamasonto ayo. Laphinda lathi bonke “abangavumelani lezimfundiso zayo zamanga kanye lemikhuba yayo, bakhuthazwa ukuthi baphume baphele kuyo.”

¹⁷ NgoJanuary 1900, i-The Watch Tower yaxwayisa bonke ababelokhu bengakesulisi amabizo abo emasontweni azithi ngawesiKhristu njalo bezithethelela ngokuthi, “Ngiyavumelana leqiniso sibili njalo sengihamba gqo kwamanye amasonto.” Yabuza ukuthi: ‘Kuqondile yini ukuthi umuntu abeseqinisweni ngesikhathi esifananayo eseBhabhiloni? Uyabe emlalela yini uNkulunkulu ngendlela ayamukelayo lemthokozisayo? Hatshi. Umuntu lo wenza isivumelwano lesonto phambi kwabantu ngesikhathi esiba ngomunye walo, ngakho-ke kumele enze konke okusesivumelwaneni sakhe, kuze kube yilapho ibizo lakhe eselesulisile esontweni phambi kwabantu.’ Isixwayiso lesi sasilokhu siqina ngokuya kweminyaka. * Izikhonzi zikaJehova kumele ziqiniseke ukuthi ziyaquma bonke ubudlelwano lamasonto amanga.

18. Kwakuqakatheke ngani ukuthi abantu baphume eBhabhiloni eNkulu?

¹⁸ Ucabanga ukuthi uKhristu iNkosi eyayisanda kumiswa, wayezalithola yini iqembu lezinceku ezigcotshiweyo elalilungele ukuba khona kwakhe, aluba izixwayiso zokuphuma eBhabhiloni eNkulu zazingazange ziphindaphindwe? Wayengasoze alithole, ngoba ngamaKhristu angelabudlelwano leBhabhiloni kuphela angakhonza uJehova “ngomoya langeqiniso.” (Joh. 4:24) Sizimisele yini lathi lamuhla ukuhlala singela ngitsho lobuncane ubudlelwano lamasonto amanga? Kasihlaleni siwulalela umlayo othi: “Bantu bami, phumani kuyo”!​—Bala iSambulo 18:4.

19, 20. I-Watch Tower yazikhuthaza njani izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ukuthi zihlangane ukuze zikhonze ndawonye?

¹⁹ ABafundi beBhayibhili babefundisa ukuthi amaKhristu kwakumele ahlangane ukuze akhonze ndawonye nxa kwakusenza. AmaKhristu eqiniso ayakwazi ukuthi ukutshiya inkolo yamanga kukodwa akwanelanga, kuqakathekile lokuthi athuthukise ukukhonza kweqiniso. Kusukela iqalisa ukubhalwa, i-The Watch Tower yayihlala ikhuthaza ababeyibala ukuthi bahlangane ukuze bakhonze ndawonye. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uMfowethu uRussell evela ohambeni lokukhuluma izinkulumo ngoJuly 1880, wabika ukuthi emaqenjini ayewavakatshele ukuhlangana ndawonye kwakukhuthaza kakhulu. Wakhuthaza lalabo ababebala i-The Watch Tower ukuthi bathumeze imibiko yokuthi babethuthuka njani, njalo eminye yayo yayizabhalwa ku-The Watch Tower. Kungani kwakumele ithunyezwe? URussell wathi ‘Ukuze sonke sikwazi ukuthi iNkosi ilibusise kangakanani;  ukuthi lisaqhubeka lihlangana lalabo abalokholo oluligugu olufanana lolwenu yini.’

²⁰ Ngo-1882, i-The Watch Tower yayilesihloko esithi “Ukuhlangana Ndawonye.” Isihloko lesi sakhuthaza amaKhristu ukuthi abe lemihlangano ukuze “afundisane, akhuthazane njalo aqinisane.” Saphinda sathi: ‘Akulandaba ukuthi kulomuntu ofundileyo kumbe olesiphiwo phakathi kwenu. Lowo lalowo kabuye leBhayibhili lakhe, lephepha, lepenseli lokunye angakusebenzisa ukuze azwisise izihloko ezitshiyeneyo zeBhayibhili. Khethani isihloko, licele uMoya Ongcwele ukuthi ulincedise ekuzwisiseni, beselifunda imibhalo, licabangisise ngayo njalo liyiqhathanise. Lokhu kuzalisiza ukuba lilizwisise iqiniso.’

