1, 2. Kuyini abantu bonke abalahlekelwa yikho lamuhla, njalo lokhu kusiphatha njani?

UMNTWANA uqamula ithoyi yakhe kumbe imlahlekele abesekhala ngendlela ezwisa ubuhlungu. Wake wayibona yini indlela umntwana athaba ngayo nxa umzali angayithola ithoyi ebilahlekile loba angalungisa ebiqamukile? Kungakhanya kuyindaba encane kumzali ukuthola leyothoyi loba ukuyilungisa. Kodwa umntwana yena kuyammangalisa lokhu futhi kumenze abobotheke. Obekulahlekile sekutholakele!

² UMzali omkhulu uJehova ulamandla okubuyisela lokho abantwabakhe abasemhlabeni abangabona angani ngeke kuphinde kutholakale. Kodwa lapha kasikhulumi ngamathoyi nje. ‘Ezikhathini lezi ezinzima,’ silahlekelwa yizinto eziqakatheke ukwedlula amathoyi. (2 KuThimothi 3:1-5) Lamuhla izinto ezinengi eziqakathekiswa ngabantu zikhanya zisengozini enkulu. Izinto lezi zingaba yizindlu, impahla, umsebenzi kanye lempilakahle. Singadaniswa layikubona ukutshabalaliswa kwemvelo lempumela yakho egoqela ukutshabalaliswa kwemihlobo etshiyeneyo yezinto eziphilayo. Lanxa kunjalo, akukho okusizwisa ubuhlungu njengokufelwa ngumuntu esimthandayo. Imizwa yokulahlekelwa leyokuphelelwa ngamandla ingasehlula.​—2 USamuyeli 18:33.

3. Yiliphi ithemba eliduduzayo elikumiSebenzi 3:21, futhi uJehova uzasebenzisani ukuze aligcwalise lelothemba?

³ Ngakho kuyasiduduza kakhulu ukufunda ngamandla kaJehova okubuyisela! Njengoba sizabona, kulezinto ezinengi ezimangalisayo uNkulunkulu angazibuyisela futhi azazibuyisela kubantwabakhe abasemhlabeni. IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi injongo kaJehova ‘yikubuyisela konke.’ (ImiSebenzi 3:21, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Ukuze afeze lokhu, uJehova uzasebenzisa uMbuso kaMesiya obuswa yiNdodana yakhe, uJesu Khristu. Ubufakazi butshengisa ukuthi uMbuso lo waqalisa ukubusa ezulwini  ngo-1914. * (UMathewu 24:3-14) Kuyini okuzabuyiselwa? Kasixoxeni ngeminye yemisebenzi kaJehova emikhulu yokubuyisela. Eminye yemisebenzi le siyayibona khathesi. Eminengi izakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo.

4, 5. Kuyini okwenzakala ebantwini bakaNkulunkulu ngo-607 B.C.E., njalo uJehova wabathembisani?

⁴ Enye into uJehova aseyibuyisele yikukhonza okuhlanzekileyo. Ukuze sizwisise ukuthi lokhu kutshoni, asihloleni ngamafitshane imbali yombuso wakoJuda. Ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda ukuthi sizwisise kuhle indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe okubuyisela.​—Roma 15:4.

⁵ Cabanga ngokuthi amaJuda ayethembekile azizwa njani ngo-607 B.C.E. lapho iJerusalema libhidlizwa. Idolobho lawo ayelithanda latshabalaliswa, imiduli yalo yadilizelwa phansi. Okubi kakhulu yikuthi ithempeli elalilihle okwamagama elalakhiwe nguSolomoni futhi elaliyiyo yodwa indawo okwakukhonzwa khona uJehova ngendlela ehlanzekileyo, laselibhidliziwe laba luthuli. (IHubo 79:1) Ababesindile bathunjwa bahanjiswa eBhabhiloni, ikhaya labo lasala lihlalwa zinyamazana zeganga. (UJeremiya 9:11) Ngombono wabantu, konke kwasekukhanya sekulahlekile. (IHubo 137:1) Kodwa uJehova, onguye owayekhulume ngalokhu kubhidlizwa, wabathembisa ukuthi isikhathi sokubuyiselwa sasiseduze.

