1. Abaphrofethi bakaJehova babesenza msebenzi bani futhi kwacina kwenzakaleni?

 UMLINDI umi phezu komduli wedolobho leJerusalema esithe amehlo ngesandla ukuze angaphandlwa lilanga. Uthi esakhangele khonale khatshana abone ibutho leBhabhiloni lisiza lingasadlanga nkotshana, abesetshaya icilongo ukuze axwayise abasedolobheni. Kodwa akulalutho abangalwenza ngoba isitha sesifikile. Sekuleminyaka edlula engu-100 abaphrofethi bakaJehova bebaxwayisa ngokuthi isitha sizafika sizobahlasela kodwa bona abazange balalele, balokhu bekhonza izithombe. Amabutho eBhabhiloni afika agombolozele idolobho, besekusithi ngemva kwezinyanga ezinengi adilize imiduli yedolobho, abhidlize lethempeli. Abulala abantu beJerusalema abanengi, abesethumba abanye.

2, 3. (a) Kuyini osekuseduze ukuthi kwenzakale emhlabeni? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula esihlokweni lesi?

² Sekuseduze ukuthi amabutho kaJehova asezulwini ahlasele abantu bonke abangamkhonziyo. (Isam. 17:12-14) Leso kuzabe kuyisikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu okungakaze kube khona. (Mat. 24:21) Lanxa kunjalo lisesekhona ithuba lokuthi abanengi balalele nxa uJehova ebaxwayisa esebenzisa umlindi ambekileyo.

³ Kuyini okwenza uJehova wabeka abalindi? Kuyini abalindi  abakutshela abantu? Ngobani uJehova ababeke ukuthi babe ngabalindi lamuhla futhi thina sibancedisa njani? Kasixoxeni ngezimpendulo zemibuzo le.

4. Kuyini okwakusenza uJehova abeke abalindi? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Bala uHezekheli 33:7. Kudala abalindi babesima phezu kwemiduli yedolobho ukuze baxwayise abantu nxa idolobho selihlaselwa. Lokho kwakutshengisa ukuthi ababusi bedolobho babelendaba labantu babo. Ukukhala kophondo kwakungabethusa abantu abaleleyo, kodwa babengasinda nxa babengalalela lesosixwayiso. UJehova laye wabeka abalindi ko-Israyeli ngoba wayefuna ukusindisa impilo zabantu bakhe. Ayisikho ukuthi wayefuna ukubethusela ngokubatshela ukuthi bazakwehlelwa ngumonakalo kodwa wayebaxwayisa ngoba ebathanda.

5, 6. Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle?

⁵ UJehova wabeka uHezekheli ukuthi abe ngumlindi. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi wahlulela kuhle futhi ulothando. Khathesi kasixoxeni ngobuntu bakhe lobu, sibone ukuthi bungasinceda njani ukuthi simthembe.

⁶ Ukwahlulela kuhle: UJehova utshengisa ukuthi wahlulela kuhle ngokungabandlululi muntu. Ngokwesibonelo, banengi kakhulu abantu abangazange balalele lokho okwakutshiwo ngumphrofethi uHezekheli kodwa uJehova kazange ahle asilahle sonke isizwe sako-Israyeli. Wayekhangela ukuthi umuntu ngamunye wayesenzani nxa exwayiswa. Yikho wakhuluma kanengi ngokuxwayisa ‘umuntu ngamunye omubi’ ‘lomuntu ngamunye olungileyo.’ Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela umuntu ngamunye kusiya ngokuthi uyalalela yini kumbe kalaleli.—Hez. 33:8, 18-20.

7. Kuyini uJehova akukhangelayo nxa esahlulela abantu?

⁷ Lokho uJehova akukhangelayo nxa esahlulela abantu lakho kutshengisa ukuthi unguNkulunkulu owahlulela kuhle. Kahluleli abantu ekhangela lokho abakwenza kudala kodwa ukhangela ukuthi benzani nxa ebaxwayisa. UJehova watshela uHezekheli wathi: ‘Nxa ngingathi emuntwini owenza okubi: “Uzakufa sibili,” kodwa yena abesetshiya okubi akwenzayo enze okulungileyo lokufaneleyo, uzaqhubeka ephila.’ UJehova waqhubeka wathi: “Asikho ngitsho lesisodwa isono asenzileyo azasijeziselwa.” (Hez. 33:14-16) Kodwa umuntu olungileyo angahlamuka, akumelanga akhangelele ukuthi uJehova uzamyekela ngenxa yokuthi wayesenza okuhle kudala. UJehova wathi nxa umuntu ‘angathemba ukulunga kwakhe enze okubi, akula ngitsho lokukodwa okuhle abekwenza okuzakhunjulwa, uzakufa ngenxa yobubi abenzileyo.’—Hez. 33:13.

