1, 2. Nguyiphi intfo lenkhulu kutendlula tonkhe leyenteka emlandvweni wemhlaba, futsi kungani kungamangalisi kutsi kute umuntfu lowayibona nayenteka?

 KUKE kwenteka yini watibuta kutsi bekutawuba njani kube bewuphila ngesikhatsi lapho kwenteka lushintjo lolukhulu emlandvweni? Labanyenti bake batibuta. Kodvwa ase ucabange nganaku: Kube bewuphila ngaleso sikhatsi lesibalulekile, bewungatibonela ngewakho yini nakwenteka letintfo letiletsa lushintjo? Bekungenteka ungatiboni. Tintfo letenteka letibangele kuwa lokukhulu kwemibuso lemidzala futsi letigcwele etincwadzini temlandvo, betivame kwenteka ngasese. Ngendlela lefanako, tintfo letinyenti letisemlandvweni, betenteka etindzaweni letifihlekile—njengasetigodlweni, etindlini lokubanjwa kuto imihlangano ngasese nobe emahhovisi ahulumende. Nangetulu kwaloko, letingucuko titsintsa kuphila kwetigidzi tebantfu.

² Kutsiwani ngentfo lenkhulu kutendlula tonkhe letake tenteka emlandvweni wemhlaba? Lentfo seyitsintse kuphila kwetigidzi tebantfu. Nanobe kunjalo, yenteka endzaweni lebeyingabonwa bantfu. Lentfo lesikhuluma ngayo, kutalwa kweMbuso waNkulunkulu ezulwini, hulumende waNkulunkulu lobuswa nguMesiya lotawuletsa kuphela kwalo lonkhe lelive ngekushesha. (Fundza Danyela 2:34, 35, 44, 45.) Njengobe bantfu bangazange bakubone lokutalwa lokubalulekile, kufanele yini siphetse ngekutsi Jehova wabafihlela kona? Wabalungiselela yini bantfu bakhe labetsembekile kufika kwako? Ase sibone.

3-5. (a) Besingubani “sitfunywa sesivumelwane” lokukhulunywa ngaso kuMalakhi 3:1? (b) Yini lebeyitakwenteka ngembikwekutsi “sitfunywa sesivumelwane” site ethempelini?

³ Kusukela esikhatsini sasendvulo, Jehova abesolo afuna kulungiselela bantfu bakhe kutalwa kweMbuso Lobuswa NguMesiya. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga ngesiphrofetho lesikuMalakhi 3:1, lesitsi: “Bukani la, ngiyawutfumela sitfunywa sami, lesiyawulungisa indlela embikwami. Masinyane loSimakadze [iNkhosi yeliciniso, NW] lenimfunako uyakuta ethempelini lakhe. Yebo, sitfunywa sesivumelwane lenisifisako.”

⁴ Ekugcwalisekeni kwalombhalo kwalamuhla, Jehova “iNkhosi yeliciniso,” weta nini kutewuhlola labo lebebakhonta ebaleni lasemhlabeni lelithempeli lakhe? Lesiphrofetho sitsi Jehova abetawufika ‘nesitfunywa sesivumelwane.’ Besingubani lesitfunywa? BesiyiNkhosi LenguMesiya, Jesu Khristu! (Luk. 1: 68-73) Njengobe abenguMbusi labesandza kubekwa, abetawuhlola bantfu baNkulunkulu emhlabeni futsi abacenge.​—1 Phet. 4:17.

⁵ Nome kunjalo, besingubani lesi lesinye “sitfunywa” lokukhulunywa ngaso kucala kuMalakhi 3:1? Lesitfunywa lokukhulunywa ngaso kulesiphrofetho besitawuba khona kusasele sikhatsi lesidze kufike sikhatsi sekuba khona kweNkhosi LenguMesiya. Emashumini eminyaka ngaphambi kwa-1914, ukhona yini umuntfu ‘lowalungisa indlela’ embikweNkhosi LenguMesiya?

6. Ngubani lowaba ‘ngulesitfunywa’ leseta kucala kute sente bantfu baNkulunkulu balungele tintfo lebetiseta?

⁶ Kulencwadzi, sitawutfola timphendvulo talemibuto lenjalo, emlandvweni lomangalisako webantfu baJehova balamuhla. Lomlandvo uveta kutsi ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-1800, licembu lelincane lebantfu labetsembekile labangemaKhristu eliciniso belisolo likhula liba nebunye nanobe bekugcwele bantfu labanyenti labatentisako. Lelicembu labitwa ngekutsi Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli. Labo lebebahola emkhatsini wabo​—lokubo Charles T. Russell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye—​ngibo lababa ‘ngulesitfunywa’ lesibiketelwe, bebacondzisa bantfu baNkulunkulu futsi bebabenta balungele loko lebekutawenteka. Ase sicabange ngetindlela letine ‘lesitfunywa’ lesakwenta ngako loku.