21. Ibandla elalise-Allegheny, e-Pennsylvania labeka siphi isibonelo mayelana lokuhlangana ndawonye kanye lokwalusa?

²¹ Indlunkulu yaBafundi beBhayibhili yayise-Allegheny, esePennsylvania e-U.S.A. aBafundi ababelapho babeka isibonelo esihle ngokuhlangana ndawonye, belalela umlayo ophefumulelweyo obhalwe kuHebheru 10:24, 25. (Bala.) Ngemva kwesikhathi, umfowethu uCharles Capen owayesekhulile walandisa ngemihlangano le ayingena esesemncane. Wabhala wathi: “Ngisawukhumbula omunye umbhalo owawubhalwe emdulini wewolu yeNhlanganiso. Wawusithi ‘Munye onguMfundisi wenu, uKhristu;  njalo lina lonke lingabazalwane.’ Kangiwukhohlwa umbhalo lo, uhlala ungikhumbuza ukuthi akulaMfundisi loba umuntukazana phakathi kwezinceku zikaJehova.” (Mat. 23:8, TBS) UMfowethu uCapen walandisa ukuthi imihlangano yayibafaka ugqozi futhi ibakhuthaza, lokuthi uMfowethu uRussell wayezama ngenkuthalo ukwalusa munye ngamunye owayesebandleni.

22. Abantu abathembekileyo benzani ngemva kokukhuthazwa ukuthi bangene imihlangano yamaKhristu, futhi kuyini esingakufunda kubo?

²² Abantu abathembekileyo basilandela isibonelo lesi esihle kanye lesiqondiso ababesiphiwa. Kwabunjwa amabandla ezindaweni ezinjengase-Ohio, eMichigan, lasezindaweni ezinengi eNorth America kanye lakwamanye amazwe. Aluba abantu abathembekileyo babengafundiswanga ukuthi balalele umlayo ophefumulelweyo wokuthi bakhonze ndawonye, ucabanga ukuthi babezabe bekulungele yini ukuba khona kukaKhristu? Iqiniso yikuthi babezabe bengakakulungeli! Sifundani thina lamuhla? Kufanele sizimisele ukungakhuthi ngitsho lowodwa umhlangano wobuKhristu, senze konke esingakwenza ukuze sikhonze ndawonye futhi sikhuthazane.

23. I-Watch Tower yakucacisa njani ukuthi bonke abagcotshiweyo kumele batshumayele iqiniso?

²³ ABafundi beBhayibhili babefundisa ukuthi bonke abagcotshiweyo kwakumele bayetshumayela iqiniso. Ngo-1885, i-The Watch Tower yathi: “Kasingakukhohlwa ukuthi bonke abagcotshiweyo bagcotshelwe ukuba batshumayele (Isaya. 61:1), babizelwe inkonzo.” Isihloko esabhalwa ngo-1888 sasilesikhuthazo esithi: ‘Siwazi kuhle umsebenzi okufanele siwenze. Nxa singekela ukuwenza loba sizame ukuzigeza kuwo, siyabe siyizinceku ezingamavila kakhulu, sitshengisa ukuthi isikhundla esiphezulu esisibizelweyo kasisifanelanga.’

24, 25. (a) URussell labanye bakhe benzani okunye ngaphandle kokukhuthaza abantu ukuba batshumayele? (b) Omunye owayeyi-colporteur wawuchaza njani umsebenzi wakhe ngesikhathi izimota zingakabi zinengi?

