1. Chaza kutsi yini lebeyentiwa bogadzi baJehova lababaphrofethi nekutsi yini leyalandzela.

GADZI ume etulu elubondzeni eJerusalema, usinga emehlo akhe njengobe abuka lilanga liyoshona. Ubukisisa lakuphelela emehlo akhe khona. Ngekushesha, uphakamisa licilongo lakhe, udvonsa umoya, uyalishaya kute ecwayise takhamuti—libutfo laseBhabhulona liyeta! Kodvwa sekwephute kakhulu kutsi letakhamuti talelidolobha letingalaleli tingatsatsa sinyatselo njengobe tiva lesecwayiso selicilongo. Sekuphele emashumi eminyaka bogadzi nobe baphrofethi lababekwe nguJehova, becwayisa bantfu mayelana nekutsi lelilanga litawufika, kodvwa bantfu bebasolo bangalaleli. Nyalo libutfo laseBhabhulona selitungelete lelidolobha. Ngemuva kwetinyanga letinyenti lelidolobha livinjetelwe, emasotja angena ngelubondza, awisa lithempeli, abulala aphindze atfumba takhamuti taseJerusalema letingakholwa futsi letikhonta tithico.

2, 3. (a) Ngusiphi simo bantfu labahlala emhlabeni lababhekene naso lamuhla? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

² Lamuhla, libutfo laJehova lasezulwini liyasondzela kute limelane netakhamuti tasemhlabeni letingakholwa. (Semb. 17:12-14) Lesentakalo sitawuba ngumvutfwandzaba wekuhlupheka lokukhulu kakhulu kunako konkhe lokuke kwabonwa emlandvweni webantfu. (Mat. 24:21) Kodvwa nyalo kusengakephuti kakhulu kutsi bantfu labanyenti balalele  lesecwayiso labasiva kulabo Jehova lababekile kutsi bente umsebenti wekuba bogadzi.

³ Ngusiphi sizatfu lesente Jehova wabeka bogadzi? Nguluphi luhlobo lwemlayeto gadzi lalumemetelako? Bobani labadlala lendzima yekuba bogadzi, futsi tsine sidlala yiphi indzima? Asesicoce ngetimphendvulo talemibuto.

4. Kungani Jehova abeka bogadzi? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesehluko.)

⁴ Fundza Hezekeli 33:7. Ngetikhatsi tekubhalwa kweliBhayibheli, gadzi bekema elubondzeni lwelidolobha kute avikele takhamuti telidolobha. Loku bekuba bufakazi bekutsi umbusi walelidolobha uyabanakekela bantfu bakhe. Nanobe kushaywa kweluphondvo kungahle kwetfuse labo labalele, kodvwa kuphindze kuvikele kuphila kwalabo labatsatsa sinyatselo nabeva kukhala kwalo. Ngendlela lefanako, Jehova wabeka bogadzi hhayi ngobe afuna kwetfusa ema-Israyeli ngemilayeto yembhubhiso, kodvwa ngesizatfu sekutsi bekabakhatsalela bantfu bakhe futsi afuna kusindzisa kuphila kwabo.

5, 6. Kulunga kwaJehova kubonakala ngayiphi indlela?

⁵ Ngesikhatsi Jehova abeka Hezekeli kutsi abe ngugadzi, wakhombisa tincenye tebuntfu bakhe letijabulisako. Asesicoce ngaletimbili taletincenye.

⁶ Kulunga: Bufakazi bekulunga kwaJehova sibubona endleleni lasebentelana ngayo nemuntfu ngamunye ngekungakhetsi. Nasi sibonelo, nanobe umlayeto waHezekeli weviwa sicumbi lesikhulu sebantfu futsi sangamlaleli, kodvwa Jehova akazange atsatse onkhe ema-Israyeli njengebantfu labavukelako; kunaloko, wafuna kubuka kutsi umuntfu ngamunye usabela njani. Ngalokuphindzaphindziwe wakhuluma ngekutsi kufanele kukhulunywe ‘nemuntfu lomubi’ kanye ‘nemuntfu lolungile.’ Ngako-ke Jehova wehlulela umuntfu ngamunye kuye ngekutsi uyakulalela yini loko lecwayiswa ngako.—Hez. 33:8, 18-20.