7, 8. (a) Emkhatsini wabo-1800, bobani labacala kwembula emanga emfundziso yekungafi kwemphefumulo? (b) C. T. Russell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye bembula tiphi letinye timfundziso temanga?

⁷ LaBafundzi BeliBhayibheli bebatadisha futsi bathantaze; bebavumelana ngekwatiswa labakutfolile, bese bashicilela timfundziso leticacile teliciniso. Bese kwendlule iminyaka leminyenti Tinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu tisebumnyameni; timfundziso tato letinyenti betitsetfwe etimfundzisweni temacaba. Sibonelo lesikhulu saloko yimfundziso yemphefumulo longafi. Nome kunjalo, emkhatsini weminyaka yabo-1800, bafundzi labambalwa beliBhayibheli bayihlolisisa lemfundziso futsi babona kutsi beyingasekelwa liVi laNkulunkulu. BoHenry Grew, George Stetson, kanye naGeorge Storrs babhala futsi bafundzisa ngesibindzi, bembula lamanga lavela kuSathane. a Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, umsebenti wabo waba neligalelo lelikhulu ku-C. T. Russell nakulabo lebebabambisene naye.

⁸ Lelicembu lelincane leBafundzi BeliBhayibheli latfola kutsi naletinye timfundziso lebetihlobene nekungafi kwemphefumulo betidida futsi tingemanga​—sibonelo saloko yimfundziso letsi bonkhe bantfu labalungile baya ezulwini nobe kutsi Nkulunkulu ushisa imiphefumulo yebantfu lababi esihogweni semlilo phakadze. Russell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye bawembula lamanga etihlokweni letinyenti, etincwadzini, etincwajaneni, emapheshaneni kanye nesetinshumayelweni letishicilelwe.

9. I-“Zion’s Watch Tower” yayembula njani imfundziso yaMtsatfu Amunye kutsi ingemanga?

⁹ Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli baphindze bembula kutsi nemfundziso yaMtsatfu Amunye ingemanga. Nga-1887, i-“Zion’s Watch Tower” yatsi: “ImiBhalo icacile nayikhuluma ngemehluko lokhona kanye nebuhlobo baJehova neNkhosi yetfu Jesu.” Lesihloko  sase siyaveta kutsi kuyamangalisa kutsi “imfundziso yaNkulunkulu longuMtsatfu Amunye​—lokuboNkulunkulu labatsatfu kumunye, kanye naNkulunkulu munye kulabatsatfu, isakateke kakhulu futsi yemukelwa bantfu labanyenti. Kodvwa liciniso lekutsi ngemasontfo lente loko, liveta indlela lebekalele ngayo ngesikhatsi sitsa siwabopha ngetinketane temanga.”

10. Sicongosekulindza ­sabonisa njani kutsi 1914 bewungumnyaka lobalulekile?

¹⁰ Njengobe sihloko sayo lesiphelele besibonisa, i-“Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence” beyinendzaba kakhulu netiphrofetho letimayelana nekuba khona kwaKhristu. Babhali labetsembekile futsi labagcotjiwe lebebanesandla ekubhalweni kwayo, babona kutsi siphrofetho saDanyela ‘setikhatsi letisikhombisa,’ besisitsintsa sikhatsi sekugcwaliseka kwenjongo yaNkulunkulu lemayelana neMbuso waKhe lobuswa nguMesiya. Ekucaleni kweminyaka yabo-1870, batsi 1914 bekungumnyaka lapho letikhatsi letisikhombisa lebetitawuphela ngawo. (Dan. 4:25; Luk. 21:24) Nanobe bazalwane betfu bangaleso sikhatsi bebangakucondzi ngalokugcwele loko lebekushiwo ngulowo mnyaka, sisayibona imiphumela yekumemetela kwabo liciniso.

11, 12. (a) Ngesikhatsi uMzalwane Russell afundzisa, bobani labadvumisa? (b) Umsebenti lobewentiwa nguRussell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye kusasele iminyaka leminyenti kufike 1914 bewubaluleke ngani?

¹¹ BoRussell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye abazange batidvumise bona ngekwembula lamaciniso labalulekile kanye  nekuwacondza. Russell wadvumisa labanye bantfu lebebaphile ngaphambi kwesikhatsi sakhe. Ngetulu kwaloko, wadvumisa Jehova Nkulunkulu, lokunguye lofundzisa bantfu baKhe tintfo labadzinga kutati nangesikhatsi lokufanele batati ngaso. Kuyacaca kutsi Jehova wayibusisa imetamo yaRussell neyalabo lebebabambisene naye, yekwehlukanisa emaciniso emangeni. Njengobe iminyaka ihamba, batehlukanisa kakhulu neTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu futsi behluka kuto.

