1-2. Yini lesenta sifune kwati loko lokushiwo yincwadzi yeSembulo?

 UKE watibuka yini titfombe talomunye umuntfu? Njengobe ubuka letitfombe, bantfu labanyenti labakuto awubati. Kodvwa njengobe usachubeka kuba nasinye lesikukhangako. Leni? Ngobe ukhona kulesitfombe. Njengobe usibukisisa wetama kukhumbula kutsi sanini nekutsi benikuphi. Ngetulu kwaloko, wetama kukhumbula kutsi bobani lalabanye labakulesitfombe. Lesitfombe sibulalulekile kuwe.

² Incwadzi yeSembulo ifana nalesitfombe. Sisho ngani? Nganati tizatfu letimbili. Sekucala, lencwadzi yabhalelwa tsine. Livesi lekucala litsi: “Lesi sembulo saJesu Khristu, Nkulunkulu lamnika sona kuze akhombise tinceku takhe tintfo letitawenteka masinyane.” (Semb. 1:1) Ngako tintfo letibhalwe kulencwadzi, atikabhalelwa bonkhe bantfu kodvwa tibhalelwe tinceku taNkulunkulu. Njengobe sibantfu baNkulunkulu, akukafaneli kusimangalise kutsi sinencenye ekugcwalisekeni kwaletiphrofetho letikulencwadzi. Ngalamanye emagama, singasho kutsi natsi sikhona “kulesitfombe.”

3-4. Ngekusho kwencwadzi yeSembulo, ngumaphi emavi latawugcwaliseka, futsi loko kufanele kusitsintse njani?

³ Sizatfu sesibili sifaka ekhatsi tikhatsi letitawugcwaliseka ngato letiphrofetho. Umphostoli Johane washo kutsi letiphrofetho titawugcwaliseka nini, nakatsi: “Ngekuphefumulelwa ngumoya, ngaba selangeni leNkhosi.” (Semb. 1:10) Ngesikhatsi Johane abhala lamavi ngabo-96 C.E., ‘lilanga leNkhosi’ belisekhashane kakhulu. (Mat. 25:14, 19; Luk. 19:12) Kodvwa  ngekusho kwesiphrofetho seliBhayibheli, lelilanga lacala nga-1914 ngesikhatsi Jesu abekwa kutsi abe yiNkhosi ezulwini. Kusukela ngaloyo mnyaka, tiphrofetho letikuSembulo letitsintsa bantfu baNkulunkulu tacala kugcwaliseka. Nyalo ‘siselangeni leNkhosi’!

⁴ Ngenca yekutsi siphila kulamalanga lakwenteka khona tintfo letinyenti, ngitsi lokufanele sisinakisise seluleko lesikuSembulo 1:3, lesitsi: “Uyajabula loyo lowafundza ngelivi lelivakalako emavi alesiphrofetho, bayajabula nalabo labawevako futsi bagcine tintfo letibhalwe kuso, ngobe sikhatsi lesibekiwe sesisondzele.” Ngako kudzingeka ‘siwafundze ngelivi lelivakalako’ kuze ‘siweve’ lamavi alesiphrofetho futsi ‘siwagcine.’ Ngumaphi lamanye emavi lakulesiphrofetho lokufanele siwagcine?

5. Incwadzi yeSembulo iveta njani kutsi kubalulekile kutsi siciniseke kutsi Jehova uyakwemukela kukhonta kwetfu?

⁵ Kusukela esehlukweni sekucala seSembulo, sifundza kutsi Jesu ukwati konkhe lokwentekako emabandleni. (Semb. 1:12-16, 20; 2:1) Jesu wakukhombisa loko ngemlayeto lawusho emabandleni langu-7 ase-Asia Minor. Kulomlayeto, washo ticondziso leticacile lebetitawusita lamaKhristu ekucala kuze aciniseke kutsi Jehova uyakwemukela kukhonta kwawo. Ngetulu kwaloko, loko lakusho kuyasebenta nakubantfu baNkulunkulu lamuhla. Yini lesiyifundzako kuloku? Khristu Jesu, longuMholi wetfu, uyati kutsi bunjani buhlobo betfu naJehova. Uyasihola, asivikele futsi ubona konkhe. Uyakwati loko lokudzingeka sikwente kuze sichubeke semukelwa nguJehova. Ngusiphi sicondziso lasinika sona lokufanele sisilalele lamuhla?

6. (a) Ngekusho kwemavi aJesu lakuSembulo 2:3, 4, nguyiphi inkinga lebeyikhona ebandleni lase-Efesu? (b) Yini lesiyifundzako kuloku?

