1. Sikwazi njani ukuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengasoze baqhubeke bethunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu kokuphela njalo yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo?

ESIHLOKWENI esidlulileyo sifunde ngokuthi amaKhristu athembekileyo athunjwa yiBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kodwa okujabulisayo yikuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengasoze baqhubeke bekulesosimo kokuphela. Phela uJehova wakhipha umlayo eLizwini lakhe othi: “Bantu bami phumani kuyo.” Umlayo lo wawungeke usebenze nxa abantu bakhe babengagoqa izandla baqhubeke bephakathi kweBhabhiloni Enkulu. (Bala iSambulo 18:4.) Siyafisa sibili ukwazi ukuthi baphuma nini ngokupheleleyo ekuthunjweni yinkolo yamanga. Kodwa singakaxoxi ngayo indaba le asiqaleni ngokuphendula imibuzo elandelayo: ABafundi beBhayibhili batshengisa njani ukuthi basebezimisele ukuphuma eBhabhiloni Enkulu kungakafiki umnyaka ka-1914? Abazalwane babekhuthele yini emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala? Kambe kukhona yini ababekuphambanisa ngalesosikhathi okungabe kwabangela ukuthi bathunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu?

2. Kuyini okwenziwa ngaBafundi beBhayibhili ngokuphathelane lenkolo yamanga?

² Eminyakeni eminengi kungakafiki iMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala,  uCharles Taze Russell labangane bakhe bananzelela ukuthi izinkolo ezinengi ezazikhona ngalesosikhathi zazingafundisi iqiniso. Lokhu kwabenza bazimisela ukuthi bangadlelani lazo ngoba basebekubonile ukuthi zifundisa amanga aluhlaza tshoko! Ngo-November 1879 iNqabayokulinda eyayisabizwa ngokuthi yi-Zion’s Watch Tower yakubeka kwacaca ukuthi iMibhalo ithini. Yabika ukuthi loba yiphi inkolo ezibiza ngokuthi ingumlobokazi kaKhristu othembekileyo kodwa yona imanyene njalo isekelana labohulumende bomhlaba, layo iyingxenye yeBhabhiloni Enkulu, ebizwa ngokuthi yisiphingi eBhayibhilini.​—Bala iSambulo 17:1, 2.

3. Kuyini okwenziwa ngaBafundi beBhayibhili okutshengisa ukuthi basebekuzwisisa ukuthi akumelanga badlelane lenkolo yamanga? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

³ Amadoda labesifazane ababethembekile kabazange baphozise amaseko ngoba basebenanzelele ukuthi babengasoze bathole isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu nxa belokhu bephakathi kwenkolo yamanga. Masinyane nje bahle babhala izincwadi ezazibika ukuthi sebephuma emasontweni ababekuwo. Kwezinye izikhathi babebala izincwadi zabo zokuvalelisa phambi kwebandla lonke. Lapho ababengavunyelwa khona ukwenza lokhu, babebhala ezinengi banike wonke umuntu esontweni. Basebezimisele sibili ukuphuma baphele enkolweni yamanga. Kodwa aluba bakwenza lokhu eminyakeni eminengi eyayidlulile lalingabatshonela emini. Sekusiyaphela iminyaka yabo-1800 emazweni amanengi ohulumende babengasawasekeli kangako amasonto. Lokhu kwenza abantu abanengi kulawomazwe bakhululeka ukuxoxa ngeBhayibhili kanye lokuphikisa lokhu okwakufundiswa ngamasonto ayedumile ngalesosikhathi.

4. Okwakusenziwa ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala kusitshengisani?

⁴ ABafundi beBhayibhili bakubona ukuthi kwakungenelanga ukuphongutshela izihlobo, abangane kanye labanye ababesonta labo ukuthi bona sebetshiya inkolo yamanga. Basebezimisele ukwenza kube segcekeni kubo bonke abantu emhlabeni ukuthi iBhabhiloni Enkulu iyisifebe. Ngokwesibonelo kusukela ngo-December 1917 kusiya ekuqaliseni kuka-1918 aBafundi beBhayibhili bahambisa amaphetshana angu-10 miliyoni ayelesihloko esithi: “The Fall of Babylon.” Umlayezo owawusemaphetshaneni la waveza lokho inkolo eyayiyikho futhi lokhu kwenza abakhokheli bezinkolo bazonda babila. Kodwa lokhu akuzange kubabuyisele emuva aBafundi beBhayibhili, baqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo. Babezimisele sibili ‘ukulalela uNkulunkulu kulokulalela abantu.’ (ImiSeb. 5:29) Manje lokhu kusitshengisani? Kusitshengisa ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu abazange bathunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala kodwa babelokhu bephuma eBhabhiloni Enkulu futhi babencedisa labanye ukuthi benze njalo.