¹² Bewumangalisa kakhulu umsebenti lobewentiwe ngulamadvodza letsembekile kute asekele timfundziso teliciniso eminyakeni leminyenti ngembikwa-1914. Nayibuka emuva, i-“The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence” yaNovember 1, 1917, yatsi: “Tigidzi tebantfu lamuhla setikhululekile ekwesabeni lobekubangelwa yimfundziso yesihogo semlilo kanye naletinye timfundziso temanga . . . Emaciniso lafanana nemagagasi, lacale eminyakeni lengetulu kwalengu-40 leyengcile, asakhula ngendlela lemangalisako futsi atawuchubeka akhula adzimate agcwale wonkhe umhlaba; labo labaphikisana nawo bangase betame kuwatsanyela ngemtsanyelo lovamile lamagagasi elwandle lolukhulu, kuze bavimbe Emaciniso kutsi asakateke emhlabeni.”

13, 14. (a) “Sitfunywa” sasita njani ekulungiseni indlela yeNkhosi LenguMesiya? (b) Yini lesingayifundza kubazalwane betfu labaphile kuleminyaka lelikhulu leyengcile?

¹³ Cabanga nganaku: Bantfu bebatakulungela yini kucala kwekubakhona kwaKhristu kube bebehluleka kuveta umehluko lokhona emkhatsini waJesu naBabe wakhe, Jehova? Cha, bebangeke. Bebangeke bakulungele kube bebacabanga kutsi sipho sekungafi siyintfo letfolwa ngibo bonkhe, nekutsi besingasiso sipho lesiligugu lesinikwa kuphela bantfu labambalwa labalandzela etinyatselweni taKhristu; bebangeke bakulungele kube bebacanga kutsi Nkulunkulu uhlupha bantfu esihogweni semlilo phakadze futsi bete nelitsemba lekukhululwa. Akungabateki-ke kutsi ‘lesitfunywa’ salungiselela iNkhosi LenguMesiya indlela.

¹⁴ Kutsiwani ngatsi lamuhla? Singafundza yini kubazalwane betfu lebebaphila eminyakeni lengetulu kwelikhulu leyengcile? Natsi kufanele sibe bafundzi beliVi laNkulunkulu labakhutsele. (Joh. 17:3) Njengobe lelive lelitsandza umcebo leswele kudla lokuvela kuNkulunkulu, shengatsi kulangatelela kwetfu loko kudla kungachubeka kukhula.​—Fundza 1 Thimothi 4:15.

15. Kancane kancane, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli yini leyabakhanyela? (Fundza nembhalo lochazako.)

¹⁵ Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bebafundzisa kutsi emasontfo elive bekudzingeka ashiywe. Nga-1879, Sicongosekulindza sakhuluma “ngelisontfo leBhabhulona.” Kungenteka yini kutsi besikhuluma ngabopapa, nome ngeLisontfo LemaRoma Katolika? Besekuphele emakhulu eminyaka emaPhrothestani atsi iBhabhulona lokukhulunywa ngayo esiphrofethweni seliBhayibheli beyimelela Lisontfo LemaKatolika. Nanobe kunjalo, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli kwabakhanyela kancane kancane kutsi onkhe emasontfo eTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu bekayincenye ‘yeBhabhulona’ yalamuhla. Kungani kunjalo? Kungesizatfu sekutsi  onkhe emasontfo bekafundzisa timfundziso letingemanga njengaleto lesicoce ngato ngenhla. b Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, tincwadzi tetfu takuveta kancane kancane nangendlela lecondzile, loko lebekufanele kwentiwe ngemalunga emasontfo eBhabhulona lanetinhlitiyo leticotfo.

16, 17. (a) Umculu III we-“Millennial Dawn” kanye ne-Sicongosekulindza, kwabakhutsata njani bantfu kutsi baphume enkholweni yemanga? (b) Ngutiphi tintfo letabangela kutsi tecwayiso tekucala tiphelelwe sisindvo? (Fundza umbhalo lochazako.)

¹⁶ Nasi sibonelo: Nga-1891, i-“Millennial Dawn” Umculu III, yakhuluma ngekulahla kwaNkulunkulu iBhabhulona yalamuhla, yatsi: “Onkhe emasontfo eTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu alahliwe.” Yachubeka yatsi: “Bonkhe bantfu labangavumelani netimfundziso tayo letingemanga kanye netento tayo bayamenywa kutsi baphume kuyo.”

