1, 2. (a) Laliyini “idokodo likaDavide,” futhi lalizokwakhiwa kanjani kabusha? (b) Obani abakhonza ndawonye njengezinceku zikaJehova namuhla?

EMHLANGANWENI oyingqopha-mlando wendikimba ebusayo owawuseJerusalema ngo-49 C.E., umfundi uJakobe wathi: “USimeyoni [uPetru] useyilandise ngokuphelele indlela uNkulunkulu anaka ngayo izizwe ngokokuqala ukuze athathe kuzo isizwe segama lakhe. Futhi amazwi abaProfethi ayavumelana nalokhu, njengoba nje kulotshiwe, ‘Ngemva kwalezi zinto ngiyobuya futhi ngilakhe kabusha idokodo likaDavide eliwele phansi; futhi ngiyowakha kabusha amanxiwa alo ngiphinde ngilimise, ukuze labo abasele kubantu bamfune ngobuqotho uJehova, kanye nabantu bazo zonke izizwe, abantu ababizwa ngegama lami, kusho uJehova, owenza lezi zinto, ezaziwa kusukela kudala.’”—IzE. 15:13-18.

² “Idokodo likaDavide [noma, indlu yobukhosi]” lawa lapho iNkosi uZedekiya yehliswa esihlalweni sobukhosi. (Amose 9:11) Nokho, lelo “dokodo” laliyokwakhiwa kabusha futhi umzukulu kaDavide uJesu abe yiNkosi yalo yaphakade. (Hez. 21:27; IzE. 2:29-36) Njengoba uJakobe abonisa kulowo mhlangano oyingqopha-mlando, lesi siprofetho sika-Amose sasigcwaliseka ngokubuthwa kwezindlalifa zoMbuso ezivela kumaJuda nakwabeZizwe. Namuhla, insali yamaKristu agcotshiwe nezigidi ‘zezinye izimvu’ zikaJesu bahlanganyela ngobunye ekumemezeleni iqiniso leBhayibheli njengezinceku zikaJehova.—Joh. 10:16.

3, 4. Abantu bakaJehova balilondoloza kanjani ingokomoya labo eBhabhiloni?

³ Lapho amaJuda eyiswa ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni, kwaba sobala ukuthi “idokodo likaDavide” lase liwile. Njengoba kwakudlange inkolo yamanga eBhabhiloni, abantu bakaNkulunkulu balilondoloza kanjani ingokomoya labo ngesikhathi bedingiselwe lapho iminyaka engu-70 kusukela ngo-607 B.C.E. kuya ku-537 B.C.E.?  Ngendlela nathi esilondoloza ngayo ingokomoya lethu njengabantu bakaJehova kuleli zwe elilawulwa uSathane. (1 Joh. 5:19) Ifa elingokomoya elicebile liye lasiza ekulondolozeni ingokomoya.

⁴ IZwi likaNkulunkulu elilotshiwe liyingxenye yefa lethu elingokomoya. AmaJuda ayedingiselwe eBhabhiloni ayengenayo imiBhalo Engcwele ephelele, kodwa ayenolwazi loMthetho KaMose neMiyalo yawo Eyishumi. Ayezazi ‘izingoma zaseZiyoni,’ ekwazi ukukhumbula izaga eziningi futhi azi nezigigaba eziningi zezinceku zikaJehova zangaphambili. Yebo, labo badingiswa babekhihla isililo lapho bekhumbula iZiyoni, futhi abazange bamkhohlwe uJehova. (Funda iHubo 137:1-6.) Lokho kwabagcina bephila ngokomoya ngisho nalapho beseBhabhiloni elalinemikhuba emibi nezimfundiso eziningi zamanga.

5. Ibuphi ubufakazi bonkulunkulu abangomthath’ emunye, noma oziqu-zintathu, esibuthola eBhabhiloni naseGibhithe lasendulo?

⁵ Umthath’ emunye noma uziqu-zintathu ongokwenkolo wayeyisici esivelele ekukhulekeleni kwaseBhabhiloni. Omunye unkulunkulu onjalo ongumthath’ emunye wayakhiwa uSin (unkulunkulu wenyanga), uShamash (unkulunkulu welanga) no-Ishtar (unkulunkulukazi wenzalo nempi). EGibhithe lasendulo, ngokuvamile unkulunkulu wayebhekwa njengoshade nonkulunkulukazi omzalele indodana, ngaleyo ndlela “bakhe unkulunkulu ongumthath’ emunye noma uziqu zintathu, ngaphezu kwalokho ubaba wayengabi yinhloko ngaso sonke isikhathi, wayaneliswa ukudlala indima yokuba umyeni oyinkosi, kuyilapho unkulunkulukazi ebhekwa njengomkhulu endaweni.” (New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology) Omunye umthath’ emunye waseGibhithe wayehlanganisa unkulunkulu u-Osiris, unkulunkulukazi u-Isis nendodana yabo uHorus.

