1. Yini Jehova layisho mayelana nesitsa setfu ensimini yese-Edeni?

SIYACINISEKA kutsi Adamu bekati kutsi tinyoka atikwati kukhuluma. Ngako nakeva kutsi ikhulume na-Eva, kungenteka Adamu wabona kutsi sidalwa semoya lesakhuluma na-Eva sisebentisa inyoka. (Gen. 3:1-6) Bo-Adamu na-Eva bebangati lutfo ngalesidalwa semoya. Noma kunjalo, Adamu watikhetsela kungamlaleli Babe wakhe wasezulwini lonelutsandvo futsi wahlanganyela nalesidalwa semoya ekuvukeleni Nkulunkulu. (1 Thim. 2:14) Ngekushesha Jehova wacala kuveta iminingwane letsite ngalesitsa lesadukisa bo-Adamu na-Eva futsi wetsembisa kutsi ekugcineni sitawubhujiswa. Jehova waphindze wecwayisa bantfu kutsi lesidalwa semoya besitawuba nemandla ekuphikisa bantfu labatsandza Nkulunkulu.​—Gen. 3:15.

2, 3. Yini lokungenteka yabangela Jehova kutsi avete imininingwane lemincane ngaSathane ngaphambi kwekutsi Mesiya afike?

² Jehova akazange asitjele ligama lalengilosi leyamvukela. *  Kwaze kwaphela iminyaka lecishe ibe ngu-2 500 solo angasho kutsi ingubani. (Jobe 1:6) Ecinisweni emiBhalweni yesiHebheru, yincwadzi ya-1 Tikhronike, yaJobe kanye neyaZakhariya kuphela lekhuluma ngaSathane, lokusho “Umphikisi.” Kungani kwavetwa iminingwane lemincane ngaSathane ngaphambi kwekutsi kufike Mesiya?

³ EmiBhalweni yesiHebheru, Jehova akazange asho lokunyenti ngaSathane kanye naloko lakwentako. Loku kwabangelwa kutsi injongo yemiBhalo yesiHebheru beyikusita bantfu kutsi bakhone kubona Mesiya futsi bamlandzele. (Luk. 24:44; Gal. 3:24) Ngesikhatsi Mesiya sekafikile, Jehova wasebentisa yena kanye nebafundzi bakhe kutsi bavete imininingwane leminyenti mayelana naSathane kanye netingilosi takhe. * Loku kuyafaneleka ngoba Jehova utawusebentisa Jesu kanye nalabagcotjiwe kuze abhubhise Sathane nebalandzeli bakhe.—Rom. 16:20; Semb. 17:14; 20:10.

4. Kungani kungakafaneli simesabe kakhulu Sathane?

⁴ Umphostoli Phetro uchaza Sathane Develi ngekutsi “libhubesi lelibhodlako,” futsi umphostoli Johane umbita ngekutsi “yinyoka” nangekutsi “ngudrago.” (1 Phet. 5:8; Semb. 12:9) Kodvwa akukafaneli simesabe kakhulu Develi ngobe emandla akhe alinganiselwe. (Fundza Jakobe 4:7.) Singakhona kumncoba Sathane ngobe Jehova, Jesu kanye netingilosi letetsembekile bayasisekela. Noma kunjalo, kubalulekile kutsi sitati timphendvulo tanayi imibuto lemitsatfu lebalulekile: Sathane unemandla langakanani? Sathane ubadukisa njani bantfu? Yini langeke akhone kuyenta? Ase sicoce ngetimphendvulo talemibuto kanye netifundvo lesingatitfola.

5, 6. Yini leyenta bohulumende bebantfu bangakhoni kuletsa tingucuko bantfu labatidzinga kakhulu?

⁵ Ngaphambi kwaZamcolo, Sathane walinga letinye tingilosi kutsi tiye ecasini nebantfu besifazane emhlabeni. Nyalo, Sathane ulawula tonkhe tingilosi letavukela. LiBhayibheli liyakufakazela loko nalifananisa Sathane nadrago lodvonsa incenye yesitsatfu yetinkhanyeti tasezulwini. (Gen. 6:1-4; Juda 6; Semb. 12:3, 4) Ngesikhatsi letingilosi tishiya umndeni waNkulunkulu, taba Sathane wabese uyatibusa. Akukafaneli sicabange kutsi letingilosi tilicembu lelingakahleleki. Endzaweni lengabonakali, Sathane utentele umbuso lofana neMbuso waNkulunkulu futsi nguye inkhosi yawo. Sathane unikete emadimoni emandla ekubusa umhlaba.​—Ef. 6:12.