6-8. (a) Yisiphi isihloko sendaba abaphrofethi besiHebheru ababehlala bekhuluma ngaso, njalo iziphrofetho lezi zaqalisa nini ukugcwaliseka? (b) Esikhathini esiphila kuso, abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakubone njani ukugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho eziphathelane lokubuyiselwa?

⁶ Iqiniso yikuthi indaba yokubuyiselwa kwakuyisihloko sendaba  okwakuhlalwa kukhulunywa ngaso emibhalweni yabaphrofethi besiHebheru. * Esebenzisa abaphrofethi laba, uJehova wathembisa ukubuyisela amaJuda elizweni elivundileyo, elivikelekileyo ezinyamazaneni zeganga lasezitheni. Wachaza ilizwe lelo elalizabuyiselwa ngokuthi liyipharadayisi elingokoqobo! (U-Isaya 65:25; UHezekheli 34:25; 36:35) Okuhle kakhulu yikuthi, ukukhonza okuhlanzekileyo kwakuzabuyiselwa njalo lethempeli lalizakwakhiwa kutsha. (UMikha 4:1-5) Iziphrofetho lezi zenza amaJuda ayethunjiwe aba lethemba, zawanceda lokuthi abekezele okweminyaka engu-70 ethunjiwe eBhabhiloni.

⁷ Ekucineni, isikhathi sokubuyiselwa safika. Esekhululiwe eBhabhiloni, amaJuda abuyela eJerusalema ayakwakha kutsha ithempeli likaJehova. (U-Ezra 1:1, 2) Nxa ayeqhubeka enamathela ekukhonzeni okuhlanzekileyo, uJehova wayewabusisa ngokuvundisa umhlabathi lokuwenza uthele kuhle. Wayewavikela ezitheni lasezinyamazaneni zeganga eziyingozi ezaseziziphilela santando elizweni lawo okwamatshumi eminyaka. Kufanele ukuthi kwawajabulisa kakhulu ukubona uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe okubuyisela! Izenzakalo lezi zazitshengisa okuncane kuphela kokugcwaliseka kweziphrofetho zokubuyisela. Ukugcwaliseka okukhulu kwakusazokwenzakala “ngezinsuku zokucina,” okutsho esikhathini sethu, lapho kubekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi iNdlalifa yeNkosi uDavida okwasokuyisikhathi eside ithenjisiwe.​—U-Isaya 2:2-4; 9:6, 7.

⁸ Ngemva nje kokubekwa kukaJesu esihlalweni sobukhosi soMbuso wasezulwini ngo-1914, wanakekela izidingo eziphathelane lokukhonza zabantu bakaNkulunkulu abathembekileyo. Njengoba nje umnqobi wasePhesiya okuthiwa nguKhurosi wakhulula amaJuda ayesele eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., uJesu laye wakhulula insalela yamaJuda angokomoya, okutsho abalandeli bakhe. Wabakhulula ngaphansi kweBhabhiloni lanamuhla, elingumbuso womhlaba wonke wenkolo yamanga. (KwabaseRoma 2:29; ISambulo 18:1-5) Kusukela ngo-1919 kusiyaphambili, ukukhonza okuhlanzekileyo kwabuyiselwa endaweni yakho kumaKhristu eqiniso. (UMalaki 3:1-5) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, abantu  bakaJehova bamkhonza ethempelini lakhe elingokomoya elihlanjululiweyo okutsho uhlelo lukaNkulunkulu lokukhonza okuhlanzekileyo. Kungani lokhu kuqakathekile kithi?

9. Ngemva kwezikhathi zabaphostoli, kuyini amaSonto azithi ngawesiKhristu akwenza endleleni uNkulunkulu akhonzwa ngayo, kodwa uJehova wenzeni esikhathini sethu?

