1, 2. Ngisiphi isenzakalo esizidlula zoke ebesizokwenzeka emlandweni wephasi, begodu kubayini kungarari ukuthi banengi ebebangasilemuki?

WAKHE WAZIBUZA na bona kazi bekuyokuba njani ukuphila esikhathini samatjhuguluko amakhulu emlandweni? Banengi ekhebazibuza ngalokho. Kodwana khewucabange nganaku: Ngathana waphila esikhathini esiqakathekilekweso, udlumbana bona bewuzozibona na izenzakalo ezibangele amatjhuguluko lawo? Bekungenzeka, kungenzeki. Phela izehlakalo ezibangela amatjhuguluko ephasineli, zivame ukwenzeka ngerhorhomejeni. Ngamanye amagama, izenzakalo zomlando zivame ukwenzeka ngemsithelweni—ngekumbeni yangebukhosni, eengodlweni namkha ngema-ofisini karhulumende. Kanti-ke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kunjani, woke amatjhuguluko lawo abandakanya iingidigidi zabantu.

² Uthini ngesenzakalo esikhulu kunazo zoke esakhe senzeke emlandweni wephasi? Isenzakalweso sitjhugulule nendlela yokuphila yabantu abanengi. Sisikhulu sinjalo, abantu akhenge basilemuke. Phela esikhuluma ngakho la, kuhlonywa komBuso kaZimu wezulwini—urhulumende kaMesiya, ozokutjhabalalisa loke iphaseli esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo. (Funda uDanyela 2:34, 35, 44, 45.) Yeke, njengombana abantu bakweqisele amehlo ukuhlonywa komBuso lo, kghani kufuze sithi uJehova wavele wabafihlela isenzakalweso? Namkha wavele wahlomisa abantu bakhe abathembekileko kusesenesikhathi? Khesibone.

3-5. (a) Ngubani ‘isithunywa sesivumelwano’ okukhulunywa ngaso kuMalaki 3:1? (b) Bekuzokwenzekani ngaphambi kokuza ‘kwesithunywa sesivumelwano’ ethempelini?

³ Kusukela nakade, uJehova bevele anqophe ukulungiselela abantu bakhe malungana nokuhlonywa komBuso kaMesiya. Isibonelo salokho, siphorofido esikuMalaki 3:1, [NW] esithi: “Qala! ngithuma isithunywa sami esizongivulela indlela. Kuzakuthi msinyana ngemva kwalokho, iKosi yeqiniso eniyifunako, ifike ethempelini layo nesithunywa sesivumelwano, enizokuthaba ngaso.”

⁴ Esikhathini sanamhlanjesi, uJehova—‘oyiKosi yeqiniso’—ufika nini azokuhlola labo abamlotjha ecabazini lethempelini lakhe elingokomfanekiso ephasini? Isiphorofido sithi uJehova uzokufika “nesithunywa sesivumelwano.” Kazi  bekungubani loyo? Akakho omunye ngaphandle kweKosi enguMesiya, uJesu Krestu! (Luk. 1:68-73) NjengoMbusi osand’ ukubekwa, uJesu bekazobahlahluba be abahlanze abantu bakaZimu bephasini.—1 Pit. 4:17.

⁵ Manje lesi esinye “isithunywa “esivula indlela, okukhulunywa ngaso kuMalaki 3:1, ngubani? Phela, isiphorofidwesi besizokuzaliseka iKosi eKhethiweko ingakazithathi iintambo. Yeke, kghani ematjhumini weminyaka yangaphambi kwaka-1914, ukhona na umuntu ‘ebekazokuvulela’ iKosi enguMesiya indlela?

6. Ngubani ebekazokuba ‘sithunywa’ esibikezelweko ebesizokuhlomisa abantu bakaZimu malungana nezinto ezisezako?

⁶ Incwadi le izosiphendulela imibuzo enjengaleyo yomlando othabisako wabantu bakaJehova esikhathini sanamhlanjesi. Umlando lo uveza ukuthi ngeminyaka yabo-1800 kwaba nesiqhenyana sabantu abathembekileko abahlangana njengesihlopha samaKrestu wamambala ebesihluke ngokupheleleko emaKrestwini wamala. Isiqhemeso besibizwa ngabaFundi beBhayibheli. Ebebadosa phambili, nguCharles T. Russell nabalingani bakhe, okungibo ababa ‘sithunywa’ esibikezelweko ebesizokunqophisa abantu bakaZimu endleleni yeqiniso, sibalungiselele nokhunye okusezako. Nje-ke, akhesibone iindlela ezine ezasetjenziswa ‘sithunywesi.’