 ²⁴ UMfowethu uRussell labanye bakhe kabazange bacine ngokukhuthaza abantu ukuthi batshumayele kuphela. Baqalisa lokuloba amaphetshana ayebizwa ngokuthi ngama-Bible Students’ Tracts, ngemva kwesikhathi ayesebizwa ngokuthi ngama-Old Theology Quarterly. Ababephiwa i-The Watch Tower babephiwa lamaphetshana la ukuze bawanike abantu bonke nje mahala.

²⁵ Labo ababesenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke babesaziwa ngokuthi ngama-colporteurs. UCharles Capen okuke kwakhulunywa ngaye wayengomunye wawo. Ngesinye isikhathi wathi: “Ngangisebenzisa amamephu ayesenziwa luhlangothi oluthile lukaHulumende wase-United States ukuze ngenelise ukufika kuzo zonke izindawo engangitshumayela kuzo ePennsylvania. Amamephu la ayengitshengisa imigwaqo yonke, yikho kwakulula ukuthi ngifike kuzo zonke izindawo ngenyawo. Kwezinye izikhathi ngangiqeda insuku ezintathu ngihamba ngibhala amabizo alabo ababefuna amabhuku okwakuthiwa ngama-Studies in the Scriptures. Ngemva kwalokho ngangiboleka inqola yamabhiza ukuze ngenelise ukubahambisela amabhuku la. Ngangijayele ukulala ezindlini zabalimi. Izimota zaziseselutshwana ngalezozinsuku.”

26. (a) Kungani kwakumele izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zitshumayele ukuze zilungele ukubusa kukaKhristu? (b) Yiphi imibuzo okumele sizibuze yona?

²⁶ Ngalezozinsuku abantu kwakumele babe lesibindi futhi batshiseke ukuze batshumayele. AmaKhristu eqiniso ayezabe esekulungele yini ukubusa kukaKhristu aluba ayengafundiswanga ukuthi ukutshumayela kuqakathekile? Ngitsho sibili! Phela ukutshumayela kwakuzakuba yingxenye enkulu kakhulu yophawu lokuba khona kukaKhristu. (Mat. 24:14) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kwakumele zizimisele ukwenza umsebenzi lo osindisa ukuphila ube yiwo oqakatheke kulakho konke empilweni yazo. Lathi kumele sizibuze ukuthi: ‘Umsebenzi wokutshumayela ngiwuqakathekisa ukwedlula konke empilweni yami yini? Ngiyatshiya ezinye izinto engizithandayo yini ukuze ngenze konke engingakwenza enkonzweni?’

27, 28. Umphostoli uJohane wabonani embonweni, futhi uSathane lamadimoni akhe benzani ngemva kokusungulwa koMbuso?

²⁷ Wacina ufikile umnyaka oqakathekileyo u-1914. Ekuqaliseni kwesihloko lesi, sibonile ukuthi akulamuntu osemhlabeni owazibonayo izenzakalo eziqakathekileyo zisenzakala ezulwini. Kodwa umphostoli uJohane watshengiswa umbono owawufanekisela izenzakalo lezi. Ake ukucabange-nje: UJohane ubona “isibonakaliso esikhulu” ezulwini. “Owesifazana” kaNkulunkulu, omela inhlanganiso yakhe yezidalwa zomoya ezulwini, uzithwele njalo ubeletha indodana. Besesitshelwa ukuthi sekuseduze ukuthi indodana le ‘ibuse izizwe zonke ngentonga yensimbi.’ Kodwa umntwana lo uthe esanda kubelethwa “wahluthunelwa phezulu kuNkulunkulu lasesihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.” Kuzwakala ilizwi elikhulu ezulwini lisithi: “Khathesi ukusindiswa sekufikile lamandla kanye loMbuso kaNkulunkulu wethu, kanye lobukhosi bukaKhristu wakhe.”​—Isam. 12:1, 5, 10.