6. Ungayichaza kanjani imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu, futhi siye savikelwa kanjani ekukholelweni amanga anjalo?

⁶ ELobukholwa linowalo umthath’ emunye—uZiqu-zintathu. Abefundisi bathi uBaba, iNdodana nomoya ongcwele banguNkulunkulu oyedwa. Kodwa lokho kuwukuhlasela ubukhosi bukaJehova, kwenze kube sengathi ungumthath’ emunye—oyingxenye eyodwa kuphela kwezintathu yalowo nkulunkulu wabo. Abantu bakaJehova baye bavikelwa ekukholelweni amanga anjalo ngoba bavumelana nala mazwi aphefumulelwe: “O Israyeli, lalela: UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu unguJehova oyedwa.” (Dut. 6:4) UJesu wawacaphuna lawo mazwi, futhi ukhona yini umKristu weqiniso ongaphikisana naye?—Marku 12:29.

7. Kungani kungenakwenzeka ukuba umuntu okholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu abhapathizwe njengesibonakaliso sokuzinikezela kwangempela kuNkulunkulu?

⁷ Imfundiso kaZiqu-zintathu iyaphambana nomyalo uJesu awunika abalandeli bakhe ‘wokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, bababhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele.’ (Math. 28:19) Ukuze abhapathizwe njengomKristu weqiniso nanjengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova, umuntu kumelwe aqaphele ubukhulu bukaBaba, uJehova, kanye nesikhundla negunya leNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uJesu. Umuntu ozobhapathizwa kumelwe akholelwe nokuthi umoya ongcwele ungamandla kaNkulunkulu asebenzayo, awuyona ingxenye kaZiqu-zintathu. (Gen. 1:2) Umuntu oqhubeka ekholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu akanakubhapathizwa njengesibonakaliso sokuthi uzinikezele ngempela kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Yeka ukuthi sibonga kanjani ngokuthi ifa lethu elingokomoya liye lasivikela ukuze singayikholelwa le mfundiso ehlambalaza uNkulunkulu!

8. Wawuyini umbono wabaseBhabhiloni ngonkulunkulu namademoni?

⁸ Ezenkolo eBhabhiloni zazivumela izimfundiso  zamanga, onkulunkulu bamanga, amademoni nokusebenzelana nemimoya. I-International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia ithi: “Enkolweni yaseBhabhiloni onkulunkulu babelandelwa ngokubaluleka amademoni ayenamandla okuhlupha abantu ngezifo eziningi zomzimba noma zengqondo. Kubonakala sengathi ingxenye enkulu yokukhulekela kule nkolo yayisetshenziselwa ukulwa impi ewusizi nala mademoni, futhi yonke indawo kwakucelwa onkulunkulu ngomthandazo ukuba basize abantu kula mademoni.”

9. (a) Ngemva kokudingiselwa eBhabhiloni, amaJuda amaningi awela kanjani ogibeni lokwamukela imibono engamanga yenkolo? (b) Sivikelwa kanjani ezingozini zokuzibandakanya ngenhloso namademoni?

⁹ Ngemva kokudingiselwa eBhabhiloni, amaJuda amaningi awela ogibeni lokwamukela imibono engqubuzana nemiBhalo. Njengoba imibono yamaGreki isakazeka, amaJuda amaningi aqala ukuba izisulu zamademoni ngoba amukela umbono wokuthi amademoni angaba amabi noma alungile. Ifa lethu elingokomoya lisivikela ezingozini zokuzibandakanya ngenhloso namademoni, ngoba siyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayilahla imikhuba yabaseBhabhiloni yokusebenzelana nemimoya. (Isaya 47:1, 12-15) Ngaphezu kwalokho, siqondiswa umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokusebenzelana nemimoya.—Funda uDuteronomi 18:10-12; IsAmbulo 21:8.

10. Yini engase ishiwo ngemikhuba nangezinkolelo zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu?

¹⁰ Akubona abaseBhabhiloni kuphela ababesebenzelana nemimoya kodwa nabasekeli beBhabhiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAm. 18:21-24) I-Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible ithi: “IBhabhiloni [Elikhulu] alihlanganisi umbuso owodwa kuphela noma isiko. Kunalokho lichazwa ukukhulekelwa kwezithombe okudlangile kulo, hhayi indawo noma imingcele yesikhashana.” (UMq. 1, k. 338) Nakuba ligcwele ukusebenzelana nemimoya, ukukhonza izithombe nezinye izono, iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lisekhona—kodwa izinsuku zalo sezibaliwe.—Funda isAmbulo18:1-5.