8. Izixwayiso abaphrofethi ababezitshela abantu zisifundisani ngoJehova?

⁸ Okunye okutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wahlulela kuhle yikuthi uqala abaxwayise abantu engakabajezisi. UHezekheli waqalisa ukuphrofetha kusasele iminyaka engaba ngu-6 ukuthi ibutho leBhabhiloni lihlasele iJerusalema. Wayengayisuye wokuqala ukuxwayisa  abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Kusasele iminyaka edlula engu-100 ukuthi iJerusalema ibhujiswe, uJehova wathuma uHosiya, lo-Isaya, loMikha lo-Odedi kanye loJeremiya ukuthi baxwayise abantu bakhe. Watshela uJeremiya ukuthi akhumbuze ama-Israyeli ukuthi ‘wabeka abalindi ababebaxwayisa besithi, “Lalelani ukukhala kophondo!”’ (Jer. 6:17) Yikho akulamuntu owayengasola uJehova kumbe abaphrofethi bakhe ngokubulawa kwabantu ngesikhathi amabutho eBhabhiloni enqoba iJerusalema.

9. UJehova watshengisa njani ukuthi ulothando oluqotho?

⁹ Uthando: UJehova kazange athume abalindi bakhe ukuthi bayexwayisa abantu abalungileyo kuphela kodwa wabathuma lasebantwini ababesenza okubi, ababemzwisa ubuhlungu futhi bengcolisa ibizo lakhe. Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi ulothando oluqotho. Ama-Israyeli ayesaziwa ngokuthi ngabantu bakaJehova kodwa ayelokhu emtshiya ayekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. UJehova waveza ukuthi lokhu kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu ngokufanisa isizwe sako-Israyeli lomfazi otshiya umkakhe ayefeba. (Hez. 16:32) Lanxa kunjalo uJehova kazange ahle awakhalale ama-Israyeli, wayengafuni ukuwajezisa kodwa wayefuna aphenduke kuye. Yikho wayehlala ewanika ithuba lokuthi atshintshe. Kungani wayesenza njalo? Watshela uHezekheli wathi: “Angithokozi nxa umuntu owenza okubi esifa, engikufunayo yikuthi umuntu owenza okubi atshiye okubi akwenzayo ukuze aqhubeke ephila.” (Hez. 33:11) Lalamuhla uJehova ulokhu efisa ukuthi abantu abenza okubi batshintshe ukuze basinde.—Mal. 3:6.

10, 11. Indlela uJehova ayephatha ngayo abantu bakhe isifundisani?

 ¹⁰ Kuyakhanya ukuthi uJehova waphatha ama-Israyeli ngendlela elothando futhi wawahlulela kuhle. Manje thina sifundani kuye? Sifunda ukuthi kumele sibe lendaba lomuntu ngamunye nxa sitshumayela. Akumelanga sibandlulule abantu ngokuthi bangumhlobo bani, bakhuluma limi bani loba ngokuthi balemali kumbe bangabayanga. Siyabe siphambanisa nxa singazitshela ukuthi umuntu kasoze alalele izindaba ezinhle ngenxa yendlela aziphatha ngayo. UJehova wafundisa umphostoli uPhetro isifundo esilokhu sisebenza lalamuhla. Wathi: “UNkulunkulu kakhethi kodwa kuzo zonke izizwe uyamamukela wonke umuntu omesabayo futhi owenza okulungileyo.”—Imiseb. 10:34, 35.

