1, 2. Chaza ukuthi izinto zazihamba njani eJerusalema ngesikhathi uZekhariya ethola umbono wesikhombisa.

NGEMVA kokubona umbono wesikhombisa umphrofethi uZekhariya wasala eselokunengi ayengacabanga ngakho. Kumele ukuthi kwamkhuthaza ukuzwa uJehova ethembisa ukuthi uzabajezisa bonke abantu ababesenza okubi. Lanxa kunjalo izinto zazilokhu zimi manzonzo eJerusalema ngoba abantu abanengi babelokhu besenza okubi futhi umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli wawusumile. Kodwa kuyini okwasekubangele ukuthi amaJuda atshiye umsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo? Basebekukhohliwe yini ababekulandile eJerusalema?

² UZekhariya wayekwazi ukuthi abako-Israyeli ababesuke eBhabhiloni babelokholo oluqinileyo. Phela uNkulunkulu ‘wayethinte izinhliziyo’ zabo baze bazimisela ukutshiya imizi lamabhizimusi abo eBhabhiloni balubhekisa eJerusalema ukuyavuselela ukukhonza kweqiniso. (Ezra. 1:2, 3, 5) Abanye babo babengakaze bayibone iJerusalema, babephonguzwa ngayo nje. Ngakho aluba babengakuqakathekisi ukukhonza kweqiniso babengasoze bahambe  amakhilomitha edlula 1 600 bedabula amagusu ayingozi.

3, 4. Abako-Israyeli bahlangana labuphi ubunzima ngesikhathi befika eJerusalema?

³ Kumele ukuthi uhambo lolu lwanika abako-Israyeli ithuba lokuxoxa lokucabangisisa ngalapho ababesiya khona. Phela abanye babezwile ukuthi iJerusalema kwakulidolobho elalilihle okumangalisayo. Kanti njalo abakhulileyo ababephakathi kwabo babeyibonile inkazimulo yethempeli lakuqala. (Ezra. 3:12) Aluba wawuphakathi kwama-Israyeli la wawuzakuzwa njani ngesikhathi ufika eJerusalema? Wawuzakuzwa ubuhlungu yini lapho ubona amanxiwa egcwele inkotha lemiduli idilikile? Mhlawumbe wawuzaqalisa ukuyiqathanisa lemiduli emikhulu owawuyitshiye eBhabhiloni. Abako-Israyeli bona abazange bakhumbule emuva ngoba babelethemba lokuthi uJehova uzabaphathisa, nanko phela wayebavikele phakathi kohambo lwabo. Ngakho bathi befika bahle bakha i-alithare lapho okwakulethempeli khona njalo baqalisa ukwenza iminikelo kuJehova nsuku zonke. (Ezra. 3:1, 2) Ngalesosikhathi kwakungani akulalutho oluzabavimba kumbe lubabuyisele emuva.

⁴ Abako-Israyeli kwakumele bakhe ithempeli, bavuselele imizi yabo kanye lamadolobho akibo futhi balime amasimu ukuze bathole ukudla. (Ezra. 2:70) Wawumkhulu sibili umsebenzi okwakufanele bawenze. Kodwa kungakayi ngaphi izitha zabo zaqalisa ukubethusela zifuna ukuvimba umsebenzi wabo. Lokhu kwadonsa okweminyaka engu-15 njalo kwabangela ukuthi bacine bephela amandla. (Ezra. 4:1-4) Ngo-522 B.C.E behlelwa ngobunye ubunzima ngoba inkosi yasePhesiya yakhupha umlayo wokuthi umsebenzi wokuvuselela iJerusalema umiswe. Lakanye kwasekumnyama emuva laphambili.—Ezra. 4:21-24.

5. UJehova wenzani ukuze ancede abantu bakhe?

⁵ UJehova wenzani ukuze akhuthaze njalo aqinise abantu bakhe? Wanika umphrofethi uZekhariya umbono wokucina owawuzabanceda kakhulu abako-Israyeli. Wawuzabenza babone ukuthi uyabathanda lokuthi uyakuqakathekisa ababekwenzile kanye lokuthi uzabavikela ezitheni zabo. Wabatshela wathi: “Kuzakwenzeka uma limlalela ngokukhuthala uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.”—Zek. 6:15.