⁶ Sathane usebentisa inhlangano yakhe kute anikete bonkhe bohulumende bebantfu emandla ekubusa. Wakwenta kwacaca loku ngesikhatsi akhombisa Jesu “yonkhe imibuso yemhlaba” futsi watsi kuye: “Ngitakunika lonkhe ligunya kulemibuso kanye nebuhle bayo, ngobe inikwe mine futsi ngiyinika nobe ngubani lengifuna kumnika yona.” (Luk. 4:5, 6) Noma kunjalo, bohulumende labanyenti babentela tintfo letinhle bantfu futsi banesifiso kanye netisusa letinhle tekubasita. Kepha bohulumende bebantfu abakhoni kuletsa tingucuko bantfu labatidzinga kakhulu.​—Hla. 146:3, 4; Semb. 12:12.

7. Sathane uyisebentisa njani inkholo yemanga kanye netekutsengiselana kuze asakate emanga? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

⁷ Sathane kanye nemadimoni akhe basebentisa bohulumende, inkholo yemanga kanye netekutsengiselana kuze badukise “umhlaba wonkhe.” (Semb. 12:9) Usebentisa inkholo yemanga kuze asakate emanga ngaJehova. Uphindze wetama nekufihla ligama laNkulunkulu. (Jer. 23: 26, 27) Ngesizatfu saloko, bantfu labanyenti labacotfo bacabanga kutsi bakhonta Nkulunkulu kantsi bakhonta emadimoni. (1 Khor. 10:20; 2 Khor. 11:13-15) Sathane usebentisa tekutsengiselana kuze asakate emanga. Nasi sibonelo, tekutsengiselana tifundzisa bantfu labanyenti kutsi indlela lekahle yekujabula ekuphileni kutsi babe nemali kanye netintfo letinyenti. (Taga 18:11) Bantfu labakukholelwako loko bacitsa sikhatsi lesinyenti bakhonta umcebo esikhundleni sekukhonta Nkulunkulu. (Mat. 6:24) Ekugcineni, kutsandza umcebo kungabenta bangamtsandzi Nkulunkulu.​—Mat. 13:22; 1 Joh. 2:15, 16.

8, 9. (a) Ngutiphi tifundvo letimbili lesingatifundza kulokwenteka ku-Adamu, Eva kanye nasetingilosini letavukela Nkulunkulu? (b) Kusisita ngani kwati kutsi Sathane unemandla langanani?

⁸ Sibonelo sa-Adamu, Eva kanye nesetingilosi letavukela tisifundzisa tifundvo letimbili letibalulekile. Kwekucala, sifundza kutsi kunetintfo letimbili kuphela lokufanele sikhetse kuto, kungaba kuba seluhlangotsini lwaJehova noma eluhlangotsini lwaSathane. (Mat. 7:13) Kwesibili, kutsi kuncane kakhulu lokutfolwa bantfu labaseluhlangotsini lwaSathane. Adamu na-Eva batfola litfuba lekutikhetsela lokuhle nalokubi futsi emadimoni atfola emandla ekulawula bohulumende bebantfu. (Gen. 3:22) Kukhetsa luhlangotsi lwaSathane kwahlale kunemiphumela lebuhlungu futsi kute tinzuzo letihlala njalo.​—Jobe 21:7-17; Gal. 6:7, 8.

