1, 2. (a) Ngubani Nkulunkulu lamdala kucala, futsi wamsebentisa njani? (b) Yini lekhombisa kutsi tingilosi tihlelekile?

JEHOVA, uMdali wako konkhe lokukhona wenta tintfo ngendlela lehlelekile. Wacale wadala iNdvodzana yakhe lekuphela kwayo futsi lesidalwa semoya, lebitwa ngekutsi ‘nguLivi’ ngobe ingumkhulumeli loyinhloko waNkulunkulu. Livi sewusebentele Jehova iminyaka leminyenti, ngobe liBhayibheli litsi: “Ekucaleni Livi abekhona, Livi abenaNkulunkulu.” Liphindze litsi: “Nkulunkulu wamsebentisa [Livi] ekwenteni tonkhe tintfo, futsi kute nakunye lokwaba khona ngaphandle kwakhe.” Eminyakeni lengetulu kwalengu-2 000 leyengcile, Nkulunkulu watfumela Livi emhlabeni wafike waba nguJesu Khristu, wenta intsandvo yeYise ngekwetsembeka futsi bekete sono.—Joh. 1:1-3, 14.

² Ngesikhatsi isengaketi emhlabeni, iNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu yasebenta ngekwetsembeka “njengengcweti yekwakha.” (Taga 8:30) Asebentisa iNdvodzana yakhe, Jehova wadala letinye tigidzi tetidalwa temoya tasezulwini. (Khol. 1:16) Lokunye kulandzisa kweliBhayibheli kusitjela naku mayelana netingilosi: “Tinkhulungwane tetinkhulungwane tatimsingatsile [Jehova]. Tinkhulungwane letilishumi tiphindvwe katinkhulungwane letilishumi tatime embikwakhe.” (Dan. 7:10) Letidalwa temoya letadalwa nguNkulunkulu tichazwa ‘njengemabutfo’ aJehova lahlelekile.—Hla. 103:21, NW.

3. Tinyenti kangakanani tinkhanyeti nemaplanethi, futsi tihlelwe njani?

 ³ Kutsiwani ngendalo lesiyibonako, lefaka ekhatsi tinkhanyeti letinyenti nemaplanethi? Mayelana netinkhanyeti, liphephandzaba iHouston, Texas, Chronicle livete umbiko weluhlolo lolusandza kwentiwa lotsi, “kunetigidzigidzi tetigidzigidzi tetinkhanyeti nemaplanethi, nobe letiphindvwe katsatfu kunaloko bososayensi labakutfole esikhatsini lesendlulile.” Tinkhanyeti tihlelwe ngeticheme, futsi ngasinye sinetigidzigidzi nobe tigidzi tetigidzi tetinkhanyeti nemaplanethi lamanyenti. Ticheme letinyenti tetinkhanyeti nemaplanethi tona tihlelwe ngeticumbi letincane naletinkhulu.

4. Kungani kunengcondvo kuphetsa ngekutsi tinceku taNkulunkulu emhlabeni nato kufanele tihleleke?

⁴ Njengetidalwa temoya letilungile letisezulwini, emaplanethi netinkhanyeti kuhleleke ngendlela lemangalisako. (Isa. 40:26) Ngako-ke kunengcondvo kuphetsa ngekutsi Jehova abetawenta tinceku takhe tasemhlabeni tihleleke. Ufuna kutsi tihlale tihlelekile, lokuyintfo lemcoka kakhulu njengobe tinemsebenti lomnyenti nalobalulekile lokufanele tiwente. Umlandvo lomuhle wekusebenta ngekwetsembeka wetikhonti taJehova tasendvulo netalamuhla uniketa bufakazi lobucacile bekutsi bekasolo atisekela futsi “akasiye Nkulunkulu wesiphitsiphitsi, kodvwa unguNkulunkulu wekuthula.”—Fundza 1 Khorinte 14:33, 40.

5. Injongo yekutsi bantfu bagcwalise umhlaba yaphatamiseka njani?

⁵ Ngesikhatsi Jehova adala bantfu bekucala watsi kubo: “Talanani, nandze, nigcwalise umhlaba, niwuncobe. Nibuse etikwetinhlanti taselwandle, nasetikwetinyoni tasemoyeni, nasetikwato tonkhe tilwane letihamba emhlabeni.” (Gen. 1:28) Bantfu bekufanele bandze ngendlela lehlelekile kute bagcwalise umhlaba futsi bawente wonkhe ube liPharadisi. Leyonjongo yaphatamiseka kwesikhashana ngenca yekungalaleli kwa-Adamu na-Eva. (Gen. 3:1-6) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, “Simakadze wabona kutsi kukhulu kona kwemuntfu emhlabeni, nekutsi yonkhe imizindlo nemicabango yenhlitiyo yakhe mibi ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi.” Ngesizatfu saloko, “umhlaba wawonakele emehlweni aNkulunkulu; umhlaba wawugcwele budlova.” Ngako-ke, Nkulunkulu wahlela kuletsa zamcolo lomkhulu lobewutawubhubhisa bantfu labebangamlaleli.—Gen. 6:5, 11-13, 17.

