1-2. (a) Yini labanye bohulumende labayentile kulabanye bantfu baJehova, futsi yini leyentiwe ngulabantfu baJehova? (b) Yini lesenta sijabule ngisho siphatfwa kabi? (Khulumela nalesitfombe lesisekhasini lekucala.)

 KUNGUNYALO, umsebenti wetfu uvinjelwe emaveni langetulu kwalangu-30. Kulamanye alamave, labasemagunyeni bavalele bazalwane betfu nabodzadze emajele. Yini lembi labayentile? Kute lokubi lobakwentile ngekwembono waJehova. Labakwentile nje kufundza liBhayibheli futsi balidadishe, bacocele labanye ngaloko labakukholelwako baphindze bahlangane ndzawonye nebazalwane babo nabodzadze. Abavumi nekutsatsa luhlangotsi kutepolitiki. Nanobe labantfu baJehova labetsembekile baphatfwa kabi, kodvwa solo bacotfo * kuNkulunkulu, bakhombisa kutsi batinikele kuye ngalokuphelele. Bajabula kakhulu ngaloku!

² Kungenteka uke watibona titfombe talabanye balaboFakazi labanesibindzi, futsi kungenteka unakile kutsi bayamoyitela. Bajabulile ngobe bayati kutsi Jehova uyajabula ngabo ngenca yekutsi bachubeka bacotfo kuye. (1 Khr. 29:17a) Jesu watsi: “Bayajabula labo labaphetfwe kabi ngenca yekulunga . . . Tfokotani futsi nijabule kakhulu, ngenca yekutsi umvuzo wenu mkhulu.”—Mat. 5:10-12.

3. Ngekusho kweMisebenti 4:19, 20, yini baphostoli baJesu labayenta nabaphatfwa kabi, futsi yini leyenta benta njalo?

³ Loko bazalwane betfu nabodzadze lababhekana nako kuyafana  naloko baphostoli baJesu labakubeketelela ngesikhatsi baphatfwa kabi ngenca yekushumayela ngaJesu. Behluleli benkantolo lephakeme yemaJuda babayala emahlandla ‘kutsi bayekele kukhuluma ngeligama laJesu.’ (Imis. 4:18; 5:27, 28, 40) Benta njani labaphostoli? (Fundza Imisebenti 4:19, 20.) Bebati kutsi lotsite loneligunya leliphakeme ‘wabatfuma kutsi bashumayele baphindze bafakaze ngalokuphelele’ ngaKhristu. (Imis. 10:42) Labo lebebabakhulumela, lokunguPhetro naJohane, basho ngesibindzi kutsi batawulalela Nkulunkulu kunalabehluleli, basho nekutsi angeke bayekele kukhuluma ngaJesu. Bekungatsi batsi: ‘Nicabanga kutsi nineligunya leliphakame yini kunelaNkulunkulu?’

4. Njengobe kuvetwe embhalweni weMisebenti 5:27-29, ngusiphi sibonelo baphostoli labasibekela onkhe emaKhristu eliciniso, futsi singasilingisa njani?

⁴ Baphostoli basibekela sibonelo lesihle futsi onkhe emaKhristu eliciniso bekasolo asilingisa, sekutsi “silalele Nkulunkulu njengobe angumbusi kunekutsi silalele bantfu.” (Fundza Imisebenti 5:27-29.) Ngemuva kwekushaywa ngenca yekuhlala bacotfo kuJehova, labaphostoli baphuma enkantolo lephakeme yemaJuda “bajabulile ngobe Nkulunkulu bekabatsatse njengalabakufanele kuhlazwa ngenca yelibito laJesu,” futsi bachubeka bashumayela!—Imis. 5:40-42.

5. Ngumiphi imibuto lokufanele siyiphendvule?

⁵ Sibonelo lesabekwa baphostoli siphakamisa leminye imibuto. Sibonelo nje, baphostoli bebamlalela njani Nkulunkulu kunebantfu ngesikhatsi lesifanako babe balalela loko lokushiwo ngumBhalo nawutsi ‘batfobele tiphatsimandla’? (Rom. 13:1) Lamuhla ‘singabatfobela njani babusi netiphatsimandla’ njengobe kwasho umphostoli Pawula, futsi ngesikhatsi lesifanako sihlale sicotfo kuNkulunkulu longuMbusi wetfu lophakeme?—Thit. 3:1.

