1. Iyiphi indlela yokutadisha eyayisetshenziswa uMfoweth’ uRussell nabangane bakhe, futhi kungani yayisebenza?

EMINYAKENI engaphezu kweyikhulu edlule, uMfoweth’ uC. T. Russell nabangane bakhe, okuyiqembu elincane labafundi beZwi likaNkulunkulu, baqala ukuhlangana ndawonye. Babefuna ukubona ukuthi bangakwazi yini ukuthola lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngempela ngoJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, isimo sabantu abafile nesihlengo. Indlela ababetadisha ngayo yayilula. Omunye wayebuza umbuzo ngendaba ethile, bese iqembu lihlola yonke imibhalo ehlobene naleyo ndaba. Ekugcineni, babebhala phansi lokho abakuthole ngesikhathi becwaninga. UJehova wawasiza lawo madoda angamaKristu aqonda amaqiniso amaningi abalulekile aseBhayibhelini futhi lawo maqiniso asabalulekile nanamuhla.

2. Yini ngezinye izikhathi engasenza sifinyelele esiphethweni esinganembile lapho sizama ukuqonda isiprofetho seBhayibheli?

² Nokho, labo bafundi beBhayibheli baqaphela ukuthi kunzima kakhulu ukuqonda isiprofetho seBhayibheli kunokuqonda izimfundiso eziyisisekelo zalo. Kungani kunjalo? Isizathu siwukuthi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zivame ukuqondwa kahle lapho zigcwaliseka noma ngemva kokuba sezigcwalisekile. Kodwa kukhona esinye isizathu. Ukuze sisiqonde kahle isiprofetho, kudingeka sicabangele umongo waso. Uma sigxila engxenyeni ethile kuphela yesiprofetho bese singazinaki ezinye, singase sifinyelele esiphethweni esinganembile. Uma sibheka emuva, kubonakala sengathi yilokho okwenzeka ngesiprofetho esisencwadini kaJoweli. Ake sihlole lesi siprofetho bese sixoxa ngokuthi kungani kudingeka sithuthukise indlela esisiqonda ngayo.

3-4. Kuze kube yimanje, besisiqonda kanjani isiprofetho esitholakala kuJoweli 2:7-9?

 ³ Funda uJoweli 2:7-9. UJoweli ubikezela ngokuthi inhlupho yezinkumbi izobhubhisa izwe lakwa-Israyeli. Ngenxa yokuthi zinamazinyo nemihlathi enjengeyebhubesi, lezi zinkumbi ezinobugovu zizoshwabadela zonke izitshalo ezisezweni lakwa-Israyeli! (Joweli 1:4, 6) Sekuyiminyaka eminingi siqonda lesi siprofetho njengesibikezela ukuthi abantu bakaJehova bazoqhubeka beshumayela njengezinkumbi eziningi ezinganqandeki. Sasicabanga ukuthi lo msebenzi unomphumela obuhlungu “ezweni,” noma kubantu abalawulwa abaholi benkolo. *

⁴ Leyo ncazelo ingabonakala inembile uma sifunda uJoweli 2:7-9 kuphela. Nokho, lapho sihlola umongo walesi siprofetho, siyabona ukuthi kufanele sisiqonde ngendlela ehlukile. Ake sihlole izizathu ezine zokuthi kungani kunjalo.

5-6. Yimuphi umbuzo ophakamayo lapho sifunda (a) UJoweli 2:20? (b) UJoweli 2:25?

⁵ Okokuqala, phawula lokho uJehova akuthembisa ngokuphathelene nenhlupho yezinkumbi: “Owasenyakatho [izinkumbi] ngizomdedisela kude nani.” (Joweli 2:20) Uma izinkumbi zimelela oFakazi BakaJehova njengoba belalela umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi, kungani uJehova ethembisa ukubadedisela kude? (Hez. 33:7-9; Math. 28:19, 20) Kuyacaca ukuthi uJehova akadediseli kude izinceku zakhe ezithembekile, kodwa uxosha okuthile noma umuntu othile oyisitha sabantu bakhe.