6, 7. (a) Kungani Nowa atfola umusa waJehova? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.) (b) Yini leyenteka kubo bonkhe bantfu labangaketsembeki bangesikhatsi saNowa?

⁶ Nobe kunjalo, “Nowa watfola umusa kuSimakadze” ngobe “abelungile amsulwa esitukulwaneni sakhe.” Ngesizatfu sekutsi Nowa ‘wahamba naNkulunkulu,’ Jehova wamyala kutsi akhe umkhumbi lomkhulu. (Gen. 6:8, 9, 14-16) Indlela lobewutawakhiwa ngayo beyitawenta kutsi ukhone kuvikela bantfu netilwane. Nowa walalela, “wakwenta konkhe labekutjelwe nguSimakadze,” futsi njengobe umndeni wakhe bewubambisana naye wakhona kucedza lomsebenti wekwakha ngendlela lehlelekile. Ngesikhatsi tilwane setingenisiwe emkhunjini, “Simakadze wavala umnyango.”—Gen. 7:5, 16.

⁷ Nga-2370 B.C.E., ngesikhatsi kufika Zamcolo, Jehova “wakucitsa kanjalo-ke konkhe lokwakuphila emhlabeni,” kodvwa wavikela Nowa indvodza lebeyetsembekile kanye nemndeni wakhe emkhunjini. (Gen. 7:23) Lamuhla bonkhe bantfu labasemhlabeni basitukulwane saNowa, semadvodzana akhe kanye nebafati babo. Kodvwa bonkhe bantfu labangaketsembeki lebebangekho emkhunjini bafa ngenca yekutsi abazange bamlalele Nowa, “umshumayeli wekulunga.”—2 Phet. 2:5.

8. Ngubuphi bufakazi bekuhleleka lobebukhona ka-Israyeli ngesikhatsi Nkulunkulu ayala bantfu bakhe kutsi bangene eVeni Lesetsembiso?

⁸ Ngemuva kweminyaka lengetulu kwemakhulu  lasiphohlongo kufike Zamcolo, Nkulunkulu wahlela ema-Israyeli aba sive. Konkhe kuphila kwawo bekufanele kuhleleke, ikakhulukati kukhonta kwawo Nkulunkulu. Nasi sibonelo: Ngaphandle nje kwebaphristi labangema-Israyeli kanye nemaLevi, ‘bekunebafati lababekhonta ekungeneni kwelithende lekuhlangana.’ (Eks. 38:8) Kodvwa ngesikhatsi Jehova Nkulunkulu ayala ema-Israyeli kutsi angene eKhenani akazange etsembeke, ngako watsi kuwo: “Kute nome munye wenu loyawungena kulelo live lengalifungela ngekuphakamisa sandla kutsi kutawuba likhaya lenu, ngaphandle kwaboKhalebi, umsa waJefune, kanye naJoshuwa, umsa waNuni,” ngobe bona babuya nembiko lomuhle ngemuva kwekuyohlola Live Lesetsembiso. (Num. 14:30, 37, 38) Njengobe Nkulunkulu abeshito, ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi Mosi wabeka Joshuwa kutsi atsatse sikhundla sakhe. (Num. 27:18-23) Ngesikhatsi Joshuwa sekatawungenisa ema-Israyeli eveni laseKhenani, watjelwa nankha emavi: “Cina ube nesibindzi. Ungetfuki, futsi ungaphelelwa ngemandla, ngobe Simakadze Nkulunkulu wakho uyakuba nawe nome ngukuphi lapho uya khona.”—Josh. 1:9.

9. Rahabi abetiva njani ngaJehova nangebantfu bakhe?

⁹ Jehova Nkulunkulu waba naJoshuwa ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi. Nasi sibonelo: Asewucabange ngaloko lokwenteka ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli amise emathende edvute nelidolobha lebantfu baseKhenani lebeliseJerikho. Nga-1473 B.C.E., Joshuwa watfuma emadvodza lamabili kutsi ayewuhlola iJerikho, futsi nawefika lapho atfola Rahabi ingwadla. Wawafihla eluphahleni lwendlu yakhe kute angatfolwa ngemadvodza labetfunywe yinkhosi yaseJerikho. Rahabi watjela letinhloli letingema-Israyeli watsi: ‘Ngiyati kutsi Simakadze uniphe lelive . . . Sivile kutsi Simakadze walomisa kanjani Lwandle Lolubovu embikwenu . . . nekutsi nawentani emakhosi lamabili ema-Amori.’ Wachubeka watsi: “Simakadze Nkulunkulu wenu nguye longuNkulunkulu ezulwini etulu, nasemhlabeni phansi.” (Josh. 2:9-11) Ngesizatfu sekutsi Rahabi watihlanganisa nenhlangano yaJehova yangaleso sikhatsi, Nkulunkulu wamsindzisa yena nemndeni wakhe ngesikhatsi  ema-Israyeli ancoba iJerikho. (Josh. 6:25) Rahabi waba nekukholwa, wahlonipha Jehova kanye nebantfu bakhe.