¹⁷ NgaJanuary 1900, Sicongosekulindza sakhipha leseluleko kulabo lebebasolo bangakawesuli emagama abo eTinkholweni Letitsi TebuKhristu, labebatitsetselela ngekutsi batsi: “Inhlitiyo yami yonkhe isecinisweni, futsi angiyi njalo etinkonzweni telisontfo.” Lesihloko sachubeka sitsi: “Kukahle yini kufaka lunyawo lwakho eBhabhulona lube lolunye lusemacinisweni? Lena ngiyo yini indlela lekufanele silalele ngayo . . . lejabulisako naleyemukelwa nguNkulunkulu? Asingabati kutsi akusiyo. Umuntfu [lilunga lelisontfo] wenta sivumelwane eviwa ngulabanye sekuba lilunga lelisontfo ngesikhatsi alijoyina, futsi kufanele etsembeke kuleso sivumelwane kuze kube ngulapho . . . esula bulunga bakhe kulelosontfo eviwa linyenti.” Njengobe iminyaka ihamba, lomlayeto waba nemandla lamakhulu. c Tinceku taJehova kufanele tesule kuba kwato ngemalunga enkholo yemanga.

18. Kungani bekubalulekile kutsi bantfu baphume eBhabhulona Lenkhulu?

¹⁸ Kube tecwayiso tekutsi kufanele kuphunywe eBhabhulona Lenkhulu atikhishwanga ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi, Khristu, iNkhosi lensha lebekiwe, bekatawukhona yini kuba nelicembu letinceku letigcotjiwe naletilungiswe kahle lapha emhlabeni? Bekangeke, ngobe ngemaKhristu lakhululwe eBhabhulona kuphela langakhona kukhonta Jehova “ngemoya nangeliciniso.” (Joh. 4:24) Tsine lamuhla sitimisele yini kuhlale sikhululekile enkholweni yemanga? Shengatsi singachubeka silalela lomyalo lotsi: “Phumani kuyo bantfu bami”!​—Fundza Sembulo 18:4.

19, 20. Sicongosekulindza sabakhutsata njani bantfu baNkulunkulu kutsi bahlangane ndzawonye kute bamkhonte?

¹⁹ Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bebafundzisa kutsi emakholwa kufanele ahlangane ndzawonye kute akhonte Nkulunkulu nobe nini nakungenteka. Akukeneli kutsi emaKhristu eliciniso aphume enkholweni yemanga. Kubalulekile kutsi aphindze ahlanganyele ekukhonteni lokuhlantekile. Kusukela etihlokweni taso tekucala, Sicongosekulindza sakhutsata bafundzi kutsi bahlangane ndzawonye kute bakhonte Nkulunkulu. Nasi sibonelo: NgaJuly 1880, kwabikwa kutsi ngesikhatsi uMzalwane Russell aseluhambeni lwakhe lwekubeka tinkhulumo, wakhuluma ngendlela imihlangano leminyenti lebe sikhutsato ngayo. Ngemuva kwaloko, wakhutsata bafundzi kutsi batfumele emakhadi lakhombisa intfutfuko yabo​—lamanye awo labetawuvela kulomagazini. Yini layisho ngemuva kwaloko? Watsi: “Sonkhe  asiyicondze . . . indlela iNkhosi lenibusisa ngayo nanichubeka nihlangana nalabo labanekukholwa lokuligugu.”

²⁰ Nga-1882, kwavela sihloko lesitsi “Kuhlangana Ndzawonye” ku-Sicongosekulindza. Lesihloko sakhutsata emaKhristu kutsi abe nemihlangano “kuze azuze ngalokulinganako, akhutsatane futsi acinisane.” Lesihloko saphawula satsi: “Akunendzaba kutsi emkhatsini wenu kukhona lofundzile nobe lonelikhono. Ngamunye wenu akaphatse liBhayibheli lakhe, liphepha kanye nentfo yekubhala, futsi nonkhe nisitane ngato tonkhe tindlela leningakhona ngato, nisebentisa i-“Concordance” . . . Khetsani sihloko lenitasihlola; celani sicondziso seMoya kuze nisicondze; bese niyafundza, niyacabanga futsi nicatsanise umbhalo nembhalo, ngemuva kwaloko nitawuciniseka kutsi nicondziswa ecinisweni.”

21. Libandla lebelise-Allegheny, ePennsylvania labeka siphi sibonelo mayelana nemihlangano kanye nekwelusa?

²¹ Indlunkhulu yeBafundzi BeliBhayibheli beyise-Allegheny, Pennsylvania, eMelika. Kuleyo ndzawo, babeka sibonelo lesihle sekuhlangana ndzawonye, futsi ngekwenta njalo, bebalalela seluleko lesiphefumulelwe lesikuHebheru 10:24, 25. (Fundza.) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, umzalwane losakhulile libito lakhe  lokunguCharles Capen wakhumbula sikhatsi lapho bekaya khona kuleyo mihlangano asengumfana. Wabhala: “Ngisawukhumbula lomunye wemibhalo lobewubhalwe elubondzeni lwelihholwa Lenhlangano lobekuhlanganyelwa kulo. Lombhalo bewutsi: ‘Ngobe munye kuphela longuMfundzisi wenu [Khristu], kepha nine nibazalwane.’ Lombhalo solo wahlala engcondvweni yami, kutsi emkhatsini webantfu baJehova kute umfundisi nobe emalunga elisontfo.” (Mat. 23:8) UMzalwane Capen usabukhumbula nebunandzi baleyo mihlangano, sikhutsato sayo kanye nemetamo yeMzalwane Russell yekwelusa lilunga ngalinye lelibandla.