¹¹ Okunye esikufundayo yikuthi kumele sinanzelele indlela esiziphatha ngayo. Ukuthi sasisenza okulungileyo kudala akutsho ukuthi sesingenza izinto ezimbi uJehova angabi lendaba. Kumele sikhumbule ukuthi lathi silesono njengabantu esibatshumayezayo. Umphostoli uPhawuli weluleka ibandla laseKhorinte wathi: “Lowo ocabanga ukuthi umile kananzelele angawi. Akulasilingo esilehleleyo ngaphandle kwalezo ezijayelekileyo ebantwini.” (1 Khor. 10:12, 13) Iseluleko lesi siyasebenza lakithi. Akumelanga ‘sithembe ukulunga kwethu,’ sicabange ukuthi nxa singenza izinto ezimbi uJehova kasoze asijezise ngenxa yokuthi sake senza okuhle. (Hez. 33:13) Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sithobekile futhi singabantu abalalelayo kungelani lokuthi sesilesikhathi eside kangakanani sikhonza uJehova.

12. Kuyini okumele sikukhumbule nxa sake senza izono ezinkulu?

 ¹² Kungenzakala ukuthi abanye bayazisola ngezono ezinkulu abazenza kudala. UJehova ubabona njani abantu abanjalo? Lanxa okwakhulunywa nguHezekheli kusifundisa ukuthi uJehova uzabajezisa abantu abangaphendukiyo, okunye esikufundayo yikuthi unguNkulunkulu olothando hatshi othanda ukuphindisela. (1 Joh. 4:8) Nxa singatshengisa ukuthi siyaphenduka okweqiniso, uJehova uzakuba lesihawu kithi asithethelele. (Jak. 5:14, 15) Wayezimisele ukuthethelela isizwe sako-Israyeli esasesikhonza onkulunkulu bamanga njalo uzimisele ukusithethelela lathi.—Hubo. 86:5.

13, 14. (a) Abalindi kwakumele babatsheleni abantu? (b) Umphrofethi u-Isaya wabatshelani abako-Israyeli?

¹³ Bala uHezekheli 33:2, 3. Abalindi ababebekwe nguJehova kwakumele babatsheleni abantu? Okuqakatheke kakhulu okwakumele bakwenze yikuxwayisa abantu kodwa babebatshela lezindaba ezinhle. Asihloleni izibonelo ezilandelayo.

¹⁴ U-Isaya angabe waphrofetha kusukela ngo-778 kusiya ku-732 B.C.E. Waxwayisa amaJuda ngokuthi abaseBhabhiloni babezahlasela iJerusalema bathumbe abantu bayo. (Isaya. 39:5-7) Waphinda wathi: “Zwana! Abalindi bakho baphakamisa amazwi abo. Bayamemeza ngentokozo kanyekanye ngoba bazazibonela ngawabo nxa uJehova eseyiqoqa iZiyoni.” (Isaya. 52:8) Lezi kwakuzindaba ezinhle ezazitshengisa ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kuzavuselelwa.

15. Kuyini uJeremiya akutshela abantu?

¹⁵ UJeremiya yena waphrofetha kusukela ngo-647 B.C.E. kusiya ku-580 B.C.E. Abanye bathi wayekhuluma ngezinto ezimbi kuphela. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi wasebenza nzima exwayisa abantu bako-Israyeli ngokuthi uJehova wayezabajezisa. a Lanxa kunjalo zikhona izindaba ezinhle ayezikhuluma. Watshela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuthi babezabuyela elizweni labo lokuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa.—Jer. 29:10-14; 33:10, 11.

16. Lokho uHezekheli akutshela amaJuda ayeseBhabhiloni kwawanceda njani?

¹⁶ UJehova wabeka uHezekheli ukuthi abe ngumlindi ngo-613 B.C.E., futhi umsebenzi lo wawenza kwaze kwaba ngu-591 B.C.E. KuSahluko 5 lo-6 sebhuku leli, sibone ukuthi uHezekheli wayekukhuthalele ukuxwayisa abantu bako-Israyeli, ebatshela ukuthi idolobho leJerusalema lalizabhujiswa. Lokhu kwenza ukuthi angabi lecala lokubulawa kwabantu laba ngoba wayebaxwayisile. Umsebenzi ayewenza waphinda wanceda amaJuda ayethunjiwe ukuthi ahlale elokholo oluqinileyo futhi awulungele umsebenzi omkhulu ayezawenza phambili. Ngemva kweminyaka engu-70 amaJuda ethunjiwe, uJehova wayezawabuyisela elizweni lawo ayehlala khona. (Hez. 36:7-11) Abanengi balabo ababezabuyela kwakuzabe kungabantwana labazukulu balabo abalalela isixwayiso sikaHezekheli. Ezinye izahluko zebhuku leli eziseNgxenyeni 3, zikhuluma ngezindaba ezinhle uHezekheli okwakumele azitshele abantu, ezazitshengisa ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso kwakuzavuselelwa eJerusalema.

