1. Yiliphi ithemba elijabulisayo elizojatshulelwa “isixuku esikhulu”?

UNGACABANGA yini ngazo zonke izinto ezinhle uhulumeni onamandla oholwa umbusi onobulungisa nozwela ongazenzela izikhonzi zawo ngeminyaka eyinkulungwane? Kunezenzakalo ezimangalisayo ezizojatshulelwa “isixuku esikhulu” esingenakubalwa—sabazosinda “osizini olukhulu,” oluyoqeda ngokuphelele lesi simiso sezinto esibi samanje.—IsAm. 7:9, 14.

2. Yini abantu abaye babhekana nayo eminyakeni engu-6 000 edlule?

² Phakathi neminyaka engu-6 000 yomlando womuntu, ukuzibusa nokuzikhethela ububusi kwabantu kuye kwalethela isintu ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka okukhulu ngokudabukisayo. IBhayibheli lasho kudala: ‘Umuntu uye wabusa umuntu kwaba ukulimala kwakhe.’ (UmSh. 8:9) Sibonani namuhla? Ngaphandle kwezimpi nokuvukela, kunezinkinga ezixakile zobumpofu, izifo, ukucekelwa phansi kwemvelo, ukushintsha kwesimo sezulu nokunye okuningi. Izikhulu zohulumeni ziye zaxwayisa ngokuthi uma singasishintshi isimo sethu sengqondo sokwenza njengokungathi akonakele lutho, umphumela uyoba inhlekelele.

3. Yini eyolethwa ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane?

³ Ngaphansi kokubusa kweNkosi uJesu Kristu kanye nababusi abakanye nayo abangu-144 000, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyoqhubeka ulungisa wonke umonakalo owenziwe kubantu nasemhlabeni oyikhaya labo. UkuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane kuyogcwalisa lesi sithembiso sikaJehova uNkulunkulu esiduduzayo: “Ngidala amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha; izinto zangaphambili ngeke zikhunjulwe, futhi ngeke zifike enhliziyweni.” (Isaya 65:17) Yiziphi izenzakalo esizilindele nakuba zingakabonakali? Ngosizo lweZwi likaNkulunkulu lesiprofetho, ake sibone amazwibela ezinto  ezimangalisayo ‘ezingakabonakali.’—2 Kor. 4:18.

4. Abantu abaningi bahlala ezindlini ezinjani namuhla?

⁴ Ubani ongeke athande ukuba nomuzi othi yena, indawo lapho yena nomkhaya wakhe bengazizwa khona bephephile futhi belondekile? Nokho, kuyinkinga enkulu ezweni namuhla ukutholakala kwezindlu ezifanelekayo. Abantu banqwabelene emadolobheni aminyene. Abaningi bahlala emijondolo. Ukuba nezindlu ezithi bona kuyohlale kuyiphupho nje.

5, 6. (a) Uyogcwaliseka kanjani u-Isaya 65:21 noMika 4:4? (b) Singasithola kanjani leso sibusiso?

⁵ Ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso, isifiso sawo wonke umuntu sokuba nomuzi siyofezeka, ngoba kwaprofethwa ngo-Isaya: “Ngokuqinisekile bayokwakha izindlu bahlale kuzo; nakanjani bayotshala izivini badle izithelo zazo.” (Isaya 65:21) Nokho, ngeke kugcine ngokuba abantu babe nemizi. Ingani kwamanje abanye banemizi ethi bona, abambalwa baze ngisho banezithabathaba zemizi noma izindlu zikanokusho. Kodwa bahlale bekhathazekile ngokuthi bangase balahlekelwe yileyo mizi ngenxa yokuwohloka komnotho noma ukuthi bangase bagqekezelwe noma kwenzeke okubi kakhulu kunalokho. Yeka indlela zonke izinto eziyokwehluka ngayo ngaphansi koMbuso! Umprofethi uMika waloba: “Bayohlala, kube yilowo nalowo phansi komvini wakhe naphansi komkhiwane wakhe, ngeke kube khona obenza bathuthumele.”—Mika 4:4.