6. (a) Tibobani ‘letiphatsimandla’ lokukhulunywa ngato embhalweni waKubaseRoma 13:1, futsi yini lokulindzeleke kutsi siyente? (b) Nguliphi liciniso lesilatiko ngabo bonkhe babusi lababantfu?

⁶ Fundza KubaseRoma 13:1. Kulelivesi, ligama lelitsi “tiphatsimandla” lisho babusi  lababantfu labanemandla neligunya ngetulu kwalabanye. EmaKhristu kufanele atitfobele tiphatsimandla. Tenta kutsi kube nekuthula, ticiniseke kutsi bantfu bahlonipha umtsetfo, futsi ngaletinye tikhatsi tize tivikele bantfu baJehova. (Semb. 12:16) Ngako kufanele sikhiphe imitselo futsi sitinike inhlonipho neludvumo lokufunwa nguletiphatsimandla. (Rom. 13:7) Nobe kunjalo, nguJehova lonike labohulumende ligunya. Jesu wakwenta kwacaca loko ngesikhatsi Phontiyuse Pilatu lebekanguMbusi longumRoma amphenya ngemibuto. Ngesikhatsi Pilatu atjela Jesu kutsi uneligunya lekusindzisa kuphila kwakhe nelekutsi abulawe, Jesu watsi kuye: “Ngabe ute nhlobo ligunya kimi kube Nkulunkulu akakunikanga lona.” (Joh. 19:11) Njengobe bekunjalo ngaPilatu, bonkhe babusi lababantfu lamuhla kanye nabosopolitiki baneligunya lelilinganiselwe.

7. Kukutiphi timo lakungakafaneli khona kutsi silalele babusi lababantfu, futsi yini lababusi lokufanele bayikhumbule?

⁷ EmaKhristu kufanele ayilalele imitsetfo yabohulumende bebantfu nangabe ingashayisani nemitsetfo yaNkulunkulu. Kodvwa angeke sibalalele bantfu nabatsi asente loko Nkulunkulu latsi singakwenti nobe nabatsi singakwenti loko Nkulunkulu latsi sikwente. Nasi sibonelo, bangahle batsi emajaha kufanele ayolwela live lawo. * Bangatsi liBhayibheli letfu alikho emtsetfweni nobe tincwadzi tetfu letisekelwe kulo, nobe basivimbele kutsi sishumayele nekutsi sihlangane ndzawonye. Babusi batawuphendvula kuNkulunkulu nabalisebentisa kabi ligunya labo, njengalapho baphatsa kabi balandzeli baKhristu. Jehova uyabona!—Shu. 5:8.

8. Uyini umehluko emkhatsini waJehova ‘netiphatsimandla’?

⁸ “Tiphatsimandla” tingaba neligunya, tente lokuhle futsi tibe nemandla ngetulu kwalabanye. Kodvwa loko akusho kutsi titenta kahle tonkhe tintfo nekutsi tiphakeme. Munye kuphela lotenta kahle tonkhe tintfo futsi lophakeme kunabo bonkhe, nguJehova Nkulunkulu. Jehova Nkulunkulu unikwa sicu lesitsi ‘Nkulunkulu Lophakeme’ futsi sivela tikhatsi letine eBhayibhelini.—Dan. 7:18, 22, 25, 27.

9. Yini leyabonwa ngumphrofethi Danyela emibonweni?

⁹ Umphrofethi Danyela wabona imibono lebeyiveta ngalokucacile kutsi Jehova uphakeme ngetulu kwato tonkhe letinye tiphatsimandla. Danyela wacale wabona tilwane letinkhulu tesiganga letine lebetimelela imibuso yemhlaba leseyengcile nalekhona lamuhla, lefaka ekhatsi iBhabhulona, emaMede nemaPheresiya, iGrisi, iRoma kanye nembuso wemaNgisi nemaMelika lobusako lamuhla. (Dan. 7:1-3, 17) Danyela wabese ubona Jehova Nkulunkulu ahleti enkantolo, esihlalweni sakhe sebukhosi lesisezulwini. (Dan. 7:9, 10) Loko lokwabese kubonwa ngulomphrofethi lowetsembekile kufanele kube secwayiso kubo bonkhe babusi lamuhla.