 ²⁸ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi okwakubonwa nguJohane embonweni kwakuyikusungulwa koMbuso kaMesiya. Isenzakalo lesi sasithokozisa kakhulu, kodwa abanye bafuthelana kakhulu ngaso. USathane lamadimoni akhe balwa lezingilosi ezithembekileyo ezazikhokhelwa nguMikhayeli kumbe uKhristu. Kwaphetha ngani? UMbhalo uthi: “Umgobho omkhulu waphoselwa phansi​—inyoka leyana endala ethiwa ngoMubi loba uSathane, odukisa umhlaba wonke. Waphoselwa emhlabeni, ekanye lezingilosi zakhe.”​—Isam. 12:7, 9.

29, 30. Ngemva kokusungulwa koMbuso kaMesiya, izinto zantshintsha njani (a) emhlabeni? (b) ezulwini?

²⁹ ABafundi beBhayibhili bakhuluma kusasele isikhathi eside ukuthi izikhathi ezinzima zazizaqalisa ngo-1914. Izenzakalo ezaba khona zatshengisa ukuthi babeyitshaye ekhanda. Ngalesosikhathi, uSathane wayezaludlisa luklubhu usapho loluntu ukwedlula loba nini, njengoba umbono kaJohane ukuveza: “Maye kuwo umhlaba lolwandle ngoba omubi useze phansi kini! Ugcwele intukuthelo, ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi isikhathi sakhe sifitshane.” (Isam. 12:​12) Ngo-1914 kwaqhamuka impi yomhlaba yokuqala, njalo isibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaKhristu emandleni okubusa saqalisa ukugcwaliseka emhlabeni wonke. ‘Izinsuku zokucina’ zomumo lo wezinto zaseziqalisile.​—2 Tim. 3:1.

³⁰ Lanxa kunjalo ezulwini basala bethokoza. USathane lamadimoni akhe kwakungasamelanga baphinde balugxobe ezulwini. UJohane uthi: “Ngakho-ke thokozani, lina mazulu kanye lani elihlala kuwo!” (Isam. 12:​12) Njengoba emazulwini kwasekuhlanzekile njalo uJesu esegcotshiwe ukuthi abe yiNkosi, uMbuso kaMesiya wawusulungele ukuthi wenzele izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezisemhlabeni okuthile. Wawuzakwenzani? Njengoba sike sabona ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi, uKhristu ‘njengesigijimi sesivumelwano’ wayezaqala ngokuba ngumcengi wezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezilapha emhlabeni. Kwakusitshoni lokhu?

31. Kuyini uMalaki akuphrofethayo mayelana lesikhathi sokucenga, futhi isiphrofetho lesi sagcwaliseka njani? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

³¹ UMalaki waphrofetha ukuthi isikhathi sokucenga sasizakuba nzima. Wabhala ukuthi: “Kodwa ngubani na ongalumela usuku lokuza kwaso? Ngubani ongema nxa eqhamuka na? Ngokuba sizakuba njengomlilo womcengi wensimbi kumbe njengesepa yomgezisi.” (Mal. 3:2) Amazwi la agcwaliseka njengoba enjalo. Kusukela ngo-1914, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezisemhlabeni zaqalisa ukwehlelwa yizilingo ezinkulu lobunzima. Njengoba Impi yoMhlaba yokuqala yayilokhu itshisa isiya phambili, aBafundi beBhayibhili abanengi basebehlukuluzwa kakhulu, sebebotshwa lokubotshwa. *

32. Yikuphi ukungahlaliseki okwaba khona phakathi kwezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngemva kuka-1916?

³² Laphakathi kwenhlanganiso kwaqalisa ukuba lesiphithiphithi lokungahlaliseki. UMfowethu uRussell wafa ngo-1916 eleminyaka engu-64 kuphela, watshiya abantu bakaNkulunkulu bethithibele. Ukufa kwakhe kwaveza ukuthi abantu abanengi babebeke ithemba labo lonke emuntwini oyedwa olungileyo. Lanxa uMfowethu uRussell wayengakufuni ukuthi adunyiswe ngendlela  le, kulabanye abasebembona angathi ungunkulunkulu. Abanengi babecabanga ukuthi njengoba kwasekufe igula elilamasi, iqiniso lalingaseyikuqhubeka likhanya, baze balwa lalabo ababezama ukuqhubekela phambili. Ukucabanga okunjalo yikho okwabangela ukuthi abanye bahlamuke, kwacina sekulamaqembu aphikisanayo enhlanganisweni.

