1-3. (a) ‘Ilaka [lakaJehova] elivuthako’ lizokuba namuphi umphumela? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.) (b) Sizokucoca ngani nje?

 AMADODA, abomma nabantwana bajame boke bacula ingoma yomBuso. Umdala webandla uthandaza ngokusuka ehliziyweni ubawa uJehova bona abavikele. Amalunga webandla ayaqiniseka bona uJehova uzowatlhogomela kodwana asatlhoga induduzo nokuqinisekiswa. Ngaphandle, kuzwakala itjhada elikhulu labantu abalwako. I-Arimagedoni ithomile.—IsAm. 16:14, 16.

² Hlangana nepi ye-Arimagedoni, nanyana uJehova azabe ‘anelaka elivuthako’ uzokulawula ukuthi ngubani osindako namkha otjhabalalako. (Funda uHezekiyeli 38:18.) Itukuthelwakhe evuthako izabe ingakanqophi ebuthweni linye namkha esitjhabeni sinye kwaphela kunalokho, ebantwini abanengi abahlala ephasini loke. Ngelangelo, ababulewe nguJehova bazabe “bavela ephasini loke.”—Jor. 25:29, 33.

³ UJehova uZimu onethando, uhlathululwa ngokuthi ‘unesirhawu nomusa’ begodu ‘akasilingeki msinya, ‘ alo, khuyini ezombangela bona athathe amagadango anjalo begodu ‘ilaka lakhe livuthe’? (Eks. 34:6; 1 Jwa. 4:16) Akhe sibone ukuthi ipendulo  yombuzo lo ingasiduduza njani, isenze sibe nesibindi begodu isikhuthaze emsebenzini wokutjhumayela namhlanjesi.

4, 5. Ilaka lakaZimu lihluke njani nelabantu abanesono?

⁴ Kokuthoma, kufuze sazi ukuthi ilaka lakaJehova alifani nelabantu abanesono. Umuntu nakaba nelaka khulu, kanengi ugcina sele enza into embi ebekangakazimiseli ukuyenza. Ngokwesibonelo, uKayini indodana ka-Adamu yokuthoma, “wasilingeka khulu” ngebanga lokuthi uJehova akhenge amukele umhlatjelwakhe kodwana wamukela isipho saka-Abela. Umphumela waba kukuthi uKayini wabulala umfowabo olungileko. (Gen. 4:3-8; Heb. 11:4) Cabanga nangoDavida, indoda ehlathululwa ngokuthi ithandwa yihliziyo kaJehova. (IzE. 13:22) Nendoda elungileko le, yapheze yenza umlandu omkhulu nayizwa bona indoda enjingileko, enendawo ekulu uNabhali, iyithukile yathuka namadoda akhamba nayo. UDavida namasotjakhe basilingeka khulu, ‘babophela iinsabula’ zabo bahlose ukuyokubulala indoda engathokoziko le, uNabhali kuhlanganise nawo woke amadoda asendlinakhe. Ngokuhlakanipha umfazi kaNabhali, u-Abhigeyili wakghona ukukhuluma noDavida namadoda ebekakhamba nawo bona bangaziphindiseleli. (1 Sam. 25:9-14, 32, 33) Kunamabanga amahle enza uJehova aphefumulele uJakopo bona atlole amezwi la: “Ukusilingeka komuntu akulethi ukulunga kwakaZimu.”—Jak. 1:20.

⁵ Ngokungafani nokusilingeka komuntu, ngasikhathi osilingeka ngebanga lento engekho, ukusilingeka kwakaJehova kuhlala kulawuleka begodu kuhlala kukhanya bona kubayini asilingekile. Ngitjho nanyana uJehova aba nelaka elikhulu, uhlala enza ngendlela elungileko. Nakalwa nenaba lakhe, akathomi atjhabalalise “abalungileko nabakhohlakeleko.” (Gen. 18:22-25) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova uhlala anamabanga azwakalako wokusilingeka. Akhe sicabangele amabanga amabili neemfundo esingazifunda kiwo.