17. UJehova wayebabeka nxa kutheni abalindi?

 ¹⁷ Abaphrofethi abaxwayisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu sekuseduze ukuthi iJerusalema ibhujiswe yibo bodwa yini uJehova ababeka ukuthi babe ngabalindi? Hatshi ayisibo bodwa. Kwakusithi kungakenzakali loba yiphi into eqakathekileyo ephathelane lokugcwaliseka kwenjongo yakhe, uJehova abeke abalindi ukuze baxwayise abantu abenza okubi. Abalindi laba babephinda batshele abantu izindaba ezinhle.

18. Yiwuphi umsebenzi owawusenziwa nguJohane uMbhabhathizi?

¹⁸ Ngesikhathi sikaJesu, uJohane uMbhabhathizi wabekwa ukuthi abe ngumlindi. Waxwayisa abako-Israyeli ebatshela ukuthi kwasekuseduze ukuthi balahlwe. (Mat. 3:1, 2, 9-11) Kodwa kulokunye akwenzayo. UJesu wathi uJohane “wayeyisithunywa” okwakuphrofethwe ngaso ukuthi sasizalungisela uMesiya indlela. (Mal. 3:1; Mat. 11:7-10) Enye indlela akwenza ngayo lokhu yikumemezela izindaba ezinhle ezazimayelana loJesu. Watshela abantu ukuthi “iMvana kaNkulunkulu” yayisifikile izosusa “isono somhlaba.”—Joh. 1:29, 30.

19, 20. UJesu labafundi bakhe batshengisa njani ukuthi babe ngabalindi?

¹⁹ UJesu nguye umlindi omkhulu kulabo bonke abake babakhona. Laye wathunywa ‘ebantwini bako-Israyeli’ njengoHezekheli. (Hez. 3:17; Mat. 15:24) UJesu waxwayisa isizwe sako-Israyeli ukuthi kwasekuseduze ukuthi uJehova asilahle lokuthi iJerusalema ibhujiswe. (Mat. 23:37, 38; 24:1, 2; Luk. 21:20-24) Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe oqakathekileyo wawungowokutshela abantu izindaba ezinhle.—Luk. 4:17-21.

²⁰ UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Hlalani lilindile.” (Mat. 24:42) Bamlalela baba ngabalindi, batshela abantu bako-Israyeli ukuthi uJehova wayesebalahlile kanye ledolobho labo leJerusalema. (Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 4:25, 26) Abafundi bakaJesu batshumayela izindaba ezinhle njengalokho okwakwenziwe ngabanye abalindi. Batshela abantu bezinye izizwe ukuthi basebelethuba lokugcotshwa babe ngu-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu. Abantu bezinye izizwe basebezathola isibusiso sokuncedisa uKhristu ukuvuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso emhlabeni.—Imiseb. 15:14; Gal. 6:15, 16; Isam. 5:9, 10.

21. Umphostoli uPhawuli wawenza njani umsebenzi womlindi?

²¹ Umphostoli uPhawuli waba ngumlindi ngesikhathi sabaphostoli futhi wayekhuthele emsebenzini wakhe. NjengoHezekheli, wayekwazi ukuthi wayezakuba lecala nxa engawenzanga kuhle umsebenzi wakhe. (Imiseb. 20:26, 27) Laye wakwenza lokho okwakusenziwa ngabanye abalindi. Wayengaxwayisi nje kuphela kodwa wayetshumayela lezindaba ezinhle. (Imiseb. 15:35; Rom. 1:1-4) Umoya ongcwele wenza ukuthi abhale amazwi athethwe esiphrofethweni sika-Isaya athi: “Ayisibuhle benyawo zalowo owehla ezintabeni eletha izindaba ezinhle.” Lapha wayekhuluma ngabalandeli bakaKhristu ababetshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Isaya. 52:7, 8; Rom. 10:13-15.