⁶ Fundza Sembulo 2:3, 4. Kufanele lungapheli lutsandvo lebesinalo ngaJehova ekucaleni. Umlayeto waJesu lebewuya ebandleni lase-Efesu, bewuveta kutsi bebabeketele nekutsi bebachubeka bakhonta Jehova nanobe babhekana netinkinga letehlukene. Nanobe kunjalo, besebete lolutsandvo bebanalo ekucaleni. Bekufanele baluvusetele lolutsandvo, nabangenti njalo Nkulunkulu abengeke akwemukele kukhonta kwabo. Ngendlela lefanako, nalamuhla akukafaneli nje sigcine ngekubeketela, kodvwa kudzingeka sibeketele sinetizatfu letinhle. Nkulunkulu wetfu akagcini nje ngekuba nendzaba naloko lesikwentako kodvwa unendzaba nangekutsi sikwentelani. Tizatfu tetfu tekwenta lokutsite tibalulekile kuye ngenca yekutsi ulindzele kutsi simkhonte ngobe simtsandza ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe futsi simbonga.—Taga 16:2; Mak. 12:29, 30.

7. (a) Njengobe kuvetwe kuSembulo 3:1-3, nguyiphi inkinga Jesu layibona ebandleni laseSadesi? (b) Yini lokufanele siyente?

⁷ Fundza Sembulo 3:1-3. Kufanele sihlale siphapheme futsi silindzile. Emalunga elibandla laseSadesi bekanenkinga leyehlukile. Nanobe bekamentele lokunyenti Jehova esikhatsini lesendlulile, kodvwa besekaphelelwa ngumdlandla wekumkhonta. Ngako Jesu wawatjela kutsi ‘aphaphame.’ Yini lesiyifundzako? Kuliciniso kutsi Jehova angeke awukhohlwe umsebenti lesimentele wona. (Heb. 6:10) Nanobe kunjalo, akukafaneli sicabange kutsi loko lesimentele kona Jehova esikhatsi lesendlulile kwenele. Nanobe kungenteka kutsi asisakhoni kumentela loko besikhona kumentela kona ngaphambili, kodvwa kufanele sichubeke simatasatasa “emsebentini  weNkhosi” futsi sihlale siphapheme kuze kube sekugcineni.—1 Khor. 15:58; Mat. 24:13; Mak. 13:33.

8. Yini lesiyifundza kulamavi labekabhekiswe ebandleni laseLawodisiya labhalwe kuSembulo 3:15-17?

⁸ Fundza Sembulo 3:15-17. Kufanele sihlale sinemdlandla futsi sikhonte Jehova ngenhlitiyo yetfu yonkhe. Umlayeto waJesu loya eLawodisiya bewuveta lenye inkinga. ‘Besebasivuvu’ ekukhonteni kwabo Nkulunkulu. Ngenca yekutsi besebete umdlandla, Jesu wabatjela kutsi ‘baselusizini futsi bekuhawukelwa.’ Bekufanele babe nemdlandla ekukhonteni Jehova. (Semb. 3:19) Yini lesiyifundzako? Nangabe sesiphelelwa ngumdlandla, kufanele sicabangisise ngato tonkhe tintfo letinhle Jehova kanye nenhlangano yakhe lebasentele tona. (Semb. 3:18) Asifuni kuba matasatasa sifuna kuphila kahle, bese kukhonta Jehova akuseti kucala ekuphileni kwetfu.

9. Njengobe kuvetwe kulomlayeto waJesu loya ebandleni lasePhegamu nelaseThiyathira, nguyiphi ingoti lokufanele siyigweme?

⁹ Kufanele sitigweme timfundziso tetihlubuki. Jesu wekhuta labanye ebandleni lasePhegamu lebebabangela kwehlukana. (Semb. 2:14-16) Wancoma labanye eThiyathira lebebagweme “tintfo letijulile letivela kuSathane” futsi wabakhutsata kutsi ‘babambelele’ ecinisweni. (Semb. 2:24-26) EmaKhristu labenekukholwa lokubutsakatsaka lebekemukela timfundziso tetihlubuki bekufanele aphendvuke. Kutsiwani ngatsi lamuhla? Natsi kufanele sitigweme timfundziso letiphambene nemicabango yaJehova. Tihlubuki ‘tibonakala shengatsi tiyamhlonipha Nkulunkulu’ kodvwa ‘indlela letiphila ngayo ayikukhombisi loko.’ (2 Thim. 3:5) Kumelula kubona timfundziso tetihlubuki nekutigwema nangabe sikukhutsalele kufundza liVi laNkulunkulu.—2 Thim. 3:14-17; Juda 3, 4.