7, 8. (a) Ngabo-1800, bobani abathoma ukuphikisana nefundiso yokungafi kumphefumulo? (b) U-C. T. Russell nabalingani bakhe baphandlusela naziphi ezinye iimfundiso ezimamala?

⁷ AbaFundi beBhayibhelabo bebathandaza ngaphambi kokufunda iBhayibheli, bavumelane ngabakufundileko ukuthi kuliqiniso, bese bayakuphadlhalaja. Sekumakhulu weminyaka amasondo aduda embumnyameni, begodu iimfundiso zakhona ezinengi zimamala. Ifundiso ephuma phambili kwezimamalezo, ngeyokuthi umphefumulo awufi. Nokho, emihleni yabo-1800, bekunabambalwa ebebayikhuthalele iBhayibheli, abantwabo bayihlaziya ifundiso leyo, balemuka nokuthi iliZwi lakaZimu liyayikhahlela. UHenry Grew, uGeorge Stetson, noGeorge Storrs, bayihlaba bayihlikiza indaba leyo, batjho nokuthi yifundiso kaSathana emamala. * Umsebenzabo loyo wakhuthaza u-C. T. Russell nabalingani bakhe.

⁸ Isiqhenyana sabaFundi beBhayibheli naso salemuka ukuthi ezinye iimfundiso ebezihlobene nokuthi umphefumulo awufi, bezingezwakali begodu zimamala—njengokuthi boke abantu abalungileko baya ezulwini, nokuthi uZimu uvuthisa ngabakhohlakeleko esirhogweni sesiphelani. URussell nabalingani bakhe bawaphandlusela amalakazi layo ngokutlola iincwadi, amagabhagabha wokukhangisa namaphetjhana, kunye neminye imilayezo ebebayiphadlhalaja ngokutjhumayela.

9. I-Zion’s Watch Tower yayiveza njani njengemamala ifundiso kaZiqu-ntanthu?

⁹ Kunenye godu ifundiso baFundi beBhayibheli bayiveza kwangaba ziindaba zalitho ukuthi imamala—ifundiso kaZiqu-ntathu. Ngo-1887, i-Zion’s Watch Tower yathi: “ImiTlolo ayijikajiki nayikhuluma ngokuthi uJehova neKosethu uJesu babantu ababili abahlukeneko, nokuthi bahlobana njani.” Isihlokweso satjho nokuthi kuyarara bona “indaba le yamukeleka kangaka  ebantwini, ukuthi uZimu mthathu amunye—okutjho aboZimu abathathu koyedwa, kuthi kusesenjalo, uZimu loyo abe munye kwabathathu. Kodwana lelo liqiniso elitjengisa ukuthi isondo belilele kangangani, njengombana belibotjhelelwe emitjhaphweni.”

10. IsiThala samveza njani u-1914 njengomnyaka oyihloko?

¹⁰ Kwabonakala ngitjho nesihlokweni sephephandabeli ukuthi ebekuqakathekile ngesikhatheso bekukufika kwakaKrestu, ngoba isihloko salo besithi, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Abatloli balo abathembekileko ebebakhethwe ngomoya, balemuka ukuthi isiphorofido sakaDanyela ‘seenkhathi ezilikhomba’ besikhambisana poro nokuzaliseka komnqopho kaZimu malungana nomBuso kaMesiya. Kwathi ngekuthomeni kwabo-1870, batjho ngokungananazi ukuthi iinkhathi ezilikhomba ziyokuphela ngomnyaka ka-1914. (Dan. 4:25; Luk. 21:24) Abazalwanaba akhenge bakulemuke koke ebekuzokwenzeka ngomnyaka loyo, kodwana basitjela koke ebebakwazi begodu imiphumela yakhona nasi siyayibona.

11, 12. (a) UMzalwana uRussell wadumisa ubani ngalokho ebekakufundisa? (b) Bewuqakatheke kangangani umsebenzi ebewenziwa nguRussell nabalingani bakhe eminyakeni yangaphambi kwaka-1914?

¹¹ URussell nabalingani bakhe akhenge bafune ukutatanyiswa ngoba batjho naku bavumbulule amaqiniso weBhayibheli aqakathekileko. Kunalokho, uRussell wadumisa labo  ebebangaphambi kwakhe. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, wadumisa uJehova uZimu, okunguye ofundisa abantu bakhe okufuze bakwazi ngesikhathi esifaneleko. Kwamambala, uJehova wayisekela imizamo kaRussell nabalingani bakhe ekuhlukaniseni iqiniso namala. Njengombana iminyaka ikhamba, bagcina sebahluke ngokupheleleko nekolo yamala.