⁶ Ngokuphathelene nesizathu sesibili, cabanga ngalokho okubhalwe kuJoweli 2:25. Kuleli vesi, uJehova uthi: “Ngiyokwenza isinxephezelo kini ngeminyaka okudlé ngayo inkumbi, inkumbi enwabuzelayo engenamaphiko, iphela necimbi, ibutho lami elikhulu lempi engilithumele phakathi kwenu.” Phawula ukuthi uJehova uthembisa ‘ukwenza isinxephezelo’ ngomonakalo obangelwe izinkumbi. Uma izinkumbi zimelela abashumayeli bevangeli loMbuso, pho kungani kuthiwa umyalezo abawumemezelayo ubangela umonakalo? Nokho, empeleni lowo myalezo usindisa ukuphila futhi ungenza abantu ababi baphenduke. (Hez. 33:8, 19) Lokho kungaba isibusiso esikhulu kubo!

7. KuJoweli 2:28, 29, amazwi athi “ngemva kwalokho” asisiza siqonde ini?

⁷ Funda uJoweli 2:28, 29. Isizathu sesithathu siphathelene nendlela izenzakalo zalesi siprofetho ezilandelana ngayo. Uphawulile yini ukuthi uJehova uthi: ‘Ngemva kwalokho ngiyothululela umoya wami’; okungukuthi, ngemva kokuba izinkumbi seziwuqedile umsebenzi okufanele ziwenze? Uma izinkumbi kungabashumayeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kungani uJehova ezothululela umoya wakhe kubo ngemva kokuba sebeqede ukushumayela? Iqiniso liwukuthi ngaphandle kosizo lomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu onamandla, bebengeke bakwazi ukuqhubeka nokushumayela iminyaka eminingi kangaka naphezu kokuphikiswa nokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wabo.

8. Izinkumbi okukhulunywa ngazo encwadini yesAmbulo 9:1-11 zimelela obani? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

⁸ Funda isAmbulo 9:1-11. Manje ake sihlole isizathu sesine. Ngenxa yesiprofetho esitholakala encwadini yesAmbulo, esikhathini esidlule sasithi inhlupho yezinkumbi okukhulunywa ngayo kuJoweli imelela umsebenzi  wethu wokushumayela. Lesi siprofetho sichaza isikhonyane [izinkumbi] esinobuso bomuntu, emakhanda aso ‘kukhona okungathi imiqhele enjengegolide.’ (IsAm. 9:7) Sahlupha “labo bantu [izitha zikaNkulunkulu] abangenalo uphawu lukaNkulunkulu emabunzini abo” izinyanga ezinhlanu, okungaba ubude besikhathi esiphilwa intethe. (IsAm. 9:4, 5) Lokhu kubonakala sengathi kubhekisela ezincekwini zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe. Ngesibindi zimemezela izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu kuleli zwe elibi, ngenxa yalokho zenza bonke labo abalisekelayo bangahlaliseki.

9. Yimuphi umehluko ophawulekayo phakathi kwezinkumbi ezabonwa uJoweli nalezo ezachazwa uJohane?

⁹ Siyavuma ukuthi kukhona okufanayo phakathi kwesiprofetho esisencwadini yesAmbulo naleso esikuJoweli. Nokho, ukhona umehluko ophawulekayo kuzo. Cabanga ngalokhu: Esiprofethweni sikaJoweli, izinkumbi zibhubhisa izitshalo. (Joweli 1:4, 6, 7) Embonweni kaJohane, izinkumbi ‘zitshelwa ukuba zingazilimazi izimila [izitshalo] zomhlaba.’ (IsAm. 9:4) Izinkumbi uJoweli azibona zaziqhamuka enyakatho. (Joweli 2:20) Lezo uJohane azibona zona zaziqhamuka kwalasha. (IsAm. 9:2, 3) Izinkumbi uJoweli akhuluma ngazo ziyaxoshwa. KuyisAmbulo, izinkumbi azixoshwa kodwa ziyavunyelwa ukuba ziqede umsebenzi wazo. Akukho okubonisa ukuthi uJehova akajabuli ngazo.—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Iziprofetho Ezimayelana Nezinkumbi —Ziyafana Kodwa Kunomehluko Okhona Kuzo.”