7. Yini Jehova layibukako nakehlulela bantfu?

⁷ Kulunga kwaJehova singaphindze sikubone endleleni lehlulela ngayo bantfu. Umuntfu ngamunye akehlulelwa ngekutsi wentani esikhatsini lesendlulile, kodvwa wehlulelwa ngekutsi usabela njani nakeva secwayiso nyalo. Jehova watsi kuHezekeli: “Nangitsi kulomubi: ‘Nakanjani utawufa,’ bese yena uyaphendvuka esonweni sakhe futsi ente lokuhle nalokulungile, . . . nakanjani utawuchubeka aphila.” Jehova wabese ungeta nanka emavi lanakekako watsi: “Kute ngisho nasinye sono kulatentile latakwehlulelwa ngenca yaso.” (Hez. 33:14-16) Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, labo lebebahamba ngendlela lekahle akukafaneli balindzele kutsi kulalela kwabo kwasesikhatsini lesendlulile kutabenta bangehlulelwa ngenca yekuvukela kwabo labakwenta nyalo. Jehova waveta kutsi nangabe umuntfu ‘etsemba kulunga kwakhe futsi enta lokubi, kute tento takhe letilungile letitawukhunjulwa, kodvwa utawufela lokubi lakwentile.’—Hez. 33:13.

8. Tiphrofetho letitecwayiso tisifundzisani ngekulunga kwaJehova?

⁸ Kulunga kwaJehova kuphindze kubonakale ngekutsi uniketa secwayiso kusasele sikhatsi kute bantfu bente lokutsite ngaso ngaphambikwekutsi  atsatse sinyatselo. Hezekeli wacala umsebenti wakhe eminyakeni lesitfupha ngaphambikwekutsi libutfo laseBhabhulona libhubhise iJerusalema. Kodvwa Hezekeli bekangesuye umuntfu wekucala lowecwayisa bantfu baNkulunkulu kutsi batawulandzisa ngetento tabo. Eminyakeni lengetulu kwa-100 ngaphambikwekutsi iJerusalema ibhujiswe, Jehova watfumela baphrofethi labafaka ekhatsi Hoseya, Isaya, Mikha, Odedi naJeremiya kutsi bente lomsebenti wekuba bogadzi. Jehova watjela Jeremiya kutsi akhumbute ema-Israyeli, atsi: “Ngabeka bogadzi lebebatsi: ‘Lalelani umsindvo wekukhala kweluphondvo!’” (Jer. 6:17) Jehova kanye nalabogadzi bebangeke batfweswe licala ngenca yebantfu labafa ngesikhatsi libutfo laseBhabhulona litoletsa sehlulelo saJehova.

9. Jehova walukhombisa njani lutsandvo lolucotfo?

⁹ Lutsandvo: Jehova wakhombisa lutsandvo lwakhe lolucotfo ngekutsi atfumele bogadzi bakhe kute bangecwayisi nje kuphela bantfu labalungile, kodvwa becwayise nalabangakalungi, lokungulabo labamvisa buhlungu futsi bona nelidvumela lakhe. Cabanga nje—ema-Israyeli bekatiwa ngekutsi abantfu baJehova, kodvwa amfulatsela tikhatsi letinyenti futsi agijimela kubonkulunkulu bemanga! Jehova waveta indlela leva ngayo buhlungu ngekungetsembeki kwalesive sakhe, waze wasifananisa nemfati losiphingi. (Hez. 16:32) Nobe kunjalo, Jehova akazange alahle litsemba ngekushesha. Wafuna tindlela tekubuyisana nalesive hhayi tekutiphindziselela. Akazange ente inkemba yesehlulelo yaba sinyatselo sekucala, kepha waniketa bantfu bakhe litfuba lekushintja. Kungani? Watjela Hezekeli watsi: “Angijabuli ngekufa kwemuntfu  lomubi, kodvwa ngijatjuliswa kutsi lomubi ashintje indlela yakhe futsi achubeke aphila.” (Hez. 33:11) Nguleyo indlela Jehova lebekativa ngayo ngaleso sikhatsi, futsi usativa ngaleyondlela nalamuhla.—Mal. 3:6.