22. Bantfu labetsembekile basemukela njani sikhutsato sekutsi babekhona emihlanganweni yebuKhristu, futsi ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza kubo?

²² Bantfu labetsembekile basilingisa lesibonelo futsi basilalela nesicondziso lebesikhishiwe. Kwakhiwa emabandla nakuletinye tindzawo, njengase-Ohio, eMichigan, nakuyo yonkhe iNyakatfo Melika kanye nakulamanye emave. Cabanga nganaku: Bantfu labetsembekile bebatakulungela mbamba yini kuba khona kwaKhristu kube bebangakaceceshwa kutsi balalele seluleko lesiphefumulelwe sekuhlangana ndzawonye kute kukhontwe Nkulunkulu? Cha, bebangeke! Kutsiwani ngatsi lamuhla? Natsi kufanele sitimisele ngendlela lefananako kutsi sihlanganyele imihlangano yebuKhristu ngekwetsembeka, sifune ematfuba ekutsi sikhonte ndzawonye futsi sakhane.

23. Sicongosekulindza sakucacisa njani kutsi bonkhe labagcotjiwe kufanele babe bashumayeli beliciniso?

²³ Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli bebafundzisa kutsi bonkhe labagcotjiwe kufanele babe bashumayeli beliciniso. Nga-1885, Sicongosekulindza satsi: “Kufanele singakhohlwa kutsi bonkhe labangemalunga emtimba walabagcotjiwe, bagcotjelwe kutsi bashumayele (Isa. 61:1), babitelwe umsebenti wekushumayela.”  Sicongosekulindza sa-1888 besinesikhutsato lesitsi: “Umsebenti wetfu ucacile . . . Nangabe singawunaki futsi sibeka taba, kusho kutsi sitinceku letivilaphako, siveta nekutsi asisifaneli sikhundla lesikhulu lesibitelwe sona.”

24, 25. (a) BoRussell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye bakwenta njani lokungetulu kwekumane bakhutsate bantfu kutsi bashumayele? (b) I-colporteur letsite yawuchaza njani umsebenti lebeyiwenta ngesikhatsi kusete timoto?

²⁴ UMzalwane Russell kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye benta lokungetulu kwekukhutsata bantfu kutsi bashumayele. Bacala kushicilela nemapheshana labebitwa ngekutsi ngema-“Bible Students’ Tracts,” futsi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi abitwa nangekutsi ngema-“Old Theology Quarterly.” Bafundzi be-Sicongosekulindza batfola lamapheshana kute bawasakate kubantfu ngaphandle kwekubabhadalisa.

²⁵ Labo lebebatinikele kutsi bashumayele sikhatsi sonkhe bebabitwa ngekutsi ngema-colporteurs. Charles Capen, lokukhulunywe ngaye ekucaleni abengulomunye wawo. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi watsi: “Bengisebentisa emabalave lebekentiwe yi-United States Government Geological Survey, kute ngikwati kuhlanganisa insimi lebeyisePennsylvania. Lamabalave abekhombisa yonkhe imigwaco, futsi bekenta kube melula kutsi ngifike kuto tonkhe tindzawo ngihamba ngetinyawo. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, ngemuva kwekuhamba emalanga lamatsatfu kuyo yonkhe leyo ndzawo kute ngitsatse ema-oda eluchungechunge lwencwadzi letsi “Studies in the Scriptures,” bengicasha lihhashi kanye nenkalishi kute ngikwati kuhambisa lawo ma-oda. Bengivame kuma futsi ngilale emitini yebalimi. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bekusete timoto.”

26. (a) Kungani bekudzingeka kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bahlanganyele emsebentini wekushumayela kute balungele kubusa kwaKhristu? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesenta kahle kutibuta yona?

²⁶ Kufanele kutsi lemetamo yasekucaleni lebeyentiwa emsebentini wekushumayela beyidzinga sibindzi kanye nekutimisela. EmaKhristu eliciniso bekatakulungela yini kubusa kwaKhristu kube abengafundziswanga kubaluleka kwemsebenti wekushumayela? Cha bekangeke! Ngetulu kwaloko, lomsebenti bewutawuba sici lesibalulekile sekuba khona kwaKhristu. (Mat. 24:14) Bantfu baNkulunkulu bekufanele bakulungele kuwenta incenye lebalulekile etimphilweni tabo lomsebenti losindzisa kuphila. Natsi lamuhla senta kahle kutibuta: ‘Umsebenti wekushumayela uyintfo lebalulekile yini ekuphileni kwami? Ngiyatidzela yini kute ngihlanganyele ngalokugcwele kulomsebenti?’