⁶ Sicabanga ngalelo themba elimangalisayo, yini okufanele siyenze? Yiqiniso, sonke sidinga izindawo zokuhlala. Noma kunjalo, kunokulwela ukuthola leyo ndlu esiyifisayo manje—mhlawumbe size singene shí ezikweletini—kungebe yini ukuhlakanipha ukuba sigxile esithembisweni sikaJehova? Khumbula lokho uJesu akusho ngaye: “Izimpungushe zinemiphandu nezinyoni zezulu zinezidleke, kodwa iNdodana yomuntu yona ayinandawo yokubeka ikhanda.” (Luka 9:58) UJesu wayenekhono namandla okwakha noma okuthola indlu esezingeni eliphezulu ukwedlula noma ubani. Kungani engenzanga kanjalo? Ngokusobala, wayefuna ukugwema iziphazamiso noma izihibe ezaziyomvimba ukuba abeke uMbuso kuqala. Singasilandela yini isibonelo sakhe futhi sigcine iso lethu lilihle—singabanjwa izinto ezibonakalayo noma sikhathazeke ngazo?—Math. 6:33, 34.

7. Yibuphi ubudlelwane uJehova ayala ukuba bube khona ekuqaleni phakathi kwabantu nezilwane?

⁷ UJehova wabadala ekugcineni abantu, beyizidalwa eziphakeme kunazo zonke emhlabeni. Ekhuluma neSisebenzi sakhe esiyiNgcweti, iNdodana yakhe eyizibulo, uJehova wayisho ngokuqondile injongo yakhe: “Masenze umuntu ngomfanekiso wethu, afane nathi, athotshelwe yizinhlanzi zolwandle nayizidalwa ezindizayo zamazulu nayizilwane ezifuywayo nayiwo wonke umhlaba nazo zonke izilwane ezihamba phezu komhlaba.” (Gen. 1:26) Ngalawo mazwi, u-Adamu no-Eva nabo bonke abantu ababeyoba khona ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, banikezwa igunya lokubusa izilwane.

8. Iyiphi indlela yokuziphatha yezilwane esivame ukuyibona namuhla?

⁸ Kungenzeka yini ngempela ukuba abantu bathotshelwe yizo zonke izilwane futhi babe nokuthula nazo? Abantu abaningi basondelene kakhulu nezilwane abazifuyile, njengezinja namakati. Nokho, kuthiwani ngezilwane zasendle? Omunye umbiko uthi: “Ososayensi abaye bahlala  eduze nezilwane zasendle futhi bacwaninga ngazo bathole ukuthi zonke izilwane ezincelisayo zinemizwelo.” Yiqiniso, siye sibone izilwane zesaba noma ziba nolaka lapho zisongelwa, kodwa ingabe ziyakwazi ukubonisa lokho abanye abangakuchaza ngokuthi uthando? Lo mbiko uyaqhubeka: “Imfanelo enhle kakhulu yezilwane ezincelisayo—ikhono lazo elimangalisayo lokubonisa uthando—ibonakala endleleni ezikhulisa ngayo abantwana bazo.”

9. Yiziphi izinguquko esingazilindela ezilwaneni?

⁹ Khona-ke, akufanele simangale lapho sifunda eBhayibhelini ukuthi kuyoba nokuthula phakathi kwabantu nezilwane. (Funda u-Isaya 11:6-9; 65:25.) Kungani? Khumbula ukuthi lapho uNowa nomndeni wakhe bephuma emkhunjini ngemva kukaZamcolo, uJehova wathi kubo: “Ingebhe nokunesaba okukhulu kuzohlale kukhona kuzo zonke izidalwa eziphilayo zomhlaba.” Lokho kwakuyozivikela izilwane. (Gen. 9:2, 3) Ngeke yini uJehova akususa ngezinga elithile lokho kwesaba nalokho kuthuthumela ukuze umyalo wakhe wokuqala ugcwaliseke? (Hos. 2:18) Yeka isikhathi esijabulisayo esilindele bonke abayosinda ukuze baphile emhlabeni ngaleso sikhathi!

10. Kungani izinyembezi zijwayelekile kubantu?

¹⁰ Lapho uSolomoni ebona “zonke izenzo zokucindezela ezenziwa phansi kwelanga,” wabalisa: “Bheka! izinyembezi zabacindezelwayo, kodwa babengenamduduzi.” (UmSh. 4:1) Izimo ziyefana nanamuhla uma kungekhona ukuthi sezizimbi kakhulu. Ubani phakathi kwethu ongakaze achiphize izinyembezi ngasizathu simbe? Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi lezo zinyembezi zingaba ezenjabulo. Nokho, ngokuvamile, izinyembezi zibonisa usizi olusenhliziyweni.