10, 11. Ngutiphi tifundvo lesingatifundza endleleni Jehova laphatsa ngayo bantfu bakhe?

¹⁰ Yini lesingayifundza endleleni lelungile nalenelutsandvo Jehova lebekasebentelana ngayo nema-Israyeli? Sifundvo sekucala kutsi akukafaneli sitsatse bantfu lesibashumayelako njengesicumbi sebantfu labangalaleli, kunaloko kufanele sitsatse umuntfu ngamunye njengalowehlukile. Cabanga nje kutsi kungaba liphutsa lelingakanani kutsi sehlulele umuntfu ngekutsi akakufaneli kulalela umlayeto lesiwushumayelako ngenca yendlela bekatiphatsa ngayo kadzeni nobe ngenca yelisiko lakhe, buve bakhe, simo sakhe semnotfo, kanye nelulwimi lalukhulumako! Jehova wafundzisa umphostoli Phetro sifundvo lesibalulekile nalesisebentako kitsi lamuhla, lesitsi: “Nkulunkulu akakhetsi, kodvwa wonkhe umuntfu lomesabako nalowenta lokulungile uyemukeleka kuye ngisho nobe asive sini.”—Imis. 10:34, 35.

¹¹ Lesinye sifundvo lesibalulekile kutsi kufanele sitihlolisise. Tento letilungile lesatenta esikhatsini lesendlulile atisenti sichubeke sibantfu labalungile nangabe senta tintfo letimbi nyalo. Senta kahle kukhumbula kutsi tsine kanye nalabo lesibashumayelako sinebutsakatsaka lobufanako futsi sonkhe sinesono. Seluleko umphostoli Pawula lasiniketa libandla laseKhorinte sisebenta ngendlela lefanako nakitsi, sitsi: “Loyo locabanga kutsi umile akacaphele angawi. Kute silingo lesinehlele lesingakake sabehlela nalabanye bantfu.” (1 Khor. 10:12, 13) Asifuni kufana nemuntfu ‘lowetsemba kulunga kwakhe,’ acabange kutsi angenta  tintfo letimbi kodvwa angajeziswa ngato ngesizatfu sekutsi wenta netintfo letinhle. (Hez. 33:13) Ngisho nobe sesikhonte Jehova sikhatsi lesingakanani, kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sihlale sitfobekile futsi sibonise umoya wekulalela.

12. Nangabe sake senta tono letinkhulu esikhatsini lesendlulile, yini lokufanele siyikhumbule?

¹² Kutsiwani nangabe sake senta sono lesikhulu, kodvwa nyalo sesiyatisola ngaso? Kulomlayeto waHezekeli, sifundza kutsi Jehova utabajezisa bantfu lababi labangaphendvuki. Nobe kunjalo, siphindze sifundze kutsi ngalokuyinhloko, Jehova unguNkulunkulu welutsandvo hhayi wemphindziselo. (1 Joh. 4:8) Nangabe sikhombisa ngetento kutsi siphendvukile, akukafaneli sive shengatsi tono tetfu tinkhulu kakhulu kutsi Nkulunkulu angasibonisa umusa. (Jak. 5:14, 15) Jehova bekatimisele kucolela ema-Israyeli lebekufana nekutsi ayamphingela, futsi utimisele kusicolela natsi.—Hla. 86:5.

13, 14. (a) Ngumlayeto lonjani lebewumenyetelwa bogadzi? (b) Ngumuphi umlayeto lowamenyetelwa ngu-Isaya?

¹³ Fundza Hezekeli 33:2, 3. Hlobo luni lwemlayeto bogadzi baJehova lobekufanele balwendlulisele? Incenye lebeyibaluleke kakhulu yemsebenti wabo bekukumemetela tecwayiso. Kodvwa bebaphindze bendlulisele netindzaba letimnandzi. Cabanga ngaletibonelo letilandzelako.