27, 28. Yini umphostoli Johane layibona embonweni, futsi yini leyentiwa nguSathane kanye nemadimoni akhe nakutalwa uMbuso?

²⁷ Ekugcineni, lomnyaka wa-1914 lebewusolo ulindzelwe, wefika. Njengobe sibonile ekucaleni kwalesehluko, bekute bantfu labatibonela ngewabo letintfo letimangalisako lebetenteka ezulwini. Nobe kunjalo, umphostoli Johane wanikwa umbono lebewuchaza letintfo ngendlela lengumfanekiso. Asewucabange ngaloku: Johane wabona ‘sibonakaliso lesikhulu’ ezulwini. “Umfati” waNkulunkulu​—lokuyinhlangano yakhe yetidalwa letingumoya ezulwini—​abetetfwele futsi wabeleka indvodzana. Sitjelwa kutsi lomntfwana longumfanekiso ngekushesha, ‘abetawelusa tonkhe tive ngentfonga yensimbi.’ Nanobe kunjalo, ngemuva kwekutalwa, lomntfwana “wahlwitfwa wayiswa kuNkulunkulu nasesihlalweni sakhe sebukhosi.” Livi lelikhulu lelivela  ezulwini lamemeta latsi: “Nyalo seyifikile insindziso, emandla, neMbuso waNkulunkulu wetfu kanye neligunya laKhristu wakhe.”​—Semb. 12:1, 5, 10.

²⁸ Akungabateki kutsi Johane wakubona embonweni kutalwa kweMbuso WaNkulunkulu Lobuswa NguMesiya. Lesentakalo besimangalisa kakhulu, kodvwa akusibo bonkhe lesabajabulisa. Sathane nemadimoni akhe balwa netingilosi letetsembekile lebetiholwa nguMikhayeli, nobe Khristu. Waba yini umphumela? LiBhayibheli litsi: “Ngako wajikijelwa phansi drago lomkhulu, inyoka yekucala, lobitwa ngekutsi nguDeveli nangekutsi nguSathane, lodukisa umhlaba wonkhe; wajikijelwa phansi emhlabeni, netingilosi takhe nato tajikijelwa phansi kanye naye.”​—Semb. 12:7, 9.

29, 30. Ngemuva kwekutalwa kweMbuso WaNkulunkulu Lobuswa NguMesiya, timo tashintja njani (a) emhlabeni? (b) ezulwini?

²⁹ Kusasele sikhatsi lesidze kufike umnyaka wa-1914, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli batsi sikhatsi selusizi besitawucala ngalowo mnyaka. Nanobe kunjalo, bebangati kutsi leso siphrofetho besitawuba liciniso lelikhulu kangakanani. Njengobe umbono waJohane waveta, Sathane abetawuba nemandla lamakhulu kubantfu. LiBhayibheli litsi: “Maye ngemhlaba nangelwandle, ngobe Develi wehlele kini atfukutsele kakhulu, ati kutsi unesikhatsi lesincane.” (Semb. 12:12) Nga-1914, kwacala imphi yelive yekucala futsi sibonakaliso sekuba khona kwaKhristu emandleni embuso sacala kugcwaliseka emhlabeni wonkhe. ‘Emalanga ekugcina’ alelive lelibi abesacalile.​—2 Thim. 3:1.

³⁰ Nanobe kunjalo, kwaba nenjabulo ezulwini. Sathane nemadimoni akhe bese bacoshwe phakadze. Kulandzisa kwaJohane kutsi: “Ngako jabulani nine mazulu nani lenihlala kuwo!” (Semb. 12:12) Njengobe emazulu bese ahlantiwe futsi Jesu asabekwe njengeNkhosi, uMbuso WaNkulunkulu Lobuswa NguMesiya besewukulungele kusita bantfu baNkulunkulu emhlabeni. Yini lebewutayenta? Njengobe sibonile ekucaleni kwalesehluko, Khristu ‘njengesitfunywa sesivumelwane,’ bekatawucala ngekuba ngumcengi wetinceku taNkulunkulu letilapha emhlabeni. Bekutawusho kutsini loko?

31. Yini Malakhi layibiketela mayelana nesikhatsi sekucenga, futsi lesiphrofetho sacala nini kugcwaliseka? (Fundza nembhalo lochazako.)