6. UJehova wenzani igama lakhe nalisilaphazwako?

⁶ Ibanga: Igama lakaJehova liyasilaphazwa. Labo abathi bajamela uJehova kodwana benze izinto ezimbi begodu bamhlazise, bamenza abe nelaka. (Hez. 36:23) Njengombana kuhlathululiwe ezahlukweni ezidlulileko zencwadi le, isitjhaba sakwa-Israyeli sasilaphaza igama lakaJehova. Kuyazwisiseka bona indlela isitjhabesi ebesenza besicabange ngayo, yenza uJehova wasilingeka. Kodwana akhenge abhalelwe kulawula ilaka lakhe, kunalokho wajezisa abantu bakhe ngendlela efaneleko, akhenge adlulele ngale kwalokho. (Jor. 30:11) Ngemva kobana abajezise, uJehova akhenge asaba nelaka namkha aphatheke kabuhlungu.—Rhu. 103:9.

7, 8. Ngiziphi iimfundo esizifumana endleleni uJehova asebenzelana ngayo no-Israyeli?

⁷ Iimfundo: Indlela uJehova ebekaphatha ngayo ama-Israyeli isiyeleliso kithi. Njengama-Israyeli wekadeni, sinelungelo lokubizwa  ngegama lakaJehova. SiboFakazi bakaJehova. (Isa. 43:10) Esikutjhoko nesikwenzako kuyayithinta indlela abantu abaqala ngayo uZimu. Asifuni ukuziphatha kumbi besisilaphaze igama lakaJehova. Ukuziphatha njalo kuzokwenza uJehova abe nelaka, uzokwenza okuthileko bona avikele igama lakhe, angakwenza msinyana lokho namkha athathe isikhathi.—Heb. 3:13, 15; 2 Pit. 2:1, 2.

⁸ Kghani isiyeleliso esithi uJehova uyakghona ‘ukusilingeka khulu’ kufuze sisivimbe ukuthi sitjhidele kuye? Awa. Siyazi bona uJehova uyabekezela begodu uyalibalela. (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 2:4) Siyazi nokuthi uyasikhupha isiyalo nakutlhogekako. Ekhabolakhona, siyamhlonipha uJehova, siyazi bona uyasilingeka ngalabo abenza izinto ezimbi ngamabomu begodu angekhe abavumele bona babe hlangana nabantu bakhe. (1 Kor. 5:11-13) UJehova usitjele ngokukhanyako lokho okumenza asilingeke. Kukithi ukubalekela ukwenza nokuziphatha ngendlela emenza asilingeke.—Jwa. 3:36; Rom. 1:26-32; Jak. 4:8.

9, 10. Khuyini uJehova ayenzako abantu bakhe abathembekileko nabathuselwako? Nikela iimbonelo.

⁹ Ibanga: Abantu bakaJehova abathembekileko bayathuselwa. UJehova uyasilingeka lokha amanaba asahlela abantu abamlotjha ngokuthembeka, nabafuna isivikelo sakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuthi ama-Israyeli akhambe eGibhide, uFaro nebutho lakhe elinamandla bafika bazokusahlela abantu ebebabonakala banganasizo, ebebavimbezeleke magega neLwandle eliBomvu. Kodwana lokha ibuthweli elinamandla ligijimisa ama-Israyeli ebewayama ilwandle elomileko, uJehova wakhupha amavili weenkoloyana zepi bewenza nabantu beGibhide baminza elwandle. “Akekho namunye owasindako.” (Eks. 14:25-28) Ngebanga ‘lethando’ uJehova analo ngabantu bakhe, ilaka lakhe lavuthela abantu beGibhide.—Funda u-Eksodusi 15:9-13.

¹⁰ Ngebanga lokuthi uJehova uyabathanda abantu bakhe, lokho kwamenza bona angenele nangesikhathi seKosi uHezekiya. Ama-Asiriya, ibutho elinamandla khulu nelinelunya langesikhatheso lafika lazokusahlela idorobho leJerusalema. Iinceku zakaJehova ezithembekileko zathuselwa ngokuvinjezelwa ebekuzokubangela bona zife kabuhlungu begodu kancanikancani. (2 Kho. 18:27) Ngebanga lalokho, uJehova wathumela ingilozi yinye kwaphela, yabulala amasotja wamanaba angaba zii-185 000 ngobusuku bunye. (2 Kho. 19:34, 35) Akhe ucabange bona bekunjani ekampeni yama-Asiriya ngelanga elilandelako. Imikhonto, iimviko neensabula zingakasetjenziswa. Akunabhorompita eyavusa amadoda la. Akunasinqophiso esaphumako ebesibiza amasotja. Kuthule ngendlela engakajayeleki begodu kuneendumbu kiyo yoke indawo.