¹⁴ Isaya, lowaba ngumphrofethi kusukela ngabo-778 kuya ku-732 B.C.E., wecwayisa kutsi bantfu baseBhabhulona bebatawuvimbetela iJerusalema, batsatse takhamuti takhona batiyise ekutfunjweni. (Isa. 39:5-7) Kodvwa waphindze waphefumulelwa kutsi abhale atsi: “Lalela! Bogadzi bakho bayamemeta. Bamemeta kanyekanye ngenjabulo, ngobe batawubona kahle ngesikhatsi Jehova abuyisa iSiyoni.” (Isa. 52:8) Isaya wamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi kakhulu—kukhonta kweliciniso bekutawubuyiselwa!

15. Ngumuphi umlayeto lowamenyetelwa nguJeremiya?

¹⁵ Jeremiya, waba ngumphrofethi kusukela nga-647 kuya ku-580 B.C.E., futsi bantfu labanyenti bebamtsatsa njengemuntfu lohlale amemetela “inhlekelele yodvwa.” Asingabati kutsi bekenta umsebenti lomuhle kakhulu njengobe bekecwayisa ema-Israyeli lebekenta lokubi, mayelana netinhlekelele Jehova lebekatawaletsela tona. * Kodvwa waphindze wamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi, abiketela ngekubuyela kwebantfu baNkulunkulu eveni labo, kanye nekubuyiselwa kwekukhonta lokuhlantekile kulelo live.—Jer. 29:10-14; 33:10, 11.

16. Umlayeto lebewumenyetelwa nguHezekeli wabazuzisa njani bantfu lebebatfunjwe eBhabhulona?

¹⁶ Hezekeli wabekwa kutsi abe ngumlindzi nga-613 B.C.E., futsi wahlala kuleso sabelo kwaze kwaba ngu-591 B.C.E. Njengobe sibonile eSehlukweni 5 na-6 salencwadzi, ngekutimisela, Hezekeli wecwayisa bantfu baka-Israyeli mayelana nembhubhiso lebeyitabehlela, kuze angatoba nelicala lengati ngenca yekuphila kwebantfu lebekutawulahleka. Akazange nje ecwayise kuphela labatfunjiwe kutsi Jehova utawujezisa tihlubuki eJerusalema, kodvwa waphindze wabasita kutsi bacinise buhlobo babo naJehova futsi balungele umsebenti wesikhatsi lesitako. Bekutawutsi nakuphela leminyaka lengu-70 yekutfunjwa,  Jehova atsatse labasele abahlanyele eveni laka-Israyeli lelibuyiselwe. (Hez. 36:7-11) Labanyenti balabo lebebasele bekubantfwana nebatukulu bebantfu lebebalalela Hezekeli. Njengobe letinye tehluko eNcenyeni 3 yalencwadzi tivetile, Hezekeli bekanetindzaba letimnandzi letinyenti lebeticinisekisa kutsi kukhonta lokuhlantekile bekutawubuyiselwa eJerusalema.

17. Jehova wababeka nini bogadzi?

¹⁷ Labaphrofethi lebebakhuluma nebantfu baNkulunkulu ngesikhatsi kusondzela kubhujiswa kweJerusalema nga-607 B.C.E., bekungibo kuphela yini lebebasetjentiswa nguJehova kutsi babe bogadzi? Imphendvulo ngu-cha. Sikhatsi ngasinye Jehova nakatsatsa sinyatselo lesitsite kuze afeze injongo yakhe, uhlale abeka bogadzi labatawecwayisa bantfu lababi futsi bamemetele tindzaba letimnandzi.