³¹ Malakhi wabiketela kutsi sikhatsi sekucenga besingeke sibe melula. Watsi: “Kodvwa ngubani nje longamelana nelilanga lekufika kwakhe? Ngubani longema ekubonakaleni kwakhe? Ngobe uyawufanana nemlilo wemcengi nome nensipho yemgezi.” (Mal. 3:2) Lawo mavi aba liciniso! Kusukela nga-1914, bantfu baNkulunkulu emhlabeni bahlangabetana neluvivinyo nebumatima lobukhulu. Njengobe iMphi Yelive Yekucala ichubeka, Bafundzi BeliBhayibheli labanyenti bahlangabetana nekuhlushwa lokunesibhuku kanye nekuboshwa. d

32. Ngubuphi bumatima lobukhulu bangekhatsi kwenhlangano lobavelela bantfu baNkulunkulu ngemuva kwa-1916?

³² Nangekhatsi kwenhlangano, kwaba nebumatima lobukhulu. Nga-1916, uMzalwane Russell wafa aneminyaka lengu-64 kuphela, futsi loko kwashiya bantfu baNkulunkulu labanyenti betfukile. Kufa kwakhe kwaveta kutsi labanyenti bese banake kakhulu  umuntfu munye losibonelo. Nanobe uMzalwane Russell abengakufuni kukhontwa lokunjalo, bantfu labanyenti bese bakhe simo sengcondvo sekumkhonta. Bebacabanga kutsi kwembulwa kweliciniso lokuchubekela embili besekuphelile njengobe yena abesafile, futsi labanye abazange bakuvume ngenkhani kwenta imetamo yekutfutfuka. Lesimo sengcondvo sabangela kutsi kube khona kuhlubuka lokwabangela kutsi inhlangano ihlukane ekhatsi.

33. Tetsembiso letingazange tigcwaliseke tabavivinya njani bantfu baNkulunkulu?

³³ Tetsembiso letingazange tigcwaliseke nato taba luvivinyo. Nanobe Sicongosekulindza besisho kahle kutsi 1914 bewutawuba ngumnyaka wekuphela kweTikhatsi Tebetive, bazalwane bebangacondzi kutsi yini lebeyitawukwenteka ngalowo mnyaka. (Luk. 21:24) Bebacabanga kutsi nga-1914, Khristu bekatawutsatsa makoti wakhe lokungemaKhristu lagcotjiwe, amyise ezulwini kute ayobusa naye lapho. Kodvwa lawo matsemba awazange agcwaliseke. Ngasekupheleni kwa-1917, Sicongosekulindza samemetela kutsi iminyaka lengu-40 yesikhatsi sekuvuna beyitawuphela entfwasahlobo ya-1918. Kodvwa umsebenti wekushumayela awuzange uphele. Wachubekela phambili nangemuva kwalowo mnyaka. Lomagazini watsi sikhatsi sekuvuna besesiphelile, kodvwa sikhatsi sekukhwimita besisengakapheli. Nanobe kunjalo, labanyenti bayekela kukhonta Jehova ngesizatfu sekutsi bebadvumatekile.

34. Nguluphi luvivinyo lolumatima lolwavela nga-1918, futsi kungani Tinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu beticabanga kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu “bafile”?

³⁴ Nga-1918 kwavela luvivinyo lolwetfusako. J. F. Rutherford, lowahola ngemuva kwa-C. T. Russell, waboshwa akanye nalabanye bazalwane labasikhombisa lebebanemtfwalo ebandleni. Bagwetjwa ngalokungakafaneli iminyaka lemidze, futsi bebagwetjwa lijele lahulumende lebelise-Atlanta, eGeorgia, eMelika. Kwesikhashana, umsebenti webantfu baNkulunkulu kungenteka kutsi wabonakala wehlulekile. Labanyenti kubafundisi beTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu, bajabula. Bebacabanga kutsi njengobe baholi beBafundzi BeliBhayibheli besebaboshiwe, indlunkhulu lebeyiseBrooklyn seyivaliwe, futsi nemsebenti wekushumayela uhlaselwa eMelika kanye naseYurophu, loko bekusho kutsi laBafundzi BeliBhayibheli bese bafile​—nobe kutsi bebangasesiyo ingoti. (Semb. 11:3, 7-10) Kodvwa bebenta liphutsa ngekucabanga kanjalo!

35. Kungani Jesu avumela kutsi balandzeli bakhe bahlangabetane nebumatima, futsi ngusiphi sinyatselo lasitsatsa kute abasite?

³⁵ Letitsa teliciniso betingati kutsi Jesu bekavumela lobumatima kubantfu bakhe ngesizatfu sekutsi Jehova bekahleti “njengemcengi nanjengemhlanti wesiliva.” (Mal. 3:3) Jehova neNdvodzana yakhe bebaciniseka kutsi bantfu labetsembekile bebatawuphuma kuloluvivinyo lolufanana nemlilo bacengekile, bahlantiwe futsi sebakufanela kancono kukhonta iNkhosi. Kusukela ekucaleni kwa-1919, kwacaca kutsi umoya waNkulunkulu bewente intfo titsa tebantfu bakhe lebeticabanga kutsi ngeke seyenteke. Bantfu labetsembekile bavuselelwa! (Semb. 11:11) Ngaleso sikhatsi, Khristu wasigcwalisa sibonakaliso lesiyinhloko  semalanga ekugcina. Wabeka ‘sisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile,’ lesilicembu lelincane lemadvodza lagcotjiwe labekatawuhola emkhatsini webantfu bakhe ngekutsi akhiphe kudla lokuvela kuNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi lesifanele.​—Mat. 24:45-47.

