1, 2. Abantu bathini ngepharadayisi?

KWASEKUZINYEMBEZI zodwa, abafowethu labodadewethu ababevela kwamanye amazwe sebevalelisa abazalwane beKorea. Wawusuphelile umhlangano wezizwe owawusedolobheni leSeoul eKorea. Babephakamiselana izandla bememeza besithi: “Sizabonana ePharadayisi!” Ubona angathi yiliphi ipharadayisi ababekhuluma ngalo?

² Abantu balemibono etshiyeneyo ngepharadayisi. Abanye bathi ipharadayisi liphupho nje. Abanye bathi nxa izinto zikuhambela kuhle empilweni uyabe usepharadayisi. Bathi lomuntu olambayo ulakho ukubona angathi usesepharadayisi nxa kungathiwa qithi izibiliboco phambi kwakhe. Eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulayo, omunye umama wathi ebona indawo eyayigcwele amaluba amahle wababaza wathi: “Lapha kusepharadayisi sibili!” Lakhathesi indawo leyo ibizwa ngokuthi lipharadayisi lanxa minyaka yonke isiba longqwaqwane omnengi kakhulu. Wena ubona angathi ipharadayisi kuyini? Uyafuna yini ukuphila kulo?

3. Kungaphi lapho esiqala ukuzwa khona ngePharadayisi?

³ IBhayibhili lisitshela ngePharadayisi elake laba khona kanye lalelo elizakuba khona ngesikhathi esizayo. Ivesi yokuqala ekhuluma ngePharadayisi siyithola ebhukwini lokuqala leBhayibhili. KuGenesisi 2:8 elinye iBhayibhili lesiLathini okuthiwa yiCatholic Douay  lithi: “INkosi uNkulunkulu yayihlanyele ipharadayisi elithokozisayo kusukela ekuqaleni: lapho eyabeka khona [u-Adamu] eyayisimbumbile.” Emibhalweni yesiHebheru indawo le ibizwa ngokuthi yisivande se-Edeni. Ibala elithi Edeni litsho “ukuthokoza.” Lakanye kwakuthokozisa sibili ukuba sesivandeni leso ngoba sasisihle kakhulu, silezinyamazana ezitshiyeneyo futhi lokudla kwakuyithaphutshiye.​—Gen. 1:29-31.

4. Isivande sase-Edeni sasilipharadayisi yini? Chaza.

⁴ Ibala lesiHebheru elitsho “isivande” lihunyutshwa ngokuthi pa·raʹdei·sos ngolimi lwesiGrikhi. Elinye ibhuku elabhalwa nguM’Clintock loStrong lithi nxa umuntu ongumGrikhi esizwa ibala elithi pa·raʹdei·sos, uhle acabange indawo enkulu futhi enhle njengephakhi, evikelekileyo njalo elezihlahla ezinhle ezithela izithelo ezitshiyeneyo. Lithi uyabe esebona kugeleza lezifudlana zamanzi ezilotshani obuluhlaza emaceleni, lapho okudla khona imihlambi yezimvu lezinyamazana zeganga.​—Khangela loGenesisi 2:15, 16.

5, 6. Kungani singekho ePharadayisi lamuhla futhi lokhu kwenza abanye bazibuze ukuthini?

⁵ UNkulunkulu wafaka u-Adamu lo-Eva endaweni elipharadayisi ukuze bahlale kuyo. Lanxa kunjalo, wacina ebaxotsha ngoba bephula umthetho wakhe ngabomo. Lokho kwenza ukuthi bona kanye labantwababo balahlekelwe yisibusiso sokuhlala ePharadayisi. (Gen 3:23, 24) Lanxa indawo le yayingasahlali muntu, kukhanya yaqhubeka ikhona kwaze kwafika uZamcolo ngesikhathi sikaNowa.

⁶ Njengoba khathesi singekho ePharadayisi, abanye bangazibuza ukuthi lizaphinda libe khona yini lapha emhlabeni. IBhayibhili lona lithini? Nxa ulethemba lokuthi wena lezihlobo zakho lizaphila ePharadayisi, kuyini okwenza ungathandabuzi ukuthi lokho kuzakwenzakala? Ungamchasisela njani omunye ukuthi iPharadayisi lizakuba khona sibili?

7, 8. (a) UNkulunkulu wamthembisani u-Abhrahama? (b) Kuyini okungabe kwacatshangwa ngu-Abhrahama ngesikhathi esizwa isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu?