33. Ukungenzakali kwezinto ezazilindelwe kwabalinga njani abantu bakaNkulunkulu?

³³ Esinye isilingo sasiyikuthi ezinye izenzakalo ababezilindele kazizange zenzakale. Lanxa i-The Watch Tower yayiqondile ngokutsho ukuthi iZikhathi zabeZizwe zazizaphela ngo-1914, abazalwane babengakakuzwisisi okwakuzakwenzakala ngomnyaka lo. (Luk. 21:​24) Babecabanga ukuthi ngo-1914 uKhristu wayezathatha iqembu lakhe elingumlobokazi ayebusa lalo ezulwini. Balinda, kodwa babona nya. Sekusiyaphela u-1917 i-The Watch Tower yatshela abantu ukuthi iminyaka engu-40 yokuvuna yayizaphela ngentwasa ka-1918. Kodwa umsebenzi wokutshumayela kawuzange ume, waqhubeka usiya phambili lalapho u-1918 esedlulile. Imagazini le yavuma ukuthi ukuvuna kwasekuphelile, kodwa isikhathi sokubutha abaseleyo sasisaqhubeka. Loba kunjalo abanengi bezwa ubuhlungu kakhulu okokuthi baze batshiya ukukhonza uJehova.

34. Yisiphi isilingo esikhulu esabakhona ngo-1918, futhi kungani abafundisi abanengi basebezitshela ukuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ‘zasezifile’?

³⁴ Ngo-1918 kwaba lensindabaphenduli yesilingo lapho uJ. F. Rutherford owasala esesikhundleni sikaC. T. Russell sokukhokhela abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ebotshwa kanye labanye abangu-7 ayencedisana labo. Lanxa babengelacala, bagwetshelwa iminyaka eminengi ejele yase-Atlanta, eseGeorgia e-U.S.A. Okwesikhathi esithile, kwakhanya angathi umsebenzi wabantu bakaNkulunkulu wawusubhazalele. Abafundisi abanengi bamaSonto amanga bathaba babamanzi te. Njengoba “abakhokheli” basebebotshiwe, indlunkulu yeBrooklyn isivaliwe, lomsebenzi wokutshumayela usuhlaselwa kokubili e-America lase-Europe, basebezitshela ukuthi aBafundi beBhayibhili ‘basebefile,’ okutsho ukuthi babengasoze baphinde babahluphe. (Isam. 11:​3, 7-10) Babeziphuphela nje!

35. Kungani uJesu wavumela ukuthi abalandeli bakhe bahlupheke, futhi wenzani ukuze abasize?

³⁵ Ababephikisana leqiniso babengakwazi ukuthi uJesu wayevumele ukuthi abantu bakhe bahlupheke ngendlela le ngenxa nje yokuthi uJehova wayesehlezi “njengomcengi lomhlambululi wesiliva.” (Mal. 3:3) UJehova leNdodana yakhe babeleqiniso lokuthi bakhona abathembekileyo ababezaphumelela phakathi kwezilingo ezazinjengomlilo, baphume sebecengiwe, bahlanjululwa njalo bakulungela ngcono kulakuqala ukuba yizinceku zeNkosi. Kusukela ekuqaliseni kuka-1919, kwacaca ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu wawukwenzile lokho izitha zabantu bakhe ezazicabanga ukuthi ngeke kwenzakale. Abathembekileyo bavuselelwa! (Isam. 11:​11) Ngalesosikhathi, uKhristu wagcwalisa esinye isiphrofetho sezinsuku zokucina esiqakatheke kakhulu. Wabeka ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo,’  eliqembu elincane lamadoda agcotshiweyo. Amadoda la ayezakhokhela abantu bakhe ngokubanika ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo.​—Mat. 24:45-47.