10. Ngekusho kwaDanyela 7:13, 14, 27, Jehova ulinika bobani ligunya lekubusa umhlaba, futsi loku kukhombisani ngaye?

¹⁰ Fundza Danyela 7:13, 14, 27. Nkulunkulu utsatsa lonkhe ligunya kubohulumende bebantfu futsi ulinika labanye labalifanele kakhulu kunabo nalabanemandla kakhulu. Ulinika bobani? Ulinika ‘lotsite lofana nendvodzana yemuntfu,’ lokunguJesu Khristu, kanye ‘nebantfu labangcwele baNkulunkulu Lophakeme,’ lokungulabangu-144 000 labatawubusa “kuze kube phakadze.” (Dan. 7:18)  Ngako kuyacaca kutsi Jehova ‘unguNkulunkulu Lophakeme’ ngobe nguye kuphela loneligunya lekwenta loku.

11. Yini lenye Danyela layibhala lekhombisa kutsi Jehova uphakeme kunato tonkhe tive?

¹¹ Letintfo letabonwa nguDanyela embonweni tiyavumelana naloko bekakushito ngaphambili. Danyela watsi “Nkulunkulu welizulu” ‘ubeka emakhosi futsi awehlise.’ Waphindze watsi “Losetikwako Konkhe uneligunya leliphakeme etikwemibuso yebantfu, [futsi] bukhosi ubunika nobe ngubani lafuna kumnika.” (Dan. 2:19-21; 4:17) Kuke kwenteka yini kutsi Jehova abeke babusi nobe abasuse? Yebo!

12. Shano tibonelo letikhombisa indlela Jehova lasusa ngayo emakhosi lebekabusa esikhatsini lesendlulile. (Buka sitfombe.)

¹² Jehova wakhombisa ngalokucacile kutsi uneligunya leliphekeme ngetulu ‘kwetiphatsimandla.’ Cabanga nganati tibonelo letintsatfu. Faro waseGibhithe wagcilata bantfu baJehova futsi wala ngalokuphindzaphindziwe kubakhulula. Kodvwa Nkulunkulu wabakhulula futsi wenta Faro kutsi amite eLwandle Lolubovu. (Eks. 14:26-28; Hla. 136:15) INkhosi Bhelshasari yaseBhabhulona yenta lidzili futsi ‘yavukela iNkhosi yasemazulwini’ yaphindze ‘yadvumisa bonkulunkulu labakhiwe ngeligolide nangelisiliva’ kunekutsi idvumise Jehova. (Dan. 5:22, 23) Kodvwa Nkulunkulu wayitfobisa lendvodza letigcabhako. “Ngabo lobo busuku,” Bhelshasari wabulawa futsi umbuso wakhe wanikwa emaMede nemaPheresiya. (Dan. 5:28, 30, 31) INkhosi Herodi Agripha I yasePalestine yabulala umphostoli Jakobe futsi yavalela umphostoli Phetro ejele ngenhloso yekumbulala naye. Kodvwa Jehova wayivimba kutsi ikwente loko. “Ingilosi yaJehova yashaya Herodi,” futsi wafa.—Imis. 12:1-5, 21-23.

13. Niketa sibonelo sendlela Jehova lancoba ngayo emacembu ebabusi.

¹³ Jehova waphindze wakhombisa kutsi uphakeme kunawo onkhe emacembu ebabusi. Walwela ema-Israyeli, wawasita kutsi acotfule emakhosi aseKhenani langu-31 lebekahlangene ndzawonye futsi ema-Israyeli ancoba tindzawo letinyenti taseVeni Lesetsembiso. (Josh. 11:4-6, 20; 12:1, 7, 24) Jehova waphindze wasita ema-Israyeli kutsi ancobe iNkhosi Bheni-hadadi kanye nemakhosi  aseSiriya langu-32 lebekalwa nawo.—1 Khos. 20:1, 26-29.

14-15. (a) Yini leyashiwo yiNkhosi Nebukhadnezari neNkhosi Dariyusi mayelana nebukhosi baJehova? (b) Yini umhlabeleli layisho ngaJehova nangesive sakhe?

¹⁴ Jehova wakhombisa tikhatsi letinyenti kutsi unguNkulunkulu Lophakeme! Ngesikhatsi iNkhosi Nebukhadnezari yaseBhabhulona itigcabha ‘ngemandla ayo nebukhatikhati bebukhosi bayo’ kunekutsi ivume kutsi nguJehova lokufanele advunyiswe, Nkulunkulu wayenta yahanjelwa yingcondvo. Nasekaphilile, Nebukhadnezari ‘wadvumisa Losetikwako Konkhe’ futsi wavuma kutsi “[Jehova] utawubusa kuze kube phakadze.” Wengeta watsi: “Kute longamvimba.” (Dan. 4:30, 33-35) Ngemuva kwekutsi Danyela avivinywe bucotfo bakhe kuNkulunkulu, futsi naJehova sekamsindzisile emgodzini wemabhubesi, iNkhosi Dariyusi yakhipha umyalo lotsi: “Bantfu kufanele besabe Nkulunkulu waDanyela futsi bamhloniphe, ngobe unguNkulunkulu lophilako futsi utawuhlala akhona kuze kube phakadze. Umbuso wakhe awuyuze ubhujiswe, futsi bukhosi bakhe butawukuma.”—Dan. 6:7-10, 19-22, 26, 27, umbhalo longentasi.