10. Ngutiphi letinye tifundvo lesitifundza kuloko Jesu lakusho ebandleni lasePhegamu nelaseThiyathira?

¹⁰ Kufanele singatiphatsi kabi, singakubeketeleli futsi singemukeli nobe nguluphi luhlobo lwekutiphatsa kabi. Bekunalenye inkinga ebandleni lasePhegamu nelaseThiyathira. Jesu wekhuta labanye kulamabandla lebebangakugwemi kutiphatsa lokubi. (Semb. 2:14, 20) Yini lesiyifundzako? Akukafaneli silindzele kutsi Jehova abeketelele nobe ngukuphi kutiphatsa kabi lesingahle sikwente, ngisho nobe sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti simkhonta  futsi nyalo simentela imisebenti lekhetsekile. (1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Phet. 2:16) Ulindzele kutsi sigcine timiso takhe letiphakeme tekutiphatsa ngisho nobe similo salelive sihhohloka kangakanani.—Ef. 6:11-13.

11. Yini lesesiyifundzile? (Buka nelibhokisi lelitsi “ Loko Lesikufundzako Lamuhla.”)

¹¹ Yini lesesiyifundzile? Sesifundzile kutsi kufanele sente lokutsite kuze siciniseke kutsi kukhonta kwetfu kuyemukeleka kuJehova. Nangabe senta lokutsite lokungenta kukhonta kwetfu kungasemukeleki kuye, kufanele sente lushintjo ngekushesha. (Semb. 2:5, 16; 3:3, 16) Jesu washo lokunye kulomlayeto wakhe lobewuya emabandleni. Yini layisho?

12. Yini lesiyifundzako kuloko Jesu lakusho ebandleni laseSmuna nelaseFiladelfiya? (Sembulo 2:10)

¹² Nyalo asesicoce ngaloko Jesu lakusho ebandleni laseSmuna nelaseFiladelfiya. Watjela emaKhristu lakulamabandla kutsi angakwesabi kuphatfwa kabi, ngobe atawubusiswa ngekwetsembeka kwawo. (Fundza Sembulo 2:10; 3:10) Yini lesiyifundzako lamuhla? Kufanele sikulindzele kuphatfwa kabi futsi sikulungele nekukubeketelela. (Mat. 24:9, 13; 2 Khor. 12:10) Kubaluleke ngani loku?

13-14. Bantfu baNkulunkulu tibatsintse njani letintfo letenteka letibhalwe kuSembulo sehluko 12?

¹³ Incwadzi yeSembulo isitjela kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu batawuphatfwa kabi emalangeni etfu, ‘lokulilanga leNkhosi.’ Sembulo sehluko 12 sikhuluma ngemphi leyaba khona ezulwini ngekushesha nje ngemuva kwekutsi Jesu abe yiNkhosi yeMbuso waNkulunkulu. Mikhayeli, lokunguJesu Khristu longcwelisiwe kanye nelibutfo lakhe, balwa naSathane nemadimoni. (Semb. 12:7, 8) Letitsa taNkulunkulu tancotjwa futsi tajikwa lamhlabeni, latibanga khona kuhlupheka lokukhulu kubantfu. (Semb. 12:9, 12) Loko kube namuphi umphumela kubantfu baNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ Sembulo sisitjela ngaloko Sathane labese uyakwenta. Akasakhoni kubuyela ezulwini, ngako intfukutselo yakhe uyitfululela kulabagcotjiwe labaselamhlabeni, labangemalunga eMbuso waNkulunkulu futsi “labanemsebenti wekufakaza ngaJesu.” (Semb. 12:17; 2 Khor. 5:20; Ef. 6:19, 20) Sigcwaliseke njani lesiphrofetho?

15. Bobani labamelelwa ‘bofakazi lababili’ lokukhulunywa ngabo kuSembulo sehluko 11, futsi yini leyenteka kubo?

¹⁵ Sathane wabangela kutsi bazalwane labagcotjiwe lebebahola emsebentini wekushumayela ngeMbuso bahlaselwe. Labazalwane bebamelelwa ‘bofakazi lababili’ lababulawa,  lokukhulunywa ngabo encwadzini yeSembulo. * (Semb. 11:3, 7-11) Nga-1918, bazalwane labangu-8 baboshwa, babekwa emacala langemanga futsi bagwetjwa sikhatsi lesidze. Bantfu labanyenti bebacabanga kutsi umsebenti walabazalwane labagcotjiwe umisiwe.

16. Yini intfo lengakalindzeleki leyenteka nga-1919, kodvwa yini Sathane lachubeke ayenta kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi?