11. Iimbonelo eziseBhayibhelini ezitjengisa indlela uJehova azizwa ngayo abantu bakhe nabathuselwa, zisiduduza bezisiqinise njani?

 ¹¹ Iimfundo: Iimbonelwezi zitjengisa indlela uJehova asabela ngayo abantu bakhe nabathuselwako, okunikela isiyeleliso esinamandla emanabenethu, ukuthi: “Kuyinto esabekako ukuwela ezandleni zakaZimu ophilako” lokha nakasilingiweko. (Heb. 10:31) Iimbonelwezi ziyasiduduza begodu zisinikela isibindi. Siyaduduzeka ukwazi ukuthi inaba lethu elikhulu, uSathana, angeze laphumelela. Ingasikade ‘isikhathi esifitjhani’ sokubusa kwakhe sizokuphela. (IsAm. 12:12) Bekube sikhatheso, silotjha uJehova ngesibindi, siqiniseka ukuthi akunamuntu, ihlangano namkha urhulumende ongasivimbela bona senze intando kaZimu. (Funda iRhubo 118:6-9.) Umpostoli uPowula waveza indlela esiqiniseka ngayo ngamezwi la aphefumulelweko athi: “Nangabe uZimu ungakithi, ngubani ozokuphikisana nathi?”—Rom. 8:31.

12. Ngesizi elikhulu, khuyini ezokwenza ilaka lakaJehova livuthe?

¹² Ngesizi elikhulu elizako, uJehova uzosivikela njengombana avikela ama-Israyeli ebewavinjezelwe maGibhide nama-Asiriya ebewavimbezele amaJuda eJerusalema. Ngebanga lokuthi uJehova  uyasithanda uzokwenza ilaka lakhe livuthe, amanabethu nakalinga ukusitjhabalalisa. Labo ngokungahlakaniphi abazosisahlela, kuzokuba ngasuthi bathinta ilihlo lakaJehova. UJehova uzokuthatha isiqunto msinyana. (Zak. 2:8, 9) Kuzokuhlongakala abantu abanengi khulu ngendlela engakhenge kheyibonwe phambilini. Kodwana alikho ibanga elizokwenza amanaba kaZimu arareke uJehova nakakhupha ilaka lakhe. Kubayini?

13. Ngiziphi iinyeleliso uJehova azinikelako?

¹³ UJehova ‘akasilingeki msinya’ begodu ukhuphe iinyeleliso ezinengi zokuthi uzokutjhabalalisa labo abaphikisana naye bebathusele nabantu bakhe. (Eks. 34:6, 7) UJehova usebenzise abaphorofidi abafana noJoromiya, uHezekiyeli, uDanyela, uKrestu Jesu nabapostoli abafana noPitrosi, uPowula noJwanisi ukuyelelisa ngepi ekulu. Funda ibhoksi elithi, “UJehova Uyelelisa Ngepi Ekulu Ezako.”

14, 15. Ngimiphi imisebenzi uJehova ayenzileko begodu kubayini?

 ¹⁴ UJehova wenza bona iinyeleliswezi zitlolwe eliZwini lakhe. Waqinisekisa nokuthi iBhayibheli itjhugululelwa emalimini amanengi begodu izokufunyanwa babantu abanengi khulu emlandweni. Ephasini loke, ubuthelele ibutho lamavolontiya asiza abanye babe netjhebiswano elihle naye, bebabayelelise ngokuza ‘kwelanga elikhulu lakaJehova.’ (Zef. 1:14; Rhu. 2:10-12; 110:3) Ubangele abantu bakhe bona batjhugululele iincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini emalimini angaba makhulu. Ubuye wabenza bona batjhumayele ama-awara aziingidi ezinengi qobe mnyaka, bakhuluma ngeenthembiso nangeenyeleliso ezifumaneka eliZwini lakhe.