10. Nikeza isibonelo esingokomBhalo esibonisa ukuthi izinkumbi ezichazwa uJoweli noJohane zingamelela izinto ezingafani.

¹⁰ Umehluko ophawulekayo phakathi kwalezi ziprofetho zombili usisiza siqonde ukuthi lezi ziprofetho azihlobene. Ingabe sithi izinkumbi ezachazwa uJoweli azifani nezinkumbi okukhulunywa ngazo encwadini yesAmbulo? Yebo azifani. EBhayibhelini, ngezinye izikhathi into ethile ingasho izinto ezingafani kuye ngokuthi kukhulunywa ngani. Ngokwesibonelo, encwadini yesAmbulo 5:5, uJesu ubizwa ngokuthi “INgonyama yesizwe sakwaJuda,” kuyilapho kweyoku-1 Petru 5:8, uDeveli echazwa “njengengonyama ebhongayo.” Izizathu ezine esesixoxe ngazo zibonisa ukuthi kudingeka sithole enye incazelo yalokho okushiwo isiprofetho sikaJoweli. Pho sisho ukuthini lesi siprofetho?

11. Yiziphi izinto okukhulunywa ngazo kuJoweli 1:6 nasesahlukweni 2:1, 8, 11 ezisisiza siqonde ukuthi zingobani izinkumbi?

¹¹ Lapho sihlola amanye amavesi akhuluma ngesiprofetho sikaJoweli, siyaqonda ukuthi umprofethi wayebikezela ngokuhlasela kwamasosha. (Joweli 1:6; 2:1, 8, 11) UJehova wathi wayezosebenzisa ‘ibutho lakhe elikhulu lempi’ (amasosha aseBhabhiloni) ukuze ajezise ama-Israyeli ayengalaleli. (Joweli 2:25) Ibutho elihlaselayo libizwa kufanele ngokuthi “owasenyakatho” ngoba abaseBhabhiloni babezohlasela ama-Israyeli beqhamuka enyakatho. (Joweli 2:20) Lelo butho lifaniswa nezinkumbi ezihlelwe kahle. UJoweli wathi ngalo: ‘Lilokhu lihamba [njengesosha] elinamandla endleleni yalo. Ligijimela emzini. Ligijima phezu kodonga. Likhuphukela ezindlini. Lingena ngamafasitela njengesela.’ (Joweli 2:8, 9) Uyakubona yini lokhu ngeso lengqondo? Kugcwele amasosha yonke indawo. Ayikho indawo yokucasha. Akekho ongabalekela inkemba yebutho laseBhabhiloni!

12. Sagcwaliseka kanjani isiprofetho sikaJoweli esimayelana nezinkumbi?

¹² Njengezinkumbi, abaseBhabhiloni (noma amaKhaledi) bahlasela idolobha laseJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. IBhayibheli lithi: “Inkosi yamaKhaledi, eyabulala izinsizwa zabo ngenkemba . . . , ayibanga nabubele ngansizwa noma ngantombi, ngamuntu omdala noma ngoxhwalile. Wanikela konke esandleni sayo. Yashisa indlu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso futhi yadiliza udonga lwaseJerusalema; yonke imibhoshongo yalo yokuhlala bayishisa ngomlilo nazo zonke izinto zalo ezifiselekayo, ukuze babangele incithakalo.” (2 IziKr. 36:17, 19) Ngemva kokuba abaseBhabhiloni sebehlasele futhi babhubhisa le ndawo, abantu ababebukele babengathi: “Liyihlane eliyincithakalo elingenamuntu nasilwane esifuywayo. Linikelwe esandleni samaKhaledi.”—Jer. 32:43.

13. Chaza ukuthi usho ukuthini uJeremiya 16:16, 18.

¹³ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-200 ngemva kwalesi siprofetho sikaJoweli, uJehova wasebenzisa uJeremiya ukuze abikezele okunye mayelana nalokhu kuhlasela. UJehova wathi ababehlasela babezowacinga ngokucophelela ama-Israyeli ayenza izinto ezimbi futhi bawabambe wonke. “‘Bhekani ngithumela ukuba kulandwe abadobi abaningi,’ kusho uJehova, ‘futhi ngokuqinisekile bayobadoba; kamuva ngiyothumela ukuba kulandwe amaphisi amaningi, futhi ngokuqinisekile ayobazingela kuzo zonke izintaba nakuwo wonke amagquma nasemifantwini yamadwala. . . . ngizobuyisela inani eliphelele lesiphambeko sabo nelesono sabo.’” Ngisho nolwandle noma amahlathi ayengeke  akwazi ukufihla ama-Israyeli angaphenduki kubahlaseli baseBhabhiloni.—Jer. 16:16, 18.