6. (a) UZekhariya wabonani embonweni wesitshiyagalombili? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Kungani amabhiza ezinqola ayelombala ohlukeneyo?

⁶ Umbono wesitshiyagalombili owabonwa nguZekhariya uqinisa ukholo. (Bala uZekhariya 6:1-3.) Embonweni lo uZekhariya wabona izinqola zempi ezine ziqhamuka “okhalweni lwezintaba ezimbili—izintaba zethusi.” Amabhiza ayedonsa izinqola lezi ayelombala ohlukeneyo. Lokhu kwakusenza kube lula ukuzehlukanisa izinqola lezi. UZekhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi: “Kuyini lokhu?” (Zek. 6:4) Lathi siyafuna ukuyazi impendulo ngoba umbono lo uqakathekile lakithi.

7, 8. (a) Zimelani izintaba ezimbili ezabonwa nguZekhariya? (b) Kungani izintaba lezi zenziwe ngethusi?

⁷ Izikhathi ezinengi nxa iBhayibhili likhuluma ngezintaba liyabe lisitsho imibuso loba ohulumende. Izintaba okukhulunywa ngazo embonweni kaZekhariya zifana lezintaba ezimbili eziqanjwa ebhukwini likaDanyeli. Intaba yokuqala imela ubukhosi bukaJehova obungapheliyo, ikanti eyesibili imela uMbuso kaMesiya osezandleni zikaJesu. (Dan. 2:35, 45) Selokhu uJesu waqalisa ukubusa ngo-1914, izintaba lezi ezimbili bezilokhu zikhona njalo zisenza umsebenzi oqakatheke kakhulu ukuze  injongo kaNkulunkulu igcwaliseke emhlabeni.

⁸ Kungani izintaba lezi zenziwe ngethusi? Ithusi luhlobo lwensimbi enhle ecazimulayo futhi edulayo njengegolide. Ngokwesibonelo endulo uJehova watshela abantu bakhe ukuthi basebenzise insimbi le ngesikhathi besakha ithabanikeli langesikhathi kusakhiwa ithempeli. (Eks. 27:1-3; 1 AmaKho. 7:13-16) Ngakho kuqondile ukuthi izintaba lezi ezimbili zibe ngezethusi ngoba zitshengisa ubuhle bobukhosi bukaJehova kanye loMbuso kaMesiya ozaletha ukuthula lezibusiso ezinengi ebantwini.

9. Bamelani abagadi bezinqola zamabhiza futhi baphiwa msebenzi bani?

⁹ Zimelani izinqola kanye labagadi bazo? Abagadi bezinqola lezi yizingilosi futhi kungenzakala ukuthi zingamaqembu atshiyeneyo. (Bala uZekhariya 6:5-8.) Izingilosi lezi zisuka “phambi kukaJehova womhlaba wonke” ukuze ziyekwenza umsebenzi oqakathekileyo. Kwakungumsebenzi wani lowo? Kwakungowokuvikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuze bangahlaselwa yizitha. Ngokwesibonelo ezinye zathunyelwa “elizweni lasenyakatho” okutsho iBhabhiloni. Lokhu kwakungenxa yokuthi uJehova wayengafuni ukuthi abaseBhabhiloni baphinde bathumbe abantu bakhe. Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwabaqinisa abako-Israyeli ababesakha ithempeli eJerusalama. Kwakungasamelanga besabe loba yisiphi isitha esasingabahlasela.

10. Isiphrofetho sikaZekhariya esiphathelane labagadi bezinqola zamabhiza sisisiza njani lamuhla?

¹⁰ Lalamuhla uJehova usebenzisa izingilosi ukuze avikele abantu bakhe futhi abaqinise. (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 1:7, 14) Ngo-1919 abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakhululwa ekuthunjweni yiBhabhiloni Enkulu futhi kusukela ngalesosikhathi ukukhonza kweqiniso bekulokhu kukhula kakhulu lanxa izitha bezizama ukuhlasela. (Isam. 18:4) Izingilosi siyasivikela sibili, ngakho akumelanga loba nini sicabange ukuthi inhlanganiso kaJehova izaphinda ithunjwe ibuyele ezimfundisweni zamanga. (Hubo. 34:7) Esikwaziyo yikuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zizaqhubeka zithokoza njalo zisebenza gadalala ukuze zithuthukise ukukhonza kweqiniso. Ukucabangisisa ngombono kaZekhariya kwenza sibone ukuthi sivikelekile sibili.