¹² Siyawubuka umsebenzi wamadoda athembekileko lawo wokuvikela iqiniso kusukela ematjhumini weminyaka yangaphambi kwaka-1914! Nje-ke, akhesidede isinyava kancani sibuyele ku-Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence kaNovemba 1, 1917, eyathi: “Iingidigidi zabantu namhlanjesi sezitjhaphulukile eemfundisweni zamala, kangangobana azisasisabi isirhogo somlilo namanye amala anjengalawo . . . Amanzi weqiniso bekasolo avinyilika bekwaba kulapho sele azele loke iphaseli; abaphikisana neqiniso balingile ukuwakghapha, kodwana lokho kwavele kwafana nokuvala itjhuba elivuzako ngesandla, ngokuthi batjho balwisana nokusabalala kweqiniso ephasini.”

13, 14. (a) “Isithunywa” sadlala yiphi indima ekulungiseleni iKosi enguMesiya indlela? (b) Singafundani ebazalwanenaba abaphila eminyakeni engaphezu kwelikhulu eyadlulako?

¹³ Khewucabange nganaku: Udlumbana bona abantu bebazokulungela na ukufika kwakaKrestu, khibe ngapha babhalelwa kuhlukanisa uJesu noYise, uJehova? Bengekhe! Begodu asiqiniseki nokuthi bebazokulungela ukufika kwakhe nabasacabanga ukuthi ukungafi kumvuzo ozenzakalelako kawokewoke, akusingewabakhethiweko kwaphela abalandela uKrestu; angekhe satjho nokuthi bebazabe bakulungele khibe ngaba eengqondweni zabo nakusaduma yokuthi uZimu utlhorisa abantu phakade esirhogweni somlilo, nokuthi angekhe batjhaphuluka! Ngokunjalo-ke “isithunywa” esalungisela iKosi enguMesiya indlela, besifike ngesikhathi esihle!

¹⁴ Kuthiwani-ke ngathi? Sifundani kubazalwanaba abaphila eminyakeni eseyingaphezu kwelikhulu eyadlulako? Esikufundako kukuthi nathi kufuze sikuphaphamele ukufunda iliZwi lakaZimu. (Jwa. 17:3) Njengombana iphasi elithanda izintweli selilambe kangaka ngokomoya, thina asizondleni ngazo zoke iindlela, khona sizokukhula siqine eqinisweni!—Funda 1 Thimothi 4:15.

15. Khuyini okwalenyukwa baFundi beBhayibheli? (Qala nomtlolo ophasi.)

¹⁵ AbaFundi beBhayibheli babona kuyinto ehle ukuhlubuka emasondweni. Ngo-1879, isiThala sakhuluma ‘ngesondo leBhabhiloni.’ Kghani nasitjho njalo besikhuluma ngabopapa namkha besikhuluma ngeSondo lamaRoma Khatolika? Phela besekumakhulu weminyaka ikolo yamaPhrotestani yenza ngathi nayo iqala iBhabhiloni njengesinye seemphorofido okukhulunywa ngazo emiTlolweni. Kodwana abaFundi beBhayibheli besebalemukile bona, woke amasondo wekolo yamala angilo kanye “iBhabhiloni” okukhulunywa ngalwelo. Kubayini kunjalo? Kungombana woke njalo amasondo lawo bekafundisa amala anjengalawo okukhulunywe ngawo ngehla. * Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi,  iincwadi zethu zayibeka emtarini indaba yokuthi labo abamalunga weBhabhiloni athanda okuhle kufuze benzeni.

16, 17. (a) Umqulu III we-Millennial Dawn kunye nesiThala, kwabakhuthaza njani abantu bona bahlubuke ekolweni yamala? (b) Khuyini okwabangela bona iinyeleliswezo zeqiselwe amehlo? (Qala umtlolo ophasi.)

¹⁶ Isibonelo salokho kukuthi, ngo-1891, umQulu III wencwadi ethi Millennial Dawn, wakhuluma ngendlela uZimu alilahla ngayo iBhabhiloni lanamhlanjesi nawuthi: “Woke amasondo wekolo yamala alahliwe.” Incwadi leyo yanaba ngokuthi boke labo “abangavumelani neemfundiso zalo ezimamala kunye nezenzo zalo, kufuze bazihlukanise nalo.”