5. Yibuphi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi abazalwane babetshiseka ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala?

⁵ Eminyakeni edlulileyo besikholwa ukuthi uJehova wabazondela abantu bakhe ngenxa yokuthi basebevilapha emsebenzini wokutshumayela ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala. Sasichaza lokuthi lokhu yikho okwenza uJehova wavumela ukuthi bathunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu okwesikhatshana. Kodwa umbiko owakhitshwa ngabafowethu labodadewethu ababekhona kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya ku-1918 uveza ukuthi ngalesosikhathi bonke abantu beNkosi benza okusemandleni abo ukuze baqhubekele phambili ngomsebenzi wokutshumayela. Bunengi ubufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi lokhu kuliqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo inhlanganiso yethu isinike ulwazi olunengi mayelana  lezinto ezazisenzakala kuBafundi beBhayibhili ngalesosikhathi olusinceda ukuthi sizwisise kuhle ezinye izenzakalo ezilotshwe eBhayibhilini.

6, 7. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima aBafundi beBhayibhili ababephakathi kwabo ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala? (b) Nika izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi aBafundi beBhayibhili babekhuthele ngalesosikhathi.

⁶ Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi aBafundi beBhayibhili ababekhona ngo-1914 kusiya ku-1918 babekhuthele kakhulu emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Kodwa kulezizatho ezabangela ukuthi umsebenzi lo ube nzima ngalesosikhathi. Ake sixoxe ngezimbili zakhona. Esokuqala yikuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela ngalezonsuku wawusenziwa ngokuhambisa amabhuku asekelwe eBhayibhilini. Yikho ngesikhathi iziphathamandla zikahulumende zisenqabela ukuthi ibhuku elithi The Finished Mystery linikwe abantu, kwaba nzima ukuthi abazalwane abanengi batshumayele. Babengakafundi ukutshumayela besebenzisa iBhayibhili lodwa futhi ibhuku leli yilo elalibakhulumela nxa befika emizini yabantu. Isizathu sesibili esabangela ukuthi inkonzo ibenzima yikuthi ngo-1918 kwaba lomkhuhlane wefuleza (Spanish Influenza) owahlasela abantu abanengi. Umkhuhlane lo owawuthanyela abantu wenza ukuthi kube nzima ukuthi abamemezeli batshumayele bekhululekile. Lanxa aBafundi beBhayibhili babehlangana lobunzima lobu kanye lobunye obutshiyeneyo baqhubeka bebambelele emsebenzini wokutshumayela.

⁷ Ngo-1914 iqembu elincane laBafundi beBhayibhili ladlalela abantu abedlula 9 miliyoni ibhayisikopo okuthiwa yi-“Photo-Drama of Creation.” Ibhayisikopo le yayilandisa imbali yabantu kusukela ekudalweni kwabo kuze kuyefika ekupheleni kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaKhristu. Basebenza sibili abafowethu ngalesosikhathi! Phela inani labantu ababukela ibhayisikopo le ledlula inani labamemezeli abakhona namuhla emhlabeni wonke. Ubufakazi buveza lokuthi ngo-1916 abantu abangu-809 393 e-United States babengena imihlangano njalo ngo-1918 inani leli laqansa lafika ku-949 444. Kuyacaca ukuthi aBafundi beBhayibhili babekhuthele ngalesosikhathi!

