1-2. Kungani kufanele wonke amaKristu afunde ngovuko lwasezulwini?

ABANTU abaningi abakhonza uJehova banethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Kodwa kunamaKristu agcotshwe ngomoya asele, anethemba lokuvuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini. Laba abagcotshiwe banelukuluku lokufuna ukwazi ukuthi kuyoba njani ukuphila kwabo, kodwa kuthiwani ngalabo abanethemba lokuphila emhlabeni? Njengoba sizobona, uvuko lwasezulwini luzoletha izibusiso ngisho nakubantu abanethemba lokuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ngakho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini noma emhlabeni, kufanele sifunde ngovuko lwasezulwini.

² Ngekhulu lokuqala, uNkulunkulu waphefumulela abanye abafundi bakaJesu ukuba babhale ngovuko lwasezulwini. Umphostoli uJohane wachaza: “Manje sesingabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, kodwa okwamanje akukabonakaliswa lokho esiyoba yikho. Siyazi ukuthi lapho ebonakaliswa siyoba njengaye.” (1 Joh. 3:2) Ngakho amaKristu agcotshiwe awazi ukuthi ayoba njani lapho evuselwa ezulwini esenemizimba yomoya. Nokho, azombona ngokoqobo uJehova lapho ethola umvuzo wawo. IBhayibheli aliyivezi yonke imininingwane mayelana novuko lwasezulwini, kodwa kukhona umphostoli uPawulu asitshela kona ngalo. Abagcotshiwe bazobe benoKristu lapho ‘ebenza ize bonke ohulumeni nalo lonke igunya namandla.’ Lokhu kuhlanganisa ‘nesitha sokugcina, ukufa.’ Ekugcineni, uJesu—nalabo azobusa nabo—uyozithoba  kuJehova futhi abuyisele izintambo kuYise. (1 Kor. 15:24-28) Kuyoba isikhathi esijabulisa ngempela leso! *

3. Njengoba kubonisiwe kweyoku-1 Korinte 15:30-32, ukukholelwa ovukweni kwasiza uPawulu ukuba enzeni?

³ Ukukholelwa ovukweni kwasiza uPawulu wakwazi ukukhuthazelela izilingo eziningi. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:30-32.) Watshela abaseKorinte: “Nsuku zonke ngibhekana nokufa.” Waphinde wabhala: “Ngiye ngalwa nezilo zasendle e-Efesu.” Mhlawumbe wayekhuluma ngokulwa nezilwane zangempela enkundleni yase-Efesu. (2 Kor. 1:8; 4:10; 11:23) Noma kungenzeka wayebhekisela kumaJuda ayemzonda nabanye ababefana “nezilo zasendle.” (IzE. 19:26-34; 1 Kor. 16:9) Kunoma yikuphi, uPawulu wabhekana nezimo eziyingozi kakhulu. Kodwa waqhubeka ekholelwa ukuthi wayeyojabula esikhathini esizayo.—2 Kor. 4:16-18.

4. Ithemba lovuko liye lawaqinisa kanjani amaKristu namuhla? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

⁴ Siphila ezikhathini eziyingozi. Abanye abafowethu baye bahlukunyezwa ubugebengu. Abanye bahlala ezindaweni ezinezimpi futhi abaqiniseki ngokuphepha kwabo. Abanye bakhonza uJehova ngisho noma bengase babulawe noma bavalelwe emajele emazweni lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela uvinjelwe khona noma ubekelwe imingcele. Noma kunjalo, bonke laba bafowethu nodadewethu bayaqhubeka bekhonza uJehova, besibekela isibonelo esihle nathi. Abesabi lutho ngoba bayazi ukuthi ngisho noma bangalahlekelwa ukuphila kwabo manje, uJehova uthembisa ukubanika okungcono kakhulu esikhathini esizayo.

5. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo esiyingozi esingenza ukholo lwethu ovukweni lube buthaka?

⁵ UPawulu waxwayisa abafowabo ngesimo sengqondo esiyingozi abanye ababenaso: “Uma abafile bengeke bavuswe, ‘masidle siphuze, ngoba kusasa sizofa.’” Abantu babecabanga ngaleyo ndlela ngisho nangaphambi kosuku lukaPawulu. Kungenzeka wacaphuna amazwi aku-Isaya 22:13, akhuluma ngesimo sengqondo ama-Israyeli ayenaso. Kunokuba asondelane noJehova, ayejaha ukuphila okumnandi. Empeleni, lawo ma-Israyeli ayethi “masizijabulise manje ngoba ikusasa asilazi,” okuyisimo sengqondo esikhona ngisho nakubantu banamuhla. Kodwa, umphumela obuhlungu isizwe sakwa-Israyeli esabhekana nawo ubhaliwe eBhayibhelini.—2 IziKr. 36:15-20.