⁷ Okungasinceda ukuthi sithole impendulo yombuzo lo yikuhlola ibhuku elaphefumulelwa nguNkulunkulu ngoba nguye owenza iPharadayisi. Ngokwesibonelo, uNkulunkulu watshela umngane wakhe u-Abhrahama ukuthi uzambusisa, enze izizukulwane zakhe zibe zinengi ‘njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.’ Waphinda wamthembisa wathi: “Ngenzalo yakho zonke izizwe zomhlaba zizabusiswa, ngokuba ungilalele.” (Gen 22:17, 18) UNkulunkulu wasiphinda isithembiso lesi esiqakathekileyo langesikhathi ekhuluma lendodana ka-Abhrahama kanye lomzukulu wakhe.​—Bala uGenesisi 26:4; 28:14.

⁸ IBhayibhili kalitsho ukuthi u-Abhrahama wacabanga ukuthi abantu bazathola umvuzo wokuyaphila epharadayisi ezulwini. Ngakho kumele ukuthi lapho esizwa uNkulunkulu esithi “zonke izizwe zomhlaba” zizabusiswa, wananzelela ukuthi wayesitsho izibusiso ezizakuba khona emhlabeni. Kasithandabuzi ukuthi “zonke izizwe zomhlaba” zizabusiswa ngoba isithembiso lesi sivela kuNkulunkulu. Kukhona yini okunye okutshengisa ukuthi lokhu kuzakwenzakala?

9, 10. Yiziphi ezinye izithembiso ezitshengisa ukuthi izizwe zomhlaba zizabusiswa?

⁹ UDavida wayengowosendo luka-Abhrahama futhi waphefumulelwa ukuthi akhulume ngalokho okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. Wathi ‘abantu ababi’ lalabo “abenza okungalunganga” bazasuswa bangaphindi babe khona. (Hubo. 37:1, 2, 10) Kodwa “abathobekileyo bazakudla ilifa lelizwe bakholise ukuthula okukhulu.” Waphinda wathi: “Abalungileyo bazazuza ilifa lelizwe bahlale kulo lanini.” (Hubo. 37:11, 29; 2 Sam. 23:2) Kumele ukuthi amazwi la abaqinisa abantu ababezimisele ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Basebelethemba lokuthi umhlaba  uzaphinda ugcwale abantu abalungileyo futhi ube lipharadayisi njengesivande sase-Edeni.

¹⁰ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ama-Israyeli amanengi ahlamukela uJehova njalo atshiya ukukhonza kweqiniso. Yikho uNkulunkulu wavumela abaseBhabhiloni ukuthi bawanqobe, batshabalalise ilizwe lawo njalo bawathumbe. (2 ImiLan. 36:15-21; Jer. 4:22-27) Lanxa kunjalo, abaphrofethi bakaNkulunkulu baveza ukuthi ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 abako-Israyeli babezabuyela elizweni labo. Lakanye iziphrofetho lezo zagcwaliseka. Kodwa ziyasebenza lakithi lamuhla. Ake sihlole ezinye zakhona sibone ukuthi zisitshelani ngePharadayisi elizayo.

11. U-Isaya 11:6-9 uthi kuyini okwakuzakwenzakala nxa abako-Israyeli sebephendukile elizweni labo futhi yiwuphi umbuzo obakhona?

¹¹ Bala u-Isaya 11:6-9. UNkulunkulu waphefumulela umphrofethi u-Isaya ukuthi akhulume ngokuthula okwakuzakuba khona nxa abako-Israyeli sebephendukile elizweni labo. Waveza ukuthi babengasoze bahlaselwe zinyamazana eziyingozi kanye lezigebenga. Babezahlala bechelesile kungelalutho abalwesabayo. Lokhu kusikhumbuza inhlalakahle kanye lokuthula okwakukhona esivandeni sase-Edeni. (Isaya. 51:3) Umphrofethi u-Isaya waphinda wathi “umhlaba uzakuba usugcwele ulwazi lukaJehova njengamanzi egcwele ulwandle.” Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala emhlabeni wonke hatshi ko-Israyeli kuphela. Pho kwakuzakwenzakala nini?

12. (a) Yiziphi izibusiso ezatholwa ngabako-Israyeli ababevela eBhabhiloni? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi amazwi aku-Isaya 35:5-10 azagwaliseka langesikhathi esizayo?

¹² Bala u-Isaya 35:5-10. U-Isaya wagcizelela lokuthi abako-Israyeli babengasoze bahlaselwe zinyamazana loba ngabantu. Babezayitshaya inala kudabuke iziphala ngoba amanzi ayezabe emanengi elizweni njengoba kwakunjalo lesivandeni se-Edeni. (Gen. 2:10-14; Jer. 31:12) Loba kunjalo kukhona okwaphrofethwa ngu-Isaya okungazange kugcwaliseke ngalesosikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo abantu abayizigoga, abayiziphofu kanye labayizacuthe abazange basiliswe. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi umphrofethi u-Isaya wayekhuluma ngalokho okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo.