8. Abafowethu abakhokhelayo babebaqinisa njani abanye ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala?

⁸ Ngesikhathi iMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala isidla ubhedu abafowethu ababekhokhela baqhubeka bekhuthaza aBafundi beBhayibhili futhi bebanika ukudla okwakuzaqinisa ukholo lwabo. Lokhu kwanika abazalwane idlabuzane lokuthi baqhubekele phambili ngomsebenzi wokutshumayela. Omunye wabazalwane  ababekhuthele ngalesosikhathi okuthiwa nguRichard H. Barber wathi: “Senelisa ukukhuthaza ababonisi abahambelayo abathile ukuthi baqhubeke ngomsebenzi wabo futhi iNqabayokulinda yaqhubeka idindwa njalo ithunyelwa laseCanada lapho eyayingavunyelwa khona. Ngathola lesibusiso sokuthumela abanye abangane bethu ibhuku elithi The Finished Mystery elaselenziwe laba lincane (pocket-size) ngoba basebelithathelwe. Umfowethu uRutherford wasicela lokuthi sihlele ukuthi kube lemihlangano emikhulu emadolobheni atshiyeneyo asentshonalanga ye-United States lokuthi kuthunyelwe izikhulumi ukuze ziyekhuthaza abazalwane.”

9. (a) Kungani abantu bakaNkulunkulu babedinga ukuqondiswa kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya ku-1919? (b) Lanxa babekudinga ukuqondiswa kuyini okungamelanga sikutsho ngendaba le?

⁹ Lanxa aBafundi beBhayibhili babezimisele ukunamathela eqinisweni kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya ku-1919, zikhona ezinye izinto ababezenza ngalesosikhathi ezazingahambelani lezimiso eziseMibhalweni. Babezimisele sibili ukuhlala bethembekile kodwa babengazwisisi ukuthi iMibhalo iyabe isitshoni nxa isithi bazithobe kubohulumende ababusayo. (Rom. 13:1) Ngakho bonke nje kwezinye izikhathi babengenela ezindabeni zempi. Ngokwesibonelo lapho umongameli wase-United States ekhupha umlayo wokuthi mhlaka-30 May 1918 abe lilanga lokuthandazela ukuthula, iNqabayokulinda yakhuthaza abazalwane ukuthi labo bakwenze lokho. Abanye abazalwane bakhupha izimali besekela impi njalo abalutshwana bangena esisotsheni bathwala izikhali baya empini. Kodwa akuqondanga ukuthi sithi lesi yiso isizathu esabangela ukuthi uJehova avumele ukuba aBafundi beBhayibhili bathunjwe yiBhabhiloni Enkulu ukuze abaqondise. Esikunanzelelayo yikuthi ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yokuqala abafowethu labodadewethu basebekuzwisisa ukuthi akumelanga bazihlanganise lenkolo yamanga. Kanti njalo kwasekusele kancane ukuthi bayitshiye ngokupheleleyo.​—Bala uLukha 12:47, 48.

10. ABafundi beBhayibhili batshengisa njani ukuthi babekuqakathekisa ukuphila?

¹⁰ Sibonile ukuthi aBafundi beBhayibhili babengayizwisisi ngokugcweleyo indaba yokungangeneli kwezombusazwe. Loba kunjalo babekwazi mhlophe ukuthi iBhayibhili alikuvumeli ukubulala. Yikho labazalwane abalutshwana ababethwala izikhali baye empini ngalesosikhathi abazange bavume ukuzisebenzisa ukudubula abanye. Abanye ababesala ukubulala babethunyelwa phambili lapho impi eyayitshisa khona kukhangelelwe ukuthi bazahle babulawe masinyane.

11. Iziphathamandla zikahulumende zathini ngokwala kwaBafundi beBhayibhili ukuya empini?

¹¹ USathane wazonda wadla inja ngesinqumo esathathwa ngabazalwane sokungangeneli empini. Ngemva kwalokho waqalisa ukudala uhlupho esebenzisa ‘umthetho.’ (Hubo. 94:20, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Undunankulu webutho lase-United States uJames Franklin Bell wathi ekhuluma lomfowethu uJ. F. Rutherford loW. E. Van Amburgh waveza ukuthi uHlangothi Lokwahlulela beluzama ukuthi kufakwe umthetho omutsha ePhalamende ozavumela ukuthi bonke abangafuniyo ukuya empini bagwetshelwe ukufa. Indoda le yayivele iqophe bona aBafundi beBhayibhili. Yathukuthela yatshela umfowethu uRutherford yathi: “Umthetho lo awusamiswanga ngoba [uMongameli waseMelika] uWilson walile kodwa siyakwazi ukuthi sizalibamba njani futhi sizakwenza loba sekutheni!”