11. Kungani kungamelanga sesabe ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu?

¹¹ Sekuseduze ukuthi ohulumende bomhlaba bamanyane ukuze bahlasele abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (Hez. 38:2, 10-12; Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; Isam. 19:19) Isiphrofetho sikaHezekheli sichaza ukuthi izizwe lezo zizakuba njengeyezi elisibekele ilizwe njalo zizazohlasela abantu bakaNkulunkulu zigade amabhiza. (Hez. 38:15, 16) * Kumele sesabe yini? Ngitsho lakancane ngoba siyabe siphahlwe libutho lasezulwini elilamandla. Ngalesosikhathi amabutho kaJehova azakulwa impi lezizwe lezi ukuze asivikele njalo atshabalalise bonke abaphikisana lobukhosi bukaJehova. (2 Thes. 1:7, 8) Lolu kuzabe kulusizi olukhulu olungakaze lube khona emhlabeni. Ngubani ozabe ekhokhela ibutho lasezulwini ngalesosikhathi?

12, 13. (a) UZekhariya watshelwa ukuthi enzeni? (b) Chaza ukuthi kungani kuthiwa iHlumela nguJesu Khristu?

¹² UZekhariya nguye yedwa owabona imibono engu-8 esesikhulume ngayo. Kodwa ngemva kwalokhu uJehova wamtshela ukuthi enze okuthile okwakuzabonwa ngabantu bonke futhi kubakhuthaze ukuthi baqhubeke ngomsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli. (Bala uZekhariya 6:9-12.) UZekhariya watshelwa ukuthi athathe isiliva legolide kuHelidayi loThobhiya loJedaya ababesanda kuvela eBhabhiloni enze “umqhele.” (Zek. 6:11) Kambe ukuthi umqhele lo wawuzakwetheswa umkhokheli uZerubhabheli owayengowesizwe sakoJuda futhi engowosendo lukaDavida? Akuzange kube njalo. UJehova watshela uZekhariya ukuthi athathe umqhele awethese uMphristi Omkhulu uJoshuwa. Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwabamangalisa kakhulu abantu.

¹³ UMphristi Omkhulu uJoshuwa waba yinkosi yini ngemva kokwetheswa umqhele? Hatshi ngoba wayengaveli kusendo lukaDavida. Ukwetheswa kwakhe umqhele kwakuyisiphrofetho esasikhomba lokho okwakuzakwenzakala kulowo owayezakuba yinkosi lomphristi ngesikhathi esizayo. Umphristi lowo ubizwa ngokuthi liHlumela. IMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi iHlumela nguJesu Khristu.​—Isaya. 11:1; Mat. 2:23.

14. UJesu wenza msebenzi bani khathesi?

¹⁴ UJesu uyiNkosi njalo unguMphristi Omkhulu. Nguye umkhokheli webutho lasezulwini futhi wenza umsebenzi omkhulu wokuvikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu emhlabeni lo ogcwele ububi. (Jer. 23:5, 6) Ngesikhathi esizayo uzakhokhela ibutho leli ukuze alwele ubukhosi bukaJehova njalo akhulule abantu bakhe. (Isam. 17:12-14; 19:11, 14, 15) Kodwa kulomunye umsebenzi omkhulu iHlumela eliwenzayo.

15, 16. (a) Yiwuphi umsebenzi owaqalisa ngo-1919 njalo ngubani owenzayo? (b) Kuzabe kunjani emhlabeni ngemva kweminyaka eyinkulungwane yokubusa kukaKhristu?