⁹ Cabanga ngalokho esikufunda embalini. AmaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayelezibusiso ezinengi ezingokomoya. Kodwa uJesu kanye labaphostoli bakhuluma ngokuthi ukukhonza okuhlanzekileyo kwakuzangcoliswa futhi kwakuzaphela. (UMathewu 13:24-30; ImiSebenzi 20:29, 30) Ngemva kwesikhathi sabaphostoli, amaSonto azithi ngawesiKhristu aqalisa ukuba khona. Abakhokheli balawomasonto babefundisa izimfundiso zamanga zabantu ababengasiwo maKhristu kanye lemikhuba yakhona. Benza lokukhuleka kuNkulunkulu kwaba nzima, besithi uyiButhathu obungazwisisekiyo, befundisa labantu ukuthi bavume izono zabo kubaphristi, bakhuleke kuMariya ‘lakubangcwele’ kulokuthi bakhuleke kuJehova. Ngemva kokukhohlisa okunjalo osekulamakhulu eminyaka kukhona, kuyini okwenziwe nguJehova? Lanxa siphila emhlabeni ogcwele ukukhonza kwamanga kanye lokuziphatha okungcolileyo, uJehova ukubuyisele ukukhonza okuhlanzekileyo! Iqiniso yikuthi ukubuyiselwa lokhu kungenye yezintuthuko eziqakatheke kakhulu ezikhona kulezinsuku.

10, 11. (a) Ipharadayisi elingokomoya ligoqela ziphi izingxenye ezimbili, njalo wena uthinteka njani? (b) UJehova ubuthanise abantu abanjani epharadayisi elingokomoya, njalo bazaba lesibusiso sokubonani mathupha?

¹⁰ AmaKhristu eqiniso lamuhla asepharadayisi elingokomoya. Ipharadayisi leli ligoqelani? Ligoqela izinto ezimbili. Okokuqala ligoqela ukukhonzwa okuhlanzekileyo kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova. Usiphe ukudla okungokomoya kanye lendlela yokukhonza engelamanga futhi engelazimfundiso eziphanjanisiweyo. Lokhu kusinceda ukuthi sifunde ngoBaba wethu osezulwini ukuze simthokozise, futhi sisondele kuye. (UJohane 4:24) Okwesibili limayelana labantu. UJehova ufundise izikhonzi zakhe izindlela zokuthula, njengoba nje u-Isaya wayetshilo ukuthi kwakuzakwenzakala  “ngezinsuku zokucina.” Ukuqede nya ukulwa phakathi kwethu. Kungelani lokuthi silesono, uyasincedisa ukuthi sigqoke ‘ubumina loba ubuntu obutsha.’ Ubusisa imizamo yethu ngokusipha umoya wakhe ongcwele osenza sibe lezimpawu zobuntu ezinhle kakhulu. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:22-24; KwabaseGalathiya 5:22, 23) Nxa uphila ngendlela evumelana lomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu, uyabe usepharadayisi leli elingokomoya.

¹¹ UJehova ubuthanise abantu abathandwa nguye kulelipharadayisi elingokomoya. Abantu laba ngabamthandayo, abathanda ukuthula, njalo “abaqaphela isidingo sabo esingokomoya.” (UMathewu 5:3, NW) Laba yibo abazaba lesibusiso sokuzibonela mathupha okunye ukubuyiselwa okumangalisa kakhulu. Lokhu yikubuyiselwa kwabantu kanye lokubuyiselwa komhlaba wonke jikelele.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kumele iziphrofetho zokubuyisela zigcwaliseke ngenye indlela? (b) Injongo kaJehova ngomhlaba iyini njengoba kwakhulunywa ngayo e-Edeni, njalo kungani lokhu kusinika ithemba ngekusasa?