⁹ Kusisita ngani kwati kutsi Sathane unemandla langanani? Kusenta sibe nembono lokahle ngabohulumende kuphindze kusikhutsate kutsi sishumayele. Jehova ufuna sibahloniphe bohulumende. (1 Phet. 2:17) Ulindzele kutsi sihloniphe imitsetfo yabo yingci nje nangabe ingashayisani netimiso takhe. (Rom. 13:1-4) Kodvwa siyati kutsi kufanele singatsatsi luhlangotsi, futsi akukafaneli sitsandze licembu lelitsite lepolitiki noma umholi lotsite kunalomunye. (Joh. 17:15, 16; 18:36) Ngesizatfu sekutsi Sathane uhlambalata ligama laNkulunkulu, sitiva siphocelelekile kutsi sicoce nalabanye ngemaciniso lamayelana naNkulunkulu wetfu. Siyatigcabha ngekubitwa ngelibito lakhe kanye nangekulisebentisa. Siyati kutsi sitawutfola umvuzo lomkhulu nasitsandza Nkulunkulu kunekutsandza imali kanye nemcebo.​—Isa. 43:10; 1 Thim. 6:6-10.

10-12. (a) Kungenteka Sathane wasebentisa maphi emachinga kuze alinge letinye tingelosi? (b) Yini lesiyifundza kulokwenteka kuletinye tingilosi?

¹⁰ Sathane usebentisa tindlela letitsite kute adukise bantfu. Usebentisa emachinga kute abayenge kutsi bente tintfo ngendlela yakhe. Uphindze etame kubacindzetela kute balalele yena.

¹¹ Cabanga ngendlela Sathane laphumelela ngayo nakadukisa tingilosi letinyenti. Ngaphambi kwekutsi alinge letingilosi, kufanele kube Sathane watinika sikhatsi atibuka kuze abone butsakatsaka bato. Letinye tingilosi tayengeka taya ecasini nebantfu besifazane emhlabeni. Bantfwana bato bebatidlakela futsi banebudlova. (Gen. 6:1-4) Kungenteka Sathane akazange agcine ngekulinga letingilosi ngekutsi tiye ecasini nebantfu, kodvwa waphindze watetsembisa kutsi betitawuba nemandla lamakhulu kunebantfu. Kungenteka injongo yakhe beyikuphazamisa kufika ‘kwentalo yemfati’ lebeyetsenjisiwe. (Gen. 3:15) Lamacebo aSathane kanye nemadimoni akhe akazange aphumelele ngoba Jehova waletsa Zamcolo.

¹² Yini lesiyifundzako kuloku? Akukafaneli silubukele phasi lugibe lwekutiphatsa kabi nobe ingoti yekutigcabha. Besekuphele iminyaka leminyenti tingilosi letasekela Sathane tikhonta Nkulunkulu ezulwini. Noma kunjalo, letinyenti tavumela sifiso lesibi kutsi sikhule etinhlitiyweni tato. Ngendlela lefanako, kungenteka natsi sesinesikhatsi lesidze sisenhlanganweni yaJehova. Noma kunjalo, natsi sisengaba netifiso letimbi. (1 Khor. 10:12) Kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sihlale sihlola tinhlitiyo tetfu, sigweme imicabango yekutiphatsa kabi kanye nekutigcabha!​—Gal. 5:26; fundza Kholose 3:5.

13. Nguluphi lolunye lugibe Sathane lalusebentisako, futsi singalugwema njani?

¹³ Lolunye lugibe lwaSathane kwenta bantfu bafune kwati ngebudimoni. Lamuhla usebentisa inkholo yemanga kanye nekutijabulisa kuze akhutsate kusebentisa emadimoni. Ema-movie, imidlalo yema-video, kanye naletinye tinhlobo tekutijabulisa tenta kusebentisa emadimoni kubonakale kukuhle. Singakugwema njani kubanjwa ngulolugibe? Akukafaneli sigadze kutsi inhlangano yaJehova isinike luhla lwetinhlobo tekutijabulisa letemukelelako kanye naletingemukeleki.  Ngamunye wetfu kufanele aceceshe nembeza wakhe kuze ente tincumo letihambisana netimiso taNkulunkulu. (Heb. 5:14) Noma kunjalo, singenta tincumo letihlakaniphile nangabe sisebentisa seluleko lesiphefumulelwe semphostoli Pawula sekutsi sitsandze Nkulunkulu ngaphandle ‘kwekutentisa.’ (Rom. 12:9) Singatibuta kutsi: ‘Luhlobo lwekutijabulisa lengilukhetsako lungenta ngibonakale ngitentisa yini? Bantfu lengifundza nabo liBhayibheli bangacabanga kutsi ngiyakwenta yini lengikufundzisako nababona luhlobo lwekutijabulisa lengilukhetsako?’ Nangabe sikwenta loko lesikushumayelako, atawuba mancane ematfuba ekutsi sibanjwe tingibe taSathane.​—1 Joh. 3:18.