¹⁵ Omunye umsebenzi uJesu awuphiweyo ‘ngowokwakha ithempeli likaJehova.’ (Bala uZekhariya 6:13.) Umsebenzi lo wokwakha ithempeli waqalisa ngo-1919 lapho uJesu ekhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu eBhabhiloni Enkulu futhi ebaqoqa ukuthi babe libandla elihlelekileyo. Ngemva kwalokho wabeka “inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo” ukuze ikhokhele emsebenzini wokuthuthukisa ukukhonza kweqiniso lapha emhlabeni. (Mat. 24:45) Kanti njalo ubelokhu ehlambulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu njalo ebancedisa ukuthi bakhonze ngendlela emsulwa.—Mal. 3:1-3.

¹⁶ Ngesikhathi esizayo uJesu uzabusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane ekanye labangu-144 000 abazakuba ngamakhosi labaphristi. Bazasusa isono ebantwini abathembekileyo njalo nxa sebewuqedile umsebenzi lo, umhlaba uzabe usugcwele abantu abapheleleyo. Ngalesosikhathi intando kaNkulunkulu iyabe isisenziwa ngokugcweleyo emhlabeni.

17. UJehova wathini kumaJuda futhi lokho kwawanceda njani?

¹⁷ Umlayezo kaZekhariya wabanceda njani abako-Israyeli? UJehova wathembisa ukuthi uzabavikela njalo abasize ukuze baqede umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli. Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwabaqinisa futhi kwabanika idlabuzane lokuqhubeka ngomsebenzi.  Lanxa kunjalo, bangabe babezibuza ukuthi bazawenza njani lumsebenzi bona bebalutshwane. Ngalesosikhathi kwakusanda kufika uHelidayi loThobhija loJedaya bezoncedisa kodwa uJehova wabatshela wathi abanengi abasekudeni “bazakuza bazokwelekelela ukwakha ithempeli likaJehova.” (Bala uZekhariya 6:15.) Ngesikhatshana nje amaJuda aqhubekela phambili ngomsebenzi lanxa inkosi yasePhesiya yayiwumisile. Ngokuya kwesikhathi uJehova walususa uhlupho lolu olwalukhanya lungangentaba njalo ngo-515 B.C.E umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli waphela. (Ezra. 6:22; Zek. 4:6, 7) Amazwi akhulunywa nguJehova asebenza njani lamuhla?

18. UZekhariya 6:15 ugcwaliseka njani lamuhla?

¹⁸ Lamuhla abantu babuya ngobunengi enhlanganisweni kaJehova futhi bazimisele ukusebenzisa isikhathi sabo, amandla abo kanye lempahla abalayo ukuze basekele ukukhonza kweqiniso. (Zaga. 3:9) UJehova uyakuqakathekisa yini konke lokhu okwenziwa ngabantu bakhe? Khumbula ukuthi uHelidayi loThobhija loJedaya bafika eJerusalema bethwele impahla eyafika yasetshenziswa nguZekhariya ukwenza umqhele. Ngakho ukubona umqhele lo kwakubakhumbuza umnikelo ababewenzile ukuze basekele ukukhonza kweqiniso. (Zek. 6:14) Lalamuhla uJehova kasoze awukhohlwe umsebenzi esiwenzayo kanye lothando esimtshengisa lona.—Heb. 6:10.

19. Imibono eyisitshiyagalombili eyabonwa ngumphrofethi uZekhariya ikufuqa ukuthi wenzeni?

¹⁹ Ingqubelaphambili ekhona lamuhla ekukhonzeni kweqiniso itshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyawubusisa umsebenzi owenziwayo lokuthi uJesu ngumkhokheli omuhle. Kuyasithokozisa kakhulu ukuba senhlanganisweni ehlelekileyo futhi ezahlala kuze kube nini lanini. Siyakubona sibili ukuthi injongo kaJehova ephathelane lokukhonza kweqiniso ‘izakwenzeka.’ Ngakho iqakathekise indawo yakho enhlanganisweni kaJehova njalo uqhubeke ‘umlalela ngokukhuthala uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.’ Ungenza njalo uzavikelwa yiNkosi yethu enguMphristi Omkhulu kanye labagadi bezinqola zamabhiza. Zimisele ukusekela ukukhonza kweqiniso, ungakwenza lokhu uJehova uzakuvikela kulezinsuku zokucina futhi uzakuba lawe kuze kube phakade.