¹⁷ NgoJanabari 1900, isiThala sakhuthaza labo ebebangakasuli emasondweni wekolo yamala njengombana bebangasakhambi ngokuvumelana nawo, yathi: “Nakuliqiniso lona sengilibambe ngazo zombili, begodu sengiyathontela nesondweni.” Yabuza-ke incwadi yathi: “Kodwana kuyinto ehle na ukuthi uthi sewuphumile eBhabhiloni, bese unande uqabhela? UZimu uyithini naseyinjalo . . . kghani kuyamukeleka na lokho kuye? Akwamukeleki nakancani. Phela mhla utlolisa esondweni, leso kwaba sivumelwano sakho nalo, okutjho bona kufuze uphile ngemigomo nemibandela yakhona njengokuvumelana kwenu bekube kulapho . . . usula khona isivumelwaneso namkha ukuvume phambi kwawo woke umuntu ukuthi awusahlanganyeli nalo.” Kwathi ngokukhamba kweminyaka umlayezo lo wathoma ukutjhuba. * Kwaba ziindaba zokuthi oyinceku kaJehova kufuze asule koke ebekakubophe nekolo yamala.

18. Kubayibayini bekuqakatheke kangaka bona abantu baphume ‘eBhabhiloni eliKhulu’?

¹⁸ Akhesithi iinyeleliso zokuphuma ‘eBhabhiloni eliKhulu’ bezeqiselwa amehlo, ucabanga ukuthi uKrestu njengeKosi esanda ukubekwa bekazokuba naso na isihlopha sabantu abakhethiweko ephasini? Bengekhe, ngani ngoba okukuphela kwendlela yokulotjha uJehova “ngomoya nangeqiniso,” kutjhaphuluka eBhabhiloni. (Jwa. 4:24) Manje-ke thina namhlanjesi sikurhuluphele ngezinga elingangani ukutjhaphuluka ekolweni yamala? Bakwethu asilaleleni nasi isinqophiso esithi: “Phumani niphele kilo, bantu bami”!—Funda isAmbulo 18:4.

19, 20. IsiThala sabakhuthaza njani abantu bakaZimu ukuthi bahlangane ngomnqopho wokuthandaza?

¹⁹ AbaFundi beBhayibheli bakhuthaza amakholwa ukuthi akukhuthalele ukuhlangana nengabe ubujamo buyavuma. NawumKrestu wamambala angekhe wathi uqedile ngoba batjho naku uphumile ekolweni yamala. Kusaqakathekile nokuthi ube nesandla ekulotjheni uZimu ngendlela ehlanzekileko. Kusukela kibomagazini baso bokuthoma, isiThala sakhuthaza abafundi baso bona bahlangane ngomnqopho wokuthandaza. Isibonelo salokho, ngoJulayi 1880, uMzalwana uRussell wabika ngekhambo lakhe, watjho ukuthi beyimnandi kangangani imihlangano ebekakhamba ayibamba nabazalwana. Kwathi ngemva kwalokho wakhuthaza abafundi bomagazini lo bona bathumele amakarada ebekaphathelene netuthuko yabo—amanye wawo ebekazokugadangiswa kwabanye abomagazini. Isimemweso nasitjho ibanga lamakarada la sathi: “Khewusitjele soke nje . . . bona iKosi  ikusekele kangangani; begodu sifuna ukubona nokuthi awukakulisi na ukuhlangana nalabo abanokukholwa kokulunga.”

²⁰ Ngo-1882, isiThala saba nendaba ebeyinesihloko esithi “Ukuhlangana Ndawonye.” Isihlokweso sakhombela amaKrestu bona abambe imihlangano “yokufundisana, akhuthazane be aqinisane.” Sanaba ngokuthi: “Kungakhathaliseki bona kunomunye phakathi kwenwapho ofunde wagogoda namkha osikghwari, nina kwenu kukuthi omunye nomunye eze neBhayibhelakhe, iphepha, nomsizi wokutlola bese niyasizana ngokwenza irhelo lemitlolo . . . ngezinga eningakghona ngalo. Khethani indaba; nibawe uMoya ocwengileko unisize nizwisise; bese niyafunda, nizindle, benimandanise nemitlolo, nizokubona nina nizolithola iqiniso.”

21. Ibandla le-Allegheny, ePennsylvania labeka siphi isibonelo malungana nemihlangano kunye nokuvakatjhelana kokukhuthazana?

²¹ Umzimkhulu wabaFundi beBhayibhelaba bewuse-Allegheny, ePennsylvania, e-U.S.A. Kulapho-ke ebebahlangana khona njengokutjho kwesikuthazo esikumaHebheru 10:24, 25. (Ifunde.) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi umzalwana ebesekaluphele uCharles Capen, wakhumbula imihlangano leyo ebekayikhamba asemsanyana. Uthi: “Ngikhumbula omunye wemitlolo ebeyisebodeni lewolo lomhlangano ebewuthi, ‘Ninomfundisi  oyedwa, nina noke nje nibabafo.’ Umtlolo loyo angiwukhohlwa nanje, ngombana ungikhumbuza ukuthi akhekho omkhulu kunomunye ebantwini bakaJehova.” (Mat. 23:8) UMzalwana uCapen batjho ukhumbula nendlela imihlangano leyo ebeyisikhuthazo ngayo, nokuthi uMzalwana uRussell bekenza umzamo wokukhuthaza ilunga ngalinye ebandleni.