¹² Iziphrofetho ezinengi zokubuyiselwa kazitsho nje ukubuyiselwa kokukhonza kuphela. Ngokwesibonelo, u-Isaya wabhala ngesikhathi lapho abagulayo, abaqhulayo, abayiziphofu, kanye lezacuthe ababezasiliswa khona, kuthi ukufa kukhitshwe kuze kube nini lanini. (U-Isaya 25:8; 35:1-7) Izithembiso ezinjalo kazigcwalisekanga ngokoqobo ngesikhathi sako-Israyeli wasendulo. Lanxa esikhathini sethu sibone ukugcwaliseka kwaleziziphrofetho okuphathelane lokukhonza, silezizathu ezinhle zokukholwa ukuthi esikhathini esizayo sizabona ukugcwaliseka okungokoqobo kwaleziziphrofetho. Sikwazi njani lokhu?

¹³ Ezikhathini ezadlulayo e-Edeni, uJehova wenza injongo yakhe ngomhlaba yacaca: Wawuzahlalwa ngabantu abathokozayo, abalempilakahle, njalo abamanyeneyo. Indoda lowesifazana kwakumele banakekele umhlaba kanye lezidalwa zonke ezikuwo, benze umhlaba wonke ube lipharadayisi. (UGenesisi 1:28) Lokhu kutshiyene kakhulu lomumo wezinto okhona lamuhla. Kodwa singaba leqiniso lokuthi akulalutho olungamisa izinjongo zikaJehova. (U-Isaya 55:10, 11) UJesu, iNkosi enguMesiya ebekwe nguJehova, nguye ozaletha iPharadayisi emhlabeni wonke jikelele.​—ULukha 23:43.

14, 15. (a) Kuyini uJehova azakwenza ukuze “izinto zonke zibe zintsha”? (b) Izabe injani impilo ePharadayisi, njalo kuyini okukukhanga ukwedlula konke?

 ¹⁴ Cabanga ubona umhlaba usuntshintshwe waba liPharadayisi! Mayelana lesikhathi leso uJehova uthi: “Ngenza izinto zonke zibe zintsha!” (ISambulo 21:5) Cabanga ukuthi lokhu kuzatsho ukuthini. Lapho uJehova eqeda ukusebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi abhidlize umhlaba lo omubi, kuzasala ‘amazulu amatsha lomhlaba omutsha.’ Lokhu kutsho ukuthi uhulumende omutsha uzabusa usezulwini, ubusa abantu abazabe belapha emhlabeni abagoqela labo abathanda uJehova njalo besenza intando yakhe. (2 UPhetro 3:13) USathane kanye lamadimoni akhe bazakwenziwa ukuthi bangenelisi ukwenza loba yini. (ISambulo 20:3) Ngemva kwezinkulungwane zeminyaka kuzabe kungokokuqala ngqa ukuthi kungabi lokukhohlisa kanye lenzondo elimazayo. Kasithandabuzi ukuthi lokho kuzasithokozisa kakhulu.

¹⁵ Ekucineni sizakwenelisa ukunakekela umhlaba lo omuhle ngendlela okwakufanele siwunakekele ngayo. Umhlaba ulamandla emvelo okuzilungisa. Ulwandle lemifula engcolisiweyo kungazenza kuhlanzeke nxa kungavalwa lapho okuvela khona ingcekeza, ikanti izindawo ezimagodigodi lapho okwakulezimpi khona zingavaleka kuphela nxa izimpi zingasekho. Kuzaba yintokozo enkulu ukubona lokho kusenzakala futhi lathi sisiba lengxenye ekulungiseni umhlaba ube yingadi enjengephakhi enhle, i-Edeni elizabe lisemhlabeni wonke eliyabe lilemihlobohlobo yezinyamazana kanye lezihlahla! Kulokuphonguqeda izinyamazana lezihlahla ngenxa yobuhwaba, kuzaba lokuthula phakathi kwabantu lezidalwa zonke ezikhona emhlabeni. Ngitsho labantwana kabasoze bazesabe izinyamazana zeganga.​—U-Isaya 9:6, 7; 11:1-9.