11. Iziphi izixwayiso esiye sazikhipha ngokuphathelene nokusebenzelana nemimoya?

¹¹ UJehova wathi: “Angikwazi ukukubekezelela ukusetshenziswa kwamandla angaqondakaliyo.” (Isaya 1:13) Umkhuba wokusebenzelana nemimoya waba nendima ephawulekayo ekucabangeni kwabantu bekhulu le-19. Ngenxa yalokho i-Zion’s Watch Tower ka-May 1885 yathi: “Ayiyintsha inkolelo yokuthi abafileyo baphila kwenye indawo noma isimo. Yayiyingxenye yenkolo yabantu basendulo, futhi yayiwumnyombo wazo zonke izinganekwane.” Leso sihloko sanezela ukuthi umqondo ongasekelwe emiBhalweni wokukhulumisana kwabafileyo nabaphilayo “uye wafihla futhi wayinika amandla inkohliso ‘yamademoni’ azenza imimoya yabantu abafile. Aye akujabulela kakhulu ukusebenzisa le ndlela yokufihla lokho ayikho, ngaleyo ndlela aqhubekisela phambili ithonya lawo ezingqondweni nasekuphileni kwabaningi.” Incwajana yokuqala ethi What Say the Scriptures About Spiritism? yanikeza izixwayiso ezifana nalezo ezikhishwa izincwadi zethu zamuva.

12. USolomoni waphefumulelwa ukuba athini ngesimo sabafileyo?

¹² “Bonke labo asebelazi iqiniso” bangawuphendula lo mbuzo. (2 Joh. 1) Ngokuqinisekile sivumelana namazwi kaSolomoni: “Inja ephilayo ingcono kakhulu kunengonyama efileyo. Ngoba abaphilayo bayazi ukuthi bayokufa; kodwa abafileyo bona abazi lutho . . . Konke isandla sakho esikutholayo ukuba sikwenze, kwenze ngawo wonke amandla akho, ngoba akukho msebenzi namacebo nalwazi nakuhlakanipha eShiyoli [ithuna lesintu sonke], indawo oya kuyo.”—UmSh. 9:4, 5, 10.

13. Inkolo namasiko amaGreki kwawathinta kanjani amaJuda?

¹³ AmaJuda ayelazi iqiniso ngabafileyo. Nokho, lapho ojenene baka-Alexander Omkhulu  behlukaniselana iGrisi, kwenziwa imizamo yokuhlanganisa izwe lakwaJuda neSiriya ngokusebenzisa izinto ezinjengenkolo yamaGreki namasiko. Ngenxa yalokho amaJuda amukela izimfundiso zamanga zokuthi umphefumulo womuntu awufi nokuthi kunezwe elingaphansi okuhlushwa kulo abafileyo. Akuwona amaGreki asungula umqondo wezwe elingaphansi lemiphefumulo ehlushwayo, ngoba abaseBhabhiloni babebheka “izwe labaphansi . . . njengendawo egcwele izinto ezesabekayo, . . . eyenganyelwe onkulunkulu namademoni anamandla nolaka olukhulu.” (The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria) Yebo, abaseBhabhiloni babekholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo awufi.

14. Yini uJobe no-Abrahama ababeyazi ngokufa novuko?

¹⁴ Nakuba umuntu olungile uJobe ayengenayo imiBhalo, wayelazi iqiniso ngokufa. Wayeqaphela nokuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu onothando owayeyokulangazelela ukumvusa. (Jobe 14:13-15) No-Abrahama wayekholelwa ovukweni. (Funda amaHebheru 11:17-19.) Njengoba kungenakwenzeka ukuvusa umuntu ongafi, lawo madoda esaba uNkulunkulu ayengakholelwa ukuthi umphefumulo womuntu awufi. Ngokungangabazeki, umoya kaNkulunkulu wasiza uJobe no-Abrahama ukuba baqonde isimo sabafileyo futhi babe nokholo ovukweni. La maqiniso nawo ayingxenye yefa lethu.

15, 16. Siye sakhululwa kanjani esonweni nasekufeni?

¹⁵ Siyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokuthi uye wasembulela neqiniso eliphathelene nelungiselelo lakhe lokusikhulula efeni lesono nokufa esalizuza ku-Adamu. (Roma 5:12) Siyaqaphela ukuthi uJesu “[akazelanga] ukukhonzwa, kodwa ukukhonza nokunikela umphefumulo [wakhe] ube yisihlengo sabaningi.” (Marku 10:45) Kusijabulisa ngempela ukwazi ‘ngokukhululwa ngesihlengo esakhokhwa uKristu Jesu’!—Roma 3:22-24.