22. Abantu abathembekileko basabela njani nabakhonjelwa bona baye emihlanganweni yobuKrestu, begodu sifundani kibo?

²² Abantu abathembekileko basithanda bebasilingisa isibonelweso. Ngemva kwalokho, kwathoma kwaba namabandla nakwezinye iindawo, njenge-Ohio neMichigan, nakiyo yoke i-Amerika eseTlhagwini. Ngokubona kwakho, ucabanga ukuthi abantu bebazokulungela na ukufika kwakaKrestu, bangakakhuthazwa bona balalele isinqophiso sokuhlangana ngomnqopho wokuthandaza? Bengekhe! Kuthiwani-ke ngathi namhlanjesi? Nathi kufuze sikukhuthalele ukuya emihlanganweni yobuKrestu, sisebenzise nanyana ngiliphi ithuba elivelako bona sikhuthazane ekukholweni.

23. IsiThala sayibeka njani yokuthi boke abakhethwe ngomoya kufuze batjhumayele iqiniso?

²³ AbaFundi beBhayibheli bakhuthaza woke umuntu okhethiwe ngomoya bona abe mtjhumayeli weqiniso. IsiThala sango-1885, sathi: “Kufuze singakhohlwa bona elinye nelinye ilunga lesihlopha elikhethiweko, likhethelwe ukutjhumayela (Isa. 61:1), begodu libizelwe ikonzo.” Umagazini wango-1888 waraga nayo ngokutjho nasi isikhuthazo: “Umnqopho wethu usemtarini . . . Nengabe siyawuvilaphela, kutjho ukuthi siziinsebenzi ezidondako, ezenza ngokungavumelani nesikhundla esiphakemeko ezibizelwe sona.”

24, 25. (a) Khuyini okwenziwa nguRussell nabalingani bakhe ekukhuthazeni abantu bona batjhumayele? (b) Elinye i-colporteur liwuhlathulula njani umsebenzalo wesikhathini sakade?

 ²⁴ UMzalwana uRussell nabalingani bakhe, benza okungaphezu kokukhuthaza abantu bona batjhumayele. Babe bathoma nokwenza amaphetjhana ebekaziwa ngokuthi Bible Students’ Tracts, okwathi kamva abizwa, Old Theology Quarterly. Abafundi besiThala nabo bawathola amaphetjhana la bona bawakhambise simahla emphakathini.

²⁵ Labo ebebasebenza isikhathi esinengi emsebenzini wokutjhumayela, bebabizwa ngama-colporteur. UCharles Capen okukhulunywe ngaye ngehla, bekangomunye wawo. Okhunye akukhumbulako ngilokhu: “Bengisebenzisa immebhe kaRhulumende wezokuHlolwa kweNdawo e-United States, okungiyo ebeyingisiza ngiyisebenze yoke indawo ebengabelwe yona ePennsylvania. Immebhe le beyinazo zoke iindlela, yeke beyingenzela ubulula bokuthi ngiyokufika kizo zoke iindawo namazwe walapho ngeenyawo. Ngas’ khathi, bekuthi ngemva kwekhambo lamalanga amathathu nasele ngiyizombe yoke inarha ngathatha nama-oda wencwadi emlandelande ethi, Studies in the Scriptures, kungitlhoge bona ngiqatjhe ipera nekoloyana yakhona, bese ngiyokudilivela abantwabo. Ebusuku bengikhamba ngibawa amalalo emaplasini. Neenkoloyi ngesikhatheso beziseseyindlala.”

26. (a) Kubayini abantu bakaZimu bekufuze bangene batjhinge emsebenzini wokutjhumayela ukuthi balungele ukufika kwakaKrestu? (b) Ngimiphi imibuzo okufuze sizibuze yona?

²⁶ Emihleni leyo, ukutjhumayela bekutlhoga umdlandla tle! Yeke, udlumbana bona amaKrestu weqiniso wangesikhatheso bakazokulungela na ukufika kwakaKrestu, kibe ngapha awakulemuki nokuqakatheka komsebenzi wokutjhumayela? Bengekhe! Ngaphezu kwakho koke, kwawona umsebenzi wokutjhumayela lo, ngiwo ebewuzokuba sihloko sokufika kwakaKrestu. (Mat. 24:14) Ngalokho-ke, ebantwini bakaZimu, umsebenzi osindisa amaphilo lo bekufuze ube mthombo wabo wokuphila. Nathi senza kuhle-ke ngokuzibuza namhlanjesi ukuthi: ‘Umsebenzi wokutjhumayela, umthombo wokuphila kwami na? Ngizidela ngezinga elingangani malungana nawo?’