12, 13. (a) Kungani abafowethu abangu-8 bavalelwa ejele? (b) Ukubotshwa kwabenza behlukela yini ukulalela uJehova? Chaza.

¹² Lakanye icebo leziphathamandla lezi lacina  liphumelela ngoba abafowethu ababengabameli beWatch Tower Society babotshwa. Abafowethu labo nguRutherford loVan Amburgh kanye labanye abayisithupha. Umahluli owayethonisa icala labo wathi: “Inkolo eqhutshwa ngamadoda la iyingozi kakhulu ukwedlula amabutho eGerman . . . Kumele bajeziswe kabuhlungu ngoba kabadelelanga iziphathimandla zikaHulumende lezikhulu zebutho kuphela kodwa baphikisane labo bonke abakhokheli bamasonto.” Amazwi la aphuma ekhasini 99 ebhukwini elithi Faith on the March, elalotshwa ngu-A. H. Macmillan. Abafowethu laba abangu-8 bagwetshelwa ukuyapika okweminyaka eminengi ejele enkulu ye-Atlanta eGeorgia. Kodwa kwathi impi isiphelile abazalwane labo bakhululwa ejele njalo lesigwebo sabo sesulwa.

¹³ Langesikhathi besejele abafowethu laba baqhubeka bezimisele ukunamathela kulokho okutshiwo yiMibhalo. Lokhu sikubona emazwini ayesencwadini abayibhalela umongameli wase-United States becela ukukhululwa. Bathi: “Umlayo weNkosi oseMibhalweni ucacile, uthi ‘Ungabulali.’ Ngakho loba ngubani olilunga lenhlanganiso yaBafundi beBhayibhili ozinikeleyo eNkosini ongephula isithembiso sakhe sokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu kasoze awuthole umusa wakhe njalo uzabhujiswa. Yikho amalunga enhlanganiso yethu kawasoze ahlanganyele ekubulaleni abanye abantu.” Amazwi la enza sibone sibili ukuthi abazalwane laba babezimisele ukuhlala beqotho kuNkulunkulu.

14. Chaza okutshiwo yiMibhalo mayelana lalokho okwenzakala ngo-1914 kusiya ku-1919.

¹⁴ UMalaki 3:1-3 (Bala.) ukhuluma ngesikhathi sokuhlanjululwa ‘kwabaLevi’ okwakuzakwenzala kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya ekuqaliseni kuka-1919. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova uNkulunkulu loJesu Khristu ‘oyisigijimi sesivumelwano’ babuya ukuzahlola “abaLevi” okutsho amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. Ngemva kokuba uJehova eseqondise abantu bakhe futhi wabahlambulula, basebekulungele ukwamukela omunye umsebenzi omutsha. Ngo-1919 kwabekwa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ ukuthi inike zonke izisebenzi zalapha ekhaya ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (Mat. 24:45) Ngalowomnyaka abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahle baphuma ngokupheleleyo eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uJehova ubelokhu ebancedisa ukuthi bazwisise intando yakhe futhi lokhu kwenze ukuthi basondele kakhulu kuye. Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngalesisibusiso! ^[1]

15. Kuyini okungamelanga sikukhohlwe?

¹⁵ Siyathokoza kakhulu ukuthi sesakhululwa ebugqilini beBhabhiloni Enkulu. USathane uyangekile ngoba imizamo yakhe yokutshabalalisa amaKhristu eqiniso emhlabeni yehlule. Kodwa akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova wasikhulula eBhabhiloni Enkulu ngenxa yokuthi ufuna bonke abantu basindiswe. (2 Khor. 6:1) Inkolo yamanga ilokhu ibathumbile abantu abanengi abafisa ukwazi iqiniso. Yikho kumele sizame ngamandla wonke ukubasiza ukuthi baphume baphele kuyo. Nxa singenza njalo siyabe silingisela lokho okwenziwa ngabazalwane bethu eminyakeni engu-100 edlulileyo.