13, 14. U-Isaya 65:21-23 wagcwaliseka njani ngesikhathi sama-Israyeli njalo yiphi ingxenye yesiphrofetho leso ezagcwaliseka ngesikhathi esizayo?

¹³ Bala u-Isaya 65:21-23. Abako-Israyeli abazange bathole elizweni labo kulezindlu ezinhle futhi kugcwele amabele emasimini. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wababusisa benelisa ukwakha izindlu bahlala kuzo njalo bahlanyela izivini badla izithelo zazo. Basebeyikholisa impilo!

¹⁴ Isiphrofetho lesi sisitshela ukuthi ngesikhathi esizayo izinsuku zethu zizakuba “njengezinsuku zesihlahla.” Phela ezinye izihlahla ziphila izinkulungwane zeminyaka. Ngakho abantu kumele babe lempilakahle ukuze benelise ukuphila isikhathi eside kangako. Impilo enjalo singayithola kuphela nxa sesisePharadayisi ngoba ngalesosikhathi kuyabe sekugcwalisekile lokho okwatshiwo ngumphrofethi u-Isaya.

15. Yiziphi ezinye izibusiso ezakhulunywa ngu-Isaya?

¹⁵ Esesikhulume ngakho kutshengisa ukuthi iPharadayisi lizakuba khona. Sibonile ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzabusisa zonke izizwe zomhlaba. Abantu ngeke bahlutshwa zinyamazana loba yizigebenga. Kuzasiliswa iziphofu, izacuthe kanye labagogekileyo. Abantu bazakwakha izindlu bahlale kuzo futhi balime bavune ukudla okunengi. Kanti njalo bazaphila iminyaka eminengi ukwedlula izihlahla. IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi konke lokhu kuzakwenzakala. Kodwa abanye bangathi iziphrofetho lezi kazitsho ukuthi iPharadayisi lizakuba semhlabeni. Ungamphendula njani umuntu otsho njalo? Yiziphi izizatho ezenza ukholwe ukuthi iPharadayisi lizakuba khonapha emhlabeni? Ake sibone ukuthi uJesu yena wathini.

16, 17. Kunini lapho uJesu akhuluma khona ngePharadayisi?

¹⁶ UJesu wabulawa ngendlela ebuhlungu lanxa wayengelacala. Eceleni kwakhe kwakulengiswe izigebenga ezimbili ezingamaJuda. Esinye sakhona sananzelela ukuthi uJesu wayeyinkosi, sasesisithi kuye: “Jesu, ungikhumbule nxa ungafika embusweni wakho.” (Luk. 23:39-42) Impendulo kaJesu siyithola kuLukha 23:43. Lamuhla abantu bawazwisisa ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo amazwi kaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, ezinye izazi ziyibeka kanje ivesi le: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kuwe, lamuhla uzakuba lami ePharadayisi.” Wayesitshoni uJesu lapho esithi “lamuhla”? Kasiyihlolisiseni indaba le ngoba iqakathekile kithi sonke.

¹⁷ Lamuhla abalobi abanengi basebenzisa amakhoma ukuze bacacise umcijo oqakathekileyo emutshweni. Kodwa emibhalweni yesiGrikhi yasendulo izimpawu zenkulumo zazingasetshenziswa kangako. Pho uJesu wathini? Wathi: “Ngiyakutshela, lamuhla uzakuba lami ePharadayisi,” kumbe wathi, “Ngiyakutshela lamuhla, uzakuba lami ePharadayisi”? EmaBhayibhilini amanengi abahumutshi bafaka ikhoma lapho abafuna khona kusiya ngokuthi bawazwisisa njani amazwi kaJesu.

18, 19. Chasisa ukuthi uJesu wayesitshoni lapho ekhuluma lesigebenga esasiseceleni kwakhe.