¹⁵ UJehova ubangele bona kwenziwe woke umsebenzi lo “ngombana angafisi ukuthi namunye atjhabalale kodwana ufisa bona boke batjhuguluke.” (2 Pit. 3:9) Qala bona kulilungelo elihle kangangani ukujamela uZimethu onethando nobekezelako nokuba nengcenye encani ekurhatjheni umlayezwakhe. Nanyana kunjalo, kungasikade labo abangazilaleliko iinyeleliswezi angekhe basasifumana isikhathi sokutjhuguluka.

16, 17. Inga-kghani uJehova ulibekile ilanga lepi yamaswaphela? Hlathulula.

¹⁶ UJehova ubeke isikhathi sepi yamaswaphela. Uyazi ukuthi abantu bakhe bazokusahlelwa nini. (Mat. 24:36) UJehova wazi njani bona amanabakhe azokusahlela nini?

¹⁷ Njengombana sibonile esahlukweni esidlulileko sencwadi le, uJehova utjela uGogi ukuthi: ‘Ngizokufaka amawugu emihlathinakho.’ Uzokwenza iintjhabezi zihlangane epini. (Hez. 38:4) Lokho akutjho ukuthi uJehova nguye ozokuthoma ipi le namkha uthathela labo abamphikisako ilungelo lokuzikhethela. Kunalokho, kutjengisa ukuthi uJehova ukghona ukufunda iinhliziyo begodu uyazi ukuthi amanabakhe azokusabela njani ngaphasi kobujamo obuthileko.—Rhu. 94:11; Isa. 46:9, 10; Jor. 17:10.

18. Kubayini abantu bazokufuna ukulwa noMninimandla Woke?

¹⁸ Nangabe uJehova angekhe athome ipi namkha akatelele amanabakhe bona alwe naye, kubayini abantu bangakhetha ukulwa noMninimandla Woke? Elinye ibanga kukuthi ngesikhathesi emlandweni, abantu bazozitjela ukuthi uZimu akekho namkha angekhe angenele eendabeni ezithinta abantu. Mhlamunye bazokucabanga  njalo ngebanga lokuthi bazabe batjhabalalise zoke iinhlangano zekolo yamala ephasini. Bazokuthi nangabe uZimu ukhona bekazozivikela iinhlangano ezithi ziyamjamela. Angekhe balemuke ukuthi bekunguZimu okufake eenhliziyweni zabo ukuthi batjhabalalise iinkolo ezimjamela kumbi kangaka.—IsAm. 17:16, 17.

19. Khuyini engenzeka ngemva kobana ikolo yamala itjhatjalaliswe?

¹⁹ Ngemva kwesikhathi ikolo yamala itjhatjalalisiwe, uJehova uzokwenza abantu bakhe batjhumayele umlayezo obudisi, loyo incwadi yesAmbulo ewufanisa nesiwuruwuru sesinanja, lapho isinanja ngasinye ubudisi baso bumakhilogremu ama-20. (IsAm. 16:21, ftn.) Umlayezo lo, kungenzeka usimemezelo sokuthi zepolotiki nezentengiselwano sezizokutjhabalala, uhlunguphaza abawuzwako bekufikele ezingeni lokuthi bathuke uZimu. Kungenzeka ngiwo umlayezo lo ozokwenza iintjhaba zisahlele abantu bakaZimu bona zibathulise unomphela. Zizokucabanga bona abakavikeleki, zingabatjhabalalisa bulula. Kodwana zizabe zenza umtjhapho omkhulu!

20, 21. Ngubani uGogi begodu kuzokwenzekani kuye?

²⁰ Njengombana sibonile esaHlukweni se-17 sencwadi le, uHezekiyeli usebenzisa isihloko sesiphorofido esithi ‘uGogi wenarheni yakwaMagogi’ ukuveza ukuhlangana kweentjhaba ezisisahlelako. (Hez. 38:2) Kodwana amalunga weentjhabezo azabe angakabumbani kuhle. Nanyana azokubonakala asebenzisana kodwana azabe angabambisani, azikhakhazisa begodu azikhakhazisa ngeendawo abuya kizo. Kuzokuba lula ngoJehova bona enze isabula yomunye nomunye ‘ijamelane nomfowabo.’ (Hez. 38:21) Kuzabe kunguJehova obangela ukutjhatjalaliswokho.