10. Yini Jesu layitjela baholi benkholo labangemaJuda bangesikhatsi sakhe, futsi kungani asho njalo?

¹⁰ Ngesikhatsi ema-Israyeli aholwa nguJoshuwa, ancoba emadolobha lamanyenti futsi ahlala eveni laseKhenani. Kodvwa yini leyenteka ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi? Emakhulwini eminyaka lalandzela, ema-Israyeli abesolo ephula imitsetfo yaNkulunkulu. Ngesikhatsi Jehova atfumela iNdvodzana yakhe emhlabeni, ehluleka kulalela Nkulunkulu kanye nemkhulumeli wakhe, kangangekutsi Jesu watsi iJerusalema ‘ingumbulali webaphrofethi.’ (Fundza Matewu 23:37, 38.) Nkulunkulu wabalahla baholi benkholo labangemaJuda ngobe abazange batsembeke kuye. Ngako Jesu watsi kubo: “UMbuso waNkulunkulu utawutsatfwa kini unikwe sive lesitsela titselo tawo.”—Mat. 21:43.

11, 12. (a) Yini lekhombisa kutsi ngelikhulu lekucala Jehova wasusa sibusiso sakhe esiveni semaJuda wasiyisa kulenye inhlangano? (b) Lenhlangano lensha lebeyemukelwa nguNkulunkulu beyakhiwa bobani?

¹¹ Ekhulwini lekucala leminyaka C.E., Jehova wasilahla sive sema-Israyeli lebesingaketsembeki. Nanobe kunjalo, loko bekungasho kutsi Jehova sewutawuba bete inhlangano yetikhonti letetsembekile lesemhlabeni. Jehova wase utfululela sibusiso sakhe enhlanganweni lensha lebeyikhula, futsi lebeyilalela Jesu Khristu kanye netimfundziso takhe. Lenhlangano yacala ngeliPhentekhoste la-33 C.E. Ngaleso sikhatsi, bafundzi baJesu labangaba ngu-120 bebabutsene kulenye indzawo eJerusalema ngalesikhatsi ‘kuvakala umsindvo uvela ezulwini unjengekuhhusha kwemoya lomkhulu, wagcwala lendlu lebebahleli kuyo.’ Ngemuva kwaloko, “kwabonakala lokunjengemalangabi lamise kwelulwimi, futsi nguloko naloko kwahlala etikwemuntfu ngamunye, bonkhe base bagcwala umoya longcwele, bakhuluma ngetilwimi letehlukahlukene, njengobe nje umoya bewubenta kutsi bakhulume.” (Imis. 2:1-4) Tintfo letimangalisako letenteka taniketa bufakazi lobucacile bekutsi Jehova bekayisekela lenhlangano lensha lebeyinebafundzi baKhristu.

¹² Ngalelo langa, “imiphefumulo lengaba tinkhulungwane letintsatfu yengetwa kubo,” futsi lakhula linani lebalandzeli baJesu. Ngetulu kwaloko, “Jehova wachubeka engeta linani lalabo lebebasindziswa.” (Imis. 2:41, 47) Kutimisela kwalabashumayeli bangelikhulu lekucala kwaba nemiphumela lemihle kangangekutsi “livi laNkulunkulu lachubeka landza, nelinani lebafundzi lakhula kakhulu eJerusalema.” Ngisho ‘nebaphristi labanyenti baba ngemakholwa.’ (Imis. 6:7) Bantfu labanyenti labacotfo balemukela liciniso lebebalive ngemalunga alenhlangano lensha. Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Jehova waniketa lobunye bufakazi bekutsi uyayisekela lenhlangano ngekutsi aletse “bantfu betive” ebandleni lebuKhristu.—Fundza Imisebenti 10:44, 45.