18. Ngumuphi umsebenti lebewentiwa nguJohane uMbhabhatisi?

¹⁸ Ngelikhulu lekucala C.E., Johane uMbhabhatisi wenta umsebenti wekuba ngugadzi. Wecwayisa ema-Israyeli kutsi besekusele sikhatsi lesifishane kutsi alahlwe. (Mat. 3:1, 2, 9-11) Kodvwa wenta nalokungetulu kwaloko. Jesu watsi Johane ‘bekangulesitfunywa’ lebekubiketelwe ngaso kutsi besitawulungisa indlela yaMesiya. (Mal. 3:1; Mat. 11:7-10) Lomsebenti bewufaka ekhatsi kumemetela tindzaba letimnandzi letitsi “liWundlu laNkulunkulu,” Jesu Khristu, beselifikile kute lisuse “sono selive.”—Joh. 1:29, 30.

19, 20. Jesu nebafundzi bakhe bebabogadzi ngayiphi indlela?

¹⁹ Kubo bonkhe labogadzi, Jesu bekangulohamba embili. NjengaHezekeli, naye bekatfunywe nguJehova ‘kubantfu baka-Israyeli.’ (Hez. 3:17; Mat. 15:24) Jesu wecwayisa kutsi sive saka-Israyeli besitawulahlwa ngekushesha futsi iJerusalema beyitawubhujiswa. (Mat. 23:37, 38; 24:1, 2; Luk. 21:20-24) Kodvwa umsebenti lohamba embili lebekawenta bekukumemetela tindzaba letimnandzi.—Luk. 4:17-21.

²⁰ Ngesikhatsi alapha emhlabeni, Jesu watjela bafundzi bakhe ngalokucondzile watsi: “Hlalani nilindzile.” (Mat. 24:42) Bawulalela lomyalo, futsi nabo baba bogadzi, becwayisa bantfu kutsi Jehova sewusilahlile sive saka-Israyeli kanye nelidolobha iJerusalema lesemhlabeni. (Rom. 9:6-8; Gal. 4:25, 26) Njengabogadzi lebebaphila ngaphambi kwabo, nabo bebamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi. Lomlayeto wabo bewufaka ekhatsi kumemetela kutsi bantfu betive besebatawuba yincenye ya-Israyeli waNkulunkulu logcotjwe ngemoya futsi bewutawujabulela lilungelo lekusita Khristu kutsi abuyisele kukhonta lokuhlantekile emhlabeni.—Imis. 15:14; Gal. 6:15, 16; Semb. 5:9, 10.

21. Ngusiphi sibonelo lesabekwa nguPawula?

²¹ Kubogadzi bangelikhulu lekucala, umphostoli Pawula wabeka sibonelo lesihle kakhulu. Umsebenti wakhe bekawutsatsa njengalobalulekile. NjengaHezekeli, naye bekati kutsi bekatawuba nelicala lengati nangabe ehluleka kufeza sabelo sakhe. (Imis. 20:26, 27) Alandzela sibonelo salabanye bogadzi, Pawula akazange nje agcine ngekwecwayisa bantfu, kodvwa waphindze wamemetela netindzaba letimnandzi. (Imis. 15:35; Rom. 1:1-4) Ecinisweni, acondziswa ngumoya longcwele,  wacaphuna siphrofetho lesabhalwa ngu-Isaya lesitsi: “Maye tinhle etintsabeni tinyawo taloyo loletsa tindzaba letimnandzi,” futsi wasisebentisa kuze achaze umsebenti lowentiwa bafundzi baJesu njengobe bashumayela ngeMbuso waNkulunkulu.—Isa. 52:7, 8; Rom. 10:13-15.

22. Kwentekani ngemuva kwekufa kwebaphostoli?

²² Ngemuva kwekufa kwebaphostoli, njengobe bekubiketelwe, tihlubuki tagcwala ebandleni lebuKhristu. (Imis. 20:29, 30; 2 Thes. 2:3-8) Kulesikhatsi lesidze sekukhula kwenhlanyelo, emaKhristu mbumbulu lebekafana nelukhula aba manyenti kunebalandzeli baKhristu labetsembekile labafana nakolo, futsi umlayeto locacile lomayelana neMbuso waNkulunkulu besewuvalwe timfundziso temanga. (Mat. 13:36-43) Nobe kunjalo, kwatsi nakufika sikhatsi saJehova sekutsi angenele, waphindze wakhombisa kulunga nelutsandvo lwakhe ngekutsi abeke bogadzi lebebatawumemetela secwayiso lesicacile baphindze bamemetele tindzaba letimnandzi. Bobani lababa ngulabogadzi?