11. Ikuphi ukulandisa kweBhayibheli okuyithinta ngokukhethekile inhliziyo yakho?

¹¹ Khumbula izenzakalo ezithinta umzwelo esifunda ngazo eBhayibhelini. Lapho uSara efa eneminyaka engu-127, “u-Abrahama wangena [ukuzomlilela] nokuzomkhalela.” (Gen. 23:1, 2) Lapho uNawomi evalelisa omalokazana bakhe ababili abase bengabafelokazi, “baphakamisa amazwi abo bakhala,” ngemva kwalokho baphinde “baphakamisa amazwi abo bakhala kakhulu.” (Ruthe 1:9, 14) Lapho iNkosi uHezekiya igula futhi kusobala ukuthi izokufa, yathandaza kuNkulunkulu futhi ‘yakhala kakhulu,’ okwenza uJehova wathinteka. (2 AmaKh. 20:1-5) Ubani ongathinteki nangokulandisa okuphathelene nomphostoli uPetru ngesikhathi ephika uJesu? Lapho ezwa iqhude likhala, uPetru “waphumela ngaphandle wakhala kamunyu.”—Math. 26:75.

12. Ukubusa koMbuso kuyoyiletha kanjani impumuzo yangempela esintwini?

¹² Ngenxa yezehlakalo ezibuhlungu ezisehlelayo—ezincane nezinkulu—isintu siyidinga kakhulu induduzo nempumuzo. Yilokho ukuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane okuyokulethela izikhonzi zako: “[UNkulunkulu] uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo, ukufa ngeke kusaba khona, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu ngeke kusaba khona.” (IsAm. 21:4) Nakuba kumangalisa ukuthi ukulila, ukukhala nobuhlungu ngeke kusaba khona, isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sihlanganisa ngisho nokuqedwa kwesitha sesintu esinamandla kakhulu—ukufa. Kuyokwenzeka kanjani lokho?

13. Ukufa kuye kwabathinta kanjani abantu kusukela ekoneni kuka-Adamu?

¹³ Kusukela ekoneni kuka-Adamu, ukufa kuye kwabusa njengenkosi esintwini. Kuye kwaba isitha esinganqobeki, isiphetho esingagwemeki sesintu esinesono,  imbangela yosizi nokudabuka okungachazeki. (Roma 5:12, 14) Eqinisweni, ngenxa ‘yokwesaba ukufa,’ izigidi ‘zingaphansi kobugqila konke ukuphila kwazo.’—Heb. 2:15.

14. Ukwenziwa kokufa ize kuyoba namuphi umphumela?

¹⁴ IBhayibheli likhuluma ngesikhathi lapho ‘njengesitha sokugcina, ukufa kuyokwenziwa ize.’ (1 Kor. 15:26) Singakhuluma ngamaqembu amabili ayozuza kulokhu. Ngokuqondene ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ esiphila manje, siyokwazi ukusinda singene ezweni elisha elithenjisiwe sinethemba lokuphila okungapheli. Ngokuqondene nezigidigidi esezafa, ziyokwazi ukuthola uvuko. Cabanga nje ukuthi iyoba njani injabulo nesasasa lapho abayobe besindile bamukela abavusiwe! Ukuhlolisisa ezinye zezindaba zovuko eziseBhayibhelini kungasinika amazwibela okuthi luyoba njani uvuko.—Funda uMarku 5:38-42; Luka 7:11-17.

15. Cishe uyosabela kanjani lapho ubona othandekayo wakho evuswa?

¹⁵ Cabanga ngamazwi athi “bagajwa yinjabulo enkulu” nathi “bakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu.” Ukube wawukhona kulezo zenzakalo, mhlawumbe nawe wawuyozizwa ngendlela efanayo. Ngempela, ukubona abathandekayo bethu abafile bebuyiselwa ekuphileni ngovuko kuyosilethela injabulo nentokozo enkulu. UJesu wathi: “Ihora liyeza lapho bonke abasemathuneni beyokhunjulwa futhi bayolizwa izwi layo baphume.” (Joh. 5:28, 29) Akekho phakathi kwethu owake wakubona lokhu kwenzeka; ngokuqinisekile kuyoba ngenye ‘yezinto ezingabonwayo’ ezinhle kakhulu.

16. (a) Kungani kufanele sikhulume ngomdlandla ngezibusiso ezingakabonakali? (b) Yini uPawulu ayisho ukuze akhuthaze amaKristu aseKorinte?