 ¹⁶ AmaJuda nabeZizwe bekhulu lokuqala kwakudingeka baphenduke ezonweni zabo futhi babonise ukholo emhlatshelweni wesihlengo kaJesu. Ngaphandle kwalokho, babengeke bathethelelwe. Kusenjalo nanamuhla. (Joh. 3:16, 36) Uma umuntu ebambelela ezimfundisweni zamanga, njengoZiqu-zintathu nomphefumulo ongafi, akanakuzuza esihlengweni. Kodwa thina singazuza. Siyalazi iqiniso ‘ngeNdodana yothando lukaNkulunkulu esithola ngayo ukukhululwa ngesihlengo, ukuthethelelwa kwezono zethu.’—Kol. 1:13, 14.

17, 18. Singalutholaphi ulwazi oluwusizo ngomlando wethu, futhi singazuza kanjani ngokufunda ngawo?

¹⁷ Kuningi okungase kushiwo ngezimfundiso zeqiniso esizamukele, okuhlangenwe nakho kwethu njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu nangezibusiso ezingokomoya nezibonakalayo esizijabulelayo. Sekungamashumi eminyaka INcwadi Yonyaka yethu ilandisa izindaba ezivus’ amadlingozi zomsebenzi wethu emazweni asembulungeni yonke. Umlando wethu uyatholakala kuyi-video enesihloko esithi Izenzo Ezibonisa Ukholo, Ingxenye 1 no-2, nasezincwadini ezinjengethi, OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu. Omagazini bethu nabo bavame ukuba nokulandisa kwezindaba zokuphila ezikhuthazayo zabafowethu nodadewethu abathandekayo.

¹⁸ Siyazuza ngokufunda umlando wenhlangano kaJehova ngendlela enokulinganisela, njengoba nje nabantu bakwa-Israyeli babezuza ngokuzindla ngendlela uNkulunkulu abakhulula ngayo ebugqilini baseGibhithe. (Eks. 12:26, 27) Njengendoda endala eyayingafakazela izenzo ezimangalisayo zikaNkulunkulu, uMose wanxusa u-Israyeli: “Khumbula izinsuku zakudala, cabangani ngeminyaka yakudala ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane; buza uyihlo, angakutshela; amadoda akini amadala, angakuxoxela.” (Dut. 32:7) ‘Njengabantu bakaJehova nomhlambi wedlelo lakhe,’ sonke silumemezela ngenjabulo udumo lwakhe futhi sitshela abanye ngezenzo zakhe ezinkulu zamandla. (IHu. 79:13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, senza kahle ngokuhlola umlando wethu, sifunde kuwo futhi sihlelele ikusasa.

19. Njengoba sijabulela ukukhanya okungokomoya, yini okufanele siyenze?

¹⁹ Siyabonga ngokuthi asidukuzi ebumnyameni kodwa sijabulela ukukhanya okungokomoya okuvela kuNkulunkulu. (IzAga 4:18, 19) Ngakho masitadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngenkuthalo futhi sihlanganyele iqiniso nabanye ngentshiseko nangomoya omuhle womhubi owadumisa iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ngala mazwi: “Ngizokhuluma ngokulunga kwakho, kwakho wedwa. O Nkulunkulu, ungifundisile kusukela ebusheni bami kuqhubeke, kuze kube manje ngiyaqhubeka ngilandisa ngemisebenzi yakho emangalisayo. O Nkulunkulu, ungangishiyi, kuze kube ngisho nasekugugeni nasebumpungeni, ngize ngilandise ngengalo yakho esizukulwaneni, ngamandla akho kubo bonke abasazofika.”—IHu. 71:16-18.

20. Iziphi izimpikiswano ezihlobene ezikhona, futhi uzizwa kanjani ngazo?

²⁰ Njengabantu bakaJehova abazinikezele, siyazazi izimpikiswano ezihlobene, eyobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu neyobuqotho babantu. Ngempela, simemezela iqiniso elingenakuphikwa lokuthi uJehova unguMbusi Wendawo Yonke, okufanelekelayo ukuba sizinikele kuye ngenhliziyo yonke. (IsAm. 4:11) Njengoba umoya wakhe uphezu kwethu, simemezela nezindaba ezinhle kwabamnene, sibophe abanhliziyo zaphukileyo futhi siduduze abalilayo. (Isaya 61:1, 2) Naphezu kwemizamo kaSathane eyize yokubusa abantu bakaNkulunkulu naso sonke isintu, silazisa ngokujulile ifa lethu elingokomoya futhi sizimisele ukugcina ubuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu nokudumisa iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova manje kuze kube phakade.—Funda iHubo 26:11; 86:12.