16. EPharadayisi, yikuphi ukubuyiselwa okuzathokozisa munye ngamunye wethu?

¹⁶ Ukubuyiselwa lokhu kuzanceda munye ngamunye wethu. I-Amagedoni isiphelile, abazasinda bazabona ukusiliswa kwabantu okumangalisayo kusenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Njengalokho akwenza elapha emhlabeni, uJesu uzasebenzisa amandla okubuyisela awaphiwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi enze iziphofu zibone, izacuthe zizwe, njalo asilise abagogekileyo labagulayo. (UMathewu 15:30) Abagugileyo bazavuselelwa babe lamandla anjengawabasakhulayo futhi  babe lempilakahle. (UJobe 33:25) Ukutshwabhana kwejwabu kuzaphela, izinyawo lezandla kuzaqonda, futhi imisipha izaqina ibe lamandla. Bonke abathembekileyo bazabona impumela yesono inyamalala kancane kancane ize iphele nya. Sizambonga kakhulu uJehova uNkulunkulu ngamandla akhe amangalisayo okubuyisela! Khathesi ake sigxileni engxenyeni eyodwa eduduza kakhulu yesikhathi lesi esimangalisayo sokubuyisela.

17, 18. (a) Kungani uJesu wakhuza abaSadusi? (b) Yiziphi izimo ezenza u-Elija wacela ukuthi uJehova asebenzise amandla akhe okuvusa abafileyo?

¹⁷ Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., abanye abakhokheli benkolo okuthiwa ngabaSadusi babengakholwa ukuthi kulokuvuswa kwabantu abafileyo. UJesu wabakhuza ngamazwi la: “Liyalahleka ngokuba kaliyazi iMibhalo njalo lamandla kaNkulunkulu.” (UMathewu 22:29) Ngakho iMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi uJehova ulawo amandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo. Kungani kutshiwo njalo?

¹⁸ Khumbula lokho okwenzakala ngezinsuku zika-Elija. Umfelokazi wayephethe umntanakhe ongumfana owayesefile. Umphrofethi u-Elija wayeselesikhathi evakatshele umfelokazi lo, ngakho kufanele ukuthi ukufa komfana kwamethusa. Kungakenzakali lokhu, u-Elija wayeke wanceda umfana lo ukuthi angabulawa yindlala. Kungenzakala ukuthi u-Elija wayesemthanda umfana lo. Umama womfana wezwa ubuhlungu kakhulu. Umntwana lo nguye yedwa owayemkhumbuza umkakhe owayesengumuyi. Kungenzakala ukuthi wayelethemba lokuthi indodana yakhe izamgcina nxa esegugile. Ngenxa yokudana, umfelokazi lo wacabanga ukuthi wayejeziswa ngenxa yesono ayeke wasenza. Lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu u-Elija yikho wabona kufanele ukuthi enze okuthile ngakho. Wathatha isidumbu somfana esasiphethwe ngunina wasisa ekamelweni lakhe, wasecela uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuyisele ukuphila komfana.​—1 AmaKhosi 17:8-21.

19, 20. (a) U-Abhrahama watshengisa njani ukuthi wayelokholo emandleni kaJehova okubuyisela, futhi kuyini okwamenza waba lokholo olunjalo? (b) UJehova walubusisa njani ukholo luka-Elija?

¹⁹ U-Elija wayengasuye muntu wokuqala ukukholwa ukuthi kulokuvuswa kwabafileyo. Eminyakeni engamakhulu eyayidlulile, u-Abhrahama wayekholwa ukuthi uJehova ulawo amandla anjalo  okubuyisela futhi wayelezizatho ezinhle zokwenza njalo. Lapho u-Abhrahama eseleminyaka engu-100 uSara eselengu-​90, uJehova wabuyisela ngendlela eyisimangaliso amandla abo okuzala, esenza ukuthi uSara enelise ukuzithwala futhi abelethe indodana. (UGenesisi 17:17; 21:2, 3) Lapho indodana yabo isikhulile, uJehova wacela u-Abhrahama ukuthi anikele ngayo. U-Abhrahama watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo, eleqiniso lokuthi uJehova wayezayivusa indodana yakhe u-Isaka. (KumaHebheru 11:17-19) Ukholo lolo oluqinileyo lusenza sibone ukuthi kungani u-Abhrahama watshela izisebenzi zakhe ukuthi yena lo-Isaka babezaphenduka bonke ngekhaya. Wabatshela lokhu engakakhweli entabeni ukuthi ayonikela ngendodana yakhe.​—UGenesisi 22:5.