6. Ithemba lovuko kufanele lisithonye kanjani lapho sikhetha abangane?

⁶ Siyazi ukuthi uJehova uzobavusa abantu abafile, ngakho lokho kufanele kusithonye lapho sikhetha abangane. AmaKristu aseKorinte kwakudingeka agweme ukuchitha isikhathi nabantu ababephika uvuko. Nakhu esikufundayo namuhla: Akukho okuhle esiyokuthola ngokuzihlanganisa nabantu abaphilela ubumnandi besikhashana. Uma umKristu engachitha isikhathi sakhe nabantu abanjalo, angonakalisa isimo sakhe sengqondo nemikhuba yakhe emihle. Empeleni, kungamholela ekutheni enze lokho uNkulunkulu akuzondayo—isono. Yingakho uPawulu anxusa: “Sangulukani ngendlela elungile, ningasenzi isono.”—1 Kor. 15:33, 34.

7. Yimuphi umbuzo okungenzeka abanye babewubuza ngovuko, njengoba kuboniswe kweyoku-1 Korinte 15:35-38?

⁷ Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:35-38. Umuntu ofuna ukwenza abanye bangabaze  uvuko, wayengase abuze: “Abafile bayovuswa kanjani?” Kuhle sicabange ngempendulo kaPawulu, ngoba abantu abaningi namuhla banemibono yabo ngokuthi kwenzekani uma sesifile. Kodwa lifundisani iBhayibheli?

8. Yimuphi umfanekiso ongasisiza siqonde ukuvuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini?

⁸ Lapho umuntu efa, umzimba wakhe uyabola. Kodwa uMuntu owadala amazulu nomhlaba angamvusa lowo muntu, amnike nohlobo lomzimba olufanele. (Gen. 1:1; 2:7) UPawulu wasebenzisa umfanekiso ukuze abonise ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke kudingeke avuse umuntu enomzimba ofanayo. Cabanga ‘ngohlamvu olungenalutho’ noma “imbewu” yesitshalo. Imbewu etshalwa emhlabathini iyahluma ibe isitshalo esisha. Leso sitshalo esisha sihluke kakhulu embewini encane. UPawulu wasebenzisa lo mfanekiso ukuze abonise ukuthi uMdali wethu angasinika “umzimba njengoba nje [ethanda].”

9. Eyoku-1 Korinte 15:39-41 ithini ngokungafani kwemizimba?

⁹ Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:39-41. UPawulu waveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu akayidalanga ngendlela efanayo yonke imizimba. Ngokwesibonelo, izinkomo, izinyoni nezinhlanzi zinemizimba engafani. Waphawula nokuthi esibhakabhakeni, sibona umehluko phakathi kwelanga nenyanga. Wathi futhi “inkanyezi iyahluka kwenye inkanyezi ngenkazimulo.” Lokhu kuyiqiniso ngisho noma singakwazi ukukubona ngamehlo ethu. Ososayensi bathi kunezinkanyezi ezihlukahlukene, ezinye zinkulu, ezinye zincane, ezinye zibomvu, ezinye zimhlophe kanti ezinye ziphuzi, njengelanga. UPawulu washo nokuthi “kukhona imizimba yasezulwini nemizimba yasemhlabeni.” Wayesho ukuthini? Emhlabeni sinemizimba yenyama, kodwa ezulwini kukhona imizimba yomoya, njengeyezingelosi.

10. Ukungafani kwemizimba kungase kuhlobane kanjani novuko?

 ¹⁰ Nakhu uPawulu akusho ngemva kokuchaza imizimba engafani: “Lunjalo novuko lwabafile. Kuhlwanyelwa kunokonakala; kuvuswa kunokungonakali.” Siyazi ukuthi lapho umuntu efa, umzimba wakhe uyabola, abuyele othulini. (Gen. 3:19) Ngakho kwenzeka kanjani ukuthi umzimba ‘uvuswe unokungonakali’? UPawulu wayengakhulumi ngomuntu ovuselwa ukuphila emhlabeni, njengalabo abavuswa u-Eliya, u-Elisha noJesu. Kodwa wayekhuluma ngomuntu ovuselwa ukuphila ezulwini, ‘enomzimba womoya.’—1 Kor. 15:42-44.

11-12. Yiluphi ushintsho olwaba khona kuJesu ngesikhathi evuswa, futhi lwenzeka kanjani lolo shintsho kwabagcotshiwe?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi uJesu ephila emhlabeni, wayenomzimba wenyama. Kodwa ngesikhathi evuswa “waba umoya onika ukuphila” futhi wabuyela ezulwini. Ngendlela efanayo, amaKristu agcotshiwe ayeyovuswa enemizimba yomoya. UPawulu wachaza: “Njengoba nje siye saba nomfanekiso walowo owenziwe ngothuli, siyoba nawo nomfanekiso walowo ongowasezulwini.”—1 Kor. 15:45-49.