22. Kwenzakalani abaphostoli sebefile?

 ²² Ngemva kokufa kwabaphostoli kwaba labahlamuki ebandleni lamaKhristu njengoba kwakutshiwo. (Imiseb. 20:29, 30; 2 Thes. 2:3-8) Kusukela lapho kwaba lamaKhristu amanga amanengi anjengokhula. Kwasekunzima ukubona abalandeli bakaKhristu beqiniso abanjengengqoloyi. Kwasekugcwele izimfundiso zamanga, okokuthi iqiniso elimayelana loMbuso kaNkulunkulu lalingasakhanyi. (Mat. 13:36-43) Kodwa sathi sesifikile isikhathi sokuthi uJehova athathe inyathelo waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulothando futhi wahlulela kuhle. Wabeka abalindi ukuthi baxwayise abantu njalo batshumayele izindaba ezinhle. Ngobani uJehova ababeka ukuthi babe ngabalindi?

23. Yiwuphi umsebenzi owenziwa nguC. T. Russell labanye bakhe?

²³ Umphrofethi uMalakhi wakhuluma ‘ngesithunywa’ ‘esasizalungisa indlela’ uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ungakaqalisi ukubusa ezulwini. b (Mal. 3:1) Kungakafiki u-1914, uCharles Taze Russell labanye bakhe yibo ababa yisithunywa leso njalo babephinda babe ngabalindi. Babesebenzisa imagazini okwakuthiwa yi-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence ukuze batshele abantu izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu njalo babaxwayise ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uzabahlulela.

24. (a) Inceku ethembekileyo iwenza njani umsebenzi womlindi? (b) Ufundeni kulokho okwakusenziwa ngabalindi bakudala? (Khangela itshathi elithi, “Abanye Abalindi Abawenza Kuhle Umsebenzi Wabo.”)

 ²⁴ UMbuso wathi usuqalisile ukubusa ezulwini, uJesu wakhetha amadoda amalutshwana wawabeka ukuthi abe yinceku ethembekileyo. (Mat. 24:45-47) Kusukela ngalesosikhathi inceku ethembekileyo, ebizwa langokuthi liQula Elikhokhelayo, ibisenza umsebenzi womlindi. Iyakhokhela ekuxwayiseni abantu ‘ngosuku lokuphindisela’ kukaNkulunkulu lasekumemezeleni “umnyaka womusa kaJehova.”—Isaya. 61:2; khangela lo-2 Khorinte 6:1, 2.

25, 26. (a) Yiwuphi umsebenzi okumele wenziwe yibo bonke abalandeli bakaKhristu njalo wenziwa njani? (b) Sizafunda ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁵ Lanxa inceku ethembekileyo kuyiyo ekhokhelayo ekwenzeni umsebenzi womlindi, uJesu watshela “bonke” abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ‘bahlale belindile.’ (Mak. 13:33-37) Sitshengisa ukuthi siyamlalela ngokuhlala sikhuthele ekukhonzeni langokumncedisa ngenhliziyo yonke umlindi obekwe nguJehova. Kumele sikhuthale sibili emsebenzi wokutshumayela okwathiwa siwenze. (2 Thim. 4:2) Kodwa kuyini okwenza siwuthande umsebenzi lo? Yikuthi sifuna abantu basindiswe. (1 Thim. 4:16) Ngakho sisebenza nzima ngenxa yokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu abhubhise bonke abangalaleliyo nxa bexwayiswa ngumlindi ambekileyo. (Hez. 3:19) Kodwa isizatho esikhulu esenza sitshumayele yikuthi silezindaba ezinhle esifuna ukuzitshela abantu. Sifuna bananzelele ukuthi ukukhonza kweqiniso sekuvuselelwe. Njengoba “umnyaka womusa kaJehova” usaqhubeka, lisesekhona ithuba lokuthi abanengi babuye bezokhonza lathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu olothando futhi owahlulela kuhle. Abazasinda nxa uNkulunkulu esebhubhisa bonke abenza okubi bazakholisa ukubuswa nguJesu Khristu iNkosi elesihawu. Lezi zindaba ezinhle kakhulu, yikho singadondi ukuncedisa umlindi ukuzitshela abantu.—Mat. 24:14.

²⁶ Iyamangalisa indlela uJehova amanyanise ngayo abantu bakhe lanxa bephila emhlabeni obuswa nguSathane. Esahlukweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngesiphrofetho esimayelana lezigodo ezimbili esizasinceda sizwisise ukuthi uJehova ubamanyanise njani abantu bakhe.