¹⁶ Lesiphrofetho lesikuSembulo sehluko 11 sasho nekutsi ‘labofakazi lababili’ bebatawuphindze bavuke ngemuva kwesikhashane. Lesiphrofetho sagcwaliseka ngendlela lemangalisako ngemuva nje kwemnyaka labazalwane baboshiwe. Ekucaleni kwa-1919, labazalwane labagcotjiwe bakhululwa ejele futsi ngemuva kwesikhatsi, emacala abo esulwa. Ngekushesha nje, labazalwane babuyela emsebentini wabo wekuhola emsebentini wekushumayela newekufundzisa. Kodvwa loko akukamenti Sathane wayekela kuhlasela bantfu baNkulunkulu. Kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi, Sathane ubangele kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu baphatfwe kabi kakhulu. (Semb. 12:15) Kungako ‘loku kudzinga ngamunye wetfu acinisele futsi abe nekukholwa.’—Semb. 13:10.

17. Nguluphi lusito lolungakalindzeleki bantfu baNkulunkulu labalutfolile nanobe bahlaselwa nguSathane?

¹⁷ Sembulo sehluko 12 siveta kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bebatawutfola lusito endzaweni lengakalindzeleki. Bekutawuba ngatsi “umhlaba” ‘ugwinya umfula,’ lofananiswa nekuphatfwa kabi. (Semb. 12:16) Nguloko kanye lokwentekile. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, letinye tintfo letikhona kulelive laSathane letifaka ekhatsi letinye tinkantolo, tibe lusito kubantfu baNkulunkulu. Bantfu baJehova bancobe emahlandla etinkantolo futsi loko kwente kutsi babe nenkhululeko. Bayisebentise njani lenkhululeko? Basebentise onkhe ematfuba kuze bente umsebenti Jehova labanike wona. (1 Khor. 16:9) Ufaka ekhatsi ini lomsebenti?

18. Ngumuphi umsebenti lobalulekile lesiwenta kulamalanga ekugcina?

¹⁸ Jesu watsi balandzeli bakhe batawushumayela ‘tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso’ waNkulunkulu emhlabeni wonkhe ngaphambi kwekutsi kuphela kufike. (Mat. 24:14) Nabasenta lomsebenti, bebatawusitwa yingilosi  nobe licembu letingilosi lokutsiwa ‘tinetindzaba letimnandzi taphakadze lokufanele titimemetele kulabo labahlala emhlabeni, kuto tonkhe tive, tinhlanga, tilwimi kanye nebantfu.’—Semb. 14:6.

19. Ngumuphi lomunye umlayeto lokufanele ushunyayelwe ngulabo labatsandza Jehova?

¹⁹ Kunalomunye umlayeto lokufanele umenyetelwe bantfu baNkulunkulu ngetulu kwemlayeto wetindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso. Kufanele basekele nemsebenti lowentiwa tingilosi lokukhulunywa ngato kuSembulo 8 kuya kusehluko 10. Letingilosi timemetela ngetintfo letimbi letitowehlela labo labangawemukeli uMbuso waNkulunkulu. Ngako BoFakazi BaJehova bebasolo bamemetela umlayeto lofananiswa ‘nesangcotfo nemlilo,’ loveta loko Jehova Nkulunkulu latawukwenta kulelive lelibi laSathane. (Semb. 8:7, 13) Bantfu kufanele bati kutsi kuphela sekusedvute, ngako kufanele bente lushintjo ekuphileni kwabo kuze basindze ngelilanga lentfukutselo yaJehova. (Zef. 2:2, 3) Kodvwa bantfu abawutsandzi lomlayeto. Ngako kudzingeka sibe nesibindzi kuze siwumemetele. Ngekuhlupheka lokukhulu, umlayeto wekugcina wesehlulelo utabatfukutselisa kakhulu bantfu.—Semb. 16:21.

20. Yini lesitawucoca ngayo kuletihloko letimbili letilandzelako?

²⁰ Kufanele siwagcine “emavi alesiprofetho” ngobe natsi kuyasifaka kugcwaliseka kwemavi lesiwafundza kulencwadzi yeSembulo. (Semb. 1:3) Kodvwa yini lesingayenta kuze sichubeke setsembekile nesibeketelela kuphatfwa kabi futsi sichubeke siwenta ngesibindzi umsebenti wekushumayela lemilayeto? Sitawusitwa ngunati tintfo letimbili: Kwekucala, nguloko incwadzi yeSembulo lesitjela kona ngetitsa taNkulunkulu. Kwesibili, tibusiso lesitawutitfola nangabe sihlala setsembekile esikhatsini lesitako. Sitawucoca ngaloku kuletihloko letimbili letilandzelako.