27, 28. Umpostoli uJwanisi waboniswani, begodu khuyini okwakghabhudlha uSathana namadimonakhe nakuhlonywa umBuso?

²⁷ Sakhamba njalo-ke isikhathi, kwathi ekugcineni wafika umnyaka oqakathekileko loyo ka-1914. Njengombana khesatjho nekuthomeni kwendaba le, akukho namunye umuntu owalemuka izenzakalwezo, zebekwenzeka ezulwini. Nokho-ke, umpostoli uJwanisi yena waboniswa ihlathululo engokomfanekiso yendaba le. Khewucabange nganaku: UJwanisi ubona “isibonakaliso esimangazako” ezulwini. Ubona “umfazi” kaZimu osidisi—okuyihlanganwakhe yeendalwa zomoya zezulwini—okuthi kamva ambelethele umntwana womsana. Umntwana ongokomfanekiso lo, sibikelwa ngaye bona uyokubusa “izizwe zoke ngentonga yesimbi.” Kodwana ekubelethweni kwakhe umntwana lo “wahlwithwa wasiwa esihlalweni sakaZimu sobukhosi.” Nako-ke kuzwakala ilizwi elikhulu ezulwini lisithi: “Nje-ke kufike isindiso, amandla nombuso kaZimethu; igunya ngelakaKrestu.”—IsAm. 12:1, 5, 10.

 ²⁸ Asibilayeli ukuthi uJwanisi wabona isibonakaliso sokuhlonywa komBuso kaMesiya. Isenzakalweso sona besikarisa, kodwana kunabanye abawurubajeka khulu ngaso. USathana namadimonakhe bajamelana ubuso nobuso neengilozi ezithembekileko ebezidoswa phambili nguMikhayeli, namkha uKrestu. Waphelelaphi umuguruguru loyo? Siyafunda: “Waphoswa phasi unomrhaso omkhulu, inyoka endala ekuthiwa nguMtjholi noSathana, umkhohlisi wephasi loke; iye, waphoswa ephasini neengilozi zakhe zalahlwa naye.”—IsAm. 12:7, 9.

29, 30. Ngemva kokuhlonywa komBuso kaMesiya, zabanjani izinto (a) ephasini? (b) ezulwini?

²⁹ Esikhathini sangaphambi kwaka-1914, abaFundi beBhayibheli besekhe batjho ukuthi isikhathi setlharhararha besizokuthoma ngawo umnyaka loyo. Kuyatjho ukuthi bebangalemuki bona indaba-mlingwa leyo inganemba kangaka. Phela nokwabonwa nguJwanisi kuveza bona uSathana bekazokurhagala ngamandla ebantwini, njengombana sifunda: “Maye kuwe phasi, nawe lwandle! Mbala uSathana wehlela kini ugcwele ilaka uyadlhabhaza ngombana uyazi bona isikhathi sakhe sifitjhani.” (IsAm. 12:12) Kwathi nakuqubuka ipi yephasi yokuthoma ngo-1914, kwakhani kuthoma ukubonakala ukuthi uKrestu ufikile emandleni womBuso. Lokho-ke bekukuthoma ‘kwemihla yokuphela’ ephasini esiphila kilweli.—2 Thim. 3:1.

³⁰ Kwaba lithabo lodwa ezulwini njengombana uSathana namadimonakhe bebaqotjhwe unomphela. Nakanaba nayo uJwanisi uthi: “Ngalokho thokozani-ke nina mazulu, nani noke enihlala kiwo!” (IsAm. 12:12) Njengombana amazulu besekahlanziwe, noJesu abekwe njengeKosi yomBuso, besekusikhathi sokobana umBuso loyo ulwele abantu bakaZimu bephasini. Bewuzokuthatha liphi-ke igadango umBuso lo? Njengombana sibonile ekuthomeni kwesahlukwesi, uKrestu ‘njengesithunywa sesivumelwano’ bekazokuthoma ngokuhlwengisa abantu bakaZimu la ephasini. Kazi bekuzokutjho ukuthini koke lokho?

31. UMalaki wabikezela ini ngesikhathi sokuhlanza, begodu isiphorofidweso sathoma nini ukuzaliseka? (Qala nomtlolo ophasi.)