¹⁸ Khumbula ukuthi uJesu engakabotshwa watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “INdodana yoMuntu izahlala izinsuku ezintathu lobusuku obuthathu emathunjini omhlabathi.” Waphinda wathi: “INdodana yoMuntu izanikelwa ezandleni zabantu. Bazayibulala, kuthi ngosuku lwesithathu izavuselwa ekuphileni.” (Mat. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22, 23; Mak. 10:34) Umphostoli uPhetro wabika ukuthi lokhu kwenzakala sibili. (ImiSeb. 10:39, 40) Ngakho uJesu lesigebenga esasiseceleni kwakhe abazange baye ePharadayisi ngelanga abafa ngalo. IBhayibhili lithi uJesu ‘wayesengcwabeni’ okwamalanga athile, uNkulunkulu waze wamvusa.​—ImiSeb. 2:31, 32. *

¹⁹ Ngakho-ke kuyakhanya ukuthi lapho uJesu ephendula isigebenga esasiceleni kwakhe wendlalela amazwi akhe ngokuthi: “Ngikutshela iqiniso lamuhla.” Le yindlela yokukhuluma eyayijayelekile endulo futhi loMosi wayisebenzisa. Wathi kuma-Israyeli: “Imilayo le engikupha yona lamuhla kumele ibe sezinhliziyweni zenu.”​—Dute. 6:6; 7:11; 8:1, 19; 30:15.

20. Yibuphi obunye ubufakazi obusekela indlela esizwisisa ngayo amazwi kaJesu?

²⁰ Omunye umhumutshi weBhayibhili odabuka emangweni uJesu akhulela kuwo wathi: “Ibala eliqakathekileyo emazwini kaJesu ngelithi ‘lamuhla’ futhi amazwi akhe kumele abhalwe kanje, ‘Ngikutshela iqiniso lamuhla, uzakuba lami ePharadayisi.’ Lanxa wasebenzisa ibala elithi ‘lamuhla,’ isithembiso sakhe sizagcwaliseka esikhathini esizayo. Le yindlela abantu basendulo ababekhuluma ngayo nxa besenza izithembiso njalo beqinisekisa ukuthi bazakwenza lokho abakuthembisileyo.” Yikho elinye iBhayibhili lesi-Aramayikhi elahunyutshwa eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 600 eyadlulayo lisithi: “Ngiqinisile lamuhla ngithi kuwe uzakuba lami eSivandeni sase-Edeni.” Isithembiso lesi siyakhuthaza sibili ngoba sitshengisa ukuthi iPharadayisi lizakuba khona!

21. Isigebenga esasikhuluma loJesu saya ezulwini yini? Chaza.

²¹ Isithembiso sikaJesu sasisitsho ukuthi isigebenga leso sizakuya ezulwini yini? Hatshi. Khumbula ukuthi isigebenga leso sasingakwazi ukuthi uJesu wenze isivumelwano labaphostoli  bakhe abathembekileyo esokuthi babezabusa laye eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Luk. 22:29) Kanti njalo sasingabhabhathizwanga futhi sasingagcotshwanga ngomoya ongcwele. (Joh. 3:3-6, 12) Ngakho isithembiso sikaJesu sasiphathelane lePharadayisi elizakuba khonapha emhlabeni. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngombono womuntu owathathwa ‘wasiwa epharadayisi.’ (2 Khor. 12:1-4) Lanxa uPhawuli labanye abaphostoli babekhethwe ukuthi bayebusa loJesu ezulwini, lapha wayengakhulumi ngalokho okuzakwenzakala ezulwini kuphela. Wayengabe esitsho lePharadayisi elizakuba semhlabeni. * Wena uyafuna yini ukuphila kulo?

22, 23. Yiziphi izibusiso esizazithola ePharadayisi?

²² UDavida wathi “abalungileyo bazazuza ilifa lelizwe.” (Hubo. 37:29; 2 Phet. 3:13) Ngesikhathi leso bonke abantu emhlabeni bazabe belandela imithetho kaNkulunkulu. Isiphrofetho esiku-Isaya 65:22 sithi ‘izinsuku zabantu zizakuba njengezinsuku zesihlahla.’ Isithembiso leso sitshengisa ukuthi abantu bazaphila izinkulungwane zeminyaka. Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani? KuSambulo 21:1-4 uNkulunkulu uthembisa ukuthi uzasusa ukufa njalo anike abantu bakhe izibusiso ezinengi.

²³ Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi umhlaba uzaphinda ube liPharadayisi. Sibonile ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva balahla ithuba lokuphila emhlabeni omuhle. Lanxa kunjalo, uNkulunkulu uzaphinda ababusise abantu bakhe. UDavida wathi abathobekileyo labalungileyo bazakudla ilifa lomhlaba futhi bahlale kuwo kuze kube nini lanini. Iziphrofetho ezisebhukwini lika-Isaya lazo zisitshela ngezibusiso ezinengi esizazithola. Ngalesosikhathi kuzagcwaliseka lokho uJesu akuthembisa isigebenga esasibethelwe eceleni kwakhe. Sisilindele ngabomvu isikhathi leso njengabazalwane ababesemhlanganweni waseKorea abavalelisana besithi: “Sizabonana ePharadayisi!” Wena uzabe ukhona yini?