14. Sathane angasicindzetela njani, futsi yini lesingayenta kuze simncobe?

¹⁴ Sathane uyasicindzetela futsi asesabise kuze singetsembeki kuJehova. Nasi sibonelo, angenta bohulumende kutsi bavimbe umsebenti wetfu wekushumayela. Angenta bantfu lesisebenta nabo noma lesifundza nabo kutsi bahlekise ngatsi ngenca yekutsi sifuna kuphila ngetimiso teliBhayibheli. (1 Phet. 4:4) Angaphindze ente emalunga emndeni wetfu lanetisusa letinhle kutsi asiyekelise kuya emihlanganweni. (Mat. 10:36) Singabhekana njani nalenkinga? Kufanele kungasimangalisi kuhlushwa ngobe Sathane ulwa natsi. (Semb. 2:10; 12:17) Kufanele sikhumbule nekutsi Sathane utsi sikhonta Jehova kuphela nangabe kulula kwenta njalo futsi nasingaba netinkinga ngeke simkhonte. (Jobe 1:9-11; 2:4, 5) Kwekugcina, kufanele setsembele kuJehova kuze asinike emandla ekubhekana netinkinga. Khumbula kutsi Jehova akayuze asilahle.​—Heb. 13:5.

15. Sathane angasiphocelela yini kutsi sente intfo lesingafuni kuyenta? Chaza.

¹⁵ Sathane ngeke akhone kwenta bantfu bente tintfo labangafuni kutenta. (Jak. 1: 14) Bantfu labanyenti ababoni kutsi basekela Sathane. Ngemuva kwekufundza emaciniso, umuntfu ngamunye kufanele atikhetsele kutsi ufuna kukhonta bani. (Imis. 3:17; 17:30) Kute Sathane langakwenta kuze asente singetsembeki nangabe sitimisele kwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu.​—Jobe 2:3; 27:5.

16, 17. (a) Yini lenye Sathane nemadimoni labangeke bakhone kuyenta? (b) Kungani kungakafaneli sesabe kuthantaza kuJehova ngalokuvakalako?

¹⁶ Kunaletinye tintfo Sathane nemadimoni akhe labangakhoni kutenta. Nasi sibonelo, kute imibhalo letsi bayakhona kufundza tingcondvo kanye netinhlitiyo tebantfu. LiBhayibheli litsi nguJehova naJesu kuphela labanelikhono lekwenta njalo. (1 Sam. 16:7; Mak. 2:8) Kufanele sesabe yini kutsi nangabe sikhuluma noma sithantaza siphumisele, Develi kanye nemadimoni akhe batasiva futsi basebentise loko lesikushoko kuze bamelane natsi? Cha. Kungani? Asesabi kwenta umsebenti waJehova ngenca nje yekutsi Sathane angasibona. Ngendlela lefanako ngeke sesabe kuthantaza siphumisele ngobe nje Develi angahle eve kutsi sitsini. Ecinisweni, liBhayibheli linetibonelo letinyenti tetinceku taNkulunkulu letathantaza taphumisela futsi kute lakubhalwe khona kutsi betesaba kutsi Develi utativa. (1 Khos. 8:22, 23; Joh. 11:41, 42; Imis. 4:23, 24) Nangabe senta konkhe lokusemandleni etfu kute lesikushoko nalesikwentako kuhambisane nentsandvo yaNkulunkulu, singaciniseka kutsi Jehova ngeke avumele Develi asilimate ngalokuphelele.​—Fundza Tihlabelelo 34:7.

¹⁷ Kufanele sisati sitsa setfu, kodvwa akukafaneli sisesabe. Ngekusitwa nguJehova, ngisho nebantfu labanesono bangakhona kuncoba Sathane. (1 Joh. 2:14) Nangabe simelana naye, utasibalekela. (Jak. 4:7; 1 Phet. 5:9) Sathane ubahlasela kakhulu bantfu labasha. Yini lokufanele bayente kuze bamelane naye? Sitawucoca ngalombuto esihlokweni lesilandzelako.