³¹ UMalaki wakhe watjho ukuthi isikhathi sokulingwa akusimdlalo. Wabuza wathi: “Alo, ngubani ongabhesela ilanga lokuza kwaso? Ngubani ozakujama ekubonakaleni kwaso na? Ngambala ilangelo lizakufana nomlilo womncibilikisi nanjengesibha somhlanzi.” (Mal. 3:2) Amezwakhe lawo, abaliqiniso lamambala, ngombana kusukela ngo-1914, abantu bakaZimu bephasini zathoma ukubabuyela; umuntu athi nakaphepha isilingo, aphephele ngebudisini—njengomqasa nawuphephela ngesibhukwini. Kwathi ekuqubukeni kwePi yePhasi I, inengi labaFundi beBhayibheli latlhoriswa belabotjhwa. *

32. Ngiyiphi irawurawu eyaphadlhula abantu bakaZimu phakathi ngemva kwaka-1916?

³² Ngitjho nangaphakathi ehlanganweni kwaqubuka irawurawu. Ngo-1916, uMzalwana uRussell nekaneminyaka ema-64 ubudala wahlongakala, watjhiya amatlhuwo wodwa ebantwini bakaZimu. Lokho-ke ngikho okwaveza ukuthi bekunabanye ebebabeke  woke amathemba wabo kuye. Nabekangafuni kangaka ukuba sitatanyiswa uMzalwana uRussell, kuyarara ukuthi iwomakazi labantu abangaka belithembele kuye njengonedumo! Abanengi bavele bathi ukuhlongakala kwakhe kulibulele iqiniso, abanye babo babetha isithabalala, akhange basaragela phambili. Umkghwa loyo wabangela ukuhlubuka okwayiphadlhula phakathi ihlangano.

33. Ukungenzeki kwezinto ngendlela ebekulindelwe ngayo kwabavivinya njani abantu bakaZimu?

³³ Ukulinda ipera efileko nakho bekungelinye ivivinyo, njengombana ebekunqotjhwe baFundaba kungakhange kuzaliseke. Nanyana isiThala saqalisela ku-1914 njengomnyaka wokuphela kweenKhathi zabaTjhili, kuyatjho ukuthi abazalwana bebangakuzwisisi kuhle ebekuzokwenzeka ngomnyaka loyo. (Luk. 21:24) Mhlamunye bebacabanga ukuthi ngo-1914, uKrestu uzokuthatha abakhethiweko bakhe abase ezulwini bona bayokubusa naye. Yeke, kuyatjho bona amathemba lawo bekangakazwisiswa kuhle. Ngekupheleni kwaka-1917, isiThala sathi iminyaka ema-40 yokuvuna izokuphela ngesilimela saka-1918. Kodwana umsebenzi wokutjhumayela akhange uphele. Waragela phambili nokwanda nanyana ilangelo beselidlulile. Umagazini lo, watjho into enjengokuthi isikhathi sokuvuna siphelile kodwana sokubuthelela sona sisesekhona. Nanyana kunjalo, banengi abamnghala uJehova ngebanga lokudana.

34. Ngiliphi ivivinyo elitlhuwisako elavela ngo-1918, begodu kubayini amasondo bekacabanga ukuthi kuphelile ngabantu bakaZimu?

³⁴ Ngo-1918 khona, kwaba nevivinyo eladanisa kwamambala. U-J. F. Rutherford, owabambela u-C. T. Russell iintambo ekurholeni abantu bakaZimu, wabotjhwa kunye nabanye abazalwana abalikhomba ebebabambisene naye. Badosela isigwebo sento engekho ejele ye-Atlanta, eGeorgia, e-U.S.A. Kwathi nakwenzeka lokho, kwabonakala kwanga umsebenzi wabantu bakaZimu utjhabalele. Inengi labafundisi bamasondo belithabe kwamanikelela. Abafundisabo bebadlumabana bona nakubotjhwe “abarholi,” ikaba yomsebenzi wokutjhumayela eseBrooklyn nayo ivaliwe. Bekuthi nakuqalwa yokusahlelwa komsebenzabo e-Amerika ne-Europe, kubonakale kwanga abaFundi beBhayibheli ‘babulewe’—besebafana nekhasi lenyoka efileko. (IsAm. 11:3, 7-10) Kodwana kuyadanisa ukuthi abafundisabo bebabethe phasi kwathunya ithuli!

35. Kubayini uJesu avumela ubudisi bona bunyakazise abalandeli bakhe, begodu wabasiza njani?

³⁵ Kuyatjho ukuthi amanaba weqiniso lawo bekangalemuki bona uJesu ukwenze ngabomu ukuthi abantu bakhe bavivinyeke, njengombana uJehova bekahlezi “njengomncibilikisi nomcwengisi.” (Mal. 3:3) UJehova neNdodanakhe bebazi ukuthi zikhona iinkakaramba ezithembekileko ebezizolibhesela ivivinywelo, zihlanzwe bezihlonyiselwe nokulotjha iKosi. Ngekuthomeni kwaka-1919, kwabonakala bona umoya kaZimu wenze lokho amanaba wabantu bakhe ebekadlumbana bona angekhe akwenze. Abathembekileko bavuselelwa! (IsAm. 11:11)  Ngesikhatheso, uKrestu waphetha umnqopho oyihloko emihleni yokuphela le. Wakhetha “inceku ethembekileko nehlakaniphileko,” isiqhenyana samadoda akhethwe ngomoya, okungiwo ebekazobadosa phambili abantu bakhe ngokukhipha ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifaneleko.—Mat. 24:45-47.