36. Kuyini okwatshengisa ukuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasezivuselela ukukhonza kwazo?

³⁶ UMfowethu uRutherford labanye bakhe bakhululwa ejele ngoMarch 26, 1919. Kabazange baphozise amaseko, kodwa bahle balungiselela ukuthi kube lomhlangano ngoSeptember. Kwalungiselelwa lokuthi kube lenye imagazini eyayizabizwa ngokuthi yi-The Golden Age. Imagazini le yayenzelwe ukuthi ihanjiswe ndawonye le-The Watch Tower ekutshumayeleni. * Ngomnyaka ofananayo, kwaqalisa ukubhalwa i-Bulletin, khathesi esibizwa ngokuthi yi-Nkonzo Yethu YoMbuso. Kusukela iqalisa ukubhalwa, ibilokhu igcizelela ukuqakatheka komsebenzi wokutshumayela. Yikho-ke akumangalisi ukuthi kusukela ngo-1919, ukutshumayela endlini ngendlu kwaba ngumsebenzi oqakathekiswa kakhulu.

37. Eminyakeni eyalandela u-1919, kwakhanya njani ukuthi abanye babengathembekanga?

³⁷ Ukutshumayela kwaqhubeka kucenga izinceku zikaKhristu ngoba ababeziphakamisa behluleka ukuwenza umsebenzi lo owawukhanya uphansi. Ababengafuni ukutshumayela behlukana lalabo ababethembekile. Eminyakeni eyalandela u-1919, ababengathembekanga  bagcwalelana okokuthi baqalisa ukugcona lokunyundela izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo, baze bancedisana lezitha zazo.

38. Ukuphumelela lokunqoba kwabalandeli bakaKhristu abasemhlabeni kufakazelani?

³⁸ Lanxa babehlaselwa kangako, abalandeli bakaKhristu baqhubeka bethuthuka ekukhonzeni njalo bephumelela. Ukuphumelela kwabo lendlela abanqobe ngayo kusukela ngalesosikhathi iyibufakazi esingeke sibuphike bokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyabusa! Aluba uNkulunkulu wayengazange asize njalo abusise abantu bakhe abalesono, esebenzisa iNdodana yakhe kanye loMbuso kaMesiya, babengasoze bamnqobe uSathane lomumo wezinto lo omubi!​—Bala u-Isaya 54:17.

39, 40. (a) Lihlelwe njani ibhuku leli? (b) Ukufunda ibhuku leli kuzakusiza ngani?

³⁹ Ezahlukweni ezilandelayo, sizahlola lokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu osukufezile emhlabeni kusukela ngesikhathi owasungulwa ngaso ezulwini, eminyakeni engu-100 edlulileyo. Ingxenye ngayinye yebhuku leli izatshengisa imisebenzi etshiyeneyo eyenziwe nguMbuso lapha emhlabeni. Kuzo zonke izahluko, sizathola ibhokisi lokuphindela emuva elizasiza munye ngamunye wethu ukuthi azihlole ukuthi uMbuso ungokoqobo kangakanani kuye. Ezahlukweni zokucina, sizaxoxa ngokuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala lapho uMbuso usuzobhubhisa abantu ababi njalo usuletha ipharadayisi emhlabeni. Ukufunda ibhuku leli kuzakusiza ngani?

⁴⁰ USathane ufuna ukubhidliza ukholo lwakho eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJehova ufuna ukuluqinisa ukuze lukuvikele njalo uhlale uqinile ekukhonzeni. (Efe. 6:16) Yikho-ke siyakukhuthaza ukuthi uthandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu lapho ufunda ibhuku leli. Qhubeka uzibuza ukuthi, ‘UMbuso kaNkulunkulu ungokoqobo yini kimi?’ Nxa ungokoqobo kuwe khathesi, ungaba leqiniso lokuthi uzabe ukhona njalo uwusekela ngentshiseko langokuthembeka uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, mhla bonke abantu abazabe bephila bewubona ukuthi ungokoqobo njalo uyabusa!