¹⁶ Ngempela, labo abazibonakalisa bethembekile kuJehova kulezi zikhathi ezibucayi balindelwe ikusasa elikhazimulayo! Nakuba lezi zibusiso ezinhle  zingakabonakali, ukuzigcina zicacile engqondweni kuyosisiza sigxile ezintweni ezibaluleke ngempela futhi sigweme ukuchezukiswa ubukhazikhazi obudlulayo balesi simiso samanje sezinto. (Luka 21:34; 1 Thim. 6:17-19) Esifundweni nasekukhulekeleni komkhaya, ezingxoxweni zethu nesikholwa nabo, esibafundelayo kanye nabantu abathakazelayo, masikhulume ngogqozi ngethemba elimangalisayo esinalo. Lokhu kuyosisiza ukuba sigcine amathemba ethu ecace bhá ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni zethu. Umphostoli uPawulu wenza lokho kanye lapho ekhuthaza amaKristu ayekanye nawo. Wawachazela konke okwakuzokwenzeka kuze kube ngemva kokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Zama ukukubona ngeso lengqondo konke okushiwo amazwi kaPawulu akweyoku-1 Korinte 15:24, 25, 28.—Funda.

17, 18. (a) Ekuqaleni komlando wesintu, uJehova ‘wayeyikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu’ ngayiphi indlela? (b) Yini uJesu azoyenza ukuze abuyisele ubunye nokuzwana?

¹⁷ Ayikho indlela engcono yokuchaza lo mvuthwandaba omkhulu kunamazwi athi ‘uNkulunkulu uyoba yikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu.’ Kusho ukuthini lokho? Cabanga ngesikhathi sase-Edene lapho abantu abaphelele, u-Adamu no-Eva, beseyingxenye yomkhaya kaJehova wendawo yonke onokuthula nobunye. UJehova, uMbusi Wendawo yonke, wayebusa ngokuqondile phezu kwayo yonke indalo yakhe, izingelosi nabantu. Yayikwazi ukuxhumana naye, imkhulekele futhi eyibusisa. ‘Wayeyikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu.’

¹⁸ Lobo buhlobo obunobunye baphazamiseka lapho abantu, bethonywe uSathane, bevukela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Nokho, selokhu uMbuso KaMesiya wamiswa ngo-1914, uye wathatha izinyathelo eziqhubekayo zokubuyisela lobo bunye nokuzwana. (Efe. 1:9, 10) Phakathi nokuBusa Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, izinto ezimangalisayo “ezingabonwayo” okwamanje ziyoba ngokoqobo. Kuyobe sekufika “ukuphela,” okungukuthi, ukuphela kokuBusa KukaKristu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane. Kuyobe sekwenzekani? Nakuba enikwe “lonke igunya ezulwini nasemhlabeni,” uJesu akanaso isifiso sokuvelela. Akanayo inhloso yokuqhwaga isikhundla sikaJehova. Ngokuzithoba, ‘unikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu wakhe noYise.’ Uyosebenzisa isikhundla negunya lakhe elikhethekile ngendlela eyoletha ‘inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu.’—Math. 28:18; Fil. 2:9-11.

19, 20. (a) Zonke izikhonzi zoMbuso ziyobonisa kanjani ukuthi ziyabamukela ubukhosi bukaJehova? (b) Yiliphi ithuba elimangalisayo eliphambi kwethu?

¹⁹ Ngaleso sikhathi, izikhonzi zasemhlabeni zoMbuso ziyobe sezenziwe zaphelela. Ziyolandela isibonelo sikaJesu futhi ngokuzithoba nangomoya ovumayo ziqaphele ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ziyoba nethuba lokubonisa isifiso sazo sokwenza kanjalo ngokuphumelela uvivinyo lokugcina. (IsAm. 20:7-10) Ngemva kwalokho, bonke abavukelayo—abantu nezidalwa zomoya—bayobhujiswa phakade. Yeka isikhathi senjabulo nokwesasa! Wonke umkhaya osemazulwini nasemhlabeni uyodumisa uJehova ngenjabulo, oyobe ‘eyikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu.’—Funda iHubo 99:1-3.

²⁰ Ingabe izinto ezikhazimulayo zoMbuso ezizayo ziyokushukumisela ukuba ugxile futhi uzikhandle ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu? Ungakugwema yini ukuchezukiswa ithemba nenduduzo yamanga enikezwa yizwe likaSathane? Ingabe uzozimisela ngokuqinile ukusekela nokuphakamisa ubukhosi bukaJehova? Kwangathi izenzo zakho zingabonisa ukuthi kuyisifiso sakho ukwenza kanjalo kuze kube phakade. Khona-ke, uyoba nelungelo lokujabulela ukuthula nokuchuma kweminyaka eyinkulungwane nangalé kwayo!