¹⁵ Umhlabeleli watsi: “Jehova uwacitsile emachinga etive; wawacedza emacebo ebantfu.” Wengeta watsi: “Siyajabula sive Nkulunkulu waso lokunguJehova, bantfu labakhetfwe nguye kutsi babe lifa lakhe.” (Hla. 33:10, 12) Leso sizatfu lesihle sekuhlala sicotfo kuJehova!

16. Yini lesiciniseka ngayo mayelana ‘nekuhlupheka lokukhulu,’ futsi ngasiphi sizatfu? (Buka sitfombe.)

¹⁶ Sesifundzile ngaloko Jehova lakwenta esikhatsini lesendlulile. Kodvwa yini lesilindzele kutsi yenteke esikhatsini lesitako? Siyaciniseka kutsi Jehova utawusindzisa tinceku takhe letetsembekile ‘ngekuhlupheka lokukhulu.’ (Mat. 24:21; Dan. 12:1) Loko utawukwenta ngesikhatsi tive letihlangene, lokutsiwa nguGogi wakaMagogi tihlasela tikhonti  takhe letetsembekile emhlabeni wonkhe. Ngisho kungatsiwa kuhlangene onkhe emalunga langu-193 aMhlabuhlangene, atawuba lite nakacatsaniswa naNkulunkulu Lophakeme nelibutfo lakhe lasezulwini! Naku Jehova lasetsembisa kona: “Nakanjani ngitawutenta ngibe mkhulu futsi ngitingcwelise ngiphindze ngitente ngatiwe embikwemehlo etive letinyenti; futsi titawukwati kutsi mine nginguJehova.”—Hez. 38:14-16, 23; Hla. 46:10.

17. LiBhayibheli litsi kutawentekani emakhosini emhlaba nakulabo labahlala bacotfo kuJehova?

¹⁷ Kuhlasela kwaGogi kutawuholela emphini ye-Amagedoni lapho Jehova atawubhubhisa khona ‘emakhosi emhlaba wonkhe.’ (Semb. 16:14, 16; 19:19-21) Nobe kunjalo, “ngulabacotfo bodvwa labatawuhlala emhlabeni, futsi ngulabamsulwa labatawusala kuwo.”—Taga 2:21.

18. Yini emaKhristu eliciniso lamanyenti latimisele kuyenta, futsi ngasiphi sizatfu? (Danyela 3:28)

¹⁸ Kuyo yonkhe leminyaka, emaKhristu eliciniso lamanyenti adzele inkhululeko yawo futsi abeka kuphila kwawo engotini ngenca yekutsi atsandza Jehova njengobe anguMbusi wawo Lophakeme. LamaKhristu atimisele kuhlala etsembekile kuJehova. Afana nemaHebheru lamatsatfu lahlala etsembekile kuNkulunkulu Lophakeme, futsi lowabese uyawasindzisa emlilweni lomkhulu.—Fundza Danyela 3:28.

19. Jehova utabehlulela njani bantfu bakhe, futsi yini lokufanele siyente nyalo?

¹⁹ Umhlabeleli Davide wabhala ngekubaluleka kwekuhlala sicotfo kuNkulunkulu, watsi: “Jehova utawehlulela bantfu. Awu Jehova, ngehlulele ngekuvumelana nekulunga kwami nangekuvumelana nebucotfo bami.” (Hla. 7:8) Waphindze wabhala watsi: “Shengatsi bucotfo bami nekulunga kwami kungangivikela.” (Hla. 25:21) Indlela lencono kakhulu yekuphila kutsi sihlale setsembekile kuJehova, ngisho kungentekani! Nasenta njalo, sitawutiva ngendlela umhlabeleli lativa ngayo nakabhala atsi: “Bayajabula labo labacotfo, labo labahamba ngemtsetfo waJehova.”—Hla. 119:1, umbhalo longentasi.