²⁰ UJehova kazange avumele ukuthi u-Isaka abulawe, ngakho kwakungelasidingo sokuthi avuswe. Kodwa endabeni ka-Elija, indodana yomfelokazi yayivele isifile, kodwa yayizavuswa masinyane. UJehova wabusisa ukholo luka-Elija ngokuvusa indodana leyo! Ngemva kwalokho, u-Elija waqhubela umfelokazi indodana yakhe, wasesithi: “Khangela ubone, indodana yakho iyaphila!”​—1 AmaKhosi 17:22-24.

21, 22. (a) Ngeyani injongo yezindaba eziseMibhalweni ezokuvuswa kwabantu abafileyo? (b) EPharadayisi, kuzavuswa abantu abanengi kangakanani, njalo lokhu kuzakwenziwa ngubani?

²¹ Ngakho lokhu ngokokuqala eBhayibhilini lapho esibona khona uJehova esebenzisa amandla akhe ukuthi avuse umuntu ofileyo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wanika u-Elisha, uJesu, uPhawuli, loPhethro amandla okuvusa abafileyo. Bonke labo abavuswayo baphinda bafa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Lanxa kunjalo, izindaba zeBhayibhili ezinjalo zisitshengisa lokho kanye okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo.

²² EPharadayisi, uJesu uzafeza indima yakhe yokuba “yikuvuka kwabafileyo lokuphila.” (UJohane 11:25) Uzavusa izigidi zabantu abafileyo, ebanika ithuba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni oliPharadayisi. (UJohane 5:28, 29) Ake ucabange lapho izihlobo labangane ababehlukaniswe yikufa sebephinda behlangana, begonana kuyintokozo yodwa! Abantu bonke bazadumisa uJehova ngamandla akhe okubuyisela.

23. Yisiphi isenzo esikhulu ukwedlula zonke uJehova asenzayo esebenzisa amandla akhe, njalo lokhu kuliqinisa njani ithemba lethu ngekusasa?

 ²³ UJehova usenza singathandabuzi ngitsho lakancane ukuthi lezizinto azithembisileyo zizakwenzakala. UNkulunkulu wavusa iNdodana yakhe uJesu, wayivusa iyisidalwa somoya esilamandla futhi wayinika isikhundla esilandela esakhe. Lokhu kwakuyisenzo esikhulu ukwedlula zonke esitshengisa amandla akhe. UJesu esevusiwe wabonwa ngamakhulu abantu. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:5, 6) Ngakho ubufakazi lobu banele ukuthi benze lalabo abathandabuzayo basuthiseke ukuthi uJehova ulawo amandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo.

24. Kungani singaba leqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzabavusa abantu abafileyo, futhi munye ngamunye wethu angaba laliphi ithemba?

²⁴ UJehova ulamandla okuvusa abantu abafileyo, aphinde abelesifiso sokwenza njalo. Indoda ethembekileyo uJobe yaphefumulelwa ukuthi ithi uJehova uyafisa ukuvusa abantu abafileyo. (UJobe 14:15) Awuzizwa yini ufisa ukusondela eduze kukaNkulunkulu wethu ozimisele ukusebenzisa amandla akhe okubuyisela ngendlela enjalo etshengisa uthando? Khumbula lokuthi ukuvuswa kwabafileyo kuyingxenye yomsebenzi wokubuyisela uJehova azawenza esikhathini esizayo. Njengoba usondela eduze kukaJehova, qhubeka uliqakathekisa ithemba eliyigugu lokuthi ungenelisa ukuzibonela ngawakho uJehova esenza “izinto zonke zibe zintsha!”​—ISambulo 21:5.