13. Bewuyini umsebenti wenhlangano lensha yaNkulunkulu?

¹³ Kuyacaca kutsi nguNkulunkulu lobekanikete balandzeli baKhristu lomsebenti. Jesu wababekela sibonelo, ngekushesha nje nakacedza kubhajatiswa wacala kushumayela “ngeMbuso welizulu.” (Mat. 4:17) Jesu wafundzisa bafundzi bakhe kutsi nabo bashumayele. Wabatjela watsi: “Nitawuba bofakazi bami eJerusalema, kuyo yonkhe iJudiya neSamariya, nakuto tonkhe tincenye temhlaba.” (Imis. 1:8) Balandzeli baKhristu bekucala bebakucondza loko lobekufanele bakwente. Nasi sibonelo, e-Antiyokhi lesePhisidiya, Pawula naBhanabasi batjela baphikisi labangemaJuda ngalokucondzile batsi: ‘Kufanele kutsi livi laNkulunkulu likhulunywe kini kucala. Kodvwa njengobe ningalemukeli futsi  nitiveta njengalabo labangakufaneli kutfola kuphila lokuphakadze, sesiya kubantfu betive. Ngobe Jehova usiyale ngalamavi: “Ngikubeke kutsi ube kukhanya kwetive, kute uletse insindziso kuto tonkhe tincenye temhlaba.”’ (Imis. 13:14, 45-47) Kusukela ngelikhulu lekucala, luhlangotsi lolusemhlabeni lwenhlangano yaNkulunkulu belusolo lufundzisa ngaloko lokwentiwe nguJehova kute bantfu basindziswe.   

14. Yini leyenteka eJerusalema ngelikhulu lekucala, futsi bobani labasindza?

¹⁴ EmaJuda lamanyenti akazange atemukele tindzaba letimnandzi, ngako bekatawehlelwa yinhlekelele, ngobe Jesu bekabecwayisile bafundzi bakhe watsi: “Ngako, nanibona iJerusalema itungeletwe ngemabutfo, yatini kutsi kubhujiswa kwayo sekusondzele. Labo labaseJudiya babobalekela etintsabeni, futsi labo labangekhatsi kuyo babophuma, nalabo labasemaphandleni abangangeni kuyo.” (Luk. 21:20, 21) Loko Jesu laphrofetha ngako kwenteka. Ngenca yekuvukela kwemaJuda, emabutfo emaRoma labeholwa nguCestius Gallus atungeletela liJerusalema nga-66 C.E. Ngekushesha lawo mabutfo abuyela emuva, loko kwaniketa balandzeli baJesu litfuba lekubaleka eJerusalema naseJudiya. Ngekusho kwesatimlandvo Eusebius, labanyenti babalekela ngesheya kweMfula iJordane baya ePhela lesePhereya. Nga-70 C.E., emabutfo aseRoma abuya sekaholwa nguJenene Titus futsi abhubhisa liJerusalema. Nanobe kunjalo, emaKhristu letsembekile asindza ngobe asilalela secwayiso saJesu.

15. BuKhristu bandlondlobala nangetulu kwatiphi timo?

¹⁵ Ngetulu kwebumatima, kuphatfwa kabi kanye naletinye tintfo letivivinya kukholwa kwebalandzeli baKhristu, buKhristu bandlondlobala ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka. (Imis. 11:19-21; 19:1, 19, 20) Lawo maKhristu ekucala atfutfuka ebuhlotjeni bawo naNkulunkulu ngenca yekutsi bekanesibusiso sakhe.—Taga 10:22.

16. Kuze abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu, yini lobekufanele umKhristu ngamunye ayente?

¹⁶ Kuze abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu, umKhristu ngamunye bekufanele afake umfutfo. Kuhlolisisa kahle imiBhalo, kubakhona njalo emihlanganweni yebuKhristu kanye nekukhutsala emsebentini wekushumayela ngeMbuso, bekubalulekile. Imisebenti lefana nalena yenta kutsi abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naJehova, yaphindze yenta kutsi kube nebunye emkhatsini wawo, njengobe yenta nalamuhla. Labo labatihlanganisa nemabandla ekucala labekahlelekile, bazuza kakhulu elusitweni labalutfola kubabonisi kanye nasetincekwini letisebentako. (Fil. 1:1; 1 Phet. 5:1-4) Asingabati kutsi babonisi labajikeletako, labafaka ekhatsi Pawula bajabula kakhulu nabavakashele emabandla. (Imis. 15:36, 40, 41) Kufanana lokukhona ekukhonteni kwetfu kwalamuhla kanye nekwemaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala kuyajabulisa. Kusijabulisa kakhulu kutsi Jehova wahlela tinceku takhe tasendvulo nekutsi usachubeka nekwenta njalo nalamuhla. *

17. Sitawucoca ngani esihlokweni lesilandzelako?

¹⁷ Njengobe lelive laSathane lisondzela ekubhujisweni kulamalanga ekugcina, luhlangotsi lwasemhlabeni lwenhlangano yaJehova luhamba ngelitubane lelisetulu. Uhambisana nayo yini? Uyatfutfuka yini ebuhlotjeni bakho naNkulunkulu? Sihloko lesilandzelako sitawusikhombisa kutsi singakwenta njani loko.