14. Wagcwaliseka nini uJoweli 2:28, 29?

¹⁴ Okujabulisayo ukuthi uJoweli ube esesho nezindaba ezinhle. Izwe lalizophinde lithele. (Joweli 2:23-26) Ngakho esikhathini esizayo, kwakuyoba khona ukudla okuningi okungokomoya. UJehova uthi: “Ngithululele umoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inhlobo yenyama, amadodana enu namadodakazi enu ngokuqinisekile ayoprofetha . . . ngiyothululela umoya wami ezincekwini nasezincekukazini.” (Joweli 2:28, 29) Lokhu akuzange kwenzeke ngokushesha ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli esuke eBhabhiloni abuyela ezweni lawo. Kunalokho, kwenzeka emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Sazi kanjani?

15. Ngokwencwadi yezEnzo 2:16, 17, yini uPetru ayishintsha emBhalweni kaJoweli 2:28, futhi lokho kubonisani?

¹⁵ Eqondiswa umoya ongcwele, uPetru wasebenzisa uJoweli 2:28, 29 esenzakalweni esimangalisayo esenzeka ngosuku lwePhentekoste. Cishe ngo-9 ekuseni ngalolo suku, uNkulunkulu wathululela umoya wakhe ongcwele futhi labo abawuthola baqala ukukhuluma “ngezinto ezinhle kakhulu zikaNkulunkulu.” (IzE. 2:11) UPetru wasebenzisa amazwi ahluke kancane lapho ecaphuna isiprofetho sikaJoweli. Uphawulile ukuthi yini ayishintsha? (Funda izEnzo 2:16, 17.) Kunokuba aqale ingcaphuno ngamazwi athi “ngemva kwalokho,” uPetru wathi: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina”—kulokhu, okuyizinsuku zokugcina zesikhathi samaJuda—umoya kaNkulunkulu wawuzothululelwa “phezu kwayo yonke inyama.” Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi kwase kudlule isikhathi esithile ngaphambi kokuba isiprofetho sikaJoweli sigcwaliseke.

16. Umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu waba namuphi umthelela emsebenzini wokushumayela ngekhulu lokuqala, futhi unamuphi umthelela namuhla?

 ¹⁶ Kwakungemva kokuba uNkulunkulu ethululele umoya wakhe ngendlela emangalisayo kumaKristu angekhulu lokuqala, lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela owaqala khona ukusakazekela kuwo wonke umhlaba. Ngesikhathi uPawulu ebhala incwadi eya kwabaseKolose cishe ngo-61 C.E., wayengachaza izindaba ezinhle njengezishunyayelwa “kuyo yonke indalo engaphansi kwezulu.” (Kol. 1:23) Osukwini lukaPawulu inkulumo ethi “yonke indalo,” yayibhekisela emhlabeni wonke. Ngosizo lomoya ongcwele kaJehova, umsebenzi wokushumayela ususabalele kakhulu osukwini lwethu—usufike ngisho ‘nasemkhawulweni womhlaba’!—IzE. 13:47; bheka ibhokisi elithi ‘ Ngizothululela Umoya Wami.’

17. Ishintshe kanjani indlela esiqonda ngayo isiprofetho sikaJoweli esimayelana nezinkumbi?

¹⁷ Yini eshintshile? Manje sesisiqonda ngendlela enembile isiprofetho esitholakala kuJoweli 2:7-9. Kalula nje, la mavesi awabhekiseli emsebenzini wethu wokushumayela ngentshiseko, kodwa abhekisela emsebenzini webhutho laseBhabhiloni elahlasela iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E.

18. Yini engakashintshi ngokuphathelene nabantu bakaJehova?

¹⁸ Yini engakashintshi? Abantu bakaJehova bayaqhubeka beshumayela izindaba ezinhle kuyo yonke indawo, besebenzisa zonke izindlela zokushumayela. (Math. 24:14) Ayikho imingcele ebekwa ohulumeni engasivimbela ukuba senze umsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngenxa yesibusiso sikaJehova, sizimisele kunanini ngaphambili ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso ngesibindi! Ngokuthobeka, siyaqhubeka sithembela kuJehova ukuze asisize siqonde iziprofetho zeBhayibheli, siqiniseka ngokuthi ngesikhathi esifanele, ‘uzosiholela kulo lonke iqiniso’!—Joh. 16:13.