23. Nguyiphi indzima beyidlalwa ngu-C. T. Russell kanye nalabo bekabambisene nabo?

²³ Eminyakeni lengaphambikwa-1914, Charles Taze Russell kanye nalabanye lebekabambisene nabo, benta umsebenti wekuba “sitfunywa,” futsi ‘bebalungisa indlela’ ngaphambikwekutsi uMbuso waMesiya ucaliswe. * (Mal. 3:1) Lelicembu laphindze lenta umsebenti wekuba ngugadzi lisebentisa magazini lobewunesihloko lesitsi, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, kuze becwayise bantfu ngesehlulelo  saNkulunkulu futsi basakate tindzaba letimnandzi letimayelana neMbuso waNkulunkulu.

24. (a) Sisebenti lesetsembekile sibe njani ngugadzi? (b) Yini loyifundzile esibonelweni sabogadzi besikhatsi lesendlulile? (Buka lishadi lelitsi “Labanye Bogadzi Labasibonelo”)

²⁴ Ngemuva kwekucaliswa kweMbuso, Jesu wabeka licembu lelincane lemadvodza kutsi libe sisebenti lesetsembekile. (Mat. 24:45-47) Kusukela ngaleso sikhatsi, sisebenti lesetsembekile, nyalo lesesatiwa ngekutsi Sigungu Lesibusako, besisolo senta umsebenti wekuba ngugadzi. Sigungu Lesibusako asigcini nje ngekwecwayisa mayelana nekuta ‘kwelilanga lemphindziselo,’ kodvwa siphindze simemetele “umyaka waJehova wemusa.”—Isa. 61:2; buka na-2 KubaseKhorinte 6:1, 2.

25, 26. (a) Ngumuphi umsebenti bonkhe balandzeli baKhristu lokufanele bawente, futsi wentiwa njani? (b) Yini lesitawukhuluma ngayo esehlukweni lesilandzelako?

²⁵ Nanobe sisebenti lesetsembekile sihola kulomsebenti wekuba ngugadzi, kodvwa Jesu watjela “bonkhe” balandzeli bakhe kutsi ‘bahlale balindzile.’ (Mak. 13:33-37) Silalela lomyalo ngekutsi sihlale siphapheme ebuhlotjeni betfu naJehova, futsi sisekele gadzi wasesikhatsini salamuhla ngekwetsembeka. Sikhombisa kutsi siphapheme nangabe senta umsebenti wekushumayela. (2 Thim. 4:2) Yini lesikhutsatako? Lokunye kwako kutsi sifuna kusindzisa kuphila kwebantfu. (1 Thim. 4:16) Ngekushesha, linani lelikhulu lebantfu litawulahlekelwa timphilo talo ngenca yekutsi alisinaki secwayiso sagadzi wesikhatsi salamuhla. (Hez. 3:19) Kepha lokusikhutsata kakhulu kutsi silangatelela kutjela labanye letindzaba letimnandzi kakhulu—kukhonta lokuhlantekile sekubuyiselwe! Nyalo, kulomnyaka “waJehova wemusa,” umnyango uvulekele bonkhe bantfu kutsi bahlanganyele natsi ekukhonteni Nkulunkulu wetfu lonelutsandvo nalolungile, Jehova. Ngekushesha, bonkhe labatawusindza nakuphela lelive lelibi batawuzuza emseni wekubusa kweNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu Jesu Khristu. Njengobe sisita gadzi wasesikhatsini salamuhla ngekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi, asifuni kuwutsatsela phansi loyo msebenti!—Mat. 24:14.

²⁶ Ngisho nanyalo ngaphambikwekutsi liphele lelive lelibi, Jehova wente bantfu bakhe baba nebunye ngendlela lemangalisako. Sehluko lesilandzelako sitawukhuluma ngesiphrofetho lesimayelana netindvuku letimbili letisetjentiswako kute kuchazwe kutsi loku kwenteke kanjani.