¹² Kubalulekile ukuba sikhumbule ukuthi uJesu akavuswanga enomzimba wenyama. Lapho uPawulu esefika kumvuthwandaba wengxoxo yakhe, wachaza ukuthi kungani, athi: “Inyama negazi akukwazi ukuzuza ifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Kor. 15:50) Abaphostoli nabanye abagcotshiwe babengeke bavuselwe ezulwini nemizimba ebolayo yenyama negazi. Babeyovuswa nini? UPawulu wachaza ukuthi babeyovuswa esikhathini esithile esizayo, hhayi ngokushesha nje lapho befa. Ngesikhathi uPawulu ebhala incwadi yoku-1 Korinte, abanye abafundi bakaJesu ‘base beshonile,’ ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uJakobe. (IzE. 12:1, 2) Abanye abaphostoli nabanye abagcotshiwe ‘babengakashoni.’—1 Kor. 15:6.

13. Kwakuyobonakala kanjani ukuba khona kukaJesu?

¹³ UJesu noPawulu bakhuluma ngesikhathi esibalulekile emlandweni—ukuba khona kukaKristu. Leso sikhathi sasiyobonakala ngokuthi kube khona izimpi, ukuzamazama komhlaba, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, nezinye izinto ezimbi ezaziyokwenzeka emhlabeni wonke. Siye sasibona lesi siprofetho seBhayibheli sigcwaliseka kusukela ngo-1914. Kwakuyoba khona nenye ingxenye ebalulekile yaleso sibonakaliso. UJesu wathi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu omisiwe zaziyoshunyayelwa “emhlabeni wonke ukuze kube ubufakazi ezizweni zonke, ngemva kwalokho ukuphela kuyofika.” (Math. 24:3, 7-14) UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ‘ukuba khona kweNkosi’ kwakuyophinde kube isikhathi lapho kuyovuswa khona amaKristu agcotshiwe ‘asashona.’—1 Thes. 4:14-16; 1 Kor. 15:23.

14. Yini eyenzekayo kumaKristu agcotshiwe afa phakathi nesikhathi sokuba khona kukaKristu?

¹⁴ AmaKristu agcotshiwe afa manje avuselwa ezulwini ngokuphazima kweso. Lokhu kufakazelwa amazwi kaPawulu akweyoku-1 Korinte 15:51, 52, athi: “Ngeke sife sonke, kodwa sonke siyoshintshwa, ngomzuzwana, ngokuphazima kweso, phakathi necilongo lokugcina.” La mazwi kaPawulu ayagcwaliseka njengamanje! Lapho bevuswa, laba bafowabo bakaKristu bayojabula kakhulu; ‘bayoba neNkosi ngaso sonke isikhathi.’—1 Thes. 4:17.

15. Yimuphi umsebenzi ohlalele labo abayoshintshwa “ngokuphazima kweso”?

¹⁵ IBhayibheli liyasitshela ukuthi labo abashintshwa “ngokuphazima kweso” bayokwenzani ezulwini. UJesu uthi kubo: “Onqobayo futhi agcine izenzo zami kuze kube sekupheleni, ngiyomnika igunya phezu kwezizwe,  uyokwelusa abantu ngenduku yensimbi kangangokuthi bayophihlizwa babe izicucu njengezitsha zobumba, njengoba nami ngilamukele kuBaba.” (IsAm. 2:26, 27) Bayolandela uMkhuzi wabo emsebenzini awenzayo—ukwalusa izizwe ngenduku yensimbi.—IsAm. 19:11-15.

16. Abantu abaningi bazokunqoba kanjani ukufa?

¹⁶ Kusobala ukuthi amaKristu agcotshiwe azokunqoba ukufa. (1 Kor. 15:54-57) Ukuvuswa kwabo kuyobenza bahlanganyele ekunqobeni bonke ububi emhlabeni, empini ezayo ye-Armagedoni. Izigidi zamanye amadoda nabesifazane abangamaKristu ‘bazophuma osizini olukhulu’ futhi basindele ezweni elisha. (IsAm. 7:14) Labo abayosinda emhlabeni bazozibonela ngawabo okunye ukunqotshwa kokufa—ukuvuswa kwezigidigidi zabantu abaye bafa esikhathini esidlule. Ake ucabange ngenjabulo eyoba khona lapho sekufika leso sikhathi esiyosishiya sikhexile! (IzE. 24:15) Bonke labo abayoba qotho ngokuphelele kuJehova bazonqoba ngisho nokufa esakuzuza njengefa ku-Adamu. Bazophila kuze kube phakade.

17. Eyoku-1 Korinte 15:58 isikhuthaza ukuba senzeni manje?

¹⁷ Wonke umKristu ophilayo manje kufanele abonge ngamazwi aduduzayo uPawulu awabhalela abaseKorinte mayelana novuko. Sinezizathu ezinhle zokulalela iseluleko sikaPawulu sokwenza konke esingakwenza manje “emsebenzini weNkosi.” (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 15:58.) Uma sizikhandla futhi siwenza ngokuzimisela lo msebenzi, siyobe sizibeka ethubeni lokuthola ukuphila okujabulisayo esikhathini esizayo. Leso sikhathi siyoba mnandi ukwedlula noma yisiphi esinye esingase sisicabange. Siyobonisa ngempela ukuthi umshikashika wethu ubungelona ize eNkosini.