36. Yini leyaveta kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bebavuseleleka ebuhlotjeni labanabo naYe?

³⁶ UMzalwane Rutherford kanye nalabo lebebabambisene naye bakhululwa ejele ngaMarch 26, 1919. Ngekushesha ngemuva kwaloko kwahlelwa umhlangano lomkhulu ngaSeptember walowo mnyaka. Kwentiwa emalungiselelo ekutsi kucalwe kushicilelwe magazini wesibili lobewutawubitwa ngekutsi yi-“The Golden Age.” Uhambisana ne-Sicongosekulindza, lomagazini bewulungiselelwe kutsi usetjentiswe emsebentini wekushumayela. e Ngemnyaka lofanako kwacala kushicilelwa lushicilelo lwekucala lwe-“Bulletin” nyalo leseyibitwa ngekutsi yincwajana yekubhalela emhlanganweni Wekuphila KwemaKhristu Nemsebenti Wawo. Kusukela ekucaleni, beyisolo ilusito ekusikhutsateni emsebentini wekushumayela. Asingabati kutsi kusukela nga-1919 kuchubeke, kushumayela emtini ngemuti kwaba yintfo lehamba embili.

37. Eminyakeni leyalandzela 1919, labanye bativeta njani bangaketsembeki?

³⁷ Umsebenti wekushumayela wachubeka ucenga tinceku taKhristu njengobe labakhukhumele nalabatatiko bebangakatimiseli  kuba nencenye kulomsebenti lodzinga kutitfoba. Labo lebekubehlula kuyoshumayela balishiya lelicembu letikhonti letetsembekile. Eminyakeni leyalandzela 1919, labo labangaketsembeki abaphatsekanga kahle futsi bakhetsa kukhuluma kabi nekubhala kabi ngetinceku taJehova letetsembekile baze ngisho basekela labo labatihluphako.

38. Kuphumelela kanye nekuncoba kwebalandzeli baKhristu emhlabeni kusicinisekisa ngani?

³⁸ Ngisho nangetulu kwalokuhlasela, balandzeli baKhristu labasemhlabeni bachubeka ngekutimisela futsi baba nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. Kuphumelela kwabo nekuncoba kwabo kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi, kusiniketa bufakazi lobucinisekisiwe bekutsi uMbuso waNkulunkulu uyabusa. Kusekelwa nguNkulunkulu nekubusiswa nguye asebentisa iNdvodzana yakhe neMbuso waKhe lobuswa ngiyo, ngiko kuphela lokwasita lelicembu lebantfu labanesono kutsi liphumelele futsi lincobe Sathane nalelive lelibi leliholwa nguye.​—Fundza Isaya 54:17.

39, 40. (a) Ngutiphi letinye tetincenye letibalulekile talencwadzi? (b) Kufundza lencwadzi kutakusita njani?

³⁹ Etehlukweni letilandzelako, sitawuhlola loko lesekwentiwe nguMbuso waNkulunkulu emhlabeni kuleminyaka lelikhulu kusukela watalwa ezulwini. Incenye ngayinye yalencwadzi itawukhuluma ngetici letehlukahlukene temsebenti weMbuso lowentiwa lapha emhlabeni. Esehlukweni ngasinye, libhokisi lekubuketa litasisita sibone kutsi uMbuso uyintfo sibili kangakanani kitsi. Etehlukweni tekugcina, sitawucoca ngekutsi yini lesingayilindzela nakufika uMbuso utewubhubhisa bantfu lababi futsi uletse lipharadisi emhlabeni esikhatsini lesitako lesisedvute. Kutakusita njani kutadisha lencwadzi?

⁴⁰ Sathane ufuna kucedza kukholwa lonako eMbusweni waNkulunkulu. Kodvwa Jehova ufuna kucinisa kukholwa kwakho kuze kukuvikele futsi kukwente uhlale ucinile. (Ef. 6:16) Ngako sikukhutsata kutsi ufundze lencwadzi futsi uthantaze. Chubeka utibuta kutsi: ‘UMbuso waNkulunkulu uyintfo sibili yini kimi?’ Nawuchubeka uyintfo sibili kuwe nyalo, kufanele kutsi utawulungela loMbuso, wetsembeke kuwo futsi uchubeke uwusekela, kuze kufike sikhatsi lapho bonkhe labaphilako batawubona kutsi uMbuso waNkulunkulu uyintfo sibili futsi uyabusa.