²¹ Ngaphambi kobana amanaba atjhatjalaliswe, azokubona itshwayo leNdodana yomuntu, kungenzeka amandla amakhulu abonakalako kaJehova noJesu. Abaphikisi bazokubona izinto ezibenza batshwenyeke khulu. Njengombana uJesu abikezela, “abantu bazokuyatha ngebanga lokusaba nokulindela lokho okuzokwehlakalela iphasi.” (Luk. 21:25-27) Njengombana bathukiwe, bazokulemuka ukuthi benze umtjhapho omkhulu ngokusahlela abantu bakaJehova. Bazokukateleleka ukwazi uMbumbi amnqophisi webutho, uJehova wamabutho. (Rhu. 46:6-11; Hez. 38:23) Siyaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uzokusebenzisa amabuthwakhe wezulwini namandla wemvelo bona avikele iinceku zakhe ezithembekileko begodu atjhabalalise amanabakhe.—Funda yesi-2 kaPitrosi 2:9.

22, 23. Bobani abazokuvikela abantu bakaZimu begodu bazozizwa njani ngomsebenzabo?

²² Cabanga indlela uJesu akululukela ngayo ukurhola ekusahleleni amanaba kaZimu, nokuvikela abathanda bebalotjhe uBabakhe. Cabanga nokuthi abazesiweko bazozizwa njani. Ngaphambi kobana i-Arimagedoni ithome, abaseleko abazesiweko ephasini,  bazokuyokuphila ezulwini ukwenzela bona boke abazii-144 000 bahlanganyele noJesu epini. (IsAm. 17:12-14) Siyaqiniseka ukuthi abanengi abazesiweko bazenzele abangani namalunga wezinye izimvu njengombana basebenza boke hlangana nemihla yokuphela. Nje abazesiweko bazokuba negunya namandla wokujamela labo ebebabasekela ngokuthembeka hlangana neentjhijilo zabo.—Mat. 25:31-40.

²³ Iingilozi nazo zizokuba yingcenye yebutho lakaJesu lezulwini. (2 Thes. 1:7; IsAm. 19:14) Sele zimsizile ngokuqotha uSathana namadimonakhe ezulwini. (IsAm. 12:7-9) Begodu bezisolo zimsiza ngokubuthelela labo abasephasini abafuna ukulotjha uJehova. (IsAm. 14:6, 7) Kuyafaneleka ukuthi uJehova avumele iingilozi zivikele abathembekilekwaba. Okuqakatheke khulu, woke amabutho kaJehova azokuba nelungelo lokuhlwengisa nokucwengisa igama nesithunzi sakaJehova, ngokusiza ekutjhabalaliseni amanabakhe.—Mat. 6:9, 10.

24. Isiqubuthu esikhulu sezinye izimvu sizozizwa njani?

²⁴ Ngebanga lokuthi isiqubuthu esikhulu sezinye izimvu sivikelwa libutho elinamandla, angekhe sibe nebanga lokusaba. Kunalokho, ‘sizokujama rwe siphakamise iinhloko zaso ngombana ukutjhatjhululwa kwaso kutjhidele.’ (Luk. 21:28) Kuqakathekile ukuthi ngaphambi kobana ilanga lakaJehova lifike, sisize abantu abanengi ngendlela esingakghona ngayo, bazi bebathande uBabethu onesirhawu nosivikelako.—Funda uZefaniya 2:2, 3.

25. Khuyini esizokucoca ngayo ngokulandelako?

²⁵ Umphumela wezipi ezibangelwa babantu uba lisizi nehlangahlangano. Ngokuhlukileko, umphumela we-Arimagedoni kuzokuba kuhleleka nethabo. Kuzokuba njani lokha ilaka lakaJehova liphela neensabula zeenkutana zakhe zibekwa phasi, netjhada lepi ekulu litjhabalala kancanikancani? Esihlokweni esilandelako, sizokucoca ngengomuso elithabisakweli.