36. Khuyini ebekutjengisa ukuthi abantu bakaZimu bebavuselelekile ngokomoya?

³⁶ Watjhatjhululwa-ke ejele uMzalwana uRutherford nabalingani bakhe, ilanga bekumhla ka-26 Matjhi 1919. Khonokho kwahlelwa nomhlangano ebewuzokuba ngoSeptemba womnyaka loyo. Besekuhlelwe nenye incwanjana ebeyizokukhambisana nesiThala, yonake ebeyizokubizwa ngokuthi-The Golden Age. Incwanjana le, nayo beyenzelwe ukutjhumayeza abantu emphakathini. * Kwathi ngawo unyaka loyo, kwakhitjhwa ne-Bulletin, nje eseyaziwa ngePilo Nomsebenzi wobuKrestu. Yona-ke, solo kwekuthomeni beyibahlomisela umsebenzi wokutjhumayela abantu bakaZimu. Kusukela ngo-1919 kurage njalo, umsebenzi wokutjhumayela umuzi nomuzi wabekwa phambili.

37. Eminyakeni yangemva kwaka-1919, abanye babuveza njani ubunyoka babo?

³⁷ Umsebenzi wokutjhumayela waragela tjhubelo nokuhlwengisa iinceku zakaKrestu, kwathi lezo ebeziwuvilaphela, zawunghala. Labo ebebabhalelwa kukwenza umsebenzi lo, banyekele bahlukana nabantu bakaZimu abathembekileko. Kwathi-ke  eminyakeni yangemva kwaka-1919, abahlubukilekwabo bathoma bawurubajeka, bagcina sebabambisene nalabo ebebahlunguphaza abantu bakaJehova abathembekileko.

38. Kusikhuthaza njani ukuphumelela kwabalandeli bakaKrestu bephasini?

³⁸ Kodwana naphezu kwazo zoke izintwezo, abalandeli bakaKrestu bephasini baragela phambili nokuvuthwa ngokomoya. Ukuphumelela nokuhlula kwabo kwangesikhatheso bekube nje, solo kubufakazi bokuthi nangambala umBuso kaZimu uyabusa! Yeke, amandla kaZimu ngeNdodanakhe nomBuswayo, ngiwo kwaphela ebekasolo asekela isiqhenyana sabantwabo bona sihlule uSathana nephasi lakhe elikhohlakelekweli!—Funda u-Isaya 54:17.

39, 40. (a) Kunani encwadini le? (b) Wena kuzokuzuzisa njani ukuyifunda?

³⁹ Ezahlukweni ezilandelako, sizokuhlola ukuthi bekube minyaka elikhulu esele ihlangene, khuyini ebekwenziwa mBuso kaZimu kusukela ekuhlonyweni kwawo ezulwini. Ingcenye ngayinye encwadini le, izokukhuluma ngakunye okwenziwe mBuso loyo la ephasini. Esahlukweni ngasinye, kuzokuba nebhoksi elizokusiza ngamunye abone ukuthi umBuso lo ngewamambala kangangani kithi. Kuzakuthi-ke izahluko zamaswaphela, zisitjele ngesingalindela bona umBuso lo usenzele khona esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo esizako, njengombana uzokurhayila abangakalungi bese uletha ipharadeyisi ephasini. Wena uzokuzuza njani-ke ekufundeni incwadi le?

⁴⁰ USathana akafuni nokuyizwa yokuthi uyakholelwa emBusweni kaZimu—ufuna ukukubona uwile kwaphela. Kodwana uJehova yena ufuna ukukwakha akuqinise ekukholweni, khona uzokuvikeleka. (Efe. 6:16) Yeke, sikukhuthaza bona uyifunde incwadile, bewuthandaze khulu ngayo. Hlala uzibuza ukuthi, ‘UmBuso kaZimu lo ngiyawulemuka na?’ Nengabe uyawulemuka, kuyatjho ukuthi uyokungena kiwo, uwusekele ngokuthembeka njengombana mhlokho, woke umuntu okhona azabe athi umBuso kaZimu ngewamambala, begodu naku uyabusa!